《Love Unspoken》


 Chapter 1

    ####WARNING This story will contain: Strong Sexual Content, Strong Language and Scenes that may be triggering, Viewer discretion is advised.#### In the evening, Quinn Mellon prepared a table full of delicious dishes, waiting for her husband toe home for dinner.


    However, until one in the morning, her husband still hadn''t returned. The clock on the wall kept ticking, silently narrating the long night.


    The food on the table had long gone cold, much like Quinn''s heart.


    With a soft sigh, Quinn gathered the cold dishes and stored them in the kitchen, patiently reheating them, trying to retain a hint of home''s warmth.


    At that moment, the sound of the door opening echoed, and Quinn quickly turned around.


    There stood a man in a suit, tall and handsome, walking in.


    He had been drinking, stumbling a bit as he walked, but it was this slight intoxication that made his already handsome face even more charming.


    This handsome, slightly drunk man was none other than Quinn''s husband, Alexander Kennedy!


    Seeing her husband return, Quinn quickly got up to greet him.


    Quinn had whipped up a hangover fix for Alexander, but just as she passed it to him, he clumsily knocked it over, spilling it all on the floor.


    Before Quinn could react, Alexander was by her side, grabbing her chin and then forcefully kissing her.


    Subsequently, Alexander lifted Quinn up and headed towards the bedroom.


    Clearly, Alexander was driven by lust; he sought someone to satisfy his desires.


    Quinn was thrown onto the bed by Alexander.


    Just as Quinn tried to get up, Alexander''s body pressed down on her, pinning her firmly to the bed.


    Alexander''s strength was overwhelming, and Quinn couldn''t resist.


    Not only was her body unable to resist, but she couldn''t even utter a word of refusal.


    After all, she was mute, unable to speak.


    Quinn had no choice but to give up resistance.


    Alexander passionately kissed Quinn''s neck and chest.


    Seeing Quinn''sck of resistance or words, Alexander ced his hand on Quinn''s cheek and asked in a low voice, "Why don''t you speak?"


    Tears glistened in Quinn''s eyes; she couldn''t answer that question.


    Being mute, she was destined not to moan like other women, to satisfy a man''s pleasure in bed.


    Why did Alexander ask this question when he knew she was mute?


    Was he intentionally humiliating her?


    Or was it due to someplex emotions?


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Quinn didn''t know what Alexander was thinking. All she could do wasply, fulfilling her husband''s sexual needs.


    Quinn began to kiss Alexander and used her slender fingers to caress his body...


    Alexander soon felt the arousal; his cock in his pants was as hard as a rod of iron.


    Alexander couldn''t wait; he removed his pants, stripped Quinn, and thrust his rock-hard cock into Quinn''s pussy.


    Quinn furrowed her brows tightly, a hint of pain showing on her beautiful face.


    Even though they had made love before, every time Quinn felt her pussy being filled to the brim.


    Alexander''s cock was just too big!Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Being his wife was truly hard...


    But after the brief pain, came the pleasure and ecstasy that sex brought.

 Chapter 2

    Sex was wonderful; even with a heart full of grievances, Quinn could still find pleasure in it. Alexander had a great physique, and he and Quinn made love for a full hour.


    Both immersed in the ecstasy of sex, they both reached climax...


    When Quinn opened her eyes again, it was already the next morning.


    Alexander was in the bathroom, leaving Quinn alone in bed.


    After the passion faded, emptiness set in.


    Quinn was in pain; she couldn''t feel any love from Alexander, only his lust.


    What did Alexander see her as?


    A wife?


    Or a whore?


    As Quinn was about to get dressed, the phone on the bedside table suddenly vibrated.


    It was Alexander''s phone!


    Someone had sent a message to Alexander.


    Quinn nced at it.


    It was a message from a woman named Getty Morgan to Alexander.


    Getty''s message read: "[You promised to be with me tonight, why did you go back to that disgusting mute?]"


    Seeing the message, Quinn felt deeply distressed.


    So, Alexander hade back sotest night because he was with another woman...


    Just then, the bathroom door slowly opened, and Alexander stepped out after his shower.


    Quinn quickly averted her gaze from the phone screen, pretending she hadn''t seen anything, and continued dressing.


    Alexander walked to the bed, picked up his phone, and nced at Quinn, who was getting dressed.


    "Did you see the message someone sent me?" Alexander asked casually.


    Quinn quickly shook her head.


    She remembered what Alexander had told her on their wedding day: "Don''t fall in love with me. I''ll take care of you, but don''t expect more." Alexander had made it clear-no love.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    So, even if she saw the message, what could she do?


    Alexander never cared about her feelings, let alone whether she would be jealous, sad, or in pain.


    Someone who isn''t cared for has no right to be angry.


    Her love, her emotions, to Alexander, perhaps they were just burdens...


    Quinn gestured in signnguage: "I''ll go prepare breakfast."


    With that, Quinn endured the soreness in her body, slowly got up, and headed to the kitchen.


    Watching Quinn''s frail figure, Alexander nced at the phone and eventually deleted Getty''s message.


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    Soon, Quinn had breakfast ready.


    They sat together at the table in silence.


    "Come with me to Kennedy Residenceter." Alexander suddenly spoke.


    Quinn smiled and nodded.


    Alexander looked at Quinn.


    Quinn was always so obedient, always smiling no matter what. But herpliance seemed to erase her personality.


    A person without a personality is truly uninteresting...


    After breakfast, Alexander drove Quinn to Kennedy Residence.


    Quinn was brought to Alexander by his grandfather, Ulysses Kennedy, who adored Quinn.


    Three years ago, Ulysses was critically ill and ordered Alexander to marry Quinn.


    However, at that time, Alexander was in love with another woman.


    That woman was Getty, the one who had just messaged Alexander.


    Getty and Alexander had grown up together, childhood sweethearts.


    Although Alexander liked Getty, he dared not defy his grandfather''smand and ultimately married Quinn.


    Quinn loved Alexander, even though she couldn''t express that love.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! But Alexander didn''t love Quinn.


    A one-sided love in marriage is destined to be a tragedy.


    Quinn deeply felt this deeply after marriage.


    Alexander''s heart wasn''t with her; it was with that woman named Getty...


    Alexander brought Quinn to Kennedy Residence.


    It was a lively day at Alexander''s home because his sister, Freya, had given birth to a son, and they were celebrating with a feast. Quinn followed Alexander into the hall.


    In the hall, Alexander''s mother, Kaitlyn, was holding her grandson, smiling. But as soon as she saw Quinn, her expression darkened. Clearly, Kaitlyn didn''t like Quinn.


    Quinn greeted Kaitlyn, who seemed to ignore her, engrossed in conversation with her son Alexander and daughter Freya.


    Being ignored, Quinn didn''t get angry; she just stood quietly on the side.


    Freya nced at Quinn and said, "Look how cute the baby is. Why don''t you and my brother have a child?"


    Kaitlyn snorted, "Having one mute in the family is embarrassing enough. If you have another mute, I won''t be able to show my face!" Upon hearing this, Alexander nced at Quinn, who lowered her head, looking mournful.


    Freya''s mention of having a child was clearly a jab.


    Last year, Quinn was pregnant, but Kaitlyn forced her to have an abortion for fear she would give birth to another mute child!

 Chapter 3

    When Alexander found out, he didn''t step in to defend Quinn.


    Under Alexander''s pressure, Quinn had no choice but to terminate the pregnancy.


    Quinn often wondered what life would be like if that child had been born; by now, the child would have been almost a year old...


    Apart from Ulysses, no one liked Quinn, especially Freya, who harbored a deep hatred towards her.


    Quinn entered Alexander''s life at the age of five, and Freya, resentful of Quinn''s favored status with their grandfather, bullied Quinn for her inability to speak. She would lock Quinn in storage rooms and even burn her hair with a lighter. Once, Freya pushed Quinn down the stairs, and Alexander caught her in the act.


    Alexander reprimanded Freya.


    Already resentful of their grandfather''s favoritism towards Quinn, Freya now found herself scolded by her beloved older brother for mistreating Quinn. How could she not hate her?


    At that time, Quinn couldn''t sign or write, let alone report the abuse, so Freya''s torment only escted, with any hint of displeasure from Freya resulting in Quinn bearing the brunt of her anger.


    As they grew older, Freya no longer physically bullied Quinn; instead, she tormented her emotionally and mentally.


    Freya would deliberately bring up pregnancy to remind Quinn of the terminated child, seeking to inflict pain upon her.


    She was a malicious woman!


    Alexander, feeling uneasy, stood up and said, "Let''s go!"


    Confused, Freya asked, "Brother, why are you in such a hurry to leave? At least finish your meal before going!"


    "No, there''s work at the office," Alexander said, pulling Quinn away without looking back at Freya.


    Watching this scene, Freya grew even angrier, unable to understand her brother''s actions.


    Alexander''s affection should have been for Getty, not Quinn. So why was he protecting Quinn?


    Back in the car, Alexander lit a cigarette, showing signs of irritation.


    Quinn sat quietly, waiting for him to finish smoking.


    After he finished, Alexander turned to Quinn.


    She remained meek, with a faint smile on her lips, like a servant awaiting orders from a master.


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    Seeing Quinn''sck of anger and her submissive demeanor, Alexander felt deeply ufortable.


    He didn''t like people without a backbone.


    When someone is bullied or provoked, they should get angry!


    Yet, Alexander also felt a pang of pity for Quinn. After a moment of thought, he asked her, "What do you think about having a child?"


    Quinn was momentarily surprised, then signed back: Your mother is right. What if I give birth to a mute child? It''s better if we don''t have one.


    From childhood to adulthood, Quinn had learned a harsh truth: everything she hoped for would eventually shatter like ss.


    The more beautiful the fantasy, the more painful its shattering!


    Like the time she wanted a birthday cake as a child, Ulysses bought her one. She was about to make a wish when Freya pushed her face into the cake.


    She lifted her head in embarrassment, cake smeared all over her face, surrounded byughter from onlookers who found it amusing.


    Quinn forced a smile, but inside, she was hurting.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


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    Suddenly, Alexander remembered something and said, "I remember not using protectionst night. Maybe we could have conceived a child."


    Quinn signed back: I''m on birth control.


    Alexander looked at her fingers as she signed. Her fingers, slender and long from constant movement, danced gracefully as she signed, a sight to behold.


    After watching her for a moment, Alexander looked away, started the car, and insincerely said, "That''s good then!"


    Quinn lowered her head.


    Alexander dropped Quinn off at the coffee shop where she worked. As the car pulled up, he noticed Getty standing there.


    Getty always found a way to locate Alexander.


    Tall and stunningly beautiful, with long legs and curly hair cascading down her back, Gettymanded attention wherever she stood.


    As she watched Alexander and Quinn step out of the car, her anger peaked, mes flickering in her eyes.


    Getty''s demeanor suggested she was the wife, and Quinn the mistress, but in reality, Quinn was Alexander''s true wife!

 Chapter 4

    Seeing Getty, Alexander furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Why are you here?"


    ncing at Quinn beside him, Getty noticed faint marks on her neck, fueling her anger.


    Getty suppressed his anger and smiled at Alexander, saying, "I came here because I wanted to see you." Alexander turned to Quinn, "Go inside and start work."


    Quinn nodded and headed towards the coffee shop.


    This was where she worked; after many rejections, this ce was the only one willing to take her in.


    Once Quinn was out of earshot, Getty took Alexander''s arm, a hint of coquettishness in her tone, "Are you still angry?"


    Alexander didn''t push Getty away, simply saying, "Let''s talk in the car."


    Before getting in, Getty took out disinfectant from her bag and sprayed the seat where Quinn had sat several times. She then looked up and said with a smile, "Dirty things have been sitting here. It''s not clean. Let''s disinfect it!" Alexander watched her intently, saying nothing, silently allowing her actions.


    From inside the coffee shop, Quinn watched it all through the ss.


    She saw Alexander''s indulgence towards Getty and his affection for her.


    Those favored by others often felt invincible. Alexander loved Getty, so no matter how unreasonable or absurd her actions, they seemed justified in his eyes. Even when she humiliated his wife in front of him.


    After disinfecting the seat, Getty finally got into the car.


    She adjusted her curly hair and held Alexander''s hand, "Alright, why the long face? I won''t mention divorce again in the future!"


    Alexander spoiled her, but every time Getty brought up divorce between him and the mute woman, Alexander would immediately get upset.


    Although Alexander always imed he didn''t love the mute woman and only felt a sense of responsibility towards Quinn, Getty would still get angry.


    Getty''s jealousy was intense; she wanted exclusive favoritism and couldn''t bear the thought of another woman sharing Alexander''s love, even if that woman was mute! Furthermore, Getty always felt Alexander was lying. A woman''s intuition told her that Alexander might actually love the mute woman, but was just bad at expressing it.


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    Thinking about this made Getty even angrier and increased her hatred towards Quinn.


    Alexander lit a cigarette, leaned back in his seat, took two deep drags, and smoke filled the car.


    "Getty, I promised you that as long as you''re with me, you''ll never have to worry about anything. Even if we never marry, I''ll take care of you for life. I keep my promises," he said. Turning to Getty, he continued, "This is my promise to you, just like the one I made to my grandfather."


    Before his grandfather passed away, he made Alexander swear to take care of Quinn for life, even if he didn''t love her. Alexander made that promise!


    In his life, Alexander had only made promises to two people: his grandfather and Getty.


    Promises! Damn promises. Every time Getty heard those words, she became furious!


    "Yes, I know you keep your word," Getty suppressed her anger and muttered, "But it was me who was with you first!"Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


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    After finishing his cigarette, Alexander flicked the butt out of the car, then held Getty''s hand, a hint of indulgence in his tone, "I''m sorry. Just tell me what you want." Tilting her head, Getty thought for a moment, "I don''t feel like driving my Ferrari anymore. I want a Maserati instead!"


    Alexander smiled faintly, "Done."


    Getty added, "Also, don''t go back to see that mute woman Quinn for a month."


    Alexander hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded, "Alright."


    Satisfied, Getty smiled, "Let''s go, time to go to work!"


    Quinn watched as Alexander and Getty drove off, feeling immense pain in her heart.


    The cloth in her hand was crumpled from her grip.


    She smoothed out the cloth on the table, as if soothing her own heart, twisted into a knot.


    At that moment, a voice spoke, "Your husband is so intimate with other women. Aren''t you angry?"

 Chapter 5

    Quinn turned to look at the speaker.


    It was Abigail Vanderbilt,zily leaning back in her chair, surrounded by a pleasant scent of perfume.


    She was the boss of this coffee shop and also Quinn''s friend.


    Abigail was tall, standing at about 1.78 meters, with short hair, dressed in a ck t-shirt and casual pants. When she didn''t speak, many mistook her for a guy.


    During Quinn''s interview, Abigail yfully pinched her cheeks, startling Quinn. It wasn''t until Abigail spoke that Quinn realized she was a woman.


    Setting down the tablecloth, Quinn smiled and signed to her, "I''m used to it."


    Abigail watched Quinn''s fingers and noticed her reddened eyes, feeling a pang of sympathy.


    Abigail was Quinn''s friend; she knew the hardships and injustices Quinn had endured in this marriage.


    Handing Quinn the coffee she made, Abigail said, "This is your favorite coffee, freshly brewed. See how it tastes."


    Quinn thanked her and took a sip of the milk tea.


    It tasted wonderful!


    A smile spread across Quinn''s face.


    With her fairplexion, when she stared at someone, Quinn resembled a helpless little puppy, tugging at heartstrings.


    That''s why Abigail liked pinching her. Initially, Quinn wasn''t used to it, but gradually, she grew ustomed.


    Habit was a terrifying thing!


    Abigail was kind-hearted. To understand what Quinn was saying, she even watched videos to learn signnguage. Now, she could understand most of Quinn''s signs. Suddenly, Abigail grabbed Quinn and led her upstairs. "Come help me with something."


    Quinn quickly put down her coffee and followed Abigail upstairs to a room at the corner of the second floor, where colorful paintings were disyed.


    Apart from being the boss of the coffee shop, Abigail was also a "painter."


    However, she self-proimed this title because she hadn''t sold a single painting yet.


    Abigail''s parents didn''t allow her to study art, so she opened this coffee shop as a cover to secretly paint here.


    Upon entering, Abigail pressed Quinn onto a stool. "Don''t move. Your job today is to be my model."


    Quinn obediently sat still on the stool.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Abigail enjoyed using Quinn as a model and had painted many portraits of her.


    As time passed, nearing noon, a heavy rainstorm began outside. The rain pattered against the windows, creating a serene atmosphere inside the room. Due to the rain, more customers came in, making the downstairs busy. Abigail and Quinn had to stop painting and help out.


    Short-staffed, Abigail, as the boss, had to assist with deliveries.


    She called on Quinn to apany her on the deliveries.


    Abigail hopped on her motorcycle, with Quinn sitting on the back.


    Despite the rain, Quinn wanted to take an umbre, but Abigail refused.


    ording to Abigail, riding a motorcycle was cool, but riding one with an umbre was uncool.


    So, Quinn held the coffee close, shivering on the back of Abigail''s motorcycle.


    The rain poured heavily, apanied by thunder and lightning, darkening the sky even though it was only noon.


    When Abigail''s motorcycle stopped outside a certain building, Quinn''s expression changed.


    Because this was Alexander''spany!

 Chapter 6

    Abigail helped Quinn take off her helmet; both of them were drenched, but the coffee in Quinn''s arms was still safe.


    Abigail quipped, "These people are nuts. Bigpany, no coffee machine, so they have to order delivery."


    Taking the coffee from Quinn, Abigail smiled, "Stay here, I''ll be right back."


    Quinn nodded and silently walked to the front gate to wait.


    Staring at the curtain of rain ahead, Quinn''s expression seemed distant.


    The day Ulysses brought her to Alexander''s ce, it was also pouring rain. She timidly hid behind Ulysses, while nine-year-old Alexander scrutinized her. Alexander asked who she was.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Ulysses jokingly said, "Your future wife, interested?"


    Nine-year-old Alexander scoffed, "I don''t want a monkey as my wife."


    Indeed, she was skinny and pale back then, with dry, yellowish hair, perhaps even less appealing than a zoo monkey.


    But then he added, "If you don''t eat more, how can you be my wife when you''re so thin?"


    Knowing Alexander was joking, Quinn always took it seriously.


    Lost in thought, Quinn was snapped back by a voice.


    "In this heavy rain, Idon''t feel like working. I''m leaving first!"


    It was Getty, stepping out of thepany gates in high heels, who then spotted the drenched Quinn.


    "Quinn?" Getty was on the phone with Alexander, who heard the word ''Quinn'' from his end.


    Turning back to thepany building and then to Quinn, Getty hung up the call. "Here to see Alexander?" Quinn shook her head.


    Raising an eyebrow, Getty walked towards Quinn, sneering, "Alexander says you''re naive, but you don''t seem that innocent. Coming here drenched, trying to get his sympathy?" She pinched a wet strand of Quinn''s hair, mocking, "You look so pitiful!"


    A smug expression covered Getty''s face. "Don''t y these tricks. Alexander doesn''t like you. To him, you''re just a pet cat or dog!"


    Quinn tightly pressed her lips together, perhaps due to the cold rain, her lips turning pale.


    Getty didn''t need to say it; Quinn was well aware of it herself.


    Many times, the way Alexander looked at her was no different from how he looked at the pets at home.


    Alexander also loved the cat they had; if he forgot to feed it before work, he woulde back just to feed it.


    At that moment, Abigail emerged with the coffee. She swiftly stood in front of Quinn, shielding her, and looked Getty up and down, saying, "You slut, don''t bully Quinn!" Getty''s face changed, ring at Abigail. "How dare you insult me!"


    Arms crossed, Abigail yfully looked at her, "What''s wrong with calling you out? Did I lie? You''re just a filthy slut!slut!"


    "You..." Getty was left speechless, her face was livid.


    She detested being called a slut. If it weren''t for Quinn, she should have been the one married to Alexander! Why was she being insulted?


    Taking advantage of Alexander''s favor, Getty was used to being arrogant. No one had ever dared to insult her like this to her face. She raised her hand to strike Abigail. But Abigail wouldn''t stand for it. Before Getty''s p couldnd, Abigail struck first.


    With a scream, Getty fell to the ground.


    Her face was swollen from the blow, and her foot was twisted due to the high heels she wore.


    Clutching her foot in pain, tears streamed down Getty''s face.


    Abigail looked down at Getty with disdain. "You think you can hit me? You filthy slut, you deserve this!"


    Despite the pain, Getty red at Abigail, seething with hatred.


    Abigail pulled the startled Quinn to her side. "Let''s go!"


    Quinn kept looking back. She saw Alexander rushing out of thepany, lifting Getty from the ground. Even through the rain, his tender expression was visible. However, Alexander didn''t notice Quinn in the rain.


    Abigail started the motorcycle engine and disappeared into the downpour.


    The heavy rain blurred Quinn''s vision, and the towering building in front lost its shape in the rain.

 Chapter 7

    Getty huffed in frustration, turning her head away from him.


    A security guard approached with surveince footage and handed it to Alexander. "Sir, here''s the surveince footage."


    Watching the footage, Alexander''s face darkened instantly. He had been to Quinn''s workce before and knew Abigail, along with her other hidden identity. But he didn''t see Quinn in the footage. Throwing the tablet on the table, Alexander said to Getty, "I''ll take you to the hospital."


    Getty, even more upset by hisck of reaction, retorted, "I''m not going! Let my leg break; at least then I won''t have to hear people calling me a slut every time I step out."


    Alexander insisted, "Stop being stubborn; we''re going to the hospital."


    "I''m not going!"


    Alexander picked her up and walked out.


    Quinn sat behind Abigail, rain washing over her face. She cautiously held onto Abigail''s waist.


    Despite the cold rain, Abigail''s back felt warm.


    She wanted to thank Abigail but couldn''t speak.


    For twenty-three years, apart from Ulysses and Alexander, Abigail was the first to stand up for her.


    Abigail paused, looking down at the hand on her waist, sighing silently.In this icy rain, falling on Abigail''s back felt warm.It wasn''t rain; it was Quinn''s tears!She was crying, finally letting herself go in the downpour Abigail didn''t return to the coffee shop but drove Quinn to her ce.


    After arriving, Abigail got out of the car, escorted Quinn to the door, removed Quinn''s helmet, and smoothed her wet hair.


    "Change your clothes; don''t catch a cold. He won''t care if you get sick!!"


    Quinn nodded and signed, "Wait a moment."


    After saying that, Quinn rushed inside and came back out with an umbre.


    She handed the umbre to Abigail.


    Initially reluctant to take it, Abigail eventually epted the umbre, not wanting to disappoint Quinn''s kind gesture.


    Abigail smiled and said, "Alright, I''ll take the umbre. Go inside quickly!"


    Quinn hesitated, seemingly wanting to watch her leave.


    "Can''t do anything with you." Abigail opened the umbre, held it over her shoulder, mounted her motorcycle, and departed gracefully.


    Her voice echoed from the rain, "I''m leaving!"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn watched her disappear into the distance, a smile ying on her lips. If Alexander were there, he would notice that her smile at that moment was different, more genuine.


    Quinn sneezed.She took a hot shower, had some cold medicine, but still felt dizzy.


    Taking her temperature, it read 103 degrees Fahrenheit.She had a fever.


    After taking some fever-reducing medicine, shey down and fell asleep.


    When Quinn woke up, she found someone sitting by her bed. In the dim room, she thought she was hallucinating.


    Rubbing her eyes, she turned on the light.


    To her surprise, it was Alexander sitting there, legs crossed, wearing a ck shirt with the cor open, sleeves rolled up, revealing his strong forearms, a discreet and expensive watch on his wrist, showcasing his prestigious status. His stern gaze met Quinn''s, his face devoid of emotion. "You slept soundly."


    Quinn knelt on the bed, signing apologetically, "I overslept. Have you eaten?"


    Ignoring her question, Alexander said, "Don''t work at the coffee shop anymore!"


    Quinn was taken aback and signed, "Why?"


    "Abigail has a bad influence. You''ll be led astray. You''re not going back. I''ll find you a new job."


    Quinn usuallyplied with whatever he said, but this time, she didn''t.


    Quinn signed, "I like it there. I want to keep working there."


    "I said you''re not allowed!" His tone turned cold, his gaze piercing.


    Quinn bit her lip, staring back at him directly.


    For the first time, she dared to meet his gaze like this.


    Quinn signed, "Is it because of what happened at thepany?"


    "How dare you mention thepany? Who took Abigail there?" Alexander''s eyes narrowed. Quinn lowered her gaze, not offering any exnation, just stubbornly signing, "I want to work there!"


    "Do you dare to go and try?" Alexander''s voice filled with anger.


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    Quinn remained still, and Alexander stood up, walking out of the bedroom.


    As he reached the door, he turned back to Quinn. "Don''t let me catch you meeting that Abigail again!"


    With that, he left without looking back.


    Feeling extremely dizzy, Quinn touched her forehead, still burning up, her breath even feeling hot.


    Shaking her head, she quickly got out of bed, barefoot, and followed him downstairs. At the staircase, she grabbed the hem of Alexander''s shirt.


    Alexander paused, turning to look at her. "What are you doing now?"


    Quinn pursed her lips, staring at him for a long moment before seemingly making up her mind and letting go of his shirt.


    She crossed him and went to the sofa in the living room, bending down to open a drawer.


    Following her, Alexander saw a divorce agreement lying quietly in the drawer!


    This divorce agreement had been there for a while, unnoticed by Alexander.


    He hadn''t even opened this drawer before.


    He looked at Quinn in shock and confusion.


    Quinn gazed back at him earnestly. Though she didn''t speak, everything she wanted to say was in her eyes: Let''s get divorced!


    ********


    Next episode preview: Someone has gone crazy! Who is it?

 Chapter 8

    Alexander snapped, "Are you throwing a fit?"


    She waved her hand. "No, I''ve been wanting to give this to you for a while."


    She''d prepared it ages ago but never had the courage to hand it over. Now, she finally did, and it felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders.


    "So, you want a divorce because of Abigail?" he confirmed again.


    She signed, "No, it''s not about her. It''s me. I want a divorce."


    Her eyes convinced Alexander she was serious.


    He stared at her for a long time before suddenly sitting down on the sofa. "You want a divorce? Fine. But you won''t get a dime. And I want back every penny I''ve spent on you over the years. Then we can talk about a divorce."


    Hearing that, Quinn ran upstairs.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    He watched her go, his anger easing a bit.


    After a while, she came back downstairs and handed him a card.


    Staring at the card, he went sullen again. Then he looked up at her, his eyes burning with anger. "What''s this supposed to mean?"


    She ced the card on the table. "It''s all here. Every cent you''ve given me."


    "You misunderstood. I meant all the money spent on you since you were a kid, not just what I gave you." His voice was low, barely containing his anger.


    "I can pay you back bit by bit," she signed.


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    Heughed. "You, a mute, won''t survive out there on your own. How do you n to pay me back?"


    Yet to his surprise, she took out the divorce agreement stubbornly and ced it in front of him, the determination on her face was something he had never seen. She signed, "If we divorce, you can marry Getty, and then you can..."


    She wanted to say, "Be together forever."


    "Enough!" He suddenly grabbed the divorce agreement and threw it at her. The papers scattered, falling all over the floor, and her hand froze in mid-air.


    He stood up and looked down at her only to see her fair face marked with red scratches from the papers, and her messy hair made the marks stand out even more. "Pay me back. Then we''ll talk about divorce." His voice was utterly cold. And after that, he left the vi.


    Back in the car, he lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. Only then did he calm down a bit.


    ''Good for you, Quinn. You actually dared to propose a divorce. You beat me to it!'' he thought, angrier than he''d ever been with her. His gut told him he couldn''t let her go. When the sound of the car leaving rang out, Quinn slowly squatted down to pick up the scattered papers.


    She didn''t get it. Now that she finally plucked up her courage to ask him for a divorce, he refused her. Why?


    She was left alone in the empty vi. Curling up on the sofa, she hugged her knees in a daze in darkness, not turning on a single light.


    Around ten o''clock, she received a call from Victoria Pritzker.


    Victoria was Alexander''s friend. Knowing Quinn couldn''t speak, he was concise when the call connected. "Quinn,e to The Cube. Alexander is acting all crazy!"

 Chapter 9

    The Cube was a famous private club in Amber Bay, a paradise for the wealthy. Any guest here could easily determine the fate of many ordinary people.


    The private room was packed. Abigail lounged casually, more rxed than some of the men.


    She asked, "Oliver, did you drag me here just so Alexander could yell at me?"


    Expressionless, Alexander leaned on the sofa, his legs crossed. The dim light shone only on his chest, leaving his face shrouded in shadow, making him enigmatic.


    Oliver Vanderbilt, Abigail''s brother, frowned and said in a low voice, "Apologize to Ms. Morgan, and this will all blow over."


    He thought, ''Everyone knows Alexander spoils Getty. I''ve let Abigail get away with too much. She''s really crossed the line this time!''


    Abigail said, "No. I hit her because I felt like it. Oliver, she had iting!"


    Getty''s face turned livid. She abruptly stood up but quickly sat back down due to the pain in her foot.


    She snapped, "Don''t push it! I was with Alexander before he got married!"


    Abigail sneered, "If that''s the case, they''ve been together for over a decade. Where were you then?"


    Getty retorted, "That''s different! She''s just an orphan. The Kennedys took pity on her and let her stay..."


    Before she could finish, Alexander smashed his wine ss on the table, producing a crisp, explosive sound that startled everyone.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    His face was terrifyingly grim as he turned around to look at Abigail. "Apologize."


    Abigail raised an eyebrow and said slowly yet clearly, "No."


    Oliver sighed, "I''ll apologize for her. You know Abigail-she''d rather die than say sorry."


    Alexander scoffed, "You want to apologize for her? Fine. Drink all the wine on the table."


    The drinks on the table were all spirits, at least twenty bottles.


    Yet Oliver nodded without hesitation. "Okay."


    Abigail''s eyes widened. "Oliver, are you nuts? Apologize to her? She doesn''t deserve it!"


    "Shut up!" Oliver red at her and then picked up a bottle.


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    She snatched the bottle from his hand and smashed it on the floor, the sound of breaking ss deafening.


    "Don''t drink! I hit her. This has nothing to do with you. Alexander, if you''ve got the guts,e at me. Show me what you''ve got. You might as well kill me today if you can!"


    In an instant, several burly bodyguards rushed in, blocking the roompletely.


    Seeing that, she realized Alexander meant it. Oliver was in a dilemma, and she was well aware that he didn''t want to be at odds with Alexander, nor did he want her to suffer. In other words, he would bear the brunt eventually. Taking a deep breath, she bent down and picked up a bottle, saying, "Fine. You want an apology? Alexander, don''t bother. I pped her, so I''ll make it up to her double. She''ll love that, right?"


    With that, she grabbed the bottle and smashed it against her head.


    Just then, Quinn walked in and saw the whole scene.

 Chapter 10

    A loud crash resounded as the bottle shattered into pieces. The liquid, mixed with the blood, blurred Abigail''s vision. Everything happened so quickly that no one had time to react; none of them expected her to be so cruel to herself. "Abigail!" Oliver quickly supported the staggering Abigail, worried and angry. "Why did you do that?"


    Leaning against him, Abigail steadied herself for a bit and then looked at Alexander. "Happy? I''ll do it again if you want."


    With that, she reached for another bottle, but Oliver stopped her.


    Oliver was furious. He red at Alexander with reddened eyes. "Alexander, we''ve known each other for almost thirty years. You really wanna do this? There''s no going back."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Meanwhile, Quinn hurried to Abigail. Seeing the blood on Abigail''s forehead, Quinn was filled with guilt, tears welling up in her eyes.


    Abigail said to her weakly, "Why are you here?"


    At the sight of Quinn, Alexander frowned. "Who told you toe?"


    Victoria in the corner said uneasily, "It''s me..."


    Quinn quickly walked towards Getty, who raised her chin and met Quinn''s gaze provocatively.


    After a few seconds, Quinn bowed to her and signed, "Sorry. It''s all my fault. Please forgive me, Ms. Morgan."


    "What the heck? I can''t read it," Getty muttered in dissatisfaction.


    Apology was Quinn''s mostmon signnguage, and Getty knew it well. She just wanted to stir things up more. Ideally, Alexander and Oliver would turn on each other. If word got out, no one in Amber Bay would dare underestimate her again.


    Hearing her words, Quinn walked over to Alexander, crouched down, and shook his arm. Instead of acting cute, she was more like pleading.


    Seeing that, Abigail was about to go over but was held back by Oliver, who pressed a tissue to her wound. Soon, it was soaked with blood.


    Getty tightened her grip on Alexander''s arm, fearing he might go soft on Quinn.


    Quinn looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks, making her particrly pitiful. She signed, "Alexander, I won''t go to work anymore. Never again. Please... Just let Abigail off, Okay?" Alexander stared at her slender fingers. Of all the signnguages she had signed, his name was the one she signed most skillfully.


    The atmosphere in the room was eerily quiet. Even the sounds of breathing were deafening.


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    All eyes were on Quinn as she groveled in front of Alexander, making a fool of herself in front of Getty, her rival in love.


    After a few seconds, Alexander withdrew his hand and no longer looked at Quinn.


    He turned to Getty and said tenderly, "I''ll take you back to the hospital."


    Getty said coquettishly, "My foot hurts. Carry me."


    Hearing that, he bent down and picked her up right to Quinn''s face. Getty wrapped her arms around his neck and nced at Quinn provocatively as if saying, "See? You mean nothing to him." Watching them as they left, Quinn swayed slightly and then copsed to the floor.


    "Quinn!"

 Chapter 11

    Quinn felt like she had a long dream. In the dream, she was a little girl again.


    Freya locked her in a storage room. She banged on the door desperately, but no one came to her rescue.


    Just as she was on the verge of despair, the closed door slowly opened, and a beam of light shone through the crack. Alexander''s tall and majestic figure was bathed in that holy light, and he reached out like a deity, breaking down all her inner defenses.


    From that moment on, she became his most devout follower.


    Yet when she tried to grasp his hand, everything vanished, and she was plunged back into darkness.


    She opened her eyes abruptly, the light above her ring and dazzling. She gasped for air, the panic from the dream still lingering.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Oliver was sitting in a chair by the bed, his suit jacket casually draped over his left arm. Holding his phone disying colorful data charts, he said, "You''re awake."


    Seeing her awake, he stood up and considerately adjusted the head of the hospital bed for her.


    Figuring that perhaps Oliver didn''t understand signnguage, she typed on the phone.


    Quinn: [Where''s Abigail?]


    At the mention of Abigail, the troublemaker, Oliver was both helpless and amused. "She went to get your test results. You know, you totally freaked her out when you fainted." Embarrassed, Quinn typed: [Sorry for causing you so much trouble.]


    "You''re Abigail''s friend, which makes you my friend, too," Oliver said.


    He thought, ''Back in the club, Alexander chose to take Getty''s side rather than Quinn''s. Weird. I''ve known him for years, but I have no idea what he''s thinking. ''Everyone can tell how much Quinn loves him except for himself. He dotes on his ex-girlfriend right to her face. How cruel! He must have broken her heart. ''I feel so sorry for her.''


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    The ward became quiet to the point of slightly awkward. Fortunately, Abigail''s footsteps broke the silence.


    Her head was wrapped in bandages. Instead ofing in, she stopped at the door, hesitating.


    Quinn signed hastily,"Abigail, is your wound serious? Are you OK?"


    Abigail grinned and said, "I''m tough, OK? Nothing can hurt me!"


    Oliver scolded angrily, "You think? It''s your head, OK?! You better think of something to tell Dad when we get back."


    Shocked, Abigail grabbed his arm at once. "No! Don''t tell Dad, please! Oliver!"


    Quinn smiled at their conversation. She envied them because they were a family. Such a sense of home was always a luxury for her.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Then Abigail showed Oliver the test report secretly and nudged him forward. "Oliver, you tell her."


    Oliver looked at her and asked, "Really? Do you really find that appropriate?"


    Hearing that, Quinn propped herself up and signed to Abigail,"What are you talking about?"


    Oliver took the opportunity to leave, leaving Abigail to exin.


    Abigail looked uneasy as she sat down by the bed, holding Quinn''s hand, hesitant to speak.


    Quinn stared at her without blinking. Yet after a long wait, Abigail still didn''t utter a word.


    Seeing that, she let go of Abigail''s hand and signed, "Abigail, do I have some terminal illness? It''s fine. Just tell me. I can handle it."


    She thought, ''If only I really had a terminal illness. Then I wouldn''t have to think about what the point of being alive is every day.'' Abigail patted her hand. "Nonsense. You don''t have a terminal illness. You''re... pregnant."

 Chapter 12

    On the ultrasound image, within Quinn''s soft uterine cavity, a small, grayish life was faintly taking shape.


    Ity there quietly, unaware of the immense changes it was about to bring to its mother''s life.


    Abigail said, "You''re... pregnant."


    As soon as she blurted out, she closed her eyes in frustration, thinking that perhaps having a terminal illness would be a better piece of news for Quinn. Quinn''s mind buzzed. Abigail''s words struck her like a thunderbolt, leaving her too shocked to react.


    After quite a while, she finally got her senses back and signed, still panicking, "Did the doctor make a mistake? I took pills. Besides, we used protection."


    Abigail took the test report over and handed it to Quinn. "See for yourself."


    Quinn took it and carefully read every word. It stated that she was five weeks pregnant.


    It was a little over a month ago.


    She pressed her hand against her chest, her heart beating violently. Then she closed her eyes, trying to recall what had happened back then.


    It was Alexander''s birthday, and they went back to Kennedy Residence. He had a bit too much to drink that night, and they had sex several times, not sleeping until five in the morning.


    The next day, she woke up toote and was scolded by Kaitlyn, totally forgetting about taking pills and all that.


    She gently stroked her belly, where there was no movement at all, thinking, ''How absurd. Just as I''ve decided to let Alexander go, I''m pregnant with his baby.


    ''Fate is ying a joke on me.


    ''Kids destined to be without a father''s love will never be happy.''


    Looking at her pale face, Abigail sighed andforted her, "Chill. It''s still early. An abortion won''t do you a lot of harm."


    As she was about to find a doctor, Quinn grabbed her.


    She was stunned. "You... Don''t tell me you''re keeping the baby."


    "No way! Quinn, why should you give birth to the jerk''s baby?"


    Quinn shook her head and signed, "He won''t want it."


    Abigail said, "Well then. Get rid of it."


    Quinn stiffly moved her fingers."But I want it."


    Puzzled, Abigail asked, "Why?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Because it''s mine," Quinn signed.


    Abigail was silent for a moment, having no idea what to say. Then she sat back down, feeling for Quinn.


    She thought, ''Indeed. The baby is Alexander''s as well as Quinn''s.


    ''Quinn has no one, and her husband doesn''t give a damn about her. Of course, she yearns for a family member of her own.


    ''She needs love more than anyone. Either she gets loved or loves someone, there''s gotta be a person who bears her love.''


    Abigail, with her head still wrapped in bandages, looked at Quinn with eyes full of sincere pain and tenderness. She stroked Quinn''s cheek and said softly, "Then have the baby. I''ll help you raise it if you want." Her words brought tears to Quinn''s eyes.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigailforted Quinn, "Don''t cry, Quinn, or the baby will be sad, too."


    Quinn nodded, determined to divorce Alexander.

 Chapter 13

    Only by divorcing Alexander could she have a baby of her own.


    What happenedst year when Quinn was pregnant came back to her. That day, she went home happily with the report, naively thinking that if she told Alexander and Kaitlyn that she was pregnant, their attitude would change, and Alexander would love her a bit more.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Yet the harsh reality was like a p in her face, shattering her heart.


    Alexander carelessly tossed the sheet, and it fluttered onto the sofa, just like her heart that sunk from heaven to the depths of despair.


    He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "What a nuisance."


    He didn''t even consider her baby a life. For him, it was just an object.


    Kaitlyn was even more ruthless. She had someone hold Quinn down and force her onto the operating table. With one injection of anesthesia, when Quinn woke up, all that was left was a lump of flesh and an empty shell of a body. Thest thing she wanted was for the Kennedys to hurt her baby again. Therefore, this time, she decided to keep it from all of them.


    Shey in the ward all morning, and by afternoon, her fever was gone.


    Abigail apanied her for aprehensive check-up. The fetus was somewhat unstable, but everything else was fine.


    "You''re in the early stages of pregnancy, and you''ve gotta be careful. Well, your baby is a tough one. Just don''t push your luck again, OK? Luck favors you once but not twice," the female doctor warned her seriously. Quinn knew what she was referring to. Embarrassed, she nodded, her ears burning.


    The doctor prescribed her a bunch of meds for fetus protection, and she walked out of the hospital with them in her arms. The sky was nothing but fresh after the rain, and there was the taste of earth wafting through the air.


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    She looked up at the sky and saw the sun hiding behind the clouds, faintly visible. A few wild geese circled, flew into the endless sky, and finally disappeared.


    It seemed ages since thest time she had looked at the sky; she almost forgot how blue and vast it was.


    Abigail offered to take Quinn back on her motorcycle but was stopped by Oliver, who took her home atst.


    When they arrived, Quinn didn''t get out of the car at once. Instead, she took out her phone, opened the memo, and showed him the words she had typed in advance. Quinn: [Mr. Vanderbilt, please keep my pregnancy a secret.]


    He stared at the words for a moment and then looked at her, seeing the pleading in her eyes.


    Then he said, "OK."


    Quinn nodded in thanks. After that, she opened the car door and got out.


    Back home, she ced the meds the doctor had prescribed in the drawer under the coffee table and took out the ultrasound report to examine it closely.


    In the center of the image were two shapes. She gently caressed the indistinct form of her baby, unable to resist her smile.


    From now on, her life had a new meaning.


    "What are you looking at?"


    Just as she was lost in thought, a deep, charismaticvoice sounded behind her.

 Chapter 14

    Startled, Quinn flipped the pregnancy report upside down on the sofa.


    She stood up, turned to look at Alexander, and pretended to be calm. "The divorce agreement. Would you like to take a look?"


    Alexander stared at her fingers and then looked at her face. His eyes darkened as if the temperature in the room had dropped several degrees.


    He strode towards her, stopped in front of her, and extended his slender fingers. "Alright."


    Quinn''s expression stiffened. Looking into his unfathomable eyes, she clenched her fingers tightly together.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Seeing that, he reached out further and stared at her intently, his gaze piercing as if he could see right through her. "You want a divorce, right? Let me see it then."


    Utterly nervous, she didn''t know whether Alexander had changed his mind or seen through her lie. Either way, she didn''t dare to show him the report. She had already lost a baby, and she dared not gamble again. Finally, she reached out trembling, ced her hand on his, and gently rubbed her face against his chest, signing, "No. I don''t want a divorce anymore. I was wrong." Alexander raised his eyebrow imperceptibly. "Really?"


    Quinn nodded, staring at him without blinking, looking nothing but earnest.


    After a while, Alexander''s expression finally softened. He raised his hand to gently caress her face, his voice much gentler. "I don''t wanna see those words again. OK?" She clenched her fingers and nodded, smiling at him.


    He withdrew his hand and turned to go upstairs.


    Seeing that, she exhaled and slumped onto the sofa. Then she picked up the sheet again, tore it into pieces, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can, making sure no one would ever see it. Alexander went to the study. Seemed he nned to stay the night.


    After preparing dinner, she went to the study door and knocked four times, a signal she and Alexander had agreed upon.


    Soon, he came downstairs. He had changed into dark gray loungewear, and the loose clothes made him look quite slim. Meanwhile, he had loosened his hair, which softened the cold edges of his face and made him look so much younger, like a twenty-year-old college student.


    Once Alexander put on this outfit, it meant he wouldn''t go out again unless there was something very urgent.


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    While they were eating, his phone rang. Out of the corner of her eye, Quinn saw it was Getty.


    Sure enough, Alexander took a quick look and then promptly set his phone to silent mode andid it face down on the table.


    The love of his life was in the hospital. Even that couldn''t break his rules.


    He looked up at Quinn, who immediately lowered her head and continued eating silently.


    The meal ended in silence.


    After Quinn finished washing the dishes, she came out of the kitchen and saw Alexander sitting on the sofa. He beckoned to her. "Come here."


    She hesitated for a second and then walked over and sat down beside him.


    He picked up the remote control and turned on the TV, freeing one hand to wrap around her shoulders. Then he turned his head and looked at her. "Which cartoon do you wanna watch? I''ll watch it with you."


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    She looked at his face so close to hers and was momentarily dazed.


    For a moment, she felt being a little girl again.


    Though she was already carrying his baby, in his eyes, she was still that little girl who loved cartoons.


    Alexander seemed to sense something and turned to look at her.


    "You don''t like it?" He caressed her face, his thumb brushing the corner of her eye.


    She snapped back to reality, forced a smile, and signed, "I like it."


    After that, she hurriedly turned her head to watch the TV. As she raised her hand to touch her cheek, she felt some cold liquid.


    Alexander''s phone beside him rang every ten minutes.


    After two episodes, he finally picked up the phone and answered it.


    Getty''s voice came through the other end of the line. "Where are you?"

 Chapter 15

    "At home," Alexander said.


    Getty was choked on his words. The word "home" sounded so ironic, like a p in her face and a thorn piercing her heart.


    "Home? Then what is my ce to you? A hotel?" Getty choked. Every time he said he was at home, she was always overwhelmed by jealousy and fury. Alexander frowned. "What is with you now?"


    She said, sobbing, "You promised me you wouldn''t go back to see her for a month! How could you go back on your word?"


    The TV was loud, and Quinn couldn''t hear who was on the phone. Yet judging from Alexander''s tone, she could tell it was Getty.


    He sighed silently and then said, "We''ll talk about it when you feel better." After that, he hung up the phone without giving Getty a chance to speak and continued watching cartoons with Quinn.


    He watched the cartoons very intently. Even if he didn''t like it, he would still watch it together with her with full concentration instead of doing anything else.


    Quinn knew very well. Only when he was in a good mood would he patiently do boring things with her.


    At this moment, he seemed like a different person from the one at the club. He was so cold to her a while ago, and now he watched cartoons with her.


    He was always so unpredictable.


    And though he thought of her as a child, she still craved his false tenderness every time.


    She leaned her head on his shoulder, inhaling his scent which came from his clothes. She added gardenia-scented fabric softener every time she did theundry.


    He raised his hand, rubbed her head, and held her in his arms naturally.


    Nestling in his embrace, listening to his heartbeat, and smelling the familiar scent, for a moment, she had the urge to tell him she was pregnant with his baby. She wanted to ask him, "Will you love our baby?"


    But she knew the answer more than anyone else. Of course, he wouldn''t.


    Her tears fell on his clothes, soaking his chest.


    He lowered his head and asked softly, "Why are you crying again? Because of Abigail?"


    He lifted her chin and kissed her lips. "Be good and don''t see her again. I promise I''ll leave her alone."


    She pressed her lips and didn''t respond.


    Seeing that, he kissed her lips again, and as the kiss deepened, she found herself lying on the sofa.


    All of a sudden, she realized something and grabbed his hand.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander paused slightly, looking at her in confusion.


    She raised her hand and gestured, ;"I''m on my period."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    He stared at her intently, his pupils dark. After a while, he said hoarsely, "Why didn''t you say so earlier?"


    Quinn signed, "I''m sorry."


    He closed his eyes and tried to control his lust for quite a while before taking a deep breath and sitting up.


    Noticing his displeased expression, she gestured, "I''ll help you."


    Seeing that, he nced at her fair, soft fingers.


    In terms of sex, he had taught Quinn well. She knew pretty much everything.

 Chapter 16

    Alexander brushed off Quinn''s hand and stood up. "No need."


    With that, he walked towards the bathroom, and soon, the sound of running water rang out.


    Quinn sighed in relief, touching her lower abdomen.


    Suddenly, she was overwhelmed by panic, thinking, ''My period can''tst for ten months! What should I do?''


    The wave of panic yanked her back from the gentle quagmire, jolting her mind into rity.


    After nearly twenty minutes, Alexander came out of the bathroom. "It''s already ten o''clock," he said. "Time for you to go to bed."


    Quinn looked up. Before she could raise her hand, he had already bent down and picked her up.


    That night, shey awake until midnight, not knowing when she finally drifted off.


    In the morning, she was awakened by the ringing of her phone. Drowsily, she reached for her phone, and the second she picked it up, she heard Abigail''s voice.


    "Quinn, check your messages," Abigail said and then hung up.


    Quinn unlocked her screen, clicked on the messages, and found a video sent by Abigail.


    It was a painting Abigail had drawn of her. In it she sat by the window, looking out at the sky. The sun fell in her clear eyes, which sparkled yet held a sadness beyond her years. And there was another video.


    In this video, a white cat sat on the windowsill, looking outside in the same pose. In thetter part of the video, the cat became the painting of her.


    It was as if the cat had suddenly turned into her, with a seamless transition that made it seem like she was the cat. Their expressions were identical.


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    She clicked the voice messages from Abigail.


    Abigail said, "Honey, you''re famous. You know that? I''ve got over two million likes for the videos already!"


    Quinn: [Abigail, what''s going on?]


    Soon, Abigail called her and exined, "You know I often upload videos of my drawings online, right? A blogger used the painting of you, and now you''re famous.


    "A lot of people found my ount and asked if you were real. I posted your photo to convince them, but they still didn''t believe me. You have a minute now? I''ll go to you to take a video!" Quinn was stunned.


    Abigail continued, "Is Alexander home? If he is, I won''te. If not, tap the screen twice, and I''ll be right over."


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    Quinn looked around and found herself alone in the bedroom. Then she came to the living room, and still, Alexander was nowhere to be seen. After confirming that he was not at home, she double-tapped the screen. Abigailughed upon receiving Quinn''s response. "Give me twenty minutes!"


    In less than twenty minutes, Quinn heard the sound of a motorcycle outside and quickly ran out of the vi.


    Abigail sped towards Quinn and then stopped the motorcycle neatly at the door. She took off her helmet, shaking her short, flowing hair, her cool demeanor remaining unaffected by the bandages around her forehead. "Quinn!" She ran over, grabbed Quinn''s hand, and walked inside.


    While walking, she took out her phone and showed Quinn the videos. "Look! These are all the paintings I did of you. Someone even offered to buy them. You''re about to be an inte celebrity!"


    Puzzled, Quinn looked at her and signed, "Does bing an inte celebrity make a difference?"


    Abigail said, "Of course! You can make money!"

 Chapter 17

    Quinn stared in astonishment, not understanding how bing an inte celebrity could make money; she had never taken a deep dive into this.


    Abigail exined to her, "You can start your video ount, then post videos, sell products, and advertise. That way, you can make money."


    Quinn was stunned for a moment before gesturing, "Can I make a lot of money?"


    "Of course. The more followers you have, the more money you make." Abigail stroked her lower abdomen. "You wanna make money to raise your baby, right?"


    Quinn nodded and thought, ''Yes. I wanna make money, a lot of it. I wanna raise my baby and divorce Alexander.


    ''As long as I repay all the money the Kennedys have spent on me, I get to divorce him.


    ''By then, he won''t have a reason to turn me down.''


    Abigail was decisive and acted immediately. She helped Quinn register a short video ount and taught her how to use it.


    Then she added, "By the way, an advertisingpany reached out to mest night, asking if you could shoot an ad for them. Your image fits their product perfectly."


    Quinn blinked and pointed at herself. "I''m not a celebrity."


    "Who says only celebrities can endorse products?" Abigail red at her. "Actually, it''s not really an endorsement. They want you to shoot a game promo and cosy a character from the game."


    Wary of scams, Abigail stayed up all night researching thepany and its previous promos. Only was she certain it was legitimate did she call Quinn.


    Quinn signed, "How much does it pay?"


    "We haven''t discussed it yet. You gotta talk to them in person. They want a meeting," Abigail put her arm around Quinn''s shoulders and said with a smile. "How about I be your manager? If you''re interested, I''ll call them now for an interview." Quinn hesitated, instinctively touching her lower abdomen, and nodded finally.


    Seeing that, Abigail immediately contacted the person in charge, and soon, her phone rang. The two talked for a while and finally set the meeting for three o''clock in the afternoon.


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    Abigail dressed her up nicely. Quinn was already very beautiful, especially her big eyes, which exuded an innocent purity. When she stared at someone, she always made them feel guilty as if they had sinned terribly. Abigail rummaged through the walk-in closet and then eximed, "You have so many beautiful clothes! Howe you dress like an old woman every day?"


    Quinn looked at the clothes, which were all bought by Alexander. He only allowed her to wear them at home.


    "Damned bastard!" Abigail pulled out a pair of whitece stockings and a mini skirt from somewhere.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn blushed a bit when she saw the stockings.


    Abigail nced at Quinn''s legs instinctively and thought, ''Quinn''s legs are long and slender. I can tell she looks perfect in those just by imagining it.


    ''I''m a woman, and even I enjoy the sight. Too bad she''s never worn these.


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    ''Damn you, Alexander! You''re one lucky bastard.''


    As she continued rummaging through the closet, she actually found some sex clothes. Seeing those, she looked at Quinn differently.


    Quinn lowered her head to the utmost extent, and her ears were utterly red.


    Seeing how embarrassed she was, Abigail stopped teasing her and handed her a white dress to change into.


    Then she styled Quinn, curling Quinn''s long hair with a curling iron and tying it up into a bun.


    Looking at Quinn in the mirror, she couldn''t help but swallow.


    The light from the window fell on Quinn, making her skin fair and rosy. She was almost glowing. "Guess fairies do exist," Abigail murmured.

 Chapter 18

    Abigail had arranged to meet at her caf¨¦, and she arrived together with Quinn.


    Quinn sat by the window, her eyes fixed on the wound on Abigail''s forehead. She felt a bit uneasy, thinking, ''Alexander won''t let me see Abigail. If he knows, he''ll be mad.''Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail thought she was nervous and soothingly patted her shoulder, smiling, "Chill. I''ll do the talking."


    Quinn forced a smile while staring at the smile on Abigail''s face.


    She had been terribly lonely for years. Other than Alexander, she had no one. Everyone despised her.


    The second she saw Abigail in the club the day before yesterday, Alexander''s face when he pushed open the door back that year emerged in her mind. They both burst into her life without warning, shining into her desert-like world like a beam of light.


    After they waited for about ten minutes, a figure hurried in from outside. He shook the rain off his umbre and walked quickly toward them.


    Abigail stood up to greet him, "Mr. Cole."


    Ellis Cole, around forty years old, was skinny and not exactly tall. With ck-rimmed sses, he seemed quite approachable.


    Ellis said, "Ms. Vanderbilt, hi. Amber Bay is such a rainy ce at this time of year. It''s so inconvenient."


    He was indeed right. It had been sunny in the morning, but by noon, it started to drizzle, and the outside was shrouded in mist.


    Abigail extended her hand to Ellis. "Thanks for the special trip, Mr. Cole. Quinn, this is Mr. Cole, the agent from VX Games I talked to you about."


    Quinn quickly stood up and bowed to him.


    Ellis sized Quinn up, and a trace of admiration shed across his eyes. He waved his hand, smiling, "Let''s sit."


    Abigail said, "Mr. Cole, am I right or what? She''s exactly as I painted, right?"


    Ellisughed. "In fact, Ms. Mellon is even more stunning in reality. She''s the perfect person for the job."


    Abigail had already told him about Quinn, and he didn''t mind that Quinn couldn''t speak.


    He continued, "I''ve got things to doter, so I''ll cut to the chase. Let me brief you on the ad. Well, to call it an ad isn''t urate. It''s more like a Christmas Day event promo. We''ve always used animation, but one of my colleagues in the nning Department saw Ms. Mellon''s photo the other day and suggested using a real person."


    VX Games was a major gamingpany with two games that were hugely popr around the world. Yet those two games weren''t run by the same person, sopetition existed.


    The event this time was part of thepetition, and Ellis got creative and wanted to use a real person for the promo.


    One of the characters in the game he oversaw was beloved by many yers and had arge fan base, so the choice of person was crucial.


    And Quinn''s image happened to fit perfectly.


    After listening to Ellis'' exnation, Abigail nced at Quinn beside her and then said, "Mr. Cole, we''re OK with all that. Well... What about the pay then?"


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    Ellis smiled, "No need to sweat about that. We''ve invited celebrities before. Although Ms. Mellon isn''t as famous, our offer is sincere. Ms. Mellon, what do you think of this?"


    He raised a finger. It was unclear if he meant 10 thousand dors or 100 thousand dors.


    Quinn didn''t understand and could only look to Abigail for help.


    Abigail smiled, "Mr. Cole, sure enough, you''re sincere. 100 thousand dors sounds quite fair. Alright then. Let''s make it quick. When shall we sign?"


    Ellisughed heartily, saying, "Ms. Vanderbilt, you''re straightforward enough. Well, I''m gonna go back to attend a meeting for now. I''ll let you know when I have the contract drawn up. You maye straight to our office then." "OK." Abigail stood up and shook hands with Ellis, sealing the deal.


    Quinn also stood up, smiling at Ellis as saying goodbye.


    As soon as Ellis left, Quinn''s phone suddenly buzzed a few times. She took it out and saw a text from Alexander. Alexander: [Come back.]

 Chapter 19

    Alexander sent her two words only.


    Quinn''s heart sank when she saw the text. She nced at Abigail, who was still immersed in joy, and silently put the phone back in her pocket.


    Abigail put her arm around Quinn''s shoulders and smiled, "Quinn, see? You can make money on your own. You''re more than capable of raising your baby, and you don''t need that jerk at all!" Quinn forced a smile and signed, "Abigail, I should go back."Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail said, "Why? Let''s have dinner together tonight and celebrate."


    Quinn waved her hand and touched her lower abdomen. "ed to go back and take my meds."


    Abigail said, "Oh, that''s right. I totally forgot about it. Your baby is still fragile. Alrighty, I''ll take you back. We can always celebrate once the contract is signed."


    Smiling, Quinn nodded. Then she went out of the caf¨¦ together with Abigail and got on Abigail''s motorcycle.


    Since she was pregnant, Abigail drove much more carefully than before. She didn''t speed or run red lights and even prepared a raincoat for Quinn.


    When they arrived at the vi, Abigail helped her take off the helmet and raincoat and carelessly crumpled up the raincoat. "Go in then. I''ll call you once Mr. Cole has the contract ready." Quinn nodded and turned to go inside.


    The vi door was open, which meant Alexander was home.


    She nervously clutched the hem of her clothes and walked in slowly.


    Sure enough, Alexander was sitting on the living room sofa, talking on the phone.


    He had his legs crossed, one hand holding the phone, the other resting on the back of the sofa. His shirt cor was open, revealing the clear outline of his corbones.


    His expression was stern. When he saw Quinne in, he said into the phone, "Seems someone is deliberately causing trouble, and it''s not just one person. Find out the reasons for the restrictions in those countries before anything." Then he hung up the phone and looked at Quinn. His gaze swept over her, from her hair to her shoes, and then returned to her face atst.


    He asked, "Where were you?"


    Quinn pressed her lips, standing in front of him like a student who had made a mistake.


    She signed, "I went shopping."


    Alexander quietly watched her, his face revealing no emotion. Then he said, "Dressed like this? What did I tell you?"


    She pinched her fingers, sneaking a nce at his expression and then lowering her head.


    Then she gestured, "I can''t go out dressed like this."


    He reached out and pulled her onto hisp, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Then why did you disobey me? What if you ran into bad people?" While he was lecturing her, his hands were already resting on her thigh. She was wearing a long dress with a loose sweater on top, a very conservative outfit.


    As he touched her thigh, he lifted her dress, revealing her fair legs.


    She obediently sat on hisp and wrapped her arms around his neck without responding to him.


    Suddenly, he said, "Are you short of money?"


    Quinn''s body stiffened immediately.


    Alexander lifted his head, meeting her clear eyes. They were so close she could see her reflection in his pupils. She looked both stiff and pale.


    His scrutinizing gaze was oppressive, and she involuntarily clutched the shirt on his back.


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    He continued, "Tell me. What do you need the money for?"


    His eyes were sharp, and though he sounded calm, Quinn sensed a hint of danger.


    Her face turned pale, and she was unsure of how to answer him. She thought, ''Given his questions, I''m pretty sure he knows already.


    ''I don''t wanna stay at home all day and wanna go out to work, which he allows. He doesn''t care about the money I made in Abigail''s caf¨¦.


    ''But this time, I''m bold enough to sign with Mr. Cole for 100 thousand dors, even though it means I''ll have to be a public figure. ''Not to mention that I proposed a divorce the day before yesterday.


    ''Alexander isn''t a fool. Bet he can figure out what''s going on."


    Alexander smiled, but it didn''t reach his eyes. His smile seemed a bit creepy.


    His broad hand slid under her dress and gripped her thigh firmly, the heat almost burning her.


    He said, "Tell me."

 Chapter 20

    Alexander''s voice was not loud, yet it was already enough to send a shiver down Quinn''s spine.


    She gestured nervously, "I... I wanted... to buy something."


    He asked, "And what was that?"


    "Clothes. I wanted to buy clothes for you." She swallowed.


    He stared straight at her with his deep eyes. Suddenly, heughed. "Buy clothes for me?"


    She nodded.


    "Quinn," he suddenly called her name. He hadn''t done so for a long time.


    Meanwhile, he used his fingers to stroke her cheek gently. Then he continued coldly, "You''ve managed to lie so naturally. You weren''t like this before. Tell me. Did you learn from Abigail? She taught you to lie?" Quinn''s pupils contracted, and she shook her head repeatedly.


    Alexander grabbed her hands, stopping her from exining. With his other hand, he wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her lips, saying, "Rx. I was just teasing you. So, what kind of clothes were you nning to buy for me?"


    Quinn''s hands were restrained, and therefore she could only look at him helplessly.


    He used his lips to graze the corner of her mouth and bit her lips with slight force. While she was in a daze, he took the chance and put his tongue inside her mouth. He licked every inch of her mouth so fiercely as if he wanted to swallow her tongue whole.


    He only let go of her when tears welled up in her eyes.


    She stood up from hisp, hastily tidied her clothes, and gestured, "I''ll go fix dinner."


    "No need. I''m leaving." He stood up as well, buttoned up his cor, took a few steps, and then turned around, saying, "Don''t do it again."


    Quinn copsed weakly onto the sofa, stroking her lower abdomen.


    She thought, ''I know what he meant.


    ''I can''t see Abigail again, and I can''t go make money.


    ''He said himself that he was open to a divorce as long as I paid him back. However, he won''t allow me to make money.


    ''He doesn''t love me, yet he won''t leave me be either.


    ''Perhaps Abigail is right. He won''t throw away things he doesn''t even like. And of course, he''ll never lose control of things he owns.


    ''Even if he doesn''t want me anymore, it''s gonna be him who dumps me. Me leaving voluntarily won''t be eptable for him.''


    At the same time, Alexander drove to the hospital.


    Getty had twisted her ankle. Though hospitalization wasn''t necessary, she insisted on it.


    She stayed here alone for two days, and Alexander only came to check on her once shortly. She found it boring and decided to be discharged, so she called him to pick her up. Alexander stood in the elevator with a family of four.


    The woman held a baby in her arms, the man had his arm around her, and a five-year-old boy stood beside him.


    "The more I look at our daughter''s face, the rounder it seems. She''s not gonna have a big round face when she grows up, will she?" the womanined, but there was a sweet smile on her face.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


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    The man smiled, "Round faces are cute. Bet she''ll look like you when she grows up."


    She said, "She better look like me. If she looks like you, she won''t be able to find a husband."


    The man said, "Great! Then she can be with me forever."


    The little boy tugged at the woman''s hand. "Mommy, I wanna hold her."


    The woman freed one hand to ruffle the boy''s hair."Perhaps when we get home. She''s not going anywhere. You have all the time in the world to hold her." The elevator doors opened, and the family of four walked out, chatting andughing. As they passed Alexander, he nced at the baby in the woman''s arms. He watched them leave until the elevator doors closed.


    Meanwhile, he thought, ''Quinn had a round face as well when she first came to us.


    ''If our baby had been born, would it have had a round face just like hers?''

 Chapter 21

    "Alexander, what''s the matter? You seem distracted." Getty had been sitting in the car for a while, noticing that he had already smoked two cigarettes, yet they hadn''t moved from the parking spot. Alexander took thest drag from his cigarette and turned to look at Getty.


    "Feeling better?" he asked.


    "Yes, thank goodness it''s nothing serious," Getty responded, still a bit upset that the situation had escted so quickly that she hadn''t had the chance to properly deal with it. "I''m not really in the mood right now. What do you want to eat?" Alexander rubbed his temples, looking worn out.


    Getty eyed him curiously. "What''s going on? Did something happen at work?" "Just a bit of trouble." Alexander replied, starting the car and pulling out of the parking lot.


    Getty, more a nominal secretary than an actual assistant in Alexander''spany, was paid butrgely uninformed about the specifics of his business.


    She wanted to offerfort but wasn''t sure how, so she chose to remain silent. Pulling out her phone, Getty started ying a game. When boredom struck at work, gaming was her escape. Her current obsession was "Dragon Vein Street," a game into which she had heavily invested.


    Last month, in a bid to outdo the second-highest spender in the game, Getty had spent over five million on "Dragon Vein Street," all on Alexander''s credit card.


    He had given her a supplementary card with practically no spending limit, except that purchases over ten million required a prior notification.


    Usually, he had no objections to her expenses. "Hey, Alexander, they''re casting real people for a New Year''s promotional video for the game I want toaudition," Getty said, excitement tinting her voice.


    "Mhm," Alexander replied, his voice faint as he gripped the steering wheel.


    Getty thought, ''Could you help me get in touch with them? They wouldn''t dare turn down your referral.'' She adored the game and saw bing the face of the promotional campaign as a tremendous opportunity.


    Her guild friends already dubbed her the "rich girl." If she could star in the advertisement, every yer would recognize her not just as wealthy, but as strikingly beautiful. The thought of the adoration she''d receive made her giggle with delight.


    Alexander, who always catered to Getty''s wishes, would naturally not refuse such a request.


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    Truth be told, many of his friends couldn''t fathom his fondness for Getty. She wasn''t particrly intelligent or graceful; she often seemed bratty and presumptuous.


    She had many ws and was just pretty-there were plenty more out there prettier than her. Yet, some believed Alexander loved Getty for who she was ws and all, even her shallowness..


    But only Getty knew the true nature of Alexander''s affection. She was careful not to overstep around him; her slightest intentions were transparent to him.


    Therefore, she acted exactly as expected, enjoying freedom within the boundaries he set. As soon as Getty expressed her desire to participate in the promotional video, Alexander promptly called his assistant to make the necessary arrangements.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    At VX Games, the producers were surprised when they received an unexpected call that disrupted their ns.


    "Seriously, why is Alexander meddling in this? Does he really need the cash?" Ellis wondered, puzzled by the sudden involvement.

 Chapter 22

    Another female producerughed lightly, "That girl, Getty, has poured a ton of money into this game, and she''s Alexander''s favorite. He''s clearly trying to impress his girlfriend."


    A male colleague added, "Using Getty isn''t a bad idea. She''s the top yer on the server, which might have more impact than choosing someone less known, like Quinn."


    "There''s no room for negotiation at the moment. The guy has invested millions into our game. We can''t afford to upset him," another chimed in. "But why not use both? someone suggested. It''s not like there''s just one character avable." "The issue is Getty wants to cosy as Lunar, and we''ve already promised that role to Quinn," exined the first producer.


    "Let''s bring them both in to discuss it. Maybe Getty will be willing topromise," concluded another.


    The next day, Quinn received a message from Abigail about a potential contract negotiation at VX Games. Quinn hesitated; Alexander had already issued a warning. Would going thereplicate things for Abigail? After pondering for a while, Quinn texted back, "Abigail, I''ve decided not to go."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Within two minutes, Abigail responded with a long voice message.


    "Why not? Did Alexander say something to you? What right does he have to stop you? You don''t owe him anything; you earn your own money. Think about the baby-do you want a divorce or not?


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    "Take your time and think it over, then get back to me. If you''re not leaving him, I''ll tell Ellis to drop it," Abigail added, her tone tinged with frustration.


    Quinn felt a pang of fear listening to Abigail''s angry words. She didn''t want to lose her friendship, nor did she want to provoke Alexander''s wrath. Clutching her phone, Quinn hesitated before replying: "Abigail, he won''t let me see you." She wanted to exin further, but her message only seemed to inme Abigail''s anger even more.


    A furious voice message soon followed from Abigail: "Who is he not to let you see me? Why wouldn''t he allow that? Do you think I''m afraid of him? Quinn, let me tell you, I''m not scared of Alexander.


    If you''re not going to contact me because of what he said, then there''s nothing I can do."


    Quinn panicked as she tried to reply, but an exmation mark appeared on the screen. Her heart sank-Abigail had blocked her.


    In a rush, Quinn got up and hurried out of the vi, quickly hailing a cab through an app. She arrived at the coffee shop and went directly to the upstairs studio where Abigail was.


    As Quinn pushed open the door, Abigail turned, surprised at the sight of Quinn in pajamas and breathless. With a slight smile, Abigail teased, "What''s with the outfit?"


    Quinn, struggling to catch her breath, her chest heaving and her face streaked with tears, gestured desperately with her hands: "Please, don''t break up with me."

 Chapter 23

    Abigail''s smile softened as she grasped Quinn''s hand, "I''m sorry, I really wanted you toe. I didn''t mean to block you." She paused, looking intently at Quinn. "Since you''re here, that means I''m more important to you than Alexander, right?" Quinn nodded, still catching her breath.


    "Alright, I''ll add you back, okay?" Abigail said, pulling out her phone to re-add Quinn. She then quickly changed the subject. "So, are you still going to VX Games?"Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn nodded again without hesitation.


    "There, we''re friends on WhatsApp again! But we can''t have you going out like this. Hang on, I''ll grab you some clothes," Abigail said, fetching something more appropriate for Quinn to wear.


    The clothes were casual and a bit loose on Quinn, but they were fine given her height.


    Once dressed, Abigail took Quinn to VX Games on her bike. They exined their visit at the reception and were directed to the marketing department.


    Ellis greeted them warmly, but the atmosphere shifted when they noticed Getty already there.


    She was lounging back in her chair, examining her freshly manicured nails. "Ellis, is this the person you said wanted to cosy Lunar?" Getty asked, looking up. "Exactly," Ellis replied with enthusiasm, "You see, Getty, you and Quinn have different styles. If you were to cosy as Lark, that would be amazing."


    Getty scoffed, "What if I want to cosy as Lunar?"


    "That''s..." Ellis began, the producers exchanging uneasy nces. If Getty insisted on cosying as Lunar, it wouldplicate things, as Quinn would then have no role to y. Abigail turned to Ellis, her tone inquisitive. "What''s going on here, Ellis?"


    Ellis leaned in and whispered confidentially, "She''s the top spender on our server, and Alexander brought her in."


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    Abigail chuckled at the revtion, raising her voice deliberately. "The top spender, huh? Alexander sure knows how to spend money, doesn''t he? If only he were so generous with his own wife."


    Thement stirred whispers throughout the office, and Getty''s face drained of color. She stood up abruptly, shooting a furious re at Abigail. Quinn discreetly tugged at Abigail''s sleeve, silently pleading for her to ease up. The wound on her head from theirst encounter hadn''t even fully healed yet.


    Amid the murmurs, someone whispered, "Is Alexander married?"


    "I don''t know, but from what she just said, his wife isn''t Getty, right?"


    "Who knows? People in their ss often have several affairs."


    Getty, feeling both angry and embarrassed under the scrutinizing and disdainful gazes of others, took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself and sat back down. "Ellis, let''s be clear, I''m cosying as Lunar. If you have a problem with that, go talk to Alexander."


    Ellis looked troubled as he nced between Getty and Abigail. "Abigail, what do you suggest we..."


    Quinn, sensing the rising tension, gently pulled at Abigail''s hand and nodded towards the door, signaling it was time to leave. "Leave? Why should we?" Abigail''s voice was sharp with anger.


    Normally, she might have stepped aside if someone else wanted the role, but not for Getty. She refused to back down now. "How much has she spent on your game?" Abigail asked.


    "A little over twenty million," Ellis replied, looking somewhat embarrassed.


    With a defiant lift of her chin, Abigail dered, "I''ll give you thirty million. Quinn''s taking the role!"


    The room fell silent.


    Quinn was taken aback. She hade here to earn money, not to have it spent on her behalf.


    But Abigail was resolute; while Quinn might not have the funds, Abigail was not about to let this injustice stand. "Abigail, there''s no need to go to all this trouble..." Quinn began, but Abigail''s determined expression told her that the argument was far from over.

 Chapter 24

    Ellis was sharp enough to recognize that if Abigail knew both Getty and Alexander, she likely hailed from a simr elite background.


    The offer of thirty million was probably within her means. Abigail pulled Quinn into a seat next to her, crossed her legs confidently, and dered, "You guys talk about what you want. If thirty million isn''t enough, I can add more." For the first time, Ellis found himself overwhelmed by someone''s eagerness to spend money.


    Getty interjected, "I''ll match whatever she pays. You''re not the only one here with money."


    Abigail looked at her with disdain. "You may have money, but is it really yours?"


    "And is your money truly yours?" Getty snapped back.


    "At least it belongs to my family, the Vanderbilts. I have my share, regardless of what I do. What about you?"


    "You..." Getty was at a loss for words.


    Ellis, attempting to quell the rising tension, raised his hand. "Ladies, please, let me just call Alexander."


    "Do that. Put it on speaker. We all want to hear this!" Abigail insisted, eager to see whether Alexander would indeed side with Getty.


    Ellis, who didn''t have Alexander''s number, could only call his assistant.


    After exining the circumstances to the assistant, it became apparent that the issue was beyond his authority; he had to consult Alexander.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alexander, Quinn and Getty are both interested in the same role. What''s your preference?" the assistant asked.


    Alexander, eyes on some documents, didn''t even look up. "Give it to Getty."


    "Uh...?" the assistant hesitated.


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    Alexander lifted his gaze sharply. " Didn''t you hear me?"


    "It''s just that Quinn-"


    "I said, Getty. Is that clear?" Alexander cut him off.


    The assistant bowed his head, "Understood, I''ll handle it immediately."


    When Ellis got off the phone, she looked at Abigail with embarrassment.


    "Abigail, I got a response from Alexander."


    Abigail could tell from his embarrassed expression what the decision was. "It''s for her, isn''t it? Ellis, it seems you favor Alexander''s decisions. Doesn''t the Vanderbilt family deserve equal consideration?"


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    Ellis was at a loss for words, visibly shaken and regretful. He hadn''t anticipated theplexity this situation would invoke, now caught between two influential families.


    Quinn, realizing the decision, lowered her head in resignation. She felt Getty''s smug and scornful gaze on her. Without Alexander''s support, she had no leverage against Getty.


    Quinn wanted to leave, but Abigail stood firm, insisting that they secure the role today. Getty was equally determined. Ellis and the marketing team discussed the dilemma at length but found themselves at an impasse. Ultimately, they had to escte the matter, but the higher-ups distanced themselves, advising them to make a decision that would minimize bacsh, even though it meant offending one of the parties.


    The choice became apparent; Abigail''s influence was no match for Alexander''s. Alexander could wield the clout of his family, whereas Abigail represented only herself, not the entirety of the Vanderbilt interests. After careful consideration, Ellis regretfully informed them of the decision."Abigail, I''m terribly sorry, but after careful discussion, we''ve decided to choose Getty as the spokesperson for our campaign." Abigail''s frustration boiled over. She mmed her hand on the table, standing abruptly. "What are you ying at? And Alexander-how does he factor into this?! Is this how he treats his wife?" Ellis, caught off guard by her reaction, stuttered, "Wife? Oh... Who- who is..." His eyes shifted to Quinn in confusion, beginning to suspect there was more to the situation than he realized.

 Chapter 25

    Abigailughed derisively, fixing Ellis with a sharp gaze. "Ellis, do you really think I have nothing better to do than argue with Getty over amercial?" A shiver ran down Ellis'' spine as he realized that this was more than just a dispute over a role it was a matter of pride.


    The atmosphere in the room shifted, and the change in the crowd''s perception towards Getty was palpable, prompting her to react furiously.


    She stood up, pointing at Abigail, "Are you out of your mind? Is Quinn your mother or something? Why are you so fiercely defending her? What do you gain by targeting me?"


    "Because I choose to! If her own husband won''t support her, who will? You think everyone''s like you, chasing after any man you see, shamelessly flirting with another woman''s husband, and unting it in front of his wife? Quinn deserves respect."


    "You, you!" Getty was livid, rushing toward Abigail as if to attack her.


    Thankfully, others in the room quickly intervened, holding both women back from escting further.


    Suddenly, someone announced, "Alexander is here!"


    The office fell silent for a moment as all eyes turned towards the entrance. Alexander stood there, hands in his pockets, dressed in a sharp suit, disying an air of indifference to the office drama unfolding before him.


    His eyes swept across the room, pausing on Getty and Abigail before finally settling on Quinn, who lowered her eyes nervously under his scrutiny.


    Seeing Alexander as a potential ally, Getty limped toward him. "Alexander, you finally made it. Abigail''s always picking on me!" she eximed, seeking sympathy.


    Seeing Getty''s fawning demeanor, Abigail rolled her eyes, clearly disgusted. "Spare me the theatrics, Getty. It''s embarrassing."


    Ellis, regaining hisposure, stepped forward with a polite gesture. "Alexander, what brings you here? Please,e in."


    Alexander raised his hand, signaling he didn''t need formalities, and got straight to the point. "So, no decision yet?"


    "No, Abigail refuses to budge, and..."


    Ellis started to exin, but Alexander cut him off with a nce.


    "You all did well with the project. I''m in for two hundred million. If the Vanderbilts are interested, have Oliver contact me."


    Alexander stated, directing hisment partially to Ellis but clearly meant for Abigail.


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    Ellis was taken aback.


    "What do you mean by that, Alexander?"


    Alexander''s expression remained impassive as he responded to Abigail. "Exactly what I said, Abigail. You''re out of your league trying to negotiate with me."


    "You..." Abigail, caught betweenughter and anger, retorted, "Alexander, your wife is right here. If you don''t care about her feelings, just get a divorce."Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    His expression darkened, and his tone became icy, "who are you to her?" he shot back, the tension palpable.


    "It doesn''t matter who I am," Abigail retorted "At least I don''t stand by and let her be humiliated in front of others like some disposable object!"


    Alexander responded coldly, "Is meddling in other people''s family affairs how the Vanderbilt''s are raised? If you really wanted to protect her, you wouldn''t have brought her here. Do you think your antics here change anything?" Abigail was left speechless. She knew Alexander''s disregard for Quinn was profound, and her attempts to defend Quinn only seemed to make matters worse, turning her into a spectacle.


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    While Alexander had yed his part in this thing, Abigail couldn''t help but feel arge share of the mey with her, persisting despite knowing the inevitable oue.


    "Indeed, I had overestimated her importance to you. That''s my mistake." Abigail conceded.


    Just then, Oliver burst into the office, breathless as though he had run the entire way.


    He approached Abigail directly, "Abigail, enough with the drama. Let''s go back," he urged, attempting to pull her away by the hand, but she resisted. Abigail simmered with silent frustration, her emotions bottled up with nowhere to vent. "Quinn,e here," Alexander suddenlymanded.


    As Abigail turned to Quinn, she shot her a warning re. "Don''t go over there."


    Quinn stood hesitantly, torn, her eyes flickering toward the coldness in Alexander''s gaze. She took a reluctant step forward.


    But Abigail pulled her back. "Everything''s out in the open now. Why go to him? Let Alexander decide today. He should either file for divorce or break it off with that woman. Everyone''s watching; it''s time to show some backbone, isn''t it?"

 Chapter 26

    Quinn bit her lip as she looked at Alexander, who met her gaze with a piercing silence.


    Oliver, growing increasingly agitated, interjected, " Abigail, can you just stop? It''s their business, not yours."


    "She''s my friend. Her problems are my problems! I''m seeing this through. They have to get a divorce¡ª" "Enough!" Oliver shouted.


    The sharp sound of a p echoed through the office, plunging the room into silence.


    Oliver had struck Abigail with full force, leaving a visible mark on her face. Incredulously, she stared at Oliver, whose eyes burned with a mix of fury and a hint of guilt, his emotions tooplex to untangle.


    Quinn, shocked, watched Abigail. After a moment of hesitation, she wrenched herself from Abigail''s grip. Abigail remained silent, watching Quinn''s retreating figure with resignation.


    Walking toward the door, Quinn faced Alexander and noticed Getty clinging to him tightly, as if fearing he might escape. With a wry smile, Quinn thought to herself that they were a match made in heaven-she was the one who didn''t belong. Then, without looking back, she walked past them and out the door, leaving the drama and the tangled emotions behind.


    As Oliver led Abigail away, they passed by Alexander. With a sneer, Abigail warned, "Alexander, you better not live to regret this."


    Outside, the rain continued, a fine mist casting a spectral presence over the city. Getty followed Alexander at a distance, her lips pressed tightly together, sensing his anger.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


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    When they reached the parking lot, Alexander stopped abruptly. "You drive back alone," hemanded.


    "Aren''t youing with me?" Getty reached for his hand. "Come over to my ce. I''ll make dinner."


    "I''ve got things to handle. Just go." Alexander pulled his hand away and stepped into his car, leaving Getty standing alone as he drove off.


    After leaving VX Games, Quinn boarded a city bus with no specific destination in mind, mirroring the aimlessness she felt in her life. As she touched her lower abdomen, she gazed out through the rain-streaked window, her thoughts distant. The bus would eventually reach its final stop, no matter how long the journey. The driver, noticing her, nced back several times. The bus was nearly empty, yet the young woman stood throughout the ride. "Miss, this is thest stop," he finally called out.


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    Snapping back to reality, Quinn nodded her thanks to the driver and disembarked.


    She found herself in an old neighborhood, characterized by modest buildings no taller than eight or nine stories, with people bustling under their umbres.


    Rain soaked her hair as she wandered, eventually pausing in front of a small spaghetti restaurant. It waste afternoon, and the ce was almost deserted.


    Noticing her hesitation outside, the owner approached with concern, mistaking her reluctance for worry about the cost. "Come in, you don''t have to pay," he said kindly. Once inside, a steaming bowl of spaghetti was ced before her. Looking up at the owner''spassionate smile, Quinn''s lips quivered and tears streamed down her face. Here, a stranger offered her warmth and kindness, a stark contrast to the deep wounds inflicted by those closest to her.

 Chapter 27

    The owner sighed sympathetically, pushing the bowl closer to Quinn. "Eat it while it''s hot; it tastes better that way."


    Quinn wiped her tears and managed a weak smile. She picked up her fork and began to eat, her actions revealing a hunger that suggested she hadn''t eaten in days. Tears continued to fall, mixing with the spaghetti in her bowl. The Spaghetti shop was run by a middle-aged couple who had lost a child in a traffic ident years ago.


    Since then, they dedicated their lives to their shop, asionally offering free meals to those in need as a way to honor their child''s memory.


    Quinn stayed in the shop throughout the afternoon, lingering there even as night fell. Observing her, the woman turned to her husband with concern. "This poor child seems so lost. Don''t you think she has nowhere to go?"Her husband spected quietly, "She''s mute, probably came this way to look for work."


    As the evening ended and thest customers departed, the owner''s wife approached Quinn gently. "Sweetheart, where''s your home?"


    Quinn shook her head, her expression somber. She''d been without a home since she was five.


    With a kind sigh, the woman offered, "If you''ve nowhere to go, why not stay and help out around here? We have a storage room you can sleep in. Just help with dish washing and a bit of cleaning during the day." Quinn looked at her in surprise.


    The woman smiled wryly. "Mind you, we don''t make much here, so there''s no pay."


    Quinn nodded in agreement, silently expressing her gratitude through gestures. The woman looked at Quinn thoughtfully, her gaze distant. "If my daughter were still here, she''d be around your age," she mused. Quinn lowered her gaze, staying silent.


    The woman prepared the storage room for her, arranging a metal frame bed that was there for nights they stayed up toote.


    That night, Quinn slept in the cramped room. It was nothing like Alexander''s vi, but she felt safe and secure. She touched her belly, pondering if Alexander didn''te looking for her,, she might just stay here until the baby was born. Meanwhile, Alexander returned home to find the vi empty. It was nearly midnight, and Quinn hadn''t returned.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    He searched the kitchen and then the upstairs bedroom, but found no sign of her. As Alexander checked each unopened door, his unease grew. Something prompted him to check the walk-in closet.


    Opening it, he saw that Quinn''s clothes were still there, which slightly softened his expression. Back in the living room, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant, "Find out where Quinn is."


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    "Quinn''s missing?" the assistant asked.


    Alexander lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and his expression was unreadable. "Getting clever, isn''t she?"


    Sensing his mood, the assistant quickly agreed and ended the call.


    Finding her wouldn''t be difficult; pulling up the surveince footage from outside VX Games would reveal where she had gone.


    The footage showed her getting off at thest bus stop and heading into the old district. The assistant nced at Alexander, who was intently staring at theputer screen, his face emotionless. Tentatively, the assistant asked, "Should I bring Quinn back?"


    "No, freeze all her cards," Alexander ordered as he switched off the monitor, his voice carrying a trace of coldness. "She''ll learn her lesson ande back home once she''s faced some hardship."


    But things weren''t going to unfold as smoothly as he''d anticipated.

 Chapter 28

    The diner wasn''t bustling, but it wasn''t quiet either. It saw its fair share of customers, particrly during the after-work rush.


    Spaghetti, a menu staple, was affordable but didn''t bring in much revenue.Quinn was a diligent worker. She not only washed dishes but also voluntarily cleaned tables after customers left.


    The diner''s owners watched her with a mix of pride and guilt, almost feeling they should pay her for her exceptional work. Despite Alexander''s expectations, Quinn didn''t return to him. Instead, she found fulfillment in the diner. The owners treated her like family-they ate together, ran errands, and sharedughter. Quinn had never felt such happiness even with Alexander. She knew she had found a new home here. The owner''s wife tried to teach her how to cook spaghetti and stir-fries, unaware of Quinn''s expertise. Alexander had been particr about his food, noticing the smallest changes in vor. After marrying him, Quinn had honed her cooking skills daily to meet his exacting tastes.


    Thus, when Quinn prepared meals, she impressed the diner''s wife, who asked in amazement, "Quinn, have you had any formal cooking training?"


    Quinn just smiled and nodded. "That''s impressive. It seems a waste to have you just washing dishes. How about you take on the role of chef instead?" Quinn waved her hands dismissively, as the aroma of the food made her stomach turn. Before the owner could encourage her further, Quinn felt a wave of nausea wash over her and quickly made her way to the trash bin to vomit. After a brief, ufortable moment, only a bit of bile came up.


    The owner''s wife ced aforting hand on Quinn''s back. "Are you alright? Do you feel sick?" Quinn paused to catch her breath, straightened up, wiped her mouth, and ced a hand on her stomach, indicating her pregnancy. The owner''s wife gasped,, "You''re pregnant? And your husband?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, pulling out her phone to type in her notes app-"He doesn''t want us anymore."


    She believed she was right to think this way; it had been days since she left, and Alexander hadn''t sent a single message.


    Perhaps he hadn''t even returned to their home. She was gone, and he was likely relieved. This way, he could keep his promise to his grandfather and be with Getty without any guilt. It all made sense to Quinn, yet it weighed heavily on her heart.


    When the diner''s owner read Quinn''s typed note, she couldn''t hide her anger. "What kind of man does that! Leaving you alone while you''re pregnant... He''spletely irresponsible, a total jerk.


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    How are you managing all by yourself?"Quinn looked down, feeling as though everyone thought she couldn''t make it without Alexander.


    Sensing her distress, the owner''s wife offered reassurance. "Don''t worry, dear. You''re wee to stay here as long as you need. With your cooking skills, once your baby is born, you could easily get a job as a chef and support yourself and your child."Her words revived Quinn''s hope.


    She looked up, her eyes bright with gratitude, and nodded appreciatively


    Two weekster, as Quinn was kneeling and washing dishes in the diner, Alexander walked in.


    His refined appearance stood out in the humble setting. He noticed Quinn immediately, her slender arms busy in the sink, her hair pulled back in a functional bun.


    As the owner''s wife delivered a te to a table, she stopped short at the sight of Alexander. "Can I help you find someone?" she asked, puzzled by his out-of-ce look. Alexander remained silent, his gaze fixed on Quinn. Hearing a noise, Quinn turned her head to see who had entered.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 29

    A tall, slender figure stood in the doorway, his face obscured by the backlighting, making it difficult for Quinn to see him clearly.


    She tightened her grip on the te she was holding. Quinn was puzzled by Alexander''s sudden appearance. ''Hadn''t he moved on to a happy life with Getty by now?'' "Having fun?" His voice cut through the silence, casual as if her absence had been a mere caprice.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    The diner''s owner''s wife, Mrs. Jenkins, looked on in confusion, her eyes flicking between them. "And who might you be to Quinn?" she inquired instinctively. "I''m her husband," he dered.


    Mrs. Jenkins''s mouth dropped open in shock, her assumptions shattered.


    She had pictured Quinn''s husband as azy, domineering type, not this attractive, charismatic man. "Quinn said you didn''t want her anymore, so why are you here?" she asked bluntly. Alexander turned slightly to nce at the woman, "Did she say that?"


    Mrs. Jenkins hesitated, sensing theplexity of the situation."Well..."


    Alexander offered a smile. "She left rather suddenly; I apologize if she caused any inconvenience." "Right then," Mrs. Jenkins said with an uneasy smile that faded into a sigh of relief, "d to hear that''s settled. I was worried she might be " Before she could finish her thought, the sound of shattering ss filled the room as Quinn''s te crashed to the floor, breaking into pieces.


    Quinn hurried over to Mrs. Jenkins, frantically gesturing an apology: "Sorry, I didn''t mean to."


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    Yet, inwardly, she knew she had meant to do it. She couldn''t risk Mrs. Jenkins revealing her pregnancy.


    Mrs. Jenkins, trying to interpret her silent message,ughed it off awkwardly, "No worries, dear. I''ll take care of this messter. You should go now that your husband is here to take you home."


    She nced up at Alexander, who took her hand and led her out of the store.


    The drive back to the vi was silent. Returning to the cold, opulent house felt starkly different from the warm, bustling environment of the small spaghetti shop.


    Inside, Alexander''s demeanor changed; his expression turned stormy as he gripped Quinn''s jaw harshly.


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    "Getting bold, aren''t we? Running away from home?"His grip was tight, his anger palpable. Quinn winced, feeling her jaw might dislocate. She met his fierce gaze, her eyes watering under the strain. Quinn tried to free herself, but Alexander shoved her onto the couch, her surroundings spinning into darkness.


    He loomed over her, gripping her hand tightly. "Who taught you to act like this?" Quinn managed a weak smile through her tears, pulling her hand away. "No one. You don''t care where I go. Why can''t I leave?" Her tone was filled with anger and defiance.


    Alexander stared at her, saying nothing.


    "Why do you care so much for Getty, yet drag me back?" Quinn challenged him. Normallypliant like a tame kitten, she rarelyined or demanded more than minimal affection. She was angry now. Dazed, Alexander finally murmured, "Are you angry with me?"


    Quinn hesitated, suddenly unsure how to respond to his unexpected question.

 Chapter 30

    Quinn was unsure if her silence was a form of protest.


    When she thought about Alexander''s indifference, especially towards their unborn child, she felt an overwhelming desire to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the vi.


    At that moment, her phone vibrated in her pocket. A message from Abigail shed on the screen.


    Alexander nced at her phone too, and without waiting for Quinn''s reaction, he snatched it from her hands and read the message. Abigail: "Quinn, I''ve been grounded, and the cafe got raided. But I fought with them and kept your portraits. I''ve shipped them to you. Make sure to check your mailbox."


    Quinn tensed up.


    He sneered, "You''re starting to ignore my rules, aren''t you?"


    His mocking tone made Quinn feel uneasy. She frantically shook her head, trying to exin, but he threw the phone onto the coffee table and strode toward the door.


    Sensing trouble, Quinn followed him. Outside, near the vi, was a small delivery room. Alexander stormed in, kicking aside a pile of packages until he found a specific box at the bottom.


    The package was indeed from Abigail. Quinn''s eyes narrowed as she darted forward, shielding the box with her body."Move!" Alexander demanded.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    With tears streaming down her face, Quinn shook her head, pleading for him to spare the artworks.


    They were more than just gifts; they represented her cherished friendship with Abigail. Alexander''s expression darkened. He grabbed Quinn by the wrist and forcefully pulled her away.


    Despite her desperate grip, the box was wrested from her. Holding the box, Alexander walked outside to the yard and flung it aside dismissively. Quinn tried to rush to it, but Alexander''s firm hold restrained her.


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    Alexander flicked his lighter, igniting a me in his hand. Quinn watched, horror-stricken, as the fire danced threateningly. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.


    He kept his grip tight, cutting off herst means of protest. Alexander then turned to face her, his voice cold. "You care about these paintings that much?"


    Her tears continued to flow as she silently begged him, her eyes pleading for mercy.


    He smiled cruelly, knowing the more she cared about something, the more he relished in it''s destruction. He wanted to see her treasures ruined before her eyes, leaving her with nothing but himself. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the lighter onto the box. The me caught, slowly engulfing it as Quinn''s hope drained away.


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    In a desperate attempt, Quinn struggled fiercely. Unable to break free, she bit down hard on Alexander''s arm.


    He winced in pain and nearly released her, but maintained his hold, pulling her back by the waist.


    The fire danced in her vision, and Quinn watched helplessly as the portrait peeking out from the box was consumed by mes, turning to ash.


    A gust of wind intensified the fire, scattering the fragments into the air like dark snowkes.


    Alexander''s grip was unyielding, her struggles and cries seemed to vanish into the wind. Quinn reached out, trying to catch the fluttering pieces of her cherished paintings, but grasped only air. Finally exhausted, Quinn copsed against him, and he let her go. She fell to the ground a midst the swirling ashes, surrounded by the remnants of her memories.


    She hadn''t even had a chance to look at those paintings- it was as if they had never existed.

 Chapter 31

    Quinn slowly reached down, grabbing a handful of ashes from the ground.


    In an instant, the wind swept them from her grasp, scattering them into oblivion. She raised her eyes to Alexander, her expression a silent plea for understanding.


    Alexander met her gaze, his posture radiating an undeniable authority. The destruction he had wrought was dismissed with a casual indifference, as though he had merely disposed of some inconsequential rubbish.


    In his eyes, Quinn felt herself reduced to the same level of insignificance. Her friends, her identity, and everything she held dear were all dismissed as worthless.


    Summoning her strength, Quinn scrambled to her feet and signed, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"


    Alexander moved closer, his touch gentle as he wiped a tear from her cheek. "These things don''t belong here," he said.


    "I''ve warned you to stay away from Abigail. Why can''t you just listen?" Abigail had even provoked her to bite him over this matter.


    Tears welled in Quinn''s eyes as she pleaded, "Can''t I even have a friend?"


    "You have me. That should be enough. Why do you need friends?" His voice was soft, but it sent a chill down Quinn''s spine.


    She stared into his emotionless eyes, finding them colder than the biting wind. She took an involuntary step back. "It''s always been just you. Since my childhood, I only have you. But you... you have so many others around you, but there is no ce for me."


    Her body trembled as she gestured her pain, "What am I to you, really? A cat? A dog?"


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on her, but he remained silent.


    Tears streamed down her face as she gestured with stiff fingers, sobbing, "I''m not a pet. I have a heart. I feel sorrow and pain, but you don''t care."


    "I refuse to live like a pup, sitting at home every day, eagerly waiting for you. Then I''ll be content with just a pat on the head and happily wag my tail," she dered. Her movements were slow, every strokeden with the silent screams of her heartbreak.


    She couldn''t speak, and her gestures made no sound, so it was impossible to see the agony in her heart with each delicate flick of her fingers.


    ''And Alexander? He''ll never know. He''ll always be blissfully unaware,'' she thought.


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    ''Just like a puppy can''t express its grievances. No one knows its pain, so it can only lick its wounds in a lonely corner.''


    She stood before him in the cold wind, and her gestures were desperate. Facing his impassive face, she felt like a mere court jester.


    Gradually, Quinn''s motions ceased. Her arms fell limply at her sides, and the corners of her mouth revealed a hint of bitterness. Despair made her feel more helpless than sorrow itself.


    As Alexander reached out to pull her in, she defiantly hid her hands behind her back and stepped away. His eyes darkened as he firmly grasped her arm and drew her close.


    He wrapped his arms around her and said in a low voice, "You''re not the puppy, nor the kitten. You''re my family, irreceable, then and now."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "You''re my little friend," he added.


    Quinn''s fingers clenched, but she didn''t want just family. She yearned for... the kind of love he had for Getty.


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    As she watched him, a breeze stirred the scraps of paper at their feet, twirling in the space between them. Her gaze held the persistence of a flickering ember in the ashes, struggling until it finally died out. "I''ve grown up," she gestured.


    She tried to tell him that she was no longer the child he remembered. She was twenty-four now.


    But he still looked at her as before, telling her he was fond of her, with a fondness that seemed so cheap.


    She felt like a beggar. She was invisible to him every time she reached out for a scrap of his love, not even worthy of charity.


    Then he told her that the door would always be open, and she must beg here forever, with nowhere else to go.


    As he caressed the corner of her eye, he whispered, "Grown up? Then it''s even less appropriate to cry."


    Quinn looked down, wondering if he really didn''t understand what she meant.


    Or was it just his selfishness speaking?

 Chapter 32

    She dashed into the Vi and locked herself in her room. Alexander stayed outside for a bit, waiting until thest bits of trash stopped burning before heading in.


    Inside, Quinn was curled up on the floor, hugging herself and staring nkly out the window.


    As dusk settled, Alexander came in. He gently opened the door and crouched in front of Quinn, who was huddled in the corner.


    "Are you hungry?" he asked.


    Quinn averted her gaze, refusing to meet his eyes. After a moment of silence, he reached out, his fingers gently ruffling her hair. "Your birthday''sing up. How about we celebrate it together?" he suggested.


    She hesitated, ncing at Alexander. Quinn didn''t know her real birthday. Ulysses had picked the day she arrived at The Kennedys as her birthday. It hit her then it had been twenty years since she first came to The Kennedys. Alexander, noting her subdued reaction, took her hand and gently pulled her to her feet. "Let''s go out for dinner and get you some new clothes," he proposed.


    With her head bowed, Quinn found sce in the familiarfort of his presence. He was always there to mend her broken heart, piece by piece. His affections, no matter how insignificant they seemed, were a tenderness she couldn''t resist. After all, he was all she had.


    As she followed Alexander to the garage, she paused at the passenger side of the car. The memory of Getty sterilizing it with disinfectant shed in her mind.


    "What''s wrong?" Alexander asked, noticing her hesitation.


    She looked up at him, vulnerability etched in her eyes. "Am I dirty?" she asked.


    Alexander held her gaze, her pain and helplessness reflected in her eyes. After a moment, he looked away and guided her towards a different car. "Let''s take this one," he suggested.


    He knew everything. He knew how Getty''s actions had wounded her, yet he had done nothing to intervene. He had allowed Getty to hurt her, and she was never his top priority.


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    Quinn climbed into the passenger seat of the rarely used Porsche, its exterior coated in a thinyer of dust.


    Dinner wasn''t as intimate as she hoped. Alexander was glued to his phone, leaving Quinn feeling like she was talking to herself.


    After the meal, Alexander purchased an array of clothes for her, filling the entire trunk. There were dresses and casual attire. Their dressing room was crammed with her clothes, while his were sparse and scattered. His clothing seemed oddly out of ce in the room. It was as if he didn''t belong in her world.


    By the time they returned home, it was already ten at night. Alexander retreated to his study, leaving Quinn lying awake, restless.


    Abigail had sent her numerous messages, inquiring if she had received the paintings. Quinn couldn''t bring herself to confess that she hadn''t seen them before Alexander had reduced them to ashes.


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    Abigail reminded her that the world wasn''t solely about Alexander-there were countless beautiful things and wonderful people out there. She encouraged Quinn to take care of herself so she could better love her baby. "Look at those paintings. There are blue skies and oceans, majestic mountains with streams, and the most beautiful you. They''ll lift your spirits," Abigail wrote.


    Quinn''s gaze traced the lines of text until they seemed to morph into a rope, each word tightening its grip on her heart.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    If Abigail found out the paintings were destroyed, she''d be so disappointed.


    Quinn clutched her phone and closed her eyes in despair. Shecked the courage to type a single response.


    ''Maybe people like me don''t deserve friends after all,'' she thought, a wave of sadness washing over her.

 Chapter 33

    Alexander didn''te into the bedroom all night. By the time Quinn woke up, he was already gone.


    She stayed in bed for a couple of hours, staring at the ceiling before finally getting up. Even though she wasn''t hungry, she made some porridge and forced herself to eat two servings before taking her meds. Around five in the afternoon, the doorbell rang.


    Upon opening the door, Quinn was greeted by Alexander''s assistant, Kyle Astor.


    "Good day, Quinn," Kyle offered a respectful bow. "Alexander sent me to get you."


    Quinn''s brows knitted together in confusion. Since Kyle didn''t understand signnguage, she refrained from gesturing.


    "Today''s your birthday," Kyle rified. "Alexander wants you to wear the new outfit he got you yesterday."


    Quinn hesitated, a flicker of surprise shing in her eyes. She had assumed Alexander''s promise to celebrate her birthday was merely a ploy to cate her. She hadn''t anticipated that he would genuinely honor his word. Her lips tightened, but she remained still.


    "Is something wrong, Quinn?" Kyle asked. "Don''t you want to go?"


    She remained silent. Just a day ago, Alexander had callously incinerated her belongings. Now, she was expected to casually dine with him. He had purchased her clothing, and even offered to celebrate her birthday as if nothing had transpired. It was as if her feelings were inconsequential to him.


    Kyle sighed at her demeanor and said, "Quinn, regardless of everything, Alexander remains your husband. Wherever you reside, that is his home. In the eyes of thew, he belongs with you."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Her gaze snapped up to meet Kyle''s.


    "If he''s willing toe back and celebrate your birthday, it means he cares," Kyle continued. "There''s no reason to push him away."


    Kyle harbored no affection for Getty. At the office, she was all talk and no action, throwing her weight around. Yet, the department managers trod lightly around her. Due to Alexander''s indulgence, Getty disregarded thepany executives. If Getty were to assume control one day, Kyle''s life would only be more challenging.


    "Quinn, if you still harbor feelings for Alexander, don''t push him away. Stand up for yourself. Fight for what you want."


    Quinn''s lips pressed together tightly as Kyle''s words upended her world.


    However, she now had a child to consider. She couldn''t forsake her child to pursue a man who didn''t reserve a ce for her in his heart.


    Despite this, Alexander refused to grant a divorce. Sooner orter, he was bound to discover the existence of the child, and his reaction was unpredictable.


    Her heart felt heavy, like a stone. She turned and went upstairs to change.


    It wasn''t a matter of choice. She had no options left.


    As long as she held feelings for Alexander, she couldn''t push him away.


    He was the one she''d cherished in her heart for two decades, the boy she''d watched mature into a man.


    For twenty years, her world had been filled with him and him alone.


    She couldn''t deceive her heart.


    The previous day, she had purchased some warm clothing suitable for the cold weather.


    After rummaging through her wardrobe, she selected a red sweater and white pants, tying her hair into a high ponytail for a festive appearance.


    Kyle''s gaze held a hint of surprise as he watched her descend the stairs.


    If one could overlook the profound sadness in her eyes, she resembled a vibrant teenager. In a school setting, her smile alone could outshine the youthful exuberance of others.


    Perhaps Alexander had once been privy to such a smile.


    But people rarely value what is easily acquired.


    Jolted back to reality, Kyle gestured politely to Quinn.


    Quinn nodded and followed him outside, where a Bentley was parked in the yard. Suddenly, Kyle remembered something and turned to Quinn, "Oh, hold on a sec, Quinn. I need to switch cars." He pulled out two keys, drove the Bentley back into the garage, and emerged in a Porsche.


    Kyle didn''t know why Alexander wanted to change cars, but Quinn probably had a clue.

 Chapter 34

    The question she askedst night clearly hit him hard. She stared at the sky, fighting back tears. No wonder Alexander could brush her off so easily; she was just too easy to appease. Kyle took her to a busy restaurant, popr with couples. He led her to an empty table by the window. "Quinn, Alexander will join you after his meeting. Just hang tight," he said. Quinn nodded and smiled.


    Kyle didn''t stay long. After a brief exchange with the restaurant''s manager, he took his leave.


    Seated by the window, Quinn found herself captivated by the dazzling neon lights and towering buildings that stood out against the night sky. The restaurant was alive with the hum of lively conversation.


    A burst ofughter andmotion drew her attention to a proposal happening nearby. She turned to watch the spectacle.


    The entire restaurant was caught up in the celebration, cheering, shouting, and even letting out high-pitched screams of joy for the couple.


    The woman, overwhelmed by the moment, covered her mouth as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.


    The man took her hand and slipped a diamond ring onto her finger. Amidst the chorus of congrattions, they held each other tightly.


    Quinn couldn''t help but smile at the scene.


    They were so fortunate to be able to openly express their love for each other.


    However, Quinn''s finger was devoid of a ring.


    On their wedding day, Kaitlyn scoffed, "What''s the point of a ceremony for a dummy? She''ll just be a spectacle, totally embarrassing."


    Alexander had been preupied. He simply wanted to secure a marriage certificate.


    Their union had been devoid of blessings.


    Over the years, he had showered her with gifts-clothes, shoes, extravagant jewelry-but never a ring. To him, symbols of love were not to be given lightly.


    By the time Kyle returned to the office, Alexander had just wrapped up a meeting.


    Upon entering the office, Kyle noticed Getty idly scrolling through her phone in her cubicle, the epitome of nonchnce.


    "Everything''s set, Alexander," Kyle informed him.


    "Mm," Alexander acknowledged, picking up a document from his desk and quickly scanning through it before signing his name.


    Getty sprang up at his return, and with a nce towards Kyle, she asked, "Why are you still here?"


    Kyle opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to remind Alexander of something. But noticing Alexander engrossed in his paperwork, he silently retrieved a box from his coat and ced it next to Alexander''s hand. The gift you asked for is here


    Getty''s eyes darted to the box. She arched an eyebrow and was about to reach for it when Alexander ced his hand on the box first.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "It''s not for me?" she asked, taken aback by his reaction.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander didn''t bother to respond or even nce in her direction. He simply tucked the box into his breast pocket before returning his attention to the documents. His indifference irked Getty. She immediately knew that the gift was intended for that dummy.


    Frustrated, Getty leaned over and whispered to Alexander, "Darling, I''m pregnant."


    "Get rid of it," he said tly, still focused on his paperwork.


    Getty bit her lip in frustration. "I''m serious. I''m not lying!"


    At that, Alexander paused and turned to look at Getty.


    She blinked at him, insisting on the truthfulness of her words.


    He stared at her for a moment before saying, "Then have it but if that child isn''t mine, you and he will both pay with your lives."

 Chapter 35

    Getty''s smile froze, turning into an awkward grimace before she forced it back into a strained smile. "I was just kidding! Why so serious? You really had me going," she said, herugh nervous. Alexander''s lips curled into a slight smile. "Me too, just joking."


    The restaurant was was buzzing with peopleing and going. But in the middle of it all, Quinn sat alone, waiting for hours with no sign of Alexander.


    She rested her chin in her hand, her gaze fixed on the window, watching the multitude of lights gradually fade as the once-bustling streets grew sparse and deserted.


    As the restaurant emptied, it was as if the tide had receded, leaving behind a deste silence. The world outside darkened, and the restaurant lights dimmed until none remained. The person who had promised to celebrate her birthday with her never appeared.


    "Mrs. Kennedy?" A voice called from behind her.


    Startled, Quinn was brought back to reality. She turned to see the Manager standing beside her, apanied by two waitstaff. "We''re closing up for the night," he exined, a smile on his face.


    Quinn was slow toprehend. She looked around at the dimly lit interior, only to realize she was thest patron left. Disappointment didn''t quite encapste her feelings. It was more akin to a familiar sense of emptiness.


    The wait hadn''t been long, not really. Compared to the endless days and nights spent alone in an empty house, five hours was nothing.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    As Quinn prepared to leave, a server appeared with a cake. "Mrs. Kennedy, since today is your birthday, we have a cake prepared for you," said the waiter, cing it before her. "Happy Birthday."


    The Manager suggested, "It''s almost midnight. Please enjoy your cake and make a wish before you go."


    The flickering candles cast a warm glow on the cake''s surface, but Quinn saw only pity in the Manager''s eyes.


    She forced a smile, though it was more weary than cheerful. ''Happy Birthday, Quinn,'' she thought, her eyes closed. She made no wishes. In her experience, making wishes in front of birthday cakes never seemed to work out.


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    The Manager sighed quietly as he watched her frail silhouette. He had seen her sitting there for hours after a man had made arrangements and promised someone would arrive. Yet after five hours, no one came. Being stood up on her birthday, he thought, was truly pitiful.


    Quinn opened her eyes and blew out the candles. The Manager immediately helped her slice the cake. She divided it up, and the Manager, chuckling, epted his piece. He took out a stic figurine from his pocket and handed it to her. "This is a little keepsake from our diner. Consider it a birthday gift from us."


    Quinn looked at the miniature figure, smiled, and nodded her thanks. It was then the Manager realized she was mute.


    Not wanting to overstay, Quinn took a bite of the cake. But as the rich, buttery cream hit her pte, her stomach churned.


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    Clenching her teeth, she forced it down. Daring not to take another bite, she pulled out her phone and typed a message to the Manager, "Thank you all. I''ve got to head out." "Mrs. Kennedy, please take care. Would you like us to box up the cake for you?" he offered.


    Though she couldn''t stomach it, Quinn nodded for them to pack it up.


    Carrying the boxed cake out of the restaurant, she headed straight for a nearby trash bin and retched. It wasn''t until she expelled the creamy contents of her stomach that she felt some relief. The nighttime breeze was icy as it rolled off Amber Bay, damp and chilling to the bone. The tip of her nose reddened.


    She walked alone on the scarcely popted sidewalk, her elongated shadow cast by the dim streetlights. Step by step, she moved forward, stepping across her own shadow.

 Chapter 36

    Quinn had no idea how long she''d been wandering when she spotted a faint figure near a trash can. Squinting, she cautiously moved closer.


    As she got nearer, she realized it was an old woman, hunched over. Something about her seemed familiar, so Quinn gently tapped her shoulder.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The old woman, startled, shuddered violently before spinning around. Upon seeing Quinn, she let out a sigh of relief.


    She retrieved half a loaf of bread from behind her and began to gnaw on it, right in front of Quinn. Quinn, with a fixed gaze on the old woman, gently took her hand and shook her head, indicating that the old woman should stop eating. "Do you want some?" The old woman sized Quinn up, her attire suggesting she was not in need of charity.


    Quinn, setting down the cake she held, gestured emphatically. "Juliet, don''t you remember me? It''s me, Quinn."


    Under the streetlight, the old woman watched Quinn''s hands move like butterflies. After a moment, she looked at Quinn''s face and her voice shook, "Are you Quinn?"


    Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes as she nodded. "Yeah, it''s me. What are you doing here?"


    "You''ve grown up so much."


    Juliet''s eyes mirrored Quinn''s, filled with tears. She let out a forlorn sigh, picked up her cane from beside the trash can, and shuffled over to sit on a nearby set of stone steps. Quinn followed closely and sat beside her. Juliet had once served the Kennedys, always by Ulysses'' side. Upon Quinn''s arrival at the Kennedys'', Juliet had taken her under her wing.


    However, in a brave attempt to save Freya, Juliet had fallen down the stairs and broken her leg, leading Ulysses to insist on her early retirement for rest and recovery. Quinn had always assumed Juliet had returned to her hometown and never expected to encounter her here.


    Quinn handed Juliet the cake and gestured, "Juliet, today''s my birthday. Will you celebrate with me?"


    Juliet paused, her face lined with wrinkles, and then a tender smile appeared. "It''s your birthday? Happy birthday, dear Quinn. It''s a shame I don''t have much to offer."


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    Quinn shook her head, indicating that gifts weren''t necessary. Everyone was wishing her a happy birthday, but why couldn''t she feel the joy?


    Quinn sat quietly next to the elderly woman, watching her devour the cake. Quinn intended to buy a bottle of water, only to discover her card had been frozen. She still had a little over a hundred bucks in her mobile wallet. Returning with the water, Quinn handed it to Juliet and asked what had happened. It was then that Juliet revealed that after dedicating her life to the Kennedys and retiring, her son and daughter-inw had taken her savings to buy a house in the city.


    Before Ulysses passed, the Kennedys had given her a monthly stipend that allowed her to live decently. But after his death, they cut her off, and her daughter-inw kicked her out. Now, with no job prospects, she had to scavenge through trash to survive.


    Quinn looked at the disheveled old woman and felt a mix of emotions. Juliet had toiled for the Kennedys her entire life, only to be left struggling for basic necessities in her golden years. Such a tragic twist of fate. When Juliet finished the cake, Quinn offered to walk her home.


    Juliet asked with concern, "What about you? Isn''t Alexander going to worry if you''re out thiste?" Quinn looked down, knowing that even Alexander''s promise to spend the birthday together was broken. Why would he worry about her? Recognizing Quinn''s dejection, Juliet didn''t pry further. She picked herself up with her cane and said, "Let''s go then. And do you mind how shabby the ce I stay is?"


    Meanwhile, Alexander drove Getty home, gently cing her on the couch. As he was about to leave, Getty tugged at him, her voice tinged with vulnerability, "Can''t you stay? I''m in so much pain."


    Getty was bandaged up around her knees and forehead. Earlier, at thepany, she had begged Alexander to apany her for a meal.


    When he refused, she stormed off in a huff, darting into the street only to be nearly swept away by a car that zoomed past. Her heart was still racing with the close call.


    "Please take good care of her," he said before turning to Getty, "You should rest up at home for a few days. I''lle check on you tomorrow."


    "What are you going thiste?" she asked.


    Alexander nced at his wristwatch. It was 12:30 AM. Thete hour startled him, as if it had crept up unexpectedly.

 Chapter 37

    Alexander said, "I gotta go," and turned to leave. Getty, barely holding back her frustration, shouted, "Alexander!" But he didn''t even look back.


    Getty was fuming. She''d juste back from the hospital, and he couldn''t even offer a kind word.


    Meanwhile, Alexander drove to the restaurant, only to find it closed and dark. He sat in his car, staring at the ce. After a moment, he tried calling Quinn, but it went straight to voicemail.


    Annoyed, he lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, then flicked it out the window before steering the car back towards the Vi.


    Upon arrival, he found the Vi seemingly deserted. The bedroom was immacte, with no indication that Quinn had returned. It suddenly urred to Alexander that he had frozen Quinn''s credit cards. Without funds, how could she have possibly made her way back?


    Without wasting a moment, he dialed Kyle''s number, stepping outside as he began to converse.


    Elsewhere, after dropping Juliet off at her makeshift shelter-a tarp thrown over an old car frame near a dump-Quinn felt a wave of overwhelm wash over her. Juliet had mentioned that the shelter was a gift from the owner of the dump, a token of pity.


    Quinn had just returned from a 24-hour convenience store and, upon stepping into the shelter, was met with an indescribable smell. Juliet switched on the sr-poweredmp, revealing the dirty bedding on the floor.


    Quinn looked at her with aplex expression, her eyes filled with pity. She remembered when Juliet used to teach her to write, fold origami, and tell her bedtime stories. The Juliet in her memories should not be living like this. Juliet extended a hand to touch Quinn, but seeing the frail and dirty skin, she hesitated and drew back. Quinn, however, didn''t hesitate. She grasped Juliet''s hand and sat down next to her.


    "Don''t touch me. Your clothes are too nice to get dirty," Juliet murmured, her eyes welling up with tears as she thought of her son and daughter-inw.


    Quinn bit her lip and gestured to Juliet, "Don''t worry. From now on, I''ll take care of you."


    Tears shimmered in the old woman''s eyes as she attempted a feeble smile. "You don''t need to, dear. You''ve got enough to deal with the Kennedys, and I''m not getting any younger. Just visiting is more than enough. You don''t have to look after me."


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    Instead of responding, Quinn busied herself tidying up the bed and then motioned to the elderlydy, "Would it be alright if I stayed over tonight?"


    "This ce is too dirty for you, child. Don''t trouble yourself," Juliet said, her voice cracking with embarrassment and guilt, feeling bad that she couldn''t offer Quinn a proper ce to stay.


    "It''s not dirty at all," Quinn reassured her, shaking her head. "To me, it''s cleaner here than anywhere else."


    Augh escaped Juliet, carrying within itsyers of life''s hardships and sorrows.


    Quinn kicked off her shoes andy down beside Juliet. Having allocated everyst cent to purchasing groceries for Juliet, she found herself penniless for the journey home, and her phone battery was depleted. Moreover, venturing out to g down a cab at this ungodly hour was out of the question. Even if she managed to make it back, it would be to a home devoid of warmth or wee. She far preferred thepany here.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Silly girl," Juliet sighed in the dark.


    Quinn closed her eyes. Despite the unpleasant smell clinging to the bed, sleep imed her.


    The morning cold woke her sooner than she wished. Upon opening her eyes, Quinn was greeted by the first light of dawn, casting a golden hue over the crumbling facades.


    Juliet had risen early. She was perched on an outdoor stone, tending to a pot of boiling water. Approaching quietly, Quinn crouched beside Juliet only to see that she was boiling eggs-the very ones Quinn had bought the previous evening. "Awake, huh? Give it a moment more; the eggs are nearly done," Juliet announced without a nce back.


    Quinn nodded with a smile.


    All night, Alexander had been searching for her, retracing her steps to the modest shelter and scouring the restaurant area, but she was nowhere to be found.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

 Chapter 38

    Frustrated, he yanked at his tie, gasping for air, then tossed it onto the sofa.


    Kyle, standing awkwardly to the side, ventured, "Quinn mighte back on her own soon."


    "Nothing on your end?" Alexander asked.


    Kyle shook his head, "No, there''s no surveince on the road where she disappeared, but we''ve narrowed down the search area. The team should find her soon."


    "That foolish woman!" Alexander huffed, undoing his shirt buttons and copsing onto the sofa. "She''ll follow anyone."


    Kyle nced at him, privately thinking that now was probably not the best time to point out that Alexander had left her behind the previous night. However, he wisely kept these thoughts to himself, not wanting to risk his job. "I''ll go out and look again," Kyle announced before heading out the door.


    After finishing her eggs, Quinn left and unexpectedly found Alexander''s aide waiting by the bus stop. Recognizing them, she followed and hopped into the car.


    Once they arrived back at the Vi, a palpable tension hung in the air. She nced up to find Alexander slumped on the sofa, his expression grim, his hair disheveled, a few strands hanging limply over his forehead. His piercing gaze was fixed on her.


    The air charged with tension, and the others promptly vanished, abandoning the vi with unspoken haste. Quinn bit her lip and walked towards him.


    Before she could make another move, Alexander sprang to his feet, startling her into retreat.


    "Why are you flinching?" He grabbed her wrist, pulling her close with a force that echoed disdain in his voice, his sneer sharpening as he saw the fear in her eyes. "Afraid? Where was that fear when you wandered off with someone else?" His grip was tight, and despite Quinn''s attempts to wriggle free, it was useless. Pain etched across her forehead as Alexander took in her disheveled, dirt-streaked appearance, wondering where she''d been.


    She lifted a hand, signaling pain.


    "Pain? You feel pain?" he retorted, with no regard for the reddening on her wrist. "It seems any random guy is enough to lure you away these days. Tell me, do you even understand pain?"


    Quinn wanted to exin that it wasn''t just anyone. It was Juliet, the one who had raised her. But Alexander''s grip left no room for words.


    "You''re bing more disobedient by the day. I think it''s time you learned your lesson."


    Quinn''s eyes widened, and at his words, she instinctively began to struggle. Alexander dragged her towards a staircase corner. Quinn realized his intentions and resisted fiercely. Her fingers wed at the sofa but were effortlessly peeled away. He hauled her in front of a door, kicked it open, and shoved her inside.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Reflect in here. Once you''vee to your senses, you cane out."


    Quinn stumbled a few steps, then dashed to the door, clutching the frame. She shook her head desperately. The storage room was her nightmare, the dark shadow that stalked her life. He was the one who had saved her from it. Was he now sending her back in there?


    With a pleading look in her eyes, Quinn was met by Alexander''s indifferent gaze. He grabbed the doorknob, and despite her frantic tussles, he mercilessly shut the door.


    Darkness enveloped her in an instant. The fears buried deep inside her surged like a tide.


    She twisted the doorknob, but found that it was already locked from the outside.


    Quinn pounded on the door with her fists, but the man outside had left her without a response.


    Quinn''s voice was too faint tomunicate even a fraction of the despair that clenched her heart. She slumped against the door, an urge welling up inside her to tell Alexander of her fear. She was so scared.

 Chapter 39

    After banging on the door got her nowhere, Quinn slumped to the floor, exhausted.


    She was in a small, cluttered space, pitch dark. The silence was so intense it felt like even the air had stopped moving.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The darkness wrapped around her, making it hard to breathe.


    Squatting on the cold ground, she hugged her knees. In the room, the only sounds were her own breathing and her heartbeat.


    Alexander had asked her to reflect, but she was at a loss as to what. Was it the five solitary hours she had spent waiting in the restaurant or the fact that she had seen Juliet home? She didn''t know what she had done wrong. Quinn fumbled in her pocket and withdrew her phone. It was dead now, unresponsive. Curled up behind the door, she closed her eyes and covered her ears, pretending she was just in her bedroom, and it had simply gone dark.


    She was reminded of a time when Freya had also locked her in a storage room like this for an entire day and night. asionally, mice and insects would scuttle over her, invoking paralyzing terror in the six-year-old Quinn. The saddest part was that she couldn''t even scream out her fear. She could only scrape desperately at the door, scratching until her fingers bled. Yet still, no one came to her rescue.


    In the end, it was Alexander who had opened that door, leading her out into the light. It was the first time he held her a memory that never faded, the warmth of his embrace still vivid. She could still recall the scent of sun and a hint of mint, the quintessence of youthful spirit.


    He had guided her back into the depths, returning her to the very origin of her turmoil.


    The image of the young man, once vivid in her mind, began to fracture. As Quinn recalled her past in fragmented shes, a sensation akin to an invisible grip tightened around her heart.


    Phantom insects seemed to burrow into her memories, leaving her gasping for breath. In desperation, she tugged at her cor, struggling for air as her heart pounded and her breathing grew more strenuous.


    Copsed on the floor, she weakly tapped the door, clinging to the remnants of hope. Gradually, her efforts diminished to a mere shuffle. Meanwhile, Alexander had already departed, unaware of the desperate pleas emanating from the storage


    room.


    On his way to the office, when Abigail called unexpectedly, he merely nced at the phone and tossed it onto the passenger seat.


    After many unanswered rings, Abigail''s brows furrowed. Deep down, she understood that Alexander wouldn''t take her call.


    In defiance, she pounded on the door once more, calling out, "Hobart, Hobart!" with a voice that pierced the silence. Hobart, the butler, hastened upstairs, arriving at the door with a demeanor of solemn respect, "Miss, how may I be of service?"


    "Where''s my brother? Call him. I need to speak with him!" Abigail demanded.


    "Oliver hasn''t returned yet, miss. There''s no point in wearing yourself out. Even when he doese back, he won''t let you leave," Hobart replied.


    Furious, Abigail shouted, "Call him right now, or I''ll jump from the third floor!" Hobart, knowing she might actually do it, tried to calm her down before rushing to call Oliver. Oliver was with a client when Hobart''s call came in. He pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, excused himself from the meeting room, and dialed Abigail back.


    "Abigail, can''t you just stay put for a few days? Dad ordered you to be locked up. There''s nothing I can do."

 Chapter 40

    Abigail''s voice was urgent. "Oliver, it''s not about that. I''ve been trying to reach Quinn, and she''s not answering. Can you call Alexander and check on her?" Oliver, already irritated, snapped back. "You''re in enough trouble already, and now you''re worried about someone else? Don''t you want to get out?" Abigail was resolute. "I don''t care about getting out. Just make sure Quinn''s safe.."


    Oliver paused, realizing the seriousness. Quinn was pregnant, and if Alexander had done something, it could push her over the edge.


    "I''ll call and ask around. Don''t worry too much. Alexander might not cherish Quinn, but they grew up together. He wouldn''t let anything happen to her."


    Abigail scoffed. "Give me a break. That guy has no heart. How much do you think he actually cares?"


    She was right. Alexander was heartless. If he truly loved Getty, he would have divorced Quinn and married her by now. Yet he kept Quinn around while entangling with other women.


    "Okay, I''ll ask," Oliver finally replied, cutting her off before hanging up. Then, he dialed Alexander''s number.


    Alexander picked up this time, leaving Oliver unsure of how to broach the subject.


    "What''s this about?"


    Clearing his throat, Oliver spoke with a touch of unease, "Abigail can''t reach Quinn and is worried. She just wants to check on her."


    The line went silent for a couple of seconds before Alexander''s mocking voice floated through, "Well, has the Vanderbilt family suddenly taken an interest in other people''s business?"


    "Come on, Alexander. Cut it out. Abigail and Quinn are friends. It''s only natural that she worries about Quinn."


    "Really?" Alexander chuckled, his tone chilling. "Oliver, Abigail''s your sister. I don''t know her well, but I find it hard to believe you don''t either. You''d better keep an eye on her. Don''t say I didn''t warn you." With those final words, Alexander hung up. Oliver stared at the phone, heaving a resigned sigh.


    Abigail had always been a free spirit, hardly the demuredy society expected.


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    She hadn''t always been this way. It all started two years ago when a match was forced upon her. In a fit of rage, she''d left home.


    When she returned, her long hair was cut short. She dressed in a boyish fashion, and she even dered her disinterest in men.


    The news spread like wildfire, and Amber Bay''s elite young men gave her a wide berth. However, Oliver didn''t buy into her charade.


    But over the years, Abigail''s antics grew more rebellious-street racing, bar-hopping, motorcycle riding. Even he was beginning to have his doubts.


    Alexander probably didn''t believe it either, although the recent events had likely put him on guard against her.


    Her meddling in Alexander and Quinn''s affairs had startled their father, who was traveling on a business trip. Their father had returned to Amber Bay overnight to confine Abigail to her room. Shaking off his thoughts, Oliver called Abigail back.


    "Oliver, could you please check in on her house?" Abigailpleaded.


    Oliver was taken aback. "Are you serious?"


    "I''m dead serious. Just take a look for me, please?"


    He tly refused. "No, why should I get involved?"


    "Quinn''s pregnant. What if something happens to her? Could you live with yourself?"


    "That''s none of my business."


    Unable to persuade him, Abigail abruptly shoved her window open and threatened, "Then I''ll jump off the third floor."Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The noise was loud enough that Oliver couldn''t ignore it.

 Chapter 41

    "Enough!" Oliver''s patience had reached its limit. "Will you ever cease these games?"


    "I assure you, this is no game. Are you joining me or not?" Abigail was already perched precariously on the ledge, her gaze dropping to the dizzying height below. An involuntary shiver ran down her spine. Truth be told, shecked the bravery to make the leap, but she was confident that this ploy would seed with Oliver.


    "Fine, fine, I''m on my way!" Genuine concernced Oliver''s voice. "Just step down from there, will you?"


    Abigail''sughter echoed in the air, a yful sound, as she gracefully descended from the windowsill. "Hurry up, I''ll await your report."


    "You truly are a piece of work..." Oliver sighed, resigned to the fact that he could never resist his sister''s whims.


    Once he ended the call, Oliver offered an apology to his client before setting off towards Alexander''s residence.


    The gate of the vi was firmly closed, offering no glimpse of whaty beyond the confines of his car. He exited the vehicle and pressed the doorbell, but the silence from within was deafening.


    Just as he was about to head back, a message from Abigail appeared on his phone screen, revealing the code to Alexander''s door lock.


    Oliver studied the string of numbers for a moment, wrestling with his conscience. Was he truly about to trespass?


    His hesitation was fleeting, however, and he punched in the gate code. The door obediently swung open at hismand.


    Upon entering the vi, Oliver refrained from venturing upstairs. Instead, he called out several times from the ground floor.


    After several minutes of waiting and receiving no response, he was about to depart when a faint sound caught his attention. It was as if something heavy fell to the floor.


    Oliver questioned whether it was merely his imagination ying tricks on him and strained his ears, listening intently.


    Sure enough, the noise echoed again, and this time, he was sure of it.


    He followed the sound, eventuallying to a halt in front of a door. Tentatively, he called out, "Quinn?"


    The room remained silent.


    Oliver repeated her name a few more times and tried the doorknob, only to find it locked.


    "Quinn, are you in there?"


    Quinn stirred slightly. Oliver''s voice seemed distant, but she recognized that someone was outside the door.


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    She had heard her name being called in her drowsy state. Initially, she had dismissed it as a hallucination. In an attempt to reach out to the voice, she had inadvertently knocked something over. Now, the voice was clear. Someone was indeed calling her name.


    Summoning her strength, she managed to tap lightly on the door.


    The sound was barely audible, and Oliver hesitated before asking, "Quinn, if you''re in there, tap three times."


    A soft tap echoed from within.


    Then, a second.


    But the third tap never came.


    Oliver was now almost certain that someone, or something, was inside. He hesitated for a moment, then fetched a chair from within the house and used it to break the door lock. With the lock shattered, the door creaked open slightly.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Pushing the door open with some effort, Oliver was met with a storage room cluttered with cardboard boxes and books.


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    A pile of scattered books blocked the entrance, and as Oliver moved them aside, his sharp gaze caught sight of a hand among the debris.


    Oliver''s eyes widened in shock, and he quickly crouched down, sweeping away the pile of books to reveal the figure buried beneath.


    Quinn was sprawled on the floor, her body curled up. Her face was ashen, and sweat beaded her forehead, nose, and neck. Damp strands of hair clung to her cheeks in disarray. Despite his usual reluctance to interfere in others'' affairs, the sight made Oliver''s heart tighten.


    How could Alexander do this?


    This was his wife, carrying his unborn child, and yet he could treat her so cruelly!


    Without wasting a moment, Oliver scooped up Quinn and dashed out of the vi, heading straight for the hospital.


    Abigail had been calling him incessantly. Only after Quinn was rushed into the emergency room did Oliver finally answer.


    "How is it, brother? Did you find her?"


    Oliver nced back at the emergency room doors. To prevent Abigail from worrying unnecessarily, he chose to tell a small lie, "She''s fine, at home."

 Chapter 42

    "Why won''t she respond to my messages?" The question hung in the air, unanswered.


    Alexander had taken her phone, and the voice on the other end of the line assured Abigail. She was told to stop worrying, to stay home, and that things were being handled. The call ended abruptly, leaving Oliver staring at his phone, his finger hovering over Alexander''s contact. He hesitated, ultimately deciding against making the call.


    He had no right to confront Alexander, not after he had trespassed in his home.


    After what felt like an eternity, but was in reality only half an hour, Quinn was wheeled out of the hospital room. Oliver rushed to her side, his heart pounding in his chest. He turned to the doctor, his voice choked with worry, "How is she?" "She fainted due to arrhythmia," the doctor exined, "but luckily, she was brought in on time. Can you tell me what happened to her?"


    Oliver couldn''t divulge the details to the doctor. Instead, he asked, "And the baby?"


    "The baby is fine," the doctor assured him. "She''s just a little shocked and needs to rest. Make sure she avoids stress in the future."


    A wry smile tugged at Oliver''s lips as the doctor unknowingly painted him as the viin, taking the fall for Alexander''s actions.


    Meanwhile, in his office, Alexander was alerted by notifications of the doorbell and code entry. He nced at his phone before tossing it aside, uninterested.


    When Kyle entered, relieved not to see Getty, he handed over some documents to Alexander. He began to exin that they had cleared up the issue with the countries iming their goods had safety issues, but he noticed that Alexander''s attention was elsewhere. His eyes were fixed on hisputer screen, clearly lost in thought.


    "Alexander?" Kyle called out, trying to regain his attention.


    "Hmm?" Alexander murmured, snapping back to reality.


    He seemed to have made a decision. "Never mind about going to my ce," he said, dismissing the previous n.


    Kyle paused, realization dawning on him. He remembered Alexander had asked him to check on the vi once he was done with his current task. He nodded in acknowledgment, then asked, "Do you want to take a look at that report?" "Just leave it," Alexander replied dismissively, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigarette with a carelessness that was out of character for him.


    Kyle frowned slightly, noticing that Alexander seemed off his game today. Then it hit him. Maybe Alexander was off because of a sleepless night spent searching for Quinn.


    "Alexander, why don''t you go rest for a bit?" Kyle suggested.


    Alexander nced at Kyle, smoke swirling around his fingers, before looking away and pushing his chair back. He reclined in his chair, closed his eyes, and directed, "You go ahead."


    Kyle left the office after setting the report down, his mind churning. With Getty not around, it seemed Alexander had lost the will to work. He couldn''t fathom what extraordinary charm Getty possessed.


    Back at the hospital, Quinn''s consciousness slowly resurfaced. She stared nkly at the stark white ceiling for a moment before the events leading up to her hospitalization came rushing back.


    She sat up, gently touching her abdomen, relieved to feel no significant difort.


    Confused about how she had ended up in the hospital, she wondered if Alexander had released her. Thinking back to his unflinching demeanor as he pushed her away, she found his indifferent expression quite unfamiliar.


    Quinn didn''t linger in the hospital. She slipped out of bed and was fretting over how to return when she bumped into Oliver, who had just finished settling the hospital bills.


    Oliver was taken aback. "Why are you out of bed?"


    Realizing she''d left her phone behind at the vi, Quinn tried tomunicate with hand gestures, but the message was lost on Oliver. Guessing at her intent, he asked, "You want to go back?"


    Quinn actually wanted to know how she ended up at the hospital, but it seemed pointless to rify. She nodded.


    Oliver nced at the discharge documents in his hand and sighed, "Alright, I''ll take you back."


    As they approached the entrance, both noticed a Bentley idling at the curb. Its rear lights were on as if waiting for someone.


    Oliver''s expression grew tense.


    That car belonged to Alexander.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 43

    Quinn cast a fleeting nce at Oliver. After a moment of palpable silence, he murmured, "I''ll head down first." Quinn, however, was not about to let him venture alone. Swiftly, she followed him out of the car.


    They made their way towards Alexander''s car. The window was rolled down, revealing Alexander himself,fortably ensconced inside, puffing on a cigarette.


    "Alexander, I''ve brought Quinn back to you, and-" Oliver''s sentence hung unfinished in the air as Alexander turned to look at him. His gaze was piercing, cutting through Oliver''s words like a knife.


    Alexander remained silent, flicking the ash from his cigarette and discarding the butt onto the ground before stepping out of the car. Quinn could feel the tension between the two men. She moved closer to Alexander, tugging at his sleeve. He nced at her, his eyes devoid of warmth. "Go inside."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Quinn gestured, "Oliver saved me..."


    "Quinn!" Alexander''s voice cut her off. He sneered, "He saved you, huh? What do you want to do, give him a medal?"


    Quinn''s hand froze in midair. Seeing the sarcasm in his eyes, she let her arm drop silently.


    "Alexander, don''t tell me you''re unaware that Quinn has ustrophobia?" Oliver interjected.


    Without changing his expression, Alexander shot Oliver a look, a cold smirk ying on his lips. "You seem quite informed."


    Oliver paused, at a loss for words. He exhaled deeply, "Fine, I''ll stay out of your family business. Quinn''s just back from the hospital. You should know better." With that, he turned, got into his car, and drove off. Oliver had anticipated this trouble the moment he promised Abigail.


    It was an overcast day. By five in the evening, dusk had already set in. The lights were on at the vi''s entrance, with several small insects flitting about, seeking a way through to the brightness.


    Quinn stood quietly beside Alexander, who watched her for a moment without a word and then turned to enter the vi. Silently, she followed him into the living room.


    Alexander halted suddenly, and Quinn instinctively stopped as well, narrowly avoiding a collision. He pivoted to look at her, taking in her disheveled hair and the streaks of grime still on her face. She lowered her head, saying nothing. "What did the doctor say?"


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    Quinn slowly raised her head to meet his gaze. It seemed like a casual question, not one of real concern. He appeared to have forgotten who was responsible for locking her away. It seemed her ustrophobia didn''t really matter to him at all. Quinn remained motionless.


    Alexander''s brows knitted together slightly.


    Quinn bit her lip, a glint of moisture in her eyes as she turned away from him.


    Alexander grasped her chin, turning her face back toward his. "Feeling sorry for yourself?" His voice carried a hint of mockery. He wasn''t truly concerned about her distress.


    Quinn pried his hand away and gestured, "Let''s get a divorce."


    Alexander''s gaze turned icy, "Say that again?"


    This time, Quinn firmly repeated the motions. "Let''s get a divorce."


    "You''re that eager to leave me?" Surprisingly, he didn''t erupt with anger as before, but the rage was evident in his eyes.


    Quinn nodded. Yes, she really wanted a divorce.


    He stared at Quinn for a moment, his face revealing no emotion.


    Then he suddenlyughed, a hollow sound that didn''t reach his eyes. "Fine, pack your things and get out. In two weeks, you cane back to sign the papers." With that, he turned and left the vi.


    Quinn stood in silence, watching his retreating figure, her fingers clenched tightly. In silence, she went upstairs to pack her belongings.

 Chapter 44

    Quinn had little to take with her. She left behind the material possessions that Alexander hadvished upon her without a second thought. With a simple suitcase in hand, she stepped out of the grand entrance of the vi. She cast a final nce at the home she had shared with Alexander for the past three years. Then, without looking back, she walked away.


    Lost and unsure of where to go, she wandered aimlessly along the road outside the vi, enveloped by the darkness of the night.


    ''He gave me two weeks,'' she thought to herself. ''What is he trying to prove?''


    ''Is he trying to show me that I can''t live without him?'' she pondered.


    Penniless and without a destination, Quinn found herself in the exact predicament Alexander had predicted. Without him, she was homeless.


    She didn''t know how long she walked, but as the night deepened and the temperature dropped, she wrapped her arms around herself, shivering in the cold.


    Eventually, she found herself at a well-lit underpass that sheltered several people. They had each imed a spot for themselves, each engrossed in their own world.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Quinn chose a spot farther away from them. She crouched down, hugging her suitcase against the cold, hard wall.


    The people seemed to sense her presence, casting curious nces in her direction. Quinn curled up tighter, avoiding their gazes.


    Those who sought shelter under the bridge were usually the destitute homeless, migrant workers trying to save a penny, or idle gangsters. Among them were two such gangsters, better dressed than the rest, each with a mobile phone in hand. The two gangsters approached Quinn, whistling in her direction. "Hey, sweetheart, what''s a lone girl like you doing around here?" they asked.


    Clutching her suitcase, Quinn kept her head down, trying her best to ignore them.


    The men squatted down, one on each side of her. She was immediately hit by the strong odor of cigarettes and the stench of unwashed sweat. Their bad breath was palpable as they spoke. "Come on, we''re not the bad guys here. How about a little chat, huh?"


    "Yeah, you seem decently dressed, not like someone who''d be living at an underpass like us."


    The two of them crowded her, squeezing her space so tightly that Quinn started to struggle for breath. She abruptly stood, attempting to leave, but one of the gangsters yanked her back. Quinn lost her bnce and fell onto the ground.


    "We already said we''re not bad guys. Why are you running off? Say something," demanded the one on the left, even daring to put a hand on her shoulder.


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    Her heart pounded in her chest, and Quinn felt a cold sweat break out on her palms.


    "Why so silent? You''re not a dummy, are you?"


    The gangsters chuckled and reached out to touch her face, but Quinn turned her head away, dodging the touch. The man meant to be yful but was surprised by her reaction. "Are you really a dummy?"ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Quinn clenched her teeth, looking up at the gangster with a pale face that was suddenly illuminated by the light.


    Surprise flickered in the gangster''s eyes. They were taken aback by such a pretty womaning to stay at such a ce as they did.


    The two exchanged a nce, their intentions clear without a word.


    ''Since she''s a dummy, this will be easy,'' they thought to themselves.


    "Sweetheart, it''s so cold here," the first one coaxed, "let''s get you to a hotel."


    "Yeah, hotels are good. They are nice and warm," chimed in the other one.


    The two of them, in sync, were pulling her arm, trying to lead her out of the underpass. But Quinn was no fool. She knew these guys were up to no good and began to resist. Seeing her struggle yet remain silent, the gangsters were convinced she was a dummy. That emboldened them to drag her even more recklessly toward the darker areas. When Quinn realized she couldn''t break free, panic set in, and she sank her teeth into one of the gangster''s arms.


    Hissing in pain, he let her go. But as Quinn tried to escape, the other one pulled her back, twisting her wrist behind her, immobilizing her.


    The bitten gangster grimaced in pain, rubbing the sore spot, then roughly grabbed Quinn by the cheeks.


    "Truly a dummy, huh?" The gangsterughed heartily as he pinched her cheeks hard, his other hand prying her jaw open.


    "Bite me, will you? Come on, why aren''t you biting now?"

 Chapter 45

    Tears mingled with saliva dripped from her chin, dampening the assant''s palm. It was impossible to tell her tears from her saliva.


    The thug''s eyes zed with a perverse fervor as he sneered, "You got a tongue? Why aren''t you talking?"


    "Why do you care if she''s got a tongue? Can we just cut to the chase!" his aplice retorted, a note of impatience tingeing his voice. "I''m losing my damn patience here." "What''s the rush?" The first thug wiped his hands on Quinn''s clothes with disdain, casting a fleeting nce at her tear-streaked face before snapping, "Let''s find somewhere out of sight." Despite her mute state, they were in a bustling area where someone might intervene, creating an unwantedplication.


    Quinn''s eyes darted around, searching for any sign of assistance. But apart from a few indifferent bystanders who seemed to inhabit a different world, no one else was in sight.


    Alexander had banished her for two weeks, but in just one night, he had demonstrated that without him, she was merely prey for the vultures prowling the streets.


    Outmatched, Quinn stumbled and was hauled into deeper shadows by the two thugs, her strength paling inparison to theirs.


    They led her to a deste park, where the sparsely positioned lights failed to illuminate its entirety.


    She was ushered into a secluded corner of the park, shrouded by foreboding pine trees. It was an ideal setting for their nefarious intentions.


    The pair grinned maliciously as they forced Quinn to the ground, pinning her arms and legs. Her head thrashed wildly. Her mouth opened in silent pleas for help, but no sound escaped her lips. Emboldened by her silence, the thugs grew bolder.


    One sat on her legs, his excitement palpable as he reached to tear at her clothing.


    The other, restraining her arms, watched as she writhed helplessly. Her clothes were torn, exposing her to the bone-chilling cold.


    Terrifyingughter echoed from the looming figures above her. She squeezed her eyes shut, allowing the tears to flow.


    But as the thug straddling her legs reached down to remove her pants, his hand met a viscous fluid.


    He held his hand up to the light-fingers smeared red.


    "Damn it!"


    Startled, the other thug leaned in, both of them scrutinizing the white pants-her birthday gift from Alexander-now soaked in crimson.


    "Is it her... period?"


    "Can it be this heavy?"


    They exchanged a nce, a wave of disgust and fear washing over them as reality snapped back into focus.


    One of them swallowed hard, murmuring reluctantly, "Maybe we should just forget this, yeah?"


    "That chick must''ve been knocked up by some other dude. Disgusting. Let''s get out of here!"


    "You''re right, man. Wouldn''t want to catch anything from her. That''d be a real loss!"


    Given the disturbing nature of their actions, it was an easy assumption to make that the mute girl had been victimized by many others before them. Who knew what kind of diseases she could be carrying?


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    Feeling an ominous sense of misfortune, the two stood up and, in a final act of contempt, spat on Quinn. They hastily draped her clothes over her exposed body and hurried away from the park.


    Quinn''s face was ashen, and beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead. She tried to get up, but the pain was too intense, causing her to copse back to the ground each time.


    She reached out, desperately trying to grasp her assants, but they were too fast.


    Her fingers slowly clenched, nails digging into the earth as moist soil squeezed through her grip.


    Help had note. No one hade to the rescue of her child.


    Her consciousness waned. Distant streetlights doubled in her dimming vision.


    She thought she might be dying.


    Maybe it was for the best...


    Her existence seemed meaningless, anyway.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 46

    Had Alexander not saved her back then, Quinn found herself contemting if she might have found some semnce of happiness by now. Her hope dwindled as a streak of light pierced through the gaps between the leaves, catching her attention.


    Quinn''s eyshes fluttered open, and with a painful effort, she lifted her head. Through the pine needles, she discerned a distant silhouette. Gripping her abdomen, she mustered her dwindling strength,boriously making her way out of the underbrush.


    The figure was a considerable distance away, over three hundred feet.


    Struggling in silence, Quinn endeavored to close the gap.


    She had to save her child...


    The source of the light was a shlight, held by a patrolling security guard.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Regrettably, as shey prone on the ground, the guard was oblivious to her presence.


    The shlight beam briefly swept in her direction before quickly moving on, and the guard continued his patrol.


    As the light and the guard receded, Quinn''s hand rxed, her strength gradually fading.


    Thest spark of light in her eyes extinguished into darkness.


    "Ouch!"


    Getty winced in pain, jerking upright from her semi-slumped position on the couch.


    "Easy there! That really hurts," sheined.


    Her injured leg was in Alexander''s grasp. The gash on her calf was deep, and the scab had not yet formed. Sticky, coagted blood clung to the wound, the surrounding skin bruised and threatening. Alexander had been applying medicine to her wound with a cotton swab, which prodded her wound and nearly brought her to tears.


    Alexander nced at the swab in his hand and sighed. "Just stay still," he advised.


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    "I didn''t move, you know? You''re the one who''s getting all distracted while tending to me. Which girl has caught your attention now?" Getty''s voice was a yful blend of mock annoyance and flirtation, devoid of any real malice. Alexander nced at her, a teasing smile ying on his lips, "Which girl?"


    "There''s a whole parade of them itching to get into your bed. How would I know which one you''re thinking of?" Getty retorted, rolling her eyes before adding, "Be gentle, alright? It really hurts. I can''t stand the pain." "Whose fault is that?"


    "My fault, obviously! It''s like pulling teeth just to share a simple meal with you." Getty grumbled.


    Alexander responded with silence, picking up the iodine to continue applying it carefully to her wound. His previous distraction was gone.


    Observing his newfound focus, a sweet smile spread across Getty''s face. He did care about her, didn''t he? Certainly more than that dummy ever did.


    While they were attending to the wound, the phone on the table rang. It was Kyle.


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    Kyle hung up, feeling anxious. He was sure of one thing. Alexander wasn''t asleep. He just didn''t pick up the call because he''d guessed what Kyle wanted to say. Alexander understood everything. He was just too cold-hearted sometimes.


    Seeing Alexander''s continued silence, Getty started fiddling with her phone again, then suddenly sat up with a thought.


    "Sweetheart, do you remember my birthday?" she asked.


    "November twenty-fifth," Alexander replied without lifting his head, his voice devoid of emotion, yet his uracy gave Getty a deep sense of satisfaction.


    A man like him remembered her birthday. Probably not many had such a privilege.


    Content with this thought, Getty''s face blossomed into a radiant smile. "Good, you didn''t forget. But don''t you dare give me a half-hearted celebration this year?" "It''s done. You should get some rest." Alexander said, putting down her foot and standing up. "I''ll be off now."


    The smile vanished from Getty''s face as she grabbed him in panic, "You''re leaving again?"

 Chapter 47

    As he reached for his coat, Alexander cast a nce in her direction. "Is there anything else?" he asked. Getty''s face fell into a pout, a glimmer of hurt shing in her eyes. "Can''t you just stay?" she pleaded. "No," he responded, his tone as sharp as a de. He paused for a moment, then added, "Not tonight."


    Getty felt a surge of frustration, her teeth grinding together in silent protest. She knew his decision was final. With a resentful sigh, she released her hold on him. "Fine, just go then," she muttered.


    She had stayed up with him, naively hoping that thete hour would persuade him to remain. But it was just wishful thinking. Getty was beginning to understand that men like Alexander had a peculiar talent for taking someone on an emotional roller coaster in mere seconds.


    One moment, it seemed as though he genuinely cared for her. But in the next breath, he would dismiss her coldly, as if she meant nothing to him. If it weren''t for Getty''s positive mindset, she would have gone mad under his hot-and-cold demeanor!


    And just like that, Alexander left without a backward nce. It was as if the man who had tenderly applied medicine to her wounds moments ago was nothing but an illusion.


    At themunity clinic, Quinn was propped up against the headboard, her lips pale. Two police officers and the security guard from the previous night stood by her side.


    "That''s what happened. I heard the window breaking and found her. Got her here and called you guys right away," the security guard exined.


    He had been about to leavest night when he heard the sound of shattering ss. It was Quinn, sprawled on the ground, who had managed to throw a stone that hit the opposite window, prompting the guard to turn back and find her. The residents whose window she had smashed were also present, demandingpensation from Quinn.


    One of the officers ced a suitcase at the foot of Quinn''s bed. "Is this yours?" he asked.


    Quinn looked up at the young officer and nodded. "Keep it safe. Your ID and everything else seems to be in there. I''ve got a handle on the circumstances. We''ll catch those two people soon. And here," he handed her a business card, "is the address for the Amber Bay Disability Support Center. If you''ve got nowhere to turn to, give them a visit."


    Quinn silently epted the card, gesturing a quiet thank you after a moment.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


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    The officer then turned to the homeowner, whose window had been broken. "I checked the damage. It''s just a crack. Some ss glue will do the trick. There''s no need for a recement. Given the desperate circumstances she was in, how about I cover the cost?"


    The woman nced at Quinn, a hint of contempt in her eyes, though she hid it well with her response. "Oh, that''s just great, isn''t it? It''s always my window that has to get smashed!"


    Quinn quietly cast her gaze downward, listening to the woman''s words.


    "Let''s settle it at that," the young officer added. "I''ll front the medical bills for now. If you run into more trouble or have any leads, juste directly to the station." Quinn gave a small nod of agreement.


    After the officers left, the ''victim'' didn''t move. She stood before Quinn and demanded, "Hey, dummy, you still owe me for the window."


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    The woman, who appeared to be in her forties, didn''t look particrly fierce. However, her sharp tone revealed her shrewd nature.


    Quinn, gritting her teeth against the pain, bent down to lift her suitcase. She opened it for the woman, gesturing for her to take whatever caught her eye. Quinn was truly broke.


    The clothes in her suitcase had been bought by Alexander and were far from cheap.


    The woman nced at the garments, inspecting and picking through them carefully. She even checked the seams to find that they were well-tailored.


    "You know, that ss window cost me over three thousand bucks," she said, assessing the few pieces of clothing. "For these, a thousand bucks at best, right?"


    As she spoke, she started gathering the clothes from the suitcase. "Ah, consider it my good deed for the day. Just don''t go smashing other people''s stuff next time, okay?"

 Chapter 48

    Quinn found herself staring at her now-empty suitcase, its contents reduced to a mere handful of undergarments. A wry smile tugged at her lips as she chose silence over protest. The woman who had just left had no idea that the few pieces of clothing she''d just acquired could have covered the down payment for a decent apartment.


    However, Quinn''s mind was not preupied with clothes. Her thoughts were consumed by the child growing inside her.


    It was only after the woman had departed that Quinn summoned the strength to visit a doctor. The local clinic was unimpressive, a simple two-story building where the first floor served as the outpatient area and the second housed infusion and inpatient care. With only five doctors working in shifts, it was far from bustling.


    Finding no other patients around, Quinn quietly knocked and entered the consultation room. The doctor looked up in surprise. He recognized her from the previous night when she had been rushed in, causing him and his colleagues to work overtime. The initial n was to transfer her to arger hospital, but with no next of kin, she ended up being treated here.


    "How are you feeling?" he asked, sliding a pen and paper across the table toward her.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Quinn picked up the pen and wrote, "Doctor, how is my baby?"


    After reading her note, the doctor hesitated before answering, "Well, your baby''s been a fighter, but the pregnancy is at risk. Even if we manage to save it, you''re likely to faceplications, possibly even a miscarriage." He paused, then added, "My advice is to consider a termination for both your well-being and the baby''s."


    Quinn was torn between relief that her child was still alive and distress at the doctor''s words. She wrote again, "Why?"


    Patiently, the doctor exined, "The fetus isn''t developing well, which could be rted to your lifestyle and diet and the recent stress. Honestly, it''s better to deal with it now than suffer more down the road if it has to be der." Quinn bit her lip, taking a moment before responding. She didn''t immediately agree with the doctor. Everything she had done was for this child, her beacon of hope. If she was meant to lose the baby, she wouldn''t have risked everything the night before. She would rather perish alongside her child.


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    The doctor continued to persuade her, but Quinn wrote one final line on the paper, "I want to keep it."


    The doctor frowned, "You''re a stubborn one, aren''t you? If you decide to keep it, the suffering will be on you."


    Quinn nodded and scribbled a note, "I know, thank you, Doctor. I''m ready to face the consequences."


    Upon reading her words, the doctor sighed. "Well, if you''re set on it, I won''t try to stop you. Go rest up for a bit, and then you can be discharged. You''ll need a bigger hospital. We can''t handle this here." He then asked, "Do you have any money?"


    Quinn was taken aback. She was broke, without a penny to her name. She had even left her phone back in the storage room at the vi.


    Standing at the hospital entrance, Quinn clutched the handle of her empty suitcase. After a moment of contemtion, she decided to go back for her phone. She walked slowly down the road, mindful of the dull ache in her lower abdomen. Not daring to hurry, Quinn stopped to rest periodically, not reaching the vi until four in the afternoon.


    At this hour, Alexander was likely not home. Reassured, she boldly entered the code, pushed open the door, and rummaged through the clutter of books in the storeroom to find her phone.


    She grabbed her phone and headed upstairs for the charger but froze as she nudged open the door. The sound of running water came from the bathroom inside the bedroom.

 Chapter 49

    Quinn''s breath hitched in her throat as she tiptoed towards the desk, her eyes locked on the charger. She carefully picked it up, her fingers trembling slightly. She plugged the cord into her phone, hoping that she only needed a couple of minutes for it to power up. Just enough time to turn it on and make a quick call.


    However, fate seemed to be ying a cruel joke on her. Barely a minute into charging, the sound of running water from the bathroom abruptly stopped. Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly unplugged the charger and dashed out of the bedroom.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "Freeze!" A voicemanded, causing Quinn''s heart to skip a beat. She halted at the doorway, biting her lip and gripping the charger tightly in her hand, too afraid to look back.


    Footsteps echoed behind her, growing louder as they approached. A chuckle,den with implications, followed the footsteps, causing an embarrassed blush to creep up Quinn''s cheeks.


    "Turn around," the voice ordered. Quinn tightened her grip on the charger, gathering her courage before slowly turning around. Her breath hitched at the sight of his bare chest, and the towel slung low around his waist. Droplets of water traced the lines of his well-defined abs, slowly descending towards the towel.


    "I thought you left for good. What brings you back?" he asked, his voice filled with amusement. Quinn lifted her gaze, showing him the charger in her hand.


    Alexander''s smile faded slightly. To be exact, he just raised the corner of his mouth, but he wasn''t smiling. His tone was cold as he said, "You''re so full of pride. I bought you that phone. Who said you could take it?"


    Quinn''s eyes dropped, her grip on the charger tightening. She needed to borrow money. Without a phone or money, how could she secure a future for her child? Alexander''s words cut off all her means of retreat. She began to doubt if she could really survive outside of this ce.


    The events ofst night were still vivid in her mind. Just thinking about it sent shivers down her spine. The gesture was clear as he extended his long, elegant hand before her. However, Quinn pulled her hands behind her back in a futile attempt to conceal her phone and charger.


    Her actions only amused Alexander, who chuckled, "Hand them over."


    With eyes closed and a resigned sigh, Quinn slowly reached out, cing the items in his waiting palm. The phone twirled between his fingers as he toyed with it. He then nced at Quinn, "You can go now."


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    Head bowed, Quinn turned and left the room. Alexander''s gaze lingered on her retreating, slender figure. His expression quickly turned icy.


    Stepping out of the vi, Quinn felt a surge of sorrow. She could no longer hold back her tears. Cradling her abdomen, she sank down on the steps beside the vi. She had failed to protect her unborn child. She didn''t deserve this. She was struggling to survive herself. How could she be worthy of a child? Perhaps the baby didn''t want a mother like her.


    She buried her face in her knees, sobbing silently. Yet the basic release of her agony stifled within. She sat alone as the feeble sunlight draped over her, highlighting just how small and solitary she seemed. Quinn had walked all day and eaten little the day before. Exhaustion and drowsiness overwhelmed her, and at some point, she drifted off, unaware of her slipping into unconsciousness.


    She dreamed a long dream filled with fragments of her life with Alexander. The young man in her dreams was cool andposed. He was tall and lean, dressed in a crisp white shirt. He waited for her by the school gates, his head tilted, his eyes and brows brimming with smiles.


    Even then, he captivated countless girls'' gazes. But back then, he only had eyes for her. He was her hero who always extended his hand when she faced hardship. She felt almost sacrilegious to look at his towering and dignified silhouette. In her naive youth, she didn''t understand love. All she knew was that wherever she looked, she saw his shadow. Her heart harbored every memory of their times together.


    But every time he said, "I''m her brother," it shattered all her delusions. She felt her thoughts were dirty, that her foolish longings tainted both him and the bond they shared. Like a mouse hiding in the shadows, her love was a secret that couldn''t be discovered.


    Quinn''s eyes fluttered open, assaulted by a harsh light that took a moment to adjust to.

 Chapter 50

    Quinn''s eyes fluttered shut for a moment, seeking sce in the darkness. When she opened them, the familiar surroundings of the room came into focus. However, Alexander was noticeably absent.


    Awakening from her dreams, Quinn felt the lingering tendrils of bittersweet emotions tugging at her heart. It was a persistent ache that refused to dissipate.


    She propped herself up and reached into her drawer for a sanitary pad, preparing herself for a trip to the restroom. However, before she could make her move, the bedroom door swung open, revealing Alexander. Quinn froze, clutching the pad in her hand.


    Alexander''s gaze brieflynded on the object she held, but he chose not toment. Instead, he simply said, "Since you''re up,e down for some breakfast," before turning to exit the room.


    With a sigh of relief, Quinn made her way to the bathroom, pleased to find that the bleeding had ceased.


    A glimmer of hope sparked in her eyes. Could it be possible that she could still keep the baby?


    After freshening up, she washed her hands and descended the stairs.


    In the kitchen, she found Alexander, casually dressed,dling soup from a pot.


    Quinn rubbed her eyes, questioning her own perception. There he was, serving soup.


    As she approached the dining table, a thought crossed her mind,'' Did he cook all this food?''


    Her heart pounded as she took a seat, her gaze fixed on the chicken soup before her, a sense of bewilderment washing over her.


    She had never seen Alexander cook before. How did he even know how to?


    Noticing her daydreaming, Alexander broke the silence. "Aren''t you hungry?"


    Snapping back to reality, Quinn sampled the soup. To her surprise, it was delicious!


    She looked at him in astonishment.


    Alexander casually wiped his hands with a napkin. "Why are you looking at me like that? I hired someone to do it."


    Quinn bowed her head in silence, continuing to eat, her earlier wishful thoughts causing her some embarrassment.


    Her hunger had indeed got the better of her as she devoured the meal. Alexander, on the other hand, barely touched his food, his gaze fixed on her the entire time.


    Only after she was thoroughly satiated did Quinn put down her utensils. As was her habit, she began to clear the table.


    By the time she finished washing the dishes, Alexander had already relocated to the living room.


    Pausing for a moment, Quinn surmised that he had not retreated to his study, probably because he wanted to talk.


    She approached him dutifully, standing before him.


    He tilted his head and said indifferently, "Sit down."


    With her fingertips sped together, Quinn took a seat opposite him, waiting for him to break the silence.


    "Still want a divorce?" he asked.


    With her head bowed, Quinn struggled to respond. The events of the previous night hung over her like a shadow. She felt safe when she returned to this ce and heard his voice. She couldn''t help but want to give up what she had insisted on for so long.


    She yearned to bury her head in the sand like an ostrich, settling for self-deception in a familiar life.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    If she didn''t reach for more, staying might indeed be the kindest choice for her.


    Yes, aside from not loving her, he was truly good to her. He treated her so well that she couldn''t find fault.


    Alexander slid the divorce papers across the table and said, "You''ve got one minute to decide."


    He nced down to set a timer on his watch, then crossed his legs, leaned back on the couch, and waited in silence. His eyes never left her.


    Quinn stared numbly at the document. The jumble of words swam before her eyes, but none prated her thoughts.


    "You have thirty seconds," he reminded her.


    With trembling hands, Quinn picked up the papers along with a pen from the desk, flipping to the signature line. Her fingers clenched around the pen, the tip hovering just above the line. She was unable to contain the shaking. Alexander watched impassively. To be precise, he was staring at the pen in her hand.

 Chapter 51

    In the fleeting moment that was granted to her, Quinn''s mind was a whirlwind of memories. Visions of Alexander''s neglect, his icy indifference, and the emotional chasm he maintained between them flooded her thoughts. Yet, intertwined with these were glimpses of warmth, instances where he had shown her care, tenderly tousling her hair with a smile.


    Given hisck of love for her, his past neglect suddenly seemed justifiable. It was this realization that steadied Quinn''s hand. She made a resolute decision and firmly signed her name on the paper. It was time to liberate him, to release him to the arms of his true love. Simultaneously, it was time for her to emancipate herself from her own longing and the ndestine love that dared not voice itself.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    As shepleted the inscription of her first name, her pen faltered, leaving a long streak across the paper. The following instant, Alexander snatched the documents from her grasp. "Time''s up," he dered. Quinn could only stare at him in stunned silence as he nonchntly ripped the divorce papers in half and discarded them into the wastebasket.


    He held her gaze, his dark eyes intense. "You''ve missed your chance, Quinn." Caught off guard, Quinn stood frozen, the pen still clutched in her hand, feeling utterly bewildered.


    Alexander rose and advanced towards her, his towering frame casting her into shadow as he eclipsed the light. "Don''t you ever sign the word ''divorce'' again," he ordered. Quinn looked up at him, her longshes quivering. He leaned in close, his hand resting on the back of the couch, their lips tantalizingly close. He whispered, "Do you hear me?" She met the depth of his gaze, opened her mouth, and then pursed her lips. There was no response. A spark ignited in Alexander''s eyes. He gently cradled her neck, not with force, but with a charge of intimacy that was difficult to define. "Do you hear me?" His tone was soft, imbued with a familiarity that echoed her name, "Quinn." His voice, as tender as a whisper, transported her back to days long past. Through his gaze, she could almost envision the young man who once smiled at her under the radiant sun. He called her in the same mesmerizing manner. Under his spell, Quinn nodded in agreement.


    "There you go. That''s my girl," Alexander smiled before he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Quinn''s eyes widened, and their gazes locked. He looked at her as though anticipating something, as if he was waiting for a concession of defeat in a high-stakes game. Or perhaps he was a king, strategizing behind the scenes, awaiting his adversary''s capittion.


    Uncertainty flickered in Quinn''s eyes. It felt as though an eternity had passed in this drawn-out battle of wills. Finally, she closed her eyes in surrender. He kissed her boldly, and Quinn responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, reciprocating with equal passion.


    Alexander, aware of her monthly cycle, did not press her further. Compromise was not his style. Their agreed-upon fifteen days ended as abruptly as a farce. Nestled in his embrace, Quinn felt the warmth of his breath by her ear and the weight of his gaze, wondering if her insistence on divorce was nothing more than a farce to him.


    Her hand found its way to her lower abdomen. His hand enveloped hers, holding tightly as it rested against her belly. The heat from his palm seeped through her nightwear, causing her heart to flutter unexpectedly. She turned to look at him. The room was cloaked in darkness, his face hidden.


    The rhythmic sound of his breathing suggested he was asleep. Despite the tranquility, Quinny awake, sleep eluding her until the first light of dawn coaxed her into a fitful slumber.

 Chapter 52

    Quinn awoke to find the bed beside her cold and empty. Pushing herself upright, she noticed her phone resting on the nightstand. The screen disyed a full battery and the time: noon. A surge of urgency propelled her out of bed, and she hastily dressed before setting off for the hospital.


    As she filled out the registration forms, Quinn toyed with the idea of reaching out to Abigail on WhatsApp for a loan. But just as she was about to send the message, she noticed a money transfer notification from Alexander. Opening the message, she found that he had sent her fifty thousand dors. It wasn''t arge sum, but considering her ount bnce was insufficient even for the registration fee, she reluctantly epted the transfer.


    Upon hearing the alert, Alexander checked his phone and saw that Quinn had epted the transfer. The words "Payment Received" shed on the screen, eliciting an involuntary smile from him.


    Just then, Kyle entered the room, a stack of documents in his hands. "Alexander," he began, "Here are the photos fromst night''s surveince footage. We''ve located those two individuals."


    Alexander took the files from Kyle, his expression darkening as he flipped through the photos. The underpass, where the incident had urred, was not covered by any nearby cameras. The footage they had was taken from a distance and was somewhat fuzzy, but it was enough to get a sense of what had transpired.


    Kyle was grumbling under his breath. Alexander had ignored his calls the previous night, leading him to wonder if his boss had stopped caring about Quinn''s fate. Kyle had been working for Alexander for a long time, and while he was often unsure about his boss''s intentions, he knew that when it came to Quinn, Alexander was fiercely protective.


    Tossing the photos back onto the table, Alexander asked, "Where are the guys?"


    "They''re still locked up," Kyle replied. "What''s the n? Hand them over to the cops, or..."


    Alexander rose from his chair. "Let''s have a look," he said.


    Kyle led the way to a secluded vi on Midhill Lane. The drive alone took a good fifteen minutes, and the grand vi was the only property on the mountainside. If it weren''t for this vi, the road might not even exist.


    The vi''s backyard was home to a menagerie of fierce creatures. Even before entering, the cacophony of barking dogs and howling wolves was audible. Inside, snakes and crocodiles were housed in see-through containers. Kyle was no stranger to this ce, but it never failed to send a chill down his spine. This was no ordinary vi-it was more like a mini wildlife sanctuary.


    Amid the cages, two meny on the ground, paralyzed with fear as the dogs and wolves snarled at them. As they trembled, the barking and howling gradually ceased. Therge dogs, sensing something, settled down one by one, wagging their tails and panting excitedly.


    The gangsters, swallowing hard, followed the animals'' gaze to see a tall figure approaching. The man was dressed in a sharp suit and a form-fitting brown overcoat, which entuated his long legs. Alexander approached the two men, his expression unreadable, looking at them as if they were nothing more than trash.


    "Um, sir, we don''t think we''ve crossed you, have we?" they stammered, their voices shaking under his formidable presence.


    Alexander squatted in front of them and asked coolly, "Do you know who I am?"


    Both men shook their heads in unison. "No, no clue, sir. Why did you bring us here?"


    A sly smile yed on Alexander''s lips as he extended his hand. Kyle, ever perceptive, ced a dagger in his palm.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Why''d they bag you?" Alexander asked, his congenial grin belying the danger of his question. "Let''s jog your memory."


    That smile sent a chill down their spines, and for the first time, they truly grasped the sinister meaning behind the phrase ''a wolf in sheep''s clothing.''

 Chapter 53

    The pair was frozen in fear, their eyes locked on the knife in Alexander''s hand. They recoiled in terror, their bodies instinctively seeking distance from the threat.


    "We''ve never met you before. Perhaps you''ve mistaken us for someone else?" one of them stuttered, his eyes darting around in a desperate search for an escape.


    Alexander regarded them with a smirk that barely concealed his amusement. He pressed the tip of the de to the chin of one of the thugs, his voice cool and menacing. "Think harder." The icy touch of the steel made the thug shudder. He could almost feel the lethal sharpness of the de.


    With a stiff neck, the thug reyed the recent events in his mind. Sure, they''d been involved in some shady dealings, but nothing that should have provoked the wrath of a man like this. Could it have been about the incidentst night?


    His eyes widened with realization. Trembling, he turned to face Alexander, "Was it... that dummy?"


    "Dummy?" Alexander''s smile turned cold.


    "No, no, the woman fromst night. We didn''t do anything. I swear."


    "And what exactly does ''didn''t do anything'' mean?"


    "We wanted to, sure, but then I touched blood and just stopped," the thug whimpered, hoping his honesty might save him.


    But as soon as the word ''touched'' left his lips, Alexander''s smile disappeared, reced by a chilling intent to kill.


    "Which hand?"


    The thug swallowed hard. How could he dare to answer?


    Before he could even attempt to concoct a lie, a searing pain shot through his hand. A scream tore from his throat, a sound akin to a pig being ughtered.


    The de had pierced his palm, blood pooling on the ground like a dark, spreading ink stain.


    But it wasn''t over. Alexander slowly withdrew the dagger, the exit wound causing a second wave of pain even more excruciating than the initial thrust.


    Tears and snot mingled on the thug''s face as his pleas for mercy echoed in the air.


    "I''m sorry, sir, please. Please, I beg you, forgive me!"


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    Alexander asked indifferently, "Which hand?"


    "This one," the thug sobbed, his blood-soaked hand shaking. "Please, this one."


    "Oh?"


    Then, with calcted cruelty, Alexander plunged the dagger back into the same wound. "This one, huh?"


    The thug''s eyes rolled back in his head from the pain, his cries of agony gut-wrenching. He teetered on the edge of consciousness, the intense pain snapping him back to the harsh reality.


    Alexander released the dagger and stood, his departure prompted by nothing more than the foul stench of fear emanating from the two men. They were shaking so violently they had soiled themselves. As he turned to leave, Alexander was quickly followed by Kyle.


    "Alexander."


    As he absentmindedly wiped his fingers with a handkerchief, Alexander''s voice was light and breezy as hemanded, "Open the cage." "Okay."


    Kyle wiped the sweat from his brow, remembering that Alexander had left a dagger inside the cage.


    Offering them a glimmer of hope was far crueler than a swift death.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Quinn had spent the afternoon in the hospital, waiting in line, undergoing check-ups, and anxiously awaiting her results.


    As evening approached and her results were ready, the doctor nced at the papers before asking, "Where''s your family?" Quinn typed on her phone, "They didn''te."


    The doctor''s brow furrowed slightly.


    "You want to keep the baby, right?"


    Quinn nodded.


    "Can you stay in the hospital?"

 Chapter 54

    Quinn found herself hesitating, acutely aware that remaining in the hospital would inevitably raise Alexander''s suspicions about her pregnancy. The doctor, perceiving her reluctance, offered apromise. "If you can''t stay, I''ll prescribe some medication to help you maintain the pregnancy. However, you''ll need regr check-ups. Beyond that, it''s really in the hands of fate."


    Quinn gave a nod of understanding. When Alexander had confiscated her phone the previous day, she had felt thest vestiges of hope slipping away. Now, even the smallest glimmer of hope felt like a divine gift.


    After obtaining her prescription, Quinn exited the hospital, only to catch sight of Kaitlyn. The woman was cradling a child, seemingly waiting for someone. Instinctively, Quinn tightened her grip on her medicine and prescription, lowering her gaze to avoid Kaitlyn''s scrutiny. She hurried away, her heart pounding in her chest.


    Back at the vi, with Alexander still absent, Quinn stashed away the medicine and busied herself with preparing dinner. It wasn''t until the stroke of midnight, when she was certain he wouldn''t be returning, that she allowed herself to eat some of the now cold meal. Alone, she found littlefort in returning to the emptiness of their shared bedroom. Instead, she preferred the couch, lulled to sleep by the drone of the television.


    Just as Quinn was settling in, a call from Abigail pierced the quiet. Startled by thete hour, Quinn answered regardless. "Finally, you pick up! Where have you been these past few days? I couldn''t reach you by phone or WhatsApp. Check your WhatsApp now," Abigail instructed, before abruptly ending the call.


    Opening WhatsApp, Quinn found a string of messages from Abigail, all inquiring about her whereabouts. Thinking quickly, Quinn fabricated a lie. Abigail responded with a voice message, "Hope you''re alright. I''ve made a break from my family. My old man froze all my ounts. Can you lend me some cash?"


    Without hesitation, Quinn transferred the money she''d received from Alexander earlier that day, retaining only a thousand for emergencies. After all, she had a doctor''s appointment looming. "Is that enough?" Quinn asked. "Plenty," Abigail reassured her. "I''ll pay you back once I''ve earned some."


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    The sound of wind in the background made Quinn wonder if Abigail was outside or on a bike. Concerned, she texted her, "Got a ce to stay?"


    It took a while before Abigail replied, "Of course. I''m crashing with a biker buddy. Got lots of ces. They''ve got a race in a few days. Youing to cheer me on?"


    "If I win, not only will I get a bike but also a cool million. Once you''re divorced, how about I take you on a world tour with that ride?"Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn''s fingers trembled as she read thest line. It brought back memories of six or seven years ago when Alexander was into street racing too. She would always go to watch him, cheering him on. At eighteen, Alexander had bet his car against another rich kid''s rare red sports car, intending to gift it to her for hering of age. He had promised to teach her how to drive.


    But during that race, neither car returned for a long time. Quinn and others had searched the mountain base for a day and a night. They found the rich kid first. His car had tumbled down the mountain, bing an unrecognizable wreck. Terrified that Alexander had met the same fate, Quinn had plunged into the woods, searching all night and bruising her body in the process. Finally, under a pile of broken branches, she found Alexander. He had managed to bail out as the car rolled,nding in a tree. Those branches had saved his life.


    Barely alive, Quinn had messaged Getty the location, who then called an ambnce. Quinn had stopped his bleeding, hoisting him on her back, inching down the treacherous mountain. Despite her small stature, she had managed to carry a man over a hundred pounds through the wilderness. With his weight on her back, he had whispered in delirium, "If I die, people will bully my little dummy. Promise me you''ll protect her."

 Chapter 55

    Despite the grim circumstances, his thoughts were persistently drawn to the quiet little girl he affectionately referred to as "Dummy." It was a term of endearment that tugged at Quinn''s heartstrings. How could she not fall for him after hearing such an affectionate nickname?


    In that instant, she surrendered her heart to himpletely. He became more essential to her than life itself. Yet, she was acutely aware that his protective instincts were triggered by pity for a "dummy" like her. Her love, she feared, would never blossom or bear fruit.


    Her fears were confirmed when he chose Getty over her. The affection he once showered on her was now reserved for another woman. He had found someone else to protect, leaving her perpetually unchosen.


    When he moved on, Quinn didn''t just lose her lover, but her only friend as well.


    Lost in her thoughts, Quinn was oblivious to the flurry of messages from Abigail. Snapping back to reality, she hastily typed a panicked message, "Abigail, don''t go. It''s dangerous."


    Abigail''s response was nonchnt, "Don''t worry. I''ve got this in the bag."


    Despite Quinn''s persistent pleas, Abigailughed it off, "You give me money? Where would you get any? Forget it. I don''t want that jerk''s money. Just wait. Once I win this car, I''ll get us out of here."


    Quinn tried to dissuade her, but Abigail refused to continue the conversation. Left with no other choice, Quinn asked for the race''s location, determined to persuade her friend in person.


    Abigail was a woman without grand ambitions. She had no interest in the family business or marrying for the sake of her family''s future. She craved freedom, yearned to grab her sketchpad, drive around the world, and experience everything life had to offer. This was her way of living without regrets.


    Initially, Quinn wasn''t part of her ns. But now, she figured having apanion wouldn''t be so bad.


    Abigail sent Quinn the address. "Quinn, stop wasting your time on that jerk. What''s he got that''s worth your while? Come with me and broaden your horizons. Then you''ll see that men are really optional."


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    "We only have about twenty thousand days in a lifetime. Why spend it pining over a man who doesn''t love you?"


    Quinn was momentarily lost. What was the world like? She had never ventured beyond Amber Bay. If she was ignorant of the world just outside Amber Bay, how could sheprehend the vastness waiting beyond?Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    They were different people. Quinn was like a flower meant to be rooted in the soil. In contrast, Abigail was like the wind, flying anywhere freely. The flower would wither if it flew with the wind.


    Alexander hadn''t returned for several days, probably thinking that since Quinn had stopped talking about divorce, he could leave her at home as he wished. In his absence, Quinn didn''t have to be on edge, fearing the moment he might discover the existence of their child. She could also see Abigail.


    Knowing that Quinn woulde to her, Abigail had driven over bright and early, honking wildly outside the door.


    Quinn dragged herself off the couch and opened the door to let Abigail in. Dressed in a sleek ck leather jacket, Abigail radiated a dashing charm that entuated her already tall stature.


    As soon as she entered, she wrapped Quinn in a hug. "Missed me much thesest few days?"


    Quinn hesitated before taking a step back and gesturing, "Can you skip the race?"


    "Why would I? I''ve made ns, and besides, how else am I going to fund my world travels?"


    Quinn pursed her lips, falling silent for a while before signing, "I''m not divorcing Alexander."


    The smile on Abigail''s face faltered, "You changed your mind about the divorce? Did that guy sweet-talk you into giving in again?"

 Chapter 56

    Quinn found herself at a loss for words, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. Her concern for Abigail was palpable, and she couldn''t shake the feeling of unease at the thought of her friend racing. Abigail, seemingly oblivious to Quinn''s worry, exhaled deeply and flopped down onto the sofa. She grabbed an orange from the coffee table and turned to Quinn, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Have you told him about the pregnancy?" she asked.


    Quinn''s breath hitched, and she shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest.


    "Why haven''t you told him?" Abigail probed.


    Quinn''s mind shed back to the past, to the fear that he would demand she terminate the pregnancy as he had done before. She swallowed hard, her throat tight.


    "How do you n to keep the baby a secret if you don''t divorce him?" Abigail asked, casually tossing the orange in her hand.


    Quinn remained silent, her mind a nk canvas, offering no answer.


    "Do you want to leave him?" Abigail asked again.


    Quinn''s fingers clenched the fabric of her clothes, her heart torn. Even if she left with Abigail, she would still be dependent on another person, not herself. That was no real change.


    She felt ill-equipped to wander the world alone, which made Abigail''s offer all the more tempting.


    Sensing Quinn''s indecision, Abigail stood, walked over, and patted her shoulder reassuringly.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "Quinn, I''m not fickle like some men. I''m never getting married. Life with me would be happier than staying with Alexander."


    Quinn''s eyes snapped to Abigail, whose radiant smile and striking beauty nearly dazzled her.


    "Why me? Why do you want to take me with you?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail arched an eyebrow and chuckled as she pinched Quinn''s cheek, "Who could resist helping a beauty in distress with my heart of gold? And how could I pass up the chance to stick it to Alexander? No, that''s not quite the right way to say it. But between those two reasons, that should be enough, shouldn''t it?"


    Abigail''s disdain for Alexander was not without reason. The privileged kid who had raced Alexander in the streets was none other than Abigail''s childhood sweetheart.


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    Even if their connection wasn''t romantic, the bond formed from growing up together was something far deeper than any ordinary friendship.


    Though Alexander wasn''t to me for the tragedy, he was the only survivor, and the friends and family of the deceased needed someone to bear the brunt of their grief. And no one was more suitable than Alexander.


    Quietly contemting, Quinn finally admitted to herself that thetter reason was the true one. Abigail''s dislike for Alexander was genuine.


    Seeing Quinn''s silence, Abigail added, "Don''t overthink it. I''m not offering to get you out of here for revenge. That''s not who I am. I just see you as a friend, in and simple." Quinn''s gaze flickered. She looked at Abigail and hesitated to make another move.


    With a smile, Abigail shrugged, "It''s up to you. Stay if you want. If you decide to leave, I''m right here, ready to take you."


    "Let''s go. Come see me race," Abigail said as she pulled Quinn out the door.


    Caught off guard, Quinn found herself outside and, before she knew it, sitting on Abigail''s motorcycle.


    Abigail strapped a helmet on Quinn''s head and gunned the engine, tearing off into the street.


    In a sh, a car approached from the side. Abigail''s eyes narrowed as she mmed on the brakes.


    But it was too close. Abigail''s motorbike still shed against the side of the car.


    Everything happened so fast that by the time Quinn regained her senses, she was already lying on the ground, feeling a searing pain in her arm and wrist.


    Looking up, Quinn saw the car''s door dented inwards. It wasn''t too bad. The motorcycle had just lost a mirror, and other than the pain, Quinn seemed okay.


    The passenger door of the vehicle opened, and Alexander stepped out, his eyes fixing on the two scrambling up off the ground.


    A storm was brewing behind those eyes.

 Chapter 57

    Abigail, dusting herself off, offered a hand to Quinn, helping her to her feet. "What brings you back so early in the day?" she asked, her voiceced with surprise.


    Alexander''s gaze swept over both women, his eyes scrutinizing their faces. He ignored Abigail''s question, instead turning to Quinn. "Where were you headed?" he asked, his voice cold and detached. Abigail scoffed, her voice sharp as she retorted, "What''s it to you? She''s not your pet, Alexander. She walks on her own two feet and can go wherever she pleases. Does she need to check in with you now?" Alexander''s gaze shifted coolly toward Abigail, his tone even colder. "Abigail, don''t mistake Oliver''s support as a free pass to test my patience over and over again."


    Abigail was momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered, retorting, "Don''t drag Oliver into everything. If you''ve got a problem, take it up with me directly. Do you think I''m afraid of you?" Alexander''s smile was sardonic, his voice dripping with condescension. "You are so foolish and ignorant. Do you think you can take Quinn away? If you weren''t Oliver''s sister, do you believe you''d still be alive?" Abigail bristled at his words. "And who are you calling foolish and ignorant?" she countered, her voice filled with defiance.


    Ignoring her, Alexander grabbed Quinn by the arm and headed inside the house. Abigail, however, was not one to back down. She followed them, her voice echoing through the house as she shouted, "Alexander, stop right there! Who do you think you are? You''re just a nobody who climbed up the ranks by being an illegitimate son. You even follow in your father''s footsteps to keep mistresses. Like father, like son."


    Before she could finish her rant, Alexander''s hand shot out, gripping her throat and pinning her against the wall. The back of Abigail''s head smacked against the wall, and her vision went dark. She choked back the rest of her words. Staring into Alexander''s unforgiving and dark eyes, Abigail felt an inexplicable chill, even though his expression barely changed. Alexander''s mother, being the second wife, had brought her four-year-old son into the Kennedys upon marrying his father. So the rumors had been that Alexander was Wayne''s illegitimate son and that his mother had usurped the position of the legal wife. Those whispers were still asionally heard.


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    Quinn had never expected Abigail to throw such usations in Alexander''s face. But Alexander merelyughed, tightened his grip on her throat, and whispered, "You should be d you''re a woman." Abigail''s face turned a desperate shade of red as she struggled for breath, unable to vocalize her defiance.


    Just as she was about to lose consciousness, Alexander released her. He was not one to harm women, but he would kill one if necessary. And in that moment, Abigail felt his intent to kill her. She understood then that if it weren''t for her brother, Oliver, she would already be dead.


    Abigail was a straight shooter with a stubborn streak. Even Getty was better at acting than her. Every emotion of Abigail was an open book on her face. Though Getty often came across as entitled, she knew where to draw the line, a trait that Abigail seemed tock. She was quick to speak her mind, never one to hold back.


    Leveraging the Vanderbilt family name, she felt invincible, free from the need for pretense. Abigail had that privilege. Yet, her family name seemed to have little influence on Alexander.


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    It wasn''t until Alexander released Abigail that Quinn allowed herself a silent sigh of relief. She signaled Abigail with her eyes to make a quick exit.


    Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Abigail merely red at Alexander, biting back any further words. Who knew what he might do when provoked? After all, even Abigail couldn''t predict her own actions when her temper red. Alexander didn''t bother with her anymore, walking inside with Quinn in tow.


    The television was still on, itsmercial racket filling the spacious living room with unwee noise. Thrown onto the couch, Quinn felt the rage that hadn''t surfaced in front of Abigail now crashing down around her. Instinctively, she shielded her belly.


    Alexander noticed the gesture and his gaze flickered briefly. He grasped Quinn''s throat and asked in a low and fierce voice, "Why do you take my words so lightly?"

 Chapter 58

    "Do you truly believe she intends to reveal the world to you, Quinn? We''ve shared two decades together, yet you persist in your defiance," he said. His words hung in the air, heavy with usation and disappointment. A flutter of panic danced along Quinn''sshes. How was it that he seemed privy to her every thought, her every move? Then, it dawned on her. Her phone, which had been fully charged upon her awakening that morning, had beenpromised. He had tampered with it. No wonder his arrival had been so timely.


    As the realization sank in, Quinn''s breath hitched, her face flushing a deep crimson. She looked up at the towering figure above her, her eyes welling with unshed tears.


    Her eyes were an embodiment of innocence, radiating vulnerability rather than the typical charm of cuteness. At first nce, one wouldn''t find her adorable, but rather strikingly innocent. Especially when those round orbs locked onto someone, they conveyed a profound, almostpassionate sorrow.


    Her beauty was otherworldly, and Alexander had spent countless hours attempting to encapste it in words. The term that seemed most fitting was ''fairy''. She was like a fairy straight out of ancient lore, ethereal and elusive. Every time Alexander found himself lost in those eyes, his fiercest anger would dissipate. It wasn''t difficult to envision her being swept away by a stranger on the street or disappearing with the merest whisper of a breeze.


    Suddenly, augh erupted from Alexander, his anger evaporating into the sound. To Quinn, however, hisughter was more terrifying than his rage.


    "But she won''t have the chance to whisk you away anymore," Alexander dered, his voiceced with a chilling certainty.


    Quinn''s pupils dted in panic as she stammered, "What are you nning?"


    "You''ll discover soon enough," he replied, his grip around her neck loosening. His touch grazed her cheek, gentle once again, "There are repercussions for disobedience."


    A sense of foreboding washed over Quinn as she stared nkly at Alexander. For a fleeting moment, he felt like a stranger to her.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Alexander''s demeanor had shifted back to calm, as if the anger that had previously contorted his face had been nothing more than an illusion. He unbuttoned the top of his shirt, fell into a momentary silence, then turned to Quinn, "Stay put at home."


    With that, he walked away, not once looking back.


    Once he was gone, the tension that had gripped Quinn began to ebb away, leaving her drained. She copsed onto the couch, her body heavy with exhaustion.


    A sharp pain radiated from her elbow. Pulling up her sleeve to inspect it, she found her skin scraped raw. She wondered if Abigail had been injured.


    The thought of Abigail, coupled with Alexander''s ominous words, propelled Quinn to reach for her phone. But the realization that Alexander had tampered with it caused her fingers to freeze. She found herself unable to type a single message. In defeat, she tossed the phone back onto the couch, covering her eyes with her hand. Alexander had never revealed his cruel side to her before. She had no idea what he was capable of doing to Abigail.


    But she was about to find out.


    That evening, the news shed across her television screen. Abigail had been involved in a street racing ident.


    Quinn''s eyes widened at the blurred image on the screen, her body trembling uncontrobly. Abigail and a group of wealthy adolescents had been racing. On their return journey, their car had careened into a crowd of spectators. Abigail had killed someone.

 Chapter 59

    The news struck Quinn like a bolt of ice, a prating chill seeping into her veins, numbing her to her core. She found herself transfixed by the television, the echo of Alexander''s ominous words reverberating in her mind. "She won''t have the chance." Quinn had harbored fears about what Alexander might do to Abigail, but the reality was far more sinister than she could have imagined.


    Abigail, miraculously unscathed, was now the unwitting architect of a disaster that threatened to pull her, and the entire Vanderbilt family, into a whirlpool of scandal and disgrace. Alexander, meanwhile, was conspicuously absent from the unfolding drama.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Back at the Vanderbilt estate, a sense of urgency pervaded the air as everyone was hastily recalled, Oliver included. Abigail was a picture of destion, slumped on the couch, her demeanor one of disorientation and shock. Her voice, hoarse and choked with emotion, barely rose above a whisper.


    When Oliver tried to engage her in conversation, her responses were disjointed, her words barely coherent. Upon learning of Abigail''s earlier encounter with Alexander, Oliver let out a deep sigh. "Abigail, I''ve warned you repeatedly not to mess with Alexander, but you wouldn''t heed my advice," he said, a note of resignation creeping into his voice.


    Abigail''s face was ashen, her fingers trembling slightly. Despite her typically carefree and courageous demeanor, she had never been responsible for a life lost. The horrifying image of the car plowing into the crowd, the sickening crunch of bodies under the tires, reyed relentlessly in her mind. The mere thought of it stirred a wave of nausea in her stomach, threatening to overwhelm her.


    "The situation''s spiraled out of control, the media is relentless, and some are even adding fuel to the fire. What are we going to do?" Mrs. Vanderbilt asked, her voiceced with concern. "Find out who tampered with the car and bring them to justice!" Mr. Vanderbilt dered, his tone resolute.


    Oliver shook his head, saying, "It''s futile. The video clearly shows Abigail driving into the crowd. Regardless of whether the victim survives or not, the media and the public won''t ept any other narrative." He added, "They''ll use us of using our influence to scapegoat an innocent person."


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    Upon hearing this, Mr. Vanderbilt''s brow furrowed in deep thought. "Have we received a casualty list yet?" Oliver nodded in affirmation. "Yes, those who perished didn''t have significant backgrounds. Money can take care of it."


    Mr. Vanderbilt exhaled a sigh of relief, thinking, "The value of a life is depressingly cheap these days." In their world, a person''s worth was determined by their status. A life lost in a car ident could bepensated with a mere few hundred thousand dors. If the bereaved families dared to protest, they could be silenced with half a million or a million. Eventually, they would all fall silent. The immediate priority was to quell the media and public outcry, to minimize the fallout as much as possible.


    Abigail remained silent throughout the discussion. She had often heard Oliver describe Alexander as a man with a vicious heart, a characterization she had neither experienced nor believed. To her, he was nothing more than a lowlife, a scoundrel. Now, she understood the truth. Alexander was far from being a good man. He was ruthless. From this point forward, Abigail would have to live with the unbearable guilt of having taken lives, a fate she considered worse than death itself.


    "I''ll turn myself in," Abigail suddenly announced. "Have you lost your mind?" Oliver asked, his brow furrowing in disbelief. "You had a brake failure. You didn''t kill intentionally. Why would you turn yourself in?" Mr. Vanderbilt chimed in. Abigail covered her face, her voice trembling as she said, "But it''s still murder. I did it with my own hands." She had been naive, and Alexander had imparted a brutal lesson through his ruthless actions. He could have orchestrated her downfall in a thousand different ways if he had wanted to.


    Mr. Vanderbilt exploded in anger, "After causing such a disaster, you can''t stir up more trouble! I told you to reflect on your actions at home, but you wouldn''t listen. You had to run out, thinking you were smarter than everyone else. Do you think you''re invincible, meddling in other people''s affairs?" He continued, "Alexander is the illegitimate son who carved a bloody path through the Kennedys to take control of the Kennedy Enterprise. Do you think he''s an easy target?" Abigail remained silent, her face still buried in her hands.

 Chapter 60

    Oliver mulled over the situation before finally voicing his thoughts. "I''ll approach Alexander. If he consents to back off, we might be able to untangle this mess." He was acutely aware of therger implications. If they continued to fixate on the sabotaged brakes and persistently shed with Alexander, they would ultimately be the ones to bear the brunt of the fallout.


    After all, it was Abigail who had struck someone with her car. Alexander was the one holding all the aces. The most intelligent course of action was to appeal to his better nature and ask him to let the matter slide.


    Mr. Vanderbilt responded with a solemn nod. "That''s our only recourse at this point. You have a good rapport with him. Try to convince him."


    "Alright." Oliver cast a nce back at Abigail. She appeared deted, likely intending to maintain a low profile for the foreseeable future.


    Quinn had scoured every corner of the inte. It was awash with criticism against Abigail. The online vitriol was palpable. A typical car ident might trend for a day or two before fading into oblivion.


    But Abigail''s crash was a different beast altogether. As a heiress embroiled in a severe ident, the incident was a ma for sensation-seeking bloggers and the green-eyed masses. The incident had exploded within hours, spiraling out of control.


    In the midst of the online uproar, Quinn found no inkling of Abigail''s fate. She couldn''t resist sending Abigail a message, but received no response. She dared not seek her out in person, fearful that Alexander''s wrath might exacerbate the situation. Quinn felt powerless, confined to her home, consumed by worry.


    At the office, Kyle ryed the incident.


    "With the current state of affairs, it''s impossible to keep this under wraps. The authorities will inevitably intervene, and it''s highly likely that Abigail will end up behind bars."


    Alexander nonchntly flipped through a file. "And the two thugs?"


    "Eliminated, reduced to ashes."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Understood. You may leave."


    Kyle nodded and cast a nce towards the cubicle area. Getty was injured and recuperating at home. Her absence lent a refreshing change to the office atmosphere.


    He never would have surmised that Alexander would retaliate against Abigail for Getty''s sake. Abigail had merely pped Getty once, but Alexander had harbored a grudge for an extended period. Clearly, Getty held more significance in Alexander''s life than Kyle had initially perceived.


    Getty was ecstatic. She had assumed that Alexander wouldn''t defend her, but he had made a significant move on her behalf. If she were not currently incapacitated, she would have rushed to the office to shower him with affection. Instead, she resorted to posting on her social media, captioning her picture with, "Those who love you will love you in their own way."


    Getty''s friend list was extensive. Being in close proximity to Alexander, she had virtually added everyone from his circle. And since they mostly shared mutual friends, once one person liked her post, it would be visible to everyone. Many were aware of the incident where Alexander had coerced Abigail into apologizing to Getty for pping her at The Cube. Now, with Abigail''s major mishap, Getty''s new post had everyone specting about the situation. Her post instantly set minds racing.


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    Quinn was among those who had ess to Getty''s posts. Getty kept Quinn in her circle, primarily to unt her joyous moments. However, Quinn and Getty didn''t share many mutual friends, so she could only view a handful ofments. For instance, Spencer: "I''ll be damned."


    Freya: "Could it really be what I''m thinking?"


    Last Night''s Dream: "Getty is my new idol!"


    Ryan: "What''s happening? I go abroad for a few days and can''t keep up with you guys."


    Quinn exited her social media app, her gaze dropping solemnly.


    So, he had done that for Getty. She had previously worked at Abigail''s store, and Alexander had never had an issue with Abigail. However, ever since Abigail had pped Getty, Alexander''s demeanor had shifted. And with Abigail''s recent faux pas, it seemed he was settling old scores.


    Quinn''s defiance had merely ignited Alexander''s thirst for revenge.

 Chapter 61

    Within the confines of The Cube, Oliver sat across from Alexander. The room was devoid of any other presence, their solitude entuated by the stark contrast of the raucous sounds that seeped in from the outside world. The table between them was strewn with unopened bottles, a silent testament to past gatherings.


    Arge screen flickered in the background, casting a muted glow over the room as it yed music videos in silence. The serenity of their private space was a stark contrast to the cacophony beyond its walls. Without uttering a word, Oliver reached for a bottle, pouring himself a drink. He downed it in one swift motion, the liquid burning a trail down his throat. He repeated the action twice more, each gulp.


    Alexander, on the other hand, remained silent. His legs crossed in a casual disy of nonchnce, he loungedzily on the sofa. One hand rested on the back of the couch while the other toyed idly with a lighter. His gaze was fixed on Oliver, observing hispanion''s drinking with a detached interest.


    The rapid session of Oliver''s shots almost triggered a cough. He fought it back, his cheeks flushing from the effort. The silence stretched on, punctuated only by the clink of ss against the table.


    Finally, Oliver broke the silence, his gaze meeting Alexander''s. "Let''s talk, Alexander," he proposed.Alexander responded with a casual inquiry, "Talk about what?""About Abigail."A smirk tugged at the corners of Alexander''s mouth as he regarded Oliver. "She''s your sister.


    Coming to me about her, that seems like you''re barking up the wrong tree, doesn''t it?"With no one else to witness their conversation, Oliver decided to cut to the chase. "Abigail''s learned her lesson this time. She won''t get involved in Quinn''s business anymore. Whatever she did before, I''m here to apologize on her behalf. I hope you won''t let this incident escte."


    Alexander merely stared at him, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. He let the silence stretch before finally breaking it. "Do you really think that me backing off will put an end to it?"Confusion flickered across Oliver''s face. "What do you mean?"Alexander''s response wasced with a hint of condescension. "You''ve been in the business world long enough, Oliver. People tend to kick someone when they''re down. Don''t you understand that?"Oliver''s expression darkened. Of course, he understood. "There are no friends in the world of business. Sometimes, it''s the ones called you ''brother'' who are ready to stab you in the back when the opportunity arises."His mind wandered to the harsh realities of their world. ''When you''re stronger than them, they can''t wait to see you fall.


    When you''re weaker, they fear you might catch up to them. If you are in distress, everyone''s ready to trample you andugh at you. That''s human nature,'' he mused.Alexander tilted his head and lit a cigarette. The me briefly illuminated his impassive face. His voice, when he spoke, was devoid of any warmth. "I just lit a spark, Oliver. It caught fire all on its own. You''re ming the wrong person here."Oliver''s expression darkened further, but he chose to remain silent. As the music video on the screen came to an end and the room was plunged into a brief moment of darkness before the next one began, Oliver found his voice again. "It''s exactly because you lit that fire that the others felt brave enough to add fuel to it. I''m right toe to you, the one who started this."Alexander countered his argument effortlessly. "Ever heard of the snowball effect? Once the snowball gets rolling and grows bigger, it''s out of control from the person who started it."His stance was clear. He had no intentions of stopping.


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    Alexander was not one to make frequent moves, but when he did, he never held back. Oliver had known him long enough to be almost certain about that."Look, Alexander, we''re both businessmen here. Businessmen don''t turn down money. Name your price," Oliver sighed. With sentimental appeals off the table, it was time to talk business.


    A wisp of smoke curled around Alexander''s fingertips as he pondered for a moment before responding in a low voice, "The Vanderbilt family is pretty well-established in Africa, right?" "Yeah, that''s one of our major markets," Oliver confirmed, a frown creasing his forehead, "What are you getting at?"Alexanderid out his demand. "A few countries over there are making it tough for mypany''s shipments to get through customs. I need you to handle it."Kennedy Enterprises, Alexander''spany, had arge global shipping subsidiary with an extensivework.


    However, there were always areas thaty out of their reach. Having Oliver deal with it would be so much easier since the Vanderbilt family wielded considerable influence over there. "That shouldn''t be a problem," Oliver conceded, then added, "Is that all?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander''s mouth curved into a slight smile, "Get that sorted first, then we''ll talk."


    Catching Alexander''s smile, a chill ran down Oliver''s spine. This was clearly more than a few trade restrictions. There must be something else going on.


    "You haven''t been smuggling contraband, have you?" Oliver asked tentatively.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Alexander dismissed his concern with a wave of his hand. "You just focus on sorting this out. What I''m shipping is none of your concern."


    Oliver fell silent for a moment, then finally conceded, "Understood."

 Chapter 62

    Alexander gracefully lifted his ss from the table, taking a delicate sip. Oliver, having been lost in thought, suddenly piped up, "Alexander, is this really about Getty?" It was evident that Oliver had seen Getty''s social media post but had chosen to refrain from engaging.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Despite the prevalence of socialworks, Oliver was a ghost in the digital world."You''re overstepping. You should be more concerned about keeping your sister in line," Alexander retorted, skillfully deflecting the question. To Oliver, this deflection served as a tacit admission. He couldn''t help but marvel at theplexity of love. "Some people don''t have to be extraordinary. They just need to find someone who adores them wholeheartedly." Alexander gently caressed his ss, his expression unreadable, offering no response to Oliver''s insightful remark.---Quinny sprawled on the couch, her consciousness wavering between sleep and wakefulness.


    Haunting images from the news and vicious onlinements gued her dreams. She dreamt of Abigail, unable to withstand the onught of cyberbullying, leaping from the top of a skyscraper. The moment Abigail jumped, Quinn''s heart plummeted in tandem. Abruptly, she woke up, staring nkly at the ceiling. The soft murmur of the television filled the room, apanied by the gentle patter of rain against the windowpane. Amber Bay was no stranger to such wet weather. Suddenly, the distinct clicks of the keypad lock on the front door pulled her from her reverie. She sat upright, her gaze fixed on the entrance. The door swung open, revealing Alexander''s silhouette. He brushed rain droplets off his shoulders and stepped inside, pausing as his gaze fell on Quinn. ncing at his watch, it read 2:30 AM. "You haven''t gone to bed?" he asked, immediately realizing the redundancy of his question. When had he evere home to find Quinn asleep? This time, however, she didn''t rise to take his coat, a minor detail that tinged his mood with a hint of the unusual. He hung his coat himself and approached Quinn, taking a seat beside her. "Didn''t I tell you not to wait up for me?" His fingers traced her cheek, the cold from outside chilling her skin.


    Her eyes remained locked on him, hisposure unchanged as if nothing had transpired. ''To him, I''m still just a child. Is it futile for him to be mad at a child?'' she pondered.Quinn gestured with her hands, "Why?" Alexander''s fingers, which had been resting on her face, stilled. He studied her intensely before cracking a half-smile, "Are you scolding me?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together. She had no right to scold, and even her questions seemed superfluous. Just like when he burned the painting Abigail had given her he didn''t need a reason. If there was one, it was simply because Abigail had hurt the woman he loved.


    Silence once again enveloped the living room, the sound from the TV amplifying the emptiness of the vi. "Let''s go to bed," Alexander dered, scooping her up and heading for the staircase. Once in bed, his hands began to wander restlessly.


    Quinn felt constricted and turned away from him, her bodynguage silently refusing him. But her resistance was futile. He gripped her shoulder, pulling her back toward him. His fingers brushed against her injury, and the sharp pain made her world go dark as she inhaled sharply.

 Chapter 63

    In the persistent glow of the lights, Alexander watched Quinn wince, his actions momentarily stilled by her reaction. He gently grasped her wrist, rolling up the sleeve of her blouse to reveal an array of scrapes and a bruise of concerning size. His fingers traced the edge of her cor, pulling it down to expose another bruise marring her shoulder. He looked up, his gaze meeting hers. Quinn''s eyes fluttered closed, her lips parting ever so slightly. It took a beat for her to gather the strength to respond.


    "Why didn''t you treat this?" Alexander questioned, peeling back a bandage to reveal an untreated wound beneath. Quinn''s eyes fluttered open, a mask of resilience hiding the pain etched on her face as she signed, "It''s nothing. Not serious." She had hesitated to apply any medication, acutely aware of the potential impact on their unborn child, who was in a delicate state.Alexander got off the bed and rummaged through their drawers and cabs. He returned momentster, his hands conspicuously empty.


    "Where''s our first-aid kit?" he inquired, a note of frustration creeping into his voice. It was always Quinn who kept their home in order, a fact that struck him as ironic given his unfamiliarity with his own home.


    Quinn merely shook her head in response. She had made the decision to forgo any medication, signing, "We don''t have a first-aid kit."A frown creased Alexander''s forehead as he moved to guide her towards the door. "Let''s just go to the hospital then," he suggested.Quinn paused, rapidly dismissing his suggestion with a flurry of frantic gestures.


    "No need to trouble yourself. I''ve taken care of it. It''s really fine. It''s already scabbed over," she signed, her movements quick and precise. "I''m tired. I want to sleep," she added.Alexander scrutinized her for a moment, his gaze probing. "You sure you don''t want to go?"Quinn''s head bobbed with rapid shakes, her gestures desperate in their insistence. "Okay, we won''t go," Alexander finally conceded, settling back into the bed.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    This time, he refrained from any further actions, simply wrapping his arm around her waist as they drifted off to sleep. The bedroom light remained on, its intrusive re a testament to Alexander''s aversion to darkness. Over time, the light in their bedroom was seldom turned off.


    They were married three years ago. Sharing a room, it was the first time Alexander had kissed her. Quinn had looked at him with a naive expression, while Alexander had stared back for a long while, admitting it felt like he wasmitting a crime.


    Back then, Quinn had thought that was how love between a man and a woman was confirmed. So, she obediently followed his lead. But sheter realized that wasn''t love. It was lust, a marital duty. She was told that such intimacies could be just as sensual without love. Love and sex were never the same thing. When Quinn woke again, it was already noon.


    Her first instinct was to check her phone, but her friend Abigail still hadn''t responded. Quinn''s heart sank as her messages seemed to have disappeared into a void. She understood that Abigail might me her for a good reason. After all, Quinn was the cause of the whole thing.


    Quinn thought, ''That''s right. How can someone like me ever have friends?''She sat numbly on the sofa, the TV ring since the evening before. She cranked up the volume, but even that couldn''t mask the chill emptiness of the vi. Oliver had agreed to Alexander''s terms to assist with customs affairs. However, the ordeal with Abigail was far from controlled. In fact, it was escting.


    The Vanderbilt family''s stocks plummeted daily, evaporating billions in just days. Their father''s hair turned grey in a matter of days.Abigail stood at the doorway of the study with aplex expression as she gazed at her father''s wearied form. It took nothing more than a flick of Alexander''s finger to cause her actions to ripple disastrously through the entire Vanderbilt family.

 Chapter 64

    The audacious derations, dreams, and aspirations Abigail once held for her future now mocked her like a cruel jest. She rapped gently on the door.


    "Dad," she called out. Mr. Vanderbilt nced up at her, unable to mask the fatigue etched into his features, tinged with a hint of disappointment.


    "Shouldn''t you be in your room? What do you need?" he asked."I''m willing to ept an arranged marriage," Abigail dered.Mr. Vanderbilt blinked, taken aback, staring at her as if he had misheard. "What did you say?" he questioned. She paused, her voice slightly hoarse, "An arranged marriage is the only solution to the Vanderbilt family''s current predicament and the key to saving our stocks."He opened his mouth, his expression unreadable.


    Once, he had pressured Abigail to marry, hoping to secure a stable, tranquil future for her. Yet, she had spoken to him of ideals, of life''s purpose, of poetry, and of distant shores. Now, her offer to enter into an arranged marriage, though unexpected, was not what he desired.


    He had never contemted exchanging his daughter''s happiness for financial gain."When will you stop this nonsense? Go back to your room!" he insisted. But Abigail remained steadfast. "I''m not being reckless.


    This is the most expedient solution to our crisis. Please agree, Dad."Mr. Vanderbilt mmed the object he was holding onto the desk, stood up abruptly, and roared, "How many times must I tell you? Go back! I may have my faults, but I won''t trade my daughter''s happiness!"Arranged marriages, once about family alliances, had be negotiations and transactions.


    How could Abigail find happiness in such a union?Observing her father''s uncontroble fury, Abigail felt not the usual triumph but a dull, indescribable pain.It was only now that she understood she had misinterpreted her father''s intentions. Her dreams of flight had been clipped by the harsh reality, and the gales of truth had shattered her wings.


    Retreating to her bedroom, Abigail was greeted by a flurry of messages on her cellphone, most of which she ignored. With just one percent battery remaining, she stared at the phone lying on her bed.In the final moments before it powered down, a call from Quinn came through. A lingering silence filled the air as Abigail picked up the phone and held it to her ear.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    But Quinn couldn''t utter word. The line was shrouded in silence.Abigail, too, remained silent. The call ended in this quiet stillness.Staring at the ended call, Quinn''s eyshes fluttered. She opened WhatsApp, fearful of missing any message from Abigail.Outside, the rain whispered its secrets, and a chill permeated the room.Quinn wrapped her hands around the phone.


    The darkness deepened during the long wait.A knock at the door startled Quinn, causing her to turn her head and listen more intently. It wasn''t the doorbell, but indeed, a knock. Rising to answer it, she saw the man outside and instinctively began to close the door.


    The man moved swiftly, his casual demeanor belying his quick reflexes. His hand caught the doorframe just as Quinn attempted to close it. "Don''t freak out, Quinn. Mom sent me to pick you up."He was undeniably handsome. Yes, he was handsome.


    Yet his masculine features were distinct.Quinn struggled to describe his appearance. His features were as if divinely crafted, each perfect in its own right, yet part of a harmonious whole. Freya had once described him as a dashing gentleman possessing a certain old-world elegance.


    He stood before her, an insincere smile ying on his lips. His hair was long enough to tie back, lending him a distinctive look. The man was Walter, Freya''s husband.

 Chapter 65

    The origins of Walter''s entrance into Freya''s life remained a mystery to all. Their marriage, two years prior, had elevated him to the esteemed position of the Kennedys'' son-inw. Quinn, however, harbored a certain trepidation towards him. With a subtle shift of her body, she retreated a step, her hand gesturing inquisitively, "Is something amiss?""I''m not at liberty to divulge," Walter replied, a smile ying on his lips. "After you, Quinn.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "His invitation, though outwardly cordial, was underscored by a smile that failed to reach his eyes. His demeanor hinted at an underlying aggression.


    A pang of dread seized Quinn''s heart as her mind shed back to her encounter with Kaitlyn at the hospital. She found herself wondering, ''Could this be rted to that incident?""I''m not in the best of health today. Could we perhaps postpone this until tomorrow?" she implored. Walter responded with a slight shake of his head.


    "It''s best you apany me now. If mom were toe fetch you herself, it might not be as cordial."Clutching her phone, Quinn found herself grappling with uncertainty about Kaitlyn''s intentions, a sense of foreboding gnawing at her gut. Could it be about that day at the hospital?Yet, she was under the impression that Kaitlyn hadn''t noticed her."Allow me a moment to freshen up," she finally conceded. Walter nodded in response, the insincere smile still etched on his face. As Quinn hurried upstairs, she began typing a lengthy message to Alexander. However, she paused mid-way. ''If everything has already been decided and even Alexander consents to Kaitlyn, what purpose would this message serve?Would I not simply be inviting another heartbreak?'' Quinn pondered, her thoughts spiraling into despair.


    Ultimately, she erased the message, leaving only, "Kaitlyn wishes to see me."Her departure from the Kennedy residence was her escape from the internal strife of the Kennedys and Kaitlyn''s contempt. This message should serve as a hint to Alexander.


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    No good coulde from Kaitlyn seeking Quinn.If Alexander harbored even the slightest concern for Quinn, he would seek her out.Receiving no immediate response, she exited the chat. In a moment of distraction, she opened her social media app, instantly regretting the decision.


    Getty''stest post surfaced on Quinn''s feed, featuring a delicate gift box with an elegant bracelet nestled within. Today was Getty''s birthday, a day she spent in celebration with Alexander.


    Quinn''s hands sagged, her eyes growing dimmer with each passing moment. From the floor below, Walter''s voice echoed, "Quinn, are you ready?"Following a brief silence, Quinn emerged from her room to find Walter patiently awaiting her by the door.


    Outside the vi, Walter''s car was parked near the entrance. He gestured for her to enter, his invitation as polite as ever.Quinn''s gaze lingered on the car door, her eyes flickering briefly before she resignedly climbed into the vehicle. Her only sce now was the faint hope that Kaitlyn''s summon was for reasons other than what she feared. The car journey was characterized by silence. Walter''s attention was fixed on the road, while Quinn''s eyes remained glued to her phone. There were no messages from either Abigail or Alexander. Her inbox was popted only by a handful of spam texts.Suddenly, Walter broke the silence, "Alexander is workingte again tonight?"His question was casual, as if he didn''t anticipate a response from Quinn.


    Her eyes downcast, Quinn found herself mindlessly refreshing her social media feed.Getty had updated her social media multiple times in quick session.Candlelit dinners, thoughtful gifts, hands entwined.


    The same hands that had held Quinn just the previous night now held another''s in the same manner. Each image felt like a p to her face. Every new update elicited a bitter smile from her. Before long, they arrived at the Kennedy Residence.

 Chapter 66

    As Quinn stepped out of the car, she trailed behind Walter, following him into the weing embrace of the living room.


    Freya was waiting at the entrance, her fingers instantly curling around Walter''s arm as he crossed the threshold. "What took you so long?" she questioned, her toneced with impatience."Nothing more than some traffic," Walter replied nonchntly.


    A fleeting nce was cast over Walter''s shoulder by Freya, her gazending on Quinn. If it hadn''t been for Kaitlyn''s insistence, she would''ve preferred Walter to have left Quinn behind. ''That infuriating woman always pretends to be so innocent, yet she has a knack for ensnaring men with those coy looks,'' Freya mused bitterly, her heart ame with the desire to gouge out those crafty, calcting eyes.


    "Come in, mom''s waiting inside," she announced, leading Walter further into the house. Turning back to Quinn, she prodded, "Quinn, what are you spacing out for? Come on in!"Outside, a light drizzle painted the world, leaving Quinn''s hair speckled with tiny droplets.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    As she stepped into the living room, she found Kaitlyn there, cradling her precious grandson and lulling him into a peaceful slumber. Quinn stood beside Kaitlyn, her eyes falling on the baby for the first time.


    The child was plump and fair, his cherubic mouth breaking into a toothless, gummy smile just for her.A wistful haze settled over Quinn. This was her first time seeing the baby so close, and his cuteness was overwhelming.


    Her fingers brushed her abdomen unconsciously, a silent question forming in her mind. ''Could my own child be as adorable as this one?''The baby reached out, his tiny hands seemingly intent on pulling Quinn closer.Mesmerized by the chubby little fingers, Quinn reached out, her own fingers guided by a yful spirit.


    Just as her fingertips were about to make contact, Freya intervened, pushing her aside."Quinn, you haven''t washed your hands, right? Don''t go spreading germs to Peanut," she admonished. Freya''s smile was strained, not quite reaching her eyes.


    Her push was harder than necessary, causing Quinn to stagger back a few steps, almost falling to the floor.Quinn steadied herself by clutching the arm of the couch. After handing the baby to Freya, Kaitlyn finally rose to her feet, her gaze scrutinizing Quinn, all previous warmth gone.Kaitlyn''s eyes bore into


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    Quinn, scanning her from head to toe before finally resting on Quinn''s midsection."Evelyn Reed!" shemanded.At her beckoning, a maid approached swiftly, two other servants trailing behind her. "Quinn, Mrs. Kennedy would like to have you checked up.


    Pleasee with us," she said tactfully.Quinn''s head shot up, her eyes meeting Kaitlyn''s icy stare.Her mouth opened, but no words emerged.


    Fear and astonishment filled her eyes as she instinctively stepped back.A heavy dread settled in Quinn''s heart. ''It seems fate is not on my side after all,'' she thought grimly.Kaitlyn sneered, "Did you think you could keep secrets from us and I won''t find out? I''ve told you before not to indulge in foolish dreams, but you wouldn''t listen.


    Since you ask for it, you have only yourself to me!" Quinn shook her head, her hands iling aimlessly, but Kaitlyn had already averted her gaze. "Evelyn Reed, take her away."The two servants promptly moved forward, grasping Quinn by her arms and pulling her towards the door.


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    Quinn clung to the door frame, her eyes darting back to the room where Kaitlyn had already resumed her grandmotherly duties. Freya''s lips curled into a cruel smirk, a familiar expression she wore whenever she sessfully executed a prank. Walter watched the scene unfold with an impassive face. The indifferent faces surrounding Quinn were grotesque in their coldness. Even the innocence of the baby in Kaitlyn''s arms couldn''t stir a shred ofpassion within her. ''Inside me is also a life,'' Quinn thought despairingly.The Serena ke pried her fingers from the door frame, pulling her away.


    The vi returned to its previous tranquility, as if Quinn had never been there. The only disruption was the child in Kaitlyn''s arms, who had started to cry.


    The piercing wails echoed through the grand hall of the vi.Rain sshed against Quinn''s face, the cries sounding both near and distant, each one tearing at her heart.For a brief moment, she thought she heard the anguished wailing of the child in her womb.

 Chapter 67

    Kaitlyn and Freya attempted in vain to pacify the wailing child. "What''s going on? Why the sudden fussiness?" Freya cried out in confusion.


    Kaitlyn grumbled under her breath, "It must be terrified by the sight of that dummy. Nothing good ever happens when she makes an appearance!"


    A transition took ce as Quinn was hurriedly ushered into apact room, outfitted with all the necessary equipment. The room, initially intended for Freya, was now serving as a makeshift medical bay for Quinn. Within this room, history was repeating itself.


    Quinn found herself strapped down to a cold, sterile operating table. A masked doctor approached her, brandishing a syringe. Her eyes widened in terror, fixated on the glinting needle under the harsh, unforgiving light.She thrashed about, struggling against her restraints.


    As the doctor secured her arm, he warned, "If the needle breaks, you''ll be the one to suffer the consequences."However, Quinn was too consumed by fear to heed his words. She fought to escape the iron grip of the servants holding her down. Like a cornered beast, she struggled desperately.The doctor observed her as the veins on her forehead bulged out, her mouth agape as she strained to let out a scream. Her face turned a ghastly shade of red from theck of oxygen, her body quivering violently.


    Quinn''s eyes met the doctor''s, a silent plea reflected in her gaze.The doctor''s brow furrowed, finding it increasingly challenging to maintain his professional detachment."Doctor, proceed. Mrs. Kennedy is waiting," a Evelyn Reed urged. Avoiding Quinn''s pleading gaze, the doctor lifted her clothing and inserted the needle into her spine.A familiar, icy pain coursed through Quinn''s body as if the needle had pierced not her spine, but her very heart. The pain was bone-chilling. Despair washed over her as her struggles and hopes faded with the spreading numbness of the anesthesia. No one cared about a dummy''s broken heart or whether a dummy could feel pain. Without a scream, how could theyprehend her torment?Quinn''s grip on the bed rail ckened, her hand falling limply to her side.


    Shey there, quiet, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Tears streamed down her face, soaking her hair. Her lips moved silently until consciousness abandoned her.


    The doctor observed her lips, a sudden realization dawning on him.She had been calling out for Alexander to rescue her.Indeed, Alexander was her only hope now. But he never arrived. Her phoney discarded in the yard, raindrops sttering onto the screen.


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    It illuminated the dark night. The caller ID shed. It was Alexander. The faint ringtone was barely audible amidst the patter of raindrops.After a few shes, the phone returned to its silent state. Back in the living room, Kaitlyn finally managed to soothe the baby.


    She cast a nce back at the door.Sensing her concern, Freya queried, "Mom, are you worried about Alexander returning?"Kaitlyn sighed heavily, "I can''t exin it, but I can''t shake this uneasy feeling."Freya looped her arm through Kaitlyn''s, reassuring her with a smile, "Don''t fret. He''s too busy celebrating Getty''s birthday to worry about that dummy.


    "The mere mention of ''Getty'' elicited a visible grimace from Kaitlyn. Her fondness for Quinn was minimal, and for Getty, it was even less. "That rascal, he never gives me a moment''s peace," she muttered under her breath.Freya responded pragmatically, "What can you do if he''s smitten? At least Getty''s somewhat better than that dummy."


    Kaitlyn''s face hardened into a frown, "It feels as if he''s deliberately defying me. The old man''s been gone for years now. I told him to divorce that dummy and marry someone more suitable, but he refused. Not only does he refuse to divorce, but he also has an indecent woman on the side!""It''s as if he''s trying to provoke me on purpose.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Freya could only shrug helplessly in response."Alexander should have children by now. He always ims he doesn''t like them, but whenever he visits Peanut, he brings a whole heap of gifts."Kaitlyn paused, a hint of mncholy crossing her face."Mom?" She was jolted back to reality, replying absent-mindedly, "He''s just being polite to you."

 Chapter 68

    "Really?" Freya''s brow furrowed, her skepticism evident at her mother''s words. In a different location, Alexander found himself seated in his car, having made several unanswered calls.


    The rain tapped rhythmically against the windows, adding an extrayer of mncholy to the world beyond the ss. Suddenly, a call from Kyle broke through the silence. Straightening his tie, Alexander answered, his voice curt. "Speak."Taken aback by Alexander''s tone, Kyle quickly ryed his message. "Getty''s not pleased with the birthday gift. She wanted me to tell you that you need to see her after your meeting with the client. If not, she''s done with you.""Understood."


    With that, Alexander ended the call, pressed his foot to the gas pedal, and his car disappeared into the rainy night.Upon arriving at the Kennedy Residence, Alexander found Kaitlyn and Freya in the living room, their faces adorned with masks. Freya was the first to notice him. She observed his damp hair and the chill he seemed to carry from the outside.


    There was something about him that seemed deste."Why are you here, brother?" Freya questioned, pulling off her mask in surprise.Kaitlyn turned to look at him. Both women felt a pang of guilt when they faced Alexander."Where''s Quinn?" he asked.


    Stammering slightly, Kaitlyn finally managed to respond, "She left a while ago.""Yeah, she''s been gone for nearly an hour and must be home by now. What brings you here?" Freya chimed in.


    Kaitlyn moved closer to him. "You''re soaking wet. Come inside and change," she suggested, her concern evident as she took hold of his arm.Internally, she was a bundle of nerves. ''That dummy hadn''t told him, had she? It wouldn''t matter if she did.


    He had agreed, albeit silently, when I decided to terminate her pregnancyst year. Would it really be any different this time?'' Kaitlyn reassured herself.


    Alexander gave her a brief nce before turning to leave.Kaitlyn''s face fell instantly. She called after his retreating figure, "Alexander!" Her expression was fierce, anger taking hold.But Alexander didn''t respond. He returned to his car and drove home, to the house he shared with Quinn.


    Upon entering, he scanned the living room. The TV was still on, but Quinn was not on the couch.After inspecting every room, including the bathroom, he found no one. His eyesnded on the television screen, which was tuned to a news channel.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The images on the screen seemed out of ce in their peaceful vi, which was usually filled with the sound of cartoons. Picking up the remote from the couch, he switched off the TV. The room was now enveloped in an eerie silence.Ufortable, Alexander tugged at his cor before heading back outside.


    As he was about to get into his car, he spotted a figure in the rain. Squinting through the heavy downpour, he focused on the figure. His vision was blurred by the rain. The figure seemed to sway, almost as if the rain might knock them over. After a few minutes, Alexander recognized the figure as Quinn. She was soaked, her gait uneven as she approached him.Quinn lifted her head, her hair hanging limply and eyes barely open against the onught of the rain.


    Water streamed off her fingertips, hitting the ground in silence. Their eyes met."Did you walk all the way back?" Alexander asked, retrieving an umbre from the car and holding it over her, attempting to shield her from the rain.Quinn stared at him, her expression numb. She tried to muster a weary smile, but even lifting her hand seemed to require too much effort.It was toote, anyway. She was already drenched. The umbre was pointless now.

 Chapter 69

    Quinn was seated on the couch, herplexion as pale as a specter under the harsh overhead lights. Alexander was behind her, gently drying her hair with a towel.


    Her gaze was vacant, lost in the void of space, as Alexander''s eyes bore down on her. He remained silent. He didn''t inquire about the events that had transpired at the Kennedy Residence.


    It was unclear whether he had surmised the situation and chose not to probe, or if he simplycked interest in her ordeal.


    His silence echoed their past encounters when she had needed him. There was no concern for her wellbeing, no queries about her pain. ''But then again, how could a dummy feel pain?'' She mocked herself internally.


    After drying her hair, Alexander continued to run the hairdryer, ensuring her ebony locks werepletely dry. Throughout this process, she remained stationary, not moving an inch from her initial position. Her lush, dark hair framed her face, highlighting her pallor.


    It was as if she could dissolve into nothingness at any given moment.Alexander stood behind her, enveloped in silence. Both of them were lost in their individual reveries. The tranquility was abruptly shattered by the shrill ring of a phone. It was Alexander''s cell. He set down the hairdryer, retrieved the phone from his pocket, and moved aside to answer the call.Quinn''s eyshes fluttered slightly.


    She turned her head to nce at Alexander, who was engaged in a serious conversation. Redirecting her gaze, she looked down at her abdomen, lightly tracing it with her fingertips. Like her, the unborn child she had carried was unwanted. Quinn closed her eyes. No tears fell. Perhaps she had none left to shed. Tears could signify sorrow but not the depth of despair.


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    Despair was a state beyond expression.Alexander concluded his call and gently ruffled Quinn''s hair. "Get some rest. I have to step out," he murmured.Quinn looked up abruptly, her pallid face breaking into a tentative smile. She nodded in acquiescence.


    Alexander''s brow furrowed slightly. Without uttering another word, he turned and began to walk away. After a few steps, he paused and nced back at Quinn. "Next time she calls you, ring me," he instructed before resuming his departure. His words stung, and as she watched the stern lines of his face, a wave of suffocating sadness washed over her. ''Will there be a next time? It seems unlikely.'' She pondered.Alexander exited without uttering another word, leaving Quinn to stare at his retreating figure until her smile gradually faded.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Unaware of his destination, she curled up on the couch in the vast, deste vi, a lone sentinel in the fortress of solitude.It wasn''t long before she felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, a cruel reminder of life gradually ebbing away from her body, once again. This was the second time. She seemed incapable of safeguarding those innocent lives.


    Gathering her strength, Quinn managed to rise from the couch, staggering towards the medicine cab in search of painkillers. Her hands, shaking uncontrobly, struggled with the bottle cap until pills scattered across the floor. She dropped to her knees, collecting the pills one by one as sweat dripped onto her palms, dampening the pills.She forced the moist pills into her mouth, swallowing them whole. Whether it was the bitterness of the medication or the intensity of her pain, a sour tightness welled up in her chest.


    Quinn copsed on the floor, her sobs echoing through the vi as shey on the cold, hard ground. In the silence of the expansive vi, only the steady rhythm of rain tapping against the ss was audible.Time passed before Quinn, gasping for breath, managed to pull herself up from the floor. Her eyesnded on a paring knife not far away.


    She shuffled towards the paring knife on the counter, gripping it numbly. The de caught the light, casting reflections across her face. As she stared nkly at the gleaming metal, it seemed to flicker with countless scenes.

 Chapter 70

    Images whirled before her, ultimately freezing into a grotesque tableau of mangled flesh.


    A thought bubbled up from the depths of her mind, ''The baby must have been in so much pain, huh?'' Quinn''s heart ached at the thought.Closing her eyes, she pressed the cold steel of the knife against her wrist.


    A crimson line bloomed on her skin, whispering promises of release with just a slight pull. Just then, her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. Blinking her eyes open, she stared at the knife for a moment before fishing out her phone. It was a message from Abigail. The message she had been anxiously waiting for had arrived at such a critical moment.


    Quinn''s eyshes fluttered as she opened WhatsApp and yed the voice message. Abigail''s voice, slurred as if she''d been drinking, came through with a light sigh, "Quinn, am I just really stupid? Alexander called me an idiot, and he''s probably right.""Why should someone this stupid like me even be alive? I''m just wasting air and food. I might as well be dead.


    "The knife ttered to the floor from Quinn''s limp grip. She quickly typed, "Where are you?" But Abigail didn''t respond. Quinn sent message after message to no avail. She scrolled through her contacts and located Spencer''s profile. She sent Spencer a flurry of texts. Spencer was close to Abigail. He wouldn''t just leave her to die.A whileter, Spencer replied."Quinn, don''t worry. You know how Abigail is. She wouldn''t actually seek death. She''s just talking, that''s all. People who truly want to die don''t talk about it. Don''t stress too much. I''m on my way to find her. Take care of yourself! Abigail is always scaring you. One of these days, we''ll make her treat you to something nice, and we''ll milk it for all it''s worth!" Hearing Spencer''s words, Quinn nced down at the paring knife on the floor but couldn''t muster the courage to pick it up. Perhaps it was Spencer''s upbeat tone that pierced the gloom around her and offered a glimmer of light. It made her feel like the world wasn''t as bad as it seemed.-


    Meanwhile, Alexander drove through the night, his cell phone buzzing repeatedly beside him, but he ignored it.


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    Soon, he reached Getty''s house and skillfully entered the security code. Pushing open the door, he was greeted by sobbing from within."Housekeeper, don''t try to stop me! No one cares about me. No one would miss me if I''m gone. I can''t see the point in living anymore!"Getty was clutching a paring knife, attempting to sh at her wrists while the housekeeper desperately held her hands."Getty, please calm down! If anything happens to you, Mr. Kennedy will punish me ruthlessly!""Let go! If I want to die, that''s my own business, not yours!"


    In the midst of their struggle, the housekeeper looked up to see Alexander standing in the doorway of the kitchen. His hair was slightly ruffled, his clothes still damp.


    His expression was somber, and a chill seemed to cling to him."Mr. Kennedy," the housekeeper frantically signaled with her eyes to Getty. " Mr. Kennedy''s here."Getty paused for a second and spoke defiantly, "So what if he''s here! Can he really control whether I live or die?"


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    With that, she moved to cut her wrist. Alexander, however, remained still. Getty, with the knife in hand, suddenly found herself in an awkward spot. Fortunately, she had her back facing Alexander, so he couldn''t see that she was only pretending, with the back of the knife against her wrist.Getty''s defiance slowly ebbed away. She might have doubted if Alexander was even there if not for the chilling presence behind her.


    She exchanged nces with the housekeeper.


    The housekeeper looked perplexed as if to say, ''You asked for it. Now live with it.''


    "Why don''t you do it?"


    Alexander''s voice finally broke the silence. There was a subtle annoyance in his voice.

 Chapter 71

    A shiver coursed through Getty''s frame, a potent cocktail of embarrassment, shame, hurt, and rage overwhelming her.


    Her countenance was a mirror to her tumultuous emotions. After a moment''s pause, she swiveled to face Alexander, her heart plummeting at the sight of his indifferent gaze.


    She surmised he was in a particrly foul mood that day. Having spent a considerable amount of time in Alexander''spany, Getty had honed her ability to discern his moods. ''Could a fit of anger leading to self-harm drive him away?'' she pondered, a wave of anxiety washing over her.


    Hesitating for a moment, she tossed the knife onto the table and flung herself into Alexander''s arms. "Your absence on my birthday and sending Kyle in your stead really hurt me. Can''t you know how sad that makes me feel?" Getty''s voice trembled with genuine distress. She was certain of one thing. ''Only that damn dummy could have caused him to neglect me.''Knowing when to back down, Getty softened her stance, and Alexander''s gloomy demeanor lightened marginally. Encircling her waist with his arms, he vowed, "I''ll make it up to you."Looking up at his striking visage, Getty pouted her lips and asked, "Really?""Mm.""You can''t stand me up again.""I won''t," Alexander assured her, his gaze drifting to her ankle. "Has it healed?""It''s better, just a bit painful to walk," Getty responded, her arms snaking around his neck.


    She yfully added, "Would you carry me there?"Without a word of protest, Alexander scooped her up and made his way to the living room. With her arms securely around his neck, Getty murmured, "I haven''t had dinner yet. Would you join me?"


    Alexander cast a nce at her, offering a nomittal "hmm."The housekeeper promptly cleared the remnants of dinner from the table, prepared a fresh meal, and reced the spent candles with new ones. The weather had taken a turn for the worse, with a persistent drizzle nketing the city for several days.


    Quinn, drenched from the rain, had sumbed to a high fever. Shey curled up on her bed, her consciousness ebbing and flowing, lost to the world around her.In the fog of her dreams, she felt abandoned. The only silver lining was that confusion was a more ptable alternative to rity.


    In a peculiar way, Quinn considered herself fortunate. No medicines, no injections. Just three days in bed, and her fever had subsided on its own.Alexander had likely intended to keep his promise to Getty. He wouldn''t see Quinn for a month. Consequently, after he left that night, she hadn''t seen him return.Quinn mustered the strength to rise from her bed, took a shower, changed into fresh clothes, and, armed with an umbre, she ventured out of the vi.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Abigail had returned the money she owed Quinn without a word. With the funds, Quinn purchased several items, including a cell phone.


    She gathered her purchases and set out to find Juliet.Owing to the rain, Juliet wasn''t out scavenging. She remained in her humble shack, and Quinn could hear a bout of coughing even before she was within sight.


    Quickening her pace, Quinn rapped on the shack''s door. Juliet pushed the damp curtain aside, and her eyes, clouded with age, lit up at the sight of Quinn."Quinn, what brings you here?" she inquired, hastily rising from her bed to receive the items.


    Surveying the room, Quinn noticed there was scant space to ce the items except inside the shack. She ced her items at the foot of the bed and took a seat next to Juliet."You look rather pale. Are you sick?" Juliet asked, concern etching her features.


    Quinn shook her head, a faint smile gracing her lips. She extracted the basic phone she had purchased and handed it to Juliet.Quinn signed, "My number''s saved in there. Call me if you need anything.""This is too much. It''s too valuable. Besides, an olddy like me doesn''t need a cell phone."Quinn gestured, "It''s used, not worth much. Keep it. It''ll make staying in touch easier."

 Chapter 72

    Quinn''s tenacity prevailed, her hand firmly pressing the phone into Juliet''s grasp.


    With tear-streaked cheeks, Juliet found herself unable to resist any further, epting the device with a reluctant nod.


    "ver envisaged you standing by my side," Juliet murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.A pang of emotion swept through Quinn as she sped Juliet''s hand in her own. Their bond was forged from the shared experience of abandonment, both forsaken by those they held dear.


    Quinn had never anticipated finding sce in thepany of a grey-haired elder, especially when everyone else had deserted her. They were divided by years, yet their solitude united them. Indeed, the human experience of loneliness was universal.


    Quinn''s gaze swept across their surroundings. Despite attempts at waterproofing, the shack was damp, the moisture seeping into their bedding, rendering it sodden and inhospitable.


    It was difficult toprehend how an elderly woman had endured such conditions for so long. Suddenly, an idea sparked in Quinn''s mind, a way to assist Juliet. Rising to her feet, she bid Juliet a brief farewell before striding to the curb to hail a taxi.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Once ensconced in the cab, she drafted a message to Alexander, her finger hovering over the send button before she decided to call him instead.In the midst of a meeting, Alexander nced at his phone, noticing her iing call. He promptly raised a hand, silencing the speaker mid-sentence, and disconnected the call. He opened WhatsApp and read Quinn''s message.


    She had written about her desire to employ additional help. Alexander stared at the message in silence for a moment. Quinn had never asked him for anything in all the years they''d known each other. This was a first. Without a moment''s hesitation, Alexander replied with two simple words, "Your call."


    Quinn was taken aback. Not only had he responded promptly, but he had also agreed. Alexander was not one to retain superfluous staff, yet this presented an opportunity to bring Juliet back under the pretense of hiring help. After all, Alexander wouldn''t be there to object. With renewed vigor, Quinn tapped the taxi driver on the shoulder, showing him her phone.


    He nodded in understanding and drove her back to her starting point.Rushing back to Juliet, Quinn gestured excitedly, "Juliet, Alexander has agreed for you toe live with us."A look of surprise flitted across Juliet''s face. She had only met Quinn twice recently, yet she had never seen her this ted."Ah, is that okay?" Juliet asked, her voice wavering with uncertainty. "It''s not the Kennedy Residence. It''s where Alexander and I live," Quinn rified."You and Alexander...?" Juliet''s voice trailed off in astonishment.


    Quinn nodded,pleting the sentence for both of them, "We''re married."A content smile graced Juliet''s face, "I knew it! You two were meant to be.


    Alexander has always treated you differently. He really does like you."The smile on Quinn''s lips waned slightly, but she managed to maintain her cheerful fa?ade. ''Sure, he likes me, just as one likes cats and dogs. Visiting Juliet would make her like me. Modeling for Abigail would make her like me. A person can like many, but love is reserved for only one.'' Quinn''s thoughts were a whirlwind.


    Sensing the mncholy creeping onto Quinn''s face, Juliet deftly changed the subject, "Nevertheless, Quinn, at my age, I wouldn''t want to impose on you two."


    Quinn waved her hands dismissively, "Alexander wants you toe back and take care of him."Juliet paused, "Really?"Though her movements were slow, she was still capable of managing daily chores. She hadn''t expected Alexander to still think of her.


    The thought brought her own son to mind, and her eyes welled up with tears.Quinn nodded. She had lied to both of them, but seeing the tears glistening in Juliet''s eyes, she felt it was worthwhile. ''Life gains meaning when we feel needed.'' Quinn mused.

 Chapter 73

    The same taxi that had arrived earlier was still parked outside, with Quinn dutifully assisting Juliet in loading her sparse belongings into the vehicle''s trunk.


    Juliet didn''t possess much of value; her bedding was speckled with mold and her clothes were worn to the point of disrepair.


    Yet, she clung to these items with a desperation born from years of transience, a fear of being left without even the most basic necessities.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Quinn, empathizing with Juliet''s plight, transported all her belongings back to the vi. She carefully stored them away in the utility room, a space that had be a temporary refuge for Juliet''s few possessions.


    Perhaps it was the lingering effects of her recent illness, but after the exertion of moving Juliet''s items, Quinn felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.


    The room spun violently around her and, unable to maintain her bnce, she copsed onto the floor. Juliet, having just changed out of her worn clothes, dropped her crutches in rm and rushed to Quinn''s side. "Quinn!" she eximed, helping the fallen woman to her feet.


    Quinn had hit her head during the fall, causing a throbbing pain that made it difficult for her to open her eyes. "What happened?" Juliet asked, her voice filled with concern. "Why did you faint so suddenly?""I probably have anemia," Quinn admitted, her hand weakly gesturing in exnation. She had recently lost a child and was still recovering from her illness; anemia seemed a likely consequence. "Stop worrying about everything," Juliet insisted, guiding Quinn towards thefort of the couch. "Rest, and I''ll make you a cup of sweet ginger tea."


    Quinn, looking up at the face of the woman who had shown her such kindness, found herself smiling genuinely for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Juliet''s clean, friendly countenance provided Quinn with a sense of reassurance and warmth she hadn''t realized she needed.As Juliet busied herself with preparing the ginger tea, Quinn took the opportunity to check her phone.


    Disappointment washed over her as she realized there was still no response from Abigail. She nced at the shopping bag next to her, knowing it contained a brand-new phone, identical to her current one. With a sense of resignation, Quinn transferred her SIM card to the new phone, packed the old one into its box, and stored it in the drawer beneath the coffee table.


    As she opened the drawer, her gaze fell upon the untouched divorce papers, their presence a silent reminder of her failing marriage. She stared at the words ''Divorce Agreement'' for a moment before shutting the drawer, her heart heavy. With her new phone in hand, she texted Abigail before deciding to call her. Abigail had been drinking heavilytely, answering her phone with a drunken slur, barely aware of who was on the other end."What now? Will you people ever leave me alone?" Abigail''s harsh words took Quinn by surprise, leaving her momentarily speechless.


    Abigail seemed to realize something then, her tone softening slightly. "Oh, it''s you. I''m sorry, I''ve been getting non-stop calls. Preachers on the inte telling me to turn myself in, haters enjoying the drama..."Abigailughed then, a bitter sound filled with pain. "People only show their true colors when you''re down and out, huh?"


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    Abigail mused aloud. "Now, listening to them just makes me sick. Compared to them, I''m actually starting to like Alexander. Isn''t that funny?" Abigail''s tone suggested she was finding humor in the irony of her situation. ''At least Alexander has the decency to be upfront when something bothers him, unlike those backstabbers. ''Abigail''s voice held a newfound rity as she continued, "Now I get it.


    There are not just good and evil people. There are also monsters, all kinds of them." She shared a recent experience, "A few nights ago, I was walking down the street when a group of thugs appeared. They pelted me with rocks and snapped pictures of me, all while parading under the fa?ade of righteousness. Before that..."


    Abigail paused, "I had just gotten off the phone with someone who imed to be my best friend." Quinn listened in silence, taking in Abigail''s raspy voice, stripped of its former wildness and defiant vigor. Now, she just sounded bitter and deste. Abigail''s heartbreak stemmed not only from the lives she had inadvertently taken but also from the betrayal of once close friends.

 Chapter 74

    Quinn was gued by the gnawing feeling that she was the root cause of the predicament Abigail found herself in. Abigail''s voice,ced with bitterness, filled the air. "Can you believe she betrayed me, my dear Quinn? How did things spiral to this point?"


    The despair in her voice was palpable, a choking sob cutting through her words. Quinn, her throat constricting and eyes brimming with unshed tears, clutched her phone tightly. Her mouth was agape, but no words found their way out. After an eternity of silence, Abigail''s voice regained itsposure. "I''ve decided to turn myself in. Would you like to see me onest time?"


    She continued, her voice steady, "If you decide toe, just knock. If not, just hang up."The torment had be unbearable for her. The agony of existence was proving to be far more torturous than the prospect of atonement behind bars. It would mean that no more innocents would have to suffer because of her actions.


    Quinn held onto the phone, her fingers frozen, neither hanging up nor tapping the screen. ''Abigail is a victim, too. She shouldn''t have to shoulder all this burden.


    It seems that the kindest souls can''t live easy once they step wrong.'' Quinn''s thoughts echoed in her mind."Well?" Abigail''s voice broke through her thoughts, a sad smile audible in her words.Quinn''s fingers, stiff with tension, moved slowly. Her inner turmoil was a raging storm as she gently tapped the screen. For a fleeting moment, Abigail''sughter filled the air, as bright and carefree as it had once been.


    Quinn ended the call abruptly, rose from her seat, and sprinted towards the vi''s exit.By the time Juliet emerged with the tea, Quinn was nowhere in sight.


    Quinn hailed a cab and headed straight to the police station, her heart pounding with the fear of being toote to see Abigail onest time.As she arrived across from the precinct, her eyes immediatelynded on the familiar motorcycle with Abigail astride it.


    She was casually dressed, a lit cigarette in her hand.Quinn paid the driver and rushed towards Abigail, her steps hurried. Breathless, she approached Abigail, who casually flicked the remains of her cigarette aside.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    A grin spread across Abigail''s face as she spotted Quinn, a warmth radiating from her that seemed to contradict the despair Quinn had heard in her voice."So, did you get all dolled up just to see me?" Abigail teased.Quinn nced down at her outfit, a white sweater paired with white cks-her typical everyday attire."Just kidding," Abigail said, her fingers yfully pinching Quinn''s cheek.


    Her gaze then drifted to Quinn''s midsection. Reaching out, Abigail gently touched her belly. "How''s the little one?"Quinn merely stared back, words lodged in her throat.Abigail didn''t hold it against her. Instead, they fell into afortable rhythm of small talk about inconsequential matters, which somehow made Quinn feel worse than if she had been scolded.Catching Abigail''s hopeful gaze, Quinn managed a weak smile and a slight nod. ''Yeah, the little guy was a quiet one. Didn''t make a sound, not even during the procedure.''


    Quinn thought.Abigail gently wiped a tear from the corner of Quinn''s eye. "What''s with the waterworks? Too many tears aren''t good for the baby. By the time I get out, he''ll be learning to walk, right?"Quinn''s lips trembled, tears streaming down her face. ''My dearest brought me the deepest losses. One is my child, and the other is my best friend. They are both slipping away from me.'' she thought in desperation.

 Chapter 75

    Quinn seized Abigail''s hand, her head shaking in silent plea for her friend not to surrender herself. Abigail, however, understood the unspoken message. She chuckled, a hollow sound devoid of any real mirth. "You know I broke out to get here. If I miss this chance, it''ll be much harder to return."


    Quinn clung to her, her grip firm and unyielding. Abigail opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, as though the right words had escaped her. The rain had stopped, and behind the veil of clouds, the sun engaged in a coy game of hide and seek.After what seemed like an eternity, Abigail''s smile faded.


    She turned to Quinn, her gaze intense. "If it wasn''t for the fact that someone died, I''d almost be grateful to Alexander. He showed me the true colors of people.""But..." A smile tugged at her lips once more. "You haven''t given me any reason to regret. So, everything I did was worth it."Despite the stark disparity in their physical strength, Quinn held on.


    Abigail could have easily shrugged her off with the slightest effort, but she didn''t."Let me go," Abigail murmured softly. Quinn responded with a vehement shake of her head.Abigail couldn''t help butugh.


    Just then, a car zoomed past. A can was hurled from the window, striking Abigail on the forehead. It wasn''t painful, but the sound it made was loud, and the act, filled with malice and humiliation, hung heavily in the air around them. Quinn watched the car, a taxi, disappear into the distance.It took Abigail a considerable amount of time to turn around. When she finally did, she nonchntly said to Quinn, "You see, this is the mess I''m in. I''m like a rat crossing the street. Everyone''s out to get me."


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    Quinn released her, her hands gesturing in protest. "None of this is your fault.""I''ve tried to tell myself that. But you probably can''tprehend the feeling. It''s nothing like the butcher''s work with fish and poultry," she retorted. ''This guilt and panic, it''s the kind that haunts a person for life.


    After all, dead men tell no tales. My family was worn to the bone with worry for my sake, so I could only imagine the grief of the victim''s loved ones,'' Abigail thought.


    Quinn looked at Abigail, her own thoughts echoing, ''She can''t understand my current helplessness either, that frantic desperation of being unable to help my friend. Then Abigail advised, "Get away from Alexander soon. He''s no good. Sometimes, guys just y dumb, especially when ites to matters of the heart. ying dumb clears up ny percent of the trouble."


    She dispensed these instructions like they were herst words, making Quinn even more reluctant to let her go. Suddenly, a few more taxis screeched to a halt before them.


    A group of men and women emerged and quickly surrounded them."We''ve finally found you, you murderer! You think two million bucks clears the te for my sister''s life?"ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    The man was in his thirties, dressed in ostentatious clothing, his hair streaked red in a way that screamed trouble.


    Abigail''s gaze swept over the crowd, noting several middle-aged individuals who looked like grieving rtives, some breaking into tears as they approached."You rich devils, there''s no justice! Killing in broad daylight and still roaming free. Give me back my son''s life!""Dear God, please, punish the murderer here..."


    As the mob pressed closer, Quinn turned to look at Abigail.But Abigail seemed numb to it all, her face expressionless as they created their scene.Seeing no reaction from her, some of the men grew impatient, "Tie her up and take her straight to the police station! I don''t believe the officers won''t give us some justice today!"As they surged forward to grab Abigail, she dismounted her motorcycle, preparing to speak up, but Quinn suddenly stepped in front of her.Abigail blinked in surprise at the sight of Quinn standing before her.

 Chapter 76

    With a protective stance, Quinn positioned herself in front of the group, her arms outstretched. Fear was evident in her trembling shoulders, yet she stood her ground, shielding Abigail.


    The crowd interpreted her actions as a sign ofplicity, which only served to fuel their anger. The grieving family, their rage heightened, sought to push Quinn aside.


    However, Quinn was quicker. In a state of panic, she pushed one of the men away. She used all her strength, causing him to stumble backward into the arms of those behind him."Believe you can get away with murder, do you?" A man''s hand swung towards Quinn.


    Instinctively, she raised her arm to block the blow, but Abigail was faster. She seized the man''s wrist and pped his face with a force reminiscent of a whip''s crack. The impact left him as stunned as Getty had been in the past. However, this action of Abigail''s stirred the ho''s nest even further."Believe you''re above thew, do you? Let''s bury these two as retribution for our family!" The crowd''s roar echoed as they charged forward.


    Without hesitation, Quinn wrapped her arms around Abigail, using her body as a shield. After all they had been through, she couldn''t bear the thought of Abigail getting hurt again. It was her only clear thought amidst the chaos. Abigail''s face, previously numb, now disyed a mix of anger and touched gratitude. She quickly pulled Quinn behind her and retrieved a copsible baton from the motorcycle''s saddlebag. As the baton extended with a menacing swoosh, a cold gust swept through the crowd."So, you see me as a murderer? Well, one murder is as good as a hundred. If you''re so eager to join your family, step right up," Abigail sneered.Abigail, who had been worshipped all her life, possessed a straightforward character and never shied away from a fight.


    Her innate authority radiated from her, intimidating everyone present. The crowd thought they could overpower her due to their numbers, but deep down, theycked the courage to kill. However, they were convinced that Abigail, the rebel heiress, wouldn''t hesitate to draw blood.


    The mob''s would-be leader faltered, bluffing, "You''ve got no respect for thew! The police station is right across the street. You think you can just get away with murder?"""We''ll see if I can. Why don''t you test me?" Abigail retorted defiantly.


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    But who would dare take that risk? The crowd was at a standoff, none bold enough to step forward yet unwilling to retreat. The stalemate was broken by the sound of police sirens. After all, causing a ruckus right in front of a police station was bound to draw attention."What''s going on here?" amanding voice barked, scattering the crowd.


    An officer spotted the weapon in Abigail''s grip. Quinn subtly slid closer, hoping to somehow conceal the baton. In the end, they were all hauled into the police station.


    The agitators demanded justice, even though the perpetrators behind the devastated vehicles had already been apprehended, and the Vanderbilt family had paid the damages to settle the matter.But spurred on by the online uproar, they were looking to cash in even more. Fortunately, Abigail had managed to restrain herself, but they still needed someone to bail them out.


    Quinn sat tensely on the bench, dreading Alexander''s reaction if he found out she''d sought out Abigail and got mixed up in amotion.Quinn shut her eyes. She couldn''t bear to think about it. The situation had spiraled far beyond what she had anticipated.As the turmoil churned inside her, a familiar voice cut through her dread."My apologies for themotion, folks," the voice said."No trouble at all, just doing my job. But your littledy looks so quiet and well-behaved, yet she stood her ground against some tough characters. No wonder people say you can''t judge a book by its cover."

 Chapter 77

    As the conversation unfolded, Alexander and Kyle came into Quinn''s view.


    Alexander was a picture of sartorial elegance, his brown coat reaching down to his knees, highlighting his long, straight legs.


    He cast a fleeting nce at Quinn before his gaze shifted to Abigail, who stood by her side.Quinn averted her eyes, a pang of guilt washing over her.


    Her ponytail had unraveled, and stray strands of hair were strewn across her pallid cheeks, resembling marbled etchings on wless baster, disheveled and deste.Abigail, her brows knitted together, remained silent. Her past encounters had taught her to avoid unnecessary conflicts, especially when


    Alexander hadn''t provoked her.


    In the midst of the palpable tension, Oliver made his way over hastily.Upon sighting Alexander and Quinn, his expression subtly changed.


    He then approached Abigail and whispered, "Abigail, haven''t you stirred up enough trouble? Let''s go home!"Too drained to protest, Abigail didn''t resist. As Oliver guided her away, she cast a worried nce at Quinn. Only after their departure did Alexander break his silence, "nning on staying here overnight?"Caught off guard, Quinn looked up at his inscrutable expression and, after a moment''s hesitation, rose to her feet nervously.


    Alexander turned to leave, the draft from his coat wafting a hint of an unfamiliar scent that lingered around Quinn.She trailed behind him in silence, and as Kyle stood by the car door, poised to open it, Alexander instructed, "You go on ahead." Kyle nodded, closed the car door, and stepped aside to clear the path.Seated in the car, Quinn remained silent. Although no words were exchanged, the atmosphere inside the car was icy. She fiddled with her fingers, anxiety gnawing at her throughout the journey. Upon their arrival at the manor, Alexander removed his overcoat.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Juliet, hobbling out from the kitchen, greeted them with a mixture of delight and apprehension.Juliet was slightly anxious. She wiped her hands on her apron before epting Alexander''s coat, "I was just wondering when you''d be back so I could start preparing dinner."


    Alexander studied her face briefly, his gaze then dropping to her leg, "You''re the housekeeper Quinn hired?"His blunt observation left Juliet frozen in ce, the elderly woman standing awkwardly as she nced at Quinn. Forcing a strained smile, Juliet stammered, "Ah. Yes, that''s right. Don''t worry. I won''t let it interfere with my work."Quinn bit her lip, her head drooping in embarrassment. She discreetly tugged at Alexander, silently reminding him not to be overly harsh.Alexander disregarded Quinn. His words to Juliet were curt and dismissive, "You can''t even walk straight. How can you work? This is not a charity house. You''vee to the wrong ce."


    After uttering those harsh words, Alexander didn''t spare another nce at Juliet''s ashen face as he ascended the staircase, breezing past the elderly woman.Quinn''s hand went limp, a whirlwind of guilt and helplessness engulfing her as she stood rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on Juliet.


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    Juliet took a moment topose herself. There weren''t many things in life she hadn''te to terms with. Wiping away a tear, she managed a strained smile at Quinn. "Guess I won''t be making dinner tonight."A pang of pain seized Quinn''s heart.


    She sped Juliet''s arm, shaking her head vehemently.She gestured, "Wait for me."Juliet opened her mouth, then hesitated, "Never mind. I''ve grown ustomed to that little shack of mine. It''s okay, I''ll head back."Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes, her pleading gaze begging as she gestured once more, "Wait for me."''Am I really so useless that I''m unable to keep anyone who matters to me by my side? Surely, there muste a time when fate would take pity on me and align with me. If only just once.'' she wondered.


    Quinn turned and ascended the stairs, halting in front of the study. The door was slightly ajar, and it creaked open at her gentle knock.


    Inside, Alexander was engaged in a phone call, leaning against the window in a rxed posture.


    The backdrop of a brewing storm outside and the dim light in the room cast an austere chill over his features.

 Chapter 78

    "If you''re incapable of handling the task, perhaps you should resign."


    With these words, Alexander ended the call, his attention shifting towards Quinn. He allowed her the first move in their silent chess game.


    After a moment of internal struggle, Quinn raised her hands, her fingers dancing in the air as she signed, "Can Juliet stay?"


    "Is this your reason for seeking me out?" Alexander questioned, his gaze narrowing as Quinn''s eyes fell, her hair acting as a veil to hide her emotions.


    She continued her silent plea, her hands signing with a sense of urgency, "Don''t you remember her?"


    His gaze remained impassive, his tone equally indifferent, "What does it matter if I remember? What changes if I don''t? Am I expected to care for every Kennedy servant until their dying day?"


    His words struck Quinn like a dagger to the heart. She slowly raised her eyes to meet his icy stare, doubting for the first time if this man had any capacity forpassion.


    Alexander closed the distance between them, leaning in closer, "She may stay, but only if you sever your ties with Abigail.


    "Quinn''s reaction was subtle, but not unnoticed.


    A thin smile graced his lips, his eyes reflecting a chilling detachment, "Choose between her and Abigail.


    "So, this is why he was silent on our journey here. He didn''t explode in anger because he was waiting for me to solve this puzzle. Choosing is impossible because there is no correct answer.'' Quinn''s realization dawned. Alexander''s gaze bore into her clear eyes, silently awaiting her decision. The silence stretched on, time slipping away in the quiet tension.


    Quinn slowly raised her hand and signed, "Would you do the same to Getty?


    "His eyes darkened momentarily at her gesture before returning to her face, "Are you questioning me?"


    Quinn''s lips tightened, her fair face taking on an uncharacteristic resolve. She gestured, "I''ve never asked you for anything. Can''t you grant me this one request?"


    Alexander caught her gesturing fingers in his grip, halting her movement. He whispered, "No," then added after a pause, "Not this time."


    A bitter smile pulled at Quinn''s dry lips. She thought, ''This one time is all I asked for.


    "You can''t be too greedy," he said, his voice as deep as before, holding her hands to prevent furthermunication. "Since you can''t make a choice, allow me to choose for you.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Panic red in Quinn''s eyes as she tried to pull away from Alexander. Her struggles only caused him to tighten his grip, her wrists aching under the pressure. Desperate, she opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Alexander''s gaze turned icy as he forced her hands onto the edge of the desk. The hard edge dug into her waist. She straightened her body, a familiar pain radiating from her abdomen.


    Her only option was to bite him, but before she could, he secured her jaw and forced her down onto the desk. One hand holding her wrists, the other lifting her leg, he leaned in, his entire weight pressing down on her. "So, I can''t touch you now?" Their faces were mere inches apart, his breath washing over her.


    Pain twisted in Quinn''s abdomen as if her insides were being stretched to the breaking point. Sweat beads formed on her forehead, her lips parting in a silent plea.


    She mouthed, "Stop."


    But it was as if he couldn''t understand.

 Chapter 79

    Quinn''s teeth ground together in a grimace, the pain washing the color from her face as she ceased her struggle. Alexander did not press further.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    He observed Quinn until she was utterly motionless before relinquishing his hold on her. She slid off the desk, crumpling onto the floor, her hands protectively cradling her stomach.


    She dared not move, for every slight shift brought a wave of excruciating pain that pierced her heart."Consider my proposal," his voice echoed from above. He pivoted to depart but felt a gentle pull at his trouser leg. ncing down, he found Quinn clutching at the fabric.Slowly, she raised her head, her face a mask of pallor. There was no denying the torment she was enduring. She stilled her quivering lips and took deep, measured breaths to manage the pain before releasing him.


    Then, with deliberate movements, she signed, "If you loathe me and everything associated with me so much, why don''t you just divorce me?"A fleeting shadow passed over his eyes before he abruptly crouched down. Alexander lifted her chin and retorted, "Seems you''re having trouble recalling thingstely, huh? Have you forgotten what I told you?"Quinn looked at him, her energy depleted.


    She hadn''t forgotten. ''He instructed me to avoid Abigail and never to utter the word ''divorce.'' Yet, I find myself continually defying him. I feel like a caged dog, left with no option but to wag its tail and plead for mercy from its master.'' She signed, "Is this your idea of ''taking care of me for life''? Imprisoning me in a cage?"As he watched the tears shimmer in her eyes, a flicker of something crossed his own, too swift to identify. After a pause, he responded, "If that''s your interpretation, then so be it."His words struck her like a thunderbolt, leaving her reeling and disoriented.


    She shut her eyes as the tears overflowed, her face ghostly pale. She finally capitted.Some timeter, Quinn opened her eyes and gestured to him, "If I stop seeing Abigail, can you extricate her from her current predicament?""Quinn, I''m not here to negotiate with you," Alexander dismissed her tly.


    He released her chin, stood, and dered, "It appears you''ve made your choice." With that, he exited the study without a backward nce.Quinn copsed onto the floor, her head bowed low, her hair obscuring most of her face. Alexander was descending the staircase just as Juliet was unpacking her belongings. She froze upon sighting him, her possessions impossible to conceal. Her items were too shabby, utterly incongruous in the immacte vi.He seized his coat from the rack, cast a cursory nce at her, and remarked, "I don''t want to see this junk again.""I''ll dispose of them immediately," Juliet''s voice wavered.


    She turned to Alexander, puzzled, "Alexander, what exactly are you implying?"With an indifferent tone, he replied, "Since she permitted you to stay here, you''d better take good care of her."Juliet remained rooted to the spot until he was out of sight, only then grasping his insinuation. A wry smile etched itself onto her lined face.


    She dropped her belongings and ascended the stairs to find Quinn.At the threshold of the study, Juliet spotted Quinn huddled on her side, her clothes in disarray. She hastened in to assist her and inquired, "Quinn, what''s the matter?"Quinn slowly opened her eyes, her forehead and neck slick with perspiration as if she had been submerged in water. She raised a tremulous hand to her abdomen. Only then did Juliet notice the blotches of blood staining Quinn''s trousers."You..." Juliet''s face contorted as panic seized her. Without a moment''s hesitation, she reached for her phone, ready to dial for an ambnce.

 Chapter 80

    Quinn held her phone in a tight grip, her head shaking subtly to indicate to Juliet that she shouldn''t make the call.


    "Why won''t you go to the hospital? You''re bleeding," Juliet''s voice wasced with worry. Quinn responded with a dismissive gesture, implying that her menstrual cycle was the culprit and that a few painkillers would be enough to alleviate her difort.


    Upon noticing the small amount of blood, Juliet swiftly aided Quinn to her feet and guided her back to the sanctuary of her bedroom. Juliet then fetched pain medication and a heating pad for Quinn before heading to the kitchen to prepare a soothing cup of hot ginger tea.


    As Quinn cradled the hot beverage, she could feel the warmth spreading from her hands, and herplexion began to show a slight improvement. Juliet watched her, biting back the words that threatened to spill from her lips.


    Once Quinn had finished her tea, Juliet took the empty cup and finally voiced the question that had been gnawing at her, "What''s going on with you and Alexander?"


    The tension that was evident in Alexander''s demeanor made it clear that their rtionship was not as solid as Juliet had initially thought, underscored by an indefinable subtlety. Quinn shook her head, her thoughts swirling. ''I don''t know. I can''t fathom what had gone awry between Alexander and me. At some point, I''ve inadvertently be a trivial thing to him. Maybe it started when we got married, or perhaps even earlier.


    Because of Ulysses'' final wish, he reluctantly married me, abandoning the one he truly loved. He doesn''t resent me, but it''s clear he can no longer show me the same affection as before. Our rtionship is indeedplex and subtly strained.''Quinn nced at Juliet beside her. ''The fact that Juliet is still present means Alexander has acquiesced to me cutting ties with Abigail. If I continue to defy him, Juliet will inevitably get dragged into the mess. At her advanced age, she couldn''t be subjected to such turmoil.''This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


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    Quinn''s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. She closed her eyes and leaned against the headboard, letting the sound of rain at the window wash over her. She spent two days at home without contacting Abigail, who had only inquired if Alexander had caused her any trouble upon her return.


    Quinn couldn''t bear to respond and chose to ignore it. Online, the noise around Abigail''s incident seemed to have died down. In contrast, VX Games''test release, "Dragon Vein Street," was making waves on the inte due to their New Year''s promotional short film.


    They had shot a live-action short film telling the story of ''Luna,'' and the script was remarkably well-crafted. Viewers leftments of being moved to tears under each forwarded video. Luna was wheelchair-bound, so Getty''s injured foot did not impede filming.


    Thanks to Alexander''s promotional backing, the campaign was aggressive, and the micro-movie practically went viral overnight. Getty also cleverly revealed her top-ranking status, skyrocketing to fame and amassing millions of new followers within days.


    Quinn also checked Getty''s video channel and social media, littered with shy photos and indiscreet disys of affection. But in all the photos, Alexander was partially hidden, showing just a hand or back and never his face. His long, elegant fingers and broad shoulders were enough to set off wild fantasies, even without seeing his face. Quinn flipped through the photographs, each one an indulgent tribute to Getty''s antics, supporting her wild whims.


    A pang hit Quinn when she realized she didn''t have a proper picture with Alexander. Not even a selfie. She was lost in this thought when her phone buzzed unexpectedly with a message from Freya: "Dad wants us toe over for New Year''s dinner. Don''t forget." When Freya spoke, it was with the authority of her father, Wayne Kennedy, whose word was thew to the Kennedys. Quinn stared at the message, her eyes flickering momentarily. She instinctively touched her belly, which still ached subtly.

 Chapter 81

    Without waiting for Alexander, Quinn hailed a cab alone, setting her course for the Kennedy Residence.


    The evening mist hung heavy over Amber Bay, blurring the cityscape and shrouding every structure in a veil of obscurity.


    Upon her arrival, she purchased some fruit from a street vendor, a preemptive peace offering for Kaitlyn, who she knew would likely remain unsatisfied with her visit.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    The Kennedy Residence buzzed with life that day, the driveway and curb teeming with cars. Wayne and his ex-wife had a daughter, Valerie, who had married into another wealthy family.


    She had now arrived with her husband and two children in tow. Alexander and Freya, siblings born to Kaitlyn, were also present. There was an additional member of the family, a younger son that Wayne had brought into the fold.


    The boy''s mother had tragically died in childbirth due to an amniotic fluid embolism, and he had been raised under the Kennedy name. Kaitlyn, who had been primarily responsible for his upbringing, had treated him with less concern as he wasn''t her own, allowing him to grow up without much direction or discipline.


    As Quinn stepped through the door, the sound of children''s y echoed through the halls. The innocentughter of the children pierced her heart, stirring a tender ache within her.


    She stood in the courtyard, unsheltered, as the scene unfolded before her. Suddenly, a seven-year-old boy charged into her legs, causing her to stumble and nearly fall. "There''s Dummy! There''s Dummy!" The boy circled her, chanting "Dummy" with the unsullied candor of youth, oblivious to the pain his words might inflict.


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    Unfazed, Quinn moved past him and into the living room, her grip on the bag of fruit tightening as the boy reached for it. "Give it to me!" he demanded, ring defiantly up at her. Quinn met his gaze calmly and held firm.


    Upon entering the vi, she could feel the tension thick in the air, stirring the bitterness within her own chest. She clutched the bag of fruit, her heart heavy with a mix of pain and resentment. ''Why do they get to be so happy? Is it because I''m a dummy that my two kids died at the hands of these people? Because I''m a dummy, I''m guilty. I deserve no happy ending,'' she thought bitterly. The boy, still fuming, bared his teeth and tugged at the bag, even going so far as to kick Quinn in the leg.


    With a swift movement, Quinn let go of the bag and sidestepped his kick, causing the boy to lose his bnce and topple over.


    Fruit scattered across the ground, rolling in the mud. The boy, hurt from the fall, sat on the damp ground and began to wail.The boy''s cries caught the attention of the adults in the living room. Valerie rushed over, helping the boy up and dusting off the dirt.


    "Joseph, are you alright?" she asked, concern etched on her face. Through his tears, Joseph pointed an using finger at Quinn, voicing his grievances. All eyes turned toward Quinn, their gazes filled with condemnation as if she were an unforgivable criminal.


    Quinn''s grip on her umbre tightened until her knuckles turned white. Freya, half-joking, half-serious, chided, "Come on, Quinn, you''re a grownup. Why pick on a child?" Valerie, barely containing her anger, put on her big sister act. "I heard what happened. Kids can be kids, but shouldn''t you know better than to fuss over a child?" Despite being 35 years old, she looked after herself well, appearing more like she was in herte twenties. She muttered "no manners" under her breath, but it was barely audible over Joseph''s crying."It''s all right. Is Joseph hurt?" Kaitlyn finally spoke up. "What''s the use of talking to a dummy? Let''s go inside. It''s raining out here." They weren''t Kaitlyn''s own flesh and blood, so of course, she didn''t care as much.

 Chapter 82

    Valerie scooped up the child, her gaze as cold as ice as it met Quinn''s. Without a word, she pivoted on her heel and made her way indoors.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    A light drizzle had begun to fall, prompting the others to follow suit, leaving the house devoid of upants save for one.Quinn stood alone, her eyes tracing the path of the family as they disappeared into the house.


    Nearby, Walter stooped to retrieve a bag of fruit that had spilled its contents onto the ground. He gathered up the scattered pieces, his steps measured as he moved towards Quinn."Quinn, the fruit''s bruised," he said, his voice carrying a note of concern. He turned his gaze to her, his face wearing a smile that was perfectly bnced - neither too warm nor too aloof.


    It was a mask, a facade that hid his true self from the world, imprable to those who sought to understand him. Without a word, Quinn extended her hand and epted the bag of fruit, her fingers brushing against his in the process.


    Walter withdrew his hand, his fingers lingering in the air as though savoring the ghost of her touch. Quinn nced up, catching the glimmer of amusement in his eyes. She pursed her lips, her hand diving into the bag to retrieve a pristine apple which she handed to him.


    Walter raised an eyebrow in surprise, "For me?" he asked. Quinn simply nodded in response.A chuckle escaped his lips as he reached out to ept the apple, "Thanks, Quinn." Her gaze dropped, her fingers tightening their grip on the handle of the bag."Let''s head inside, dad''s waiting," Walter suggested, taking the lead as they made their way into the house, Quinn trailing behind him.Freya''s face darkened momentarily as she caught sight of them entering together.


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    She quickly masked her displeasure with a cheery smile, "Walter, Peanut might need a change. Could you handle his diaper?" she asked.Without hesitation, Walter epted the child from Freya, "Sure, I''ll take a look," he replied, his face a picture of calm.


    As Walter disappeared upstairs, Wayne turned his attention to Quinn, "Where''s Alexander? Why didn''t hee with you?" he asked.Quinn shook her head, her hands forming a shrug, "I don''t know. He''s probably busy." Wayne''s expression hardened, he nudged Freya, "Didn''t you tell him?""I texted him this afternoon. Who knows what he''s up to," Freya replied, her voiceced with irritation. The unspoken suspicion that


    Alexander was likely celebrating the New Year with his sweetheart hung in the air, though no one dared to voice it.


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    Wayne grumbled under his breath, "That kid," before instructing Freya to call him. She nodded and began dialing Alexander''s number.In the midst of the waiting silence, an orange came flying towards Quinn. She looked up to see Joseph sticking his tongue out at her.


    Wayne caught sight of the antics as well, his stern gaze sending the child scurrying back to his mother''s side."Valerie, you need to discipline your boy; he''s out of line," Wayne reprimanded. Valerie''s face paled at his words, "Dad, he''s just a kid. I''ll teach him in time.""He''s seven, still a kid? When Alexander was his age, he was already fluent in a foreignnguage. And your son?" Wayne scoffed.


    Valerie forced a strained smile, finding hisment both amusing and irritating. She couldn''t tell if Wayne was boasting or if he genuinely believed every child should be as aplished as Alexander. Kaitlyn, standing beside her, couldn''t help but feel a surge of pride at the mention of her son''s achievements, but the thought of her exceptional child having to deal with this situation sparked her anger."Why the long face, Quinn? Get downstairs and help with the cooking," Kaitlyn muttered, her words reaching Alexander just as his call connected.

 Chapter 83

    Quinn pursed her lips, excusing herself to make her way downstairs.


    She navigated the winding corridors until she found the restroom, only to be met with the surprising presence of Walter, who was just finishing up. Upon noticing her, Walter hastily tore off a couple of paper towels to dry his hands, assuring her, "You cane in. I''m done."


    Quinn offered a faint smile in response, nodding as she stepped inside. "The floor''s kinda slippery. Watch your steps," he warned.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    But before his words had fully registered, Quinn found herself sliding backward.In a frantic scramble, she reached out for something to steady herself, her hand finding Walter''s arm. Reacting swiftly, Walter caught her, his hands circling her waist, pulling her into an unexpectedly intimate embrace.Quinn clung to his arm, her gaze lifting to meet his.


    Her dark eyes locked with Walter''s, causing him to momentarily falter, taken aback by the sudden warmth radiating from his grip around her waist.Freya had been right. There was something captivating about Quinn''s eyes.


    The clear purity of her gaze seemed to hold a myriad of emotions, not overtly seductive, but with an allure that stirred a desire to ruffle her calm exterior.It was akin to the irresistible urge one feels to tousle a cute animal''s fur, that inexplicable pull to disrupt the peace.


    A rare crack appeared in Walter''s usuallyposed facade.At that moment, a pair of Serena ke happened to walk by, eximing in surprise at the duo''s ambiguous posture. Realizing thepromising situation they had stumbled upon, they quickly scampered off. Walter promptly released Quinn, a hint of awkwardness creeping into his demeanor.


    "Are you okay?" he asked. Quinn took a step back, creating some distance, shaking her head in reassurance. "I''m fine, thanks."With a slight nod, Walter turned to leave the restroom. As the door shut behind him, his stride faltered, and he cast a backward nce at the closed door, a trace of a smile on his lips fading slightly.''She isn''t afraid of me anymore. Interesting,'' he mused.


    Gossip in the Vi spread like wildfire, and news of Quinn and Walter''s restroom incident circted rapidly. "I''m telling you, the way he looks at that dummy is so strange. I always knew there was something fishy," one servant whispered to another.


    "That''s right, his eyes don''t do that when he looks at Freya. It''s like there''s a connection," another added."It''s true, but Quinn is a dummy. Even if something was going on, she wouldn''t be able to say it.""Poor thing. I saw Alexander getting handsy with her just the other day." The chatter grew more heated, the servants oblivious to Freya''s presence until one of them noticed her and abruptly straightened up, stuttering, "Freya."Freya''s gaze was icy. "What are you discussing?"Nothing, it''s nothing," they stammered in unison.


    "Nothing? Keep talking. I haven''t heard enough," Freya retorted, her arms crossed as she leaned against the doorway, her expression unreadable. The servants paled, exchanging nervous nces, none daring to speak."Tell me everything you saw," Freyamanded."We were just babbling," one of them attempted to excuse."Babbling?" Freya''s countenance hardened. "You dare to babble about such matters? Are you looking to be fired?" She swept the room with a sardonic sneer before dering, "Spill it. Tell me everything you saw and heard, everything."One of the servants swallowed hard, trembling as she began to recount the details meticulously.

 Chapter 84

    A tumultuous storm of emotions raged across Freya''s face, her trust in Walter not in question, but rather her understanding of him.


    Throughout their two-year matrimony, she had never managed to prate his enigmatic facade. He was always there, yet distant, a formidable, invisible barrier separating them, barring her from drawing any closer.


    Whenever Walter engaged in conversation with Quinn, a sense of inexplicable panic would seize Freya, her intuition sounding an rm. She often questioned whether this unease was born from the past, when Quinn had deceitfully snatched Alexander away from her.


    That was a distant memory now, yet the servants'' testimonies stirred something undeniable within her. What justification could she find for this internal upheaval?"Keep this to yourselves," Freyamanded sternly, her voice echoing through the silence.


    "If I hear any whispers about this, don''t think I''ll hold back my fury!" With her warning hanging in the air, she spun on her heel and retreated, leaving the room behind.


    She found Walter in the living room, engrossed in conversation, oblivious to her entrance. She slid onto the couch beside him, opening her mouth to speak when Alexander sauntered in. His arrival instantly altered the room''s dynamic, silencing the chatter.


    "Alexander, you''re back,e join us," Kaitlyn called out, her voice brimming with a warmth that only surfaced when her son was present.Alexander nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze sweeping over the room before he casually asked, "Where''s Quinn?"Kaitlyn''s smile froze, her joy extinguished by his immediate inquiry about that woman, sparking a silent rage within her. Walter nonchntly replied, "She''s probably upied in the kitchen.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "A smirk tugged at the corners of Alexander''s lips. "Are we understaffed?" His question was met with Kaitlyn''s icy re, suspicion of Walter''s possible interference flickering in her eyes."Alexander, Quinn''s merely assisting in the kitchen. It''s not as if she''s been summoned to war. Why so tense? People might assume we''re mistreating your wife.


    "Alexander''s gaze was frosty, his voiceced with sarcasm. "With this crowd, why isn''t anyone else lending a hand? Or is the meal doomed without Quinn''s magic touch?" His unexpected defense of Quinn left Kaitlyn flustered and embarrassed. "Alexander, are you insinuating that I''m intentionally making things difficult for her?" Kaitlyn challenged. "ver suggested that. I merely believe there''s no need to summon someone if their presence at the table isn''t appreciated."Kaitlyn''s retort was cut short by Wayne''s deep, authoritative voice. "Enough! I called you here to dine, not to bicker. If you wish to argue, take it outside.


    This squabbling is pointless."Wayne''s words silenced the room, leaving Kaitlyn fuming silently, cursing the old man under her breath.Quinn was carrying a te to the dining room when Alexander''s voice halted her. She paused, ncing back at him before setting the te down and approaching him.Alexander took her hand, his gaze intense. "Why didn''t you ask me to help?"


    Quinn remained silent, her gaze lowered. ''What''s the point? You''re never there when needed.""Let''s just eat," Wayne interjected, effectively diffusing the tension. As the others rose to proceed to the dining room, Quinn had barely taken a few steps when Joseph sprang from his hiding spot, a toy gun in his hand."Ha! Got you! You stinky dummy!" The child''s face contorted into a wicked grin as he pulled the trigger, the stic bullet striking Quinn at the corner of her eye.Caught off guard, Quinn''s vision blurred as she clutched her eye, doubling over in pain.

 Chapter 85

    The incident unfolded in a sh. Quinn remained eerily silent as the bullet grazed her cheek, leading everyone to believe it was merely a child''s yful antics. "Quinn!" The first to react was Alexander, rushing to her side as she teetered on the edge of losing her bnce, her vision clouded by the throbbing pain.


    It was only after Alexander''s rmed shout that the others turned their attention to the scene. They btedly pieced together the reality: Joseph had shot Quinn. Valerie, feigning fury, yanked Joseph towards her, admonishing, "Enough with your nonsense."Joseph, however, was defiant. He attempted another shot at Quinn until his father, Hugh, intervened with an authoritative tone. "Enough, hand over the toy," he demanded, reaching for the toy gun. But Joseph clung to it, clutching it to his chest as he screamed, "It''s mine!"Alexander gently moved Quinn''s hand away to inspect her eye. The bullet had hit the corner, turning her eye a ghastly shade of red.


    His gaze hardened as he turned to look at Joseph, who froze under the intensity of his icy stare. Valerie attempted to defuse the situation, offering a cursory examination of Quinn''s eye before dismissing the injury. "It doesn''t look serious. It''s just a toy gun. It probably doesn''t hurt much."Alexander shot Valerie a skeptical look. "How would you know it doesn''t hurt?""Just a tiny stic pellet, how much can it hurt? Alexander, I understand you''re concerned about Quinn, but are you really picking a fight with a child?""And what about arguing with you?"


    Alexander retorted, a hint of sarcasm flickering in his eyes. "As a parent, how do you n to handle this?"Valerie stumbled over her words, struggling to suppress her rising anger. "It''s just a toy gun. Is it really necessary for you to react this way?""It is necessary," Alexander retorted, cutting her off without a trace of mercy.


    Valerie, at a loss for words, turned to Wayne for support. "Dad, we rarely visit, and this is how we''re treated? If you didn''t want us here, you didn''t have to invite us. This doesn''t feel like a family meal. It feels like we''ve been invited here to be mistreated.


    Being outsiders, it seems we''re fair game for everyone."Kaitlyn interjected, "Valerie, that''s not fair. If we considered you outsiders, we wouldn''t have invited you. You''re allowed to be upset, but don''t drag everyone else into this. When have I ever mistreated you?""Enough! Is this not over yet?"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Wayne''s temper red as he snapped, "All this fuss over something so trivial. Do you want me to set up a stage for your drama? We invite you for a meal, and somehow, I''m the one to me!"Silence fell at Wayne''s outburst. But as he continued, he conveniently overlooked the fact that Quinn had been injured. His indifference was ringly obvious."So, are we going to eat this meal or not?" Wayne asked, his voice echoing in the silence. Quinn stood silently, her head bowed.


    The sting in her eye was nothingpared to the emotional pain of feeling ignored and isted by everyone. "Do we even need to continue this meal?" Alexander challenged. Wayne shot him a cold nce, "What did you say?" Alexander met his gaze steadily, repeating his words with rity, "I said there''s no need to continue this meal. Do you really think we can sit down and calmly eat together in this atmosphere?"Alexander''s point was valid. The room was thick with tension, making a peaceful meal seem unlikely.


    Hugh attempted to smooth things over. "It''s just a little misunderstanding. We''re all family here. Let''s not let a small issue ruin our time together.""A small issue?" Alexander echoed, challenging Hugh''s dismissal. Hugh''s smile faltered, "What do you think?"Alexander held his gaze for a moment before breaking into a smile, "It seems I''m making a fuss over nothing.""That''s not what I meant," Hugh quickly rified.

 Chapter 86

    "Shouldn''t we be dining? Why are we not yet eating?" Alexander''s interjection restored hisposed demeanor, as if he hadn''t been the one seething with anger just moments before.


    Attempting to alleviate the tension, Walter proposed, "Let''s proceed to the dining room then. There''s no need for this unnecessary strain."


    As he spoke, Freya threaded her arm through his, her face bearing a hint of worry as she looked up at him.Alexander shifted his attention to Quinn, his fingers lightly grazing the tender spot where she had been injured. "Does it still hurt?" he inquired.


    Quinn, studying his face, could discern the genuine worry in his eyes.


    She mused, ''He''s always like this. At times, he''s so close to me, akin to the moon reflected in a body of water, seemingly reachable with a mere stretch of my arm. But when I attempt to clutch that moon, it proves to be nothing more than an illusion, fracturing at the slightest touch. ''This is his method of guiding me, step by step, until I willingly plunge into the abyss. He entices me to dive into the water to pursue the elusive moon, only to suffocate in the rising tide.'' And there he stands, observing calmly from a distance as I drown.''


    Quinn averted her eyes, hershes casting a shadow that concealed her internal chaos. She shook her head in response.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Without further conversation, Alexander took her hand and guided her into the dining room. The thoughts of everyone at the table were elsewhere, depriving the meal of the warmth and camaraderie it was intended to have.


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    Alexander seemed to have put the toy gun incident behind him, engaging in casual conversation with Hugh about family affairs and the management of the branch office. The Kennedy Enterprise was a vast empire.


    Wayne''s strategy was ambiguous. He could be aiming for a fair distribution of wealth among the younger generation, or he could have ulterior motives. He didn''t bestow power upon any particr individual. Even for Alexander, hispetent and proud son, Wayne only granted him the title of CEO and a 20% stake in thepany, maintaining the majority of the actual power himself.


    Despite his withdrawal and infrequent involvement inpany affairs, he still held absolute control over the corporation. The branch office that Hugh managed was Wayne''s dowry gift to Valerie, signifying a 10% stake in the Kennedy Enterprise.


    Freya was given a simr arrangement when she married. A branch representing 10% of the shares was handed to her, though she exhibited little interest in corporate affairs, leaving Walter to handle them.


    Moreover, Walter also held the position of Vice President in the Kennedy Enterprise. Lastly, there was Wayne''s youngest son, who held neither a position in the Kennedy Enterprise nor any significant shares, living his days in a carefree manner, unchecked by anyone. Thus, the intricacies within this family were profound.


    Following dinner, the family congregated, engaging in light-hearted chatter to maintain the facade of a harmonious atmosphere.Alexander sat apart, not participating in their discussions. However, he smiled and beckoned Joseph to join him. Joseph eyed him suspiciously, but perhaps lured by Alexander''s overly amiable smile, he approached cautiously. "What''s up?" Joseph inquired, his gaze fixed on Alexander.


    Casting a nce at the toy gun in Joseph''s hand, Alexander grinned, "You seem quite adept with that. Would you mind demonstrating how it''s done?" Joseph blinked, a surge of pride instantly flooding his young face. "You''re such a blockhead. Don''t you know how to y with this? I''ll teach you."Innocent Joseph earnestly began to tutor Alexander on the nuances of toy guny, while Alexander maintained a warm smile, listening with keen interest. "Let me try," Alexander suggested as he took the toy gun from Joseph''s hands, who handed it over willingly."Like this?" Alexander checked the safety and aimed the toy at Joseph, a faint smile dancing on his lips. In the moment Joseph was caught off guard, Alexander pulled the trigger.

 Chapter 87

    A sudden, tumultuous cry shattered the tranquil silence, drawing the attention of everyone present. Joseph, his hands clutching his face, was squatting on the ground.


    His sobs pierced the quiet, reverberating through the room. Meanwhile, Alexander stood aloof, nonchntly toying with the stic gun.


    His demeanor was detached, seemingly oblivious to the tears streaming down Joseph''s face. His attention was solely focused on the toy in his hands, almost as if he was implying that Joseph''s distress was his own doing. Quinn felt her heart rate spike, her hands involuntarily tightening around the fabric of her sleeves. Valerie and Hugh were the first to react, rushing over to the sobbing child. Valerie scooped up Joseph, her eyes frantically scanning his face for any signs of harm.


    "What happened, Joseph?" she asked urgently. The boy was struggling to catch his breath between sobs, the corners of his eyes inmed and red.


    At his tender age, his skin was delicate, flushing a deep crimson with every tear that fell. The redness around his eyes seemed less pronounced, but it was the puffy redness at the corner of his eyes that sent Valerie into a fury.


    She turned her re on Alexander, her voice sharp, "What''s your problem, Alexander?" Alexander merely met her gaze, his tone nonchnt. "It''s just a stic bullet. It doesn''t hurt.""You..." His dismissive retort left Valerie speechless, her indignation caught in her throat. Alexander nced at her coolly, his indifferent demeanor holding an air of superiority.


    "Why don''t you try it then?"""Don''t push it, Alexander!" Valerie shot up, her anger boiling over. "You''re thirty years old, picking on a seven-year-old kid. What kind of man does that make you?""Come on, you''re making a fuss over nothing. When have I ever nitpicked? But you, you blow up over a stic bullet. Who''s being petty now?"Valerie, so angry she could faint, found herself unable to win the argument or fight Alexander.


    Her fury only intensified. At that moment, Walter approached, nced at Joseph''s eyes, and remarked, "It''s really not that serious. Let it go, Valerie."Valerie shot him a look, wanting to call out the posturing son-inw but hesitant to fully offend Freya.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Valerie drew a deep breath, quelling the rage inside her, and scoffed, "Fine, you win with numbers. ver should''vee today."Holding a weeping Joseph, Valerie approached Wayne. "Dad, maybe skip inviting me to these things in the future. It''s just not our ce to go. We''re heading out."Wayne''s face was an ashen shade of anger.


    Before he could speak, Valerie, still holding Joseph, walked away. Kaitlyn let out a sigh. "That girl has quite the temper, doesn''t she?" Wayne nced at her and abruptly stood, making his way upstairs without another word. He was done with the evening''s drama."Walter, let''s go to bed," Freya said firmly, her face stern, having kept her distance from the earlier chaos. Already upset by the servants'' gossip, her suspicion toward Walter was growing by leaps and bounds as he openly took Quinn''s side. Walter was an enigmatic man, unpredictable and elusive.


    Freya often felt an ufortable premonition he might leave her anytime. After more than two years of marriage, she realized she knew nothing about him. His easygoing nature bordered on apathy, as if he didn''t care or fear loss. This uncontroble nature put Freya on edge daily. Walter nodded slightly and joined Freya, apanying her upstairs. As they passed by Quinn, she looked up to lock eyes with Walter''s meaningful gaze. Before she could react, he looked away as if their shared nce was merely her imagination.Kaitlyn asked Alexander if he wanted to stay over, but he declined without hesitation. He tossed the toy gun into the trash, but it was too long. It knocked over the bin. "Let''s go," he said to Quinn.

 Chapter 88

    Quinn pursed her lips, rising from her seat to follow Alexander as they made their departure from the vi. The night had deepened around them, the falling rain intensifying.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    With a swift motion, Alexander unfurled an umbre, the rain drumming a steady rhythm against its surface in the quiet of the night.


    Quinn found herself studying the silhouette of his profile, cast in shadow, her emotions in a state of turmoil. She pondered over the enigma that was Alexander.


    Earlier, he had treated her with such harshness, yet now, he defended her, even at the expense of Valerie. His actions were utterly inscrutable.Abruptly, Quinn halted in her tracks. The umbre moved away with Alexander, and the pouring rain blurred her vision.


    Noticing her standstill, Alexander paused and retraced his steps, positioning the umbre over her once again. "What''s wrong?" he inquired. She lifted her gaze to meet his. The courtyard lights were obscured by the heavy rain, casting a faint, almost invisible light on his face.


    Quinn held his gaze for a long moment before she wordlessly questioned with a simple hand gesture, "Why?"Confusion flickered across Alexander''s face as he tilted his head, as if requesting rification."Why are you so nice to me?" Quinn gestured.Alexander studied her intently, his response barely audible through the relentless rain, "Isn''t that how it''s supposed to be?"


    Quinn shook her head in disagreement, "No. If you''re too nice to a girl, she might fall for you."Alexander remained silent, his gaze fixed on her. Quinn didn''t wait for his response. She realized the truth in Abigail''s frequent jests. Men feign ignorance when ites to emotions, a tactic to avoid the majority ofplications. His gaze shifted from Quinn''s face to the darkness beyond, where the night sky and the downpour melded into an expanse of emptiness."Is that so?" His voice was softer than before, his words more of a murmur to himself than a question to Quinn.


    Only then did he turn his gaze back to Quinn, stating, "I get it. "His words, simple yet indifferent, felt like a crushing weight to Quinn, the rain on her head intensifying the sinking feeling in her heart.''I have a sudden urge to cry.


    His words are a way to evade my statement and a rejection of the feelings I haven''t expressed. He truly isn''t willing to give me even a bit of love.''Quinn''s fingers clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. The physical pain mirrored the emotional ache in her heart, making each breath a struggle. She tightened her throat, suppressing the urge to cry.


    Stepping back, she left the shelter of his umbre, letting the rain wash over her face. She gestured, "I''m not going back. I want to keep staying here."Alexander didn''t move to shield her from the rain again, merely watched her silently as the rain soaked her, "Are you sure?"Quinn nodded, "At least it''s lively here.""Alright, then, stay here for a few days."


    He extended the umbre to Quinn, and when she didn''t take it, he took her hand and pressed the umbre into it."I''ll be going now," he announced before disappearing into the rain, not once looking back.Quinn clutched the umbre, watching his retreating figure. She pressed her hand to her chest as the rain trickled into her mouth. It was as if even the rainwater tasted sour.

 Chapter 89

    His actions spoke volumes. He was aware of the tribtions she would face at the Kennedy Residence. Deep within, heprehended her choice, yet he had chosen to concur.


    What was she attempting to demonstrate? Was she seeking affirmation of his understanding, or was she trying to validate his callousness?


    Quinn pondered, her gaze fixed on the spot where he had disappeared. A wave of bitterness washed over her.Quinn retreated to the vi. The night''s dramatic events had driven everyone to the sanctuary of their bedrooms. She followed suit, locating some attire before indulging in a shower.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    As Quinn closed her eyes, a montage of memories flickered in her mind-both pleasant and painful. When she tallied it all, her two-decade tenure with the Kennedys was nothing short of a disaster. Her origins were a mystery, her identity unknown.


    One day, she awoke to Ulysses'' face, her memory prior to that moment a nk canvas. Ulysses had informed her that she was Quinn, an orphan, and from that point forward, she would be under his wing. Thus, in a state of bewilderment, she arrived at the Kennedy Residence, a ce where she was close to the Kennedys but not quite family. Two decades flew by in a haze. Luck never favored her.


    Not even the faintest ray of hope remained luminous. It merely dimmed, growing ever distant.... Meanwhile, at The Cube.The VIP lounge was teeming with scantily d women, their hips swaying in rhythm with the pulsating strobe lights.It had been an age since Spencer had indulged in such extravagant beverages.


    He snatched the microphone, immersing himself in the throng of dancers, attempting to match their rhythm. His movements, however, were stiff and clumsy, making him quite the spectacle.Oliver and Alexander sat together, observing the dancers with impassive expressions.Oliver took a sip of his drink, remarking, "I managed to resolve the customs issue and stumbled upon something quite intriguing."


    Alexander crossed his legs, casting him a cool nce, "Oh?"Oliver lowered his voice, "The people targeting you aren''t in logistics. They''re in tech development. Isn''t that peculiar?""I''m aware. Tell me something useful."Oliver looked taken aback, thinking, ''Alexander has already been informed. No wonder I was assigned to handle it.Theirpany doesn''t operate domestically, yet they chose to target the Kennedys, which meant it was a personal vendetta, or more specifically, against Alexander himself. There are numerous ways to undermine the Kennedys, so why start with the logistics managed by Alexander?In aiding Alexander, the Vanderbilt family has been dragged into their conflict.''


    Oliver paused, choosing his words carefully, "This information could be immensely beneficial to you. Now that I''ve shared it, don''t you think you should reciprocate?"The Vanderbilt family wouldn''t go bankrupt over the issue with Abigail, but it had certainly dealt them a blow.


    He needed Alexander''s assistance. Otherwise, if someone capitalized on their moment of weakness, they could find themselves in dire straits."Whether it''s helpful depends on what you have to say," Alexander responded, casually flicking his lighter. The me cast an intermittent glow on his shadowed, contemtive features.Oliver continued, "Your brother-inw, Walter, once outsourced a project to a subsidiary of thatpany."Alexander paused, then turned to look at Oliver. "Oh, really?" Oliver nodded. "Just check when you get back.""The outsourced project. Wasn''t it under the ounts of Thalia Corp? If I remember correctly, that''s thepany your father endowed to Freya as a dowry, right?"Although Thalia Corp was in Freya''s name, it still held a significant stake in the Kennedy Enterprise. Its interests were inseparable from the parentpany.

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    Alexander remained silent, his gaze fixed on something distant as he sank deep into contemtion."What are you two whispering about?"


    Spencer''s curiosity was palpable as he plopped down next to Oliver."We''re just discussing thedies," Oliver replied, a smile ying on his lips. "How about you? Are you enjoying yourself?"


    Spencer chuckled, "Yeah, having a st. Alexander, what''s the asion? You never treat us to suchpany. Today must be special."Alexander cast him a sidelong nce.


    "These are for you, don''t waste them.""What do you mean, ''don''t waste them''? I''m still the innocent one here!"A low chuckle escaped Alexander, clearly amused. He chose to ignore Spencer''s feigned innocence. Unable to resist, Oliver chimed in.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    "Really? You''re always talking about getting more girls. Innocent, huh? Not sure I buy that."Spencer''s face flushed, but he continued defiantly, "Of course I am! Do you think I''m like you guys? You only look so uptight, yet you..." He stopped short, realizing his slip-up, and quickly covered his mouth.Oliver arched an eyebrow, casting a sidelong nce at Alexander.


    His mouth curled into an enigmatic smile that was slightly unnerving.In a scramble to change the subject, Spencer asked, "So, Alexander, did youe out tonight to unwind because of a spat with Getty?"""What? Can''t I hang out here without it being because of a fight?"


    Alexander retorted."Uh... well, no, that''s not it," Spencer scratched his head, momentarily at a loss for words. But he couldn''t shake the feeling that Alexander was indeed acting strange tonight, although he couldn''t quite put his finger on what was different.


    Oliver, attempting to smooth over the awkwardness, teased, "Little virgin, you don''t understand adult business, so stop prying."Spencer''s cheeks reddened even more.


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    He shot Oliver a re. "You''re the virgin! I was talking about being innocent!""Is there a difference?""Big difference! The former is aboutck of experience. Thetter is about not having dated. Get it?"Oliverughed and shook his head, choosing not to challenge the statement. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he jokingly prodded Alexander.


    "Aren''t you getting to the age where you might consider having kids?"""What for?" Alexander responded, unfazed.Oliver was momentarily at a loss for words, pondering before he said, "You''ve got it all wrong. Kids are the extension of life, the emblems of hope and connection. How can you think of them as just serving some purpose?""Connection?"


    Alexander''s expression turned wistful, "Aren''t they just stumbling blocks?""How can a child be a stumbling block, Alexander? They''re so small. What could they possibly trip you up on? Look at you, married and without kids. That''s not aplete family. Don''t you ever feel a twinge of envy when you see a family of three?"Alexander fell silent, lost in thought. Spencer tugged at Oliver''s sleeve and whispered in his ear, "Oliver, what''s got into him? He''s acting all weird." Oliver''s mouth twitched, but he didn''t respond to Spencer. He too had noticed that Alexander was off tonight. ''It doesn''t seem like he fought with Getty. If they quarreled, he might be drowning his sorrows in drink, not sitting here lost in thought. He hasn''t touched his drink all evening. And the way he talked about having kids, it doesn''t seem like he''s totally against it.'' Oliver surmised. He sensed Alexander was mulling over something profound, and it definitely wasn''t a disdain for children.Pushing further, Oliver probed, "What if Quinn identally got pregnant? What would you do then?"

 Chapter 91

    Alexander''s eyes ignited with an intense fury as he fixed his gaze on Oliver, his voice sharp as he demanded, "What did you say?"


    The sudden intensity of Alexander''s stare sent a shiver down Oliver''s spine, causing him to question his own words. Had he forgotten to add the crucial ''just in case''? In a hurry to rectify his mistake, Oliver said, "I was merely posing a hypothetical question. There''s no need to overreact."


    Alexander dismissed him with a wave of his hand, his voice icy as he retorted, "Avoid making such assumptions." Oliver''s eye twitched at Alexander''s response. ''Does he not want Quinn to be pregnant?'' He wondered. "Alright, I misspoke," Oliver conceded, his smile tinged with bitterness.


    He realized that Quinn''s decision to keep her pregnancy a secret was probably for the best. He found it difficult to understand why anyone wouldn''t want their own child.... The previous night, Quinn had been caught in a downpour and had developed a mild fever, which left her bedridden for the day.


    Her presence in the Kennedy Residence was unknown until the afternoon, when a maid performing her routine cleaning duties discovered Quinn in bed, startling her greatly. "Quinn?" The maid''s voice was filled with surprise. Feeling slightly disoriented, Quinn opened her eyes to see the maid''s shocked expression.


    She slowly sat up, propping herself against the bed. "Why are you here?" the maid asked, her confusion evident. Quinn could only shrug helplessly. Seeing the maid''s continued confusion, she gave up and typed a message on her phone, "I''m staying here for a few days."Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Understanding dawned on the maid''s face, and she quickly said, "Oh, I see. Do you need any help?" Quinn typed out another message, "Could you get me two fever reducers, please? Thank you." "Of course, please wait a moment." The maid promptly left to fetch the medication. Quinn touched her forehead, her hand as hot as her forehead. Her head throbbed painfully, a clear indication of her fever. The maid returned shortly with the medication and a ss of water. After taking the pills, Quinn slept for a few more hours. When she awoke, it was alreadyte in the evening. She was soaked in sweat, but her fever had significantly subsided.


    As she descended the stairs, she heard Freya''s voice. Freya was happily interacting with the baby in her arms, her face glowing with the joy and tenderness of a new mother.


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    Freya was surprised to see Quinn. She hadn''t expected her to still be there. Forcing a smile onto her face, Freya asked, "Quinn, you didn''t go homest night?" Quinn shook her head in response. Freya''s smile faded slightly as she recalled the maid''s words, "What made you suddenly decide to stay here?" Quinn shrugged, "Just needed a change of scenery."


    Freya''s eyes narrowed slightly at Quinn''s response. ''A change of scenery? Why here of all ces?'' She wondered but kept her thoughts to herself, not wanting to make unwarranted spections that could strain her rtionship with Walter. "How long do you n to stay?"


    Freya asked, changing the subject. Quinn shrugged again, "Not sure, maybe just a couple of days." At that moment, Walter entered the room. Catching sight of him, Freya quickly stered a smile onto her face and said, "That''s right. You should take some time to rest and recover. You just had a miscarriage, poor thing." Herment was not only directed at Quinn but also at Walter. ''Walter still has his eyes on a woman who''d lost two children. Something is off with him,'' Freya mused.


    Walter, however, maintained his usual calm demeanor, seemingly unfazed by Freya''s words. Dressed in his signature suit, his wavy hair framing his face, he walked over to Freya with a steady smile. After taking a seat, Walter gently touched the child''s cheek and chuckled, "Has he been fussy today?"

 Chapter 92

    Freya''sughter filled the room as she passed the baby to Walter.


    "He''s been an angel today. Barely shed a tear. Just look at this little heartbreaker," she cooed, "He lights up the moment you walk in.


    "The infant, still without teeth, let out a gurgling sound in Walter''s direction. Yet, Walter''s expression remained unchanging, his smile as rigid as a mask, even in the presence of his own son.From the sidelines, Quinn observed the joyful family tableau, her fingers absentmindedly caressing her belly.


    Each time she did, she was reminded of the emptiness within. She had yearned to keep her child, having managed to escape Alexander, having endured so many hardships, and having evaded two gangsters.But the Kennedy family had proven inescapable.


    Freya, ever the provocateur, couldn''t resist a jab at Quinn. "You''re still young. You''ll have children of your own one day."Quinn''s gaze met Freya''s, whose smile was tinged with mockery and scorn. Forcing a smile,ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Quinn remained silent. She moved to the couch and took a seat, pouring herself a ss of water. Freya, irked by Quinn''s silence, abruptly rose from her seat. "Walter, can you watch Peanut for a moment? I need to use the restroom." "Sure, go ahead," Walter replied, adjusting the nket around Peanut as he cradled him. Quinn sipped her water in silence, the living room engulfed in an almost deafening quiet. The only sound breaking the silence was Peanut''s babbling, preventing the atmosphere from bing unbearably awkward.Walter''s gaze shifted to Quinn.


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    Sensing his eyes on her, Quinn looked back, their eyes briefly meeting. She quickly looked away, focusing her attention on her water."Quinn, where''s Alexander?" Walter finally shattered the silence.Quinn paused, nced at him, and shook her head, indicating her ignorance.


    "He wasn''t at the office today," Walter continued, "I thought he might be with you."Quinn lowered her gaze, a thought crossing her mind, ''When has Alexander ever skipped work to be with me? He only makes exceptions for Getty. On New Year''s Day, he must have been celebrating with Getty. With this thought, Quinn pulled out her phone and started scrolling through her social media feed. To find out where Alexander had been, all she had to do was check Getty''stest posts.


    It was like a homing beacon for Alexander''s whereabouts. Oddly enough, Getty hadn''t posted anything yesterday. Quinn refreshed the feed several times, but thetest update was still from several days ago. She checked Twitter as well, but it was the same. No updates. Walter seemed about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Alexander.


    He paused, ced his child back into the stroller, and answered the call."Hey, Alexander? Now? Alright, got it," Walter said.Subconsciously, Quinn turned her head toward him. Seeing Walter''s serious expression, she couldn''t help but feel a wave of anxiety.


    After ending the call, Walter wheeled the stroller over to Quinn. "Hey, Quinn, do me a favor and watch the little guy for a second. I need to step out."Quinn was momentarily taken aback as she looked down at the baby.


    He was chubby and adorable, with bright ck eyes and a round, lively face. Every movement he made was bursting with life.She quickly looked away, not wanting to gaze at the child any longer. The sight of this baby reminded her of the horrifying image of her own child, heartbreakingly reduced to nothing more than a lump because of Kaitlyn.Without another word, Walter pushed the stroller a bit farther away. "Just keep an eye on him, that''s all."At that moment, Freya emerged from the restroom. The sight that greeted her was Walter leaving, leaving her son in the care of Quinn.

 Chapter 93

    Freya''s anger surged like a tempest, propelling her forward to seize the handle of the stroller. "Walter," she implored, her voiceced with incredulity, "she just suffered a loss. How could you entrust her with Peanut?" The unspoken question hung heavily in the air, ''What if Quinn, driven by a thirst for vengeance, decided to harm the child?'' Freya was acutely aware of the grievances her family had inflicted upon Quinn and the guilt that gnawed at her conscience was a constant reminder.


    Walter''s gaze met Freya''s, a half-smile ying on his lips. "I''ve got some errands to run. Don''t wait up for me tonight," he said, his tone casual."Out again? Not returning tonight...?" Disappointment flickered across Freya''s face. Walter''s routine was a mystery to her.


    He was always out early and returnedte, leaving her in the dark about his activities. Freya had made attempts to keep tabs on him, but Walter was a closed book. His interactions with other women were limited to a handful of female clients. His secretive nature left Freya grasping at straws, her worry gnawing at her daily."Depends on the circumstances. Alexander needs me," he replied."Oh," she murmured. She trusted Walter wouldn''t lie about such things.


    Alexander wasn''t the type to provide an alibi for him either.Walter fell silent. His gaze shifted to Quinn as he asked, "Quinn, would you like to apany me?"""What do you need her for?" Freya''s voice was sharp, her irritation palpable."Quinn was nning on heading home anyway, right? She can just ride back with Alexander after I meet him," Walter exined, his smile gentle, his demeanor calm and unassuming.


    Freya''s grip on the stroller tightened, her knuckles turning a ghostly white. She couldn''t muster a smile, managing only to say, "She said she was going to stay for a few days.""Really?" Walter''s eyebrows shot up, a realization dawning on him. "I guess I misspoke.""I''ll go with you," Quinn interjected hastily.


    Freya''sposure crumbled, her re towards Quinn as sharp as a de. She couldn''t help but wonder, ''Just moments ago, that dummy Quinn insisted on staying and now she''s ready to leave at Walter''s behest. What''s her game? Is she trying to provoke me, or is she just afraid of facing the consequences?''Quinn ignored Freya''s hostile gaze, her attention focused solely on Walter, as if seeking his approval.


    Walter nodded, "Let''s go together then."Quinn offered a slight smile and signed, "Thank you.""You''re wee," he responded. Freya''s gaze could have set Quinn aze as she watched the two of them interact.Unfazed, Quinn followed Walter out of the vi, leaving a fuming Freya in her wake.


    As she was closing the car door, she thought she heard the distinct sound of something shattering in the living room.Quinn nced at Walter. He was the epitome of calm, seemingly oblivious to themotion, or perhaps he simply didn''t care. The car ride was silent. Quinn wasn''t worried about Walter''s intentions. He didn''t strike her as a man driven by greed or lust. Her fear of him stemmed from the predatory way he looked at her, like a beast lurking in the shadows, eyeing its unsuspecting prey. It was the fear of the unknown that unsettled her. Upon reaching thepany, Walter offered to open the car door for Quinn.


    However, Quinn had already stepped out on her own."Quinn, are youing up, or do you prefer to wait here for Alexander?" he asked.Quinn surveyed her surroundings. It was well past working hours. The reception was deserted, and the dim lighting cast an eerie glow across the lobby.She gestured with her fingers, "I''ll just wait for him in the lobby."Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 94

    "Very well, I''ll make my way up," dered Walter, his voice echoing in the room as he exited.Quinn merely nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze following Walter until he disappeared around the corner leading to the elevators. Upon reaching the CEO''s office, Walter knocked lightly on the door. Noticing it was slightly ajar, he gently pushed it open.Inside, he found Alexander loungingfortably on the couch, flipping through some files."Alexander," Walter greeted, breaking the silence.


    Lifting his gaze from the files, Alexander acknowledged Walter''s presence with a simple, "Take a seat."With a subtle nod of understanding, Walter settled across from him. "What''s the urgency of thiste-night summons, Alexander?" he inquired.In response, Alexander casually tossed the file he was holding in Walter''s direction.


    "You''re aware of the issue with restrictions concerning our freightpany?""I am," Walter confirmed, "I thought that was already resolved?""It was," Alexander admitted, "but there are still some lingering questions.""Which are?" Without a word, Alexander lit up a cigarette, leaned back on the couch, and gazed at Walter with an indifferent expression. "Thatpany that targeted ours, you''ve had dealings with them before. How much do you know about them?" After a moment of thoughtful silence, Walter finally responded, "We''ve coborated with numerouspanies. Could you specify which one you''re referring to?""TOPSUN."Walter paused briefly before recognition dawned on him. "Ah, them."


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    Alexander''s eyebrows twitched slightly at this, but he remained silent, patiently waiting for Walter to continue. Picking up the file from the table, Walter began flipping through it as he spoke. "I''ve interacted with them twice. The first coboration was satisfactory, but during the second, they started cutting corners.""They proposed a long-term deal with us, and I kept pushing for a better offer. Eventually, they grew frustrated, turned hostile, and backed out. Could this be rted to our current situation?"


    Alexander remained silent, his gaze fixed on Walter. The smoke from his cigarette wafted between them, creating a thin veil of tension. Despite the intense atmosphere, Walter''s expression remained unchanged. His usual smile still adorned his face.


    Drawing thest puff from his cigarette, Alexander leaned forward to stub it out in the ashtray. "Perhaps," he responded ambiguously."Is this the reason you summoned me, Alexander?""Partially, but not entirely.""There''s more?" Alexander''s gaze lifted, his piercing eyes scrutinizing Walter''s face for a long moment.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Thest time he had given Walter such a prating look was at his wedding to Freya."Walter, you''ve been with thepany for a considerable time, always diligent and meticulous in your work. But remember, as crucial as work is, it''s equally important to bnce it with life. Don''t neglect your family because of it."The remark seemed to show concern for Walter, but upon deeper reflection, it could be interpreted as a gentle admonition to pay more attention to Freya. Or, delving even deeper, it hinted that a man of Walter''s caliber could excel anywhere. Why then, would he lower himself to merely marry into the Kennedys?


    Despite his handsome year-end bonus and executive sry, Walter held no shares in thepany. Yet, he dedicated himself entirely to it, never faltering in his duties. He behaved as if thepany was his own, raising suspicions about his true intentions. Walter''s smile faltered for a brief second, but it was just that a second. "Thanks for the advice, Alexander. I''ve been so eager to prove my worth to the Kennedys that I might''ve overlooked Freya and the others. My apologies.""It''s understandable, but be careful not to push yourself too hard. Your health could suffer."


    "That''s a bit ironicing from you," Walter chuckled, "You handle far more work than I do regrly. If anyone''s pushing too hard, it''s you, not me."Alexander let out augh at this. "Then let''s dere tonight a work-free zone. There''s a social gatheringter. Why don''t you join me?""Is it aworking event? I can manage that. But Quinn''s waiting for you downstairs. You should probably head home early with the missus. You also need to bnce work with some downtime," Walter insisted.At this, Alexander''s smile took on a chilly edge as he squinted slightly. "You brought her with you?" he asked.

 Chapter 95

    "What seems to be the issue? Are you not eager to see her?"


    Walter''s words were met with a counter, a challenge.


    Alexander''s gaze held onto Walter, his eyes delving deeper than before, as if attempting to decipher a hidden code.After a moment of silence, augh echoed from Alexander, breaking the tension. "I''ll have Kyle send you the details. Don''t bete."


    "Understood," Walter responded, his head nodding slightly in acknowledgment.As Alexander rose from his seat and exited the office, the smile that had previously adorned his face evaporated, reced by an icy aloofness. Upon reaching the lobby, his eyes fell upon Quinn.


    She was seated on a couch, her gaze fixed on the floor, seemingly lost in a world of her own. The overhead light flickered momentarily, jolting Quinn back to reality. She looked up to find Alexander looming over her. His towering figure forced her to crane her neck to meet his face, which was shrouded in shadows due to the backlighting. With his hands nonchntly tucked into his pockets and an overcoat hanging behind him, his intimidating stature seemed to amplify. Quinn hastily rose to her feet. With the shift in perspective, Alexander''s features became more discernible, his expression colder than usual, if that was even possible."We should leave," he stated curtly. He led the way, with Quinn trailing behind him silently.


    They made their way to the elevator and then to the underground parking garage.Today, Alexander had opted for a discreet ck Mercedes.As Quinn fastened her seatbelt, Alexander''s voice sliced through the silence, "Avoid causing any issues with Walter."N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    She paused, turning to look at him. His features were shrouded in darkness, only the silhouette of his profile visible. Feeling Quinn''s gaze on him, he turned his head to meet her eyes. "Did you understand?" he asked.Quinn bit her lip, her grip on the seatbelt tightening. After a moment, she ventured, "Could youpile a list of people I should steer clear of?"


    Her question carried a hint of defiance, which didn''t escape Alexander''s notice. He studied her for a moment before responding, "Who do you think you''re deceiving with your little games?"Quinn was taken aback."You''re trying to get close to Walter, to create a rift between him and Freya," Alexander continued, "Do you genuinely believe they share a bond?"


    Quinn averted her gaze. His words, coupled with the piercing look in his eyes, seemed to expose her deepest secret,ying it bare for all to see.She felt as transparent as ss, as if everyone could see right through her."Walter isn''t naive. Do you think he can''t see through your act?" Alexander continued. "He not only saw through you, but he also outsmarted you. And yet, you seem quite pleased with yourself."


    Quinn clutched the seatbelt, biting her lip as each word he uttered pierced her heart. Each word served as a cruel reminder of her naivety and ignorance.It took her what felt like an eternity to gather the courage to look up and ask, "How did you figure it out?"


    With a scoff, Alexander tossed his phone to Quinn. She picked it up, and there it was, a message from Freya: "Oliver, can you keep an eye on your puppet at home? Have you heard the rumors circting among the servants?"Freya''s words were designed to stir the pot, but it was clear that Alexander hadn''t been fooled or misunderstood.It wasn''t until she had followed Walter to the office that he managed to piece together theplete truth from the fragmented clues. Quinn had anticipated Freya''s meddling, expecting Alexander to target Walter just as he had done with Abigail.She was well aware of Freya''s fondness for Walter. If Alexander were to target Walter, it would undoubtedly turn Freya against him. On the other hand, due to jealousy and anger, a fallout between Freya and Walter seemed inevitable. In a way, this meant Quinn''s ns were sound. However, Quinn had underestimated the cunning of these two men, making her look like a fool. With that, Alexander started the car and drove out of the underground parking.

 Chapter 96

    Quinn found herself lost in the view outside the window, the drizzle sneaking its way through the car window and lightly kissing her face.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    The temperature in Amber Bay had plummeted to a chilly forty-six degrees that day, the damp and icy air stabbing like a dagger with each gust of wind. Without uttering a single word, Alexander reached over and rolled up the car window, effectively barricading the biting cold air from their warm refuge.


    Upon their return to the vi, they found Juliet still awake, struggling to keep her eyes open as she dozed off on the couch. The sound of their footsteps stirred her from her slumber, and she quickly grabbed the cane resting beside her to wee them.


    The sight of the elder''s careful movements tugged at Quinn''s heartstrings, prompting her to question whether bringing Juliet home had been the right decision. But regret was a fruitless emotion now. If she hadn''t extended her hand, Juliet might still benguishing in that cramped shanty, subjected to the relentless pangs of hunger and the biting cold.


    Now that Juliet was under her roof, Quinn was all too familiar with the haunting specter of hopelessness that lurked in the shadows of despair.


    Like Quinn, Juliet was desperately clinging to any glimmer of hope and brightness they could salvage from their circumstances.


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    "Alexander, you''re back. Have you eaten yet?" Juliet asked, attempting to take Alexander''s coat. He deftly sidestepped her, tossing his coat onto the rack before she couldy a hand on it. "I''ve eaten already. Just make something for her," Alexander replied tersely, making his way upstairs without another word.


    "No trouble, Juliet. I''m not hungry," Quinn interjected, trying to alleviate Juliet''s concern. In Quinn''s presence, Juliet seemed more at ease. "That won''t do. You''re still recovering. I''ll whip up something quick. Just eat a little." Quinn resisted, "I''ll do it myself. You should rest. "But Juliet grasped her hand, her wrinkled face a canvas of earnestness and embarrassment. "Quinn, let me do this, please."Quinn was taken aback, momentarily speechless under the elderly woman''s pleading gaze. This wasn''t her intent, yet nothing had gone as nned. It seemed to be a recurring theme in her life. After a moment''s hesitation, Quinn finally nodded in agreement. Juliet''s worry instantly transformed into cheerfulness. "Just wait up, I''ll be quick."Exhausted,


    Quinn sank into thefort of the sofa and closed her eyes. Nearly half an hourter, Juliet approached with a tray. "Quinn, didn''t Alexander eat either? Take this up to him."She had seen them arrive together and suspected they hadn''t eaten. Quinn hesitated. "Go on," Juliet encouraged, thrusting the tray into her hands. "I could tell when you two got back, you''re having a spat, aren''t you?"Quinn didn''t answer. What were they now? She couldn''t define it. Perhaps Alexander''s curt reply the other night had stripped away even thest shred of affection. What remained between them?All that was left was a marriage in name, like a tree with unstable roots, ready to topple at the first gust of wind."Hurry, now," Juliet urged


    once more.


    Quinn remained quiet for a while before taking the tray from Juliet''s hands and making her way upstairs.She knocked on the study door and pushed it open. Alexander was engrossed in his work at the desk, not even looking up at her entrance.Quinn set the tray beside him and tugged at Alexander''s sleeve. He nced her way, prompting her to sign with her hands, "You should eat something.""Who''s that, Alexander?" Getty''s voice echoed from the other end of the desk. Quinn followed the sound and found he was video-chatting Getty on his phone.

 Chapter 97

    Paralyzed in uncertainty, Quinn stood there, feeling like a jester in the throes of unrequited love. "Just leave it," Alexandermanded, his voice devoid of emotion. Quinn acquiesced, her movements muted as she retreated from the study. Behind her, Getty''s voice persisted, a plea wrapped in a demand. "We agreed you''d apany me to the press conference tomorrow. Don''t let me down." "Mm," was the only response. "Guess what? I did a livestream yesterday and raked in over ten grand. Impressive, isn''t it?" "Impressive," Alexander echoed, hismendationced with indifference.


    "Moreover, I got an offer from a talent agency. Should I sign with them? Do you think I have a shot at fame?" "If that''s what you desire, you have my backing."N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    The remainder of the conversation slipped past Quinn, not that she needed to hear more. Alexander always indulged Getty, allowing her a freedom that seemed boundless in hispany. She was free to socialize, to express her emotions, to chase her dreams.


    Getty was aplete entity, living a life that was equally whole. In stark contrast, Quinn felt like a mere puppet, undeserving of a life that was truly hers.


    After a few perfunctory bites of dinner, Quinn retreated to her bedroom. Sleep proved elusive, and her insomnia intensified, leaving her tossing and turning for hours. Eventually, Alexander joined her. He slid into bed with a practiced ease, yet he did not enfold her in his arms as he once did. Theyy back-to-back, their bodies creating a tangible divide in the bed they shared.


    Clutching the pillow, Quinn closed her eyes, trying to ignore the void beside her. Even with her eyes shut, the overhead light seemed blindingly bright.


    Unable to sumb to sleep, Quinn eventually rose. She moved through the bathroom to the living room, where she curled up on the couch, burying her head in the crook of her arm to block out the light. Half an hourter, she felt a weight on her and looked up to find a nket draped over her. Alexander stood there, his hair tousled, looking boyishly charming in his pajamas. It was a look that always made her feel as if she were slipping back in time.


    Startled, she sat up quickly. Alexander settled beside her and suggested, "Getting a job might help alleviate your boredom." Quinn stared at him, her expression nk.


    After a moment, she raised her hands to sign, "Can I make friends if I get a job?""You can if you want, but that''s if you manage to make any," he retorted. Did hisment insinuate she was incapable of making friends? Perhaps it did. After all, who would want to associate with someone who couldn''t even talk? Quinn signed, "Where will I work?" "What do you want to do?" he countered.


    Quinn confessed, "I want to sing."""You want to sing." Alexanderughed, but it was a derisiveugh. "Are you starting to defy me now?"She wasn''t defying him. She genuinely yearned to sing. It was a deep-seated dream of hers, a wild fancy.She also harbored a longing for a divorce, a desire as unattainable as her dream of singing.Alexander''s smirk faded as he regarded her impassively. "I''ll give you onest chance. What do you want to do?"Quinn gestured, "I don''t know."

 Chapter 98

    Patience had worn thin for Alexander, and his words came out as cold as ice. "How can you not know? You have a fondness for dishwashing, don''t you? Well, then, go wash them." Quinn''s lips tightened, her gazetching onto him, probing for any hint that he was jesting.


    Regrettably, he was not.''This man has a knack for holding grudges. Thest time I disappeared for half a month, toiling away at that steakhouse, washing dishes, he didn''t even bother to check on me. Now, he''s using it as ammunition against me,'' Quinn mused.


    At times, Quinn found herself envious of Getty. Despite her unofficial status, Getty was the recipient of Alexander''s fervent love.


    Getty had the freedom to work when she pleased, even had the liberty to be a star if she so desired, and Alexander would back her every step of the way.But Quinn? She was relegated to dishwashing. Quinn gave a slight nod, as if in agreement.Alexander''s countenance darkened. "It seems you genuinely take pleasure in that job.""From this point forward, you''ll be in charge of your own living expenses, including those of your maid," he proimed, before making his way up the stairs.


    A short whileter, he descended the stairs in a different outfit and exited the vi.His departure after changing clothes was unusual, suggesting that even rules could be bent.The following morning, Kyle arrived to escort Quinn to work.He drove her to a five-star restaurant, directly to the back kitchen, and handed her off to a rather plump woman named Linda.


    Kyle bestowed upon her aplicated look, advising, "Quinn, take care of yourself. If things be too difficult, apologize to Alexander."Before Quinn could fullyprehend his implication, Kyle had already taken his leave. Linda approached and gave her a tug.


    "So, you''re the new girl, huh? Get moving and wash those dishes. We need them out there! From now on, you''re on dish duty-be quick and don''t dawdle, understood?"Quinn suddenly grasped what Kyle had meant. This wasn''t Alexander arranging employment for her. It was retribution. Yet, she was at a loss as to what she had done to deserve it.''Perhaps it''s because I interrupted his video call with Gettyst night,'' she spected.


    As she pondered, Quinn approached the sink, where a multitude of tes awaited, and the bins on the floor were brimming with more toe.In the bustling restaurant, a mountain of dishes was the norm.Linda outlined the dishwashing procedures. She was to wash them three times, sterilize them, and if she broke one, it would cost her between $100 to $500. Yet, Quinn''s daily wage was a mere hundred and fifty dors.


    There was no time for Quinn to quibble over the numbers or ruminate on the impending fatigue. She had to provide for both herself and Juliet, so she steeled herself and got to work.Positioned by the sink with a dishcloth in hand, she methodically cleaned each dish.


    The hot water was relentless, and within an hour, her hands were nched and beginning to prune.Quinn yearned for gloves, but Linda was too preupied to heed her."Hurry up! If we run out of clean dishes, it''s on you. And your paycheck will diminish," Linda warned with a stern look before striding off.Biting her lip, Quinn had no choice but to persist.


    The lunch rush hit, and the pile of dirty dishes multiplied. Alone, Quinn couldn''t keep pace. As the hours ticked by, all ten of her fingers turned white and wrinkled, aching at the slightest touch. Linda kept pressuring her, hastening her more, only adding to Quinn''s disarray until her grip faltered, sending a te crashing to the floor, shattering.Linda didn''t shout. She merely noted the broken dish in her ledger and said, "That''s one. Clean it up and keep washing."


    The dizziness from Quinn''s lingering cold intensified with the long hours of standing. She braced herself against the sink and took several deep breaths.Crouching to pick up the fragments, she was about to toss them into the trash when someone bumped into her in their haste.A sharp painnced through her finger. A deep cut on her ring finger began to bleed profusely.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 99

    Quinn slipped her finger into her mouth, the metallic tang of iron and salt quickly permeating her senses. "Hey, no cking! If you can work, then work. If not, leave early and spare us all the wasted time," Linda''s voice cut through the air like a whip. Linda had an uncanny knack for catching Quinn in every moment of pause, her gaze ever watchful, akin to a hawk circling its prey.


    Quinn found herself rooted to the spot, her finger still in her mouth. She was acutely aware that Linda''s harshmands were spurred on by Alexander.


    Yet, when she remained frozen, Linda would bluster and bark, but never truly intervene. Linda wouldn''t dare.


    Quinn thought, ''Who knew what these rich folks were up to? One wrong move in their games, and if things smooth over, I''ll be the one to pay the price.""Did you hear me? Get up and wash!" Linda''s voice snapped her back to reality. Quinn''s lips tightened into a thin line as she raised her ghostly pale face to meet the woman''s gaze.The woman paused, "You..." Her eyes widened as she took in Quinn''s pallidplexion, momentarily forgetting her reprimand. Taking a moment to collect herself, Quinn rose slowly and returned to the sink, resuming her dishwashing duties.She felt lightheaded and weak, her head spinning as the sting of chili and grease from the water seeped into her cut, causing her to grimace in sharp pain.Linda remained silent, perhaps fearing that Quinn might copse right there.


    Quinn''splexion had indeed taken on a deathly pallor.Somehow, Quinn managed to gather enough strength tost until past three in the afternoon. The diner was finally empty, granting her a much-needed respite. Linda gave her arm a gentle pat. "All right, go grab some food. You can get back to the dishes once you''re done."


    With a nod, Quinn made her way to the staff break area, finding only leftovers on the table.She picked up a piece of cold pizza and began to nibble on it, sinking into a chair.A television mounted on the nearby wall was tuned to an entertainment news channel. Getty appeared on the screen, hosting an event for the VX Games.


    Quinn was surprised that Getty could shoulder such a massive responsibility.Every time the camera swept over the audience, Quinn''s eyes instinctively sought out Alexander. There he was, sitting upright and focused on the stage. asionally, his gaze would meet Getty''s, and a subtle smile would y on his lips, radiating a quiet charisma.Alexander was given ample screen time. The organizers understood that his presence on camera was worth more than ten othersbined. The stage was for the fans, but those stolen nces towards Alexander were for the investors.


    "Did you guys see that hottie in the front row?" one of the diner staff pointed excitedly at the screen."Yeah, he''s so dreamy!" another cooed."Which star is he? Does anyone know him?" a third chimed in. The restaurant crew was clearly taken by Alexander''s good looks."I have no clue, never seen him before," someone responded."Hey, what if he''s the hostess''s boyfriend?""Wait, who''s the host? Did I miss something?"Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "If you''re not into ''Dragon Vein Street,'' you wouldn''t know," an employee chimed in. "Just check Twitter, you''ll see Getty''s posts.


    She''s shared tons of photos with her boyfriend but never shows his face."On cue, someone whipped out their phone and scrolled through Getty''s posts, finding her romantic snapshots."You know what... now that you mention it...""Yeah, if you cover the face, the build matches perfectly!""Oh my gosh, yes! It''s a match!"


    Meanwhile, Quinn sat quietly in the corner, listening to their spections about Getty''s romance, how perfectly matched they seemed, and how much they envied the couple. With each bite of the stale pizza and sips from the leftover soup, she contemted returning to the sink full of dishes.After finishing herst bite, Quinn stood up and returned to the kitchen to finish cleaning the remaining wares.A few of the girls nced over at her and whispered, "The new girl seems so out of ce. She''s probably a dummy."

 Chapter 100

    "How did youe by that information?" a voice inquired. "The source of my knowledge is Linda," came the response.


    "Isn''t it amon belief that those who are less intelligent have impaired hearing as well? Is there any truth to that?""Really? But surely, if one is simplycking in intellect, their auditory abilities should remain unaffected. I''ve always been under the impression that it''s the inability to hear that leads to ack of speech, correct?""Perhaps you should put it to the test."


    Quinn had justpleted the task of meticulously cleaning the final basket of dishes. She ced them carefully in the sanitizing cab, turning around only to be greeted by the sight of two female coworkers making their way towards her."Hey, are you even capable of hearing our conversation?""Are you, by any chance, deaf?"


    The women studied Quinn with a curiosity that was devoid of any ill-intent. After all, they had never encountered someone like her before and were unaware that their words might be considered offensive. Quinn observed them in silence, offering no response. "It appears she truly can''t hear," one of them mused."How unfortunate," the other added.


    Quinn found such expressions of pity and sympathy to be most distasteful. They served as constant reminders of what others perceived to be her deficiency.Ignoring them, she made her way to the break room, intending to take a brief nap. She was utterly drained, too exhausted to even raise a hand.After a mere two hours of rest, it was time to resume her work at five in the afternoon, a shift that would continue until eleven at night.By the end of the day, her fingers were nearly raw, and her arms throbbed from the strain."Here''s your pay for the day," Linda said, handing over a fifty-dor bill.


    "You broke a dish, so today''s pay is only fifty. If the job is too much for you, feel free to not return tomorrow."Quinn''s gaze lingered on the crumpled money before epting it.With the fifty dors safely tucked away, she exited the restaurant. The street outside was eerily silent and cloaked in darkness. She pulled out her phone to check the GPS. Her home was thirty miles away, an eighty-dor cab ride. Her earnings for the day wouldn''t even cover the fare.A bitter smile graced Quinn''s lips as if the harsh reality of Alexander''s words had been reinforced. Leaving him meant she wouldn''t survive. And he had made his point quite effectively.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Quinn stood there, feeling overwhelmed. Shecked the funds for a taxi, and the subway and buses were no longer in service.


    However, the thought of walking home alone filled her with fear. So, she remained there, lost and indecisive. The daunting prospect of a future filled with days like this caused the idea of divorce to slowly fade away.Suddenly, a car sped past her. Then, the driver mmed on the brakes and reversed the vehicle, stopping right in front of her.Quinn looked up slightly to see the car window roll down, revealing Walter''s face.


    "Quinn, is that really you? I thought my eyes were deceiving me." After speaking, Walter exited the car and nced around. "Are you out here dining?"Quinn shook her head and gestured, "I work here."Walter looked surprised. "You were working?"


    She nodded, confirming that he had understood correctly."Is Alexander picking you up?"Once again, she shook her head."Do you need a ride home?"Quinn bit her lip and stared at him. Suddenly recalling Alexander''s words, she hesitated. Walter offered a reassuring smile. "Come on, get in. I''ll take you."Just as he spoke, another car pulled up in front of them.

 Chapter 101

    Alexander emerged from the vehicle, casting a nce at Walter. "It appears my brother-inw has some spare time on his hands today," he remarked. Walter responded with a grin. "I happened to be in the vicinity. I noticed Quinn and thought I''d offer her a ride."


    "Is that so? Well, your timing is impable. I''ve been meaning to discuss something with you. Shall we proceed?"


    "Certainly, climb in," Walter replied, his smile unwavering.Alexander cast a brief look at Quinn before sliding into Walter''s car. Quinn followed suit. Walter didn''t mind ying the role of chauffeur for the duo. Hefortably settled into the driver''s seat, ignited the engine, and began navigating through the darkness of the night."So, Alexander, what''s this matter you wish to discuss?" Walter inquired.


    Alexander reclined in his seat, responding with a casual air, "The CRISPR project. I noticed you''ve included TOPSUN in your proposal. Any specific reasons for this choice?"Walter rified, "Ah, that. I selected them after a meeting with their team. TOPSUN has a solid reputation in electronics and technology. They''re merely an option, though not a certainty."


    "We''ve coborated with one of their subsidiaries in the past. This time, it''s their engineering headquarters. Their technology is dependable."Alexander remained silent, seemingly lost in contemtion.


    "If you''re hesitant about partnering with them, I can remove them from the list tomorrow," Walter offered.


    "There''s no need. Anypany we coborate with for this project carries inherent risks. My suggestion? We should invest directly. Numerous biotech firms are delving into gene editing. Developing it ourselves would be too time-consuming and energy-draining. Besides, the technology isn''t fully developed yet it''s too risky."


    "You make a valid point. We can delve into this further at the meeting tomorrow."Alexander hummed in agreement, closed his eyes, and fell silent.


    In recent times, Alexander''s influence within thepany had grown significantly. During his presidency, he had effectively marginalized the old guard, particrly those loyal to Wayne. While others may have been oblivious, Walter was acutely aware. Wayne hadn''t diversified the shares for the sake of equality. He had done so to keep Alexander in check, to prevent thepany from falling entirely under Alexander''s control, and to preserve his own standing-it was as simple as that.


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    The remainder of the ride passed in silence. Upon reaching their vi, Walter dropped them off and departed.


    Quinn looked up at Alexander, their eyes locking in a silent exchange."How was work today?" he eventually asked her.


    Quinn nodded and gestured, "Quite satisfactory."


    "That''s wonderful. Keep up the good work," he responded, chuckling.


    With that, he turned and entered the vi, leaving Quinn with a chilling sense of istion. As Quinn crossed the threshold of the vi, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Seeing it was a call from Abigail, her gaze instinctively darted upstairs, thinking, ''Alexander is probably in his study.''


    Quietly, she retrieved her phone and checked her messages. As expected, there was a text from Abigail.


    Abigail: "Why aren''t you responding? Are you nning to ignore me forever?"


    Quinn''s grip on the phone tightened as she read the message, a sense of suffocation enveloping her. She was afraid to respond, yet equally terrified of losing Abigail. She felt torn.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ''Abigail has other friends and family, but Juliet relies solely on me. Juliet and I are both outcasts, refugees from our own lives. We findfort andpanionship in each other, like wanderers discovering their own kind in a desert,'' Quinn mused.


    Another message from Abigail appeared: "Stay with your man then. It seems you''re not open to reason."


    In the wake of the car ident, the initial chaos had subsided, and Abigail''s true intentions began to resurface, urging Quinn to leave Alexander. Quinn pocketed her phone once more, leaving the message unanswered.

 Chapter 102

    Completely worn out from a day spent scrubbing dishes, Quinn fell onto her bed the moment she stepped into her bedroom. Her gaze fell upon her fingertips, raw and peeling from the day''sbor.


    Thoughts of Abigail''s messages filled her mind, and she found herself slipping into a daydream. A knock at her door yanked her back to reality. Standing in the doorway was Juliet, her frame hunched and weary. She regarded Quinn with a look of concern. "Are you hungry, dear?" she asked.


    Pushing herself up from the bed, Quinn moved towards her, surprise evident in her gesture. "Why are you still awake at this hour?"


    "I was waiting for you," Juliet responded simply.


    "You shouldn''t have. You should get your rest," Quinn advised, concern tingeing her voice.


    Juliet merely shook her head, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Sleep doesn''te easy at my age. Haven''t had your dinner yet? Let me fix something for you."


    A feeling of warmth spread through Quinn as she took in Juliet''s caring gaze. The thought of being cared for, being considered, felt incredibly precious. It was like finding a safe harbor for her heart, a ce where she belonged, a home. Leaning on her cane for support, Juliet shuffled off, returning shortly with aforting bowl of oatmeal and a te of homemade treats. At the table, Quinn attacked her meal with a voracious hunger, alternating between mouthfuls of oatmeal and the delicious treats.


    "Slow down, love," Juliet chided gently. "There''s plenty more. What did you do today to work up such an appetite?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Quinn paused, her memory shing back to the long day and the images of Alexander and Getty on the television screen. A pang of sorrow rose unbidden within her as she swallowed the pastry she had been eating.


    She quickly finished off the remaining oatmeal in her bowl. Juliet served her another helping. epting the bowl from Juliet with a soft smile, Quinn couldn''t help but return the older woman''s smile.


    Just then, Alexander descended the stairs, arriving in time to witness this tender exchange. There was something different about Quinn''s smile when she was with Juliet. It was genuine, full of warmth, as if her eyes were shining with happiness. Alexander watched them for a moment before retreating back up the stairs. Once she had finished her meal, Quinn, still weary, made her way back to her bedroom.


    As she pushed open the door, she heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. The hazy silhouette of a tall figure behind the frosted ss startled her for a moment.


    Soon, the water stopped, and Alexander emerged, wrapped in a towel, his hair still wet. "Did you get a chance to shower?" he asked suddenly.


    Quinn shook her head, her gaze briefly falling on his well-defined abs before she averted her eyes and moved towards the bathroom. Just as she was about to enter, a hand grabbed her arm. She turned in surprise, her eyes meeting his. Droplets from his hair dampened her sleeve as he held her gaze. "You didn''t grab a change of clothes," he pointed out.


    Biting her lip, Quinn stepped back, intending to fetch her clothes, but Alexander didn''t let go. She tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. In the next instant, he pushed her into the bathroom.


    Before she could fullyprehend what was happening, she found herself backed against the wall, the door locked behind her. She looked up at him, confusion written on her face.


    His eyes were dark and stormy, a look she was all too familiar with. She began to squirm instinctively. He pinned her hands above her head and leaned in close, whispering, "Let me help you."

 Chapter 103

    Quinn''s body stiffened, a flush of heat rising to her cheeks as she purposefully averted her gaze from his. With a gentle strength, he lifted her, carrying her into the bathroom and gently cing her in the tub.


    Her fingers twitched anxiously, fiddling in a nervous dance. She was reluctant toply due to the difort gnawing at her abdomen. Yet, she knew she had no right to refuse.


    The warm water cascaded over her head, soaking her instantly. His actions were indeed to help her bathe, yet his intentions seemed to extend beyond the act itself.Quinn endured the difort, and by the end, she couldn''t recall how she''d fallen into a deep slumber.


    In her hazy state, she thought she heard him whisper something close to her ear.


    She wasn''t certain, but it sounded like "Let''s have a baby."


    With half-closed eyes, she stared at his blurred face hovering above her. Then, she lost all strength and sumbed to the encroaching darkness. ''He would never say something like that. I must be too exhausted and beginning to hear things.'' When she awoke again, daylight filled the room. She nced at her cell phone and realized it was already ten o''clock in the morning.


    A dull ache throbbed in her lower abdomen. Biting back the difort, she changed her clothes and popped some pain relievers without much thought.


    After freshening up in the bathroom, she was ready to head out for work. In the kitchen, Juliet was already prepping lunch. Quinn was about to tell her not to bother when suddenly, the doorbell rang.


    She answered the door to find a man and a woman standing outside, both around theirte forties or early fifties. They were bundled in down jackets, smiles adorning their faces.


    "Are you Quinn?" the man asked with a chuckle. "I''m Ariel. I''m looking for my mom. She''s here, isn''t she?"


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    Quinn furrowed her brow, unfamiliar with the name. She didn''t know who the man''s mother was. With a wave of her hand, she gestured, "I don''t know who you''re looking for." The man seemed surprised by her signnguage. ''Quinn is a mute? Or is she simply a housekeeper here?'' he wondered.


    That was when Juliet emerged, "Quinn, I thought I heard someone" Her words cut off as the spat she was holding ttered to the floor with a sharp noise. Turning, Quinn saw Juliet standing rigid and pale, her whole body shaking uncontrobly.


    Ariel strode past Quinn, making a beeline for her. "Mom, there you are! We''ve been looking all over for you."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


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    It wasn''t just fear in Juliet''s eyes but also anger, her chest heaving wildly. "What are you doing here? Get out!" Juliet, picking up the fallen spat, started to shoo them away. The man calmly caught the spat. "Mom, what''s this about? We finally find you, and you want to throw us out? I''m your son!"


    "I have no son like you! Get out! I''ve suffered enough. Can''t you just let me be?!" Juliet protested.


    "Hey, I came because I need to talk to you," the man insisted, now gripping the spat more forcefully.


    "I can''t help you! Get out. This is someone else''s home. You can''t just barge in as you please!"

 Chapter 104

    It was unmistakably evident that Juliet was consumed by fear, a fear that her son''s presence would shatter the fragile tranquility she had painstakingly pieced together.


    "Mother, my son is about to get married. I came to share the news with you," Ariel announced.


    Caught off guard, Juliet echoed, "Your son is getting married?"


    "Yes, your grandson is tying the knot! Aren''t you excited? Don''t you wish to attend his wedding?"


    Tears welled up in Juliet''s eyes, rendering her speechless. The reality of her grandson''s impending matrimony was a stark reminder of her advancing years.


    However, she knew Ariel too well. He wouldn''t have visited her for such a trivial matter. "You came to escort me to his wedding?"


    "Of course," Ariel began, his voice trailing off, "The wedding is scheduled in two months. And as you know, weddings are expensive affairs. There''s the car, the house, the dowry, and the banquet. It all adds up." Juliet''s suspicions were confirmed, "So, this is a shakedown, isn''t it?"


    "Mom, don''t phrase it like that," Ariel''s wife interjected at the opportune moment. "Our son is your grandson. Isn''t it natural for family to support each other? It''s not a shakedown."


    A wave of disappointment washed over Juliet as she patted her empty pockets, "Do I appear to be swimming in wealth?"


    "Mom, you''re back in the Kennedy family fold now. You''ve spent your entire life around them. Can''t you tap into some old connections for a quick loan?"


    Ariel''s question ignited a spark of anger within Juliet. Trembling with rage, she pointed at them, "How dare you utter such shameless words?"


    "You two, with no skills of your own, can''t even afford your son''s wedding. Now you''re targeting me, an old woman. After all you''ve done to me, how do you have the audacity to say that?"


    Ariel lost his patience, "What have I done to you? You always im you''re broke. Yet, look at you. You''re still alive and well. How are you managing without money?"


    "I believe your years serving the Kennedys have made you forget who your son is. You''ve forgotten your role as a mother!"


    From across the room, Quinn observed Ariel in disbelief, shocked that such harsh words coulde from the mouth of Juliet''s son.


    Stepping forward to shield Juliet, she gestured sternly, "Out, both of you!"Ariel scowled, "Who are you to interfere? She is my mother. What we discuss is none of your business."


    Ariel''s wife, with a sly nce, tugged at his sleeve and hinted with a knowing smile, "Oh, Quinn, we''re here to take Juliet home. She''s too old for this work. We''re bringing her back to retire infort." Quinn was far from naive. If they truly cared for their mother, they wouldn''t have abandoned her to a life of hardship.


    Ariel caught on, "That''s right, she is my mom. I can take her home if I want. Quinn, if you want her to stay, give us half a million. Otherwise, she''sing with me."


    Quinn''s expression faltered as she locked eyes with Ariel''s greedy gaze. She knew all too well that Juliet''s life would be a living hell if she left with them. "Why are you bothering her for? You want me to go back with you? Fine, I''ll go!" Juliet cried out.


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    But Quinn held onto Juliet''s arm and shook her head vehemently. With tears threatening to spill, Juliet patted Quinn''s arm, "It''s okay, I''ve survived these past three years, haven''t I? What''s there to fear? They won''t kill me." Quinn''s lips trembled as she realized she couldn''t let Juliet suffer again. After a tense silence, she reached for her phone and typed a message to Ariel.


    "I''ll pay you the money!"


    Ariel''s eyes sparkled with anticipation, "Really? Then hurry up and hand it over!"


    Quinn couldn''t pay him immediately. Her fingers danced over the keyboard as she hastily typed out a message pleading for some time.


    "Sure, we can wait. No rush. We''ll just hang around here," came Ariel''s nonchnt response.


    "Quinn, don''t listen to him. Their greed is a bottomless pit. No amount of money will ever satisfy them. Just let me go with them," Juliet pleaded, her voice heavy with desperation.


    Quinn''s message to Alexander had already been sent. "Can I borrow half a million from you?"After their discussions about divorce, she had returned all her cards to Alexander. Now, she was, quite literally, penniless.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

 Chapter 105

    Quinn''s message was met with silence. She clung to her phone, her anxiety palpable as she waited for a response that never came. Twenty agonizing minutes ticked by, each one a silent testament to the absence of a reply. From across the room, Juliet watched as hope slowly drained from Quinn''s face.


    She reached out, taking Quinn''s hand in her own. "Quinn," she said, her voice gentle, "your kindness doesn''t go unnoticed. I mean it. Thank you, so much."


    Meanwhile, Ariel polished off a te of oranges. She nced back at Quinn, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Is it not settled yet?" she asked.


    "The Kennedys are loaded. It can''t be that hard for you toe up with half a million."Quinn bit her lip, her gaze fixed on the elder''s face. With a heavy heart, she dialed Alexander''s number. The call was answered, but not by Alexander. "Quinn, Alexander''s swamped right now. Just text him if it''s important," came Getty''s voice through the speaker. Quinn''s heart sank. Herst flicker of hope was extinguished.Getty ended the call and ced the phone back on Alexander''s desk. "That dummy called," she said, her voiceced with amusement.


    "No clue what she wants."Alexander nced at the text message, his gaze flickering briefly before he chose to ignore it, tossing the phone aside. His action drew a delighted grin from Getty, who snuggled closer to Alexander, wrapping her arm around his.


    "I''m signing with the agent this afternoon. You promised me stardom, remember? No backing out now."Alexander set aside the papers he was holding and took Getty''s hand, offering her a small smile.


    "Is your stuff all packed?" Getty rolled her eyes.


    "Yes, it''s packed! Are you that eager to get rid of me?"His eyes drifted down to her borate nails.


    "It''s not that I don''t want to see you. It''s that you''re clearly not cut out for this workce."Getty pulled her hand back, her voice filled with indignation.


    "So you do despise me!"Alexander merely nced at her, his tone indifferent. "Do you have any idea how many peoplein about you here?"


    "So what?" Getty retorted, standing her ground. "That''s half on you. If they hate me, you''re to me too!"He raised an eyebrow, his response nomittal.


    Getty leaned in, nting a kiss on his cheek. "I''m heading out then?"


    "Drive safely," he said, his voiceced with caution. Getty released him reluctantly, spinning on her heel and striding back to her office cubicle. She cradled her belongings as she walked out the door, her mind filled with dreams of stardom, of basking in the spotlight and shimmering in all its mour.


    But Getty was no fool. She knew that without Alexander''s vows of marriage, there was no safety for her. ''So why not leverage his connections and resources to secure benefits for myself? It is, after all, a way to ensure my future,'' she thought.


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    ''Alexander has pampered me to a fault these past few years. If one day he decides to let me go, I''ll be left with nothing. Only money in hand promises true security,'' she mused.


    Her ditzy blonde act was just that - an act. It made her seem less calcting to Alexander. After all, as he always said, those who wear their hearts on their sleeves are the easiest to control.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ''Look at how well I fit now,'' Getty thought. ''Alexander jumps at my every wish. I shall receive whatever I ask for.''


    ''I don''t even bother to pick at Quinn. There''s no winning with her and no point in stirring trouble where it''s unwarranted. Marriage with Alexander is the goal, not dealing with Quinn. In Quinn and Alexander''s marriage, the power never lies with Quinn. Only if I lost my mind would I target Quinn.''


    Meanwhile, Quinn had abandoned the idea of borrowing money from Alexander. With a heavy heart, she sent a message to Abigail.


    The reply came promptly. "Quinn, why do you need so much cash? My ounts are all frozen. I can''t help you. But don''t panic. Let me check with my brother."When Abigail called Oliver, he hung up as soon as he heard the figure of half a million.

 Chapter 106

    ''She never learns, does she? Hasn''t she suffered enough from thest debacle? And yet, here she is again, meddling in Quinn''s affairs,'' he mused.


    Ariel, growing impatient, rose to his feet. "Quinn, are you capable of producing the cash or not?" he demanded.


    Quinn looked helplessly towards Juliet, a sense of desperation washing over her. Oh, how she wished she could magically produce that half a million right on the spot. Upon realizing Quinn''s financial incapacity, Ariel roughly grabbed Juliet''s


    arm.


    "Let''s just leave, Mom. All talk and no action. Did you really think she''d cough up half a million for you?" Juliet shot back, "Even if she did, I wouldn''t let you get your hands on it!"


    Ariel''s anger ignited instantly. "Whose side are you on anyway? Why do you always favor an outsider over your own son?"


    "You are my son. I carried you for nine months and brought you into this world, yet you treat me the worst!" Juliet''s eyes zed with a mix of sorrow and fury. "My greatest regret in life was giving birth to you!"


    "What the hell do you want from me?" Ariel growled, his hand involuntarily raising as if to strike her.


    Unfazed, Juliet jutted out her chin defiantly. "Go ahead, hit me! If you''ve got the guts, take me out! I must have been a real piece of work in my past life to end up with a monster like you."


    Ariel''s wife, who was watching from the sidelines tried to intervene. "Enough of this. Let''s just get Mom home."


    After speaking, she reached out, attempting to steady Juliet. "Mom, let me help you."Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Juliet shrugged her off. "I can walk on my own! I don''t need your fake concern!" With that, she picked up her cane, pausing to nce back at Quinn. "Quinn, I''ve already prepared the vegetables. Just cook them and eat. Remember to eat on time. You''re not in the best of health. Don''t skip meals."


    Quinn''s eyes filled with tears. She clung to Juliet''s hand, like a child holding onto a beloved toy she couldn''t bear to lose.


    "Take care of yourself," Juliet said, her own eyes glistening. She reached out to gently wipe Quinn''s cheeks. "You''re a good kid. Happiness will find you."


    Ariel roughly shoved Quinn, causing her to lose her bnce and fall to the ground. They departed with Juliet, their figures growing smaller until they disappeared from her sight. Quinn clutched the hem of her shirt, staring at the now empty doorway, her tears flowing unchecked.


    ''Why? Why do the people and things I care about always slip through my fingers? It happened with Alexander, with Abigail, and with my child. And now, Juliet is gone too. Do I even deserve happiness?'' Quinn wondered.


    The house returned to its former silence, leaving her utterly alone. There would be no one waiting to wee her home, no matter howte it was.


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    Kneeling on the floor, Quinn sobbed with the despair and heartache of a child who had lost their most treasured possession.In her moment of despair, her phone suddenly rang.


    Panicked, she snatched up the cell phone. A message about a bank transaction shed on the screen, followed by a message from Abigail.


    Abigail: "I borrowed half a million. Use it to get by for now."


    Wiping her tears, Quinn scrambled to her feet and dashed out of the vi. She ran desperately, but Ariel had already driven away, and no matter how far she ran, she couldn''t catch up to the departing car. Suddenly, she stumbled and fell hard onto the pavement, a searing pain shooting through her knees and elbows.Quinny there, staring down the empty street. The light in her eyes slowly faded.

 Chapter 107

    "Are you all right?" a voice suddenly inquired.A pair of hands gently helped her to her feet. Quinn found herself gazing into the face of a college-aged young man.


    The young man was d in a white down jacket, earphones casually draped around his neck, and a backpack slung nonchntly over one shoulder.


    Quinn brushed away her tears and shook her head in response."You''re okay? That''s good. Head home," the young man advised, a fleeting smile gracing his features before he turned and sauntered away. Quinn remained rooted to the spot, a brisk wind whipping past her, making her feel unusually cold. She found a seat on the nearby concrete steps, pulling out her phone to read a message from Abigail. Abigail: "What''s happened to you?"Quinn stared at the message, uncertainty clouding her thoughts. She sat there, lost in her own world as time slipped by. After a couple of hours, she abruptly stood up, hailed a cab, and directed the driver to the junkyard where Juliet once lived.


    Arriving at the small shack, Quinn found it empty. Everything had been cleared out during thest visit, leaving only a solitary bed. Quinn moved to the bed and sat down, her fingers lightly tracing the grimy sheets.In a city as vast as Amber Bay, where could she possibly begin her search for Ariel and Juliet?


    She pulled out her phone again, aimlessly scrolling through her contacts, when she noticed Juliet''s note. She had bought Juliet a phone and had almost forgotten about it.With a sense of urgency, she dialed the number, but after several rings, there was no answer. Undeterred, Quinn called several more times, only to be met with a message that the phone was turned off.


    Her hand fell to her side, and she sat in the shack feeling lost and worried about what could have happened to Juliet. The truth was, Juliet wasn''t ignoring her calls. Her phone was now at the bottom of the river. In a moment of panic, when Ariel tried to snatch her phone, Juliet had thrown it out the window into the water below.


    Enraged, Ariel mmed on the brakes, leaped out of the car, and peered over the railing into the churning river, but the old flip phone was nowhere to be seen.


    Returning to the car, Ariel pointed at Juliet furiously and yelled, "Do you think you can get away with this? Do you really think throwing your phone in the river is going to stop me? I know where that dummy lives. I''ll just go straight to her!" Shaking with anger, Juliet retorted, "If you dare, I''ll make sure it''s thest thing you see me do!"


    "What has that dummy done for you? You''re so protective of her, but what about your own grandson?"


    "At my age, I can''t even take care of myself, let alone anyone else," Juliet replied with a bitterugh. "I''m practically dead already, and here you all are, still trying to use me to make money. Oh, Ariel, whates around goes around." Ariel snorted with contempt, "Even if I get what''sing to me, you won''t be around to see it. Sit tight. I''ve figured it out. That dummy cares about you and will surely find a way to give me the money."


    "To think you''ve been useful after all these years serving The Kennedys," heughed.


    Year after year, Ariel squandered the money Juliet had earned as a maid, all the while looking down on her for her upation. He was too ashamed to face others.Juliet closed her eyes, the veins on her withered hands bulging as she decided she no longer wished to engage in conversation with Ariel.... Quinn remained in the small shed until darkness fell, then she finally rose and headed back to the vi.


    Standing before the pitch-dark doorway, she stared into the void and suddenly lost all her courage to enter. A myriad of thoughts raced through Quinn''s mind. ''For instance, how did Ariel manage to find this ce? He had neglected his own mother for years. What had suddenly led him to Juliet''s whereabouts?'' The thought made Quinn''s fingers tremble slightly.


    As if to confirm something in her mind, the sound of a car approached from behind, and two beams of light shot past her, casting her elongated shadow into the house.


    Quinn slowly turned around and squinted against the harsh headlights to see the man getting out of the car. Alexander stood before her, their eyes locking.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn stared at him nkly, her face devoid of any expression."What are you doing standing out here?" he asked.

 Chapter 108

    Quinn''s lips pursed in a tight line as she gestured with her hands, her voice barely above a whisper, "Was it you?"Alexander watched her with a calmness that belied the tension in the air. He remained silent, his quietness speaking volumes to Quinn. She understood his silence as an admission. He knew exactly what she was asking.


    She stared at him, disbelief etching lines into her face, her fingers stiff and unyielding. With a Herculean effort, she managed to sign the word, "Why?"Her voice was filled with an undercurrent of anger as she fumed, "Didn''t you promise me?" Alexander reached out, his hand closing around her gesturing one, halting her signing mid-motion. His voice was soft, almost inviting, "Let''s go inside."


    Quinn jerked her hand away, her stubbornness shining through as she gestured again, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"


    His gaze turned stormy, his tone frosty as he repeated, "We''ll talk inside!"His indifferent look sliced through her, causing her to instinctively step back.


    Choking back a sob, Quinn managed to get out, "Why... What did I do wrong? Tell me, what did I do wrong?"


    Alexander reached out, his hand closing around hers as he pulled her toward the house.Quinn resisted fiercely, her fingers clinging to the door frame, refusing to enter. She even went as far as to bite down on his wrist.


    Alexander paused, then abruptly released Quinn. His hand shot out, seizing her chin as anger red in his eyes. "This is the second time," he hissed, his grip on her chin unyielding. The bite mark on his wrist was still wet, looking gruesome and terrifying under the light."This is the second time you''ve bitten me for an outsider, Quinn! Why do you think that is, hmm?"


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    Tears trailed down her cheeks, her jaw aching from his grasp. She red back at him, feeling as though his rage would consume her. ''He hurt me, and yet, he''s mad at me, as if I''m the one whomitted a heinous crime,'' she thought. With great difficulty, Quinn signed, "You were the one who hurt them first! I''ve cut ties with Abigail already. Why can''t you just let Juliet be?"


    "Why do you go back on your word?"Quinn pressed him, baffled by Alexander''s actions. His silence was her only answer as they stood locked in a wordless standoff.


    After a tense moment, Alexander finally spoke, "She''s just gone where she needs to be, Quinn. I''m your family. I''m all you need. No one else. Do you understand?" Quinn froze, staring in disbelief at the man before her. He''d never seemed so alien. Previously, she had thought his words were spoken in anger, believing he was merely worried she''d be led astray.


    ''But now, I see. What influence could Juliet possibly have on me? He wouldn''t even spare an elderlydy. His control over me borders on the pathological. What in the world does he want? Why won''t he let me go, even though he clearly doesn''t love me? What kind of family is this?'' she wondered.


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on her for what felt like an eternity before he finally released her jaw and took her by the hand to head back inside.Quinn''s gaze was hollow as she stood in the empty room. She turned to look at the couch, which was also empty. She tugged at Alexander''s sleeve. He nced back at her.


    She gestured, "Alexander, do you love me?"

 Chapter 109

    Alexander''s gaze was fixed on her fingers, his expression a study in tranquillity. Quinn held her breath, lifting her eyes to meet his profound gaze. She began to gesture again, but he intercepted her hand before she couldplete her motion. In a low murmur, he asked, "Have you forgotten what I said before?"


    Quinn''s eyshes fluttered, a bitterugh escaping her lips as her hand fell weakly to her side. His words reverberated in her mind. He had warned her not to fall in love with him.


    Alexander sighed, his stern expression softening. He brushed away her tears,forting her as one would a child, "Stop crying. Look, it''s just the two of us here. No one will disturb us. Isn''t that nice?"


    Quinn turned away, evading his touch.His gaze flickered, and he gently but firmly turned her to face him again."You agree, don''t you?" he pressed.


    Quinn bit her lip, refusing to meet his eyes. She didn''t know when it had started, but now, seeing his face, which she used to dream about, felt suffocating. It felt as though he had tethered her to this house with a cor around her neck in the name of family. She had no friends, no freedom. She had nothing left.


    Alexander tilted her chin upwards, silently demanding a response. Quinn had no answer for him, but she couldn''t ignore him either. She realized that whatever she did or said was futile.


    "I''m so good to you. Why do you want someone else?" His whispers were always like the sly murmurings of a demon, filled with beguiling power. Quinn attempted to pull away, but Alexander drew her into his embrace, lowering his head to kiss her. She turned her head to avoid the kiss, but he gripped the back of her head, forcing her to face him. His bite on her lips felt less like a kiss and more like a warning.


    Quinn began to resist, her hands pushing against his chest, but the disparity in their strength was undeniable. Before she knew it, she found herself pushed onto the couch. He tore at her clothes, and a chill enveloped her.Alexander, devil-like, disregarded her wishes and gnawed at her lips until Quinn tasted blood.


    When she felt like she was on the brink of suffocation, she bit his mouth hard in desperation. Their blood mingled instantly, saliva and blood choking Quinn as she coughed violently. Her face turned red with the effort to breathe.Finally, he released her.


    Quinn slid down onto the floor from the couch, propping herself up with her hands and spitting out blood. She gasped for air, mouth wide open, taking long breaths before she finally started to regain herposure. Alexander casually seated himself beside her. He crossed one leg over the other and rested a hand on his knee. After wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he lit a cigarette. The smoke wafted between them, drawing an imprable divide.


    Quinn pulled her clothes around her and cast a nce his way. He smoked quietly, his hair disheveled, and shirt rumpled with two missing buttons at the cor. There were scratch marks on his chest that she must have caused.


    Quinn tugged at his sleeve.Alexander turned his head to look at her, his expression now calm. He acted as though nothing had happened. Quinn gestured, "Can Juliete back?"


    Alexander withdrew his gaze and leaned forward to stub out the cigarette, saying, "You still take my words lightly." Quinn cast her eyes downward, her fingers knotted together. After a long moment, she mustered the courage, opened the drawer in front of her, and presented Alexander with the divorce agreement once more.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    He didn''t get angry but nonchntly took the agreement and flipped through it. Without looking at Quinn, he casually tore it in half, then into quarters, and continued until it was in shreds, tossing the pieces into the air where they scattered like snowkes.It was a poignant reflection of their fragmented rtionship.


    Alexander pushed himself off the ground, buttoning up as he made his way upstairs, "Report to the office tomorrow."

 Chapter 110

    With a casualness that belied the gravity of his decision, Alexander determined the fate of their marriage and, consequently, the course of Quinn''s life.After a quick freshening up in the bathroom, Quinn attempted once more to reach Juliet via her cell phone. Her efforts were in vain, however, as there was no response.


    Defeated, she curled up on the couch, surrendering to a fitful sleep thatsted until the morning light pierced through her eyelids. Upon waking, Quinn''s instincts led her to the kitchen, but there was no sign of Juliet. The profound silence that greeted her was soon reced by a wave of mncholy.


    ''The terror of human habits can be quite strange,'' she mused to herself. After washing her hands, she began to prepare breakfast. The meal was ready just as Alexander descended the stairs. It was an anomaly for him to eat at home when Juliet was present, but today, he took a seat at the dining table. As was her routine, Quinn served him a bowl of porridge, her gaze fixed on him as he began to eat.


    After a few Sebastianfuls, Alexander paused and looked up at her. "What''s on your mind?" he asked.


    Quinn pursed her lips, her gesture silently asking, ''Should I start working at your office?''


    "You don''t want to go?" he queried.


    "What about Getty?" Quinn continued.


    "She resigned," Alexander replied, his tone t.


    So that was it. Getty had left to pursue a career in showbiz, leaving a space by his side for Quinn. But it wasn''t an offer, it was charity. ''Should I feel honored?'' she wondered. "Just eat," he insisted, dismissing her concerns.


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    Quinn hesitated before asking, "Can I... not go?" Alexander''s icy stare met her gaze. "What? Got hooked on dishwashing at the restaurant?" he challenged.


    Quinn lowered her eyes and gestured, "I''m afraid I''m not up to the task."


    "Is it about being capable, or you just don''t want to go?"She didn''t want to go to work at hispany. What could she do there but be aughingstock when she was a dummy? Without a word, Quinn picked up her bowl and quietly ate the porridge. There wasn''t much choice for her anymore. If Alexander said to go, she had to go.


    After breakfast, she changed her clothes and apanied Alexander to the office. Once there, he left her in the care of Kyle. Kyle was somewhat surprised that Alexander had brought Quinn to work at thepany. Aside from him and Walter, almost no one knew she was Alexander''s wife. If she really started working there, her days wouldn''t be easy.


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    However, having her around was better than nothing. Quinn at thepany was an improvement over Getty. When Getty left, the wholepany breathed a sigh of relief. They were close to setting off fireworks in celebration.Kyle took Quinn to HR to sort out her onboarding and appointed her as the new executive secretary, Getty''s former position.


    Not trusting the head secretary to take care of her, he decided to personally supervise Quinn."From now on at the office, I''ll just call you by your first name, Quinn," Kyle instructed. "This was Getty''s routine. Have a look first, and message me if you need help understanding anything."


    Quinn nodded, taking the folder from Kyle''s hands and examining its contents carefully. The job seemed simple enough. It involved managing the day-to-day tasks for Alexander, like tidying his desk, ordering meals, booking flights, and apanying him to social engagements. But that was it. With nothing else on her te, Quinn found herself zoning out at her desk. The secretarial pool consisted of five people, including Kyle. The other four couldn''t help but steal nces in Quinn''s direction.


    "They just keeping, don''t they?" they whispered among themselves. To them, it seemed that the newest arrival was just another one of Alexander''s lovers, as her predecessor had been. As they spected, Getty strutted into the office, an air of authority about her. She nced at her old desk, and as she noticed Quinn, her smile disappeared, reced by a scowl.


    Storming over, Getty mmed her hand down on the desk and snapped, "Who said you could sit here?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

 Chapter 111

    With a start, Quinn lifted her gaze to find Getty looming over her, her face a canvas of rage. Getty''s anger wasn''t solely directed at the desk; she was livid that Quinn had usurped her ce so swiftly after her departure. Maintaining herposure, Quinn regarded Getty without making any move to cate her.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Getty''s hand darted out, snatching the documents strewn across the desk. She skimmed through them with a look of disdain before tossing them into the trash bin with a re at Quinn. The ensuingmotion drew a crowd, and whispers began to ripple through the room.


    Getty was notorious for her domineering ways within thepany, and no one dared to cross her. Despite herck of official responsibilities, she was confident in the protection she received from the higher-ups. Choosing to avoid a confrontation with Quinn, Getty stormed into Alexander''s office without a second''s hesitation, not even bothering to knock. "Alexander, what''s going on?" she demanded, her voice seething with anger. Alexander, engrossed in a document, paused to meet her gaze. "What are you talking about?"


    She gestured towards the door. "That dummy outside. Why is she here in the office? I left merely yesterday, and you''ve already reced me with her. What are you trying to pull?"


    Alexander''s gaze was steady, silent, and oppressive. Suddenly, Getty felt a pang of guilt. Quinn was hiswfully wedded wife, and here she was, overstepping her boundaries.


    However, jealousy quickly overshadowed her guilt. "Why did you let her take my ce? Is this some sort of game to you?" she used.


    Alexander''s response was firm and decisive, "I have my ns. You''re an actress, focus on your acting. Once you''ve left the office, don''t interfere in its affairs."


    Getty bit her lip, overwhelmed by a sense of injustice. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried, "But I can''t bear her being near you. She''s not only your wife but now also your workpanion. Where does that leave me?"


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    "I disagree with this arrangement, and I want her out of here now!"


    Alexander''s frown deepened, and he retorted, "Getty, stop causing a scene!" His sharp words left Getty stunned, and she gazed at him, bewildered. Was standing up for herself really causing a scene? After a moment of silence, she finally asked, "Alexander, do you truly not love her?"


    Alexander paused, his frown deepening. "Is this why you came here? To discuss this?"


    Getty crouched beside him, gently tugging at his arm, her eyes pleading as she looked into his. "I came to collect some things, but I didn''t expect to find Quinn here. You said it yourself, Alexander. You feel nothing more than an obligation towards her."


    If it''s just obligation, then why not just give her money and let her live on that? Why bring her into the office? She''s clueless. What could she possibly contribute here? Can''t she just stay at home?


    Alexander took her hand, his voice softening, "Getty, I''ve told you, I have my ns. Go get your things, or sit quietly. I have a meeting to attend, okay?"


    "So, you''re still nning to keep her here?" Getty stared at him, her eyes stubborn, trying to persuade him. "Do I need to repeat myself a third time?"Getty opened her mouth to respond, but instead, tears began to stream down her face. Her voice trembling, she whispered, "You don''t care about my feelings at all."


    Alexander looked down at her, his lips twitching slightly. But in the end, he remained silent."Alexander, you can''t be too greedy in life. It''lle back to haunt you."


    A mocking smile yed on his lips as he lifted Getty''s chin, casually wiping away her tears. "We''re all greedy. Aren''t you the same?" Stunned, Getty locked eyes with him, her gaze intense. She had always wondered what kind of woman could captivate a man like him.

 Chapter 112

    He seemed like a loving person, but only Getty was privy to the cold indifference that coursed through his veins. He appeared detached, as though he was an observer of the world, watching the inexplicable highs and lows of humanity with a dispassionate gaze. His heart was a fortress, impervious to any attempts to breach its icy walls.


    "Right, so we''re all doomed to face our karma," Getty dered, releasing him and rising to her feet. "If you''re adamant about keeping her at thepany, then you need to make me a promise."


    "Go on," he encouraged. "Every day she''s at the office, you can''t go home with her. I can''t bear the thought of her monopolizing your time, day and night. You vowed to stay away from her for three months, a promise you failed to keep!" Alexander reclined in his chair, massaging his temples. "What makes you think I''ll keep my word this time?"


    "Exactly my point. How can I trust anything you say? Like when you promised to take care of me forever?" Getty shot back. Getty had long since realized that promises were merely his excuses. The weight of a vow? To him, it was nothing more than a convenient pretext for doing as he pleased.


    With a challenging arch of his brow, Alexander retorted, "You''re under no obligation to believe me."


    Choking on her frustration, Getty responded, "Fine, I''m done arguing. Can Quinn at least help me move my stuff?"


    Alexander fired back, "Ask her yourself. If she''s agreeable, I have no objections."


    But Getty, undeterred, ced the inte from his desk in front of him and asked in a flirtatious tone, "Come on, I want you to ask her. You can''t deny me such a small favor, can you?"


    Alexander nced dismissively at the phone in her hand. "What are you moving?"


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    "Just some personal items. Don''t worry, I wouldn''t dare burden your wife with heavy lifting!"


    The word ''wife'' slipped through her clenched teeth, striking a nerve with Alexander. His expression darkened. In a swift movement, he snatched the phone from Getty''s hand and dialed the inte.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Meanwhile, Quinn was diligently picking up discarded documents from the trash can. Regardless of Alexander''s motives for bringing her into thepany, she had resolved to give it her all.Even if she gained just a smidgen of knowledge, it would add a dash of excitement to her otherwise mundane life.


    When the phone rang, she answered promptly. Alexander''s voice came through, "Help Getty move her stuff."


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    With that, he hung up, leaving Quinn holding the receiver in surprise. Shortly after, Getty sauntered over in her high heels, tapping Quinn''s desk, "Heard that? Let''s move my things."


    Quinn looked incredulously at the phone. Alexander had actually instructed her to assist Getty. With a tight-lipped smile, Quinn set aside the receiver and gestured, ''What am I moving?''


    Getty, who neither understood nor cared to understand Quinn''s gesture, had packed a cardboard box and plopped it on the table. "This." Quinn hoisted the bulky and heavy box into her arms, her vision obscured by its size. She was forced to tilt her head to navigate her path. She followed Getty to the elevator, where they encountered Alexander, documents in hand.


    Blocked by the box, Quinn couldn''t see him, but Getty did. Getty slipped her arm through Alexander''s. "Thanks, Alex," she cooed. "I had no idea how I''d manage to get this enormous box downstairs by myself."


    Alexander eyed the box in Quinn''s arms, his expression inscrutable. He pressed the elevator button without uttering a word.Quinn stood quietly to one side, her fingers clutching the cardboard. She felt like a mere spectator to their intimate exchange.She was grateful that the box wasrge enough to hide her embarrassment.

 Chapter 113

    "Are you on your way to a meeting?" Getty inquired. With a nomittal grunt, Alexander confirmed her assumption. His meeting was scheduled two floors below. The elevator chimed its arrival, the metallic doors sliding open with a whisper. Without uttering another word, he stepped out and disappeared from sight.As soon as Alexander was out of sight, Getty''s facade of cordiality disintegrated.


    Her face hardened into a stony expression, a silence enveloping her until they reached the sub-basement level, a ce devoid of surveince cameras. Only then did Getty risk a sidelong nce at Quinn.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Quinn, burdened by a box and unable to see the path ahead, was oblivious to Getty''s icy smirk. Suddenly, she felt a foot deliberately trip her. She stumbled, the box slipping from her grasp and scattering its contents across the cold concrete floor. With a jarring thud, shended awkwardly, a sharp pain radiating from her wrists and knees.


    "Oh, my, you''re such a klutz," Getty eximed, feigning surprise as she towered over the fallen Quinn. "You''ve broken my stuff."Quinn bit her lip, her face smeared with dust from the floor. It took several deep, calming breaths for her to regain herposure.


    She picked herself up, dusted off her clothes, and shot Getty a defiant look.Getty merely raised an eyebrow, her eyes glinting with provocation. "What are you looking at me for? Aren''t you going to pick up my things?"


    Quinn clenched her fists, her gaze fixed on Getty. The smug look on Getty''s face was a chilling reminder of their first encounter. The scene was eerily simr. Back then, Getty had knelt down to help Quinn pick up her things, extending an offer of friendship. How naive Quinn had been, mistaking Getty''s ulterior motives for genuine friendship.


    Seeing Quinn''s inaction, Getty''s smile faded. "What, are you deaf? I told you to pick up my things." Choosing to ignore Getty''smand, Quinn turned to leave. Getty, however, was not about to let her off so easily. She grabbed Quinn''s arm with a vice-like grip. "I didn''t say you could leave!"


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    Quinn tried to wriggle free, but Getty''s grip was unyielding. She turned her head, ring at Getty. Ever since Abigail had confronted Getty, Quinn''s life had been a whirlwind of chaos, all thanks to Getty. She had lost her job, her friends, and now Juliet was gone.As these thoughts flooded Quinn''s mind, a wave of revulsion for Getty surged through her. With a burst of adrenaline-fueled strength, she pushed Getty away.


    Caught off-guard, Getty, teetering on her towering stilettos, stumbled and fell hard. As she went down, Getty''s nails dug into Quinn, dragging her down as well. They bothy sprawled on the ground. This time, without the box to cushion her fall, Quinn felt the full force of the impact.


    Her vision blurred, her heart pounded in her chest, and the sharp pain in her abdomen was nearly unbearable. Getty''s ankle injury hadn''t fully healed. When she fell, she couldn''t get back up."You...damn you, dummy!" Getty cursed, clutching her ankle, tears streaming down her face. "You''re done for!"


    Through her own pain, Quinn nced at Getty, who was also unable to stand, cold sweat beading on her forehead.


    Getty pulled out her cell phone and dialed Alexander, herints flowing amidst sobs."That dummy, she pushed me! My ankle wasn''t even healed, and now it''s definitely broken."


    Quinn was unable to respond. She could only listen as Getty twisted the truth.In less than five minutes, Alexander arrived.


    Surveying the mess on the ground, he went straight to Getty and squatted down beside her, offering his assistance. "What happened?" he asked.

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    Tears streamed down Getty''s face as she clung to Alexander, her voice quivering with emotion. "Ask her! All I did was move a box. Why is she so angry? I merely mentioned her throwing my box, and she pushed me! If you''re siding with her, then I suppose I''m out of luck!"


    Upon hearing her words, Alexander''s gaze shifted towards Quinn. Quinn had managed to rise from the ground, her face and clothes smeared with dirt, her eyes locked onto Alexander. She remained silent, understanding his decision the moment he had rushed to Getty''s side. She knew that any words she uttered would be in vain.


    "Can you stand?" Alexander asked Getty, his gaze averted from Quinn. Getty shook her head, a grimace of pain on her face. It was the second time she had twisted the same ankle. "I''ll take you to the hospital," Alexander dered. "But what about my belongings?" Getty asked, clinging to his neck and casting a pitiful nce at Quinn, clearly unwilling to let the matter drop. Alexander turned back to Quinn. "Pick them up," hemanded.


    Quinn''s lips tightened, but she remained still. Without another word, Alexander summoned a female assistant. "Watch her. She''s not to leave until she''s picked everything up." With that, he hoisted Getty into his arms and carried her to his car, leaving Quinn alone in the parking lot.


    Quinn stood there, dazed, watching as his car disappeared from the parking lot as though it had never been there. He would go to any lengths to keep Getty by his side, but when forced to choose between her and Getty, he always chose Getty.


    This was his twisted version of taking care of her for life, as he had once promised. Alexander was nothing more than a liar. Their rtionship was a far cry from what it once was. The assistant looked at Quinn with aplex expression. "Why would you provoke Getty? In thispany, everyone is fair game except her. Didn''t Kyle warn you when you first arrived? She''s Alexander''s darling."


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    Quinn turned away, a bitter smile ying on her lips. ''Yes, Getty is the one he cherishes most. Where does that leave me?'' she wondered.


    "Let me help you with that. Just remember this. Stay away from Getty from now on, do you understand?" The secretary''s voice echoed as she bent down to gather the scattered items. Despite the sharp pain gripping her abdomen, Quinn bent down and began to collect the items back into the box.


    Once everything was picked up, the secretary instructed, "Just set this box aside somewhere. I''m heading back upstairs." Quinn nodded, expressing her gratitude with a look of thanks. After the secretary left, Quinn remained silent for a long while before finally bending down to lift the box.


    However, as soon as she gripped it, a warm sensation trickled down her leg. She froze in ce. She could feel the warmth seeping into her shoe. Taking several deep breaths, Quinn managed to crouch down and ce the box on the floor. She rolled up her pants to reveal a shoe stained red with blood. Her fingers tightened around the box as the cramps in her abdomen intensified, making it difficult to take even a single step. Shaking with pain, Quinn could no longer support herself and copsed to the ground.


    She pulled out her phone but was unsure who to call. Eventually, she silently opened a ride-hailing app and requested a ride. Dragging her weakened body outside thepany, she waited for the car. She removed her coat and ced it on the seat before directing the driver to the nearest hospital. She had been enduring the abdominal pains for days with the help of painkillers.


    This time, she couldn''t bear it any longer. Once in the emergency room, she finally allowed herself to rx. Darkness overtook her vision as she fainted in the examination room.

 Chapter 115

    Regaining consciousness, Quinn found herself in a sterile hospital bed, an IV drip puncturing her hand. The once sharp pain in her abdomen had dulled to a throbbing ache. She was alone, the room devoid of any other presence. Her gaze fell upon the IV bottle, nearly depleted of its contents. With a grimace, she hoisted herself up and pressed the call button affixed to her bed.


    Within moments, a young doctor entered the room. He attended to her IV, adjusting the drip rate, before finally turning his attention to Quinn. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his gaze meeting hers.


    Quinn studied the doctor for a moment before her hand slid down her body, checking for any unfamiliar sensations or difort. Her eyes eventually drifted towards her cell phone resting on the bedside table. Picking it up, she typed out a message.


    "Doctor, what happened to me?" The doctor''s initial surprise at the text message was quickly reced by a look of understanding. Quinn was ustomed to this typical first reaction when people realized she was mute.


    "You fainted," he exined. "Once your IV is finished, go see the attending physician. She''ll exin everything to you."It was then that Quinn noticed his badge. He was merely an intern. She nodded in understanding andy back down, silently waiting for the IV to finish.


    The hospital room was deste and eerily quiet, hardly a soul in sight. Tucked away in a far cornery an elderly man, paralyzed and mute, his silence amplifying the solitude. Two speechless figuresy in the hospital room of loneliness. Quinn nced at her phone. It was well past four in the afternoon. Silence reigned. No messages or calls to break the stillness. With a sigh, she switched it off and looked back at the old man lying in his bed in the corner. Not long after, a woman with salt-and-pepper hair bustled in, her armsden with bags. She made a beeline for the elderly man''s bed, setting to work with a basin and towel, bathing him with practiced hands.


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    After the wash, she began feeding him, her mutterings about daily trivialities filling the room. She transitioned from casual chatter toints, bemoaning theirck of luxuries and the burdensome duty of caring for him in his old age. The old man, mute, could only follow her with his eyes. As the woman''s voice began to quake with stifled sobs, Quinn noticed tears welling in the old man''s eyes too. His fingers trembled, perhaps trying to reach up and wipe her tears, a gesture beyond his ability.


    Quinn turned her head away, affording them their intimate moment. Her gaze fell upon the sky outside the door, heavy with rain clouds, foreshadowing an imminent downpour. Once thest drop of her IV had been administered, she went to find the doctor.


    Coincidentally, it was the same doctor as before. She looked at Quinn and asked, a mixture of frustration and disappointment clouding her eyes, "Were you herest time?" Quinn nodded, took out her ID, and handed it to her. She quickly found Quinn''s records on theputer. Her face shed with anger as she scolded, "Didn''t you want to preserve your pregnancyst time? How could you have surgery so quickly?" She held back the harsher words that hovered on the tip of her tongue.


    "I can''t understand what''s going on with your generation. You just had an operation, and couldn''t you wait for even a month?" Quinn''s face flushed with shame as she bowed her head, understanding the implication.


    "You''re suffering from bleeding due to uterine inmmation, and it''s been festering for days. Why would you wait until it got so severe beforeing to the hospital?" Quinn bit her lip, her fingers twisting at the hem of her clothes. The doctor''s questions made her blush.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    The doctor continued, "Youngdy, don''t say I didn''t warn you. If you don''t start taking care of yourself, this could escte from simple inmmation to something as serious as cervical cancer. I''m not being rmist." Realizing Quinn''s condition, the doctor''s tone softened. "Where''s your family? Have you notified anyone?"

 Chapter 116

    Quinn''s head shook in disbelief. "Your husband needs to be here. This isn''t something to be taken lightly. He''s not treating your health with the seriousness it deserves!"


    Stunned, Quinn quicklyposed a message on her phone. "He''s away on a business trip and can''t make it."


    The doctor eyed her with a hint of skepticism before sighing heavily, "You must take this matter into your own hands. Try tomunicate with your husband, and if that fails, consider seeking legal counsel. You can''t let him continue to disregard your health like this."


    She continued, "I''m going to prescribe some medication for you, and you''ll need to continue with the IV treatment for at least five more days. Make sure youe back. Do you understand?"


    Quinn felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, wishing she could simply disappear. After the doctor''s lengthy lecture, she handed Quinn a stack of prescriptions. Holding the medication as though it were her lifeline, Quinn hurriedly left the hospital. As she exited the inpatient wing, preparing to leave the hospital grounds, she unexpectedly ran into Alexander.


    Her grip unconsciously tightened on the medicine. Alexander, however, seemed oblivious to her presence, his full attention on Getty, who was leaning on a cane and nestled in his embrace,ining."I must be cursed. I''ve sprained this ankle twice in a row now. I was supposed to sign a contract today, and that dummy is jinxing me!"


    "Stopining when you''re hurt," Alexander retorted, supporting her. His tone was stern, but his face betrayed no real emotion. It was their usual banter.Getty rolled her eyes at him. "You feel bad for me? You jerk. My foot is all messed up, and you''re still giving me grief."


    "If you''ve got enough energy to insult me, it can''t be that bad." Getty was fuming, pinching Alexander''s arm in exasperation. She then nced up and caught sight of Quinn in the distance. Her brows furrowed, and her tone took on a sneering edge, "Oh right, I''m not serious. Your wife got hurt worse. Go take care of her!"


    At her words, Alexander looked up, his gaze meeting Quinn''s. Quinn quickly averted her eyes, suppressing the dull ache in her heart, and walked away.Why should she torment herself by witnessing their affection?Getty quirked an eyebrow. "She''s gone, you know."


    Alexander''s gaze returned to Getty. He remained silent.Getty was puzzled, wondering, ''What was that dummy doing at the hospital? She seems to walk just fine. It seems unlikely that she would have twisted her ankle.''


    An uneasy feeling crept into Getty''s heart as she stole a nce at Alexander. Unfortunately, his expression revealed nothing except a hint of distraction.Getty was irked. Even though Alexander always seemed to side with her, he never rebuked that dummy, nor scolded her over such issues.


    Everyone thought Alexander was head over heels for Getty, but Getty knew the truth-he loved no one."I can''t walk anymore. Carry me to the car," Getty grumbled.


    Without a word, Alexander bent down, scooped her up, and headed to the parking lot. By this time, the workday had ended. Quinn didn''t return to the office but instead hailed a cab back to the vi.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    The moment she stepped out of the cab, Quinn noticed Ariel pacing on the front porch of the vi.Ariel quickened his pace toward her as soon as he saw her alight from the taxi."Hey Quinn, how did it go? You''ve been gone all day. Don''t tell me you can''t evene up with half a million?"

 Chapter 117

    For a few seconds, Quinn held Ariel''s gaze before extracting her phone to type out a message. "If I give you the money, will you let Juliete back?" she asked.


    Ariel responded with a chuckle. "Of course. Having someone else take care of her expenses would be one less burden for me. Given your close rtionship with my mother, you shouldn''t have any problem helping her out, right?" Quinn hesitated momentarily before continuing to type. "Bring Juliet here, and you''ll get your money."N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Ariel''s smile faltered at her words, and he grumbled in response, "She''s getting old. It''s not easy for her to move around. Give me the money first, and I''ll bring her over afterward."


    Quinn didn''t trust him. Juliet had warned her about his insatiable greed. If she gave him the money now, he wouldn''t bring Juliet. Instead, he would continue to exploit her to extract more money, and Quinn would be left with nothing. "Bring her, then you get the money."Ariel''s growing anger was evident. It was clear he had never intended to take the half-million and leave. ''For the Kennedys, a family of considerable wealth, half a million is but a drop in the ocean. Why settle for that when I can push for five million, adequately rewarding my efforts?'' Ariel thought.


    "If this is how you want to negotiate, fine. I won''t mince words. Give me a t rate of five million. If you can afford it, I''ll bring her over immediately. If not, forget the whole deal!" Quinn was momentarily taken aback, not expecting such audacity in his demand.


    Seeing her reaction, Ariel knew she couldn''t produce five million. So, he pressed further, "Name the date. When can you give me the money? I''ll bring my mom over then." Quinn was at a loss. Even the initial half-million was borrowed from Abigail. How could she possibly find five million to pay him?


    Ariel stretched out his hand, disying five fingers. "Five days, can you manage that? I''lle to you after five days." Quinn typed swiftly, "I can''te up with that much money."


    Ariel furrowed his brows, "Who are you trying to fool? The Kennedys are loaded, and you can''t give me five million? You think I''m buying that?"


    "Look, I don''t care. You have five days. If you don''t have the money by then, you can forget about seeing my mother!" With that, he spun on his heel, hopped into his Volkswagen, and drove off.


    Suddenly, Quinn''s abdomen began to ache again. Clutching her stomach, she hurried into the vi and took out the medicine prescribed by the doctor, washing it down with a ss of water.


    The medicine didn''t seem to help, so she found the painkillers, pouring a handful out and popping them in her mouth like they were candy beans. One or two pills no longer did the job. She needed a good number of them to alleviate her pain.


    After taking her medication, she exhaled deeply, but as she was exiting the room, she suddenly felt the world spinning, and her vision went ck. Quinn copsed, rigid as a board. Quinn drifted into a dream, but not one filled with memories of Alexander. This time, she was engulfed in red. The entire world was a stifling shade of crimson, choking her with its singr hue.


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    She ran frantically through the red mist, desperate to escape the suffocating color, but she couldn''t break free. The air was being siphoned away, making breathing more and moreborious."Quinn."A voice called out to her, ethereal and seemingly from the edge of the heavens. She looked up, following the sound, and in the next moment, she stumbled into a void, the sensation of weightlessness overwhelming her.


    Quinn''s eyes snapped open as she gasped for air, lungs greedily inhaling the air around her. The feeling of suffocation was terrifyingly real as if it had followed her from reality into her dream.


    "Did you have a nightmare?" The voice came from above her. Quinn stiffened and turned to meet Walter''s eyes. She scrambled off the couch and gestured, "What are you doing here?"


    Walter smiled, "I came to see Alexander. The door was open, and I thought he was home. I found you passed out instead, so I tried to wake you up."


    Only then did Quinn realize she had ended up on the couch. Remembering Alexander''s words and looking at Walter''s face gave her the creeps. ''If he knows everything and still acts nonchnt, his fa?ade is terrifying,'' she thought.

 Chapter 118

    With a wave of her hand, Quinn expressed her gratitude. "Thanks for the help. I''m alright now," she said, her voice steady. A smile tugged at the corners of Walter''s lips, his gazending on the packet of medicine resting on the coffee table. "That''s good to hear," he replied, a hint of concern in his voice. "You feeling sick?"


    In a swift movement, Quinn snatched the medicine from the table, hastily tucking it away in a drawer. "Just a minor cold," she signed, her expression unreadable.


    Walter nodded in understanding. "Even a minor cold needs care. The flu''s bad this time of year," he said, his tone gentle.


    Quinn stared at him, her lips pursed tightly. He seemed in no hurry to leave. She gestured towards the door, her meaning clear. "Alexander is with Getty. He likely won''t be back."


    Despite her implied request for him to leave, he seemed oblivious. "This is his ce. Why wouldn''t he return? I''ll wait. I''ve been waiting a while anyway," he responded, his voice steady.


    Quinn fell silent. Being alone with him brought an inexplicable feeling of unease and fear, a feeling that reminded her of the suffocation from her dream.


    She even suspected Walter had been the one who suffocated her, attempting to kill her.Under the pretense of fetching him water, Quinn stood up and moved to a seat across from him, putting some distance between them. Walter''s face remained friendly, his wavy hair falling to one side. His features were gentle, almost disarming.Breaking the silence, he said, "I''ve got something on my mind, not sure if I should speak up."


    Quinn nced at him, her curiosity piqued.


    "You see Alexander hanging out with that Getty every day. Doesn''t that make you mad?" Walter asked, his tone casual.


    His question caught Quinn off guard. She paused, wrestling with a response.


    "Have you ever thought about getting a divorce?" he asked, his voice gentle yet persuasive. Quinn pressed her lips together, contemting. The thought had crossed her mind more times than she could count, but the decision to divorce was never truly hers to make.


    "Do you want a divorce?" Walter probed further, his voice soft yetpelling. With each word, Quinn felt a knot tighten in her chest. His voice had an unnerving allure, and her fingers unconsciously clenched.


    He watched her intently, as if trying to see into her very soul. A slight smile curved his lips as he whispered with conviction, "You want a divorce." It wasn''t a question but a statement so sure of itself.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn turned away, unable to meet his hypnotic gaze. It was devilish, capable of luring one into the depths of hell.Unfazed by her reaction, Walter pulled out a business card from his pocket and slid it across the table towards her. Through her peripheral vision, Quinn noticed that the card bore nothing but a name and a phone number. There was no description, no title.


    "You might want to give him a call," he suggested softly. Standing up, he added, "Looks like Oliver won''t being back tonight, so I''ll leave you be." With those final words, he walked away, quickly fading into the background, leaving behind nothing but the business card on the table.


    Quinn''s hand moved almost of its own ord. She picked up the business card and gazed nkly at the printed number. Her grip tightened, her knuckles turning white as memories of recent events shed through her mind. The termination of a pregnancy, Abigail being ambushed by garbage thrown on the street, Juliet being taken away without mercy.


    And the words the doctor had spoken to her just a while ago. The memories choked her, making even breathing seem like a Herculean task. Compelled, Quinn pulled out her phone and added the number to her contacts. Within seconds, she had connected with the person on social media.

 Chapter 119

    The digital representation of the individual was an avatar d in a ck suit, the username simply "N." Quinn was on the brink of perusing his social media profile when he preempted her, sending a message, "Hello, are you in need of legal assistance?"This confirmed her suspicion. He was indeed awyer, rendering any further investigation into his social media presence unnecessary.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    As Quinn deliberated on how to respond, "N" dispatched another message, "Not many possess this number, so you must have been rmended by a mutual acquaintance. I''m at your service."


    His eagerness seemed incongruent with the demeanor one might typically expect from a formidablewyer. Her fingers quivered over the keys as she typed, "I require some advice. What should I address you as?"


    "N" responded, "You can address me as Nichs."Quinn promptly saved his contact information under the name Nichs. She was about to ry her predicament when the sound of footsteps at the door startled her. She swiftly stowed her phone in her pocket.


    Turning, she confirmed her suspicion. It was Alexander at the door. Rising from the couch with a newfound urgency, Quinn''s gaze was fixed on the entrance. Alexander shrugged off his coat and made a beeline for her, discarding the garment onto the sofa as he closed the distance.


    "What was your business at the hospital today?" Alexander''s countenance betrayed nothing, his expression unreadable. It was challenging to discern whether his question was borne out of concern or suspicion.


    Quinn hesitated before responding, "Just a minor cold.""A cold?" he echoed. She confirmed with a nod. An ufortable silence ensued, broken only when Alexander''s gaze abruptly fell on a business card on the coffee table. Quinn''s heart fluttered in panic, and as she moved to retrieve it, Alexander beat her to it. He scrutinized the card before casting her a loaded nce.


    A single bead of sweat trickled down her anxious forehead. She wondered, ''Could he sense something was amiss?''


    To her relief, Alexander merely nced at her before carelessly tossing the card back onto the table, "If you''re unwell, rest and retire early." With that, he turned and ascended the staircase.


    Quinn released a long, relieved sigh, picked up the business card, and ripped it into shreds before discarding it into the trash. Her thoughts drifted to the untouched dinner, and she inspected the kitchen. The refrigerator was filled with groceries, courtesy of Juliet. The thought of Juliet only served to dampen Quinn''s spirits further.


    She prepared pasta mechanically, serving two portions before realizing that Alexander might have already eaten. Alone at the dining table, Quinn quietly consumed her pasta. The other te of pasta gradually cooled, its contents drying and crumbling.


    After cleaning up, taking her medication, and settling on the sofa for the night, she woke the following day to find Alexander gone and a nket draped over her.


    On the dining table, the untouched pasta remained, now stone-cold. For some reason, the sight of it sent a dull pang through her heart, as if something precious had slowly grown cold, just like the bowl of pasta.


    A sudden painnced through her temples, and her vision blurred. Grasping the edge of the table, she eased herself onto a chair, narrowly avoiding a fall. This was not the first time she had experienced such unexined bouts of dizziness and fainting spells. After regaining herposure, Quinn changed and made her way to the office.

 Chapter 120

    Public transportation was a nonentity in this part of town, leaving a cab ride to the office as the sole means ofmute. Drawing out her phone, she tapped into her messaging app, only to have her face turn a ghostly white.


    A wave of panic seized her, sending chills down her spine. There was an unread message from Nichs, and yet, it had been seen by someone else. In the vi, the only other upant was Alexander. She hadn''t seen the message, so who else could have possibly touched her phone? The answer was ringly obvious.


    Her fingers trembled as she tapped open the message. It was from Nichol as, reading, "What''s the problem? But no worries, if it''s inconvenient to talk over the phone, we can meet in person."


    Quinn''s breath hitched, her phone slipping from her grasp and ttering onto the car''s floor. She closed her eyes, the chilly breeze from the car window stinging her cheeks.


    "Miss, we''ve arrived."Jolted back to reality, Quinn picked up her phone and stepped out of the car. She walked into thepany building, her demeanor akin to a lost soul. Clocking in, she took her seat in front of herputer.


    An instant message from Kyle popped up on her workstation, listing the day''s tasks. "Hey, newbie, I need twenty copies of this document for a meetingter."


    A stack of filesnded with a thud in front of Quinn. Looking up, she saw a curly-haired woman, her name badge reading ''Secretary-Maria.'' This desk had once belonged to Getty, and those who had been oppressed under Getty hadn''t forgotten their disdain for the position or the person who upied it. They now projected their hatred onto Quinn.


    Quinn stared at the document for a long moment before rising, papers in hand, and heading to the copier. Maria watched Quinn''s retreating back with a sneer. A colleague leaned in, whispering, "Maria, she seems clueless, yet she''s got a job here. Maybe tone it down a bit?"


    The underlying message was clear, ''Quinn could be the next Getty.'' Maria chuckled, "Did you hear about yesterday?"


    "What happened?"


    "Quinn was helping Getty move some stuff, identally spilled Getty''s things, and they got into it. Alexander was so worried he skipped the meeting and went straight down. Quinn got reamed out. Didn''t you notice she wasn''t here yesterday afternoon?"


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    The day''s gossip had evolved, but the core story remained. Maria added, "I mean, how many Gettys can there be, right? You''re overthinking it. I bet she''s just some executive''s rtive who got in through the connections. No need to be polite with those types."


    Their department shared a sense of contempt. No matter whose rtive Quinn might be, nobody would be nice to her. At the copier, Quinn was indeed clueless, fumbling with the machine. She mixed up printing and copying, didn''t know how to ce the pages properly, and ended up with iplete copies.Doubt crept in again.


    Without Alexander, could she really survive?As she was lost in her thoughts, a voice from behind startled her, "Quinn."


    Quinn spun around to see Walter standing there with documents, a friendly smile on his face. "You don''t know how to use this, do you?"


    Quinn''s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she fumbled with the stack of papers, utterly clueless. She couldn''t even operate the copier. Working here was a surefire way to be theughingstock of the office.


    Taking the papers from her, Walter said, "Here, let me show you. Align the papers along this edge. This button here lets you choose options. This icon is for double-sided copying, and this is where you input the number of copies you want." He guided her hand over the machine. "Once the counter here hits zero, just open the lid, flip the papers over, and you''re all set to copy the backside."He pressed the button, and the document came out from the printer. Quinn quickly gathered it up. It was the first of twenty sets she needed to make.


    "Give it a try," Walter stepped aside, allowing her to have a go at it.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Quinn nodded, positioning the next sheet of paper.


    Unnoticed by them, Alexander hade to a halt behind them, staring intently at the pair.

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    Kyle stood at Alexander''s side, casting anxious nces in his direction. Alexander, however, remained inscrutable, his expression revealing nothing of his thoughts or feelings.


    The air around them seemed to grow colder, Kyle thought, as if reflecting the tension between them. He wanted to say something, to break the silence, but before he could, Alexander had already taken his leave. Left with no other choice, Kyle hurriedly followed after him.


    Meanwhile, with Walter''s assistance, Quinn had sessfully mastered the operations of the printer. She turned to him with a smile of gratitude, "Thank you, I''ve got it from here."


    Walter returned her smile with a nod, "Great, then I''ll get going." As he left, Quinn watched him go, a thoughtful expression on her face.


    Their interaction, however, did not go unnoticed. Maria, who hade to urge Quinn about some documents, caught the scene and frowned in suspicion. Walter was known for being amiable at thepany, but he was never one to waste time on trivial matters, let alone tutoring the newbies.


    Could there be something between them? Maria pondered, then pulled out her phone and texted Freya. Freya was known to have a soft spot for Walter, and the thought of him attracting attention from other women in the office was unsettling. She had her informants in thepany, and Maria was one of them.


    After receiving the message, Freya was so enraged she nearly crushed her phone in her hand. "That tramp! That temptress!" she cursed furiously. Kaitlyn nced at her strangely and couldn''t help but ask, "What''s the matter? Why are you so upset?"


    "It''s that dummy! I can''t understand what Alexander was thinking about getting her a job in the office. What''s she good for, if not for luring men?" Freya vented, dropping her pretense and speaking freely without concern. "What do you mean?" Kaitlyn didn''t quite grasp her words. "Did Alexander bring that dummy to thepany?" Kaitlyn couldn''t shake off the thought. She''d always seen Quinn as the ck sheep of the Kennedys. It was embarrassing enough when the dummy first became part of the family, but for Alexander to take her to thepany and make a spectacle? That was beyond the pale, Kaitlyn thought.


    "Seriously, Mom, she''s a real piece of work, a troublemaker. Can you believe she had the nerve to flirt with Walter right there in the office? What am I supposed to do about this?" Freyained.Kaitlyn shot an irritated nce at Freya. "Don''t let your imagination run wild. In a ce like that, even if Quinn had the audacity, Walter knows better. Stop listening to workce gossip and tormenting yourself with baseless suspicions!"


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    "But..." Freya''s voice trailed off, her mind reying the rumors she couldn''t dismiss. ''How could I even broach this with my mother?''


    "Enough already," Kaitlyn cut in, "I know Walter. He''s not that kind of guy. And you, stop obsessing over men. Think about it. What does that no-talent dummy have that you don''t? Why would Walter be interested in someone who can''t speak?" Freya felt a slight sense of relief at her mother''s words, but it was just that, a small respite, far from peace of mind.


    Women''s intuition was sharp, especially when it came to matters of the heart. Walter''s interest in Quinn wasn''t as straightforward as it seemed. Freya had felt suspicious ever since Walter''s first distracted nce at Quinn during his initial visit to the Kennedys'' ce.


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    "I don''t want to see that dummy again," mumbled Freya, haunted by memories.


    Kaitlyn looked puzzled. "What did you say?"


    Snapping back to reality, Freya quickly masked her anger. "Nothing, it was nothing. Just thinking out loud." Kaitlyn''s gaze remained fixed on her, unconvinced by the dismissal.The mere existence of that dummy was an irritation, one that persisted beyond the confines of thepany. The sight or thought of her simply rankled them. Yet with Alexander''s protection, they dared not act rashly, uncertain of the exact nature of his affections for her.


    "What''s really worrying you, Freya? Are you keeping something from me?" Kaitlyn asked, her gaze piercing.Freya met her mother''s eyes, her lips parting in hesitation. "No, Mom, I''m not hiding anything from you. It''s just this feeling. Do you feel it too?" "What feeling?" Kaitlyn prodded.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

 Chapter 122

    "Walter gives me the feeling that he doesn''t like me and that he isn''t interested in The Kennedys'' business. It''s confusing. I just don''t know what he really wants," said Freya.


    Kaitlyn furrowed her brow and asked, with a hint of confusion in her voice, "What kind of nonsense are you spouting, Freya? Despite his supposed dislike for you, he married you and fathered your children? Doesn''t that speak volumes about his feelings? Perhaps you should seek professional help." She harbored suspicions that Freya might be grappling with postpartum depression.


    Freya''s emotions teetered precariously on the brink of copse. "Mom, don''t you believe me? I can sense whether or not he truly cares for me. Love can be feigned, you know."


    Kaitlyn fell into a contemtive silence, her previous certainty wavering in the face of Freya''s words. Walter had always imed to be an orphan, raised in an institution without thefort of parents. Yet, his demeanor seemed incongruous with such a background. They had investigated his past, and indeed, he had grown up in an orphanage. The director and his peers from the institution all vouched for him. This presented a contradiction. "Enough of this," Kaitlyn finally said. "If there were anything fishy about him, they would have surfaced by now. You''re spending too much time at home, overthinking things. Perhaps it''s time you returned to work."


    Freya bowed her head in silence..... Quinn handed the photocopied documents to Maria, who nced at her before instructing, "Take these to the conference room."


    Quinn remained stationary, clutching the papers.Maria''s irritation grew, and she shot Quinn a re. "What are you waiting for? Take them! If you''re not here to work, why bothering to the office?"Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    She had heard rumors of Alexander''s foul mood and had no desire to cross paths with him. After a moment of silence, Quinn scribbled on a piece of paper, "Where is the conference room?"Maria was taken aback. She nced between the note and Quinn, her expression one of shock.


    "Are you a dummy?" Maria blurted out.Quinn pressed her lips together and gave a faint nod.


    Maria was stunned, as were several other colleagues who now turned their astonished and perplexed gazes toward Quinn. Their stares felt like needles, each one pricking at her. It was as if her wounds were being slowly, painfully exposed for all to see. Every look seemed tobel Quinn as an outsider, an oddity akin to a zoo monkey meant for others'' amusement.


    "The conference room is down the hall to the left, just around the corner," someone kindly interjected.


    Quinn shot a grateful look at the good Samaritan before fleeing the office with the documents. However, she could still hear the echoes of the conversations behind her. "Why would thepany hire a dummy? How did she even get the job?"


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    "Do you really need to ask? She''s obviously pulled some strings. I just saw her cozying up to Walter. Could it be..."


    "Wouldn''t that be something? Even the VP''s getting in on the action, just like Alexander?"


    "Shh...keep it down, guys. The VP and Alexander are not the same, you know. Walter is married into his wife''s family... I doubt he''d dare do something like that."


    The group continued their chatter, but Quinn simply curled the corner of her mouth and tuned them out. She walked away, files in hand. Everyone knew about Walter''s wife. They seemed oblivious, however, to the fact that Alexander had a wife too.''Surely he thinks of me as a shame who shouldn''t appear in the public eye. Did Alexander bring me to thepany so that I''ll overhear these heart-piercing remarks?'' she wondered.


    ---

 Chapter 123

    Quinn stepped into the bustling conference room, a bundle of files tucked under her arm. The room was already brimming with people, the majority of the executives required for the meeting already assembled.


    With a polite knock, she entered, causing a ripple of surprise to spread through the room as every head turned to look at her. ''Why the change? Wasn''t it always Getty who came before?'' they silently questioned. Ignoring their curious stares, Quinn kept her gaze lowered and began to distribute the documents, one by one.As she approached Alexander, he nced up at her. His gaze was inscrutable, like a deep, dark pool threatening to swallow her whole. She avoided his eyes, cing the papers before him before moving on to the next person.


    "I haven''t seen you before. Are you new here?" A middle-aged man scrutinized Quinn, his eyes lingering on her. She was undeniably captivating, possessing a charm that could ensnare a man.


    He was close enough to observe her wless skin, untouched by makeup. He could almost see the fine pores on her face. The natural light pouring in from the window gave herplexion a rosy, translucent glow, as if her cheeks were so soft one could squeeze water from them.


    Quinn remained silent, moving on to the next person without a word. The man was irked by Quinn''s dismissive behavior, though he didn''t show it. Instead, he resolved to learn more about herter. As he contemted this, he felt a sharp gaze on him.


    He traced the gaze back to its source and found himself meeting Alexander''s deep, dark eyes. Alexander''s face was expressionless, but the man felt as if he was being seen through. He quickly looked away, pretending to study the documents before him.


    Once Quinn had finished distributing the materials, she quietly exited the room. No sooner had she settled at her desk than Maria dumped a pile of papers for her to sort.


    "Get these organized and make a spreadsheet," Maria ordered curtly. Their department wasn''t particrly busy. They were technically ''President''s Secretaries,'' but their roles could just as easily be described as ''low-rungs.'' Only the Secretary Manager and Kyle had real ess to thepany''s core operations.


    Maria had essentially dumped the entirety of the department''s workload onto Quinn.Quinn had no choice but to ept the work withoutint, so Maria didn''t bother to discuss it further. She handed off the task and sauntered off to the break room.Ever since Getty''s departure, their days had be significantly easier.


    Getty had a tendency to parade around the office as if she owned it, chastising anyone caught cking off. She was quick to take names and dock pay, as if it were her personal mission. The resentment towards her simmered among the staff, but no one dared to confront her. After all, she had Alexander''s backing. Who would even support Quinn?'' they wondered.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    To Alexander, she was practically invisible, never acknowledged, leaving her without the influence and respect that Getty had enjoyed. Alone in the office, Quinn began to sort through the files, keeping a careful eye on the clock. She needed to finish in time for her hospital appointment.


    Meanwhile, Maria was ying it cool as the middle-aged man with the water cup greeted her on his way in."Maria, got time to kill today?" he asked with a chuckle. Maria smiled back, feigning amusement. "Caught me in my rare moment of downtime. If Getty hears about it, there goes my bonus for the month."


    Herughter couldn''t hide the contempt in her eyes. The finance manager was known to be a lecherous old man, infamous among the female staff for lurking around HR and administrative departments, eyeing up thedies. Suddenly, Leon seemed to have a thought. "Speaking of Getty, I haven''t seen her around thesest couple of days. Noticed someone new in her spot?" Maria raised an eyebrow, anticipating the nonsense he was about to spout. "Leon, you''re ill-informed, aren''t you? Getty resigned. The new girl''s just a dummy. And don''t pretend you''re the only curious one here. We all wonder how shended the job."Leon looked surprised. "A dummy? You''re not pulling my leg, are you?"

 Chapter 124

    The situation felt like a punchline to a poorly executed joke. "If you don''t believe it, that''s your loss," Maria dered, cing her cup on the table with a finality that echoed her words. She rose from her seat and walked away, the sight of her stocking-d legs drawing Leon''s lingering gaze. The idea of a dummy as a secretary was almostughable to him. He was filled with doubt, yet he couldn''t dismiss it entirely.


    Maria, however, found herself unable to resist stealing nces at Quinn upon her return. She was well aware of Leon''s intentions, and despite her reservations, she feltpelled to y along. After all, Freya had entrusted her with the task of "taking care of Quinn."


    Seizing the opportunity, Maria approached Quinn''s desk and tapped lightly on its surface. "Can you take this invoice down to the finance department and hand it over to Leon?" she asked.


    Quinn paused in her work, ncing at the stack of papers before her, then back at Maria. "I''m not done with my sorting yet," she protested, her pen still moving across the paper.


    "It won''t take long, just a trip downstairs. These are from the hotel bookings for Alexander''s business tripst week," Maria exined.


    After a moment of hesitation, Quinn epted the invoices and made her way to the finance department. Unfamiliar with Leon, she headed straight for the manager''s office.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    The door was ajar, and she recognized the man inside as the one who had spoken to her in the meeting room. It was Leon. She rapped lightly on the door, and as Leon looked up and saw her, his face brightened with a weing smile. "What brings you here, Quinn? Come on in."


    Quinn entered, holding out the receipt to Leon. His weing demeanor did little to ease her nerves.


    Leon, noticing Quinn''s silence, saw an opportunity to probe further. He took the receipt from her and scanned it, his brow furrowing in apparent confusion. "We can''t reimburse this receipt," he stated, causing Quinn to blink in surprise. She looked at him, waiting for an exnation.


    Leon understood her confusion and decided to rify. He stood up, leaned in closer, and pointed at the receipt in her hand. "You see, the format of this receipt is wrong. You need to get a recement from the seller."


    His proximity was unsettling. His breath, carrying an indistinguishable scent, wafted over her. Quinn held her breath, nodded in understanding, and tried to retrieve the receipt from his grip.Leon, however, held on. "Since you''re new here, you might not be familiar with ourpany''s receipt format. Let me show you what it should look like."


    He guided her hand to hisputer, opening a document. "See here? The margins are incorrect, and the content oveps. That won''t do."His body was almost pressing against Quinn''s back as he spoke, his breath unpleasantly warm in her ear.


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    Quinn stiffened and nodded to show she understood, but her reaction only seemed to embolden Leon further.


    New employees were all the same, quietly enduring the unwanted attention of their superiors out of fear of speaking up. Leon yed this game expertly, teetering on the edge of overt harassment but never quite crossing that line. He did just enough to make someone ufortable, and most chose to suffer in silence.


    "Leon..."The door, which Leon had forgotten to close, swung open and another employee walked in. The neer paused at the doorway, caught in an awkward situation upon witnessing the intimate scene.


    Leon quickly stepped back, creating a distance between him and Quinn. "All right, take this receipt with you ande back after getting it reced."Quinn felt a wave of relief and quickly exited the office with the receipt. However, office gossip spread like wildfire.


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    The rumor that the new secretary, who had only been at thepany for two days, was seen in apromising situation with Leon in his office was nowmon talk. Whispers that she was a dummy found their way around quickly. Soon enough, people began to specte that she was a mistress Leon installed himself.


    Such rumors, of course, eventually reached Alexander.


    "Where is she?" Alexander asked, adjusting his tie, his expression serious.


    Kyle stammered, "She''s gone. She left work at five."

 Chapter 125

    Alexander''s fingers halted their movement momentarily before he cast a sidelong nce at Kyle. His eyes took on a somber hue as he remarked, "She certainly knows how to make a swift exit."Quinn was in a rush to get to the hospital for her scheduled IV treatment. In her haste, she had skipped lunch and even put in extra hours at work to ensure she could leave on time, having spent the day meticulously sorting through a mountain of documents.


    With the doctor''s prescription securely in her grasp, she collected her medication before making her way to the bustling infusion hall for her treatment.


    The IV treatment she had received the previous day had brought about a slight improvement in the difort she had been experiencing in her lower abdomen. While a faint pain lingered, it was bearable enough that she didn''t require painkillers.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    She managed to find an unupied chair in the busy hall. She was grateful for the rule that prohibited rtives from apanying patients, leaving everyone to sit alone as their IVs slowly dripped.Quinn retrieved her smartphone from her bag and opened her chat with Nichs. She noticed that he hadn''t sent any messages after she failed to respond to his text the previous night.


    She began typing, asking him, "ed advice about caring for the elderly."This question had been weighing heavily on her mind. She didn''t have the financial means to meet Ariel''s demands and was considering whether legal action might be a viable alternative.Nichs responded after a couple of minutes, asking, "What exactly are the circumstances? Can you borate?"


    Quinn wasn''t entirely familiar with the legal intricacies of her situation, but she shared with Nichs the details of Juliet''s eviction and Ariel''s attempts to extort money from her.


    A few minutester, Nichs asked if they could continue their conversation over the phone. Quinn hesitated, biting her lip, before admitting that she was unable to speak.


    After a brief pause, Nichs disyed his understanding by sending a voice message. "I think I understand the situation. It seems Ariel might be guilty of abandonment. If we can gather enough evidence, he could potentially face jail time. In most civil matters, we try to initiate dialogue and negotiate first. Legal action is typically thest resort as it can strain family rtions." His voice was steady and resonant, radiating a sense of integrity that instilled trust in Quinn. She responded, "I''ve met him, and I don''t believe he will be open to negotiation."


    Nichs replied, "Well, if that''s the case, we''ll proceed with the legal route. The testimony of the elderly person is crucial, followed by evidence-testimonies of eyewitnesses, friends, or neighbors, medical records, surveince footage, andmunication logs."


    Quinn considered his words. Obtaining testimonies from neighbors seemed feasible. As for surveince, it was unclear whether there was any at Ariel''s ce, but footage of Juliet rummaging through trash might be useful if it could be obtained.


    Nichs emphasized the importance of gathering concrete evidence and the limitations of discussing the matter solely over the phone.


    "When are you free to meet up and talk this over?"Quinn nced at the date disyed on her phone. It was Wednesday, and she wouldn''t be avable until Saturday.


    They agreed to meet on Saturday morning at nine. Quinn let out a deep sigh as she looked up to see her IV bag nearly depleted. She rose from her chair to detach the IV bag and approached the front desk for a refill.


    The nurse chided her gently, "You could''ve just called out. There''s no need to bring it over."Quinn pursed her lips, unable to exin her inability to speak.


    After the nurse had replenished her IV, Quinn reopened her chat and decided to erase her conversation with Nichs.


    Juliet''s departure had been orchestrated by Alexander himself, and if he discovered that she was still meddling in Juliet''s affairs, there was no telling what he might do.By the time her IV treatment waspleted, it was already past eight in the evening.


    Quinn boarded the bus to head home. After disembarking, she still had a considerable distance to walk to reach the Vi. Upon her arrival, the first thing she noticed was Alexander loungingfortably on the couch, his legs crossed, idly flipping through channels with a remote in hand.


    Quinn tightened her grip on her bag and tiptoed towards him.Alexander''s eyes remained glued to the TV as he asked, "Where''ve you been?" He didn''t turn his gaze towards her, and it didn''t seem like he was particrly interested in her exnation.


    She sat down opposite him and gestured, "Have you had dinner?"Alexander regarded her silently, his gaze carrying a subtle blend of sarcasm and coldness. "Why the pretense?"

 Chapter 126

    Quinn found herself reeling from the icy tone of his voice, a sensation of suffocation inexplicably rising within her chest. "Do you want a divorce so badly? You''ve been ying quite the game with me, Quinn. ver pegged you for such a talented actress," Alexander retorted.


    Her fingers clenched involuntarily, and she found herself at a loss for words as she met his gaze. ''He''s not entirely wrong,'' she thought. ''Thoughts of divorce have often crossed my mind. When I''m alone, when I witness his favoritism towards Getty, and during the solitude of the night, such thoughts have gued me."


    These thoughts tend to be more extreme, akin to decisions made on the brink of sleep, decisions that are usually regretted to some extent the following day. During my conversations with Nichs, I''ve considered broaching the topic of divorce, but by the next day, I am only interested in asking about Juliet.''


    She found herself unable to articte these conflicting emotions to him. In a sense, Alexander wasn''t entirely wrong. "No exnations then?" Alexander''s gaze bore into her.


    Quinn clutched the hem of her dress, choosing silence as her response. Alexander studied her for a moment before leaning back, a semnce ofposure returning to his features. "Quinn, I''ll say it again. It''s pointless to inquire about divorcing me from anyone else. Don''t be so na?ve."


    Quinn stared at him, her bewilderment growing. She couldn''t fathom his motivations. His deep affection for Getty, yet his refusal to provide Getty with a proper home, was beyond herprehension. ''He''s clearly indifferent towards me, treating me with a cold detachment, as if I''m not good enough. Yet, he stubbornly refuses to divorce me. ''Could it be due to his promise to Ulysses? Is he truly a man of his word?'' she pondered.


    Alexander tilted his head slightly, beckoning her. "Come here."Quinn pursed her lips and rose, making her way towards him. He gently pulled her closer, and with a slight tug, Quinn lost her bnce, tumbling onto hisp. Alexander encircled her waist, bringing his face close to her ear. He whispered, "Tell me, who''s been nting the seed of divorce in your mind?"


    Caught off guard, Quinn turned to meet his gaze. His eyes were deep pools of darkness, devoid of any discernible emotion. Quinn held his gaze until he suddenly demanded, "Out with it! Who the hell was it?"His raised voice startled her, causing her to flinch.


    In a panic, she attempted to rise and retreat, but he firmly gripped her wrist. "Quinn, have I been too lenient with you? Is that why you dismiss my words as if they''re mere whispers in the wind?" he admonished.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    His fingers tightened around her wrist, causing pain to shoot up her arm. Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled against his hold, but it was to no avail. He held on relentlessly. "Why won''t you speak? What''s silencing you?" he demanded.


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    The calm andposed facade on his face began to crack with each word he uttered, hinting at a hidden ferocity. Quinn was terrified. He seemed like a stranger to her, unhinged and unpredictable. Desperation took over, and she tried to pull away from his grip.


    But he seized her wrist, yanked her back, and flung her onto the couch with such force that her head spun. As the room swirled around her, she closed her eyes in pain, the world seemingly spinning out of control. Alexander grasped her chin,manding sternly, "Look at me."


    With great effort, Quinn opened her eyes to meet his gaze, the redness in her eyes betraying her pain. He stared deeply into her eyes, took a deep breath to regain hisposure, and said resolutely, "Don''t force me to do something I''ll regret, got it?"

 Chapter 127

    Quinn''s fingers clenched tightly, her eyes scrutinizing the man''s impassive countenance. Her gaze drifted momentarily, lost in the enigma that was his thoughts. She had always found it impossible to decipher what was going on in his mind. Alexander''s grip on her chin tightened, his voice pressing, "Do you hear me?" Quinn winced at the pain, her nod of understandinging only after she had managed to pull herself back to reality.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "This is your final warning," he threatened, his tone deadly serious. "If you disobey me again, I''ll break your legs and lock you up. Do you understand?" Quinn''s body stiffened at his words. There was no doubt in her mind that he was capable of carrying out his threat. She nodded again, this time with visible difficulty.


    Only then did Alexander loosen his grip on her, his hand moving to caress her cheek as he murmured, "That''s more like it." He leaned in to kiss her, but Quinn, remembering the doctor''s warning, instinctively turned her head to avoid his lips.


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed, his hand turning her face back towards his. His voice held a dangerous edge as he chastised her, "Forgot what we just talked about? You truly are forgetful." Quinn tried to exin herself through gestures, but her flustered demeanor only seemed to make her appear more defiant. With a swift move, he grabbed her hand and tied her wrists together with his necktie. Quinn shook her head in desperation, her struggle so intense that she tumbled off the couch onto the floor, the impact leaving her disoriented.


    Curled up on the floor, Quinn looked up at him, her eyes blurred with tears and filled with fear. Alexander, holding onto the cor of her shirt, hoisted her up and looked into her eyes. "Are you afraid of me?" he asked, his smirk making her tremble uncontrobly.


    He chuckled, a bone-chilling sound that didn''t quite reach his eyes. "Why?" His gaze bore into Quinn''s, as if trying to search her soul for an answer. "Why are you afraid of me?" Quinn closed her eyes and turned her head away, a tear tracing the contour of her cheek. She wished she knew the answer herself.


    It hadn''t always been like this between them. Was it her greed that had led to this? Longing for his love while yearning for freedom, she was destined to end up with nothing. As she shivered violently, the smile on Alexander''s face gradually disappeared.


    In the next moment, Alexander pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her so fiercely it was as if he intended to meld her into his very being. His tone softened, and he murmured, "Don''t be afraid. Just be the obedient girl you once were, and everything will be fine."


    His scent, a faint, crisp fragrance, was her favorite. She had once heard that gardenias symbolized a lifelong wait. She had fallen in love with the scent of gardenias, and whenever he wore the clothes she hadundered, carrying the scent of those blooms, she felt as if he truly loved her.


    The world was never short of tragic souls, especially those who deceived themselves. They were the most pitiable. Alexander loosened the necktie, cradling her face in his hands to wipe away her tears.


    Quinn didn''t want to look at him. At times, he seemed schizophrenic, unpredictable, and moody. Each time she thought he was on the brink of an outburst, he would suppress his turbulent emotions as if nothing had happened. Just like now, cupping her face, he gazed into her eyes with all seriousness. His voice turned gentle, "Let''s have a child. Do you like kids?" Quinn''s eyelids quivered ever so slightly. She suddenly looked up to meet his enigmatic gaze. Alexander said earnestly, "I mean it." Instantly, a chilling sensation swept through her. An immense sorrow surged in her throat, her eyes burning hot, limbs numb with cold. She parted her lips, a heaviness flooding her chest with every breath that ached.Quinn raised her hand as if to gesture, but what could she gesture about? ''Our child is gone. Why didn''t you save him? Why do you want a child now?''

 Chapter 128

    Quinn was lost in her thoughts, a mncholy whisper in her mind, ''It''s all meaningless now.'' Her fingers hung stiffly in the air, a sad tableau that mirrored the sorrow in her eyes as she looked at Alexander.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    His gaze was downcast, his attention focused on her motionless fingers before shifting back to her face. With a gentle touch, he lifted his slender finger to her cheek, asking with an air of nonchnce, "Do you prefer a boy or a girl?" His question prompted a reaction from Quinn. Augh bubbled up through her tears, a strange mix of emotions that made it impossible to tell whether she wasughing more than she was crying. Alexander''s gaze was intense, a silent demand for her response.Forcing a smile onto her face, Quinn raised her hand and slowly signed the words, "I like girls."


    His fingers traced a gentle path across her cheek, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. He whispered in response, "I like girls too. They are obedient. We''ll have a daughter." His words sent a cascade of tears down her cheeks, like pearls scattering from a broken ne.


    ''Had he uttered those words a month earlier, how wonderful that would have been,'' she thought. ''I could''ve shared my joy with everyone openly, proudly announcing my pregnancy. I wouldn''t have to hide my happiness. I could go into stores to buy cute baby clothes, looking forward to my baby''s arrival like any mother. And none of what followed would have happened.''


    Quinn managed to smile and nod, though it was a hollow gesture. Alexander couldn''t wipe away her tears fast enough and said hoarsely, "Don''t smile like that." Her smile faded, reced by a more genuine expression that was somehow more disconcerting than her forced cheerfulness.


    Alexander sighed silently, his brows knitting with impatience. Abruptly, he stood up, wordlessly ascending the stairs. Quinn remained seated on the cold carpet, closing her eyes for a moment, summoning all her strength to push the recent events out of her mind. ''Many worries simply vanish if you don''t think about them,'' she thought.


    When she opened her eyes, she pulled out a bottle of pills from the drawer and went to the kitchen. She poured a ss of water and stared at the medicine in her hand. Alexander''s words had sent her mind drifting again. For a brief moment, life seemed utterly devoid of interest. The kitchen knives gleamed invitingly, almost beckoning her to take one and end it all. The pills grew heavier in her hand as she fixated on the knife.


    When she came to her senses, she was already standing in front of a chef''s knife. "What do you feel like for dinner?" Alexander''s voice suddenly filled the doorway. Quinn''s hand paused. The crazy impulse dissipated silently with his voice. ''It takes courage to live and courage to die.''


    She set down the ss and turned to Alexander, who spoke to her as he always did. He didn''t have to do anything. His mere presence tugged at Quinn''s emotions and swayed her thoughts. Quinn gestured with her hand, "Soup." "I''ll have someone bring it over," Alexander said, his gaze briefly falling on the water ss by her side before he turned to leave. Quinn exhaled, ncing once more at the knives on the rack. She picked up the ss, tossed the pills into her mouth, and swallowed them whole.


    Soon, the food that Alexander had ordered arrived. It was delivered by Kyle. After setting the table, Kyle sensed the heavy, weird vibe between Alexander and Quinn and, not daring to linger, made a quick exit. Quinn stood up out of habit to serve the soup.


    Suddenly, he said, "At thepany, you only need to listen to me or Kyle. Nobody else."

 Chapter 129

    Quinn found herself pausing, her Sebastian tilting in her hand and sshing hot soup onto her skin. She nearly dropped the bowl back into the pot, but managed to suppress her reaction to the sudden pain. Setting the bowl down on the table, she gingerly touched her scalded skin, offering a nod to Alexander.


    At thepany, there was no secret that could be kept from him, including the rumors and gossip that swirled around Leon and herself. Alexander, for his part, remained silent. They ate their dinner in quietpanionship, the only sound being the asional clink of their utensils against the tes.


    After dinner, Alexander retreated to his study, leaving Quinn alone. She turned on the television and curled up on her narrow couch, a ce that provided her with aforting sense of security. The next day, it was business as usual at the office.


    Rumors about Quinn being a ''dummy'' had spread, and people couldn''t help but give her strange looks as she passed by. Thepany was known for its strict hiring standards, and no one believed a ''dummy'' could be employed there. Some attempted to greet Quinn, but she responded with nothing more than a polite nod and a smile, not paying them much attention. They weren''t truly interested in getting to know her, it was just curiosity, a way to satisfy their love for gossip.


    ''They offer sympathy toward those less fortunate, but when someone they deem lesser is doing as well or better than them, they grow resentful, believing that the individual doesn''t deserve their position. Subconsciously, they fear being inferior to even a ''dummy'' and seek to knock that person back down, only to showcase their supposed generosity and superior character. Hypocrisy was the norm for most.''


    Upon arriving at her office, Quinn hadn''t even settled in when Maria dumped a pile of work on her desk. But, armed with Alexander''s words from the evening before, Quinn had the confidence to shake her head and refuse. She wrote on a note, "My tasks should be assigned by Kyle."


    Maria was taken aback, apparently not expecting Quinn to refuse. Her face darkened as she said, "This wasn''t assigned by me. It was Manager Keegan. Since you''re in this department, shouldn''t you be following Manager Keegan''s directives?" Manager Keegan was the Manager of the Secretary Department with the same level of authority as Kyle. Both Manager Keegan and Kyle were Alexander''s trusted aides, and there was a rumor that Manager Keegan was one of Alexander''s college buddies. If it weren''t for Getty''s presence at thepany, many would suspect that Alexander and Manager Keegan were in a rtionship.


    Quinn pursed her lips, eyeing the documents Maria had brought. After a moment of silence, she insisted, writing, "Even so, it should be Manager Keegan giving the orders, not you."Maria''s eyelid twitched, and she couldn''t help but let out a snort ofughter mixed with annoyance. "Really? Just one night, and you''ve got this much confidence? Looks like Leon has been treating you real good, huh?"


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    Quinn''s gaze was fixed, not so much on Maria but on the man behind her, Kyle. "Maria, if you''re feeling that idle, maybe I should transfer you to a different department?" Kyle stated.


    Startled, Maria quickly turned around to face him. She said nervously, "Kyle, when did you get here?"


    "I''ve got a task for Quinn," Kyle disclosed. "Or do you need her for something?"


    Maria let out a forced chuckle, "Oh, no, of course, I wouldn''t darepete with you for help."


    "Did I just hear you say that all this work for Quinn was arranged by Manager Keegan?" Kyle inquired.


    Maria''s face took on a fleeting look of distress. ''Damn it, how did Kyle overhear that? Of course, Manager Keegan hadn''t assigned Quinn any tasks. I used her name to justify my own decisions. Suppose I admit that now, I would offend both of them,'' she thought.


    Naturally, she couldn''t confess."Um... yes, Manager Keegan assigned it. I was just a bit swamped and thought Quinn could lend a hand."


    "Why are you so busy, Maria? With what, exactly?"


    Maria suddenly felt cornered. ''This isn''t like Kyle. He usually doesn''t meddle in such trifling issues.''


    Seeing Maria struggle to answer, Kyle didn''t press her further. That would have seemed too deliberate.Original from N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 130

    Kyle turned to Quinn, his voice carrying a note of urgency. "The CEO wants to see you. Alexander is asking for you."


    Quinn''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ''Why on earth would Alexander want to see me?'' she pondered.


    Rising from her chair, she fell into step behind Kyle as they made their way to the office. Upon reaching the door, Kyle rapped lightly on the wood, gesturing for her to enter alone.


    As she pushed the door open, she found Alexander engrossed in a phone call. Treading lightly, she crossed the room and took a seat opposite him, waiting in silence for him to conclude his conversation. Alexander was dressed in a ck shirt, the top two buttons undone, offering a tantalizing glimpse of his chest as he leaned against the desk.


    She had seen him shirtless on numerous asions, yet these fleeting peeks seemed to ignite her imagination in a way they never had before.


    As Alexander ended his call, he looked up to find Quinn''s gaze fixed on his partially unbuttoned shirt. His fingers drummed lightly on the desk, pulling Quinn back to the present.


    Startled, Quinn quickly averted her eyes, staring at the floor as she awaited his instructions."Come here," hemanded.


    Quinn moved to his side of the desk. Without warning, his grip tightened around her waist, and she found herself perched unsteadily on hisp, her body pressed against his thighs.


    A wave of panic washed over her as she attempted to stand, only to be held firmly in ce by Alexander''s arms. His breath was warm against her skin as he leaned in closer."Better view from here," he murmured.


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    Heat rushed to her cheeks, turning them a bright shade of red. Quinn cast a nervous nce towards the door, her mind filled with the fear of being discovered in such apromising position. "If someonees in..." she signed. Alexander seemed unfazed. "Are you scared?"Quinn was momentarily taken aback, her confusion evident as she stared at him. Her fear was rooted in his acknowledgement of her position. If he were to dismiss her, she would bebelled as the office temptress, and that was a terrifying prospect.


    Changing the subject, Quinn gestured vaguely, "What did you want to see me about?""I have a business triping up. Would you like to apany me?" he asked. Surprise flickered across her face. ''He''s inviting me on a business trip? Isn''t that something he usually does with Getty?'' she thought.


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    Before she could respond, a knock echoed through the room. Quinn stood abruptly, putting distance between herself and Alexander. Casting a nce at Quinn, Alexander leaned back in his chair, nonchntly buttoning his shirt as he called out, "Come in."Ruby Keegan, the Manager of the secretarial office, entered the room.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    This was Quinn''s first encounter with Ruby since joining thepany, and the sight was startling.Ruby was stunningly beautiful, appearing to be in herte twenties. She was dressed professionally, her shoulder-length curls framing her face. She exuded intelligence, beauty, and capability, utterly captivating in her presence. There was a striking resemnce between her and Getty, particrly in their eyes and brows, though upon closer inspection, not quite. Quinn found herself staring at Ruby, her mind a whirl of confusion and nkness.Sensing something, Ruby turned her gaze towards Quinn. "Are you new here?"


    Snapping back to reality, Quinn nodded, trying to maintain herposure.A slight smile yed on Ruby''s lips. "I''ve been traveling a lottely, not much time to catch up with office matters. Alexander, is she your new hire?"

 Chapter 131

    Ruby might not have been actively involved in the office''s day-to-day affairs, but that certainly didn''t mean she was ignorant of them. Alexander, without acknowledging her, turned his attention to Quinn. "Quinn, would you mind stepping outside for a moment?" he asked.


    Quinn gave a nod of understanding and promptly exited the office. Once outside, she found herself casting a lingering nce back at the closed door before reluctantly tearing her gaze away.


    As she stood there, lost in thought, Kyle happened to pass by. He couldn''t help but notice her mncholic expression. "Quinn, is everything alright?" he asked, concern etched on his face. She looked up at him, her lips pressed into a thin line, and gestured for him to follow her. "Can we talk somewhere else?"


    Kyle, following her gaze towards the office, instinctively understood and apanied her to an empty conference room. Once they were alone, he asked, "So, Quinn, what''s bothering you?"


    Quinn hesitated for a moment, her eyes scanning the room to ensure they were indeed alone. Finally, she gestured and said, "I just saw Ruby."


    "Oh?" Kyle''s voice was tinged with curiosity. "You wanted to discuss Ruby?"


    She gave a slight nod in response."Well, I can''t say I know much," Kyle admitted. "Ruby and Alexander have been working together since before I joined thepany. I''ve heard they were college friends, but I can''t confirm the truth of that." He tried to offer somefort, "Quinn, don''t worry about it. If there was anything more between them, it would have happened long ago. Why would they wait until now?"


    But Quinn''s concernsy elsewhere. She wanted to know if Kyle had ever noticed a resemnce between Ruby and Getty. However, she found it difficult to voice her suspicions. She wondered, ''Wouldn''t bringing it up be akin to spreading


    rumors?''


    After a moment of contemtion, Quinn decided to let it go. ''Maybe it''s all just in my head,'' she thought.


    "Thanks, Kyle. That''s all eded," she signed, her face a mask of gratitude.Kyle rose from his seat, "In that case, I''ll get back to work."Before he left, he offered a gentle reminder, "Quinn, don''t overthink things. You''re the most important person to Alexander."


    Quinn managed a weak smile in response. Kyle was indeed Alexander''s trusted confidant, adept at saying the right thing at the right time. It seemed unlikely that he would reveal anything even if he did know.


    After Kyle''s departure, Quinn remained seated in the conference room for a while longer before finally deciding to leave. However, as she approached the door, it swung open, and the person entering was as surprised to see her as she was to see him.


    Quinn instinctively took a step back. Leon squinted his eyes at her, closed the door behind him without a word, and asked with a smirk, "What brings Quinn, our esteemed secretary, here?" Quinn, her lips pressed tightly together, wasn''t sure how to interact with Leon. She attempted to leave, but found Leon leaning against the door handle, effectively blocking her exit.


    She looked at him, confusion written all over her face. She thought that workce boundaries would deter him, but she clearly underestimated Leon''s audacity.


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    He moved closer to her and asked, "I heard you can''t speak. Is that true?"


    She turned her head away, reaching for the door handle once more. But Leon grabbed her hand. Fear shed in her eyes as she tried to pull away, but Leon tightened his grip around her wrist, his other hand moving towards her backside. Quinn''s eyes widened in terror. Her breathing became erratic as Leon watched her futile attempts to make a sound.


    "Are you really a dummy?" Leon taunted, a cruel thrill in his voice. In a surge of indignation and fear, Quinn swung her free hand hard at Leon''s face.


    p!Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    The sound echoed in the room. Leon hadn''t expected it. The pnded solidly, and his expression darkened instantly. Anger flickered in his eyes, and his usually rough and intimidating face seemed particrly menacing now."You stupid bitch, how dare you hit me?" he spat out.

 Chapter 132

    Quinn fought valiantly, but Leon''s strength was overpowering. He flung her against the door, her forehead colliding with the frame in a muffled thud that echoed ominously in the room. The impact sent a wave of dizziness washing over her. Leon ensnared her from behind, his arms a vice around her, his breath hot and repulsive on her neck. Her struggles only seemed to fuel his perverse excitement. To him, her inability to cry out transformed her desperate resistance into a tantalizing tease.


    "Tell me, who got you into thepany? Spill it, and I''ll let you go," he demanded, his voice a low growl. Leon was attempting to gauge the situation. If someone more powerful than him was backing her, he would have to tread lightly. If not, his politeness would quickly evaporate. However, he overlooked the fact that with her hands restrained, Quinn was incapable of responding.


    Feeling his patience dwindling, Leon prodded her again, "Not gonna talk?" In a moment of sheer desperation, tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes. She seized the opportunity when his hand slipped into her cor, biting down on his arm with all her might. Leon recoiled in pain, releasing her as if he had been electrocuted.


    Seizing the moment, Quinn flung open the door and bolted. She sprinted down the hallway, her heart pounding as she put distance between herself and the meeting room. Her disheveled hair, terrified expression, and disarrayed cor painted a harrowing picture for any onlooker.


    She paid no mind to the stares of others as she darted into the restroom, locking herself inside a stall. Leaning against the door, she trembled uncontrobly.


    Meanwhile, Leon, nursing his bitten arm, began to panic. He had lost control of the situation, and Quinn had managed to escape. This could potentially ruin his reputation if witnessed by others. But that concern was secondary to the pressing issue at hand. He still didn''t know who had facilitated Quinn''s entry into thepany. This information was crucial in determining his next move.


    Composing himself, Leon nonchntly exited the room. Despite the sparse poption of the floor, some had witnessed Quinn''s frantic escape and Leon''s subsequent departure. The atmosphere was thick with spection.


    Leon''s first course of action was to head to HR and summon the employee who handled the onboarding process. "Hey Suzy, got a sec?" he asked casually.


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    The young woman blinked in surprise, "What''s up, Leon?"Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "That new secretary in the executive office, that dummy girl, how did she get hired?" he inquired.


    Suzy pondered for a moment, then shook her head, "I don''t know. I didn''t handle her paperwork. Our manager took care of it. Maybe you can ask her?"


    At this, a cold sweat broke out on Leon''s forehead. "Why would your manager personally handle her hiring?" he asked, his voice betraying his unease.


    Suzy shrugged, "I''m not sure about that."Without asking further, Leon left the HR department, his heart pounding with anxiety. He was oblivious to Suzy rolling her eyes at his retreating figure. His reputation was already in shambles, particrly among the administrative and HR staff. There wasn''t a single woman who didn''t despise him.


    If he were handsome, perhaps they could have tolerated him, but Leon was the antithesis of attractive. Overweight, with greasy, thinning hair, he shamelessly flirted with the attractive women in the office, which was utterly repugnant. There had been a naive young woman who had recently started working there. Leon had sweet-talked her until she was sumbed to him. When she ended up pregnant, he coldly denied any involvement, using her of trying to pin the baby on him. Eventually, she couldn''t bear it anymore and resigned.


    Quinn remained hidden in the bathroom stall for half an hour, trying to regain herposure. When she finally emerged, she caught sight of her disheveled reflection in the mirror. A bruise was forming on her forehead. She loathed the sight of her own face.


    As she was fixing her hair, another woman entered the restroom and stood next to her, washing her hands. Looking up, Quinn found herself locking eyes with the woman''s reflection in the mirror.

 Chapter 133

    Ruby bestowed upon Quinn a courteous smile, a silent salutation. She uttered no further words, busying herself with drying her hands before disappearing from sight.


    Quinn''s gaze lingered on Ruby''s retreating figure, a graceful silhouette against the backdrop of their mundane surroundings. As her attention returned to her own reflection, she couldn''t help but notice the stark contrast between them. Quinn was disheveled, a stark contrast to Ruby''s poise. The realization dawned on her that some individuals possessed the ability to stir feelings of insecurity with a mere nce.


    Ruby was likely the object of everyone''s admiration.Quinn studied her unruly hair in the mirror, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. ''How could anyone find me appealing?'' she mused. After taming her rebellious locks, she exited the restroom.


    Upon returning to her desk, Quinn noticed Ruby standing beside Maria, both women engrossed in whatever was disyed on Maria''sputer screen. Their conversation was a murmur of hushed whispers.


    Maria''s eyes flicked towards Quinn as she whispered, "Ruby, do you have any dirt on that dummy?"


    Ruby''s demeanor faltered for a moment before she regained herposure. "Focus on your work and stop spreading rumors," she admonished.


    Maria pouted but obediently returned to her task, finalizing the documents at hand. Ruby shot Quinn a nce, an unreadable emotion flickering in her eyes before she retreated to her office.


    With Ruby''s return, Maria dared not ck off, leaving Quinn with little to do in the past few days. Although Kyle had burdened her with a stack of worksheets, he ended uppleting most of them himself, leaving Quinn with an abundance of free time.


    However, a problem arose concerning Leon. On Friday, as she prepared to leave, she overheard whispers of an issue with Leon''s ounts and the impending arrival of an investigator. The rumor mill suggested that Leon might face imprisonment.


    Sympathetic nces were thrown in Quinn''s direction as the office buzzed with whispers. The consensus seemed to be that Quinn was involved with Leon, and with his current predicament, she had lost her protector.Ignoring their stares, Quinn positioned herself quietly in a corner. As the elevator arrived, she stepped in and swiftly exited the building.


    The previous night, Alexander hadn''t returned home, but Nichs had sent her a message detailing their meeting location for the following day.


    Clutching her phone, Quinn spent the night on the couch, rising early the next morning to head to the coffee shop Nichs had chosen.


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    There, at the designated spot, sat a man who appeared to be in his thirties. He was dressed in a suit, his hair styled with precision. His chiseled features and determined gaze mirrored the resolve in his voice. Quinn approached and took the seat opposite Nichs.


    Upon noticing her, Nichs offered a smile and a nod. "Quinn, right?"She responded with a slight nod.


    "We''ve already discussed the specifics via text, so let''s head to the elder''s ce," Nichs suggested.


    Confusion clouded Quinn''s features. She had no idea where Ariel resided.Nichs, noticing her perplexed expression, inferred as much. "You don''t know?"Quinn nodded, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She felt as though she had wasted Nichs''s time.


    Nichs furrowed his brows. "Thisplicates things, but wait here. I''ll make a call."


    He retrieved his phone and dialed a number. "Can you look someone up for me? Yeah, I''ll send over the info soon, thanks."Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    After ending the call, he turned to Quinn. "You know he goes by Ariel. Do you have any other information?"


    Quinn typed on her phone, "Juliet had a grandson who''s about to get married."


    "Got it," Nichs acknowledged with a nod.As they waited for a response, Nichs picked up the menu. "What would you like to drink?"Quinn touched her cheek, remembering that she didn''t drink coffee and currently couldn''t due to being on an IV drip. She requested a ss of water.


    Nichs observed her for a moment before speaking. "Quinn, I don''t mean to pry, but were you born unable to speak, or...?"


    She bit her lip and shook her head, indicating that she didn''t know.

 Chapter 134

    Once upon a time, Ulysses had escorted Quinn to the hospital for a medical examination. The doctors, however, found nothing amiss. Her vocal cords were in perfect condition. They had sought the expertise of several hospitals, each visit ending with the same conclusion. Quinn was in the pink of health, yet she was unable to speak. The doctors even inquired about any traumatic experiences from her childhood, but she had no memory of such incidents.Consequently, some doctors hypothesized that her condition was congenital.


    Upon reading the text on her phone, Nichs nodded in agreement. "If it''s congenital, the issue would typically be identifiable. I''m inclined to believe it''s an acquired condition."


    Quinn blinked, unsure whether her condition was innate or acquired. If it was thetter, could there be a possibility of treatment?


    The thought of passing on her condition to the next generation caused Quinn''s eyes to darken once more.


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Nichs nced at his phone, a smile spreading across his face. "Found it. Let''s go."Quinn nodded, collected her emotions, and rose to follow Nichs out of the coffee shop. Nichs steered the car towards Ariel''s residence, nestled in an upscale neighborhood. The real estate prices in this area were exorbitant, starting at nothing less than fifty thousand.


    For Ariel, a man known for hisziness and gluttony, to afford a home here, he must have been draining a significant amount from Juliet''s pocket.


    After all, Juliet had a decent ie while she was employed at The Kennedys.Instead of directly approaching Ariel''s residence, Nichs decided to first gather evidence from the neighboring apartments. The apartment next door was vacant, but there was a resident in the one across.


    A woman with a child answered the door, her wariness evident upon seeing the two strangers."My deardy," Nichs began, extending his business card, "I''m an attorney, and I need to ask you a few questions."


    The woman epted the card, her guard up. "We haven''t done anything illegal, have we?"


    "Oh no, it''s the family across from you that we''re interested in. "Only then did the woman''s expression soften, and she opened the door wider to let them in.


    Quinn felt a surge of nervousness. The legal world andwsuits were uncharted territories for her. Things that seemed simple in theory often proved challenging in practice.


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    Once Nichs had asked the woman several questions and obtained her consent, he took out a recorder. The woman ryed everything she knew.


    "A few years back, they seemed like a harmonious family-loving mother, dutiful kids. But then Ariel imed the olddy had gone back to her hometown to retire, and since then, no one has seen his mother return." ''That must have been around the time Ulysses passed away. The Kennedys had cut off Juliet''s allowance, and without any moneying from her, Ariel forced the olddy out,'' Quinn mused.


    "Is there anything else?"After a moment of thought, the woman said, "I''m not sure of the details. That''s all I know, but they brought the olddy back a few days ago. I''ve been hearing argumentsing from their house ever since."


    "I couldn''t hear it clearly, so I''m not sure if they were arguing with the olddy."Nichs listened quietly. Then he nodded, stood up, and pocketed the recorder. "Thank you for your time."


    With that, he and Quinn left to visit a few more families on the same floor.Almost everyone who was home was questioned. Apart from a few who refused to be recorded, the testimonies were strikingly simr.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Ariel was indeed treating his mother poorly. In recent days, people had witnessed Ariel hurling insults at the elderly woman as she left the house.


    Nichs and Quinnpiled the gathered statements, each one painting a harrowing picture of disrespect and cruelty.


    Quinn never imagined that such heartless, selfish offspring could exist in this world. Her resolve to help Juliet tackle the issue only grew stronger. Just as she was contemting this, the front door of Ariel''s house swung open. He stepped out, and upon seeing Quinn and Nichs, a smile quickly spread across his face as he mistook Nichs for someone else and approached.


    "You must be Alexander, right? I can''t believe you came yourself!"

 Chapter 135

    Nichs arched an eyebrow, sensing an opportunity and chose not to rectify the misunderstanding. He extended his hand for a handshake and greeted Ariel. "Hello there, can wee in and talk?" "Of course, of course, pleasee inside," Ariel replied, originally nning to leave but deciding to stay upon their arrival.


    Quinn wasn''t certain about Nichs''s intentions, but she trusted his judgment and followed them inside.


    Ariel weed them warmly, offering water and serving fruit. Nichs scanned the room. A worn-out nket was strewn haphazardly on the sofa, an anomaly in the otherwise luxurious setting. Picking up the nket, Nichs didn''t need to sniff it to recognize the distinct scent of the elderly. "Ay, Alexander, this is dirty. Let me take it away." Ariel hastily grabbed the nket and tossed it into a hamper in the bathroom.


    Nichs continued to survey the room, his eyesnding on a bowl with a Sebastian resting on it, ced on a liquor cab next to the dining area. Behind the closed kitchen door, someone was cooking, but it was unclear who it was. Upon Ariel''s return, Nichs asked him, "Is that your wife cooking in the kitchen?" Ariel''s expression subtly shifted. His wife had gone to her mother''s and hadn''t returned, so the cook was naturally his mother. He forced a chuckle, "No, it''s my mom. You know how seniors are. They''ve got to keep busy with something, or they get restless."Nichs nodded and settled back onto the sofa, "Let''s get down to business." Ariel''s eyes sparkled with anticipation, and he rubbed his hands together, "Quinn must have told you, right?" Nichs nodded, "Yes, she told me everything. So cut the act and get to the point."


    Ariel smirked, realizing his mother still held some sway in The Kennedys, enough to bring Alexander personally to his doorstep. He couldn''t help but contemte extracting a substantial sum. Suddenly, half a million seemed too little.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


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    "All right, let''s not beat around the bush. Five million, and you can take my mother away. Otherwise, there''s no deal!"


    Quinn became anxious, wanting desperately to interject but unable to speak. Ariel couldn''t understand signnguage, leaving her feeling helplessly frustrated. But Nichs shot her a reassuring nce."You''re extorting us, using your own mother as a bargaining chip. That''s no different than kidnapping. Aren''t you afraid we''ll sue you andnd you behind bars?"


    Ariel''s demeanor shifted instantly, his once ingratiating smile disappearing without a trace. With a stern look, he retorted, "Go ahead, sue me! She''s my mom. I''ll do as I please. Do you think I''m scared? Do you have any proof? I haven''t kidnapped her!"


    Nichs countered, "And your ckmailing us isn''t evidence enough?"Ariel, taken aback, grew visibly impatient. "What are you even doing here? If you''re not here to talk seriously, then leave. You Kennedys, with your vast fortune, squabbling over five million dors. You''re downright embarrassing, ugh!"


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    "As we leave, you''re not going to mistreat your mother, are you?"Ariel chuckled, "Mind your own business. If you don''t want to pay up, don''t stand around here pretending to be saints."


    In the midst of his rant, Juliet emerged from the kitchen unannounced, and with a heavy thwack, her spat struck Ariel on the head. "You beast! How dare you trade me for five million dors? You might as well kill me!"


    As Ariel clutched his head and whirled around to re at Juliet, his hand rose. He was ready to strike, "You senile old hag, are you looking for trouble?!"


    Unfazed, Juliet thrust her face forward, challenging, "Go on, hit me! Show them what kind of son you are, you heartless brute, still after the money. Serves you right to be penniless all your life!"


    Ariel was seething, his chest heaving with rage. Were it not for fear of harming the frail figure before him, his p would have alreadynded on her.


    He wanted the money, sure, but not the charge of murder.

 Chapter 136

    Tears streamed down Juliet''s cheeks as she spoke, her voice trembling with emotion. "After carrying you for nine months, I should give birth to a monster like you. It''s my karma!" she cried.


    Her words echoed through the room, "Look at the house you live in, the clothes you wear, the car you drive, all leeched off of me! Yet you''re still unsatisfied. How dare you want five million, you damned ingrate? You''ll get what''sing to you, sooner orter!"


    In recent days, Ariel had subjected her to a life of indignity. She was relegated to sleeping on the couch, huddled under a tattered nket. Her meals were served on a dish set aside solely for her, and she was not permitted to join the family at the table until they had finished eating. Juliet could bear all that, but what truly chilled her heart was the sight of her own son treating her with such disdain. Her grandson, too, was equally cold and indifferent, taking his father''s cruel behavior as the norm. She found herself questioning what kind of thankless brood she had raised.


    Ariel interrupted her with a bark, "Shut up! Go back to cooking and stop your nagging." Juliet, hunched over and weary, locked eyes with Ariel and then nced at Quinn. Her gaze held a trace of resolve. "Ariel, you won''t see a dime when I''m gone," she dered.


    Ariel''s face paled at her words, and Quinn abruptly stood up. "What the hell are you talking about?" Ariel demanded. "I''ve lived enough already," Juliet replied, her voice steady. "If you dare to ask Quinn for money again, I swear I''ll end my life right at your doorstep. That''s going to ruin your son''s wedding. If I die, you''re nothing but a murderer! I wish they''d lock you up!"


    A surge of anger washed over Ariel, but he restrained himself fromshing out. It was then that Nichs stood up. "Ariel, there''s something I must inform you," he said, his voice calm and steady.


    Ariel turned, eyeing Nichs with suspicion. "I''m not the Alexander you''re talking about. My name is Nichs, your mother''s attorney. The things you just said have all been recorded. These recordings will serve as evidence of elder abuse and extortion in court."


    With that, Nichs took a recorder out of his pocket.Ariel turned as pale as a ghost at the sight of the device. Regaining hisposure, he red at Quinn. "You backstabbing dummy! Was this your n all along?"


    Quinn, lips pressed tightly together, stared back defiantly. Things had already escted to this point. If the situation remained unresolved, it would only spell more trouble down the line.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    "What do you want?" Ariel asked, frustration evident in his voice."


    There are two options," Nichs said. "First, allow us to take your mother with us and you''ll sign an agreement promising never to bother her again. The second is legal action. I''ve already spoken to your neighbors on this floor and taken their statements, along with this recording..."


    The evidence is conclusive. If we go to trial, you''ll have no chance of winning, and you''ll face over three years behind bars."


    Ariel, not well-versed in legal matters, was visibly shaken by Nichs''s words. He stood there, speechless. The prospect of easy money slipped through his fingers. It was almost unbearable. "If I sign the agreement, you won''t take me to court?"


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    "As long as you stay away from the olddy and don''t cause her any trouble, we won''t sue. However, this evidence will be kept. Should you break the agreement, you will receive a summons," Nichs replied.


    A sneer crossed Ariel''s face as he stared at Quinn. "Didn''t peg you for having it in you, dummy."But in the end, Ariel relented, his wordsced with resentment, "Fine. If you want her that much, take the old bat!"


    As Juliet heard his bitter words, she trembled with indignation. Quinn rushed to her side, supporting her. A wave of relief flooded over Quinn as she felt her family being restored.


    But before she could revel in the moment for more than a second, her phone vibrated with an iing message. Pulling it out, she saw it was a text from Alexander.


    "Where are you?"

 Chapter 137

    Quinn''s grip tightened around her phone. Alexander hadn''t returned home the previous night, and she had since reced her phone. How was it possible that he could still track her down? She tried to reassure herself that it was merely a coincidence.


    Choosing to ignore the message, she turned her attention to Nichs who was engaged in a conversation with Juliet, inquiring if she was prepared to leave.


    Juliet, noticing Quinn''s hesitation, didn''t wish to add to her stress. "Come with us, don''t stay here," Quinn implored.


    Juliet''s eyes flickered with indecision, her face a canvas of uncertainty. Her voice wavered as she finally responded, "Let it be..."


    Quinn shook her head in disagreement. "We''vee all this way. Why won''t youe with us?" Quinn was aware that if Juliet chose to stay, her future would be even more dismal, and that was a sight Quinn dreaded.


    With aforting pat on Quinn''s hand and tears glistening in her eyes, Juliet replied, "At my age, I''m not up for running around anymore, Quinn. Thank you, really." She then asked, "Didn''t you say there''s some evidence? If Ariel is harsh to me, can you guys take him to court for me, please?"


    A single stubborn tear trickled down Quinn''s cheek as she shook her head. She wished to whisk Juliet away, not solely for the elderly woman''s future wellbeing but also for her own selfish reasons. She yearned for love. She needed Juliet''s love. It might have been selfish, but she couldn''t help it.


    Standing at the doorstep, Juliet whispered, "Quinn, I''m so pleased that you care about me. I''ve lived a long life, endured hardship, and suffered. Nothing has made me happier than meeting you." "You''re a good kid. Take care of yourself, will you?" Juliet''s words echoed like a final testament, causing tears to stream uncontrobly down Quinn''s face as she continued to shake her head.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Juliet confided, "That day, I overheard Ariel on a call. He mentioned the name Alexander. I might be old, Quinn, but I''m not senile."


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    The rest was left unsaid, but the understanding hung heavily between them. It was Alexander who had orchestrated Juliet''s predicament, so returning with Quinn might only exacerbate the situation. The danger loomed not only over Juliet but Quinn as well.


    Despite her suffering, Juliet would rather face it alone than risk leaving with Quinn. They both cared deeply for each other, cherishing the rare warmth they shared, but one of them had to yield.


    Quinn clutched the old woman''s hand, understanding Juliet''s wishes yet unable to let go. She didn''t understand why Alexander, after promising to spare Juliet, had Ariel take her away. She had stopped contacting Abigail, as he requested, so why had he broken his promise?


    Nichs stepped closer and said, "If she wants to stay, let her be. I just spoke to Ariel, and he''s promised not to harm her anymore."


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    Quinn didn''t trust his words. She feared that once they left, Ariel would reveal his true, vile nature, worse than ever before. Juliet would never confess her pain to Quinn for fear of dragging her down.


    "All right, Quinn, you better head on back. Don''t worry about me. We''ve got evidence on our side, nothing to fear," Juliet reassured her.


    The elder woman coaxed Quinn just like soothing a child to sleep, telling her there''s no need to be scared, just like old times. But how could she not be frightened? With the thunder roaring and the rain pouring down, she was utterly alone. Quinn gazed at the old woman, tears rolling down her cheeks uncontrobly. She detested this helpless feeling, akin to the despair she felt when she lost her baby. No matter what she did, it all ended in failure.


    "Quinn, if it puts your mind at ease, why don''t we have Ariel set up a camera in the living room?" Nichs suggested. His idea was to install a camera and video storage in the cloud. Quinn didn''t have to watch it, but in case something happened, they could ess the footage.

 Chapter 138

    Ariel was seething with frustration. He was not only being denied the money, but they were also insisting on installing surveince cameras in his home, an idea he was vehemently against. Nichs, however, was unyielding. "If you''re against the cameras, we can always resort to legal action. Either way, we''re resolving this issue today."


    Ariel was livid, his eyes shooting daggers at Nichs. "What kind of shoddywyer are you, suggesting the instation of cameras to spy on us? Don''t you realize that''s against thew?"


    Nichs remained unperturbed, "As I''ve already exined, we won''t be watching the footage. It will merely be uploaded to the cloud to prevent any deletion. We won''t have ess unless there''s an appeal, and only then would the police examine it. Do you understand what I''m saying?"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Ariel was caught off guard, left without a retort.Nichs hadid it out clearly. Ariel''s choices were limited to either epting the cameras or facing a court battle.


    "Fine, have it your way! Do whatever you want!" Ariel spat out in anger, copsing onto the couch, exhausted from the argument.


    ''What''s the point in arguing with awyer? What could I possibly gain?'' Ariel pondered.


    "If you''re unwilling to bear the cost, we will cover the instation," Nichs concluded.


    "Do as you please. Just finish it and leave. This whole situation is a damn curse," Ariel grumbled through clenched teeth.


    Nichs nodded in acknowledgment and then discussed the matter with Quinn, who agreed to fund the instation.


    With the decision made to install the camera, Quinn felt a burden lift from her shoulders. She bid a reluctant farewell to Juliet and left the neighborhood in Nichs''spany.


    Their next task was to purchase the surveince system. Quinn nced at Nichs with gratitude and typed "Thank you" on her phone.


    Nichs chuckled, "No need to thank me. I''m d to have been of assistance. But Quinn, you do realize I charge by the hour, right?"


    Quinn froze, suddenly anxious. She hadn''t asked about his fees earlier. Nervously, she typed, "How much?"


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    Nichs shed a grin. "Twenty grand an hour."


    Quinn''s eyes widened in shock. ''How could his rate be so exorbitant?'' she wondered.


    Nichs nced at his watch and remarked, "Well, that''s five hours. I usually bill by phase, but given the short duration of your case, let''s just go with a t rate."


    Quinn fiddled with her phone, aware that her ount was well-stocked, but the money was borrowed from Abigail and needed to be repaid.


    If she failed to pay, Nichs would likely take legal action. With a firm resolve, she typed quickly, "Send me your ount details."


    Nichs pulled out his phone and sent the details to Quinn, "We''ll need to draft a contractter and sign it once everything''s settled."


    Quinn sighed and transferred a hundred thousand dors to Nichs''s ount. It was a painful loss, but at least one of her concerns was resolved by settling Juliet''s issue. The money was well spent. "Do you need me to apany you to purchase the security system?" Nichs asked, his smile friendly.


    Quinn detected a hint of cunning she hadn''t noticed before. She had thought of him as a straightforward man, but now her perception was changing. "Will you be charging?" she inquired.


    Nichs''sughter eased the tension, "Ha, no, consider it aplimentary service."Relieved, Quinn nodded in agreement.


    She particrly needed his assistance for the instationter. Without Nichs, she feared Ariel might renege on the agreement. Nichs opened the car door, "Hop in."Quinnplied, and they drove out of the neighborhood, heading straight to the tech hub.


    Unknown to them, a car had pulled over by the roadside behind them, its upant observing them with a cold gaze."Follow them."

 Chapter 139

    Quinn sat in the car, a shiver running down her spine. It could have been theck of air conditioning that made her ufortable. Sensing her difort, Nichs quickly closed the windows and turned on the air conditioner. "Sorry," he said, "I''m not fond of the smell of AC. I forgot to turn it on."


    Quinn shook her head, signaling that it was fine.They arrived at the tech hub, where Nichs led the way to a surveince equipment shop. They were greeted by a familiar face. Quinn looked at Nichs with a newfound appreciation. Thewyer had an impressively widework. Earlier, he had managed to investigate Ariel''s residence in mere minutes, and now they were being served by an old acquaintance for their security purchase.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    After a brief conversation and deciding on a model, the shop owner arranged for aplimentary instation at their ce. As they left the hub and headed to the parking lot, they were cut off by several speeding cars. Quinn tensed up at the sight of the luxury vehicles.


    Several well-dressed men stepped out, and Kyle emerged from a Bentley. He sauntered over and opened the car door. Instinctively, Quinn''s eyes were drawn to the door. Long, graceful legs stepped out, and glossy leather shoes hit the ground. It felt as if they were pressing right onto Quinn''s heart, causing her fingers to clench tight.


    Alexander exited the car, a ck coat draped over his shoulders. He stood amidst a circle of bodyguards, his presence overwhelming everyone present. Nichs''s expression turned grave as he nced at Quinn instinctively. Alexander slowly approached Quinn, his frigid gaze sweeping across her face before resting on Nichs. "Is this thewyer you''ve found for yourself?" he asked. Nichs stood tall, his back straight. "And you are?" he retorted. "You don''t know who I am, yet she hires you to sue me?" Alexander''s question hung in the air. Nichs furrowed his brow and was about to speak, but Quinn stepped in front of him, desperate to exin. However, Alexander grasped her hand and pulled her aside, handing her over to Kyle. "Take her back first," he ordered.


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    Kyle caught Quinn, his expression a mix of emotions. "Quinn, let''s go back," he said. She shook her head, struggling to exin, but Kyle took her hand firmly, whispering, "Stop causing trouble." Kyle signaled the surrounding bodyguards with his eyes, urging them to pull Quinn into the car. Outmatched by their strength, she was dragged aboard, her eyes fixed on Nichs, her heart plummeting. Once the car had left, Nichs looked away as if he had pieced things together. "Sir, it seems there''s been a misunderstanding. My involvement with Quinn is purely professional," he said. Alexander''s lips curled slightly, but his smile didn''t reach his eyes. He watched Nichs deliberately. "In that case, there''s no misunderstanding. Nichs, may I have a word with you in private?" he asked.


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    Nichs nced at the security cameras above the tech hub and smiled. "Sure," he said, and voluntarily got into the car parked at the curb.


    Despite being mentally prepared, Nichs couldn''tpletely hide his unease when the ferocious roars were heard upon arrival at Midhill Lane Vi. Fortunately, his professionalposure quickly settled in. He walked alongside Alexander through the Vi grounds, both strolling as if they were two old friends catching up-if not for the multitude of bodyguards that followed.


    "How did youe to meet my wife, Nichs?" Alexander finally asked. Considering his response, Nichs said, "Perhaps it''s better to ask Quinn directly when you get back, as she was the one who reached out to me first."


    Lawyers had their regrs, so he wasn''t clear on who had referred him to Quinn, but since that contact wasn''t widely known, it was only when Quinn came to him that he put in the extra effort.


    If it were someone else, he wouldn''t normally bother with a minor case like this.

 Chapter 140

    Alexander''s stride faltered, his head swiveling to lock eyes with Nichs. His gaze was sharp, almost as if he were attempting to see straight through the man standing before him. Unfazed, Nichs met Alexander''s stare with unwavering confidence, secure in the validity of his words. "Is that so?" Alexander mused, a hint of derision tingeing his voice as he chuckled lightly, an idea beginning to form in his mind. "That''s the only connection between us."


    His gaze shifted away from Nichs, settling on the faint silhouette of a metal cage in the distance. "Nichs, you''re a sharp one. There are some cases that are better left untouched, lest you get burned." Nichs''s brow furrowed in confusion. "The olddy''s case was just a routine domestic dispute. I don''t see any reason to avoid it."


    "You''re missing the point," Alexander retorted, ambling over to a nearby bench. He lounged casually, crossing his legs and fixing Nichs with a cool, detached stare. Nichs was at a loss, still not fullyprehending the intricate dynamics between Quinn and Alexander.


    Suddenly, arge wolfhound burst onto the scene, its coat shimmering in the sunlight as it charged towards Nichs with a thunderous bark. Caught off guard, Nichs froze, his mind momentarily nk. In the blink of an eye, the hound was at his feet, poised to attack.


    "Eric!" Alexander''smand rang out, and the dog skidded to a halt just inches from Nichs, its tongue lolling out as it panted heavily. Nichs paled.


    "Come here." Reluctantly, the wolfhound tore its gaze from Nichs and trotted back to Alexander''s side, sitting obediently at his feet. Alexander''s long fingers gently stroked the dog''s head as he turned to Nichs. "Do you understand now, Nichs?"


    Nichs''s fists slowly rxed, his palms slick with sweat. He forced a smile onto his face. "I understand. I won''t take Quinn''s cases anymore."A smile tugged at the corners of Alexander''s lips. "I apologize for that, Nichs. Eric can be a bit wild. I hope he didn''t frighten you."


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    Nichs cast a wary nce at the wolfhound, which seemed docile in Alexander''s presence but still retained a predatory gleam in its eyes. It was clear that this was no ident. Maintaining a polite smile, Nichs responded, "Not at all. He seems quite charming. I wouldn''t have pegged you for an animal lover, Alexander."


    "There''s much more that I enjoy. Nichs, you might want to take a look around."


    ''I have no real interest in them,'' Nichs thought to himself. Nevertheless, he allowed Kyle to lead him on a tour of Alexander''s ''pets.'' The only word that came to mind was arrogance. The ostentatious disy was clearly a front, a smokescreen for the true intent intimidation.


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    Any normal person would likely be terrified just walking through. The animals'' eyes were unnatural, faintly tinged with red as if the term ''man-eaters'' was no longer a mere descriptor, but a harsh reality they had been trained to embody. If a living person were thrown amongst these creatures, it was doubtful even their bones would remain intact.


    ''Alexander''s message is clear. Today, I may walk away unscathed, but everyone slips up eventually. Next time, I might not be so fortunate,'' Nichs mused.


    Meanwhile, Quinn sat on the couch, restless, uncertain of what Alexander might do to Nichs. The fates of Abigail and Juliet served as harsh reminders.


    Juliet hadn''t even done anything, yet she had still been targeted by Alexander. ''Could the same happen to Nichs?'' she wondered.


    As the thought crossed her mind, the bodyguards stationed at the door announced in unison, "Alexander."

 Chapter 141

    Quinn leapt to her feet, her eyes riveted on the man who was making his entrance through the door. Alexander, with a confident stride, moved to stand beside Quinn. He nonchntly shrugged off his coat, tossing it onto the nearby couch. With a subtle gesture over his shoulder, he dismissed his bodyguard. The man understood the silentmand and discreetly exited the room. Alexander''s gaze, calm and tranquil, settled on Quinn''s face. It was a serenity that felt ominously like the calm before a storm.


    Instinctively, Quinn retreated a step. However, Alexander closed the gap, pressing forward until Quinn found herself sinking onto the couch. He leaned in, his eyes piercing into hers, and posed a question, "Do you remember what I told you?" Quinn''s fingers twisted together nervously as she stared into his deep-set eyes, fear beginning to creep into her heart. Alexander''s voice was steady as he reminded her, "Did I not warn you that if you disobeyed, I would break your legs and confine you?"


    Her pupils dted in fear, and beyond the panic reflected in her eyes, there was a silent plea. She bit her lip, shaking her head ever so slightly. Alexander''s slender fingers gently grasped her chin, his tone surprisingly soft as he mused, "But how could I bring myself to break your legs? What should I do now?"


    Quinn had the audacity to defy him when he was in a rage. However, his quiet demeanor terrified her. She trembled slightly, overwhelmed by fear, and felt an uncontroble urge to escape.


    After holding her gaze for what seemed like an eternity, Alexander straightened up, tilted his head thoughtfully, and made his decision, "Then you''ll just have to be confined for now."


    Quinn gestured frantically, but Alexander had already turned his back on her, no longer acknowledging her presence. "Kyle," he called out.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Kyle, who had been waiting outside, hurried in at the sound of his name. "Alexander," he responded.


    "The matter is in your hands now," Alexander instructed. Quinn reached out to tug at his sleeve, but Alexander nced back at her coldly. Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes as she shook her head, pleading with him not to imprison her. Alexander lifted his hand, reiming his sleeve, and looked down at her with a chilling gaze. "You need to learn your lesson," he stated coldly. With that, he walked out without a backward nce.


    Quinn watched his retreating figure, her mouth opening to speak, but no sound came out. All she could do was watch as he disappeared from her sight. Her gaze then turned to Kyle. Even though he might not understand her silent pleas, she implored him, "Please, don''t lock me up.''


    Kyle''s expression was aplex mix of emotions. He might not understand her gestures, but he could read the desperation in her eyes. He averted his gaze, his voice filled with regret, "Quinn, I''m just following orders. Please don''t make this harder for me."


    Quinn''s hand froze mid-air. She stared at Kyle, tears streaming uncontrobly down her cheeks. She clutched the edge of the sofa, the darkness and panic gnawing at her resurfacing relentlessly. The mere thought was suffocating. Alexander knew her deepest fears. That''s why he had chosen this punishment, the one he knew would terrify her the most. She realized that all her pleading was futile.


    Kyle spoke again, "Quinn, don''t waste time. If you anger Alexander again, even thewyer you hired might not be spared."


    Quinn flinched at the mention of Nichs.


    Kyle didn''t want to force her, but he knew her vulnerabilities. He knew she wouldn''t want to involve the innocent. Despite her fear and reluctance, she wouldply. After a tense moment on the sofa, Quinn clenched her fingers and then slowly released them.

 Chapter 142

    With a sense of resignation, she closed her eyes, choosing to ept the inevitablepromise. Upon reopening them, she slowly rose to her feet, each step feeling heavier than thest as she made her way towards the storeroom. The once broken door had been repaired and now stood wide open, like a gaping maw of the abyss, beckoning her towards her impending doom.


    As she crossed the threshold, her steps faltered, the wave of fear washing over her with full force. Quinn was trembling, her body driven by the terror that consumed her. She attempted to retreat, but Kyle was swift to shut the door behind her. The loud thud of the storeroom door echoed ominously as it closed, cutting off thest sliver of light from her sight.


    Overwhelmed, Quinn''s legs gave way beneath her, causing her to copse to the floor, powerless. The narrow, cramped space seemed to suffocate her, wrapping her in its oppressive embrace. She sat on the cold ground, hugging her knees to her chest, closing her eyes in an attempt to escape the reality of her dark confinement.


    Her lips moved in a silent mantra, a desperate attempt tofort herself. ''Don''t be afraid... don''t be afraid...'' These words had once been whispered to her by a gentle voice, soothing her fears, "It''s okay, Quinn, don''t be scared." Curling up into a ball, she whispered back to the phantom voice in her mind, "I''m not scared." Just by repeating these words to herself, she hoped to quell her fear. That''s what he had once told her.


    ...


    Upon leaving the vi, Alexander went straight to thepany. Kyle trailed closely behind, matching Alexander''s brisk pace as they both stepped into the elevator. "Alexander, Leon has already been taken away. If those ounts are checked, he will probably be imprisoned," Kyle informed him.


    Alexander, his hands tucked into his pockets, leaned against the elevator wall, offering no response. Kyle paused before adding, "Also, the tickets for tonight''s business trip have been purchased. Should I cancel the ticket for Quinn?" It was only then that Alexander showed a flicker of emotion, casting a meaningful nce at Kyle. "Cancel it," hemanded.


    Kyle nodded inpliance, "Okay." He hesitated before speaking again, "Don''t we need to take care of Quinn?"


    "It''s only three days, she won''t die," Alexander replied coldly, stepping out of the elevator as it reached their floor.


    Kyle frowned slightly, contemting Alexander''s words. ''Can someone really be okay without eating or drinking for three days?'' It was a thought that unsettled him. He had never experienced such a thing himself, the most he had endured was a day of forgetting to eat due to work, and even that had been unbearable. ''Quinn is unlikely able to endure such hardship,'' he mused.


    He sighed, feeling it wasn''t his ce to advise, especially given Alexander''s current mood. Any advice would likely fall on deaf ears. Having worked with Alexander for a considerable time, Kyle hade to understand him to a certain extent. When Alexander was extremely angry, he appeared eerily calm.


    Getty, aware of Alexander''s impending business trip, had limped her way to thepany, insisting on apanying him. "Alexander, take me with you. My foot injury is not healed yet, so I can''t work. I''ll take the opportunity to get some fresh air," she pleaded.


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    Alexander, tugging at his tie in irritation, nced at her, "I''m going on a business trip, not a vacation."


    "I know that. I just want to go with you. You''re working, and I''ll be ying. It''s not a conflict," Getty reasoned, coquettishly clinging to his arm.


    Alexander sat down on the sofa, his gaze falling on her injured foot. It had been so swollen that she had required medical attention at the hospital. Although the swelling had subsided, a faint redness was still visible. He chuckled lightly, "You''re injured like this and still thinking about ying. Do you not want your leg anymore?"


    Getty sat down beside him, a yful smile gracing her lips. "I just wanted to spend some time with you, that''s all. You''ll be away for three days on your business trip, and I''m gonna miss you."


    Before Alexander could respond, the office door swung open, and Ruby stepped in, her heels clicking against the floor.


    "Alexander, we should be heading out," she announcedContent is ? by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 143

    Uponying eyes on Ruby, Getty''s face turned sour. A surge of jealousy welled up within her. At thepany,, she was the one who held sway over everyone, including Kyle. Yet, Ruby seemed impervious to her influence. Getty had always viewed Ruby and Quinn as her mainpetitors.


    Ruby, however, appeared to disregard Getty entirely, not even deigning to give her a nce. This only served to stoke the fires of Getty''s resentment.


    "Alexander, why are you choosing her over me?" Getty voiced her protest.


    Ruby finally acknowledged her. "If Getty could alleviate some of my workload, I would be more than pleased. Why not let Getty take the reins in this negotiation?" she proposed.


    Getty was taken aback. She was clueless about the intricacies of the business. ''Negotiate what?'' she pondered.


    Alexander rose from his seat, reaching out to affectionately tousle Getty''s hair. "Enough with theints. You should rest at home. I''ll be back in three days."


    Getty pouted, shooting Ruby a disgruntled look. Ruby returned her gaze with a professional smile, unwavering. She was a challenge unlike any Getty had ever encountered.


    Without further dy, Alexander exited the room, with Ruby trailing behind him.


    Getty turned to Kyle, her annoyance evident. "Why aren''t you apanying them?"


    "There''s no need for me to go," Kyle responded sinctly.


    Getty''s frown deepened, her vexation intensifying. "So, it''s just the two of them on this business trip?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Kyle confirmed with a nod. "Exactly."


    "That vixen," Getty muttered under her breath.


    People often prey on the weak while steering clear of the strong. Getty wouldn''t dare to confront Ruby directly. Ruby''s exceptional business acumen was highly regarded by Alexander, and without a substantial reason, even Alexander wouldn''t take her side.


    Kyle''s eyelid twitched involuntarily, prompting him to give Getty a second nce. Each time he saw her, he questioned Alexander''s taste. Here was a woman who seemed oblivious to her own limitations. There were countless more appealing women out there, yet she had managed to capture Alexander''s attention. He had to concede that Ruby was a superior choice.


    However, if Alexander ended up with Ruby, Quinn wouldn''t stand a chance.


    Having coborated with Ruby for an extended period, Kyle was well aware of her exceptional intelligence and emotional acuity. Not even the craftiest fox could outwit her.


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    Perhaps Getty''s "vixen"ment wasn''t entirely off the mark.


    Alexander had been away for three days, coinciding with Quinn''s confinement for the same duration.


    Fear was the least of Quinn''s worries. Any ordinary person would be overwhelmed by hunger after a single day, let alone Quinn in her weakened state.


    By the second day, she had copsed in the dark, confined space, losing consciousness.


    Upon regaining consciousness, Quinn slowly opened her eyes, struggling to focus. The gnawing hunger she had experienced before fainting had subsided, but she found herself unable to move.


    She shook her head, attempting to dispel the fog clouding her mind, and squinted against the harsh light. This was not the familiar surroundings of her bedroom.


    A sudden wave of panic washed over her. Quinn tried to rise, only to find herself bound. Looking down, she discovered her wrists and ankles were securely tied to a chair.


    She strained against her restraints, but the ropes were tied too tightly. Despite the raw abrasions on her wrists and ankles, she couldn''t break free.


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    But who could have done this?


    Quinn scanned the silent room, unable to detect any sound.


    If not for the sound of her own breathing, she would have feared she had lost her hearing.


    On the other side of town, Alexander returned from his business trip and made a beeline for the storeroom.


    As he approached the door, he was met with the sight of a damaged and unstable door.


    Light filtered through the doorframe, revealing a scene shrouded in dust, save for a clean circle, as if deliberately etched into the grime.


    From that clear patch on the floor, Quinn''s huddled figure was discernible.

 Chapter 144

    The door, now broken, bore the faintest of scratch marks, the paint on its panels mostly wed away. Alexander''s expression visibly darkened at the sight.


    Kyle, feeling a wave of unease, cast a furtive nce at the man''s somber face. He hadn''t checked in over the past three days, fearing that the sight of Quinn''s dire state would soften his heart. After all, if her own husband didn''t care, why should he?


    "Alexander," he said, "it seems like someone took Quinn away. I''ll look into it."


    With that, Alexander turned, leaving the storeroom behind. He walked into the living room, where, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of aplete divorce agreement bearing Quinn''s signature.


    Wordlessly, almost reflexively, he tore the document to shreds and cast it aside. The paper scraps scattered across the floor.


    Upon scanning the room once more, he found no other clues of value, apart from the torn divorce agreement. "Check the security footage," hemanded.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    "Right away," Kyle responded.


    There were cameras outside the vi. Reviewing the records would reveal any visitors - this should be an easy lead to follow.


    Within twenty minutes, Kyle had retrieved the surrounding surveince footage and handed it to Alexander. "Alexander..." he began, but stopped himself. As he nced at the security footage, he sensed an impending storm of violence. Alexander clicked on the monitor. The screen left no room for doubt. Someone had definitely been there, and it wasn''t just anyone. It was Abigail. When Abigail had left, Quinn was slung over her shoulder. Alexander remained calm, scrolling through the footage to the end where Abigail''s car disappeared into a blind spot, and the video feed cut off.


    At that moment, Alexander''s phone rang. It was Oliver. ncing at the caller ID, Alexander caught Kyle''s eye, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. Yes, as soon as he had finished reviewing the footage, he had alerted Oliver, who had also seen the evidence.


    The phone rang persistently before Alexander finally swiped to answer, putting the call on speakerphone and setting it down on the coffee table. "Alexander, I will resolve this situation. I can''t reach Abigail right now, but something about this doesn''t add up," Oliver spoke up.


    Alexander stayed silent, his eyes fixed on the phone as his fingers idly rubbed his wristwatch. Oliver continued, "Abigail hasn''t left the house these past days. Why would she abruptly take Quinn away?" His implication was clear. Maybe Quinn had reached out to Abigail, and whatever they had discussed had led her to sneak out.


    If Quinn had initiated everything, then the me should not fall on Abigail''s shoulders. "Three days," Alexander suddenly interjected.


    "What?"


    "I''m giving you three days. I want to see both of them," Alexander stated firmly.


    Oliver was silent for a while, and then responded, "Okay, I understand."


    With that, Oliver hung up. Alexander closed his eyes and leaned back on the couch, his fingers still toying with his wristwatch. "Go find them," hemanded, "Search everywhere if you have to, just find them."


    Despite his calm demeanor, a close look revealed the barely restrained fury in his eyes. Kyle nodded, swiftly exiting the scene.


    Meanwhile, Quinn, exhausted from her struggles and having given up resistance, slumped into the chair, watching as twilight enveloped the sky outside. The silence was so profound she could hear her own heartbeat. As she pondered who could''ve taken her to the vi, the sound of the door lock turning snapped her attention.


    Her eyes widened, fixed intently on the door.


    It slowly opened, and a silhouette stepped in leisurely.

 Chapter 145

    Quinn''s eyes were wide open, riveted on the neer. Her gaze travelled from his long legs, up to his waist, and finally rested on the curve of his mouth. It was Walter.


    Never in her wildest dreams had Quinn imagined that Walter would be the one binding her. She writhed in her restraints once more, but it was futile. The ropes bit into her wrists and ankles, holding her captive and leaving her with nothing but the desperate plea in her eyes as her only form ofmunication.


    Walter closed the distance between them, bending down slightly to lock eyes with the terrified Quinn.


    "Quinn, you seem surprised," he said, his voiceced with a feigned tenderness.


    "And why wouldn''t you be? After all, who would have thought it was me? I wonder if Alexander has pieced it together yet?" His voice was gentle, almost casual. If Quinn hadn''t been bound, she might have mistaken his tone for friendly banter. Quinn''s eyes shimmered with unvoiced questions as she held Walter''s gaze steadfastly.


    Walter''s smile deepened, and he yfully quipped, "You''re wondering why I brought you here, why I kidnapped you, aren''t you?"


    She mped her lips together, revealing nothing. But indeed, these were the very questions that haunted her.


    Walter extended his hand, his fingers icy as they brushed her face, sending shivers down her spine.


    "You really can''t remember anything, can you?" he mused, his eyes momentarily clouded.


    Quinn stiffened, her eyes filling with confusion.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Suddenly, Walter''s fingers mped onto her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Looks like you need some help," he said. Quinn could only guess at his intentions, but the smile on his face sent a shiver down her spine. His grip tightened, threatening to crush her jaw. Pain twisted her features, and tears streamed down her face, dampening Walter''s hand.


    Despite his smile, his eyes were devoid of warmth, his actions belying his gentle facade.


    Before Quinn could recover from the pain, Walter jerked his wrist, and she, along with the chair, crashed to the floor. Her head hit the ground with a thud, darkness clouding her vision, a ringing noise pulsing in her ears. Shey there in agony, her eyes shut tight. She was unable to even cry out, gasping for air instead.


    Then, with a sharp tug on her hair, Walter hoisted her up.


    "Forgetting is no problem. I''ll help you remember," he said, his voice as smooth as silk. But to Quinn, it sounded more like a devil''s chant.


    Coldness seeped in from all sides, prating her pores and freezing her blood. Finally, she regained herposure and opened her eyes to stare at the man before her.


    Her instincts had been right all along. He was a wolf in sheep''s clothing.


    For two years at The Kennedys, everyone had thought him to be humble, amiable, and approachable.


    Now, exposed in front of Quinn, was the most terrifying side of him she had ever seen.


    Quinn shifted her wrists, which were bound so tightly she couldn''tmunicate with Walter.


    He didn''t seem interested inmunicating with her either. His only interest appeared to be in tormenting her.


    Yanking her hair, Walter pulled her upright forcefully.


    Pain shot through Quinn''s scalp. Her neck felt as if it were being strangled, making it hard to breathe.


    When she was finally sitting up, he released her hair. His fingers were sprinkled with strands torn from her head.


    She had once merely been wary of him, but now, fear was an understatement.


    She shrank back, briefly tilting the chair so far it nearly toppled. The fear forced her to sit still, her gaze meekly lowered. Lifting her chin, Walterpelled her to look at him.

 Chapter 146

    "Do you remember now?" Walter asked, his voice echoing in the silence. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked into his, struggling to recall the events of the past years. She was at a loss, unsure of what he expected her to remember. ''What was it exactly...'' she wondered, her mind a whirl of confusion.


    Quinn searched his face helplessly for answers, but Walter merely smiled. He seemed to understand her silent plea for help, shaking his head lightly. "I won''t tell you. If you remember, you wouldn''t look at me like this," he said, his voice soft yet firm.


    Quinn''s mouth opened to respond, but Walter leaned in close, interrupting her. Her eyelids fluttered instinctively, her body recoiling slightly. His face loomedrger before her, almost touching, and she instinctively tried to pull away. But Walter gripped her chin, immobilizing her. Their noses nearly touched, their breaths mingling in the tense silence.


    She held her breath, daring not to move. Walter whispered, "Quinn, you really should die." His words sent a chill down her spine, her heart skipping a beat as she met his smiling eyes.


    The next second, he suddenly grasped the chair and shoved it. The chair flipped, and Quinn hit the ground hard, feeling as if her insides were about to burst out. She curled up in pain, her face void of color. Sweat beaded and rolled down her forehead. The extent of her pain was known to none. She couldn''t cry out.


    Walter didn''t linger. He turned and left the room, the door closing behind him, leaving Quinn alone on the floor. Her wrists and ankles were raw, the ropes stained red with her blood. Barely opening her eyelids, through disheveled hair, she stared at the door. Momentarily, she couldn''t tell if the pain was more severe in her body or in her heart.


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    She couldn''t grasp Alexander''s or Walter''s motives. All their actions were enigmatic. Alexander had kept her isted and expected her to be content as a caged pet, yet he was distant and refused to divorce her. Walter had kidnapped her to this ce, pressuring her to remember something, yet he wouldn''t reveal what she was supposed to recall. ''I didn''t even know him,'' she thought.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    A wave of exhaustion swept over Quinn, so profound that she felt as if the entire world was conspiring against her. With a sense of despair, she closed her eyes, surrendering to the overwhelming fatigue. ''Is it all because I''m just a dummy?'' That was herst thought before slipping into unconsciousness....


    Dusk had settled in. Alexander sat on the living room couch, surrounded by a scattering of shredded paper. The remnants of the divorce papers he had torn up nowy quietly at his feet. In the past, ripping up the agreement meant Quinn would obediently stay. But this time, the scraps hadin on the floor for a whole day without any word from the little dummy.


    Kyle hung back at the doorway, hesitant to enter. After a full day of searching with no trace of Quinn, and Abigail disappearing at a blind spot in the surveince without a trace, he was at a loss. In the sprawling expanse of Amber Bay, if they weren''t using phones or the inte, even a meticulous search would take weeks toplete. By then, they could be long gone.


    He peered inside from the doorway. The living room was unlit and shrouded in darkness, but he could faintly make out the silhouette of his boss on the couch. As Kyle stood there, unsure of what to do next, a car sped up and came to a graceful stop outside the vi. Oliver rushed out and approached Kyle, speaking in hushed tones, "Any leads?"

 Chapter 147

    With a sigh, Kyle shook his head, his voice echoing the emptiness of their search. "Nothing. How about you?"


    Oliver''s expression was grave, his own head echoing Kyle''s motion. "These girls are slick. They''vepletely vanished." Hiswork of connections had been exhausted, yet no trace of the girls had been found. They could have left Amber Bay by now.


    "It''s strange, isn''t it?" Kyle mused, his brow furrowed in thought. "Quinn barely ever leaves the house. And Abigail isn''t the type to slip by unnoticed during our search."


    Oliver paused, considering Kyle''s words. "Exactly. That''s why I wanted to discuss this with Alexander, but his phone''s turned off, so I came here."


    No one understood Abigail like Oliver did. Her carefree nature was not one to dodge surveince, let alone evade the tight he and Alexander had cast. The idea of her vanishing without a trace in just two days seemed impossible. They would have needed a car or a ne. Money for food and essentials. Yet there were no leads no withdrawals, nothing. It was baffling.


    Kyle''s voice wavered as he spoke, "Alexander''s been inside, motionless, all afternoon. Are you sure you want to go in?"


    For a brief moment, Oliver hesitated, weighing his options before deciding to step inside.


    Issues needed to be confronted, resolutions sought. They couldn''t be addressed without facing them.


    As he groped in the darkness, Oliver struggled to find the light switch. Guided by instinct, he made his way to Alexander''s side. "Alexander."


    His voice was barely out when the lights flickered on, blindingly bright. He shielded his eyes, waiting for them to adjust before lowering his hand and taking a seat across from Alexander. "I''vee across some discrepancies, and I''m sure you''re aware of them too," Oliver said.


    Alexander tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on Oliver. "What about it?"


    "There''s someone else behind Quinn''s disappearance."


    "Where is she?"


    Oliver stumbled over his words, suddenly at a loss for a response.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander lit a cigarette, his face unreadable. "You''ve got two days left."


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    Oliver frowned slightly. "This situation... it''s not really about Abigail..."


    "But didn''t she take Quinn?" Alexander countered, his tone ambiguous. "Whether she did it willingly or someone exploited her, she can''t shake off responsibility." Oliver processed his words, falling into a prolonged silence.


    "You''re right."


    "Find Quinn, Oliver. And if I find her first, don''t me me for not sparing your family."


    Oliver''s expression shifted subtly, urgency creeping into his voice. "Alexander, even if what Abigail did was wrong, she cares about Quinn. But you, it''s like you don''t care at all, going out of your way to hurt her. "Have you ever tried to see it from Quinn''s perspective? Sometimes I just can''t understand you. Are you trying to keep her, or are you tormenting her? What on earth are you thinking?


    "If you like her, treat her well. If you don''t, let her go. Don''t you see the contradiction in your actions?"


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    Alexander remained silent, calmly smoking.


    The smoke swirled around them, weaving through the silence, making the room''s light ambiguous and hazy.


    Oliver watched him, waiting for an answer that didn''te.


    "Let''s not talk about Abigail for now. Our priority is finding them. Alexander, do you have any leads?"


    The silence stretched so long that Oliver thought Alexander wouldn''t speak again that evening.


    But then, Alexander broke the silence. "Of course, I do."


    "Who is it?"


    Alexander leaned forward to snuff out his cigarette in the ashtray, his movements deliberate, as if trying to crush the stub to smithereens.


    "I can''t tell you." A faint, almost imperceptible glint appeared in Alexander''s eyes. "Some people just love to outsmart themselves."

 Chapter 148

    "His actions will soon catch up with him," Alexander dered ominously.


    Oliver, however, was left in a state of confusion. He yearned to ask more questions, but Alexander had already risen from his seat, collected his coat from the couch, and made his exit.


    As Alexander departed, his footsteps stirred a subtle breeze, causing scraps of paper to flutter about the room. One particr piece, as light as a feather, came to rest at Oliver''s feet. Upon it was written an iplete, yet unmistakable word- Divorce.


    From the doorway, Alexander''s voice, devoid of any warmth, echoed back to Oliver, "Before I find the culprit, bring them back to me, Oliver."


    Watching Alexander''s retreating figure, Oliver released a heavy sigh. He had gleaned a few leads from Alexander''s cryptic words, but certainty still eluded him.


    Rising from his seat, Oliver made his way to the exit, only to be promptly intercepted by Kyle, who asked, "How did it go?"


    Oliver shook his head, "Keep looking. They''re likely still in Amber Bay."


    "How do you know? Did Alexander tell you?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    In response, Oliver merely patted Kyle''s shoulder, leaving his question unanswered as he brushed past him.


    The following day, Alexander arrived at the office as if it were any other day, betraying no signs of the previous night''s turmoil. He arranged a meeting with his team when Walter was present. They met at the entrance, exchanging brief nces. "Alexander, you look worn out. Rough night?" Walter asked, a smirk ying on his lips.


    With a faint smile, Alexander replied, "My pet''s gone missing. How can I sleep?"


    Feigning ignorance, Walter probed further, "Why is the pet so important?"


    "Take a guess."


    Walter furrowed his brows, pondering before venturing, "I heard you had a cat, but ver saw it. It''s not the cat, is it?"


    "Who knows," Alexander responded dismissively.


    With that, he carried his folder into the conference room and initiated the meeting.


    For over two hours, thepany''s executives squirmed under an unprecedented level of stress. Alexander dissected every statement and dismissed every proposal without approval. The team couldn''t help but specte that something was amiss with Alexander that day.


    Could it be another argument with Getty?


    Indeed, following any disagreement with Getty, Alexander was known to vent his frustration on them. However, none of their previous disputes had ever escted to this level of severity.


    As soon as the grueling meeting concluded, everyone hastily exited, their morale thoroughly depleted. Alexander prepared to leave as well, but before he could rise, Walter approached, offering two documents.


    "Here are the investment ns from the proposal you wanted to review," Walter said, extending them to Alexander.


    Walter hadn''t dared to present them during the meeting, knowing they would be rejected outright. Now, with the room emptied, he clearly had an agenda.


    Alexander epted them nonchntly, gave them a cursory nce, and tossed them back onto the table. Walter, unfazed by the predictable reaction, merely smiled and asked, "What''s the matter? Can''t focus on the reports because your pet ran off?"


    Alexander fiddled with his tie, leaned back leisurely, and regarded Walter with an indifferent gaze.


    Walter added, "Need me to help Oliver?"


    "No need. Your n won''t work."


    "And what exactly is not working?"


    "You''ve been the vice president for a long time. Can''t you see what''s wrong? Or do you think I wouldn''t notice?"

 Chapter 149

    Walter momentarily faltered, but his smile quickly returned. "Is that so? I''ll review it again," he said, his tone light and casual. He scooped up the documents, adding, "I''ll make the revisions and have you look it over." Alexander offered no response, his silence serving as tacit agreement. Walter collected the document and exited the room, leaving Alexander alone. Thetter loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, his face expressionless. He sat in the conference room, his gaze distant and unfocused.


    His solitude was interrupted when Ruby knocked and entered the room. "Alexander," she began, her tone professional, "I couldn''t reach you by phone yesterday, so I went ahead and met with the client. We sealed the deal. Here''s the contract for you to review."


    Alexander epted the contract, flipping through it casually. "Okay, you keep handling it," he instructed. Ruby nodded, her eyes lingering on him a moment longer than necessary.


    "Alexander, is something bothering you?" she asked hesitantly. He looked up, his surprise evident. "Is it that obvious?" Ruby chuckled softly, "Quite obvious. You barely flipped through two pages of this contract without really looking." Alexander remained silent for a moment before standing up and leaving the conference room....


    Quinn awoke on the cold, hard floor, her body aching from the previous night''s trials. The chill of the floor numbed her cheek, which was pressed against the ground, devoid of any sensation. She nced around, finding herself in the same room as the day before, her wrists still bound.


    A bowl filled with cold leftovers had been ced in front of her. Despite the chill of the food, the lingering aroma tantalized her taste buds, saliva pooling in her mouth. However, the prospect of eating from the bowl was degrading, akin to a dog.


    She gripped the armrest of the chair, her eyes fixated on the bowl, her lips twitching. After a few seconds, she closed her eyes and turned her head away. Her will to live seemed to wane, the pangs of hunger less intense.


    Suddenly, the door swung open. Quinn startled, her eyes darting up to see Walter standing there in his dark red suit. He squatted down in front of her, his head slightly tilted as he studied her. His slightly curled, short hair cast a gentle shadow across his face, giving him an air of tenderness.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    He shifted his gaze to the bowl of food, chuckling softly, "You do have some spirit." His words weren''tplimentary, and as if to prove it, he grabbed her hair, lifting her up.


    She was still bound to the chair, her hair barely able to bear the weight. Strands of her hair were ripped out, the pain turning her face pale. Her veins rippled, distorting her features. "With such a backbone, how can you still stay by Alexander''s side and be a tail-wagging dog?" he mumbled, seemingly to himself, yet also to her.


    Walter picked up the bowl of rice and brought it to Quinn''s mouth, his voice still soft, "Eat, or you''ll starve." Heughed, "You can''t die." Hisughter was soft, but his actions were cruel. He forced her face into the bowl of food, blocking her nose and mouth.


    Quinn''s chest contracted violently as she coughed, the leftovers sucked into her nose. Walter held her head down, her coughing shaking the food out of the bowl and onto his hand, scattering it across the floor.


    She twisted and struggled, but her strength was depleted from being tied up and starved. Her head began tock oxygen, her consciousness blurring. Walter''s voice echoed above her, "You can make a sound. Howe you can''t speak?" Her coughing was barely audible, more like a gasp of air than a sound. Quinn was too groggy toprehend his words, her strength fading until she stopped struggling.


    Walter removed the bowl, and air rushed back into Quinn''s nostrils, carrying remnants of the food into her windpipe.

 Chapter 150

    Her face was flushed a suffocating shade of red as she copsed onto the ground, wracked by coughs. Food she had been forced to consume was expelled from her body, a trail of spittle running down her jaw.


    Walter watched her, his gaze unblinking and cold. Her pitiful state seemed to only fuel his desire to inflict further suffering upon her.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Once she had expelled the food, she gasped for air, her mouth slightly ajar, drool still dripping from the corners of her mouth. Quinn''s eyes, red and weak, flickered towards Walter. Her lips moved soundlessly, but Walter was able to decipher her silent plea: "Kill me."


    A faint smile crossed Walter''s face as he reached out, straightening Quinn''s disheveled hair. "Did you forget?" he taunted, "I just said, you can''t die." He brought the bowl close to her mouth once more,manding, "Eat."


    Quinn instinctively closed her mouth, tilting her head to avoid the bowl. Walter''s voice cut through the silence, "If you die, then your best friend dies too. Think about it."


    Quinn was taken aback, unable toprehend Walter''s words. He picked up the remote control from the bed next to him, turning on the television mounted on the wall.


    The screen flickered to life, revealing a figure tied to a post, blindfolded, and struggling intermittently. It was Abigail.


    Quinn''s gaze snapped to Walter. He continued, "Aren''t you curious how you ended up here? It was her who brought you out. She received a message, saying you were in danger. She came and took you away without thinking twice. She wanted to get you out of Amber Bay and even forged a divorce agreement. Tell me, even if I don''t take her out, Alexander will never let her off the hook, am I right?"


    Quinn stared at him in disbelief, her body shaking violently as she grappled with a potent mix of anger and fear.


    ''I deserve to die...


    ''I should never have befriended Abigail. Now, anyone can use Abigail to threaten me.


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    ''I have brought harm to Abigail and Juliet.


    ''I deserve death. I don''t deserve to live.''


    She was consumed by guilt and regret, feeling as though she was drowning, a sensation far more suffocating than when her face was buried in the bowl.


    Tears streamed down Quinn''s face as shey helplessly on the ground, her silent sobs echoing through the room. Walter once again brought the bowl to her lips, repeating hismand, "Eat." Quinn''s lips trembled as she stared at the mess of food in the bowl, tears dripping onto her chin. It was just a bowl of food, but it held the weight of Abigail''s life.


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    She moved closer to the bowl, swallowing her pride, and buried her face inside, taking arge bite. Walter watched her with a bemused smile, as if observing a pathetic, yet amusing spectacle.


    Quinn swallowed the mouthful of food, then took anotherrge bite, her hunger evident. Only when the bowl was empty did she lift her disheveled face to look at Walter.


    "If you don''t finish your food, you''re not a good kid," he taunted. Her gaze shifted back to the bowl, with small portions of food smeared against the sides she would have to lick it clean with her tongue.


    She tried several times, but couldn''t bring herself to do it. Walter smirked, "What''s the matter? Want to uphold your dignity? After all these years as Alexander''spdog, what dignity do you have left? Now you want dignity, even if it means sacrificing your friend''s life?"


    His words were sharp, each one a dagger piercing her vulnerabilities. Quinn swallowed her pride once more, closed her eyes, and leaned her head closer to the bowl.

 Chapter 151

    By Alexander''s side, she had been nothing more than a caged dog. He would stroke her gently when he was in a good mood, and cast her aside when he wasn''t, forbidding her from seeking affection elsewhere. She had no dignity. To everyone around her, she was aughingstock.


    How could she possibly put Abigail at risk for the sake of her insignificant shred of dignity?


    Walter watched her intently, the smile in his eyes fading slightly, reced by a glint of something unreadable. Her disheveled hair truly did make her resemble a small, pitiful dog.


    Quinn finished thest of the food, biting her lip as she looked up at Walter, a hidden light flickering in her eyes. Despite believing that she had no dignity left, the humiliation still rushed back to her in waves, leaving her feeling trapped and cornered.


    Walter chuckled and set down the bowl. He then brandished the cell phone in his hand, taunting, "Do you want to see how pathetic you just looked?" Quinn''s pupils dted slightly, her body stiffening as her gaze shifted to the screen. Disyed on it was a video of her eating from the bowl moments ago. The feeling of humiliation, inexplicably, intensified. She wished she could simply vanish from this world. ''That would be just fine...'' Walter toyed with his phone, admiring the video, a smile ying on his lips. "I wish I could send this to Alexander," he mused. Quinn clenched her fists, understanding his implication all too well. She looked away in shame, unable to respond. Without warning, Walter reached out and gently untied the rope binding her wrists. The moment he did, Quinn felt a weight lift from her body. She slid from the chair,nding lightly on the floor like a feather. Walter grabbed her by her clothes, hoisting her up and dragging her outside. Quinn was too weak to resist. The cor around her neck tightened, choking her until she was on the verge of suffocation. Walter hauled her into the bathroom, tossed her onto the floor, and turned on the shower, dousing her with cold water. The icy spray chilled Quinn to the bone, causing her to shiver and curl up in the corner. Walter squatted down in front of her, holding the showerhead. "Take it off," hemanded. Quinn shuddered, staring at him in dismay as the water poured down her face, wet strands of hair sticking to her cheeks and obscuring her vision. "Don''t worry," Walter said with a smirk, "I''m not interested in you, especially not a woman who''s been toyed with by Alexander." It was hard to believe that such vile words coulde from such a handsome face.


    The water gradually warmed, washing away the chill from her body. She wasn''t shaking as much anymore. Walter''s voice echoed over the sound of the water. "If you wait for me to do it, I might not be gentle. Think about it." "Oh, and remember, I still have your friend."N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Quinn''s lips tightened into a thin line as she stared at the man, her face a mix of shame, anger, and fear. She was overwhelmed with emotions, yet she couldn''t express even a fraction of them.


    The only thing that caught Walter''s attention was her reddened eyes and disheveled hair. A woman looking at a man with humiliation in her eyes could stir a man''s desire for conquest and dominance, especially if she was beautiful. Walter stared back at her, his eyes dark. "Don''t make me say it a third time. Take it off."


    Quinn''s fingers slowly clenched around her shirt, her mind racing. Walter lost his patience and dropped the showerhead. It hit the floor and writhed like a snake, water spraying everywhere and soaking both of them.


    He grabbed Quinn''s arm and yanked her towards him. Quinn instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, shaking her head frantically at Walter.

 Chapter 152

    "ying the pity card won''t work with me." Walter grabbed her ankle with a firm grip. With a gentle pull, Quinn was sent sprawling backward, her head colliding harshly with the floor. A surge of pain seared through her.


    As shey there, dazed and disoriented, he tore away a significant portion of her clothing. Too stunned to register the pain, Quinn scrambled to her feet, retreating to a corner in a desperate search for safety.


    However, the harsh reality was that no such sanctuary existed, just as there was no truth to her denial of her feelings for Alexander. Walter merely observed her, his gaze amused yet devoid of a smile. He reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face, but Quinn deftly avoided his touch.


    She drew her knees up to her chest, curling up tightly in the corner, her face buried in her knees. She wished fervently for a hole to appear, into which she could disappear.


    "Look at you, covered in filth," he remarked. "I''m merely attempting to bathe you. What is it that you fear?"


    His hand moved to stroke her damp hair, his fingers threading through and tightening their grip. He yanked her head back, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Are you trying my patience?" he inquired.


    Quinn grimaced in pain, her face twisted in agony. With great effort, she gestured, "Release Abigail. Let her go, and I''ll do whatever you say."


    Walter responded withughter, "Do you truly believe I would trust you?" His tone was indulgent, almost affectionate, if one could ignore the fact that he was still gripping her hair. "If I release her, will you truly obey?"


    Quinn pursed her lips. Her n had been exposed. If he were to release Abigail, she would certainly not obey; she would rather take her own life than continue to suffer his degradation.


    Suddenly, Walter sighed, slowly releasing his grip on Quinn''s hair. "I''ll give you onest opportunity. Remove your clothing yourself. Otherwise, I''ll start with Abigail''s clothes, alright?"


    Quinn''s pupils dted in understanding. Walter''s intention was clear he sought to degrade her, purely for the sake of humiliation. She swallowed hard, gesturing once more, "Why? Why must you do this to me?" Walter held her gaze, unblinking, for a long moment before responding, "Once you remember, you''ll no longer need to ask."


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    Quinn pleaded, "What is it that you want me to remember?"


    "It wouldn''t be as entertaining if I simply told you, would it?" Walter replied softly. "I want you to remember on your own. Do you understand, Quinn?"


    Quinn felt as though her head was about to burst. She couldn''t discern what memory she was supposed to recall-all her memories were intact, but what was he referring to? How was she supposed to remember without a clue?


    ''He''s just seeking an excuse to degrade me,'' she concluded.


    Walter had grown tired of the conversation. He spoke again, "Remove your clothing and clean yourself up."


    Quinn hesitated.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "My patience is dwindling. Consider this your final warning," Walter dered firmly.


    In a quick gesture, Quinn replied, "But you imed to have no interest in me. Leave, and I''ll clean myself up."


    A smile spread across Walter''s face. "Well, I may not be interested, but that doesn''t mean I can''t observe, does it?"


    His smile faded as he delivered hismand with a stern, impassive expression, "Undress!"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Quinn shivered at his bellow.


    Her thoughts turned to Abigail. ''If he''s merely using Abigail as a threat, without intending to harm her, I could endure this humiliation for her sake...''


    With her eyes closed, Quinn''s hand slowly and shakily reached for her damp sweater.


    Gathering her courage, she prepared herself and began to remove her clothing.

 Chapter 153

    Walter observed with a slight smirk as Quinn methodically shed her garments.


    She then positioned herself facing the wall, as though she yearned to disappear into its cold, unyielding surface. Her raven hair tumbled down her back, its darkness a stark contrast against her porcin skin. "Pants," hemanded.


    Quinn''s spine rigidified at themand. Her fingers, tightly gripping her arms, nched. Her lithe, fragile form trembled within the water''s icy embrace.


    She had relinquished all hope of salvation.


    For she knew, from countless pleas and cries for help, that no one woulde. No one had ever extended a helping hand, not even a mere gesture of sympathy.


    She was no longer the naive child of her past, protected by others.


    Ulysses was gone.


    Alexander had withdrawn his affection.


    Her world had transformed into a barren wastnd, devoid of life and warmth. Even the sole person who had once cared for her as a friend was now under Walter''s control. What was the point of her struggles, her dignity?


    Quinn surrendered. She ceased her resistance. ''Whatever Walter desires, I''llply.


    ''If hemands me to strip, I''ll strip. If he wishes for my death, I''ll meet it head-on.


    ''No one cares for my pitiful existence anyway.


    ''It doesn''t matter.''


    Perhaps she was simply exhausted, or the bathroom''s chill had seeped into her bones, or maybe Walter''s torment had finally broken her.


    Suddenly, the world around her began to spin. A familiar wave of vertigo engulfed her.


    Quinn''s form wavered, and she crumpled onto the cold floor.


    ...


    On the third day since Quinn''s disappearance, Kyle was yet to locate her.


    He paced the vi''s courtyard, anxiety gnawing at his insides.


    While everyone else was consumed by worry, Alexander remained the picture of calm. He continued his work as if nothing had changed, returning home as if Quinn was still present.


    In fact, he seemed even more diligent than before, almost making it a point to return home daily.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    His thoughts remained a mystery to all.


    After pacing for over ten minutes, the vi''s door swung open, revealing Alexander, impably dressed as always.


    Kyle hurried over, but Alexander''s demeanor remained unppable, his gaze distant. After a cursory nce at Kyle, he made his way towards the car.


    Kyle slid into the driver''s seat, casting a nce at Alexander through the rearview mirror.


    Alexander reclined in his seat, his head slightly tilted, eyes closed in rest.


    Kyle dared not disturb the silence. He started the car and drove towards thepany.


    As Alexander walked towards the elevator, Walter appeared. They exchanged a nce and a polite greeting before stepping into the elevator together. Walter took a second look at Alexander, breaking the silence, "Has your pet been found yet?"


    Alexander didn''t look at him, "Why bother finding something that never truly belonged?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Is that so?"


    "One always thinks the outside world is beautiful. Good or bad, one should find out for themselves."


    Walter''s smile wavered momentarily, but it was fleeting. "That''s true. After a taste of hardship, they might find their way back home on their own." Alexander tilted his head slightly, turning to look at Walter.


    Walter met his gaze unflinchingly.


    Neither spoke, and an unusual silence filled the elevator. If not for the numbers shing above, it could have been a still frame.


    "Ding"¡ªthe elevator reached the 20th floor. Alexander stepped out, pausing to say, "Don''t forget to pick up those investment proposals of yours."


    Walter blinked, but before he could respond, the elevator doors closed once more.


    Later that day, Walter visited the CEO''s office to retrieve the two proposals, noticing that Alexander had already signed them. "Does this mean they''re approved?"


    Alexander rubbed his temples, a hint of fatigue creeping into his features. "Just follow up on them promptly. Don''t drag it out."

 Chapter 154

    With a swift nod of affirmation, Walter dered, "I''ll get on it right away." The investment proposals he was dealing with had the potential to tie up nearly half of thepany''s liquid assets. The longer the dy, the greater the risk of loss. If another project encountered problems and the cash flow was cut, thepany could find itself in dire straits.


    Exiting the office, Walter carefully flipped through the documents in his hands. They were identical to the ones given to him two days prior-no alterations, no marks, yet this time they were inexplicably approved. He pondered over this, wondering what it could mean. Had Alexander not reviewed them thoroughly, or was there something else at y? Regardless, the signature was unmistakably Alexander''s. A glint appeared in Walter''s eyes as he left the office, documents in hand.


    Meanwhile, Kyle knocked and entered the office under the pretense of delivering files. However, his true intention was to deliver thetest search reports, a task he approached with hesitation. "Alexander... there''s still no sign of them," he confessed, referring to the two women who had vanished without a trace. Despite his and Oliver''s best efforts, they had had no luck.


    Alexander flipped through the files indifferently. "Then keep looking," hemanded. Kyle, however, was at a loss. "Yes... but we''ve searched everywhere we can think of. I''m not sure where to start now..." He confessed his embarrassment, considering himselfpetent, but this time, he hadn''t made any headway.


    Alexander paused, then shut the file abruptly and looked up at Kyle. "Kyle, you need to learn to think outside the box."


    "Ah... Yes, I understand. I''ll try toe up with something."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "What I mean is," Alexander continued, "what you see with your eyes isn''t always the truth, get it?"


    Kyle was taken aback for a few seconds, not fully understanding Alexander''s words. "Forgive my dullness... Could you enlighten me, Alexander?" he asked.


    Alexander, visibly irritated, tossed the file onto the desk. It wasn''t forceful, but the noise made Kyle shiver. Reclining in his chair, Alexander fixed a piercing stare on Kyle, causing a bead of sweat to trickle down Kyle''s forehead. After a while, Alexander spoke up, "Ever heard the saying that the most dangerous ce can sometimes be the safest? You''ve been fixating on the direction they vanished on the monitor. What do you think you''ll find?"


    It finally clicked for Kyle. "I''ve got it. I''ll look into it again!" he eximed. Alexander, still visibly irritated, tugged at his tie before deciding to yank it off entirely, tossing it into his desk drawer.


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    Once Kyle left the office, he immediately coordinated a search team tob through the downtown area. He had been so fixated on the alley where Abigail and Quinn had disappeared, assuming it had to be their hiding ce. The more he searched, the further off track he got,pletely overlooking the downtown area. It defied logic to think that people on the run would hide out in in sight downtown. What would be the point of running, then? Kyle felt doubtful but didn''t dare contradict Alexander. After searching for days without a single clue, he mused, ''What if Alexander''s guess was right?''


    When Quinn woke up again, she found herself in bed. Opening her eyes, she gazed at the stark white ceiling for a few seconds, recalling the previous events. She then abruptly sat up. It was dark outside, but the dim outlines of buildings were still visible. Walter hadn''t restrained her, and her first instinct was to flee, to escape and find help for Abigail.


    She threw back the covers and discovered she was only wearing an oversized t-shirt, so thin it felt almost nonexistent. Even if she dared to venture out like this, the cold would likely be the death of her. Quinn got out of bed to search for clothes. It was a two-bedroom apartment with the other room locked. She couldn''t open it. There was nothing suitable to wear in the living room either. She checked the bathroom and the bedroom she was in. Finally, it dawned on her-Walter had taken her clothes!


    She was about to check the balcony outside the living room to figure out where she was when the sound of a door opening behind her made her flinch.

 Chapter 155

    Startled, Quinn hastily pulled the curtains shut and turned to face the entrance. Walter sauntered in, a shopping bag in hand, nonchntly tossing his keys onto the television stand. Quinn remained by the sliding doors, her gaze warily following his every move.


    Pausing, Walter''s gaze roamed from Quinn''s face to her chest. In response, Quinn quickly shielded herself with her hands. A chuckle escaped Walter''s lips as he advanced, "What''s the point of covering up?" He leaned in, his voice a teasing whisper, "After all, I was the one who bathed you while you were unconscious."


    Quinn''s eyes widened in shock, her re piercing him. As she turned, their lips brushed against each other unintentionally. The fleeting contact ignited a warmth, a sensation they both felt. Walter, still leaning in, tilted his head slightly, his slightly curled hair falling against his face.


    Their eyes met, so close they could hear each other''s heartbeat and breathing. He slowly lifted his slender fingers to his lips, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Quinn was captivated by his gaze, an involuntary fear washing over her as she pressed back, trapped against the ss door with no escape.


    Her fingers tightened around the curtain, her knuckles turning white. "Are you trying to seduce me?" His voice had lost its former warmth, turning icy. Quinn quickly shook her head, her eyes wide with terror, resembling a startled deer, pitiful yet alluring.


    Walter cupped her chin, his thumb gently caressing and gliding up, hisrge palm cradling her cheek. Her gaze flickered, her eyes following the movement of his hand. She braced herself for a p that seemed inevitable. "Do you seduce Alexander like this, too?" He mused aloud, his fingers tracing her earlobe, weaving through her hair. "No wonder he won''t divorce you."


    Quinn''s lips trembled, her heart lodged in her throat. Suddenly, he gripped the back of her head and mmed it against the ss door. Her head throbbed, her vision ckened, and she slid down the door.


    Walter crouched in front of her, lifting her chin, "Why don''t you answer?" He taunted, "Oh, I forgot, you''re a dummy. But the doctor said you need some stimtion to jog your memory. Does it help? Remember anything?" Quinn''s world spun, her mind buzzing with noise; she could barelyprehend what Walter was saying. With a sigh, Walter ced the shopping bag in herp, "Too bad I can''t stay to y."


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    "Alexander is onto me. He suspects me, or rather, knows it''s me." He continued to talk to himself, "But do you know what he said?" He paused, "Never mind, he doesn''t care about you anyway. Should I say you''re pitiful or just pathetic?" Quinn managed to suppress her pain, only for Walter''s words to slice through her heart. Stiffly, she lifted her head, a trickle of blood snaking through her hair, down her forehead, past her eye, and to the corner of her mouth. It traced a vivid, winding path across her face.


    Walter seemed indifferent to her bleeding, pulling clothes out of the bag, "Put these on. Your friend is waiting outside." At the mention of "friend", Quinn snapped back to reality. Ignoring the pain in her head, she grabbed the clothes and staggered back to the bedroom.


    Walter rose to his feet. This time, he didn''t bother to humiliate Quinn, allowing her to retreat and change.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 156

    Walter''s gaze was transfixed on the bedroom door, his mind seemingly lost in thebyrinth of his thoughts.


    When Quinn finally emerged, freshly dressed, Walter was nowhere to be found. In his ce, her phoney abandoned on the coffee table.


    Quinn''s mind was preupied with thoughts of Abigail, leaving no room for spection about Walter''s potential machinations. She scooped up her phone, opened the door, and stepped out of the apartment. To her surprise, the building was equipped with elevators, and the apartment was on the 32nd floor, the top of the building. She rode the elevator down to the ground floor, but there was no sign of Abigail. On a sudden impulse, Quinn descended to the underground parking garage. As she emerged from the elevator, she scanned the area and her eyesnded on a ck Volkswagen, its headlights piercing the gloom. Summoning her courage, Quinn approached the vehicle. As she drew nearer, she could just make out a figure inside. It was Abigail, bound and gagged with duct tape, her eyes obscured by a blindfold. Without hesitation, Quinn yanked open the car door and mbered inside.


    Themotion stirred Abigail, who responded with muffled sounds of protest that sounded like muffled curses.


    Quinn reached out and gently removed the blindfold from Abigail''s face. Upon recognizing Quinn, Abigail ceased her struggles, her shock rendering her motionless.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Their eyes met in a moment ofplex understanding before Quinn raised her hand to untie the ropes binding Abigail''s wrists.


    Once her hands were free, Abigail wasted no time in tearing the duct tape from her mouth. "Quinn, why are you here?"


    Bending down, Quinn untied the ropes around Abigail''s ankles, then looked up at her, her gestures asking, "What happened?"


    Abigail''s brow furrowed in thought as she began to recount her ordeal. "I received an anonymous text in the middle of the night, warning me that you were in danger and would be dead if I didn''t intervene." Quinn''s eyes flickered with recognition. Walter had told her the same thing.


    Abigail continued her story. "I went to your apartment, thinking it wouldn''t hurt to check, and what if you really were in danger? When I arrived, I found you unconscious in the storage room.


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    "I was furious. I knew I had to get you out of there, away from that man. Even if it meant facing Alexander, I was prepared.


    "That''s why I left him a divorce agreement and took you away from Amber Bay while Alexander was out. I had nned to take you to a clinic.


    "But the informant seemed to know my ns and told me to bring you to him, iming he had a doctor for you. So, I went."


    Abigail recalled driving to the provided location, carrying Quinn, and heading towards the arranged spot. Shortly into their journey, someone struck her from behind. She lost consciousness, and when she woke up, she was bound and blindfolded, plunged into darkness.


    They had only tied her up, nothing more, but she had no idea how long she had been there until Quinn removed the blindfold just moments ago. That was her ordeal.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Abigail clutched Quinn''s hand tightly. "What''s happening? Who''s behind the kidnapping? Did they hurt you?"


    Quinn''s lips pressed together in a firm line, her resolve clear. She had no intention of dragging Abigail deeper into this mess.


    Seeing Quinn''s silence, Abigail''s gaze drifted to the wound on Quinn''s forehead. It was clumsily bandaged, the stain of dried blood still visible along her hairline. "Are you hurt?" Abigail asked with concern.


    Quinn shook her head and signed with her hands, "I just fell, that''s all. I don''t know who the kidnapper is. He texted me that you were down here, so I came looking for you." "That''s strange. What does this person want?" Abigail wondered aloud.


    Quinn looked at her, a whirlwind of emotions in her eyes. Whatever Walter''s n was, if they returned now, Alexander would never forgive Abigail. Suddenly, Quinn tightened her grip on Abigail''s hand and fixed her with a serious stare. After a moment, she gestured decisively, "Abigail, let''s leave Amber Bay."

 Chapter 157

    Abigail found herself staring nkly at Quinn''s extended hand, the weight of the situation hanging heavily in the air around her. She was unable to fullyprehend what was happening.


    "What... did you just suggest?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. As she lifted her gaze to meet Quinn''s eyes, she was almost convinced she had misunderstood.


    With a firm nod, Quinn repeated her gesture, "We''re leaving this ce for good."


    "Are you serious?" Abigail''s anxiety surged like a tidal wave. Quinn had always been reluctant to leave with her in the past; over time, Abigail had resigned herself to the idea that they would always be stuck in this ce. But now, with Quinn suggesting they leave, Abigail felt her nerves tighten like a coiled spring. Quinn nodded gravely, her mind made up. ''There''s no going back. If we do, I don''t know how I''ll face Alexander or convince him to spare Abigail.'' Thest time they had tried to leave, Alexander had done something unspeakable to Abigail. Now, after disappearing for days, Quinn couldn''t bear to imagine the consequences.


    After a moment of silence that seemed to stretch on forever, Abigail clenched Quinn''s hand with a determined gaze, as if making a final decision.


    "Okay, let''s go," she finally said.


    She ruffled her short hair, brushed away the clutter on her clothes, and stepped out of the car, heading straight for the driver''s seat. Noticing the keys were still in the ignition, she paused, struck by a thought-was the car meant for her all along?


    Quinn, now seated in the passenger seat, looked equally puzzled as she saw Abigail staring at the car keys. Abigail looked up at Quinn. "Doesn''t this feel a bit off to you?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Quinn returned her gaze, quietly awaiting Abigail''s reasoning.


    Abigail pointed at the car keys, "Look, the keys are still here. What kind of kidnapper leaves their hostages unharmed and sets them free with their car?"


    "And what about this car? Was it left for us to make our getaway, or for me to leave alone?"


    Hearing this, Quinn sank into thought.


    The truth was, the car didn''t matter. Whether they left or returned, their fate wouldn''t be much better.


    Quinn hesitated and gestured, "Abigail, what''s your take on this?"


    Abigail frowned deeply and let out a sigh. "I don''t know."


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    Thest time, because she had to take Quinn with her, Alexander nearly brought ruin to her family.


    ''Now, I had taken a risk by getting Quinn out... It seems I no longer have a reason to return home. Without me, Alexander would probably not act against the Vanderbilt family out of respect for Oliver. But if I go back, my family might be implicated.''


    As Abigail thought of this, her gaze grew resolute. "Let''s leave."


    Quinn gestured, "Just drop me off at the train station, and we''ll split up from there."


    "Why should we split up?" Abigail didn''t understand.


    Quinn offered a faint smile and gestured, "Let''s meet up somece else. That way, if one of us gets caught, they won''t take both of us back."


    "But if one of us gets caught, it''s not like the other could escape alone, right?" Abigail looked at her skeptically.


    Quinn replied, "If Alexander catches me, I''ll be fine. I''m worried about him catching you."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Abigail frowned, agreeing with the logic in Quinn''s words.


    Quinn kept her smile, looking earnestly into Abigail''s eyes.


    After a moment, Abigail conceded, "Alright."


    She was determined to leave. There was no turning back for her. From the moment she decided to rescue Quinn, she knew there was no ce for her in Amber Bay anymore. Quinn breathed a sigh of relief, her hands hidden in her sleeves now damp with sweat.


    She tilted her head slightly, her expressionplex as she looked at Abigail''s profile, the open car window letting in a breeze that ruffled Abigail''s short hair. There was a hint of reluctance in Quinn''s eyes.


    Abigail was thinking about where they should rendezvous and didn''t notice Quinn''s gaze.

 Chapter 158

    In no time at all, Abigail had escorted herpanion to the bustling train station. The station was teeming with people, a sight that offered Abigail a sense of relief. The dense crowd made locating Quinn akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Thus, Abigail was less worried about Alexander finding Quinn.


    "Quinn, we''ll rendezvous in Hamilton. Be careful on the train and don''t hesitate to call me if anything arises, alright?" Abigail instructed.


    Quinn nodded in agreement, affirming, "I will. Take care on the road."


    "Yeah, I better get moving," Abigail responded, her voiceced with urgency. She dared not linger, fearful that Alexander might catch up. Only once she had left the highway behind would she truly be safe.


    Quinn watched as Abigail''s car faded into the distance, standing still as a statue. She had no intention of leaving. Walter had orchestrated this scenario to frame Abigail, to make everyone believe that it was Abigail who had taken her.


    If Quinn were to apany Abigail, she''d be ying right into Walter''s scheme. If they were caught, the consequences were too dire to contemte. It was of utmost importance that Abigail escaped. Quinn couldn''t bear the thought of her falling into Alexander''s clutches.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Once Alexander found Quinn, his pursuit of Abigail would cease. However, whether she would ever reunite with Abigail was a question that Quinn couldn''t answer.


    She stood on the tform, silent as the world bustled around her. A cold breeze swept through the station as a light rain began to fall, casting a misty veil over themuters. People scurried past, but Quinn remained unmoved, standing alone.


    After some time, she took out her phone and purchased a ticket online. However, without identification, she couldn''t pass through the gate. Quinn settled in the terminal, the continuous overhead announcements her onlypany. Meanwhile, Kyle and his team had arrived at the deserted house toote. He had tracked Quinn''s movements to the building''s first floor and reviewed the surveince footage.


    By the time he arrived, the house was empty. He was toote! Just as Kyle was about to sumb to his frustration, he received a call-Quinn had bought a ticket.


    Quinn remained in the terminal for over two hours. As the night wore on, the crowd inside dwindled. The world around her changed continuously, yet she remained stationary. Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. Quinn slowly lifted her gaze to find Kyle standing before her.


    "Quinn,e back with us," he said, panting slightly. He had run there, fearful she had already departed by train. If she had managed to leave Amber Bay, locating her would have been an even more daunting task.


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    Quinn pursed her lips, stood up, and nodded in agreement. Seeing her agree brought Kyle a sense of relief, but he couldn''t help but warn her, "Alexander is out there."


    Quinn blinked, taken aback, and turned to look at Kyle, who gave her a look that screamed, ''Be careful.'' Her fingers tensed instinctively. She pressed her lips together to suppress her anxiety and walked out.


    Outside, in the train station''s parking lot, the rain had ceased, leaving behind puddles on the ground. She navigated the damp pavement and headed towards the most conspicuous car-a Maybach.


    Quinn approached the vehicle and stood silently beside it. The car window slid down slowly, revealing Alexander''s chiseled, handsome face. He turned his head, his icy gaze drifting her way. In the dimly lit parking lot, his face was partially concealed in shadow, his expression unreadable.


    Quinn''s fingers clenched, her nails digging painfully into her palm. Kyle approached her and reminded her, "Quinn, get in the car."

 Chapter 159

    A two-second silence hung in the air before Quinn reached out, pulling the car door open and sliding into the vehicle.


    Beside her sat Alexander, his gaze so intense it felt as though he w ere about to dissect her with it. Quinn kept her head down, not daring to look up and gauge his mood. To her relief, he remained silent.


    In the driver''s seat, Kyle held his breath, minimizing his presence as he drove steadily. The interior of the car was eerily quiet, so silent that Quinn could hear her own breathing.


    The car moved slowly and smoothly on the way home, with Quinn''s eyes darting to the night scene receding outside the window. With each mile closer to home, her anxiety heightened.


    Forty minutester, they pulled up in front of the vi. Kyle discreetly exited the vehicle and left, giving the two some space. Alexander remained silent.


    Quinn bit her lip and mustered the courage to steal a nce at him. He was leaning back in his seat, his form enveloped in darkness, his silhouette just barely visible. Hesitant, Quinn reached out and tugged on his sleeve. Only then did Alexander turn his head and rest his gaze on her face. Quinn looked down.


    Alexander reached out and lifted her face, asking, "What have you been up to these past three days?"


    Quinn stiffened, memories of those days shing through her mind, her head beginning to throb faintly. She raised her hand to exin, "Abigail and I didn''t do anything. We were both kidnapped by someone..." Alexander cut her off, "I know who it is. I''m asking what you two did."


    Quinn shuddered, and her eyes widened. He knew? He actually knew... Yet for three whole days, he hadn''te for her. And he still had the audacity to ask what Walter and she had done in these days.


    She should be used to it by now-his indifference, his coldness. But his question still cut deep. Quinn felt as if a knife had shed across her heart, leaving her bleeding profusely.


    She forced a smile.


    Sheughed at her own sentimentality, how cheap her years of adoration had turned out to be, and how right Walter was. She really was despicable... "Answer me."


    Quinn looked deep into the face veiled in darkness, swallowing the dull pain in her heart, and gestured with her hand, "What do you think a man and a woman alone would do?" Quinn meticulously pointed out every detail to him. "We''ve done everything."


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    His hand mping her jaw suddenly tightened, and Quinn''s face contorted in pain.


    "Really?" He leaned in closer suddenly, his face emerging from the shadows. "And what exactly did you do? Show me."


    Quinn froze, her dumbstruck gaze locked on his, feeling a sharp pain in her chest as if someone was clutching her heart. It throbbed painfully.


    "I did everything you taught me. Haven''t you seen it all already?" she gestured.


    Alexander''s expression darkened gradually as if storm clouds were gathering, and cracks appeared in his otherwiseposed demeanor.


    "Did you do it voluntarily?"


    Quinn''s lips pressed together. She struggled to muster a response.


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    Seeing his brooding look, she suddenly desired to witness theplete crumbling of his icy facade. He would never allow others to meddle with his possessions, not without facing his wrath.


    She stared him down with a defiant, do-or-die resolution and gave a slight nod.


    To her disappointment, all Quinn heard was a deep inhtion. Then, abruptly, he flung open the car door, grabbed her hand, and yanked her out.


    Quinn stumbled out of the car with his forceful pull, missed her footing, and crashed heavily to the ground, her knees ached in pain.


    Without ncing back, he continued, dragging her along. Quinn scrambled to her feet, staggering to keep up with his stride.


    Alexander dragged her into the bathroom and tossed her into the bathtub.


    There was water in the tub, now cold and uninviting.


    Before she could get up, arge hand seized her jaw and pushed her back down.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

 Chapter 160

    The icy water rushed into her nostrils and down her throat, the sensation of suffocation wrapping around her as her lungs strained against the pressure. Quinn, driven by instinct, thrashed about in the water, her desperate kicks and sshes sending waves skittering across the bathroom floor.


    After a brief, frenzied struggle, Alexander''s hand closed around the cor of her clothes, yanking her out of the tub. She gasped for air, water gushing from her mouth and nose in a desperate expulsion.


    "Tell me, did you do it willingly?" Alexander''s voice cut through the air again. Quinn opened her eyes, the water cascading down her face blurring her vision.


    "Tell me!" he pressed, his voice insistent. Quinn gave a nod in response.


    As if he had anticipated her response, Alexander pushed her back into the water. This time, Quinn offered no resistance. Shey there, allowing the cold water to envelop her, her arms dangling lifelessly at her sides. She had never been brave enough to end it all, but perhaps Alexander would do her this favor.


    ''Death seems weing. It means freedom. No more burdening others. No more pain. Someone like me... should have died long ago.'' Quinn thought, her eyes closing as the memories of the years shed through her mind. As the suffocating sensation peaked, her consciousness began to blur.


    Suddenly, Alexander yanked her out of the water again.


    As her chestpressed, she spat out a mouthful of water. Alexander released his grip on her, leaving Quinn draped over the edge of the bathtub, coughing desperately. She was soaked from head to toe, water dripping from her sleeves onto the floor.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Alexander was not in a much better state. Quinn''s thrashing had caused water to ssh all over him, leaving his clothes stained with varying shades of wetness. He shrugged off his coat and tossed it to the floor beside him. Crouching down in front of Quinn, he lifted her chin, "Now tell me, did you do it willingly?"


    Quinn tried to smile, tugging at the corners of her mouth, but even after several attempts, she couldn''t muster it.


    Why did it matter so much to him whether she did it willingly or not? What difference did it make, whether it was her choice or not? He should have known what might happen when he chose not to look for her. But he didn''t look for her, did he? What was he doing now? ming her for not remaining chaste just for him, for making a spectacle of herself in front of Walter?


    Quinn didn''t even have the strength to lift her hand now. Her head was spinning, and the whole world seemed to be whirling around her. She felt cold, bone-chillingly cold, but it seemed nothingpared to the void inside her. She looked at Alexander and nodded again.


    His gaze locked onto her, a storm brewing in his eyes, ready to burst at any moment. The next second, he threw her back into the water.


    "Get yourself cleaned up!" Without another nce, he stormed out.


    Lying in the icy water, Quinn felt the numbing coldness was almost indistinguishable from ice. She looked at the closed bathroom door, her hair dripping, water trailing down her neck into her cor, the chill seeping into her pores and prating her bone marrow.


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    Quinn blinked, closed her eyes, and slowly sunk beneath the surface. Her clothes and hair flowed out around her. Dying was not difficult after all. She closed her eyes, allowing the water to flood her nostrils, slowly feeling her heart and lungs fill with suffocating pressure.


    Quinn tried to ignore the difort in her body, reminiscing instead about the good times.


    She remembered Alexander holding her hand on their way to school, his indulgent smile, the way he would ruffle her hair and tell her to eat more, saying he didn''t like his woman too thin. Those were sweet nothings, and yet she fell for them every time.


    How foolish.


    A bitter smile crept onto Quinn''s lips.


    ''So, this is how my life would end... All over.'' She slowly sank to the bottom of the tub.


    Alexander stood outside for a few minutes. Hearing no movement, he furrowed his brow. Suddenly, he kicked the bathroom door open.

 Chapter 161

    Quinn was in the throes of a fever. Her temperature had skyrocketed to an rming 108.5 degrees, leaving the doctor utterly horrified. In a desperate scramble, they managed to lower her fever using abination of physical cooling techniques and fever-reducing medication, throwing every possible solution at the problem.


    Alexander, meanwhile, stood quietly to the side, his gaze fixated on her wrist. A ring of broken skin encircled it, blisters creating a stark contrast against the pale flesh. Deep indentations from a tight grip were clearly visible, a silent testament to her ordeal.


    After two hours of relentless work, the doctor finally saw the temperature drop on the thermometer. Exhausted, he slumped into a chair, "Mr. Kennedy, the fever has subsided. It''s now 102 degrees. We''ll check again in the middle of the night to ensure it doesn''t re up. If it remains stable, she should be out of the woods."


    Alexander nodded in acknowledgment before asking, "Does she have any other injuries?"


    The doctor paused, taken aback. In the rush to cool Quinn down, he hadn''t checked for other injuries. "I''ll do a thorough check now," he said, his gaze immediately drawn to the wounds on Quinn''s wrist.


    He gently lifted her hand and pulled back the nkets to inspect her ankles. "This... It appears Quinn was restrained. These marks suggest she was struggling against bindings. The rope has nearly cut into her skin."


    He continued, "There are bruises, too. I''m not certain if they''re from being hit or from a fall. They look like the result of a tumble."


    Alexander remained silent, his gaze fixed on the person in bed. The doctor continued his examination, "There''s a cut on her head and some bleeding at the scalp. It seems her hair had been violently pulled." His voice trailed off, the implication of such torture weighing heavily on him. He nced back at Alexander, whose expression was unreadable, but his eyes held aplex mix of emotions. "Mr. Kennedy..." "Make sure she gets proper care, otherwise... it''s on you," Alexander interjected, his words heavy with unspoken threats. The doctor, taken aback, hastily stood up and fumbled with his medical kit. "Y-Yes, I understand," the doctor stammered nervously.


    Alexander sat nearby, watching the doctor like a hawk. Even when there was nothing left to do, the doctor had to appear busy, so he checked Quinn''s pulse, pressing on her wrist.


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    But the pulse check was rming. Quinn''s condition was far worse internally than she appeared. She seemed hollowed out, as if she''d recently had a miscarriage and failed to recuperate properly, allowing variousplications to creep in unchallenged.


    She now looked like a mere shell of herself. The doctor nced cautiously at Alexander.


    "Speak."


    Alexander''s abruptmand startled the doctor, making him withdraw his hand, the unspoken thought "This doesn''t bode well for her longevity" swallowed down in silence.


    He feared what Alexander might do if he couldn''t cure her. The doctor spun a little white lie. "Quinn''s just got some scratches, nothing serious. She''s in pretty good shape." Alexander eyed him intently, as if trying to see right through the doctor. After a moment, he diverted his gaze down to his phone, which had just started to ring.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    It was Getty. "Alexander, you gotta save me. Some producer''s trying to screw me over! The jerk, he doesn''t even know who I am."


    "Hand him the phone."


    "I can''t, I''m in the bathroom. I think I drank something sketchy... I''m feeling all messed up. You have toe get me..."


    Alexander nced at Quinn, resting in her hospital bed, then after a somber pause, he said, "Text me the address."


    Getty''s location came through shortly after. Alexander stood up and made his way out. At the door, he looked back at the doctor and said firmly, "Take good care of her." The doctor nodded nkly.

 Chapter 162

    Without a backward nce, Alexander departed. The doctor released a weary sigh, sinking into a chair. His gaze fell upon Quinn, who remained unconscious, and a look of pity crossed his face.


    Upon reaching the club, Alexander headed straight for thedies'' room, where he ced a call to Getty. A few minutester, Getty emerged, her steps unsteady. The sight of Alexander brought a rush of relief, and she flung herself into his arms, tears welling in her eyes.


    "Alexander, thank God you''re here," she sobbed. "I might not have made it back tonight without you. If you hadn''te, I''d be too ashamed to face you again. I''d have rather died."


    Alexander held her upright, his voice stern. "Stop talking nonsense. I''ll take you home."


    Clinging to his neck, Getty asked in a coy tone, "Are you afraid of me dying?"


    Alexander looked down at her. Getty''s makeup was impably done, her lips a vibrant red. She looked enchanting yet not gaudy, like a mischievous fairy. But all Alexander said was, "Don''t wear such heavy makeup when you''re outte at night."


    Getty''s mood deted at his words. She buried her face in his chest. "Alexander, I feel awful."


    "Stop fussing," he replied, asking, "Where did you park?"


    Without waiting for an answer, he carried her to the parking lot and gently ced her in the back seat. As he was about to walk away, Getty impulsively grabbed his tie and pulled him back. "Alexander..." Her gaze was intense, her eyes bewitchingly maic.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Alexander remained impassive. Gathering her courage, Getty leaned in closer, but Alexander firmly grasped her hand and pulled his tie free.


    "Alexander!" Getty''s heart pounded in her chest.


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    Alexander had already stepped out of the car, adjusting his tie. His eyes held a warning. "Don''t stoop to such low tactics."


    Having made his point, he shut the car door sharply and moved to the driver''s seat.


    Gettyy in the back, her mind a whirl. ''It''s true that the producer was interested in me, but he hadn''t slipped me anything-it was all my doing... I just wanted to use the opportunity to get to Alexander, and I had nned to let the producer take the fall if needed.''


    She hadn''t expected Alexander to see right through her. The realization filled Getty with a mix of hatred, annoyance, and most of all, heartache.


    To others, it might seem unbelievable. Alexander was always doting on her, holding her close, showering her with public affection, and even asionally staying over at her ce. He would turn down other women, saying his girlfriend would get upset. Getty would spitefully turn them away, and he would indulge her every time.


    Even when it came to high societydies, Getty had the audacity to hit them, and Alexander wouldter personally apologize. To outsiders, he seemed utterly smitten with her.


    But Getty knew the truth-over the years, he hadn''tid a hand on her. Not once.


    Although she knew that he loved no one but himself, Getty couldn''tprehend how much, if any, he cared for her aside from his self-love.


    Perhaps it was the alcohol hitting her, but Getty couldn''t help but start crying in the back seat. Her tears turned into a tantrum.


    "Alexander, do you even love me?" she cried. "Why are you so cold to me?! I hate you. You''re such a jerk! Falling for you was the worst luck of my life!"


    As she sobbed and pounded on the back of his seat, Alexander remained unmoved, driving calmly as she wept behind him.


    "Say something..." Getty''s crying turned to desperation. "Do you love me?"

 Chapter 163

    Throughout the ordeal, Alexander remained silent.


    In the backseat, Getty squirmed, her body still reeling from the effects of the spiked drink. She asionally let out a groan or whimper, a sound that would have unsettled most men. But Alexander was different. He was stoic, his demeanor unaffected by the chaos unfolding in the back of his car.


    He drove them to the hospital. Upon arrival, he exited the car, opened the back door, and gently lifted Getty into his arms.


    "Alexander... I feel sick," Getty murmured, her wrist curling around his neck as she pressed her body against his. Her lips sought his in a desperate attempt forfort.


    "Do you love me...


    "You don''t have to take responsibility... I want you...


    "I don''t need anything else, just you..."


    Alexander''s brow furrowed at her words, and he promptly ced her back into the car. He swiftly removed his tie and used it to bind her hands together.


    Getty was momentarily stunned by his actions. But before she could protest, Alexander had scooped her up again and was striding swiftly toward the hospital.


    She struggled against his hold at first, but her attempts to break free were futile. Frustrated, she turned her head and bit down on Alexander''s arm.


    Alexander''s face darkened, his patience wearing thin. "Getty, cut it out, or so help me, I''ll drop you!"


    Getty didn''t release her bite, but she blinked up at him, her grip loosening considerably.


    ...


    The following day, Quinn awoke in a state of confusion. Her eyes fluttered open to a pristine white ceiling, her gaze unfocused.


    Her mind was foggy, struggling to distinguish between dreams and reality. Gradually, the events of the previous day began to resurface, and her expression subtly shifted. "Quinn, you''re awake?" The doctor''s delighted voice filled the room.


    She turned her neck to face him.


    The doctor rushed to her side, extending a thermometer towards her. "Let''s check your temperature to see if your fever''s broken, shall we?"


    Quinn''s eyes flickered as she attempted to lift her arm, but she felt utterly drained. She didn''t have the strength to even raise her hand.


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    Noticing her struggle, the doctor hesitated before cing the thermometer by her mouth. "Just hold this in your mouth, then. Oral readings can be a bit off, but it''ll do."


    As he nudged the thermometer closer, Quinn managed a weak smile and opened her mouth to hold it.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    She watched the doctor bustling about, a fleeting sense of daze mixed with loss washing over her. She had thought she might actually die. Yet, here she was, still alive and subject to the trials of life. Quinn closed her eyes, surrendering to the heaviness in her head. She gave up on trying to think.


    After a few minutes, the doctor retrieved the thermometer from her mouth, examining it closely before letting out a sigh of relief.


    "Thank goodness, the fever has subsided. We''ve administered medication, so we''ll have to keep an eye on you just in case," he murmured, shaking the thermometer and returning it to the medical kit. He took a seat beside her, his tone cautious as he asked, "Quinn, if you don''t mind me asking, have you had a miscarriage before?"


    Quinn turned her head slightly toward the doctor, taken aback by his question.


    "I mean no offense, just wondering. You''re extremely weak right now, and it''s crucial for you to recuperate properly," the doctor quickly added.


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    "Otherwise..." He trailed off, avoiding drawing any conclusions. His statement was left vague, "It could lead toplicationster on."


    Quinn remained silent, her gaze fixed on him.


    The doctor appeared quite young, probably in histe twenties. He had a full head of hair and wore ck-framed sses. His timid demeanor gave him an endearing quality. After a moment, Quinn wriggled a hand out from under the covers and made a gesture. "Do you understand signnguage?"


    The doctor stared nkly at her hand, finally admitting with embarrassment, "Quinn...I don''t understand."


    Her hand fell back, and she made no further movements.


    The doctor scratched his head, his expression betraying neither surprise nor any other emotion, which Quinn found somewhat disconcerting.


    "Oh yeah, your phone was buzzing all night. Looked like you got some messages. You want to check it?"

 Chapter 164

    The doctor extended his hand, offering the phone to Quinn. She epted it, her fingers lightly brushing against his as she took the device. Unlocking it, her eyes quickly scanned the screen, confirming her suspicions. A string of messages from Abigail filled the disy.


    Abigail''s words were filled with concern and curiosity, questioning the duration of Quinn''s journey to Hamilton, her current location, and the reason behind her silence. She also inquired if anything untoward had urred.


    Quinn meticulously read each message, her lips pressing together in a tight line. She began to craft a response to Abigail.


    "Forgive me, Abigail. I''ve returned home. I won''t be journeying to Hamilton."


    Meanwhile, Abigail remained at the rest stop, her eyes scanning the message. She paused, a spark of anger igniting within her.


    Abigail responded, "What do you mean?"


    Quinn could almost feel the heat radiating from Abigail''s words. She closed her eyes momentarily, gathering her thoughts. When she opened them again, her fingers danced across the screen, "I''vee to realize that I can''t abandon him." "I''m sorry, Abigail," she typed, her heart heavy with regret. "Please, take care of yourself. If the opportunity arises, I''ll apologize in person."


    Having sent the messages, Quinn''s hand dropped to her side, her strength seemingly drained. A veil of tears blurred her vision.


    She had yearned to leave Amber Bay, to explore the world alongside Abigail, whether as a nomad or a world traveler. Anything seemed preferable to a lifetime tethered to Alexander.


    For two decades, her emotions, her life, every passing year had been consumed by him. His presence was inescapable.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    She was Alexander''s wife, a dummy of The Kennedys, their adopted child, the pitiful orphan. She was everything except herself.


    Amber Bay felt like an invisible prison, chaining her to Alexander''s side, forever barring her from the outside world. Yet, she was trapped, caged with no means of escape.


    She could never justify crippling Abigail''s freedom for her own liberation. Abigail could soar on her own, exploring the world on Quinn''s behalf.


    Abigail stared at the message for a long time, unsure of how to respond. Eventually, sheposed a reply to Quinn.


    "Forget it. It''s your choice. I don''t me you. Just remember to take care of yourself. The path you''ve chosen is yours alone to tread from now on."


    With a flick of her thumb, she sent the message and tossed her phone onto the passenger seat, her irritation palpable. She would return eventually, but that could be several years away. Several years could change everything beyond recognition.


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    As Quinn read the message, a sharp sting pricked her nose, and tears began to fall. For a moment, she questioned whether she had saved Abigail or if Alexander had deliberately driven Abigail away. His sudden appearance after Abigail''s departure, following a three-day absence, seemed too coincidental.


    Quinn didn''t want to dwell on it-she couldn''t bear to. She knew she couldn''t outmaneuver Alexander, especially when outsmarting Walter seemed an impossible task.


    The doctor watched her, his heart heavy with sympathy. He sighed, unable toprehend why Quinn was crying so destely. He attempted to offerfort, "Quinn, don''t cry. It''s not good for your health."


    "You need to cheer up. It''ll aid your recovery. If not, your condition will worsen," he added, his voice tinged with worry.


    Quinn turned her gaze to the doctor, her tears streaming down her cheeks and soaking the pillow. Her destion tugged at his heart, leaving him wondering how someone could fall into such despair. He blurted out, "You can''t continue to mistreat yourself. It will shorten your life."


    Just then, the door swung open, and Alexander entered.

 Chapter 165

    The sound was not particrly loud, but it was sufficient to startle them both. Quinn found herself watching as Alexander made his entrance, his weariness evident in every step. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him, the man she had once yearned for. Now, however, his mere presence made it difficult for her to draw breath. A shortened life was, after all, what she desired most, a means to escape her daily torment.


    The doctor, feeling a pang of guilt, wondered if Alexander had overheard his earlier warning. He rose awkwardly from his seat, addressing the neer, "Mr. Kennedy." Alexander''s approach brought with it a palpable chill. He took a seat beside Quinn, asking, "How is she?"


    "The fever has subsided. If it doesn''t return tonight, she should be fine," the doctor informed him.


    Alexander gave a nod of acknowledgment, "You may leave us."


    Relieved, the doctor hastily made his exit, leaving them alone in the room.


    The silence that followed was thick, heavy. Quinn found herself staring at Alexander, her heart heavy with suppressed emotions that weighed on her like a stone. Alexander nced down at her, reaching out to touch her forehead. Quinn, however, turned her head away.


    His gaze darkened, but he persisted, cing his cool hand on her forehead. His touch was not icy, but it held the coolness of marble. "Quinn," he murmured softly.


    She stiffened, her lips pressed together, refusing to meet his gaze.


    Alexander gently cupped her face, turning it toward him, "I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have acted that wayst night. Can you forgive me?"


    Quinn bit her lip, lifting her gaze to meet his. There was an uncharacteristic gentleness in his eyes, a reminder of better times. But it was just an illusion. It wouldn''t be long before he reverted to his cold, ferocious self. He was merely trying to coax his pet, which had nearly slipped from his control, back into his arms.


    Alexander''s hand slipped under the covers, gripping hers, as he whispered soothingly, "Whatever happened between you and him over these past three days, I won''t ask about it again."


    "But whatever he did to you, I''ll make him pay, piece by piece, okay?"


    Quinn''s lips pursed, her eyes flickering, attempting to read something, anything, in his face. But he was too good at hiding. She couldn''t discern a thing.


    "Come on, don''t be angry, okay?" He pinched her hand gently, leaning in to caress her cheek.


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    His gentleness always had a way of making her heart surrender. She was so easily mollified a few words from him could have her wagging her tail back into his favor. He had a firm grip on her, always. Because he was an expert at kindling the illusion that he loved her.


    As she looked into his seemingly sincere eyes, all the grievances and resentments that had been building up inside her burst forth, and she began to sob, her shoulders shaking.


    With a gesture of her hand, she asked, "Why... why didn''t youe to save me?"


    Alexander watched her hand, and suddenly, he fell silent.


    Quinn held out her hand, realizing she didn''t need to ask any more questions. His silence was the loudest answer.


    Slowly, her hand dropped, and disappointment crept into her eyes. The heaviness in her heart pressed down, sinking swiftly into the abyss.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Yet, Alexander took her hand and sighed softly, uttering three words, "I''m sorry."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! ""I''m sorry"... What an ironic trio of words, as if by saying them, everything could just dissipate like smoke.


    ''As if upon hearing them, I would be petty and narrow-minded if I don''t move past it.''


    Quinn withdrew her hand, signaling, "I''m tired."


    Her movement rendered Alexander silent.


    He looked at her with aplex expression, and after a moment, he said, "Eat something before you sleep."


    Quinn shook her head and covered herself up with the nket.


    Alexander wasn''t asking her. He stood up, left the bedroom, and, within twenty minutes, returned with a bowl of porridge.


    He uncovered Quinn''s head from the nkets, "Come on, eat up."


    Still, Quinn shook her head.

 Chapter 166

    Alexander was there, providing a steady support for Quinn as he helped her sit up. He gently brought a Sebastianful of porridge to her lips, his eyes filled with concern. However, Quinn''s lips remained tightly sealed, her refusal to eat evident in her stubborn demeanor.


    "Come on, open up," Alexander coaxed, his voice soft yet persistent. Quinn, however, turned her head away, her resolve unwavering.


    "Quinn," Alexander''s voice suddenly took on a more menacing tone as he called her name, "it seems this porridge isn''t to your taste." His words took her by surprise, her eyes widening slightly in shock.


    He continued, his voice as cold as ice, "If that''s the case, perhaps this Chef no longer needs to keep his hands." Quinn turned her head back towards him, her eyes wide with disbelief. His gaze was icy, devoid of any humor.


    Her eyes met his, their intensity matching his own. If this had happened before, she would have brushed it off as him trying to scare her. But after the incident with Abigail, she no longer doubted Alexander''s way of handling things. "Do you want some?" Alexander asked her onest time.


    After a few moments of silence, Quinn finally gave in. She lifted her head and leaned forward, epting the Sebastianful of porridge. A look of relief washed over Alexander''s face, and he gently fed her, a slight smile ying on his lips. Quinn quietly ate the porridge, methodically emptying the bowl Sebastianful by Sebastianful.


    Once she was done, Alexander encouraged her to lie down and get some rest. Quinn rolled over, her back to him, her eyes wide open. Sleep was elusive, her mind too preupied with thoughts.


    Her gaze fixed on the window, the droplets of rain creating a grey veil over the sky. Despite it being daytime, the bedroom light was on, casting reflections on the window pane. She caught sight of Alexander sitting beside her, his gaze fixed on her. Quinn closed her eyes, no longer wanting to look.


    It wasn''t long before Alexander stepped out, the sound of the door closing prompting her to open her eyes again. For the next several days, Alexander checked on her morning, noon, and night, ensuring she ate and took her medication. Once her health was nearly restored, his visits became less frequent.


    Alexander continued his usual routine at the office, no different from before. Crossing paths with Walter by the elevator, he was greeted by a friendly smile. "Alexander, did you find your pet?" Walter asked.


    Alexander pocketed his hands and, quirking his lips in a half-smile, nced sideways at him. "Since when are you so concerned about someone else''s pet?" The jab was thinly veiled, and Walter feigned ignorance, "I''m not. I''m just worried about you."


    "It''s tough, Alexander, working hard every day and also stressing over a pet. I would hate to see it wear you down." Walter continued.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


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    "Is that so?" Alexander chuckled. "Then I guess I owe you thanks."


    "No need for that. It''s what I should do." Walter replied.


    "You should take care of yourself, too. Those investment projects must be keeping you busy," Alexander said, changing the topic.


    Walter was caught off guard, and his smile stiffened for a moment. "It''s manageable, not overly busy."


    "Good to hear. I''ll leave them in your capable hands then." Alexander said, ending the conversation.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Walter nodded, "Appreciate the trust, Alexander."


    Alexander gave a small smile and said nothing more. They entered the elevator, riding up in silence.


    As soon as Alexander stepped into his office, Ruby knocked and came in. "Alexander, Quinn hasn''t been in for almost half a month. It''s strange, since it was Kyle who introduced her. When I asked Kyle, he knew nothing." Without looking up from the documents he had picked up, Alexander replied, "Just give her a leave of absence."


    Ruby paused, then nodded, "Okay. For how long?"


    "One month."


    "Are you serious? That''s quite a lengthy leave. It''s againstpany policy, and since she''s the newbie, others might object."

 Chapter 167

    In the midst of his actions, Alexander halted, his gaze shifting upwards to meet Ruby''s. She stood there, the picture ofposure, her lips curved into a professional smile as though she were merely navigating through routine business affairs. "What''s your opinion on this?" Alexander challenged her.


    Ruby blinked, her response measured and calm. "Alexander, I was merely bringing potential issues to your attention. The final decision, of course, lies in your hands."


    "Then you''ll follow my instructions."


    "Very well." Ruby gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. "I''ll proceed with granting her an additional month''s leave."


    "You''re dismissed."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Ruby turned on her heel to leave the room, but not before casting a final nce back at Alexander. His eyes were lowered, his attention once again absorbed by the document in his hands. Silently, she closed the door behind her. Not long after Ruby''s departure, Kyle entered the room to update Alexander on the situation with Leon.


    "Leon''s embezzlement has been confirmed. He''s returned a portion of the money and has been sentenced to seven years," he reported.


    "Anything else?"


    Kyle hesitated before adding, "There are rumors circting around the office that Quinn was my recruit, and I..."


    Kyle''s intention was to give Alexander a heads-up, hoping to avoid any scandalous rumors that could potentially lead him down the same path as Leon.


    "I understand. You''re dismissed," Alexander said, not even bothering to look up at him.


    Relieved, Kyle nodded and made his exit.


    Outside, he ran into Ruby, and they exchanged a few pleasantries.


    "Kyle, Alexander has asked me to process an additional month of leave for Quinn."


    "Thanks for that," Kyle replied, his tone indifferent.


    Ruby''s gaze lingered on his face, a smile ying on her lips. "You''re wee. Does this mean you owe me a favor now?"


    Kyle returned her smile. "Of course. If there''s ever anything I can assist you with, don''t hesitate to ask."


    "That''s good to know. I won''t hesitate when the timees."


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    Ruby had her answer and felt no need to inquire further. After a few more polite exchanges, they parted ways, each returning to their respective duties.


    Meanwhile, Quinn was gradually recovering, visited by her doctor every three days for check-ups, spending most of her time in a state of semi-consciousness. The doctor finished his examination and gave a nod of approval.


    "Quinn, your cold is almostpletely gone, and your wounds are healing nicely. However, you''re still weak, so you must avoid catching another cold." "Given your current condition, the consequences could be severe."


    Quinn looked up at the doctor, nodding before presenting him with a piece of paper.


    On it were tworge words, "Thank you."


    Every time the word "Doctor" was mentioned, it brought a smile to his face-not in mockery, but in endearment. He found something quite charming about the way Quinn held up the pieces of paper.


    The desk was strewn with several notes, phrases like "thank you," "you''re wee," and "sorry for the trouble"mon courtesies of everyday interaction.


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    "Quinn, try to stay positive, alright? A good mood can do wonders for your recovery," he advised.


    Quinn pursed her lips, her gaze shifting to the television.


    The screen was shing entertainment news, boasting about a show with a two-billion-dor production budget, an all-star supporting cast, and Getty-the lead-garnering all the attention amidst the gxy of celebrities. Alexander was certainly generous with Getty. While Quinn could barely scrape together enough money for cab fare to the hospital, he was investing billions into Getty''s showbiz career. Getty was out there living the dream, acting out, causing trouble without a care in the world.


    In stark contrast, Quinn was stuck doing menial tasks, washing dishes, and enduring disdainful looks at thepany.


    The doctor''s words only served to upset Quinn further. After some thought, he pulled out his phone and opened a video. "Hey, Quinn, take a look at this."


    Her eyes moved from the screen to his phone.


    The video showed aption of funny pet antics, including a dancing puppy-it was unclear whether it was edited, but it was certainly entertaining. As she watched the videos, the corners of Quinn''s mouth involuntarily lifted into a small smile.

 Chapter 168

    There was a certain charm to adorable things; they had a knack for soothing the soul.


    "I''ll send this ount to you. It''s full of things like this for you to watch," he generously offered.


    Quinn, in response, produced her phone and they promptly followed each other on social media. After the ount was shared, he rose to his feet, dering, "Well, I should be on my way now."


    As he prepared to depart, Quinn picked up another note that bore a simple "Goodbye" and acknowledged him with a nod. He responded with a warm smile, collected his medical bag, and made his exit.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn began to scroll through the videos, feeling the weight in her heart lighten slightly. A thought crossed her mind, prompting her to message Nichs to inquire about Juliet''s situation. However, her message was met with silence; Nichs did not respond.


    With a sigh, she lowered her gaze once more, immersing herself in the videos sent by the doctor. She was so engrossed that she didn''t notice the arrival of another visitor until a shadow loomed over her. Startled, she looked up and her hand jerked in surprise, causing her phone to tumble onto the floor. Instinctively, she recoiled, her eyes wide with rm. The visitor was none other than Walter.


    "What''s troubling you, Quinn?" Walter''s voice was smooth and polite. If it weren''t for his past cruelties-hisughter as he mmed her head against a door-she might have mistaken him for someone else.


    She clutched the arm of the sofa, her shoulders trembling. "Are you not feeling well?" Walter asked, his tone soft. He reached out to touch Quinn''s forehead, but the action startled her so much that she forcefully pushed his hand away and rolled off the sofa.


    Ignoring the pain in her knees, she scrambled to her feet and dashed into the nearest room. Walter watched her flee, a chuckle escaping his lips at her rabbit-like retreat.


    Quinn rushed into the room, locked the door behind her, and leaned against it, panting heavily. Walter, however, made no move to follow her. His attention was diverted by the return of Alexander.


    He turned to see the neer standing in the doorway. "Alexander, it seems I''ve arrived just in time."


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on him briefly before shifting to the TV, which was still broadcasting the news. Quinn, however, was nowhere in sight.


    "What do you want?" Alexander asked, his face devoid of emotion.


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    "It''s nothing much. I''ve been trying to reach you, but your phone''s always busy. I had no choice but toe here in person."


    "And?"


    "I wanted to discuss some investment opportunities with you. You know..." Walter began, but was interrupted by the ringing of Alexander''s phone.


    Alexander pulled out his phone, nced at the caller ID, and then shot Walter a quick look. Walter''s face remained impassive, his perpetual smirk giving nothing away.


    Alexander answered the call in front of him. Wayne''s furious voice came through, "Where are you right now?"


    "At home."


    "I don''t care where you are. Get back here immediately, do you hear me? Right now!"


    Alexander responded calmly, seemingly unaffected by Wayne''s anger, "Alright."


    "Was that your dad?"


    After hanging up, Alexander grunted a confirmation, "Walter, it looks like you''ll have toe back with me." "What happened?"


    Alexander''s mouth curved into a sardonic smile, "Isn''t it obvious? No need to pretend. Let''s go."


    Walter pondered for a moment before following him. As he did so, he seemed to sense something and looked back at the room. The door was ajar, with a pair of startled eyes peeking through the gap. As Walter turned his head back, the door hurriedly shut. Walter raised an eyebrow and met Alexander''s probing stare as he withdrew his gaze.

 Chapter 169

    "Alexander, why don''t you ever lock your doors?" Walter queried, his question seeming like a casual afterthought. Alexander merely regarded him in silence for a few long moments before finally responding, "Perhaps you should start worrying about your own security." With that cryptic statement, he turned on his heel and made his way to a car waiting at the doorstep. Walter''s smile faded incrementally as he trailed behind Alexander.


    Quinn, who had been concealed behind the door, held her breath until the sound of the departing cars had faded into the distance. Only then did she dare to carefully open the door and step out. Walter had been casting a dark, ominous shadow over her psyche for days, his mere presence enough to send shivers of fear coursing down her spine.


    Meanwhile, Alexander made his way back to the Kennedy Residence. Inside, Freya and Kaitlyn were waiting, their tension palpable in the living room. The moment they caught sight of Alexander, Kaitlyn strode up to him, her hand reaching out to grasp his arm. "Alexander," she greeted him. He responded with a slight nod, then asked, "Where''s Dad?"


    "In the study. But be warned, he''s not in a good mood," Kaitlyn cautioned. Alexander grunted in acknowledgment, his demeanor nonchnt as he made his way to the study. He knocked once before entering.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Inside, Wayne stood with his back to the door, his gaze lost in the view provided by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Despite being in his sixties, his hair silvered by age, his physique was still robust, his posture as straight as a soldier''s. Alexander approached him, breaking the silence with a simple, "Dad."


    Wayne turned around, his eyes aze with fury behind his reading sses. His gazended sharply on Alexander. "Look at the mess you''ve made! Look at it!" With a sudden movement, he thrust a stack of papers against Alexander''s chest, causing them to scatter all over the floor.


    Alexander remained unfazed. He bent down, picked up a page, and quickly scanned the information. "This is one of Walter''s projects," he noted.


    Wayne red at him, his anger barely contained. "He ims you approved it. Is this some sort of game between you two? Who am I supposed to hold ountable for this disaster?"


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    Alexander met his father''s gaze unflinchingly. "I did approve it, but the project proposal was sound. The issue must lie in its execution."


    Wayne, now seething, nced toward the door before lowering his voice to convey his true thoughts. "A project of this magnitude, and you let him handle it alone? What were you thinking?" Despite Walter having been a part of the team for two years, Wayne had never fully trusted him. And now, the current events seemed to validate his suspicions.


    "These investments are spread across various firms, and now what? They''re either going bankrupt, closing down, or even under investigation. No firm is without fault, and the coincidences are too numerous to ignore."


    "I''m sorry, Dad. It was my oversight. Walter has always beenpetent since he joined, so I didn''t intervene. I trusted him too much," Alexander admitted, his eyes downcast, pretending to be remorseful.


    Wayne was beyond upset, pacing in front of the window, his agitation clear. After a few steps, he turned back to face Alexander. "What now? Can we even recover the money?"


    Alexander responded, "Well, that''s up to Walter."


    Wayne snorted, "Walter, that bastard. Let me tell you, Alexander, I suspect he''s using the project to siphon funds out of thepany. You have to get that money back from him! If thepany''s cash flow copses, the whole Kennedy Enterprise will be in crisis. Do you understand?"


    Alexander nodded slightly, "I understand, Dad."

 Chapter 170

    "Excellent. We mustn''t confront him just yet. I need you to uncover proof of his fraudulent activities andpel him to return the stolen funds," Wayne instructed. "Understood," Alexander replied.


    With a dismissive wave of his hand, Wayne said, "That will be all. Bring Walter to me."


    Alexander acknowledged with a slight nod before turning to leave the room.


    Meanwhile, Walter was downstairs engaged in conversation with Freya. Upon seeing Alexander descend the staircase, they both rose to their feet. Freya was particrly anxious, fearing that Walter might have been expelled or, even worse, imprisoned. Such an event would shatter her romantic fantasies.


    "What''s going on, Alex?" Freya inquired.


    "Walter, Dad wants to see you in the study," Alexander ryed.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Freya''s heart fluttered with apprehension as she clutched Walter''s hand. "Are you certain everything''s okay?" she asked. She had identally overheard their father''s phone conversation earlier, which had left her feeling uneasy. Walter offered her a reassuring pat on the hand. "It''s nothing. I''ll be right back, don''t worry." With that, he withdrew his hand and ascended the staircase.


    "Alex, you must help Walter. He''s been nothing but loyal to thepany for years, never faltering in his work, as you well know," Freya implored, her eyes pleading.


    Alexander nced at her impassively. "Don''t worry, he won''t be in trouble for now."


    "For now? What does that mean?" Freya pressed.


    "Exactly what it sounds like," Alexander responded cryptically before briskly walking away, leaving a desperate Freya behind.


    In her anxiety, Freya paced the room restlessly, repeatedly reaching out to Kaitlyn for support, much to thetter''s annoyance. Kaitlyn''s perspective was simple: as long as her son was safe, she had little concern for others.


    Half an hourter, Walter reappeared downstairs. His expression was unchanged, giving no hint of what had transpired in the study. Freya quickly approached him, asking, "How did it go?"


    "ed to step out for a bit. I''ll fill you in when I return," Walter replied with a smile. He affectionately ruffled her hair before departing.


    A baby''s cry soon distracted Freya, leaving her no choice but to attend to her son.


    As soon as Walter was out of sight, his smile evaporated. He found a secluded spot and pulled out his phone to make a call. The call was answered promptly, but the other end remained silent, seemingly waiting for Walter to initiate the conversation.


    "You moved that quickly? The investments in those firms, have you drained the funds?" Walter asked.


    There was a brief pause before the voice on the other end replied, "Would you believe me if I said it wasn''t me?"


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    Walter''s expression shifted subtly. "What are you implying?"


    "What I mean is, before I had the chance to act, those firms copsed. I didn''t siphon off a single penny."


    Walter''sposure faltered, his face paling slightly. "Are you sure you''re not ying games with me?"


    "Do I have a reason to lie to you? Our partnership may be strictly business, but our interests are aligned. It''s not just about the money, right?"


    Walter pondered for a moment. "I understand that. My concern isn''t the money. If you''re not behind this, then we might be dealing with a significant problem." "And what might that be?"


    "It''s Alexander. It has to be him."

 Chapter 171

    "Why would he do this?" The question hung in the air, heavy with usation. "He''s the sole heir to the Kennedy fortune. Everything will eventually be his. What''s his game?"


    "Only heir?" Walter''s scoff cut through the silence. "You''re really going to use that line on me? He must have known something long before this."


    A sigh echoed from the other end of the line, a weary surrender to the argument.


    Without another word, Walter ended the call and strode out, confidence radiating from him.


    As he made his way out, he noticed Alexander''s car parked quietly on the street, its headlights on, as if in anticipation of his arrival.


    Drawing closer, Walter could see Alexander''s silhouette through the car window.


    Leaning casually against the side of the car, Alexander held a cigarette between his fingers, his cor open, the very picture of a nonchnt rebel.


    A small smile tugged at the corners of Walter''s mouth as he approached. "Alexander, have you been waiting for me?"


    Alexander turned his head, his gaze indifferent, smoke curling around him, adding an air of mystery to his demeanor.


    "With your intelligence, Walter, I wouldn''t expect such a blunder," Alexander''s tone was enigmatic, elusive.


    Walter chuckled and slid into the car.


    Once settled, the car glided away,ing to a stop at a quiet intersection.


    Alexander rolled down the window, extracted another cigarette, and leaned against the frame to light it. The glow from the lighter briefly illuminated his face before fading away.


    Turning to him, Walter spoke, "I had some doubts I wanted to confront you with, but it seems unnecessary now."


    "When everything is clear, why bother asking?" Alexander retorted.


    "So, what are we waiting for, Alexander? What do you want?"


    Alexander flicked the ash from his cigarette, tilting his head slightly. "Where''s the guy?"


    Walter hesitated briefly, then seemed toe to a realization. "You knew all along, didn''t you?"


    Alexander remained silent.


    Struck by a sudden thought, Walter let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "So, everything you did in front of me was just an act?"


    "That''s right, I had my suspicions. The first proposal was rejected, but the second passed without a hitch."


    "It''s a shame I didn''t see your final moveing. Poor Quinn."


    Walter''s voice held a hint of regret. Initially, he had only meant to provoke Quinn by suggesting that Alexander didn''t care about her.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    But now, it seemed that Alexander genuinely didn''t care.


    Despite knowing that Quinn was in his hands, he had feigned ignorance, feigning anxiety to lower Walter''s guard.


    Only after the proposal was submitted and approved did he start to earnestly look for Quinn.


    Walter had thought Alexander was preupied with worry for Quinn''s safety, which was why he wasn''t focused on work, why he trusted him to submit the proposal. Even though Walterter suspected it might have been a trap, his signature was already on the document. All he had to do then was transfer the funds. After all, it was Alexander''s signature.


    Later, when cash flow issues surfaced, thepany would only have two choices: sell the shares or dilute them by issuing new ones.


    Either way, Walter saw his opportunity. Through that transfer, he would slowly take control of the Kennedy family''s shares.


    Little did he know, Alexander had anticipated his final move and taken the steps Walter had intended for himself.


    Alexander''s gaze darkened slightly, his hand dangling outside the window, the cigarette burning to a long ash, which fell lightly to the ground. Avoiding the issue, Alexander asked instead, "Why did you do it?"


    "That''s my question. Shouldn''t I be asking you that?" Walter retorted.


    Ignoring his rebuttal, Alexander pressed on, "I want to know why. What''s your purpose in infiltrating the Kennedy family?"


    Walter, too, lit a cigarette and leaned against the car window, gazing out at the night. "And if I refuse to talk?"

 Chapter 172

    "It doesn''t matter. If you don''t want to talk, don''t. Just figure out a method to return the assets you''ve transferred," Alexander stated with an icy detachment. Upon hearing this, Walter couldn''t suppress augh.


    "Really, Alexander, do you consider that to be a suitable request?" he asked.


    "Your words, not mine, Walter. You''re fully aware of the situation, no need to feign innocence. I assure you, this conversation isn''t being recorded," Alexander retorted. Walter''s hand, clutching a cigarette, froze momentarily. From the instant he had stepped into the car, his dialogue with Alexander had been meticulously guarded.


    Alexander was a master of concealment, never revealing his intentions. Walter treaded carefully, always responding to Alexander''s statements with caution. He harbored a nagging fear that Alexander might have a concealed recording device, ready to capture any indiscretion. One false step could mean he wouldn''t be seeing the outside of the Kennedy family''s residence that evening.


    Walter was startled by the speed at which Alexander had cut through his motives. He had always known Alexander to be a formidable adversary, which was why he had been strictly adhering to the rules at the firm for the past two years, patiently waiting for his moment. Now, just when Walter thought he had an opening, Alexander had swiftly turned the tables. It was time to reevaluate this man.


    Turning to face Alexander, the smile faded from Walter''s face, his disheveled hair casting a mysterious shadow over his features. "Alexander, I have a single question for you." "Go ahead."


    "Do you truly understand Quinn''s background?" Walter''s tone had shifted, bing less friendly and more severe.


    Alexander''s brow furrowed at the question, but he remained silent.


    After a few moments, Walterughed, his customary smile reappearing. Alexander''s silence had spoken volumes to both of them.


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    As he opened the car door, Walter turned back to Alexander, "If you aspire to be the hero, Alexander,mit fully. But if you choose the path of the viin, be absolutely merciless." "Otherwise, you''ll end up with nothing."


    With that, Walter exited the car and strode away without a backward nce. A light, misty rain blurred the cityscape under the streetlights, enveloping the buildings in a hazy fog.


    Under the glow of the streetlights, Walter''s shadow elongated, stretching further and further until it finally disappeared. Alexander watched the spot where Walter had vanished, his expression inscrutable. The fa?ade between them had been shattered, and the real battle was only just beginning.


    ...


    Alexander stood before the sofa, his gaze falling upon the figure curled up on it. She had drawn herself into a tight ball, her entire head buried in the cushions, hugging herself tightly as if mimicking a sleeping puppy.


    Quinn''s sleep was fitful and light. The slight shift in the sofa stirred her. She spun around in rm, but upon recognizing Alexander, she rxed slightly, only for a trace of sadness to cloud her eyes once more. "Why are you sleeping here again?" Alexander asked, reaching out to touch her cheek.


    Quinn met his gaze, remaining in her protective posture.


    His fingers were cool against Quinn''s face, causing her to shiver slightly.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Alexander leaned in close, his scent faintly tinged with tobo. Cradling her face gently, he whispered, "Go sleep in the bed, okay?"


    His voice was soft and soothing, as if he wereforting a child.

 Chapter 173

    Quinn observed him, and before she could utter a word, he swept her off her feet and into his arms. Her arms instinctively wound around his neck, her eyes tracing the contours of his jawline before shyly drifting downward. Gently, Alexanderid her on the bed, taking her hand into his to examine it. The scabs on her wrist were beginning to ke away, revealing the tender, raw skin beneath. He held her hand, a soft look in his eyes as he studied it for a moment before turning to face her. "Does it still hurt?" he asked.


    Quinn shook her head, her expression devoid of any pain. He touched her hand lightly, his eyes radiating a warmth that seemed almost like an illusion of tenderness. Quinn closed her eyes, unwilling to meet his gaze.


    He was always like this. With just a few words, she could deceive herself and then lose herself in the fantasy she had woven. The air was thick with tension as Alexander watched her reaction.


    Suddenly, a jarring ringtone shattered the quiet. He released her hand and stepped away to answer the call. Quinn opened her eyes and turned to see him speaking in hushed tones, his back to her, before he exited the bedroom without a backward nce.


    She pressed her lips together, reaching for the nket beside her and clutching it tightly to her chest. Just as she closed her eyes, a buzzing filled her head. She clutched at her skull, a pained expression crossing her face. The buzzing was quickly followed by a stabbing sensation, as if countless needles were piercing her all at once.


    Shey curled up on the bed alone, her shoulders trembling slightly. It was some time before she began to feel a bit better. Staring at the ceiling, it seemed the sensations were getting worse. She closed her eyes, her arms dropping lifelessly to either side, the bedroom eerily silent.


    ''Alexander must have gone to see Getty again, huh?'' Quinn tossed and turned, only managing to fall asleep when dawn was approaching, and even then, it was a shallow, restless sleepsting merely a couple of hours before she was awake again.


    The vi was still empty, so she got up to prepare breakfast. After serving two portions, she knocked on the office door. Receiving no response for a while, she remembered that Alexander hadn''te homest night.


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    Quietly descending the stairs, she sat at the dining table, sipping her porridge and staring at the te across from her, the food in her mouth as tasteless as cardboard. When she was done, Quinn went to thepany.


    As she entered her department, the people around her gave her strange looks. Maria leaned over the cubicle wall and asked, "Quinn, aren''t you on a month''s leave? Back to work so soon?"


    Quinn stopped mid-motion and looked up at Maria. Quinn had no idea she had requested a month off. "You''re really one of a kind here," said Maria. "Aside from Getty, who used to work here, you''re the only one who could take a month off so soon after joining."


    As soon as Maria finished her sentence, Ruby walked over with some files and tapped on her desk. Realizing she hadpany, Maria awkwardly greeted her with a nod. "Manager Keegan."


    "Get back to work," Ruby said before approaching Quinn again, handing her a document. "Quinn, take a look at this. If you''ve got time today, please type it into theputer and send it to me, okay?"


    Quinn nodded, epting the files. Ruby was way more approachable than Maria, especially with thatst request-it left no room for argument. Besides, Ruby was her boss.


    "Great, I appreciate it," Ruby said before turning and walking out of the office.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    "Alexander didn''t show up again today. Do you think he might''ve lost track of time hanging out with Getty?" Maria whispered to her nearby colleagues.

 Chapter 174

    "No clue. He used to makete appearances with Getty, but now that she''s absent, it''s anyone''s guess," a coworker mused in a hushed tone.


    "Getty must have stumbled upon some good fortune to catch Alexander''s eye. She doesn''t even hold a candle to Ruby in terms of beauty," another chimed in.


    "Indeed, and she doesn''t possess Ruby''spetence either."


    This subject had been the fuel for countless gossip sessions among them, yet it remained an enigma. Regardless, it didn''t deter them from envying the situation or asionally sparking a lively debate about it. Maria, after a quick survey of her surroundings, leaned in and whispered, "Speaking of Ruby, I heard she and Alexander were schoolmates. She''s been around since Alexander joined. I have a rather wild hypothesis." "And what might that be?" a curious voice inquired.


    Lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, Maria responded, "What if there''s something going on between them? Could Getty merely be a diversion?"


    "Watch your words! Do you want to lose your job?" One of their colleagues, clearly unnerved, swiftly retreated to his desk.


    "Oh, lighten up, we''re just having a friendly chat. But haven''t you noticed the way Ruby gazes at Alexander? There''s more to it than meets the eye." "And what does that prove?"


    "Alexander has no shortage of admirers, but Getty has managed to fend them all off. It''s only natural for Ruby to be attracted to a catch like him." "It only shows they''re not as innocent as they seem. Didn''t Getty chase away anyone who showed the slightest interest in Alexander?"


    "But Ruby''s standing remains unchallenged. With Getty warding off thepetition, perhaps they have a chance?"


    Maria began to count on her fingers, her face illuminated by a secretive grin.


    Listening to her outrageous theories, her colleagues struggled to hide their amusement, thinking Maria was falling prey to her own fantasies. Meanwhile, Quinn stared nkly at herputer screen, lost in her own world.


    In a nearby caf¨¦.


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    "Alexander, what''s so urgent that you had to summon me here?"


    Alexander ced a pile of documents on the table and slid them toward Freya.


    Freya eyed the documents with suspicion as she epted them from Alexander. A quick scan of the contents caused her expression to darken immediately.


    "This much?" she eximed, her face a picture of shock. She hadn''t anticipated the losses to be so substantial.


    "Precisely." Alexander produced a voice recorder and pressed y, and Wayne''s voice filled the air. "If he can''t cough up the money, huh!"


    With each word, Freya''s face turned a shade paler. She wrung her hands nervously. "What does Dad mean by this?"Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    "He suspects asset misappropriation."


    "That''s preposterous!" Freya rose to her feet, her voice filled with emotion, before thinking better of it and resuming her seat, whispering, "Alexander, Walter would never do such a thing."


    Alexander merely arched his lips in a nonmittal manner. "But Dad doesn''t share that belief. We''re not the ones in control here. If this deficit isn''t addressed, someone will have to shoulder the me, understand?" And Walter was the ideal scapegoat-he wasn''t a Kennedy, and the fiasco had urred under his supervision.


    Freya looked visibly shaken as she clutched the documents once more, her grip tightening until the paper crumpled in her hands.


    "So, what''s our next move? Can''t you help Walter out, for my sake?" she pleaded.


    "There might be a solution," Alexander pondered.


    She clung to his words as if they were a lifeline. "What is it?"


    "Simply fill the gap," he stated nonchntly, as if the task was as simple as patching an anthill.


    "But that''s over eighty billion! Are you joking? Where can we possibly find such a sum?"


    A cunning smile danced on Alexander''s lips. "There''s always a way, but it all depends on you."

 Chapter 175

    Freya paused, her voice filled with uncertainty. "Me? What can I do?"


    "You own shares, don''t you? Liquidate them and use the proceeds to cover Walter''s deficit."


    Her eyes widened slightly as she mulled over his proposition.


    ''My shares... They''re my bargaining chip within the Kennedy family. Selling them would leave me with nothing,'' she contemted internally.


    Alexander reclined, nonchntly toying with a coffee Sebastian, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on her. "Unwilling to let them go? Then there''s nothing we can do. It appears he''s not as important to you as you im." Freya was conflicted. "But the shares I possess... they''re not that valuable."


    "Regardless of their worth, they can fill a portion of the gap. We can figure out the restter, can''t we?"


    She gnawed at her lip, her expression the epitome of anguish. On one hand, she had her stake in the family enterprise, and on the other, the man she cherished. It was a choice that tormented her.


    "ed to ponder over it," Freya confessed, unable to make an immediate decision.


    "Take your time, but remember, time is running out," he cautioned. "If you dy, Walter might vanish any day now, and then you''ll lose him forever."Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Freya blinked, her determination to sell her shares faltering slightly.


    "But who would I sell to? Who can produce that kind of money instantly?" she queried.


    "Just give it some thought. I can assist you," Alexander offered.


    Freya peered into his eyes, but they were enigmatic, like the depths of a tranquilke that she couldn''t prate. However, he was her brother, and Freya never questioned her brother''s intentions.


    After a moment of silence, Freya clenched her teeth, shut her eyes, and drew a deep breath, "I''ll have an answer for you by tomorrow."


    A smile tugged at the corners of Alexander''s lips, but he remained silent.


    Freya couldn''t remain seated any longer. She collected the heap of documents on the table and rose to leave.


    Alexander cautioned her, "Keep this to yourself, Walter included. If Dad gets wind of this, you know the consequences."


    Freya stiffened, her grip on the documents tightening. She then quickly turned and exited the room.


    It was past four in the afternoon when Alexander made his way to the office.


    Upon reaching his office, Ruby entered promptly, "Alexander."


    He skimmed through the files on his desk and casually inquired, "Where''s the data on thosepanies?"


    "I had the otherspile it. I''ll have it brought over," Ruby responded, picking up the inte and dialing, "Quinn, the files I asked you to arrange this morning? If they''re ready, print them and bring them here directly. Don''t send them to me. Alexander needs them immediately."


    Hearing Quinn''s name caused Alexander to momentarily pause.


    Ruby hung up the phone and said with a smile, "Oh, I just wanted to inform you that Quinn came to work today. She seemed to have nothing to do, so I assigned her some simple tasks. It''s not good for her to appear so unupied." Alexander''s expression remained impassive as he replied indifferently, "That''s your department''s concern. You don''t need to report to me."


    "Alright, I won''t report to you in the future," Ruby retorted, ncing at him as he continued to rummage through his desk, "Alexander, are you searching for something else?" "A box."


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    "Yes."


    Ruby pondered for a moment, "I believe I''ve seen it somewhere around here."


    She crouched beside him and pulled open the unlocked bottom drawer-important documents were always securely locked away in cabs, leaving the unlocked drawers free for her to sift through. Ruby rummaged around and located the red box, handing it over to Alexander, "Is this it?"


    He epted it from her, "Yes."


    Without giving it a second nce, he slipped the box into his coat.


    Quinn knocked and entered with the files just as Ruby rose from behind the desk.


    Quinn hesitated for a moment. Considering the distance between them, she tightened her grip around the documents.

 Chapter 176

    "I was just helping Alexander look for something," Ruby rified, her voiceced withughter. "It would have been polite to knock before entering, don''t you think?" Quinn''s lips tightened into a thin line as she cast another nce at Alexander.


    His expression was slightly marred by a frown, yet he chose to remain silent.


    Lowering her gaze, Quinn extended a dossier towards him,ying it t on the desk before her. She paused momentarily, then exited the office with measured steps. Ruby''s eyes followed Quinn''s retreating figure until she was out of sight. She then turned her attention back to Alexander, who was studying her with an intense gaze. "Is there something on my face, Alexander?" Ruby asked, lightly touching her cheek.


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on her face just long enough to stir a sense of unease within Ruby.


    Suddenly, he averted his eyes, his voiceced with ambiguity. "Keegan, focus more on your work."


    Caught off guard, Ruby''s smile wavered, but she quickly regained herposure. "Understood." With those words, she exited the office, the click of her high heels echoing behind her. Once outside, the warmth of her smile was reced by a colder, inscrutable expression. Quinn sat in front of herputer, lost in thought until the screen faded to ck.


    "Hey, it''s time to call it a day," someone tapped on her desk.


    Jolted from her reverie, Quinn nodded in acknowledgment and began to pack up her things. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a new message.


    Upon checking it, she found a brief text from Nichs.


    [A family member is in the hospital.]


    The message included the hospital''s address and the room number.


    Quinn froze, instantly aware of the individual the message referred to.


    Without wasting a moment, she grabbed her belongings and dashed out of the office.


    Hailing a cab near the office proved challenging due to the crowd, so she jogged a bit further to order a ride through her phone app.


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    As she waited, a light drizzle began to fall, soon dampening her hair.


    Suddenly, a Bentley pulled up beside her. The window rolled down to reveal Alexander''s face.


    With one hand on the wheel, he tilted his head to look at her.


    "In such a hurry? Get in."C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Quinn stared at him for a few seconds before shaking her head and gesturing, "I''m busy." "Busy with what?"


    Quinn bit her lip, gesturing again, "I''m on my way to see Juliet in the hospital."


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed, his voice turning icy. "I said, get in!"


    Quinn stood in the misty rain, her fragile form a stark contrast to her stubborn, pleading eyes.


    The man seemed not to hear her, his voice remaining cold. "Don''t make me repeat myself."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Quinn clenched her fingers, reaching out to pull open the car door and obediently slid into the seat.


    She hoped herpliance would soften his demeanor.


    If she defied him, she feared she wouldn''t reach her destination today.


    Alexander maneuvered the car onto the road, only to find himself stuck in a severe traffic jam. After twenty minutes, they had barely covered three hundred meters.


    Growing restless, he rolled down his window and pulled a cigarette from the pack. He leaned back in his seat with a casual slouch, tilting his head back slightly as he exhaled a stream of smoke, watching as the white wisps drifted out the window.


    The remnants of the smoke wafted over to Quinn, causing her to choke slightly. She suppressed a cough and reached up to tug at his sleeve.


    Alexander nced at her, then quickly averted his gaze.


    "Forget it," he said curtly, dismissing her silent plea.


    Quinn''s thoughts raced between Juliet''s health and Ariel''s attitude, her anxiety mounting.


    She pinched his sleeve and tugged again.

 Chapter 177

    Alexander maintained an impassive facade, steadfastly ignoring her. Quinn''s gaze bore into him, her intensity met with his steadfast refusal to return her gaze, leaving her without an opportunity to engage.


    In the end, she relinquished her hold on his sleeve. Quinn''s gaze retreated as silently as her touch.


    Once a decision was made by Alexander, it was as unyielding as stone. No amount of coaxing from Quinn could alter his resolve.


    He drove her back to their vi. Upon parking, Quinn''s eyes trailed after him, a palpable eagerness to speak evident in her gaze. Alexander, however, remained oblivious, not sparing her a backward nce as he walked away. Left with no other option, Quinn trailed behind him. Once inside, he carelessly tossed his coat onto the couch, sparing her a brief nce. "Go cook dinner," hemanded.


    She opened her mouth to protest, but he was already retreating, leaving her with nothing but his receding figure.


    Resigned, Quinn made her way to the kitchen.


    Alexander''s phone rang. It was Getty on the other end. He nced at the iing call and nonchntly tossed the phone back onto the couch. Getty''s persistence remained undeterred. After several ignored calls, Alexander finally picked up on the eighth ring.


    From the kitchen, Quinn peeked out, straining to catch snippets of the conversation.


    "What''s the matter?" Alexander''s tone wasced with annoyance.


    "You promised to apany me to the film mixer tonight. Where are you?" Getty''s voice echoed through the phone.


    Alexander leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose with one hand while holding the phone in the other.


    "Do I really have to go?"


    "Absolutely! I''ve already informed everyone that you''ll be there. How am I supposed to face them if you don''t show up? You didn''t go back to her again, did you?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Getty spat thest words through clenched teeth. Alexander had been retreating home more frequently than a man drinks water.


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    Each time he left, Getty couldn''t help but specte about the nature of his rtionship with Quinn. Was there a budding romance? Could they already be entwined in each other''s arms? Despite her reassurances that Alexander wouldn''t even touch her, let alone entertain the idea of a romantic rtionship, Getty couldn''t suppress the irritation that bubbled up each time. "Isn''t it normal for me to go home?" His response was indifferent, as if he hadn''t picked up on the fury in Getty''s tone.


    "Yeah, you going home is normal, but I just don''t want you hanging around with that loser. I don''t care, get over here now. I''ll freeze to death out here if you don''te soon." Alexander sighed, responding reluctantly, "Send me the address."


    "Great, I''ll send it through Messenger."


    After the call ended, Getty swiftly sent the address to his Messenger. Alexander stood up and grabbed his coat. He was about to leave when he sensed something. Turning his head, he caught a glimpse of a head peeking out from the kitchen.


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    The moment his gazended on her, Quinn quickly withdrew. She retrieved some vegetables from the fridge,id them on the cutting board, and began chopping. She was calcting the time she would need for a round trip to the hospital. Lost in thought, she was startled when her wrist was suddenly seized. The kitchen knife ttered onto the cutting board.


    She looked up abruptly, meeting the man''s prating gaze.


    "Come with me."


    Without further exnation, Alexander pulled her along. Quinn''s apron was still tied around her as they left the house. He practically forced her into the car. Quinn was anxious and clueless about where Alexander was taking her. She had nned to seize the opportunity of his absence to visit Juliet in the hospital. Once he got into the car, Quinn gestured, "Where are we going?"

 Chapter 178

    Alexander cast a fleeting nce in her direction, his silence deafening. His hands tightened around the steering wheel as he drove off, leaving their previous location behind.


    After a forty-minute drive, he brought the vehicle to a halt in front of an imposing hotel. The structure was far from the typical standalone establishments one might expect; it bore more resemnce to a grand vi.


    The distance from the entrance to the main door was considerable, making for a long walk. The vi was dotted with several houses of varying heights, and in the midst of them, a tower soared, reaching well beyond thirty stories. Upon their arrival at the hotel, Alexander swiveled in his seat to face Quinn. "Stay here and don''t leave the hotel. You''re free to go anywhere else, but not into the hotel. Understood?" he instructed.


    Quinn was taken aback, her mind reeling as she tried to process his words. She began to protest, "When can I go to see..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander seized her wrist, cutting her off. "Quinn," he interjected, his tone firm and unyielding, "I''m only going to say this once. Don''t mention Juliet in my presence. If you dare to meet her, I guarantee it''ll be thest time you do."


    Her pupils contracted slightly at his explicit threat. Quinn couldn''tprehend why he was so adamant about her not seeing Juliet.


    Was he afraid she''d be a bad influence, much like Abigail? What harm could Juliet possibly inflict?


    Was she not allowed to have anyone else in her life?


    A spark of anger ignited within Quinn. She red at Alexander, struggling to free her wrist from his vice-like grip.


    "Why?" she demanded, her voice rising in defiance. "I''m not your dog. What right do you have to stop me?"


    Alexander''s gaze turned icy, the iing breeze from the window slicing through the tense atmosphere. Her pent-up grievances could no longer be contained.


    Quinnshed out, "Even dogs have the right to make friends and interact with others. If you''re so intent on controlling me, why not just chain me up?"


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    Without warning, Alexander yanked her towards him, the seat belt cutting painfully across her chest. He gripped her chin, his voice low and menacing. "Dogs may have that right, but you don''t. Understand?" Quinn''s eyes widened in shock, his chilling gaze making her feel as if she were on the edge of a precipice. A sour taste filled her mouth as she struggled to break free from his hold, but his grip only tightened. In a fit of rage, Quinn bent down, intending to bite his wrist.


    But Alexander was quicker. He secured her chin, forcing her head back. "Trying to bite me for those low types again, Quinn? When will you ever learn?"


    Quinn turned her head away, her hair falling loosely over her face, hiding her flushed cheeks.


    Alexander cupped her face in his hands, turning her back towards him. "Don''t test my patience."


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    "Since you can''t follow instructions, you won''t go anywhere. Stay in the car," he ordered.


    With that, he unbuckled his seat belt and exited the car. He turned off the engine and locked the doors, leaving her with a sliver of hope for survival by keeping a crack in the car window open. Quinn hastily unbuckled her seatbelt, tugging at the car door only to find it immovable. She tapped on the window, a silent plea for mercy.


    But Alexander walked away, his back turned to her. He ignored Quinn''s silent pleas, his retreating figure a stark reminder of his indifference. Soon, she noticed Getty waiting for Alexander.


    Upon seeing Alexander, Getty rushed towards him, a spoiled smile spreading across his face as he wrapped his arms around Alexander''s waist.


    Quinn''s hands stilled against the window, her knocks ceasing as she watched Getty and Alexander disy their affection.

 Chapter 179

    Quinn''s hands fell limply to her sides as she leaned against the cool ss of the window, her gaze lost in the vibrant array of flowers adorning the garden outside.


    A bitter chuckle escaped her lips at the absurdity of her situation. Alexander, the man she had been on a date with, had left her locked in the car as if she were a mere watchdog guarding his property.


    The thought twisted her features into a derisive smile, even as hot tears traced a path down her cheeks. After twenty years of viewing him with a reverence akin to faith, she had been reduced to a mere guard dog in his eyes. The irony was as painful as it was amusing.


    Meanwhile, Getty was nestledfortably against Alexander''s arm, her hand surreptitiously slipping into his pocket. "I''m freezing; why did you take so long to get here?" sheined.


    "Why didn''t you dress warmer?" Alexander retorted, casting a disapproving nce at her attire. On such a cold day, she had chosen to wear a sleeveless evening gown, leaving her arms exposed to the biting chill.


    "I dressed for the feast. I have a coat, but I can''t wear it," Getty defended herself.


    Without another word, Alexander shrugged off his coat and handed it to her. "Put this on."


    Her face lit up at the sight of his coat, and she draped it over herself with a delighted giggle. "Thank you, darling."


    She leaned in to nt a kiss on his cheek, but he gently pushed her face away. "Let''s head inside," he suggested, and Getty, despite her pout, clung to his arm as they entered the venue.


    The filmworking event they were attending was a high-profile gathering of directors and investors. Some celebrities graced the asion, but the barrier to entry was notably high.


    For a neer like Getty, her credibility was still questioned despite her influential backing. The event was a chance to reveal the power behind her, and her standing in the industry hinged on the night''s oue.


    If Alexander truly was her patron, even subpar acting wouldn''t hinder the flow of resources in her direction.


    As soon as Getty made her entrance, clinging to Alexander''s arm, all eyes were on her. Alexander, a titan in the investment world, was not easily essible to the average individual. His rare public appearances made him a figure of intrigue.


    In person, his presence was even moremanding than what the television screen captured. He exuded an air of solidity and authority that was impossible to ignore.


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    Walking by his side, Getty adopted an air of arrogance, lifting her chin high.


    "Alexander, I''ve heard much about you," a middle-aged man approached, offering a handshake with a warm smile. "I''m the organizer of this event, my name is Seal." Alexander returned the handshake, nodding at him. "Mr. Seal. I''ve heard about you from our mutual acquaintance, Colin. You''re a leading figure in the industry."


    Mr. Sealughed, deflecting thepliment with a wave of his hand. "Not at all. Getty is too kind. I''m just a regr businessman."


    Their paths might have crossed at a wine reception or they might have heard of each other, but they rarely had the chance to converse like this.


    This was Mr. Seal''s territory, and Alexander''s presence signaled an opportunity to forge new connections.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "This way, Alexander," Mr. Seal beckoned. "Let me introduce you to some folks who could be invaluable to Getty''s future endeavors."


    With a slight nod, Alexander followed Mr. Seal up to the second floor.


    Outside the event, Quinn had been sitting in the car for a while. Despite the window being cracked open, the air inside was growing stale.


    She curled up on the seat, a wave of dizziness washing over her as the chilly breeze snuck through the gap, making her shiver.


    Every time someone passed by, she would knock at the window, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.


    Just then, she noticed a young man smoking in front of the car. Quinn perked up, pounding on the window in desperation.


    Just as she was about to give up, she saw the man walk towards her, igniting a flicker of hope in her eyes.


    Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed when the man stopped next to the car, using the reflective window to fix his hair before sauntering off.

 Chapter 180

    Quinn bit her lip, rolling her eyes in frustration. Her fingers found a lighter tucked away in the dashboard, which she quickly snatched up. Locating some tissue, she rolled it into a makeshift torch and sparked the lighter. Soon, tendrils of smoke began to curl out of the window, dancing into the night air.


    A man standing nearby, his figure silhouetted against the car window, caught a whiff of the smoke. His senses alerted, he turned his attention to the vehicle, his brows furrowing in suspicion. "Who''s smoking with the windows rolled up?" he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.


    His suspicion grew as heid a hand on the car''s bo, finding it cool to the touch. The engine hadn''t been started. With a growing sense of unease, he circled back to where Quinn was trapped, rapping on her window with two fingers. Quinn reacted instantly, her hand mming against the ss in response. The sound echoed in the man''s ears, prompting him to ask, "Is someone in there?"


    Quinn''s mouth opened, but no sound emerged. She could only continue to pound on the window, her fist a blur against the ss. The smoke from her makeshift signal thickened the air inside the car, causing her to choke.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    The man paused, straining his ears to confirm the presence of someone inside. His gaze fell on the car''s emblem, causing him to hesitate before resorting to smashing the window. "I''ll check whose car this is, wait for me!" he called out to the car before spinning on his heel and rushing into the nearby hotel.


    Upon entering, he shouted to the gathered crowd, "Who owns the Maybach outside? The te number is five-eight! Someone''s trapped in there. Come and take a look!"


    His words hung in the air, met with silence as all eyes turned toward him. The room buzzed with spection about the car''s owner. "Whose car is that?" "Mine is a Maybach, but I don''t have that te number." "Could it be his, maybe?" The crowd''s collective gaze turned to the second floor, where Alexander resided, but no one dared to disturb him.


    "Hey, Preston, it could be Alexander''s car. He''s upstairs with your dad. Maybe you could go and ask?" someone suggested. The young man in question was none other than Preston Getty, the youngest son of the prestigious Getty family. His presence was unexpected, but he was a familiar face to all.


    "Alright." Preston hummed nonchntly. The matter concerned a human life, so he agreed without further thought. He dashed upstairs, flung open the door to the VIP room, and shouted, "Which one of you is Alexander? There''s someone locked in your Maybach!"


    His words echoed in the silent room, causing all eyes to turn to him. Alexander nced at him, his expression unreadable. Preston''s countenance shifted, his hand instinctively reaching out to grab Alexander''s sleeve. Why would someone be trapped in his car?


    He didn''t bring Quinn here, did he? If he did, how could she exin her presence when she showed up at the event? "Preston, stop causing trouble. How could there be someone in Alexander''s car? Get out of here!" Mr. Getty scolded.


    "But I heard someone knocking on the car window! Go check if you don''t believe me!" Preston insisted, his voiceced with worry.


    Seeing Alexander rise, Getty clung to him desperately, her grip tight. She managed a strained smile, saying, "It''s just our Golden Retriever. We didn''t bring him down yet. Don''t worry, Preston, nothing''s wrong." She turned to Alexander, her eyes seeking confirmation. "Right?"

 Chapter 181

    In a state of desperation, Getty sought Alexander''s affirmation, her heart pounding with the fear of potential embarrassment. Alexander, upon catching her gaze, quickly averted his eyes. He offered a nod in Preston''s direction, uttering a simple, "Yes." A wave of relief washed over Getty, her anxiety reced with a hint ofcency.


    "Really?" Preston questioned, his brow furrowed in confusion. The knocking didn''t seem like something a dog could do.


    "Why are you still standing here? Go downstairs!" Mr. Gettymanded, his voice harsh and filled with authority. He shot a meaningful nce at his son, who nodded in understanding before exiting the room. Meanwhile, back in the car, Quinn struggled with her cor, gasping for breath. The car was thick with smoke, making it increasingly difficult for her to breathe.


    She kept her mouth agape, desperately trying to draw in air, but the limited oxygen supply caused her lungs to burn.


    Preston returned to the car, knocking on the window once more. "Is there someone inside?"


    Quinn turned to look at him, watching as he bent down to peer through the window.


    Unfortunately, the ss was tinted too dark to see through.


    With great difficulty, Quinn lifted her hand and knocked against the window.


    Perhaps it was the sweat that had umted on her palm, but when she pressed her hand against the ss, Preston managed to catch a glimpse of it.


    The sudden appearance of the hand startled him, and he watched as it slowly slid down the ss.


    "What the hake..."


    It was then that Preston realized there was a real human inside the car!


    He nced around, picking up a stone with the intention of breaking the car lock. But upon noticing the te number, he hesitated.


    Finally, he dialed his buddy''s number.


    "Quick! I''m giving you five minutes to get here! It''s about someone''s life!"


    Before the person on the other end could even respond, he hung up.


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    After pocketing his phone, he crouched down to examine the lock. He pulled out a tool from his pocket and fiddled with the keyhole.


    Realizing this wasn''t his forte, he decided to wait for his friend. No more than five minutester, his friend arrived, work-box in hand.


    "Dude, the bug''s installed in the boss''s car. From now on, no matter who he''s stepping out with, you''ll know first thing..."


    Preston pped the back of his head. "Be careful with your words. Can you get this open?"


    That was the real reason he was here tonight, he wanted to rig his father''s car with bugging and surveince devices.


    His mother had been paranoidtely, insisting his father had a mistress and they were on the brink of divorce.


    She even pressured him to gather evidence so that his dad, Floyd, would leave with nothing. Thus, she had dragged him into this messy business.


    The young man touched the lock and said, "A Maybach, huh? Tough one, but I''ll give it a shot."


    "Move, don''t block my way."


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    This area was too exposed, while the other side offered some cover thanks to the greenery, perfect for their ndestine operation.


    The young man carried his toolkit around to the other side and squatted down to start tinkering with his tools.


    Preston stood by, keeping a watchful eye on him.


    After burning through a few cigarettes and waiting for almost half an hour, he urged impatiently. "You got it or what?"


    "Almost there, almost there." The young man wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    Twisting the tool to the right, he heard a "click" and finally exhaled a long sigh of relief.


    "It''s open!"


    Preston rushed over, bent down to peer inside, and was shocked by what he saw.


    There indeed was a woman lying inside, d in a white sweater, with a red apron around her waist. Her ponytail hade undone, and stray strands of hair fell messily around her face.

 Chapter 182

    "What are you staring at?" The young man''s voice jolted him back to reality. Hastily, he mbered into the car, pulling Quinn out with him.


    "Are you alright?" he inquired, concerncing his tone.


    Quinn''s eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred. She could discern a faint sound nearby before darkness imed her once more.


    "She doesn''t look well," the young man observed, worry creasing his brow. "Should we take her to the hospital?"


    After a moment of hesitation, he nced at the barely conscious girl cradled in his arms. His teeth clenched in determination, hemanded, "Bring my car around!" "Right away."


    In no time, the young man returned, driving an inconspicuous white Ford.


    Gently, Preston lifted Quinn into his arms, kicked the car door open, and settled her into the vehicle.


    Throughout the drive to the hospital, he monitored Quinn''s breathing. She was alive, but only just.


    "Drive faster," he urged, anxiety seeping into his voice.


    "I''m going as fast as I can!" the young man protested.


    Preston sighed, his gaze falling on Quinn once more. Even with her eyes closed, she had a captivating allure.


    She must be a student, he mused.


    His contemtion was interrupted as the young man abruptly hit the brakes, parking the car at the hospital entrance. "We''re here!"


    Without wasting a moment, he scooped Quinn up and rushed into the emergency room, shouting, "Doctor! Doctor! She''s dying!"


    His frantic cries startled the medical staff, but they quickly took charge, confirming that Quinn''s breathing was dangerously weak. They whisked her away into the emergency room.


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    Exhausted, he slumped onto a nearby bench. "I''m beat."


    "Who is she?" the young man asked.


    Leaning against the wall, Preston shook his head. "I don''t know."


    "You don''t even know her, and you brought her here? What if her boyfriendes after you?"


    His mind raced, recalling that the car belonged to someone named Alexander, a man even their father treated with respect.


    Why had Alexander locked her in a car? And why was she still wearing an apron? Was she their family''s nanny?


    His thoughts were interrupted as the ER doors swung open and a doctor emerged. He quickly approached the doctor, asking, "How is she?"


    "She fainted fromck of oxygen, but she''s stable now. She just needs to inhale oxygen for a while."


    "That''s... good."


    Quinn was moved to a regr room, an oxygen mask secured over her face. The doctor informed him that she would need to continue oxygen therapy for another two hours. Preston was torn between staying with Quinn and returning to inform Alexander. Before he could decide, his father''s call came through.


    His father''s reprimanding tone was deafening. "Where are you? Get back here now!"


    The roar was so loud it nearly burst his eardrum.


    "If you''re not back here in ten minutes, I''ll break your goddamn legs!" his father threatened.


    "All right!" He ended the call, irritation seeping into his voice. He had a sinking feeling that his secret was out.


    After hanging up, Mr. Seward turned to apologize to Alexander. "I''m so sorry, Alexander. My boy can be a handful sometimes. I''ll make sure to straighten him out when he gets here." Alexander''s gaze was fixed on the empty car, his eyes glinting with icy detachment. "I see you''ve raised apassionate son, Mr. Seward."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 183

    The pallor of Mr. Seward''s face was a stark contrast to the rage that consumed him.


    Getty, her fingers entwined with Alexander''s, leaned in to whisper, "Darling, let''s depart. This is not a big matter." Her fear was palpable, a dread that the secret passenger in their vehicle would be revealed once Quinn made her appearance. She had faith in Alexander''s defense, but the gnawing guilt made her feel unworthy. The thought of sharing the same space with Quinn was unbearable.


    Alexander cast a sidelong nce at Getty, "You should leave first. I won''t apany you."


    Getty''s grip tightened instinctively. "No, I want you to escort me."


    "Listen to me, alright?" Alexander''s voice was soft, but his eyes held an unspoken warning.


    Getty''s frustration was evident. She gritted her teeth, refusing to back down, "Then I''ll wait here with you."


    "Suit yourself." Alexander''s indifference was palpable.


    He had no intention of waiting for Preston any longer. He swung open the driver''s door and slid into the seat. Getty, not to be left behind, quickly opened the passenger door and climbed in. Alexander frowned, casting a sidelong nce at her.


    With a nonchnt air, Getty buckled her seatbelt and offered Alexander a reassuring smile, "Don''t worry about me. I don''t need you to take me home. I''ll apany you."


    She was well aware of Alexander''s intentions and was resolute in her decision to not leave them alone.


    "Are you certain you wish to apany me?" he questioned.


    Getty nodded, "Yes. Is there a problem? I haven''t seen you in days. What''s wrong with spending a little more time with you?"


    Alexander held her gaze for a moment before averting his eyes and starting the engine. The car sped away.


    They hadn''t been gone long when Preston returned.


    He pushed open the door and walked towards his father, "Dad, what''s going on?"


    Before he could finish, Mr. Seward brandished a belt, striking Preston across the back.


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    "Ah!"


    Preston recoiled, clutching his arm and stepping back. He red at his father. "Dad! Have you lost your mind?"


    Mr. Seward, trembling with rage, pointed the belt at him, "You good-for-nothing! Always causing trouble for me, I could kill you!" With that, he swung the belt again. This time, Preston didn''t stand still for the beating. He turned and fled, shouting, "Dad! There was someone in the car, why won''t you believe me? I was trying to save her!" "Silence! You''re nothing but a nuisance, always associating with those imbeciles! I can''t believe you''re my son!" Mr. Seward disregarded the onlookers, chasing after Preston with belt in hand. The hotel grounds turned into a spectacle of chase and evasion.


    The scene amused many of the onlookers. This wasn''t the first time Mr. Seward''s son had stirred up trouble. Mr. Seward was known for his concern for appearances.


    But now, Mr. Seward had abandoned the struggle for dignity. What did his reputation matter anymore?


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! His son had dared to intrude into Alexander''s car and even taken his "dog." Mr. Seward was at his wit''s end, wishing he could end his son''s life then and there. Preston, in his flight, found himself cornered and had no choice but to return to his car. "Sebastian, let''s go!" he shouted.


    Sebastian, the young man beside him, mmed the elerator, and they shot off like an arrow from a bow.


    They crashed through the entrance railing.


    Mr. Seward clutched his chest, gasping for breath and on the verge of copse. Luckily, a bystander rushed to his aid.


    "Bro, where are we heading now?" Sebastian nced at him. "Your allowance will get frozen again this time."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Preston slumped into his seat, "I couldn''t care less about the money."


    His gaze drifted out of the window, his vision blurry and weak. The image of a delicate, pitiful face shed in his mind. He paused, raised his hand and patted the seat in front of him, "To the hospital."

 Chapter 184

    "Why are we heading to the hospital?" Sebastian asked, a note of confusion in his voice.


    Preston replied with a pragmatic tone, "It''s about money, dude. I covered her medical expenses and I need to recoup that. What else are we supposed to survive on?" Sebastian found himself unable to counter Preston''s logic and simply nodded in agreement.


    The car veered abruptly, taking a sharp turn onto a different road.


    Upon their arrival at the hospital, they found that Quinn was still unconscious. Her face was hidden behind an oxygen mask, a thinyer of condensation fogging the clear stic.


    Preston leaned over her, his gaze lingering on her obscured face, but he could discern nothing.


    After a seemingly interminable half-hour, Quinn began to stir.


    She inhaled deeply, her eyes fluttering open to reveal a profound exhaustion. She attempted to move her fingers, but found her strength had abandoned her.


    "Bro, she''s awake!" Sebastian alerted Preston, who had been on the verge of dozing off in his chair.


    Startled, Preston sat upright and dragged his chair closer to the bed, a smile ying on his lips. "Hey, you''re awake?"


    Quinn turned to look at him, her vision still hazy. It took her a moment to focus on the young man''s face.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    His skin was a deep shade, his features sharp and defined. His eyebrows were thick and dark, and his teeth gleamed white against hisplexion when he smiled. Quinn made a feeble attempt to remove her oxygen mask and sit up, but her body betrayed her.


    Under the harsh hospital lights, her skin looked pale, almost translucent. Yet her eyes were dark and luminous.


    Preston paused, a question hanging in the air, "Have we met before?"


    Quinn also hesitated, studying Preston''s face. He seemed familiar, but she couldn''t remember where she had seen him.


    Preston shrugged dismissively. "Forget it, I can''t remember either. Let''s start fresh. I''m Preston, and you are?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, not uttering a word. She simply stared at him and began to sign.


    "You don''t want to get to know me?" Preston asked, misinterpreting her silence. Quinn gently shook her head, then raised her hands and began to sign again.


    "Ah, you can''t speak?" Preston observed her signing, her movements imbued with a certain vulnerability that he found endearing. "You''re like a child," he said, a smile tugging at his lips. Quinn paused, unsure if he had merely guessed at her meaning or if he truly understood signnguage. She signed again: Can you understand me?


    Preston nodded. "Yeah, I get it," he said, pulling Sebastian closer. "I work at a care center with several deaf and mute kids. I''m their teacher."


    Sebastian offered a sheepish smile. "Yes, that''s right. The kids at our center really adore him."


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    She signed: Thank you.


    Preston waved his hands dismissively. "No need for thanks. But why were you trapped in the car? Did you forget to get out, or was it something else...?" Quinn''s lips tightened, her gaze darkening.


    Why was she in the car? That was a question for her so-called husband. He was probably afraid she would cause a scene and embarrass Getty.


    Seeing Quinn''s reluctance to answer, Preston decided not to press the issue. "The doctor said you justcked oxygen, nothing serious."


    Quinn nodded, and an awkward silence descended upon the room.


    Sebastian patted Quinn''s shoulder and whispered to Preston, "Weren''t you here to get some money from her, man?"

 Chapter 185

    Preston''s spine stiffened, his gaze locking onto Sebastian. He swiveled his head back to Quinn, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. "Ignore his nonsense. He''s just joking, nothing more. I was merely passing by and thought to check on you. Seeing you awake now, it seems you''re going to be fine."


    Quinn''s fingers danced in the air, signing her question: How much did you pay?


    Preston''s response was somewhat elusive. "Not much, don''t concern yourself with it."


    Quinn''s eyes roved over his attire. He didn''t resemble themon folk. His presence at such an event suggested he was no ordinary man. She resolved to repay him in due time.


    Quinn signed another question: The care center you mentioned, what''s that?


    Preston''s smile was warm as he exined, "It''s just a charitable organization. My dad started it but never really got involved, so I stepped in."


    "After visiting these ces, I discovered the dire need of these people. I now volunteer and assist my father in overseeing his association."


    Quinn nodded, the pieces falling into ce. No wonder he had saved her. Had it been anyone else, aware that the car belonged to Alexander, they would have likely steered clear of the trouble. Quinn signed her admiration: You''re incredible.


    Sebastian chimed in, "That''s not all. Preston even established a sanctuary for stray animals, providing a home for countless homeless cats and dogs."


    Preston blushed slightly at the praise, brushing it off with a wave of his hand. "It''s nothing, just a small act of kindness."


    Quinn observed the vitality and zest for life that surrounded him, a pang of envy piercing her heart. To engage in something meaningful, something she genuinely relished.


    Preston noticed the mncholy in her eyes and couldn''t resist asking, "What''s wrong? You seem troubled. Once you''re feeling better, I''ll take you to see them. The puppies and kittens are simply adorable." Quinn nodded, the desire to go evident, but she restrained herself, shaking her head, signing: I''m not interested in that.


    She couldn''t even see Juliet, why bother with stray cats and dogs? Her involvement had also caused trouble for Abigail. It was best not to entangle these men in her chaos.


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    Preston felt a twinge of disappointment, "That''s a shame, but it doesn''t matter. Whenever you''re interested, I''ll take you there."


    Quinn nodded, then signed: How much did you cover for my medical fee? I need to pay you back.


    Preston waved his hand dismissively, "Don''t worry about it! What you owe wouldn''t even cover a day''s worth of dog food for me." Quinn fell silent.


    Preston nced around before asking, "By the way, do you need help contacting your family?"


    Quinn gestured her refusal: No need, I''ll be heading back on my own soon.


    "Alright then, I must be going. If you ever need to reach me, just call... or add me on Messenger," he said, leaving his business card on the table before making his exit.


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    Quinn''s gaze lingered on the door, watching until the figures of the two men vanishedpletely, before quietly averting her eyes.


    Meanwhile, Alexander was driving back to The Kennedys estate. Getty''s expression soured as she caught sight of the grand entrance. "Why did you bring me here?" she demanded.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander shot her a nce, "Didn''t you choose toe?"


    Getty was at a loss for words, "I didn''t know you woulde here..."


    "Then where did you think we were heading?" he retorted.


    "I thought you were chasing after that dummy. Never mind," Getty muttered, opening the car door, "I''ll find my own way back."


    Getty had no fondness for The Kennedys. The haughty stares from the servants during her previous visits felt like they were scrutinizing trash unworthy of their stage.

 Chapter 186

    In the world beyond, Getty could parade herck of status and recognition with a certain bravado. Yet, within the confines of The Kennedys, she waspelled to temper her demeanor.


    Kaitlyn, in particr, was a source of constant disdain. Getty had carved out afortable existence for herself and saw no reason to curry favor with Kaitlyn.


    If Alexander had harbored matrimonial intentions towards her, perhaps she could have borne the slight. But as it stood, there was no necessity for such tolerance.


    Just as Getty was on the cusp of departure, another vehicle drew up, effectively blocking her path.


    From the car emerged Freya, cradling a child in her arms. On sighting Getty, she halted in her tracks.


    "Getty, what are you doing here?" she asked, her gaze shifting to the man alighting from the car before her. A smile graced her lips. "It''s been quite some time since Oliver brought you along. Why not join us inside?" Getty responded with an awkward chuckle, "No, that''s alright. I''ve got some matters to attend to. I''ll drop by another time."


    "But you can''t hail a taxi here, and it''s not safe for you to travel alone at this hour. Come in and stay the night," Freya urged, her tone warm despite her usual disdain for Getty. However,pared to that dummy, she still liked Getty more. Getty cast a nce in Alexander''s direction.


    "I''ll arrange for a driver to take you home," Alexander offered.


    Getty''s lips twitched into an uneasy smile, "Sure, then I won''t bother calling someone else to pick me up."


    Alexander promptly summoned a driver on his phone. Shortly after, the driver arrived and whisked Getty away.


    Only then did Freya turn to Alexander, her expression grave, "Can we speak in private?"


    Alexander was well aware of the topic she wished to broach. "Get in the car."


    Freyaplied, handing her child to the nanny before apanying him to the Maybach. Once settled, Alexander steered the car towards a more secluded area. "Brother, I''ve made my decision. The stock... I''m going to sell."


    Alexander toyed with a lighter, igniting it only upon hearing her words. He lit the cigarette in his mouth.


    "Are you certain?"


    "Yes, I''ve given it considerable thought. Regardless of the circumstances, I cannot abandon Walter. He is Harold''s father and my husband."


    Freya''s tone was firm, indicative of a decision she had grappled with throughout the night.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    She pondered if covering Walter''s shortfall might alter his sentiments towards her. Could their rtionship possibly strengthen?


    The mention of her child''s father caused Alexander''s lips to curl ambiguously.


    He removed the cigarette from his mouth and turned to Freya, "Alright, I''ll arrange a meeting for you tomorrow. You can discuss it with him."


    "Is this man trustworthy?"


    "Do you trust me?" Alexander retorted.


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    "Then that settles it. You can walk back from here. I''ve got other matters to attend to."


    Freya nodded in understanding, exited the car, and began her short walk back.


    Once she was out of sight, Alexander set off towards the hospital.


    Quinn was now free to leave the hospital. As she nced at the hospital''s name, she realized it was the same one where Juliet was staying.


    Without further ado, she headed towards Juliet''s room.


    Juliet was housed in a regr room. The hospital was so crowded that some patients were relegated to the hallways.


    Upon finding Juliet''s room empty, Quinn scoured the hallways and eventually located her in a corner.


    A nurse was stationed beside the bed,menting, "People these days just abandon their rtives and leave them alone. They don''t answer calls or visit. What''s it going to be, are we supposed to cure them or not?"

 Chapter 187

    As the nurse''s grumblings faded into the sterile hospital air, Quinn''s breath hitched in her throat. She slowed her hurried pace, her gazending on the bed where the nurse was still attempting to reach Ariel, whose number seemed to be perpetually blocked.


    Quinn''s eyes shifted to the frail figure on the bed, a pang of confusion and concern washing over her. The woman looked older, her age etched into her features more prominently than Quinn remembered.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    The elderly woman''s eyes were shut tight, her face a mask of tranquility. Quinn couldn''t discern whether she was unconscious or simply asleep.


    With a gentle tug, Quinn caught the nurse''s attention. The nurse swiveled around, her eyes scanning Quinn as she asked, "Are you a family member of Juliet''s?"


    Quinn''s gaze lingered on the woman in the bed before she gave a slight nod in confirmation.


    The nurse''s expression softened, her professional demeanor easing slightly. "Good, now that you''re here, can you make a decision about her treatment?"


    Quinn nodded eagerly, her resolve unwavering.


    A furrow appeared on the nurse''s brow. "Then take care of the payment, please. She needs an infusion. If you decide against treatment, you should arrange to take her home as soon as possible. We''re running out of beds here." Quinn quickly retrieved her mobile phone, typing a message to the doctor: [I''ll handle the payment immediately, but please start her treatment for now.]


    The nurse seemed taken aback by Quinn''s inability to speak, but quickly regained her professionalposure. "Once you''ve paid, just bring the receipt to the doctor."


    Quinn nodded in understanding, rushing off to handle the payment. The bill was just over five thousand dors for the past few days.


    She had initially thought Ariel had experienced a change of heart by bringing Juliet to the hospital. However, Quinn now realized she had been too optimistic. Ariel was merely trying to avoid having Juliet pass away at home. His intentions of caring for her were nowhere to be found.


    Quinn could neverprehend how a son could treat his mother with such disregard.


    After settling the payment, Quinn approached the doctor, receipt in hand.


    "The elderly tend to have multiple ailments, typically rted to aging. It''s not possible to cure herpletely, but we can certainly make her remaining days morefortable," the doctor exined to Quinn.


    Quinn nodded, writing down her question: How serious is she now?


    The doctor nced at the test results. "The bloodwork doesn''t show much. It''d be better to do a CT scan. From what we can tell, it seems like abination of osteoporosis and malnutrition has led to her unconscious state."


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    "Her bones are fragile. A fall like this is quite dangerous. You''ll need to be extra careful with her," the doctor warned.


    A fall? Quinn''s mind raced. How could Juliet have fallen?


    After expressing her gratitude to the doctor, Quinn clutched the papers and retreated to the hallway.


    Juliety motionless in her bed, her body in aa-like state. Fortunately, a nurse hade to start her infusion. Quinn decided to stay by her side.


    The nurses were always bustling about, especially outside the infusion room. They were seldom seen unless a patient or family member required assistance with medication. Spotting a vacant chair nearby, Quinn slid it over to sit beside Juliet, mirroring the way Juliet used to sit by her bed when she was a child.


    Quinn couldn''t help but wonder if Juliet felt frightened, lying alone in a hospital bed at her age.


    With a gentle touch, Quinn reached out and held Juliet''s hand. She studied the elderly woman''s face, her heart heavy with unspoken sorrow.


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    Perhaps it was a connection of the soul, or maybe the medication was taking effect, but as Quinn held her hand, Juliet''s eyes fluttered open.


    A wave of relief washed over Quinn, her grip on Juliet''s hand tightening.


    Juliet seemed to sense someone beside her. She turned her head, her gazending on Quinn. Recognition dawned on her, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Quinn, why are you here?" Juliet managed to whisper, her voice frail as if each word required immense effort.


    Quinn signaled with her hands, ''I came to see you.''


    Juliet, now eighty years old, was crying like a child.


    Quinn asked, ''What''s wrong?''


    Juliet shook her head, hastily wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Nothing, I''m fine, don''t worry."

 Chapter 188

    Quinn''s lips pressed into a thin line, a silent admission that she couldn''t ept the situation at face value. As shey there, Ariel''s absence was a ring reminder of the harsh reality. The mounting hospital bills were left unattended, a stark contrast to the reassurances that everything was alright.


    Juliet''s voice broke through her thoughts, "You''re here now. Don''t you have to return? Won''t Alexander be furious?"


    Quinn pushed the thought aside. She was already at the hospital, and if not for this visit, Juliet''s fate might have been different. Shaking her head, she offered Juliet aforting nce. "It''s okay, don''t worry."


    Yet, how could it be okay? Alexander''s threat lingered in her mind. She wasn''t certain if he was merely trying to intimidate her, but Quinn had an inkling that he was serious.


    "I''ll wait until your IV is done, then I''ll arrange for a nurse to look after you," Quinn offered.


    Juliet waved her hands dismissively. "No need, no need. Don''t squander money on that. At my age, I''m just grateful you came. I was just pondering, if I passed away without seeing you onest time, could I rest in peace? But now I''m relieved; I''ve let go of all my worries."N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Quinn''s eyes welled up at Juliet''s words. Despite theirck of blood rtion, in that moment, they felt like family, their bond transcending the conventional definition of kinship. They were both people without a home, and only those who''ve experienced such loss could trulyprehend each other''s sorrow and suffering.


    "Okay, Quinn, no more tears. Grandma''s happy to see you. You should be happy too." Juliet extended a hand, attempting to wipe away Quinn''s tears.


    With a sniffle, Quinn lifted her hand, roughly brushing away her tears, and managed a small smile.


    Juliet reciprocated the smile, "Such a good kid."


    Yet, their smiles wereced with an underlying bitterness.


    "I''m not a good kid," Quinn confessed. "If I were, you wouldn''t be here. I''m sorry, Juliet."


    "Don''t apologize. You''ve done so well. I''m truly grateful." Juliet''s words were a soothing balm, a whispered promise.


    "Quinn, you will be happy. I''ll bless you."


    Quinn''s tears flowed harder. She shook her head frantically, gesturing, "I don''t need your blessings. I just want you to get well."


    Juliet offered a sad smile, unable to make such a promise. Their hands clung to one another tightly, but Quinn had to leave, her tears a constant reminder of the painful reality.


    She rose to her feet, wiping her tears, and poured a ss of water for Juliet. Then she set out to find a nurse. Ensuring Juliet was taken care of was the only thing she could do.


    The hospital offered a range of nursing services, with prices varying from a hundred to five hundred a day. Quinn managed to find a reasonably priced caregiver, costing around three hundred a day. After making the payment, she ryed some instructions to the caregiver.


    "Don''t worry, miss, everything will be fine," the caregiver assured her.


    Quinn finally exhaled a sigh of relief. She offered the caregiver a small smile of gratitude. But as she turned around, she saw Alexander entering through the door.


    He looked like he had weathered a storm, his swift strides seemingly bringing the wind with him. Despite the distance between them, Quinn could feel the icy aura emanating from him.


    Her hand instinctively tightened, and she stood frozen in ce, her gaze locked on the figure advancing towards her.


    Alexander approached her, his tall frame towering over her. He didn''t utter a word, but the anger radiating from him was palpable.

 Chapter 189

    Quinn recoiled instinctively, a shiver coursing through her body as a chill radiated from the man before her. His grip on her wrist was vice-like, a silent promise of restraint, preventing an explosive scene from unfolding right there. "Let''s go back," hemanded, his voice as cold as his touch.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    With a tight press of her lips, Quinnplied, trailing behind him in silence. His pace was brisk, almost ruthless, causing her to stumble in her attempts to keep up.


    Before she could regain her footing, she was unceremoniously thrust into the car. The door mmed shut behind her with a resounding ng, the sound echoing in the confined space before she could even settle in. Without uttering a word, he steered the vehicle back towards the vi.


    Upon arrival, he swung open the car door and yanked Quinn out with a rough tug. She stumbled in his wake, her feet struggling to find purchase as his grip tightened around her arm.


    Suddenly, his hold on her ckened, and Quinn, caught off guard, lurched forward. Her knees made contact with the ground first, the impact sending a jolt of pain through her body. Her vision blurred momentarily, the world around her fading into darkness.


    As she propped herself up on her hands, tears streamed down her face, carving wet trails on her cheeks. Before she could regain herposure, a pair of hands gripped her cor, hoisting her up from the ground.


    She looked up at the man towering over her, his fury palpable. Her gaze flickered uncertainly as she met his re. Alexander''s anger morphed into a mockingugh. "Quinn, have I been too indulgent with you? Have you taken my words as nothing but the wind?" he sneered.


    His tone wasced with a deadly threat, causing Quinn to recoil. She shook her head frantically, her hands raised in a futile attempt to cate him. But before she couldplete her gesture, Alexander flung her back onto the ground. "Stop gesturing!" he barked, his voice echoing in the silent night.


    Quinny there, stunned, as he pinned her hands down with a force that threatened to crush her delicate bones. "What''s the use of all this gesturing? You let my words go in one ear and out the other, never remembering a thing. Since you can''t speak, it seems your hands are just as redundant. How about bing a real dummy?" Alexander hissed.


    His words hung heavy in the air, leaving Quinn frozen in disbelief. His gaze bore into her, a silent testament to his seething anger. She opened her mouth to respond, but her voice failed her once again.


    As she struggled to form words, the fury in Alexander''s eyes intensified. His grip on her wrists tightened further, causing her to tremble uncontrobly. The pain was so intense that she could hear her own bones creaking. She curled into herself, a ball of agony, her pleading eyes meeting his indifferent gaze.


    Alexander had run out of patience. Communicating with her felt akin to talking to a brick wall. He gripped her wrist once more, leading her upstairs. Quinn stumbled after him, her movements clumsy as she was practically dragged up the steps.


    He tossed her onto the bedroom floor, leaning over her with a firm grip on her chin. "Quinn," he said sharply, "I''ve told you, if you really cared about your Juliet, you''d give up any hope of ever seeing her again!"


    Quinn shook her head frantically, her free hand clutching at his sleeve. Her eyes were filled with a silent plea, but Alexander remained unmoved. He pried her fingers loose and stood up to leave. In a desperate attempt to stop him, Quinn lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his legs.


    Alexander turned to face her, his expression stern. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she shook her head vigorously. Her inability to voice her plea filled her with self-loathing. Her wild gestures, once a means ofmunication, now seemed bothical and powerless.


    Ignoring the pain in her knees, Quinn slowly rose to her feet, her arms still wrapped around his waist. She leaned her face against his chest, hoping that her embrace would soothe his anger.


    Alexander remained still, his eyes closed as he took a deep breath. Quinn listened to the rapid beat of his heart, a testament to his simmering anger. She looked up at him, her gaze beseeching, and held him tighter.

 Chapter 190

    Quinn''s lips formed two silent words: Don''t go.


    Alexander cast his gaze down at her, watching as she continued to grapple with the challenge of lip-reading, her efforts awkward yet unerringly urate. "Please," she begged.


    His voice, when he finally spoke, was a low murmur, devoid of the fury that had previouslyced his words. "Begging me now, don''t you think it''s toote?"


    Regardless, Quinn shook her head, her arms tightening around him in a desperate embrace. She knew well enough that he didn''t harbor any love for her, but this gesture had always served to quell his anger. It might not sway his decision, but it could at least soothe his wrath.


    She nuzzled her cheek against his chest, much like a kitten seeking thefort of its owner. It was a touch so tender that no one could remain unaffected.


    He seemed moreposed than before, yet he made no move to return her embrace. Quinn tilted her head upwards once more, standing on her tiptoes in an attempt to kiss him. Her clumsy eagerness slowly ignited a spark in his eyes. Suddenly, his hand rose, cradling the back of her head, deepening the kiss. He lifted her into his arms, moving purposefully towards the bed.


    Quinn tensed momentarily, but then allowed herself to rx, her eyes fluttering shut as she responded to his kiss. His anger often manifested in rough, almost violent kisses that sometimes left her skin bruised.


    It was in these rare, intense moments that she felt truly cherished by him. Fleeting as a blossom that withers at dawn, it was this single thread of hope that had kept her tethered to him all these years. But now, the fervor of her feelings seemed to be ebbing. He had asked her not to love him, and perhaps... just perhaps, she was nearing the point of granting his wish.


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    Quinn''s eyelids fluttered, and slowly, she allowed them to close as a single tear traced a path down her cheek. Exhausted, she surrendered to the enveloping darkness.


    When she stirred awake, her hand instinctively reached out to the space beside her, expecting to encounter nothing more than the cold, empty expanse of the sheets. But this time, her hand brushed against a firm, warm chest. Quinn''s eyes snapped open in surprise.


    Their gazes locked - his, deep and inscrutable. Her breath hitched, and she reached out tentatively to touch his face, half-convinced that she was hallucinating. His skin was warm to the touch, the sensation undeniably real. And his hand was holding hers. They remained thus, their eyes locked in a silentmunion where words were unnecessary.


    Alexander''s hand traced a path along her brow and eyes, his morning voice husky and raw. "There''s something missing in your eyes," he murmured, seemingly to himself.


    Quinn merely gazed at him, her silence eloquent.


    He didn''t wait for a response, continuing on his own, "I don''t like the way you look at me."


    With a sigh, he turned to lie on his back beside her, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he lost himself in thought.


    Quinn''sshes fluttered as she studied his chiseled profile, her eyes eventually lowering in mncholy.


    The silence stretched between them.


    She couldn''t tell how much time had passed when she finally remembered her purpose. Tentatively, she prodded Alexander''s shoulder with a finger. He turned his head towards her, his silence inviting her to speak.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

 Chapter 191

    Quinn hesitated, her hands moving in a flurry of desperate gestures. "I won''t see Juliet anymore, don''t hurt her," she signed, her eyes pleading. Alexander''s lips were a tight line, his gaze intense and unyielding. He said nothing, his silence hanging heavy in the air between them.


    She continued, her hands shaping the words in the air. "She''s quite old, doesn''t have much time left, she''s pitiful. Think of it as a kindness for how she once took care of you, take pity on her."


    Whether he saw her signnguage or not was unclear. His eyes hadn''t darted once to her fingers; they were fixed on her eyes. She was unable to speak, her voice trapped in a body that refused to cooperate. If he chose not to watch her hands, she could never express herself, nevermunicate with him. His attention was a fickle thing, sometimes attentively watching her sign slowly, other timespletely ignoring her. He held the power to cut offmunication at any moment. Quinn signed earnestly, her hands moving with a frantic urgency. Yet he continued to just look at her, his gaze never wavering. Her heart began to sink, a heavy stone in her chest. Dropping her hands, she ceased her motions, her hope dwindling.


    Then, out of nowhere, Alexander spoke, his voice breaking the silence. "Do you know why I don''t want you interacting with those people?" Quinn''s eyelids fluttered open, her gaze locking onto his with an unsettling intensity. A question burned through her mind, nearly driving her mad with the need for answers. She wondered why her most basic freedoms and rights had been stripped away, as if she were less than human.


    As she waited for his response, she felt his slender fingers trail gently across her cheek. "But I hope you never find out," he murmured, his voice a soft whisper in the quiet room.


    A twinge of recognition sparked in Quinn''s eyes. That sentiment felt eerily familiar as if Walter had spoken simr words to her before. Walter had said, "If you remembered, you wouldn''t need to ask. If you remembered, you wouldn''t look at me with those eyes."


    Different questions, yet leading to the same disturbing implications. Quinn''s head began to buzz with confusion and half-formed thoughts. What crucial memory had she lost?


    Despite racking her brain, the answers eluded her. It felt like a twisted guessing game they yed with her, coercing her to remember, yet barring her from outside contact.


    She felt torn between two immense forces, threatening to rip her in half. Wracked with desperation and helplessness, all she could do was silently endure, witnessing the fragmentation of her being.


    Suddenly, Alexander sat up, the sheets cascading down to reveal the chiseled contours of his body-a tapestry of red marks crisscrossing his chest and back.


    Quinn''s fingernails had left no mark, but the traces of her desperate scrabbles spoke volumes ofst night''s frenzy. Now, Quinny almost immobile, depleted of strength save for the faint movement of her hands.


    He arose and began to dress, the rustling of fabric transforming him from the wild man she knew to the revered,posed Alexander once more.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


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    sping his wristwatch, he nced back at her and instructed, "Stay home from work today. Rest... and don''t go outside.


    "And I expect there won''t be another Abigail or Preston," he added, a warning edge in his voice. With that, he grabbed his coat and left, not sparing a backward nce.


    Quinn remained motionless on the bed, her eyes trailing the disappearing figure until the bedroom door shut, severing her visual connection with him.


    She withdrew her gaze, ncing down at her own bruised arms, which were just as marred as the rest of her. Her lower abdomen throbbed in pain, her body not fully recovered from the previous night''s oxygen-deprivation. She wondered how much more she could endure. But deep down, it didn''t matter anymore.

 Chapter 192

    In the grand scheme of life, the lifespan of a pet was but a fleeting moment, a brief existence that spanned merely a decade or two at best.


    On this particr day, the anticipated visit from the doctor was scheduled for the afternoon. Quinn had spent the morning ensconced in the peaceful embrace of sleep, stirring only when the insistent chime of the doorbell echoed through the confines of her apartment. With a sigh, she dragged her weary body out of bed and trudged towards the door to wee her visitor.


    Upon her opening of the door, the doctor stepped in, his medical bag clutched in his hand and a professional smile gracing his features. "Good afternoon, Quinn. How have you been faring these past few days?" he asked.


    A semnce of a smile flickered across Quinn''s lips, a feeble attempt to mask the inner turmoil that roiled within her.


    The doctor, however, did not anticipate a response. His inquiry was more of a courtesy than a genuine probe into her wellbeing. He stepped further into the apartment, setting down his bag and gesturing for Quinn to sit on the couch so he could check her pulse. As his fingers pressed against her wrist, his smile gradually faded.


    He nced at Quinn, his expression aplex mix of concern and confusion. "Howe... it''s worse thanst time?" he asked, his voiceced with worry. Quinn remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stared at him, unblinking.


    Growing increasingly anxious, the doctor implored, "Quinn, you need to cheer up, and... you know, your vitality hasn''t recovered yet." His words were gentle, yet they carried an underlying message that Quinn understood all too well. A flush of embarrassment warmed her ears as she quietly withdrew her hand.


    "My mentor was a very famous herbalist, and he had good connections with the Kennedys," the doctor exined, trying to reassure her. "Being his proudest prot¨¦g¨¦, you can trust what I say. I wouldn''t deceive you." Quinn responded by typing on her phone: [I know, thank you.]N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    The doctor sighed, "Alright... should I make you some herbal supplement to help you recuperate?" Quinn shook her head in response: No need. The doctor, feeling awkward, struggled to find another topic of conversation. He resolved to find time to talk to Alexander. It was disconcerting to witness Quinn''s dwindling spirit with each visit.


    Meanwhile, at the caf¨¦.


    Freya found herself observing the two men seated across from her. One was Alexander, and the other, a lean middle-aged man. He was engrossed in the documents she had provided, calcting something on his phone as he perused them.


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    Freya cast an uneasy nce at Alexander, who was engrossed in his own phone, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. "Ms. Freya, I''ve gone through the documents you sent. They areprehensive. I''ll have to get the financial statements verified, then I can appraise your shares," the man informed her.


    "How long will it take?" Freya inquired. "A couple of days, at most," he replied.


    Freya hesitated before asking, "And what do you think my shares could be worth?"


    The man pondered for a moment before venturing, "Well, by my estimate, about ten billion dors."


    Freya''s expression darkened, her displeasure evident. "Are you joking? These are shares in Freya Corporation! You''re valuing them at only ten billion?"


    The man raised his hand in a cating gesture, "Ms. Freya, there''s no doubt your shares are valuable and indeed worth a great deal. But there''s no market price for them."


    "To take on your shares, I''d have to rally several investors to buy in. Whichpanies cany down ten billion in cash right now?" he reasoned. "If you don''t believe me, you can go out and ask around. Many might want to buy, but few can afford such an acquisition. Besides the funding issue, there are otherplications to deal with. It''s tricky."


    Freya opened her mouth to respond, then closed it, finding herself at a loss for words. She didn''t understand the technicalities, and the man''s exnation went over her head. She had no reason not to trust Alexander''s contact. "Only ten billion?" she finally managed to utter.


    The man pondered for a moment before replying, "I can add twenty billion more at most-that''s thergest gesture of good faith I can make."


    "Miss Freya, if you don''t trust me, surely you can trust Alexander, right? If you tried to deal with someone else, would you dare to agree if they offered a higher price?" he asked.

 Chapter 193

    Freya''s concerns were not unfounded; the prospect of entrusting such a vast sum of money to a stranger was indeed daunting. What if they were merely bluffing? Or worse, what if they signed a contract and then failed to pay? She would be left without recourse.


    Freya sighed, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "Just make it quick," she implored. Her energy was waning, and she still had to discuss with Alexander their ns concerning the money.


    "Rest assured, Miss Freya," the man reassured her. "We''ll finalize the procedure within three days. I''ll get started immediately." Gathering all the documents, he rose from his seat and took his leave. Once he had departed, Freya turned her attention to Alexander. "Bro, this is hardly any money at all-it''s not enough. What are we going to doter?" she asked, her voiceced with worry. Alexander paused his phone fiddling and looked up at Freya. "Do you care that much about Walter?" he asked, his tone casual.


    Freya retorted, her annoyance palpable. "I''ve even sold my shares, what do you think?"


    "Is it worth it?" Alexander probed further.


    "Of course, it''s worth it! Anything is worth it for him!" Freya''s determination was evident. Alexander couldn''t help but wonder what kind of magic Walter had woven to captivate her sopletely. Alexander nodded solemnly, his fingers drumming on the table in a nonchnt rhythm. "There''s a way, but you might not have the courage for it."


    "What way? I''ve already risked my own shares; what could possibly frighten me now?" Freya demanded, her curiosity piqued. "Out with it-how else can we get the money?"


    A sly smile spread across Alexander''s face. He leaned in, his gaze locked onto Freya''s, and whispered, "You don''t have it, but Dad does."


    Freya''s eyes widened in surprise. "What... what do you mean?"


    "Dad''s shares-they''re worth even more, aren''t they?" Alexander''s words hung in the air, heavy with implication.


    Freya swallowed hard, her disbelief mirrored in her wide eyes as she stared at Alexander. Her heart pounded in her chest, a sense of danger radiating from her brother for the first time in many years.


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    "Have you lost your mind? Dad''s shares-how could they possibly be avable?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "I told you if you want it, I have a way. The question is, do you dare?" Alexander challenged.


    Freya found the entire situation ludicrous. She was beginning to regret even selling her own shares.


    "I..." Freya drew in a deep breath, her voice barely audible. "What if Dad finds out?"


    Alexander responded calmly, "If it''s sessful, it won''t matter if he finds out. By then, he''ll have no shares left-what''s to fear from him?"


    A spark of determination ignited in Freya''s eyes. She and Alexander were both aware of Wayne''s illegitimate son.


    Kaitlyn had once mentioned that their father was holding tightly onto his shares, likely saving them for his illegitimate offspring.


    Remembering those words, Freya''s gaze towards Alexander changed. She might not understand everything, but she was far from clueless. She was beginning toprehend what Alexander was suggesting. "Bro, you''re not nning to...?" Her sentence trailed off, the unspoken words hanging in the air between them.


    Alexander didn''t respond directly. Instead, he straightened up and then leaned back casually, a smirk ying on his lips and a mysterious glint in his eyes.


    Freya''s heartbeat quickened as she observed his demeanor. Her brother was no simpleton. Since joining thepany, he had ruthlessly purged the old guard with his forceful tactics. And now, he was even considering their own father as a target.


    It was terrifying, truly terrifying.

 Chapter 194

    Alexander was akin to a ruthless devil who disowned his kin, yet his willingness to share his ns with her suggested that she held a certain significance in his heart. The invitation to partake in such a pivotal scheme was not extended lightly. After all, they were siblings, a bond that distinguished them from the rest of the world. With these thoughts in mind, Freya found herself gradually rxing.


    "Brother, what if something goes wrong?" she inquired, her voiceced with apprehension.


    Alexander responded with a nonchnt shrug, "If things go awry, you still have me, don''t you? Do you really think I''d put myself in danger?"


    He continued, "Our immediate concern is to clean up the mess Walter has created. If we don''t, how are we to justify it to our father?"


    He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face, "The ideal solution is to strip him of his power. That would resolve Walter''s issue as well, wouldn''t it?"


    Freya found each word hitting a raw nerve, yet her frown gradually dissolved.


    After a moment of contemtion, she finally conceded, "Alright, since you insist, I''ll trust you. I know you''ve got my back. Just tell me what to do, and I''ll follow your lead."


    Alexander gave her a knowing look, not rushing to respond. He rose from his seat, hands casually tucked into his pockets, "Wait for my instructions. And remember, you can''t breathe a word of this to anyone, especially not to Walter." "Understood," she nodded in agreement.


    With that, Alexander left the caf¨¦, leaving Freya alone with her thoughts. She sat there, her emotions in turmoil, feeling as if her own ten percent stake was insignificant.


    She reached for her coffee, downing it in one gulp, in a futile attempt to find some semnce of peace.


    Upon his return to the vi, Alexander found Quinn curled up on the couch, engrossed in the television. She was behaving herself today, not venturing out or contacting anyone. Alexander sauntered over and took a seat beside her.


    Quinn was jolted back to reality and turned to look at him.


    "Have you eaten yet?" he asked casually.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


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    She shook her head in response.


    "Come on, let''s go grab some dinner." He reached out, ruffling her hair as if nothing had transpired.


    The man was always so unpredictable.


    Quinn watched him for a moment before nodding and standing up to change.


    She donned a red jacket and jeans, with a te blue turtleneck underneath to conceal the marks on her neck.


    Alexander drove them to the restaurant where he had previously stood her up.


    Arriving at the familiar spot, Quinn was reminded of how she had waited there for five hours for a man who felt like the most familiar stranger, devoid of any hint of romance. Without consulting her, Alexander ced an order that happened to include all her favorites.


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    He was d in a brown turtleneck that snugly concealed his neck, topped off with a loose ck overcoat.


    The outfit, not unlike his tailored suits, still portrayed him as cool and aloof-an image that could deceive those unfamiliar with his true nature.


    He was engrossed in the menu, bathed in the soft glow of the overheadmps, making him appear almost dreamlike, unreal.


    "Give me your hand," Alexander suddenlymanded.


    Startled, Quinn hesitated before slowly extending her hand, the reddish marks from being bound still visible.


    As she rolled up her sleeve, the bruises he''d inflicted the night before were also on disy.


    Alexander stared at her arm in silence for a while before retrieving a small red box from his coat.


    Quinn stared intently at the box, her breathing suddenly uneven.

 Chapter 195

    Alexander unveiled the contents of the box, revealing a diamond ne of exquisite delicacy. Quinn''s eyshes fluttered in an uncertain dance, caught between the twin specters of disappointment and relief.


    With a gentle touch, Alexander retrieved a bracelet from the box, sliding it onto her wrist. "This was the birthday gift I bought for you and forgot to give. Consider it a bted present," he said, his voice soft.


    After securing the bracelet, he noticed it hung a bit loose. Despite being custom-made to fit her slender wrist, it mysteriously dangled, sliding down into her palm with the slightest lift of her hand. A frown creased Alexander''s brow. Recognition sparked in Quinn''s eyes. The bracelet was familiar, a piece she had seen adorning Getty''s wrist in online posts. The realization hit her - the bracelet was too big because it was a reject, intended for someone else. She tried to withdraw her hand, but Alexander''s grip was firm as he removed the bracelet.


    "It''s too loose; I''ll send it back for adjustments," he said, his voice steady. Quinn pressed her lips together, choosing silence over words.


    Alexander studied her face, noting her difort. "If you don''t like it, we''ll pick out a new one," he offered. She responded with a nod.


    "What else do you like?" he asked, seeking to engage her. But she merely shook her head. He realized, with a pang of concern, that Quinn had barely spoken to him,municating only through nods and shakes of her head. She had be mute, refraining even from signing.


    In silence, Alexander returned the bracelet to his pocket. When agitated, he had a habit of tugging at his tie, but today, without a suit, he could only fidget with the cor of his sweater before releasing a soundless sigh. When the meal was served, Quinn kept her gaze lowered, eating mechanically, indifferent to the taste of the food. Her focus seemed intense, but her vacant expression betrayed her distraction.


    Alexander reclined in his chair, motionless, his eyes fixed on her as she ate. She didn''t nce his way or show any sign of stopping; she just kept eating relentlessly.


    As dish after dish was emptied, only Alexander''s untouched te remained out of her reach. Setting down her chopsticks, Quinn lifted her gaze to meet his. An icy chill had crept into his stare.


    Quinn pursed her lips, then silently lowered her gaze to her empty bowl. Had she upset him by eating too much? She hadn''t left anything for him.


    Alexander shifted his gaze away, pinching the bridge of his nose, and turned to watch the lively street outside. Quinn watched him quietly, waiting for his next instruction. Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from behind. "Aren''t you that one..."


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    Startled, Quinn spun around, her expression morphing. It was Preston standing there, nked by Todd and a girl. The girl''s expression shifted at the sight of Quinn and Preston, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.


    Leaving hispanions behind, Preston strode towards Quinn, greeting her with a warm smile. "We meet again! Last time was so rushed, ver got your name."


    At his words, Quinn shot a nervous nce at Alexander. Noticing her gaze, Preston finally acknowledged Alexander''s presence and turned to greet him.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alexander, you''re here as well. I haven''t had the chance to exinst night''s incident, but I saved her," he gestured towards Quinn, "you can ask her. Could you exin to my dadter?"


    Preston''s words tumbled out in a rush, then he fell silent, expectantly awaiting a response from Alexander.

 Chapter 196

    Alexander lifted his gaze, meeting Preston''s with a cool detachment. He allowed a moment of silence to stretch between them before he chose to respond.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Their eyes remained locked, and after a few seconds, the smile that had been ying on Preston''s lips began to waver. He broke the silence, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty, "Alexander?" Alexander allowed another pause before finally acknowledging him, "Preston?"


    "Ah, yes, I''m Preston, but Alexander..." Preston''s eyes darted between Quinn and Alexander, his confusion about their rtionship deepening with each passing second.


    Only yesterday, he had assumed Quinn was merely the nanny, but now they were dining together as equals. The situation didn''t make sense to him. Since when did employers share meals with their nannies? And if Quinn wasn''t the nanny, then what was the nature of Alexander''s rtionship with that woman from the previous night?


    Preston''s mind was spinning with questions, and unable to contain his curiosity, he blurted out, "Alexander, what exactly is she to you?" Alexander''s smile was tinged with sarcasm, a smirk that didn''t quite reach his eyes. "What she is to me is none of your business, is it?"


    Caught off guard by the sharp retort, Preston took a moment to recover, his irritation mounting, "I was just asking. You can''t just lock someone in a car, you¡ª"


    His words were cut short by the sensation of a gentle tug on his sleeve. He turned to find Quinn, her eyes pleading and her head subtly shaking, signaling him to drop the subject.


    Preston opened his mouth to respond, then exhaled a deep sigh, "Alright, no more questions. You two enjoy your meal."


    As he rose to leave, he offered Quinn a warm smile, "We''ll catch up some other time."


    Quinn watched his retreating figure, her heart fluttering with unease. She stole a nce at Alexander, whose face remained impassive, sending a ripple of anxiety through her.


    Just as she gathered the courage to speak, Alexander rose and walked away. Quinn hurried after him, struggling to keep pace until they reached the parking lot.


    She quickly slid into the car, turning her head to gauge Alexander''s reaction. He was leaning against the car window, a lit cigarette in hand. The car was silent, save for the faint crackle of burning tobo. After finishing his cigarette, Alexander finally started the car and drove off.


    Meanwhile, back at the lounge, Preston returned to the booth, his mind abuzz with spection, his attention visibly elsewhere.


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    Scratching his head, Little Sebastian asked with a hint of concern, "Bro, you seem a bit off, what''s up?"


    Preston, his chin resting in his hand as he absentmindedly toyed with a Sebastian, replied distractedly, "What do you guys think is the deal with those two?"


    One of the girls, clearly irritated, retorted, "Why do you care about their business? How does it affect you to be so nosy?"


    At her words, Preston looked up, taken aback, "What''s gotten into you? I haven''t done anything to you, why snap at me?"


    The girl huffed and turned her face away, clearly done with the conversation.


    Preston furrowed his brows, sensing something was off with her as well. Had he just had a stroke of bad luck tonight?


    Little Sebastian chuckled softly, teasing, "Bro, I think she''s just jealous."


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    Sebastian recoiled, not daring to say another word.


    Preston eyed the girl skeptically but kept silent.


    On the other end, Alexander had brought Quinn back to the vi without uttering a word the entire way, leaving her to silently follow behind.


    He entered his study alone, not speaking a word to Quinn.


    Standing downstairs, Quinn watched him disappear up the staircase, her lips pursed.


    She couldn''t tell if he was angry again. His silence, instead of the usual outburst, made her uneasy.


    Upstairs, Alexander received a call.


    Juliet is fading fast.

 Chapter 197

    A call from the caretaker found its way to Quinn as well. The woman on the other end of the line confessed her inability to continue in her role. Quinn, taken aback, struggled to form a response. She yearned to inquire about the specifics, but her words were trapped, leaving her to stew in silent worry on the other end of the line.


    Everything had appeared normal when she had departed the previous evening!


    The caretaker''s voice filled the silence, her words tumbling out in a rush. "How should I refund the money to you? Maybe you shoulde by tomorrow, no wait, it''s better if youe now... I feel like the olddy is..."


    Quinn''s grip on the phone tightened, her heart pounding with a mix of panic and helplessness. She cursed her inability to articte her thoughts.


    Once the call ended, she quicklyposed a text to the caretaker, exining her inability to speak and requesting details about the elderly woman''s condition. After sending the message, she cast a nce upstairs, considered for a moment, and then decided against seeking his assistance.


    Quinn sank into the couch, her phone clutched tightly in her hand as she waited for a response.


    Perhaps the caretaker was too preupied; she didn''t notice the text, and Quinn''s wait for a reply proved fruitless.


    As she nced at the wall clock, it read ten at night.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Her anxiety, perhaps, had triggered the return of her headache. It was a sharp, stabbing pain that made her world spin.


    Holding her head, she curled up on the couch, her fingers tightly wound in her hair, teeth gritted against the pain.


    Just get through this, she urged herself, tightening her embrace.


    Those few minutes felt like an eternity of suffering.


    Suddenly, her phone vibrated. Quinn, struggling, sat up and retrieved the fallen device.


    Despite the throbbing in her head, she managed to unlock it with trembling fingers.


    The caretaker had replied.


    She revealed that the elderly woman''s son had visited, dering the situation hopeless and expressing his desire to take her home. However, there was still some of the medical fund remaining. The doctor had suggested two more days of treatment.


    Ariel had caused amotion at the hospital, demanding a refund. This had likely distressed the elderly woman, who had fainted and been rushed to the ER, only to beter wheeled out to a doctor who merely shook his head. Ariel, frightened by the chaos, had backed down from demanding a refund and left the elderly woman to continue her hospital treatment alone.


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    The caregiver, fearing me for any adverse events involving the patient, had decided to resign, informing Quinn of her decision.


    The doctor had issued a critical condition notice, and it seemed unlikely that the patient would pull through.


    As Quinn read through the barrage of texts, her heart clenched. She clutched at her cor, gasping for air.


    Why was Ariel at the hospital? How had he managed to be there at such a coincidental moment?


    Quinn tapped her temple, attempting to calm herself. She waited for the pain to subside before she slowly eyed the upstairs.


    Could he truly be that heartless?


    Feeling weak, Quinn made her way towards the study, swaying with each step as if she might copse.


    She didn''t knock; instead, she pushed the door open and entered.


    Alexander was lounging on the couch, legs crossed, leaning back with a casual air, a phone in hand. He was engrossed in a conversation with someone on the other end. Upon noticing Quinn''s frail appearance, his brow furrowed ever so slightly before he returned his attention to his phone.


    Quinn took slow steps towards him, her gaze never leaving him.


    "Okay, got it." Alexander ended the call and shifted his attention back to Quinn.


    She stared at him, her hand gesturing, "Why?"


    Alexander looked at her hand but remained silent.


    Quinn gestured again, "I agreed to what you wanted, why won''t you leave her alone?"


    She exined, "Last night, I just realized we were in the same hospital; I thought I''d drop by, it wasn''t intentional."


    Suddenly, Alexander reached out and pulled her towards him.

 Chapter 198

    With an unexpected stumble, Quinn found herself awkwardly seated on hisp, her gaze lifting to meet his impassive eyes. His finger traced the corner of her eye, his whisper a cool breeze against her skin, "Everyone has their own fate, Quinn. This has nothing to do with me."


    Tears welled in Quinn''s eyes as she studied his face, desperately seeking the truth in his expression. But his countenance was unreadable, a mystery she couldn''t solve.


    She shook her head, her hands forming a question in the air, "Why was Ariel at the hospital?"


    "I told you, I don''t know," he responded, his voice as t and unaffected as his gaze. It was as if the matter held no importance to him.


    Quinn''s fingers clenched in frustration. She was torn between believing him and doubting his words. Ariel had seemingly relinquished any im on Juliet.


    So why had Ariel shown up at the hospital, immediately after she had settled the medical bills, and deliberately provoked Juliet? It was as if Ariel was acting out Alexander''s chilling words from the previous night, "Don''t ever think you''ll see her again."


    As she pondered this, a shiver ran down Quinn''s spine. Alexander was bing more of a stranger with each passing day. She pushed herself to her feet, only to sink back down beside him.


    Anticipating her next move, Alexander caught her wrist, halting her gestures. "Quinn, don''t do anything unnecessary. It''ll just backfire on both of us."


    Taken aback, Quinn crumbled to the floor, her spirit deted. Alexander rose and walked away, not once looking back. He made sure to lock the study door behind him.


    The clicking sound of the lock echoed in the room. Quinn scrambled to her feet and tried the handle, confirming her suspicion-it was locked. She pounded on the door with balled fists, but her efforts were met with silence. Leaning against the door, she slid down to the floor. Once again, he had locked her in. She hugged her knees to her chest, her mind swirling as if she had consumed too much alcohol, her consciousness blurring.---


    The following day, Freya found herself meeting with the man again. This time, Alexander was absent, leaving just the two of them in their usual caf¨¦.


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    "Miss Rowe, if you''ve made your decision, please sign this transfer of shares agreement. We''ve prepared the money," he said.


    Freya skimmed through the agreement, feigning understanding. Without Alexander''s presence, she felt a wave of unease wash over her.


    The man waited patiently as she read. After a few minutes, Freya picked up the pen. She hesitated at the signature line, then, with a firm resolve, she signed her name.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    The man watched her sign, aposed smile ying on his lips. Once she had stamped it with her personal seal, she looked up. "I''ve signed. When will the money be transferred?"


    He nced at the contract, noting the confirmed signature, and replied, "Soon. It''s arge sum, so it won''t hit your ount immediately. You might need to wait a bit." Freya felt a twinge of hesitation, a fear of being cheated.


    "If you have any doubts, you can ask Alexander directly. He and I go way back," the man reassured her.


    His words brought a slight relief to Freya. She had no other option but to trust Alexander now.


    "Alright, just make it quick," she said tersely, rising from her seat to collect her bag and leave.


    After their parting, the man strolled a short distance down the street behind the caf¨¦. Turning a corner, he slid into a Bentley.


    "Alexander, the contract is signed, if you''d like to review it," he said, handing over the document.


    Alexander epted the contract, flipping through it casually.


    "Should we transfer the money to her?" the man inquired.

 Chapter 199

    Without raising his gaze, Alexander responded, "Of course. How else would we advance our scheme?" The man hesitated momentarily, then nodded in understanding. "I''ll set up the transfer shortly," he affirmed. Alexander merely hummed in acknowledgment.


    Upon departing the caf¨¦, Freya dialed Walter''s number. Since the upheaval at thepany, he had been conspicuously absent. Days had passed without a glimpse of him. It took two tries to get through to him, but the sound of Walter''s voice on the other end instantly brought a smile to Freya''s face.


    "Walter, where are you? Can we meet?" she asked.


    Walter''s voice, tinged with its usual hint of amusement, responded, "What''s up? Is something amiss?"


    She replied in a soft, intive tone, "Can''t I seek you out if there''s no trouble? But this time, there is an issue. It''s about the projects. Find me, and I''ll share some good news."


    "Oh?" Walter''s tone lifted yfully.


    Freya frowned, puzzled. How could he maintain such tranquility amidst the chaos he''d created? Instead of disying panic, he seemed entirely unruffled.


    Pushing aside her doubts, she inquired over the phone, "Where are you right now? I''lle to you."


    "I''m at the office. Come on over," he invited.


    With a simple acknowledgment, Freya ended the call and headed straight for Land Group.


    She didn''t ascend to the office; the office was rife with prying eyes and ears, making certain discussions challenging. Instead, she called Walter to meet her downstairs.


    In less than five minutes, Walter emerged from the building. He was attired in his usual business suit, his hair slightly curled at medium length, a gentle smile gracing his lips, looking every bit the prince from a fairy tale.


    Even after two years of marriage, every time Freya saw him, her heart pounded as if it was their first encounter. A few days apart, and the sight of his serene face quickened her pulse even more.


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    She yearned to see some desire in his eyes, a want for something. Those who desired nothing were the most challenging to manipte.


    Walter slid effortlessly into the passenger seat.


    "What is it you wanted to tell me?" he asked, his smile still in ce as he turned to look at Freya.


    She stared at him for a few seconds before snapping back to reality. She reached out and took Walter''s hand, "I came to console you, but you seem untroubled, so perhaps there''s no need for unnecessary reassurances." Walter chuckled, "What could possibly be amiss?"


    Freya''s brow furrowed, "How can there be nothing wrong? I know the extent of thepany''s losses, and the media is nearly uncontroble. Plus, those in the know are starting to sell off their stocks."


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    Walter nodded, "Selling stocks now is indeed a wise choice."


    "You... I''m talking about your financial situation, not just the stocks!" Freya was slightly exasperated, unsure if he was feigning ignorance or genuinely oblivious.


    With an undisturbed calm, Walter withdrew his hand and smiled, "Go on, I''m listening."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Freya''s hand fell to her side; a sinking feeling settled within her. She pushed aside the strange sensation in her heart and said, "I just wanted to tell you not to worry; I''m here to help." Walter''s expression remained unchanged, his gentle smile still directed at her.


    "Though unnecessary, I appreciate it," he replied.

 Chapter 200

    Freya found herself biting her lip, a sense of unease tugging at her heart despite the smile on his face. She couldn''t quite understand the source of her difort.


    "I promise, I''ll help you fill this hole. You can trust me," she dered with sincerity. It was only after she offered to help Walter with the predicament he found himself in that his expression shifted subtly. "Fill it? What do you mean?" His confusion was evident in his voice.


    "Don''t worry about it. I said I''ll help you, and I will," she responded, her words clipped.


    Unexpectedly, Walter seized her wrist, his tone hardening. "Tell me the truth, Freya. What exactly did you do?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    His grip was firm, too firm, causing her to wince and furrow her brows. "Ouch, why? That hurts!"


    Upon seeing her difort, Walter released her, his face softening as he apologized, "Sorry."


    Rubbing her sore wrist, Freya regarded him with suspicion. "You''re strange, you know. You create a mess and remain calm, but when I offer assistance, you be agitated. What''s going on with you?"


    Walter''s gaze held hers, his expression unreadable. He took her hand gently and spoke in a soft voice, "Freya, what have you done? Please, tell me. I don''t need your help with this, and I don''t want you getting into any trouble either." She shook her head, trying to reassure him. "Don''t worry, I won''t be in danger. I can handle this."


    Walter''s gaze was intense, as if he was trying to read her very soul.


    "Really?" he pressed.


    "Of course, it''s true. I came here to tell you that so you could stop worrying. Also... please,e back home. Harold and I wait for you every day," she pleaded, her voiceced with desperation as tears welled in her eyes. Despite her strength, in Walter''s presence, she felt as small and vulnerable as a kitten.


    Walter watched her for a long moment before abruptly turning away to gaze out the window, releasing a sigh.


    "I''ll try to make it back when I can. Like you said, the situation is serious. I''ve got my hands full at work, hardly any time toe home."


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    Freya clung to his hand, her eyes pleading for understanding. "I get it, I really do. It''s not just this mess, but maybe dad too. I know you''re scared to face him."


    After a moment of contemtion, as if making a decision, Freya spoke resolutely, "I''ve been thinking, maybe we should move out, like Alexander did. Just not live with them anymore."


    It had been Kaitlyn''s idea for everyone to live together after the wedding to test Walter''s character, and Freya had agreed at the time.


    So they lived on without incident, and the matter of moving out never came up. But now, Freya yearned for a change, to live a real family life, to have a home of her own. Walter stroked her hair, smiling gently, "If that''s what you want, then let''s do it. You decide."


    There it was, his typical nonchnce. Whatever she said went; he never seemed to have an opinion of his own.


    He seemed so detached from their home life.


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    Freya hesitated briefly, a guilty glint in her eyes, before she averted her gaze and said, "No, not at all, you''re overthinking it."


    Her reaction did not go unnoticed by Walter. His smile shifted, a nuanced change detectable in his eyes.


    "Alright, I won''t pry. I have to head to work soon. You should go back and take good care of Harold."


    Freya nodded obediently, then looked up at him with tender eyes, only to find that Walter had already turned and was exiting the car without looking back.


    He strode into his office building and, once he entered the elevator, the smile on his face faded away.


    Walter took out his phone and dialed a number.

 Chapter 201

    Walter dialed Alexander''s number, the phone ringing persistently for a full minute. Just as it was on the brink of disconnecting automatically, the call was answered.


    "What''s up, Walter?" Alexander''s voice came through the line, steady and unperturbed, as if the world was spinning at its usual pace.


    A chuckle escaped Walter''s lips as he responded, "Nothing much. Freya paid me a visit and shared some things. I felt the need to express my gratitude to you." "Oh? What for?" Alexander inquired.


    "I wanted to thank you for helping me. I''m aware it''s partly for Freya''s sake, but after some contemtion, I thought it right to express my appreciation," Walter exined, his words carefully chosen, a subtle probe into Alexander''s reactions. A pause ensued before Alexander queried, "What did she tell you?"


    "Nothing of great significance. I''m aware you don''t want to burden me further and must have instructed her to be discreet, but the poor girl let something slip."


    "Is that so?" Alexander''sughter echoed Walter''s earlier chuckle.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, I''m just reaching out to genuinely thank you."


    Alexander pondered for a moment before responding, "No thanks necessary. It''s what I ought to do. If there''s nothing else, focus on your work." "Understood."


    With that, the call ended. Alexander''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he nced at the contract resting on the passenger seat.


    Suddenly, he made a decision to drive out.


    Instead of returning to his office, he headed straight to the vi.


    Upon arrival, he ascended the stairs and attempted to push open the door to his study. It resisted at first, but with a little more force, it swung open. Quinn was the obstacle blocking the doorway she was sprawled on the ground, curled up. It was unclear whether she was asleep or had fainted. Alexander bent down and scooped her into his arms.


    He carried Quinn to the bed and promptly dialed the doctor''s number.


    The young doctor arrived in haste, abandoning everything when he heard Quinn had copsed.


    Panting at the threshold, the doctor asked, "Alexander, what happened to Quinn again?"


    Alexander gestured towards the bed, indicating for a second opinion. "I''m not sure; see what you can make of it."


    The doctor nodded and, setting down his medical bag, rushed over to Quinn''s side. He took her wrist in his hand, checking her pulse with a practiced touch. He turned to Alexander, frustration barely concealed in his expression.


    Alexander''s gaze hardened, a threatening undertone to his voice. "What''s wrong with her?"


    The doctor, visibly rattled by Alexander''s intensity, swallowed hard. "Well... it appears she fainted from distress."


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    He chose to reveal only half of the truth. Thest thing he wanted was for Alexander to demand a cure he couldn''t provide and then face the repercussions of failure. Such a daunting prospect made honesty even more intimidating. Suddenly, Alexander seized the doctor by the cor, hoisting him off his feet as his demeanor shifted fromposed to chilling.


    "I''m giving you onest chance. Tell me what''s really happening with her."


    The doctor mustered his courage. "She..."


    Alexander interrupted, "You assured me her health was fine, but I suspect you''re lying to me."


    "I..." The doctor''s forehead was slick with nervous sweat, struggling to articte Quinn''splex condition.


    Alexander persisted. "If I take her to the hospital and the diagnosis differs from what you''ve told me, do you understand the consequences?"


    The doctor''s knees wobbled as he nodded, his voice barely audible. "Yes, I understand."

 Chapter 202

    Alexander released his grip, and the doctor crumpled to the floor. The doctor took a moment to gather himself, inhaling deeply to steady his nerves before he began to speak. "Quinn''s condition is rather precarious..."


    His words hung in the air, unfinished, as Quinn began to stir on the bed. She attempted to sit up, but her strength failed her halfway, and she fell back onto the mattress. Without waiting for the doctor to continue, Alexander rushed to her side, offering his support.


    "Are you awake?" he asked, gently assisting her to lean against his shoulder.


    Quinn''s eyes fluttered open, catching a glimpse of Alexander''s chiseled jawline. She looked beyond him to the doctor, who was still sprawled on the floor.


    Her throat was parched, probably from crying, and she gestured for a drink. Alexander caught her request and nced at the doctor, who immediately understood and scrambled to fetch water for Quinn.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    As he waited, Alexander studied Quinn''s face. Her lips were pale, and her skin had an almost translucent pallor, a stark contrast to the doctor''s earlier assertion that she was fine.


    The doctor returned promptly with a ss of water. Alexander epted it and passed it to Quinn. "Drink this."


    Quinn clutched the ss, drinking the water with such fervor that some of it escaped from the corners of her mouth, trickling down her neck and soaking into her cor. Alexander reached up to wipe the droplets from her chin.


    Once she finished drinking, Quinn''s mind cleared. She looked up at Alexander, realizing their awkwardly intimate pose. Sensing the tension, the doctor discreetly stepped back, excusing himself from the room.


    Feeling the shift in atmosphere, Quinn scooted away from Alexander, her movements carrying a hint of defiance. Alexander''s expression darkened as he grasped her wrist and pulled her back.


    "What''s your problem?" he demanded.


    Matching his intense stare with a stubborn one of her own, Quinn retorted, "That''s my question to you. What are you trying to do?


    "You''re always doing this-imprisoning me at the slightest provocation, exploding at me, and then trying to cate me afterwards. What am I to you, exactly?"


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    Alexander paused, his gaze locked on Quinn, momentarily at a loss for words.


    Seeing his silence, Quinn couldn''t tell if she was more angry or hurt, but her eyes began to redden.


    Through her teary vision, she implored him, "Tell me, what am I? Your dog?"


    Her gestures, though silent, radiated anger.


    As he remained silent, Quinn slid off the bed with her feeble strength and sat on the floor. Then, she shifted to a kneeling position, clutching at Alexander''s pant leg, looking up at him as tears fell like pearls off a string. She pleaded desperately, "Alexander, please, I''m begging you, let me go or just put me out of my misery, will you?


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    "Even a loyal dog deserves kindness after years ofpanionship. Can''t you just show mercy and release me?"


    Her tears flowed like rain, and though silent, her expression screamed of utter grief and despair.


    Alexander looked down at her, watching as she cried uncontrobly, his own breathing growing ragged.


    "What did you say?" His voice was hoarse, as if suppressing rage, or perhaps something else.


    "You want me to let you go?" He extended his hand, his fingers grazing her throat with enough pressure to suggest a deadly intent. "Is that right?"


    Quinn squeezed his fingers, looking straight into his eyes, and nodded forcefully.


    In the instant she nodded, the grip on her neck tightened, pinning her against the edge of the bed.


    Feeling weak, especially just after waking, her vision cked out under his chokehold.

 Chapter 203

    Quinn stared into the man''s dark eyes, managing a strained smile as a wave of overwhelming exhaustion washed over her. Her hands fell limply to her sides, and she closed her eyes, surrendering to the inevitable. The sight of her resignation ignited a cocktail of rage and helplessness within Alexander. For a fleeting moment, he felt an urge to end her life. The once docile and obedient pet had suddenly learned to rebel, causing even its master to be flustered.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Veins bulged on the back of his hand, his knuckles turned a ghostly white, and his grip on her neck trembled with barely restrained force. Yet, in the end, he slowly released his hold on Quinn. Air rushed back into her lungs as she gasped open her eyes, copsing to the ground in a fit of violent coughs.


    Alexander crouched before her, his hands firmly gripping her shoulders. "Quinn," he whispered, "Didn''t I promise that everything would return to normal if you just obeyed? Isn''t it easier just to obey?"


    Once her coughing subsided, Quinn turned her red-rimmed eyes towards him and let out augh that was uglier than tears. How was she supposed to obey? She was at a loss for his definition of obedience was it to sever all ties with the world and devote herself solely to him?


    Back when her world was consumed by him, yet he never spared a nce for her. He ignored her, sent her mixed signals, and treated her like a worn-out shoe. It was ludicrous that he still expected her to obey. Quinn had to face the truth. For twenty long years, she had never truly understood him. Alexander averted his gaze, unable to meet her eyes, pulling her into his embrace as if trying to etch her into his very bones. Quinn felt suffocated in his grip, her body limp like a rag doll in his arms. The Doctor hesitated at the doorway, uncertain whether to intrude or not. Quinn nced at the Doctor, subtly shaking her head. She knew what the Doctor wanted to say, but she didn''t want to hear it.


    Her life had been marred by disdainful and pitying stares of all sorts. Quinn didn''t want his words to turn even herst shred of coveted love into a mere product of pity. She would rather have nothing at all. Pity was the cheapest of emotions. The doctor seemed to understand her silent plea, sighed, and quietly retreated.


    Alexander held her a while longer before releasing her, gently kissing the tears at the corner of Quinn''s eyes, looking deeply into them. "I''ll take you to the hospital," he said. Quinn was taken aback, her gaze shooting up to meet the man''s, a flicker of color returning to her ashen face.


    She clenched her fingers tightly, digging her nails into her palms, feeling a sharp pang of pain. He always knew how to hit her where it hurt, pulling her back from the brink of death each time and offering a glimmer of hope. Alexander''s gaze was intense, and he asked again, "Okay?" Quinn''s eyes flickered, unable to respond, as tears streamed more fiercely down her cheeks. Alexander tenderly wiped away her tears, his touch as gentle as could be. Then, a sudden burp from Quinn broke the tense atmosphere, unexpectedly drawingughter from Alexander. He leaned in, kissed her lips, and murmured soothingly, "Stop crying, okay?"


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    Quinn tried to turn her head away, but he steadied her face, bringing her back into a deepening kiss that charged the air with a thick intimacy.


    She could even hear his familiar, rapid breathing. Quinn raised her hand to push him away but found her wrist captured in his firm grip. Tears clung to her eyshes, and her cheeks were flushed red; her hair was somewhat disheveled. Her helpless appearance seemed like a mix of resistance and invitation.


    Such vulnerability could drive a man crazy.


    So the man who had intended only to console her, now pressed her desperately to the floor.

 Chapter 204

    Drained to her core, Quinn allowed her eyes to flutter shut, sumbing to the intensity of his yearning.


    Abruptly, Alexander''s fingers found her chin, lifting it gently. His voice, rough and husky, pierced the silence, "Quinn."


    Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his. The fervor mirrored in his gaze was impossible to ignore, causing her own to waver.


    Aware of the need to reserve her strength for the impending hospital visit, she pressed her lips together. After a moment''s pause, her fingers began to work on the buttons of his shirt.


    He leaned in, capturing her lips once more, even as the cold from the floor seeped into them. A bedsheet was pulled down in haste, discarded carelessly onto the ground...


    ...


    Downstairs, the Doctor sat in a state of restless anxiety, the passing hour doing nothing to ease his nerves.


    Atst, he spotted Quinn and Alexander descending the staircase. Quinn''s unsteady steps and flushed cheeks caused a crack in the Doctor''s previouslyposed facade.


    They paid him no mind, Alexander guiding Quinn out the door, leaving the Doctor standing in a state of disarray and confusion.


    Quinn slid into the car, and Alexander, true to his word, drove her directly to the hospital.


    Upon arrival, Quinn rushed to Juliet''s usual corner, only to find a stranger upying the bed. Panic gripped her, and she began a frantic search through the hospital corridors, her eyes scanning each face but never finding Juliet. Alexander remained a short distance away, his arms folded as he leaned against a wall. He watched her navigate through the crowd, his gaze steady and unwavering.


    Her search proving fruitless, Quinn returned to Alexander''s side, her eyes seeking answers in his.


    "She''s in the VIP ward upstairs," he revealed after a moment.


    Quinn was taken aback.


    Before she could formte a response, Alexander was guiding her upstairs to a quieter, less chaotic floor. He led her to a room, pushed open the door, and therey Juliet, the elderly woman, on the bed. Quinn rushed to Juliet''s side, sinking to her knees beside the bed. Juliet''s eyes were closed, but the steady beep of the monitor beside her was aforting sound.


    The weight in Quinn''s heart eased at the rhythmic beeping. She turned to look at Alexander, her expression aplex mix of emotions.


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    He stood by the door, his head tilted slightly, beckoning her to join him.


    With Juliet stable, Quinn''s anxiety lessened. She rose obediently and exited the room. Alexander closed the door behind them and asked, "Feeling better now?" Quinn pressed her lips together, her hands forming a silent question: How is she?


    "The condition is stable," Alexander replied, "but the treatments going forward are going to be costly."


    Quinn froze.


    "Talk to the doctor," Alexander suggested.


    As if on cue, a doctor approached, pausing his rounds to greet them, "Mr. Landry."


    "Can you exin to her the patient''s situation? Just give it to us straight."


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    The doctor nodded and flipped open the medical chart in his hands, then hebegan to exin to Quinn.


    "Thedy''s advanced in years and took a bad fall; it''s triggered a host ofplications. A full recovery is nearly impossible. We can only try to maintain her health as best as we can and possibly extend her life." Quinn gestured again, and the doctor, trying to decipher her hand signals, looked uncertainly at Alexander.


    Alexander interpreted, "She''s asking how much it will cost? And how long does thedy have?"


    "That depends on the medication," the doctor replied. "The better drugs naturallye with a steeper price easily into the tens of thousands per day. As for lifespan, it''s hard to say. A lot of ites down to the patient''s own will to live. "If it''s the short end, two to three months. On the long end, two to three years. In any case, it''s within that range."


    The mention of a five-figure sum per day hit Quinn like a sledgehammer, making her head swim. She steadied herself against the nearby wall.


    "You should get back to it," Alexander told the doctor.


    The doctor nodded and returned to the patient''s room.


    Alexander turned to Quinn, his question striking at the core of her being, "What''s it going to be? To treat her or not? The decision is yours this time."

 Chapter 205

    Quinn stood rooted to the spot, her mind whirling as she processed the man''s words. A sudden realization dawned on her.


    His act of bringing her to the hospital was not borne out of kindness; it was a calcted move to tighten his hold on her.


    The looming question of who would shoulder the astronomical daily medical expenses if she chose to proceed with the treatment echoed in her mind. The answer was clear: only Alexander could. In return, she would be reduced to a puppet, dancing to his tune.


    On the other hand, if she decided against the treatment, it would be akin to signing Juliet''s death warrant herself.


    The choice he had presented her with was nothing short of a veiled threat.


    Slowly, Quinn lifted her gaze to meet Alexander''s, her eyes brimming with a newfound understanding.


    His demeanor remained asposed as ever, a testament to his unwavering control over the situation. How could it not be?


    With a clenched fist and a heavy heart, Quinn closed her eyes and gave a slight nod of acquiescence.


    Alexander reached out, his fingers gently caressing her cheek. "Good, if you say yes, then we''ll treat her," he said, his voiceced with a deceptive tenderness.


    Quinn opened her eyes, offering him a faint smile in response.


    The hospital corridor was awash with the harsh fluorescence, casting a stark light on the scene. As she looked at him with reddened eyes, there was a fleeting moment of nostalgia, a bitter reminder of what once was. But the tenderness that once softened her gaze was now reced with a hardened resolve. Alexander''s fingers traced the path of her tears, wiping them away with a gentle sweep of his thumb.


    "I''ll hire a caregiver for her. If you want to visit, just let me know, and I''ll take you. Understand?" he said.


    Quinn nodded, signaling her understanding.


    "It''s time to go," Alexander said, retracting his hand and turning to leave. Quinn followed him silently, their footsteps echoing in the deserted corridor as they made their way to the parking lot. No sooner had they settled into the car than Alexander''s phone began to ring. Given thete hour, it was undoubtedly Getty.


    Without sparing it a nce, Alexander switched off the phone and pocketed it. Suddenly, he turned to Quinn, a new thought crossing his mind.


    "Do you need to get checked out?" he asked.


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    Caught off guard, Quinn pressed her lips together and shook her head. There was no need.


    "Are you sure?" he pressed.


    Quinn assured him it was unnecessary- her fainting spell was merely a result of hunger.


    After a moment''s consideration, Alexander didn''t press the issue further. He started the car, setting course for home.


    Instead of retreating to his study as was his usual routine, Alexander joined Quinn in the bedroom, ready for sleep.


    He pulled her into his arms, holding her close. In moments like these, he would hold her tightly, her cheek pressed against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat a soothing luby.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    As she looked at his immacte chest, her eyshes fluttered, lightly grazing his skin. His hand, which had been resting on her waist, slipped beneath her shirt. Quinn tensed.


    His voice,ing from above, was pointed. "Have you been taking your pills?"


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    Quinn looked up to find his gaze fixed on her. She shook her head, knowing it was futile. The doctor had warned that conceiving again would be difficult after such physical exertion. The window of opportunity had likely closed. Alexander''s gaze seemed to pierce through her. Lowering his face to hers, he whispered, "Do you want to have a child?"


    Their breaths mingled in the close proximity, causing Quinn''s fingers to clench involuntarily, her lips forming a tight line.


    After a long pause, she finally shook her head.


    His eyes clouded over for a moment, and he pressed, "Are you sure?"


    Again, she shook her head.


    In the next breath, he bit her lip as if to punish her, the sting sharp and immediate. Quinn tasted blood.


    Only when he saw the crimson stain did he release Quinn, hastily wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth.


    "If you don''t want to, take the pills," he said.

 Chapter 206

    Quinn cast her gaze downward, her head bobbing in a faint nod.


    Without warning, Alexander cast off the covers, rising from the bed and slipping into his robe. With purposeful strides, he exited the room, not returning for the remainder of the night. As dawn broke, Quinn stirred awake to find the space beside her in bed cold and vacant. After a morning spent in routine tasks, she rose and prepared herself for the day ahead. Making breakfast was as habitual for her as the sunrise itself. Once the meal was neatly arranged on the dining table, she made her way to the study, her steps light and brisk. The study door was slightly ajar, creaking open at her gentle knock.


    Alexander hadn''t left the house; instead, he had spent the night sprawled on the study''s sofa.


    The sofa, though long, barely amodated his tall frame. One leg stretched out on the cushions, while the other rested on the floor, his ck robe cascading down and pooling at his feet.


    His bare chest and exposed leg presented a sight that was undeniably captivating. Most women would likely lose theirposure at such a scene.


    Quinn approached him, gently nudging his shoulder.


    His eyes snapped open suddenly, his gaze locking onto hers.


    She gestured towards the dining room: Breakfast.


    He remained unmoved, his gaze unwavering.


    d in her pink fleece pajamas, a cartoon bear apron tied over them, her hair casually bundled at the back of her head with stray tendrils draping around her shoulders, she stood there. The soft morning light filtering through the window lent a serene softness to her demeanor.


    Seeing hisck of response, Quinn raised her hand to gesture again, only to have him catch her wrist.


    Startled, she barely had time to react before he pulled her down, causing her tond squarely on top of him.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    "What''s for breakfast?" he asked.


    She tried to rise andmunicate with hand signals again, but found herself restrained by his hold, unable to move. His intense gaze sparked a rising tension within her.


    In a swift move, Quinn fished her phone out of her pajama pocket, showing him the time it was nearly nine.


    Alexander nced at the phone''s screen and finally released her.


    Freed from his grasp, Quinn dashed out of the study.


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    He sat up on the sofa, watching her hasty retreat with a flicker of interest in his eyes.


    After Quinn had set the breakfast on the table, he finally made his way downstairs, now properly dressed.


    Following breakfast, Alexander asked her to apany him to the office.


    Upon their arrival at thepany''s underground parking lot, and just before stepping out of the car, Alexander reminded her, "Don''t rush off so quickly after work. Wait for me." Quinn paused, but before she could respond, Alexander had already opened the car door and stepped out.


    With a furrowed brow, she wondered if it was just her imagination that Alexander seemed more protective of hertely.


    He had taken her along to meet Getty, now he was bringing her to the office and insisting she wait for him after work.


    Even when visiting Juliet, she was to inform him beforehand.


    Was he worried about her making new acquaintances?


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    Exhaling deeply, Quinn''s thoughts turned to Juliet and the treatment she was now receiving. The thought that she could still visit Juliet settled her heart. As for everything else, she decided to let it be. Upon entering the office, Quinn was immediately greeted by her coworkers.


    "Quinn, you missed work again yesterday?"


    She turned towards the colleague who had helped her pick up her belongings in the parking lot before.


    With a polite tug at the corner of her mouth, Quinn smiled and nodded.


    Maria sneered with a chilled undertone, "Some people aren''t like us, they have connections. They can skip whole months and still draw a paycheck. Miss a single day without calling in, and tomorrow you''d be packing your stuff and heading out."


    Everyone knew Quinn was under the protection of Kyle Astor, Alexander''s right-hand man. No one would dare cross him.


    Yet, that didn''t stop them from feeling jealous.


    ncing at Maria, Quinn pursed her lips and silently moved to her workstation.


    Watching Quinn''s actions, Maria scoffed again, "Must be nice, doing nothing and getting paid just for warming a chair in front of theputer all day."

 Chapter 207

    Quinn chose to ignore Maria''s disparaging remarks, a decision made easier by the harsh truth of her words. Indeed, Quinn''s expertise was limited.


    Her understanding ofputers was basic at best, and her introduction to the photocopier had only urred upon her arrival here. Given the stature of Kyle Astor, it was hardly fitting for him to instruct her, and Ruby had not assigned anyone to guide her either.


    So, what was she to do but sit in front of theputer, idle?


    As she grappled with these thoughts, Ruby made her entrance, tapping lightly on Maria''s desk before addressing Quinn.


    "Could I have a moment with the two of you?"


    Quinn rose from her seat, trailing behind Maria towards the secluded office at the rear.


    Anxious, Maria queried, possibly concerned that Ruby had overheard her earlier snide remarks, "Keegan, why have you called us?"


    Ruby,fortably seated and offering a gentle smile, reassured them, "Rx, it''s nothing grave."


    She turned her attention to Quinn, "You''ve been with us for some time now. You''re a member of my team, and it''s not sufficient for you to only handle the trivial tasks. I need to validate your role here." Quinn nodded, signaling herprehension.


    Ruby proceeded, "So Maria, you''ll be her guide. Introduce her to ourpany''s software, train her on document handling, and familiarize her with PowerPoint. You''re adept with these tools, aren''t you?" Maria bristled at the suggestion. Why was she expected to tutor this dummy?


    Ipetence was one thing, but barely speaking was another matter altogether. She would have preferred mentoring an intern!


    "Maria, do you have any reservations? Please, voice them. If you''re unwilling, I can assign someone else."


    Maria managed a forced smile, "Why would I object? I''m more than willing toply with Keegan''s directives."


    "Don''t fret, Keegan. I''ll tutor her thoroughly. Since she''s not much of a talker, perhaps we could delegate all the paperwork to her, wouldn''t you agree?"


    Ruby cast a nce at Quinn and nodded approvingly, "That seems reasonable. Quinn isn''t suited for client interactions anyway. Let her manage the paperwork. Quinn, you''ll need to learn diligently from Maria." Quinn responded with a nod.


    She was unacquainted with these tasks, but Ruby had specifically selected Maria to instruct her. Whether it was due to Maria''s proficiency or some other motive, Quinn could only specte.


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    "Alright, that''s all. You may return to your duties," the manager concluded, dismissing the team.


    Maria shot Quinn a contemptuous look before spinning on her heel and exiting the room.


    Once they were outside, Maria thrust a booklet at Quinn. "Peruse this-it''s thepany''s internal system manual."


    "Don''t tell me you''re illiterate," Maria said, her voiceced with sarcasm.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn''s fingers hesitated momentarily before she epted the manual, pen, and paper, and scribbled a note. -Understood.


    Maria nced at the note and exhaled in exasperation. "Communicating with you is such a burden."


    With that, Maria clicked away in her heels towards the break room to ck off.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Quinn lowered her gaze. Yes, it was true. Normal conversations took mere seconds to convey a message.


    Her signnguage took twice as long, and writing was even more time-consuming.


    How many people had the patience to wait for her to finish writing?


    She picked up the manual and began meticulously flipping through the pages.


    Back in the office.


    Alexander received a text from Freya inquiring about how to add funds to a certain investment.


    He nced at it but didn''t respond.


    Walter knocked and strode in, heading straight for Alexander. "Alexander, I''ve got some unfortunate news for you."


    "What is it?"


    Walter hesitated, then divulged, "The news about the investment failure is out. The media is all over it, and as soon as the market opened this morning, our stock took a nosedive."

 Chapter 208

    Alexander regarded him with a steady gaze. "Is Dad aware?" he asked.


    "If you have not received a call, it''s likely he remains uninformed. However, that will change shortly," came the reply.


    Unfazed, Alexander nodded. "Understood. You may return to your duties."


    Walter hesitated, a question lingering on his lips. "Alexander, do you believe Freya''s proposal holds any merit?"


    His query was a thinly veiled attempt to gauge Alexander''s intentions, a futile endeavor. Despite his best efforts, Walter found himself unable to decipher the true motives behind Alexander''s impassive facade. Any rash action taken without a full understanding of the situation could easily ensnare him in one of Alexander''s carefullyid traps.


    A half-smile tugged at the corners of Alexander''s mouth as he regarded Walter. "Walter, you''re an intelligent man. Shouldn''t you be able to discern the usefulness of her suggestion?"


    Walter fell into a silence.


    Alexander''s words held a weighty significance as he spoke again. "You''re overly anxious, brother-inw."


    His anxiety was telling.


    A small chuckle escaped Walter. "Indeed, I suppose I''m just rattled after creating such amotion."


    "Very well, I''ll take my leave now."


    Once Walter had departed, the smile on Alexander''s face faded. He began to peruse a file thaty open on his desk.


    News of the stock market''s sudden downturn spread like wildfire, dominating headlines and bing the topic of every conversation. Even Quinn''s phone buzzed with a push notification alerting her to the situation. Upon opening the alert, she was greeted by the plummeting stock chart of Land Enterprises. In just half a day, thepany''s shares had hit rock bottom.


    Quinn was left perplexed, unable toprehend what could have led to such a catastrophe for Land Enterprises.


    Before her lunch break, a message from Alexander appeared on her screen, summoning her to the parking garage. Not daring to ignore it, she quickly shut down herputer and made her way to the elevator. Alexander was already waiting in his car, the headlights casting a soft glow in the dimly lit garage. Without a moment''s hesitation, she approached the vehicle and slid into the passenger seat.


    Engrossed in a phone call, Alexander spared her a brief nce before continuing his conversation, skillfully maneuvering the car out of its parking spot.


    "We''ll bide our time for a few more days," he said into the phone.


    Upon hearing this, Quinn couldn''t help but turn to look at him.


    Unfazed, Alexander continued his call, his attention never wavering from the conversation. "We''ll wait until it dips below the twenty-day moving average. That''s when we''ll swoop in and acquire the remaining shares." The voice on the other end expressed concern. "Isn''t that a bit risky? If the stocks continue to plummet, Walter might catch on. We can''t let him beat us to it."


    Alexander responded with an air of nonchnce. "And wouldn''t that be ideal? He can clean up the mess he''s made with his own money, which wouldn''t be a bad oue for us."


    "Now that I control Freya''s shares, even if Walter manages to corner all the floating stock, he won''t pose a threat to us."


    A brief pause ensued, followed byughter from the other end of the line. "You''re always one step ahead, Alexander."


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    "Understood."


    After ending the call, Alexander pocketed his phone and leaned back in his seat, his arm resting casually behind his head as he steered the car with ease. Feeling her gaze on him, he nced at Quinn. "What are you staring at?"


    Quinn quickly averted her gaze, choosing instead to stare silently out the window.


    Although she couldn''t fullyprehend the details of Alexander''s conversation, she could sense the underlying tension between him and Walter. Outside, the sky was a dull shade of gray, the threat of impending rain hanging heavy in the air.


    The winter seemed to stretch on endlessly.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 209

    Alexander escorted her back to the Kennedy residence. Leaving her in the grandeur of the living room, he promptly made his way to the study. Upstairs, Wayne was restlessly pacing his room, his steps threatening to wear a hole in the plush carpet.


    The study door swung open with a creak, interrupting Wayne''s frenzied pacing. In a fit of rage, he snatched the ashtray from the desk and hurled it towards the entrance. Alexander, with an uncanny sense of timing, tilted his head just enough to evade the flying object.


    The ashtray whizzed past his ear, crashing against the wall with a resounding tter that echoed through the house, startling the upants downstairs.


    Quinn had barely settled into a seat when she caught the faint echoes of Wayne''s furious voice from upstairs. "I leave thepany in your hands and this is how you manage it?!" The venom in his voice was palpable.


    Just as Freya stepped into the grand foyer, she too heard the distant outburst and instinctively nced at Quinn. "Is Oliver here?" she inquired. Quinn simply nodded in response.


    Freya''s brow furrowed in annoyance. The sight of Quinn was thest thing she needed, further souring her already foul mood. She contemted ascending the stairs, her son cradled in her arms, but the thought of confronting Wayne''s wrath made her reconsider and she remained where she was.


    "Where''s Walter? Didn''t hee with you?" she asked, her toneced with suspicion.


    The mere mention of Walter''s name sent a shiver down Quinn''s spine, a flood of humiliating memories from their past encounters overwhelming her. She dreaded the thought of what Walter could do to her if Alexander ever ceased his search for her.


    Freya''s suspicions were piqued as she observed Quinn''s reaction. Why would Walter''s name affect her so if they had no connection or if there was nothing to hide? Walter had been absent for days; Freya was already on edge, and Quinn''s peculiar response only heightened her alertness.


    "What''s wrong, sister-inw?" Freya moved closer, settling down beside her. "Walter''s been gone for days. Do you have any idea where he might be?"


    Quinn''s face drained of color, her fingers turning white as she clenched the fabric of the couch. She shook her head vehemently, indicating her ignorance.


    Freya''s anger red, her features hardening. "You really have no idea?" she pressed, but Quinn continued to shake her head.


    Freya scrutinized Quinn''s profile, her gaze piercing. But then, as if a thought had struck her, her anger evaporated. Cradling her baby, she offered him to Quinn. "Look at Harold, don''t you think he''s grown a bit?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Quinn averted her gaze, her eyes downcast. The baby gurgled and drooled in Freya''s arms, his new little teeth almost ready to break through the gums. Quinn, lost in thought, absently touched her own abdomen, feeling a hollow emptiness that seemed to bleed internally.


    "He''s such a handful now, always throwing off his nkets and refusing his form. It alles back up every time. I thought something was wrong, but the doctor said he just doesn''t want it anymore. Kids, you know?" Freya prattled on, oblivious to Quinn''s ghostly pallor.


    "You''re lucky, you know. Not having kids means no such troubles. Ever since I had him, I feel like I''ve aged years. Look at me, do I have wrinkles now?" Freya''s smile was radiant, but the cold defiance in her eyes was unmistakable. Quinn slowly shifted her gaze to Freya''s face. Wrinkles? Her face was full of nothing but contempt. "What''s the matter, sis? That look in your eyes... You don''t like kids, do you? Oh, that''s right. They are a handful, and my brother isn''t fond of them either."

 Chapter 210

    Quinn''s fists were clenched tightly, her gaze locked onto Freya''s sneering, deceitful smile until a chill ran down her spine.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Freya''s words were drawn out, a taunting edge to her voice. "Sis, can you still even have kids?"


    Quinn''s face paled at thement, eliciting a cruel chuckle from Freya who leaned in to whisper.


    "Do you dream of your two broken little children at night? Don''t theye to haunt you, asking for retribution?"


    A sharp p echoed through the silence of the living room, bringing an immediate stillness. Quinn''s hand trembled at her side, burning hot.


    A bright red mark bloomed on Freya''s face, astonishment and unbridled fury simmering in her eyes. Through clenched teeth, she spat, "Did you hit me?" Quinn''s fingers tightened; she stood abruptly, her gaze fixed on Freya.


    Theughter had vanished from Freya''s face, reced by a dark re so intense it seemed to shatter Quinn to pieces.


    Nobody dared to cross Freya; Quinn was thest person she''d expect to raise a hand against her.


    As Freya ced the baby into the crib and stood up, a cold sneer yed at the corners of her mouth.


    "Did I touch a sore spot? Quinn, you deserve a life barren of children. Even if you got pregnant, you''d birth nothing but death-it''d die inside you sooner orter." "Considering you can''t carry to term, yet still conceive are you not the architect of disaster, a murderer?"


    "Quinn, do you realize you''re damned? Your children are waiting in hell, ready for..."


    Before she could finish, Quinn shoved her hard.


    Freya stumbled backward, copsing onto the sofa, her hair in disarray.


    "Looking for trouble, dummy?" Kaitlyn''s voice came from behind, catching Quinn off guard.


    As she turned, a pnded across her face.


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    Quinn''s head buzzed, and she lost control, kneeling on the ground with her upper body sprawled across the sofa.


    Her hair fell over her face, darkening her vision as dizziness surged once again.


    Kaitlyn''s p was brutal, her manicured nails scratching deep into Quinn''s skin, drawing beads of blood.


    Feeling vindicated, Freya stood up and joined Kaitlyn, ying the victim. "Mom, this dummy has gotten too bold now with her brother''s support, she''s looking down on us."


    "I just asked if Harold was cute, and she pped me, then pushed me!"


    Kaitlyn turned to see Freya''s cheek indeed flushed with red. She knew well enough that Freya''s innocent question was a jab at Quinn. But the thought of Quinn striking back was beyond her expectations. "It seems she''s forgotten her ce after being away for so long, having no concept of rules or respect."


    Kaitlyn tilted her head, addressing the servant beside her. "Take her away and teach her some manners!"


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    The Serena ke nodded and called over two other servants to lift Quinn up.


    Quinn''s head buzzed after the p, her ears ringing. She was dragged away without much resistance.


    In her dazed state, a sudden sharp pain shot through her knee, snapping her back to reality.


    ncing down, Quinn realized she was kneeling on shattered ss. The sharp edges had pierced her jeans and skin, blood slowly soaking through the denim. Instinctively trying to stand, she felt a forceful push on her shoulders pinning her down.


    The ss dug in deeper.


    When Alexander emerged from his office to find the living room empty, his expression darkening instantly.


    "Where is everyone?"

 Chapter 211

    Kaitlyn whirled around in surprise, her heart pounding. She hadn''t expected Alexander to be home. She quickly recovered her equilibrium, her voice taking on a stern tone. "You don''t even offer a greeting before demanding to know someone''s whereabouts? This house is teeming with people, Alexander. Whom are you seeking?"


    Alexander''s gaze swept over the mother and daughter before he repeated his question, his voice resolute. "Where is Quinn?"


    "Quinn, Quinn, always Quinn. Have you lost all regard for your own mother?" Kaitlyn retorted, her voiceced with bitterness.


    Alexander''s brow furrowed, but he offered no further words to Kaitlyn. He turned on his heel and made for the door.


    As he neared the entrance, Kaitlyn''s voice rang out, sharp andmanding. "Stop right there, Alexander!"


    He didn''t turn back.


    Kaitlyn''s voice rose in frustration. "Alexander, I said stop!" Her words carried an unspoken threat, a secretnguage shared only between the two of them.


    Finally, Alexander paused, his back still turned to Kaitlyn. She rose from the sofa and strode over to him, positioning herself in front of him to meet his gaze.


    "Alexander, I''ve heard about thepany. The old man summoned you back for business matters, didn''t he?" Kaitlyn questioned, her eyes locked onto his.


    His gaze met hers, his voice nonchnt. "And?"


    Kaitlyn, slightly irked by his demeanor, softened her voice. "Alexander, you''re my son. Would your mother ever wish to harm you?"C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    He offered no response.


    "Freya told me. You helped her sell her shares. If I''m not mistaken, they''re now in your possession, correct?" Kaitlyn continued, her voice steady.


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed, silently urging her to continue.


    Kaitlyn pressed on, her voiceced with determination. "While I''m unsure of your intentions, I''m willing to surrender my shares to you if you agree to divorce that dummy."


    At this, Alexander couldn''t suppress augh. Kaitlyn mistook his amusement for agreement. "She''s just a dummy, Alex. The Kennedys have supported her enough over the years. It''s not worth sacrificing your happiness for her. Do you understand what I''m saying?"


    "So you''re suggesting that you''ll only relinquish your shares if I divorce Quinn?" Alexander rified, his voiceced with incredulity.


    "Exactly, my son. You can''t be married to a dummy. Just divorce her, and if you wish to bring home someone like that Getty girl, I wouldn''t object!" Kaitlyn insisted, her voice filled with conviction. "Mom, do you still think I''m a child?" Alexander questioned, his voice tinged with disbelief.


    Kaitlyn was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words.


    His gaze was piercing, his eyes filled with a chilling detachment that sent a shiver down Kaitlyn''s spine. They were mother and son, yet his look was colder than that of a stranger. Without uttering another word, Alexander turned and departed. Kaitlyn''s fingernails dug deep into her palms as she watched his tall figure recede, towering over her own stature. When had it be necessary for her to crane her neck to look at him? She realized then that he had grown up. He was no longer the obedient son who followed her everymand.


    A sharp painnced through Kaitlyn''s chest. Clutching at her heart, she nearly copsed but was steadied by a nearby servant.


    "I''ve always wanted what''s best for him. How could he treat me this way?" Kaitlyn''s voice choked up, filled with grief and resentment.


    "Madam, Alexander''s nearly thirty. If you continue to control his life, it will only push him further away," the servant advised, her voice gentle yet firm.


    When Alexander found Quinn, she was pinned to the ground by two servants, her knees stained with blood. The pain radiated from her knees, threatening to consume her. As she felt herself on the brink of copse, the servants hoisted her up, forcing her to kneel on shards of ss.


    Sweat beaded on her forehead. Despite the biting winter chill, her back was drenched and her tangled hair clung to her sweat-slicked face.


    As Quinn teetered on the edge of consciousness, she noticed a figure approaching from the corner of her eye. Lifting her gaze in a daze, she saw Alexander''s towering figure, just as he hade to her rescue in their youth. Seeing the stern expression on Alexander''s face, the servants exchanged frightened nces, too terrified to release Quinn.

 Chapter 212

    Alexander was in no mood for conversation. Without a word, he seized one of the servants by the cor and cast them aside like rag dolls. Bending swiftly, he intercepted the tumbling figure of Quinn, cradling her in his arms.


    The remaining servant stood petrified, her eyes wide with terror. As Alexander hoisted Quinn into his arms, he delivered a swift, brutal kick to the servant''s knee.


    The woman''s legs crumpled beneath her, and she fell heavily onto the scattered shards of ss, her scream piercing the tense silence. She instinctively tried to rise, but Alexander''s voice cut through her panic. "Stay down!" he ordered. Hismand was so stern that the servant shivered in fear, stifling her pain and obediently kneeling amidst the shards of ss. Alexander''s gaze then shifted to another servant, a man who trembled under his icy stare.


    "Get over here and kneel too!"


    "Alexander..."


    "Three!"N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    With a scramble, the servant joined his colleague on the sharp ss shards, both of them gritting their teeth against the piercing pain.


    Just then, Kaitlyn burst into the room. Her eyes took in the scene, and a surge of rage swelled within her.


    "Alexander! Are you staging a mutiny? I''m not dead yet! When did you start calling the shots around here?"


    Alexander met Kaitlyn''s fury with a cold, impassive stare. "And neither am I. Since when do you get to decide what happens to my people?"


    "You..." Kaitlyn''s voice choked with fury, and tears spilled over her cheeks. "Are you trying to drive me to my grave?"


    "You''re not that easy to kill," Alexander retorted. Cradling Quinn, he turned to leave.


    "Stop right there!"


    "Alexander!"


    "If you dare take this woman away, just watch-I''ll drop dead right here and now!"


    But Alexander remained unmoved. He continued towards the door, Quinn nestled in his arms.


    Suddenly, a cry rang out behind him.


    "Quinn!"


    Alexander paused.


    Kaitlyn, in her fury, had dashed headlong into a tree. Turning, Alexander saw her copsed on the ground, his expression so dark it seemed to drip with gloom. In his arms, Quinn slowly opened her eyes, and with a weak smile, faced him.


    She struggled to get down.


    She was his mother, after all; without thinking, Quinn knew the kind of choice he would make.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! But to her surprise, Alexander only held her tighter. Without a backward nce, he stepped into the car.


    Quinn couldn''t help but look at him again, her eyes aplex mix of emotions.


    Tears betrayed her.


    He was truly capable.


    And cold-hearted enough to rekindle her ashen heart every time.


    He could be ruthless in achieving his objectives, drawing her back under his control.


    Once they arrived at the hospital, Alexander carried her inside.


    Quinn reached up to wrap her arms around his neck, tearfully looking into his eyes.


    As their gazes met, there was a brief moment where time seemed to freeze.

 Chapter 213

    Alexander''s fingers traced the swollen contour of her cheek, where the brutal assault had left a constetion of blood droplets, hardened into tiny, rough pearls.


    "Does it hurt?" he asked. Quinn''s lips tightened into a thin line, her head shaking almost imperceptibly in response.


    With a swift, protective gesture, he swept Quinn into his arms and made a beeline for the emergency room.


    Her knees were a battlefield of ss shards. The doctor, with the precision of a seasoned surgeon, wielded tweezers to extract therger fragments and scissors to cut through her pants, revealing the smaller ones. Craning her neck, Quinn managed to steal a glimpse of Alexander. He stood by her side, his gaze riveted on the doctor''s every maneuver on her wound.


    An hour passed before her injuries were finally addressed.


    "It''s all superficial, nothing hit the bone. Keep the wound dry, change the dressing regrly, and you should heal up in about three to five days," the doctor reassured.


    Alexander expressed his gratitude with a curt nod. "Thank you."


    Once more cradling Quinn in his arms, he departed the hospital, steering them back to the estate.


    His attentiveness was unwavering, his care for her, tender. From the hospital to their home, he ensured that her feet never once grazed the ground.


    Seated on the bed, Quinn observed him as he bustled about, fetching water for her to cleanse her hands and face, then descending the stairs to whip up some porridge.


    Her fingers inteced tightly, her eyes shut, she reclined against the headboard.


    She cautioned herself not to be swayed by this fleeting kindness; the chilling memories of his cruelty were still too fresh.


    The prospect of falling into the same snare repeatedly was a distressing thought.


    Alexander settled beside her, a bowl of porridge in hand. "Eat up, then get some sleep early."


    Quinn''s eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting his.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Her eyes seemed to harbor a myriad of unspoken words, but after a moment of silence, she quietly epted the Sebastian he extended.


    He fed her, Sebastianful by Sebastianful, and she ate in silence.


    Once she was done, he gently tucked her in and caressed her hair, advising, "Rest up at home. I changed the front gate code; don''t open the door for anyone, okay?" Quinn responded with a feeble smile, her head bobbing in assent.


    "Sleep tight."


    He rose and exited the room. As the bedroom door swung shut behind him, her tears cascaded down her cheeks, unrestrained. Upon leaving the estate, Alexander made a beeline for The Kennedys''.


    Kaitlyn had roused, her forehead swathed in bandages, the ominous stain of blood seeping through.


    Propped against her pillows, she sobbed uncontrobly, pouring out her grievances about Alexander to Freya, who sat by her side.


    "How could he be so heartless? I was practically dying, and he didn''t even look back. Oh, Freya, how did I raise such an ungrateful child?" "Mom, you''re injured, please don''t cry."


    "I''m heartbroken." Kaitlyn''s eyes were puffy from crying, she clutched at her neckline, gasping for breath.


    "You know how he''s always been attached to that dummy. When you confronted Quinn like that in front of him, how could he not be upset?"


    "And what about Getty?"


    Freya was at a loss for words. She couldn''t decipher Alexander''s thoughts. Branding him a womanizer didn''t seem urate; after all these years, there had only been two women in his life. Yet,beling him loyal seemed inappropriate too, given his simultaneous involvements with both women.


    He had repeatedly sidelined Quinn for Getty''s sake, yet he refused to divorce Quinn.


    The man was undeniably a puzzle.


    Kaitlyn''s tears had run dry; a spark of resentment now flickered in her eyes. "That damn idiot, looks like she can''t stay any longer; she''s actually managed to turn Alexander against me."


    Previously, Kaitlyn hadn''t taken Quinn seriously, feeling only a mild annoyance at most upon seeing her. She''d always treated her like one of the Kennedys'' pampered pets.

 Chapter 214

    Alexander had never paid Quinn much heed. In his eyes, his care for her was nothing more than the fulfillment of a promise he''d made to Ulysses, a pledge to look after a hapless fool.


    Having her around was merely an additional mouth to feed, a non-threatening presence in their midst.


    However, the situation took a turn when Kaitlyn decided to punish Quinn. Suddenly, she found herself questioning the simplicity of the situation. What had she missed? How could her son neglect her welfare for the sake of that fool? Confounded and unable to make sense of it all, Kaitlyn found herself believing that the only way to quell the growing resentment in her heart was to make Quinn disappear.


    Upon overhearing this, Freya''s eyes sparkled with anticipation, eagerly fanning the mes of discord. "Mom, I warned you that that fool is not as simple as she seems. She went to thepany to seduce Walter, and you didn''t believe me. Do you now?"


    Kaitlyn''s gaze flickered with contemtion, but she remained silent.


    Upon entering the vi, Alexander was immediately greeted by the butler, his face alight with joy. "Alexander, you''ve returned?"


    "Where are they?" Alexander inquired.


    The butler''s smile faltered. He had assumed Alexander hade to visit Quinn, but his first question was about the other two. Could he possibly care less about his mother''s well-being?


    The butler began hesitantly, "They''re still kneeling out back. Quinn fainted this afternoon, and the ce was in chaos. No one has dealt with them yet."


    "Quinn has just woken up. You should go see her; otherwise, she''ll be truly heartbroken," he added, hoping to stir somepassion in Alexander.


    "Hmm," was all Alexander responded before heading upstairs.


    The Serena ke quickly spread the news of his arrival.


    Upon entering, Alexander found Kaitlyn lying on her bed, appearing as if she were on death''s door, her vacant, tear-filled eyes staring at the ceiling.


    "Brother, you''re here. Please, try to reason with Mother. If something were to happen to her, wouldn''t you feel guilty?"


    Standing by the bedside, Alexander observed Kaitlyn for a moment.


    Sensing the tension, Freya tactfully excused herself, leaving the two alone.


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    Kaitlyn dabbed at her tears without acknowledging his presence. "What are you doing here? I''m not dead yet. It''s a bit early for condolences."


    Alexander settled into a chair beside her, crossing one leg over the other, and watched her in silence.


    When he remained quiet, Kaitlyn finally turned to nce at him.


    "Get out! Go back to your precious dummy. I don''t need your concern," she spat.


    Finally, Alexander broke his silence. "Isn''t it exhausting?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Kaitlyn paused, confused. "What do you mean?"


    "Putting on this act. Aren''t you tired of it?"


    His words ignited a fury in Kaitlyn, causing her to bolt upright in bed. "Alexander, do you have no conscience? I am your mother! Can you stand there and use me of acting while I''m like this?"


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    "Conscience?" Alexander scoffed. "Isn''t this what you intended?"


    Kaitlyn was left speechless, stunned.


    She had raised him to be ruthless, to understand that it was a man''s world, but she had never encouraged him to be heartless towards his own mother, to sever ties with such cold indifference! "Alexander, is that dummy really that important to you?"


    A fleeting hint of distraction crossed Alexander''s eyes, but it quickly vanished as he regained hisposed, indifferent demeanor.


    "To me, no one is important," he stated. "Not her, and not you."


    Kaitlyn''s face turned pale. "What did you say?"


    "If you want to hear it again, I don''t mind repeating myself."

 Chapter 215

    Kaitlyn found herself struggling toprehend the words that were spilling from Alexander''s lips. Had the sporadic nature of their contact over the years blinded her to his transformation? Or had he always harbored this side of himself, only now choosing to reveal his true nature?


    "Why are you even here..." she began, her voice trailing off.


    "I came to tell you that times have changed," Alexander dered with a stern tone. "Limit your reach. Don''t meddle in affairs that are no longer your concern."


    Kaitlyn could only stare at him, her expression nk, but his message was clear. He was deliberately challenging her, making it explicit that she should no longer interfere in his life or try to control him as she had when he was a child. The obedient son she once knew was no longer under her influence.


    A sense of defeat washed over Kaitlyn, causing her shoulders to slump. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but the icy look in Alexander''s eyes forced her to confront the harsh reality-her once prideful son hadpletely slipped from her grasp. Alexander rose from his seat. "Now that you''re awake, you should rest. At your age, you should be enjoying your golden years, not stirring up trouble."


    Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and exited the room, not once looking back. As he opened the door, he found Freya standing outside. It was evident from her expression that she had overheard their conversation. Her gaze followed Alexander, a trace of fear flickering in her eyes.


    Ignoring her, Alexander strode past Freya and disappeared from sight. Freya rushed into the room, gripping Kaitlyn''s arm. "Mom, are you okay?" she asked, her voiceced with concern.


    Kaitlyn''s eyes slowly met Freya''s, her face pale and lifeless. "Your brother is no longer the person I knew."


    "People change, Mom. He''s no exception," Freya responded, exhaling deeply.


    Kaitlyn closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked utterly drained. "Freya, please leave. I need some rest," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Freya recognized the resignation in her mother''s voice. Was she surrendering her fight against Quinn? This was uneptable.


    Gripping Kaitlyn''s arm tighter, Freya said determinedly, "Mom, don''t let Oliver deceive you. He''s just scared you''ll go after that dummy!"


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    Kaitlyn blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"


    Freya''s heart fluttered with hope as she began to weave her tale. "Think about it, Mom. He grew up under your care. How much could he really change?"


    "If he were truly as cold-hearted as he seems, he would divorce Quinn and marry a woman of substance, someone who could really help him. And taking care of her wouldn''t conflict with marrying another woman, right?"


    Freya was making it up as she went along, but she found herself believing her own arguments. "The way I see it, all his behavior is just an act, and that Getty might just be a smoke screen!"


    Kaitlyn looked taken aback. "Are you sure about this?"


    Freya wasn''t certain; she just wanted Quinn out of the picture. She wouldn''t reveal her true intentions, of course. Nodding vigorously, she affirmed, "Of course, I''m sure! I''ve grown up with Oliver. Who knows him better than I do?" "Think about it. If he truly loved Getty, why not marry her? And if he''s heartless, why not marry a powerful heiress?"


    As Kaitlyn listened, doubt began to creep into her mind. Freya continued her plea, "If what I''m saying is true, doesn''t his behavior make sense?"


    "You do have a point," Kaitlyn mused, her tone thoughtful.


    Seeing her mother swayed, Freya breathed a sigh of relief. In a couple of days, she would be moving out, and if she couldn''t convince Kaitlyn now, the chance might nevere again.


    Descending the stairs, Alexander bumped into Wayne, who was just returning from outside. Raindrops clung to Wayne''s clothes, and upon seeing Alexander, his expression darkened further.


    "I heard you upset Mom so much this afternoon that she crashed into a tree?" he asked, his voiceced with usation.

 Chapter 216

    Alexander''s words were calm and measured. "It''s all a misunderstanding," he said.


    Wayne scoffed, his voiceced with derision. "Misunderstanding? Seems like you''re getting too big for your boots!" With a disdainful flick of his sleeve, he brushed past Alexander and ascended the stairs.


    The nce he cast back at Alexander was devoid of any fatherly warmth. It was a frigid stare, as it had always been. Wayne was a man who rationed his praise, even when their business was thriving, he would not utter a word ofmendation. Yet, when troubles surfaced, he was quick toy the me squarely on Alexander''s shoulders, greeting him with nothing more than icy res and furrowed brows.


    Alexander, however, remained unfazed by these harsh words. He watched Wayne''s retreating figure with an indifferent gaze before turning away.


    He moved towards the two servants who were still kneeling in punishment, their faces contorted in barely endurable pain.


    As Alexander approached, they pleaded for mercy. "Sir, spare us, please! We were only following orders; we''re not to me..." "Yes, Sir, please, let us go!"


    "Stay kneeling," was all Alexander said before he turned and walked away, their pleas for clemency falling on deaf ears.


    ...


    Quinn had a restless night, her sleep disturbed by the throbbing pain in her knee and a stinging sensation on her face. By midnight, the pain had intensified, especially under the covers where the wounds felt hot and itchy.


    In a fit of restlessness, she threw off the nket and opened a window, letting the cool night air soothe the burning sensation on her knee.


    However, this act brought on a cold the following day. No fever, just a persistent runny nose.


    Alexander had not returned. Quinn, dragging her painful knee, made her way downstairs and was surprised to find breakfast on the table.


    A casserole bowl sat heavily on the table, a note scrawled in Alexander''s handwriting tucked beneath it. His handwriting was as decipherable as hieroglyphs, but after careful scrutiny, she made out the message: Eat well and rest, and don''t go outside.


    The note advised against venturing outside, but in her current state, she had no intention of leaving the house anyway.


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    Quinn sat down at the table, tasting the food and recognizing the familiar vor of restaurant cuisine.


    After eating, she had nothing left to do but curl up on the couch and watch TV.


    Ever since Alexander had begun promoting Getty, she was everywhere on the screen: endorsements, entertainment news with other celebrities.


    Flicking through the channels, Quinn found that the only way to escape Getty''s pervasive presence was to switch to cartoons.


    As she sat bored at home, the doorbell rang in the afternoon. Quinn''s first instinct was to answer it, but remembering Alexander''s words, she stayed seated. After a while, she received a message.


    Dr. Hughes: [Quinn, are you home? Alexander sent me to check your wounds.]N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Upon seeing the message, Quinn pursed her lips, and finally, she rose to let the doctor in..


    Dr. Hughes greeted her with a warm smile. "Good afternoon, Quinn."


    Quinn nodded and stepped aside to let him in.


    Doctor Miller entered, carrying his medical bag. "Quinn, where did you get hurt this time? You can''t keep pushing your body like this," he said as he walked towards the couch. Setting down his bag, he nced at Quinn''s face. The swelling had subsided, but several red scratches and inmed skin remained.


    Assuming it was Alexander''s doing, he frowned in disapproval. "This Alexander... perhaps I shouldy your situation out for him!" Unable to contain his concern any longer, Doctor Miller reached for his phone to call Alexander.

 Chapter 217

    With a swift motion, Quinn seized the phone from Doctor Miller, her head shaking in adamant denial. Observing her vehement reaction, a wave of frustration and concern washed over the doctor. "Quinn!" he eximed, "It''s your own body we''re talking about. Can''t you think about yourself for once?"


    Yet, Quinn remained steadfast, her head shaking in a rhythm that left Doctor Miller confounded by her obstinacy.


    She pressed down on his phone with a decisive gesture, and a glimmer of understanding dawned on him. "You still don''t want me to tell him?" he asked. Quinn responded with a nod, a silent plea for him to put the phone away. After a moment of internal struggle, Doctor Miller sighed in resignation, cing the phone down. "Alright," he conceded, "If you don''t want me to say anything, then I won''t."


    As he put his phone away, Quinn retrieved hers and typed a message for him to see: It wasn''t him.


    Doctor Miller stared at the words, a faint blush of embarrassment creeping onto his face before he let out an awkward chuckle. "Oh? Ha ha... my apologies."


    "Let me change your dressing," he said, shifting gears and opening his medical bag to tend to Quinn''s facial wounds.


    The remaining injury was on her knee. Quinn was d in a nightgown that could easily be hitched up to reveal the wound.


    Doctor Miller was taken aback. "How did this happen?" he asked, but Quinn merely shook her head, indicating her unwillingness to discuss it.


    Respecting her silence, Doctor Miller carefully removed the gauze from her leg, which had adhered to the wound due to its severity.


    "Oh my, Quinn, we can''t change this; it might cause further damage," he remarked, concern etched on his face.


    He snipped the surrounding gauze, "I''ll remove the topyer and add a new one. Let it fall off on its own after the wound crusts over."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Quinn nodded in agreement; she had already felt a twinge of pain when Doctor Miller was cutting the gauze and was relieved to hear his decision.


    Once he finished re-bandaging her, he added, "I''lle back tomorrow to check on you. Make sure to keep it dry, okay?"


    She thanked him with another nod.


    After Doctor Miller''s departure, Quinn found herself alone again, ensconced on the couch, aimlessly flipping through television channels and scrolling through her phone.


    Ever since theirst exchange, Abigail had ceased messaging her. Quinn nced at her contact info, yearning to ask where she was, but restrained herself. Instead, she pulled up Abigail''s social media feed. Recently, Abigail had been posting a flurry of updates-picturesquendscapes and candid selfies.


    Each caption bore the same message: Visible to you only.


    Quinn''s eyes welled up at those four words.


    She tapped on a photo. There was Abigail, captured in a selfie at the shore with seagulls soaring behind her, the breeze tousling her short hair, her grin wide and carefree.


    Quinn caressed the screen, pondering if Abigail had taken these shots solely for her.


    But instead of sending a private message, Abigail had chosen to share publicly.


    As she scrolled through the images, Quinn felt a sudden warmth envelop her. Somewhere in the world, someone cared deeply for her, affirming her existence.


    After viewing them all, Quinn liked each photo-a silent acknowledgement of Abigail''s silent deration.


    Somewhere out there, a smile graced Abigail''s lips upon seeing the recognition.


    Knowing that The Vanderbilts hadn''t suffered any fallout because of her actions, Abigail felt a newfound lightness in her steps, especially since Quinn had declined her invitation to travel the world. Well, if Quinn wouldn''te see the world with her, she''d bring the world to Quinn-in pictures, making it as if Quinn had seen it too.


    When Alexander returned, he found her clutching her phone, tears streaking down her face.


    He lingered, unnoticed for a moment, before shattering the silence.


    "You didn''t lock the door?"


    His voice startled her, causing her phone to tumble to the floor.


    He caught a glimpse of their conversation on the screen-unfinished textsid bare.

 Chapter 218

    evening. Alexander''s tense muscles eased. He advanced, extending his arm to retrieve her phone.


    "Did you miss me?" he queried, a yful tone to his voice as he returned the device to her.


    Quinn''s grip on her phone tightened, a silent battle waged within her to suppress the guilt that threatened to surface. She offered him a small, almost imperceptible nod in response. Only moments ago, she had sensed his impending return and had hastily opened their chat to type a message, uncertain if he had noticed her actions.


    "What do you need me for?" he inquired, his hand absentmindedly stroking her hair, his voice noticeably softer.


    cated through a simple gesture.


    He nced down, a smirk hidden behind his stoic expression. "Hungry enough to cry? What would you like to eat?" She pondered for a moment before responding, "The porridge, like this morning''s."


    "That won''t do," he gently refuted. "Too much porridge isn''t good for you. How about something else?" His tone was suggestive of a question, but he didn''t pause for her response. Instead, he was already dialing Kyle Astor''s number to arrange for food delivery.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn observed him, acutely aware that he was not short on funds. Since their relocation, however, he had never once contemted employing a housekeeper. The expansive vi was inhabited solely by the two of them, and Quinn single- handedly managed every household chore. Cooking, cleaning,undry-she performed all these tasks independently. Was he under the impression that she had an abundance of free time and required additional tasks to upy her? Tugging gently at his sleeve, Quinn waited for him to acknowledge her before signaling, "I want to go check on Juliet at the hospital. Has she woken up yet?" Alexander''s gaze met hers, but he offered no verbal response. A knot of anxiety tightened in Quinn''s stomach. Was he going to renege on his promise once again?


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    After a moment of silence, Alexander finally spoke, "She''s awake, but you''re still hurt. How will you visit her? Wait until you''ve recovered." Relief washed over Quinn, and she nodded in agreement.


    Alexander reached out to ruffle her hair gently, his eyes reflecting aplex emotion. It wasn''t the first time Quinn had seen that look, but she never could decipher its meaning.


    As they waited for their dinner to be delivered, Alexander''s phone rang once more. As expected, the caller was Getty. He was about to dismiss the call when the line went dead, as if the caller had sensed his intention. A secondter, the call came through again.


    With a resigned sigh, Alexander rose to his feet to answer the call. "What''s up?"


    "Alexander, can you pick me up? I''m shooting until midnight today, and I hate it! They''ve put on so much makeup, and it''s been on all day. I''m worried I''ll break out tomorrow!" Gettyined. "Didn''t the crew arrange a hotel?" Alexander queried.


    "They did, but I don''t want to stay there. I want you toe get me! It''s not that far anyway. Next month I''ll be shooting out of town; can you spend some more time with me now, please?" Getty pleaded. After a brief pause, Alexander responded, "Send me the address."


    "Will do, love you!" Getty ended the call, her voice filled with joy as she quickly sent over her location.


    In truth, Getty''s request for Alexander to pick her up was not solely for convenience. She had overheard some people gossiping about her, the other party being a prominent celebrity. They spected that her secretive sugar daddy was a distasteful elderly man, possibly even in his seventies. Unable to stomach the insult, she had decided to have Alexander fetch her to dispel the rumors.


    As Alexander turned to address Quinn, she preempted him, clutching his hand tightly. Her eyes pleaded with him, and she gestured, "Can you please not go?"

 Chapter 219

    A flicker danced in the depths of Alexander''s gaze as he studied Quinn''s eyes. The silence between them lingered, a tangible sign that hope was not yet extinguished.


    Quinn''s hands moved, signing her confession, "I get scared being home alone." As she withdrew her hand, a void seemed to form in her heart, a hollow emptiness that echoed her fear. Alexander reached out, his hand gently caressing her cheek. "Thene with me," he proposed.


    Stunned, Quinn stared at him, her mind racing. Was he seriously considering taking her along to see Getty? Memories of being trapped in the car with him suddenly flooded back, and instinctively, Quinn withdrew her hand.


    Rising to her feet, she gestured with her hand, "I''m heading to bed." Without a backward nce, she ascended the staircase. Just as she reached the top step, the sound of a door mming behind her reverberated through the house, striking her like a physical blow.


    Quinn spun around, her eyes fixating on the closed door in a daze. A self-deprecating smirk tugged at her lips as she pinched her arm, the sharp pain bringing her thoughts into focus. What was she even hoping for? Of course, yesterday had been nothing more than an illusion. As long as she obediently returned, he could simply ignore her with indifference. He knew how to reel her back in. In matters of the heart, only those who held control emerged as winners. Ignoring the pain that shot through her knee, Quinn had hurried off. Now, cupping her knee, she slowly sat down on the steps. She wiped her nose, perched high above the vi that seemed muchrger and colder than before. The harsh light cast long shadows on the expensive furniture, making even the light seem lonely. She touched her forehead, which felt warm, but she couldn''t be sure.


    When Kyle Astor arrived with dinner, his eyes immediately fell on Quinn. She sat alone on the staircase, resembling a little puppy abandoned at home, eagerly waiting for its owner''s return. A sour feeling twisted in Kyle''s heart.


    He hurried to the bottom of the stairs, looking up and calling out to her, "Quinn,e down, dinner''s ready." Her vacant gaze shifted, and she looked down.


    Using her hands for support, she rose, feeling a numbness in her legs. She almost tumbled down but managed to grab the handrail just in time. The near fall scared Kyle enough; a tumble could have been disastrous. "Quinn, take it easy, no rush," he urged.


    Quinn descended the stairs slowly, following Kyle to the dining table where he hadid out all the food. Standing aside, he said, "Alexander instructed me to make sure you finished your meal before I leave." Quinn paused momentarily. How considerate of him. She picked up a fork, eating slowly, the food tasting nd in her mouth. Only after she finished did Kyle pack up and ready to leave, reminding her before he left, "Quinn, remember to lock the door." With that, he too was gone, and the door closed once again.


    Quinn looked around the vi, the more she saw, the more it felt like a massive cage that she was locked in. Every time she thought about going out, that invisible chain around her neck would yank her back.


    ...


    The address Getty had given was far, and it took Alexander two hours to drive there. By the time he arrived, it was nearly midnight. The set was clearing out, but Getty was still standing by the entrance, waiting. "Ms. Summer, waiting for someone?" a passing crew member asked.


    "Yeah," Getty replied with augh, a hint of irritation hidden in her heart. Where was he?Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 220

    A significant number of them were willing to linger in herpany, their curiosity piqued by the prospect of meeting the enigmatic benefactor. This was the man who had transformed Getty''s career into a veritable goldmine,pelling even A-list stars to orbit her as supporting roles.


    In the ruthless world of show business, sess seldom arrived without the propulsion of a benefactor. Every rising star had at least one, but a benefactor whomanded both respect and fear was a rare phenomenon that intrigued everyone. They were all eager to see if this mysterious patron was merely another corpulent, aging man, ripe for mockery.


    As they engaged in casual conversation, a sleek Maybach made its entrance, gliding to a smooth halt in front of Getty.


    The chatter abruptly ceased, and every eye widened in anticipation, riveted on the car, eager to catch a glimpse of the emerging passenger.


    In due course, the passenger door swung open, and a man, cloaked in a ck coat, stepped out. His tall figure cut an imposing silhouette against the night sky.


    Getty''s face brightened with joy, and she trotted over to him, eximing, "Alexander!"


    As he turned around, his sharply defined features were revealed under the cloak of night. His indifferent eyes were chilling in their detachment, as if surveying the mere mortals beneath his gaze.


    The women could no longer conceal their envy or amusement.


    Many had seen this face before - on television, in newspapers, or at high-profile business gs.


    Alexander, a legendary figure in the business world, maintained a distance from the glitzy realm of celebrities. They might have known of him, but none dared to approach him.


    However, his reputation was well-known, particrly among the elite circles they themselves frequented. It was him!


    Getty''s mysterious patron was none other than Alexander!


    Eager to unt her connection, Getty looped her arm through Alexander''s and inquired, "You drove here yourself? How long did it take?" Alexander, ying along perfectly, wrapped his arm around her waist in response, "Just a couple of hours. Have you been waiting long?" "Not too bad, I dressed warmly, but my hands are a bit cold."


    Alexander took her hands in his, "Let''s get in the car."


    Radiating happiness, Getty nodded and snuggled closer into his embrace.


    They entered the car amidst the envious stares of the women left shivering in the cold breeze, each glimpsing jealousy in the other''s eyes.


    Inside the warm car, Getty could barely contain her excitement.


    "Alexander, you have no idea. They were just saying that the man behind me was an old and ugly guy, maybe even balding - I was so annoyed! But did you see their faces when you showed up? Hrious! They got just what they deserved for waiting around to mock me. Now, let''s see if they dare gossip about me behind my back again!"


    As Getty chattered on beside him, Alexander drove with a faint smile on his lips, appearing utterly indulgent.


    "Hey, why are you so quiet? Don''t you feel a bit relieved?" she prodded him.


    "Relieved? I''ve been behind the wheel for two hours already, and I''ve got another two hours on the road when we head back. You think that''s relieving?" Alexander retorted.


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    Hearing that, Getty justughed harder, "That means you love me, darling. I appreciate it, you know!"


    Alexander responded with an enigmatic chuckle.


    Then Getty, with a sly glint in her eye, suggested, "You must be exhausted from the drive. How about we just check into a hotel and not go back tonight?"


    She looked at him expectantly.


    "Sure, I can book one for you," he replied.


    At those words, Getty''s face fell instantly. "What do you mean ''book one for me''? Aren''t you staying?"C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "I have to get back for work tomorrow, no time to spare."


    "Lies, is it really because of work?" Getty''s smile had vanished now as she fixed her gaze on Alexander, a hint of anger creeping across her face. "I''ve told you before, I don''t expect anything from you. Why can''t you just " "Getty," Alexander cut her off before she could continue.

 Chapter 221

    Getty sat, frozen in her seat, her gaze locked onto him, her expression aplex tapestry of emotions. "Getty, I can''t marry you," he dered.


    Those words, so familiar yet so cutting, felt like a de piercing Getty''s heart each time they were spoken. She bit her lip, her eyes welling up with unshed tears, her resolve to keep them at bay wavering. Alexander added, "Take good care of yourself."


    Getty remained silent. The irony of his words was almostughable. How could he, of all people, tell her to look after herself? It sounded like nothing more than a flimsy excuse! "Alexander, do you love me?" she finally managed to ask.


    "What is love?" he retorted.


    "It''s for you to tell me. You''re always so good to me, you meet my every request, even driving this long distance just to indulge my whims. Doesn''t that mean it''s love?" Getty pressed him, her eyes desperately searching his face for any hint of emotion.


    Regrettably, the car was too dimly lit; the fleeting light from outside only grazed his profile, revealing nothing but his characteristic aloofness.


    It was a coldness that was paradoxical; he might be smiling at you, but you could still feel the chill. Only those closest to him could perceive this suffocating and inescapable distance.


    Alexander didn''t answer; he just focused on the road ahead, his gaze unwavering.


    "You always go silent when I ask you this," Getty sniffed, her makeup beginning to smear with her tears.


    She was about to wipe her eyes with her sleeve when a long, slender hand offered her a tissue.


    Grabbing it petntly, she roughly dabbed at her face.


    Getty didn''t bother asking again. It was pointless, and it only brought her misery. Everyone says you can truly feel whether you love someone or not, but with Alexander, she couldn''t detect a thing.


    Sometimes, she thought Alexander was head over heels in love with her, but at other times, it felt like she didn''t even exist in his heart. For years, these conflicting feelings haunted her. To love or not to love, only his admission would matter. Soon, Alexander pulled up to the hotel. Turning to her, he said, "We''re here, get out."


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    Getty remained seated, her head bowed, her emotions a tangled mess.


    "Getty," Alexander called her.


    She looked up; her eyes, ringed in ck from crying, were a mess, and somewhat frightening. Her voice was hoarse, "Alexander, if I marry someone else tomorrow, would you be upset?" "No."


    "..." Getty almost choked on her saliva, ring at Alexander, "I''m serious!"N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    But Alexander dodged the question, "Oh, found someone else?"


    "It''s none of your business! I''m getting married tomorrow," Getty retorted petntly.


    "Fine," Alexander said simply, "get out."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Getty panicked, grabbing Alexander, "Don''t go, just answer me, even if it''s a lie."


    "Does it matter?"


    "It does..." Getty''s voice softened, "I''m afraid I can''t go on."


    His gaze fixed on her, her expression obscured by shadows.


    "There''s no need to suffer," Alexander grasped her hand. "If you want to marry, find a good man. I''ll treat you the same, before and after."


    Getty froze, looking at Alexander quizzically.


    "Are you saying, even if I get married, you''ll still treat me well?"


    "Sure."

 Chapter 222

    Getty found herself at a loss for words, her incredulous gaze fixed on Alexander. "Why?" she implored, "If you can be so kind to me, why wouldn''t it pain you to see me wed another?" He responded with a grave seriousness that chilled her to the bone. "Because I cannot marry you."


    His words hit Getty like a sledgehammer, shattering her heart into fragments that seemed to sink into a bottomless abyss. A dull, indescribable pain welled up within her, too profound for words. She opened her mouth to speak, but then cast her eyes downward, as if acknowledging the futility of further words. After all, she had voiced her feelings many times before, only to be met with his calm, seemingly heartless responses. Was he merely exploiting her inability to leave him? "I understand," she said atst. With that, she opened the car door and trudged towards the hotel, her silhouette a testament to her unspoken destion. Alexander watched as her figure disappeared through the hotel doors. He leaned against the car window, fumbled for a cigarette, and lit it, quietly exhaling rings of smoke into the night air.


    ---


    Quinn had been residing at the vi for three days, and Alexander had yet to return. Each day, Kyle Astor would bring her meals, patiently waiting until she had finished eating before departing. In the afternoons, Doctor Hughes would make his daily rounds, inspecting her wounds. The scars on her face had begun to ke away, leaving only faint red marks. The scab on her knee, however, would require more time to heal.


    When Quinn was alone, she would recline on the couch, an arm draped over her eyes, while the murmuring voices from the television filled the room. Suddenly, she heard the television announcer mention a rising starlet and her enigmatic boyfriend. Quinn nced instinctively at the screen, where a few blurred photos were disyed. Despite the pixtion, she recognized the two figures immediately - it was Getty and Alexander.


    So, they had been together these past three days. Quinn redirected her gaze and reached for the remote, turning off the television. Meanwhile, the stock market had been relentlessly punishing the Landry Corporation, with its shares plummeting almost daily. Any slight recoveries were quickly followed by drastic drops.


    Rumors began to circte among the public - was the Landry Corporation on the brink of copse? However, considering the corporation''s size, it seemed unlikely that it could be so easily toppled. If it did indeed copse, the thought of the countless jobs lost and the affiliated banks that would be dragged into a financial crisis was staggering. Thus, the idea of a copse was dismissed. Yet, the stock would asionally surge before dropping erratically once more. It was clear to any discerning observer that someone was manipting the market.


    Wayne summoned Alexander once again. "Take a look at this," he demanded, pointing to the stock trend graph on hisputer. "Who''s messing with us?" Alexander frowned at the screen. "Not sure yet, still investigating."


    "Alexander, your efficiency is slipping. If you''re not up to the job, just resign and go home! Stop giving me excuses!" Wayne snapped.


    "Okay," Alexander responded simply. His response caught Wayne off guard, leaving him uncertain of Alexander''s intentions. "Okay? What do you mean ''okay''?"


    "Here''s my resignation letter." Alexander pulled an envelope from his jacket and ced it on Wayne''s desk.


    "You..." For a moment, Wayne felt as if he might explode. "When did you prepare a resignation letter?"


    Alexander replied calmly, "I''ve had it ready for a while. I figured this day woulde eventually."N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Wayne was left grappling with the implications of Alexander''s words. Was he suggesting that thepany was destined for losses and Wayne would inevitably confront him, or was there another meaning? Regardless, Wayne''s face was a tumult of anger and guilt. He snatched up the resignation letter and tore it to shreds, his fury boiling over. "Do you think being CEO is a decision made by the board''s votes? Even if you want to resign, it has to go through a board vote!" "Oh? Isn''t that just a word from you anyway?"


    "You... you scoundrel!" Wayne suddenly mmed his hand on the desk, rising to his feet and drawing back his hand as if to strike.

 Chapter 223

    Before Wayne''s hand could make contact, Alexander intercepted it mid-air. Wayne''s re was a potent mix of fury and disbelief. "Are you revolting against me?" he demanded, his voice barely above a whisper.


    A smirk tugged at the corners of Alexander''s mouth as he responded with a calm that belied the tension in the room. "We are discussing work. Let''s keep it professional and leave paternal tactics out of it," he said. He paused before adding, "I am not just the CEO of Lund Enterprises but also a shareholder. We are equals here. It''s not quite appropriate for you to get physical."


    Wayne, livid, spat out a curt response, "Fine, fine, fine!" He shook off Alexander''s grip, his anger barely contained. "You want to talk work, then let''s talk work!"N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    His voice took on a harsher tone as he continued, "You''ve caused such trouble for Lund Enterprises on your watch, and you think you can just walk away? I''m telling you, no way!" He pointed a finger at Alexander, "You want to resign? First, you fix the mess and get thepany back on track. Then you can resign!"


    Alexander merely raised an eyebrow, a chuckle escaping his lips. "Alright," he agreed, his nonchnce only serving to further irritate Wayne.


    "Get out!" Wayne barked. Alexander, with a slight bow, turned and left the room. His actions were infuriatingly calm, his respect almost taunting in the face of the urgency that the situation warranted.


    Once Alexander had left, Wayne began to pace the room, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. He couldn''t understand why Alexander''s calm demeanor aggravated him so much. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.


    The call connected quickly. Silence came from the other end, and with a drop in his demeanor and aplex look on his face, Wayne finally spoke, "What''s up?"


    "Hey, did you catch the news about Lund Enterprises?"


    "Yeah, I saw it. So what?" Wayne responded, his voice barely a whisper.


    The other person spoke again, "What, having second thoughts? Weren''t you all in on this son?"


    "I might have been mistaken," Wayne admitted.


    "So what if you were? It''s toote to go back."


    Wayne slumped in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. A spark of determination suddenly appeared in his weary eyes, "No, there''s still a chance."


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    "What chance?"


    "I''m transferring my shares to you, along with Valerie''s. Combined with yourpany, it''s enough to kick him off the board."


    Theughter came from the other end of the line, "Thinking of merging, are we?"


    "What other choice do we have? Thepany needs to get through this crisis and at the same time, it''s an opportunity to get him off the board." "Valerie, will she agree?"


    Wayne replied with a snide chuckle, "Of course, she''ll agree."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Fine."


    An unspoken understanding passed between them. Silence filled the air as Wayne tossed the phone onto the desk and sighed deeply, closing his eyes. Despite cing a high value on Alexander, the kid had be increasingly insolent, to the point where he didn''t even show respect for his own father. If he didn''t get a rein in on his growing arrogance, the consequences would be dire.


    Meanwhile, Alexander sat in his car, fingers grazing the steering wheel gently. After a short pause, he chuckled, removed the Bluetooth earpiece from his ear, and tossed it into the glovepartment haphazardly. He drove out of The Kennedys'' estate and dialed Freya''s number.


    At the time, Freya was still by Kaitlyn''s side. Kaitlyn was on the mend and her injuries weren''t all that serious. She wouldn''t really gamble with her life; she hadn''t put her full force into the crash into the tree.


    When Freya saw the call, she quickly stepped outside to answer. The voice that reached her from the phone caused Freya''s pupils to constrict, and her hand shook as she gripped the phone. Alexander had returned to the Grand River Estate. Quinn was aimlessly picking at the scab on her knee, which was partly stuck to the bandage-hanging on by a thread, making herpulsions kick in. While she managed to knock off the edge of the scab, the center was still healing. When she applied a bit more force, she ended up tugging at the fresh wound beneath.


    Hastily pressing the bandage against it, Quinn took several deep breaths. It took a couple of seconds to push past the pain.

 Chapter 224

    "Why did you touch it?" The question hung in the air as Quinn looked up, her surprise mirrored in the man squatting before her. Alexander''s hand was pressed against her wound, his gaze focused on the fresh blood that had begun to seep out.


    She could only stare at him nkly, her mind a whirl of confusion.


    Alexander frowned, his attention shifting from the reopened wound to Quinn''s face. "Are you bored or something?" His tone was casual, but his eyes held a hint of concern.


    Quinn bit her lip, nodding in affirmation. She was indeed bored, restless even. Who wouldn''t be, confined within four walls day in and day out?


    "Stay put," Alexander instructed, his voice firm. He rose to his feet, disappearing momentarily only to return with a first aid kit in hand. Quinn watched him in silence, a flicker of admiration in her eyes. She hadn''t expected him to know where the kit was kept.


    Alexander worked with a quiet efficiency, opening the kit and extracting fresh gauze. He carefully re-dressed her wound, his movements gentle yet precise. Once he was done, he sat beside her, his voice stern as he warned, "Don''t touch it again. Let the scab fall off naturally, got it?"


    Quinn nodded, her gaze fixed on him. She couldn''t help but notice that he was still wearing the same clothes from three days ago. His ck coat was lightly dusted with white, a stark contrast against the dark fabric. Without thinking, she reached out, her fingers brushing against his cor to remove the dust. After a couple of pats, her hand was caught in a firm grip.


    Quinn looked up, her eyes meeting Alexander''s. His gaze was intense, his voice grave as he asked, "Quinn, if I''m ousted from the board, if all my assets are frozen, if I''m left with nothing...would you leave me?"


    The question caught her off guard. Quinn didn''t understand the meaning behind his words, let alone why he would suddenly pose such a question. Was this a test of some sort? She shook her head, dismissing the thought. "Really?" Alexander''s eyebrows arched in mild interest.


    She nodded, the sincerity in her eyes clear as day.


    A hint of a smile graced Alexander''s lips as he tenderly touched her cheek. "Then why did you run away earlier?"N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Quinn was taken aback, her mind scrambling for an answer. Could he really not know why she had run?


    "Don''t worry, I just wanted to share something with you." With these words, he pulled out a pair of earbuds from his pocket, cing one gently in Quinn''s ear.


    A gentle tap on the earbud, and a familiar voice filled her ears. "I''m giving you my shares, and Valerie''s too. Add that to your current holdings, and you''ll have enough to boot him off the board!"


    Quinn''s eyes widened in shock, her gaze darting to Alexander. This wasn''t a test; this was real. Was Wayne truly nning to oust him?


    Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind a whirl of thoughts. The first one that surfaced was the prospect of her own freedom. The idea of no longer being under his control seemed to outweigh her concern for him.


    Alexander watched her closely, his eyes turning a shade colder as he noticed the subtle shift in her gaze. "Are you thinking that once I''m off the board, without anything to my name, I can no longer control you?" Quinn shivered at his words, shaking her head frantically. Her hands moved in a desperate attempt to exin, but Alexander brushed them aside. His smile was now tinged with a chill.


    "Quinn, you''re still thinking of leaving, aren''t you?"


    Her eyes flickered, and all she could do was shake her head vehemently.

 Chapter 225

    Regrettably, Alexander''s faith had been irrevocably fractured.


    He held her chin gently, his voice a low murmur, "You should know, even without my title as CEO, you can''t escape my grasp. "Quinn, even in death, you would remain here with me."


    His words resonated like a thunderp, leaving her utterly bewildered.


    Quinn tensed, an instinctual desire to withdraw surging within her, but her rational mind kept her rooted to the spot. Alexander''s fingers traced the contour of her earlobe, the feather-light touch eliciting a shiver from her.


    He then extracted the earbud and slipped it into his pocket.


    "Stay home, secure the door, and refrain from venturing out. Otherwise, I may have to resort to breaking your legs."


    His voice was as soft as a luby, yet the words he uttered were chillingly harsh.


    Quinn''s fingers clenched the couch tightly as she nodded in silent acquiescence, battling the rising panic within her.


    Alexander rose, ascended the stairs to don a brown overcoat, and departed.


    Quinn watched his retreating figure, then hurriedly secured the door behind him.


    She leaned against the solid wood, her chest heaving with suppressed emotion. Echoes of their conversation, transmitted through the earbuds, haunted Alexander''s mind he was on the brink of being expelled from The Kennedys, left with nothing.


    Quinn closed her eyes, taking deep, calming breaths, forcing herself to regain herposure swiftly.


    No, he was mistaken.


    His demeanor was off, too!


    If he was genuinely on the precipice of being ousted from The Kennedys, he wouldn''t be so calm. The man must have a hidden trump card.


    Or perhaps, he didn''t care about The Kennedys at all-there might be arger game at y.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Those were the only usible exnations.


    He was still testing her, much like his persistent inquiries about her desire for children.


    How many times had she nearly fallen for it?


    She couldn''t believe she was still being deceived.


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    After knowing Alexander for such a length of time, she still couldn''t discern the truth from his lies. What a farce...


    ...


    Upon his departure, Alexander drove directly to the office.


    By the time he arrived, it was well past the working hours, and the building wasrgely deserted. He made a beeline for Walter''s office.


    The door was ajar; Walter was still engrossed in his work. At the sound of the knock, he nced up.


    "Is that you, Oliver?" Walter rose immediately to wee him. "I thought you weren''ting in today." Alexander sauntered in and settled onto the sofa with him.


    "Walter, did you need to see me for something?" Walter poured him a cup of tea and ced it before him.


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    "Just checking in since you''re still here," Alexander swept his gaze around the room before meeting Walter''s eyes again, "Busy, I presume?"


    "Yes, there are numerous issues that require attention-you wouldn''t be familiar with these minorpany details."


    A faint smile graced Alexander''s lips; he crossed his legs and reclined on the sofa, nonchntly beginning, "Freya mentioned you haven''t been home in a while. Don''t you intend to return?" Walter paused, then offered a strained smile: "There''s too much happening at the office, I just can''t leave. I''ll go when I have the opportunity."


    "Don''t wait for the opportunity, go now. I''ll grant you some time off, spend it with Freya."


    Walter''s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, "Now?"


    "Yes, I''ll delegate these minor tasks. Freya''s been quite distressed about this, you need to go back immediately."


    "Oh?"


    Alexander feigned surprise as well, "She didn''t inform you? You weren''t aware she sold her shares?"


    Walter''s smile faltered momentarily but quickly regained itsposure, "That''s what you were referring to. Yes, I''m aware." "What else then?"


    Walter pondered, "I''ll make time to speak with her."

 Chapter 226

    "Don''t just make time for it-act now. If you don''t sway her soon, she may set her sights on Dad''s shares," Alexander warned. His words sent a wave of disquiet through Walter, who stared back at him in sheer surprise, his eyes wide with disbelief. Walter was taken aback-why would Alexander entrust him with such sensitive information?


    Walter found himself increasingly confounded by Alexander''s machinations. Alexander, however, maintained a cryptic smile that gave no hint of his inner thoughts.


    With a strained effort, Walter managed to pull the corners of his mouth into a semnce of a smile. "I understand. I''ll make my way back now."


    Alexander gave a slight nod of approval. "Okay."


    After tidying his workspace, Walter clocked out and exited the office. Alexander watched his retreating figure, the smile on his lips deepening with every step Walter took.


    Walter raced back to the Kennedys residence.


    Upon entering his room, he found Freya tenderly rocking Harold, her gaze distant despite the gentle care she was providing.


    At the sound of the door, Freya turned around, her face lighting up. "Walter, you''ve returned?"Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter grunted in confirmation and moved closer, observing the infant in her arms. "He''s asleep."


    Freya quickly ced Harold in the crib, then turned to Walter, her face etched with concern. "What brought you back so early today?"


    Walter chuckled lightly. "I recalled your mention of moving. It slipped my mind until now, so I hurried back. Have you packed everything?"


    Freya''s eyes welled up with tears. "Not yet. I was waiting for you."


    "Have you found a ce?"


    She nodded. "Yes, I have."


    Walter paused, considering. "Well, since I''m free now, let''s move out tonight."


    Freya suddenly grasped his hand, her eyes pleading. "Walter, if something happens to me, would you promise to take good care of Harold?"


    Walter froze, a flicker of astonishment crossing his gaze. Could Alexander''s warning be urate? Was she truly willing to meddle with Wayne''s shares to cover his debts? Walter took a deep breath. "Freya, don''t act rashly. You''ve been raising Harold; I can''t do it as well as you. Leave this issue to me and focus on caring for Harold at home, alright?" His voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, but his eyes were as cold as ice.


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    Regardless, Freya''s tears fell at his words of concern, and her resolve hardened.


    She managed a smile. "Okay, I promise."


    "For you and Harold, I won''t let anything happen to me," she dered, her voice filled with determination and a profound love for him.


    In her heart, she dared to hope that there might be no trouble after all.


    Walter flinched at her smile.


    Freya was being foolish, remarkably so. Walter knew all too well why Freya was doing what she did, and he didn''t need to rack his brain to understand her intentions. What a pitiful fool she was.


    Freya was still basking in the warmth of his tenderness, secretly hoping that her unwavering devotion might stir some emotion in him.


    Some people were naive enough to believe that if they touched someone''s heart, they wwould win their love.


    But in reality, the only person she had touched was herself.


    Others won''t change their feelings just because of her self-induced sentimentality.


    Love, or theck thereof, was often determined from the start.


    Walter''s face bore a smile, but inside, he felt ice cold.


    He was uncertain of Alexander''s intentions.


    And the feeling was absolutely dreadful.


    Perhaps... just perhaps, Quinn might have a clue.


    Walter''s gaze flickered, and suddenly he stood up, "Freya, I need to step out for a bit, I''ll returnter."


    "You''re leaving again? What are you up to now?" Freya asked.


    Patting her hair, Walter''s smile was somewhat unsettling as he replied, "Just some work matters to attend to."

 Chapter 227

    As the night deepened, Quinn found herself restlessly tossing and turning on the couch. Her gaze was fixated on the wall clock, the hands pointing at 11 PM. She knew, with a sinking heart, that Alexander would probably not be returning home that night either.


    Turning over, she was on the brink of surrendering to sleep when an unexpected noise from upstairs jolted her awake. She shot a nce upwards, her ears straining to catch the sound again. But all was silent, and she allowed herself to sink back onto the couch.


    Yet, the very next moment, the sound echoed again - a noise akin to the scraping of ss. With a frown creasing her forehead, Quinn rose from the couch and made her way upstairs, suspecting she might have left a window ajar. As she stepped into the bedroom and pushed open the door, reaching for the light switch, a pair of hands abruptly seized her wrists. The sudden shadow looming over her sent a jolt of fear through her, causing her body to stiffen. She instinctively opened her mouth to scream, but the sound was trapped in her chest, unable to break free.


    It was a terrifyingly familiar scenario.


    A light chuckle echoed beside her, "Thought you''d actually scream this time." The voice was even more chilling than the unexpected grip on her wrists.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn struggled to break free, but the grip was unyielding. She wed at the door frame in a desperate attempt to escape. But the disparity in their strength was too great, and she was effortlessly pulled back into the room before the door mmed shut.


    In the pitch-ck room, Quinn leaned against the door, a sense of despair washing over her as she realized she was unable tomunicate with him. Then, Walter flicked on the light, his smiling face invading Quinn''s line of sight. He showed no signs of guilt for his intrusion, his grin remaining brazen. Quinn bit her lip, not daring to breathe loudly. Through gestures, she asked, "What do you want?"


    Walter pinned her against the door, his hand braced by her ear, and said with a smile, "Just haven''t seen my sister-inw in a while, thought I''d drop by."


    Quinn turned her head away, not buying his flimsy excuse for a second. She pressed her ear against the door, hoping to hear some noise from outside, but there was nothing.


    "Are you waiting for Oliver toe home?" he teased. Quinn''s entire body tensed as she heard him say, "He''s with Getty by now, likely tucked in bed with her. Don''t count on himing to your aid."


    She turned to look at him, a smile in his eyes, but Quinn only saw danger.


    "Not upset? What a good little dog you are," he taunted, his fingers tracing her cheek.


    Quinn bit her lip, bracing herself for the p she was certain would follow.


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    Instead, Walter mused, "Can you really swallow your pride like that? Or maybe you need my help to get back at them, eh?"


    Quinn wanted nothing to do with him. Walter helping her was thest thing she''d believe; joining forces with him was akin to making a deal with the devil. After all, no good ever came from a man sneaking into her vi in the dead of night. Walter''s grip on her chin forced her to look at him, his eyesnding on the faded red marks on her face. "Quinn, you''re such a disappointment."


    The scars, now just thin lines much like pale lipstick, added a touch of color to her otherwise pallid cheeks.


    Unable to bear it, she gestured frantically, "What on earth do you want?"


    Walter''s lips curved upward, "Tell me, what did he say to you?"


    Quinn looked at him, puzzled.


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    Quinn''s thoughts flickered, suddenly recalling Alexander mentioning he was being ousted from the board-a topic Alexander had never discussed with her before. Her heartbeat quickened. Could it be that Alexander anticipated Waltering after her, testing her loyalty again?


    Noticing her eyes betray her thoughts, Walter chuckled, "Looks like he did share something with you."


    She pushed aside the unease in her heart and shook her head.


    "Not talking?" Walter''s hand slid from her face to her neck, while the other, already under her nightgown, tightened around her waist. Quinn began to struggle.


    The hand on her neck mped down, pinning her against the door, "Rx, I''m not interested in you."


    Quinn watched him, her heart pounding in fear.

 Chapter 228

    "I''ve thought it over, and instead of interrogating you, why not make a few videos for Oliver to see? Perhaps that would persuade him back off on his own?" Upon hearing this, a bitter intensity deepened in Quinn''s gaze. Did he think he could use her as a pawn to intimidate Alexander? He was gravely mistaken.


    However, before she could further digest his words, a cruel pinch to her ribs sent waves of pain coursing through her body, causing her to double over in agony. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. He always knew precisely where to strike her, where it would hurt the most, rendering her existence more unbearable than death itself.


    Walter reveled in this sight of her suffering. To him, a woman in tears was the epitome of beauty.She pressed against his hand, attempting to pry it away. Suddenly, Quinn detected a sound from outside - footsteps ascending the staircase. Her eyes widened in shock. Walter ceased his torment momentarily, a shadow passing over his gaze as he nced upwards, as if he could see through the solid door. He snorted softly to himself, "They''re really persistent, aren''t they?" Despite the interruption, he maintained his grip on Quinn. The doorknob outside turned under someone''s grasp.Quinn held her breath, tears clinging to her cheeks, amplifying her vulnerability. Walter leaned in, whispering ominously in her ear, "I wonder what he''d think, stumbling upon us in this state?"


    Her fingers curled into fists, and with a surge of strength she didn''t realize she possessed, she shoved him away. The bedroom door was locked; the individual outside couldn''t open it. Yet, Alexander didn''t persist. He stood at the threshold, abruptly releasing his hold on the doorknob.


    Quinn''s gaze darted between the audacious Walter and the door, unsure whether to unlock it. Suddenly, a violent noise erupted from the door.Startled, Quinn stumbled backward, a sharp pain radiating from her ribs causing her to lose her footing and crumple to the floor.


    Her eyes remained fixed on the door as another loud bang echoed, and this time, apanied by a crashing sound, the bedroom door gave way. Clutching the fabric of her dress, Quinn looked up fearfully at the figure in the doorway. His aura was chilling, as if he carried the winter''s frost with him. She mechanically turned her head to look back, only to find that Walter, who had just been there, had vanished!Alexander advanced, his gaze sweeping over Quinn from head to toe, leaving her feeling numb.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    His eyes shifted from her tear-streaked face to the open bedroom window where the curtains fluttered in the night breeze. Without uttering a word, Alexander seized her wrist and led her towards the bathroom. Shock coursed through Quinn''s veins.


    She recalled thest time he had cornered her in the bathtub.Stumbling, she was dragged into the bathroom and dropped onto the floor, her legs refusing to support her. Looking up at Alexander''s brooding face, she instinctively recoiled.He crouched in front of her, his gaze unwavering, "Where did he touch you?"Quinn shook her head frantically. "No?"


    He questioned. She nodded vigorously and clutched at Alexander''s sleeve, her eyes pleading for understanding."What did he say to you?" He inquired further. Quinn bit her lip. He had called her a ''good dog''... Alexander chuckled dryly. "I asked the wrong question. What did you say to him?"She shook her head and gestured, "I said nothing.""Is that so?" He questioned. She nodded in affirmation.His fingers gently traced Quinn''s face, wiping away her tears with a tenderness that starkly contrasted the coldness etched on his face."I thought perhaps you two were conspiring to oust me from the board of directors."

 Chapter 229

    A fleeting tension gripped Quinn''s fingers, the thought crossing her mind that perhaps she too had been bugged by Alexander.


    "Rx, don''t be scared. I''m not going to do anything," Alexander assured her, his voice steady and calm. "After all, you''re still injured."


    He gently lifted the hem of Quinn''s nightgown to inspect her wound. Seated on the icy floor, Quinn held her body tightly, a futile attempt to stave off the shivers that coursed through her. Alexander rose to his feet, his silhouette disappearing only to reappear momentster, a first-aid kit in hand. He squatted down beside her, carefully unwinding the gauze. The wound was healing nicely, save for a stubborn piece of dressing that clung to her skin.


    Quinn raised her eyes to meet his. His focus was solely on her injury, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. A chill ran down her spine. If Alexander was unaware of Walter''s actions, he wouldn''t be treating her with such gentleness. He would''ve pinned her down in the bathtub as he had done before, or perhaps something even worse. But he hadn''t. His calm demeanor was a clear indication... he knew everything. "We''re almost finished," he suddenly announced, breaking the silence.


    Quinn blinked, his words stirring confusion within her. What was almost over? The dressing, or something else? She didn''t want to overthink - that would only exacerbate her headache. After securing the final bandage, Alexander scooped her up from the floor and exited the bathroom. Instead of returning her to her bed, he gentlyid her down in the guest room next door.


    Downstairs, Walter leaned against the wall, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. He tilted his head back, his gaze fixed on the moon, partially obscured by the clouds, and exhaled a stream of smoke. It was unclear how long he stood there before he flicked the cigarette away and disappeared into the night....Quinn had no recollection of falling asleep.


    Alexander had remained by her side throughout the night, likely driven by guilt. Fear had kept her immobile, and now morning had arrived. Oddly enough, Alexander hadn''t left for the day. She opened her eyes to find him resting against the headboard, his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought. Quinn remained silent for a moment, deciding against getting up. Sensing a change, Alexander suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze meeting Quinn''s.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    A knot formed in her stomach. Hesitantly, she gestured with her hand, questioning his absence from the office. "I''m not going," he replied, his hand gently resting on her head. "Are you hungry?"


    Quinn shook her head. Alexander''s question was merely a courtesy, his attention was already absorbed by the messages popping up on his phone. She quietlyy beside him, managing a small smile as he absent-mindedly stroked her hair, much like one would pet a dog. Meanwhile.... Early in the morning, Valerie made her way into the Kennedy Residence, a stack of documents in hand. She bypassed the vi staff who greeted her, heading straight for Wayne''s study. She knocked on the door, and as expected, Wayne was in. Upon entering, Valerie handed him the documents. "Dad, why are you suddenly thinking of kicking Alexander off the board?" Wayne epted the papers from her, his silence stretching out before he finally sighed. "You wouldn''t understand." Of course, she didn''t understand, but that didn''t deter her from supporting Wayne''s decision. After all, it was Wayne who had gifted her the shares. Even if he decided to reim them, she had no grounds to refuse. However, Valerie trusted that there was a valid reason behind her father''s words.

 Chapter 230

    Ever since Alexander assumed control of thepany, he had methodically eradicated all those associated with his mother''s lineage.


    The business, once under her capable management, was now in a state of decline, barely surviving on their once prestigious family name. This was all due to Alexander''s relentless suppression.Valerie, however, remained steadfast. "Regardless of your decision, Dad, I stand with you," she dered, her voice resolute.


    "I had this contract preparedst night for your perusal. My signature is already on it, but if you find any discrepancies, I am more than willing to make adjustments. If everything is satisfactory, I will recuse myself from further involvement. "Wayne responded with a nod, his face softening into a look of relief and contentment. "Valerie," he began, his voice filled with gratitude, "if you ce your trust in me, I promise not to disappoint. What you stand to gain in the future will far exceed this.


    "A flicker of hope ignited in Valerie''s eyes at Wayne''s reassuring words, but she quickly masked it, maintaining herposed demeanor. Just then, her phone rang, breaking the moment. She nced at the screen, noting an unfamiliar number. Deciding to ignore it, she dismissed the call. However, the phone rang again almost immediately.


    Slightly irritated, she excused herself, "Dad, I need to step outside to take this call.""Of course," Wayne replied, nodding his approval. Valerie stepped out briskly, ready to address the caller, but the voice on the other end preempted her. "Valerie, if you value the lives of your son and daughter, don''t sign that contract."The words hit her like a punch.


    "What did you say?"Valerie gasped, her heart pounding. "Who are you? How do you know about the contract?""Quiet down, there''s no need for a scene," the voice warned. "Your children are with me. Consider your next move carefully. And if you inform Wayne about this call, your children will be in immediate danger."The call ended abruptly, leaving Valerie shouting into the silence.


    She tried to convince herself that it was just a scare tactic, but her heart was pounding with fear.Suddenly, another call came through, this time from the family butler.


    Her heart skipped a beat as she answered, her hand trembling."Madam, there''s been a terrible incident. Alexander and Miss...they''ve...they''ve disappeared on their way to school!"Valerie''s world spun.


    The phone slipped from her grasp, ttering onto the floor. "Valerie, what''s wrong?" Wayne''s voice echoed from inside the house.But Valerie couldn''t focus on anything other than her children. Ignoring Wayne, she scooped up her phone and dashed out of the Kennedys'' residence.


    As she ran, she frantically redialed the unknown number, but the call wouldn''t connect.She sprinted past Freya without stopping. Freya, cradling little Harold in her arms, watched her sister''s retreating figure, her eyes filled with a mixture of worry and understanding.


    In the midst of her panic, Valerie remembered the signed contract. With a renewed sense of urgency, she rushed back to the house. But when she arrived, Wayne was nowhere to be found in the study.Seizing a servant by the arm, she demanded, "Where''s my dad? Where did he go?""The master has left, he''s gone out," the servant stuttered.


    Valerie spun around and dashed out the door, but by the time she reached the driveway, Wayne''s car was disappearing from sight. Her legs gave out, and she copsed onto the ground. "It''s all over... everything is ruined," she whispered to herself.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Freya approached, still holding Harold, and asked with concern, "Sis, what''s wrong?"Valerie looked up at her, her eyes filled with tears, her mouth opening and closing, but no words came out.She sat there on the wet ground, soaked from the previous night''s rain, oblivious to the muddy water seeping into her clothes.Gathering herself, Valerie dialed Wayne''s number.


    As soon as the call connected, she burst into tears, "Dad, the contract, we can''t sign it. Pleasee back..." "Why?"Choking on her sobs, Valerie was about to reveal the truth but remembered the threats made against her children. She stammered, "There''s an issue. We need to review it one more time.""I''ve already reviewed it. There''s nothing wrong. Valerie, remember my words, don''t second guess yourself once you''ve made a decision," Wayne said and abruptly ended the call. "Dad!!" she cried out, but it was toote.

 Chapter 231

    Valerie''s pleas fell on deaf ears as Wayne abruptly ended the call. Freya, bearing witness to her sister''s anguish, tightened her hold on the baby, eliciting a sharp cry that pierced the silence of the yard.


    Freya, in an attempt to soothe the infant, retreated indoors, leaving Valerie alone, her sobs echoing in the empty space. Their exchange did not escape unnoticed; servants whispered in hushed tones from the shadows. As Valerie''s tears flowed freely, her phone vibrated with a chilling message from an unknown sender: [If you wish to save your son and daughter,e alone to this location. Remember, you are under surveince. Any clever attempts will be met with dire consequences.] Trembling, Valerie struggled to think clearly amidst her rising panic. With no other options, she resigned herself to follow the ominous instructions.


    She climbed into her car and set off towards the designated location: Rivercourt Estate. Inside the estate, Quinn and Alexander were seated at the dining table, the sound of ttering echoing from upstairs-Kyle Astor''s men were installing security bars. The once charming vi was gradually transforming into a fortified prison.


    "The weather''s pleasant today. Where would you like to go? I''ll apany you," Alexander casually proposed from across the table.


    Quinn turned her gaze towards the window. The sky was overcast, a storm threatening to break at any moment. Pleasant weather? She had her doubts... Alexander nced up at her. "Hmm?"C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Quinn paused for a moment, then gestured: She wanted to see a movie. It had been ages since she and Alexander hadst watched a movie together. It felt like it had been five years, or perhaps even longer. But she vividly remembered their first movie outing.


    She was eight years old when her favorite animated film was released, and Alexander had taken her to see it. Back then, she was ecstatic, her joy mirroring that of the other children in the theater. Alexander hesitated as if a memory had crossed his mind, then he nodded in agreement, "Sure."Once they finished their meal, Alexander guided her out the door and drove them to the mall.


    It had been so long since Alexander had gone to a movie, he was unfamiliar with the process of buying tickets. He ended up joining the queue. Quinn quietly observed him from a distance, his tall figure draped in a dark trench coat, standing out like a lone crane amidst a flock of chickens.


    Fortunately, the line moved quickly, and he soon returned with movie tickets and a Coke for Quinn. She sipped her drink in silence while he leaned back on the sofa, lost in thought.


    Quinn stole nces at him intermittently. He seemed a bit off today. But she couldn''t quite pinpoint what was amiss. They had over an hour to spare before the movie, during which Quinn consumed three cups of Coke and made five trips to the restroom.


    Before entering the theater, Alexander bought her two more drinks. Quinn felt a wave of nausea but quietly epted them nheless. It wasn''t until they were inside the theater that Quinn realized he had bought tickets for an animated film. A bitter feeling washed over her. Why would he still assume she enjoyed animated movies? She found herself surrounded by children, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like a distant past had resurfaced. But now, she no longer shared their joy; all she felt was an overwhelming bitterness.


    Throughout the two-hour movie, Quinn found it hard to concentrate, her frequent restroom visits proving to be a distraction. Alexander, however, watched the movie with rapt attention, his gaze unwavering from the screen. He was always like this, taking every activity seriously, no matter how mundane, whether it was watching a movie or TV with her. Even though she knew his mind was elsewhere, his eyes on the screen but his thoughts drifting, it warmed Quinn''s heart each time. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Valerie was driving towards a secluded area on the outskirts, near Midhill Lane. She walked a considerable distance, drawing closer to the quiet, isted location.

 Chapter 232

    The neighborhood was a ghostly tableau of old homes, long forsaken by their owners.


    Weeds had imed the yards as their own, and many of the houses had sumbed to the ravages of time, copsing into themselves.Valerie alighted from her car,pelled to traverse the destendscape on foot.


    Anxiety ignited within her like a wildfire, consuming her from the inside out. She checked her phone, only to find it as deste as her surroundings - no signal.


    With a sigh, she pocketed the device and began her uphill journey.Her children''s whereabouts were a mystery; her only option was to search each house, room by room. The houses were scattered, each one a lonely ind in a sea of destion.


    She hadbed through nearly all of them, save for those that were beyond saving,pletely reduced to ruins. Yet, she found no trace of her children.Her voice, choked with tears, echoed through the silence as she called out their names. Her pleas met with nothing but the oppressive silence. "I''ve followed your instructions; now hand over my kids!" she bellowed into the void. "Where are you? Show yourself and prove to me they''re safe!""Show yourself!" Her tears overflowed, cascading down her cheeks as sobs wracked her body.


    Overwhelmed by frustration, she stumbled and copsed to the ground, surrendering to her despair.Insects skittered through the grass around her, a sight that would have sent her leaping in fear on any other day. But not today. Her face was numb, her mind consumed with worry for her children.


    She wished it were her in their ce.In the midst of her darkest hour, a faint voice pierced the silence.Valerie stilled her sobs, holding her breath to listen.


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    The cool night air carried the distant sound of a child''s cry.A spark of hope ignited within her. Abandoning her bag, she scrambled to her feet and ran toward the sound.Finally, she found herself standing before a dpidated brick building, the cries now discernible.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Valerie pushed open the door. Inside, her worst fears were realized her two children were bound to a post."Joseph... Hannah!"


    She rushed toward them.Both children, blindfolded, began to wail even louder at the sound of their mother''s voice."Mommy!""Don''t be afraid; Mommy is here to save you," Valerie reassured them, removing their blindfolds. She moved to untie them, but her heart plummeted as she discovered they were shackled with iron chains."Mommy, I''m scared.""Don''t be!" she insisted, wiping away her tears and tugging at the chains to no avail.


    She picked up a brick from the floor and began to hammer it against the chains, filling the room with a cacophony of nging sounds. Despite her desperate attempts, the chains remained steadfast. She scanned the room for anything that could aid her, even contemting breaking the wooden posts.


    As she struggled to free her children, the faint scent of smoke wafted into her nostrils.Instinctively, Valerie looked up to see plumes of thick smoke snaking their way into the room, advancing towards them like a relentless tide.


    A sense of dread washed over her, and she redoubled her efforts to break the chains. The smoke thickened, and the room began to glow ominously as mes encroached.The children''s cries and the sound of shing chains punctuated the silence of the mountain. mes licked up the walls, gradually making their way inside the house along the eaves.


    Valerie had exhausted all options, but the iron chain remained unbroken. In a state of panic, she screamed, her voice breaking as she picked up a rock and hurled it at the chain with all her might."Ah!!" Her cries wereced with despair, "I can''t break it! Why can''t I break it?!"Her children were within her reach-she had found them, yet she was powerless to save them. Wide-eyed, she watched as the fire spread, bathing the entire room in a haunting red glow."Mommy... cough, cough... it hurts."

 Chapter 233

    Caught in the throes of a life-and-death crisis, Valerie found herself trapped between the instinct for self-preservation and the desperate need to save her children.


    A rare rity washed over her, illuminating the harsh reality of her situation.


    She could escape now, save herself, but her children would be left to perish. If she didn''t make it out, they would all die, leaving no one to avenge them.


    She could be ruthless, she could choose survival, but the thought of watching her children burn alive required a heart of steel and a strength she wasn''t sure she possessed. Valerie drew in a deep breath, the thick smoke filling her lungs and triggering a violent cough.


    Her fists clenched, determination shing in her eyes as she rose to her feet and bolted for the exit."Mommy!!""Mommy, save Hannah... it hurts so much!"Valerie froze at the doorway, turning back as if pulled by invisible strings. Through the haze, she saw her children crying out in agony, their pleas tugging at her heartstrings. Her hand on the blistering door frame sizzled, but she felt nothing. "Mommy...""Do you not want us anymore...?"Their voices grew fainter, barely audible over the roar of the mes. Valerie was torn between her own survival and the desperate need to save her children.


    She was just one step away from safety, but if she turned back, she might never make it out. In her despair, she nced down and, almostically, noticed two keys lying on the ground by the door. Like a divine intervention, the keys made the choice for her, silencing her rational mind.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Valerie bent down, snatched the keys, and plunged back into the inferno. Meanwhile, Wayne had already gone to handle the paperwork, transferring the shares to his name. The mountain zed brightly, and the people below could vaguely see the billowing smoke piercing the sky.


    "Is there a fire up on the mountain?""Yeah, something''s burning up there."Spectators paused in their tracks, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the spectacle. Some took pictures with their phones, while others called to report the emergency.


    Elsewhere, Alexander had taken Quinn out for a movie and was now treating her to lunch. Despite a slight ache in her knee, Quinn hadn''t walked too much.


    Alexander had spent the entire day with her, a rarity since their wedding. His presence, his attention, felt like the grandest of gifts. That afternoon, he had taken Quinn shopping for clothes. Though he bought a lot, none were to Quinn''s taste; they were what he liked.


    He purchased items for both winter and spring, carrying the bursting bags until dusk when they finally got into the car."Did you enjoy today?" Alexander asked, turning to her.Quinn could only nod, a gesture that under normal circumstances would indicate happiness, but she wasn''t happy. His behavior was too out of character.Alexander reached out, gently touching her cheek.


    "As long as you''re happy."His smile was cryptic. His phone rang then, but he seemed in no rush to answer. Instead, he asked Quinn, "What do you feel like for dinner?"Quinn nced at his chest, where the phone continued to ring. After a moment of silence, she gestured, "Anything''s fine.""Alright, then let''s head home for dinner." He shed another grin before leisurely taking out his phone. Before Alexander could speak, Freya''s voice came through urgently, "Bro, where are you?""Out and about, what''s up?""There''s been trouble, you need toe back fast!" Freya''s voice was hushed, as if hiding from something."I can''t right now. We''ll talkter."After hanging up, Alexander drove Quinn back home.In the dim light, Quinn nced at him-his smile was there,ced with an unsettling hint of danger, reminiscent of the unnerving smile she once saw on Walter''s face. Redirecting her gaze downward, she couldn''t help but recall Alexander''s words from the night before."It''s almost over."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 234

    Ordinarily insignificant, that phrase unsettled Quinn each time it echoed in her mind.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Alexander had intended to take Quinn home, but halfway there, he received another call-this time from Wayne. Instead, he ended up taking her to the outskirts.


    Police tape barricaded the area, with onlookers craning their necks for a glimpse. Police car lights shed as people murmured among themselves."Someone died. There was a fire on the hill, and they got burned. Such a pity.""Does anyone live up there?""Not sure, but someone might. That''s why the hills are dangerous; it''s too easy for a fire to start."Quinn''s heart skipped a beat as she turned to Alexander.


    They remained in their car, unable to pass through the crowd for a closer look, only able to see lights moving down from the hillside.Alexander lit up a cigarette and settled into the driver''s seat of his car to smoke.


    Not long after, Wayne called him. "Where are you?""At the scene."Wayne hung up. Within minutes, he materialized from somewhere and pulled open the car door to hop in.


    Quinn furrowed his brows, pondering. Both Wayne and Alexander were at the scene, could it be that they knew the victim?"Let''s head back."Obedient, Alexander shifted the car into reverse and pulled out.


    Silence filled the car until they hit the road when Wayne''s voice came from the backseat. "Valerie''s dead, and her two kids too.""Oh? Is that confirmed?"Wayne pinched the bridge of his nose. "Not yet. We''re waiting on the identification, but I saw the bodies.


    They look like her, and her purse... found it on the side of the road with her ID inside.""That''s a shame."


    Alexander''s tone was distant, devoid of emotion.Wayne bristled at his response. "Your sister''s dead. What kind of attitude is that?"


    Alexander chuckled lightly. "Isn''t it unconfirmed? Are you so eager for her demise?""You..."


    Wayne was at a loss for words.But the phone call he had received from Valerie that morning troubled him; it had a tinge of foreboding that this might rte to the contract. Now that he''d just finalized that contract and this news broke, fingers might point at him, suspiciously.


    With Valerie gone, her shares would fall to him. How could he exin that without sounding guilty?


    Wayne heaved a mncholic sigh, casting a side nce at Alexander, and for some reason, he felt a chill down his spine."Alexander, do you truly know nothing about this?"Alexander drove in calm silence, responding casually, "Why should I know anything?""You''re not..."


    Wayne caught himself mid-sentence. The business with the board, the expulsion-only two people knew, and Alexander wasn''t one of them. There was no motive for Alexander to target him.Could it be...

 Chapter 235

    Despite the unfolding drama, he found himself devoid of a motive. Who could be behind it all?


    Wayne was consumed by the enigma, racking his brain for every possible suspect. However, beyond Alexander, the only remaining candidate was... Valerie''s husband. "What''s not what?" Alexander parroted, his toneced with curiosity.


    "Nothing."Quinn''s eyes roamed over Alexander''s countenance. In stark contrast to Wayne''s gloom, he seemed remarkably serene.


    As serene as a bystander to the unfolding drama. Yet, it made sense; Quinn had no deep ties to Valerie. They weren''t kin by blood, and given his stoic nature, even if Valerie''s death was confirmed, he likely wouldn''t grieve.


    With this realization, Quinn''s gaze grew distant once more. Perhaps he was the sort of man who wouldn''t mourn anyone''s passing.Kaitlyn could collide with a tree right before his eyes, and he wouldn''t flinch, his indifference towards Wayne was even more pronounced.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    If she were to die one day, would he regard her with the same apathy he disyed towards Kaitlyn, not even sparing her a second nce? The car was shrouded in an unsettling silence, punctuated only by Wayne''s sporadic sighs emanating from the backseat.


    He must have already epted Valerie''s death, hadn''t he? Otherwise, why would he be sighing so mournfully?Two hourster, they returned to The Kennedys.


    The entire household was present, including Walter, who wore a solemn expression - he had evidently pieced together some of the puzzle.


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    But the past was irreversible, and further spection would serve no purpose."Dad." Freya rose immediately, her face taut with anxiety that was palpable.


    Among the gathered crowd, she appeared to be the most distressed, an anomaly given her usual demeanor. Even Wayne found himself stealing additional nces at her."How''s it going, Dad? Is it Valerie?" she inquired, urgencycing her words.


    Wayne shook his head, "We haven''t confirmed the identity yet, but we should have an answer soon. We found her ID in the bag; once they run the DNA, we''ll know for sure."


    Upon hearing this, Valerie''s face nched. She clenched her fists and, without drawing attention, cast a surreptitious nce at Alexander.


    But Alexander didn''t return her gaze. He sauntered over to the couch and reclined leisurely, legs crossed and head propped against the backrest in a disy of nonchnt ease.Walter, too, was unusually reticent that evening, not uttering a single word.


    From the question Freya had posed to him the previous day, coupled with her current reaction, it wasn''t difficult to deduce the situation.Intriguing indeed.


    The finger of suspicion was undoubtedly pointing towards Wayne now. If this issue were to be resolved, the only recourse was to sacrifice Freya - a strategy proposed by Alexander. By thrusting Freya into the limelight, she''d be cornered and might even implicate Walter in the process.Alexander was ying his cards openly now.


    Confident, wasn''t he?Kaitlyn also feigned empathy, "Oh, what a shame. Hopefully, it isn''t Valerie. Such a loss that would be."Wayne remained silent, his face pale, as everyone awaited the impending notification.


    They didn''t have to wait long; around eleven in the evening, Wayne received the call to identify the body. Freya excused herself, citing the need to stay home and care for the children, while Kaitlyn, superstitious and iming a headache, also opted out.Four individuals crammed into a car: Walter at the helm, Quinn and Alexander in the back, and Wayne riding shotgun. They arrived at the police morgue, and even before they entered, the sound of sobbing permeated the walls.

 Chapter 236

    The icy grip of the morgue sent a shudder coursing through Quinn''s body, her breath hitching as the reality of Valerie''s demise in a fire set in.


    The haunting imagery of what the once vibrant Valerie must now resemble pervaded her thoughts, refusing to recede.


    Upon reaching the entrance, Quinn''s gaze swept over the room, identifying several familiar faces. Among them was the grieving husband, Valerie''s spouse.


    A woman''s wails echoed the loudest, her tear-streaked face buried in the husband''s shoulder. This was Valerie''s biological mother, who had hastened back from another state upon receiving the dreadful news.


    The remaining faces belonged to Valerie''s inws, their distress palpable. Their sorrow was not solely due to their daughter-inw''s untimely passing, but also the loss of their two grandchildren.


    Adjacent to Valerie''s body, two smaller figuresy shrouded in white sheets, the outlines of their tiny forms discernible beneath the stark fabric.No sooner had Wayne stepped inside than the grief-stricken woman lunged at him, her hands iling in a frenzy of despair.


    "You bastard, Wayne! Return my daughter to me! How could you what kind of father fails to protect his own child?!"Taken aback by his ex-wife''s outburst, Wayne pushed her away, his voiceced with annoyance, "Enough!"


    The woman stumbled, saved from a fall only by her daughter''s husband''s timely intervention. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, filled with fresh tears.


    "Wayne! Your daughter is dead, and you still shove me? Are you involved in her death?""You murderer, worse than an animal, not even sparing your own child..."With veins pulsating on his forehead, Wayne red at her.


    "Silence! I mourn Valerie too, but I won''t tolerate your baseless usations!""Do you believe causing a scene here will bring her back to life?"


    The husband, in an attempt to diffuse the escting tension, interjected, "Mom, please, maintain yourposure. The true nature of this tragedy is still unknown, and the real culprit is likely reveling in our misery from some hidden corner.""We shouldn''t grant the enemy the satisfaction of witnessing our suffering."


    His words brought a fleeting moment of tranquility to the distraught mother, but the image of her daughter''s gruesome death soon reignited her sobs.Too agitated to further engage with his ex-wife, Wayne approached the covered bodies, his courage wavering at the prospect of unveiling them.


    The woman''s voice dripped with icy sarcasm, "What''s the matter, Wayne? Can''t bear to look at your own daughter? Your cowardice makes itughable to think you can apprehend the murderer!"Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Stung by her taunt, Wayne gritted his teeth and yanked back the white sheet.


    The sight of the lifeless bodies sent a wave of nausea through Quinn, causing her to spin around and seek sce in Alexander''s embrace, unable to stomach the sight. Alexander''s arms enveloped her, his gentle pats on her back offeringfort, his gaze fixed on the charred remains.


    The body was a horrific sight, burnt beyond recognition, resembling the ckened crust of a disastrously cooked pork roast.


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    The woman, confronted with the ghastly state of her daughter, broke down, her sobs uncontroble, teetering on the brink of fainting in her overwhelming grief.Evan averted his gaze, unable to bear the horrific transformation of his wife, his life partner.


    His face, although devoid of tears, was a canvas of deep-seated agony.After silently observing for a moment, Alexander gently guided Quinn away from the distressing scene. Shivering uncontrobly, whether from the biting cold or the enveloping fear, Quinn felt theforting warmth of Alexander''s palm against her icy fingers.


    Once ensconced in the car, Alexander cranked up the heater to its maximum, but Quinn remained huddled, her arms wrapped tight around herself, her body shaking violently. His hand, long and slender, tenderly caressed her cheek as he softly reassured her, "Don''t be afraid. Remember their torment of you."


    His words startled Quinn, causing her to turn towards him. Hisposure remained unbroken, but the shadows cast by the streaming streetlights revealed a chilling indifference in his eyes."Feels like justice, doesn''t it?" he murmured.The coldness in his voice was all-epassing, seeping into her pores, intensifying her tremors.

 Chapter 237

    The flicker in Alexander''s gaze was unmistakable as he took in the palpable panic that danced in her eyes. Momentster, his hand retreated, and he set off on a direct course for Rivercourt Estates.


    Upon arrival, he made a beeline for his study, leaving Quinn in the solitude of their bedroom. She found herself cocooned in theforter, her mind a whirlwind of disturbing images from the morgue and the haunting words Alexander had spoken.


    She couldn''t help but draw a connection between the harrowing incident and Alexander himself. That night, sleep eluded Quinn. Each time she dared to close her eyes, nightmarish visions gued her. She was thrust into a dream where Valerie was caught in a desperate struggle amidst a raging inferno.


    As the dream reached its climax, Quinn found herself being consumed by the mes. The heat was so suffocating that even upon waking, the sensation of burning seemed to linger on her skin.


    With a gasp, Quinn''s eyes shot open, her gaze fixated on the ceiling until the distant rumble of thunder brought her back to reality. She turned her head to peer outside.


    The sky was a canvas of dark and gloomy hues, heavy rain cascading down. The newly installed protective mesh stood sentinel by the windows, its slender wires creating a stark division between the vi and the world beyond, akin to a cage. Turning away, Quinn sat up, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead. She climbed out of bed to freshen up before making her way to the kitchen.


    However, as she began her descent down the stairs, a frantic knocking echoed through the house, punctuated by the insistent ringing of the doorbell.


    Her heart clenched. She cast a nce upstairs, uncertain if Alexander was home. A quick nce at the clock revealed it was already half-past ten, though the gloomy outdoors had led her to believe it was earlier.


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    Holding her breath, Quinn cautiously approached the door, peering through the peephole. The sight that greeted her was none other than a rain-soaked Freya, pounding on the door with a desperate urgency, her voice echoing through the night as she called for Alexander.


    "Alex! Open the door, quick!" "Open up!" After a moment''s hesitation, Quinn reached for the doorknob and swung the door open.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The sight of the door giving way brought a flicker of relief to Freya''s face. She brushed past Quinn, rushing inside and calling out for Alexander.


    When met with silence, she dashed upstairs, her search for Alexander proving fruitless. Quinn remained at the foot of the stairs, a silent observer.


    After a thorough search of the house, a frantic Freya returned downstairs, seizing Quinn''s arm as she demanded, "Where is he? Where did my brother go?" Quinn could only shake her head; she had no inkling of Alexander''s whereabouts. Freya''s panic was escting. She had checked his office, called Getty, and now their house was empty too-where could he possibly be? "Come on, dummy, tell me where my brother went!"


    Freya''s voice wasced with hysteria as she shook Quinn''s shoulders. "Tell me, where did he go? Is he hiding somewhere?!" Dizzy from the shaking, Quinn found herself pushing Freya away in a desperate attempt to regain her bnce. Freya stumbled forward, her face a mask of raw panic. In that moment, Freya bore the resemnce of a lunatic.


    Her hair, damp from the rain, hung in wild disarray. Her features were contorted as if she had just seen a ghost, her eyes darting nervously, a clear testament to her fear. Freya lunged at Quinn, her hand closing around her throat. "Tell me, where did he go?" Quinn found herself pushed against the esctor railing, a sharp pain radiating from her waist as the bars dug in.

 Chapter 238

    In a desperate attempt to free herself, Quinn''s fingers tightened around Freya''s hands, pushing her away.


    Freya''s eyes, bloodshot and wild, stared back at her. Her voice, hoarse and threatening, echoed through the room, "Give me Alexander, or I choke you to death!"


    Her teeth were clenched in a grimace of determination.As her vision began to blur, Quinn acted on pure instinct. Her hand shot out, fingers curling into a fistful of Freya''s hair.


    With a swift, hard yank, Freya let out a startled yelp and pushed Quinn away. Finally free, Quinn wasted no time in putting some distance between them.


    Freya, clutching her head and trembling, shot Quinn a murderous re. Quinn, now standing by the coffee table, pinched her fingers together.


    Her hand brushed over a te resting on the table''s surface. As Freya began to approach again, Quinn''s hand darted out, grabbing the fruit bowl from the table.


    Just then, a voice rang out from the doorway, "Stop!" Both women turned their heads towards the door. Framed by the entrance stood Alexander, his tall figure cloaked in a trench coat, a ck umbre clutched in his hand. He pressed the handle, closing the umbre, and stepped inside.


    Freya, her eyes lighting up as if she''d seen a savior, rushed over to him, grabbing his arm, "Brother, something terrible''s happened..." Alexander''s frown deepened, his gaze upon her carrying a tinge of warning. Freya fell silent. Turning to Quinn, Alexandermanded, "Go back to your room."Still clutching the bowl, Quinn scanned the two before her. With a final, pursed-lip nce, she set down the bowl and ascended the stairs.


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    Once she had left, Alexander withdrew his arm and settled onto the couch, lighting up a cigarette.


    Freya moved to sit next to him, whispering, "Brother, Dad''s been taken away.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "The fingers holding his cigarette tensed. "And?""They suspect that he kidnapped Valerie''s children to force her into signing a contract, and then... to silence her," Freya''s voice trembled.


    After all, Freya was just a sheltered heiress, unustomed to such crises. Now, with a death and her father Wayne taken away, how could she not be frightened? Alexander nced at her indifferently. "The suspicion makes sense. What''s rattling you?"Freya brushed back her hair from her face.


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    Gone was her previousposure; now, she looked every bit the guilty party."Bro... ver meant to kill her, but how did Valerie die? And her kids..."Freya had been gued by a nightmare the previous night, haunted by an image of Valerie and her two children demanding justice from beyond the grave.


    She was scared out of her wits, and today she''s been walking around in a daze."Shouldn''t I be asking you that question?"


    Alexander''s lips curled into a smirk as he eyed her, "You''re responsible for this."Freya''s eyes bulged. She rushed to defend herself, "Bro, it was me, am I not...""Freya," Alexander cut her off with a small smile, "keep it to yourself. If you keep acting like this, do you want to broadcast to everyone that you kidnapped Valerie, that you''re responsible for her death?"


    Freya slumped, her face ashen, staring nkly at Alexander."What am I supposed to do now?""What can you do after all this? It''s either you take the fall or our dad does.


    Think it through carefully thene talk to me."Was there even anything to think about?Freya grabbed Alexander''s arm firmly, her tone unwavering, "I can''t confess, what about Harold? He''s still so young. And Walter, I... I can''t leave them.""You promised to help me, bro, please help me!"Alexander regarded her silently, noting the tear-filled plea in her eyes. Then he shed a sudden smile, "Freya, looking at you now, seems like you''re not cut out for staying stateside. Maybe it''s time for a trip abroad to clear your head."

 Chapter 239

    For a moment,prehension eluded Freya as she struggled to digest Alexander''s proposal.


    "Are you suggesting I leave the country?" she asked, her voiceced with disbelief."Consider it a retreat," Alexander replied, his tone soothing and patient, akin to a brother offering counsel. "Take your husband, your children, and seek sce abroad. It might alleviate the torment of your restless mind."


    His words painted a picture of her fears as mere figments of a nightmare, an unnecessary anxiety that could be easily dispelled. The concept of fleeing to foreignnds with her family gradually began to appeal to Freya.


    She harbored a deep affection for Walter and was prepared to go to any lengths for him. After all, wasn''t their shared goal to live a contented life as a family?"But would Walter consent to this?" she questioned, uncertainty clouding her thoughts.


    "That''s a challenge for you to tackle," Alexander responded, a hint of a smile ying on his lips. "He has no ties here. What could possibly hold him back?"


    Freya''s brow furrowed in contemtion. Indeed, Walter had no living parents, and she, along with their son Harold, were his only family. Why would he refuse? Unless he harbored ns unbeknownst to her.


    A wave of uncertainty washed over Freya. She knew, better than anyone, that she did not hold a ce in Walter''s heart.


    Their marriage was not a product of love. Yet, she dared not voice this fear, for if she did, Alexander would never leave Walter in peace.


    Gradually, Freya regained herposure, bowing her head in silent acquiescence."Very well, I shall discuss this with him," she conceded. "Proceed," Alexander encouraged, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was a smirk that reminded her of Oliver, yet it was different, somehow. The man before her was a blend of the familiar and the foreign, stirring an inexplicable unease within her.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Freya rose from her seat, took a moment to collect herself, drew in a deep breath, and exited the room.


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    Alexander watched her retreating figure, his gaze shifting to the spent cigarette in his hand. He leaned over and flicked the butt into a cup filled with water.


    A brief hiss echoed as the stub sank to the bottom, only to bob up again.


    A sudden intuition prompted Alexander to nce towards the second floor, his gaze meeting Quinn''s clear-cut stare.


    Realizing she had been spotted, Quinn immediately ducked out of sight. Seated on the floor, her heart pounded in her chest, her already pale face drained of all color.


    She had eavesdropped on their entire conversation.Hugging her knees, Quinn''s mind was in turmoil. Despite the years they had spent together, the man she had grown close to now felt more distant than ever.


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    She had believed he was still the boy who waited for her outside the school gates, dressed in a pristine white shirt, his smile untainted by the world.


    Had he changed, or had he always been adept at concealing his true self? As these thoughts swirled in her mind, another headache began to throb, the pain akin to needles piercing her skull.


    Suddenly, a pair of leather shoes entered her line of sight. Startled, Quinn pursed her lips and slowly raised her gaze to find Alexander standing quietly before her. He squatted down and reached out to touch her cheek. Quinn recoiled as if he were a predator. Alexander''s hand paused mid-air, his gaze fixed on Quinn, a flicker of something unidentifiable in his eyes. "Come here," he beckoned. Quinn eyed him warily, continuing to retreat. Abruptly, he seized her wrist and pulled her towards him, "What are you trying to escape from?"Propped up on the ground, Quinn looked up at him from a near-kneeling position. Her eyes shimmered with a strangeness and distance that Alexander had never witnessed before.


    He grasped her chin and repeated, "What are you trying to escape from?"Quinn turned her head away, unable to meet his gaze. Instead, she cast her eyes down, focusing on his cor. The slightly open cor revealed the contours of his delicate corbone."Quinn, look at me," hemanded.Biting her lip, she slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes meeting his dark and swirling with a seemingly bottomless tide.

 Chapter 240

    "Are you afraid of me?" Alexander''s voice echoed in the room, a questionced with a hint of incredulity. "Why would you be afraid of me?"Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    He leaned in closer, his eyes searching hers, trying to decipher the emotions hidden in their depths. "What have I done to you?"


    His voice was insistent, persistent, questioning not only her but himself as well. "Tell me, what have I done to make you fear me?"


    Under his relentless questioning, Quinn closed her eyes, hershes trembling slightly. Hadn''t he done enough already? Did he really believe that by sparing her life, he hadn''tmitted any wrong?"Quinn!" His voice, thick with anger, echoed through the room, his grip tightening to the point that Quinn couldn''t help but open her eyes.


    Outside, lightning shed, its brilliance piercing through the windows and casting an ethereal glow on her tear-streaked cheeks. "Why won''t you say anything?"


    His monologue continued, unanswered, as Quinn remained silent. Indeed, why couldn''t she speak? She loathed herself for her silence. If only she could have spoken, things might have been different. She wouldn''t be isted from the world, and he wouldn''t resent her for her silence.


    Spending time with such a mutepanion would drive anyone to the brink of insanity.Alexander, too, closed his eyes momentarily. When he opened them two secondster, he had managed to quell the raging fury within. He released Quinn, pulling her into an embrace, his voice filled with a mixture of resignation and helplessness. "Don''t look at me like that."


    Quinn''s lips remained sealed as she listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart. Tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked. He held her for so long that Quinn thought she might suffocate in his arms before he finally released her. He cupped her face, gently wiping away her tears, and even sat down on the cold ground with her. He leaned in close to Quinn, his intentions clear.


    But what flooded Quinn''s mind were the nightmarish images from her dreams, Valerie''s gruesome face, and the metallic scent of blood.Instinctively, she turned her head to avoid his lips. His kiss missed its mark,nding on the corner of her mouth.


    A miss by an inch felt like a mile.Alexander turned her face back toward him, his hands firmly in ce as he gazed intently into her eyes.


    As if to prove a point, he kissed her assertively. Their eyes locked, the sensation was indescribable, as mundane as eating a meal.


    After a stubborn moment, Quinn felt a sharp pain on her lip and instinctively closed her eyes. As she did, he pressed the back of her head, deepening the kiss. Quinn suddenly found his actions juvenile andughable. Wasn''t it just self- deception?The kiss was dominating and intense. By the end, Quinn tasted blood in her mouth.


    But Alexander didn''t let go. He bent down to kiss her again.Quinn clutched at his shirt as the cold from the floor seeped through, the thunderstorm outside growing fiercer, with rain hammering against the windows, mournful and relentless. The vi was as silent as ever.Looking up at his face, illuminated by the lightning, it seemed more alien and terrifying than ever before. Quinn felt groggy, unsure how much time it took to move from the floor to the bed.Her hands dangled lifelessly, her vision blurred, and his face began to lose its sharpness. In her daze, she heard him whispering in her ear. She struggled to listen, but the overwhelming drowsiness closed her heavy eyelids.

 Chapter 241

    In her haste to return to The Kennedys, Freya was taken aback by the unexpected absence of Walter from the office that day.


    He was sequestered in the bedroom, engrossed in a phone call, his countenance etched with seriousness. Freya hesit ated at the doorway, her ears straining to catch snippets of the conversation, but Walter''s contributions were sparse, limited to nomittal affirmations of, "Mmm, okay, go on."


    Despite her best efforts to eavesdrop, she gleaned no useful information.


    No sooner had Walter ended the call than Freya closed the distance between them, her voice echoing softly in the room, "Walter."


    His cell phone disappeared into his pocket as he turned to regard her. "Why''s your hair all wet?" he queried, his hand reaching out to smooth her damp tresses.


    Yet, Freya was painfully aware of theck of genuine emotion behind his seemingly tender gesture-it was as if he was merely leafing through a book, even as his fingers brushed through her hair. Freya found herself riveted by the sight of this man, his sturdy figure silhouetted against the rainshed window, his features softened, as though a grayish filter had been cast over him.


    In that moment, her guilt seemed to dissipate. Sheunched herself into Walter''s arms, her grip around his waist unyielding. "Walter, let''s go abroad."His hand, which had been stroking her hair, stilled. He looked down at her, his expression one of puzzlement. "Why the sudden urge to leave the country?""I''m scared."""What are you scared of?"Freya shook her head, her fear rendering her mute. She was terrified that Walter would find her cruel.


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    After all, in her eyes, Walter had always been a gentle soul who wouldn''t fancy a woman with malevolent intentions.


    Walter''s gaze flickered, and he resumed stroking her hair. "I can''t, my dear. Thepany matters haven''t been settled yet. If I leave now, they''ll think I''ve absconded with funds."


    "I don''t care. I just want to go overseas with you, take Harold with us, and the three of us can live abroad forever, never returning. Who cares what they say when we won''t be here to hear it?"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "But I can''t," Walter reiterated softly, his voice gentle yet his resolve firm. He couldn''t leave everything would be lost. All his efforts would be for naught. How could he just go?


    Freya looked up at him. "You really won''t go? Can''t you... for me...e with me?"Walter met her gaze silently. His silence was his answer. Freya clenched her fingers, seeming to muster her will, and said softly, "Whispered, the thing with Valerie... I did it."


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    Walter''s movements huped slightly.Freya hastened to exin, "I know it''s a cruel thing, but I did it all for you.


    And ver intended to kill her-it must have been the kidnappers who had some argument with Valerie, and that led them to silence her for good!"


    Walter listened intently to her words, remaining silent for a long stretch before he suddenly said, "Freya, you know Dad''s been taken away.""Yes, and that''s why I...""That''s exactly why you can''t leave.""Why not?" Freya was puzzled.Walter exined, "If you leave, and I leave, then it will look like the three of us conspired together, and we''re fleeing from a crime.""I..."


    Freya hesitated after hearing this, "But what if they start to suspect me? Wouldn''t that mean I can''t escape?""It shouldn''t...e to that," Walter said, somewhat unsure. After all, Alexander''s target was Wayne. If Wayne ended up behind bars, all of his shares would fall into Alexander''s hands. With Valerie''s shares now also transferred to Wayne, once those, too, went to Alexander, no one would be able to threaten his hold over The Kennedys."How do you know?" Freya asked, still not convinced.

 Chapter 242

    A faint grin yed on Walter''s lips as he spoke, "Oliver wille to your aid, Freya.


    He''s your older brother; he won''t stand by and let his little sister be thrown into jail.""But he suggested that I leave the country," Freya protested.


    "Even if you don''t flee overseas, have faith in me," Walter replied, his signature reassuring smile gracing his features.


    It was a smile that Freya found herself powerless to resist."Truly?" she asked, her voiceced with uncertainty."Truly," he affirmed.Walter''s hand gently brushed against her cheek, hisughter light and carefree. However, a fleeting spark in his eyes hinted at a deeper, hidden sentiment. If Freya were to leave, Wayne would be left in a dire situation.


    It appeared now that there was no need for a choice; he had to use Valerie as a bargaining chip for Wayne''s safety.


    If Alexander seized control of The Kennedys, Walter''s chances of victory would evaporate. Regardless of Wayne''s fate, the enemy of his enemy was his ally.Freya''s anxiety lessened slightly, and she nestled her head into Walter''s chest, seeking even the smallestfort.


    "We should make our move," she suggested."Agreed," he replied. "We''ll depart once the rain ceases," Freya added.


    "Very well," he consented. He always seemed to agree with her suggestions; Freya had grown ustomed to this-Walter seldom denied her minor requests.


    Except, of course, when she asked him to stay home asionally. The rain persisted throughout the day, a relentless downpour.


    Quinn had been confined to her bed all day, asleep. When she finally awoke, Alexander was still present. He had been vigntly watching over her, engrossed in something on his phone.


    Quinn turned her head to observe him for a moment, her lips pursed. She attempted to sit up, only to be overwhelmed by dizziness and copse back onto the bed.


    Suddenly, a slender hand rested on her forehead, and Alexander''s voice echoed from above, "Don''t move around, you''re feverish."


    Quinn fell silent for a moment, lifting her hand to touch her cheek, which was as hot as her hand. Everything seemed to blur into a warm, hazy fog.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander assisted her in sitting up and handed her a ss of water and some medication, "Take these," he instructed.


    Without examining the assortment of colorful capsules and tablets, Quinn epted them from his hand, tossed them into her mouth, and washed them down with water.


    Once she had taken her medication, Alexander informed her, "I have to step out for a bit. Rest up. Kyle Astor will stop byter with some food."C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    She nodded, taking a few sips of water after swallowing the pills. Her headache was intense. After taking the medication, shey back down to rest, the fever making her feel wretched. The world spun around her, leaving her with no energy to contemte anything else.After Alexander''s departure, Quinn sumbed to a fever-induced slumber.


    The next time she awoke, it was the knocking at the door that stirred her.Rubbing her eyes, she rose from the bed, slipped into her clothes, and made her way to the door. Kyle Astor awaited her on the other side, "Quinn, I brought dinner. Let''s head downstairs and eat."She nodded and stepped out, opting to bypass the stairs and head straight to the study to knock on the door.


    After a prolonged silence, she pushed the door open and entered.Behind her, Kyle Astor appeared puzzled, "Quinn, what are you looking for?"She nced back at him and gestured: Call him to dinner.Frowning slightly, Kyle Astor didn''t quite understand but had a suspicion, "Didn''t Alexander leave? Didn''t he tell you?"Quinn froze, it took her a moment to process-right, Alexander had left, she had forgotten.

 Chapter 243

    Departing from the study, Quinn trailed behind Kyle Astor, descending the staircase to partake in their evening meal.


    She found herself perched at the table, her movements mechanical as she consumed her food. Her gaze was distant, lost in some far-off thought.


    Observing her, Kyle Astor''s brow furrowed in consternation. The task of safeguarding an uninhabited house was indeed akin to a torturous ordeal.


    After a few mouthfuls, Quinn shook her head, indicating herck of appetite. Once Kyle had cleared the remnants of their meal and retreated, the grandeur of the vi was once again enveloped in silence, leaving Quinn in solitude. She sank into the plushfort of the sofa, her fingers dancing over the TV remote as she settled on a cartoon channel.


    A nagging sensation tugged at her, hinting at a forgotten detail, yet she couldn''t pinpoint what it was. She remained silent, her eyes glued to the television screen, awaiting Alexander''s customary return. Her fever persisted, her mind clouded in a haze of confusion.


    Abruptly, the sound of her phone chiming broke the silence. She snatched it from the couch, her eyes scanning a message from Quinn.


    [Quinn, I''ve arrived in France.] The simplicity of the words sent her spiraling into deep contemtion.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    She replied: [When did you leave?]


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    Secondster, Abigail responded: [I left yesterday, arrived today. Didn''t you see my social media posts? I was still in Egypt the day before.]


    Quinn paused, still bewildered. [When did you leave Amber Bay? Why didn''t you tell me?]This time, it was Abigail''s turn topse into silence.


    Several minutes ticked by before she responded.[Quinn, what''s going on with you?]Her question only served to further muddle Quinn''s thoughts.


    She typed back, [What do you mean?]Abigail''s brows knitted together in concern, her doubts growing about the identity of the person on the other end of the line. Why would she ask when I left Amber Bay?


    After a moment of silence, Abigail finally responded, [Don''t you remember what happened before?]Quinn''s fingers hovered over the screen. She closed her eyes, straining to recall recent events, but Abigail''s departure was a nk in her memory.


    Quinn: [What happened?]Abigail hesitated, wary of divulging information to a potential imposter.So, she brushed it off with, [It''s nothing. It must bete where you are, you should get some rest.] From then on, Abigail didn''t respond to Quinn''s messages.


    Quinn reclined on her couch, her eyes scanning her conversation with Abigail. All previous messages had vanished, leaving only their recent exchange.No matter how many times she revisited the chat, her memory remained elusive. Eventually, she surrendered, discarding her phone. Later, the front door creaked open, prompting Quinn to rise.


    Outside, a light drizzle persisted, and Alexander, his shoulders speckled with raindrops, stepped inside. He was about to discard his jacket when a pair of hands extended to take it. Alexander paused, his gaze following the retreating figure. After hanging the coat, Quinn turned back, a faint smile ying on her lips as she gestured, "Have you had dinner?"Alexander studied her in silence for a moment before responding. "You haven''t eaten?"His eyes flicked to the wall clock - it was already eleven at night.


    Quinn blinked, her gaze following his to the clock. Her lips pressed together in a silent apology, "Sorry, I lost track of time."Seeing her self-reproachful expression, Alexander reached out, patting her head, "It''s alright. Did you eat?"Quinn nodded."Then get some rest early." He touched her forehead, noting its warmth, "You''re still a bit hot."Without another word, he scooped Quinn into his arms and ascended the stairs. As Quinn gazed up at his tranquil face, he carried her to the bedroom, gently cing her on the bed, and handed her the medication.Quinn epted the pills and obediently swallowed her medicine.

 Chapter 244

    Alexander''s gaze was fixed intently on Quinn, a prating stare that drew her attention upwards to meet his eyes.


    In his gaze, she detected a hint of puzzlement, an expression she couldn''t quite decipher.


    Nheless, she offered him a gentle smile in response, her lips curling up slightly at the corners. Without warning, Alexander closed the distance between them, leaning in as if attempting to decipher a secret etched on Quinn''s face. In response, Quinn pursed her lips and tenderly raised her hand to caress his cheek. She gestured towards him, her voice soft yet firm, "I''ve caught a cold, I wouldn''t want you to fall ill."


    Unfazed, Alexander replied, his voice a low murmur, "I''m not afraid." His eyes remained fixed on her, unwavering in their intensity.


    In a swift movement, Quinn leaned in and nted a quick peck on his cheek, as light as a dragonfly''s touch, before retreating.


    Alexander''s lips pressed into a tight, straight line. He reached out, his hand enveloping hers, yet he remained silent, his gaze burrowing into her eyes.


    With an air of confidence and without a trace of fear, Quinn met his gaze. Her eyes were clear and unguarded, devoid of the panic or alienation that had gued her earlier that day.


    It was as if they had been transported back to a time long past, and this was the source of Alexander''s bewilderment.


    Was Quinn capable of acting? The answer was a resounding no; the sincerity of her expressions was transparent, impossible to fake.After a moment of silence, Alexander leaned in once more, seeking her lips. As their lips met, Quinn closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment.


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    However, Alexander pulled away, suggesting that she should retire early for the night.As Quinny in bed, she watched Alexander retreat from the room. Just as he was about to close the door, his gaze lingered on Quinn, whoy quietly in bed, her hands tucked under her cheek, watching him intently.


    A flicker of something unidentifiable passed through his eyes before he finally closed the door.As the medicine took effect, Quinn''s eyelids grew heavy, surrendering to the pull of sleep.In the dead of night, she awoke abruptly, her gaze fixed nkly on the ceiling.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    A realization hit her - Abigail had left for abroad. She had departed from Amber Bay a month ago, a scheme orchestrated by Walter with Alexander''s silent approval. How could she have forgotten such a crucial detail?... The following morning, Alexander was nowhere to be found.


    After waiting for the rain to cease, Quinn sent Alexander a text, informing him that she was heading to the hospital as her fever had worsened.


    Shortly after, Doctor Hughes arrived."Quinn, are you still running a fever? Let me examine you," he said, setting down his medical bag and reaching out to check her pulse.


    Quinn pulled her hand away and began typing on her phone for him to read: [Doctor Hughes, why do I keep forgetting things and then remember themter?]She had indeed experienced memorypses before, but they were minor and hadn''t concerned her once she remembered them. It was only during a recent conversation with Abigail that she was reminded of this significant detail she had overlooked.


    Upon reading Quinn''s message, Dr. Hughes'' expression turned grave.He stared at Quinn for a long moment before asking, "Are the memories you''re forgetting random, or are they more recent events?"


    Quinn shook her head and typed in response: [I''m not sure, some thingse and go; I haven''t really been paying attention.] Dr. Hughes fell silent for a moment, then suggested, "Keep an eye on it over the next couple of days. Write down anything thates back to you. We need to see if the pattern is random or if it''s the recent stuff."


    Quinn typed again: [Does it make a difference?]Dr. Hughes exined, "If it''s random, it could be due to some form of brain damage causing intermittent amnesia. But if it''s the recent memories..."Quinn watched him intently, waiting for him to continue.After a moment of hesitation, Dr. Hughes finally braced himself to say, "If it''s recent, it could very well be..."Quinn held her breath in anticipation."Alzheimer''s disease."

 Chapter 245

    A slow understanding dawned in Quinn''s eyes. She seemed to vaguely remember hearing about it before. Dr. Hughes, his teeth clenched in frustration, exined, "It''s essentially dementia, Quinn.


    But don''t let it frighten you too much. You''re so young; it''s highly unlikely for someone of your age to be afflicted with this condition. I suspect it''s more rted to your recent brain injury.""You''ve sustained a head injury, haven''t you?" he asked. Quinn nodded in affirmation, her mind shing back to the numerous times she had hit her head during her three-day ordeal with Walter.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Dr. Hughes exhaled a sigh of relief. "That''s probably the cause then. There''s no need to worry-this is much more treatable than Alzheimer''s."His words brought a sense of relief to Quinn, easing the tension in her shoulders. However, Dr. Hughes quickly added, "We should still get you to a hospital for a check-up, just to be on the safe side."


    Suddenly apprehensive at the thought of a hospital visit, Quinn pursed her lips. What if it was indeed that dreadful disease? What would she do then?She already felt foolish enough, and the prospect of bing senile was too overwhelming to contemte.


    With trembling fingers, Quinn typed out her question: [What happens with that disease?]Dr. Hughes responded, "It''splicated. Alzheimer''s is a neurodegenerative disorder. While it doesn''t directly threaten life, in the advanced stages, patients can forget how to eat, how to use the bathroom, or even how to walk.


    The biggest challenge isn''t the disease itself¡ªit''s the obstacles it creates for living a normal life."As Dr. Hughes spoke, his voice carried a note of unease.


    Despite Quinn''s youth, the disease didn''t discriminate based on age.Quinn bit her lip, her head bowed in silence.


    After a moment that felt like an eternity, she typed: Dr. Hughes, whatever the oue, can we keep it between us?A puzzled expression crossed Dr. Hughes'' face. "You''re not nning to tell Alexander?"


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    Quinn nodded in affirmation."Why not? Isn''t he your husband? How will you manage treatment without telling him?"


    Nervously twisting her fingers, Quinn typed out her reasoning for him to see: [I don''t want to worry him.]Dr. Hughes paused, but he understood, "You know, keeping it from him won''t change the fact that he''s bound to find out sooner orter." Quinn replied, [We can worry about that when the timees.]She told herself it wasn''t so much that she didn''t want to cause him worry; more that she dreaded the thought of his disdain and indifference. Being considered a dummy was enough to earn his scorn.


    Dr. Hughes sighed, "Okay, then. I''ll stop by tomorrow to check on you. Make sure you write down anything you remember, and we''ll figure it out then."


    Quinn nodded in agreement.After giving her a deep, assessing look, Dr. Hughes noticed her fever had subsided for the day, eliminating any immediate need for him to stay.He exited the vi, climbed into his car, and returned a call to Alexander.


    The response was swift, "How is she?""Stable," Dr. Hughes replied. "I''ll prescribe her some herbal remedies to take; constant colds aren''t a good sign.""Alright, send me the prescription, and I''ll have someone pick it up."


    After ending the call, Dr. Hughes added Alexander on a messaging app and quickly scribbled down the prescription on a piece of paper, snapping a photo to send his way.Alexander forwarded the prescription to Kyle Astor, entrusting him with the task of picking up the medicine.Regardless of the situation, they had to ensure her health was on track, especially if it was something serious - she might not even make it to thete stages. That evening, it was Kyle Astor who delivered the herbal concoctions; Alexander hadn''t returned.


    Quinn sat cross-legged on the couch, a pen in her hand, chewing on the end as if trying to coax out thoughts. Astor peeked over and couldn''t help but chuckle at the nk page, "Quinn, what''s got you so preupied?"


    Lifting her eyes to meet his, Quinn scribbled in her notebook: Just pondering what I feel like eating, making a list."Well, you can just text me what you want next time, no need to trouble yourself."Quinn offered him a faint smile and a slight nod."Come on, let''s get you something to eat; I''ll prepare the medicine Alexander sent over."


    Quinn nced at the traditional concoction in his hand but remained silent. Without waiting for her response, Kyle Astor took care of the preparation and served her the brewed medicine after she finished eating. Only after watching her drink it with a grimaced expression from the bitterness did he take his leave.

 Chapter 246

    Upon Kyle Astor''s departure, Quinn remained ensconced on the couch, lost in thought.


    She knew that forcing memories to surface was a futile endeavor - they needed to unfurl naturally. To corroborate her thoughts, she would have to delve into deeply ingrained memories, such as the harrowing three days of confinement by Walter.


    The time Abigail ventured overseas. And the perplexing situation with Valerie.As Valerie''s name crossed her mind, Quinn was struck by a sudden realization - she had forgotten again.


    Throughout the day, she strained her mind, but the elusive memory remained just out of reach. Without hesitation, Quinn seized a pen and hastily scribbled on her notepad: Valerie, Walter, Abigail-three key words that might serve as the missing pieces to her memory puzzle.


    She knew she didn''t need to force the memories to surface, for she wasn''t even aware of what she had forgotten. They would only resurface when she chanced upon them.


    That evening, Alexander didn''te home.Quinn spent the night curled up on the couch, only to be roused the following morning by Kyle Astor, who had thoughtfully brought some food. Kyle, as persistent as ever, ensured she ate and took her medication before taking his leave.


    In the afternoon, Dr. Hughes made his appearance.A gentle drizzle pattered against the window as Dr. Hughes knocked and entered in a hurry, setting down his medical bag.


    "How are you doing, Quinn? Did you remember anything?" he asked, a note of anxiety in his voice. Quinn nodded and handed him the notepad resting by her side.Dr. Hughes flipped through it. "What are these? Can you recall what these are about now?"


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    Quinn leaned in and pointed to the names Walter and Abigail, but as her gaze fell on the name Valerie, a flicker of confusion crossed her features. In the end, she shook her head, the memory remaining elusive."Could these be recent events?" Quinn nodded in affirmation.A look of concern shadowed Dr. Hughes''s features. He hesitated before suggesting, "Quinn, perhaps we should visit the hospital."Quinn''s expression subtly shifted at his suggestion, and she turned to Dr. Hughes with a questioning look, which he understood.


    With a sigh, Dr. Hughes said, "I''m not certain, and that''s why I think you should get it checked out. Let''s go."She reached for her phone to message Alexander.


    "I''ll call Mr. Landry; you don''t need to," Dr. Hughes insisted, believing his word might carry more weight. After two unsessful attempts to reach Alexander, Dr. Hughes gave up."Let''s go for now. I''ll exin everything to Mr. Landry when we get back," he said.


    Quinn bit her lip in apprehension but nodded in agreement.She apanied Dr. Hughes to the hospital, where she underwent a series of tests that would take 24 hours to process.Left with no other option, Dr. Hughes drove her back home. "Quinn, I''ll bring your test results tomorrow, just rest easy for today."She nodded, stepping out of the car and walking back into her vi.Alexander seemed to be preupied these days, with no indication of him returning home that night either.


    Quinn briefly settled on the couch but soon found herself gravitating towards the kitchen.When Kyle Astor arrived with food, he found Quinn engrossed in preparing a meal."Quinn, you''re cooking?" he asked, taken aback.


    She nced at him before returning to her task, absorbed in the rhythm of slicing and stirring. Kyle Astor surveyed the room and noticed the abundance of dishes Quinn had prepared. Could she possibly consume all that by herself?He suddenly found it difficult to inform Quinn that Alexander had embarked on a business trip just the previous day and wouldn''t be back for several days.

 Chapter 247

    Despite her intent, Kyle Astor intervened. "Quinn," he began, "I''ve brought some food. There''s no need for you to cook."Quinn halted her movements, casting a second nce his way.


    Unperturbed, Kyle pressed on. "Alexander''s out of town on business. The others won''t be home either, so there''s no need for all this fuss. "Alexander''s absence struck a chord. Quinn locked eyes with Kyle, searching for the truth in his gaze.


    After a moment, she set her knife down with a slow, deliberate motion.


    She reached for her phone, fingers flying over the keys as she posed her question: [Who did he go with?] Caught off guard, Kyle stuttered, deliberately avoiding Quinn''s prating gaze. The answer was painfully obvious.Getty. A flicker of emotion passed through Quinn''s eyes as she nced over the array of dishes. Her lips pressed into a thin line before she turned on her heel and exited the room.


    Swiftly, Kyle set up the food he had brought, watching her eat from a distance.She sat at the dining table, consuming her meal in silence as if nothing had transpired.


    Her demeanor was neither angry nor sad. The tranquility, the silence, left Kyle with an inexplicable sense of unease, a bubble of frustration in his chest that refused to dissipate.


    Upon finishing her meal, Quinn offered her thanks to Kyle.He hastily cleared the remnants of their meal and made his escape from the vi.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    The simple act of delivering a meal had left him agitated.


    He wondered how Quinn could endure this daily routine without sumbing to despair.Quinn''s gaze drifted to the clock on the wall-it was half-past nine.


    She picked up a notebook, staring at the nk pages, her mind a whirlwind of uncertainty.She remained on the couch until dawn.


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    In the morning, Dr. Woods arrived bearing her medical report, hovering at her side as if he had something to say.Quinn looked up at him, her anxiety mirroring his own. Seeing his expression, her heart sank.After a moment of silence, Dr. Woods handed over the report.Quinn epted it with trembling hands and unfolded it. Upon reaching the final diagnosis, she closed her eyes.She took a full minute to mentally prepare herself before shifting her gaze downward to the final results. The words "essentially confirmed" caused her fingers to cken, the report slipping from her grasp to float gently to the floor.


    Dr. Woods took a seat beside her, pulling out several bottles of medication from his bag. "Quinn, these are prescribed by the hospital.


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    They won''t cure you, but they will help alleviate the symptoms and slow the progression of the illness.""Doctor Smith suggested you return to the hospital for another check-up.


    Honestly, the illness isn''t as dire as you fear; there''s still a chance for recovery," he added, his voice tinged with cautious optimism.


    Even as he spoke, Doctor Smith seemed unsure of his own reassurances. After all, were there truly any cases ofplete recovery? His words seemed more of a constion for Quinn than anything else.


    Quinn pursed her lips, her gaze fixed nkly on the rows of pill bottles on the table."Try to write things down whenever you can," Doctor Smith continued, his tone attempting to conveyfort. "Review your notes daily. It''s a method that can aid your treatment."


    Quinn nodded slightly, hermitment to his advice questionable at best."Most people use a voice recorder or make videos, but for you... I think it''s best to stick to writing," he added."Should you really keep this from Alexander?" she found herself asking.


    At her words, Quinn snapped back to reality, shaking her head frantically, pleading with him not to disclose her condition to Alexander."Ahhh, but what will you do if you don''t tell him? Staying at home every day isn''t safe..." Doctor Smith began, but Quinn was already shaking her head vehemently. She typed rapidly on her phone: [Let''s not tell him for now. It''s not so serious at the moment, I still remember most things.]Doctor Smith opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words.

 Chapter 248

    The disease''s progression was as unpredictable as a storm, capable of intensifying without warning.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    After a moment of contemtion, Doctor Smith finally acquiesced, "Very well, I''ll keep this from him. However, you must promise to adhere to your medication schedule."


    Quinn offered a nod of agreement, her eyes shimmering with a profound sense of gratitude. Throughout his numerous visits, Doctor Smith had never before cast such a pitiful gaze upon her.


    The sudden shift stirred a bitter sensation in the back of Quinn''s throat. It was a look she dreaded, a constant reminder of her abnormality, her deviation from the norm.


    How she yearned to be just like everyone else...Doctor Smith''s countenance was aplex tapestry of emotions as he observed her, "Quinn, please don''t shed tears. Your illness isn''t as severe as you fear. Just remember to take your medicine and maintain your journal; it''s not as terrifying as it seems."


    Quinn''s gaze fell to the report she held in her hands.


    A pause ensued, a moment of introspection, before she picked it up again for a closer examination. Then, with a sense of finality, she ripped the report into shreds and discarded them into the nearby trash bin. "Quinn..."She swiftly picked up her phone and typed out a message: [I''m fine, thank you for your concern, Dr. Smith.]"Don''t let despair consume you, it''s detrimental to your condition," he advised gently.


    Quinn offered a faint nod in response. Doctor Smith continued to shower her withforting words, to which Quinn listened in silence, asionally murmuring a nomittal agreement.


    Upon seeing Kyle Astor arrive with a meal in hand, Doctor Smith promptly rose to his feet, sensing it was time for him to take his leave. Kyle cast a suspicious nce at the pair; their expressions were unsettling, and it was unclear what their conversation had entailed.


    "Quinn, have you been feeling any better these past few days?" Kyle asked, his concern evident in his tone. Quinn managed to pull the corners of her mouth into a small smile and nodded to reassure him. Kyle Astor furrowed his brows suspiciously but chose not to probe further.


    He set the table and patiently waited for Quinn to finish her meal before making his exit. Once outside, Kyle sat in his car, ruminating over the situation until he finally decided to call Alexander.


    As soon as the call connected, Kyle found himself struggling to find the right words. Before he could utter a single syble, Getty''s voice echoed through the line, "Alexander, what are you doing? Someone''s looking for you over here.""Alright, go ahead. I''ll catch up.""Make it quick, okay?"After Getty had departed, Alexander finally addressed the call, "Kyle Astor.""Ah, Alexander, when are you returning?" Kyle inquired, his gaze drifting towards the vi''s closed gate. Quinn was likely back inside by now, lost in her thoughts on the couch. "In a couple of days. Is something amiss with Quinn?""No, it''s just that I ran into the Doctor earlier.


    He''s been visiting quite frequently. Did you arrange for this?"Kyle''s question was hesitant, but the expressions he had witnessed earlier were undeniably peculiar, as if they had been discussing some ndestine matter. "Is Quinn improving?""She seems to be coping, but don''t you think she might be bored, being home alone all the time?""Mind your own business."With that, Alexander abruptly ended the call, leaving Kyle without a chance to respond. After the sudden disconnection, Kyle Astor sat in silence for a while before releasing a sigh. He couldn''tprehend Alexander. His own spouse was ill, and yet there he was, scouting locations with Getty. At times, even Kyle struggled to discern who truly held Alexander''s affections. Meanwhile, Getty, noticing Alexander hadn''t joined her, returned and looped her arm through his. "Who was that on the phone? You''re here with me, can''t you just forget about that dummy at home for a while?"

 Chapter 249

    Upon hearing a word that struck a sour note, a slight furrow creased Alexander''s brow.


    He cast a warning nce in Getty''s direction, his eyes a silent reprimand. Unfazed, Getty feigned ignorance, her lips puckering into a pout.


    "Come on now, let''s go. You promised to clear your schedule and spend these days with me," she reminded him.


    Without uttering a response, Alexander slipped his phone into his pocket and obediently trailed after her. News of Alexander''s excursion with Getty inevitably reached Walter''s ears.


    Freya, her voiceced with a bitter edge, seethed with indignation. "Can you believe he''s off pampering his mistress at a time like this? How can he be so audacious?" she fumed.


    Walter merely quirked a lip in response. What else could it be? He''s just trying to wash his hands of the whole affair."


    Walter, this thing has blown up big time," Freya approached him, thrusting her tablet into his hands. They had vacated the Kennedys'' residence the previous day, and the trio hadfortably settled into their new vi.


    The change of scenery had done wonders for Freya''s spirits, and any residual guilt or remorse she harbored towards Valerie had evaporated entirely.


    Walter skimmed the tablet''s contents before handing it back to her. "It''s no small matter, and Xavier won''t let this go. Both of his kids are dead," hemented.


    The media circus Xavier had orchestrated ensured all eyes were on them, resulting in the Landon Corporation''s stocks taking a nosedive. "How are things with dad?" Freya queried. "It''s hard to say. Didn''t Valerie try to call him when she came over?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter responded. Freya''s memory was jogged by his words. Yes, Valerie had indeed attempted to reach Wayne that morning. "Yeah," she confirmed. "That''s it then. The staff saw her, and with his hasty share transfer, he''s now the prime suspect. If they can''t find the kidnapper, he could..."


    Walter trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging ominously in the air. Freya recalled the phone call too-Valerie, her voice choked with tears and volume, dering the contract a no-go, a spectacle witnessed by many.


    And that call had been to Wayne. Wayne had proceeded with the signing despite Valerie''s vehement objections. The finger of me could only point in his direction. "So you''re saying if they don''t find the kidnapper, dad might actually take the fall?"


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    Freya sought confirmation. "Looks like it," Walter replied, casting a sidelong nce at her. Freya''s gaze drifted into the distance, her eyes flickering as she lost herself in thought.


    Walter''s lip curled into a hint of a smirk. "Walter, I''m going to run to the grocery store. Can you watch Harold while I''m out?" Freya abruptly stood and announced her departure. Walter gave a slight nod of assent. "Sure."


    With that, Freya hastily exited the vi. She drove in the direction of the marketce but pulled over at the curb without entering. With a sense of urgency, she retrieved her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she located the desired number.


    She dialed it and was met with an immediate response. "Where are you guys now? Have you left Amber Bay?" she inquired urgently. "Don''t worry, we cleared out of Amber Bay ages ago. We''re people of our word, Miss Landon. But that payment, the remaining ten million-when will it be transferred?" the voice on the other end questioned. "Let''s wait until the heat dies down.


    Arge transfer now would raise suspicions. Trust me, I won''t bail on the deal," Freya assured him. She toyed with darker thoughts, the idea of murder crossing her mind. However, the potential trouble such an act would stir forced her to settle her debts with money instead. The man on the other end of the line was growing impatient. "Miss Freya, could you at least give us a timeline? How long do you expect us to wait around?" he demanded. "What''s the rush? I said I''ll pay, and I will. And another thing, how did those three end up dead?" she shot back. He responded, "Weren''t they taken out on your orders, Miss Freya? You''re not trying to pin this on me now, are you?"

 Chapter 250

    "Such nonsense! When have I evermanded you tomit murder? You need to rify the situation, or you can bid farewell to your payment!"


    The usation sparked a me of indignation within him."You were the one who sent the text, instructing the hit. What else could have transpired? Do you take me for a fool, unable toprehend the gravity of murder in contrast to abduction?"


    He retorted, his voiceced with bitterness. In all honesty, he would have been in a far better position had he refrained from killing.


    With twenty million in his possession, even if apprehended, there would be a potential escape route. But with a life taken, the act of spending the money was far from aforting experience.


    A shiver of dread slithered down Freya''s spine at his words. Could it be that her instructions had been misinterpreted, leading to this fatal misunderstanding? She had personally sought out these individuals, making direct contact; no one else was privy to their dealings.


    She could fathom no other exnation."Enough. Remain hidden and refrain from contacting me unless absolutely necessary!" With that, Freya ended the call.


    Initially, she had consented to a payment of twenty million dors, divided into two installments of ten million each, with the final payment yet to be made.


    This implied that they were prepared tomit murder, provided the price was right. Now, Freya was a prisoner of her own anxiety, particrly after Walter''s reminder that they couldn''t risk the apprehension of their aplices.


    If that happened, their entire operation would crumble.After ending the call, Freya collected herself before exiting the car to venture into the farmer''s market.


    Unbeknownst to her, back at her residence, Walter had made a call of his own."Trace this number and locate the person. Find a way to disclose their location to Xavier." With that, Walter ended the call, turning his attention to the child in the stroller.


    His trademark smile graced his lips as he gently caressed the baby''s cheek, eliciting a giggle and a tiny hand reaching out to grasp his finger....Quinn had dedicated her entire day to writing, hunched over her desk.


    Dr. Hughes had rmended that she jot down everything she could recollect, believing that revisiting these memories daily might aid in her recall.


    Thus, she documented every detail since her initiation into the Kennedys as a child. Before she knew it, she had filled a third of the notebook.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    She stared at the words sprawled across the pages, the magnitude of her shared history with Alexander sinking in. The notebook was nearly filled, yet she hadn''t even chronicled a full year''s worth of events.


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    A thought dawned on her - perhaps she wasn''t ill at all, given the rity with which she could recall events from her distant past.


    She remembered a pink, dog-shaped lollipop that Alexander had gifted her. It was a sunny afternoon; the boy was d in a white shirt, a backpack slung over his shoulder, one hand tucked into his pocket. His silhouette was outlined by the sunlight, his smile radiating warmth.


    She recalled the way he held her hand, his fingers long and warm, and the receding image of his back as he led the way.


    Tall and authoritative, she had to crane her neck just to catch a glimpse of his hair tousled by the wind.She cherished the memory of their visit to the amusement park, where she sat atop the slide and he squatted below, arms outstretched, coaxing her to leap into his waiting embrace.


    And she remembered the words of the woman standing nearby."Is this your little sister?" The woman had inquired. Hoisting her off the ground, the boy had smiled at the woman, replying, "Yes, my sister."She also remembered how the woman had scolded her son on the spot for teasing his little sister, until he burst into tears and fled the park.Cradled in his arms, she had inhaled the scent of his cor, as vivid as sunlight.


    Engulfed in these memories, Quinn touched her cheek, feeling the cool dampness of her tears.

 Chapter 251

    Quinn set one journal aside, only to take up another. Its pages were crinkled and aged, the script within faded and askew from the passage of time.


    As she leafed through it, she found that every youthful wish etched onto its pages had been realized: trips to amusement parks, a coveted cake, an oversized lollipop, the cartoons she yearned to watch, a pristine princess dress, and butterfly hair clips.


    Even her wish to marry him hade true.The final wish sat on the page, followed by a stretch of emptiness.


    She had wed Alexander, and with him, all wishes ceased. It was akin to reaching the end of a tale. Yet, the end of life had not arrived.


    Abigail once mentioned that after the grand finale in movies or stories,es the mundane existence that no one observes because itcks excitement.


    Thus, when all her wishes had been granted, Alexander stoppeding home.Quinn passed her days in the frosty silence of the vi, her life as tranquil as still water.


    On the final page of the journal, Quinn penned a new wish.By the time three in the morning rolled around, sleepiness began to creep in.


    Quinn studied the new wishes she had just inscribed, realizing she still harbored many unfulfilled desires.She exhaled, gently closed the journal, and concealed both journals in the storage room-a ce Alexander never ventured into. The following night, Alexander returned. Quinn rose immediately upon his arrival, but he barely acknowledged her as he rushed upstairs, only to descend shortly after.


    As he passed her, he paused to say, "Don''t wander off."Three simple words, and he was gone again. Quinn watched the direction he vanished into and bit her lip.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander arrived at The Kennedys, a bustling living room teeming with people awaiting his arrival. Freya sat on the couch, her face as pale as a ghost, while Kaitlyn tried tofort her with gentle pats on her shoulder.The Yates family was present as well, along with Valerie''s mother.


    The room was crowded.In the center of the hall, three men knelt. These were the men who had abducted Valerie.Yates turned to Freya, "Don''t you think you owe us an exnation?"Freya vehemently shook her head, "I don''t know, I swear I''ve never seen them before!"Yates sighed and produced a voice recorder from his pocket, pressing y."Where are you guys now? Did you get out of Amber Bay?"


    Freya''s face nched as she recognized the voice emanating from the device; she was rendered speechless, unable to utter a single word in her defense. Yates said, "They handed this over themselves, to ensure you couldn''t deny involvement. They recorded it all. So, what else do you have to say?""I, It wasn''t me...It''s a setup..." Freya became increasingly agitated, shaking her head incoherently. Why is this happening? How did they find these people? Why would they record it?In that moment, Freya''s mind was a whirlwind of confusion, feeling as though unseen forces were puppeteering her, pushing her towards the depths of a hellish abyss.

 Chapter 252

    When Alexander entered the room, she slowly raised her eyes to meet his.


    Seeing him felt like sighting a savior; she stumbled towards him, pleading, "Bro...brother, save me!"Yates'' gaze shifted, contemting something before approaching Alexander, "Did you know about what Freya did, Alexander?"His question was direct; he was no longer in the mood for pretense.


    Anyone with a shred ofmon sense would know that Freyacked both motive and courage for such an act.Someone must have been pulling her strings from behind the scenes.


    Alexander nced at him, a fleeting smile crossed his face, "Are you asking this question just to set yourself up for a defamation suit?"Yates was taken aback.


    Just then, Valerie''s mother lunged at Freya, grabbing her hair, assaulting, and shaking her."You wretch, give me back my daughter!"Freya, her scalp aze with pain, screamed and tried to fend off the woman."You vile creature, just like your mother! What did my daughter ever do to deserve this from you, you heartless snake? I''ll kill you!"


    At that, Kaitlyn rose abruptly, "Jenny! Watch your tongue. You don''t get to make a scene here. Get her out, now!"Momentster, several housekeepers intervened to separate Jenny and Freya.


    Ginny''s eyes zed with fury, the venom in her voice as clear as ss. "You scum! You''re all scum! To do this to my daughter-I''ll take you down with me if it''s thest thing I do. Not one of you will get off easy for what you did to my poor girl!"Kaitlyn''s chest heaved with rage, a flicker of fear stirring behind her shouted words. "Lunatic! Get her out of here!""Gina, Charlie, may you never find peace! What goes aroundes around; karma''s gonna get you for this!"


    As she was dragged away, Ginny''s curses echoed from afar, a chilling sound that lingered.Kaitlyn''s face drained of color as she sought Alexander''s gaze, as if searching for salvation.Sitting aside, Walter''s eyes twinkled with a gleam that hinted at a spectator relishing the unfolding drama. Vince managed to maintain hisposure.


    "Alexander, we don''t have any proof at hand. How do you suggest we handle this?"Alexander eyed him, a moment passing before he replied, "Are you asking for my opinion?"Vince furrowed his brows.


    Alexander''s cool demeanor hinted at an ace up his sleeve."Fine. We''ll follow legal procedure then-nothing more to discuss."Vince, weary of the back-and-forth, held up a voice recorder, clearly having captured the conversation. "I''m leaving these three with you. I''ll call the cops once I''m outside."He turned and walked away.Freya, startled, tried to follow, but Alexander held her back.Confused and trembling, she implored, "Brother...?""Forget it. You think he came here to seek justice from us?"C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Freya''s eyes widened. "What was he here for, then?""Didn''t you see his recorder? He was collecting evidence."Vince was certainly notcking in ambition, aiming to take down the entire Kennedy n in one swoop.Freya stumbled back, her gaze flitting between Alexander and Walter. These two men, the ones she trusted most-who had betrayed her?"What do we do now?"Kaitlyn spoke dismissively, "Freya, how could you be so naive? Why did you get yourself into this mess?"The girl had actually managed tond her own father in trouble, a bold move that not even Kaitlyn had anticipated from her daughter.

 Chapter 253

    Freya clung desperately to Alexander, the man who had pledged never to forsake her. In her hour of need, he was her sole refuge.


    Alexander cast his gaze downwards, meeting the tear-filled eyes of the woman clinging to him. Her trust in him was unwavering, a fact mirrored in her tearful gaze. After a moment of silence, Alexander''s gaze shifted,nding on Walter who stood to the side. Their eyes locked in a silent duel, filling the room with an intangible tension.


    It was a cloud of unease invisible to those outside their circle, yet its presence was undeniable. "Escort these three out," Alexandermanded, his voice cutting through the tension. Servants promptly ushered the designated individuals away. At Alexander''s further instruction, the remaining staff vacated the room, leaving only four individuals behind. With the room now devoid of any extraneous presence, Kaitlyn found her voice.


    "Alexander, my dear, what is to be done about this situation?" "What to do?" Alexander''s gaze returned to Walter, a small smile ying on his lips. "Why not ask your brother-inw? He may have a better idea." At this, Freya turned her attention to Walter.


    Walter''s eyes flickered, and he chuckled lightly. "Oliver, what advice could I possibly offer? Freya has kept me in the dark about all this. I''m as surprised as everyone else."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Is that so? Then how did Xavier manage to find these three? I''m quite curious." Alexander''s voice wasced with intrigue. Walter furrowed his brows, feigning deep thought. "Well, that I''m not sure about. Xavier is obsessed with avenging his wife and child. It''s not surprising he could find those people." Alexander nodded thoughtfully.


    "Indeed. So, brother-inw, your wife is about to face jail time. Don''t you have anything to say about that?" Walter hesitated, momentarily at a loss for words. After a pause, he admitted, "Honestly, I don''t know what to do. I''d like to hear Oliver''s thoughts."


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    "After all, Freya trusts you more than anyone right now." Neither man was willing to show any weakness, regarding each other with resolve. Freya was now a double-edged sword; skillfully handled, she could drag the opponent down with her; mishandled, she could cause her own downfall."Oh, stop beating around the bush, both of you! Think of something!"


    Kaitlyn urged anxiously. "Mom, it''s simple," Alexander said coolly. "Either Freya or Dad has to take the fall. You decide."Freya blurted out, "I can''t go in..."Kaitlyn hesitated, torn between her husband and her daughter. The choice was agonizing. "Mom," Freya called out deeply, appealing to Kaitlyn''s maternal instinct.Kaitlyn looked ufortably at Freya."There are plenty of other women out there for him, but only one daughter, "Freya added.


    That line crumbled Kaitlyn''s defenses, and she copsed into her chair, her posture signaling a decision made.Freya then turned her flickering gaze to Walter as if to say, if he didn''t support her, then the identity of the one betraying her needed no guessing. Walter stared intensely at Freya, his expression showing the faintest crack."Walter, are you on my side?" Freya asked, her voice shaky.Walter stared at her for a long moment before finally offering a slight smile. "Of course," he said.


    A smirk pulled at Alexander''s lips.


    "Isn''t that what you wanted?"The smile on Walter''s face did not quite reach his eyes.


    In fact, it flickered with a trace of malice.


    Alexander withdrew his hand and walked slowly up to Walter, his own smile in ce. "Brother-inw, take some care with your wife, will you? Handle it well."


    "How should I handle it?" Walter''s smile was forced, strained. "After all, Xavier recorded everything."


    "He can''t have gotten far by now."Alexander spoke softly, as if discussing the most trivial of matters.

 Chapter 254

    Walter''s smile faded slightly. "And there''s still Ginny.""With your smarts, brother-inw, can''t you take care of such a simple issue? Or is it that you just don''t care about Freya?" Walter''s smile deepened in the face of Alexander''s pressure. The deeper his smile, the more emotions he had to conceal. Nothing masked emotions better than a smile.


    "Of course."At Walter''s words, a light chuckle escaped Alexander. He extended his long hand and ced it on Walter''s shoulder. "You''ve worked hard, brother-inw.""You tter me, Oliver." Walter stood up and walked out without looking back.Alexander turned to watch his retreating figure, his own smile waning. Finally, Freya let out a long sigh of relief and rushed to stand beside Alexander. "Oliver, will he... will he really help me?"Freya knew Walter''s reaction was off; after all, they had been together for two years.Alexander''s gaze returned to her. "Freya, when choosing a man, make sure you see him clearly."


    A feeling of apprehension struck Freya. "What... what do you mean?"He reached out, gently tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "Silly girl, why ask when you already know."Her gaze fixated on him, her face grew paler. She didn''t want to acknowledge the possibility that Walter had betrayed her.But Alexander''s words were like a death sentence."Why..." Freya''s strength seemed to drain from her as she staggered back and copsed onto the couch. Alexander didn''t bother to exin and turned to leave.Kaitlyn approached anxiously, "Alexander, where are you going?""To take care of business," he said tly, disappearing through the door.


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    He settled into his car, lit a cigarette, and then made a phone call."Have someone tail Walter. Tell the guys at Regent Court to stay sharp.""Sure...Alexander, is Walter nning to make a run for it?"Alexander flicked the corner of his mouth into a half-smile, reached out the car window, and tapped off the ash from his cigarette. "Who knows," he said casually. Then he hung up. Walter was truly nning to make a run for it; sticking around didn''t make sense anymore. He wouldn''t darey a finger on Xavier, as that would only entangle him further in this mess.


    Once Xavier was gone, Freya was bound to get caught. Walter''s inaction would probably cause Freya to turn her love to hatred, and she''d drag him down without a second thought.


    Even if by a miracle Freya managed to get away, the shares would end up in Alexander''s hands. What would be the point of staying then?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


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    The only move left was to burn his bridges, to bet it all on Xavier letting his guard down and getting Wayne involved to stand a chance against Alexander. Walter was barreling down the road in his car, pushing the speed to its limits. With the windows down, the wind roared in, tousling his hair. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead, his face devoid of any smile, gripping the steering wheel as he headed towards the Grand River Estates.


    Suddenly, his phone rang in hisp. Walter slowed down a bit, pulled out his cellphone, turned on the speaker, and tossed it aside.


    "Don''t go to Grand River Estates; it''s a setup.


    "And you''ve got a tail."


    The caller hung up.


    Walter nced at the rearview mirror, his eyes flickered, and with a sharp turn of the wheel, he veered into an alley.

 Chapter 255

    Quinn found herself seated at the dining table, her chin resting on her hands, her eyelids heavy with the weight of sleep.


    Without warning, her phone buzzed, jolting her from her drowsy stupor. With a start, she fished the device from her pocket. The screen illuminated with a message from Abigail."Quinn, is there trouble with the Kennedys?" it read. Brow furrowed in confusion, Quinn quickly responded, "What happened?""Aren''t you watching the news? Your sister-inw was taken away, I got the alert here," Abigail replied.A wave of surprise washed over Quinn. Before she could check the news online, Abigail had already sent her a link. Quinn clicked it open, and the headline zed before her eyes, "Murderer of Valerie Captured."


    The incident had urred just half an hour ago.


    The apanying image was blurred, but she could still recognize the Kennedy''s vi. The photo was teeming with people, Kaitlyn and Xavier among them. But Alexander was conspicuously absent.Could he have been taken too? Quinn thought, her heart pounding. She hurriedly texted Alexander, but there was no reply.Suddenly, she stood up, ncing at the clock on the wall. It was midnight. Biting her lip, she went online and summoned a car. She rushed out of the vi to wait by the roadside, and before long, the ride-share pulled up. Quinn slid into the backseat, her fingers anxiously clutching her clothes.


    She continued to send messages to Alexander, but none were answered.She was about to dial his number when a voice suddenly cut through the silence from the front seat. "Forget it; that guy won''t be that easy to catch."At the sound of that voice, Quinn jerked her head up and gazed at the driver''s seat. Though she could only see the back of the driver''s head, the distinctive hairdo confirmed the driver''s identity.Quinn''s grip on her phone tightened.


    She scrambled to pull at the car door, but it was locked. She couldn''t get out.Panic surged within her, and she quickly pressed the call button.


    Quinn stared at the phone screen, which now showed the call was in progress. Her heart sank as the device slipped from her grasp and fell at her feet. Walter nced in the rearview mirror, noting the line of cars following closely, and let out a tsk.


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    "Quinn," he said, "Tell me, does Alexander really care about you or not?"Quinn lifted her gaze to meet Walter''s eyes reflected in the mirror, holding a hint of a smile. "But it doesn''t matter anymore. You wanted to leave Amber Bay, right? Consider it done. I''m granting that wish for you." With those words, Walter floored the gas pedal, and the car shot forward like an arrow unleashed. Meanwhile, Alexander had just ended a call and immediately received a flurry of messages from Quinn.


    [Are you okay?]


    [Where are you?]


    [Will youe back tonight?]


    Another call came in quickly; this time it was Kyle Astor."Alexander, Quinn, she...""What happened?""She got into a car, and she''s gone... We thought she was heading your way, but the direction seems off... But our people are on it!" Kyle''s voice quivered through his report.


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    A long silence followed, and, checking his phone, he found the call still connected."Alexander?""Follow them." Alexander''s voice was devoid of emotion, yet filled withmand.Kyle''s anxiety grew, "Okay, got it."


    After hanging up with Alexander, Kyle made another call to check on the situation. Walter pushed the car to its limits, the relentless pursuers hot on their trail. As they neared dangerously close, a fleet of vans materialized out of nowhere, forming an impromptu blockade, effectively halting the chase.


    The trailing vehicles had no chance to react, careening into each other with a deafening cacophony of metal on metal.


    A thunderous collision reverberated from behind, prompting Quinn to whirl around, witnessing a chaotic spectacle of multiple vehicles colliding, rendering the road impassable in an instant.


    Her fingers intertwined anxiously as she stole a nce at the rearview mirror, meeting Walter''s gaze just as he nced back at her and shot her a knowing look.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn quickly redirected her gaze and bent down to pick up her phone.

 Chapter 256

    After what felt like an eternity, Walter finally stopped the car.


    Quinn, with her palms sweaty from nervousness, looked out to see nothing but wilderness surrounding them.


    Walter got out, mming the door behind him and then went around to yank open the passenger side, pulling Quinn out abruptly.


    She stumbled and fell as she exited, but he quickly hoisted her back up with ease. She felt as insignificant as a chick in his grip.Gripping her wrist tightly, he started heading into the woods with Quinn staggering behind him. Although the rain hadn''t fallen, the grass was wet with dew, and it wasn''t long before Quinn''s pant cuffs and shoes were soaked through.


    After a long walk, Quinn no longer had the strength to go on, and she simply sat down, her legs giving out beneath her. Walter paused in his stride and turned to look at her.


    "Get up," he demanded.Quinn looked up at him. Perhaps it was the unexpected softness in his voice, lightly tinged with amusement, thatcked intimidation.


    She shook her head subconsciously; she really couldn''t go any further. Still holding her wrist, Walter simply started dragging her along when she didn''t move.


    Quinn, left with no choice, mbered to her feet and continued to follow him unsteadily. Elsewhere, Alexander stood at the scene of a multi-car ident, wordless.


    Kyle Astor stood cautiously beside him, sneaking nces at his expression."Land, Alexander, a call-it''s from the old man," said Kyle, holding out his smartphone which was no longer ringing.


    After a moment of silence, Alexander turned to nce at the phone in Kyle''s hand before walking away from the wreckage. "Keep looking, they''re still in Amber Bay.""Yes, sir..."Kyle scratched his head in bewilderment.


    He couldn''t understand why Alexander, who was usually so hot-tempered when Quinn ran away from home, was thisposed about her kidnapping. Did he believe Walter was a good man who wouldn''t harm Quinn?But that didn''t seem like


    it.


    Walter was known to disregard even his own wife; how could he treat Quinn any better? Puzzled yet unable to decipher Alexander''s thoughts, Kyle hurried to keep pace.


    Meanwhile, Wayne had returned, and he was seething with anger. He had never imagined his own daughter would betray him. Nor did he expect her to be so malicious as to murder her own sister.


    Before Freya was taken away, she had received a file on Walter. The information was urate, except... the photo didn''t match.


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    The man wasn''t the real Walter at all; every detail about him was fabricated. Freya found it absurd that the man she''d lived with for two years, whom she''d called her husband, was aplete impostor. Faced with incontrovertible evidence from Xavier, she had no room for denial and admitted her guilt.


    Her only hope now was that Alexander woulde to her rescue. As a result, she bore the brunt of the usations alone. The dawn was breaking.Quinn slumped in the woods, dragged and hauled around by Walter through the night.


    The morning dew had soaked her through, and her hair was a disheveled mess. Beside her, Walter leaned back against the tree, his eyes closed, recharging. Compared to Quinn''s disarray, he seemed noticeably tidier.Quinn stared at his tight shut eyes for a long while, ensuring he hadn''t woken up. She pursed her lips and quietly got up from the ground, tiptoeing back in the direction they hade from.


    But she had hardly taken a step when she suddenly felt her ankle tighten and found herself crashing back to the ground. Turning her head, she noticed, to her surprise, a rope tied around her foot. The other end of the rope was securely in Walter''s grip.

 Chapter 257

    In the same instant, Walter''s eyes fluttered open, a smile of amusement ying on his lips as he gazed down at her.


    Quinn, who had been sprawled on the ground, pressed her lips together in a thin line and retreated without a word. She took her ce obediently by Walter''s side. He observed her for a moment, his smile lingering, before closing his eyes


    once more.


    Quinn sat in silence beside him, her gaze drifting down to the rope that bound her ankle. The cord was thin, no thicker than a shoce, yet it was knotted in a way that defied her attempts to untie it.


    After a futile struggle with the knot, she slumped back against the tree trunk, exhaustion washing over her. Eventually, she abandoned her efforts to free herself and sumbed to the lull of sleep.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    When she stirred awake, she found herself in a car. Lifting her gaze, she saw Walter seated beside her, still d in the same suit that now bore a traditional touch.


    Strands of hair framed his face, partially obscuring his cheek and making it difficult for Quinn to decipher his expression. She attempted to sit up and peered outside.


    A torrential rain had begun, its furious onught against the windows blurring the view beyond.


    Quinn pressed her lips together once more, clueless about their current location. Quietly, she redirected her gaze to the interior of the car. Meanwhile, Alexander was paying a visit to Freya.


    Upon seeing him, Freya, overwhelmed with emotion, made to rush forward but was restrained. "Brother!" she cried. Alexander motioned for her to calm down and take a seat.


    Composing herself, Freya sat across from him. Her face was noticeably pale, her eyes devoid of life, yet a spark of hope lingered. "Brother, Walter, he..." she began, but Alexander cut her off with a calm, "He''s gone." Freya''s shoulders sagged in defeat. "Gone?" she echoed.


    "Yes," Alexander confirmed.


    Freya''s already pallid face turned a shade whiter. "Then, what about Harold?" she asked.


    "He''s still at the Kennedys residence," Alexander replied. Tears welled up in Freya''s eyes and streamed down her cheeks, which she hastily wiped away. She had steeled herself the moment she caught sight of the documents, but hearing Alexander''s words in person still managed to shatter her heart into fragments.


    "Is it true that he doesn''t even want Harold anymore?" she asked. Alexander met her gaze, offering no reply. Yet, the answer hung heavily in the silence. Freya stared nkly at the desk before turning back to Alexander, a thought seemingly striking her. "Bro, can I... can I still get out of this?" she asked.


    "Yes," Alexander replied. The word was music to her ears, the weight she had felt in her throat sinking back into her stomach with relief.


    "But at the trial, what should I say?" she asked.


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    "Don''t worry, there will be awyer," Alexander assured her. "Oh..." Freya opened her mouth to say something more, but Alexander was already rising to his feet.


    "I have to go now. Take care of yourself," he said.


    She closed her mouth and watched him with an intense gaze. Alexander took a few steps, then paused and turned his head just enough to see Freya''s retreating figure. A flicker of emotion crossed his eyes before his expression returned to normal, and he left without a second nce. Kyle Astor arrived in his car to pick him up, holding an umbre over Alexander''s head. "Alexander," he greeted.


    "Did you find him?" Alexander asked, his tone neutral, almost lost in the sound of the pouring rain.


    Stammering slightly, Kyle responded, "Not yet, but I think he hasn''t left Amber Bay."


    Alexander said nothing more and headed for the Bentley, with Kyle hastily opening the door for him.

 Chapter 258

    Seated in the car, Alexander gazed out at the torrential rain that drenched the city, the persistent patter of raindrops veiling everything in a sheet of water cascading down the window panes. Meanwhile, Walter was driving with Quinn in tow.


    Their car swerved unsteadily for what seemed an eternity in the storm.


    When the rain slightly eased, Walter pulled over to the curb and unbuckled his seatbelt. "Get out," hemanded. Quinn bit her lip, reluctant to leave the car.


    But Walter didn''t give her a choice. He came around, opened the door, and dragged her out. The rain continued to fall, and they were quickly soaked to the skin without umbres.


    Walter pulled Quinn forward, stumbling across the wet ground behind him. She nced up hurriedly; it appeared to be a farm.


    They entered through the main gate to a vast courtyard peppered with a multitude of vegetables, and the houses were two-story wooden structures.


    The sprawling farmstead was eerily quiet and utterly deserted. Walter dragged her into a room, pushed her onto the floor, and then he opened a closet.


    He pulled out a set of clothes. Quinn looked back at him with wide eyes from her seated position on the floor, disbelief painting her features as he began to change his clothes right in front of her!


    Hurriedly averting her gaze, she turned to stare at the firmly closed door, the thought of escape flickering through her mind once again.


    Yet, as she pondered the route by which she had arrived - all winding mountain roads - the realization hit her that even if she dashed from the farmhouse, the mountain would still hold her captive. Abandoning the thought of flight, Quinn could do nothing but sit on the floor and wait quietly for him to finish dressing.


    After a while, Walter approached her in new attire, squatting down in front of her.


    Quinn lifted her eyes to his, and there he was, no longer in traditional attire but now d in a white suit-a spitting image of a fairy tale prince, especially with his face.


    His damp hair hung down beside his ears, and those eyes-when they smiled, their beauty defied distinction.


    Shifting her eyes away silently, her fingers clenched tightly, her heart pounding loudly within her chest. shing back to thest time he tormented her, Quinn didn''t dare to imagine what he might do on this asion.


    The more she thought, the tighter her grip became, her nails nearly digging into her palms. Walter raised his hand, turned her chin toward him, and asked, "Do you think Alexander can find you this time?"


    Biting her lip, Quinn refused to meet his gaze.


    Walter let out augh as he stood up, tossing her a set of clothes from the bed, "Put these on." Quinn grabbed the clothes but couldn''t find a suitable ce to change.


    Seeming to grasp her hesitation, he added, "Haven''t I seen everything already?" His words instantly flushed Quinn''s face crimson, the redness spreading to her ears.


    "Change. Don''t make me repeat myself a third time." His tone was firm. With stiff fingers, Quinn held the clothes but made no move to change.


    Narrowing his eyes, Walter suddenly leaned in close, grasping Quinn''s chin and forcing her to look up at him. "Do you think because I''ve only captured you, I hold no leverage?" A flicker of surprise crossed Quinn''s face as she stared at him. With a soft smile ying on his lips, he continued, "Your beloved Juliet is still confined to the hospital bed, isn''t she?"


    Quinn''s eyes narrowed, her fingers trembling around the fabric she clutched. His words carried a casual threat, "If I desired her death, it would be quite simple, wouldn''t it? Or perhaps to subject her to a fate worse than death?" Quinn''s body shook, whether from anger or fear was unclear. Walter didn''t repeat his words. He stood tall, looking down at her, allowing her time to make her decision. With a heavy sigh, Quinn finally rose to her feet, carrying the clothes to a more secluded spot.


    She turned her back to Walter as she began to remove her sweater. Walter watched her closely, a mysterious smile curling his lips. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Walter''s gaze shifted, and he turned to answer it.


    Meanwhile, Quinn hurriedly pulled on her pants. When she dared to look again, Walter had already stepped outside, and the door had closed behind him.Quinn let out a sigh of relief and copsed onto the bed, her energy depleted. Walter walked down the hallway to another room, where a man and a woman were seated.Had Quinn been present, she would have instantly recognized the woman as Ruby.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 259

    Casually seating himself and leaning back, Walter nced at them before speaking, "Ms. Assistant, are you nning on running away with me instead of standing by Alexander?" Ruby, dressed in her professional attire and sitting upright, let out a wry smile. "There''s no point in me remaining by his side."


    Walter crossed his legs, eyeing her with a smirk. "Perhaps you should start looking for the problem within yourself."Blushing, Ruby replied, "It''s not that... I came to tell you it might be a bit tricky to leave Amber Bay at the moment."""Who said I''m leaving Amber Bay?"


    Walter retorted.Ruby hesitated slightly, "Then why are you...?"Walter didn''t answer; his gaze fixed on the pouring rain outside as he mused, "What about Alexander? His wife''s gone missing. Any reaction?"Ruby furrowed her brows and shook her head, "No reaction.


    He''s been busy with thepany affairs, and with a shareholders'' meetinging up, he probably doesn''t have time to worry about that dummy."


    A glint appeared in Walter''s eye, and he chuckled, "Interesting."Ruby and the other man exchanged nces, not quite understanding the meaning behind hisment.


    Suddenly, Walter stood up. "Alright, you can leave now."Ruby hesitated, "I''vee all this way, can I really go back?"Turning, Walter gave her a look, "Why not? Alexander knows there''s a mole by his side, but he doesn''t know who." Surprised, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, "You mean, he''s known all along..."With augh, Walter reassured, "Don''t worry, it''s not about your charm."


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    A touch embarrassed at having her thoughts exposed, Ruby also stood up. "Then I''ll take my leave."The man followed her out. Before long, the farmhouse was quiet again. Walter stood at the doorway, tilting his head up to watch the rain falling off the roof''s edge.


    Quinn, who had been sitting inside for a while, faintly heard the sound of a car and rushed to the door. She cracked it open just enough to see a white car pulling away from the farm.Before she could make out the license te, her view was blocked by a figure.


    Gripping the door frame, she looked up through the narrow opening to find Walter''s smiling face greeting her. Quinn swallowed hard, feeling as though she''d been cornered.Walter pushed open the door and asked her, "Can you cook?"She nodded."Get to it then."


    Quinn hesitated, unsure if she''d heard him correctly. Her puzzled gaze met his. Walter seemed unfazed as he continued, "There''s a raincoat in the living room, kitchen''s to your left. You''ll find veggies in the garden and the backyard. It''s just us here, so go ahead and cook."As soon as he finished speaking, Quinn lowered her head and shuffled out.In the living room, she noticed three teacups on a round table.So the two people who had just visited knew Walter...Suppressing her spection, she scanned the room, finding the raincoat tucked in a corner.

 Chapter 260

    Quinn quickly donned the raincoat and slipped on the rubber boots, then headed to the backyard.She was astonished when she saw the backyard.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    There was an expansive vegetable garden and numerous greenhouses-this ce was actually a farm, surrounded by mountains.


    It suddenly dawned on her why Walter was so confident letting her wander: escape seemed unlikely. With a basket in hand, she walked among the vegetables, finding a variety of pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes... Up in the farm''s loft, Walter stood by the window, his gaze on the figure in the vegetable garden.From this angle, Quinn looked particrly petite in her raincoat.


    She was wobbling with her basket, even clumsily falling several times. That familiar smirk on Walter''s lips altered slightly as he watched her, his eyes following her silhouette but appearing to drift off to a distant ce.


    A simr unsteady figure shed before his eyes, tumbling and bumbling, falling into his arms time and time again. When Quinn turned her head for a moment, her silhouette ovepped with the one in his memory, and Walter''s expression hardened.


    Theughter in his eyes reced by a trace of coldness.Quinn harvested plenty of vegetables and traipsed back through the muddy farmyard.


    Despite the size of this ce, there was no electricity or gas; cooking meant lighting a fire, and water had to be drawn from the well. It truly matched the ''organic'' ambiance.Unfamiliar with the wood-burning stove, she sat on a small stool, puffing into the stove and fumbling with washing and chopping vegetables. By the end of her cooking ordeal, her face was speckled with soot.


    Walter nced at the dishes on the table and then at Quinn.She stood before him gripping her hands tightly, her face smeared, resembling a scrappy, little alley cat. Walter let out augh.


    Quinn dreaded thatugh; she stood there, uneasy, gesturing, "I can give it another try."He shook his head, "No need, sit down, let''s eat."She shook her head vigorously.


    He raised an eyebrow, "Oh, I almost forgot, you''re not fond of eating at the table, are you?"Her heart skipped a beat. Walter gently held a bowl and piled some food into it before freeing an empty te. He rose from his seat, carrying the empty te to the side and set it down on the floor.


    Next, he poured the contents from the bowl onto the te.He then looked up at Quinn with an indulgent smile and said, "Go ahead. Eat."Quinn''s eyes flickered, a twinge of regret washing over her as she nced at a nearby stool before looking back at him with a questioning gaze.


    Walter''s eyes twinkled with amusement as he shook his head, denying her silent request."Come on, eat up. You wouldn''t want me to have to feed you, would you?"


    Quinn tensed, the memory of thest time Walter had forced her face down into a bowl made her shake her head frantically. Then she gestured, "Can I manage myself? Can I have some cutlery?"Walter lifted his chin, giving a subtle nod to her request.


    Quinn quickly ran to grab a pair of cutlery and crouched on the floor, picking up her te. She looked up at him again. The man extended a finger, and Quinn instinctively shrank back, but he didn''t strike her nor push her face into the te.Instead, he gently ruffled her hair and said, "Good girl, stay crouched like that. Don''t stand up."Her fingers tightened around the cutlery, her nose tingling oddly with a sour sensation. She thought of Alexander.A snicker sounded from above.

 Chapter 261

    Through a veil of tears, Quinn looked up to see Walter''s cruel smile."Are you still holding out hope for him to rescue you?" he taunted.Quinn was rooted to the spot.


    Walter crouched before her, ruthlessly shattering her illusions. "Do you understand why we''re in this situation?"


    Quinn''s breath hitched, her gaze locked onto him."Do you really not understand?""Those three days you vanished, do you think he was unable to locate you?"


    He leaned in, his voice a soft whisper. "No, he knew exactly where you were. He simply chose not toe for you. He wasying a trap for me."


    A chuckle escaped Walter as he toyed with a lock of her hair. "You poor, naive girl, your presence here is all his doing."Tears spilled from Quinn''s eyes, like pearls slipping from a string, sshing onto the te beneath her chin."Do you want to know what he''s doing now?""He''s likely preparing for the shareholders'' meeting the day after tomorrow.


    He''s upied with trying to overthrow his father, plotting his sister''s downfall, and as for you, well, you''ll have to wait your turn."


    Quinn clutched the te tightly, her chest rising and falling rapidly."Now, if he wants to negotiate with me for your sake, he knows he can''t meet my demands.""So, it''s simpler to just cast you aside, effectively refusing to negotiate with me.""But that''s to be expected. What''s a woman worth in the face of personal gain? He may have feelings for you, but he wouldn''t sacrifice everything he has for you, would he?"She knew she shouldn''t believe Walter''s words, yet they seemed to pierce her heart relentlessly.


    Like shards of ss stabbing her heart, each bite Quinn took was a stab of hollow pain. She sat with her head bowed, mechanically eating the tasteless food, indifferent to its vor yet unable to stop. Walter squatted beside her, silently observing as she finished her meal.


    After a moment, Quinn sniffled, set her te on the floor, and lifted her tear-streaked, reddened eyes to meet Walter''s gaze. The twilight outside faded, casting a dim haze inside the room. Walter tenderly stroked her cheek, wiping away the tear that clung to her eysh.


    In that moment, Quinn was reminded of Alexander''s simr gestures, which had once made her surrender to his will time and time again. However, it wasn''t until now, with Walter''s tender touch as a contrast, that she realized how cheap and presumptuous Alexander''s actions had been.


    Men could be masters of deception, capable of feigning tenderness and passion even towards those they despised. Alexander had been such a man, and so was Walter.


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    Eventually, Walter stood up and said, "Well, that''s done."Without a backward nce, he left the room, the untouched meal on the table still lying as it was.Quinn wiped the tears from her cheeks with her sleeve and obediently began to clear away the dishes.


    Down below, at the Astor Estate Kyle Astor stood outside the lit study, hesitating before he finally knocked on the door.


    Engrossed in his documents, Alexander beckoned without looking up, "Come in."Kyle rushed inside. "Alexander, I''ve secured the shareholders'' support-there shouldn''t be any issues.""Mmhm."Kyle opened his mouth, then hesitated. After a pause, Alexander suddenly looked up, "Something else?""Are we... really not going to continue searching for Quinn?"Alexander stilled, then fell silent.It was some time before he spoke, "Have you found her?""No, that''s my point. Shouldn''t we double up our search efforts? At this rate, it''s like finding a needle in a haystack. "Alexander set down his paperwork and looked at Kyle, contemtive and silent."Leave," he finally said. "But Alexander, about Walter-""Get out!" The sharp rise in Alexander''s voice,ced with a chilling ferocity, immediately silenced Kyle.Kyle pursed his lips and quietly retreated.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 262

    These recent days had brought Kyle Astor a newfound understanding of Alexander''s unppable demeanor.


    In the midst of turmoil, allowing anxiety to take hold served no purpose.


    If he fully immersed himself in the search for Quinn, the matters at hand would surely be neglected.


    And even upon locating her, what next? Would he be coerced into relinquishingpany shares in the face of Walter''s threats? Or would he bepelled to engage in a high-stakes confrontation, ast-resort strategy that promised mutual destruction?


    In that scenario, Alexander wouldn''t stand to gain anything.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    The more Kyle Astor considered it, the chillier he felt, yet he admired Alexander''sposure, his clear-sighted assessment of risks and rewards.


    Men like Alexander were meant for greatness, unfettered by the snares of emotion. The art of making choices was all about bnce.Night fell upon them.


    The temperature at the countryside farmhouse dropped to just above freezing. Quinn was wrapped in a men''s ck down coat, likely belonging to Walter, its length reaching down to her ankles. She huddled close to the fire pit indoors, while Walter reclined in an armchair nearby.


    This time, her ankle was shackled not with rope but with a chain fastened to the foot of the bed, just long enough to allow her to move around within the house. It was eerily quiet, save for the crackling of the fire and the sound of Walter flipping through the pages of his book.


    Walter read by the fire, its warm orange glow softening the features of his already tender face.


    Quinn''s feet grew numb from squatting, so she silently shifted to kneel on the floor. Walter nced her way but said nothing.


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    She watched the mes dance, casting flickering light in her eyes while her longshes veiled her emotions. Squatting there, beneath his feet, she indeed resembled a docile, obedient puppy.Lost in thought, Quinn suddenly felt a hand atop her head.


    Her neck stiffened; she held her body rigid, daring not to move. As Walter petted her hair and continued to read, Quinn nearly convinced herself she was nothing but a hound. But she dared not stir, knowing full well that angering him would lead to more than mental torment-physical pain was a currency he was all too familiar with.


    And she had already learned that from experience. Since escape was impossible, why not make things a tad easier for herself?"


    Add some coal," Walter abruptlymanded.Quinn hurried to her feet, dragging the chain over to a box of coal, shoveling some into the pit.


    After she finished, she stole a nce at Walter. A mere flicker of his eyes was all it took for her to press her lips together and resume her crouched position in silence.


    Quinn alternated between squatting and sitting, fatigue dictating her position. Though there was a bed and stools in the room, Walter wouldn''t allow her the respite of sitting on them.


    Time passed indistinctly until Quinn, struggling to keep her eyes open, slumped forward unexpectedly, plummeting straight towards the fire pit. The searing heat surged at her, but it was toote to dodge.


    Suddenly, Quinn felt a tight grip around her neck, her head dangling in the air. With a slow turn of her head, she saw Walter pinching her cor.Walter pulled her back, and her legs gave way as she slumped to the ground, her gaze fixed on the fire pit as a cold sweat broke across her forehead.


    With a chuckle, the man said, "Falling asleep like that, you must have some nerve."Quinn lowered her eyes, staring at her toes, motionless.He squatted beside her again, lifting her chin with two fingers. "Quinn, do you still want to go back?"She looked into his eyes, which were filled with amusement. She pursed her lips, not sure if he was testing her.


    So, she remained silent."Hmm?"At the dangerous tone in his voice, she immediately shook her head."Really?"Quinn nodded. The smile in Walter''s eyes deepened as his finger suddenly slid downward. "Good kids shouldn''t lie."

 Chapter 263

    Quinn''s body tensed, her gaze dropping swiftly to follow the trajectory of his finger, which hade to rest on her abdomen.


    She was d in one of his Henley shirts, a garment that bore a resemnce to a dress, yet was distinctively different, fastened as it was with buttons down the front.


    His fingers, with a deftness that belied his intentions, unfastened one of these buttons. A wave of panic surged through Quinn, and she pressed his hand down, shaking her head in a silent plea. "Do you still wish to return to Alexander''s side?" Walter inquired, his smile unwavering, his gaze clear and devoid of any discernible desire. It seemed he was merely toying with her. Quinn''s lips were drawn tight.


    She was at a loss as to what Walter desired to hear; both shaking and nodding her head seemed fraught with danger. "Hmm?"


    She grasped his hand, her strength pitifully inadequate against his, much like a bee attempting to shake a tree. Quinn shook her head and gestured with her hands, a silent promation, "I will not go back, I will not return!" The amusement in Walter''s eyes deepened, yet her words did nothing to soften his heart. He leaned in close, his whisper tickling her ear, "Has Alexander ever done this to you?"


    Quinn turned her head away, evading the warmth of his breath, and crumpled onto the ground in a heap. She attempted to push him away, but he seized her wrist.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Walter''s gaze lingered on her delicate, pale neck, the soft wisps of hair behind her ear, and the reddening tip of her ear, his clear eyes darkening with a shadow of murky intent. Quinn''s fingers clutched at her clothing, her eyes fixed on the ground, specifically on the coal shovel she had wielded earlier.


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    She reached out, seized the shovel, and swung it at him. But before it could connect, he caught her wrist. Quinn looked up and saw the dangerous glint in his eyes.


    She blinked rapidly. Walter squeezed her wrist tightly, causing her pain, and the shovel ttered to the ground. Then, without warning, he delivered a sharp p to her face. "Smack-" A crisp sound echoed as Quinn hit the ground hard. Her cheek felt numb, not in pain, just buzzing in her ears, the world going dark before her eyes, with a faint taste of blood in her mouth.


    Lying face down, it took a while for Quinn''s vision to clear. She lifted her head and looked at Walter with a trace of blood on her lips, managing a smile despite the numbness on one side of her face. Walter''s eyes were cold as he gripped her cor and hauled her to her feet.


    A smirk yed at his lips, "Why do we always have to do this the hard way?" Quinn''s gaze flickered, tears welling in her eyes. "Even Alexander doesn''t want you. Are you really trying to stay pure for him? Don''t degrade yourself." He tenderly touched her swollen cheek with a gentleness that bordered on pity, as if the p hadn''te from his own hand. Walter released her and sat back down, looming over her from his chair, "Come here." Quinn hesitated, pushing against the floor to stand..


    Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at him. He tilted his head slightly, his wavy short hair falling gracefully, a smile on his lips, and in his crisp white suit, he might as well have been a Greek prince stepped right out of an oil painting. An angel''s face harboring a devil''s dark, violent soul-such was the truest portrait of this man. "Quinn,e here," he called again. Clutching at her sleeves, Quinn refused to budge, as humiliation spread through her core and began to spill from her eyes. "You can''t take this?"


    Walter said. "If you don''t obey, I''ll have you shipped off to Myanmar to experience their methods of torture firsthand." Quinn lowered her head, tears dropping heavily, her gaze fixated on the brazier, even entertaining the thought of plunging headfirst into it. Seeing her unresponsive, Walter didn''t show anger; instead, he took out a tablet and did something on it. "Is this her?"

 Chapter 264

    Quinn lifted her head and saw Juliet on the hospital bed on the screen, now awake, propped up and talking to a nurse. Muted, Quinn couldn''t hear their conversation.


    She clenched her fingers, her gaze moving from the screen to Walter''s face, which held amanding air.


    Biting her lip, she wrestled with her emotions for a long time before looking down, hershes hiding the turmoil in her eyes. On her knees, supporting herself with shaking hands, she crawled slowly toward him. Her ankle chain dragged across the floor, making a sharp sound.


    Kneeling before Walter, she looked up at him. Walter bent down, lifting her chin with a smile, "See? Being obedient isn''t so hard, is it?" Quinn''s eyes cast downward, her tears falling drop by drop onto Walter''s hand.


    Walter held his gaze on her for a moment before suddenly letting go, "Next time you see Alexander, remember to tell him you don''t want to go back."


    With those words, he got up and walked out. The sound of the closing door was what finally allowed Quinn to copse into her chair, feeling utterly drained.


    After that, Walter never returned. Quinn remained sprawled over the couch, the sting of his p still reverberating in her head, leaving her feeling disoriented and dizzy until she sumbed to sleep, unaware of when it overtook her. Meanwhile.Kyle Astor received an unexpected text message with an attached file. Initially dismissing it as some spam, he casually opened it only for shock to send his phone flying from his grip. The device skittered across the floor, crashing two meters away.


    After wiping the sweat from his forehead, Kyle cautiously picked up the phone once more. He was still in the Astor mansion''s living room. Holding his phone tightly, he couldn''t help but nce upstairs. Alexander hadn''t retired for the night yet, had he?


    Kyle decided that it was best to hurry upstairs. Just as he was about to knock, the study door suddenly swung open, revealing Alexander with a grim expression. "What is it?" Alexander demanded.


    Holding the phone with a trembling hand, Kyle stammered, "Alexander, I - I received a... video."With that, his shaky hands offered the phone to Alexander.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Without even a nce, Alexander brushed past him and strode downstairs. Grabbing his coat from the sofa, he walked out the door.


    Kyle hurriedly followed. "Alexander, where are you going thiste? It''s about the video... it''s Quinn''s..."


    Alexander acted as if he didn''t hear a word, got into his car, started the engine, and like a shot, sped off into the night. "Alexander..."


    Kyle stood frozen, watching the Maybach disappear into the darkness, lost at what his next steps should be....Quinn, in a groggy state, felt a cool and ticklish sensation on her face as if someone was caressing her cheek. She fluttered her eyshes, struggling to lift her heavy lids, only to see a blur before her. Closing her eyes once again, she took a moment to attempt to clear her vision.


    A chill swept over her, pulling her out from the depths of slumber. She was still lying on the couch, but now alone. The embers in the hearth had died down, leaving behind a cold emptiness; her hands and feet were numb with cold. With a dawning realization, Quinn lifted her hand to her face, feeling a slick tightness. She smelled her fingertips - there was a faint fragrance and the subtle hint of medicine.

 Chapter 265

    Quinn''s gaze darted towards the door, the barrier standing firm and undisturbed. No one had entered. A wave of confusion washed over her, etching lines of bewilderment onto her face. Was she caught in the haze of a half-awakened dream, or had she been visited by a hallucination?She attempted to rise, her legs having fallen asleep after a prolonged period of sitting on the hard ground. Her limbs betrayed her, however, causing her to tumble back onto the couch in a graceless heap. She clutched at her calves, the sensation of pins and needles prickling her skin, her face contorting in difort. The sensation tugged at her injured cheek, amplifying the tightness there. The realization dawned on her - this was no dream. Someone had drugged her. Could there be another presence lurking in the shadows?Before she could assemble her scattered thoughts, the room''s door swung open, revealing Walter in its frame. He was attired in a beige suit, the garment entuating his tall, lean figure far more than any traditional attire could. His long, straight legs seemed to rival even Alexander''s in their elegance. Walter approached her, his gaze descending to meet hers. Quinn''s fingers tightened around the fabric of the couch, her eyes wide with apprehension. After a moment, Walter crouched down and unhitched the iron chain from her ankle. "Get cooking," hemanded. Quinn paused, processing themand before gradually rising to her feet and limping out of the room, her legs still weak and sore. Outside, the weather had cleared, but the sky was still cluttered with heavy clouds. They loomed oppressively over the mountain peaks, threatening to crash down at any moment and making the vast expanse above feel ustrophobically close. She retrieved a basket and ventured behind the house to pick vegetables, anticipating a downpour and harvesting enough tost the day. Laden with a hefty basket of produce, she wobbled back towards the house, her shoes caked in a thickyer of mud. She stumbled several times, the garden soil proving treacherously slippery. Quinn knelt at the edge of the yard, scraping the mud off her shoes with a stick. From the doorway, Walter watched her figure crouched in the yard, her coat dragging on the ground, far too long for practicality. After cleaning her shoes, Quinn carried her vegetables to the kitchen and began the bustling activity of meal preparation-washing the greens, chopping, and tending the fire. While washing the produce, she caught Walter''s silhouette at the doorway, staring into the distance as if waiting for someone. Sensing her gaze, he looked her way. prompting Quinn to quickly focus back on her task. Then, she headed to the kitchen. She had just finished the meal when the sound of a car horn caught her attention. Quinn''s grip on the spat froze. She set the te down and hurried to the entrance, peering stealthily around the door frame. Her fingers tensed as she watched the ck Maybach glide into the yard, her breath catching at the sight. The car came to a smooth halt, and out stepped Alexander, d in a ck trench coat. Opposite him, in a stark white suit, stood Walter-a visual sh of contrasts. One in ck, one in white, each on opposite ends of the yard, as if they belonged to different worlds. "Where is she?" Alexander spoke first. Walter replied with a smile, "Been waiting on you for a while. Thought you could keep a cool head." Alexander didn''t bother with small talk. His gaze shifted, sweeping toward the kitchen and locking eyes with Quinn, perfectly urately. Quinn pursed her lips. He had found her so easily; Walter''s words were indeed true. She knew he wasn''t unaware of her whereabouts; it was just a matter of weighing the pros and cons. What was she worth that he would relinquish all his benefits for her? She sadly cast her eyes down and silently retreated, taking cover behind the door. As Alexander made his way to the kitchen, he hadn''t taken two steps before a hand blocked his path. He slightly turned his head to regard Walter, the man obstructing him. "You can''t just barge in there; you''ll scare her. Even if you n to take her with you, shouldn''t you at least ask her what she wants?" Walter said. A chilling threat flickered through Alexander''s indifferent gaze. "Walter, I''m running low on patience. Smarten up and get out of my way," he retorted icily.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 266

    Walter, far from being angered, actually chuckled and made no move to step aside. "Oliver, youe here alone spewing threats. Don''t you find thatughable?"


    Alexander narrowed his eyes, a mocking smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Why don''t you guess why I dared toe here by myself?" Walter studied him for a long moment, attempting to read something from his expression, but eventually gave up.


    "Whatever," he smiled again, turned his head towards the kitchen and called out, "Quinn,e out." Upon hearing this, an unusual flicker of emotion crossed Alexander''s face. Instantly, he fixed his gaze on the kitchen door, staring intently. After a few seconds, Quinn slowly walked out from inside and stood at the doorway, head bowed. Alexander''s reaction brought a hint of satisfaction to Walter''s face.


    "Quinn, tell Alexander, do you want to go back with him?" Alexander''s eyes bore into her. Quinn remained silent, and the silence stretched on.


    "Quinn,e here!" Alexander suddenly raised his voice, a threatening undertone creeping in his call. Quinn flinched slightly. For her, whether she stayed with Walter or went with Alexander made little difference.


    But the thought that Alexander didn''t need her, that she was always the unchosen one, that he could abandon her for anything and anyone, made her vehemently resist the idea of returning. His life remained unchanged with or without her. His presence here was merely a y of male pride andpetitiveness. Memories shed before her eyes, reminding her over and over that she meant nothing to this man.


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    The atmosphere in the yard was tense, and the air was thick with the invisible smoke of a standoff, as both men waited for her decision.


    Finally, Quinn lifted her head to face the man she had once considered her everything. In his eyes, there lingered the old assumption that she would obedientlye to him at the slightest beckoning of his hand.


    With a bitter twist to her lips, this time, Quinn shook her head subtly. Alexander''s gaze shifted, then his expression darkened at an rming rate. He moved swiftly toward Quinn. Walter snagged his arm, but Alexander swung back with a punch aimed at his face.


    Dodging the blow with a step to the side, Walter''s other hand whipped out, now brandishing a gleaming switchde. The sharp de glinted as it thrust toward Alexander''s throat.


    With cat-like reflexes, Alexander turned his head, avoiding the de, and immediately seized Walter''s wrist, pinning it down. Walter was quick too.


    As Alexander tried to apply pressure, Walter let the knife drop, only to catch it mid-air with his left hand. Walter lunged with a reverse stab, but Alexander retreated just in time, feeling the de graze his cheek. Simultaneously, hended a solid kick to Walter''s midsection.


    Both stumbled back, putting several feet between them. Alexander lifted his hand to his face, finding it stained with a streak of crimson. Walter staggered a few steps before regaining his bnce, clutching his abdomen, now marked with a footprint on his white shirt.


    Quinn watched the scuffle unfold, panic flickering across her features. Regardless of the oue, she knew she stood to lose. Walter shed a grin. "Didn''t think you had it in you, Oliver." Alexander sneered. "You''re full of surprises too, brother- inw." Laughter veiled their lethal intentions. Walter toyed with the knife, slowly advancing toward Alexander. Just as another sh seemed inevitable, Walter abruptly froze. Before him, the menacing barrel of a dark pistol was aimed squarely between his eyes.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 267

    Walter''s gaze fell upon the gun in Alexander''s hand, causing him to take a step back. A chuckle escaped his lips as he taunted, "Come now, Oliver.


    The game loses its charm when you resort to such tactics.""Do you find pleasure in games?" Alexander inquired, his voice as cold as steel."That depends on the game," Walter retorted, a smug lift of his eyebrow punctuating his words. "If you''re audacious enough to brandish a gun, why not muster the courage to end me? Right here, in front of Quinn."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Despite the looming threat of the gun, Walter exuded an air of fearlessness. Hisughter was bold and unapologetic, stemming from a conviction that Alexander wouldn''t dare pull the trigger under Quinn''s watchful gaze.


    The source of this confidence was a secret shared only between the two men.Quinn''s fingers intertwined tightly, her eyes darting anxiously between the two adversaries. Upon hearing Walter''s audacious words, Alexander''s gaze shifted subtly, acknowledging Quinn''s presence in his peripheral vision.


    A smirk tugged at Walter''s lips. "You know, Alexander, if you''re going to y the viin, you might as wellmit fully. Otherwise, you''ll end up empty-handed. "His words had barely left his lips when a gunshot shattered the silence of the wilderness.


    Quinn, terrified, shielded her eyes. Walter was on one knee, a fresh wound on his other leg seeping blood onto the ground.


    Alexander advanced, seizing Walter''s cor and staring down at him with icy contempt. "Killing you? That would be too merciful, wouldn''t it?"


    A flicker of pain crossed Walter''s face, but his smile remained intact. "Sounds just like your style," he quipped.


    Following his retort, Alexander delivered a swift kick, sending Walter sprawling a meter away. Waltery on the ground, where the rain had left the cobblestones slick with puddles and mud. His blood mingled with the muck, staining his pristine white suit withrge, crimson blotches.


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    After a moment, he pushed himself up from the ground and, unfazed by the filth, casually took a seat. Walter turned to Quinn, instructing, "Quinn, lift the hem of your pants and take a look."


    Upon hismand, she instinctively nced down, pulling up the edge of her tunic to reveal an object strapped around her ankle.It bore a resemnce to a digital watch, but it was metallic, and instead of time, the screen disyed a countdown.24 hours and 9 minutes.


    Quinn froze, a rough idea of the device''s purpose forming in her mind.Alexander seemed toe to the same conclusion. Before he could voice his thoughts, Walter interjected, "Don''t bother asking about the remote. You know I won''t tell you."Alexander''s gaze darkened.


    His grip on the gun tightened, his knuckles turning white as he fought the urge to blow Walter''s head off."Ha ha ha..." Walter''sughter echoed through the wilderness, a hint of madness tingeing his expression. He spread his arms wide, taunting, "Go ahead, Alexander, shoot. Let''s die together."Alexander studied him intently. After a long moment, he too, burst intoughter.

 Chapter 268

    In a swift motion, he reversed his grip on the gun and smashed the butt into Walter''s jaw. Walter crumpled to the ground, a muffled grunt escaping his lips as he spat out a mouthful of blood. Then, Alexander turned and strode toward Quinn. His eyes locked onto hers, his voice stern, "I''m asking you onest time, are youing with me or not?"


    Quinn fidgeted with her fingers, her gaze shifting to the pathetic figure of Walter. But before she could get a clear look, Alexander forced her chin towards him."Look at me!"His icy stare startled her, causing her to instinctively step back.And with that step, her choice seemed to have been made. "Alexander," Walter''s voice suddenly rang out.Alexander turned to look at him.


    Walter raised his hand, a miniature remote nestled within his grip. "Give me twenty-three hours here, then you can take her with you," he proposed.


    Alexander''s eyes hardened, instantly dismissing the offer. "In your dreams," he retorted coldly.Unfazed by his own injuries, Walter merely shrugged. "What''s the rush? Have a shareholders'' meeting to attend?" He cast a meaningful nce at Quinn.


    "If you''re so concerned about the shareholders'' meeting, then go. You''re not just after the profits, are you? People matter too, right?"


    Quinn responded, her gaze shifting to Alexander. "In this world, when can you have the best of both worlds?"Deep down, she understood that her position in his life was secondary to his career. Yet, human nature is susceptible to irrational hopes and dreams. If he showed the slightest hesitation, even for a moment, choosing her, she felt it would be worth any sacrifice.


    Even if she were to be obliterated by the ticking bomb at her feet, she would do it to fulfill his desires. Their eyes locked as a chilling breeze rustled Quinn''s loose hair.


    They stood surrounded by lush greenery, the hills behind them like a picturesque painting, enveloped in silence.Quinn''s stance was clear: for now, she was on Walter''s side.


    All she desired was an answer from Alexander. If he agreed to the disappearance of those twenty-three shares, she would willingly apany him.


    However, Alexander had let the reins slip too far this time. He would have to relinquish many things and chase a great distance to regain control."So, is that how you see it too?" Alexander queried.Quinn''s gaze wavered, and she averted her eyes, her silence speaking louder than words.


    A smile tugged at the corners of Alexander''s mouth. "That''s good. Just two days, and you''re already so obedient."Quinn was taken aback.


    Staring at Alexander, she felt the sting of irony. Her expression morphed into one of sorrow, her eyes a mixture of destion and disappointment.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Suppressing her frustration, she walked over and helped Walter to his feet. From the sidelines, Alexander watched with an icy detachment.


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    Despite his disheveled appearance, covered in mud and blood, Walter''s expression remained as arrogantly confident as ever. Once again, he had emerged victorious."Since you''re so fond of him, I might as well send you both to hell," Alexander dered, raising his hand.


    The gun pointed at them, his eyes filled with lethal intent.Walter took Quinn''s hand, pulling her close, and asked softly, "Are you afraid of dying?"Quinn clenched her fists, realizing Walter was deliberately provoking Alexander. She closed her eyes and shook her head silently. She had lost the will to live anyway; if Alexander ended her life with his own hands, no threat could touch her anymore.


    After all, it was his choice. The sight of them together was ringly bright, more piercing than the skyline in the distance.Alexander''s finger rested on the trigger, watching them intently. Just as he was about to squeeze it, he suddenly stopped and let his hand fall."Walter, I don''t believe you really want to die," he said. Walter paused at his words. "Is this what you''ve clung to life for all these years for today, to descend into oblivion with Quinn?"


    Alexander sneered. "If that''s the case, I wouldn''t mind escorting you both on that journey."In the distance, the faint sound of a car horn echoed. Two minutester, several cars sped into the yard, parking with precision. A group of people, led by Kyle Astor, stepped out and quickly formed a circle around Walter and Quinn, effectively trapping them."Alexander, what should I do?" Kyle asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

 Chapter 269

    Alexander''s countenance twisted into a grimace of contempt, his expression teetering on the brink of violence. "You''re asking me?" he spat out.


    In that moment, Kyle''s gaze drifted towards Walter and found him entwined with Quinn. The sight disoriented him, throwing him off bnce. What had transpired in the mere span of two days that he had been absent? Had Quinn''s affections shifted so abruptly? He found it hard to believe that Stockholm syndrome could manifest so swiftly.


    Alexander''s gaze hardened as he scrutinized Quinn, noting an unfamiliar chill and detachment in her eyes. With a final, curt instruction to Kyle, he climbed into his car. "You handle it," hemanded, before driving away without a second nce at Quinn.


    Walter couldn''t help but snicker at the unfolding scene. "See, he''ll never choose you," he taunted. Quinn, however, merely pushed him away and retreated a step.


    She had always known the truth of Walter''s words, and they served only as another dagger to her already wounded heart. But the pain had long since numbed.


    Kyle, now left in a state of confusion, pondered over Alexander''s cryptic directive. Was he to kill them? If Alexander had desired their demise, he could have easily aplished it himself. Why pass the task onto him?After much contemtion, Kyle resolved to tend to Walter''s injury first, before escorting both prisoners down the mountain.


    Walter sat in the yard, a deep cut marring his flesh, as someone was called upon to dress his wound. The injury was troublesome and would take time to heal.


    Off to the side, Quinn sat in silence, her mind reying the image of Alexander''s resolute departure over and over again, causing her head to throb with pain. She realized it was her own delusion, her own insatiable greed that had led her to this point.


    Had she remained obedient in the vi, Alexander would have treated her well. But she had chosen to challenge him, to force him into making such a decision.


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    She had indeed been foolish. Yet, facing the prospect of death, was it so wrong to harbor delusions? Quinn closed her eyes, feeling the chill of the mountain wind seep into her bones. But it was the cold within her that truly overwhelmed, rendering her deste.


    Perhaps it was the pain in her head that caused her to lose consciousness, for she suddenly copsed to the ground."Quinn!"


    Kyle had intended to escort Quinn downstairs, but Walter was having none of it. Brandishing a remote control, he issued a warning. "Don''t do anything rash, or we all go kaboom."Kyle''s eyes were riveted to the remote in Walter''s hand, finding himself in a terrible predicament.


    He understood why Alexander had chosen to extricate himself from this stalemate; it was an impossible situation. Alexander''s intention for him to stay was clear to ensure Quinn''s safe exit.Walter didn''t seem eager to kill Quinn immediately, but if pushed to the edge, he could change his mind swiftly.


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    Kyle found himself in a tense standoff, unable to make a move for fear of triggering Walter''s wrath. Walter''s gaze drifted towards the farmhouse gate, the mountains looming ominously in the distance. "Why bother with all this, Alexander?" he mused aloud. Kyle offered a wry half-smile in response, though he was equally perplexed.


    The journey back was a long one. Cutting through the woods would take half a day, and the main road would be an even longer detour. If Alexander didn''t leave now, he''d be toote to return. But he chose to head back for the shareholders'' meeting.


    As Alexander''s car came to a halt at the base of the mountain, he pulled over and lit a cigarette. Smoke curled out of the car window, disappearing into the mountain air without a trace. His features were shrouded in mncholy as he gazed out of the windshield at the distant terrain.


    The road ahead was barely wide enough for a vehicle, disappearing out of sight after a turn. When Quinn regained consciousness, she found herself in bed and night had fallen. Outside, Kyle was standing guard in the usually quiet yard, which was now buzzing with activity.

 Chapter 270

    Propping herself up in bed, she cast her gaze downward to the watch strapped around her ankle-it remained in ce. Only 14 hours were left. Upon stepping outside, she noticed Kyle, restless and smoking in a crouched position. With a reach of her hand, Quinn gently tapped his shoulder. Startled, Kyle spun around, hastily extinguishing his cigarette. "Quinn, you''re awake?" he queried.She responded with a simple nod, her words sparse. She chose to let the silence linger. However, after a moment of contemtion, Kyle couldn''t resist asking, "Quinn, did you willingly apany Walter, or..." Her lips pressed together in a firm line, Quinn remained silent. Kyle hadn''t anticipated a response and continued, "This shareholders'' meeting is of paramount importance to Alexander; he''s been preparing for it for what seems like an eternity."


    Quinn listened, maintaining her quiet demeanor."Have you ever considered what would transpire if Alexander truly relinquished everything and was left with nothing? How would he protect you then?" Kyle probed, his voiceced with concern. Caught off guard, Quinn faltered briefly, her gaze dropping to her toes in the absence of a response."Consider our adversaries, Walter for instance. He could easily overpower Alexander, manipte him, and even you," Kyle Astor warned, urgency seeping into his tone."He could even end up incarcerated. What would you do if you were left alone here?" he questioned, his eyes seeking answers in Quinn''s."I may not be well-acquainted with Alexander, but it''s evident to me that he harbors deep affection for you," Kyle continued, his sincerity tangible.


    "He hasn''t slept in days; he remains in his study until the break of dawn. He even came searching for youst night. If he didn''t care for you, he wouldn''t have bothered.""But you... you''ve shattered his heart," hemented.


    Lifting her head, Quinn met Kyle Astor''s gaze, finding nothing but raw honesty reflected back at her.She seated herself beside him, her gaze drifting towards the farmhouse''s gate, lost in contemtion.


    Kyle observed her for a moment before speaking up again, "Quinn, are you truly determined to remain here?"She turned to regard him, pointing to her ankle.Exhaling a sigh, Kyle muttered, "That Walter is such a despicable creature!"Quinn''s lips pursed in agreement.


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    She was all too familiar with Walter''s lowly nature.Suddenly, Kyle rose to his feet. "I''ll retrieve the remote control!"Quinn halted him with a firm grip, shaking her head, and held up two fingers."You mean he possesses two?" Kyle asked, taken aback.


    Quinn confirmed with a nod."I''ll kill him," Kyle dered.Quinn negated his statement with another shake of her head.Frustrated, Kyle ran his hands through his hair. "


    Then what course of action do we take?"If ending Walter''s life were the solution, Alexander might have already executed it that morning.Kyle couldn''tprehend what was holding Alexander back¡ªwhether he was concerned that someone else besides Walter had possession of the remote control, or for reasons yet to be revealed.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Kyle spected aloud, "If Alexander attends that shareholders'' meeting, who knows what ploy Walter might employ tomorrow."Walter was gambling on the assumption that Alexander wouldn''t make an appearance at the meeting. Meanwhile, in a separate room, Walter toyed with a remote control, his eyes glinting with an inscrutable intent.

 Chapter 271

    As dusk descended, the sr-poweredmps encircling the farmhouse flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the secluded property.


    Returning from the house, Kyle carried two sandwiches and a bottle of water, which he handed to Quinn.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    She epted them with a grateful nod, taking small bites of the bread, her mind swirling with Kyle''s words.Suddenly, the sh of headlights pierced the darkness outside the yard. Quinn ceased her chewing, her eyes fixated on the quivering light beyond the gate. Momentster, a Maybach rolled into view.Quinn froze, the bread slipping from her grasp onto the ground.She stared at the car, as if attempting to see through it.


    Kyle Astor was equally taken aback, disbelief etched on his face as he watched the vehicle and the figure emerging from it.Alexander stepped out of the car, forcefully mmed the door shut, and strode towards the house without sparing Quinn a nce.


    Not even as he passed her by. The breeze stirred by his coat carried the scent of gardenia to her nostrils, and that''s when Quinn realized this was no illusion, no dream.


    Alexander had truly returned.Kyle Astor attempted to peer inside the house, but the door mmed shut with a resounding "bang," obstructing the view for everyone in the yard.Quinn remained crouched there, an inexplicable warmth spreading in her eyes.Unable to contain himself, Walter released a genuineugh, one tinged with triumphant joy.


    Alexander stood before his bed, radiating a chill as if he''d brought the winter cold from outside, causing the room''s temperature to plummet several degrees."So it''s true, Alexander is a man of his word, after all."


    With a sudden, swift motion, Alexander seized Walter by the cor, hoisting him up from the bed. "First thing tomorrow morning," he demanded, "defuse the bomb on her ankle."Gasping for breath, Walter coughed twice, raising his hands in a plea for mercy.


    Alexander''s grip ckened, and Walter fell back onto the bed with a thud, visibly dazed. After a moment''s recovery, he managed to utter, "Don''t worry, I''m a man of my word."Alexander responded with a cold, disdainful sneer before taking a seat across from Walter. ---Meanwhile, outside the room, Kyle Astor was pressing his ear against the door, straining to eavesdrop on the conversation within. His efforts, however, were fruitless.


    Growing increasingly anxious, Kyle muttered to himself, "Oh man, what do we do now? If this dys us all night, Alexander will miss the shareholders'' meeting."Quinn, standing nearby, gazed at the firmly shut door, her lips pressed together in a tight line.


    Kyle, visibly distressed, began to pace back and forth outside the door. ---A whirlwind of emotions churned within Quinn as she nced down at the watch around her ankle, the seconds ticking away relentlessly.


    As the night deepened, Kyle suggested that Quinn should return and get some rest. Quinn tugged at Kyle''s sleeve, squatted down, and with her finger dipped in water, she wrote on the ground: I need to use the bathroom."Uh... do you want me toe with you?" he asked, understanding her message. It made sense to him; Quinn was revealing her bathroom needs in the middle of nowhere clearly, she was frightened, so it would be okay for him to apany her.Quinn shook her head and stood up to leave the yard.


    A flicker of doubt crossed Kyle''s mind. Were the bathrooms here outside? But Quinn had already taken antern and was walking away. Kyle watched her figure recede beyond the yard, a nagging feeling of unease settling in his gut. Ten minutes passed, and Quinn hadn''t returned. Twenty minutes ticked by, and still, there was no sign of Quinn.


    Finally, Kyle''s unease turned into full-blown panic. He sprinted out the door, checking the backyard vegetable garden twice, but found no trace of anyone. He ventured further, searching all the likely ces someone might go for a bathroom break, but Quinn was nowhere to be found."Damn!" Kyle smacked his forehead and yelled down the slope, "Quinn!"


    Then, remembering Quinn couldn''t speak, he spun on his heel and dashed back, pounding on the door like a madman."Alexander, Alexander, Quinn''s gone!"The upants of the room turned their heads toward the door at his shout. Walter squinted, deep in thought.---Alexander unlocked the door, finding Kyle standing there, his face etched with panic. "Where did she go?"Shivering, Kyle stammered, "I-I don''t know.


    She said she needed to go to the restroom half an hour ago, left the homestead, and... just never came back..."Before he could finish, Alexander bolted outside.Kyle ordered a couple of people to stay put and directed the others to search for Quinn.---It had taken Quinn half an hour to reach the towering cliffside.Clutching antern, she peered down into the abyss. All she could see was pitch ck, with the sound of the wind echoing through the valley like the roar of a beast.

 Chapter 272

    Knee-high weeds surrounded her, rustling ominously with each gust of wind.


    Quinn stood at the precipice of the cliff, thentern in her hand casting a small orb of light that shimmered in the surrounding darkness, akin to a glowing pearl lost in the night.


    She cast a fleeting nce at the bomb strapped to her ankle, the countdown on its disy showing a mere eight hours left. Time was running out.


    Quinn had stood there for what seemed like an eternity before the gravity of her purpose dawned on her. She hade to this deste ce to end her life. Gently cing thentern on the ground, she hoped its faint light would signal her demise to Alexander, sparing him the futile effort of searching for her. With a deep breath, Quinn closed her eyes and took a step towards the edge of the cliff."Quinn!" A voice echoed through the night, halting her mid-step."Don''t!" The plea hung heavy in the air.She spun around, her gazending on a dark figure rushing through the brush towards her.


    The figure''s panic was almost tangible, their voice quivering with fear and desperation.As the man approached with rming speed, Quinn''s eyes flickered with uncertainty. She closed her eyes once more and, with a leap of faith, jumped off the cliff."Quinn!"


    Alexander''s cry was a beat toote, his outstretched hand clutching at nothing but thin air."Alexander!" Kyle Astor arrived on the scene, his eyes wide with horror as he watched Alexander diving off the edge after her."Damn it, no!" he cried, scrambling towards the precipice.


    He stretched his arm out over the edge, desperate to catch them, but Alexander was already gone. Despite the same unrelenting pull that had imed Alexander, Kyle Astorcked the courage to make the leap.


    Clinging to the cliff edge purely because his legs had given out beneath him, he stared into the abyss, his eyes a portrait of confusion and bewilderment. Had Alexander really jumped? What measure of care did one have to harbor for another person to jump without hesitation, resolutely plunging into the unknown alongside them? Even if it meant death? The wind howled past Quinn''s ears, rendering her unable to see as the small light at the top of the cliff, dim like a distant star, receded further and further away. Above her, she heard a familiar voice very close.


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    Tears burst from her eyes as she reached out, desperately trying to cling to him. She had been wrong. So very wrong to ce her trust in Walter''s words. If he was willing to forsake his own life, what was apany worth inparison? Quinn had never dared to hope for such sacrifice on her behalf, but now he was showing her through his actions-just how much she truly meant to him. Just how terribly she had misjudged the situation.Quinn''s mouth opened, and with all her might, she tried to shout out the breath that was stifled within her chest, to break through the shackles that held her voice captive.


    Her mouth agape, the cold air rushed in reverse, filling her lungs as she mustered every bit of air in her chest. "L...," a raspy, awkward syble emerged, sounding alien, as if she herself was a stranger to it. In an instant of confusion, Quinn couldn''t fathom where the sound had originated.


    In those brief, tumultuous seconds, harsh reality snapped back, as the chilling embrace of water enveloped her, and she was plunged into an icy baptism. Her puffer coat, heavy with water, dragged her further down.Quinn thrashed in the water, but the more she struggled, the faster she seemed to sink.


    Then, in her moment of sheer despair, a hand grasped hers. Like clutching a lifeline, she held on with a fierce grip.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 273

    With a sudden ssh, Quinn found herself being hauled out of the water. Her lungs were gasping for air, each breath she took was a mixture of gasps and water spewing out. The world around her spun in dizzying circles and she found herself lying on the ground. She struggled to open her eyes, but all she was met with was an engulfing darkness.


    An unknown force was pressing down on her chest, causing a salty stream to pour uncontrobly from her mouth. After what seemed like an eternity, a buildup of breath in her chest suddenly surged forth. "Cough " Quinn managed to turn her head, expelling a mouthful of water.


    Cool, desperate gulps of air rushed into her beleaguered lungs. Atst, she could breathe deeply again."Quinn, are you out of your mind?" A man''s voice thundered above her, a tone of fury Quinn had never heard before."Who told you to jump? Who gave you permission? If you wanted to die, why didn''t you just say so? I should''ve taken care of you with a single shot this morning!"


    Through the haze, Quinn tried to discern the face of the man above her, but all she could see was the surrounding ckness. Drops of water kept falling onto her face, some seeping into her eyes and mixing with her tears to stream down her cheeks. Guided by instinct, Quinn slowly lifted her hand to touch the man''s face. "L-Lu-" she struggled to form the sybles.


    Never having spoken before, she couldn''t get the rest of the word out, despiteboriously trying, she only managed that single sound. The man was clearly taken aback."What did you say?" Quinn opened her mouth, her breath swirling in her throat, but the sounds that emerged didn''t match the movements of her lips and tongue.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    After much effort, she forced out two awkward yet simple words. "Brother."The air suddenly grew silent as a cold wind whipped around them, causing the shrubs to rustle noisily. It also swept away all of Alexander''s anger. Alexander sat beside her in a daze, staring intently at Quinn.


    Though he couldn''t see her face, his gaze remained locked on where it should be."You..." Alexander held her hand and with his other touched her cheek, as though to verify this person wasn''t Quinn.


    Quinn grew tired, her eyelids heavy, unable to stay conscious any longer, she fainted. Kyle Astor had been lying on the edge of the cliff for a long time.


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    Once he was sure all was quiet below, he stood up and ordered the people behind him, "Go find them! We must find them no matter what!" The bodyguards behind him nodded and ran off, searching for a way down the mountain. Kyle Astor had nned to settle scores with Walter, but when he hurried back to the farmhouse, he found two bodyguards lying on the ground, their fates uncertain.


    Frowning, Kyle Astor burst into the house. The person who should have been bedridden from serious injuries was now nowhere to be seen; the room was empty.Kyle Astor searched several rooms, scouring almost the entire farmhouse, with no sign of Walter.


    He stepped back, looking at the deserted spaces. Walter had escaped! But now, Kyle Astor had to find Alexander. He had seen on the ascent that the canyons amidst these mountains were mostly water, like a white serpent winding through the peaks.


    It was a good hiding spot. Even if Alexander and Quinn had jumped, they might not have died. The night was unusually long, and Quinn woke up several times, chilled to the bone. Winter''s bite was fierce, and even dressed in a down jacket standing in that valley, it wouldn''t take half an hour to catch a cold. Quinn spent most of the night in a daze, but as thete hours approached, she finally felt a trace of warmth.She barely managed to open her eyes, only to see the man''s chest before her.


    Quinn was momentarily stunned, then slowly lifted her head, following the line of the man''s chest upward to his jaw, the firm set of his lips, and the flickering light that danced across his face.She turned to see that indeed a fire had been kindled before her; it consisted mainly of fresh branches with only a few dryer pieces, causing it to burn low and produce a considerable amount of smoke. Alexander was tending to the branches, trying to coax the mes to a brighter glow. Quinn attempted to sit up, but the hand on her shoulder pressed her back down. "Stay put," came the directive. Quinn fell silent, looked down once more, and then realized they were both without proper attire, covered only by a thin shirt. Their garments, suspended from branches to form a makeshift screen at her side, were being dried by the fire. This barrier not only shielded them from the wind but also provided a modicum of privacy.

 Chapter 274

    The cave they found refuge in was minuscule, hardlyrger than a modest American studio apartment. Their clothing barricaded the entrance so thoroughly that only the slightest breath of wind could seep through. Despite the proximity of Alexander''s warmth, Quinn couldn''t suppress her shivers. The cold seemed to have seeped into her very bones, making her tremble uncontrobly.


    With Alexander''s diligent efforts, the fire grew stronger. Its bright light bathed the cave in a clear, warm glow, casting dancing shadows on the walls.


    Alexander set down the branches he had been tending to and looked down at her. His dark pupils bore into her as if he were trying to see right through her. After a moment of silence, Alexander''s voice broke the stillness. "Can you talk?" he asked.Taken aback, Quinn blinked. She opened her mouth to respond but found that she could only produce a feeble sound."Hm?"


    His eyes narrowed, giving him an air of danger.Quinn huddled closer to herself, managing to whisper a single word after a long pause: "Cold."Alexander''s brow rxed, and he pulled her closer into his embrace. "Is that better?" he asked. Her body continued to tremble uncontrobly. She shook her head, indicating that the cold she felt was internal, not from the environment.


    Alexander adjusted the shirt draped over her, enveloping herpletely in his embrace.Quinn''s cheeks pressed against his chest, her ear attuned to his steady heartbeat.


    She reached around him, her arms encircling his waist.Alexander''s gaze flickered, taking in her disheveled hair, tremblingshes, and finally resting on her lips. He gently lifted her chin with his finger, their eyes locking. "Still cold?" he asked.Quinn pursed her lips, a hint of panic flushing her face as she sensed the change in his eyes.


    He leaned down, his lips meeting hers in a gentle kiss. His dark eyes seemed to hold a flicker of fire."Let me hear your voice," he murmured, his voice deep and slightly hoarse.Quinn''s fingers tightened around him. He silenced her with another kiss, a silent indication that he too wanted to hear her voice, without pushing her further.


    Blushing intensely, Quinn buried her face into his chest......Contrary to what one might expect, Quinn''s voice was youthful, even slightly immature. It had a softness to it, making her sound like an innocent young girl. It was a voice that perfectlyplemented her delicate features."Still cold?" Alexander''s voice echoed from above, raspier than before, as if he was holding something back.Quinn shook her head vehemently.


    Alexander''s gaze fixed on her flushed cheeks and tear-filled eyes, his own eyes darkening."I''m cold, too," he murmured.As she stared into his eyes, Quinn felt a primal fear. It was as if a wild beast lurked within him, ready to devour her whole.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 275

    Alexander gently took Quinn''s hand, poised to reveal something, when the distinct sound of Kyle Astor''s voice echoed from outside.


    "Alexander!" he called. At the sound of his name, Quinn promptly released his hand and spun around to seize a jacket."Wet," Alexander observed, capturing her wrist in his grasp.


    Quinn froze momentarily."Kyle Astor!" Alexander''s voice boomed, a summons to the unseen figure beyond their sanctuary.Upon hearing his name, Kyle hastily approached, his voice reverberating from outside the cave, "Alexander, are you and Quinn in there?""Bring in two sets of clothes," Alexandermanded.


    "Okay, got it!" Kyle responded, bending down to shove garments through a crevice in the ''barrier.""They''re from the farmhouse, just make do with them."Kyle had had the foresight to snatch some extra clothes from the house when he had departed the yard. His foresight was now proving useful.


    Alexander epted the clothes, which were unmistakably Walter''s. Given their simr physiques, the clothes fit him perfectly.


    However, on Quinn, the outfit was considerably oversized. It might as well have been a dress for her.Once they had changed, they ventured out of the cave. Quinn''s legs were shaky, causing her to stumble every few steps. Without a moment''s hesitation, Alexander scooped her up, cradling her in his arms as they exited the cave. Upon seeing them both unscathed, Kyle Astor breathed a sigh of relief. However, as dawn began to break, his worry resurfaced."Alexander, we might miss the shareholders'' meeting if we go back now. What should we do?" he queried.


    Hearing this, Quinn cast a nervous nce at Alexander.Alexander raised his gaze to the sky, deep in thought. They were encircled by mountains, as if standing at the bottom of a well."We wait," he dered."Huh?" Kyle checked his watch.


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    It was nearing seven-what were they waiting for? Alexander remained silent, gently setting Quinn down to inspect the metal ring on her foot. The screen was dark, the countdown had ended. Alexander''s brow furrowed as he tinkered with the metal ring, his frown deepening with each passing minute."Alexander, can you make anything of it?" Kyle Astor inquired. The wind whipped through the mountains, sending shivers down their spines.


    Alexander, undeterred, continued his examination of the metal ring. Was he truly nning to skip the shareholders'' meeting? Or had he given up entirely?Alexander rose to his feet and dered, "It''s not a bomb.""What? We''ve been yed?" Kyle Astor''s face paled. "It''s a listening device," Alexander stated coldly, his gaze fixed on the metal ring, "Let''s get a professional to open it when we return."Upon hearing it was a bug, Quinn looked distinctly uneasy-had their conversation in the cave been overheard?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Noticing her difort, Alexander reassured her, "Don''t worry, there''s no signal out here. Nothing got through."Quinn visibly rxed."We should head back then," suggested Kyle Astor.No sooner had he spoken than the sound of helicopter des filled the air. Everyone looked up to see a chopper circling above the mountain peak.

 Chapter 276

    A surge of tion coursed through Kyle Astor. "Alexander had everything meticulously nned!" he eximed, "We might just make it after all!"


    Quinn shot him a surprised nce. Suddenly, it all made sense. Alexander''s seemingly effortless return wasn''t without a strategy. He had a contingency n in ce all along. The implications were clear.


    As Kyle had pointed out, if Alexander had recklessly returned and missed the crucial shareholders'' meeting, they would both be left destitute, even if he had managed to bring her back.


    A return without a n would have been utterly futile. The helicopter began its descent, the force of the downwash bending the grass on the shoreline and causing Quinn to squint against the wind. Without missing a beat, Alexander scooped her up and swiftly boarded the helicopter.... Meanwhile, at the headquarters.


    Wayne sat at the head of the table, his expression as stony as ever. He was nked by the major shareholders, while a young man, bearing a slight resemnce to Wayne, upied the seat across from him.


    The room was almost filled to capacity, save for the most prominent seat at the top-the CEO''s ce. This was Alexander''s seat, the head of thepany.


    The shareholders'' meeting had been convened to address the recent crisis and elect a new CEO. Wayne, as the chairman, had no intention of iming the hot seat."Why hasn''t he arrived yet?""Is he trying to make a statement?""Hmph, I bet he''s thrown in the towel.


    With the stock plummeting like this, the CEO can''t escape me. He might''ve already fled.""Mr. Wayne, since he''s not here, let''s proceed without him!"Wayne scanned the room before rising to his feet. "Since Alexander failed to show," he began, "let''s discuss the new CEO candidate.


    Alexander submitted his resignation to me earlier, and I thought we''d handle it here at the shareholders'' meeting by casting votes.""Now that he''s not here, the vote seems unnecessary.""We need to appoint a new CEO now. Whatever strategies we devise to tackle the current crisis at Landry Corp, we need someone to execute them.


    This CEO must be exceptionally capable, with strong leadership and decisive action.""If anyone has a suitable candidate in mind, please propose them now so we can vote. "An ufortable silence filled the room; everyone hesitant, mumbling, with no names put forward.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Wayne could tell by their reactions that they were still in Alexander''s corner. He was even in the dark about when exactly Alexander had be so close with them."Does nobody have a preferred candidate?" Wayne probed. An elderly shareholder with graying hair spoke up, "Does Director Landry have someone in mind?"Wayne nced at the youthful executive across the table and said, "Let me introduce him to you-Landon Start, in charge of Landry International."


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    The young man stood graciously, "Greetings, I''m Landon Start, the head of Landry International. I haven''t had the pleasure of meeting most of you before. I look forward to working with all of you."Indeed, Landry had an international division, but it wasrgely overlooked because its primary role was servicing the domesticpany.


    It was part of the Landry Group, but operated independently, so its shares didn''t factor into the domestic ownership."So, does Landon''s appearance signify a merge of international shares with the domestic ones?" someone inquired. Wayne nodded affirmatively, "Exactly my thought.""The international branch doesn''t hold as many shares as the domesticpany, but it''s enough to address Landry''s urgent needs.""Once we merge, shares will be distributed ording to the existing ratios.


    Landon Start won''t hold shares himself, so I''ve decided to transfer all my shares to him."inly put, he was asking them to invest in buying the international division shares, then using those funds to cover the current shortfall.It was a win-win solution. Otherwise, without the merge, these shareholders would still have to pay up, lest their stock values plummeted further-losing more daily than the cost of acquiring the international shares.


    "If there are no objections, we''ll proceed with the voting now."

 Chapter 277

    A ripple of uncertainty passed through the room as the assembly exchanged nces, their reactions held in check.Undeterred, Wayne pressed on, "I vouch for Landon''spetence.


    Under his guidance, Landry International has remained unblemished.""He is more than qualified to assume the role of CEO." His words hung in the air for a moment before he continued, "Now, let''s see a show of hands from those in favor of his appointment."


    As he raised his own hand, a few others followed his lead. However, when the votes were tallied, only a sparse two or three hands were raised, with many others wavering.


    The camera panned across the room, the soft glow of the projector casting an ethereal light on the dimly lit boardroom, revealing a myriad of expressions."Is there a problem?"


    Wayne challenged, "If anyone disagrees, speak up. It''s perfectly eptable to voice your concerns."A shareholder, his hair streaked with gray, interjected, "Shouldn''t we wait for Alexander? He''s one of us¡ªa shareholder."Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Wayne cast a sidelong nce at the man, "The meeting has progressed this far without him. Do you honestly believe he will show up?""Are you implying that if he''s not here, you won''t take a stand?""Remember, you are shareholders, not subordinates! Do you need someone else''s approval to express your opinions?"


    Wayne''s voice reverberated through the room,ced with a hint of anger. His fury was palpable; he couldn''t fathom why so many were siding with Alexander, disregarding him, even as the chairman!This only solidified his conviction that his decision was the right one, particrly after Freya''s betrayal-Wayne had lost all faith in those siblings.


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    His words stirred the room, whispers and murmurs echoing off the walls; everyone could sense Wayne''s irritation."Any other objections?"


    Wayne''s gaze was piercing, sending an unspoken message that the meeting would not adjourn until everyone had made their decision. Under his intense scrutiny, a few more hands tentatively rose. The vote was now evenly split, six to six. Just one more vote in favor would tip the bnce.


    Wayne''s gaze shifted to a man seated diagonally opposite him, a slightly balding man with a hint of a double chin, giving him an affable, prosperous appearance. The man met Wayne''s stare and gave an awkward smile as he slowly raised his hand.


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    Those who hadn''t raised their hands looked on anxiously, their intense res sending silent warnings to the portly man. Despite their silent threats, he chose to align himself with Wayne.


    He reasoned that Alexander wouldn''t be showing up. Why create unnecessary animosity? Just as the man''s hand went up, the conference room door swung open abruptly.Every head turned in unison. There, in the doorway, stood Alexander, dressed in a sharp ck suit, his posture rigid. His indifferent gaze and frosty countenance swept over the room, causing the attendees to freeze, too intimidated to breathe.He strode into the room, a faint smile ying at the corners of his mouth."I see the vote is underway before I''ve even arrived. Are we electing a new deputy CEO or what?"


    He approached the head of the table at a leisurely pace, not bothering to take a seat. Instead, he kicked the chair aside, leaned forward with his hands bracing the table''s edge, and looked down imperiously at the assembled group.

 Chapter 278

    A heavy silence permeated the room, the air thick with unvoiced tension.


    Wayne, his brow furrowed in displeasure, addressed the man at the head of the table. "You''ve arrivedte even for a shareholders'' meeting, Alexander. Do you truly believe you still hold the right to that seat?" Alexander swiveled his head to meet Wayne''s gaze. "The meeting was scheduled for half past nine, and it''s merely nine now. Is that considered tardy?""Everyone else has arrived. Are we expected to dy proceedings solely for your convenience?""So, you''ve begun in my absence?"


    Alexander retorted with a cool indifference. "Proceed, then. Where did you pause? Voting, wasn''t it? As a shareholder, am I not entitled to cast my vote?"Wayne didn''t mince his words. "Didn''t you resign? We''re in the midst of choosing a new CEO. Since you''ve graced us with your presence, feel free to voice your opinion."His next words were a clear indication of the result. "Regardless, the voting is concluded. Even with your vote, the tally stands at seven to six." Alexander fell into a brief silence before a chuckle escaped his lips. Hisughter, in such a tense situation, seemed inconceivable to the others. With a casual wave of his hand, Alexander signaled Kyle Astor, who promptly understood and brought forth a document.


    Alexander tossed it onto the table with a derative statement. "Then, it''s time I exercised my rights.""ording to the bws, ownership of more than 34% grants veto power. Regrettably, I''ve just surpassed that threshold with 35%. Consequently, I dere your vote null and void."


    The announcement incited an uproar amongst the shareholders, with Wayne being the most affected."How...how is this possible?"


    Wayne stammered, snatching the document and flipping through it in disbelief.Wayne initially held a 50% share, but he had distributed some. Between Freya and Alexander, they held thirty percent, and he''d gifted Kaitlyn another three percent.


    This meant that even if he reimed Valerie''s shares, he''d only possess twenty-seven percent. This was the exact reason he had convened this shareholders'' meeting instead of directly appointing the CEO.He had thought himself astute, confident that even after distributing shares, he''d remain the majority shareholder, with Valerie''s shares virtually his to reim at any time.


    He needed a sessor, and Alexander''spetence had impressed him, leading to his decision to allocate shares.But by the time he recognized the peril, it was toote.


    Wayne could count and recount, but he couldn''t decipher where Alexander had acquired the additional shares.Freya''s and Kaitlyn''s shares amounted to a maximum of 24%. So where had this 35% originated?All the shareholders were present.


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    An extra ten percent from where?"Could it be that you..." Wayne began, but Alexander cut him off with an enigmatic smile. "Mr. Landry, you can ponder over itter. For now, we need to address thepany''s pressing issues."


    "Since we''re discussing elections, let''s revisit what Mr. Landry just mentioned. It''s true I had contemted resigning previously, but considering Mr. Landry''s current contributions to thepany, his shareholdings, and thepany''s policies, he no longer qualifies to serve as the chairman of the board."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "ording to the bws, the individual with thergest shareholding percentage should assume the role of chairman. So, it''s quite evident who should upy this position."


    "Alexander, you''re crossing a line!" Wayne exploded, mming his hand on the table, causing a water bottle to topple over.Unfazed, Alexander continued, "Oh, and let''s not forget that ording topany guidelines, any director who attempts to manipte the decision-making process by influencing shareholder votes or interfering withpany operations-seriously viting the board''s regtions should be removed from their position and stripped of their board membership.""In the spirit of fairness, let''s put it to a vote. "Alexander, leaning casually against the edge of the table, slightly lifted his hand and said, "All in favor of removing Wayne from his position and the board of directors, please raise your hand."Wayne''s face twisted with fury. What rule vition? It was nothing but baseless usations! He was hell-bent on expelling him from the board, wasn''t he?

 Chapter 279

    "Let''s see who dares to challenge me!" Wayne''s words echoed in the room, his gaze sweeping across the faces of everyone present.


    His fury was palpable, yet it seemed more like a desperate struggle than a disy of strength.


    As the room reacted to Alexander''s call for a vote, an older man, his hair graying with age, raised his hand without hesitation.


    Following his lead, hands began to rise one after another. Alexander had boldlyid his shares on the table, and it was bing increasingly clear who held the reins of power within thepany.


    Those who were not firmly aligned with Alexander seemed to sway like reeds in the wind. Seeing the majority of hands raised, they too followed suit.


    The vote was twelve to one. The lone dissenter was Wayne himself. Wayne stood there, his face a mask of disbelief. He was stunned, unable toprehend that he was being so abruptly ousted from the board.


    A smile yed on Alexander''s lips. "Mr. Landry... or should I say, Dad, the oue is clear. At your age, you should be enjoying your golden years at home, not wrestling withpany matters."Wayne''s gaze was fierce, as if he could y Alexander with his eyes alone.


    Unfazed, Alexander continued, "Earlier, you mentioned transferring your shares to this gentleman, Mr. Landry. I think it''s amendable idea. It seems like you''ve been contemting your departure from the board for some time.""Why dy the inevitable? Let''s proceed with the share transfer today.""Bullshit! Who said I was giving them to him?" Wayne retorted.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


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    A voice chimed in, "You did, Mr. Wayne. It''s all on record. You''ve been a chairman before; surely you wouldn''t go back on your word now?"Wayne was left speechless. His initial intention had been to bring Lance Quinn onto the board. But now, with Alexander firmly in control, if Quinn were to join the board after the international merger... It would mean Alexander had emerged victorious.


    With minimal effort, he had resolved thepany''s crisis and, in the process, absorbed the Quinn International Group. What a strategic move!"I disagree. I said I would transfer my shares to him only if Quinn bes the CEO..." Wayne argued."That''s perfectly fine. Mr. Quinn can take over as CEO," Alexander responded.Wayne fell silent, his resistance crumbling. He slumped into his chair, the reality of his downfall sinking in.He was finished.... Meanwhile, in a vi, several electronic experts summoned by Kyle Astor were struggling to remove the metal band around Quinn''s ankle.


    Despite their efforts, they seemed to be making no progress."Any luck? Can you remove it?" Sean asked, standing off to the side.Sean was a part of Alexander''s inner circle.


    Quinn had seen him a few times before but didn''t really know his role or position. He was rarely seen with Alexander, and this was Quinn''s first real interaction with him."The material''s peculiar. Our standard tools have no effect," one expert admitted."What about using a chemical agent to corrode it?"


    The expert shook his head. "No good. We tried. It''s neither metal norposite material. If we could study it, we''d know what it is and how to unlock it."Sean was in a quandary. They had been researching it for a whole day, and he needed to find a solution soon."Let me take a look," Sean said, crouching down to examine the band on Quinn''s ankle.


    Turning to the others, he suggested, "This disy''s electronic, right? Can we destroy it?""We could, but are you sure that''s where the listening device is?"Sean frowned. "Doesn''t matter. Destroy the disy first, and we''ll go from there."Truth be told, if Alexander hadn''t told them it was a listening device, they would''ve never guessed it.Only after the signal detector picked up a frequency did they confirm its presence.

 Chapter 280

    After a period of careful maniption, they seeded in shattering the disy. Once the screen was removed, all that remained was a ck band encircling Quinn''s ankle.


    It bore a resemnce to a bracelet, exuding a certain stylishness, if one could overlook its original function as a monitoring device.


    One of the experts produced their tools and delicately scraped the surface of the band. Despite their efforts, they only managed to collect a minuscule amount of powder. "I''ll take this back with me to analyze what kind of material it is," they announced. The man gave a nod of approval. "Alright, you guys go ahead and study that. You can go."


    With that, the group gathered their belongings and rose to leave, leaving only Quinn and the man behind, their gazes locked in silentmunication.


    He cast a nce at his watch; Alexander should be returning soon.At that very moment, Alexander found himself ensnared in a web of traffic, fingers pressed against his forehead in a clear disy of exhaustion. Kyle Astor, who was driving, asionally stole nces at Alexander.


    The board meeting that had stretched throughout the day had indeed been taxing. After a moment of contemtion, he finally voiced his concern, "Alexander, Walter has taken off. Should we go after him?"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Without even raising his eyes, Alexander responded indifferently, "Of course we bring him back."He added, "Walter wouldn''t leave Amber Bay that easily.


    Search thoroughly.""Sure... But how did you know?" Kyle asked, curiosity piqued.Alexander merely hummed in response, leaving Kyle to awkwardly fall silent. Meanwhile, back at the Empire River Estate. The man quickly briefed Alexander on the situation.


    Without missing a beat, Alexander strode purposefully toward the house. As they walked side by side, the man asked, "Alexander, what should we do now?""Get a few signal jammers," Alexandermanded."Understood."


    As Alexander entered the house, the man wisely held back, smoothly exiting the vi.Standing at the doorway, Alexander''s gaze fell upon a figure sprawled on the sofa.


    Quinn waszily seated, her gaze fixed on her ankles, her hair cascading on either side of her face, effectively hiding her cheeks.


    She waspletely unaware of Alexander''s return. That was until a hand gentlynded on top of her head.Startled, Quinn lifted her head to meet the man''s intense gaze. His eyes were aplex mix of emotions, a hint of indifference barely visible beneath the profound depth.


    Quinn''s fingers tightened involuntarily. She was suddenly reminded of their time at the farm when he had asked if she wanted to leave.


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    She took a step back. Back then, his demeanor had been cold and disappointed. For a moment, he seemed distant, as if the deep affection he had shown inside the cave was nothing more than an illusion.With Alexander, she had experienced this illusion more than once. Upon reflection, hadn''t she spent thest twenty years living in her own delusions...


    With a heavy heart, Quinn lowered her gaze. Without uttering a word, Alexander turned and ascended the stairs, leaving Quinn to watch his retreating figure.


    Her actions from the previous day and his unwavering decision to follow her off the cliff; he had every right to be disappointed.


    With a sigh, Quinn averted her gaze.After an indeterminable amount of time, Quinn finally rose from her seat and made her way to the kitchen.She stared at the full spread on the table, then cast a nce upstairs, gathering the courage to ascend. Before she approached the study, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.

 Chapter 281

    Silence was the only response to Quinn''s knock.


    After a moment, the door creaked open to reveal Alexander, standing aloofly at the threshold, his gaze directed downward at her.


    With a swift gesture of her hand, Quinn signaled that it was time to eat. Alexander''s eyes followed the movement, darkening momentarily before he suddenly seized her wrist, pinning her against the wall. "Have you lost your voice?" he queried, his toneced with a hint of irritation.


    Quinn found herself caught in his intense gaze, mere inches separating them. She parted her lips, intending to respond, but words failed her. Her voice, slower than her signing, refused to cooperate, leaving her unable to articte a coherent response.


    Alexander watched her impassively, his fingers tracing a path along her cheek, slowly outlining her lips. "What''s going on in that head of yours?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of frustration.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "I asked you toe with me, you refused, you jumped off a cliff, and now you''re cooking meals-what are you trying to say?"Quinn bit her lip, her gaze locked onto his, her mind scrambling for an exnation. "Is my presence so unbearable to you?" Alexander''s voice was calm, as if they were engaged in a casual conversation.


    Quinn shook her head in response. "Are you seeking freedom anywhere but here? Even in death?" His tone was steady, tinged with a vague sense of wistfulness and disappointment.


    A heaviness settled in Quinn''s heart as she reached up, her fingers intertwining with his. She gazed deeply into his eyes, searching for a hint of emotion.


    Alexander''s expression remained unchanged, his gaze as impassive as ever. Yet, Quinn felt a flutter of anxiety. She tried to express her feelings the only way she knew how, rising on her toes to nt a kiss on his lips.


    He remained still, tolerating her awkward kiss without response. His silence filled Quinn with a sour ache, a mistiness clouding her eyes.


    Previously, whenever she initiated, Alexander would react, whether with anger or fury-and it always worked. He had never been thisposed before. Quinn lifted her hand to undo the buttons on his shirt. Suddenly, her wrist was gripped tightly.


    Quinn looked up at him, only to see anger flickering in his eyes. "Is this all you know?""Did you use the same move on Walter?"


    His breath was hot on Quinn''s ear, his voice a whisper, yet piercing her heart like fine needles. "Do you think all men fall for the same trick?"


    Quinn''s cheek pressed against the cool wall; she shook her head with all her might. Stammering fragmented words, she managed, "Didn''t...didn''t...""Didn''t what?""Have..." Her face reddened with effort, butplete sentences eluded her. "Have or haven''t?""Not..." she attempted. "Not? Notpliant enough with him?"


    Alexander''s fingersnded on her waist, his tone deep and resonant. "Or do you simply crave a man''s touch?"Hearing these harsh words, tears in Quinn''s eyes fell despite her control. "Do you think I can''t satisfy you?"


    Quinn shook her head frantically, struggling to turn and look at him with pleading eyes. "Let''s eat, eat, eat."Alexander''s lips curled in a mocking smile. He released Quinn and headed downstairs. "Eat alone."Quinn turned around and watched his retreating figure, lifting a hand to wipe the tears from her cheek.

 Chapter 282

    A sh of contempt had unmistakably flickered in his eyes. His disdain for her was palpable. It was a revtion she should have had sooner. In the cave the previous night, his eyes had been a whirlpool of restrained madness, yet he had refrained fromying a finger on her.


    Perhaps her newfound ability to speak had momentarily perplexed him, or even piqued his curiosity. But his fleeting curiosity was no match for the choices she had made at the farm, the memory of her abandoning him for Walter. A man as proud as he would never tolerate his possession betraying him, seeking sce in the arms of another.


    In Alexander''s perspective, her actions were a physical and emotional departure from him. Every deliberate act on her part was a betrayal, a defilement. His pursuit of her, culminating in a leap off a cliff, was the ultimate testament to his mercy and forbearance.


    Descending the stairs, Quinn found the meal untouched and cold on the table. Without a word, she took her seat. She spent the entire night at the dining table, eventually sumbing to sleep with her head resting on the table. Daylight broke, but there was no sign of Alexander''s return.


    In the ensuing silence, Quinn picked up the fork and managed a few bites of the now chilled food. She then changed her clothes and hailed a cab to the office. It was only there that she might catch a glimpse of him.


    Upon her arrival at the office, Quinn sensed an unusual atmosphere. The typical office buzz was conspicuously absent, reced by an eerie quietude. "Quinn, took another day off?" a colleague joked upon seeing her. Quinn nodded and moved to her desk, having been absent for several days, she had forgotten the tasks she had previously been working on.


    She recalled that Maria was supposed to apany her. But after sitting idle for half an hour without any sign of Maria or even booting up herputer, Quinn scribbled a note and approached a colleague in the neighboring cubicle. The colleague nced at the note and informed her, "You''ve been out, so you might not know. There''s been a reshuffle in thepany, many positions have changed. Maria, I think, left thepany, but I''m not totally sure." He added, "A few from our department were transferred too, and we''re expecting some new faces soon."


    Taking note of the absent coworkers, Quinn realized that the department was indeed understaffed; besides her, only two others remained. Quinn wrote another note: Is it because of the shareholders'' meeting?


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    "The shareholders'' meeting?" The colleague seemed surprised. "I''m not sure about that. Keegan might know. But how did you hear about the meeting?"


    Quinn paused, then wrote: Just guessed.


    The colleague responded, "I don''t know what''s going on, but the office has been like a ho''s nest thesest couple of days-Everyone''s on edge. But hey, you shouldn''t have to worry, right?"


    Everyone knew that Quinn''s position was secured thanks to Kyle Astor''s influence. With connections like that, she wasn''t losing sleep over any corporate shake-ups.


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    Quinn was about to return to her desk when a coworker tugged at her sleeve, "Hey, Quinn, would you mind dropping this off to Alexander for me? I''m kinda nervous to barge in there." After a moment''s consideration, Quinn epted the file, nodding in agreement.


    "Thank you, really! Once this whole corporate storm blows over, if I''m still here, I''ll take you out to dinner!" With a small smile, Quinn made her way to the CEO''s office, file in hand.


    She knocked lightly on the door and a stranger''s voice called, "Come in." Pushing the door open, she was met with the sight of an unfamiliar man upying Alexander''s chair. He was a man in histe twenties, dressed in a suit, his features soft with a touch of schrly charm.


    Quinn thought she had made a mistake. She checked the door sign again; it read CEO''s office-no mistake there. A quick sweep of the room confirmed Alexander''s absence.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The man, engrossed in his papers, looked up, "Can I help you?" Quinn hurriedly handed over the file, catching a glimpse of a namete on the desk-Landon Kennedy!

 Chapter 283

    The namete had changed...Quinn''s heart faltered. Could the previous day''s shareholders'' meeting have resulted in Alexander''s dismissal?


    Wayne had taken advantage of his tardiness to orchestrate a coup.If a new CEO had been appointed, what would be of Alexander?Unfamiliar with such corporate intricacies, Quinn was only certain of one thing: this office had once belonged to Alexander.


    In a flurry of confusion, she sought answers from a coworker. The coworker, taken aback, eximed, "What? The CEO''s been reced?"Another colleague chimed in, "Impossible. I heard whispers of a change in the chat, but I dismissed it as a joke. Is it true?"


    "I haven''t been to the CEO''s office today.""I saw someone enter earlier, I assumed it was to meet with Alexander. Quinn, was the man dressed in a beige suit and gold-rimmed sses, looking rather dapper?"Quinn nodded emphatically. "That must be him. How did we miss this?""I''m just as baffled. What if ourpany''s been acquired?""Who would have the influence to buy us out?""Exactly... But I need to get to the bottom of this. With a new CEO, I''m on edge!""I''ll join you!" The two colleagues bolted from the office, leaving Quinn alone in the ensuing silence.Ruby was absent, as was Kyle Astor.A storm of worry brewed within Quinn.


    Could they all have been terminated as well?She reached for her phone, intending to message Alexander, but recalling his demeanor from the previous day, her hand fell back to her side. He might not even deign to reply.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    By lunchtime, however, Ruby had returned, calling a meeting with the trio."There''re going to be significant changes around here, as I''m sure you''ve noticed," Ruby announced gravely.


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    "Our positions could shift at any moment, so stay focused on your tasks. No cking off. We have a new president stepping in, and no one knows how things will be restructured."


    "The president''s changing?" one of them asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.Ruby nodded slightly, "That''s what I''m here to inform you. The new president also carries the Kennedy surname. Layoffs might be on the horizon, so I urge you to keep your work impable, no mistakes."


    "The Kennedys, again? Could it be another son from that family?"


    "Who knows? With families like that, isn''t itmon to have numerous branches?"


    "Weren''t there some issues with thepany recently? Could that be the reason for the change at the top?"Ruby cut off their spections sharply, "Enough conjecture.


    Concentrate on your work."After briefing them, Ruby exited the room with purposeful strides. Once outside, she too struggled to piece together the puzzle and ended up making a call."The LU Corporation has a new CEO; could this mean...?" Walter chuckled over the phone, "A change?""Yes, I witnessed it myself. The office staff is entirely different, and Alexander hasn''t shown up all day.""Things aren''t as simple as they seem. Keep your eyes open. And try not to call me."Ruby paused, concern creeping into her voice, "Where are you?""Don''t concern yourself with my location. Just do your job," Walter instructed."Okay..."


    Sensing Ruby''s change in demeanor, Walter teased, "Frost, you''re not worried about Alexander, are you?"Ruby stiffened instantly, rushing to rify, "No, I''m just curious, that''s all.""Good, because I''d be quite hurt if you fell for Alexander," he said, his tone yful yet carrying a hint of warning.Ruby definitely picked up on the underlying threat; her voice hardened, "Don''t worry, I won''t.""That''s for the best. Goodbye," he concluded.As the call ended, Ruby was left deep in thought.

 Chapter 284

    Meanwhile, Quinn spent the entire day at thepany. Unable to locate Alexander, she decided to send a message to Kyle Astor.


    Kyle Astor was clueless about Alexander''s whereabouts. He''d been swamped with paperwork all day. Ever since Alexander had assumed the chairman''s position, Kyle''s own status had elevated ordingly.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Now, he was the chairman''s assistant. His text reply to Quinn was sinct: [No idea.]Quinn contemted for a moment before she scrolled through her contacts and finally zeroed in on the person most likely to know Alexander''s whereabouts. But Getty wouldn''t be forting, not even if she knew where Alexander was.Resigned, Quinn then messaged Spencer. His response arrived quickly, a voice message: "Quinn, Alexander was at The Cubest night. As for today, I have no idea. I haven''t seen him."A flicker of concern crossed Quinn''s eyes.


    Had he gone to The Cube to drown his sorrows?


    Images of Alexander, drunk and disheveled, being ousted from the boardroom, and then seeking her out at the farm, flooded Quinn''s mind. She hadn''t been grateful, instead choosing to side with Walter.


    He had every right to be angry.A surge of guilt weighed heavily on Quinn''s heart.


    It was her fault. She had been oblivious to his kindness. This time, she was truly in the wrong...Quinn exited the office and hailed a cab to The Cube.


    It was her second visit; thest time, it was because of Abigail. She had no idea where to begin looking for Alexander, so she started in the lobby. The Cube''s first floor boasted a sprawling bar.


    Colorful lights dazzled, and deafening music filled the air; the ce was bustling even at this early hour.


    She navigated through the crowd, searching for any sign of Alexander.


    The shing lights made it impossible to discern faces clearly, and drunken partygoers began to draw her into the dance floor.


    Quinn pushed through and headed upstairs.


    Knowing Alexander, he wouldn''t be caught up in the midst of the bar''s chaos; he was likely in one of the upstairs private rooms.Approaching the room they had upiedst time, she peeked in, but the door was firmly shut, offering no glimpse of the situation inside.


    "What are you doing?" A voice suddenly boomed behind her, startling Quinn.


    She spun around to face a burly man, and instinctually gestured with her hands.


    The man''s eyes followed her fingers, his facial muscles twitching with a hint of interest, "Dummy?"


    Quinn''s hands paused abruptly.


    "A mute in a ce like this, for what?" He sized her up, "Looking for work?"


    Quinn shook her head and quickly typed out a message on her phone to show him: I''m here looking for someone.


    "Looking for someone, huh?" The man''s face lit up with a sly realization, a grin spreading across his features, "Well then, what are you doing standing out here? Go on in and find them."Quinn''s expression brightened with gratitude, she gave him a nod of thanks.


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    He shed a toothy smile, suddenly wrapping an arm around her waist and shoving open the door with his other hand. Before Quinn could react, she was inside, and the scene before her made her freeze.


    About three or four men were lounging around, each with a scantily d woman on hisp, their hands roving freely as the women responded with giggles and smiles.Instinctively, Quinn thought to leave, but a burly man pulled her into his embrace.


    "Hey Big Mike, trying out something new?" The guy on the other end joked, staring directly at Quinn."Picked her up outside; she''s a mute," the burly man chuckled, grabbing Quinn around the waist and hoisting her up with ease, as if she weighed nothing, leaving her struggling for breath.


    He walked a couple of steps and dropped Quinn on the couch, sending her tumbling into a heap."A mute? You sure she''s a real mute?" The others, abandoning the armfuls of women they had, crowded around, hemming Quinn in on the couch.


    Quinn shrank back into a corner, fearfully, until there was nowhere left to retreat.


    "Only one way to find out."

 Chapter 285

    Quinn''s eyes narrowed in fear, attempting to rise and flee, only to be effortlessly pushed back down by a single finger from the man. She drew her legs close, huddling in the corner of the room.


    Assuming a posture that resembled a cornered and frightened kitten, she buried her head between her knees, deceiving herself amidst her fear."Let''s give it a try; I''ve never toyed with a dummy before, I''m curious about the sensation," one man suggested.


    "Man, it''s all the same, what different feel could there be?" another retorted. The chilling words sent shivers down Quinn''s spine.


    Through the gaps between the men, she caught a glimpse of a knife and fork resting ominously on the table. Her heart pounded furiously in her chest, her fingers clenched tightly together in fear. Suddenly, one of the men grabbed her foot, dragging her closer; her struggles seemed utterly futile against his strength."So you really are just a dummy, huh?" he sneered.


    Pain clouded Quinn''s vision, her mouth opened but only a weak sound emerged. Her pained whimper seemed to excite the man."Damn, that''s thrilling, she actually makes noise!" he eximed, as if he had discovered uncharted territory. Someone pinched her leg, seemingly just to hear her let out another whimper of pain.Quinn squirmed, turning her head to bite down hard on the man''s wrist."Damn!" he hissed in pain, releasing her. Quinn tried to scramble up, but the next second her hair was yanked back.Biting her tongue to stave off the pain, a look of disgust from someone named Alexander shed through her mind, and something within her heart seemed to prick her.


    She took a deep breath and bit down hard on her tongue.CRASH!The sound of shattering ss and screams followed as a bottle broke against someone''s head. "Damn it!" Curses filled the air as another man turned to shout but was promptly silenced by a wine bottle to his forehead, which sent blood streaming down his face.


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    The man fell straight back with a thud.The others snapped to realization and immediately charged the neer.Quinn, too, instinctively opened her eyes and turned to look.


    The box was dimly lit, the intruder circled in the middle. Their path was blocked and all that could be identified in the dim light was the faint outline of a tuxedo tail.


    Quinn''s gaze flickered. She hurriedly sat up on the couch and straightened her clothes."You looking for trouble, kid?""Hold it right there."The burly man had barely made a move when a gun pressed against his temple halted everyone in their tracks."Who the hell are you?!"Walter cocked his head without answering, "Scram."The guys exchanged nces.


    The sight of the gun told them they were in over their heads. Reluctantly, they dragged their sprawledrade off the floor and scurried out of the box.


    However, no sooner had they left than they were stopped dead in their tracks by another group blocking their way. The karaoke screen was still running, but within the empty space of the box, it added to the eerie solitude. Walter''s eyes moved back to the couch.


    Quinn was watching him too.She sat in the corner of the couch, clutching her neckline with disheveled hair. Her eyes, misty with tears, fixated on him.


    The vulnerable, almost criminally alluring look in her eyes was something she never noticed herself. Walter watched her for a moment and then, dragging his wounded foot, limped over and sat down next to Quinn.


    Quinn looked at him with aplex expression. Walter smiled his signature half-smile, his gazending on the ck anklet, "You came looking for Alexander, didn''t you? Why isn''t he here to save you?"Quinn pursed her lips and nced down at the anklet. He must have followed the tracker, right?Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 286

    Despite his history of violent tendencies and having caused her pain in the past, Quinn had not anticipated him to be her savior.


    Nevertheless, she managed to convey her gratitude to him through a simple two-word gesture: Thank you."Your thanks don''t seem to hold much value," Walter retorted, attempting to rise to his feet. However, a sharp pang of pain from his reopened wound made him wince, forcing him to sit back down. Quinn''s gaze fell upon the fresh blood that was steadily seeping out onto his ck trousers, darkening the fabric. "You''re bleeding," she pointed out. Unfazed by the pain, Walter merely smiled at her remark. "What? Are you worried about me?" he asked, his toneced with amusement.


    Avoiding his gaze, Quinn prepared to take her leave. She had no desire to get entangled in any furtherplications with Walter."Ungrateful little thing, I saved you, and you''re just going to abandon me here?" he called out, halting her in her tracks.


    Turning back to face him, Quinn noticed his pallor under the dim light, a clear indication of significant blood loss. Even his smile seemed to have lost its usual vibrancy.


    After a moment of silence, she raised her hand and gestured, ''I''ll help you with that wound. Can you promise not to pursue me after this?''


    Walter watched her hands move, his amusement growing at her earnest expression, which revealed a certain naivety and innocence. "Help me first, then I''ll consider your proposition," he countered.Quinn hesitated, maintaining a safe distance from him.


    Walter, sensing her reluctance, added, "That tracker on your ankle, don''t you want to remove it?"Quinn paused, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. She didn''t trust himpletely. However, she didn''t fall for his bait."Come over and help me up," Walter beckoned, his smile seemingly benign.


    But Quinn knew the monstrous face that lurked behind that smile.Seeing her reluctance, Walter suddenly raised his hand, brandishing a gun at her. "Or, we could y a game-let''s see if you can outrun my bullet."Quinn pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the dark muzzle of the gun.


    She knew she couldn''t outrun his bullet. Her eyes fell on the bleeding wound on his leg. The injury, sustained just two days ago, had been exacerbated by recent strain, causing further damage. Weighing her options, Quinn concluded that in his current state, he wouldn''t pose much of a threat.


    Gathering her courage, she took a deep breath and approached Walter.However, as soon as she was within his reach, he seized her with one hand, causing her to stumble onto the couch.


    Before she could react, he leaned over and pinned her down."I hear you can talk now?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with amusement and a hint of danger.Quinn forced a smile and shook her head in denial. "I''ll give you a chance. Call me ''brother,'' and I''ll let you go. How about it?" he proposed.


    The word ''brother'' made her freeze. She couldn''t discern whether Walter was joking or if he had overheard something the previous night.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    But she remembered Alexander mentioning that the signals couldn''t get out."Will you call me or not?" Walter pressed, tightening his grip on her chin.Quinn averted her gaze, her lips sealed shut in defiance. Walter watched her stubbornness and couldn''t help but chuckle. "Seems like it''s really hard to get a word out of you."To her surprise, he released her. "Help me out of here," he instructed.


    Relieved, Quinn silentlyplied, offering her arm for support. They had barely taken two steps when the door to the room burst open, revealing a chilling figure at the entrance.

 Chapter 287

    A sudden constriction seized Quinn''s heart as she registered the figure at the door. Her pulse hitched, her fingers reflexively tightening around Walter''s arm.


    Walter''s voice wasced with faint amusement as he quipped, "Are you trying to strangle me?" Jolted back to reality, Quinn hastily released her grip and stepped away, creating a buffer of space between herself and Walter. Observing her reaction, Walter couldn''t suppress augh, though it was tinged with irritation. "Utterly ridiculous," he muttered. Having voiced his thoughts, he lifted his gaze to the entrance where Alexander stood. "Well, if it isn''t Alexander. Talk about perfect timing."Alexander, paying no heed to Quinn, sauntered over to Walter, his expression indifferent. "Not so much timing. I''ve been waiting for you."


    A chuckle escaped Walter. "What if I hadn''t shown up? Were you nning to leave her to fend for herself?" Alexander''s response was a cold, silent stare. His silence was a dagger to Quinn''s heart. Did he know she was here, what they were doing to her?


    Quinn watched him intently, her gaze fixated on his tightly pressed lips, hoping for some exnation. But none came. The room descended into an ufortable silence that stretched on until Alexander finally turned and walked out without a backward nce. "Take him away," was all he said.


    Quinn watched his retreating figure, her heart sinking into a directionless abyss of darkness. Shortly after, two bodyguards entered, escorting Walter out and confiscating the gun from his hand.


    Walter offered no resistance, allowing them to lead him away. Peoplee and go quickly. Quinn was left standing alone in the VIP room, her gaze lingering on the doorway, suddenly unsure of her next steps.


    She hade with a heart full of worries to find him, only to be used as bait. For a long time, Quinn questioned herself, the events of the previous night, and the person who had jumped off a cliff with her without a second thought. It was all so chaotic.


    A sharp pain shot through her head. Clutching at her temple, Quinn slowly squatted down. Amidst the surrounding disarray, she felt as discarded as the trash around her.


    After a while on the floor, the pain subsided a little. She pulled herself up using the table, and with heavy steps, walked toward the exit.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


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    As she left The Cube, the chilling wind howled, dispersing Quinn''s warmth and clearing her mind slightly."Quinn," Kyle Astor called out nearby. She turned, looking at Kyle with weary eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but then closed it without a word. "Get in the car. Alexander asked me to drive you home," Kyle motioned courteously towards the vehicle parked by the curb.


    With her head bowed, Quinn silently slipped into the car. Kyle drove her to the Regal River Estate and walked her to the door, reminding her to lock up before he left.


    Suddenly, she tugged at his sleeve. Kyle paused and turned back, "Quinn, something else?" Her head lowered, messy hair veiling her face.


    After a while, she looked up and typed a message for him on her phone: [Will he be back tonight?]Kyle Astor stared at the message, momentarily struck silent. "Why don''t you ask Alexander directly, Quinn?" he suggested with a slight hesitation. "I''m not quite sure either."Quinn typed again: [What about Walter?]Kyle furrowed his brows, as if he''d rather not be reminded of that name. "I don''t know," he said.


    "You might want to ask Alexander yourself." He deflected everything to Alexander, steering clear of saying anything he might regret. Quinn fell into silence. Seeing that she had nothing more to say, Kyle turned and left the vi.

 Chapter 288

    Quinn found herself perched on the edge of the couch, her gaze habitually locked onto the wall clock, watching as the second hand made its relentless journey.


    The tick-tock of the clock was aforting rhythm, a constant in her life of uncertainties. Each time she found herself waiting for Alexander''s return, her eyes would be drawn to that clock, her heart fluttering with the hope that he might walk through the door with the next tick. Yet, more often than not, the person she yearned for never arrived.


    As the clock struck midnight, a sudden realization dawned on Quinn. She remembered her notebook, a vessel for her thoughts and memories. Reaching for it, she began to record the events of the past, each memory etched into her mind with crystal rity.


    The thought of forgetting such profound memories was a heartbreaking one. Her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts, of things she yearned to do.


    She wondered if she would remember them all if she ever lost her memory. As she settled into the rhythm of writing, her focus was shattered by the sound of footsteps.


    Her head jerked up, her eyes meeting a familiar face. Instinctively, she hid the notebook behind her. Yet, hidden things have a way of revealing themselves, especially to someone as perceptive as Alexander. He extended his hand, his voice firm, "Hand it over."


    Quinn''s grip on the notebook tightened, her knuckles turning white.Alexander stood before her, d in a ck trench coat, a matching suit underneath, and a silver-grey shirt. His dark attire contrasted starkly against the light, making him an imposing figure.


    He towered over her, his gaze piercing as he asked again, "Is there a secret that can''t be discovered? Something I''m not allowed to see?"Quinn shook her head, her eyes wide with fear.His eyes darkened momentarily as he extended his long fingers towards her, "Let''s have it."Her grip on the notebook was shaky, her palms sweaty.


    The content of the notebook was personal, parts of it not meant for anyone else, especially not him.But before she could conjure an excuse, Alexander leaned in, one hand pressing on her shoulder, the other swiftly snatching the notebook from behind her.


    Quinn''s heart pounded in her chest as she rose to snatch it back. The height difference was significant. He raised an arm to block her, the other hand already flipping the notebook open. Quinn''s pupils dted, her breath hitching in her throat.As he opened it, she stopped struggling, the realization sinking in that he had seen everything. His expression shifted subtly, and he nced at Quinn with a tilt of his head.Quinn hung her head in shame.


    "I wanna go fly a kite," he read from the notebook in a calm, maic voice, devoid of any emotion. Yet, his words made Quinn feel utterly out of ce."I wanna see fields of flowers."I want an obedient Golden Retriever."I''d also love to take a ride in a hot air balloon."


    Quinn couldn''t bear to listen any longer. To her, these were the things she yearned for, but to him, they seemed like trivialities. But read out by him without a hint of feeling, they felt almost like an insult or mockery.


    She felt small, her desires seeming insignificant, her boldness to pen them down now seeming foolish.The sensation was akin to streaking in public.


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    It reminded Quinn of the time Freya had read her diary aloud for all to hear, how they had mocked her for writing even about a hairpin.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Theyughed, calling her naive, but only Quinn knew that it wasn''t for the hairpin''s beauty that it earned a ce in her diary, but because... It was a gift from Alexander.


    Quinn shook his arm, begging him to stop.Alexander paused and nced at her, closing the notebook and cing it before Quinn. "Howe I didn''t know you had all these things you wanted to do?" he asked. "Who do you want to do them with?"


    Faced with his probing, Quinn stepped back, but he closed in another step.She fell back onto the couch."With Abigail?"Or with Walter?"

 Chapter 289

    With a swift, decisive motion, Quinn extended her hand to seize the notebook.


    As if anticipating her move, he deftly flicked his wrist, tucking the notebook behind his shoulder, far from her reach.


    Her hand lingered in the air, fingers curled in a silent plea, while she bit her lip. Her eyes, a striking contrast of ck and white, were fixed on him with an intensity that was almost palpable."Who do you wish to share the sight of the flowers with?" he asked, his voice echoing in the silence."And who would you choose to apany you in the hot air balloon?"Quinn''s eyshes fluttered in surprise, and she shook her head.


    She hadn''t considered the idea ofpany; her list was merely a safeguard against forgetfulness. She harbored a fear that in a moment of nk memory, she would lose sight of those simple wishes. What came naturally to others, she feared, would be regrets in her own vacant spaces.


    Alexander''s gaze upon her turned icy, a stark contrast to the warmth of their previous exchange.


    He gently held her chin, his voice low and insistent, "Tell me, who do you wish to apany?"His grip was not harsh-in fact, it was tender-but the intensity radiating from him made it difficult for Quinn to draw breath.


    Her lips trembled, and after what seemed like an eternity, she managed to whisper, "No one."Her voice was faint, reminiscent of a kitten''s mew, with a hint of nasality that pierced his heart.


    Alexander chuckled, his fingers tracing her chin, "It appears I''ve indeed made you feel insignificant.""I was unaware that your heart had wandered so far away."Quinn reached for his hand, but he abruptly stood up straight, leaving her hand grasping at thin air.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Alexander flipped open his notebook once more, his eyes skimming over the hastily scribbled text, before ncing at Quinn.Upon catching his gaze, Quinn instinctively rose to her feet.


    With a swift, deliberate motion, Alexander tore the notebook in half right before Quinn''s eyes. Stunned, Quinn watched as he continued to rip the pages - first in half, then quarters - until they were mere fragments.


    With a flick of his wrist, the pieces fluttered through the air like snowkes, scattering in all directions. "It appears I''ll have to impose on you a bit longer," he said, his tone indifferent as if what he had just destroyed was of no consequence. The bits of paper drifted around Quinn, settling in her hair and on her shoulders, as if attempting to offer some form offort.


    With that, Alexander turned and ascended the stairs, his steps stirring the scattered scraps further.Quinn stood silently in the living room, her gaze nkly fixed on the debris scattered across the floor.


    It took her a moment to kneel down and begin gathering the shredded paper, like insignificant wishes torn apart.


    Shey on the floor, gathering the pieces from under the coffee table, then those hidden beneath the sofa. From the second floor, Alexander watched her, hands in his pockets, his gaze focused on the figure kneeling below.


    She collected those fragments with such meticulous care, as if she was gathering rare treasures. He couldn''t have known that what he had so carelessly shredded were things Quinn had struggled to remember. Perhaps by tomorrow, she would no longer recall them.


    With the torn pieces cradled in her arms, Quinn moved to the storage room, where she ced them inside a small box. She stood there for a long time, long enough to forget what she hade there for.


    When Quinn finally turned to leave the storage room, she found Alexander standing there, his presence unexpected. He was d in a silver-grey shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing the contours of his corbone and Adam''s apple.Quinn stared at him for a moment before remembering what she wanted to ask.


    Using hand gestures, she inquired: Did you leave thepany?She wanted to ask if he had been ousted from the board, but the question seemed too harsh. His eyes fixed on her and after a moment of silence, he spoke, "If I did, would you be ready to pursue your heart''s desires?"Taken aback, Quinn shook her head rapidly, gesturing: Did you really leave?"Yes."Suddenly, Quinn found herself at a loss for words. After a long silence, she gestured: I''m sorry.

 Chapter 290

    "Sorry?"Quinn''s head bobbed in affirmation. "I''m at fault here, I apologize.""And what is your proposed course of action?"A hush descended once more before Quinn summoned the courage to respond. "I n to earn money." A hint of amusement flickered across Alexander''s lips. "You intend to earn money? For what purpose?"Quinn was adamant. "To ensure you don''t starve."


    His smile waned, and he fixed her with an intense gaze, remaining silent for a prolonged period, his thoughts inscrutable.


    At length, he lifted his hand, gently stroking her cheek. "If you''re so proficient, why not assist me in recovering the billions thepany has lost?"Quinn was taken aback.


    She was suddenly reminded of Kyle Astor''s warning about potential incarceration was it due to thepany''s billion-dor debt?"Having second thoughts?"Alexander leaned in closer. "Fear won''t serve you well. We''re married, the debt is ours to share. If you wish to divorce and pursue your so-called dreams, you''ll need to settle half of it first.""Do you understand?"


    Quinn had no real concept of how much a few billion amounted to, but she knew it was a significant sum. A sum sorge she couldn''t hope to repay it in several lifetimes, which meant divorce from Alexander was an impossibility in this lifetime.


    Suddenly, she sped his hand, her gaze offering reassurance, signaling hermitment to stay.Alexander fell silent once more.After a lengthy pause, he finally spoke. "Go freshen up."Quinn was aware he had been dismissed from his job, a fact that clearly didn''t sit well with him.


    Such a fall from grace was enough to unnerve anyone.She resolved not to further agitate his already vtile mood and toply with his requests.


    She turned and ascended the stairs to shower, washing repeatedly. Upon her return, Alexander casually presented her with a set of clothes. Quinn swiftly epted them.She owned several simr sets. The thought caused her cheeks to flush a deep crimson."Put them on."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Silence. She stole a nce at Alexander, now seated on the couch, nonchntly lighting a cigarette, his prating gaze fixed on her.Taking a deep, inward breath-acknowledging his upset state three times she retreated to the bathroom with the clothes.


    After changing, she felt self-conscious, uncertain of how to act or where to position herself.Alexander remained still, his gaze sweeping over her.Stepping forward, Quinn blushed as she indicated: I''m changed.He patted his thigh, his meaning clear without the need for words. She positioned herself beside him, acutely aware of his scrutiny.


    Alexander tilted her chin upward with a finger, a smirk ying on his lips, causing Quinn''s heart to flutter.A look of scorn and derision."Were you thispliant at Walter''s?"


    Quinn''splexion paled slightly, panic shing across her features.Had Walter sent those videos to him?Her fingers clenched tightly, too fearful to meet his gaze.Suddenly, the atmosphere grew icy, a chilling cold that sent shivers down Quinn''s spine.He adjusted Quinn''s face, "Answer me."

 Chapter 291

    Quinn''s fingers curled tightly around the fabric of his sleeve, her silence stretching out into a palpable tension. Her gaze, locked onto his, was filled with uncertainty, her emotions a tumultuous sea she couldn''t navigate. Suddenly, Alexander rose from his seated position, leaving Quinn alone on the couch. He pivoted, ready to make his exit.


    In a swift, desperate motion, Quinn reached out, her hand once again finding purchase on his sleeve. Alexander paused, his gaze softening momentarily as he looked back at her. The plea in her eyes was impossible to ignore. But the moment was fleeting. The shrill ring of his phone cut through the silence, demanding his attention. He pulled the device from his pocket, answering the call under Quinn''s watchful eyes. Getty''s voice echoed from the speaker, "Alexander, it''s been days. Where are you?"


    "At home," he replied.


    Getty''s irritation was palpable at his response, a reaction she had every time he uttered those two words. Yet, she maintained herposure, "I''m back in Amber Bay. Come see me."


    Alexander didn''t respond. Instead, he cast a sidelong nce at Quinn, who was still clutching his sleeve. But as she met his indifferent gaze, her grip loosened, her hand falling away from him.


    It was only then that Alexander responded to Getty, "Where are you?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "I justnded. Could you pick me up at the airport?"


    "Sure."


    With that, he ended the call. Without sparing another nce at Quinn, he walked out, leaving her alone once again.


    Quinn remained on the couch, her eyes following his retreating figure. She bit her lip, her head bowing in silent resignation as the door closed behind him.


    Alexander drove directly to the airport, the distance causing him to arriveter than expected. Getty had been waiting in the parking lot, her patience wearing thin. But her irritation evaporated as a Bentley pulled up smoothly in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing Alexander''s tall, upright figure. Getty''s face lit up at the sight of him. She wasted no time in opening the door and sliding into the passenger seat.


    An agent, who had apanied Getty, conscientiously ced her luggage in the trunk before taking his ce in the back seat. Getty threw her arms around Alexander as soon as she was settled, resting her head on his shoulder, "Alexander, I''ve missed you so much. Didn''t you miss me?"


    "Put on your seatbelt," he responded, his tone as cold as ever. Getty pouted, butplied, buckling her seatbelt.


    The agent in the backseat stole nces at Alexander. The rumors about Getty''s benefactor being a tall, rich, and handsome man were indeed true. One look at the sharp eyes reflected in the rearview mirror was enough to tell the agent that Alexander was not a man to be trifled with.


    Gettyunched into a tirade ofints about her exhausting filming schedule, the long hours spent in makeup, and her waning interest in acting. She even whimsically expressed a desire to be a singer. Alexander remained silent, allowing her to chatter on.


    Eventually, Getty sensed his unusual quietness. She stopped her rambling and turned to him, "Alexander, why are you so quiet? Is something bothering you today?" "You finally noticed," Alexander responded, his tone ambiguous. Yet, Getty detected a hint of jest in his voice.


    Suddenly, realization dawned on Getty, "Oh right, I came across some news a few days ago. Did something happen with The Kennedys?"


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    "And you? Were you affected?"


    Keeping his eyes on the road, Alexander responded with an air of indifference, "Does resigning count?"


    "Resign, you resigned?" Getty was taken aback, her understanding of such matters limited. In her mind, the president of apany was invincible. Who could he possibly resign to? "What do you mean? You''re no longer president of The Kennedys?"


    "That''s what I mean."


    "Ah..." Getty''s expression shifted. She nced at the rearview mirror, subtly checking the agent''s reaction. She had been bragging about Alexander just days before. Now, with Alexander''s revtion that he was no longer the president, had she not thoroughly embarrassed herself?

 Chapter 292

    Getty managed to muster a smile, her voiceced with incredulity. "You''re not joking, are you?"


    A chuckle escaped Alexander''s lips. "Would youpensate me if I were ?"


    Getty fell into silence, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The revtion from Alexander struck her like a lightning bolt, scattering her excitement int o fragments of disarray.


    She was not averse to material possessions, but her affection for Alexander was undeniably sincere. Yet, if he had no intention of marrying her and was now devoid of wealth and power, what reason did she have to remain by his side? Perhaps it was the prolonged silence that piqued Alexander''s curiosity. He cast a sidelong nce at her, his eyes questioning.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Jolted back to reality, Getty managed to keep her smile intact. "Nothing, nothing at all. I''m just intrigued, why did you abruptly resign?"


    "My actions resulted in thepany losing several billion," Alexander confessed, his tone devoid of emotion.


    Getty''s eyes widened in shock. "Billions?"


    "Yes."


    The word ''billions'' nearly knocked Getty off her seat. She had no realprehension of such a figure; after all, she had never encountered such an amount in her lifetime. "So, you''re in debt now?"


    "You could put it that way."


    Getty was once again rendered speechless. Her emotions were in turmoil. Not only had he resigned, but he was also in debt. His image in her mind took a nosedive.


    "Why the silence again?" Alexander''s voice held a hint of amusement, a stark contrast to his current financial predicament, which only served to confuse Getty further. She wondered if Alexander was testing her.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "What am I supposed to say? Are you nning on getting a divorce then?"


    "I''m not," he replied, his tone firm and unwavering.


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    Getty''s irritation bubbled to the surface. "Then what do you expect me to say?"


    Noticing the agent tuning into their conversation, she swallowed her words, deciding it was best to wait until they were alone to voice her thoughts. Her mind was a storm of confusion. Deep down, if Alexander was willing to divorce his wife and marry her, it wasn''t something she''d outright reject. After all, a man of his pride wouldn''t really expect her to pay off his debts, would he? Moreover, as the saying goes, ''a lean camel is still bigger than a horse'' marrying Alexander wouldn''t be a loss for her.


    However, if he refused to divorce, what could she possibly look forward to?


    Was she expected to endure hardships alongside him without recognition or bear the brunt of others'' disparagement?


    This thought strengthened a sliver of resolve in Getty''s heart.


    Eventually, the car pulled up to Getty''s neighborhood.


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    She instructed the agent to hail a cab home. Once he had departed, leaving just the two of them in the car, Getty turned to Alexander, her eyes reflecting utmost seriousness. "Alexander, were you truly not joking?"


    He met her gaze, his expression equally earnest and stern. "I wasn''t joking."


    His response caused Getty''s heart to flutter. She managed a smile, momentarily at a loss for words.


    After a moment, Getty reached out, her hand gripping his arm. "Alexander, it''s not that I disdain you, but there are things I need to say."


    Alexander lit a cigarette, his fingers idly tracing the steering wheel, and responded nonchntly, "Go ahead."


    "I genuinely like you. I don''t care if you''re a CEO, nor am I concerned about your wealth. But if I''m with you, you have to marry me."


    "If you won''t marry me, and you can''t support me, then... what am I even doing with you?"


    At this, Alexander''s lips curled up slightly, a hint of amusement flickering at the corners.

 Chapter 293

    Alexander''s gaze rested on Getty, his smile cryptic. "So?" he asked.


    "There is no ''so''," Getty retorted, her voice trembling slightly. "I''m flustered, Alexander. If you won''t marry me, I can''t find a single reason to convince myself to stay." Alexander merely watched her, his silence as profound as the night sky.


    Getty persisted, her voice edged with desperation. "Alexander, just tell me, do you even like me?"


    "Is that important?" he asked, his tone nonchnt.


    "Of course it''s important!" she eximed. "If you don''t like me, and we have nothing now, and you''re not nning to marry me, wouldn''t I be a fool to stick around?" Alexander gave a mock nod of agreement. "Indeed, you''re making a lot of sense."


    "Get out," he finally said, his voice devoid of emotion.


    Thosest words struck Getty like a bolt of lightning. "What?"


    "Get out, and let''s not keep in touch."


    Getty was at a loss for words. She had mentally prepared herself for this conversation, weighing the pros and cons. But when Alexander uttered those words, her heart plummeted. She felt as though she had been thrown into an ice-cold cer, a wave of panic washing over her, draining the color from her face.


    Indeed, true emotions can never deceive the heart, and hers had already delivered the unequivocal answer. She had fallen for him, deeply and irrevocably. There was no convincing herself to leave.


    In a moment of impulse, Getty reached out, her fingers clutching his arm. "Alexander, I..."


    Before she could finish, Alexander interrupted her. "You''re not to me, anyone would feel the same way. No need to exin."


    "No, I meant to say..."


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    He cut her off again. "As I''ve said before, you''re free to leave whenever you wish, whether it was earlier or now, the choice is yours."


    Those words, seemingly considerate, pierced Getty with their cold indifference, like fine needles jabbing directly into her heart. Tears began to cascade down her cheeks unbidden.


    She clung to Alexander''s arm, her voice choked with emotion. "But you also said, as long as I stayed with you, you wouldn''t cast me aside."


    Alexander let out an amused huff, his gaze intense as if trying to see right through her. "You just mentioned that yourself, forgotten so soon?"


    "I..." Getty faltered, already regretting her words.


    "Getty, I''m not the one pushing you away, this is your decision. Once made, don''t hesitate."


    Shaking her head, Getty replied, "No, I''ve changed my mind. I''m not leaving. No matter how much debt you have, whether you''re still the CEO or not, or even if we ended up homeless, I''d still stand by you! "You could even stay married..."


    She whispered the words softly, a humble confession, but it stemmed from the depths of her heart. She simply couldn''t let go of Alexander. She loved him. Loved him to the point of desperation.


    It was only when she stripped away the superficial material desires and faced the prospect of separation that she confronted her true feelings. Even she found it unbelievable, the depth of her love for him. Alexander''s stare lingered on her, speechless, the smile fading from his face.


    In a bid to prove her sincerity, Getty grabbed her purse, ferociously digging out several bank cards, keys to her house, and her car. She dumped them all in front of him. "These were all from you, take them back, sell them, they should be worth something."


    Alexander nced at the assortment of items, still silent.


    Getty went on, "Oh, and the paycheck from thistest film, I''ll give that to you too.


    "After all, you''ve made me famous. I have some value now, I''ll just do more movies. If ites to it, I can do live-streaming, promote products online. We''ll pay off the debts together!"

 Chapter 294

    Getty''s words wereced with urgency, her cheeks flushed from thebined effects of her haste and the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She held Alexander''s gaze, her eyes brimming with emotion. Before he could respond, the tears she had been holding back spilled down her cheeks. She clutched Alexander''s hand, disying a level of humility and pleading that was uncharacteristic of her. "Please, don''t send me away," she implored. Alexander''s gaze, deep and thoughtful, lingered on her face. He studied her for a long moment before heaving a sigh of resignation. He took hold of Getty''s hand, using his free hand to gently wipe away her tears. "Why put yourself through this?" he asked.


    "I can''t help it," Getty confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "As I walked here, I found myself reflecting on everything, all from my perspective. I was tempted to act selfishly.


    "I could''ve just left you behind.


    "But the thought of us parting ways, of possibly never seeing you again, it felt as though a piece of my heart was being ripped out. Life seemed pointless without you."


    Her words elicited augh from Alexander.


    "How can you stillugh? You said the choice was mine. So, I''m staying. Even if you end up panhandling, I''ll be right there beside you!"


    Aplex expression flickered across Alexander''s face.


    After a moment of silence, he spoke softly. "Alright, no more crying."


    Getty hastily wiped away her tears, her grip on Alexander''s arm tightening. She looked into his eyes, her own filled with deep affection. "So, we''re not breaking up, right?"


    "As long as you''re happy," Alexander replied. "You! Just be clear about what being with me entails, what you could face in the future, as long as you''re prepared for that." "I know it all, better than anyone! Don''t say another word." Getty''s tone was resolute, her gaze unwavering as she stared at him, as if trying to prove her determination. Alexander pondered for a while before withdrawing his hand. "If you''re sure, then that''s good. Let''s get out of the car."


    Getty leaned against his shoulder, her voice yful as she asked, "Can''t you stay tonight? Just be with me."


    He picked up the various items scattered on the dashboard, grabbed her purse, and began stuffing items into it.


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    Handing her the purse, Alexander said, "Not tonight, I have things to do."


    "What things?"


    "That''s not your concern."


    Getty bit her lip, a flicker of anger crossing her face, but she quickly suppressed it, still shaken from the recent threat of a breakup.


    "Are you going back to that dummy?" she asked, her tone wounded.


    "It''s work-rted. Now, go back and get some rest," Alexander replied, cing the purse in herp and unbuckling her seatbelt as a final parting gesture. Alexander rarely offered exnations, so Getty felt slightly reassured. His demeanor made it clear to her that he wasn''t nning on breaking up with her after all.


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    If she walked away, he wouldn''t show the slightest hint of sentimentality, even more so than her disy just moments ago.


    It was his ability to detach himself that made her feel utterly helpless, that drew her deeper into their rtionship.


    Had he shown even a sliver of clinginess just then, Getty would not have felt so shaken and insecure.


    Indeed, in matters of the heart, regardless of the other person''s status, it''s the one who holds the reins that ends up on top.


    Getty clutched her purse, reluctantly opened the car door, and stepped out. As she walked through the gates of her apartmentplex, she couldn''t help but look back. He had driven off without a second nce, leaving her with nothing but the trail of exhaust fumes in the air.


    Looking down at her purse, Getty decided against going upstairs. Instead, she sat down in the lobby and pulled out her smartphone to search for recent news about Landon Corp.


    The search yielded a few scattered stories, some from just a few hours earlier. As expected, Landon Corp had a new CEO, a man named Landon Yates. Getty frowned slightly, put away her phone, and gazed up at the ceiling. He hadn''t lied to her. He really was no longer the CEO of Landon Corp!

 Chapter 295

    The tension in Getty''s fingers was palpable as they clenched her purse. She would be deceiving herself if she imed the desire to flee was absent. Yet, the frosty visage of Alexander, shing in her mind''s eye, swiftly extinguished any such inclination. However, she found herself unable to relinquish her hold. Love, she mused, was a truly terrifying entity.


    A wry smile tugged at the corners of Getty''s lips as she resigned herself to her fate. It appeared that in this lifetime, she was irrevocably ensnared in his clutches.


    Upon departing theplex, Alexander made a beeline for home. However, his destination was not his customary residence at Riverside Court, but a secluded vi on Midhill Lane. This vi, usually devoid of life save for the caretakers, was unusually bustling with additional guards that day.


    The security guard stationed at the entrance immediately recognized Alexander''s car and respectfully swung the gate open, his gaze following the retreating vehicle. Once the car had disappeared from sight, he promptly secured the iron gate


    once more.


    Alexander brought his car to a halt in front of one of the vis. His aide, Sean Vance, promptly rushed over to open the car door for him.


    "Alexander."


    "Where is he?"


    "Inside," Sean responded hastily, leading the way not through the vi, but around to the backyard.


    The backyard served as a haven for pets, which were allowed to roam freely within an enclosure at night and confined during the day. This was where Walter was supposed to be held captive.


    Sean had initially nned to intimidate Walter by throwing him into a cage with the animals, hoping the fear would drive him to seek refuge within the cage in a humiliating fashion.


    However, when they arrived at the backyard, they were met with a starkly different scene. A group of hounds were huddled in a corner, their bodies forming a makeshift bed for Walter. On a chilly night like this, the warmth radiating from the dogs was a weefort.


    Waltery sprawled out, his hands cushioning his head, seemingly either resting his eyes or asleep. The sight turned Sean''splexion ashen, his gaze darting nervously to Alexander standing beside him.


    "Alexander, this..." He trailed off, unable toplete his sentence, taken aback by the undignified sight of the dogs.


    "That beast''s good for nothing. Just kill it." Alexander''s words were flippant as he pushed the gate open and sauntered in.


    The dogs, picking up on his scent, began to rise one by one, their eyes trained on him.


    Even the ones serving as Walter''s makeshift pillow stirred, nearly causing Walter to tumble to the ground. Fortunately, he managed to steady himself in time.


    Upon seeing Alexander approach, Walter chuckled, "I should''ve known it was you, Oliver."


    The dogs scattered, clearing a path for Alexander.


    He came to a halt in front of Walter, his gaze looking down at him from above, "Only you could find a reason tough when death is so close."


    Walter responded with a nonchntugh, "Is that so? Then why don''t you just kill me?"


    "Let me guess, it''s because of Quinn?"


    "So you did find out about her identity, what are we going to do now?" Walter taunted, his tone light and joking, seemingly unafraid of the impending doom at Alexander''s hands. Alexander didn''t engage in the banter. He squatted down in front of Walter, a smirk ying on his lips, "There are many ways to torture a man, not all of them involve killing." "I see. So, what do you have nned for my torture?"


    "I''ll have to put some thought into that," Alexander responded, his tone as casual as if they were engaged in idle chatter, "Perhaps we can start with physical castration, how''s that sound?"


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    Walter''s smile faltered momentarily but he quickly recovered, hisughter strained, "That''s quite brutal."


    "You seem to like the idea, so... Vincent!"


    Vincent, summoned, promptly strode over. "Alexander?"


    Alexander tilted his head slightly, "Mr. Pierce seems a bit incapacitated. Perhaps you could assist him."


    Vincent felt a twinge of difort at these words but managed to nod in agreement despite it. "Of course."


    "Hold on." Walter suddenly interjected, his once unwavering smile now showing signs of strain, "Alexander, don''t you want to know why I gave up without a fight?" Alexander rose to his feet, nonchntly dusting off invisible creases on his sleeve, "I did want to know, but now, it seems unnecessary."


    "How about a trade then?"


    "Not interested."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 296

    Walter propped himself up, sitting erect as he fixed his gaze on Alexander. "No, you''re interested," he dered. Alexander''s eyes narrowed, the gears in his mind visibly turning. "Oh?" he responded, his voiceced with curiosity.


    "Do you know who owns thepany TOPSUN?" Walter continued, his voice steady and calm.


    Alexander''s eyes bore into him, pondering for a moment before replying, "It''s Langley Quill''s."


    A hint of a smile yed on Walter''s lips. "As expected, smart."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "He must have entered the Lang Corporation by now, right? Then you might also guess what he''s up to," Walter added, his gaze never leaving Alexander''s face. He noticed Alexander''s silence and probed further, "So, you''re interested now, huh?"


    A sardonic smile yed at the corners of Alexander''s mouth. "What''s the matter, nning on a dog-eat-dog showdown with him?"


    Walter burst intoughter at thement. "Oh, Alex, the dog-eat-dog fight is among you guys, not me. I just love watching your family tear each other apart. So really, it doesn''t make a difference to me whose side I''m on-you should know that."


    It was a harsh truth, but true nheless.


    Luke was Wayne''s illegitimate son. Though Wayne never acknowledged it, it was obvious to anyone with eyes.


    Ambitious to the core, just like Alexander, Luke had decided to employ a risky strategy after his previous ns failed. He aimed to walk straight into the family business and challenge Alexander head-on. Wasn''t this the very definition of dog-eat-dog?


    Wayne had been generous to this son, splitting off an international division solely for him. But Luke wasn''t satisfied; he was greedy for more.


    He wanted everything that was Alexander''s.


    As for what Alexander was plotting, probably only he knew.


    Walter whispered, "How about we take over TopSun as well?"


    Before Alexander could respond, Walter added, "Don''t y the ''I don''t need you'' card, Alex. He''s holding twenty-seven percent of Wayne''s shares, not much less than you, plus he''s got TopSun backing him." "With your intelligence, you must be able to foresee what you''re up against, right?"


    Eyes narrowing, Alexander held Walter''s gaze, neither man willing to back down.


    In the dim light of the courtyard, their faces were cast in shadow, the chilly air carrying the tension between them.


    Suddenly, Alexander turned on his heel and strode away.


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    "Xavier, make sure Walter receives a proper wee," he called without looking back.


    Startled, Xavier responded, "Yes, sir!"


    Walter couldn''t help butugh bitterly. Working with someone like this was masochistic.


    Once Alexander had left, Xavier stepped on Walter''s wound. "I apologize, Walter!"


    Pain shot through Walter, causing a cold sweat to break out on his forehead, but he bit back any cry of anguish.


    He red at Xavier through gritted teeth. "I''m allied with your boss Alexander just this once. Don''t push your luck!"


    Xavier paused, taking in Walter''s stern look, and retracted his foot with an awkward expression.


    He was just a keeper, and once these sharks went after each other, they could spell the end for someone like him. People who could hold their own against Alexander were no simpletons-Xavier knew he was out of his league. "Let me find another way to entertain you," Xavier muttered, picking up a dog from the side-the very one that had served as Walter''s cushion earlier and dragged the animal out with him.


    That night, Alexander hadn''t returned home.


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    Early the next morning, Quinn headed back to the office.


    She couldn''t afford to lose her job, not with Alexander unemployed. Otherwise, they might as well be begging on the streets together.


    After arriving at work, Ruby approached her immediately.


    "Quinn, could you take a look at this? If everything seems alright, just sign at the bottom," she said, handing over a document.


    Quinn briefly scanned it. Emboldened across the top were the words - Notice of Personnel Reassignment.


    She looked at Ruby, puzzled.


    "Don''t worry, you''re not being fired. We''re just transferring you to a new position. Upper management decided. You''ll be working upstairs in the executive suite as a secretary." Quinn was taken aback. The executive suite?


    That was Wayne''s territory-was she to be his secretary?


    "Come on, don''t just stand there. Sign it and move your stuff up," Ruby urged her.

 Chapter 297

    A wave of defiance welled up within Quinn. Despite having been raised in Wayne''s world, her interactions with him were minimal at best. To him, she was likely as inconsequential as the air he breathed. Wayne, on the other hand, was a figure of stern authority and demanding expectations in her eyes. The fear of failing in her new role and facing potential dismissal by him was a constant shadow. "Quinn?" Ruby''s voice pierced through her internal monologue, pulling her back to reality. She mustered a smile, picked up a pen, and signed her name on the document before handing it back to Ruby. Ruby gave the signed paper a quick once-over. "Alright, gather your things and head upstairs to check in."


    Quinn nodded in acknowledgment, returning to her desk to collect her sparse belongings. Her tenure at thepany had been brief, resulting in a small box of personal items.


    With her box in tow, Quinn took the elevator to the top floor. The silence that greeted her was unexpected, the floor seemingly deserted and eerily quiet. Natural light streamed in through the expansive windows, casting a cool, ethereal glow on the floor. The soft echo of her footsteps on the hard surface was the only sound as she made her way to the central office.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Before she could knock, the door swung open to reveal Kyle Astor, documents in hand. "Quinn?"


    His sudden appearance caught her off guard. She instinctively peered into the office, but her view was obstructed by the door. Noticing the box in her hand, Kyle quickly pieced together the situation. "Quinn, are you the new transfer? Wee!"


    She nodded, uncertain of her next move. Kyle chuckled, "Well, you should go in and talk to Alexander. He''ll sort out where you''ll be sitting."


    A wave of dread washed over Quinn. Despite sharing the samest name as Wayne, she had a sinking feeling that Kyle wasn''t referring to him. "But hey, it could be a good gig for you. Looks like it''ll be a breeze working here, hardly anything to do."


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    To Quinn, every job was easy, primarily because she didn''t know how to do much. But at least here, she wasn''t under constant scrutiny, which offered her a semnce of freedom. She tightened her grip on the box, nodding in response to Kyle''sment.


    Without further ado, Kyle turned and left, his schedule overflowing with tasks. He had been running around almost nonstop for the past few days.


    Once he was out of sight, Quinn reached out to knock on the door, only to find it slightly ajar. The door swung open at her touch, revealing the office interior. Her gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the bookshelf to the left. Her eyes narrowed briefly at the sight of the man who imed to have been ousted from his position due to debts. He stood there, dressed in a silver-gray vest and ck shirt, his tall figure turned away from her as he perused some documents. A whirlwind of emotions swirled within Quinn, none of which she could clearly identify. He hadn''t exactly lied to her. It was true he was no longer the CEO, but the sign on the door read ''Chairman''s Office''.


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    As Quinn wrestled with her thoughts, Alexander turned his head to look at her. The intensity of his dark eyes sent a shiver down her spine. Clutching the box, she stepped into the office and approached Alexander.


    He nced at her briefly before returning his attention to the papers in his hand. She stood silently to the side, waiting for him to finish reviewing the documents. After what felt like an eternity-though in reality it was only about fifteen minutes-he flipped thest page, closed the file, and looked up at Quinn again.


    His gazended on the box in her arms. "Get rid of that junk," hemanded.


    Quinn blinked, looking down at the contents. The box held study materials, some pens, and a water bottle. Hardly junk...


    But his word wasw. With a resigned nod, Quinn turned to leave the office, box in hand.

 Chapter 298

    In the very next heartbeat, a firm grip yanked her backward. The box she held was wrenched from her grasp and flung nonchntly into a nearby, oversized recycling bin.


    It ttered to a halt amidst a jumble of sundry items, office paraphernalia, folders, and files among them.


    Quinn stood, stunned and uncertain, before him. She used her hands to sign, her gestures asking, "What should I do now?"


    Alexander observed her for a moment, his face devoid of expression. His response, when it came, was delivered with icy detachment, "Nothing. You don''t have to do anything."


    She regarded him, her confusion evident. A small tug at the corner of her mouth betrayed her bewilderment. He had demonstrated his contempt for her so openly, yet now he wanted her constant presence? Hesitantly, she signed, "Aren''t you..."


    He arched an eyebrow, silently urging her toplete her thought.


    After a moment''s pause, she continued her signing, "Don''t you dislike me?"


    Alexander countered with a question of his own, "What does one have to do with the other?"


    Quinn was taken aback, his words a stark reminder of his disdain for her. Yet, there had been no conflict in her shadowing him, despite his affection for Getty, whom he had not married.


    His words, however, were tantamount to a confession of his true feelings-his dislike for her.


    Burdened by this realization, Quinn raised her eyes to meet his and signed, "I''m sorry."


    He leaned in, his hand resting on the bookshelf next to her ear, "Sorry again? Why don''t you tell me, what are you sorry for?"


    Quinn signed, "For making you hate me."


    His eyes narrowed, and he abruptly gripped her chin, pinning her against the bookshelf. "Are your apologies that cheap?"


    She bit her lip, asking him, "Then what should I do?"


    Alexander''s fingers traced a cool path across her cheek. He leaned in close, as if to kiss her but stopped just short of her lips, "Aren''t you the expert in alluring men?"


    Quinn''s gaze wavered, and her heart tightened. This closeness was imbued with an ambiguous intimacy, yet it was underscored by a palpable distance.


    He added, "Look, even Walter with his bad leg rushed to save you. How did you seduce him?"


    His breath was warm against her face,ced with a tranquil irony that felt like a needle hidden in cotton-piercing without pain.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Quinn shook her head and signed, "I didn''t seduce him."


    Alexander caught her hand, interrupting her exnation. He seemed more interested in making his point than in hearing her out.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Quinn''s eyes flickered; she tried to articte her thoughts but struggled to form coherent words. She was still unustomed to speaking.


    "Never?" he pressed.


    Swallowing her humiliation, Quinn shook her head, "No..."


    "Has he ever touched you? Tell me the truth."


    Caught off guard, Quinn found herself reflecting on her interactions with Walter, uncertain of what Alexander was insinuating.


    His fingertip rested on her lips, "Here, did he?"


    Quinn shook her head once more.


    She fought to maintain her equilibrium, leaning against the bookshelf for support.

 Chapter 299

    Her fingers clung desperately to the fabric of his sleeve, her eyes welling up with unshed tears as she peered into his impassive gaze. She shook her head, her eyes closing as if to shield herself from the intensity of his stare. "Really?" Alexander''s voice was steady, his gaze never wavering from her face.


    In response, she nodded, her body folding into his embrace as if seeking sce in his strength.


    "Your body and your appearance, they''re quite the contradiction," he observed, his toneced with amusement.


    A blush bloomed across Quinn''s cheeks at his words. She clung to the cor of his shirt, her weight resting almost entirely on him. Yet, even in Alexander''s arms, she felt as light as a feather. "No, no..." she murmured against his chest, her voice barely audible.


    Looking down, Alexander found her face buried against his chest, her neck and the tips of her ears flushed a deep crimson. Their moment of intimacy was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door. Startled, Quinn''s head snapped up, her eyes darting towards the entrance before returning to Alexander with a pleading look.


    Alexander, however, remained unruffled, retracting his hand just when Quinn thought she might be spared further embarrassment. He tilted his head towards the door and said firmly, "Hold on!"


    Outside, the hand that was poised to knock recoiled as if jolted by electricity.


    Kyle Astor was on the verge of pushing the door open, but a moment''s hesitation saved him from an untimely intrusion.


    He exhaled, preparing to turn away, when a faint sound from inside piqued his interest. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and driven by curiosity, he leaned closer to the door, straining his ears for any noise. However, after a while, the sound never came again.


    Kyle Astor was left puzzled. Was that a woman''s voice he had heard? He hadn''t seen any women visiting this floor since he moved in, except for Quinn, who was a bit of an enigma herself.


    Could it be... was Alexander entertaining a secret visitor?


    Kyle''s imagination began to run wild. He touched the tip of his nose, and in a bid to confirm his suspicions, he pressed his ear against the door.


    Regrettably, he heard nothing.


    With a sigh, he stepped back discreetly and waited in silence.


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    That wait stretched on for half an hour.


    Unable to stand around any longer, Kyle eventually left with his documents in tow.


    Downstairs, he entered the conference room, which was nearly full with thepany''s executives.


    Upon his arrival, all eyes turned to him.


    "Mr. Astor, where''s the CEO?" Mr. Warner inquired.


    Kyle''s expression was slightly uneasy. "The CEO''s a bit tied up at the moment. How about we postpone the meeting until this afternoon?"


    Mr. Warner''s brow creased almost imperceptibly.


    With no one daring to interject, they all looked to Mr. Warner.


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    With that, he grabbed his documents and left the conference room.


    The others followed suit, and as Kyle watched Mr. Warner''s retreating figure, he couldn''t help but sigh.


    This meeting was arranged by Alexander, and here they had waited for ages, while he was presumably caught up in his office, oblivious to the passing time.


    Now everyone was under the impression that Alexander was flexing his authority over the new CEO.


    Mr. Warner''s stoicism was admirable.


    ...


    Back in the office.


    Quinn was now seated in Alexander''s chair, her head bowed, straightening out her clothes.


    Alexander had returned to his bookshelf, engrossed once more in his paperwork.

 Chapter 300

    Unruffled by the extensive ordeal, he moved from the bookshelf to the chair, then to the desk. He bore no signs of distress, not even a wrinkle in his clothing. Quinn watched his retreating figure, a moment of stillness before she began to collect herself. With the aid of her chair, she attempted to stand.


    However, her legs betrayed her, quivering beneath her weight, and she copsed back into the chair.


    A hand pressed against her lower abdomen, her face contorting as a dull ache pulsed anew.


    As Alexander gathered his documents, preparing to depart, his gaze flickered back to Quinn. "Your workstation is to the right, just outside," he informed her.


    She offered a weak nod in response, herplexion noticeably paler.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    After a brief pause, Alexander collected his files and exited, the door closing softly behind him. Quinn''s body sagged into the chair, which was thankfullyrge enough to prevent her from sliding onto the floor.


    Upon his departure from the office, Alexander encountered Kyle Astor. "Alexander," he greeted, his gaze sweeping over Alexander, though he found his expression inscrutable. Alexander paused mid-stride, turning to regard Kyle.


    Quick to speak, Kyle Astor proposed, "I had them disperse. Should we postpone the meeting until tomorrow?"


    "We''re meeting today. Get them back together," Alexandermanded, continuing his stride towards the elevator.


    Kyle internally berated himself. He had just dismissed everyone, and now he was tasked with gathering them once more. He could already imagine theirints. Regardless, he had no choice but toply.


    As the executives filed into the meeting room, their collective resentment was palpable. Yet, none dared voice their grievances. Their irritation remained suppressed. Alexander, the picture ofposure, stood at the head of the room. He cast a nce at Landon Stark, seated to his left. Stark''s sses hid his eyes, his expression unreadable.


    "Many developments have transpired at thepany recently, as you''re all aware. Today''s meeting is primarily to introduce our new CEO, Landon Stark, and allow you to familiarize yourselves," Alexander announced. "Alexander, why don''t you introduce yourself to everyone," he suggested, the subtle nuance hinting at the shift in power. Alexander had been a formidable predecessor, while Stark now seemed to trail behind him. Wayne had previously distanced himself from the day-to-day operations, particrly after witnessing Alexander''s decisive actions. He had gradually ceased interfering with Alexander''s decisions. He must have assumed that the small number of shares Alexander held would pose no threat.


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    Yet, here was Stark, assuming his position.


    Stark rose, introducing himself with grace. He outlined thepany''s strategic vision and ns for the current situation.


    It was undeniable; Landon Stark possessed bothposure andpetence.


    Alexander reclined in his seat, legs crossed, his face inscrutable as he observed Stark''s presentation.


    The meeting stretched on, not adjourning until past six in the evening.


    Quinn had spent the entire day in the adjacent office, surrounded by brand new equipment. Even her chair still bore that new smell.


    But without any paperwork to upy her, she found herself resting her head on the desk, drifting off to sleep.


    Suddenly, she felt a touch on her head. Rousing groggily, she found Alexander standing before her.


    She rubbed her eyes, hastily rising from her chair.


    "Going back to the Kennedy Residence today," Alexander dered.


    The mention of the Kennedy Residence stirred a sense of unease within Quinn.


    But Alexander didn''t offer her a choice, leaving with those words hanging as he strode out.


    With no other option, Quinn hurried after him.


    Once they were in the car and buckled in, Quinn noticed Alexander''s dark gaze fixed on her. More precisely, on her neck.


    She touched her neck reflexively, flinching at a slight sting, likely a remnant of his bite.


    She pursed her lips and tugged her cor up.


    Alexander abruptly asked, "Have you skipped your medicationtely?"

 Chapter 301

    Quinn''s heart stuttered in her chest, her gaze nervously flickering towards Alexander. She forced a smile, tight and strained, onto her face. With a subtle gesture, she indicated that she would ept his offer when they returned. "Don''t bother," Alexander responded, his gaze flitting away from her momentarily before returning. His words hung in the air, a silence falling over them like a heavy nket.


    Alexander reached out, his fingers gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind Quinn''s ear. His voice was a soft murmur,ced with ambiguity as he asked, "You like girls, don''t you?"


    Quinn froze in her seat, words eluding her.


    Indeed, she had forgotten.


    She had forgotten about his talk of having a child together, forgotten about the child they had already brought into this world and lost just two months prior. His reminder was a bitter pill, a rush of sorrow lodged in her throat, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.


    Her memory was bing increasingly unreliable.


    Alexander''s brow furrowed subtly, a small crease forming between his eyes. He withdrew his hand, fastened his seatbelt, and drove off, leaving Quinn to stare out the window, silent tears trailing down her cheeks.


    Soon, they arrived at the Kennedy Residence. Before entering, they spotted Getty standing at the roadside, her face lighting up at the sight of the car.


    Seeing Getty, Quinn''s heart clenched, and she cast a nervous nce at the man beside her.


    As expected, the car slowed and stopped in front of Getty. Even with Quinn in the car, Alexander couldn''t ignore Getty''s presence. He seemed oblivious to how Quinn might feel seeing Getty.


    The window rolled down and Getty leaned in, her smile fading as her eyes fell on Quinn. "Howe you two are together?" she asked.


    Ignoring her question, Alexander turned his head to inquire, "What do you want?"


    "I couldn''t reach you on your phone, got worried you''d run off to do something drastic. I went to your vi, didn''t find you, so I thought I''d try my luck here and see if anyone knew where you were." Getty exined. Alexander paused for a moment before he suddenly turned to Quinn and said, "You go ahead."


    Quinn fidgeted with her fingers, nced at Getty and then back at Alexander, and finally rxed her grip. She opened the car door, stepped out without a word, and made her way toward the entrance gate of the Vi. Getty watched her depart with a pang of envy she couldn''t quite ce it seemed clear enough that Alexander had a soft spot for Quinn.


    A twinge of jealousy pricked at her heart, the thought that Quinn could be openly with Alexander while she couldn''t.


    After walking a short distance, Quinn inexplicably nced back, only to see Getty leaning into the car window, wrapped in an embrace with Alexander.


    Feeling a sting in her chest, Quinn quickly averted her gaze and hastened her steps into the Vi.


    Happiness eludes us for we covet too much, she reflected. This was true for her as much as for Getty. Both craving what the other had.


    Getty, attempting to steal a kiss from Alexander, was stopped as he gently pushed her face away with one hand.


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    "There are paparazzi behind you," Alexander gently warned her.


    Startled, Getty turned and, following his gaze, spotted a fleeting shadow behind a tree. She made a face and released Alexander, "Let them snap away, I''m not scared." Leaning on the car window, she teased, "Are you the one who''s scared?"C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    He leaned back nonchntly, "What do I have to be scared of?"


    "That settles it then," Getty said as she opened the car door and tugged at his arm, "Come on, get out and give them a nice clear shot."


    Getty had been joking, but to her surprise, Alexander actually stepped out. He closed the car door, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stood beside her.

 Chapter 302

    Alexander pivoted, confronting Getty''s look of surprise. "What''s truly transpiring here?" he inquired.


    Getty gathered herposure, her arms snaking around his waist. "I simply missed you," she confessed.


    His stare pierced her, a silent weight heavy with unspoken words.


    Overwhelmed by guilt, Getty averted her gaze, her words tumbling out in a stutter. "I was merely concerned for you, fearful you might be in some trouble, and, oh¨D"


    She delved into her purse, extracting a card. "ept this," she offered.


    Alexander''s gaze flickered over the bank card, but he made no move to ept it.


    "I''ve sold my unused items, such as clothing and handbags, even the cars ver drove. I''m in the process of having the house appra ised; once it''s sold, the proceeds will be deposited onto this card," Getty elucidated. "The house alone could garner around $8 million. Including everything else, the total could reach nearly $200 million. And then there''s my most recent paycheck..."


    "Getty," Alexander interjected, halting her mid-sentence.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    She stilled, her eyes wide with bewilderment as she gazed at him. "What''s wrong?"


    Alexander gently took the card from her grasp, sliding it back into her jacket pocket. "This isn''t necessary."


    "Is it because the amount is too small?" she ventured hesitantly.


    He released a soft sigh, turning his back to her as his gaze settled on the distant, cloudden horizon. "I have no need for it."


    "But how can you not need it?"


    "What kind of man do you perceive me to be?" he challenged.


    Getty was at a loss. He was neither purely virtuous nor entirely wicked, always cloaked in a veil of mystery.


    What attracted her to him was his unique charisma and the confidence to navigate any situation-essentially, the bearing of a formidable individual, a trait few women could resist.


    His mere existence was captivating.


    Getty remained silent for a prolonged period before Alexander swiveled back to face her. "Even if such a day were to arrive, do you genuinely believe I would require a woman to settle my debts?" His words sent her thoughts spiraling, particrly his initial statement.


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    "What do you mean by ''if that day everes''?" Did this imply that everything he had previously stated was fabricated? "What...what do you mean?"


    He offered no rification, instead tenderly fastening her coat. "Return home, I''ll visit youter."


    Getty''s spirits soared at his words, pushing his previousments to the back of her mind. "Very well, but make it soon."


    "I''ll endeavor to do so."


    She climbed into her car with a slight pout, and before driving off, she leaned out the window to bid him farewell.


    Her sole purpose had been to discern Alexander''s feelings, as his words from the previous night had left her restless and fraught with uncertainty.


    Reassured by his response, Getty''s heart surged with renewed vitality.


    Once Getty had departed, Alexander set off for the Kennedys residence.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! The atmosphere at the vi was grim. Despite the throng of people, a deathly silence prevailed.


    Upon entering the deserted living room, he didn''t hesitate but proceeded directly upstairs to the study. He pushed open the door without knocking and stepped inside. Wayne was lounging on the sofa, sipping tea, appearing surprisingly at easepared to his earlier state of frenzy.


    Upon seeing Alexander, a smirk tinged with mockery graced his lips. "I thought Chairman Alexander had more pressing matters and wouldn''t deign to visit this insignificant ce. What brings you back?" Alexander took a seat opposite him, disregarding the taunt. "I have some inquiries that I hoped Father could shed light on."


    Wayne ced his teacup down, leaning back with an air of indifference. "Now that you''re the Chairman, what could possibly be so perplexing that even a retired old man like me would be privy to?"


    Unfazed, Alexander persisted, "Even a Chairman doesn''t possess all the answers. Particrly when ites toprehending why a father, who once held him in high regard, would abruptly turn against him. After all, I''m no irvoyant, am I?" Wayne paused, his expression momentarily souring.


    "Do you truly have the audacity to ask? Perhaps you should first elucidate the whole Valerie situation?"


    Wayne released a self-deprecating chuckle, "I went to great lengths to raise you, handed you shares, and this is how you repay your old man? ver saw iting. After all the effort I''ve invested, you turn out to be an ungrateful son." Alexander''s gaze remained steady on him, then he suddenly burst intoughter, "You know that''s not what I''m referring to."

 Chapter 303

    A subtle shift flickered in Wayne''s eyes as he posed his question, "Then what is it? After everything you''ve done, what do you expect from me?"


    The room was heavy with an invisible tension, a delicate atmosphere thatcked the warmth of family and the stark hostility of enemies.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Do you think you''ve been good to me?" Alexander countered.


    Taken aback, Wayne retorted, "What now? You think I''ve wronged you all these years? I gave you shares, handed thepany over to you, and this is how you thank me?"


    A dry, sarcasticugh escaped Alexander''s lips. "Shares? If Ulysses had still been around, would you have divided them just to shut him up? Besides, that 30% you distributed didn''t evene directly from you, did it?" A slight change in Wayne''splexion betrayed his surprise. Indeed, Alexander was right; the shares hadn''t been in Wayne''s possession when they were divided.


    Ulysses, having retired, had washed his hands of these matters, leaving it up to Wayne to decide. Ulysses had intended for Alexander to take over his position, but Wayne, iming he was still young, vetoed the idea. The n was set for Alexander to start as CEO for experience, while Wayne stepped back to be Chairman. When it came to the shares, Wayne didn''t want Alexander to hold too much power, so he decided to appear fair and divided them among several children.


    To this day, people praised him, calling him a good father. This information wasn''t known to anyone else, and Wayne was unclear how Alexander found out.


    "You split off the international division and handed it over to Luke Yeager. If you hadn''t treated us all the same, how would you have justified it?" Alexander pressed. "As for handing thepany over to me, Dad, was that genuinely your own will, or was there another reason?"


    Wayne lost hisposed demeanor, looking at Alexander in surprise, "How did you find out about these things?"


    "Is it that hard to find out?" Alexander retorted. "So, I''m still in the dark about your true intentions here."


    Luke Yeager was an illegitimate son; despite his abilities, Wayne wouldn''t normally go out of his way to favor him like this.


    Suddenly, Wayne stood up, turned his back, and assumed a posture as if he were shooing someone away. "I''m no longer the chairman of the Landry Corporation; you''re the one in control now. There''s no point in asking such questions." Alexander stared at the retreating figure for a long moment before rising to his feet and quietly slipping out.


    Quinn was on the backyard swing, reluctant to enter the house, having remained outside since she arrived. Nearby, two nannies pushing strollers were yfully engaging with the babies.


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    Freya was behind bars, Walter had vanished, and now Harold was back here again. Kaitlyn, overwhelmed by her daughter''s issues for the past few days, hadn''t had the energy to tend to the boy. Now, Harold was solely in the care of the nannies.


    Barely over a half-year-old and difficult to manage, the child was in the arms of a nanny passing by Quinn, wailing incessantly. "Why does he keeps crying? I can''t stand it."


    "Maybe he misses his parents and isn''t used to being without them. What should we do?" another nanny pondered. "Now that Quinn''s not looking after the child, if he keeps crying like this, his little body won''t be able to take it..." Even though Kaitlyn wasn''t caring for the child now, if anything were to happen to him, they would still be the ones to bear the consequences.


    Quinn watched as the nannies tried everything to amuse the infant who continued to sob, his voice hoarse from crying. Her gaze fixed on the weeping baby in the stroller, her fingers unconsciously rested on her own abdomen.

 Chapter 304

    Her own offspring had never been granted the opportunity to emit its first wail.


    "Quinn, have you returned?" A nanny spotted Quinn, her voiceced with warmth as she weed her.


    Quinn''s gaze shifted from the infant, acknowledging the nanny with a slight nod.


    The nanny continued, "Then Alexander must have returned as well. You ought to visit Quinn more frequently. She''s been in a state of despair recently, barely consuming any food or drink, and she''s shed a significant amount of weight." Quinn offered no response, instead rising from the swing and making her way towards the stroller.


    As she neared, the infant began to wave his tiny arms about, reaching out for something with evident excitement.


    The nanny''s voice held a hint of joy as she said, "Quinn, it appears little Alexander is reaching out for you."


    Quinn paused, then lifted her gaze to meet the nanny''s.


    The nanny suggested, "Little Alexander begins to wail the moment he stirs from his slumber, and nothing seems to pacify him. Perhaps you could give it a try?"


    A flicker of emotion crossed Quinn''s face. She''did eyes on the child multiple times but had never made physical contact, never having been afforded the opportunity.


    Each time she attempted to draw near, she was rebuffed by either Freya or Kaitlyn.


    Her gaze fell to the baby''s plump cheeks and inmed, tear-filled eyes, and her thoughts returned to her own child.


    Hesitantly, Quinn extended her hand, her fingertip lightly grazing the baby''s cheek.


    The sensation of softness, akin to cotton, traveled up her finger as the child''s hand closed around hers. In that moment, Quinn could no longer suppress the cracks in her heart. They splintered further, revealing a raw and bleeding emotional turmoil.


    The infant clutched her finger and promptly brought it to his mouth. With his toothless little jaws, he suckled on her finger, emitting soft cooing and gurgling sounds.


    Quinn found herself unable to resist squatting down to observe the little one more closely.


    As the infant''s cries began to fade, he maintained a firm grip on her finger. Quinn hadn''t cleansed her hands, which meant she waspelled to extricate her finger from his mouth.


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    However, as soon as she had done so, the child erupted into a fresh bout of wailing.


    Left with no alternative, Quinn offered her finger once more, sessfully silencing the baby as he once again drew it into his mouth.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    The nanny chuckled, "Indeed, Quinn has a magical touch. She''s far more adept at this than any of us."


    "Quinn, why don''t you hold him for a while? If you could lull him to sleep, we''d all be able to enjoy a brief respite," the nanny suggested earnestly. It was evident that the past few days had taken a toll on them, and they were eager to delegate the responsibility to someone else.


    Quinn hesitated. Faced with such a diminutive child, she was apprehensive about holding him.


    However, without further dy, the nanny scooped up little Harold and handed him to Quinn, who appeared utterly uncertain about how to handle the infant.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Quinn carefully cradled the child in her arms. It was the first time she''d observed him so closely-a newborn life, as pure as an untouched canvas, and fragile.


    She found it impossible to associate the little one''s face with either Freya or Walter.


    As she gently held the baby still, not daring to move, the sight of the little one''s wless face tugged at her heartstrings, stirring a dull ache within.


    If her own child was still alive, they would be uttering their first words by now.


    They would be expressing joy and sorrow just like this baby.


    Reflecting on Kaitlyn, who had dered that foolishness was hereditary and had chosen to terminate her pregnancies, Quinn perceived the child in a new light. The image of her own children''s desperate little faces surfaced in her mind as she watched the baby cry.


    Her hands began to tremble uncontrobly.


    A powerful, eerie urge tempted her to release her hold.


    The nanny noticed the change in her demeanor, the way she was fixated on the baby with tears and an indescribable blend of agony and resentment in her eyes.


    rmed, they exchanged a nce and moved in to retrieve the baby.


    But before their hands could make contact with the child, Quinn took a step back.

 Chapter 305

    "Quinn, you..." The nanny''s voice quivered with trepidation. They had acted out of desperation, merely hoping to pacify the child. However, a wave of panic washed over them as they realized the enormity of the situation - Quinn had lost two children, a tragedy instigated by Harold''s mother.


    Quinn raised her head, her gaze locking with theirs as she clutched the baby a tad tighter. The child began to cry again, his wails hoarse from incessant weeping. Perhaps her grip had tightened excessively.


    "Quinn, please hand the baby back to us. We''ll find a solution," the nanny pleaded, extending her hand once more, this time with the intent to reim the baby. But Quinn, cradling the child protectively, pivoted and started to walk away. She had barely taken two steps when she collided with a man''s chest, instinctively recoiling.


    "Mr. Dalton," the nanny eximed, relief washing over her. It was then that Quinn finally looked up to find Alexander Dalton standing before her, his face devoid of any emotion. Her fingers tightened around the baby''s swaddle as she stared at Alexander.


    Alexander nced at the still-crying infant and inquired, "What''s happening here?"


    The nanny quickly filled him in, "Little Alex has been quite fussytely. We thought Quinn might be able to soothe him, but... she refuses to hand him back."


    Alexander''s gaze returned to Quinn. "Why are you holding him?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn''s lips pressed together in silence. She didn''t even know what she nned to do. All she could think about were her own two innocent children, and a voice inside her insisted she had to do something to honor their memory. As for what that something was, she was at a loss. She just knew subconsciously that she didn''t want to relinquish the child.


    "Hand me the baby," Alexandermanded, extending his hand.


    Quinn held the child tighter, took a step back, and refused. Alexander''s expression hardened, his voice escting. "I''ll say it once more, give me the child!"


    She faced him defiantly but didn''t move. Alexander, losing his patience, attempted to take the baby from her arms, but Quinn held on tighter. Their struggle only amplified the baby''s cries, the hoarse wails pulling at the heartstrings. "Quinn!" Alexander''s voice wasced with anger, his fury palpable to anyone within earshot.


    She looked up at him, the rage in his eyes mixed with concern for the baby, and her heart ached even more. He had never disyed such emotion when she had lost their child. The sympathy he now showed for Freya''s child, while being so indifferent towards hers, was unbearable.


    Suddenly, Quinn felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her, more intense than she had ever experienced before.


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    Quinn studied his furrowed brow under the harsh re of the streetlights, the irony not lost on her. Yet, she handed over the child, cing the baby into Alexander''s arms. She wasn''t sure what she might do if she continued to hold him. Alexander epted the baby, his frown softening slightly. He turned and handed the infant to the nanny. The nanny exhaled a sigh of relief and quickly retreated with the child.


    Quinn remained motionless, the cold wind carrying a fine mist that felt cool against her skin. He lifted his hand to her cheek, gently wiping away a tear, his voice considerably softer, "If you want a child, we can have one. Don''t do this." Quinn stood in silence, offering no response. Alexander reached for her hand, signaling their departure, but Quinn pulled away. He paused, turning to face her. Quinn drew a breath, the cold wind piercing her lungs like needles. Her voice trembled as she gestured, "But we were going to have a child. It was he who allowed their decision to abort, he who disliked that the child would be like her a simpleton." Now, realizing her simplicity wasn''t innate, he merely wanted to have a child himself, showing no signs of remorse. Alexander fell silent.

 Chapter 306

    "Why?" Quinn''s fingers strained against the biting wind as she gestured. "Why are you so inconsistent with me? Why would you follow me off a cliff?"


    "Why do you dote on Getty one moment, and the next, suggest we have another child so nonchntly? Alexander, what do I truly mean to you?"


    His silence was deafening. His dark eyes, shadowed by the backlight, remained locked on her, his expression inscrutable. Against the stark light, Quinn''s disheveled figure stood out in stark contrast. They were a world apart, divided by a chasm she could never bridge.


    Quinn reached out, her voice choked with unshed tears, forcing the words out. "Have you, have you ever..." Loved me. She couldn''tplete the sentence before he cut her off.


    "Stop," hemanded, his voice devoid of emotion-likely the only response she would receive.


    Quinn''s fingers ckened, her grip loosening, her hand falling limply to her side. It had always been her, nursing a one-sided love. How absurd it was that she had sought answers from him. He had never professed his love for her. She had been deluded. His defiance towards Kaitlyn, his reckless leap off the cliff for her - she had mistaken them as signs of his love. They had reignited the dwindling sparks in her heart, plunging her back into his abyss.


    Upon reflection, his defiance was more a rebellion against Kaitlyn''s control, and the cliff jump was a calcted risk, knowing the water below would break his fall. She had fallen into the trap he hadid, grasping at straws of his affection. Like a lost wanderer in the desert, mistaking the smallest dewdrop in the sand as a sign of a hidden spring. Her longing only made her easier to manipte. He was too astute not to recognize her feelings.


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    Abigail was right, men feign ignorance to evade ny percent of problems. He was feigning ignorance. As long as he didn''t acknowledge it, he could walk away at any time, pretending love had never existed between them.


    At that moment, Quinn felt truly drained. She was so weary that she no longer yearned for love, ready to offer it to anyone who desired it. She averted her gaze and turned to leave. Alexander did not follow her. Instead, he stood silently, watching her silhouette recede into the night.


    Just then, Kaitlyn approached, her face lit up with joy as she clutched Alexander''s arm. "Son, you''re back."


    Alexander cast a sidelong nce at her. Kaitlyn continued, "What are you nning to do about Freya? You''re not really going to let hernguish in jail for life, are you?" The majority of the evidence was in Xavier''s possession, and Wayne had no intention of intervening. Now, only Alexander could save Freya.


    "ed to go." Alexander pulled his arm free and strode away briskly. Unfazed, Kaitlyn chased after him, grabbing his arm again.


    "Alexander! What do you mean by this? Are you abandoning her? She''s your sister. Why have you be so cold-hearted? Do you see what you''ve done? This family was fine, and you''ve turned it into aplete mess. Do I even exist in your eyes as your mother? Does this family mean anything to you?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Do you have to push us all to the brink before you''re satisfied?!" Alexander halted abruptly, turning to face Kaitlyn sharply. In that moment, his gaze was so icy that even Kaitlyn couldn''t help but shudder.

 Chapter 307

    Kaitlyn swiftly collected herself, her posture regaining its usual dignity. "Am I mistaken?" she retorted, her voice echoing in the tense silence.


    "You extend more kindness to strangers than to your own kin," she continued, her wordsced with bitterness. "You treat those women, Getty, that dummy, as if they were priceless gems."


    She paused, her gaze piercing Alexander as she added, "Let me make this clear, my boy. If you fail to rescue Freya, don''t expect me to y nice."


    Alexander met her gaze, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he responded, "And how do you intend to be ''not nice''?"


    Kaitlyn scoffed, "Enough with your sarcasm. Just ensure your sister''s safety. I may not have the power to save Freya, but I can certainly arrange for two people to be imprisoned."


    Her threat hung heavy in the air, a clear warning to her son.


    A cold, cynical smile tugged at the corners of Alexander''s mouth. "Then I''d like to see you try," he challenged.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Before Kaitlyn could retort, he turned on his heel and strode away, not sparing her a backward nce.


    Kaitlyn watched him go, her body trembling with suppressed rage. Her nails dug into her palms as she red at his retreating figure. His obviousck of concern for Freya sent a chill through her heart. She could hardly believe that this was the son she had raised.


    Meanwhile, after an extended period of waiting, Quinn managed to hail a cab. She settled into the back seat, her fingers idly scrolling through her phone.


    A hollow emptiness consumed her, her thoughts echoing in the void. Her eyes skimmed over the content on her screen, but she didn''t truly see it. Her focus was elsewhere.


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    A sudden notification caught her attention, and before she knew it, she had tapped the screen to open the entertainment news. The headline was all about Getty, the industry''s rising star, and the powerhouse behind her scene-stealing presence-none other than Alexander!


    The article was littered with photographs. There were numerous shots of Getty, and a few candid images of Alexander. One showed him at the airport, his arm casually slung around Getty. Another depicted him visiting Getty''s home, whispering something into her ear. Despite the grainy quality, the images painted a picture of a perfect couple.


    As Quinn scrolled further, she came across solo shots of Alexander. Dressed in a sharp suit, he stood amidst a crowd at an industry event, his striking features stealing the spotlight.


    The article went on to detail his background: CEO of Landon Corp, stepping up as the heir apparent at just 23. The story had gone viral.


    Public appearances were rare for Alexander. Many were unaware of his existence, let alone his appearance. The world was not short of wealthy individuals or young entrepreneurs, but a handsome, young CEO was a rarity that caught people''s attention.


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    The article was intended to highlight Getty''s scandal, but thement section was filled with admirers of Alexander. The topment read: "Finally know the difference between a mogul and a boss." The next most popr was cheekier: "With those looks? I''d be his dog tied to the porch, let alone his lover."


    Some were already referring to him as ''hubby.''


    Quinn scrolled through thements, a wry smile ying on her lips. It was amusing how people always desired the simplest and least conspicuous things they couldn''t have. Then greed would kick in, and the longing would only intensify. She switched off her phone, rolled down the car window, and let in the sound of the drizzling rain. The droplets sshed against her face, their chilly touch seeping into her bones.


    Suddenly, the car jolted violently. Quinn''s head mmed against the window, a sh of pain blurring her vision. The driver cursed under his breath, forced to pull over and inspect the damage.


    Rubbing her throbbing forehead, she saw they''d collided with a white van.

 Chapter 308

    The driver turned around, leaning towards her as he spoke.


    "Miss, it seems we won''t be making any progress soon. You might want to consider hailing another cab."


    Quinn nodded, her fingers gingerly exploring the swelling bump on her forehead as she stepped out of the car.


    She reached for her phone, intending to arrange for another ride, when a figure emerged from the van."I''m truly sorry, it wasn''t intentional.


    Oliver, let''s not make a mountain out of a molehill and settle this between us, alright?" The apologetic tone of the man''s voice stirred a sense of familiarity within Quinn.


    She looked up instinctively, her gazending on a flustered man with an apologetic grin. He was busy making amends with the driver, his fingers swiftly typing out a payment on his phone."I''llpensate you with two grand for the repairs and the inconvenience.


    That should settle things, correct?" The driver, initially seething with anger, seemed to cool down slightly at the generous offer. "Fine, but be more cautious next time you''re behind the wheel."Finn exhaled a sigh of relief, swiftly transferring the money to the driver.


    His eyes darted nervously over his shoulder, as if he was hiding something.As soon as the transaction waspleted, Finn''s gazended on Quinn. His eyes lit up with recognition. "Quinn!" he eximed, hurrying over to her and gripping her arm firmly. "Come with me, right now."


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    Caught off guard and barelyprehending the situation, Quinn found herself being ushered into a van. No sooner had she settled in than the vehicle took off at a startling speed, causing her to clutch at the seat in front of her in rm."Don''t be frightened, I''m not going to sell you or anything. It''s just that we''ve got some people on our tail."


    At his words, Quinn''s body stiffened further. But when she turned to look back, instead of seeing pursuers, her eyes fell upon several crates in the back seat, each filled with whimpering dogs.Quinn turned her bewildered gaze to Finn. Was he embroiled in another shocking and adventurous escapade? The man at the wheel, known as Scoop, chimed in, "Miss, we just rescued these dogs from a trafficker.


    They''ve been hot on our heels for blocks."Quinn turned a questioning look towards Finn, who scratched his head and chuckled. "We encountered them at the market earlier, bought all the dogs from this particr dealer.""The man got greedy, returned with thirty more dogs, many of them brand new, some still with store tags on them. It was then I realized he must''ve been stealing pets.""At our subsequent meeting, he inted his prices.


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    At that point, before my card got blocked, I simply paid him."After the transaction, Finn warned the dealer to cease his illicit activities, vowing never to purchase from him again.


    However, the traffickers didn''t take his words seriously, and this time they returned with even more dogs, intending to sell them to Finn for a grand each. Lacking the funds, Finn naturally declined.


    When the dealer threatened to take the dogs to a butcher shop, an enraged Finn led a raid on their hideout to rescue the dogs, subsequently making a hasty escape. Hence, the current chase ensued with the traffickers still in pursuit.Listening to his tale, Quinn''s frown deepened. "And what if he continues to steal dogs?""Let him try," Finn responded with a grin.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "He steals, I liberate. After a few rounds of this, he''ll realize there''s no profit in it."Quinn pressed on, "But isn''t that dangerous for you?"Finn reassured her, "Not at all, I''ve got this down to a fine art. It''spletely safe."Quinn nodded, feeling somewhat relieved, but her gaze kept drifting back to the dogs. She wasn''t sure what she was feeling as she looked into their confused eyes, but she did sense that Finn was on a noble mission.


    As Quinn withdrew her gaze, she suddenly realized how close Finn was to her, barely a finger''s width separating them.Finn was undeniably handsome, his youthful energy radiating from him like a beacon.It was when she met his gaze that it struck her, like a bolt of lightning. She remembered where she had seen him before.

 Chapter 309

    A memory stirred within Quinn, a recollection of a time when she had stumbled and a youthful college student hade to her aid.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    His smile had been radiant, brimming with the vigor of youth, a mirror image of the one Finn now wore.Lost in the haze of her thoughts, she watched as Finn bent his head, rummaging through his pocket to retrieve a bandage. With a gentleness that belied his size, he carefully opened the bandage and applied it to her forehead. "I''m sorry about earlier, about you getting hurt," he said, his voiceced with genuine concern.


    Regaining herposure, Quinn took a step back, her hand gesturing in a dismissive manner. "It''s okay," she assured him.Finn studied her for a moment, his gaze thoughtful.


    Then, breaking into a smile, he offered, "You''re going to be all right, yeah? How about I show you the fur babies I''ve adopted?"Quinn was taken aback, the words echoing in her mind. They reminded her of something Alexander used to say. She hesitated, her mind grappling with the unexpected connection.Before she could formte a response, the driver''s voice broke through her thoughts. "Hey, bro, we''re here."Startled, Quinn lifted her head, her gaze taking in the surroundings.


    They were now on the outskirts of town, surrounded by barren grasnds and sloping hills. Arge iron gate loomed ahead. Finn ended their conversation abruptly, hopping out of the car to open the gate before hopping back in. The driver navigated through the entrance, leading them into an area dotted with modest one-story buildings. The moment they arrived, the air came alive with the sound of dogs barking.Intrigued, Quinn leaned against the car window for a better view.


    The "buildings" were actually sheds, and beneath these sheds were rows of shelves and cages, each housing numerous cats and dogs. To the left were dogs; to the right were cats. The animals, recognizing Finn''s scent, greeted the car with joyous barking.


    As the car came to a halt in the yard, Finn turned to Quinn and said, "Sit tight here for a bit, huh? I''m gonna let these pups out."With that, he jumped out again, assisting the driver in unloading cages from the car and setting them in a fenced area. Opening the cages, they released the dogs. Finn then busied himself with a bag of dog food, pouring it into bowls as the dogs eagerly dashed over to eat.

 Chapter 310

    Unable to resist, Quinn stepped out of the car and ventured into the enclosure, her gaze fixed on the rescued pups.


    Finn reached out and stroked the head of a golden retriever, then looked back at Quinn. "These are all domestic pets. They''re all very gentle. Want to pet one?"


    Quinn eyed the dogs, her expression flickering with the desire to reach out, but then she hesitated. "It''s okay, they won''t bite.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Look, they''re not biting me," he encouraged.Quinn pursed her lips, mustered courage, and finally reached out to touch the retriever''s head.Softer than she imagined, the fur was fluffy, and the dog waspliant, busy eating its food."See?" Finn said, smiling.


    Quinn stepped back and watched from the fence as they herded the dogs back into their kennels, then tucked each cage under the shelters.


    She gazed at the two figures busily moving about, her vision a tad blurred. They found joy in what they were doing, even without any obvious profit. It was clear to her that engaging in abor of love could truly add vibrant hues to life''s canvas.


    Once they had finished up, Little Spoon stayed behind to care for the pets, and Sam grabbed the keys and approached Quinn. "Let''s go, I''ll drive you home," he said.


    Quinn nodded.She followed Sam into the van, and he maneuvered the vehicle out of thepound toward downtown.


    Quinn tilted her head slightly, admiring Sam''s profile as he drove; his expression was focused. She envied the sense of liberty that surrounded him; he seemed to live life on his own terms, free to pursue whatever he desired. It was indeed enviable.


    Sensing Quinn''s gaze, Sam nced her way briefly, "You okay? Not feeling well? We could swing by the hospital for a checkup if you''d like to."She shook her head hurriedly, indicating that she was fine."Oh, right, who''s Alexander to you? Your brother?"Sam, though not particrly interested in showbiz, couldn''t help but hear things given his family''s background in the industry.


    He knew about Alexander being Getty''s boyfriend, so he didn''t link Quinn to being Alexander''s wife. The way they interacted suggested a closer kinship, perhaps a cousin or some kind of sibling-like rtionship... At the mention of "sister," a bitter smile tugged at Quinn''s lips.Sister...For twenty years, that''s what she heard most when Alexander introduced her to others.


    And after getting married, even that faded away. What she was to Alexander now, not even she was sure.

 Chapter 311

    Sam had attempted to engage Quinn in conversation a handful of times, but herck of response led him to believe she was not in the mood for chatter. Thus, he decided to let the matter rest.


    Their journey continued in silence until they reached their destination, a ce known as Regal Riverside. Sam helped Quinn out of the vehicle, a sense of familiarity washing over him. "Isn''t this your residence?" he asked, a memory resurfacing. "I believe I''ve seen you here before."


    His first encounter with her had been a distressing sight. She was sprawled in the middle of the road, her sobs echoing in the stillness.


    He didn''t know the cause of her anguish, but her tears had stirred something within him.Compelled by an inexplicable urge, he had approached her, offering his assistance.


    As she raised her tear-streaked face to meet his gaze, her eyes left an indelible imprint on his heart, one that he found impossible to erase.Quinn simply nodded in response, expressing her gratitude.Sam, ever the gentleman, exited the van and opened the door for her. "Be careful," he warned, "the van is quite high."He extended his hand to steady her as she descended.


    No sooner had Quinn''s feet touched the ground than another vehicle pulled up,ing to a smooth stop behind the van. The sight of the car sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through Quinn''s veins, leaving her limbs tingling with a strange numbness.


    The car''s engine died down, and out stepped Kyle Astor, who promptly moved to open the passenger door. Nearby, Mason watched intently as a figure emerged from the vehicle.Alexander stepped out, his gaze sweeping past both men with an unreadable expresison.


    He adjusted the cor of his ck trench coat and slowly advanced towards Quinn.Mason greeted him, "Alexander, I''ve brought your sister back."


    Alexander''s gaze shifted from Mason to Quinn, "Did she tell you that?"Mason was momentarily taken aback, struggling toprehend the implications of Alexander''s words. Without warning, Alexander pulled Quinn into his arms, his hand circling her waist.


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    He turned to Mason, "Thank you for bringing my sister home, Mr. Mason."His tone was neutral, but the word ''sister'' hung heavily in the air.Something about the way he emphasized the word, or perhaps his hand on Quinn''s waist, struck Mason as odd. He didn''t dwell on it, though, instead bidding Alexander farewell, "Goodbye, Alexander."


    With that, Mason climbed into his car and drove off. Alexander watched the retreating vehicle before turning his attention back to Quinn.


    Quinn''s lips were pressed into a thin line.


    She attempted to extricate herself from his grip, but his hold on her waist was unyielding.Alexander pulled her closer, causing her to stumble against his chest. He looked down at her, his voice barely above a whisper, "Did you have fun, sis?"The final word was like a needle, piercing Quinn''s ears with its sharpness.


    Quinn averted her gaze, not needing to see his face to know the contempt and coldness it held.Alexander''s fingers grazed her cheek, slowly moving to her forehead.Suddenly, a jolt of pain coursed through her. Quinn''s head jerked up just in time to see him tear off the bandage on her forehead, examine it, and nonchntly discard it.


    He then proceeded to straighten her hair, which had been disheveled in her struggle with the Husky, leaving her dirty and unkempt.His touch was gentle, his movements tender, but Quinn detected no warmth in them.


    It reminded her of the times she would overeat to numb her sadness-not out of hunger or desire, but as a form of release. His actions now bore the same detached quality.A gust of wind, carrying with it a fine mist of rain, made Quinn shiver."You''ve managed to get yourself all dirty," he remarked, before leading her into the house and down the hall to the bathroom. Quinn''s steps were hesitant, almost stumbling, as she followed him inside. The sight of the bathroom seemed to ignite a primal resistance within her.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 312

    In the confines of the bathroom, Alexander guided Quinn to perch on a stool, his hands deftly manipting the shower controls to adjust the temperature. "Take it off," hemanded.Quinn sat in silence, her head bowed low, her fingers nervously intertwining in herp.


    She showed no intention of moving, her resistance evident in her stillness. Alexander''s gaze fell upon her, his voice echoing in the tiled room once more.


    "I said, take it off."His words were no longer a request, but an undeniablemand that resonated with authority.


    Yet, she remained motionless, her defiance palpable. With a sigh of impatience, Alexander reced the showerhead on its hook and stooped to undress her himself.


    Quinn''s arms instinctively wrapped around herself as she twisted away, her actions tinged with a newfound defiance.


    In the next instant, he seized her shoulders, spinning her back to face him. With a swift, forceful motion, he removed her jacket, discarding it without a second thought.


    She attempted to push him away in a frantic motion, but her efforts were futile against his strength. As she reached up, he effortlessly slipped her sweater over her head. Her resentment towards him was growing.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    His unpredictable shifts between cold indifference and heated attention, his apparent desire to control her every move, and most of all, hisck of love for her, all fueled her disdain.


    Above all, she despised that news story. Her grievances erupted uncontrobly, and with a sudden burst of energy, Quinn rose from the stool, her fists iling at him. Her punchesnded on his body, their impact barely noticeable.


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    With ease, he restrained her wrists, pushing her back until she staggered against the cool bathroom wall. He lifted her hands high, pinning them against the tiles. Quinn tilted her head back, her eyes, red and ring, locked onto his. She had never been able to hide her emotions well, especially from him.


    Her anger and hurt were on full disy, mirrored in her intense gaze.Alexander watched her in silence. For a moment, the only sound was the running water, the shower spraying against the wall, droplets scattering onto his coat, leaving darker spots on the ck fabric.


    Their eyes remained locked in the steamy haze. His face was impassive, his brow slightly furrowed, the only indication of his internal turmoil.


    "What do you really want?" he finally spoke, his question hanging in the air, unanswered. What she wanted was something he was unwilling to give."Wasn''t everything okay before?" He lifted her chin with his other hand, his gaze never leaving hers.


    "Tell me, what do you want?"Quinn merely stared back at him, her gaze flickering. Yes, everything had been ''fine'' before, but only because he had deemed it so. He had never considered her feelings or desires; to him, her obedientpliance was what constituted ''fine.''


    And now, her resistance was nothing more than an inconvenience.If only he hadn''t given her false hope repeatedly, perhaps she could have settled into disappointment.


    But the hope he gave and then cruelly snatched away had eroded her love. She was exhausted.So very exhausted.


    Quinn inhaled deeply, opened her mouth, and managed to whisper, "Di-...""Don''t you dare say those words," he cut her off, his tone reprimanding, as if scolding an unruly child. Her lips pressed together, Quinn remained silent.


    Alexander caressed her jawline, his mind seemingly lost in thought. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. "It must be Abigail who led you astray."At the mention of that name, Quinn''s emotions surged with a force that was hard to contain. She struggled to break free from his grasp, her desperation manifesting in a futile attempt to kick him away.

 Chapter 313

    In the intimate closeness, Alexander''s voice was a mere whisper, "Stay away from those crowds." Quinn turned her head subtly, his breath too close forfort.


    A pang of sadness seeped into her heart. She couldn''t help but wonder why he was always quick to assume that others were leading her astray. It was as if her newfound assertiveness was a sign of deterioration in his eyes. And what about him? What was his true nature?"I... I..."


    Quinn stuttered, her words lost in the abyss of her confusion. Her hands were still ensnared by his, his grip a silent promation of dominance.


    She was unable to voice her defiance, her words swallowed by the tension in the air.It seemed as though the first to voice their thoughts held the truth; the first to make their point was in the right."That''s enough. Don''t speak," Alexandermanded, silencing her before she could utter another word.


    He gently lowered her from her elevated position and freed one hand to continue undressing her.Pinned against the wall, immobilized, Quinn watched as he went about his task with a mechanical precision.


    His impassive expression ignited the anger she had been suppressing until it erupted within her. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks in a torrent of emotion.


    Alexander nced up, his hand cradling her face. "What are you crying for?""Did you not enjoy yourself with Charles after staying out sote?" he asked, misinterpreting the reason behind her tears.All Quinn could do was cry. When words failed her, tears became her only sce.Alexander didn''t expect her to articte her emotions. He picked up the showerhead and began to rinse her, his fingers gentlybing through her wet hair. "Turn around," he murmured.


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    But Quinn remained still, silent.Growing impatient, Alexander turned her himself, his touch bing more restless as he continued to wash her hair.


    Quinn tensed slightly under his touch. Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, his whisper a stern warning, "Don''t let this happen again, understood?"


    Quinn kept her head bowed, water cascading down her hair and cheeks.It was always like this with him. No matter what transpired, as time passed, he would act as if nothing had urred, carrying on in his own way.He showed no regard for her feelings and never changed his ways.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


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    After returning the showerhead to its ce, Alexander turned Quinn towards him again. Lifting her by the waist, he pressed her back against the wall. Holding her legs, he watched as she instinctively clung to his shirt, her eyes misty with tears. In that moment, she was wholly dependent on him.But then his phone rang. Alexander was silent for a moment before he reluctantly retrieved it and answered.


    "Aren''t you supposed to be meeting me? Why haven''t you shown up yet?""I''ll be thereter," he responded curtly.Quinn bit her lip, watching him intently. Although it wasn''t the first time, her heart still sank every time he took a call in her presence.


    She attempted to pull away, to leave, but he caught her leg and yanked her back. Quinn stumbled and fell back into his arms, a soft whimper escaping her lips."It''s already midnight."Getty furrowed her brow, "What''s that noise over there? What are you doing?"Alexander nced at Quinn, her face flushing red, and replied nonchntly, "Taking a shower."


    "I can hear a woman''s voice. Who are you showering with?"He responded carelessly, "Guess. "Frustrated, Getty hung up the phone, her emotions a tangled mess, panic seizing her. Could Alexander be with another woman?She knew Quinn was a pushover, remaining silent even when pped across the face, so Getty never considered her a threat. The sense of crisis struck Getty instantly. After years of pursuing Alexander without sess, if this woman managed to share a bed with him, she had to be something special. How could Getty not be afraid?

 Chapter 314

    An hour had psed by the time Quinn finally emerged from the confines of the bathroom.


    She found herself back in the sanctuary of her bed, though she had no recollection of how she managed to get there. Exhaustion had imed her, leaving her incapable of even the smallest of movements.


    Through the narrow slits of her barely opened eyes, she caught sight of Alexander preparing to leave. She watched him, her mind in a daze, as he slipped into a dark sweater and exited the room, the closing door severing her view of him. Her eyelids, too heavy to resist, fell shut, surrendering her to the beckoning arms of sleep.She was roused from her slumber by a sharp, piercing pain in her lower abdomen.


    Huddled in bed, her skin pale and slick with sweat, the sensation was hauntingly familiar-it echoed the pain she had endured after the loss of her child.


    Summoning all her strength, Quinn managed to rise from the bed. Leaning heavily against the wall for support, she navigated her way downstairs with shaky steps.She located the painkillers, her hand trembling as she poured several into her palm.


    She knew one would be insufficient. Swiftly, she popped the pills into her mouth and rushed to the faucet, washing them down with gulps of tap water.


    Afterwards, she allowed herself to crumple onto the cold kitchen floor.She nced at the painkillers still clutched in her hand and forced a bitter smile onto her face.A thought crossed her mind: if she were to die, Getty would undoubtedly be overjoyed.


    But what about Alexander? Would he share in that happiness?With her eyes closed, shey on the kitchen floor, her body devoid of strength. The only sound was the rhythmic patter of the rain outside.Such heavy rain... The following day dawned.


    Quinn awoke to find herself still sprawled on the floor, the realization dawning on her that Alexander had not returned home the previous night.


    Her memory of the preceding night was hazy-her stomach pain, her descent downstairs for medication, her copse onto the floor without any recollection of how she ended up there.Propping herself up against the stove, she gingerly touched her abdomen, which still pulsed with a faint ache.


    Ignoring the pain as she had grown ustomed to, Quinn busied herself with preparing breakfast. Once the meal was ready and set on the table, she sat in anticipation for a while.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    It was only when the clock chimed eight that she began to nibble at the food, alone.After changing her clothes, she hailed a cab to the office.


    She found herself on the deserted floor, seated at her desk, her gaze fixed nkly on theputer screen.Before long, Kyle Astor walked in and noticed her idle state. He extended some documents towards her."Quinn, if you''re looking for something to do, could you enter these into theputer? You know how to use spreadsheets, right?"


    Quinn looked up at him, nodded, and epted the papers from his hands. Kyle noticed the pallor of her face and hesitated before querying, "Quinn, are you feeling all right?"Quinn was momentarily taken aback before shaking her head."Alright then, I''ll go get busy."As Kyle exited the office, he ran into Alexander heading in his direction.


    He quickly approached him, "Alexander, do we need to deal with that news story?"Alexander paused, nced at him sideways, "What news?"But then he remembered, "No, let it be."Kyle furrowed his brows in confusion, "But if we leave it, who knows how it''ll develop? Someone is clearly stirring the pot. In just one day, rumors about you and Getty are all over the ce.""And they''ve dug up your entire background."Alexander stepped into his office, responding indifferently, "Then let them stir."Kyle continued, "If it esctes, your marriage might get exposed, and Getty could be dragged through the mud."

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    The prospect of Getty''s recent ascent to fame being eclipsed by scandal was a daunting one.


    The repercussions of such a scandal could be severe, inviting harsh criticism from all corners.


    Even with Alexander''s considerable influence, if the public were to turn against her, Getty''s career in the entertainment industry could be abruptly terminated.


    Alexander fell silent for a moment, his gaze shifting to Kyle Astor. "So, what do you think we should do?" he asked.Kyle hesitated, uncertainty clouding his features. "We... we''d have to consult a professional PR team," he finally suggested. Alexander seemed lost in thought for a moment before responding, "For now, don''t worry about it.""For now?" Kyle echoed, puzzled by Alexander''s seemingly nonchnt approach. If the issue escted beyond control, it would be toote to address it.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    However, seeing Alexander''sposed demeanor, Kyle assumed he had his ns and decided not to press the matter further.Switching gears, Kyle broached the subject ofpany affairs. "Alexander, ourpany''s stock hasn''t fallen, but it hasn''t risen either.


    With the recent merger with Landis International, you proposed a press conference. When is that likely to happen?"Alexander slumped into his chair, flipping open a file. "Call Grant Warner to my office," he instructed."Huh?"


    Kyle was momentarily thrown off, but seeing that Alexander had no intention of exining further, he set off to fetch Grant.After Kyle had left, he ryed the message to Grant Warner. In no time, Grant arrived at the office. However, before he knocked on the door, he noticed Quinn in the adjacent office.


    Aside from Kyle, no other staff had been assigned to this floor yet; it was clear that Alexander would choose his team meticulously.


    Yet, Quinn''s presence was intriguing.Grant wasn''t entirely oblivious to their affairs; he was aware that Alexander had married the Kennedy''s foster daughter under Ulysses''s pressure.


    But Alexander seemed indifferent to his ceholder wife, his affections seemingly reserved for someone else. Those in the know would argue that Getty was his true love. Catching sight of Quinn, a flicker of understanding passed behind Grant''s sses.


    Quinn, sensing something amiss, looked up towards the door, but it was empty. Confused, she redirected her attention back to the spreadsheet before her.


    Meanwhile, Grant had knocked and entered Alexander''s office. "Mr. Warner," he greeted.Alexander was sprawled on a couch, legs crossed, radiating an air of nonchnce. He nced at Grant and said indifferently, "Take a seat."Grantplied, sitting opposite him. "You wanted to see me?"A subtle smirk yed at the corner of Alexander''s mouth. "I''ve gone over your strategy; it''s good, but there are some details I''d like to discuss."


    Grant adjusted his gold-rimmed sses. "I''m listening, Mr. Warner."Alexander mused, "A press conference alone is far from sufficient. Even if our stock sees a rebound, it won''t be enough to sustain thepany''s financial operations in the short term."Grant countered, "Haven''t we already merged with International Corp? All of their funds have been channeled into the parentpany. How could there be a shortfall?"


    "The funds from International Corp have merely filled the immediate void, ensuring normal operations," Alexander exined, "But we''ll need more capital moving forward. Besides, are we to assume International Corp will just look the other way?"Grant fell silent, mulling over Alexander''s words. After a moment, he spoke, "You make a valid point. What do you propose?"


    Alexander''s lips curled into a smirk, and he spokenguidly, "I believe we need to partner with anotherpany, one that''s relevant to our business and with enough buzz - a major yer."Grant''s eyelids twitched slightly. "Do you have anypanies in mind?"

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    "Of course, there''s apany. Before Walter took his leave, he partnered with a firm called TOPSUN, and I think that worked out well."


    Alexander listened without much reaction, "And Walter?""He''s injured, still recovering. If you have the time, maybe you could discuss with him how to reach an agreement with thatpany.""So, the director suggests we only consider thispany?"


    Alexander asked."From an overall analysis, thispany is the most fitting choice. It''s an international enterprise with a good reputation. Of course, if you find a better fit, feel free to coborate with them."


    Alexander studied him silently for a long moment before responding, "I''ve just returned from abroad and am not quite up to speed with the local market, but I''ll do my research."


    "That''s fine. With you being new to the position, there''s plenty to get familiar with. Whoever we end up partnering with, as long as it impresses the crowd, I think it''s a good selection."


    Alexander inclined his head in understanding.


    "Understood," he affirmed, "I will investigate the matter thoroughly.""Ensure you reach a decision before the press conference," came the stern directive."I will," Alexander responded, his tone resolute."Very well," the director conceded, "I''ll forward the details of our partnership to your emailter."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Alexander paused momentarily before rising to his feet. As if struck by a sudden thought, he turned back to the director. "By the way, Director, I''ve been here for a few days now and a client has reached out with a proposition for coboration -a significant client who has been with us for quite some time.""And?" the director probed, his interest piqued."They''ve requested a meeting today.


    However, given my recent arrival, I fear I may be at a disadvantage if I were to attend alone. I was hoping you might apany me," Alexander proposed, his gaze steady.


    "Many clients are growing restless with thepany''s current predicament. They need someone with authority to maintain order," Alexander added, his voice steady as he awaited a response.


    The director''s smile faltered slightly, his voice betraying no emotion. "Of course, forward me the address once you return.""Understood. I have matters to attend to now," Alexander acknowledged with a nod, then exited without further ado. Once Alexander had departed, the director''s smile disappeared entirely.As Alexander passed by Quinn''s office, he cast a fleeting nce inside.


    This time, Quinn sensed his gaze and looked up to meet his eyes.A sudden tightness gripped her heart, and she quickly averted her gaze back to herputer, immersing herself in her work.Alexander didn''t linger. After a brief pause, he continued on his way.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! When Quinn dared to look up again, he was nowhere in sight.She recognized this man, the newly appointed CEO of the Lu Corporation.


    On the surface, he seemed mild-mannered, yet Quinn couldn''t shake off the chill that ran down her spine under his scrutiny.In the wake of Walter''s cautionary tale, Quinn found it increasingly difficult to trust someone based solely on their outward appearance.


    Everyone seemed to be wearing masks these days, only revealing to the world what they wished to be seen. Their true selves remained hidden beneath a carefully crafted fa?ade.Alexander was no exception. To the casual observer, he appeared detached and indifferent, the very embodiment of a man devoid of desire.


    His demeanor seemed to silently broadcast a ''keep out'' sign to strangers. But the truth was....Disturbing images shed through Quinn''s mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to dispel the chaotic montage from her thoughts. When he was with Getty, the wildness probably just escted. Just as this thought settled in Quinn''s mind, the sound of high heels clicking against the floor echoed through the hallway.

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    Quinn''s gaze shifted upwards as a familiar silhouette sauntered past the door, the lingering scent of their perfume filling the room. She found herself involuntarily holding her breath.


    It was Getty.Getty, a face well-recognized within thepany, made her entrance without a single soul daring to stop her.


    She had ventured into the CEO''s office, crossing paths with Galen, who had directed her to this location. Without a moment''s hesitation, Getty pushed open the imposing doors to the director''s office and confidently strode in. As she entered, her eyes immediatelynded on Alexander, seated behind his desk."Alexander!" Getty''s voice echoed in the room, her emotions a tumultuous mix of delight and fury.


    She was delighted at the realization that Alexander hadn''t been dismissed, but had instead ascended to the director''s position.


    Fury, however, clouded her joy, directed at Alexander for his deception. Had she not been so resolute in her feelings, or so deeply in love with him, she might have severed their connection by now.


    At the sound of Getty''s voice, Alexander lifted his gaze, "How did youe in here?""Weren''t you supposed to have resigned? I came to confirm that! It turns out you lied to me!"


    Getty''s voice trembled with visible upset, her bag mming onto his desk with a loud thud.Few, if any, dared to address Alexander in such a manner, let alone m objects onto his desk. But for Getty, this behavior was simply par for the


    course.


    Leaning back slightly in his chair, Alexander responded with a nd tone, "What did I lie to you about?""You said you resigned!""I did resign."Getty was taken aback, her frustration evident as she retorted, "And you said you owed thepany billions!""''That''s also a fact."Getty was left speechless, realizing that Alexander hadn''t lied to her. He simply hadn''t disclosed the full extent of his circumstances.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    After a moment of simmering anger, Getty''s expression softened. She leaned gently into Alexander, her arm wrapping around his as she murmured, "Then why didn''t you tell me that you''re now the director?" Alexander didn''t push her away; instead, he wrapped his arms around her waist, a small smile ying on his lips, "You didn''t ask.""...""Let''s not dwell on this. I''m just d to see that you''re safe and sound." Alexander looked down at her, silent, waiting for her to continue.


    Getty broke the silence, "Actually, Alexander, there''s something else I wanted to talk to you about.""What is it?""You must have seen the news. I don''t know who leaked it, but you''ve got to deal with it.


    Otherwise, I''m going to be roasted."Getty tilted her head back, her red lips pouting as she looked at him with a yful whine.Alexander raised an eyebrow, "What do you want me to do about it?"


    Grinning, Getty said, "It''s simple. Our production crew has a press conferenceing up. Juste with me. Make an appearance, and everything will be fine."The idea was to let everyone know that their rtionship was legitimate, not some scandalous affair.


    Plus, once Alexander made his appearance, the problem would naturally resolve itself, and the spectors would cease their wild guessing. After all, why would he apany her to the press conference if they weren''t a serious couple?Getty looked at him expectantly, awaiting his response."A press conference?""Yeah,e with me, will you?"Alexander reached for a cigarette and lit it, his expression thoughtful. After a drag, the smoke swirling around him, he finally spoke, "I can''t go."The smile on Getty''s lips froze as she frowned, asking, "Why not?""No reason. I''ve told you before not to y tricks. Is your goal really just to have me make an appearance?"

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    Alexander''s words cut through the fabric of Getty''s thoughts, draining the color from her face. The realization dawned on her that once Alexander stepped foot into the press conference, the inevitable would ur. The press would probe into the nature of their rtionship.


    How would Alexander react? Would he confess to being Getty''s boyfriend, or would he deny it outright, thereby confirming the whispers of an illicit affair between them?Getty was certain of one thing; Alexander would never allow her to be publicly humiliated.


    If the question arose, he would respond."Alexander," she ventured, "what harm would there be in telling the reporters you''re my boyfriend?""Are we in a rtionship?" Alexander shot back.Getty found herself at a loss for words.


    A bitter taste filled her mouth, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "Aren''t we? We were together before you left me to marry her. Doesn''t that mean something?"Alexander, nonchntly flicking the ashes from his cigarette, met her words with a calm demeanor.


    "When did I ever abandon you?""Then why did you marry that dummy? It should have been me. Can''t you try to see things from my perspective?"


    Getty pleaded. Alexander tilted his head slightly, locking eyes with her. He reached out, taking her hand in his, his voice softening. "If I hadn''t considered your perspective, you wouldn''t be here right now." Getty fell silent. He was right. Aside from denying her the marriage she yearned for, he had never been stingy with her.


    Sometimes, he treated her even better than he treated Quinn. In the end, she was the one who was never satisfied.Alexander flicked his cigarette butt into the ashtray and rose from his seat. "You should go. I''ll consider the press conference." Getty''s face, previously clouded with worry, brightened at his words. "Really?" Alexander merely nced at her, leaving her to decipher his intentions. Getty pouted but knew when to stop pushing. If he was considering it, there was hope. "Alright, take your time. The press conference is this weekend; you have three days to decide. I''ll be going now, okay?" "Mhm."Getty leaned in, wrapping her arms around his waist. "You''re the best. Love you." Alexander patted her shoulder, a silent signal for her to leave.


    Getty released him, grabbed her purse with a smile, and turned to leave. As she reached the door, she collided with Quinn.Quinn had been standing at the door for some time, documents in hand. The door had been left slightly ajar, and she had overheard every word exchanged between Alexander and Getty.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    She had heard Alexander''s indulgence towards Getty, his guilt towards her, all because Quinn was the obstacle preventing them from being together.


    Quinn felt like the viin, the one who had ruined their rtionship. Her self-loathing grew. She found herself detestable.Seeing Quinn soured Getty''s mood further. "What are you doing standing here?" Quinn remained silent, attempting to sidestep Getty and enter the office.


    Getty grabbed her arm, pulling her back and leading her into the adjacent office."Quinn, do you know who Alexander''s other woman is?" Getty asked. Quinn was momentarily taken aback, looking at Getty in confusion. Alexander, with another woman?


    Seeing Quinn''s reaction, Getty couldn''t help but sneer. "Looks like you''re as clueless as ever. You deserve to be ignored. You probably have no idea they were together for a while."Quinn''s face turned ashen. But for Alexander, it was business as usual. It wouldn''t be surprising how many women he had been with. To Quinn, one Getty or two made no difference.


    Alexander would never love her.Quinn had no desire to engage with Getty and tried to walk past her. Getty, irritated by her indifference, blocked Quinn''s path. "You stupid dummy, Alexander''s going to discard you sooner orter. And when he does, you won''t even know what hit you!""Well, then, tell me, how will she die?" A man''s voice suddenly echoed behind her, causing Getty to jump in surprise.

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    A shiver of cold dread crept down Getty''s spine, her body rigid as she locked eyes with Quinn. Her expression was a kaleidoscope of emotions, shifting and changing with each passing second.


    After a moment, she turned around and shed a cunning smile at Alexander. "I was merely speaking without thinking-you know how I can be," she said, her voice light and airy.Alexander''s gaze was indifferent, his voiceced with a subtle warning.


    "It''s eptable to y the fool asionally, but one cannot afford to be perpetually foolish."Getty''s smile froze in ce, Alexander''s words cutting through her like a cold winter wind.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Are you insulting me?" she demanded, her voiceced with disbelief. The thought of Alexander speaking to her in such a manner was shocking. "I''m not insulting you," he retorted, his voice firm. "I''m reminding you."Getty''s eyelids twitched involuntarily.


    Though she often engaged in candid conversations with Alexander, this frankness did not equate to a desire to be humiliated in front of Quinn. Shooting Alexander a venomous re, she stalked out of the room, the click of her high heels echoing ominously.Once Getty had left, Alexander''s gaze shifted to Quinn.


    Quinn remained impassive throughout the exchange, deriving no pleasure from Getty''s reprimand. She understood the dynamics between them too well to assume Alexander was taking her side.


    To believe that Alexander was defending her would be an act of self-centeredness, a mistake she hadmitted more than once.


    Each time, he had proven that it was nothing more than her own wishful thinking. Without expectations, one wouldn''t overanalyze every word spoken by the other.


    Nor would one feel the sting of sadness from the other''s words or actions.Quinn handed the documents she was holding to Alexander. He held her gaze for a moment before epting the papers and exiting the room.


    A dull ache pulsed in Quinn''s lower abdomen. She leaned against the desk, taking a moment to catch her breath.


    After sipping some water, she slumped back into her chair, exhaustion etching lines onto her face. As the afternoon wore on, with no pressing matters to attend to, she rested her head on the desk. A sudden notification from her phone jolted her awake.


    Picking up her phone, Quinn saw a message from Alexander instructing her to head home, though he didn''t specify why.


    A nce at the time revealed it was precisely 5:30 p.m.She gathered her belongings, left the office, and hailed a cab to the hospital. Her supply of painkillers at home was dwindling, and this provided an opportunity to visit Juliet, whom she hadn''t seen in a while. Upon reaching the hospital, she was lucky enough to secure an appointment with her usual doctor. Being a regr patient-or a "dummy," as she jokingly referred to herself the doctor had a vivid memory of her. After retrieving her medical file, a look of concern crossed the doctor''s face. Preferring to cut to the chase, the doctor handed her a list of tests to be conducted before they could proceed further.


    After the necessary tests werepleted, the doctor scrutinized the reports with a serious expression. "The inmmation hasn''t subsided, and now you have cervicitis. Have you been taking the medication I prescribed earlier?" he asked. Quinn hesitated before shaking her head. She had forgotten when the doctor had prescribed her medication. The doctor sighed, seemingly at a loss for words.


    He quickly scribbled a prescription, instructing, "Go for your IV therapy, return for regr check-ups, and if you don''t want to end up with cancer, take your medication punctually.


    Abstain from sexual activity, or at the very least, take precautions if you can''t help yourself."Quinn had grown ustomed to these visits, and her skin had thickened. Though the doctor''s words were embarrassing, she no longer blushed. She nodded, epted the medication from the doctor, and made her way to the infusion hall. She handed in her form and waited in line, a routine she knew all too well. The hall was bustling in the evening, but most patients had apanion. Quinn, however, sat alone.


    Across from her, a couple sat together. The girl was receiving an IV, her boyfriend sitting beside her, massaging her stomach from time to time.Quinn pursed her lips and averted her gaze.Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a message from Orion. Quinn picked up her phone to read it.

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    A message shed across her screen. Orion: [Where are you? I think I saw your brother again.]


    Attached was a photograph of Getty, arm in arm with Alexander, entering some event.


    Quinn nced at it, the ache in her heart momentarily overshadowed by the pain in her abdomen.


    Orion: [Did your brother scold youst night?]


    Orion: [I posted several lost dog ads today, and sure enough, a few people came to im them, including the owner of the Husky you like.]


    Orion: [But two of the dogs at my shelter are about to have puppies, I''ll send you a couple of the new ones.]


    Orion: [Next time must keep a closer eye on them, or they''ll get pregnant by ident.] Her phone pinged incessantly, each alert a new message from Orion, who seemed to be lost in his own conversation. Quinn hadn''t even finished typing one response when several more messages flooded in.


    Eventually, Quinn simply stopped trying to reply.Orion sent several long texts, then circled back to the initial question.


    Orion: [Where are you?]Quinn didn''t want to get tangled up with him. She feared Alexander might lose his mind again and do something drastic to Orion, just as he had with Juliet and Abigail.She dared not provoke him further. Taking a deep breath, Quinn turned off her phone screen and tucked it into her pocket.By the time her IV treatment wasplete, it was halfpast ten.


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    She made her way to Juliet''s hospital room and tapped lightly on the door. Receiving no response, she peeked inside. The sight of the empty bed caused a heavy sinking feeling inside her. She pushed the door open and entered.Standing there, cold to the core, her mind raced with thoughts of what could have happened to Juliet during her absence had Ariele again?


    As she was caught up in her thoughts, Juliet emerged from the restroom inside."Quinn?"Juliet, dressed in a patient gown and leaning on crutches, looked thinner and more fragile than ever. The moment Quinn saw her, her eyes reddened, and she hurried over to hug Juliet.


    Juliet paused for a moment, then gently patted her shoulder. "What''s wrong? Quinn, are you upset about something again?"Quinn hugged the older woman for a while before letting go, managing a small smile as she shook her head."I thought you had disappeared. I was a bit worried," shemunicated through gestures.


    Juliet took her by the hand and led her towards the hospital bed. "Quinn, could you talk to Alexander for me, and ask him not to let me stay here anymore?"


    Quinn looked at her, puzzled.Juliet exined, "Look, there''s no one here, and the caretaker onlyes by at meal times. I have to lie in bed all day, and the doctor won''t even let me go outside.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    With so much money being spent, I still feel suffering."At least I was free when I picked up trash outside in the past. Now..." She trailed off, not wanting to seem ungrateful for Quinn''s kindness or appear unappreciative of her situation.Quinn''s expression grewplex as she gripped the older woman''s hand tightly.


    After a moment, she signed, "Have you been feeling okaytely?" Juliet chuckled, "Of course, how could it be not okay with such expensive medicine? Quinn, go back and tell Alexander not to waste money on me."Quinn couldn''t agree to her request. If she left, she''d be without a ce to go.And Alexander wouldn''t allow it. This was... the only one who could be used as her weak spot to control her.


    Juliet watched her closely for a moment, noticing the sorrow hidden in Quinn''s eyes and her unhealthily paleplexion."Quinn, tell me the truth. Did you say something to Alexander as an exchange for me to stay here? Or did he do something to you?"

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    Quinn hesitated, her eyes darting away from Juliet''s prating gaze. She bit her lip nervously, her head shaking in a silent denial.Juliet, a woman who had weathered many storms in her life, was quick to sense the unease in Quinn. She reached out, her hand enveloping Quinn''s in aforting grip.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Quinn," she implored earnestly, "don''t deceive me. If you''re suffering because of me, I won''t find peace for as long as I live."Quinn''s eyes snapped to Juliet''s at her words, her hands moving in a swift, dismissive gesture. "I''m fine. Don''t worry about me," she assured hastily.Juliet studied her with an intense gaze, her weathered hand reaching out to gently caress Quinn''s cheek.


    "Quinn," she said, her voice trembling slightly with emotion, "I hope that I haven''t been a burden on you."The old woman''s words pierced Quinn''s heart, causing tears to well up in her eyes and spill down her cheeks.


    She clung to Juliet''s hand, the reality of her situation sinking in. In truth, it was Quinn who had be a burden to Juliet. If only Juliet had been a little more self-centered, she wouldn''t be living in such misery, nor would she have been so mistreated by her son and daughter-inw.Quinn shook her head slightly, pulling Juliet into a warm embrace.


    There was a unique warmth radiating from the older woman, a warmth Quinn had never experienced before. It was theforting warmth of home. Once, she had found sce in Alexander''s arms, but over time, his embrace had turned cold, tainted with the scent of others. It felt as if it no longer belonged to her.


    Quinn closed her eyes, savoring the fleeting warmth, aware that it might notst. Soon, she might not even remember Juliet. Soon, she would forget everyone-Abigail, Juliet-and in the end, even her own identity.Juliet gently stroked Quinn''s back, lulling her to sleep as she used to when Quinn was a child.


    Quinn must have been truly exhausted, for she drifted off to sleep before she even realized it.She woke up with a start at two in the morning. Seeing the time on her phone, Quinn''s heart pounded in her chest as she sat up abruptly. Juliet had given up her bed for her and was sitting beside it, watching over her with a kind gaze. Quinn''s sudden movement startled Juliet."What''s wrong, Quinn? Did you have a nightmare?" Juliet asked with concern etched on her face. Quinn shook her head hastily, the memory of Alexander''s prohibition against visiting Juliet alone flooding back.


    She wondered if he had discovered her disobedience.She threw back the covers and gestured toward Juliet, "ed to go back now.""But it''s sote, and it''s dangerous. Why don''t you wait until daylight?" Juliet suggested.Quinn shook her head resolutely.


    She was determined to leave to avoid furtherplications. "Don''t worry, Juliet, I''ll take a cab. It''ll be quick," she assured.


    Seeing Quinn''s determination, Juliet didn''t argue but reminded her to be careful.Quinn nodded, slipped on her shoes, and left the hospital. The IV had eased her abdominal pain, but a dull ache lingered. As she waited for a cab outside the hospital, her phone rang.


    An unfamiliar number shed on the screen.Quinn didn''t know who would call at such ate hour, but she answered anyway."Is this Quinn?" The voice was vaguely familiar, but she couldn''t ce it until the caller introduced himself, "It''s Galen." "Alexander might have had a bit too much to drink. Do you want toe and pick him up?" Galen added, "I''ll text you the address. Whether youe or not is up to you."After he hung up, the address was sent over. It was a hotel she had never been to. As luck would have it, her cab arrived just then, and she showed the address to the driver."Wow, a seven-star hotel, huh? You''re going there?" the driver asked with a hint of intrigue in his voice. Quinn hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

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    "Alright, hop in," said the driver.


    Quinn slid into the backseat of the car, her mind a whirl of thoughts. She found a smallfort in the belief that Galen, a CEO in his own right, wouldn''t betray her trust on such a significant issue. Not everyone was like Walter. Galen wouldn''t risk his potential ascension to the CEO position of Kennedy Enterprise for her sake. This thought brought a sliver of reassurance to Quinn''s troubled mind. Outside, the rain had begun to fall once more. It seemed that every evening in Amber Bay was apanied by rain. Sometimes it was a gentle drizzle, while other times it was a torrential downpour. Despite the zing sun that dominated the daytime, the rain was a constantpanione nightfall, falling in a steady, unbroken rhythm.


    Quinn found herself lost in the blurred night scene outside the car window. Galen''s words echoed in her mind, mingling with the images Orion had sent her. Shouldn''t Alexander be with Getty? Why had Galen reached out to her? She pondered these mysteries, absently rubbing her aching stomach, and sighed.


    Before long, the cab pulled up to the entrance of the hotel. Quinn paid the fare and made her way inside, following the address disyed on her phone.


    They were located on the sixth floor, in a spacious private room. Even before she entered, Quinn could hear the murmur of voices from within.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    She paused at the door, taking a deep breath, her hand poised to push the door open. Yet, she hesitated. Her mind shed back to thest time at The Cube.


    Furthermore, she wasn''t adept at idle chatter, and the room was filled with prominent figures. Would her entrance cause Alexander embarrassment? After all, Alexander hadn''t invited her.


    But before she could decide on her next move, the door swung open, revealing Galen.


    Upon seeing Quinn, he greeted, "Quinn, you''ve arrived. What are you doing lingering at the door? Come on in."


    Without waiting for her response, he briskly retreated back into the room.


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    As Quinn took in the scene, a wave of regret washed over her.


    The room was abuzz with men and women, all engaged in lively conversation in small groups, their attire impable. This made her sweater and jeans seem utterly out of ce.


    She felt as if she belonged to a different world from everyone else present.


    Scanning the room, she finally spotted Alexander in a corner, seated on a couch. He was alone, his head propped up by his hand, but the area around the couch was teeming with people, most of them apanied by others. Except for Alexander.


    Galen had taken a seat to Alexander''s left and cast a nce in Quinn''s direction as he settled in.


    Quinn pursed her lips and steeled herself to enter the room. Fortunately, she didn''t draw any undue attention, and as she made her way in, no one paid her any extra mind.


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    Galen nced at her and announced, "Quinn''s here."


    At his words, a subtle change came over Alexander''s expression. He straightened his posture and turned slightly to look behind him, catching a glimpse of Quinn. Galen gestured towards her, "Quinn, don''t just stand there. Have a seat. This isn''t a formal meeting, just a casual business gathering."


    Quinn nced at Alexander again; he had already averted his gaze, neither looking at her nor speaking.


    Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Quinn walked over and took a seat beside him.


    Across from them, a middle-aged man chimed in, "Hey Alexander, your Quinn finally showed up. We''ve been drinking quite a bit. How about you get Quinn to entertain us a little?" At his words, Quinn turned her head to look at Alexander.

 Chapter 323

    Alexander sat in silence, his expression unchanging as he shot a brief nce in her direction. Despite theck of visible emotion, Quinn could sense a chilling aura emanating from him,ced with an implicit warning. Quinn responded by pursing her lips and subtly shifting her gaze away.


    "Alexander, she looks like a student. Are you certain she''s of age?" someone quipped, attempting to lighten the mood. "Alexander certainly knows how to throw a party."


    Alexander coolly responded, "And how, pray tell, do you know she''s a student?"


    Caught off guard, the man stammered, "Is she truly a student?"


    Alexander''sugh echoed through the room, devoid of any genuine warmth. "Given everyone''s capacity for alcohol here, I''d wager we could all drink until dawn without any repercussions."


    The man continued, "Haha, I''m not as young as I used to be. I need to take care of my health. It''s best not to drink too heavily, even with a high tolerance. After all, this is a social gathering, not a drinking contest." His tone shifted subtly, "But, you know, it''s rare that we get to let loose like this. Without some novelty, the drinks lose their appeal."


    "An interesting point, but..." Alexander turned to Galen, "If you''re going to invite my assistant, why bring such a decorative piece? Are you hoping to see me lose?"


    Galen raised an eyebrow, replying with an air of calm, "My apologies, Alexander. I wasn''t aware that your office employed any other female assistants besides Quinn."


    "But let''s not judge a book by its cover. Quinn may appear fragile, but as Alexander''s assistant, she must have her strengths. She might not necessarily lose." "Isn''t that right, Quinn?"


    Quinn tensed at the sudden attention. She had never drunk before, let alone in such a setting. She was certain she would lose if she participated. Struggling to find the right words, Quinn remained silent. All eyes in the room, including her own, turned to Alexander.


    Alexander lit a cigarette and leaned back nonchntly, "Does it really matter if we lose or win?"N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


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    The man who had spoken earlier interjected, "If we win, the terms of our partnership must change. We should receive at least an additional five percent, correct?" Alexander smiled, "Then why continue the partnership at all?"


    The man''s expression shifted subtly, "Are you suggesting, Alexander, that you''re no longer interested in working with us?"


    Alexander retorted, "Shouldn''t I be the one asking you that? Since when is a business agreement determined by the oue of a drinking game? If I win, are you going to work with me for no profit?" The man was taken aback, "Well, the point of a partnership is to make money; it''s just a matter of how much. If you''re implying you won''t make a dime, then there''s no point to the partnership." "Alexander," another chimed in, "even if you relinquish five percent, you''d still make a profit, wouldn''t you?"


    Alexander responded casually, "But you see, I''m rather greedy. I''m not willing to give up even a single point."


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    Alexander continued, "I''m curious to know who came up with this rule and who agreed to it. Was it you, Alexander?"


    The usation was directed squarely at Galen, whose expression wavered slightly.


    After a moment of contemtion, Galen replied, "You''re using me unfairly, Alexander. I''m new here; how could I possibly establish such norms with these esteemed gentlemen?"


    The man seated at the far left finally spoke up, his gaze darting between Alexander and Quinn, "I suspect Alexander''s just concerned, perhaps a bit too attached to his assistant to drink." "Oh? Now that you mention it, I''ve noticed too," another added. "Before she arrived, Alexander, you were drinking with us freely, but now you''ve quickly turned hostile."


    "Could it be that even heroes have a soft spot for a beautiful woman?"


    Alexander listened to their jests in silence, offering no retort. His demeanor remained calm, as if the conversation held no relevance to him.

 Chapter 324

    Off to the side, Quinn stood with an air of awkwardness, oblivious to the stir her presence was causing.


    Her gaze swept over the influential men gathered around her, and the fact that Alexander hadn''t simply excused himself indicated their importance.


    Galen, ever the diplomat, proposed a change of pace. "Why don''t we continue the merriment with Alexander and myself joining the drinking? As we''ve already established, this is a social gathering. Let''s keep business out of it." A ripple of agreement spread through the crowd. "Indeed, we almost forgot that today is just a social event," someone echoed.


    "Let''s keep the drinks flowing," another voice chimed in.


    sses were raised in toast, but the middle-aged man, Sten, interrupted the cheer. "Since when do we drink without discussing business? Alexander mentioned earlier that if he wins, I''ll work with him at no profit." "If I win, I don''t want your rates to increase by five percent. Instead, how about having your assistant here escort me home tonight? That''s a fair request, isn''t it?"


    His words, though seemingly innocent, carried a weighty implication that wasn''t lost on anyone. This cunning man had noticed Alexander''s reluctance to let Quinn drink and had crafted a ploy around it. Quinn''s lips pressed together in a tight line, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Alexander.


    Alexander, for his part, remained silent for a moment before responding. "Sten, your tastes are as particr as ever."


    Sten''sughter rang out in response. "If we''re not talking business, we''ve got to talk about something else."


    "We''ve traveled from far and wide to attend this gathering, and we don''t want to dampen everyone''s spirits."


    Alexander countered, "Wouldn''t I be taking advantage of you then, Sten? How about this: if you can finish all the drinks on the table, I''ll give you an additional fifty percent."


    Sten was taken aback, his disbelief evident. "You''re not drunk, are you, Alexander?"


    "Of course not," Alexander replied. "Including yourpanion here, I see you both can hold your liquor; this amount shouldn''t be too much to handle, right?"


    Sten''s expression fluctuated as he surveyed the liquor on the table-there were at least twenty bottles. Even if he could finish them, he might end up in the hospital. But Alexander had added that his assistant could help him drink, too. This changed the game. If the assistant couldn''t handle it, so be it; Sten stood to make almost all of the profit, essentially getting aplete discount from Alexander-he''d barely be making anything himself. Grinning, Sten said, "Alexander, you''ve made this promise in front of all these people. There''s no backing out now."


    Alexander smirked, crossing his legs. "Of course not."Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


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    Sten''s female assistant looked troubled but maintained a smile as she grabbed a bottle of liquor, unscrewed the cap, and began gulping it down.


    As she finished the bottle in one go, someone immediately apuded. "Impressive tolerance. Sten, your assistant is quite something!"


    Stenughed heartily, waving his hand modestly. "This is nothing yet."


    Quinn felt a pang of unease. She stole nces at Alexander, who was puffing away on his cigarette casually, not even offering her a nce. She couldn''t fathom his intentions.


    Just moments ago, she thought Alexander was going to ask her to drink. Why would he make such a decision? Was it because of the mere five percent that annoyed him, or was it something else?

 Chapter 325

    Quinn dared not to harbor any expectations. Each time she did, it only resulted in a bottomless pit of disappointment. He hadn''t asked her to partake in the drinking, but neither had he invited Getty. She sat in silence, her gaze lowered to the tips of her shoes, the passing time never seeming so lethargic.


    All eyes were fixated on Ronan, her drinking prowess was undeniable. However, after consuming about five or six bottles, her grip on sobriety began to wane.


    She excused herself, intending to use the restroom. Yet, she barely managed to stagger five meters before sumbing to nausea and vomiting into a nearby trash can.


    Upon witnessing this, Sten''s countenance darkened instantly.


    Quinn also caught sight of Ronan''s pitiful state, a fleeting expression of sympathy crossing her features.


    Galen''s gaze subtly flitted about,nding on Quinn and then Alexander. His eyes darted between the two, his expression a mix of intrigue and subtlety.


    With Ronan absent, Sten reached for a bottle, dering, "Since Ronan''s in the restroom, I''ll continue the drinking." It would be a waste to abandon the endeavor halfway. If he could manage another two or three bottles, he could leave the rest to Ronan, thus sealing the deal.


    However, he was oblivious to the malicious glint in Alexander''s eyes. He misunderstood Alexander, naively considering him to be as ordinary as any other businessman.


    Yet, those familiar with Alexander knew that in the current situation, it wasn''t merely about securing fifty percent. Any future coborations would be nothing short of a mercy bestowed by Alexander. Galen held onto the hope that hispany could at least maintain its regr operations.


    While Sten was known for his drinking capacity, he had already consumed a considerable amount earlier. Now, he could only manage four more bottles at most; any more would be overwhelming. No one was aware of how long Ronan had been secluded in the restroom, but she didn''t reappear until Sten had emptied his four bottles.


    Resuming her drinking without uttering a word, Ronan dove back into the task as everyone watched on.


    In truth, most of these so-called assistants were not genuine assistants. They were more akin to hired drinkingpanions, employed to shield their bosses from the effects of alcohol.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


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    They possessed high tolerances, and this was their means of earning a living. When faced with clients who deliberately attempted to intoxicate them, they had no choice but to endure.


    Quinn observed Ronan gulping down the wine like water, some of it trickling down her chin and seeping into her shirt cor, drenching the front of her blouse.


    She pursed her lips, shifting her gaze to Alexander.


    A few buttons of his shirt were undone at the cor. He loungedzily on the couch, a cigarette between his fingers, his eyes exuding an air of detachment and indifference bordering on rudeness. It was as if everything around him was a trivial drama, unworthy of his attention.


    He appeared to be a mere bystander, as if none of this concerned him.


    By the end, Ronan was struggling to keep up with the drinking, seemingly relying solely on instinct, her eyes barely managing to stay open.


    And still, five or six bottles remained on the table.


    She drank slowly, in minuscule sips, and seemed to require the restroom after just a few.


    With all the back and forth, time had stealthily crept towards five in the morning.


    The people around were beginning to exhibit signs of exhaustion. One of them suggested, "Looks like Ronan won''t be up until sunrise. Alexander, should we head out?"


    Alexander responded nonchntly, "What''s the rush? Sten said if we''re going to y, we might as well go all in."


    The individual fell silent, resigned to merely sitting there.


    Despite being coborators and having agreed to exploit the Kennedy Enterprise crisis to negotiate more favorable terms of cooperation with Alexander, they knew their advantageous position was temporary.

 Chapter 326

    Every individual in the room was acutely conscious of the fact that a behemoth like Kennedy Enterprise wouldn''t crumble in a single night; its resurgence was merely a matter of time.


    ruing more benefits in the present would inevitably trante to more profits in the future. Despite this, they found themselves in a precarious position, yearning to extract concessions from Alexander, a feat that seemed increasingly unlikely. Alexander''s nonchnt demeanor towards Sten was a clear indication of his indifference. He was under no illusions that he could easily find a multitude of other businesses, big or small, willing to partner with him. After all, didn''t all the corporate giants start as small enterprises?


    Except for the blue-blooded Kennedys, mostpanies sprouted from humble beginnings.


    If a dog dared to bite the hand that fed it, recing it was hardly a challenge; such was the harsh reality of the world.


    Alexander seemed resolute in his decision to watch Sten finish his drink,pelling everyone to endure the wait alongside him.


    When Ronan finally returned, she sumbed to the effects of her excessive drinking, copsing onto the couch, unresponsive to Sten''s desperate attempts to rouse her.


    In a fit of frustration, Sten seized the two remaining bottles on the table, draining them in one go before smashing them onto the table. Before he could utter another word, he spun around and retched into the trash can, prompting everyone around him to recoil in disgust.


    Once Sten had finished heaving, he turned to Alexander with a groggy gaze and slurred, "Alexander, I finished the drink, as you requested. Now it''s your turn to uphold your end of the bargain."


    Alexander merely smirked in response, rising from his seat to dust off his jacket and retrieve his coat.


    "As dawn breaks, I think it''s time we called it a night. I thoroughly enjoyed myself," Alexander announced, before sauntering off.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Quinn, who had been dozing off, was jolted awake by Alexander''s departure and hurriedly trailed after him.


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    Once he had left, the group turned to Galen, seeking an exnation.


    "What''s the y here, Alexander? We didn''t quite catch it," one of them queried.


    "I''m just as clueless," another chimed in. "We were supposed to negotiate, but we''ve spent the entire night here without reaching any agreement."


    Adjusting his sses, Galen rose to his feet and dered, "That''s just Alexander''s way. If he takes a disliking to your attitude, it''s hardly surprising that no deal was struck." This left them even more bewildered.


    Everyone concurred that they had been more than amodating, with the exception of Sten, whose fixation on Alexander''s assistant was tantamount to a direct affront to Alexander. He behaved like an entitled junior partner, expecting the assistant to be handed over to him unconditionally-anyone would be irked by such audacity.


    Though not pivotal, assistants certainly held some significance. Among the unspoken rules of their social circle, one was particrly prominent: Never demand an assistant outright. Doing so was considered a grave insult.


    With this realization, the crowd shot Sten a collective re, their expressionsced with resentment. His actions hadplicated matters for everyone.


    Alexander quickened his pace, with Quinn hot on his trail. He paid her no heed as he climbed into his car.


    Quinn hesitated, uncertain whether to join him or stay put. His anger was palpable, and she didn''t dare intrude without an explicit invitation. She lingered by the car door, nervously biting her lip and fiddling with her sleeve, the very picture of contrition.


    After a moment, the car window rolled down.


    "Do I have to invite you in?" he inquired.

 Chapter 327

    With a sense of urgency, Quinn flung open the car door, slid gracefully into the seat, and promptly secured her seatbelt. Without uttering a single word, Alexander engaged the car in reverse and they were soon on their way.


    The rain had ceased its relentless downpour, yet the sky remained a gloomy canvas of overcast clouds. Quinn had spent the entirety of the evening within the confines of the hotel, a chill seeping into her very bones.


    A breeze,ced with the faint scent of alcohol, wafted through the car window, causing Quinn''s heart to flutter with worry. He had been drinking and was now at the wheel. Fear kept her silent, her eyes darting towards him before returning to the sting of the wind on her cheeks.


    With a quiet determination, she extended a slender finger to close the window, effectively banishing the intrusive cold air.


    Their journey concluded at Thunderbird Canyon. As Alexander parked the car, Quinn turned towards him, her hand reaching out to tug at his sleeve.


    His gaze met hers in a silent exchange, the chill between them almost tangible.


    "Do you want to take a shower? I''ll run the bath for you," she suggested through a series of gestures.


    Alexander responded with silence, his gaze shifting away. He retrieved a cigarette, lighting it up, and spoke in a tone devoid of any hint of joy, "Is it that you''re only willing to listen to someone else, not my words?" Quinn was taken aback. She shook her head, attempting tomunicate through gestures, but he paid her no mind.


    She studied his profile, sensing his unease, and struggled to form the words, "No... I... I''m... worried..."


    He listened then, in silence. Whether he understood her concerns remained a mystery.


    After discarding the remnants of his cigarette, he nced at her and finally spoke. "Do you remember I told you that you only need to listen to me and Kyle? Nobody else''s words should matter to you." Quinn shook her head. She couldn''t recall.


    She truly couldn''t recall.


    Alexander responded with augh, tinged with a hint of self-mockery.


    "Anyway, you won''t remember whatever I say. You only hold onto what other people tell you."


    Quinn''s gaze wavered. She reached out to tug at his sleeve again, only to be met with indifference.


    She wanted to tell him that it wasn''t a matter of not wanting to remember; it was that she simply couldn''t... She''d forgotten too much.


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    She wanted to exin that her memory was slowly fading, particrly the minute details, which were bing increasingly elusive.


    The things she once remembered so vividly now randomly flitted in and out of her mind.


    She despised this condition, but she was powerless to alter it...


    She didn''t want to forget.


    The one thing she couldn''t forget was her concern for him.


    It was a memory deeply etched into her subconscious; even if she forgot everything else, her love for him remained steadfast.


    Alexander, however, seemed uninterested in furthermunication; he opened the car door, exited the vehicle, and retreated into the house alone.


    As she watched his retreating figure in the rearview mirror, Quinn felt a burning sensation in her eyes, tears spilling uncontrobly.


    Wiping away her tears, she hastily exited the car, rushing into the storage room to resume her search.


    Eventually, she found herself seated on the floor, utterly exhausted.


    She couldn''t even remember where she had ced that notebook.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Quinn remained seated on the cold ground for a while, before rising with renewed determination. She continued her meticulous search in the storage room until she discovered a small box tucked away in a corner. Carrying the box to the doorway, she peered inside by the light filtering in from outside, revealing a pile of fragmented pieces.


    Her eyshes fluttered as she extracted the scraps of paper, attempting to decipher the writing, but they were too torn to make out anything.


    Clutching the paper box, she felt a lump forming in her throat, a sense of helplessness washing over her.


    She had forgotten who had torn them up.


    When Alexander emerged from the bathroom, he was greeted by the soft sound of her sobs.

 Chapter 328

    As he moved towards the storage room, he spotted Quinn, sitting on the cold floor, her arms wrapped tightly around a box, her body wracked with sobs.


    It was a scene reminiscent of her childhood when Freya had destroyed her beloved toy, leaving her clinging to a pile of ragged dolls, her tears falling like rain.


    A shadow fell across her, and Quinn, her cheeks wet with tears, slowly lifted her gaze to meet the indifferent eyes of the man standing before her.


    He was adorned in a robe of champagne hue, his arms folded across his chest as he looked down at her.


    Meeting his icy stare, Quinn silently dropped her gaze, rising to her feet to return the box to its ce.


    But before she could, a slender hand reached out, snatching the box from her grasp. Quinn was taken aback.


    Before she could react, the man seized the box and hurled it to the ground. The sound of the box hitting the floor echoed through the room, paper scraps scattering across the floor.


    A gust of wind swept in, sending the pieces flying in all directions.


    Quinn stared at the fragments, her mind a nk canvas.


    She was at a loss for how to respond.


    Instinctively, she reached out to gather the scraps, but was abruptly halted as Alexander seized her wrist, pulling her back. In his eyes, she could see a flicker of anger. "Is it really that painful to be by my side?" Alexander questioned, his voiceced with anger, "Do you want a divorce?"


    Quinn, trembling, could only stare back at him, words failing her.


    "Fine, I''ll grant you your wish. Go fly kites, or ride in your goddamn hot air balloons. Have your fill!" With that, he released his grip on Quinn and stormed upstairs, not once looking back.


    Quinn remained rooted to the spot, her mind in a whirl. She couldn''tprehend why Alexander had suddenly exploded in such fury, even going as far as suggesting a divorce.


    Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through her head, and she clutched at it, slowly sinking to the floor. It felt as if a thousand needles were pricking her brain, threatening to make it burst. The pain was more intense than ever before.


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    Unable to withstand the pain, she copsed onto the cold floor, hoping to alleviate the throbbing in her head.


    Meanwhile, upstairs, Alexander was engaged in a call, his face stern.


    "Oliver, you''re getting a bit impatient," Walter''s voice echoed through the phone, his tone slow and deliberate, "To give up these deals over a woman, it doesn''t seem like your style."


    "If you''re just going to spout nonsense, you can hang up," Alexander retorted sharply.


    "My leg''s injury hasn''t healed. How can I ''hang up''? But really, why lose your temper? Galen set this up because he wanted you to refrain from cooperating with them. You can''t me me for your impatience."


    "Cutting ties with them means eventually, Galen will start working with Kennedy Enterprise, pushing your partners out. You, as the CEO, might end up like your father."


    "The silver lining is that they don''t know the real circumstances at Kennedy Enterprise or your true rtionship with Galen. They still think of you as an ally. The way you handled Sten has had some deterrent effect, making them wary. So, there''s still a chance."


    "If you can reassure these people before Galen sabotages everything, then the situation might stabilize."


    Alexander scoffed, "If all you offer is hindsight, I think partnering with you was a mistake. It might be more useful to get rid of you."


    "Don''t rush; my injury hasn''t healed. You''d want me fully recovered before I can handle business, right?"


    "Is your mouth or hand broken along with your leg?"


    "Hahaha, Oliver, you''re in a bad mood. Let''s talk when you''ve calmed down."


    With that, Walter ended the call. Alexander tossed his phone onto the desk, massaged his temples, and left the study.


    As he passed by the bedroom, he caught sight of luggage strewn across the floor. Quinn was packing her clothes. She was carefully folding her best garments and cing them into the suitcase. The suitcase was overflowing, refusing to close, so she knelt and pressed down on it.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Alexander stood at the doorway, observing her movements, a vein in his forehead pulsating.

 Chapter 329

    Quinn had managed to pack only two items of clothing. The confines of her suitcase would allow no more, and she was left pondering how she would manage to extract them when needed. Suddenly, her suitcase was violently kicked by an unseen force, causing it to skid across the floor at an awkward angle.


    Taken aback, Quinn raised her gaze to the man responsible. Alexander''s countenance was dark, his gaze intense as he stared at her.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Quinn, her lips pursed, awkwardly rose from the ground. "What are you doing?" she gestured.


    Alexander''s gaze was unyielding, as if he intended to prate her very soul. "What''s the rush? Eager to leave?" he asked, his toneced with a hint of malice.


    "Wasn''t it you who mentioned divorce?" Quinn retorted. She felt that since Alexander had been the one to suggest the divorce, she should respect his wishes and not overstay her wee. Alexander''s response was a smile, but it was far fromforting. It was a smile that held a dangerous edge. "What are you doing with these things? Leave them!" hemanded. Quinn shivered, unable to believe what she was hearing.


    Alexander gripped her chin, his voice cold and sinister. "If you divorce me, you should be ready to leave with nothing. Since it''s leaving with nothing, you''ll leave everything of mine behind." Quinn fell silent, her mind racing.


    He continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. "That includes the clothes you''re wearing right now. Take them off."


    Quinn''s eyes widened in disbelief. Was he truly so heartless as to leave her with nothing, not even the clothes on her back?


    As she met the fury in Alexander''s eyes, a wave of sadness washed over her. Three years of marriage had not softened him enough to leave her with even a single piece of clothing.


    To let her go out with literally nothing.


    How cold-blooded he was.


    Quinn felt a lump forming in her throat, a wave of grievances welling up within her. Her eyes began to cloud over with unshed tears.


    Three years of marriage, and she was worth less to him than a stray dog.


    Alexander''s eyelid twitched slightly. "What are you crying for? Isn''t this exactly what you want? I thought you would have everything figured out."


    With her head lowered, Quinn felt the tears begin to fall, tracing the contours of her cheeks.


    Alexander released her chin and walked out the door.


    As he reached the threshold, his voice echoed once more. "If you want to leave, leave everything behind."


    With that, he vanished from the doorway.


    Quinn remained rooted to the spot, staring at the empty doorway, unsure of what to do next.


    Alexander had only slept for a few hours. After taking a shower, he left the vi, leaving Quinn alone.


    Feeling drained, Quinn sank onto the bed, her gaze fixed nkly on the door.


    She soon collected herself, dried her tears, and reached for her phone to call a cab.


    Quickly, she discovered that her funds were insufficient to book the ride.


    She checked her e-wallet bnce, which held several thousand dors, but it wouldn''t process a cab fare.


    Quinn then checked her bank ount, which also held several thousand.


    That meant... Alexander had frozen all the funds in her ount.


    Was he trying to tell her that she was nothing without him?


    Even getting a cab was too much to hope for.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Quinn sighed a weightless exhale as shey on the bed, wrapping herself in thefort of her nket before sumbing to silence.


    Theck of sleep from the previous night seemed to catch up with her. She found herself drifting into a hazy slumber on the bed.


    When she finally awoke, it was already afternoon.


    Quinn mbered off the bed groggily and noticed her clothes and suitcase scattered on the floor. Perhaps the grogginess of waking up had brought an inexplicable sense of loss to her heart. She rummaged through her dresser and found a crossbody bag and a notebook from beneath the bed.


    She immediately jotted down in the notebook: Remember to write down everything that happens each day.


    After finishing, she packed the notebook and pen into her bag, slung the crossbody over her shoulder, and searched through various drawers in the living room downstairs. She found a handful of coins.


    With these coins in hand, she headed out to catch the bus to the hospital.


    The doctor informed her that she needed to have a consecutive IV drip treatment but wasn''t sure for how many days. Quinn wrote down this information in her notebook as well. During the infusion, Orion sent her a message.

 Chapter 330

    In the midst of their digital exchange, he informed her of a canine miracle that had unfolded that day. A dog had brought a litter of Huskies into the world. He shared with her a photograph, a testament to the miracle, showcasing approximately five or six adorable puppies.


    Orion: [Where are you? Why aren''t you replying to my messages? Which one do you like? I''ll give it to you.]


    Quinn, at that moment, was engrossed in recording the day''s events in her notebook. She had just penned down the distressing incident of Alexander forcing her to abandon their shared home, leaving her with nothing, not even the clothes on her back.


    A pang of mncholy tugged at her heartstrings. Setting her pen aside, she decided to respond to Orion''s message.


    Quinn: [I''m at the hospital getting an IV drip.]


    Orion: [What? What happened to you? Did you go to the hospital because you have a cold?]


    Quinn: [Yeah.]


    Orion: [Are you alone?]


    Quinn: [Yeah.]


    Orion: [What hospital?]


    Upon receiving the hospital''s address from Quinn, Orion''s responses ceased.


    Half an hourter, Orion materialized at the entrance of the infusion hall. He was panting heavily as he hurried to take a seat beside Quinn.


    "I''m d I made it in time. Are you alright?" he asked, concern etched on his face.


    Quinn responded with a shake of her head, signaling that she was fine.


    "How about your brother? Why isn''t he here with you?" Orion inquired further.


    The term ''brother'' struck a discordant note within her. After three years of matrimony, and now on the brink of divorce, she was still perceived as Alexander''s sister in the eyes of others.


    Hiding her difort, Quinn managed a forced smile and gestured that she didn''t want to delve into the topic.


    Quinn gestured, "Could you lend me some money?"


    Orion seemed taken aback, as if the thought of Quinn asking for money had never urred to him.


    He stuttered, "You''re short on cash?"


    Quinn nodded earnestly, indicating her dire need for money, especially for clothes.


    "How much do you need? My dad froze my card, so I might not have much, but I can still pull together a couple thousand," he offered.


    Quinn pursed her lips, her gaze fixed intensely on him.


    An hourter, they found themselves within the bustling confines of a shopping mall.


    "Isn''t your brother giving you any money? Why do you need to borrow to buy clothes?"


    Quinn gestured, "My card has been frozen too."


    Orion couldn''t help but chuckle at the sight of her slender, attractive fingers, "Looks like we are the same fallen persons, eh? Let''s go, the clothes here don''t cost much. I''ll buy you something." Quinn nodded and followed him deeper into the mall.


    The mall was basic, devoid of many branded stores, and aplete winter outfit wouldn''t cost more than a couple hundred bucks.


    Orion guided her into a women''s clothing shop that was quite mainstream and very much in line with Quinn''s style.


    "Try this one on," he suggested, handing her a sky-blue sweater.


    Quinn epted it and headed to the fitting room. When she emerged, Orion gave an approving nod, "That looks great on you. You really suit these light colors, so pretty." Quinn felt a blush creep up her cheeks at hispliment.


    Orion selected two more outfits for her, and Quinn modeled them to his enthusiastic apuse.


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    In total, the two outfits cost less than five hundred dors.


    "Do you want to check out another store?" he asked.


    Quinn nced at the shopping bags in her hand and shook her head. The two outfits were sufficient for her.


    But as they passed a lingerie store, she paused.


    She nced at Orion, somewhat shyly.


    Peering at the lingerie styles inside, Orion blushed slightly. "Do you need to buy some of this, too?"


    Quinn nodded.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "You go ahead; I''ll wait for you outside," he said, handing her his card with a blush, "You pay with this card. The PIN is 052000, my birthday." Quinn looked at him gratefully and went in with the card.


    Their entire conversation was being transmitted to another person''s earpiece through a ck ring on Quinn''s shoe.


    Walter lounged on the sofa, a sly smile ying on his lips as he listened to their exchange through his earpiece, almost enjoying the scene.

 Chapter 331

    Walter harbored a desire to share the amusing incident with Alexander, but he held back, fearing it might only serve to infuriate his friend. The image of Alexander''s stunned expression danced in his mind, and Walter found himselfughing


    once more.


    In a separate instance, Kyle found himself in a quandary over whether to show Alexander the photographs he had captured. However, recalling Alexander''s recent temperament, he decided against it, opting to delete the images and feign ignorance. Unbeknownst to Kyle, the couple was in the midst of a divorce, and so he didn''t give the matter much thought.


    Upon Alexander''s return home that evening, he was greeted by an empty house. However, a neatly folded outfit, the one Quinn had worn that day,y on the bed. The sight of the clothes caused Alexander''s brows to knit together in


    consternation.


    His phone buzzed, signaling a message from Quinn.


    Quinn: [I took off the clothes, but I didn''t wash them. You probably don''t want them, right?]


    Quinn: [I didn''t leave my phone. I was worried you wouldn''t be able to find me when signing the divorce papers. I''ll give it back to you then.]


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on the string of messages, but as he scrolled up, he discovered earlier messages from her.


    Quinn: [Want to grab dinner tonight?]


    Quinn: [Where are you?]


    Quinn: [What do you want to eat?]Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Alexander, seated on the couch, chuckled at the messages. He lit a cigarette, leaned back, and smoked in silence, his gaze fixed on a nondescript spot in the room.


    Before long, Kyle made his entrance, rushing in from the rain. He shook off the droplets at the doorstep and quickly made his way into the living room. Noticing the ashtray on the table, nearly overflowing with cigarette butts, he called out, "Alexander?"


    Unruffled, Alexander responded in a calm tone, "Where is she?"


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    "Uh, let me check." Kyle withdrew his phone and stepped aside to make a call.


    Ever since Walter''s incident, someone had been assigned to keep tabs on Quinn, but they were instructed not to report back unless a dangerous situation arose.


    Receiving the report, Kyle''s face turned grim. He nced hesitantly at Alexander and began, "Alexander, Quinn''s..."


    "She''s with another Alexander."


    Alexander continued to smoke, his demeanor indifferent, as though the news was not unexpected.


    As the minutes ticked by, Kyle found himself growing increasingly ufortable in the silence. Eventually, Alexander broke the quiet, asking, "Am I really holding on to her too tightly?"


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    Kyle managed a forced smile, internally relieved that Alexander was finally beginning to understand, though he dared not voice this thought aloud. Instead, he offered, "You''re just looking out for Quinn''s best interest. She can''t speak. If something happened out there, she wouldn''t even be able to call for help."


    "Plus, she''s quite naive. Mixing with people out there, she could easily be deceived."


    "More importantly, it would be easy for those with ulterior motives to use her to threaten you."


    At this, Alexander let out a sardonicugh, "Use her to threaten me?"


    Sensing his tone was off, Kyle quickly added, "No one can threaten you..."


    Had Kyle not witnessed Alexander''s fearless leap off the cliff, he might have believed his friend''s nonchnce. It seemed Alexander was under the impression that his concern for Quinn wasn''t apparent to others.


    In reality, his concern for Quinn was nearly palpable. But it was partly because Quinn had been acting outtely, pushing Alexander to reveal more of his true feelings.

 Chapter 332

    However, a drawback soon emerged; people like Walter and Galen began setting their sights on Quinn.


    "So, what''s our next move? Do we bring Quinn back?" Kyle queried.


    Instead of answering directly, Alexander deflected, "Orion, he''s adopted a bunch of stray cats and dogs, hasn''t he?"


    "Yes. Why do you ask?"


    Alexander took a long drag from his cigarette, and without providing a response, he cast a mysterious nce at Kyle that sent a shiver down his spine.


    Meanwhile, Quinn found herself at Orion''s pet sanctuary. It was a ce of refuge, equipped with sleeping quarters. After learning that she had no desire to return, Orion had brought her here.


    Orion guided her to the dormitory room, flicked on the lights, and said, "You can stay here. It''s pretty well-equipped, but there''s no heating, so it might get chilly at night."


    The room was modest in size, featuring a bed and an ensuite bathroom.


    "We have plenty of rooms here, but only Grace stays here regrly," Orion exined as he made up the bed. "asionally, some other volunteerse and stay for a few days."


    "All these nkets are new," he added.


    Quinn nodded in appreciation and gestured a silent thank you.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "It''s no big deal," Orion assured her, scratching his head. "Get some rest; tomorrow morning, I''ll take you to see the new litter of puppies."


    With that, Quinn agreed, and Orion took his leave.


    She surveyed the room, noting the wooden nks that lent a certain warmth to the space.


    She freshened up, retrieved the medicine from her bag, and took her dose. She had two types to take; one prescribed by a doctor the previous day and another given to her by Soren. Thetter was crucial in slowing the progression of her condition. While its effects weren''t immediately noticeable, it at least prevented her condition from worsening rapidly.


    She could still recall most things intermittently-after all, people generally don''t remember things unless they deliberately focus on them.


    The difference with her was that she couldn''t recall some things even when she tried hard to think about them.


    After taking her medicine, Quinn picked up her notebook andy on the bed to document the day''s events.


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    Once done, she stored the notebook in her bag, turned off the light, and settled down to sleep.


    However, the unfamiliar environment kept her awake, tossing and turning restlessly.


    After a couple of hours of restless rolling, a thought struck Quinn. She reached for her cell phone on the bedside table and opened her messaging app. To her disappointment, there were no messages from Alexander.


    Shey on the bed, the white light from her phone illuminating her pale and deste expression.


    She had brought up divorce numerous times before, and each time, he had found ways to refuse her. This time... was he actually considering it?


    Was it because she couldn''t handle her alcohol, causing him to lose face in front of clients, or because her presence offended those clients? He was angry at and perhaps disappointed with her.


    Quinn closed her eyes, pushing those messy thoughts aside.


    Surely, she should feel relieved and free about the divorce. She shouldn''t dwell on these things...


    Yet, she found herself opening her eyes and clicking on Alexander''s profile picture.


    There was nothing but a single nk status line. Of course, Alexander never posted anything on his status, so there was nothing interesting to see.


    Quinn was about to close the messaging app when her gaze fell again on his profile picture.


    The profile picture was a blurry gray, and when shrunk down, it was even harder to discern what it depicted. Quinn couldn''t help but click to erge the image.


    Upon zooming in, she saw that it was actually a photo of two brown teddy bears. The shot had been taken too close, and the amateurish photography skills had resulted in only part of the bears being captured.


    But upon closer inspection, it became evident that the teddy bears were nestled together on a shelf, one with a charmingly sewn-on arm that hade off. The teddy bear''s arm look a bit shorter than it should have been due to the messy and crooked stitching.


    Quinn''s gaze flickered as she zoomed in on the photo, and in a sh of realization, she remembered.

 Chapter 333

    The two bears that now caught her attention were the very ones Alexander had won for her at the arcade. The sight of them stirred long-forgotten memories, which slowly began to clear, as if a gust of wind had swept away the dust to reveal a vivid image.


    It had been a sunny Friday afternoon. Quinn had been stationed outside the high school gates, her patience wearing thin as she waited for Alexander. As the sun began to dip, marking the approach of dusk, a boy in a white shirt finally emerged from the school, his uniform and backpack distinguishing him from his friends.


    Upon spotting the young girl waiting by the gates, one of his friends teased, "Your little girlfriend''s been waiting for you."


    The boy responded with a yful smack to the back of his friend''s head before leaving the group to approach her. Crouching to meet her pouting face, he shed a smile and asked, "Have you been waiting long?"


    In those days, she was innocent and guileless. She nodded in affirmation, holding up three fingers to indicate the three hours she had waited.


    He scooped her up in his arms, his fingers yfully pinching her cheek. "Then I''ll make it up to you," he promised.


    He took her hand, leading her to the arcade where he pointed to the selection of w machines. "Pick one, and I''ll get it for you," he offered.


    Her eyes were drawn to two bears, onerger and one smaller, nestled together. For a fleeting moment, she thought they resembled her and Alexander.


    She wanted those two bears, but they were snugly wedged in the back of the machine, seemingly impossible to win. Despite his best efforts, whichsted until the arcade''s closing time and cost him over a hundred dors, he couldn''t win them.


    In the end, he resorted to buying the bears from the arcade owner. Even though they were purchased, she cherished them as if they were hard-won prizes, clinging to them dearly.


    When she handed therger bear to him, he epted it with a smile. "Are you giving this to me?" he asked. She shook her head, pointed at the bear, and gestured, signaling that this one represented him.


    "Is this me?" he asked, looking again at the one she had kept, "And this one is you?" She nodded, took back the bear from his hands, and ced it next to the small one, hoping her affection for him was clear.


    But he misinterpreted, "Hmm, it does look like a big brother with his little sister." Even though she was young and naive, his words made her feel differently about the bears at that moment.


    Later on, after her friend Freya damaged the bear, she never yed with them again. And she didn''t know when those two bears had be his profile picture.


    Ever since Quinn had linked her profile with Alexander''s, it seemed he had never changed his profile picture. For years, she had never paid any attention to it.


    Quinn scrolled through the photo time and again, feeling a heavy ache in her heart as if something was pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe. By the time she snapped back to reality, her face was blurred with tears. Closing her eyes, Quinn lifted her hand to wipe away the tear stains, shielding her eyes from the sight. Her phoney silently in her palm, and the doll in the picture seemed to stare at her through the screen.


    She didn''t sleep that night. She sat up before dawn. The sleepless night left her bedding ice cold, her hands and feet frigid. She coughed, a sign of another cold setting in.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Quinn nced at the dim light outside, then got out of bed when she noticed a notification on her phone. She couldn''t resist unlocking the screen; the erged photo stilly there quietly.


    Long pressing on the screen, she saved the photo and then minimized it, allowing it to return to its original dull appearance. However, as she clicked back, she saw the title with Alexander saying: "User is typing..."


    Quinn''s heart leaped, her gaze fixed on those words. ''It is still early... is he typing to me?'' Quinn wondered. But no message came. After waiting a while, during which Quinn nearly forgot to breathe, the words "User is typing..." shed next to Alexander''s name again.

 Chapter 334

    Just as Quinn was on the verge of rxation, the name field in their chat flickered, morphing once again.


    "User is typing..."


    Her features contorted, her mind whirling with questions. ''What is he up to? Is he not messaging me, but chatting with someone else?''


    A momentter, his name resurfaced, only to be reced by the typing indicator once more within the span of two minutes.


    Quinn released a deep sigh, her patience wearing thin. She couldn''t help but send him a message.


    Quinn: [Are you writing to me?]


    Suddenly, everything came to a halt. Almost instantly, as if someone had hit the pause button, all activity ceased.


    Undeterred, Quinn fired off another message.


    Quinn: [Is it about signing the divorce papers?]N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    No sooner had she sent the message than a red exmation mark materialized on the screen!


    Frozen in ce, Quinn stared in disbelief at the exmation mark and the message apanying it: "This message is sessfully sent but rejected by the receiver."


    Had he... removed her from his contacts?


    She sent a question mark to confirm, only to be met with another exmation mark and a prompt for friend verification.


    The reality of the situation hit her like a ton of bricks. Alexander had indeed deleted her.


    Standing aimlessly in the room, Quinn was at a loss for how to react. She had never anticipated such a turn of events.


    Had his dislike for her grown to such an extent?


    He hadn''t even allowed her to collect her clothes, and now he had removed her from his contacts.


    Her gaze fell on his profile picture, and a wave of irony washed over her.


    He had taken that photo so long ago, probably out ofziness rather than sentiment. It didn''t hold any real significance.


    People change, after all.


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    Just as he once reserved his smiles for her alone, now he was bestowing them upon Getty with such indulgence.


    Quinn''s eyshes fluttered as she slipped her phone into her pocket and exited the dorm, stepping out into the open.


    Grace was already up and about, busily feeding the dogs. The pack of pups yipped and chased each other around the expansive backyard, their barks reverberating in the morning air.


    Orion had also joined in the caretaking efforts, ying merrily with the energetic dogs.


    It should have been a scene of joy, one she yearned for in her fleeting moments of freedom. But as she stood on the balcony, surveying the yard teeming with pets and the unfamiliar surroundings, her thoughts were consumed by that red exmation mark.


    The unfamiliarity of her surroundings amplified the sense of emptiness and disconnection in her heart.


    She felt increasingly alienated from this world.


    Orion turned and spotted her, a bag of dog food in his hand. He waved at her, "Quinn, you''re awake! Come on down!"


    With a tight-lipped smile, Quinn turned and descended the stairs.


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    Orion set down the dog food and ushered her into a room, gesturing towards the newly prepared whelping area.


    "Look, these are the huskies I told you about. I was worried I wouldn''t know who the father was, but now, seeing their color, I''m relieved that at least they have the same breed for a dad."


    Quinn nced at the tiny pups, their eyes still closed, and a small smile tugged at her lips.


    She then turned to Orion and gestured, "I have to go back to work."


    "Ah? You''re working? I thought you were still in school. Where do you work?" he asked, taken aback.


    Quinn replied, "The Kennedys group."


    Orion''s brow furrowed slightly, his confusion evident, but he didn''t press further. "Well, it''s quite a distance from here to the Kennedys group. I''ll give you a ride."


    She knew she shouldn''t be returning to work there.


    But she... she needed to know why Alexander had blocked her.


    He hadn''t given her a definitive answer about the divorce, and now he had blocked her. She was left in the dark, unable toprehend his actions.

 Chapter 335

    Without a moment''s hesitation, Orion snatched up the car keys and ferried Quinn to her workce. He navigated the city streets with a swift precision, his primary aim to ensure her timely arrival and to sidestep the impending rush hour. As he handed her a carton of milk, he confessed, "I had initially nned to treat you to breakfast, but I hadn''t realized you were still employed. I had you pegged as a student."


    epting the milk, Quinn pressed her lips together in a tight line before taking a tentative sip.


    Unfazed by her silence, Orion carried on, "It seems we''re more alike than I thought. People often mistake me for a college student, even though I''m already 25."


    His revtion caught Quinn off guard. She stole a quick nce at Orion, who was focused on the road. From his casual attire and easy-going demeanor, it was hard to believe he was 25. Perhaps it was the youthful air about him that had led her to assume he was a mere college student.


    Anticipating her unspoken question, Orion volunteered, "Aside from what you''ve seen, I also spend my time volunteering at an orphanage. And yes, I do have a regr job. I work at a pet supplypany, a ce where one can find everything they need for their pets. If you ever decide to get a dog, let me know. I can get you a discount on dog food."


    Quinn offered him a half-hearted smile, jotting down a note about Orion''s age, his job, and the potential discount on dog food.


    Catching a glimpse of her notes, Orion chuckled, "Are you writing that down to hold me ountable? Don''t worry, I won''t back out. Our dog food is top-notch."


    Quinn smiled in response, tucking her notebook back into her bag.


    Throughout the drive, Orion chattered away, seemingly undeterred by Quinn''s silence. He had a knack for ceaseless conversation, spilling one story after another, regardless of herck of response. It had been a while since he had such a quiet listener, and he relished the opportunity to engage with Quinn, who neither interrupted nor contradicted him.


    In the course of the journey, she learned much about him - some tales were amusing, others less so.


    Eventually, they arrived at the towering edifice of Kennedy Enterprises. Orion nced at the clock, "Perfect timing. It''s 8:50 AM. Your shift starts at 9, right?"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Quinn nodded in confirmation, thanked him with a wave, and headed into the building.


    Inside, the atmosphere was tense. The usual office chatter was conspicuously absent, reced by a palpable sense of unease. Quinn rode the elevator to the top floor, which was eerily deserted. She approached Alexander''s office and knocked, but there was no response.


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    Suddenly, Kyle materialized behind her, startling her slightly. "Quinn, Alexander hasn''te in yet today."


    She turned to face him, her expression nk. She made a few hand gestures, then reached for her phone to type a message.


    Anticipating her question, Kyle said, "I''m not sure when he''ll arrive, but you might want to check at Thunderbird Canyon. Do you need a ride?"


    Quinn was about to ept his offer when she remembered his harsh words from the day before and his decision to delete her contact. It didn''t seem right to ept his help.


    Kyle added, "He''s probably at home resting. He hasn''t slept for two days, so he won''t being to the office today. If you wait here, you might not see him."


    A flicker of skepticism crossed Quinn''s eyes. If he had just deleted her contact that morning, it seemed unlikely that he was asleep.


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    Quinn: [No need, I''ll wait here for him.]


    Seeing her determination, Kyle didn''t press further. "Alright then, I''ve got other things to attend to."


    She nodded, signaling that he could proceed with his day.


    Before leaving, Kyle handed her some documents to input into thepany''s internal system, a task that required a slightly more sophisticated procedure than usual. He showed her the basic steps, primarily how to input Alexander''s schedule, and set her up with an ount that had limited ess to just a few features.


    Quinn settled into her office, inputting the data she''d been given. The task was simple, but she felt unusually listless at work that day. Perhaps it was the result of a restless night.


    Every so often, she would nce up at the door, only to find it still closed. As the day wore on, she realized that Kyle''s prediction hade true - Alexander didn''t show up until the end of the day.

 Chapter 336

    Throughout the day, Galen had sought Alexander on several asions, yet their paths never crossed.


    As the day drew to a close, Quinn diligently tidied her workspace. Her fingers brushed against the cold, hard cash in her pocket, a meager sum of thirteen dors. It was the same amount Orion had generously lent her the previous day, his own pockets equally light.


    Rather than indulging in the luxury of a taxi, Quinn opted for a more frugal route. She navigated a shortcut to the bus station, each step echoing her resolve to save money.


    Upon reaching her destination, she boarded a bus bound for the hospital, her IV treatment beckoning. The treatment concluded around nine, and she was fortunate enough to catch thest bus home.


    Her journey led her back to Thunderbird Canyon. From the bus stop, her home nestled in the residential area of the canyon was a twenty-minute walk away.


    Halfway through her trek, the sky began to weep a gentle rain. She unfurled her umbre, shielding herself from the droplets as she continued her walk back to the vi. The lights of the familiar house twinkled in the distance, a beacon in the night.


    However, the main gate was locked, barring her entry.


    Quinn found herself rooted at the entrance, her gaze locked onto the house. Courage seemed to elude her, leaving her questioning the nature of her rtionship with Alexander.


    Were they still a couple on the brink of divorce? Or were they more like siblings? Thetter thought wasughable at best. She should have been summoned to sign the divorce papers, yet he had chosen to block her instead. Thus, she found herself standing before the vi, feeling like a stranger in a familiarnd.


    Lost in her deliberations, Quinn was jolted from her thoughts as the door to the vi creaked open. Startled, she quickly folded her umbre and sought refuge behind a stone pir near the entrance. The light rain had turned into a chilling drizzle, soaking her clothes and seeping into her bones.


    Huddled against the pir, she cautiously peered around it. Two figures emerged from the house: Alexander and Getty.


    Alexander unfurled an umbre, offering it to Getty who epted it and lingered in the yard. He then retreated to the garage, soon reappearing in a sleek Mercedes. Getty folded the umbre and slid into the car, and with that, Alexander drove off.


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    The scene unfolded before Quinn''s eyes, leaving her in a daze. She stood alone in the rain, the car''s passing leaving her drenched and sttered with mud. Her new clothes bore the brunt of the assault, now stained and sullied. Mud smeared her face, only to be washed away by the relentless rain.


    In mere minutes, she was transformed into a sodden figure, her hair stered to her face and dripping water.


    She lingered awkwardly at the entrance, her destination suddenly uncertain.


    Inside the car, Getty''s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Quinn''s silhouette. "Did you see that?" she asked.


    She had noticed it, and it was possible that Alexander might have seen Quinn''s figure in the rearview mirror as well.


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    Alexander remained silent, his focus solely on the road ahead.


    Undeterred, Getty pressed on, "What''s wrong? You guys aren''t getting a divorce, are you?"


    Alexander''s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his nce at Getty conveying his irritation.


    Getty pouted, her curiosity unabated, "If you''re not getting divorced, then why didn''t you let her in?"


    "Which eye of yours saw me not letting her in?" Alexander retorted.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Getty''s temper red, "What''s with the attitude? I was just asking, what do you care if you let her in or not?"

 Chapter 337

    Alexander refrained from further debate, choosing instead to drive on in silence, his focus solely on the road ahead.


    Getty, her temper ring, turned her head away, her lips sealed in a tight line. The prospect of another argument, and the weeks of separation that inevitably followed, was something she had no desire to entertain. Quinn, a solitary figure, watched the car disappear into the distance, her gaze unwavering until it was entirely out of sight. A tremor ran through her eyshes as she finally allowed her eyes to wander elsewhere. So, that was the reason he had erased her from his contacts.


    A bitter smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. Turning on her heel, Quinn began to walk, her figure growing smaller as she disappeared into the rain.


    Suddenly, a car pulled up alongside her.


    The window was rolled down, and a man''s voice,ced with amusement, echoed out, "Sister-inw, are you locked out of your house?"


    At the sound of that voice, Quinn froze in her tracks. She lifted her head abruptly, her eyes meeting the man in the back seat.


    His signature smile was in ce, his curly hair swept back save for a few loose strands that hung over his forehead. His androgynous charm was undeniable, even under the dim street lights.


    Quinn pressed her lips together and chose to ignore him.


    "Aren''t you going to get in?"


    Quinn continued her journey, not sparing him a nce. The car trailed behind her, matching her pace. "You know, it''s dangerous out here at night if you don''t get in," he warned.


    Casting him a brief look, Quinn felt there was nothing more dangerous than him.


    She continued to ignore him, her steps unyielding. But then, without warning, the car door swung open and a hand reached out, pulling her inside.


    Quinn was taken aback, her instincts screaming at her to flee, but the doors had already shut, and the car was moving.


    The man''s presence was suddenly all-consuming.


    Quinn, cornered, fixed a wary gaze on Walter.


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    "What are you afraid of?" Walter asked.


    His finger traced the curve of her cheek, pushing a stray lock of hair from her face to reveal her features entirely.


    "You''re so naive," Walter smirked. "Alexander left with another woman. Why don''t you find someone else to be with, too?" Walter suggested, "That way, you won''t be at a loss." Quinn recoiled from his proximity, turning her head away, wanting nothing to do with him.


    A smile ying on his lips, Walter watched her intently. "I''ve never heard you speak."


    Quinn stiffened.


    He turned Quinn''s face toward him and smiled, "Say something. I want to hear your voice."


    Quinn shuddered at the sight of his insincere smile. Every time she saw that smile, she sensed trouble on the horizon.


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    As expected, he suddenly grabbed her hair, "Speak, or I''ll have to get rough."


    Quinn''s scalp tightened, and she stared at the man in terror, her throat constricting as she tried to form words. With great effort, she managed to utter two words, "No, please."


    Walter smiled, seemingly satisfied. He released Quinn''s hair and gently stroked her cheek, murmuring, "That''s better."


    Clutching her damp clothes to her body, Quinn curled up into a tight ball. The driver in the front kept his eyes on the road, asionally stealing nces at the rearview mirror, his face a mask of curiosity.


    Roughly forty minutester, the car pulled up outside another vi. The driver promptly exited the vehicle and, umbre in hand, opened the door for Walter.


    Walter, still nursing a leg injury, struggled to get out of the car. Once he was on his feet, he turned back to Quinn with a chuckle, "Are you nning to spend the night in the car?"


    Quinn remained huddled in a corner, her body shaking uncontrobly.


    Walter''s brow furrowed subtly. He took the umbre from the driver and tilted his chin up, "Let''s have a look."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    The driver nodded, quickly moving to the other side of the car to open the door. Quinn, who had been leaning against it, fell out as soon as the door was pulled open. Thankfully, the driver was quick enough to catch her in time.

 Chapter 338

    Upon touching Quinn''s forehead, the driver recoiled in surprise, his gaze darting towards Walter. "Sir, it appears she has a fever," he announced.


    Walter''s response was curt and devoid of emotion. "Bring her inside."


    "Of course, sir."


    With swift efficiency, the driver scooped Quinn up and carried her towards the vi. Walter trailed behind them, his injured leg dragging with a noticeable limp.


    Quinn had been feeling unwell since the morning, and the evening''s rain had done her no favors. A fever was an inevitable consequence. A fever that spiked at 39.5 degrees.


    In her fever-induced haze, Quinn found herself lost in dreams. Dreams filled with visions of Alexander, a young man d in a crisp white shirt. She often dreamt of him holding her close.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    In one dream, he took her to an arcade filled with w machines. They spent hours grabbing stuffed animals, filling an entire room with their winnings. It should have been a pleasant dream, but it took a sinister turn when Walter suddenly emerged from the pile of toys, jolting Quinn awake.


    As her eyes fluttered open, she found Walter''s face ufortably close. She instinctively clutched her nket, her heart pounding as she tried to discern whether she was still dreaming or back in reality.


    Walter sat at the edge of the bed, his chin propped up on his hand, a faint smile ying on his lips.


    "What did you dream about?" he inquired.


    Quinn''s gaze flickered, and she shifted ufortably under Walter''s scrutiny. She pushed herself up to a sitting position.


    Walter''s voice was casual, almost nonchnt. "You''ve been in aa for three days, and Alexander hasn''t even asked about you once."


    Quinn lowered her gaze, choosing to ignore him. She refused to believe anything Walter said, even if it was the truth. The first thing she did was check her phone for any messages Alexander still hadn''t added her back.


    Walter sighed, rose from the bed, only to sit back down next to her. He picked up the remote and turned on the TV. The moment the screen flickered to life, Alexander''s name echoed from the speakers.


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    "Alexander, can you tell us about your rtionship with Getty?" a voice from the TV asked.


    Quinn''s head snapped up at the sound of his name. On the screen, Alexander stood next to Getty, impably dressed in a custom-tailored suit, his smile polite yet distant. Getty, adorned in exquisite makeup and a morous gown, smiled beside him. They were surrounded by a swarm of reporters, their questions buzzing like a hive of bees.


    "Has Alexander gotten married? Is it to Getty?"


    "We''ve heard that you and Getty have been together for several years. Why haven''t you publicly disclosed your rtionship? And why haven''t we seen Getty''s full face in photos with you?"


    The reporters'' questions were sharp, causing Getty''s smile to falter. Yet, Alexander maintained his cool demeanor, his smile never wavering.


    Once the flurry of questions subsided, Alexander surveyed the crowd, a slight smirk ying on his lips. "So, what concern is that of yours?" he retorted.


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    His response left the press stunned. They hadn''t anticipated such aeback.


    "We''re just asking questions; isn''t that the normal course of a press conference?" one reporter countered.


    "You mean by probing into someone''s private life?"


    "So being a reporter is that tough for you, huh? Why not go into entertainment reporting?"


    Getty''s brow furrowed slightly. She had expected Alexander, having agreed to apany her to the press conference, to publicly acknowledge her as his girlfriend. Instead, he was stirring up controversy. Seeing Alexander unfazed by their tactics, the reporters turned their attention to Getty. "Getty, are you and Alexander spouses or lovers?"


    Getty stole a nce at Alexander from the corner of her eye. Unlike him, she was part of the entertainment circuit that thrived on media attention. A wrong answer could lead to a public bacsh.

 Chapter 339

    She addressed the microphone with a strained smile, "Since he''s standing here with me, I don''t think I need to spell out our rtionship, right?"


    He was always like this, averse to such events and reluctant to expose his personal life. As a result, he rarely gave interviews. As for her rtionship with Alexander, she pleaded with the press to cease their inquiries. "If we were truly, as everyone suspects, ''a secret that can''t be discovered,'' he wouldn''t be standing here with me," she stated, her words a clear message to the press and the audience.


    Alexander''s presence at the press event, regardless of their rtionship''s nature, was a testament to his high regard for her. It was unshakeable.


    His demeanor towards the reporters revealed his reluctance to be there. Yet, he had shown up. What did that signify? It was a clear disy of his affection for Getty.


    The young couple stood before the screen, he was strikingly handsome, and she was effortlessly elegant. They seemed destined for each other.


    In the midst of the event, Walter had somehow found a seat next to Quinn. "How does it feel?" he queried.


    Quinn cast a fleeting nce at him before bowing her head in silence. What feelings could she possibly harbor? She felt nothing.


    Walter clicked his tongue, twirling a strand of Quinn''s hair on her shoulder yfully. "Still reluctant to leave, huh? You''re far more disgraceful than I thought," he chided.


    Quinn was momentarily taken aback. She bit her lip, choosing not to retaliate.


    Walter moved his fingers to her chin, forcing her to face him. His gaze was intense as he proposed, "Quinn, be with me. I''ll take you away from here. How about that?" Quinn averted her gaze, but he forcefully turned her face back towards him. "What are you afraid of? Scared I''ll hit you?" he taunted, augh threatening to escape his lips. Quinn''s fingers tightened, wary of provoking him. A p coulde at any moment.


    "Why haven''t you realized it yet?" Walter demanded, his tone shifting as his smile faded. Abruptly, he seized Quinn''s hair, yanking her towards him. "Tell me, do you deserve to die?"


    Pain shot through Quinn''s scalp, tears welling up in her eyes. Observing her distress, Walter''s smile returned. "Don''t be scared. I''m now in partnership with Alexander; I''m not going to hurt you."


    With that, he released Quinn''s hair. He rose swiftly, exiting the room without a backward nce. The door mmed shut behind him with such force that Quinn shivered.


    Quinn remained silent for a moment, recalling her bag left nearby. She quickly got out of bed, retrieved the bag from a chair, and pulled out a notebook. As she was about to write, her gazended on the image on the TV. Clenching the notebook, she grabbed the remote to switch off the TV.


    Shey on the bed, jotting down everything she could remember. However, when it came to the scene in Thunderbird Canyon where she saw Getty and Alexander, she hesitated, crossed out the words, and decided not to write anything. What was the point in remembering things when she was making every effort to forget?


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    She packed the notebook into her bag, changed into nearby clothes, and left the room. As she descended the stairs, she saw Walter lounging on the couch, sipping tea. He was still dressed in that dark red suit; his slightly curled short hair tucked behind his ears, locks framing his cheeks.


    This attire rendered him the epitome of an ancient-style handsome man, as described by Freya. In a suit, he exuded apletely different aura-hard-edged and regal. Yet, for Quinn, who had seen his true nature, no outfit could conceal his darkness.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Quinn had intended to leave, but she hesitated as she neared Walter, clutching her bag and casting anxious nces at him, fearful he would prevent her departure.


    Walter continued to sip his tea leisurely, not even bothering to lift his eyelids. Seeing his silence, Quinn bowed her head and walked past him.


    "Wait a second," Walter called out.


    Quinn''s footsteps faltered. She looked up at him nervously.

 Chapter 340

    Without warning, Walter hurled an enigmatic object towards her, which found its mark in her arms. Startled, she instinctively caught it.


    Upon closer examination, she discovered it was a wallet. As she opened it, a gasp escaped her lips at the sight of the substantial amount of money it contained.


    Quinn stared at Walter, her eyes wide with bewilderment, unable toprehend his actions. A cryptic smile yed on Walter''s lips as he said, "Take it. You''re out of money now, right? Just remember to pay it back."


    Clutching the wallet, Quinn was torn between epting and rejecting his offer. She found herself reflecting on the night when Alexander had walked past her without a hint ofpassion, the ring red exmation mark on her phone screen, and the recent broadcast she had seen on television...


    Taking a deep breath, Quinn gripped the wallet tighter and exited the room. Walter watched her departure, his smile deepening.


    With the wallet in her possession, Quinn felt a surge of newfound confidence. She hailed a cab and headed straight for Thunderbird Canyon. Standing at the entrance, she gazed at the vi, taking several deep breaths before pressing the doorbell.


    The familiar chime of the bell stirred a bitter feeling within her; she had never envisioned a day when she would have to ring the bell to gain entry to this ce. Yet, there was no response. Quinn pressed the bell a few more times, but the silence from within remained unbroken. Could it be that he never returned?


    She pulled out her phone and saw Alexander''s number disyed on the screen. She hesitated before dialing, her heart yearning for a resolution. She was tired of the torment of uncertainty. If he wanted a divorce, then they should part ways cleanly.


    As she waited for the call to connect, her heartbeat echoed the rhythm of the ringing tone. But then she heard: "I''m sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy..." He had disconnected her call.


    Quinn stood rooted to the spot, her phone clutched tightly in her hand at the Vi''s gate, uncertain of her next move. She was at a loss to understand Alexander''s intentions. After initiating a conversation about divorce, he had blocked her on Telegram and was now refusing her calls-what was his ultimate n?


    A sigh escaped Quinn''s lips as she dialed his number again, only for it to go straight to voicemail.


    For some reason, the word "coward" sprang to mind. She didn''t know where this thought had originated, but Alexander''s behavior seemed to reinforce the idea. Quinn felt that she had the courage to face the end of their marriage. Why was he-the instigator-now the one evading the issue?


    Quinn exhaled deeply, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her. Did Alexander not love Getty enough, or was his pride too great to swallow? Was he determined to make things difficult for her?


    She hailed another cab and headed to the office. Upon her arrival, she was informed by Kyle that Alexander had been absent for three days. Quinn surveyed the empty office, a heavy sense of disappointment settling over her. She then exited the building.


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    Next, she took a cab to the Kennedy Residence. As she approached the Kennedys, a palpable tension hung in the air; the household staff were busily going about their tasks in hushed whispers.


    Before she could enter, the unmistakable sound of a baby''s cry reached her ears. It was Harold. She hesitated at the threshold, then stepped inside.


    "Alexander, please hand me little Alexander. This child is difficult to soothe," the nanny pleaded, on the verge of tears.


    Alexander had returned home the previous day and had spent his time ying with Harold. However, Harold seemed to resist his attempts at bonding. The baby had been calm before, but in Alexander''s arms, his cries only intensified. Quinn had initially thought it a coincidence, but the pattern continued.


    From her position at the entrance, Quinn watched as Alexander held the baby with a stern expression, his brow furrowed in apparent annoyance. The louder Harold cried, the tighter Alexander''s grip seemed to be, as if he was in a silentpetition with the newborn.


    Upon noticing Quinn''s arrival, the nanny''s face lit up, "Quinn is back!"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.

 Chapter 341

    The abrupt sound caused Alexander to halt in his tracks, his gaze lifting to the front door. Quinn, her lip caught between her teeth, summoned her courage and moved towards him.


    The scene was peculiar: Alexander, d in a sharp suit, an air of unapproachability surrounding him, was delicately cradling a fragile infant. His attire and demeanor seemed incongruous with the role of a caretaker. The nanny attempted to relieve him of the child, her voice gentle, "Alexander, hand him to me."


    This time, Alexander offered no resistance, allowing the nanny to whisk the child away. His piercing gaze, however, remained fixed on Quinn, sending a shiver skittering down her spine. Quinn took a step closer, her hands moving in a silent question, "Why did you block me?"


    Confronted with her query, Alexander reclined against the sofa, a lit cigarette in hand. His tone was casual as he responded, "I blocked you because I wanted to. Do I need your permission?" Quinn found herself at a loss for words.


    She took a seat across from him, her hands moving again to form another question, "Have you prepared the divorce papers?"


    Alexander remained silent, his gaze never leaving her.


    Quinn made another sign, her expression resolute, "If you hate me that much, let''s just sign them and get it over with. We both can move on."


    "We both?" he echoed, his toneced with skepticism.


    Confusion furrowed Quinn''s brow, but she nodded in agreement nheless.


    A smirk yed at the corners of Alexander''s mouth, though his eyes remained devoid of humor. "Found someone to take you in yet? Is it Orion or Walter?"


    Quinn''s frown deepened. She signed back, "If we''re divorced, it shouldn''t matter who I''m with, right?"


    "Are you divorced now?" he challenged.


    Quinn was taken aback.


    Alexander continued, his tone nonchnt, "We''re not divorced yet, but first, it''s Orion, now Walter. It''s been four days. Have you made your choice of who you want to be with?" His words, though light, struck a painful chord in Quinn''s heart.


    So, that''s how he saw her.


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    Quinn no longer wished to argue. She signed again: "Then let''s get a divorce."


    Alexander''s gaze narrowed, a chill creeping into his voice, "Divorce, to make it easy for you two?"


    Quinn''s patience was wearing thin: Isn''t it about making it easy for you and Getty?


    "You and Getty are at the press conference, yet you''re too scared to go public with your rtionship. Don''t you think she feels wronged?"


    Suddenly, Alexander rose from his seat, closing the distance between them. He tilted her chin up, his grip firm, "Are you saying I should be thankful to you for considering my feelings?" Quinn''s jaw ached under his hold, but she bit back any response.


    After a moment, she signed, "It was you who mentioned divorce, wasn''t it?"


    "So what if I said it?" he shot back.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Her words were stifled. She looked at him in disbelief. Was he reneging now?


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander posed his questions, "Well? What if I said it?


    "Do I have to follow through on it?


    "Haven''t you also failed to follow through on your promises to me?"


    As Quinn stared at his sharply chiseled face, only two words came to mind: utterly shameless.


    She had never seen this audacious side of him before.


    Quinn''s eyelid twitched.


    Alexander released her chin with a sneer, "But I''m not you-I do what I say."


    With that, he pulled out his phone to dial Kyle, "Bring over the divorce papers."


    Kyle, on the other end, was taken aback. Was this for real?


    But the tone Alexander used clearly didn''t allow for any interjection. Kyle hurriedly agreed and immediately grabbed the documents to rush over.

 Chapter 342

    The phone call ended, and Alexander''s gaze shifted to Quinn. Her eyes were clouded with confusion, and he couldn''t help but smirk at her bewilderment. "Did you really think," he began, a note of derision in his voice, "that I''ve been avoiding you these past few days because I couldn''t bear to let you go?"


    Quinn''s lips tightened into a thin line, her expression betraying her difort. That was exactly what she had believed.


    Alexander leaned in, bringing his face dangerously close to hers. It was an intimate gesture, yet his eyes were icy, devoid of any warmth. "You think too highly of yourself," he whispered, his wordsced with mockery. Quinn flinched at his words, her pupils contracting. She quickly averted her gaze, unable to meet his cold stare. It was clear now; she had been deluding herself.


    Once again, he had made his feelings painfully clear.


    A bitter sensation welled up in Quinn''s heart, but she swallowed it down, refusing to let the tears escape.


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he abruptly rose from his seat, moving to a corner of the room to light a cigarette.


    As they waited for Kyle, Quinn watched Alexander smoke one cigarette after another, seven or eight in total. The room was heavy with silence, neither of them uttering a word.


    Upstairs, Kaitlyn''s eyes sparkled with anticipation at the maid''s report.


    "Are they really getting a divorce?" she inquired, her voiceced with hope.


    The maid nodded in affirmation. "Yes, they''re waiting for Kyle to bring the divorce papers."


    A wave of tion washed over Kaitlyn, and she pped her hands in delight. "Excellent! That dummy can finally leave the Kennedys. Later, bring me the list of eligible bachelorettes from Amber Bay."


    "But Mrs. Kennedy... isn''t this a bit premature?" the maid asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.


    Kaitlyn shot her a dismissive nce. "What''s wrong with it? If they''re divorcing, we need to eliminate any possibility of reconciliation. The best way to ensure that is to find him a new wife."


    The maid nodded, not fullyprehending but willing toply. "I''ll get the list right away."


    "Make it quick," Kaitlyn instructed.


    The news of the impending divorce had invigorated Kaitlyn. Her headache had vanished, and her fatigue seemed to have dissipated. She was tempted to rush downstairs and witness the spectacle herself but thought better of it. It was best not to interfere and risk causing moreplications.


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    An hourter, Kyle arrived with the divorce papers. He clutched the documents awkwardly, his gaze flitting to Alexander.


    Alexander nced at him and ordered, "Bring them here."


    Startled, Kyle hurriedly handed over the papers.


    Without hesitation, Alexander took a pen and scribbled his name in the petitioner''s signature space on both copies. He then tossed the papers at Quinn. "Sign it."


    The papers hit Quinn, not causing physical pain, but the contempt and humiliation they carried were palpable.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    She bit her lip, picked up the papers, and retrieved a pen from her bag. She stared at the hastily scribbled signature was that really his name?


    Her hesitation was fleeting. Memories of her time with Alexander flooded her mind, pushing her to sign.


    She leaned over the table and began to carefully write her name.


    Afterpleting one set, she reached for the other. That''s when Alexander''s voice cut through the silence. "Now that we''re divorced, Kyle, do you think I still need to extend any charity?" Quinn''s hand stilled mid-signature.


    Kyle hesitated, not fully grasping Alexander''s implication. But he was quick to adapt. "Of course not."


    "Then have the hospital stop the medication."


    "Hospital?" Kyle''s brow furrowed in confusion before realization dawned on him. "You''re talking about Juliet''s medication, aren''t you, Alexander?"


    Alexander remained silent, his expression unreadable as he lit another cigarette.


    Kyle, quick to understand, agreed. "Alexander, the doctor said if her treatments are withdrawn, she won''t survive more than two weeks."


    Quinn''s hand trembled at the revtion, her pen slipping and marring her signature.

 Chapter 343

    Alexander''s words were indifferent, his voice devoid of emotion. "What does her life or death have to do with me?" he asked, his tone cold and detached.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Kyle, wiping the sweat from his forehead, silently chastised Alexander''s arrogance in his mind. Yet, his face betrayed no sign of his inner thoughts, maintaining apliant expression. "It''s not right, though. We''re talking about a life here," Kyle protested.


    A single nce from Alexander was enough to silence Kyle. He then shifted his attention to Quinn. "What are you waiting for? Finish signing your name, and go get the divorce certificate this afternoon." Kyle chose the wrong moment to speak up. "Alexander, today''s Saturday."


    Alexander''s face turned instantly grim at the reminder.


    Clearing his throat, Kyle quickly excused himself. "I''m heading out, Alexander. Call me if you need anything."


    Alexander remained silent, and Kyle hastily retreated from the vi.


    Now, only Quinn and Alexander were left in the room. Quinn stared at her half-finished signature, her hand frozen mid-air, unable to continue writing.


    Alexander sat calmly to the side, his gaze cold as he watched her struggle, saying nothing, just observing her internal battle.


    Quinn was in agony.


    She had no more illusions of sentiment. After the divorce, Alexander indeed had no obligation to cover Juliet''s medical expenses. He was not using Juliet to threaten her, nor was it that he didn''t want to let her go. If she signed the agreement, Juliet would not survive more than two weeks.


    Alexander had finished two cigarettes, the smoke irritating his throat. He coughed into his fist, the sound echoing in the silent room.


    Quinn mistook his cough for impatience. Her fingertips, clutching the pen, had turned white from the pressure.


    After a while, Alexander''s patience wore thin. "Are you going to sign or not?"


    Quinn set the pen down and gestured toward Alexander. "We''re still legally married for now. You can''t take advantage of my ignorance of thew. Half your money is mine."


    Alexander''s eyebrows rose slightly at her statement. "You can have half on the conditions of paying back the remaining 27 billion debt."


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    Quinn was at a loss for words.


    She felt he was being unreasonable, but she dared not jump to conclusions, lest she indulge in wishful thinking.


    Alexander pressed her further. "Don''t you want the divorce so badly? What are you hesitating for?"


    Quinn did want the divorce, but her hand would not move to sign when he held Juliet''s life over her head.


    After a moment, Quinn closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and put the pen down.


    Alexander watched her, his face expressionless.


    Quinn asked, "Will you not withhold Juliet''s medication if we don''t get a divorce?"


    Alexander, leaning back casually, propped up his head and replied with an indifferent tone, "Depends on my mood." Quinn''s brows furrowed once again.


    She gestured, "So, are you in a good mood now?"


    Catching her gestures, an unprovokedugh escaped Alexander. He seemed to beughing out of frustration.


    He remained silent but stood up. "I''ve given you the divorce papers. Think it through and then get in touch with me."


    Seeing him about to leave, Quinn hurried over to grab his sleeve. Alexander slightly turned his head.


    Quinn gestured again, "Add me back on Telegram, otherwise I can''t contact you."


    Alexander looked down at her for a moment before averting his eyes and, without a response, walked out.


    Quinn watched his retreating figure, a gloomy feeling settling in her heart. She had always found him unpredictable, but now she was even more baffled by him and had no idea what he was thinking.


    Once his figure disappeared at the door, Quinn turned back to look at the divorce papers on the table. The freedom she still longed fory quietly there, with Alexander''s signature already on it. But she couldn''t bring herself to sign her own


    name.


    Kaitlyn, who had been paying attention to themotion, came downstairs just in time, happily picking up the divorce papers from the table.

 Chapter 344

    A broad smile unfurled across Kaitlyn''s face as her eyes fell upon Alexander''s signature. Her joy, however, was short-lived. She noticed that Quinn''s signature was still absent from the document. Her countenance fell, and she gestured to a servant standing nearby.


    The servant, understanding her silentmand, promptly approached Quinn, taking her gently by the arm. "Quinn, please apany me," he requested.


    With lips pressed tightly together, Quinn rose and moved to join Kaitlyn.


    Kaitlyn tossed the divorce papers back onto the table with a dismissive flick of her wrist. "Complete your signing," shemanded.


    Quinn responded with a shake of her head and a flurry of hand gestures.


    Kaitlyn''s face twisted with impatience. "What are these gestures for? Sign the papers immediately!" she snapped.


    Quinn, however, remained steadfast, shaking her head in refusal. She couldn''t sign, not until she had ensured Juliet''s safety.


    Kaitlyn, uninterested in the nuances of Quinn''s predicament, ordered the servant to force Quinn over the coffee table.


    "Quinn, the Kennedys have supported you for years, going above and beyond our obligations," Kaitlyn stated, her voice cold. "Clinging to Alexander is futile. Sign the papers swiftly, or you won''t leave this house today!" The servant, following Kaitlyn''s orders, thrust a pen into Quinn''s hand, urging her to sign.


    Quinn stubbornly resisted, struggling to rise, only to be pushed back down by the insistent servant.


    "Such a stubborn dummy," Kaitlyn sneered. "Alexander has already signed. What are you holding out for? Will you sign, or not? If you refuse, don''t me me for myck of kindness!"


    Quinn lifted her head, her eyes pleading as they met Kaitlyn''s.


    Kaitlyn scoffed dismissively. "Don''t attempt to use those feminine wiles you employ on men with me; they won''t work. Sign it! If you don''t, I have ways to make you."


    "I''ve never encountered a woman as shameless as you, clinging to our family as if you belong. You''ve been nothing but a disgrace to the Kennedys," Kaitlyn spat, her gaze filled with contempt. "How could Ulysses bring home someone like you, so devoid of decency? You''ve tarnished our family''s reputation for years, and now you''re trying totch onto Alexander''s fortune?"


    "I''m telling you, dummy, you stand no chance," Kaitlyn added, her voice dripping with scorn.


    Quinn felt a wave of humiliation wash over her as Kaitlyn''s venomous words pierced her.


    She had never intended to leech off the Kennedys...


    Seeing that Quinn still refused to sign, Kaitlyn''s anger red. "You won''t sign, huh? Evelyn Reed, make her sign."


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    The Evelyn Reed nodded in understanding and approached Quinn.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    She produced a sewing kit from her pocket, filled with needles of various sizes. Quinn''s pupils contracted sharply at the sight of the menacing needles.


    Quinn tried desperately to retreat, but the servants seized her shoulders, forcing her to kneel and immobilizing her.


    "Just sign it, Quinn. Spare yourself the unnecessary suffering," the Evelyn Reed advised, her voice devoid of emotion.


    The Evelyn Reed selected a needle, its sharp tip glinting ominously in Quinn''s wide eyes, as if she could already feel the impending pain.


    "No..." Quinn murmured, her voice barely audible.


    Kaitlyn, hearing Quinn''s whispered protest, sat up straighter, her interest piqued.


    "Won''t you sign, Quinn?" the Evelyn Reed repeated, her tone icy.


    Quinn trembled, tears welling up in her eyes, her breathsing in quick, shallow gasps.


    Seeing Quinn''s silence, the Evelyn Reed seized her finger and plunged the needle into her nail bed without mercy.


    A scream tore from Quinn''s throat, her forehead marked with bulging veins as a cold sweat broke out, tears and beads of perspiration streaking down her face.


    The pain was so intense that Quinn nearly lost consciousness, her body convulsing violently.


    The Evelyn Reed picked up another needle. "Are you truly going to refuse to sign?"


    Quinn gasped for air, her terrified gaze fixed on the Evelyn Reed. Her hand shook violently, and blood trickled from her fingertip, staining the needle.


    Kaitlyn, hearing Quinn''s pitiful cries, frowned and ordered in a low voice, "Gag her."


    A servant quickly produced a handkerchief, stuffing it into Quinn''s mouth to muffle her screams.


    Another needle pierced her pinky finger.


    Alexander, having just departed the vi, was suddenly struck by a thought. He was about to retrieve his phone to contact Quinn when a message appeared on his screen. It was from Walter. Walter: [Return immediately, or you''ll regret it.]

 Chapter 345

    Alexander''s fingers stilled in their motion.


    He was no fool. He had no intention of acting contrary simply because the message had originated from Walter.


    Alexander understood Walter''s insinuation. A sudden urgency overcame him. He cast his phone aside, deftly spun his car around, and hastened back. On reaching the Kennedy residence, he parked his vehicle and strode with determination towards the living room.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Upon his entrance, Alexander''s gaze was immediately drawn to Quinn. She was kneeling in front of the coffee table, a pen trembling in her grasp as she scrawled her signature on the divorce agreement. His presence was instantly felt by the others in the room the moment he stepped inside.


    Kaitlyn rose to her feet, seemingly unaffected by the icy demeanor that Alexander exuded. She greeted him with a smile, "Son, your timing is impable. Quinn has already signed the divorce papers. You two should proceed to obtain the divorce certificate now."


    Alexander lingered at the entrance, an intimidating aura of frostiness enveloping him that the indoor heating failed to dispel. It was as if the room''s temperature had suddenly plummeted.


    His gaze rested on Quinn, her face pale and slick with sweat, her hair tangled and sticking to her cheeks as if she had just emerged from water.


    Kaitlyn''s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she turned to Quinn, "Quinn, why don''t you bring the divorce papers over?"


    With her head bowed, Quinn lifted the documents with trembling hands and unsteadily rose to her feet. She shuffled towards Alexander, extending the signed divorce agreement towards him. Alexander''s eyes were drawn to the papers, sttered with bloodstains. The signature area was a mess of strokes, almost obliterated by fresh blood, rendering the writing nearly illegible. As he reached out, intending to touch her face, Quinn recoiled and retreated a step.


    His hand suspended in the air, he observed her pallidplexion and the fearful, wary look in her eyes. He shifted his gaze to Kaitlyn, "What is this?"


    His voice was tinged with a restrained emotion, which, to an inattentive ear, would seem no different from his usual tone.


    Kaitlyn responded dismissively, "She was refusing to sign. Naturally, I had to ensure she would. How could I let her continue clinging to you?"


    "Alexander, I know youck the heart to be harsh with this dummy, but since you''ve decided on a divorce, don''t hesitate. If it benefits you, I don''t mind ying the viin," Kaitlyn added. Alexander''s eyes zed with intensity as he stared at Kaitlyn. After a moment, he let out augh that, if not for the curve of his lips, would have sounded more like a harbinger of violence. "Well, thank you for that," he said.


    "Don''t mention it. Now that the divorce agreement is signed, hurry and get the divorce certificate. It''ll spare me the irritation of seeing this dummy every day," Kaitlyn retorted.


    Alexander seized Quinn''s wrist forcefully, drawing her injured hand towards him. Her fingertips were still seeping blood, which trickled down her fingers and stained her entire palm and the back of her hand a vivid crimson. Her entire hand was soaked in blood.


    "Who did this?" Alexander demanded.


    At his question, the Evelyn Reed recoiled.


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    Thest time Quinn had been punished by being made to kneel on ss, he had been absent. The other two maids who were forced to kneel for a day and a night vanished the next day, and their whereabouts remained unknown to this day. Now, the Evelyn Reed felt a shiver of fear in her heart and she looked at Kaitlyn with pleading eyes.


    Kaitlyn offered her a reassuring nce, straightened her back, and addressed Alexander, "I did it. What of it?"


    "Do you intend to kill me, your own mother, over this dummy?" Kaitlyn held her ground, staring down Alexander, confident he wouldn''t dare harm her.


    After all, the decision to divorce was his. She had merely facilitated the process.


    "Alexander, you decided to divorce. If you truly still cared for this dummy, then why proceed with the divorce?" Kaitlyn challenged him.


    Alexander''s gaze wavered before he finally averted his eyes to nce at the divorce papers in Quinn''s hands.

 Chapter 346

    The blood on the documents had almost dried, its speckled and ring presence stark against the white.


    With a firm grip, he seized Quinn''s hand, leading her away from the grandeur of the vi.


    Kaitlyn observed their retreating forms, her countenance hardening. "Does he truly intend to divorce that dummy?" she questioned, a note of incredulity in her voice. The Evelyn Reed responded with caution, "Alexander affixed his signature, it seems he genuinely desires a divorce."


    Kaitlyn expelled a deep breath, her features darkening. "We shall see," she muttered, "If he reneges, I have no qualms ying the antagonist to the bitter end." Quinn was guided to the car''s front, her legs buckling under the weight of her emotions, causing her to crumple to the ground.


    The earth beneath her was damp from a recent downpour, and she found herselfnding in a shallow puddle.


    The icy water seeped through her clothing, its cold tendrils reaching her skin without mercy.


    Alexander spun around, his face a mask of conflicting emotions as he regarded her.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    In her hand, she still held the divorce papers tightly. As Alexander turned back, she extended them towards him, her hands quivering.


    Even during their earlier negotiation, her eyes had held a glimmer of defiance and vitality. Now, they were clouded with despair and destion.


    Alexander remained mute for an extended period, then slowly extended his hand to ept the divorce papers, his fingers poised as if to rip them apart. Quinn immediately wrapped her arms around his legs. "No..."


    He halted, his hand suspended in mid-air.


    Quinn raised her tear-streaked face to him.


    "Did you sign this willingly?" he queried.


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    Quinn shut her eyes, nodding her head with a force that belied her fragile state.


    She gestured frantically, "Please, don''t destroy it."


    Forced into signing the agreement, she couldn''tprehend his casual disregard for it...


    Quinn''s fingers moved in desperate gestures, each motion contorting her face with the pain of her injuries.


    "Consider me as a dog you''ve nurtured for years," Quinn pleaded with raw desperation. "Show me some mercy. Release me. Spare Juliet."


    If enduring this excruciating pain could elicit even a shred of Alexander''spassion, to make him spare Juliet, to grant her freedom, then it was all worthwhile. She couldn''t bear to watch him dismiss it all without a second thought. Alexander slowly descended to her level, his hand reaching out to gently cradle her wrist. "I won''t tear it any further, cease your tears," he murmured, a hint of softness seeping through his stern facade.


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    Quinn locked her gaze with his, her eyes mirroring an unprecedented depth of destion and plea. Tears welled up, spilling over and tracing a path down her cheeks.


    Alexander reached out, attempting to brush away her tears, but they seemed to flow without end.


    She was begging him to release her. She was genuinely pleading for her freedom!


    His eyes flickered with a tumultuous blend of emotions, and after a brief internal battle, he averted his gaze, lifting her from the ground.


    "Let''s go home."


    The phrase ''go home'' twisted her lips into a bitter smile. Did she even have a home? The so-called home had been invaded by Getty mere days ago.


    Quinn shrugged off his hand and retreated a step.


    Alexander sensed her growing detachment, his grip on control slipping, as if something within him was on the brink of shattering.

 Chapter 347

    Once more, he enveloped Quinn''s hand within his own, his words falling from his lips with careful deliberation. "Return with me. We''ll see to your healing, and then we''ll initiate the divorce proceedings." Upon hearing his words, Quinn slowly raised her eyes to meet his.


    "May we depart now?" he queried.


    Her gaze dropped once more, her focus shifting to her own toes.


    With a gentle hand, Alexander assisted her into the vehicle, securing her seatbelt before steering the car away from the vi.


    Upon their return to Thunderbird Canyon, Alexander procured a first-aid kit, using it to cleanse the blood from her hand with antiseptic.


    Seated on the couch, Quinn remained still, permitting him to tend to her injuries. His touch was tender, yet the sharp sting of alcohol seeping into her nail wounds caused her to wince.


    "Remain still, endure this for just a moment," he calmly instructed.


    His grip on her hand was firm as he meticulously disinfected her wounds. Despite his careful ministrations, the pain of the alcohol on her wounds caused Quinn to tremble uncontrobly. The memory of the needle piercing beneath her fingernail was still fresh, the pain searing.


    She found it difficult to articte the sensation, but she was acutely aware of the truth in the adage ''the pain prates deep into the marrow.''


    Alexander had never inflicted such cruelty upon her before. Indeed, the most severe punishment he had ever imposed was to confine her within a small, dark room.


    After he had finished cleaning the blood, he observed her hand. Three of her nails were painted a vivid red, a stark line of blood visible between them. A fleeting spark of rage ignited within his eyes, only to quickly fade away. Once her wounds were treated, Quinn was once again drenched in sweat, herplexion paler than ever.


    "It''s done," he announced.


    She had kept her gaze lowered throughout the ordeal, and responded with a simple nod, quietly retracting her hand.


    He extended his hand to caress her cheek, but she subtly shifted her face away, evading his touch.


    Alexander studied her for a moment before retracting his hand.


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    Rising to his feet, he advised, "You should rest well."


    With those words, he departed, securing the door behind him.


    Quinn''s eyshes fluttered. It was only then that she raised her head to watch the door close, plunging the room into darkness.


    Despite therge windows, the gloomy weather outside allowed little light to prate the room.


    She examined her fingers, her pinky, index, and middle fingers all swathed in bandages.


    Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shed across the sky, followed by a deafening p of thunder.


    Rain began to fall, apanied by the mournful wail of the wind.


    The willow trees in the yard swayed and snapped under the onught of the storm.


    Huddled in the corner of the couch, Quinn wrapped her arms around her knees, her gaze vacant as she stared at a potted nt in the corner, amidst the relentless rain. Outside, a Evelyn Reed was flung onto the muddy ground by several burly men. Drenched by the rain, her hair disheveled, she struggled to orient herself amidst the downpour. Despite her disorientation, she managed to scramble to her feet, frantically searching for an escape route.


    The surrounding scenery was a blur in the heavy rain, the distant sound of dogs barking barely audible over the roar of the storm.


    "Who are you?" the Evelyn Reed managed to stammer, uncertain whether she was injured or simply overwhelmed by the weight of the rain.


    She stumbled a few steps before copsing once more.


    The men nearby remained silent, standing like statues in the rain, seemingly indifferent to the torrents washing over them.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Fear seized the Evelyn Reed. She attempted to flee, stumbling and rolling, but fell once more. When she looked up, a pair of mud-sttered leather shoes came into view.


    Through the rain, she squinted and recognized the figure before her. It was Alexander, with Alistair at his side, umbre in hand, staring down at her with an expressionless face.

 Chapter 348

    The Evelyn Reed was seized by a sudden terror, her pleas echoing from her position on the ground.


    "Alexander, I beg your forgiveness. It was all orchestrated by Kaitlyn. I had no desire to participate. Please, Alexander, spare me. I promise never to repeat such a mistake," she implored. Her pleas were met with silence, prompting her to kneel and press her forehead to the wet ground.


    "I am just a Evelyn Reed,cking the courage to defy Kaitlyn''smands," she cried out in desperation, "I have a family to care for. Please, show mercy this once. I beg you. I don''t want to die..." Over the years, she had grownfortable with her privileged position - the other servants in the mansion sought her favor, and even outside the estate, she was treated with respect. She never envisioned finding herself in such a dire predicament.


    Nor did she anticipate that Alexander would be bold enough to seize her so brazenly.


    The Evelyn Reed''s pleas for mercy echoed clearly against the backdrop of the falling rain, but Alexander seemed oblivious to her cries, standing impassively as she begged for her life.


    A considerable time passed before his icy voice descended from above.


    "Did Quinn beg like this too?" he asked.


    The Evelyn Reed was taken aback.


    The terror etched on her face deepened. She shook her head vehemently, "No, no, Quinn didn''t..."


    Alexander interrupted her, "Of course she didn''t! She was rendered speechless, how could she plead for mercy?"


    Abruptly, he kicked the Evelyn Reed over, his mud-caked shoes pressing against her face.


    He looked down at her and sneered, "Who do you think you are? You dare toy a hand on my person?"


    "Sir... Alexander..." the Evelyn Reed stammered, but the foot pressing on her face stifled any further utterances.


    "Do I appear approachable to you?" he demanded.


    Alistair stood off to the side, not daring to utter a word.


    Alexander continued, "Why does it seem like everyone wants to trample over me? Huh?"


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    Hisughter held a sinister undertone.


    It seemed directed at the Evelyn Reed, but Alistair couldn''t shake the feeling that it was meant for others as well.


    Alexander withdrew his foot, turned around, and fixed his gaze on Alistair.


    Alistair straightened up immediately, awaiting his orders.


    "She has a peculiar fondness for needles, let her have her fill," Alexandermanded.


    The Evelyn Reed''s eyes widened in terror, the pain on her face momentarily forgotten as she scrambled to clutch at the man''s trouser leg.


    But before she could reach him, Alistair kicked her away.


    Only after Alexander had vanished into the rain did Alistair signal to the two bodyguards to restrain the Evelyn Reed.


    Alexander settled into his car, lighting a cigarette.


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    The flicker of the lighter was perfectly timed with the screams emanating from behind, soon drowned out by the thunderstorm.


    Indeed, there was no better weather for nefarious deeds than a rainy day.


    The Evelyn Reed was dragged by the two men to the edge of a deep pit.


    Her muffled cries permeated the air.


    She struggled fiercely, her mouth forming incoherent words; with each cry, the blood in her mouth flowed more freely.


    The bodyguards disregarded her struggles and tossed her into the pit.


    "Ah!!"


    Another shrill scream rent the air, only to be swallowed by the thunder overhead.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    The thunder rumbled ominously in the sky, rendering a person''s scream utterly insignificant.

 Chapter 349

    For two full days, Quinn had been sequestered within the confines of the vi, with no sign of Alexander. The relentless rain had mirrored her istion, persisting unabated throughout the duration of her confinement. As the weekend twilight fell, Alexander returned to find Quinn still ensconced in her corner, her body curled into itself, immobile. His gaze flickered with an unreadable emotion as he crossed the room to gather her into his arms. "Quinn?" he queried, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Shey limp in his embrace, her breaths shallow and her eyelids fluttering but remaining closed. A sense of urgency seized him, prompting him to whip out his cell phone and dial Soren''s number.


    Despite the downpour, Soren arrived drenched, his trousers heavy with rainwater. His eyes widened in rm as he took in the sight of Quinn in Alexander''s arms.


    "Alexander, what happened to Quinn?" he asked, his voiceced with concern.


    "Check on her!" Alexandermanded, his tone brooking no argument.


    Startled by the urgency in Alexander''s voice, Soren hastily set down his bag and began to check Quinn''s pulse. His eyes fell on the bandages wrapped around her fingers, prompting him to ask, "What happened to her hand?" Alexander''s silence was deafening, his intense gazepelling Soren to lower his head and focus on his task. After a moment, Soren wiped the sweat from his brow and reported, "Alexander, Quinn has fainted from hunger. She needs liquid nourishment."


    His words were measured, chosen carefully to avoid inciting Alexander''s wrath. A vein pulsed ominously on Alexander''s forehead as he muttered, "Stupid woman!" He had been away for a mere two days, and she had chosen to abstain from food and drink.


    Turning his attention back to Soren, he asked, "Can you cook?"


    Caught off guard, Soren nodded hastily, "Yes... yes, shall I start now?"


    "Go now!" Alexandermanded.


    As Soren scurried off to the kitchen, Alexander carried Quinn upstairs. Soren returned with two bottles of glucose solution for an IV, and a pot of soup.


    "Sir, it''s all ready," Soren announced.


    Alexander took the bowl and Sebastian, blew on a Sebastianful to cool it, and attempted to feed Quinn. But the soup merely dribbled from the corner of her mouth, her body refusing to swallow. Soren watched from the sidelines, his breath held in check as he observed Quinn''s pallidplexion and the dry, cracked lips devoid of color.


    She was a shadow of her former self, her body worn thin by exhaustion. It had been just a fortnight since Soren hadst seen her, but the change was stark. A soft sigh escaped his lips.


    The sound caught Alexander''s attention, causing him to lose his grip on the Sebastian. It ttered into the bowl, startling Soren.


    "Alexander?" Soren ventured.


    "Why isn''t she drinking?" Alexander asked, wiping the dribble of soup from Quinn''s mouth with a napkin.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "Maybe she hasn''te to her senses yet. Let''s wait until she wakes up to feed her. The glucose from the IV should replenish her fluids," Soren suggested.


    Alexander studied Quinn''s prone form for a moment longer before turning to hand the bowl back to Soren. As Soren epted the bowl and turned to leave, Alexander''s voice halted him, "Stop."


    "What''s wrong?" Soren asked, his heart pounding.


    Alexander''s gaze bore into him, causing a sheen of sweat to break out on Soren''s forehead. It seemed as though Alexander wanted to say something, but he merely shook his head and dismissed Soren with a curt, "Never mind. Get out." Relieved, Soren nodded and made his exit, bowing slightly as he left the room.


    Despite the glucose, Quinn remained unconscious. Meanwhile, Alexander received a phone call and stepped out of the room. As he passed Soren, he instructed, "Keep an eye on her."

 Chapter 350

    Soren offered a nod of agreement, his expression solemn.


    Outside, a sh of lightning split the night sky, its brilliant light piercing through the window. It cast an eerie glow upon Quinn''s face, entuating her pallor. In the absence of any other light, her visage was ghostly, a chilling reminder of those who had passed.


    Soren lingered by the bed, his gaze never straying from Quinn. Hours ticked by, each one heavy with anticipation. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Quinn stirred.


    Her eyes fluttered open, the stark white ceilinging into focus. A flicker of confusion danced in her eyes, a silent testament to her disorientation.


    "Quinn, are you awake?" Soren''s voice cut through the silence.


    Her eyshes fluttered in response, her head turning ever so slightly in his direction.


    "Do you remember me, Quinn? I''m Soren," he ventured, his voiceced with a mixture of hope and trepidation.


    Quinn''s gaze met his, her eyes weak yet intense. The unsettling depth of her stare had Soren swallowing hard. He pointed to his nose, a silent plea for recognition.


    "Do you not recognize me?" His question echoed in the room, unanswered.


    Quinn remained silent, her gaze unwavering.


    A sigh escaped Soren''s lips as he muttered to himself, "Has it really gotten this bad?"


    His brow furrowed in concern. "That can''t be right. The doctor said it wouldn''t progress this quickly."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Have you been taking the medication I gave you?" His question hung in the air, unanswered.


    His words tumbled out in a rush, a desperate attempt to make sense of the situation. His rambling was interrupted when Quinn suddenly lifted her hand, gesturing weakly. "I remember." Soren''s confusion was evident. He couldn''t decipher her gesture.


    Recognizing his confusion, Quinn mustered the strength to nod.


    Relief washed over Soren at her response. "So, you do remember me?"


    Quinn nodded again, her movement slow but deliberate.


    "That''s a relief. Have you been taking your medication on time?" Soren continued, his voice a blend of relief and concern.


    Quinn''s response was a flutter of her eyshes, her gaze dropping to herp. The faint shadows cast by her delicateshes danced on her cheeks.


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    Soren sighed deeply, his voiceced with earnest concern. "Quinn, you need to eat regrly. If you don''t, this illness of yours..."


    He trailed off, not wanting to paint a bleak picture. He quickly changed his tone. "If you manage to take your medication on time, your illness shouldn''t worsen for at least two more years." Despite his words, Soren was being conservative. Given Quinn''s current condition, two years seemed overly optimistic. It would be a victory if she could hold on for another six months. Quinn made a feeble attempt to reach for her cell phone, but her strength failed her. Her arm fell back onto the bed, limp and lifeless.


    "Quinn, if there''s anything you want to say, wait until you''ve regained some strength," Soren reassured her. "I''m not going anywhere. I''ll get you some soup."


    With that, he hurried out of the room. He returned shortly, a bowl of soup cradled in his hands.


    He propped Quinn up and brought a Sebastianful of soup to her lips. "Quinn, please eat something."


    She peered at the soup he held out to her, her lips pursed. After a moment of silence, she lowered her head and took a sip.


    Soren sighed in relief, quickly scooping up another Sebastianful. "Come on, have some more. You haven''t eaten anything in two days."


    Quinn quietly consumed the soup. By the time the bowl was empty, she felt a slight return of strength.


    She reached for the cell phone on the bedside table, typing out a message for Soren to read.


    [Am I dying?]


    Soren froze at her words, his movements stalling. He mustered a weak smile. "That''s nonsense, Quinn. You''re still so young. How could you be dying?"


    A realization dawned on him. "You''re not eating because you think you''re dying, aren''t you?"


    Quinn fell silent, her quiet acknowledgment resonating in the room.


    She had spent a day lying on the couch, waking up to a world spinning out of control, her mind muddled. Aside from her aching fingers, a sharp pain throbbed in her stomach and throughout her body. In that moment, she truly believed her end was near.


    She had braced herself for the inevitable, only to awaken once more, alive and in her bed. "Quinn, about your illness I need to talk to you," Soren''s voice broke through her thoughts.

 Chapter 351

    Quinn seemed to havee to terms with her condition. An unusual calm washed over her as she listened to Soren''s words, her gaze fixed on him, waiting for him to continue speaking.


    "Do you find yourself forgetting things often now?" Soren asked, his tone gentle yet probing. Quinn''s brow furrowed in confusion. She pondered over his question, but how could she remember what she had forgotten? Soren, seeing her struggle, offered an exnation. "I''ve been doing some research. Your initial symptom is memory loss, specifically forgetting recent events. It''s not too severe, as you can still recall them eventually." He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, "However, if you start failing to recognize people who know you, then the situation might be more serious."


    He emphasized the importance of her medication, "You need to continue taking your medicine. It''s crucial that you don''t start forgetting people. Forgetting things is not as serious."


    Quinn nodded, indicating her understanding of his words.


    Soren gave a frustrated smile, "Remembering this conversation might not be possible. By tomorrow morning, you might have forgotten everything we discussed today.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "But that''s okay. Just remember to remind yourself to take your medicine."


    Quinn nodded again, her hand gesturing towards a bag on the opposite side of the room.


    Soren hesitated for a moment before standing up and handing her the bag. "Is this what you want?"


    Quinn unzipped the bag and pulled out a notebook, flipping it open to show Soren.


    She had been reminding herself to take her medication, but she hadn''t had the opportunity to tell him in the past few days.


    Soren nced at the contents of the notebook and nodded approvingly, "That''s excellent. You''ve been noting down important matters and carrying them with you. You''re doing well."


    His tone was gentle, almost as if he was speaking to a child. Quinn couldn''t help but pull a wry smile at his words.


    Without saying a word, she flipped open the notebook again and wrote, "Where is Alexander?"


    Soren''s face stiffened, his wordsing out in a jumble, "He... he stepped out to take a call."


    Quinn nodded, her face devoid of any discernible emotion, and put the notebook away.


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    Realizing he had nothing more to add, Soren stood up and said, "Rest now, Quinn. I''ll be downstairs in the living room. If you need anything, just message or call me, and I''lle up immediately." Quinn offered him a grateful look.


    Shey on the bed, sleep eluding her, her gaze fixed on the ceiling in a daze.


    Meanwhile, Alexander had returned to the Kennedy Residence.


    Kaitlyn sat on the sofa, her expression icy, watching him walk in.


    Alexander sauntered over to the sofa and sat down, lighting a cigarette.


    His nonchnt demeanor irked Kaitlyn. "Alexander, I need to know. How is your sister doing?"


    Alexander took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke obscuring his expression.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "I''ve found a goodwyer," Alexander finally said.


    Kaitlyn''s face rxed slightly at his words. "Then, how confident are you?"


    "Completely," Alexander responded.


    Kaitlyn let out a sigh of relief. "That''s good. You should get your sister out as soon as possible," she advised.


    Alexander added, "Let''s aim for a life sentence for her."


    Kaitlyn was taken aback. She stood up abruptly, ring at Alexander in anger. "What do you mean?! Are you suggesting you want your sister to be locked up forever?" Alexander nced at her, his voice calm, "If it''s as simple as you think, then why don''t you go and do it yourself?"


    "Well... if I could, why would I need you?" Kaitlyn retorted, her voiceced with frustration.

 Chapter 352

    A sneer curled on Alexander''s lips as he taunted, "You seemed quite capable when you coerced Quinn into signing those divorce papers."


    A wave of difort washed over Kaitlyn, a cocktail of anger and annoyance bubbling within her.


    "What are you implying? You were the one who brought up divorce, who drafted the agreement, and who signed it!" she retorted.


    Alexander remained silent, a cigarette nestled between his fingers. His gaze dropped to the coffee table, lost in thought.


    Kaitlyn''s voice took on a defensive edge, "I helped you, and now you''re ming me?"


    His icy smirk never wavered as he lifted his gaze to meet Kaitlyn''s. "If you''re sopetent, why did you need me? You should save Freya yourself."


    Kaitlyn''s expression shifted. She took a moment to quell the anger within her, regaining herposure. She slid onto the couch next to Alexander, gripping his arm as she spoke with emphasis, "Alexander, Freya is your sister. It''s your responsibility to look after her."


    "Remember, our mother only had the two of you. You''re the only family for each other, bound by blood. If you don''t save her, no one else will."


    Alexander''s response was a derisive chuckle. He leaned forward, dropping his cigarette butt into a random cup on the table. He then reached for the teapot and carefully poured the water into the cup. The sizzling sounds of the cigarette being extinguished filled the room.


    "I''ve told you, it''s not as simple as you think. Xavier is still trying to frame me. Do you really believe rescuing Freya would be that easy?" Alexander queried, "What''s the difference between fighting for a life sentence for her and killing her?" "Of course, there''s a difference. A life sentence can be reduced to a fixed-term sentence, and a fixed-term sentence can be reduced further. Don''t you understand that?"


    Kaitlyn seemed to have an epiphany, "Are you suggesting...?"


    "Shh," Alexander silenced her, a faint smile ying on his lips.


    Something about that smile stirred unease within Kaitlyn. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t decipher the emotions lurking in his dark eyes. She found herself understanding Alexander less and less.


    In an attempt to hide her guilt, Kaitlyn averted her gaze and shifted the topic. "By the way, the Evelyn Reed has been missing for two days. Do you know where she is?"


    He reclined, crossing his long legs in azy manner. "How would I know?"


    Kaitlyn scoffed, "If you don''t know, then who does?


    "Not long after you left with the dummy that day, the Evelyn Reed vanished. I''ve had people searching for her everywhere, but she''s nowhere to be found. Can you honestly say you had nothing to do with it?" "What if I did? And what if I didn''t?" Alexander retorted.


    "You..." Kaitlyn was at a loss for words.


    "Are you nning to sue me or call the police?" Alexander challenged.


    Kaitlyn was left speechless, her anger rendering her mute. After a moment, she gritted her teeth and responded, "Of course, I won''t sue you over a maid."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Her tone shifted, "But I won''t stand for you hurting my people over a dummy."


    "And what if I did?" Alexander countered.


    Kaitlyn shot back, "If you really hurt the Evelyn Reed because of this dummy, then I can''t keep this dummy any longer."


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed, his gaze turning dangerous.


    Kaitlyn was on high alert. "What? Was it really you?"

 Chapter 353

    Kaitlyn and Alexander locked gazes, their silent stare-down akin to a fiercepetition. As Kaitlyn''s thoughts raced, her anger swelled, her nails digging into the soft flesh of her palms.


    She was resolute. She would not stand by and let him betray her or harm her people for another woman''s sake.


    After what felt like an eternity, Alexander finally broke the silence. "Of course not."


    Kaitlyn''s brows furrowed in confusion. "You didn''t send the Evelyn Reed away?"


    "Of course not."


    "I want to believe you, Alexander. But if she''s not found, I''ll hold you responsible," Kaitlyn warned.


    A soft chuckle escaped Alexander''s lips, devoid of any discernible emotion. He rose from his seat, towering over Kaitlyn. "Why not just outright use me of taking her?"


    "The Evelyn Reed has been with me for years. She''s one of the few I trust implicitly. I won''t let anything happen to her," Kaitlyn dered, her gaze unwavering.


    "I wish you luck then, and I hope you find her soon," Alexander replied, hands sliding into his pockets as he made his way to the door.


    "Alexander, when will you get a divorce?" Kaitlyn called out after him.


    But Alexander offered no response, leaving Kaitlyn with nothing but the sight of his retreating back.


    Outside, the rain continued its relentless downpour.


    By the time Alexander returned to Regal Riverside, dawn was breaking, and the rain had intensified. Soren was fast asleep on the couch, the thunderous sounds of the storm failing to stir him. It took a swift kick from a visitor to rouse him. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, Soren found himself staring at a figure standing before him. Instantly, he was alert. "Mr. Kennedy, you''re back!"


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    "Is she awake?"


    "Yes, she woke up a while ago, but she should be asleep again now."


    With a nod, Alexander ascended the stairs, pushing open the bedroom door to find Quinn sitting by the bedside. Her face was a mask of calm, betraying no emotion as she regarded the man at the door. Only the throbbing pain in her fingertips served as a stark reminder of past events.


    Memories, too deeply etched to be forgotten, haunted her. The signing of the divorce papers, the blood stains on the agreement - they were all too vivid. As Alexander approached, her eyes tracked his every move.


    He exuded an icy aura, his wet sleeves chilling to the touch. As he reached out to touch her face, the water from his sleeve brushed against her skin, amplifying the cold. Quinn tilted her head slightly, evading his hand. Alexander didn''t insist. He withdrew his hand, asking, "Are you feeling better?"


    Quinn nodded, offering no further response.


    His gaze fell on her fingers. "Are your hands still hurting?"


    Quinn shook her head.


    "About the divorce paper..." Alexander began, his voice trailing off as Quinn''s gaze flickered nervously, as if fearing the regret that might color his words.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Alexander held her gaze, his eyes a well of inscrutable emotions. After a moment, he spoke again. "When you''re better, we''ll get a divorce."


    Quinn''s fingers tightened around the corner of the nket, the pain in her fingertips forgotten. This divorce was not what she had anticipated. His calm demeanor was a stark contrast to the anger and nervousness that had previously apanied their discussions about divorce.


    His calmness was as if he was suggesting they go out for a pleasant meal once she felt better. Perhaps he was as weary as she was, tired of the constant tension that arose whenever Getty was around. After all, even the most enduring hearts could tire from too much strain.

 Chapter 354

    Quinn''s eyelids drooped in agreement, her gaze softening. Abruptly, he rose to his feet, his face set in a stern expression. Without uttering a single word, he strode out of the room. Quinn, however, was quick to react. She sprang out of bed, catching up to him and seizing his arm.


    He halted in his tracks, pausing for a moment before turning his head to regard her. After a few seconds of silence, Quinn released her grip on him, her hand gesturing towards Juliet. Her fingers, swathed in gauze, made her gestures less precise. She was uncertain if he wouldprehend her silent plea.


    His previously rxed expression hardened slightly at her gestures. "I don''t understand," he spat out, his voiceced with anger. He mmed the door shut, the gust of wind rustling Quinn''s hair and whispering in her ears. She stood rooted to the spot, her mind reeling.


    Did he truly notprehend? Or was it that he chose not to? She tugged at the corner of her mouth in self-deprecation. It didn''t matter. If he chose not to understand, he would remain oblivious.


    He was a master at feigning ignorance.


    As Alexander descended the stairs, his phone buzzed with an iing call from Kyle.


    Before Kyle could utter a word, Alexander''s irate voice cut him off, "You better have a good reason."


    "Alexander, it''s serious. Juliet is missing," Kyle blurted out.


    "What did you say?"


    "Juliet. The hospital called to inform me that she''s gone. She hasn''t returned all night."


    Kyle''s voice was fraught with urgency, his breathsing out in short huffs as if he were on the move. "I''m searching for her with my bodyguards. I assumed she had gone for a stroll, but she hasn''t returned. I have no idea where she could be." Alexander''s brow furrowed in concern. He cast a nce upstairs before striding towards the exit, phone in hand. "Did you check Ariel''s house?"


    "I did. Ariel was the first person I visited, but he ims Juliet didn''t go there. I don''t believe he''s lying, so I''m heading to the garbage dump."


    "Alright, keep me updated," Alexander instructed before ending the call and tossing his phone onto the couch.


    Soren, who had yet to leave, stood silently in a corner, hoping to go unnoticed by Alexander.


    Unfortunately, Alexander''s sharp gaze found him instantly.


    Soren tugged at the corner of his mouth, attempting to muster a polite smile despite his difort.


    "If you dare to utter a word, I guarantee you won''t live to see another day," Alexander warned, his gaze scrutinizing Soren''s face, each nce seeming to contemte the best way to dispose of him. Soren felt a lump forming in his throat. He hadn''t heard anything.


    Nevertheless, he stammered, "I, I didn''t hear anything, and I won''t say anything, I swear!"


    Without wasting another moment, Alexander strode towards the door, leaving Soren to breathe a sigh of relief and pat his chest in reassurance.


    Meanwhile, Kyle and his men drove through the pouring rain and arrived at the ce where Juliet used to live.


    The ce was in a state of disrepair, the relentless rain had washed it into a mess. The curtains and everything within were reduced to a muddy heap.


    Kyle pulled back the curtain, revealing a swarm of insects. The sudden light sent them scurrying into the garbage pile. He let the curtain fall back into ce, turning to his men with amand, "Split up and search."


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    With that, the group dispersed, disappearing into the night.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Kyle too began his search in the vicinity. The garbage dump was vast, a forest looming behind it and numerous hiding spots within.


    He was at a loss as to how an elderly person with limited mobility could have vanished so quickly.


    Before long, a panting bodyguard approached him, "Sir, I found her!"


    "Where is she? Why didn''t you bring her here?" Kyle demanded.


    The man pointed towards a spot not too far away. "Go take a look." Without wasting a moment, Kyle hurried in the direction indicated.

 Chapter 355

    Forty minutester, Alexander materialized at the garbage dump. Standing beside him, under the protection of an umbre, was Kyle. His expression was aplex tapestry of emotions as he cast his gaze upon Alexander. His eyes then shifted to the figure dangling from the tree branch.


    Indeed, a figure was suspended from the tree. An elderly woman, a rope looped around her neck, was d in a hospital gown. Her hair was in disarray, and she simply hung there. The sight was enough to send chills down the spine of any passerby.


    Kyle stole another nce at Alexander, attempting to decipher his expression. However, the darkness veiled his features, rendering them unreadable. Swiftly, Kyle signaled for someone to retrieve Juliet from her hanging position.


    A bodyguard promptly ascended the tree and gently lowered the woman. He brushed aside the strands of hair obscuring her face, revealing Juliet''s pallidplexion and eyes wide open in terror. Even the seasoned bodyguard was taken aback by the sight of her lifeless eyes.


    Kyle approached for a closer look, then retreated to deliver the news to Alexander. "Alexander, it''s her. She was already dead when we found her."


    Alexander stared at the lifeless body sprawled on the ground, his silence lingering in the air. After a long moment, he turned and retreated to the car.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Kyle, what should we do now?" came a voice.


    Kyle cast a nce at the body, a shiver coursing through him. Juliet''s face was etched with wrinkles, and her wide-open eyes looked eerily haunting under the reflection of the lightning. He averted his gaze, turning to sprint towards Alexander. Upon entering the car, he turned to Alexander in the back seat, "Alexander, what should we do now?"


    Juliet held no significance for Alexander, but Kyle knew that she meant something to Quinn. The divorce proceedings between the two had justmenced. If Quinn were to discover Juliet''s death now, her mind would undoubtedly race with wild thoughts. She would inevitably think of Alexander.


    Alexander''s response was curt, "Find it out."


    "Okay, I''ll go investigate right away."


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    "Drive."


    "Where to?"


    Alexander closed his eyes, offering no response. Kyle waited, but no instructions came. Was Alexander unsure of their destination? Left with no guidance, Kyle decided to drive to the hospital.


    The hospital was eerily silent, the entire building seemingly in a deep slumber. Even the usually bustling emergency department was unusually quiet. Upon their arrival, Alexander reclined in his seat, a lit cigarette between his fingers, seemingly lost in thought.


    "Alexander, I''ll go investigate Juliet''s situation first," Kyle offered.


    "Don''t talk about this matter to anyone," Alexandermanded.


    Kyle paused, then nodded solemnly. "Yes, I understand," he affirmed. With that, he grabbed an umbre and swiftly exited the car.


    The car was silent, save for the faint rumble of thunder that managed to prate the soundproof interior. Lightning shed, casting its glow through the car window and illuminating Alexander''s distinct features.


    Meanwhile, Quinn was gued by nightmares that night. She tossed and turned, each nightmare jolting her awake. Eventually, she gave up on sleep and rose to get some water.


    "Quinn," Soren''s voice echoed from behind her. Startled, Quinn''s hand trembled, causing the water in her hand to ssh onto the bandages on his hand. A sharp pain instantly shot through her fingertips. The ss slipped from her grasp, shattering upon impact with the ground.


    "Quinn, are you okay?" Soren asked, concerncing his voice.

 Chapter 356

    Reality abruptly reasserted itself and Quinn quickly stooped to gather the shards of broken ss scattered across the floor. Soren, however, swiftly intervened, raising a hand in a halting gesture. "Allow me," he insisted, "you should sit." His audacity in guiding her movements left Quinn feeling a strange unease, but sheplied nheless, crossing the room to sink into the plush embrace of the sofa.


    Once Soren had cleared away the remnants of the shattered ss, he poured a fresh ss of water and handed it to her. Retrieving a first aid kit, he set about rebandaging her wound with a quiet grumble of disapproval. "Whoever did this initially neglected to apply any ointment and bound it far too tightly. Were they hoping for an infection?" He questioned, his toneced with irritation.


    His words hung in the air for a moment before he nced up, catching the hesitant look in Quinn''s eyes. His own widened in realization. "Could it have been Alexander?" He queried, to which Quinn responded with a tight nod. Soren immediately fell silent, hastily assuring her, "I didn''t say anything."


    With the bandaging taskpleted, Soren regarded Quinn with a worried gaze. "Quinn, are you feeling unwell? Is that why you can''t sleep? Let me check." His fingers found her wrist, his brow furrowing in concentration as he sought a reason for her insomnia. Her frailty,bined with a myriad of other factors, made it difficult to pinpoint a cause.


    Eventually, he released her, coughing slightly to clear his throat. "You''re just overthinking things. Try not to worry so much, rx."


    Quinn''s gaze dropped to her hands in herp, her mind echoing his words. Was she overthinking? She hadn''t been consciously dwelling on anything in particr, unsure of what she should even be contemting. How could she be overthinking?


    Soren urged her to return to bed, his mind filled with the fear of Alexander discovering them in the living room in the middle of the night. The thought of Alexander''s potential wrath sent a shiver down his spine, prompting him to push even harder for her to retreat to the bedroom. Quinn, unable to resist his insistence, reluctantlyplied.


    However, sleep eluded her. She spent the night sitting up in bed, the sound of the rain outside her onlypanion. Alexander had been absent for two days, and Quinn had remained at home, not venturing to the office. This time, though, she wasn''t alone. Soren was there, not only monitoring her condition but also taking on the role of her personal chef.


    His culinary skills were passable, and despite her diminished appetite, Quinn managed to consume a few bites of the meals he prepared. Her injured fingers were also showing signs of improvement. During one of his bandage changes, Soren informed her that the wound was healing nicely and her nails were regenerating at a rapid pace.


    Quinn examined her fingers, noting the purplish hue of the nails on her three injured digits. It looked as though they had been painted with a colorful polish. Soren, wearing an awkward expression, asked, "Quinn, how did you get this injury? How did it even affect your nails?" Quinn paused, her lips pursing as she shot Soren a resentful nce.


    Soren quickly apologized, "Sorry, I overstepped."


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    He could tell from the wound that it had been caused by a piercing object, but he was at a loss as to what kind of ident could result in three fingers being impaled so precisely. The more he thought about it, the more he realized it was unlikely to have been an ident. It must have been deliberate. What had Quinn been through?


    From the moment he met Quinn, her health had been precarious, and now she had this peculiar injury. As Soren was lost in his thoughts, Alexander suddenly appeared in the doorway. He was coated in dust, still d in the same clothes he''d been wearing when he left. His ck suit and shirt were wrinkled at the cor fromck of change.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Quinn looked up to see him striding towards her. Sensing the tension, Soren tactfully retreated. Quinn opened her mouth to speak, but the icy expression on Alexander''s face made her swallow her words. Alexander''s gaze bore into her, the silence stretching on until, in an instant, all traces of his negative emotions vanished. He took a seat beside Quinn.


    "Are you feeling better?" It wasn''t the first time he had asked. Quinn nodded and gestured, her message clear: I''m fine now. We can proceed with the divorce at any time.

 Chapter 357

    A sudden chill washed over Alexander''s features, his brows knitting together in a frown, casting a gloomy shadow over his face. "So eager?" he queried, his toneced with a hint of sarcasm.


    Quinn, in response, averted her gaze, her hands fluttering in a nervous gesture. "You''ve yet to give me an answer regarding Juliet," she pointed out, her voice barely above a whisper. As she finished speaking, she lifted her head, her eyes hopeful, searching his face for a shred of kindness, a sliver ofpassion for the pain she had endured at Kaitlyn''s hands.


    But she found nothing. His face was a mask, devoid of any discernible emotion, his feelings concealed within the depths of his eyes. His gaze was abyrinth, tooplex for Quinn to decipher or prate.


    Abruptly, Alexander averted his gaze, his hand reaching out to smooth her disheveled hair. "You can''t always get what you want," he said, his voice devoid of any warmth. "Since you''ve agreed to the divorce, Juliet is no longer your concern. I''m under no obligation to look after her."


    A flicker of disappointment shed in Quinn''s eyes before she slumped onto the sofa, her body sagging with defeat. Was it still an impossibility then?


    Alexander retracted his hand, his fingers closing around her wrist as he inspected the bandaged wound. "Look at this, your injury hasn''t healed yet. How can you im you''re okay?"


    Quinn bit her lip, her heart heavy with a myriad of emotions. She couldn''t discern whether he truly desired a divorce or not. But she was exhausted, weary of the constant turmoil. He was a thorn embedded in her heart, and if she couldn''t extract it, she would let it pierce herpletely. At least then, she wouldn''t be tormented any longer.


    With a newfound resolve, Quinn gestured towards him, her voice firm. "Once I''m better, we''ll get a divorce, and you can''t back out."


    A sneer tugged at the corner of his lips. "When have I ever backed out?"


    Quinn met his gaze head-on, her eyes filled with defiance. Did he truly believe he had never reneged on his promises?


    At times, Quinn wondered if he suffered from the same selective memory as she did. But now that he had voiced his intentions, she didn''t need to keep up her guard. She chose to believe him this time.


    Regardless of the circumstances, he was intent on a divorce. If not, how could he bestow upon Getty the status she deserved? Getty had been waiting patiently for years. His love for her was so profound, he wouldn''t dare disappoint her. With a swift tug, Quinn pulled her hand free and rose to her feet, heading towards the staircase.


    Alexander watched her retreating figure, a sigh of annoyance escaping his lips as he tugged at his cor. He rose from his seat, heading towards his study.


    A short whileter, Kyle arrived.


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    Kyle entered the study, a stack of documents in his hands. "Alexander, I found something. Take a look," he said, handing the papers to Alexander. Alexander opened the folder, his eyes scanning over the surveince footage and photos contained within.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Kyle began to exin, "No strangers have visited Juliet''s room in the past few days, only the doctor, nurse, and the caregiver who frequently tends to her." "After Ariel was warnedst time, he hasn''t been to the hospital either, but he still wants to make money off of Juliet. There should be no need for him to kill her." Alexander casually flipped through the photos, his eyes skimming over the materials in his hands.


    Kyle, unable to read Alexander''s expression, wiped the sweat off his forehead before continuing, "And the surveince footage shows that she went out on her own, so could it be...?"


    "Is this the autopsy report?" Alexander interrupted, handing a document to Kyle.


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    Kyle nced at it and nodded, "Yes, it just came out yesterday."


    Alexander continued to read.


    Kyle ryed all the information he had gathered, but he was at a loss as to where to look next. He suspected that Juliet had indeedmitted suicide, and the autopsy report seemed to confirm his suspicions. Alexander lifted his gaze to Kyle, his eyes narrowing as if he had made a discovery.


    Kyle straightened his back, a sense of anticipation filling the air. "Alexander, have you found something?"


    Alexander pped the photos he held onto the table. "Bring that caregiver to me."


    "The caregiver?" Kyle echoed, confusion clouding his features.


    "You don''t understand?" Alexander asked.

 Chapter 358

    A shudder ran through Kyle as he said, "Yes, I''ll go right away!" Without daring to dy, he promptly exited the study, hastened outside, and climbed into his car. The vehicle roared to life and he sped off into the distance. In the corridor, Quinn stood, her gaze fixed on Kyle''s retreating figure. His panic-stricken demeanor stirred a growing unease within her, amplifying her sense of foreboding.


    Arriving at the hospital, Kyle sought out information regarding the caregiver. To his surprise, he discovered that she had been absent from work since the day before yesterday, and no one had been able to contact her. A sense of dread washed over Kyle. Could it be that the caregiver was involved in some nefarious plot? But how could Alexander have known? Confused and troubled, he dialed Alexander''s number to report his findings. Upon hearing the news, Alexander stood by a French window, his gaze lost in the drizzling rain outside. His voice was steady as hemanded, "Find her."


    "Alright, I''ll keep looking," Kyle responded, though he knew the task would be challenging, given that the caregiver had disappeared two days prior. Yet, he had no choice but to locate her. If he failed to uncover the truth, Juliet''s death would be on Alexander''s conscience. His already tenuous rtionship with Quinn could not withstand such a blow, and any argument sparked by this situation could lead to disaster. Thus, Kyle dared not dy.


    In the days that followed, Alexander remained sequestered in the vi, not once venturing out. Meanwhile, Soren found himself struggling to bnce his roles as both a doctor and a chef.


    Quinn found Alexander''s behavior peculiar. He had been avoiding hispany and spending all his time at home with her. Was he waiting for her recovery before proceeding with their divorce? The irony was not lost on her. She used to yearn for his return, only to be met with his prolonged absences. Now, he was by her side all day. Was he afraid she would refuse to divorce him?


    Desperate tomunicate her recovery, Quinn tugged at Alexander''s sleeve. He nced at her but remained silent. She gestured again, insisting, "I''m really better now. You can ask Soren."


    Alexander''s patience was wearing thin. He abruptly pushed her away, eximing, "Enough!" Quinn was taken aback, and the room fell into an ufortable silence, punctuated only by the sound of the television.


    Alexander closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, his expression had regained its usual calm. He adjusted his cor and turned to face Quinn, reassuring her, "Don''t worry, I said we will get a divorce. You don''t need to be in such a hurry."


    Confronted with his directness, Quinn was left speechless. She turned her head away, focusing her gaze on the television. The cartoon ying was cheerful, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere that hung in the room. Their standoff was interrupted by the sudden ring of Alexander''s phone. It was a call from Kyle. Alexander rose, took the phone, and ascended the stairs, leaving Quinn to watch his retreating figure.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Alexander, still no sign of her. It''s like she vanished. We even sent people to her house, and her family hasn''t seen her either," Kyle reported. Alexander paused in his tracks, considering the news.


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    "Is it possible she''s dead?" Kyle ventured. Alexander remained silent for a moment before responding, "There''s no need to search anymore."


    "Huh? You''re giving up?" Kyle asked, taken aback.


    "It''s already clear what''s going on. Why bother searching?" Alexander sneered. "These people just can''t stay out of trouble."


    Kyle was puzzled. Alexander hadn''t seen any evidence yet. How could he im things were clear?


    "So, the caretaker is dead?" Kyle asked, seeking rification.


    "Whether he''s dead or alive doesn''t matter anymore," Alexander replied, leaning against the railing and pulling out a cigarette. As he took a puff, the smoke twisted in the air. He added, "I know what''s going on now."

 Chapter 359

    A sudden confusion clouded Kyle''s mind, prompting him to blurt out, "What''s going on?" The moment the words escaped his lips, he regretted his impulsiveness, feeling it painted him as inept. Alexander turned to him, his gaze steady. "Kyle, after all these years by my side, what have you learned?" he asked, his toneced with disappointment.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "I''m sorry, Alexander. I was just too slow to catch on," Kyle responded, his voice heavy with regret.


    Alexander merely waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind," he said, his voice as cool as the night air. He fell silent, pocketing his phone and leaning against the railing, lost in thought as he puffed on his cigarette.


    From downstairs, Quinn looked up and saw Alexander standing there, the smoke from his cigarette curling up into the night. His posture suggested a man wrestling with his thoughts.


    Her phone buzzed, pulling her attention away from Alexander. Picking it up, she read the message that had appeared on the screen. It was from an unknown number: [Juliet is dead.] The words hit her like a punch to the gut, freezing her in ce.


    Panic washed over her, consuming her entirely. Her blood seemed to rush to a single point, leaving her limbs numb and alien to her. Quinn stared at the message, her mind a nk canvas. Subconsciously, she dismissed it as a scam, a cruel trick yed by someone. It had to be Walter. He loved to deceive her.


    Yet, despite her denial, tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face. She turned her gaze back to Alexander, her vision blurred by her tears. Their eyes met, and in that moment, a myriad of emotions hung heavy in the air. Her phone slipped from her grasp, ttering to the ground. Time seemed to slow as Quinn rose from the couch, each step towards Alexander feeling like a Herculean task.


    She looked up at him, meeting his indifferent gaze. It was as if he had detached himself from the world. A heavy feeling settled in her heart. She raised her hand, intending to speak, but words failed her. Fear of his response held her tongue. Her hand hung in the air, and for a moment, silence reigned.


    It took her a while to muster the courage to gesture towards the hospital. Alexander''s face remained impassive, as if he hadn''t understood her silent plea.


    Quinn gestured again, her desire to see Juliet evident in her movements. Alexander turned away from her, his voice firm as he said, "No, you can''t go."


    Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes, the message on her phone reying in her mind, stoking her anger. She turned away from Alexander, storming off towards the bedroom.


    After changing her clothes and grabbing her bag, she was ready to leave. But as she opened the door, she found Alexander leaning against the door frame, effectively blocking her way. "Where are you going?" he asked, his voice cold.


    Quinn gestured towards the hospital again, but Alexander''s gaze hardened. He reached out, his hand gripping her chin as he whispered, "I said you can''t go. Can''t you hear me?"


    His anger-filled eyes sent a chill down Quinn''s spine. She raised her hand, silently asking why.


    "There is no why. I said you can''t go, so stay home!" With that, he released her chin.


    "Don''t push me," he warned.


    Quinn staggered back, but before she could regain her bnce, the door mmed shut and locked. He had locked her in. Again. Quinn clutched her bag, her back against the door. Slowly, she slid down to the ground, her heart heavy with a myriad of emotions.

 Chapter 360

    With every insistence from him that she must not leave, Quinn''s anxiety only seemed to intensify. She was skeptical of the message she had received, yet she yearned to verify its truth.


    Alexander, however, was adamant in his refusal to allow her to do so. The implication of his actions was clear, and it sent a shiver down her spine.


    Quinn wrapped her arms around her head, struggling to suppress her thoughts, trying to convince herself that the message was nothing but a lie.


    In the corner of the room, Soren watched the unfolding drama, his heart pounding in his chest. He dared not intervene, fearing he would be dragged into the brewing storm. Alexander, with a face like thunder, descended the stairs and sank into the plush cushions of the sofa, lighting one cigarette after another.


    Soren, who had taken refuge in the kitchen, was startled by a loud crash from outside. He cautiously peeked out, his eyes widening at the sight of the chaos that had erupted. An ashtrayy overturned on the floor, its contents scattered about. Fruits and a fruit tter were strewn everywhere. He swallowed hard, unable to fathom why Alexander was in such a rage. Quietly, he closed the kitchen door, hoping to remain unnoticed.


    After what felt like an eternity, the kitchen door creaked open, causing Soren''s heart to leap into his throat. Alexander stood in the doorway, his face a mask of grim determination. His gaze bore into Soren as he issued a chillingmand, "Keep an eye on her. If she takes one step out of this vi, I''ll chop you into pieces and feed you to the dogs."


    The threat was far from empty; Soren could see the murderous intent in his eyes. He nodded in understanding, his neck retracting instinctively. Satisfied with his response, Alexander turned on his heel and exited the vi.


    Once inside his car, he dialed Sean''s number.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Send a few people over to guard this ce," he ordered.


    "Yes," Sean responded, oblivious to the events that had transpired but dutifully following themand.


    Quinn was confined to her room. She had contemted escaping through the window, but Alexander had already ordered the instation of a railing to prevent such an attempt. After several futile efforts, she slumped onto the bed, defeated. She nced at the bag beside her and pulled out a notebook, chronicling the day''s events. As she finished writing, Soren entered the room, a tray of food in his hands.


    "Quinn, have some," he implored.


    At his words, Quinn sprang to her feet and bolted towards the bedroom door. Soren, taken aback, watched as she sprinted out of the room. The tray slipped from his grasp, ttering to the floor and scattering dishes everywhere. He gave chase, managing to intercept her at the staircase.


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    "Quinn, where are you going?" he asked, his voice trembling with fear.


    Quinn struggled against his grip, her eyes pleading for understanding. Soren sighed and shook his head. "No, Alexander ordered that you can''t leave the vi. Otherwise, I''m a dead man."


    Quinn paused, confusion flickering in her eyes as she looked at Soren.


    "Quinn, I''m begging you to go back to the room and eat. Don''t go out, okay?" Soren pleaded.


    Quinn was torn between her desire to leave and her reluctance to endanger Soren. Alexander''s actions had only served to deepen her doubts about the message''s authenticity. She pulled out her phone and typed a message to show him: [I''ll go out for a bit ande back soon. He won''t find out.]


    Soren shook his head vehemently. "No, Alexander isn''t a fool. If you go out, he will definitely find out."


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    Quinn bit her lip, disappointment etched on her face. Seeing the desperation in Soren''s eyes, she finally relented and retreated back into the room.


    When Soren returned with her food, he found the door locked from the inside. Was she nning to defy Alexander to the end?


    Soren spent a considerable amount of time outside the door, pleading with her to open it, but Quinn remained silent. Finally, he set the tray down with a sigh and reported the situation to Alexander.


    However, Alexander''s response was cold and callous. "If she doesn''t want to eat, let her starve!"


    "Alexander, she is just recovering. If she continues to starve herself..." Soren began, only to be cut off.


    "Let her die if she wants to!" Alexander retorted.


    Soren smirked, recognizing that Alexander was merely venting his frustrations. He then adopted a more serious tone. "Alexander, Quinn''s health is fragile. If she goes hungry for another couple of days, she might really die."

 Chapter 361

    The irritation in Alexander''s voice was palpable. "Do you notprehend my words?" he snapped.


    Soren recoiled, a visible shiver running down his neck. "Understood," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He dared not utter another word and promptly ended the call.


    In the solitude of his office, Alexander fiddled with his tie before abruptly pulling it off and tossing it onto his desk. The force of his action caused two buttons to pop off.


    Just then, a knock echoed through the room and Landon entered. His gaze fell on the discarded tie and he queried, "Alexander, has something disagreeable urred?"


    Leaning back in his chair, Alexander lit a cigarette and looked up at Landon. His demeanor was tranquil, as if his previous outburst was nothing more than a fleeting illusion. "What kind of unpleasant news are you hoping to hear?" he retorted. Landon adjusted his sses and replied, "I have no desire to hear anything unpleasant."


    "Then why did you inquire?" Alexander shot back, his voiceced with impatience.


    Landon was momentarily taken aback before apologizing, "I shouldn''t have pried." He then handed over some documents, "There are two documents requiring your signature."


    "Leave them here," Alexander instructed.


    Landonplied, cing the documents on the desk. He said nothing more and turned to leave. Alexander watched his retreating figure, his eyes narrowing before he abruptly extinguished his cigarette.


    Meanwhile, Soren had spent the entire day anxiously awaiting Alexander''s return. He had no desire to deal with Quinn any longer. Despite her fragile appearance, no amount of persuasion from Soren could convince her to open her door. This continued until the following noon. Soren, who had been crouched by the door, was jolted awake by the sound of approaching footsteps. Looking up, he saw Alexander, nked by a group of bodyguards.


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    "Alexander," Soren called out, quickly standing up.


    Alexander''s response was cold and indifferent. He cast a casual nce at Soren, "Still in there?"


    Soren nodded, "Yes, it''s been two days. I''ve reced her meals three times today." As he spoke, he gestured towards the nearby tray, indicating his efforts.


    Alexander bypassed him and approached the door. He attempted to turn the knob, but it wouldn''t budge. He stepped back, "Break it open."


    Two burly bodyguards immediately stepped forward, their boots making quick work of the door lock. After several forceful kicks, the bedroom door swung open. Had the door not been so robust, it might have beenpletely dislodged.


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    As the door began to swing shut, a man extended his long fingers to stop it. He pushed the door open and slowly entered the room. Soren quickly followed, tray in hand.


    Inside, Quinn was huddled on the bed, clutching her tattered bag. Her back was turned to the door, seemingly oblivious to the intrusion.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    The man helped her sit up. Her pale face and chapped lips were clear indications of her two-day water deprivation. Soren quickly moved to examine her. After a brief moment, he awkwardly announced, "She''s fainted from hunger." He stole a nce at Alexander, but his expression was unreadable. He was eerily calm.


    The man raised his hand, a silentmand that Soren understood. He ced the soup in the man''s hand before retreating. Alexander attempted to feed Quinn the soup, but she was unable to swallow. He gripped her jaw and forced the liquid down her throat.


    "Cough--"


    The soup choked Quinn, triggering a fit of uncontroble coughing. Her coughs were so violent that her eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred and unable to make out the figure before her.

 Chapter 362

    With a tentative reach of her hand, she sought to touch the face before her. Suddenly, rity returned to her vision, her eyes flickered, and she hastily withdrew her hand. Alexander, unbothered by her actions, held her and continued to Sebastian-feed her soup. Quinn closed her eyes and turned her head away, but he remained unfazed. His eyes darkened, and he moved his hand from her shoulder to her jaw, gripping it firmly. The pain left Quinn with no choice but to open her mouth.


    The soup, warm and unexpected, slid into her mouth, triggering a fit of coughing. Most of the soup was expelled in the process.


    The difort from the coughing was intense, and her eyes gradually reddened from the irritation.


    Despite her pallor and reddened eyes, Quinn''s appearance was striking, akin to roses blooming in a parched desert.


    Alexander, however, remained expressionless, disregarding her coughing fit and persisting with the feeding.


    In a weak attempt, Quinn lifted her hand to push away the bowl, but her strength failed her. Her fingers brushed against his arm, the touch almost tender.


    Desperation set in, and she clenched her teeth, refusing the soup he offered.


    In response, he pinched her jaw, applying a force that felt as though he intended to crush her bones.


    Unable to withstand the pain, Quinn opened her mouth once more, and he patientlydled another Sebastianful of soup into her mouth.


    Eventually, Quinn surrendered and swallowed the soup.


    The room fell silent, save for the clinking of the empty bowl and Sebastian.


    Once the bowl was empty, Alexander set it aside, released Quinn, and rose to leave.


    Before he could take a step, Quinn clutched at the hem of his coat.


    He paused, tilting his head slightly to regard her.


    Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at him, her expression pitiful.


    "Leave," she managed to say.


    "Why should I leave?"


    "Juliet."


    With a swift motion, Alexander pulled his coat free from her grasp. Quinn''s hand fell back onto the bed, empty and weak.


    Without uttering a word, he turned and walked out.


    Quinn attempted to rise from the bed, but her legs gave out, causing her to copse onto the floor.


    With a determined effort, she began to crawl towards the door, hoping to catch up with him.


    But before she could reach it, the bedroom door closed.


    Lying on the cold floor, Quinn stared at the closed door, tears finally spilling from her eyes.


    Why? She didn''t understand why Alexander treated her this way.


    He could show such leniency towards Getty, yet be so heartless towards her.


    He didn''t love her, but he couldn''t let her go either.


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    What had she done wrong?


    Quinn bit the back of her hand, crawling on the ground, weeping silently.


    A wave of despair washed over her. She tilted her head slightly and caught sight of the dishes on the bedside table.


    Her gaze fixed on the bowl, her breath quickening.


    When she regained her senses, she found herself at the bedside, reaching for the tray.


    With a gentle tug, she flipped the tray over, and the dishes crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.


    Trembling, Quinn picked up the broken shards from the floor, aligning the sharp edges against her wrist.


    Without hesitation, she pressed the sharp shard against her skin and sliced downwards with all her strength.


    At first, there was no blood, only a cut in the flesh, revealing a hint of red beneath.


    She held her breath, repositioned the shard against the wound, and sliced downwards once more.

 Chapter 363

    Crimson lifeblood seeped from her wrist, blossoming like a rose in full bloom.


    Through the veil of her tears, a glimmer of stubbornness shone as she pressed down on the wound repeatedly. The pain was not as acute as she had anticipated; instead, she felt an unfamiliar sense of liberation. The sharp twinge in her heart was somewhat alleviated by the physical pain in her wrist. She had never experienced such lightness before.


    She came to a realization; throughout her past and in the present, she had never known true happiness. It was only in this moment, teetering on the precipice of death, that she found a sense of joy and relief.


    She loved Alexander, but what had she gained from it? Nothing but a heart riddled with wounds. She couldn''t point fingers at anyone else. It was her own foolish delusion, her love so insignificant and unworthy of his attention. The me rested solely on her shoulders.


    A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Quinn''s mouth as she mocked her own fate.A heavy rain began to fall outside her window. Quinn turned her head, listening to the rhythm of the raindrops in silence. She leaned against the bed, her eyes gradually closing.


    A single tear trickled down her cheek as she loosened her grip, allowing the shards to tumble to the ground.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Suddenly, the bedroom door was kicked open, the loud noise sending a jolt through her heart. Quinn reluctantly opened her eyes, catching sight of a figure rushing towards her. Regrettably, her vision was blurred, and she couldn''t make out the words being whispered in her ear. She felt light-headed, as if she were soaring, and the room spun around her.


    The only clear sound was the patter of rain against the window.In her hazy state, Quinn thought she saw Juliet, just as she had been many years ago, her hair grey and a kind smile on her face. Juliet sang a luby, her hand gently stroking Quinn''s head.


    Quinn allowed a small smile to grace her lips, obediently closing her eyes and sumbing to sleep. This time, she wouldn''t cause Juliet any more worry.


    The bedroom was eerily quiet. Soren stood awkwardly to the side, stealing nces at Alexander''s expressionless face. It was impossible to decipher his thoughts.


    The floor had been cleaned, but a faint, metallic scent of blood still hung in the air.Quinn''s wound was a grisly sight, but she hadn''t lost a significant amount of blood.


    Her unconscious state was due to her weakened condition. The longer Quinn remained unconscious, the more Soren''s nerves frayed.Just as Soren''s anxiety peaked, Alexander''s voice cut through the silence, "Why hasn''t she woken up yet?"Soren flinched at the question."Quinn is just sleeping," he improvised hastily, "she''ll wake up soon."Alexander withdrew his gaze, refraining from asking further.


    At that moment, a bodyguard entered to report, "Alexander, Kaitlyn is here."Alexander''s brow furrowed as he nced at Quinn onest time before abruptly rising and exiting the room.Kaitlyn paced anxiously in the hallway. It was her first time here, and her gaze held a hint of disdain. Upon seeing Alexander descend, she swaggered over, "Son.""What are you here for?" Alexander queried.Kaitlyn bristled at his tone. She retorted icily, "You are my son. Why can''t Ie here?"

 Chapter 364

    Without a word of protest, Alexander posed his question once more, "What seems to be the issue?"


    Ignoring his evident irritation, Kaitlyn made herselffortable on the sofa and inquired, "Where might Quinn be?"


    A hint of impatience creased Alexander''s forehead as he took a seat opposite her, responding tersely, "Upstairs.""Have the two of you not divorced yet?"Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    His face remained impassive as he retorted, "You meddle far too much.""How dare you address me in such a manner? I am your mother!"


    A vein throbbed visibly on Alexander''s forehead, but he chose to remain silent.Nonchntly, Kaitlyn reached for an orange on the table and began to peel it. "Now that you''re all grown up, you believe you can act as you please.""Regardless, you are my son. That is an undeniable fact. Even if you harbor resentment towards me, I remain your mother."


    Alexander fixed his gaze on her, prompting, "And then?""I am here today to witness your divorce.


    Once you have the divorce certificate in hand, I shall take my leave."She cast a sidelong nce at Alexander, a smile ying on her lips, "Whether you loathe me or not, you must proceed with the divorce. After all, I have lived long enough. I harbor no fear of you taking my life."


    Kaitlyn''s obstinacy was bing increasingly apparent.Especially upon discovering that it was Alexander who had initiated the divorce, she grew more audacious.


    She was convinced that Alexander''s affection for Quinn was merely superficial, far from the depths of love. And now, she sought to validate this notion.Kaitlyn had never wished for Quinn to hinder her son''s happiness. His recent ruthless and heartless behavior towards Wayne, Freya, and herself was a stark contrast to his past.


    If he had treated Quinn differently, she, as a mother, would have felt it was unjust. Since his childhood, she had exerted an almost perverse control over Alexander. Over the years, aside from his marriage to Quinn, she had failed to surpass Ulysses. Alexander hadplied with her wishes on most matters.


    But ofte, he had be an enigma to her, and this sense of losing control over him was unsettling. Alexander remained silent, not uttering a single word.


    Kaitlyn continued, "Do you recall how I cared for you before you joined the Kennedys? "I took you to work with me, saving all the food for you.


    Even in the worst weather, I ensured you stayed dry. "I continued to wear worn-out shoes while buying you the clothes you desired. "I confess, I was often strict with you, but it was because I wanted you to seed and not endure the hardships I had.


    "Without me, would you be the man you are today? Would you be upying the director''s chair?" Kaitlyn spoke at length, intending to remind Alexander of her sacrifices; she wanted him to understand that no one could ever rece her in his heart.


    Seeing his continued silence, Kaitlyn rose and moved to sit beside him, cing her hand on his arm. "Alexander, what''s holding you back? "She''s just a dummy. What are you waiting for?"For a remarkable man like you, you can certainly find someone superior."


    "Enough." Alexander abruptly cut her off, his voice icy. "Are you done?" Kaitlyn was taken aback, staring at him in disbelief. He had clearly not paid heed to her words. Alexander dered, "I will proceed with the divorce." He paused, then shifted his tone, "But not for the reasons you''ve stated."

 Chapter 365

    Kaitlyn''s brow furrowed as she questioned, "Then why?" Alexander, in response, withdrew his hand, rose to his feet, and ced a deliberate distance between them.


    "Does the reason truly matter if it aligns with your intentions?" he countered. Kaitlyn found herself reluctantly agreeing with his logic, even though it irked her. Feeling unjustly treated, she couldn''t help but brush away the tears trickling down her cheeks.


    "Do you despise me so much now, even when I''ve been nothing but considerate towards you? I must truly be a failure as a mother," shemented.


    Alexander''s gaze bore into her, his face a mask of impassivity. "I do despise you, but I believe I''ve treated you fairly," he dered coldly. Kaitlyn''s eyes widened in disbelief, her pupils trembling as she looked up at Alexander. "What did you just say?" she asked.


    His voice, devoid of any warmth, echoed in the room, "I''ve said it before. Things are not the same as they were when I was a child."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Was your sacrifice truly for me? The only right thing you did was going to the Kennedys.


    Everything else has nothing to do with you. Don''t make yourself out to be a martyr," he continued, his words cutting through the silence like a knife. Kaitlyn was taken aback by his harsh words, her gaze flickering between shock and disbelief as she stared at Alexander.


    Alexander casually slipped his hand into his pocket and stated solemnly, "No matter how great a favor is, there wille a day when it must be repaid. I hope you can conduct yourself appropriately and not hasten that day''s arrival." His words pierced Kaitlyn''s heart like sharp des. Slowly, she rose to her feet and approached Alexander, tears welling up in her eyes. Suddenly, she raised her hand, poised to p Alexander.


    But her hand was intercepted mid-air by Alexander, who gripped her wrist and looked down at her. "If there''s nothing else, you should leave," he said dismissively.


    Kaitlyn trembled with rage, struggling to find words. Each time she realized that Alexander was beyond her control, she was filled with an unprecedented sense of anger, helplessness, and deep-seated fear.


    Kaitlyn tugged at her wrist, forcefully pulling it from Alexander''s grip. She shot him onest nce before grabbing her bag, gritting her teeth, and dering, "Fine, you''ve grown up. Don''t acknowledge me as your mother. Just remember to keep your word about the divorce, or I won''t lift a finger to help you!" With that, she stormed out of the room, her high heels clicking angrily against the floor. The people around them pretended as if they didn''t exist.


    Alexander, on the other hand, regarded Kaitlyn''s visit as a minor interruption. He showed no particr reaction, as if she had never been there. He turned and ascended the stairs as if nothing had transpired. Upon reentering the bedroom, he found Quinn awake. She was looking around the room, her eyes filled with confusion.


    Quinn couldn''t quite recall what had transpired. All she remembered was Alexander promising to take her out for her birthday. But why was she in bed now?


    As she pondered, she heard footsteps and turned her head towards the door. Seeing Alexander enter, Quinn instinctively tried to sit up. But as she pressed her hand on the bed, a sharp pain shot through her wrist, contorting her face in agony. Quinn fell back onto the bed, taking a moment to recover. She lifted her hand and looked at the bandage wrapped around her wrist, her eyes flickering with confusion once again. "Quinn, I underestimated you," Alexander''s voice broke the silence.


    At the sound of his words, Quinn turned her head to look at him. His face was stern, his tone t. "Since you''re so eager, go ahead and get a divorce. Go now." Quinn shuddered, staring at him in disbelief.

 Chapter 366

    What was the reason for his sudden desire for a divorce? Upon seeing her, Alexander couldn''t help but scoff. "What, still ying the innocent?" he sneered.


    His slender fingers gently lifted Quinn''s chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Just moments ago, you were begging for a divorce. Now, you''re feigning innocence. Are you trying to make everyone believe I''m the one at fault here?" Quinn looked at him, her confusion evident.


    She couldn''tprehend his words, his usations. Her mind was a whirlwind, filled with his previous deration of wanting a divorce.


    His words had struck her like a lightning bolt, leaving her dazed and stunned.


    After a moment, he stood, his tone brooking no argument. "I don''t have time for games. Get up. We''re getting a divorce." The realization hit Quinn like a punch to the gut. He wasn''t joking. He truly meant to divorce her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she sat up, her movements causing her injured wrist to bleed anew."What did I do wrong?"


    Quinn asked.Alexander''s response was a cold, mockingugh. "You didn''t do anything wrong. It''s me. Let''s go."


    His voice held a hint of self-derision and a chilling coldness. "I''m sorry. I made a mistake. I''ll change," Quinn pleaded desperately.


    His smile vanished, reced by a flicker of anger in his eyes. He grabbed her injured wrist, causing her to wince in pain. "Quinn, don''t test my patience. Let''s go."


    The pain in her wrist was intense, causing tears to fill her eyes. Before she could react, he had pulled her off the bed, her knees hitting the floor with a thud.


    As she looked up at his indifferent face, her heart plummeted. Feeling the warmth seeping into his palm, Alexander abruptly released Quinn''s wrist. The bandage that had previously been wrapped around it was now a bright red."Do you not "want me anymore?" Quinn asked.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Alexander looked at her, his gaze unreadable. A cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Is that amusing to you?"Quinn remained silent, her eyes downcast. After a long moment, she slowly rose to her feet. "I understand," she said quietly.


    He no longer wanted her. She had always known that day woulde, but she hadn''t expected it to arrive so soon. Being with someone like her, a mute, was evidently not entertaining for him.Alexander turned and walked out, leaving Quinn alone in the room. She stood there for a long time, staring at her toes, until a knock on the door startled her.


    She lifted her foot and walked out, her steps heavy.Outside, Alexander was already waiting in the car. Quinn opened the door and got in, not even bothering to fasten her seatbelt before he drove off. It seemed he was in a hurry.A bitter feeling welled up in Quinn''s heart. Was he really so eager for a divorce? He remained silent throughout the drive.


    On the console, a divorce agreementy, its presence a stark reminder of their impending separation. Quinn stared at it, unable to remember when she had signed it.Half an hourter, they arrived at their destination.

 Chapter 367

    Confusion swarmed Quinn''s mind, leaving her uncertain of how to navigate thebyrinth of divorce proceedings or secure the necessary certificate.


    Emerging from her reverie, she found the divorce certificate already in her grasp. As she wrestled with her thoughts, Alexander had already made his departure, his car disappearing into the deluge without a backward nce.


    She stared at the certificate clutched in her hand, the reality of it all feeling like an elusive dream. When she would awaken, Alexander would no longer be hers.


    Rain cascaded from the heavens as she stood beneath the eaves, her gaze fixed on the relentless downpour. She was left behind, discarded without a second thought.


    Quinn didn''t shed a tear, not because she was incapable of crying. The surreal nature of the certificate she held made it difficult for her to discern dream from reality, leaving her emotionally paralyzed. Spotting a nearby chair, she made her way over and took a seat.


    The biting wind whistled beneath the eaves, peppering her face with icy raindrops. The chill of winter seeped into her bones, a stark reminder of the season''s arrival.


    In Amber Bay, winter was a relentless season of ceaseless rain. She felt as though she had slumbered through a season, missing an entire winter.


    More than just a winter, her heart echoed with the emptiness of all she had lost. She clutched the divorce certificate with a helpless grip, resembling a forsaken puppy.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    She was at a loss, unsure of where to turn. A ck Volkswagen pulled up beside her, and a man hurriedly emerged. "Quinn, why are you sitting here?" he inquired, his voiceced with concern. Quinn studied him with a nk expression, a vague sense of familiarity tugging at her.


    She couldn''t ce his face. "I''m Soren. Do you remember me?" Soren asked, his toneced with urgency. Soren studied her vacant expression, waving his hand in front of her eyes.


    Her gaze remained distant and confused. "Don''t you remember me?"Quinn stared at him for a moment longer before shaking her head slightly, indicating herck of recognition. Soren sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. "This is not good. How did her condition deteriorate so rapidly?"His words were lost on Quinn, who frowned in confusion.


    Soren paced in front of her, muttering, "It must be the events of the past few days. The fasting, the wrist-cutting, her overwhelming sorrow... it''s all exacerbated her condition.


    She needs a medical examination."Quinn''s gaze flickered. Was he referring to her?Fasting, wrist-cutting... why was she unaware?She nced down at her wrist, the once pristine bandage now stained a vivid red. Upon pressing it, traces of blood stained her fingertips. As if seeking confirmation, she unwrapped the gauze, bracing herself against the pain.


    A gruesome wound was revealed, flesh and skin torn apart, filled with powder that had been moistened by fresh blood, rendering it somewhat sticky. It was clear that a sharp weapon had inflicted the wound. Had she truly shed her own wrist? Why would she do such a thing? Soren spun around to find her staring at her wound in a daze, prompting him to rush over and kneel before her. "Quinn, why did you remove the gauze? It could be infected," Soren cautioned, patting his pocket to find a roll of gauze. He took Quinn''s hand and carefully rewrapped her wound. Soren looked up, his expression uneasy. He hesitated, unsure of where to begin. "Quinn, do you remember what illness you have?" Quinn shook her head; she couldn''t recall.

 Chapter 368

    Soren released a series of sighs, his mind churning before he finally spoke. "You''re suffering from a disease known as Alzheimer''s, and it''s causing you to forget many things. Don''t you have a notebook? You should take it out and read it." Quinn''s gaze dropped to her hands, finding them empty. No notebook was in sight. Soren opened his mouth to continue, but the sight of her vacant expression halted his words.


    It was clear she wouldn''t remember. "Come on," he said gently, "I''ll take you home."


    He resolved then to inform Alexander of the situation.


    Confusion swirled in Quinn''s mind, a tempest of uncertainty. Rising to her feet, she followed Soren in a mechanical fashion, her movements devoid of thought.


    With a sense of urgency, Soren drove at full speed, ferrying Quinn back to the vi. Upon arrival, Quinn stepped out of the car, preparing to dart into the house as she usually did.


    But before she could cross the threshold, the vi''s door mmed shut, leaving her stranded outside. She stood rooted to the spot, her mind a whirl of confusion.


    Soren, standing awkwardly beside her, said, "Quinn, Alexander isn''t aware of your condition. I''ll go inform him." He raised his hand, pressing the doorbell.


    After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing not Alexander, but a middle-aged woman. "Who are you looking for?" she asked.


    "Alexander. Hasn''t he returned?" The woman gave him a once-over before shaking her head. "Alexander isn''ting back. He asked me to clean the vi.


    By the way, is that pile of belongings Quinn''s? He said if she doesn''t retrieve them, they''ll be discarded." As she spoke, she swung the door wider, revealing a heap of items in the corner.


    A flicker of guilt crossed her face. She had taken a few items during her cleaning, fearing they would be noticed.


    Soren stole a nce at Quinn, her face pale and her expression vacant. "Will Alexander return?" he asked. "I already told you, Alexander won''t be returning.


    Once I finish cleaning, this vi will be ready to be sealed up." "So soon?" "I''m just a worker. Alexander''s belongings are still here. Do you want me to remove them?"


    Soren turned to Quinn, seeking her input, but she had already ventured inside. She approached the pile of disarray.


    The housekeeper had haphazardly packed everything, leaving her clothes and jewelry in a chaotic mess that resembled a heap of garbage.


    Soren watched her deste figure, a sigh escaping his lips. He didn''t fully grasp the intricacies of their rtionship, but it was evident that Alexander hadn''t truly desired a divorce. Now, with Quinn''s unpleasant memories erased, Alexander had chosen to divorce her.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    The ironies of fate were often a cause for sighs. Quinn, looking at the pile of familiar items, finally grasped the reality that her rtionship with Alexander had irrevocably ended. Twenty years of togetherness had culminated in a small piece of divorce paper.


    On their wedding day, he had vowed to care for her for a lifetime. It seemed her lifetime had been tragically short. Quinn couldn''t recall the events of this period, but the sight of her discarded belongings ignited a surge of pain in her heart. The once familiar vi now felt foreign. The rain tapping against the window, the willow trees swaying in the wind, the twinkling lights overhead, and even the cleared-out garbage. Every corner of the vi felt alien, each one narrating the tale of her and Alexander''s fleeting and unhallowed marriage, akin to the pile of discarded belongings.


    Soren lingered outside the door, his thoughts churning. Finally, he pulled out his phone and dialed Alexander''s number, taking a deep breath as he waited for the call to connect.

 Chapter 369

    The phone call was answered promptly. "Alexander!" a voice on the other end of the line eximed, "I have something to tell you about Quinn."


    His response was an abrupt interruption. "You don''t need to tell me about her anymore, Soren.""But she-""Soren, I can find something for you if you have nothing to do."The implication was clear - Soren should mind his own business. He swallowed his words, his neck retracting slightly as he chose not to argue. "Alright then, goodbye, Alexander."


    Once the call ended, Soren quickly crossed the room to where Quinn sat. She was hunched over on the floor, her body shaking with silent sobs.


    Seeing her in such a state, Soren sighed deeply."Quinn, do you have somewhere to go now? I can help you move your things."


    Quinn looked up at him, her expression one of confusion and loss. Soren felt a pang of sympathy, but he also understood theplexity of the situation.


    He couldn''t possibly invite her to his own home. Even though they were divorced, she was still Alexander''s ex-wife. He didn''t have the courage to cross that line."How about I find a ce for you?" he suggested.


    Quinn stared at him for a moment, her gaze lingering on the worry etched in his eyes. Then, she smiled - a smile that was both sorrowful and strangely radiant.


    If she had been his sister from the beginning, she would be happy now, right?Greed, he mused, never did anyone any good.


    Soren opened his mouth to speak, but found himself at a loss for words. He wondered if Quinn had been so shocked by recent events that she had lost her senses."How much longer do you need? I''m about to close," the nanny chided from nearby.


    Quinn snapped back to reality and nced at Soren. Apart from him, she didn''t know who else she could turn to for help.Soren quickly responded, "Let''s go, I''ll move the stuff."Quinn made to help, but Soren stopped her. "I''ll do it. You''re still injured."


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    Quinn lowered her gaze and remained silent.Soren began to carry the packages out into the rain. Their movements were hurried, like passers-by rushing to escape the downpour.


    As Quinn watched him, she felt a sense of loss. It was as if her heart was being torn out, leaving an empty void with nowhere to go.


    Her belongings were numerous. Soren packed them into the trunk of the car, but it quickly filled up. They were forced to cram the remaining items into the back seat. The car was packed to the brim, barely amodating everything. Quinn sat in the car, watching as the gates of the vi slowly closed behind them. It was a familiar sight, reminiscent of the many times she had closed the door behind her when leaving the house. But this time, it wasn''t her closing the door. As Soren drove away, Quinn kept her eyes fixed on the rearview mirror. The vi grew smaller in the distance until it was swallowed up by the blurry curtain of rain.


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    Finally, it disappearedpletely.Quinn raised a hand to her chest, feeling a sharp pain radiating from within.Even breathing was painful.


    After driving aimlessly around Amber Bay for a while, Soren finally decided to take Quinn to a rtively secluded residential area."My grandfather used to live here, but he''s not here anymore. You can live here." Quinn looked at Soren with gratitude in her eyes.He was a good man, helping her without expecting anything in return. Perhaps it was the professional ethics of a doctor.


    As Quinn rummaged through her belongings, she came across a shoulder bag. Inside, she found a notebook.She opened it, but found little written in the past few days. Not a single unpleasant event was recorded.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    She had written about needing to visit the hospital to see Juliet.Juliet... who was she?She turned to a nk page, her expression one of confusion. The notebook offered no clues about the events of the past few days, or the reason for Alexander''s decision to divorce her.

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    With a sigh of disappointment, Quinn picked up a pen and wrote down, "Soren is a good person." Beneath that, she added the recent fact of her divorce from Alexander and her current address. Soren had insisted these details were important. The act of writing down her divorce was a symbolic barrier, a deterrent to keep her from seeking out Alexander again.


    He no longer harbored any affection for her, and her presence would only serve to exacerbate his irritation.In her heart, Quinn couldn''t help but wonder if her recent behavior was to me. Perhaps her cooking had lost its vor, or her housekeeping had slipped. Whatever the cause, Alexander''s love for her had evaporated.


    She understood all too well how easily people could discard those they no longer loved, often without a clear reason.Soren, ever the caregiver, advised her, "Since you''re living here now, unless it''s urgent, you should stay in."


    His concern for Quinn was palpable. He feared that she might wander off one day and lose her way home. With this thought in mind, he retrieved a sticky note from his medical kit and penned abel to affix to the door.


    It would serve as a reminder each time she ventured to open it. He wrote another note and ced it on her bedside table, ensuring it would be the first thing she saw upon waking. He evenbeled the refrigerator and the kitchen, reminders of all the little things she needed to remember.


    No detail was overlooked. Once he had finished his meticulousbeling, Soren double-checked his work, satisfied that he had covered everything. He then turned to Quinn and said, "Alright, don''t forget to take your medicine. But even if I tell you, you won''t remember.


    Just look at the sticky note on the bedside when you wake up in the morning."Snapping back to reality, Quinn nodded her understanding and gestured her thanks."Well, I have to go to work. Take a good rest. I''lle to see you after I finish my shift."Quinn nodded again.


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    After Soren finished his instructions, he opened the door to leave, only to find a figure standing at the entrance.


    The man was dressed in a dark red suit, his arms crossed as he leaned against the door. His slightly curly short hair, dampened by the rain, hung down, adding to his mysterious aura. For a moment, Soren couldn''t discern the man''s gender. Judging by his height, he tentatively addressed him, "Sir, who are you looking for?"The man turned his head, looked at Soren, and smiled slightly. "I''m looking for Quinn." "And you are?"


    Soren inquired. The man extended his hand and offered a light smile, "Hello, Soren. I''m Walter."Recognition dawned on Soren.


    Walter was a member of the Kennedys, a regr at social events. He often ranked within the top three on online lists of attractive men. The validity of these rankings, determined by an app, was dubious at best.


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    However, seeing Walter in person, Soren found himself believing in the so-called ranking. Regaining hisposure, Soren quickly said, "So you''re Mr. Walter. It''s great to see you here. I won''t disturb you then. Goodbye."Walter offered a slight nod as he watched Soren depart.


    He then stepped into the room, the light dimming as the door closed behind him.Inside, Quinn stood frozen, her gaze locked on Walter, her mind struggling toprehend his sudden appearance. Walter''s eyes scanned the room,nding on the sticky note on the door.


    He walked over to the refrigerator, plucked the note from its surface, and gave it a cursory nce before turning his attention back to Quinn.He moved closer to Quinn, his hand reaching out to touch her face. Quinn instinctively recoiled, stepping back.A chuckle escaped Walter''s lips as he withdrew his hand.


    He bent down to meet Quinn''s gaze, studying her for a moment before asking, "Do you really have Alzheimer''s?" His words were apanied by another smile. "He actually got divorced," he mused, seemingly to himself, as he took a step closer to Quinn.


    Quinn retreated a step, and he deliberately advanced.Quinn continued to back away until she found herself cornered, her back pressed against the wall. Walter reached out, his hand closing around Quinn''s chin. "How dare you forget everything?" His voice was light, almost casual, butced with an undercurrent of danger. "Quinn, you deserve to die."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.

 Chapter 371

    An instinctual urge to flee surged within Quinn, yet the man''s elongated arms formed an unyielding barrier against the wall.


    His voice echoed in the silent room, "What are you running from?"Biting her lip, Quinn remained silent for a moment, her thoughts swirling in a whirlpool of confusion. She lifted her hand and gestured, "Aren''t you afraid of Freya misunderstanding?"Walter''s gaze fell upon her fingers, his eyes taking on a depth that was almost unnerving.


    His scrutiny was intense, his gaze sweeping over Quinn with an unmasked aggression that left her feeling exposed.


    His ambiguous gaze sent waves of unease coursing through Quinn''s veins."Do you truly not remember?" He probed further. Her brows knitted together in confusion, and she gestured vaguely, "Remember what?"Instead of answering, a chuckle escaped Walter''s lips.


    His fingers gently traced the curve of Quinn''s chin, his toneced with ambiguity. "Have you forgotten what transpired between us?"Quinn''s pupils dted in surprise, her gaze locked onto Walter as she raised her hand to push him away. He caught Quinn''s restless hand mid-air, pulling her back towards him. His eyes narrowed, "Why do you always contemte fleeing from me? Do you believe that things will simply vanish if you escape?"His words sent her heart pounding against her ribcage.


    A shiver of cold fear raced down her spine as she met his ambiguous gaze. What had happened between them? Could it be that Alexander had divorced her because of this?


    Yet, in Quinn''s memory, there were no interactions between her and Walter. What could have possibly happened between them?Walter watched her ever-changing gaze, his voice steady, "It appears you truly don''t remember. When we were at the farm, you cooked for me. You refused to leave with Alexander, and I even got hurt for you. You don''t recall any of these."


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    Quinn had no memory of the events he described, yet as his words filled the room, vague fragments of memories shed through her mind, aligning with his narrative. Soren had once mentioned that her illness was unlike amnesia. It was intermittent, and the memories wouldn''tpletely fade away.


    Some memories would resurface when triggered by others. The realization left Quinn even more shocked.She couldn''tprehend why she would have had these experiences with Walter. ording to him, it seemed as though they had eloped together.


    But swiftly, Quinn shook her head vehemently, indicating her disbelief in such a possibility.


    She knew her own heart better than anyone else. Regardless of what had transpired between her and Alexander, she would never fall for someone else so easily.Especially not Walter.She refused to believe she could do such a thing. Observing her reactions, Walter couldn''t help butugh. There was no trace of anger in his demeanor."It seems that this Alexander is truly irreceable in your heart. If that''s the case, why did you get divorced?" Quinn averted her gaze, her lips sealed in silence.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    She didn''t know.She pushed Walter away, turning to flee.But Walter wasn''t about to let her escape so easily. He grabbed her wrist, flinging her onto the nearby couch with a force that left her reeling.Quinnnded on the couch, her head spinning, her senses disoriented.


    Before she could regain her bearings, Walter leaned over her, trapping her in the corner of the couch. His hand gripped her chin, his voice low, "It''s okay to forget. I can help you remember."Quinn''s pupils contracted, uncertainty clouding her mind as she wondered what he was about to do.In the next instant, his hand tangled in her hair, a sharp pain shooting through her scalp.


    Then, with a swift yank, he threw her onto the ground. She rolled off the couch, her head and knees colliding with the hard floor, waves of intense pain assaulting her senses. Walter tugged at her hair once more, forcing her to lift her head.

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    With a sense of reluctance, Quinn pressed her hands against the cold, unforgiving ground, her eyes reluctantly meeting the man''s.


    The wound on her wrist throbbed mercilessly, fresh blood seeping through the hastily applied bandage. The pain was so intense that it caused her hands to tremble uncontrobly.


    "Do you remember now?" The man squatted down in front of her, a chilling smile ying on his lips. Quinn''s breath hitched, her gaze flickering uncertainly, a mixture of pain and fear clouding her eyes.


    Tears welled up, threatening to spill over. For a few agonizing seconds, she held his gaze, her strength waning.


    Unable to support herself any longer, her body went limp. But before she could copse, he roughly grabbed her hair, hoisting her back up.


    The sensation was akin to her scalp being torn off. A pained and helpless expression etched itself onto her face as she stared nkly at the man.


    Walter met her gaze, an eyebrow raised in amusement. He then loosened his grip on her hair, letting her fall to the ground. Instinctively, she tried to brace her fall with her hand, but the moment her palm hit the floor, a searing pain shot through her limbs, her vision momentarily going ck.


    She clutched her injured wrist, curling up on the ground in agony. Walter sighed, his gaze lingering on the frail figure curled up on the ground.


    Quinny there, her back to him, her shoulders trembling with fear and pain. Ignoring her obvious difort, he reached out and ced his fingers on her shoulder. She stiffened at his touch, her trembling intensifying.


    Unfazed by her reaction, Walter hoisted her up by her shoulders, carrying her to the couch. The moment she felt the couch beneath her, Quinn instinctively curled up again. Walter, seemingly indifferent to her distress, turned and disappeared into the house.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


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    He returned shortly, a first aid kit in hand. He squatted down in front of her, extending his hand towards her. "Give me your hand," hemanded.


    Quinn stared at him, her gaze flickering with fear. She tried to curl up tighter, as if trying to make herself smaller would somehow make her safer. Her face was a mask of helplessness. "Do you want to get hit again?" Walter threatened. At his words, Quinn trembled, biting her lip in fear. Finally, she gave in, slowly extending her injured hand towards him.


    The gauze that Soren had previously applied was now stained a dark red, the strong scent of medicine mingling with the coppery smell of blood.


    Walter discarded the blood-soaked gauze, cleaning the wound with a cotton swab before applying medicine and wrapping it with a fresh bandage.


    His movements were gentle, almost tender, a stark contrast to his earlier brutality. Throughout the process, Quinn remained tense, her gaze fixed on the man in front of her. He was impably groomed, his demeanor non-threatening, almost gentle.


    Yet, despite his outward appearance, Quinn was terrified of him. It wasn''t just because he had hit her, but also because of the fear that had been instilled in her the moment he walked in. It was a fear that seemed to be etched into her very bones, branded deep into her soul.


    After he finished bandaging her, Walter held her hand, studying it intently. It was unclear whether he was admiring her hand or the wound he had just dressed.


    He looked up at Quinn, a light smile on his face. "Now that you''ve caught this illness, do you need someone to take care of you?" A sense of foreboding washed over Quinn at his words. He continued, "How about Ie and visit you every day? I will make sure you remember me." Quinn couldn''t shake the feeling that his promise to "visit" was a thinly veiled threat to bring her misery every day.

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    With a smile, Walter rose from the ground, his hand reaching out towards Quinn''s head.


    Instinctively, she recoiled, her neck retracting like a turtle into its shell. His hand hesitated mid-air, but eventually found its way to her head. "I''m leaving now; try not to miss me too much," he said, his voiceced withughter. Turning on his heel, he began to walk away, his stride slightly uneven due to a lingering injury in his leg. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but there nheless.


    It was only when the door had fully closed behind him that Quinn rushed over to secure the lock. Leaning against the now locked door, she released a long sigh of relief.


    Her gaze fell to the bandage encircling her wrist, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Outside, the rain was relentless, transforming the road into a shallow river that threatened to submerge the parked cars lining the street. Not far from Quinn''s residence, a car sat in silence, its windshield wipers tirelessly working to clear the cascading raindrops. Seated in the driver''s seat was Kyle, a shiver of cold and nerves running down his spine.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    He watched as Walter, umbre in hand, disappeared into the deluge. His eyes then flicked to the rearview mirror, where the reflection of hispanion, Alexander, stared back at him. "Alexander, should we go inside?" he asked tentatively. Alexander''s gaze was fixed on the front gate of the small building. He studied it for a moment before responding coldly, "What''s the point of going in?"


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    Kyle was at a loss for words. If they weren''t nning on entering, why were they there in the first ce? He had a myriad ofints, but he swallowed them down, choosing instead to voice his concern. "I see Waltering out. He wouldn''t do anything to Mrs. Kennedy, would he?""Mrs. Kennedy?" Kyle''s eyelids twitched at his mistake. "Miss Quinn," he quickly corrected. Alexander sneered, "It would be abnormal if he didn''t do anything.""Why do you think he stayed in Amber Bay?"


    Kyle''s mind went nk for a moment before he ventured a guess, "For Freya?" He immediately regretted his words. If Walter was here for Freya, he wouldn''t have sold her in the first ce. But if it was for Quinn, that didn''t make sense either. Did Walter harbor feelings for Quinn? Kyle couldn''t fathom that Quinn held such allure, enough to make Walter disregard everything else. "Well, him..." Before he could finish his sentence, Alexander interrupted him, "Drive." Startled, Kyle swallowed his words and obediently started the car. They drove off, disappearing into the rain as if they had never been there.


    Kyle stole another nce at Alexander through the rearview mirror, puzzled. Alexander knew Walter''s intentions and that he had gone to see Quinn, yet he remained indifferent. Was it because he didn''t care about what Walter would do to Quinn, or did he believe that he wouldn''t do anything? But he had just said that it would be abnormal if Walter didn''t do anything.


    Confused, Kyle decided to change the subject. "By the way, Alexander, you and Getty attended a press conference the other day. Your poprity is growing. Although you were already quite well-known, it was mostly limited to Amber Bay. But now, you''re famous among the public, and most of your fans are girls."From the back seat, the sound of a lighter flicking open echoed.


    He nced back to see Alexander lighting a cigarette. Kyle continued, "These days, all the news is talking about you. Although the Kennedy Enterprise''s stocks have started to rise because of this, do you need to do something about it? I''m afraid it might cause you trouble.""Okay," Alexander said. What did he mean by "okay"? Kyle could only guess. As they drove away, lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a deafening p of thunder.


    Back at the house, Quinn was curled up on the sofa, surrounded by unfamiliar surroundings. She covered her ears and tightly closed her eyes, consumed by fear. The house wasn''t soundproof like the vi, making the thunder outside particrly clear. The explosive sound seemed to be right above her, deafeningly loud. Quinn trembled on the sofa, lost in her fear.

 Chapter 374

    With nowhere to turn, she was engulfed by a sense of panic that seemed to amplify her solitude and disorientation.


    Alone in the room, her fear was more palpable than ever before. The Regal Riverside had once offered her a semnce of security, but this unfamiliar room only served to heighten her feelings of unease and terror. Quinn shut her eyes, the room''s dimness intensifying her sense of dislocation in the darkness. She had no choice but to adapt. After all, she would have to confront each new day alone from now on.


    Suddenly, her mind was flooded with fragments of memories, rushing in like a thunderstorm. Another sharp headache seized her.


    Clutching her sleeve, she raised her trembling head just as a sh of lightning illuminated the room, casting an eerie glow on her pallid face."Juliet," she whispered, her lips trembling.


    With a sudden burst of energy, Quinn sprang to her feet and bolted from the room into the pouring rain.


    She ran blindly through the unfamiliar neighborhood, the rain soaking her to the bone as she desperately sought an exit. Dazed, Quinn stood in the middle of the neighborhood, the rain streaming down her face and stinging her eyes. Shaking, she managed to retrieve her phone and call a taxi.When the driver arrived and saw her standing in the rain, d in a white down jacket, the night lights casting an eerie glow on her, he couldn''t help but wonder if she had lost her mind. "Is she crazy?" he muttered under his breath.Recognizing the license te, Quinn hastily climbed into the car. "Don''t wet my car, alright?" the driver warned.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, managing to stammer an apology.


    The driver sighed, gripping the steering wheel as he drove off. "Hospital?" he asked. "Yes," Quinn confirmed.


    The driver fell silent, focusing on the road as he drove her to the hospital. The journey was long, made longer by the relentless rain.


    Upon reaching the hospital, Quinn dashed out of the car and into the rain, making a beeline for Juliet''s hospital room.


    She was drenched, leaving a trail of puddles in her wake. Her appearance was so disheveled that the people around her couldn''t help but step back, regarding her as if she were a madwoman. Unfazed by their stares, Quinn reached Juliet''s


    room.


    She pushed open the door, only to find it as empty as thest time. She thought Juliet might be in the bathroom, so she rushed there next, but still found no sign of her.The text message reyed in her mind, causing her eyes to sting and tears to fall. Just then, a nurse entered the room.


    "Hello, ma''am, who are you looking for?" she asked. Quinn gestured wildly, but the nurse simply furrowed her brows. "Sorry, I can''t understand," she said.


    Frustrated, Quinn took out her phone and typed out her question. The nurse nced at the screen and replied, "The patient in this room? She was discharged several days ago. Can''t you contact her?"N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Quinn shook her head and typed another question: [Do you know where she went?]The nurseughed, "How would I know? If you, as her friend or rtive, can''t find her, how would we know?" Quinn''s eyes darkened.


    The nurse, clearly put off by the mud and water on Quinn''s clothes, asked her to leave. "Please leave. The ward was just cleaned this afternoon," she exined.Quinn apologized and bowed to the nurse before exiting the ward. Once the nurse had left, she picked up her phone and searched for the text message, but it was nowhere to be found.


    It was as if it had vanished into thin air, leaving Quinn to wonder if she had imagined it all. With a heavy heart, Quinn thought of Alexander. She pulled up his Facebook profile and began to type out a message.

 Chapter 375

    The missive had been dispatched sessfully, only to be met with rejection. Quinn couldn''t suppress a bitter smile.


    She had yet to be added back into the recipient''s life.Once the text message had been sent into the void, Quinn found herself grappling with uncertainty. Had she truly experienced a hallucination, or was it merely the remnants of a dream? Juliet had been released from the hospital, a consequence of her divorce from Alexander.


    Without his financial support, no one was willing to shoulder the exorbitant medical expenses. In a bid to validate her suspicions, Quinn hailed a taxi and sought out Ariel.


    However, she was met with a firmly shut door, her persistent knocking met with silence. Just as she was on the brink of surrender, a woman from across the street emerged, her words halting Quinn''s futile attempts. "Stop knocking. They moved out a couple of days ago."Confusion clouded Quinn''s features as she regarded the woman. Her instinct was tomunicate via signnguage, but she quickly dismissed the idea, doubting the woman''s ability toprehend."The whole family moved out, seemingly in a rush.


    The house is likely already listed for sale online," the woman informed her, delivering the news in a single breath. Quinn swiftly typed a question on her phone: [Did an elderly woman also move out?] The woman nced at the screen, her brows furrowing in confusion. "I''m not sure about that. When I saw them, they were nearly done moving. If you want to know, you can give them a call."


    Expressing her gratitude, Quinn nodded at the woman, who merely requested that she cease her knocking, as her child was slumbering within.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Once the woman had retreated and the door was shut, Quinn leaned against the wall, a chilling sensation creeping through her body.The hallway lights flickered off, plunging her into darkness. Dragging her leaden feet, Quinn made her way to the stairwell. She sank down onto the steps, her gaze fixed on the exmation mark ring from her phone''s screen.


    Ariel''s family''s hasty departure seemed suspicious to her. She couldn''t shake the feeling that it was somehow connected to Alexander.


    What secrets were Ariel''s family attempting to conceal? Leaning against the wall, Quinn closed her eyes, a wave of drowsiness washing over her.


    The wind whistled through the hallway, its icy touch prating her soaked clothes. She hugged herself tightly, her body convulsing with shivers on the cold steps.


    She found herself slipping into a dream-like state, memories of her past with Alexander surfacing - the streets they had strolled down together, his tender gaze locked onto her.


    Their shared history was a tapestry of beautiful moments and unforgettable pain.Images of him smiling at others, his indifference towards her, and his ruthless abandonment, all haunted her dreams.


    Whether these dreams brought her joy or sorrow, they were all tinged with regret.In her dazed state, Quinn could vaguely hear someone speaking near her, but the words were indistinct.


    She was adrift in her dream, the images tugging at her thoughts, the emotions within the dream more potent than those in reality.She strained to open her heavy eyelids, blurry figures swimming before her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t bring them into focus.


    One figure seemed to resemble... Alexander.She reached out, attempting to touch the apparition, but her hand fell back down, limp and powerless. The next moment, her eyes snapped open, the world around her snapping into focus. The pungent smell of medicine hung in the air."Quinn, you''re awake?" Turning her head, Quinn found Soren at her side. He was clutching a bottle of medicine, which he extended towards Quinn. "Drink it. You''ve been feverish for two days, but thankfully it''s subsided."Propping herself up on the bed, Quinn epted the medicine, her eyes reflecting her confusion.


    She couldn''t quite recall the events that had led to this moment.She took the medicine, swallowing it in one gulp, seemingly oblivious to its taste.After downing the medicine, she began to search for her notebook."You should be fine now. Just don''t venture out next time. It''s too dangerous," Soren cautioned.Suddenly, a memory resurfaced she had gone to find Juliet.

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    Retrieving her phone from the bedside table, she swiftly keyed in a message: [How did you find me?]Soren scratched his head, his demeanor slightly off-kilter. "Someone in that building found you unconscious and reached out to me."His exnation was riddled with inconsistencies, yet Quinn chose to trust him.


    She expressed her gratitude to Soren via text."No need for thanks," Soren replied, his gaze averted as he began to pack his belongings.


    "Rest well, I''m leaving."Nodding in acknowledgment, Quinn felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Leaning against the headboard for support, she took a moment to gather herself before lifting the nket and rising from the bed. She hailed a taxi, intent on finding Alexander.


    Her concern for Juliet gnawed at her, making it impossible for her to find peace within the confines of her home until she could confirm Juliet''s safety.


    The day was sunny, yet the temperature remained stubbornly low. The cold was unyielding.As Quinn stood at the entrance of Kennedy Enterprise, a wave of nervousness washed over her.


    She and Alexander were no longer married.She questioned her decision toe here. Under what pretense was she seeking Alexander?


    Quinn stared at the entrance of Kennedy Enterprise, her grip on her employee badge tightening. Her fingers dug into the wound on her wrist, prompting her to take a deep, steadying breath. After a ten-minute standoff with the entrance, she finally mustered the courage to step inside. The top floor was bustling, a stark contrast to its previous state.


    The once-vacant offices were now filled, and Quinn found herself surrounded by unfamiliar faces.


    Upon reaching Alexander''s office, she raised her hand to knock. Receiving no response, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. The office was empty.


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    Quinn''s gaze swept the room, leaving no corner unchecked.


    Once she was certain that Alexander was indeed absent, she turned to leave. As she pivoted, she collided with a figure as unyielding as a wall. Staggering back, Quinn regained her footing and looked up.


    A moment of confusion washed over her as she met the man''s icy gaze. His familiar eyes made her feel as though she hadn''t seen him in ages.


    Since their divorce, they had ceased all contact.In an instant, it felt as though they had been ripped from each other''s lives, reduced to mere strangers.


    He stood before her, d in a suit and leather shoes, a white folder in one hand and the other tucked into his pocket. His gaze bore down on her as if she were insignificant. Quinn bit her lip, unable to meet his gaze.


    She averted her eyes, intending to sidestep him. Before she could take a step, a folder was thrust against the door frame, effectively blocking her path.


    Startled, Quinn looked up in confusion.Alexander''s voice was cold as he demanded, "Who let you in?"A pang of hurt resonated in Quinn''s heart.


    She gestured an apology, her sleeve sliding up to reveal the bandaged wrist.A flicker of something passed through the man''s eyes. He remained silent, his gaze fixed on her, making no move to let her pass.A palpable tension hung in the air between them.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Quinn could sense a distinct shift in their dynamic. Before their divorce, no matter how furious he was, they never experienced this level of estrangement and despair in each other''s presence.But now, the mere thought of the divorce certificate felt like a sharp de, severing all ties that once bound them together.

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    A profound silence filled the room, lingering in the air like an unspoken secret. Finally, Alexander lowered his hand, clearing a path for her to leave.


    His voice, cold as a winter''s night, cut through the silence. "Next time, don''t enter without my permission," hemanded.


    Quinn''s fingers tightened into a fist, her acknowledgment of his words a slight nod. She pivoted on her heel, her departure from the office as swift as her entrance had been.


    As she prepared to exit thepany premises, she unexpectedly ran into Kyle by the door.


    His face lit up at the sight of her."Quinn, you''re here. Hand over your bank card. It''s nearly payday," he announced cheerfully.


    Quinn was taken aback, her eyes wide as she stared at Kyle. It seemed she had forgotten about the prospect of receiving a sry.


    Kyle, reading her expression, chuckled lightly. "You didn''t think you would work for free, did you? The taxws wouldn''t allow such a thing."Understanding dawned on Quinn.


    She reached into her pocket, only to find it empty. She had left her bank card behind. Kyle reassured her, "It''s alright if you don''t have it. Just give me the card number, and I''ll register it for you. You''ll receive your sry tomorrow."He paused, his tone turning serious. "You need money now, don''t you?" His words struck a chord within Quinn.


    She had divorced Alexander and was left with nothing. She needed money. She was living in Soren''s house and couldn''t stay there for free.


    She had to pay. She also needed money once she found Juliet. She couldn''t just work to kill time like before; now, she had to work to survive.


    With this realization, Quinn quickly pulled out her phone and sent him her bank card number."Okay, I''ll make a note of itter," he assured her.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    As Kyle was about to leave, Quinn stopped him again, typing out a message on her phone to show him: [Can I still... continue working?]"Of course you can. Did Alexander say you couldn''te?" Kyle questioned. Quinn shook her head. "Then keep working," Kyle advised seriously, "how else will you earn money?"


    Ever since their divorce, Kyle had been encouraging Quinn to work, knowing the past few days had been difficult for her. Meanwhile, Alexander, the stubborn man, refused to back down and only vented his anger on them.


    Although they couldn''t remarry in the short term, if Quinn worked here and he could see her, perhaps Alexander would be in a slightly better mood, right? Quinn remained silent for a moment before reluctantly nodding.


    There was nothing more important than making money now. "I mean, it''s good to earn money. I''ll go get busy," Kyle said, finishing his sentence before walking past her and leaving. Quinn didn''t mind. She entered her previous office, only to find her old seat upied by a young, pretty girl. The girl looked about seventeen or eighteen, innocent and lovely.


    Quinn remembered what Getty had said before, about Alexander having an affair. She shook her head, trying to push those messy thoughts out of her mind, and walked into the office to find an empty seat.


    In the afternoon, Quinn suddenly remembered why she hade to thepany and hurriedly rose to find Alexander. She had to resolve this matter while she was still clear-headed. Otherwise, when she fell ill again, she might not remember. She arrived at Alexander''s office and was about to knock on the door when it swung open. Quinn looked up at him; the man was already dressed in a ck coat, seemingly ready to leave work. "What do you want now?"


    Alexander asked coldly, a hint of disgust in his eyes. Quinn gestured, indicating that she wanted to ask about Juliet. Alexander''s face hardened, his tone icy. "What does her disappearance have to do with me? Quinn, this is your choice. Why don''t you search for her by yourself if you have integrity?"Quinn stood there, dumbfounded, as Alexander walked mercilessly past her without a backward nce.

 Chapter 378

    Quinn found herself standing alone, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. It wasn''t until the soft hum of the elevator filled the air that she was jolted back to reality.


    Alexander was already halfway into the elevator.Without a moment''s hesitation, she dashed after him, managing to slip into the elevator just as the doors were closing.


    Alexander furrowed his brows at her sudden intrusion, his voice stern as hemanded, "Get out!"Quinn''s breath hitched, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and desperation.


    She gestured towards him, "Ariel has moved away. I can''t find her. You must know something. I beg you to tell me."Alexander''s demeanor shifted abruptly.


    He took a step towards her, an icy chill emanating from him that made the air in the elevator feel heavy.Instinctively, Quinn retreated, her back pressing against the cold metal of the elevator.


    Despite the fear gnawing at her, she held his gaze.He reached out, his fingers cold against her chin, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I know, but must I tell you?"


    Quinn felt as though she had been plunged into ice water.A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, the weight of her helplessness settling heavily on her shoulders. He knew, yet he had no intention of sharing the information with her. Quinn remained silent, her mind racing. After what felt like an eternity, she raised her hand and gestured, "Then how can you tell me?" Alexander released her chin, moving to stand by the elevator entrance. He nced back at her, his voice echoing in the confined space, "Is Juliet really that important to you?"


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    Without a moment''s hesitation, Quinn nodded.Everyone she had ever cared for had left her. Now, she couldn''t even find Juliet. She felt adrift, unsure of her purpose in this world.If she was left alone, trapped in a world of perpetual loneliness and darkness, she knew she wouldn''t survive.As she nodded, any trace of emotion vanished from his eyes, reced by a cold, detached stare.


    The elevator doors slid open, and Alexander stepped out.Quinn followed him.Alexander paused, turning to look at her. "If you want me to tell you, there''s a client tonight. You handle the reception and discuss this project, and then I''ll tell you."Quinn''s heart pounded in her chest as she met his unfamiliar gaze.She gestured, "How should I handle the reception?"


    A mocking smile yed at the corner of his mouth. "That''s your problem. I only care about the result.""Well, Juliet is more important to you than your own life. You will find a way to win the project over."


    Quinn could read between the lines, her heart sinking with the realization. He would only remember her desperate attempts to end her life, her pleas for a divorce.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    He wouldn''t understand why she had resorted to such drastic measures or why she had wanted a divorce. He would only think that it was all her fault.


    He had pushed her into a corner, but in his eyes, it was all her fault. She was the unreasonable one. Quinn managed a bitter smile. Yes, people don''t remember the ones they hurt; they only remember the ones who hurt them.Quinn didn''t bother exining.


    She forced a smile, nodding in agreement. Hisughter echoed around her, his voice filled with contempt and ridicule. He opened the car door, slid into the driver''s seat, and drove away.Quinn watched as his car disappeared into the distance, the dust kicked up by the tires obscuring her vision. It wasn''t until the car was out of sight that she came back to her senses.


    She reached up to touch her cheek, surprised to find it wet with tears. Within five minutes, she received a message from Kyle containing the address and client information.Kyle hesitated before sending the message.Why would Quinn have to negotiate with the other party when Alexander had no intention of cooperating? And Chandler was a notorious pervert.

 Chapter 379

    Guided by the digital map on her phone, Quinn found herself standing on the second floor of the specified hotel.


    She stood before a door that led to a private room, the number of which she double-checked against the one she had been given.


    For a full two minutes, she lingered outside, gathering her courage before finally knocking. From within, a man''s voice beckoned, "Come in."Taking a deep breath, Quinn pushed open the door and stepped into the private room. The man inside, Chandler, was not what she had expected. Instead of the middle-aged figure she had anticipated, he was rather thin.


    He was not particrly handsome, but neither was he unattractive. Adorned with ck-framed sses and a slightly hunched back, Chandler''s only notable feature was his excessive thinness. Otherwise, there was nothing particrly off- putting about him.


    Upon seeing Chandler, Quinn felt a wave of relief wash over her. As long as the negotiation went smoothly, Alexander would reveal Juliet''s location.


    With this thought in mind, she slowly approached Chandler, bending slightly in greeting."Miss, may I ask your name?" Chandler rose to his feet, extending his hand with a friendly smile.Quinn nced at him apologetically, shook his hand, but remained silent.


    Chandler''s brow furrowed in confusion. "How should I address you?"Quinn pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and then pulled out her phone. She showed him the screen where she had typed: [I''m sorry. I can''t speak.]Chandler looked at her in astonishment, scrutinizing her for a moment. "You can''t speak? How can we negotiate then?"


    Quinn lowered her gaze in embarrassment.


    She had no idea how to negotiate, let alone what project they were supposed to discuss. Kyle had only given her an address.Chandler''s gaze roamed over her.


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    She was dressed in a white down jacket, bundled up tightly, with a hat that obscured half of her face. Despite theyers, her thinness was evident.


    She didn''t quite fit Chandler''s aesthetic, but her face was strikingly beautiful. Without any makeup, she radiated a purity that reminded one of clear water.Even though she hadn''t spoken a word, when her clear, prating gaze met his, he felt a pang of guilt, as if he hadmitted some grave sin.


    Chandler found himself staring at her face in a daze.Quinn furrowed her brow, her eyes questioning his intentions.


    Seeing that he remained unresponsive, she waved her hand in front of his face. Chandler suddenly grabbed her wrist, causing her body to stiffen slightly.


    Snapping out of his trance, he guided her to sit on the couch. "I understand what Kennedy Enterprise means. In that case, have a drink with me."Quinn''s gaze fell on the alcohol on the table, leaving her slightly dazed. She didn''t drink and had hardly ever tasted alcohol. In the past, Alexander had strictly forbidden her from consuming alcohol.


    Even at family gatherings, she always had juice before her. Alexander had once told her that women who drank alcohol would grow beards, and he didn''t like women with beards.


    Seeing her nk stare, Chandler''s mood soured. "You don''t talk or drink. What''s your purpose foring then?"Quinn snapped back to reality, meeting Chandler''s irate gaze as she fidgeted with her fingers. "When you came, how did your boss talk to you?"Quinn trembled at his words.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    She recalled Alexander''s instructions, but they were quickly overshadowed by his cold indifference. Slowly, she reached out and picked up the ss on the table.


    After a moment''s silence, she lifted the ss to her lips and downed its contents."Cough "The fiery liquid felt like a knife cutting down her throat, but she endured the burn, gritting her teeth as she swallowed the alcohol. Only then did Chandler''s anger dissolve intoughter. "That''s right. Alcohol is a good thing. When you go out for business, how can you not drink?"

 Chapter 380

    A grimace of displeasure marred Quinn''s features. The alcohol was a bitter pill to swallow, leaving an unpleasant taste in her mouth.


    She had just finished her drink when Chandler, with a smirk, picked up the bottle and refilled her ss. "Is this your first time drinking?" he asked, his toneced with amusement.


    "It''s okay. Have a few more and you''ll soon fall in love with it."With a deep breath, Quinn braced herself and downed the second ss of alcohol. In a corner, hidden from her sight, a red light flickered ominously. Unbeknownst to her, a miniature camera was capturing her every move, broadcasting it live on a streaming tform.


    Meanwhile, in a bustling bar, a young teenager named Foster was engrossed in his phone, his drink forgotten. "What are you looking at if you''re not drinking?"


    Spencer, his friend, pped Foster''s arm, breaking his trance. Foster offered a sheepish smile, handing over his phone to Spencer. "Do you want to see?"Spencer nced at Foster with a hint of disdain but leaned in to look at the screen. His eyes widened in surprise. The video ying was of Quinn, her face flushed from the alcohol. Despite her clear difort, she obediently drank whenever Chandler refilled her ss. Spencer rubbed his eyes, looking again. The woman in the video was unmistakably Quinn.


    Her familiar attire and sincere demeanor were exactly as he remembered. Foster, standing beside him, grumbled, "This anchor really talks too much. Let''s get to the point!""What is this?" Spencer asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Oh, this is a live-streaming app," Foster exined. "Send me the instation package for this app!" Spencer demanded, grabbing Foster''s arm. "I can''t send it. You need to be a member and receive an invitation to install it.


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    Even if you download it, you won''t be able to install it," Foster replied, shaking his head. Spencer''s gaze fell on the viewer count on the video. It had already reached over two thousand, with a flurry ofments below.


    In a sudden fit of panic, he snatched Foster''s phone and bolted out of the bar. "Hey! Why did you take my phone?" Foster shouted after him, but Spencer was already out of earshot. Completely sober now, Spencer drove straight to Kennedy Enterprise.


    He dialed Alexander''s number, "Alexander, something big happened. Quinn is being livestreamed.""He''s taking a shower," came the reply. It was Getty''s voice.


    Spencer mmed on the brakes, parking the car on the side of the road. He double-checked the dialed number. Yes, it was indeed Alexander''s number.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    To his surprise, Alexander was with Getty. "Give the phone to Alexander. I have something important to tell him," Spencer urged, his voice strained. Getty nced in the direction of the bathroom, mentally grumbling.


    If she could go in, she wouldn''t be stuck answering his call. Then, something Spencer said caught her attention. "You said Quinn is being livestreamed. What is it? Is Quinn livestreaming?""Just give the phone to him!"


    Spencer snapped, his patience wearing thin. "I won''t. What can you do to me?" Getty retorted, her tone defiant. Spencer, his anger rising, hung up the phone. He turned his attention back to the livestream. The viewer count had jumped to three thousand-five.


    In the video, Quinn was visibly intoxicated. She was slumped on the sofa, a ss in her hand. But she couldn''t hold it steady. As she lifted her hand, the ss slipped from her grasp, falling onto her and rolling onto the floor. Chandler tapped her face, a smirk ying on his lips. "You can''t even handle a few drinks?"

 Chapter 381

    Quinn''s eyelids fluttered open for a moment before they fell shut once again, her strength ebbing away. The world around her seemed to spin, her body feeling as if it were floating in an endless abyss.


    The only coherent thought that managed to pierce through the haze of her mind was the bitter taste of the drink she had consumed.


    Chandler, observing her condition, confirmed with a sense of satisfaction that she had indeed slipped into aa.


    A chuckle escaped his lips as he rose from his seat, striding towards a secluded corner of the room. From the depths of a potted nt, he retrieved a concealed camera. Returning to Quinn''s side, he nced at the stream ofments that were rapidly appearing beneath the live feed.


    His audience was eagerly urging him on, their anticipation palpable even through the digital medium. "Don''t rush, everyone," Chandler addressed his viewers, a sly grin ying on his lips. "Follow me first."The app that hosted his livestream catered to an exclusive audience,prised of individuals with deep pockets.


    Yet, only a handful of them managed to turn a profit from their wealth. Their participation in this elite circle was driven more by a thirst for fame and poprity than mary gain.


    Ament caught Chandler''s eye: [This woman looks familiar. Have I seen her somewhere?]


    Another viewer, 0694, chimed in: [I also find her familiar.]


    1457 added to the growing confusion: [Howe you all have seen her? Isn''t she an actress?]Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    The purpose of the app was to cater to the unique preferences of its users. Hiring actresses would strip the experience of its authenticity and thrill. Chandler felt a wave of panic wash over him as he read thements.


    He quickly jumped to his defense, "She''s not an actress; I guarantee it with my integrity. If she is, I''ll refund the money immediately!""Why would I hire an actress?" he continued, his voice filled with indignation. "Some people in the live- streaming room should recognize me, and I''m notcking money."His words seemed to pacify the audience, the flurry ofments gradually subsiding.

 Chapter 382

    Quinn, entrapped in the clutches of aa, stirred subtly, her eyshes fluttering like the wings of a trapped butterfly.


    A hand reached out, its intention to undress her, but before it could seed, Quinn turned over abruptly, her body convulsing as she vomited onto the edge of the sofa. Chandler, acting with swift reflexes, jerked the camera away from the unpleasant scene.


    The abrupt action resulted in a sudden drop in the live-streaming room''s viewership, plummeting by five hundred in an instant.


    Once the wave of nausea had passed, Quinn''s consciousness began to seep back in, albeit faintly. She lifted her eyes with great effort, her gazending on the camera pointed at her. She recognized the device, but her foggy mind struggled toprehend its purpose.


    Chandler, still holding the camera, questioned her, "Are you done puking?" His words echoed in the room, and confusion flickered in Quinn''s eyes. Her pitiful state, however, seemed to appeal to the viewers, and the numbers in the live- streaming room began to climb again.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    With the camera now back on the table, Chandler abandoned his attempts at maintaining suspense. He strode forward, his hand closing around Quinn''s, and he pulled her towards the sofa.


    Meanwhile, Spencer had managed to establish contact with Alexander, promptly informing him of the unfolding situation.


    Alexander, unfazed, sauntered over to the sofa, lit a cigarette, and dered with a chilling calm, "Someone will go rescue her."


    Startled by Alexander''s nonchnce, Spencer stammered, "Who?" "You will know soon," came the cryptic reply.


    Alexander then moved to the window, his gaze fixated on the moon outside. The moonlight reflected in his eyes, casting a cold glow.


    Spencer, still bewildered, nced at his phone again, only to be startled by a sudden noise. A figure had appeared in the video. Chandler froze, his mouth opening to reprimand, but a sudden chill on his neck silenced him. He stood still, his mind nk, and by the time he regained his senses, the metallic scent of blood filled his nostrils.


    Reaching up, he touched his neck, his fingersing away wet with blood. His pupils dted in shock as he dropped the camera, staggering a few steps before copsing onto the sofa. His hands pressed against his wound, but the blood continued to gush out, staining everything in its path.


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    His eyes, wide with disbelief, terror, and resentment, locked onto the figure standing before him. The man, holding a dagger, looked back at him with a chilling smile.


    Chandler''s body gave way, and he crumpled onto the ground, his lifeless face angled towards the camera. "Fuck!" Spencer yelped, his fear prompting him to toss his phone away.


    Chandler''s face filled the screen, his eyes vacant and staring, the blood pooling around him. The live-streaming room erupted into chaos, some viewers so terrified they uninstalled the software. The camera, having been focused on Quinn, only revealed the man in the dark red shirt. Swallowing hard, Spencer addressed the phone, "Alexander, was it your guy who did this?" It was then he realized that Alexander had disconnected the call.


    Elsewhere, Walter, having just taken a life, showed no signs of fleeing. Instead, he retrieved his phone and dialed Alexander. The call was answered, but silence reigned on the other end. Breaking the silence, Walter spoke, "Mr. Kennedy, don''t you regret it?"

 Chapter 383

    In truth, he had been present for quite some time, yet he had refrained from making his presence known. He was curious to see if Alexander would send someone to rescue Quinn.


    However, as time passed, no such aid arrived."Regret? Perhaps that''s a question you should pose to yourself first," Alexander retorted with augh.


    "You''ve made your allegiance clear, now it''s time to prove your worth."Walter responded with a chuckle of his own, admitting, "I must concede, I''m no match for you."It was a testament to the power of ruthlessness; a man who was willing to be ruthless could achieve anything.


    "Please, dispatch someone to handle this," Walter requested softly."Here''s to a fruitful coboration," Alexander replied.


    With a finalugh, Walter ended the call. Throughout their coboration, Walter had remained passive, taking no action.


    But his appearance here hadid bare his true intentions to Landon. The days of being a mere observer were over.


    Even if he chose to do nothing, Landon would not forgive his treachery once it was revealed.


    Had Alexander orchestrated this entire scenario just to utter the phrase," Here''s to a fruitful coboration"?A sudden memory stirred within Walter.


    He had once said that Alexander wasn''t all that bad. Now, it seemed he had been mistaken. Poor, unsuspecting Quinn.


    She believed that her presence here would yield information about Juliet.Juliet.A name that belonged to the past, to a woman long since deceased.


    His fingers traced the contours of Quinn''s cheek, catching the wet trail of her tears. Was she in sorrow?Indeed, alcohol had a way of amplifying one''s sadness.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    After a moment of contemtion, Walter assisted Quinn to her feet, stepping over Chandler''s lifeless body and the blood that stained the floor.


    They exited the private room, leaving behind a scene of horror.Once the door closed behind them, it was as if the gruesome events within had never urred.


    Walter brought Quinn back to her residence, gentlyying her on her bed. In the dim light, he tenderly stroked her cheek. His touch was soft and meticulous.


    Not long after Walter''s departure, a fire erupted in the hotel''s private room, prompting an immediate evacuation of the hotel. The ze was relentless, consuming floor after floor in less than twenty minutes.


    Once the fire was extinguished, Chandler''s charred remains were recovered. The following day, a news article was published.


    Mr. Chandler, it reported, had tragically perished in a hotel fire while away on business.In the afternoon, Chandler''s family arrived to im his remains, which had been reduced to ashes.


    A scene ensued at the hotel as Chandler''s family demanded answers. The hotel manager confessed that Chandler''s remains had been cremated due to the severity of the burns.


    Chandler''s widow threatened legal action against the hotel. The hotel manager epted responsibility for the inadequate fire safety measures and pledged to surrender himself to the authorities. However, the story took a dramatic turn that evening when photos of Chandler''s death were leaked online.


    The images sent shockwaves through the media, eclipsing the previous scandal involving Alexander and Getty.


    Spection surrounding the circumstances of Chandler''s death began to circte.Alexander satposed on the couch, watching the news unfold on the television.


    Getty was beside him, holding a te of fruit and grumbling, "What''s so interesting about this news?"As she spoke, she adjusted the cor of her pajamas, ensuring that he would have a clear view whenever he nced her way.


    She was content with the recent turn of events; Alexander had been spending time with her, either in the study or watching TV. The more time he spent in herpany, the better her chances of winning him over.


    She was confident that he wouldn''t be able to resist her for much longer.Lost in her thoughts, Getty barely noticed when Alexander abruptly switched off the TV, rose from the couch, and reached for his jacket. "I''m going out," he announced, offering no further exnation. Without a backward nce, he disappeared through the door.

 Chapter 384

    Getty''s voice echoed through the hallway as she called out to the receding figure, "Are youing back tonight?"


    The uncertainty of whether her words had reached him hung in the air. The next morning, Quinn stirred from her slumber, a throbbing pain pulsating through her skull.


    She attempted to sit up, her hand instinctively clutching her head, but the room spun wildly around her. With a weak sigh, she surrendered to the vertigo andy back down.


    Just then, Soren emerged from the kitchen, a small bottle of medicine clutched in his hand. His face lit up upon seeing Quinn conscious. "Quinn, you''re awake just in time. Take this medicine!" he eximed.A frown creased Quinn''s forehead as she regarded Soren.


    Her memory was a foggy haze, and she couldn''t ce this man. Hadn''t she been drinking with Chandler?Her gaze drifted to the bedside table where a notey. It read, "You have Alzheimer''s disease. If you can''t remember things, check the notebook in your bag."Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    A second note reminded her, "Don''t forget to take the medicine in the drawer."Leaning against the headboard, Quinn watched Soren bustling around for her, her face etched with difort.


    The pain in her head was relentless.Soren approached her, extending the medicine towards her. "Take this. You drank too much alcohol," he advised.


    Quinn epted the medicine from him and swallowed it, grimacing as a bitter taste flooded her mouth. A wave of nausea swept over her, causing her to lean over the bedside and retch.Soren was quick to react, reaching out to pat her back soothingly.


    Once Quinn''s bout of vomiting subsided, she epted a tissue from Soren, wiping her mouth before bravely swallowing the remainder of the medicine. With an apologetic smile, Soren handed her a candy. "I got it when I went to the supermarket. Take it."


    Quinn epted the candy, popping it into her mouth. This was her first experience with alcohol, and her memory of the previous night was a nk te.


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    She bit into the candy, her fingers flying over her phone as she typed out a message: [How did Ie back?]Soren scratched his head, looking slightly perplexed. "I''m not sure either. When I came back, you were already in bed." A flicker of suspicion crossed Quinn''s eyes. Had someone brought her back? Chandler was an unlikely candidate, as he had no knowledge of her residence.


    Besides Soren, only Walter and Alexander knew where she lived. She quickly dismissed her own spection, chiding herself for her narcissism."I have to go now.


    Remember to take the medicine from the drawer," Soren reminded her before leaving the room.Quinn watched him leave, then took a moment to gather her strength before pushing off the bed. She retrieved the medicine from the drawer, then moved to the window, pulling back the curtain to let in the morning light. The early morning sun was shining, its rays seeping through the window and casting a warm glow on Quinn.


    She sighed, the ground-floor room offering limited sunlight. With a heavy heart, she shuffled to the living room couch, picked up the remote control, and flicked on the TV.


    The news that greeted her was a shock. Chandler was dead? Quinn''s eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly grabbed her phone and began searching, her heart sinking as she found numerous articles about the hotel fire and spections about Chandler''s death.


    The source of the photos remained unconfirmed, leaving Chandler''s death shrouded in mystery. The news only served to exacerbate Quinn''s headache.


    She wanted to ask someone about the events of the previous night, but she didn''t know who to turn to.


    All she could think about was Chandler''s death and the halted project. Alexander wouldn''t tell her where Juliet was.Lost in her thoughts, Quinn was startled by the sound of the door opening. She instinctively straightened her back, her gaze fixated on the door. After a few suspenseful seconds, the door swung open, and a figure stepped in.

 Chapter 385

    Upon spotting him, Quinn instinctively tightened her hold on her phone. Rising from her seat, she was on the verge of making a swift exit. However, Walter, brimming with confidence, approached her.


    Noticing her attempt to flee, he swiftly reached out, grabbing her arm and pulling her back.


    Quinn stumbled,nding on the couch. She watched him, her eyes filled with wariness.


    Walter, however, made no move to harm her. Instead, he simply took a seat beside her, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from her ear. "Am I that terrifying?" he asked, a smile ying on his lips. Quinn''s rigid posture betrayed her fear. Walter''s finger lingered on her head, his gaze fixated on her. After a few seconds of silence, he continued, "It seems you remember now."Suppressing her fear, Quinn raised her hand, gesturing as she asked, "What are you here for?""Me?"


    Walter responded, his smile softening. He began to stroke her head gently, as if she were a beloved pet. "I''m here to clear up your doubts. You must have a lot of questions."


    Quinn pursed her lips, choosing to remain silent. She was indeed filled with doubts, but she had no desire to hear the answers from Walter. He had a habit of deceiving her.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Without further ado, Walter produced a phone and tossed it onto herp. Quinn stared at the phone screen, her gaze flickering. A paused video was disyed on the screen. Even in its paused state, she could make out her and Chandler''s figures.


    Quinn''s hands moved of their own ord, picking up the phone and pressing y on the video. The video had been edited and was ying at a fast-forward pace. The scene of Chandler pouring her a drink shed by in mere seconds. It wasn''t until Chandler brought out the camera that the video returned to its normal speed. Quinn stared at the phone screen and thements disyed above. There was no denying that this was a recording of a livestream. As she continued to watch, Quinn''s face grew increasingly pale. She abruptly hit the pause button and tossed the phone back to Walter.


    Walter turned his head to look at her. "Now, do you understand what happened?"Quinn pursed her lips, her lower lip trembling slightly.


    She had been watched by thousands of people. The thought of thements on the video filled her with despair, and she closed her eyes. "What? Can''t ept it?" Walter asked. "If I hadn''t shown up, perhaps the video would have been far more... entertaining."Quinn''s eyes snapped open, and she shot him a pleading look, begging him to say no more.


    Walter leaned his elbow on the back of the sofa, leaning in closer to Quinn. "Do you know why I was there?"Before Quinn could respond, he continued, "Because Alexander''s men didn''t show up.""He never intended toe in the first ce.""Or rather, from the very beginning, when he asked you to meet Chandler, it was all part of his n. You must be wondering what his n was."


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    Walter chuckled, "Evidently, his n was to let Landon know that he and I are working together.""So, the question remains. Why did Ie to your rescue?"At his words, Quinn''s face turned ashen, herplexion resembling that of a corpse. She stared at Walter''s smiling face, shaking her head in denial. She didn''t want to believe his words! Not only because he had deceived her, but also because as long as she didn''t believe him, the video could be dismissed as a fake. It was a video that Walter had fabricated to deceive her. Walter reached out, grabbing her chin and halting her movements. "It doesn''t matter if you don''t believe me.


    There wille a day when you will, but for now, you have to believe that Chandler is dead."Quinn''s pupils contracted, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Chandler''s death had been reported in the news. If she connected it with Walter''s words, there would be no inconsistencies. But she didn''t dare to believe him.


    Walter rubbed his chin, peering into her eyes. "Don''t you want to know why I saved you?"Quinn clenched her fingers together, tugged at the corner of her mouth, and fell into silence.

 Chapter 386

    With a silent sigh, Walter released his hold on Quinn''s chin. "Forget it," he murmured, his voice echoing in the quiet room.


    Rising to his feet, he added, "I''ll visit you another day. Chandler''s issue is still unresolved." His words hung in the air, and Quinn felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    As Walter moved towards the door, he paused and turned to look at Quinn. "Shouldn''t you be seeking out Alexander to inquire about Juliet''s whereabouts?" he asked, his tone casual.


    Quinn was momentarily taken aback, her response caught in her throat.A chuckle escaped Walter''s lips as he exited the room, not bothering to look back.


    Left alone, Quinn remained seated in the room, her hand rising to tap her forehead in thought. Her gaze fell on the phone resting on the couch. Walter had left it behind.


    She wondered if it was an oversight or a deliberate act. Her eyes remained fixed on the phone for a long while before she finally reached out to pick it up.


    She dragged the progress bar to the end, revealing Chandler''s erged face. The sight startled her, causing her to drop the phone in shock.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    The realization hit her hard - Walter had indeed killed Chandler.Ignoring the throbbing pain in her head, she snatched up the phone and made her way to Kennedy Enterprise. Upon reaching the office, she knocked lightly on Alexander''s door. "Come in," came the familiar voice from within. At the sound of his voice, Quinn pushed the door open and stepped inside.Alexander was engrossed in some documents, not lifting his gaze as she entered. Quinn quickly moved to his side, her eyes fixed on him.


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    She clutched her phone, unsure of what to ask.


    Should she question him if he had yed a part in Chandler''s death, or why he hadn''te to her rescue?But she had no right to ask.After a moment, Alexander nced at her, his voice calm as he said, "Speak if you have something to say." Quinn looked at his familiar face, a sudden wave of emotion causing her eyes to sting.She held her phone tightly, unable to voice her questions.


    Finally, she lowered her gaze, slipped the phone into her pocket, and gestured, asking about Juliet."How''s the project going?" he asked.


    Quinn bit her lip, she had expected him to deflect.She raised her gaze and gestured, "Why? Juliet was just an innocent old woman. Why did you have to make things difficult for her?"Alexander abruptly stood up, taking a step closer to her."Me, make things difficult for her? Quinn, I''ve told you before, after our divorce, I have no obligation to look after your affairs or the people around you. She''s gone now; do you think I''m the one who made things difficult for her?"


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    His imposing presence overwhelmed Quinn, causing her to involuntarily step back. She lowered her gaze, her eyes fixated on his belt, too afraid to meet his eyes.


    Suddenly, two slender hands lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his cold gaze."Quinn, are you using Juliet''s name as an excuse to get close to me?" Alexander sneered, "Can''t you live anymore?" The words pierced her heart. Despite their divorce, hearing such words from him was unbearable. She hadn''t realized that, in his eyes, she had be such a despicable person. They were divorced, and now she was trying to get close to him because she couldn''t go on living.


    That was what he must be thinking. Whether it was shame or anger, she pushed Alexander''s hand away and gestured, "I quit." Before she could finish her gesture, Alexander grabbed her arm and pushed her onto a chair. Her phone slipped from her pocket, the screen lighting up to reveal the video. Quinn was exposed in front of Alexander.


    She hurriedly grabbed her phone and put it back in her pocket. Alexander leaned in close, his familiar scent filling the air. "So dedicated?" Quinn looked up into his eyes, anger welling up inside her. She gestured, "You told me to go." "You can''t listen to anything else I say except when I ask you to apany a man." He pinched her chin with his fingers, his voice light and airy. "Why are you so despicable?"

 Chapter 387

    Upon hearing Alexander''s words, a surge of indignation swelled within Quinn''s heart. It felt as though she was drowning, gasping for breath in a sea of usations.


    Alexander was a formidable adversary, always quick to cast me her way, and she was perpetually defenseless against his onught.


    Quinn averted her gaze, her words failing her. What was the point of engaging in a futile argument? Alexander''s stare was relentless, his inscrutable eyes seemingly intent on consuming her whole.


    The atmosphere in the room grew progressively colder, a chill of dread settling in Quinn''s bones. She attempted to rise, to escape the icy tension, but Alexander was quick to thwart her efforts. He seized her wrists, pressing them back and inadvertently squeezing an injured area.


    A grimace of pain shed across Quinn''s face. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating his face. The halo of light outlined his features, lending them a three-dimensional depth. His eyes, however, remained a pitch ck, untouched by the light. Quinn struggled against his grip but to no avail.


    Her plight was interrupted by a knock at the door. Her eyes widened in desperation, silently pleading for him to release her.


    Alexander, ever the picture of calm, leaned down and bit her lip. He bit down hard, sending a wave of pain through Quinn''s mouth and eliciting a small whimper. "Wait for me after work," hemanded, finally releasing her.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    He then turned towards the door, inviting the visitor in. Quinn remained sprawled on the chair, unable to rise in time.


    As the office door swung open, she slid off the chair in her panic, taking refuge under the desk. His words echoed in her mind, a cruel reminder of their dissolved marriage.


    Kyle and Ruby entered the room, immediately noticing the crimson stain on Alexander''s lips. "Alexander, what''s wrong with your mouth?" Kyle inquired. Alexander nonchntly wiped his mouth with his thumb, dismissing the concern with a simple, "It''s nothing." He then reclined in his chair, his gaze shifting to his two visitors. "What''s going on?" Kyle exchanged a nce with Ruby, realizing that their reasons for visiting were not the same.


    He gestured for Ruby to speak first. Ruby presented Alexander with a stack of documents. "These are the procedural documents for the merger with Kennedy Enterprise''s internationalpany. They need your signature," she exined. Alexander flipped through the documents, instructing her to return for them the following day. Ruby hesitated before responding, "He said he needs them today.


    The process has already reached this point, and he wants toplete it as soon as possible in the next two days." Alexander''s gaze shifted from the documents to Ruby''s face. "Ruby, how''s working under Landon? Is everything going smoothly?" he asked, catching her off guard.


    She offered a smile, replying, "It''s the same regardless of who I work under. I just work within my duty." Alexander''s lips curled into a cryptic smile.


    He quickly perused the documents before signing them. "Ruby, work well," he advised, handing the documents back to her. Ruby epted the documents, nodding in agreement despite her confusion. "I will," she assured him. Meanwhile, Quinn remained hidden under the desk, her view limited to Alexander''s long legs and waist belt. She shifted ufortably, her legs numb from squatting. She adjusted her position, sitting on the floor and leaning against the desk while massaging her tired ankles. Once Ruby had left, Kyle finally spoke up. "Alexander, Chandler''s situation is circting widely online. Shouldn''t we do something about it?" Alexander slid his chair back, creating a gap between him and the desk. He cast his gaze downward, locking eyes with the hidden Quinn.


    She met his gaze briefly before burying her head back into her knees, avoiding his inscrutable stare. Kyle, puzzled by the exchange, ventured a guess. "Is it because the floor wasn''t cleaned properly?" Alexander withdrew his gaze, casually lighting a cigarette. "It''s nothing, just a rat," he dismissed nonchntly.

 Chapter 388

    A wave of shock washed over Kyle. "I''ll have someone clean it up right away!" he eximed."There''s no need. Now, what were you saying earlier?"


    Alexander inquired, his tone nonchnt."I was referring to Chandler," Kyle rified, repeating his previous statement.


    Alexander, his fingers cradling a lit cigarette, fell into a thoughtful silence. After a moment, he rose from his seat and paced a few steps.


    He held the cigarette over the ashtray, flicking the ash into the receptacle."As for this situation, if he wants the world to know the circumstances of Chandler''s death, then let''s assist him," Alexander dered.Kyle was puzzled. "Assist him? Wouldn''t that onlyplicate things further?"


    Alexander shot him a nce. "Kyle, what would you do if you found a fly in your meal?""I''din to the restaurant owner, but what does that have to do with Chandler''s predicament?""Would you patronize that restaurant again?""No, I wouldn''t.""And what if it were a rat instead of a fly?"


    Kyle furrowed his brow, a chill creeping down his spine. "Rats? That''s impossible... no restaurant wouldmit such a blunder!" As the words left his mouth, realization dawned on him. "Very well, you may leave now."Kyle nodded briskly. "I''ll get right on it."Once something became absurd, its credibility diminished significantly, blurring the line between truth and fiction.


    As time passed, the truth became irrelevant, and the issue naturally faded into oblivion. Concealing the truth only sparked curiosity, prompting those in the shadows to dig deeper.


    The office fell silent once more after Kyle''s departure. Quinn had intended to crawl out from under the desk, but Alexander slid his chair over, obstructing her exit.


    She bit her lip, eyeing the narrow gaps on either side of the chair. It would be a tight squeeze, and somewhat embarrassing. Just as Quinn was about to make her move, she locked eyes with Alexander. The awkwardness of their situation suddenly hit her.


    Caught in her predicament, Alexander extended his hand, gently lifting her chin. Quinn froze, but before she could react, Alexander''s cool fingers traced along her jawline and moved to her cor. He hooked his fingers into her cor, pulling her towards him.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Quinn was light, effortlessly lifted. In her panic, she clung to the man''s legs. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear. His gaze darkened, as if something was about to explode.


    Quinn recognized this look. She bit her lip and gestured with her hand, reminding him, "We''re divorced."Alexander''s lips curled into a smirk, void of any warmth, only cold disdain. "So this is how you seduce men?"


    Quinn was taken aback."Who taught you this?" he asked.A spark ignited in Quinn''s eyes, a wave of emotion swelling in her chest, spreading through her veins and painting her cheeks a faint shade of red. She couldn''t decipher whether she was angry or embarrassed.Alexander''s gaze fell on her blushing earlobe. "Since our partnership with Chandler is over, are you nning topensate for thepany''s losses in this manner?"

 Chapter 389

    The implication of his words dawned on Quinn with swift rity. He was insinuating that she was shameless, flirting with men with just a fleeting nce.


    A wave of frustration washed over her. She had no desire to be embroiled in his twisted perceptions any longer. As she attempted to rise, he seized her cor, forcing her back to her knees. "I allow it," he dered, his voice echoing in the room. Quinn pursed her lips, turning her head away in a futile attempt to distance herself from this unreasonable man.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    They were no longer bound by marriage, yet he still held an unnerving control over her. Just as she was processing his words, the office door swung open abruptly.


    The sudden intrusion startled Quinn, sending her scurrying back under the desk. Getty strutted in, her high heels clicking against the floor, a handbag swinging from her arm.


    "Alexander," she cooed, her voice dripping with sweetness as she made a beeline for him. Her perfume, strong and intoxicating, filled the room before she even reached his side.


    Quinn, huddled under the desk, pressed herself into a corner, desperate to remain unseen by Getty. Memories of past humiliations at the hands of Alexander in front of Getty flooded her mind. Now that they were divorced, she feared what new embarrassments awaited her.


    She was determined not to subject herself to further difort. As Getty neared Alexander, she draped her arms around his neck and perched herself sideways on hisp.


    He didn''t resist her advances, his eyebrows arching slightly as he deftly held her by the waist. "Why are you here?" he asked, his voice betraying no surprise. "I came to wait for you to finish work. Will youe to my ce tonight?" Getty giggled, her words hanging in the air. "Yes," he replied, his tone nonchnt. "I''ll wait for you after work; we can go watch a movie. I''ve already bought the tickets." She produced two tickets from her bag and handed them to him. He nced at them, a faint smile ying on his lips. "Alright, you wait over there; I''ll finish my work first."Quinn''s heart pounded in her chest as she listened to their exchange from her hiding ce. Was he doing this deliberately? Keeping Getty close, ensuring Quinn remained trapped under the desk for the entire afternoon? "Okay," Getty agreed, hugging him briefly before retreating to a nearby sofa.


    Under the desk, Quinn hugged her knees to her chest, her body curled up in the confined space. Alexander continued to work, seemingly oblivious to her presence. She found herself staring at his legs, her body growing ufortably warm in the stuffy corner.


    The office was air-conditioned, but her thick clothing and the confined space made her feel feverish. Sweat trickled down her forehead, soaking her clothes.


    Her breathing grewbored as the heat became unbearable. Unable to endure any longer, she reached out to tug at his pant leg. He ignored her.


    Quinn bit her lip, gathering the courage to emerge from her hiding ce. She looked up at him, pleading with her eyes for him to let her leave. Alexander nced down at her, his hand reaching out to caress her cheek, as one might pet a dog. He tilted his head, indicating with a look that she was free to leave whenever she wished. Quinn bit her lip, her mind racing. How would Getty react to seeing her crawl out from under the desk? Would Alexander be angry or annoyed to discover she had been hiding there all this time? She was alone in this predicament; no one woulde to her aid.


    Alexander tugged at her cor, guiding her forward, offering her another choice. Quinn despised herself for understanding every malicious look he gave her. But she could also feign ignorance, pretend not toprehend his intentions. And so, she crawled back under the table.

 Chapter 390

    In the midst of the silence, Alexander''s voice pierced the air, calling out to Getty. Startled, she paused in the middle of touching up her makeup, her eyes flicking up to meet his. "What''s wrong?" she queried, her toneced with concern. "There''s something..." Alexander hesitated, his sentence trailing off into the ether as Quinntched onto his leg, her grip firm.


    Rising from her seat, Getty''s gaze flitted around, her brows furrowing.


    "What''s there?" she asked, her voice echoing in the room.


    With a calmness that belied the situation, Alexander responded, "Nothing. Just a mouse ran by."


    Getty''s eyes widened in surprise. "A mouse? Here?" she eximed, her disbelief palpable.


    Alexander''s voice was soothing as he reassured her, "It''s gone now. Don''t worry."


    With a nod, Getty returned to her seat, resuming her makeup application. Quinn, on the other hand, closed her eyes, a pang of regret washing over her. She couldn''t help but feel that seeking him out had been a mistake.


    Once her makeup wasplete, Getty''s impatience bubbled to the surface. "Are you not done yet?" she asked, her tone sharp.


    Alexander''s response was nonchnt as he picked up a folder, flipping through it casually. "It''s still early," he replied, his gaze never leaving the pages.


    Getty''s lips pursed in annoyance as she rose from her seat. "I''ll wait for you downstairs at the caf¨¦. Call me when you''re finished," she instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument. Alexander merely nced at her, offering a slight nod in acknowledgment.


    After a few steps, Getty paused, turning back to nce at his desk. "Was there really a mouse?" she asked, her toneced with skepticism.


    "There isn''t one anymore," Alexander responded, his voice steady.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Getty moved towards the office door, her heels clicking against the floor. The moment the door closed behind her, the tension in the room dissipated, and Quinn felt her nerves rx.


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    However, before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, Alexander''s slender fingers gripped her cor, pulling her up from her hiding spot. She turned to look at him, her eyes wide with fear. Despite her struggle, she managed to choke out, "We, divorced."


    "Shut up," Alexandermanded, his hand covering her mouth from behind.


    Quinn was helpless against his grip, her eyes closing in resignation. She didn''t know how long it took for him to finally release her.


    Once freed, Quinn slid to the floor, leaning against the office desk. She nced up, only to find Alexander straightening his clothes, his demeanor as if nothing had transpired.


    Without sparing her a second nce, Alexander tidied his clothes and walked out, leaving behind a curt instruction, "Clean up the desk," before he left.


    The sound of the door closing signaled her release. Quinn rxed her tense body, cradling her slightly aching lower abdomen as she shakily rose to her feet.


    Surveying the room, she noted the disarray of the desk, documents strewn haphazardly across the floor. She propped her hands on the edge of the table, revealing a bandaged wrist, the fabric stained red with seeping blood.


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    Taking a moment to gather herself, Quinn began the task of organizing the documents and tidying the floor. She moved to the window, throwing it open to let in some fresh air.


    Once the office was restored to its original state, she dragged her weakened body out of the room. Her head throbbed, a painful reminder of Alexander''s torment, and her lower abdomen ached anew.


    Her steps were unsteady as she left the office, leaning against the wall for support. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths as the room spun around her.


    A colleague passing by noticed her difort, raising a hand to pat her shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked, her toneced with concern.


    Quinn lifted her head slightly, recognizing the girl who had taken over her position. She forced a faint smile, shaking her head in response.


    The girl''s voice was gentle as she suggested, "You don''t look well. Why don''t you go to the hospital after work?"


    Quinn nodded, her gratitude evident in her eyes.


    The girl returned her smile, introducing herself, "I''m Hollis Sutton, the new intern."

 Chapter 391

    The revtion that Alexander had employed an intern on their floor took Quinn by surprise. Besides Getty and herself, Hollis was the only other person present. Could Hollis be the woman Getty had hinted at? Quinn had always assumed that woman was Ruby.


    Hollis, with her ever-changing eyes, watched Quinn, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What''s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked. There was an unmistakable innocence in Hollis''s gaze, a clear sign of her recent graduation from college. The transparency of her naivety was striking.


    Shaking her head, Quinn let out a sigh. She rose from her seat and made her way towards the elevator. Hollis watched her retreating figure, a sense of unease settling in. She hadn''t said a word. Could it be that Quinn didn''t like her? Quinn, however, was oblivious to Hollis''s thoughts. All she yearned for was a ce to rest, to sleep. She managed to reach the ground floor of the building and hailed a taxi to take her home.


    Once inside the vehicle, she found it impossible to keep her eyes open. As the scenery outside the window blurred, her eyelids grew heavy and eventually closed. Exhaustion and sleep imed her.


    In the moments before sleep took over, she contemted the idea that forgetting some things might not be entirely negative. Perhaps it was this thought that led to her disorientation when she was roused by the taxi driver''s voice. Her surroundings seemed unfamiliar, causing a wave of anxiety to wash over her.


    "You''ve arrived. Why aren''t you getting off?" the driver asked.


    Blinking at the driver, Quinn quickly paid the fare and exited the taxi. As she processed the payment, a notification caught her eye - her sry of $9,600.


    A severe headache began to throb at her temples. She sank down onto the roadside, scrolling aimlessly through her phone. She couldn''t remember why she had been in a taxi, or why she hade to this location. Her memory seemed to have evaporated.


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    Despite her confusion, she was aware that something was amiss. She attempted to find some clues on her phone, her first instinct to contact Alexander. However, when she opened their conversation, she was met with a "rejected" message. Alexander had blocked her, and he had no memory of the messages she had sent.


    After staring at her phone for a long while, Quinn gave up. She nced down at her bag and felt the familiar texture of her notebook. She pulled it out and flipped it open, scanning the entries. It was then that she realized she was ill. Turning to thest page of the notebook, she found her home address and a note about her divorce from Alexander. Slowly, she rose to her feet and followed the address to her building.


    Just as she was about to open the door, her phone rang. It was Orion. Recognizing the number and recalling the contents of her notebook, she answered the call.


    "Where are you, Quinn? Do you have time tonight?" Orion asked, then pped his forehead in realization. "Oh, I almost forgot, you can''t speak. Let''s chat on Facebook." Orion promptly ended the call and sent Quinn a photo of two movie tickets.


    Orion: [Someone gave them to me. Come with me.]Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn pushed open the door to her apartment, the unfamiliar room engulfed in darkness and emptiness. She hesitated for a moment, then closed the door and responded to Orion. Quinn: [Okay.]

 Chapter 392

    Orion''s heart swelled with tion upon receiving her response. He pulled Sebastian into a tight embrace, his voice trembling with excitement. "She agreed to apany me. Does this mean there''s a chance for me?" Sebastian responded with a vigorous nod, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "Indeed, congrattions are in order. You''re on the precipice of falling in love."


    Orion chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "No, it''s not like that. Quinn just agreed to watch a movie with me."


    Sebastian''s smile broadened, his tone teasing. "This time it''s a movie, next time it''ll be dinner, and then before you know it, you''ll be holding hands." Orion cut him off with a yful smack on the head. "Enough of your nonsense!"


    Sebastian rubbed his forehead, a puzzled expression on his face. "But you''ve only met a few times. What makes her so special?"


    Orion had crossed paths with countless beautiful women, yet it was Quinn who had ensnared his heart. This was a mystery to Sebastian.


    Orion''s hand absentmindedly drifted to his nose, his mind reying the first time heid eyes on Quinn. The memory alone was enough to set his heart aflutter.


    He yearned to see her eyes light up, to witness her genuine smile.


    With a sigh, Orion rose from his seat and grabbed his keys. "You wouldn''t understand," he said, heading for the door.


    Sebastian muttered under his breath, "Well, how am I supposed to understand if you don''t exin?"


    Orion chose to ignore him, climbing into his car and driving off into the distance.


    Quinn had sent him her address, and he drove directly there to pick her up. By the time they arrived, dusk had already fallen.


    Orion stepped out of the car, his eyes scanning the surroundings in confusion. "How did you end up here?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Quinn''s gaze met his, a flicker of confusion in her eyes before she gestured to the dpidated building. "I live here."


    Orion''s surprise was palpable. He took another look at the rundown ce. "How did you end up living here? Weren''t you residing at Regal Riverside?"


    Quinn averted her gaze, unable to exin her current living situation.


    She was equally clueless about why she had divorced Alexander.


    Noticing her despondent demeanor, Orion quickly changed the subject. "Let''s get going. The cinema is quite a distance from here, and we''ll bete if we don''t leave now." Without waiting for a response, Orion gently took Quinn''s hand and led her to the car.


    As Quinn settled into the passenger seat, her mind was a whirlwind of confusion.


    She couldn''t reconcile her nk memories with the entries in her notebook. It was as if the events she had penned down were entirely disconnected from her reality.


    The words felt surreal, and she struggled to immerse herself in them. It was as if they were recounting someone else''s experiences.


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    Orion''s grip on the steering wheel tightened, a wave of nervous excitement washing over him. This was his first time going to the movies with a girl, his first time being alone with a girl. He stole a nce at Quinn, finding her resting her head against the car window, her gaze distant and unfocused.


    She exuded an aura of loneliness, a profound sadness that was difficult to articte.


    Orion often found himself wondering about the source of her sorrow.


    Yet, when she was with him, she hid it well. Her sadness and loneliness only surfaced when she was lost in her thoughts.


    Quinn''s gaze was fixed on the neon lights whizzing by outside the window, her mind lost in a sea of thoughts. Meanwhile, Orion had already parked the car.


    "We''re here," Orion announced, but Quinn didn''t respond.


    He found herck of reaction odd and followed her gaze outside. It didn''t take him long to spot the figures emerging from a car across the street. It was Getty and Alexander!

 Chapter 393

    "That''s your brother, right?" Orion inquired, his gaze following the couple ahead. "Is he here with his girlfriend to watch a movie?"


    The question hung in the air, and Quinn felt a sharp pang in her heart. The word "brother" felt like a knife, slicing through herposure. She was caught off guard, her eyes drawn to the couple ahead. Getty was clinging to Alexander''s arm, and he, in turn, had his arm wrapped affectionately around her waist. They strolled into the mall, theirughter echoing in the air.


    Only when their figures had vanished from sight did Quinn manage to tear her gaze away. A bitter reminder washed over her; they were divorced now. Once, she might have had the right to feel anger or sadness, but now, she didn''t even have the privilege of mourning.


    With a sigh, she opened the car door and stepped out, trailing behind Orion. He reached out to grab her wrist, intending to lead her inside. However, his gripnded on her injured wrist, causing her to gasp in pain and instinctively push him away.


    Orion was taken aback by her reaction. He looked at Quinn, remorse filling his eyes. "I''m sorry," he apologized.


    Quinn grimaced, her brows furrowing in pain. She rolled up her sleeve, revealing the blood-soaked bandage wrapped around her wrist.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Orion''s eyes widened at the sight. "What happened to you?" he asked, concern etching his features.


    Quinn shook her head, her confusion matching his. The feeling of not knowing was somehow more unsettling than seeing Alexander and Getty together. Orion studied her, his gaze prating, as if trying to decipher the secrets hidden behind her bright eyes.


    From the moment he first saw her, he had been captivated by the stories her eyes seemed to hold. They stirred a curiosity within him, a desire to understand her thoughts, her past. Perhaps it was a man''s misfortune to feel suchpassion or curiosity towards a woman. The same could be said for a woman.


    "The movie is about to start. Let''s go inside," he suggested, breaking the silence.


    Quinn nodded, pulling her sleeve back down to cover the wound. She followed Orion into the cinema, cradling the popcorn and c he had bought for her. She took a sip of the cold drink, and almost immediately, a dull ache began to throb in her lower abdomen.


    She set the c down, her hand instinctively moving to rub her stomach. Orion noticed her difort and asked, "Can''t you handle cold drinks? I''m sorry; I''ll buy you another one." Before she could respond, Orion was already on his feet, taking the cold c with him as he left to buy a warm one.


    "Alexander, I also want c," a familiar voice called out from behind.


    Quinn''s heart clenched at the sound. She turned around to see Getty and Alexander approaching. Getty was heavily disguised, her face hidden behind a mask and a hat, but Quinn would recognize her voice anywhere. Alexander was dressed in a ck trench coat, his cold demeanor amplified by his attire. For a moment, Quinn felt a pang of nostalgia for the Alexander of the past, the one who used to wear white shirts.


    As she turned around, Alexander''s gaze met hers, his expression unreadable. Quinn quickly looked away, her heart pounding in her chest. She heard Alexander''s voice, "You stay here. I''ll go buy it."


    "Okay, thank you, sweetheart! I can''t drink cold ones," Getty responded.


    Without a word, Alexander nodded and left to fetch the drink. Getty, meanwhile, sauntered over to Quinn and took a seat next to her. She pushed her sunsses up onto her forehead and smiled at Quinn. "What a coincidence! That''s Orion, right? You''re really something, getting him hooked so quickly," Getty remarked.


    A twinge of jealousyced her words. In the entertainment industry, few people didn''t know of Orion. Countless celebrities vied for his attention, but none had seeded. Until now.

 Chapter 394

    In the past, Getty had made attempts to ingratiate herself with Orion, but her efforts had fallen on deaf ears. Despite being fully aware that she was Alexander''s girlfriend, Orion never spared her a second nce. Orion held a rather unfavorable impression of actresses, and Getty was no exception. She failed to pique his interest, much to her chagrin.


    Meanwhile, Quinn remained silent, her gaze fixed elsewhere as she mechanically popped kernels of popcorn into her mouth.


    Unperturbed by theck of response, Getty continued her monologue. "Are you emting Alexander now? Honestly, I believe you and Orion would make a splendid pair. Why not divorce Alexander? He hardly harbors any affection for you, while Orion seems genuinely fond of you. You two would be better suited for each other."


    As she spoke, her mind wandered back to the time when Alexander had duped her about his financial obligations and had coldly instructed her to cease all contact when she broached the subject of parting ways.


    She couldn''t help but wonder what would happen if Quinn decided to voice her opinions. Would Alexander also depart without a second thought?


    Lost in her musings, Getty was jolted back to reality when Quinn suddenly turned to face her, her eyes brimming with confusion and doubt.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" Getty questioned, furrowing her brow. "Did I say something inappropriate? You''re currently involved with Orion, so what''s the purpose of prolonging this marriage?" Quinn raised her hand and gestured, the movement seemingly conveying, "Weren''t you aware we''ve divorced? He didn''t inform you?"


    Getty''s eyes widened in surprise as she stared at Quinn''s gesturing hand. Despite her frequent ims of notprehending Quinn''s gestures, she was perfectly capable of understanding them; she simply couldn''t be bothered to make the effort.


    However, this time, she grasped the meaning behind Quinn''s gesture with startling rity. She even questioned whether she had misinterpreted the message. "Are you being serious?"


    Suddenly, Getty was ovee with excitement, her grip on Quinn''s hand tightening, inadvertently brushing against Quinn''s wound and causing Quinn to wince in pain. "Did you truly divorce him?" Getty inquired.


    Quinn managed to extricate her hand from Getty''s grasp. As she looked up, she noticed Alexander and Orion standing nearby.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Orion''s eyes were wide with disbelief, while Alexander appeared nonchnt, as if he hadn''t heard a word. He extended his hand, offering his c to Getty. "Quinn, who did you divorce?" Orion stammered.


    Quinn shot a sideways nce at Alexander, her intentions clear. Orion was no fool; Quinn''s expression had already provided him with the answer. She had divorced Alexander. So, she wasn''t Alexander''s sister, but his ex-wife? Why hadn''t he considered that possibility? Despite not being a part of the entertainment industry, Alexander was still affluent. He was no different from his father. Who said only those in the entertainment industry had mistresses?


    Orion''s mind was in turmoil. He seemed toprehend, yet not entirely. He understood a portion of the secrets Quinn had been concealing, but he couldn''t fathom why Alexander had brought Quinn to a party with Getty, only to abandon her in the car.


    Getty had lost interest in her c. She clutched Alexander''s hand, her voice trembling with excitement. "Alexander, is this true? Is what she just said true?"


    Alexander cast a fleeting nce at her, then at Quinn from the corner of his eye. Quinn lowered her head, pretending to be engrossed in her popcorn, unsure of how to react.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

 Chapter 395

    At that moment, the radio broadcast signaled themencement of the film. Alexander turned to Getty, his voice carrying a note of anticipation, "The movie has started. Let''s go."


    Getty, however, found herself unable to concentrate on the cinematic spectacle unfolding before her. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, predominantly revolving around the rumors of Alexander and Quinn''s divorce. She was desperate to confirm if Quinn''s ims held any truth.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Yet, Alexander skillfully evaded her probing questions. With Quinn and Orion joining them to watch the movie, Getty was left to her own devices, her mind ceaselessly sifting through fragments of information, attempting to piece together the puzzle of their alleged divorce.


    The theatre was abuzz with chatter andughter, making it impossible for Getty to continue her line of questioning. She decided to bide her time, promising herself to revisit the topic once they returned home that night.


    Orion, having finally regained hisposure, handed the c to Quinn. "Let''s go in too," he suggested. Quinn epted the drink, her nod barely perceptible, before rising to follow him into the theatre.


    By a stroke of fate, they had purchased tickets for the same showing as Alexander. The movie was premiering that day and had already stirred a considerable amount of excitement even before its release. The demand for the first showing was sky-high.


    Both parties had managed to secure their tickets through unconventional means, so it wasn''t entirely surprising that they had ended up in the same theatre. However, the minds of those present were far from the movie, their thoughts consumed by personal matters.


    Quinn found her seat in the front, and as soon as she settled down, she felt a pair of eyes boring into her from behind. She couldn''t discern whether it was Alexander or Getty who was watching her so intently.


    Orion leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper, "My dad invested in this movie. It''s rumored to be the biggest hit of the year." Quinn nodded, her gaze fixed on the screen. The film was a sci-fi spectacle, attracting a crowd eager to partake in the hype.


    However, Quinn found herself unable to immerse in the film, the persistent gaze from behind making her increasingly ufortable. Orion continued to speak, but his words were lost on her. His mind, too, was elsewhere. He was desperately trying to find an opening to inquire about her rtionship with Alexander, but seeing her distracted demeanor, he decided against it.


    Getty''s gaze was also locked onto Alexander. From her vantage point, she couldn''t determine whether he was engrossed in the movie or the people seated below. Her heart pounded in her chest, a rhythm of unease that refused to subside. If Alexander had indeed divorced, why hadn''t he confided in her? Was their divorce because of her? How could he have ended his marriage when he had always maintained that he would never consider divorce? These questions gued her mind, to the point where she lost track of the movie''s plot.


    It wasn''t until the movie concluded that Quinn rose from her seat, making a swift exit from the screening room to escape the unnerving gaze. Orion followed suit, his breathing in short gasps as he asked, "Why are you running so fast?"


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    Quinn''s breathing was equallybored. As the elevator arrived, she darted inside, blending into the crowd. In the split second before the elevator doors closed, she caught a glimpse of Alexander and Quinn approaching.


    Despite her attempts to blend into the crowd, Alexander''s calm gaze found her, making her feel like a hunted animal. His gaze was so intense, it felt as though he could see right through her, as if he had spotted a fleeing prey. All she could see in his eyes was a predatory intent.


    But before she could dwell on it further, the elevator doors closed. Orion watched her closely, her expressions shifting rapidly. However, he remained silent, constrained by the crowd around them.


    It wasn''t until they had left the cinema that Orion reached for her hand, guiding her towards his car. Quinn nced at him, her lips pursed tightly, her mind still reeling from the events of the evening.

 Chapter 396

    Orion escorted her across the parking lot, his hand gently guiding her into the car.


    He didn''t immediately start the engine, instead, his gaze lingered on the rearview mirror, anticipation etched on his face as he waited for Alexander and the others to emerge. But after a considerable wait, no one appeared. With a hint of regret in his voice, Orion asked, "Alexander isn''t your brother, is he?"


    Quinn acknowledged his question with a nod, her eyes apologetic as she used signnguage to say sorry.


    She had kept their rtionship a secret to respect Alexander''s desire for discretion. Unlike Getty, who unted her rtionship with Alexander for all to see.


    Orion responded, his tone soft, "It''s okay, I don''t me you, I''m just a little surprised."


    Unable to voice her gratitude, Quinn used signnguage to convey her thanks.


    She appeared serious, yet there was no trace of nervousness. Orion was a friend, and she didn''t consider her rtionship with Alexander a ndestine affair that needed to be hidden.


    Only Alexander seemed to harbor such thoughts, viewing their bond as a secret that must remain undiscovered.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Orion studied her intently, his brow furrowing slightly at her rxed demeanor.


    "It''s fine, not a big deal. I have a question for you, do you have a divorce certificate?" His question revealed his true concern.


    Quinn nodded in affirmation, her hands swiftly forming the signs, "Yes, I got divorced. I have a divorce certificate."


    Orion''s face rxed into a smile. "You got divorced because of Getty, right?" He assumed this was the only usible exnation.


    A wave of difort washed over Quinn, causing her to close her eyes.


    She shook her head vehemently. Honestly, the reason for her divorce was still a mystery to her.


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    Perhaps it was because of Getty. Because Alexander''s affection for her was so profound, he had wanted to make her his wife.


    Sensing her reluctance to delve deeper into the topic, Orion whispered, "It''s okay; it doesn''t matter anymore. Where do you want to go now? I can take you there, or do you want to see the puppies?" "I carefully chose a cute puppy as a gift for you. You''ll definitely like it."


    Quinn turned to look at him, his face beaming with joy, a stark contrast to the dark memories she was trying to forget.


    She signed, "I want to see the puppy."


    Orion''s smile widened, he nodded, and said, "Alright, let''s go see the puppy! Off we go!"


    With that, he started the car, smoothly maneuvered it out of the parking lot, and they were on their way.


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    As they drove away, Orion nced in the rearview mirror, catching sight of Alexander and Getty emerging.


    Getty clung to Alexander''s arm, shivering slightly as a cold wind blew. "Strange, did it get colder today? It''s so cold," shemented.


    As Getty finished speaking, she noticed Alexander''s gaze fixated in a certain direction, his expression unreadable.


    Following his gaze, she spotted Orion''s car in the distance.


    She yfully squeezed Alexander''s hand, her voice coy as she asked, "Alexander, are you divorced?"


    Alexander''s response was a cold stare.


    Undeterred, she pressed on, "Are you divorced or not?"


    Getty''s voice was filled with self-assuredness, a hint of satisfaction and excitement creeping into her tone, "Did you divorce to marry me? I knew that you would marry me sooner orter."

 Chapter 397

    "What are you implying?" Alexander''s voice cut through Getty''s rambling like a knife through butter, his tone icy and abrupt.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Getty found herself taken aback, her gaze fixated on the expressionless face of the man before her, her daydreams abruptly shattered."I was suggesting... now that you''re divorced, perhaps you might consider marrying me?" "Who told you about the divorce?"


    Alexander retorted, his question hanging in the air between them.Getty attempted to justify her assumptions. "Quinn said it herself just now. Besides, if you guys weren''t divorced, how could she possibly be out watching a movie with another man?"


    In Getty''s mind, Quinn was not the type to brazenly date another man while still married. Surely, she must have divorced before embarking on such a venture, right?


    However, instead of the confirmation she sought, Getty was met with a deepening scowl on Alexander''s face. Without uttering a word, he turned on his heel and began striding toward the parking lot, leaving a stunned Getty behind. For a moment, Getty remained rooted to the spot, her initial tion swiftly reced by a sinking feeling of dismay. She couldn''t fathom the idea of Quinn lying, and the thought was hard to swallow.


    Determined, Getty hurried after Alexander, catching his hand in hers and looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Alexander, I need to know the truth. Are you really divorced?""I''ve already rified my stance. What more do you want to hear?" Alexander responded, his tone dismissive.Getty''s heart ached. She yearned to hear confirmation of the divorce, and more importantly, she longed to hear Alexander promise to marry her. She had waited for this moment for what felt like an eternity.


    Her youth had been spent pining for this man, yearning for the day he would vow to make her his wife.


    Just as she dared to hope, Alexander''s cold dismissal felt like a bucket of ice water dousing her dreams. She couldn''t bear it.Alexander''s gaze bore into her, heavy and unreadable.


    After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke. "Enough of this. Get in the car."His response was as vague as ever, leaving Getty feeling choked up. She climbed into the car, her heart heavy. As she stared out into the dark night, resentment bubbled within her.


    She was left wondering whether Alexander was truly divorced, or if he had divorced but had no intention of marrying her.


    The mere thought of thetter possibility was suffocating. What had she meant to him all these years? Meanwhile, Orion brought Quinn to the pet base. However, as they approached, Orion sensed something amiss. The gate to the base was ajar, and an eerie silence hung in the air.


    The sweep of the car''s headlights revealed several vehicles parked within thepound.Orion mmed on the brakes, nearly sending a dazed Quinn flying from her seat. The seatbelt dug into her chest, leaving her gasping for breath. Before she could question Orion, he was already out of the car and sprinting towards the base.


    Sensing the urgency, Quinn quickly followed suit.As they entered the dimly lit base, the usual weing chorus of barking dogs was noticeably absent. The silence was deafening.Orion, fearing the worst, made a beeline for the sheds. However, before he could reach them, he noticed several shadowy figures looming near the cages."William, we''ve taken care of everything.""Are they all dead?""Yes, not a single one was left alive!"


    Orion''s legs gave way as he heard the chilling conversation. He copsed onto the cold ground, his voice trembling as he called out, "Dad..."The voices in the shadows fell silent. After a tense minute, several figures emerged from the darkness. Under the dim light, William''s face came into view. He approached Orion, whose face drained of color at the sight of the familiar figure."Is this what you''ve been busy with?" William''s voice was cold, his expression a mask of indifference and ruthlessness.

 Chapter 398

    Quinn moved to stand beside him, her gaze falling upon William. The man before her was a stranger in her eyes. She bent down, offering a hand to help Orion rise from the cold ground. However, Orion rejected her assistance, pushing her hand away as he hoisted himself up.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    His eyes, ame with anger and resentment, bore into William."Did you ughter all the animals I cared for?" he demanded."They were mere animals," William retorted, his tone icy. "Would you sever ties with your own father over a few animals?"


    Orion''s fists clenched, his chest rising and falling with the force of his suppressed rage.Observing his son''s reaction, William sneered, "Look at you. I''ve raised you all these years, and you''ve chosen to squander your time on such an indecent upation, tending to these animals. If word were to get out, it would be a disgrace."


    "Enough!" Orion''s voice rang out, shaking with either fury or sorrow. "What, in your eyes, constitutes a decent job? Is it sleeping around with different women? Is that what you consider decent?"


    The sound of a harsh p echoed through the base, silencing Orion''s words. William, his fury now fully ignited, red at his son, his face a mask of rage. "Where did you pick up such perverse ideas? You dare to raise your voice at your own father over a few animals? You''re a fine son indeed.""Animals?" Orion chuckled bitterly.


    "To you, they may be animals. But to me, they were vibrant, living beings. "You''vemitted countless sins, yet you persist in your wicked ways, taking the lives of so many innocents. Do you have any idea how many lives were here?" Orion''s voice grew increasingly strained as he spoke, his mind filled with images of the lovable creatures that once wagged their tails and frolicked around him. Now, they were nothing more than lifeless bodies. His eyes reddened."Over three hundred lives! You''ve taken over three hundred lives!"


    William''s fury matched Orion''s. "Don''t be ridiculous! What lives are you speaking of? They were nothing more than animals, food for the table. Do you consider yourselfpassionate? If so, why don''t I see any sympathy from you when you eat meat?"Those lives are lives too. Why don''t you save them? If you''re so capable, change the world. Make everyone a vegetarian!"


    William scoffed, "What are you prattling on about life for? You''re not even focused on your work!"Orion fell silent, his father''s words rendering him speechless.


    He could only re at William, resentment seething within him. To some extent, his father was right."What''s wrong? Lost your tongue? Where''s your love? Yourpassion? Go on, kill me. Avenge your precious cats and dogs!" Orion''s chest heaved as he stared at his father, unable to form a single word. The night was filled with the howling of the cold wind, its chilling silence spreading, unbroken.Quinn''s fingers clenched, the oppressive quietness too much to bear. The standoff continued, neither party willing to concede defeat.Orion suddenlyughed. "So, as long as I don''t bend to your will, everything I do is considered idling around?""Exactly! I won''t allow my son to waste his life on these animals!" Orion''s lips twisted into a sneer, but he remained silent.He realized that no matter what he said, it would be in vain. No matter how much he argued, those animals would never return.William, too, seemed to lose interest in the argument, casting a cold nce at Orion before departing with his men.Before he left, he issued a final warning, "Reflect on your actions. I didn''t raise you to waste your time adopting strays. Let me be clear, if I find you raising another animal, I will kill it until you abandon this foolish notion!"


    Orion''s body swayed at his father''s words, his steps faltering.Quinn quickly moved to support him, preventing him from copsing.Orion''s fingers tightened, the knuckles cracking under the strain. He turned his back to William, his voice barely above a whisper, "Being your son is truly a tragedy."His words weren''t loud, but in the oppressive silence, they reached William''s ears.

 Chapter 399

    William came to a halt, turning his gaze back towards Orion.


    After a moment of tense silence, he erupted, "What a shame that in this lifetime, you are destined to be nothing more than my son." His words hung heavy in the air, a bitter deration of disappointment.


    Without another word, he dismissed Orion''s presence, climbing into his car and driving away. Orion remained rooted to the spot, his eyes cast downward, fixated on the ground. He was silent, lost in the echo of his father''s harsh words. Quinn, watching him with a growing concern, reached out to touch his arm. Time seemed to stretch out before Orion finally lifted his gaze to meet hers.


    Under the dim light, his face was a mask of pallor, a stark contrast to his usual vibrant self. In a matter of minutes, he seemed to have aged years.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    His eyes, once bright, now glimmered with a wounded light, a hint of helplessness lurking within their depths. He opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him.Feeling his distress, Quinn tightened her grip on his arm, a silent offer offort.


    Orion closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath before gently extricating himself from Quinn''s grasp. His voice was hoarse as he reassured her, "I''m fine."


    His words were belied by the unshed tears in his voice, lending it a raspy, nasal quality.He made his way towards the cages, but hesitated as he neared them.Quinn, standing beside him, mustered the courage to approach the cages. As she drew closer, the sight that met her eyes was heart-wrenching.


    The dogsy haphazardly in their cages, their bodies still and lifeless. They looked as if they were merely sleeping. Tentatively, Quinn reached out to touch a golden retriever. Its cold, unresponsive body sent a chill down her spine. The sight brought back memories of Ulysses'' death. He had looked just as peaceful, as if he were simply basking in the sun in their yard. The only difference was that this time, his eyes remained closed forever.


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    After Ulysses'' death, Quinn had felt an emptiness whenever she saw familiar ces, things, and the rocking chair he loved.


    The sadness would creep up on her, a painful reminder of the person who should have been there but never showed up.


    It was through this lingering sense of loss that she hade to truly understand the finality of death and the separation it brought. Whether it was a person or an animal, emotional bonds were inevitable over time.


    And for Orion, who had cared for these animals for so long, his emotions ran deep.Gathering his courage, Orion approached the cages. His face was set in grim determination as he reached out to open the cages, flicking on the overhead light. The harsh light revealed the tragic conditions inside.Orion''s hand trembled as he reached out to touch a husky. "29..." he whispered.Quinn looked at him in surprise.


    A tear slipped from Orion''s eye as he choked out, "This was the twenty-ninth animal I''d adopted. I remember boasting that I would fill this facility with them."


    He gave a bitter smile. "From one to one thousand, that would have been something. I remember all their names and all their faces. They must never have imagined they would die because of me. They must have been desperate, waiting for me to save them. Why didn''t I hurry... If I had been faster, they wouldn''t have died."


    As he spoke, Orion''s voice grew more deste. His back bent, and he gripped the iron railing, his knees threatening to buckle under the weight of his grief.Quinn stood silently beside him, her heart heavy with shared sorrow.


    She reached out, gently patting his back in an attempt tofort him, just as Alexander used to do for her. As her fingers brushed against Orion''s back, she could feel the tremors running through his body, the physical manifestation of his hidden pain and helplessness.He must be in so much pain right now."He''s my dad; why is he treating me like this..." Orion''s voice trailed off, a question hanging unanswered in the air.

 Chapter 400

    Quinn couldn''t say anything, so she could only pat his back in an attempt to offer somefort. Overwhelmed, Orion sumbed to his emotions. He leaned into Quinn, his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace. Quinn stiffened at the unexpected contact, her fingers hovering uncertainly in the air, unsure of how to respond. Orion nestled his chin on her shoulder, his fingers clinging to her as if she were his lifeline. He whispered into her ear, "Just a moment."Quinn''s eyes flickered with surprise. She inhaled deeply, the scent of Orion filling her senses. It was a fragrance of sunlight and freshness, the unique aroma of a young man. After a few minutes, Orion released her from his hold. He sighed heavily, his expression reverting to its usual calm demeanor. His gaze drifted back to the lifeless bodies in the cage.


    He turned to Quinn, his voice soft as he asked, "Can you do me a favor?"Understanding his intent, Quinn nodded in agreement. Orion disappeared into the house, emerging shortly after with a shovel in hand. He took a few steps before halting, his mind seemingly lost in thought. His eyes scanned the entire facility. With a sudden burst of energy, he tossed the shovel onto the ground, the harsh sound echoing through the silence.


    He retreated back into the house, reappearing momentster with two buckets of gasoline. Without uttering a word, he began to drag the cages towards the open space in the middle, piling them up one by one. Quinn wanted to help, but the weight of the cages proved too much for her. Despite her best efforts, she could not move them. Her futile attempts only served to exacerbate her injury, a grimace of pain crossing her face. Orion rushed over, swiftly relieving her of the heavy burden. "Don''t move, I''ll do it. You help me pour the gasoline."


    Quinn nodded inpliance and started pouring the gasoline into the cages. Her body was weak, and just one bucket of gasoline left her gasping for breath. She recalled the days when she could carry dozens of pounds of groceries without feeling fatigued. She reasoned it must be due to her skipping dinner that evening.


    She wiped the sweat off her forehead,forting herself with this thought. They worked tirelessly through the night, finally managing to gather the cages and douse them in gasoline.


    The dawn was breaking, the distant clouds tinged with an eerie crimson hue, hinting at the possibility of rain.


    Orion produced a lighter, his gaze fixed on the bodies lying on the ground. He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "Quinn, do you think I''m useless? I can''t even handle such a small matter?" He turned to look at Quinn after speaking.


    Quinn met his gaze, shaking her head and gesturing in reassurance. She conveyed that he had done an exceptional job. If it weren''t for him, they might have starved to death and wouldn''t have made it this far.


    Quinn gestured, "Although they have left now, you gave them a second chance at life. All these days they have lived were because of you."


    As she gestured, Orion seemed to be in a trance, his eyes reflecting an indescribable emotion. The crimson glow from the horizon illuminated their faces, casting a somber yet ethereal light on them.


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    Orion was silent for a moment before he finally spoke, "Will they resent me?"


    He forced a smile, saying, "They definitely will."


    Quinn shook her head. "They won''t resent you."


    "Is that so..." Quinn nodded emphatically.


    "They will only regret not being able to see you onest time."


    Her words triggered a wave of emotion in Orion, tears welling up in his eyes before they began to trickle down his face.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

 Chapter 401

    Swiftly, he swiveled his head, hastily brushing away his tears with his sleeve.


    A sniff echoed in the silence as he attempted to mold his features into a semnce of a smile.


    "I appreciate your kindness," he said, his voice strained with the effort to maintainposure. "However, I can''t deny that I am the root cause of this catastrophe. I refuse to hide behind excuses."He paused, his tone light yetced with a hint of


    sarcasm.


    "My father''s sins are mine to bear as well. After all, he is my father." With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the lighter he held onto the ground.


    Instantly, mes erupted, spreading voraciously in every direction. Within moments, the fire had consumed all the cages, transforming half of the base into a raging inferno.


    The mes cast an eerie glow on their faces, the fiery tendrils leaping from the iron cages, performing a macabre dance in the wind. Thick plumes of smoke spiraled into the sky, seemingly carrying with them the spirits of those unjustly in. The air was heavy with the scent of gasoline and the overpowering aroma of burning flesh. The searing heat emanating from the fire made Quinn feel feverish.


    Orion, noticing her difort, took her hand and guided her into the base. They ascended to the second floor, pausing to look down at the fiery spectacle below.


    Quinn noticed that the sun had risen at some point, its rays harshly illuminating their faces. She tilted her head slightly, realizing that the sun''s light was devoid of warmth, only ringly bright.Below them, the fire raged on, and he watched it with an intense gaze.


    The sunlight fell into his eyes, but it seemed to be rebuffed. His focus remained on the inferno, his expression pensive and silent.


    As Quinn was lost in her thoughts, Orion''s voice broke the silence. "I''ve been raising them for years, and my dad never found out. How did he find out now?"


    Quinn was taken aback. As his words sank in, the image of Alexander shed in her mind, along with the look he had given her at the movie theater. Could he be involved in this?


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    The thought made her heart flutter with anxiety, and she lost the courage to meet Orion''s gaze. If Alexander was the one orchestrating this event, then she was indirectly responsible for harming Orion and these innocent lives. Her fingers nervously fiddled with her sleeve, her gaze fixated on the fire below, as if she could see Alexander''s cold, ruthless face amidst the charred remains.


    Overwhelmed, Quinn lowered her gaze, sumbing to silence. She couldn''t fathom why he refused to let her go, even after their divorce.


    Perhaps she had hurt him unknowingly. But her memory loss prevented her from remembering anything, a fact that filled her with profound sorrow.


    The fire continued to burn for two hours, finally extinguishing as daylight broke and the sun''s rays pierced through the clouds. All that remained of the inferno was a pile of ashes and the charred skeletons of the cages. Orion wordlessly descended the stairs and opened the cages to clear out the remnants.


    Quinn picked up a broom to help him. Neither of them spoke as they quietly swept the scorched earth. The ground was a charred wastnd, and no matter how much they swept, they couldn''t erase the evidence of the fire. These were the remnants of the pets, the only proof of their existence, and they would likely remain for a long time.


    Suddenly, Orion turned to Quinn. "You have work today, don''t you?"


    Quinn hesitated, her lips pursing as she debated whether to admit that she had forgotten where she worked.


    Orion dropped what he was holding, took her hand, and led her toward the parking area. "Don''t worry about cleaning up. I''ll drop you off at work first. I can manage this myself. I had nned to show you the puppiesst night, but I didn''t expect this to happen. I apologize for taking up your time."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn shook her head, assuring him it was okay.Given the circumstances and her deteriorating health, sleep was a luxury she couldn''t afford.

 Chapter 402

    Quinn slid into the passenger seat of the car, and Orion took the wheel, steering them towards her office.


    On the way, they made a pit stop at a breakfast joint where Orion bought breakfast for her.Returning to the vehicle, Orion presented her with the breakfast.


    "You probably didn''t eatst night," he said, "This will have to suffice. We''re nearing your office and time is not on our side."


    Quinn''s gaze fell on the coffee and a handful of bread slices cradled in her hands. She intended to express her gratitude, but Orion had already set the car in motion.


    She let the moment pass, choosing instead to take a bite of the bread.


    As she chewed, her eyes were drawn to Orion. His face was a nk canvas, a stark contrast to the smile that had yed on his lips during their movie outing the previous night. That smile had been absent since dawn.


    Her thoughts strayed to the dogs and Alexander, and the bread in her mouth suddenly lost its vor.


    "We''ve arrived," Orion announced, turning his head towards her. "You head in first. I''ll return and tend to the remaining matters. If you need anything, just drop me a message."


    Quinn studied his earnest face, bit her lip, and nodded in agreement. Clutching the remnants of her breakfast, she pushed open the car door and stepped out.


    Upon entering thepany premises, she surveyed the lobby with a hint of bewilderment. She rummaged through her bag and retrieved her notebook for reference. Fortunately, she had noted down the location of her office. She located her ID card in her bag, used it to gain ess, and rode the elevator straight to the top floor.


    "What''s the matter, senior?" The voice belonged to Hollis Sutton from the day before, but Quinn didn''t recognize her.


    As Quinn was pondering, Hollis pointed to her hair and chin. "You look unkempt. Did you oversleep and forget to freshen up?" Hollis teased.Quinn''s gaze lingered on her face for a moment. She couldn''t recall who this woman was, and her notebook offered no clues. If Hollis knew her but she couldn''t remember, it was likely she had forgotten her.


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    Quinn tugged at the corners of her mouth and gestured, "I forgot."


    Hollis''s eyes widened in shock. "You... can''t speak?" Her surprised exmation echoed through the floor, drawing the attention of the others.


    They turned their heads, their curious and puzzled eyes all focused on Quinn. The wave of attention made Quinn feel as though she was under siege.


    Hollis seemed to grasp the situation and quickly apologized in a hushed tone, "I''m sorry, I was just taken aback. I didn''t mean to."


    Quinn lowered her gaze and refrained from further gestures. She made her way to her office.


    Hollis quickly caught up, her apologies flowing freely. "I''m really sorry. I didn''t mean to upset you. Please forgive me."


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    She nced at Quinn''s name tag and addressed her, "Quinn, we''re colleagues now, but I might not understand signnguage, so please forgive me if I make any errors or misunderstandings." Quinn powered up herputer, barely registering Hollis''s words. Her mind was a whirlwind of chaos.


    She questioned whether she was fit to work here. She contemted resigning to avoid inconveniencing others. She even considered finding a quiet ce to die, to avoid burdening anyone.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Kyle entered the office. Quinn rose from her seat and approached him, indicating she needed to speak with him. Kyle hesitated, nced at the other employees, then nodded and followed Quinn out of the office.


    Quinn presented him with a piece of paper. On it, she had written, "I want to resign."


    Kyle touched his nose, appearing somewhat ufortable. "If you wish to resign, you''ll need to speak with Alexander. Isn''t he here?"Kyle pointed behind her.

 Chapter 403

    Quinn was caught off guard.


    She spun around instinctively, her gazending on Alexander as he approached.


    He was impably dressed in a suit and shoes, a coat draped over his arm, his strides purposeful and determined.


    Kyle, witnessing Alexander''s arrival, felt a wave of relief wash over him. It was as if a beacon of light had pierced through the darkness. He turned to Alexander, "Alexander...Quinn, she wishes to resign."


    Alexander halted mid-step, turning his head to regard Quinn. His eyes held an air of indifference, as if he were merely looking at a stranger.


    Quinn met his gaze, her mind shing back to the dogs and Orion''s words. An inexplicable chill coursed through her veins, her fingers subconsciously curling into tight fists.


    "Where''s the resignation letter?" Alexander''s voice was deep, resonating in the silence.


    "I''ll write it right away," Quinn gestured hastily.Alexander lowered his gaze, scrutinizing her. His eyes took in her disheveled hair and the faint smudges on her cheek, darkening slightly at the sight.


    After a moment, he turned away, striding towards his office without a second nce at Quinn.


    Quinn turned to Kyle and gestured, "Is my resignation sessful?"


    Kyle patiently exined, "Not yet. You have to wait for Alexander to sign it, and then go to the personnel department to process your departure. Only then is it truly sessful."


    Quinn nodded, signaling her understanding. Hesitant, she typed out her next question.


    Quinn: [What if I don''t resign and suddenly stoping to work?]


    She pondered her own situation, the possibility of one day forgetting toe to work, or worse, forgetting herself.


    Kyle was initially inclined to say that she would simply lose her sry. But considering Quinn''s unique position and Alexander''s attitude, he offhandedly replied, "Then you''re in trouble. You have a contract with thepany. If you leave without authorization, you''ll have topensate thepany with a breach of contract fee of $500,000."


    Quinn''s eyes widened in shock. Such a hefty penalty?


    Kyle continued, his tone serious, "Your position is different. You are the chairman''s secretary. A position of great importance. It involvespany secrets and such. If you leave, thepany might suspect you of leaking confidential information and even prosecute you."


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    Kyle knew that Quinn was unlikely to understand, so he was essentially spouting nonsense. But the effect was profound.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Quinn was left staring nkly, fear evident in her eyes."So, if you want to leave your job, it''s best to follow the proper procedure."


    Hearing Kyle''s words, Quinn nodded her head, her face pale. She agreed to resign through the proper channels.


    Kyle sighed in relief.


    Before Quinn''s arrival, Alexander had been notorious for his bad temper, often taking it out on his subordinates. It was only after Quinn started working that he had mellowed slightly. If Quinn were to resign abruptly, Kyle feared he would bear the brunt of Alexander''s wrath again.


    Quinn stood in silence for a moment before nodding and leaving the room. She returned to her office and began searching for a resignation letter temte online.


    Once she had written the letter, she made her way to Alexander''s office.


    She knocked on the door, but there was no response. Quinn knew he was inside; she had seen him enter.


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    Upon entering, she saw Alexander on the phone, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. She hesitated, instinctively wanting to retreat. But Alexander turned around suddenly, catching her eye and gesturing for her to approach before returning to his call..


    "Go ahead."


    Quinn clutched her resignation letter tightly as she approached. Alexander nced at the letter in her hand, extending his slender hand towards her, a silent request for her to hand it over.


    Quinn ced the resignation letter in his palm, her gaze nervously fixed on him.


    Alexander opened the letter with one hand while continuing his phone conversation. He scanned the letter while speaking, multitasking with ease.


    After a moment, he spoke into the phone, "Got it. Continue as nned."


    He ended the call, unfolding the resignation letter once more and studying it carefully.


    He then lifted his gaze, his eyes meeting Quinn''s.

 Chapter 404

    Quinn''s gaze was fixed on him, a stare of anticipation and uncertainty.


    The moment he put pen to paper, she could...


    But before she couldplete her thought, Alexander''s hand shot up abruptly, seizing the resignation letter.


    He tore it in two, crumpled the halves into a ball, and discarded it with a nonchnt toss into the waste bin.


    Quinn could only stare at him, her expression nk with surprise.


    Leaning back in his chair, Alexander''s voice echoed in the room, "Rewrite it."


    A frown creased Quinn''s forehead.


    "Why?" she questioned.


    Alexander sneered, his wordsced with mockery, "It''s a temte copied from the inte. Can''t you write it yourself?"


    Quinn''s lips tightened into a thin line. If she could have written it herself, she wouldn''t have resorted to an online search.


    Alexander, however, didn''t engage further. He picked up a document from the table, his gaze scanning over it as he spoke, "If you want to quit, rewrite the letter."


    Quinn remained rooted to the spot, silent for a long moment.


    Noticing her lingering presence, Alexander lifted his gaze to meet hers.


    "Is there something else?" he asked.


    Quinn hesitated, gathering her courage before gesturing with her hand. "All the stray animals that Orion adopted have died. Did you...?"


    Her question was abruptly cut off as Alexander flung the files in his hand onto the table. His voice wasn''t loud, but in the silence of the office, it rang out clearly, halting Quinn''s motion. Expressionless, he stared at Quinn, his voice deep and resonant, "Quinn, did youe here to scold me?"


    Quinn''s heart stuttered in her chest, her eyes widening in surprise. She didn''t know him well, but she understood that hisck of denial was tantamount to an admission.


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    So, he was admitting... that he had ordered William to kill those dogs.


    Quinn''s face hardened, her emotions a tumultuous mix of anger and disappointment.


    She gestured again, "Was it really you?"


    Alexander rose from his chair, his approach causing Quinn to sense the icy chill in his eyes and instinctively retreat a few steps.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    He towered over her, his gaze boring into hers, "What if it was me? What if it wasn''t? You''ve already concluded that it was me, haven''t you?"


    Quinn''s gaze wavered.


    Hisst statement stirred doubts within her. She felt a pang of guilt for using him without concrete evidence.


    And even if he was guilty, what could she do?Seek vengeance for the dogs? That was just wishful thinking.


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    No matter how deep the bond, it could never surpass human emotions. Just like Orion, who couldn''t muster the courage to confront his father, despite his rage. "Quinn." Alexander''s hand lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Why do you always suspect me first when something happens?" Quinn was at a loss for words.


    "Why do you always assume it''s me?" His relentless questioning backed her into a corner, and she found her body pressed against the table with nowhere else to go. Alexander''s gaze dropped to her face, his icy stare making her shiver despite the warmth of the office.


    Quinn quickly gestured, "I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have doubted you."


    A smirk tugged at the corner of Alexander''s mouth, his toneced with sarcasm, "This isn''t just doubt. Didn''t youe here to confront me? So why do you always think of me first?" Quinn''s fingers clenched the edge of the table, her gaze averted as she struggled to breathe.


    "Quinn, what kind of person am I in your eyes?"

 Chapter 405

    In the face of Alexander''s relentless interrogation, Quinn found herself retreating, step by painstaking step, until her shoulders sagged with the weight of her exhaustion.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    She cast a nce at Alexander, her expression aplex tapestry of emotions.


    His face, however, remained as inscrutable as ever, giving her no clue as to whether she could ce her trust in him.


    Yet, in the absence of any concrete evidence, she realized she should never have doubted him to begin with.


    With a remorseful gesture, she apologized. "I''m sorry, truly sorry."


    "Your apology means nothing to me," came his curt reply.


    Silence hung heavy between them for a moment before Quinn gestured again.


    "Then what do you want?" she asked, her hand raised in a plea for understanding.


    Alexander remained silent, his gaze locked onto Quinn with an intensity that seemed to bore into her very soul.


    After what felt like an eternity, he finally broke the silence.


    "You seem to really like dogs?"


    Quinn froze, unsure of the implications of his question. What if her affirmative response resulted in the sudden disappearance of dogs from her vicinity?


    Before she could decipher his intentions, Alexander abruptly seized her wrist, pulling her along with him towards the exit.


    Quinn staggered in his wake, struggling to keep pace with his brisk strides and barely managing to keep herself from tripping.


    Once they were outside, he released her.


    "Keep up," hemanded, his tone brooking no argument.


    Quinn, still regaining her bnce, hesitated. She watched his retreating figure, his back turned to her as if to shield their association from prying eyes. But the truth was, there was no association to hide. With a sigh, she lowered her gaze and, after a moment''s pause, followed him.


    Upon reaching the elevator, she found Alexander already inside, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, his expression unreadable.


    Quinn took her ce in a corner, her gaze fixed on the floor.


    When the elevator doors slid open to reveal the underground parking lot, Alexander exited without a word. Quinn trailed behind him, stopping only when they reached his car.


    As he slid into the driver''s seat, she waited outside, the chill of the parking lot seeping into her bones.


    After what seemed like an eternity, Alexander emerged from the car, his icy gaze fixed on Quinn.


    "Quinn, are you stupid?" he asked, his voiceced with irritation.


    Taken aback, Quinn quickly mbered into the car, her fingers fumbling with the seatbelt. The car was warm, but the moment Alexander settled into his seat, the temperature seemed to plummet.


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    Quinn, seated closest to him, shivered involuntarily.Her gaze dropped to her hands, her fingers anxiously twisting in herp.


    She noticed the bruise on her nails and the wound on her wrist, her mind a whirl of questions. The bruise had spread, turning her nails a sickly purple, reminiscent of poison seeping into her system. She stared at her injured hand, unable to determine the cause of the injury.


    Alexander''s gaze flickered in her direction, his icy demeanor softening ever so slightly at the sight of her bruised nails. He quickly averted his gaze, focusing on the road ahead.


    The rest of the journey was marked by a silence that was as heavy as it was ufortable.


    When Quinn finally dared to look up, she found the car winding its way up a mountain. Her gaze flitted between the looming mountains and the serpentine road, before settling on Alexander. The indifference etched on his profile sent a shiver of apprehension down her spine.


    Was he nning to silence her permanently? The secluded mountainous terrain seemed an ideal location for such a grim task.


    Fear gnawed at Quinn''s insides, her fingers twisting together in a silent prayer for her safety.

 Chapter 406

    A thought lingered in her mind, a question that gnawed at her.


    Even if he bore no affection for her, would he truly go to the extent of ending her life after they had spent two decades together?


    Before long, their vehicle reached its destination, a vi nestled halfway up the mountain.


    As they passed through the gate, the car came to a halt in a clearing.


    Alexander, having parked the vehicle, unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to regard her. Quinn, catching his silent cue, hastily unbuckled her own and exited the car.


    As she stepped out, the faint echo of barking dogs reached her ears. The sound was distinct, unlike the familiar barks of Orion''s pets. These dogs sounded aggressive, their barks filled with a primal ferocity. Before Quinn could fully process the situation, Alexander was striding towards her, his hand closing around hers. He led her in the direction of the barking, his pace unyielding. Quinn looked up at him, her gazeplex as she studied his retreating back.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she took in the surroundings. It was winter, yet the vi was a haven of spring, with blooming flowers lining the roadside and flower beds.


    If


    f you are not reading this book from the website:  then you are reading a pirated version with iplete content. Please visit  and search the book title to read the entire book for free In the distance, a dense forest loomed, its thick canopy shrouding the edges of the vi, as if encasing it in a verdant embrace.


    Quinn was taken aback. She had never known that Alexander owned such a ce. She had neither seen it nor set foot in it before.


    The barking grew louder, the dogs seemingly closer, and Quinn''s heartbeat quickened in response.


    She found herself unable to appreciate the beauty around her, her mind consumed by a terrifying thought - was Alexander nning to feed her to these dogs?


    The barks were chilling, devoid of the yful innocence of household pets. They were filled with a murderous intent that sent shivers down her spine.


    She spotted a fence in the distance, behind which arge group of dogs were held, some locked in cages.


    "Alexander," a voice called out.


    Sean Vance emerged, a pitchfork in hand, and greeted them both, "Quinn."


    Alexander responded with a nod, indicating for Sean to proceed.Sean nodded in return, descending with his pitchfork and broom.


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    The dogs, previously engaged in their own frolic, all turned their attention towards them.


    Quinn took in the sight of therge, fierce-looking wolf dogs and felt a surge of fear, an instinctive urge to retreat.


    Alexander, however, held her arm firmly, turning to face her, "Don''t you like dogs? Why are you running?"


    Quinn''s gaze flickered, fear etched on her face as she shook her head, pleading with Alexander.


    The dogs were menacing, their mouths frothing with saliva, as if eager to devour her.


    Ignoring her plea, Alexander opened the gate and pushed Quinn inside. She stumbled, tripping over her own ankle and falling hard onto the ground.


    The moment she hit the ground, the dogs swarmed her, licking her affectionately. Within a minute, she was drenched in dog saliva.


    She tried to rise, but the dogs knocked her back down, trampling over her in their excitement. It didn''t hurt, but the sheer number of dogs was overwhelming.


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    Some dogs scratched at her with their ws, leaving her hair in disarray.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Many dogs drooled over her, their mouths hanging open as they looked at her with hungry eyes, as if ready to devour her.


    Yet, without amand, they dared not bite. They continued to circle and trample over Quinn, treating her like a new toy. Quinn looked at them, her eyes devoid of joy, filled only with fear.


    She crawled on the ground, desperately trying to escape their clutches. It took an eternity to break free from their circle. Quinn clung to the fence, looking up at Alexander.


    Alexander, looking down at her, showed no emotion on his face as he asked, "You don''t like these dogs?" Quinn shook her head vigorously, her gaze pleading as she gripped the fence, begging him to let her out.

 Chapter 407

    Alexander crouched before her, his fingers threading through the fence to smooth the disheveled strands of hair from her face.


    "You used to frequent Orion''s kennels quite often. I was under the impression you held an affinity for his dogs. Or is it that you only like the dogs he rears?" Quinn vehemently shook her head. The distinction was stark. Orion nurtured well-mannered, obedient strays.


    However, the beasts Alexander harbored were a different breed entirely. They were hunting dogs, ferocious creatures capable of tearing a man apart. Had she not mistaken, were those not cages of werewolves she had glimpsed?Why would he raise such malevolent creatures?


    "What does that head shake mean? Do you like them or not?" Quinn''s grip tightened on the fence as she met Alexander''s gaze, her eyes unwavering.


    Behind her, the dogs continued to regard her with predatory hunger, some even daring to mount her back.


    A shiver of fear traced her spine as she released the fence, just as two dogs lunged and pinned her to the ground.


    Quinn fell with a thud, her head colliding harshly with the ground, a sharp pain radiating from her forehead. Her vision swam into darkness momentarily. The dogs scampered over her, and she no longer had the strength to get up.


    All she could manage was to weakly lift her head, tears pooling in her eyes, and plead to the man, gesturing to him to release her.


    "Don''t treat me like this."


    Separated by the fence, she was a picture of chaos within, while he remainedposed without.


    He was d in a ck suit that resembled a swirling abyss under the sunlight, a stark contrast against the vibrant hues around him.


    His gaze upon her was indifferent, as if she were just another dog in his kennel.


    Suddenly, Quinn found herself unable to distinguish between the physical pain wracking her body and the emotional torment tearing at her heart.


    All she felt was pain. And tears of agony welled up in her eyes.


    Alexander remained crouched on the ground, his obsidian eyes fixed on her face, unblinking as he questioned, "You still haven''t answered me. Why do you prefer Orion''s dogs over mine? Is it because they are mine?"


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    Quinn shook her head, her movements frantic.


    "Then why do you wish to escape?"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Quinn struggled to form words with her trembling fingers.


    "They...are too aggressive."


    "Aggressive?" Alexander echoed leisurely, before suddenly barking, "Sit down!"


    At hismand, the unruly dogs gradually settled down, obediently sitting one by one. Their tongues lolled out, tails wagging in his direction. "See, aggressive?"


    Quinn hesitantly turned her head, only to be met with the sight of over twenty dogs sitting docilely on the ground, their mouths agape as if grinning in appeasement.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! She opened her mouth to retort, but found herself at a loss for words.


    Alexander utched the fence, rose to his feet, and strode towards Quinn. He bent down to grasp Quinn''s arm, hoisting her up.


    Quinn wobbled to her feet, her legs shaky. She swayed towards Alexander for support. But he recoiled in revulsion, pushing her away.


    Quinn stumbled back, colliding with the fence. Pressed against it, she looked up at Alexander through tear-blurred eyes.


    He produced a handkerchief from his pocket, meticulously wiping his fingers as if they were tainted with something repugnant.


    Indeed, the slobber and paw prints of the dogs were nauseating.


    Quinn could even detect the foul stench emanating from her own body.


    "So tell me, do you like them?" He continued to clean his fingers, his casual nce at her carrying an underlying tone of indifference, yet bearing an undeniable threat. Quinn''s gaze fell on those dogs. She opened her mouth and then lowered her head again.

 Chapter 408

    She didn''t like them at all.


    These dogs exuded a potent, murderous aura, as if they had imed numerous lives, their ferocity surpassing that of any rural canine she had encountered. She was convinced they were man-eaters. Perhaps the moment Alexander departed, they would set upon her, rending her flesh and consuming her whole. "Hmm?"Alexander, his touch filtered through a handkerchief, gently lifted her chin.


    "Why so silent?" he queried.


    From his expression, Quinn detected an obstinate expectation, a demand for her to respond in the way he wanted.


    Despite the day''s bright sun, its rays brought no warmth to her skin.


    A chilling sensation enveloped Quinn; her extremities were as cold as ice.


    She tilted her head slightly, allowing the sunlight to illuminate herckluster eyes, revealing a hint of defeat.


    His gaze bore into her, intense and silent. His fingers, still sping her chin, spoke volumes.


    With a resigned nod, Quinn acquiesced, her eyes closed.


    Her preferences were of no consequence.


    What mattered was his belief that she should find favor in his choices, and her obligation to pretend to like it.


    Atst, Alexander released her. Quinn slid weakly down the fence, copsing onto the grimy, cluttered ground. Laughter and detached words echoed from above. "Since you like them, then y with them."


    "What''s so appealing about those dogs out there?"His words gave Quinn pause.


    They hinted at something more, but she had no time to decipher their hidden meaning.


    As he prepared to depart, Quinn mustered her remaining strength, struggling to rise from the dirt and follow him.


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    But she was a moment toote. He had already exited, leaving Quinn locked inside.


    She reached out, attempting to grasp him. Her hand slipped through the fence''s gap, straining to reach him, but she failed to even brush the hem of his clothing.


    Her grip on the fence tightened as she watched his retreating figure. She shook the fence with all her might, but the resulting sound was too feeble to make him turn back. ''Don''t...go.''As he receded further, never once looking back, and finally vanished from her sight, tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes, blurring her vision.


    He had truly abandoned her here.


    She was a prisoner, trapped in a huge cage of his making.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Why?Why had he chosen to punish her so?Just because she had visited those stray dogs?But they were divorced, weren''t they?


    A sob from behind caused her to stiffen. Slowly, she turned her head.


    As she had feared, the moment Alexander left, the dogs revealed their true nature, snarling and growling at her.


    They formed a circle around Quinn, maintaining a two-meter distance from each other, as if both preventing her escape and warding off potential intruders. Perhaps to them, she was the outsider, an invader encroaching on their territory.


    Their low growls caused sweat to bead in Quinn''s palms. She stood rigid, locked in a standoff with them. For a moment, neither party dared to make a move.


    Time ticked by.Suddenly, the lead dog barked at her.Quinn trembled, her fingers clutching the fence. The force of her grip tore open a wound on her wrist, causing blood to seep out.Her terror eclipsed the pain in her wrist. The dog barked once more, then charged at Quinn.


    Fear sapped the strength from her legs, and she crumpled to the ground, cradling her head.


    The next moment, a dog''s jaws mped onto her arm.


    Quinn''s thick clothing shielded her from the worst of it, preventing the teeth from piercing her flesh.


    However, they tore through her clothes and grazed her skin, sending a shiver through her body.She attempted to scream, but no sound came out.

 Chapter 409

    Quinn''s eyes narrowed in rm as another dog lunged at her, its teeth snapping at her face and neck.


    Instinctively, she jerked her head back, her hand flying up to shield her face.


    The dog, however, redirected its attack, sinking its teeth into her other arm. It pierced through the fabric of her down jacket and bit into her flesh.


    Quinn winced, drawing in a sharp breath as pain radiated from the wound. Yet, the assault didn''t end there.


    As she fended off the attacks from above, another dogtched onto her leg. Her pants, not as thick as her jacket, offered little protection, and blood was drawn almost instantly.


    A searing pain shot up from her calf, causing her vision to blur and darken. She teetered on the brink of unconsciousness.


    The dogs, once they had their teeth in her, didn''t let go. They clung on tenaciously, pulling and tearing at her as if intent on ripping her apart.


    With a sickening rip, one of the dogs tore through her down jacket, sending feathers flying in all directions.


    In her disoriented state, Quinn found herself thinking it looked like snow.


    Ignoring the pain that coursed through her body, she scrambled and rolled, her fingers clutching desperately at a nearby railing. She tried to scream, but no sound emerged. The inability to call out for help only heightened her fear.


    After all, if she couldn''t scream, how would anyone know of her terror? How would anyone know of her pain?


    Another dogtched onto her leg from behind, dragging her backward. The pain was too much; Quinn''s vision went ck, and her fingers slipped from the railing.


    As the dog dragged her to the ground, her head struck the pavement with a dull thud, and she slipped into unconsciousness.Quinn gave up struggling.


    She didn''t know why Alexander hated her so much, even after their divorce.


    If he wished for her to be torn apart, then so be it. It was as if she was returning the twenty years she had given him.


    Quinn closed her eyes, tears trickling down her cheeks.


    When Sean arrived, he was horrified by the scene that greeted him. These were his dogs, and he knew their nature all too well.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    He saw Quinn, bitten and being dragged by several dogs. Without a moment''s hesitation, he charged towards her."Stop!"


    Sean''s voice cut through the air like a knife. At the sound of his voice and his approaching figure, the dogs scattered in all directions. He quickly opened the iron bars and rushed to Quinn''s side.


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    As he reached her, he took in the sight of her.


    Her clothes were torn and feathers were scattered everywhere. Her upper body was rtively unscathed due to the thickyers, save for a few red scratches from the bites. Her legs, however, were a different story. They were drenched in blood, her jeans dyed a dark red, and a trail of blood marked the ground. It was a horrifying sight!


    Quinn struggled to open her eyes, and upon seeing Sean, her tense nerves finally rxed.


    Overwhelmed by exhaustion, she slowly closed her eyes again.


    Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Sean wasted no more time. He scooped her up and rushed her to the vi''s room.


    Fortunately, a doctor was present who had the necessary rabies vines, as Sean often sustained injuries from caring for these animals.


    Once the doctor arrived, he first stemmed the bleeding before administering the rabies vine.


    Afterward, he cleaned the wound, disinfected it, and stitched it up.


    He wasn''t surprised by the wound on her leg; he had seen many like it before. Instead, he thought she was lucky to have survived.


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    Sean wiped the sweat off his forehead, ncing at the doctor stitching up the wound and then at Quinn, whoy on the bed, her brows knitted tightly in pain.


    He quietly left the room and found two people outside to ask, "Has Alexander left?"


    The bodyguard nodded. "He left, just ten minutes ago."


    Sean breathed a sigh of relief. "That''s good."


    He was relieved that Alexander had left. Otherwise, he would have been in deep trouble.


    Before Alexander left earlier, he had asked if the dogs had been fed. Sean knew he didn''t actually mean to feed Quinn to the dogs.


    But those creatures were used to eating meat, and Quinn, who looked so fragile, naturally became their target. Luckily, he had fed them earlier.


    Otherwise, Quinn would have been seriously injured, if not devoured by the dogs.


    As soon as Sean returned to the room, he received a call from Alexander, inquiring about Quinn''s condition.


    He nced at the woman in the room, gulping nervously, and feigned calm as he replied, "Nothing serious, Quinn just got a small injury. I have already released her."

 Chapter 410

    "Is she injured?" The question hung in the air, a sharp note of concern.


    Sean responded hastily, "Merely a scratch from a dog, nothing of grave concern. She''s currently receiving a rabies vine from the doctor."


    Suddenly, the name "Sean" echoed through the room, uttered by Alexander.


    The sound of his name caused Sean''s body to tense, his nerves on edge.


    "Yes, Alexander!" he responded.


    "Is it really just a minor injury?" Alexander''s voice was devoid of emotion, yet it bore an overwhelming pressure that made Sean feel the weight of it even through the screen of the phone. Forcing himself to maintain hisposure, Sean assured, "Yes, it''s really just a minor injury. I''ll send you the photographster."


    "I don''t need it. You should know the consequences of lying."


    "I know, I know!" Sean''s voice was tinged with desperation.A moment of silence ensued on the other end of the line before Alexander finally spoke, "Choose a nice gift for her." "Okay."


    "And don''t forget about the main task."


    "I won''t forget!" After Sean Vance finished speaking, Alexander hung up the phone, leaving Sean in a cold sweat.


    He wiped his forehead, took a moment topose himself, and then returned to the bedroom.


    "How is she? Is the situation serious?" he asked the doctor.


    A surge of worry washed over Sean as the doctor pointed at the freshly stitched wound on her leg. "Look at the wounds. Can''t you tell whether it''s serious?" The wound was bowl-sized, with skin missing at the site of injury.


    Sean had previously assured Alexander that his dogs were loyal and obedient, followingmands without question.


    But now, seeing Quinn''s injury, he couldn''t help but worry about the consequences of his lie.


    As the sky gradually darkened, the doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed with relief.


    "Finally done stitching. She should regain consciousness once the anesthesia wears off."


    Sean pulled the doctor aside and whispered a stern warning, "Don''t you dare mention this to anyone."


    The doctor looked confused. "Who is she?"


    "Don''t ask, just promise to keep silent, or else the dogs will have you for their meal tomorrow!" Sean threatened.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Startled by Sean''s fierce demeanor, the doctor quickly agreed. "Alright, alright, I won''t say anything. I''ll pretend I don''t know."


    "Good, now leave," Sean ordered, and the doctor hurriedly exited the room.


    Sean then summoned two other individuals. These men had previously studied the ck rings and had developed a tool to remove the one from Quinn''s ankle.


    Alexander had brought her here not just for a yful encounter with the dogs, but primarily to have the ring removed.


    "Why didn''t you remove it earlier?" the men asked, confused.


    "I was waiting for Alexander''s order. Now stop wasting time and remove it," Sean replied impatiently.


    "Alright."


    The men approached the bed, ced a box on it, and took out a transparent bottle. As they held Quinn''s ankle, they noticed bite marks on the ck ring. They were grateful for the ring; without it, her slender leg might have been severed. One of them carefully dropped a drop of white liquid onto the ck ring. After a few seconds, the liquid reacted with the ring, producing a faint sound, and the ring snapped. They removed the ring, ced it in the box, and handed it to Sean. After receiving it, Sean promptly dismissed them.


    When Quinn woke up, it was already past two in the morning. She was roused by an intense pain that had her gasping for breath. The anesthesia had worn off, and her legs throbbed with a fiery agony.


    In her dream, she had been attacked by a swarm of dogs, and now the pain she felt was even worse than in her nightmare.


    But the pain wasn''t just in her legs.

 Chapter 411

    "Quinn, are you awake?" The question hung in the air, echoing in the silence of the room.


    Quinn found herself staring nkly at the ceiling, her mind a whirlpool of confusion. Slowly, she turned her head toward the source of the voice. Sean tried to offer her aforting smile.


    "Does the wound hurt?" His question seemed to trigger a physical response, as if the mere mention of the wound awakened the pain thaty dormant.


    A sharp, excruciating pain shot through Quinn''s foot, causing her to grimace. The pain was unbearable, so intense that it made her face contort in agony, and a cold sweat began to bead on her forehead.


    Shey still, not daring to move even a toe, fearing that the slightest movement would intensify the pain and cause her to lose consciousness.


    Seeing her in such a state, Sean quickly rushed out of the room in search of a doctor. Quinn, left alone, clutched the bedsheets tightly, her knuckles turning white. Her forehead was creased with pain, veins bulging under the strain, and sweat trickled down her face.


    As shey there, she found herself recalling the scenes from her dream. The image of Alexander''s indifferent face shed before her eyes, causing her heart to ache. She closed her eyes, the emotional painpounding the physical agony she was already enduring.


    Sean returned, a doctor in tow. The doctor examined the wound on her leg. Despite being wrapped in gauze, faint traces of blood could still be seen seeping through.


    "Get her some pain relievers or something. Why is it hurting so much?" Sean asked, his voiceced with concern. He had experienced a simr injury, having been bitten by a dog that nearly hit an artery. Yet, he had never experienced pain of this magnitude.


    The doctor exined, "The bite has affected the tendons, causing intense pain. She''s also had several shots of immunoglobulin, which could be adding to the difort." "So, what do we do now?" Sean asked, his eyes filled with worry.


    "There''s not much we can do at this point," the doctor replied. "She can take some pain relievers to help manage the pain. It should start to ease once the wound begins to scab over."


    With that, the doctor retrieved a box from the medicine cab and broke two pain reliever tablets for Quinn. "Miss, take these pain relievers, and you should start to feel some relief soon."


    By this point, Quinn was drenched in sweat. Without hesitation, she picked up the pills and ced them in her mouth.


    Sean quickly handed her a ss of water. She cupped the ss in her hands and swallowed the pills, the simple action causing her wound to throb with renewed intensity.


    After taking the pain relievers, her body seemed to sag with exhaustion.


    Sean wanted to say something, but seeing Quinn in her current state, he swallowed his words.


    Instead, he simply said, "Rest well for now. If you need anything, there''s an internal line by your bedside."


    With that, he promptly exited the room.


    Once outside, he paused at the door, pulling out his phone. He hesitated, unsure of whether to call Alexander. If he told Alexander about Quinn''s condition, he might face repercussions. But if he didn''t and Alexander found out on his own, the consequences could be even worse...


    Before he could make a decision, his phone rang.


    It was Alexander.


    Startled, Sean nearly dropped his phone. He took a deep breath, nced back at the bedroom, and moved a little further away before answering the call. "Alexander," he greeted, his voice trembling slightly."


    Yeah, is Quinn still up there?" Alexander asked.


    Sean''splexion paled, and he replied nervously, "Yes, she''s already asleep. You asked me to find a dog to give to Quinn, but I haven''t chosen one yet." "Don''t you have two Golden Retrievers?" Alexander inquired.


    "Golden Retrievers?" Sean Vance''s eyes widened in realization. "Those two you asked me to buy before! I''ll go take a look tomorrow, but those two Golden Retrievers are young and haven''t been trained well yet. I''m afraid they''ll be too rowdy." Alexander remained silent for a moment before responding, "It''s fine if they''re a bit rowdy, as long as they don''t bite."


    His words were vague, and Sean couldn''t decipher his intent. But when he heard the word ''bite'', his heart skipped a beat.


    He forced himself to remain calm as he replied, "Understood, they won''t bite people. I''ll let Quinn take a look tomorrow and see which one she likes."


    "Give her both," Alexander instructed. "Alright," Sean agreed, finally understanding Alexander''s intentions. He had bought the two Golden Retrievers for Quinn. He couldn''t help but find Alexander''s behavior strange.


    If he had just said so earlier, it would have saved them all a lot of trouble.


    After they finished speaking, Alexander gave him onest instruction.


    "Bring both Quinn and the dogs tomorrow.""Alright, Alexander... Aren''t youing in person?" Sean asked.


    "I don''t have time tomorrow," Alexander replied curtly.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

 Chapter 412

    "Okay. I got it."


    As soon as the call ended, Sean exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful that Alexander would not be making a personal appearance.


    However, the gravity of Quinn''s injury gnawed at him, a secret that might prove challenging to keep concealed. This uncertainty, whether to confide in Alexander or not, left him in a state of heightened anxiety. Eventually, the weight of the decision bore too heavily on him, and he chose to wash his hands of the matter entirely.


    Meanwhile, Alexander sat in his car outside the club, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers. He discarded it prematurely, the embers dying out on the asphalt.


    The knock on the car window broke his reverie. It was Oliver.


    Alexander rolled down the window, his attention now on Oliver''s inquiry, "Why aren''t you going in?"


    Tugging at his tie in frustration, Alexander retorted, "I''m not going. You go meet Mr. Collins for me."


    Caught off guard, Oliver questioned, "What''s wrong with you? You seem a bit distracted."


    Alexander offered no response, simply stepping out of the car.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Oliver, still perplexed, probed further, "How''s Quinn beentely?"


    Pausing, Alexander tilted his head and looked at Oliver, "Since when did you start caring about her?"


    Oliver''s confusion deepened, "Don''t you know yet?"


    He calcted the time in his mind. It had been two or three months already. Even if Quinn''s belly wasn''t showing, they should have noticed during their intimate moments, right? Or had they not been intimate until now? "Know what?" Alexander asked.


    Oliver instinctively mped his mouth shut. Judging by Alexander''s reaction, it was clear he was oblivious. But Oliver had already let the cat out of the bag.


    "It''s nothing," he said, but Alexander wasn''t fooled. His piercing gaze sent a shiver down Oliver''s spine.


    "Oliver, is there something that you know about her and I don''t?" Alexander''s tone wasced with a threat and a warning.


    Oliver''s expression grewplex. It was absurd that he, an outsider, knew something that Alexander, the person directly involved, did not.


    Oliver hesitated, then spoke, "It''s about Abigail. She was so close to Abigail, and when Abigail left, she didn''t seem angry with you." Alexander replied coldly, "Is this what you wanted to talk about?"


    "Yes, that''s exactly it," Oliver replied.


    "Do you think I will believe you?" Alexander retorted.


    Oliver smirked and replied, "If you don''t believe me, then forget it."


    He had made a promise to Quinn and had no intention of revealing anything, regardless of Alexander''s persistent questioning.


    Alexander held his gaze for a moment longer before mming the car door shut and heading towards the clubhouse.


    A chill swept over Oliver as he watched Alexander walk away. He sighed, tugged at his cor, and followed suit.


    Their meeting was with Chandler''s cousin, an executive of Ster Enterprises. Once a prosperous family-owned business, Ster Enterprises had fallen into disarray due to internal power struggles and corruption.


    With Chandler''s death, his cousin saw an opportunity to seize control. The urgency of the meeting was heightened by themotion caused by Chandler''s death, a situation growing increasingly absurd.


    If Mr. Collins did not seek out Alexander, the matter would likely fade away.Inside the private room, Mr. Collins was engrossed in browsing through a collection of bizarre photos online. They depicted Chandler in various gruesome scenarios, from being strangled, mutted, devoured by wolves, hanged, self-immted, or even killed by a prostitute.


    The most peculiar image was of Chandler being choked to death by a female ghost.


    The authenticity of these photos was the subject of rampant spection, withizens creating their own imaginative endings, including Chandler being killed by aliens or devoured by dinosaurs.


    Mr. Collins was convinced that these images were a deliberate creation, most likely by Kennedy Enterprise, with whom he had been negotiating a coboration.


    The sound of the private room door opening pulled Mr. Collins from his thoughts.


    He quickly pocketed his phone and turned towards the entrance.

 Chapter 413

    The door swung open as two bodyguards made their entrance, clearing the way for Alexander and Oliver.


    Upon their arrival, Mr. Collins promptly rose from his seat, his face breaking into a weing smile.


    He extended his hand towards Alexander, a gesture of respect.


    "You must be Alexander? Your reputation precedes you," he said.


    His gaze shifted to Oliver, who lingered in Alexander''s shadow. Mr. Collins was well aware that he was not in a position to directly engage with Alexander.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Oliver was his only connection, and he was here solely because of their friendship.


    When Oliver had heard that Mr. Collins was looking for the head of Kennedy Enterprise, Alexander was the first person who came to his mind.


    Alexander had agreed to this meeting for one reason only: to prevent Mr. Collins from reaching out to Landon. A close association between Mr. Collins and Landon would only stir up more chaos.


    Alexander met Mr. Collins'' gaze and epted his handshake.


    "Alexander, I must say, you''re even more charismatic in person than on television," Mr. Collins remarked.


    Without a word, Alexander found a vacant spot on the sofa and settled down. "Vice president, that''s the appropriate title for you, correct?" he asked.


    At the mention of ''vice president,'' Mr. Collins appeared slightly taken aback, but he managed to maintain hisposure and nodded.


    "Yes, for the time being, I am still the vice president."


    "So, you''re set to be the boss of Ster Enterprises soon?" Alexander asked.


    "Not in the near future. I am here primarily due to my cousin''s situation. I wanted to discuss it with you and gain some insight."Alexander leaned back, lighting a cigarette. "Then, I''m afraid you''vee to the wrong person. I have no information regarding Chandler''s case."


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    "Is that so? Wasn''t he here to negotiate a partnership with yourpany? Didn''t he meet with the person in charge?"


    "He did approach us for a potential coboration, but how is that relevant to us? He was found dead in a hotel, wasn''t he?"


    Caught off guard, Mr. Collins nced at Oliver, who was nonchntly sipping his drink, seemingly indifferent to the conversation.


    "Is that so? Alexander, I merely wanted to gather more information about the situation. I was hoping to meet the colleague who was negotiating with my cousin. I have no ulterior motives, and I certainly don''t believe yourpany is involved," Mr. Collins said.


    Alexander took a moment to consider his words. "I see. I was under the impression that you were here to discuss a potential partnership with me. If you wish to meet that colleague, I can arrange a meeting."


    Mr. Collins'' eyes lit up at the mention of ''cooperation.'' He quickly set aside his concerns about his cousin and the colleague.


    "I can meet with this colleague at any time. Since you''re here, Alexander, we should discuss our potential partnership first."


    Negotiating directly with the CEO of Kennedy Enterprise was a more straightforward approach than dealing with a project manager, and the chances of sess were significantly higher.Alexander leaned forward, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray.


    "So, what would you like to discuss?" he asked.


    "I wish to continue the project my cousin was working on," Mr. Collins responded hastily. "I''ve heard that Kennedy Enterprise has merged with a foreign subsidiary. Mypany primarily manufactures electronic hardware and chips, which would be a suitable business opportunity for us. In the past, we''ve focused on exports, but as you know, electronic technology doesn''t hold much advantage in the export market."


    Kennedy Enterprise had a subsidiary with numerous international connections. If hispany could establish a partnership with Kennedy Enterprise, it would undoubtedly strengthen their position.


    "Ourpany''s quality is absolutely guaranteed, otherwise we wouldn''t have gone public," Mr. Collins assured, wrapping up his proposal.


    Although hispany had been listed for many years, in recent years, they had been on a decline due to various reasons, leading to consecutive losses and even receiving an ST warning.


    Chandler made a lot of efforts to establish a connection with Kennedy Enterprise. He intended to take a chance, but who knew he would lose his life?


    "That''s not a problem, but Mr. Collins, are you currently in a position to take charge of thepany?" Alexander asked.

 Chapter 414

    The words struck Mr. Collins with an unexpected force, causing his tone to take on a harsh edge.


    "My cousin is dead," he protested, "I was his second inmand. Why shouldn''t I assume his position?"


    "Isn''t your cousin''s situation still unresolved?" came the pointed inquiry. Mr. Collins hesitated, his heart pounding with a sudden realization.


    He felt as though he was on the cusp of understanding something significant, yet he couldn''t quite grasp it.


    Mr. Collins tentatively said, "Wasn''t his death just an unfortunate ident? Something that can be easily managed? As his cousin, it''s only right that I handle the aftermath of his passing."


    A smile tugged at the corner of Alexander''s mouth. He abruptly lifted his ss from the table, his eyes gleaming with a challenge. "Then we''ll wait for you to handle it well. Once that''s done, we can discuss the continuation of our cooperationter."


    Alexander''s words suggested that their cooperation was a done deal, but whether or not they would sign a contract hinged on Mr. Collins'' ability to manage his cousin''s untimely demise.


    Mr. Collins, a man of experience and shrewdness, detected the subtle undertone in Alexander''s voice. He quickly picked up his own ss, his face alight with a triumphant smile.


    "Very well. I too am eager to forge ahead with our partnership. I''ll resolve this matter as soon as possible."


    Alexander merely nodded in response, his lips sealed shut. He brought the ss to his lips and took a measured sip.


    Meanwhile, Quinn had spent a restless night gued by nightmares, only waking when dawn had already broken.She found herself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling, her mind a whirlpool of thoughts. The surroundings were strange, and she couldn''t quite ce where she was.


    Despite taking painkillers the previous night, the pain had persisted until the wee hours of the morning. Only then had the medication finally taken effect, lulling her into a fitful sleep.


    As she woke, the painkillers were still working their magic, and Quinn felt no pain. Her first instinct was to get out of bed.


    As she lifted the nket and attempted to stand, a searing pain shot through her calves. The moment her feet touched the ground, she lost her bnce and fell back onto the bed.


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    Clutching the nket, she struggled to turn her head, her gaze falling on her legs. It was then she noticed her pants had been cut off, reced by a thickyer of gauze wrapped around both her legs.


    The source of her agonyy beneath the gauze. The impact of her fall had overridden the painkillers'' effect. She copsed onto the bed, her forehead slick with cold sweat, her vision blurring.


    At that moment, Sean entered the room carrying breakfast. He found her sprawled on the bed, her legs on the floor, a mask of pain etched on her face.


    Sean rushed over, cing the breakfast on the table before helping Quinn back onto the bed.


    "Quinn, why did you try to get up? Your injury hasn''t fully healed yet, despite the painkillers."


    Through her pain, Quinn looked up at Sean. His face was somewhat familiar, yet mostly a stranger''s.After a long moment of thought, she couldn''t ce him.


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    Instinctively, she pulled her hand back and retreated further into the bed.


    Seeing her reaction, Sean assumed she was still upset about the dog attack the previous day.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    With a pained expression, Sean sighed and began to exin.


    "Quinn, I''m sorry. I should have been more careful yesterday. Those dogs aren''t fond of strangers, and since you''ve never been here before, they mistook you for an intruder. The doctor said your injuries aren''t severe. A few days of rest and you''ll be back on your feet."


    Quinn stared at him, fear causing her to curl up into a ball. Sean was a stranger, and being alone in a room with him was frightening.


    After he finished speaking, Sean looked at Quinn with a pleading expression. "Quinn, may I ask you a favor?"


    Quinn blinked, her gaze never leaving his face.

 Chapter 415

    Regardless of her potential refusal, Sean found himself impXavierng her even before he voiced his plea.


    "Regarding this issue, I beg you not to disclose it to Alexander. If he were to discover the truth, it would be the end of me," he begged, his hands sped together in earnest supplication.


    However, upon the conclusion of his plea, he found only confusion and uncertainty mirrored in Quinn''s eyes.


    Taken aback, Sean stuttered out her name, "Quinn?"


    Quinn responded by pressing her lips together and raising her hand to gesture, "Do we know each other?"


    Sean, unfamiliar with the nuances of signnguage, stared at Quinn''s fingers for a moment before cautiously venturing, "Are you saying you don''t know me?"


    Quinn thought for a moment. Although her signs hadn''t explicitly conveyed that sentiment, the meaning was indeed simr. She nodded in affirmation at Sean.


    Panicked, Sean hurriedly attempted to jog her memory.


    "I am Sean Vance, we''ve met before, don''t you remember? We''ve met a few times, so how could you not have any recollection?"


    Despite his frantic exnations, Quinn merely shook her head in bewilderment. She had no memory of him.


    Seeing her response, Sean sighed in resignation. It was apparent that Quinn had no intention of forgiving him, let alone aiding him in his deception.


    Overwhelmed by despair, Sean abandoned his pleas and resolved to ept his fate. He turned his attention to the tray he had brought for Quinn, offering it to her. "Please, eat."


    Quinn, taken aback, nced at Sean who had abruptly ceased his pleading, then at the food he was presenting.


    Silently, she epted the tray and reached for the fork.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    However, a thought struck her and she found herself studying Sean once more. "What is it, Quinn?" he asked, his brows furrowed in concern.


    "Is the food not to your liking?"Quinn shook her head, setting down her utensils to sign a question.


    "What happened?" Sean, struggling to decipher her gestures, racked his brain for possible interpretations. His brow furrowed in concentration, he ventured a guess. "Are you inquiring if I have other matters to attend to?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, confirming that Sean was unable toprehend her signnguage. Abandoning her attempts atmunication, she resumed her meal.


    Xiaofang tentatively broached another subject. "Quinn, is your leg still hurting? Should I fetch additional painkillers?" Quinn shook her head.


    The pain had significantly subsided following her earlier outburst; it was now bearable.


    "That''s a relief," Sean sighed, grateful that the doctor''s prescribed painkillers were proving effective.


    As Quinn continued to eat, Sean rose from his seat, announcing, "Quinn, I''ll fetch something for you." Before Quinn could respond, Sean had already dashed out of the room.


    Quinn frowned, her gaze falling on her wrist and the injury on her foot. She found herself unable to recall the events that had led to her current state. However, she remembered the dream from the previous night, and inexplicably, her heart gave a sudden lurch.


    Could it be... that it wasn''t a dream, but a reality?


    She continued to chew on her food, but found it difficult to swallow, as if the morsels in her mouth had turned to sand. Struggling, Quinn managed to swallow the food and ced the tray on the countertop.


    Shortly after, Sean returned, a cage in his hands. "Quinn, take a look."


    Hesitant to approach too closely, fearful of triggering any trauma from the previous day''s events, he remained at the doorway, holding the cage for her to see.


    Quinn turned her head and found two small puppies in the cage. They were quite young, perhaps two or three months old.

 Chapter 416

    A subtle widening of Quinn''s eyes, the slight parting of her lips, and a glimmer of joy in her gaze marked her reaction. "Do you like these two dogs?" Sean asked. Her gaze shifted from the puppies to Sean''s face, which bore a hint of tension. In response, Quinn nodded vigorously.


    A sigh of relief escaped Sean''s lips as he quickly moved to ce the cage beneath Quinn''s bed. He opened the cage, gently lifting one of the puppies and offering it to Quinn.


    Quinn, unsure of how to proceed, gingerly epted the puppy from his hands, cradling it in her arms with the utmost care. The puppy, restless and curious, sniffed around her arms, its tiny tail wagging furiously as it attempted to climb onto her face and lick it.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    As she looked down at the harmless, chubby creature in her arms, a touch of tenderness washed over Quinn''s face. She cautiously reached out to stroke the puppy''s head. The puppy responded by turning its head to lick her fingers, causing Quinn to instinctively retract her hand.


    She couldn''t quite pinpoint why she reacted that way. Perhaps it was the fleeting image that had shed through her mind - a scene from a dream where she was surrounded by snarling dogs.


    "Quinn, these two puppies haven''t grown all their teeth yet; they don''t bite, and even if they do, it won''t hurt," Sean reassured her.


    To demonstrate, he ced his finger near the puppy''s mouth. The puppy, indeed, bit his finger with its immature teeth, barely grazing his skin.


    Sean immediately withdrew his hand and pped the puppy on the head. "But Quinn, don''t do what I just did. If you get it used to that, it might bite people in the future."


    Quinn listened attentively and nodded, indicating that she understood.


    Sean continued, "Whenever it shows any signs of biting you, you hit it hard a few times, and it will learn not to bite people."


    Quinn nodded again, absorbing his advice. Sean shared more tips about raising dogs before picking up the other puppy from the floor and cing it in Quinn''s arms. Seeing the joy on Quinn''s face, he silently hoped that her happiness might persuade her to keep their secret or put in a good word for him.


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    The puppies, full of life and energy, wriggled in Quinn''s arms, eager to explore their new surroundings. Fortunately, Sean had bathed both dogs the previous night.


    As Quinn held the fluffy puppies, the scent of milk wafting from them, her heart softened."Quinn, don''t tell Alexander about this, okay? If he finds out that you were bitten by a dog, he might not let you keep them," Sean cautioned. His words seemed to trigger something in her, causing her calf to cramp and her brows to furrow in pain.


    "Quinn..."


    She put down the puppy in her hands and began to search for her phone. After a moment, she found it in her pocket and quickly typed a sentence for him to see. Quinn: [What happened to me?]Sean''s eyes widened in disbelief at her question.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Quinn, don''t you remember?" he asked, his voice filled with incredulity.She shook her head in response.


    "How is that possible? You...yesterday..." Sean trailed off, quickly closing his mouth. He then asked, "Do you remember how you got here yesterday?"


    Quinn tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then shook it nkly.She typed again.


    Quinn: [Where am I?]Sean hesitated before responding, "This is Alexander''s private vi. You may not have been here before, but Alexander brought you here yesterday." Despite his exnation, Quinn still looked confused.


    Sean sensed that something was off, but he couldn''t quite put his finger on what had happened to her.


    However, since Quinn couldn''t remember, perhaps it was for the best.

 Chapter 417

    "Quinn..."


    Quinn looked up at him, waiting for him to continue.


    Sean opened his mouth, the words he intended to say teetering on the edge of his tongue. But they retreated, swallowed back into the silence.


    "It''s nothing," he finally said, his voice a soft dismissal. "You should rest well. I''ll take these two dogs downstairs and bring them back to you when you''re healed."


    With that, he rose from his chair, his movements deliberate and careful. He scooped up the two dogs, their small bodies squirming in his grasp, and returned them to their cages.


    The puppies were unceremoniously deposited into their enclosure, their protests echoing in the form of barks. They paced back and forth, their tiny bodies straining against the bars of the cage in a futile attempt to escape. But Sean was relentless, lifting them out without a second thought.


    Quinn watched the scene unfold, her gaze eventually falling to the bandage wrapped around her calf. She was silent for a moment, her fingers gingerly reaching out to unravel the fabric.


    As she peeled back theyers, the true extent of her wound was revealed.


    The sight was gruesome. The wound was stitched and swollen, a dark bruise blossoming in the center. It was a horrifying testament to the bite that had caused it.


    Quinn was horrified at the sight. The severity of her injury was startling, but what troubled her more was herck of memory. Why couldn''t she remember anything?


    Her mind wandered back to the dream, the sharp pain that apanied it causing her to wince. She brought a hand to her face, taking several deep breaths to steady herself. The pain in her mind was far more agonizing than the throbbing in her leg.


    She curled up on the bed, her breathsing in ragged gasps. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, a chilling reminder of her ordeal.


    Just as Sean had managed to quiet the dogs, his phone rang. It was Alexander.


    His question was direct and to the point. "Is she awake?"


    Caught off guard, Sean quickly replied, "Quinn is still asleep. I''ll send her back once she wakes up."


    "Okay."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    There was a pause before Alexander asked, "Does she like those two dogs?"


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    "Yes, she quite liked them."


    "But didn''t you say she hadn''t gotten up yet?"Sean''s heart pounded in his chest, his face draining of color.


    He stammered out a response, "Alexander, I..."


    "Bring her down before it gets dark," Alexander ordered.


    "Okay..."Alexander ended the call abruptly, leaving Sean to wipe the sweat from his brow, regretting his careless words.


    He returned to the bedroom to find Quinn asleep. He quietly retreated, deciding to let her rest.


    Alexander was tied up in meetings all day and didn''t have time to make the trip up the mountain. After the call, he returned to the conference room, his mind preupied. Around three o''clock in the afternoon, Quinn stirred from her sleep.


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    The painkillers had worn off, the pain in her leg jolting her awake. It wasn''t as intense as the previous night, but it was still a sharp, burning sensation, like a needle pricking at her muscles. Sean gave her more painkillers, then brought the dogs over, preparing to take Quinn back home.


    "Quinn, can you walk now? I''ll take you back home."


    Quinn''s face was pale, but she nodded, indicating she was fine.


    However, Sean didn''t believe her. With one hand carrying the cage and the other supporting Quinn, he led her out of the vi.


    Each step was a struggle, a sharp pain shooting through her calves. She gritted her teeth, refusing to make a sound, enduring the pain until they reached the car.


    Sean nced at her injured leg, a sigh escaping his lips. If he sent her back like this, Alexander would surely find out. But he had no choice. If Alexander returned to an empty house, the consequences would be far worse. With that thought, he started the car, driving off with a heavy heart.


    Quinn sat in the car, her gaze wandering over the passing scenery. The sight of the vast woods in the distance stirred something in her, vague memories beginning to surface in her mind.

 Chapter 418

    A sense of familiarity washed over her as she realized that this was the same path Alexander had led her down just the day before.


    It was him who had abandoned her within the enclosure, departing without a backward nce, leaving her to the mercy of the dogs that roamed within.


    It hadn''t been a dream, she realized with a pang of sorrow. It had all been too real.A bitter smile tugged at the corners of Quinn''s mouth, a silent testament to her sadness.


    Why did these painful memories persist, refusing to be forgotten? Their constant presence was a torment she could not escape.


    Sean drove her all the way to Regal Riverside, but when he saw the seal outside, he froze.


    "What happened?" he asked, his gaze lingering on the seal. He questioned himself, wondering if he had taken a wrong turn.


    But a nce at the door number confirmed he was at the right ce.


    Turning to Quinn, he asked, "Quinn, when did you move?"


    Quinn, too, was taken aback. She stared at the seal on the door, a hollow look in her eyes. She shook her head, her confusion evident. She didn''t know.


    She didn''t know anything.


    Sean, after a moment of contemtion, decided to call Alexander. There was no answer the first time, but on the second attempt, Alexander picked up.


    "Alexander, why is there a seal on Regal Riverside? I brought Quinn back, but we can''t get in."


    Alexander''s surprise mirrored Sean''s.


    After a moment of silence, he asked, "You brought her to Regal Riverside?"


    "Yes, isn''t that where she should go?"


    There was a long silence on the other end.


    It seemed like an eternity, so long that Sean began to think Alexander had hung up.


    But then Alexander''s voice came through, "Did you bring her on your own, or did she request toe back?"


    Sean was about to say that it was his decision, but Alexander''s question made him reconsider. He thought for a moment before responding, "Quinn wanted toe back herself." "Is that so?"


    "Yes..."Alexander''s cold chuckle sent a chill down Sean''s spine.


    "Sean, you''re getting bolder."


    Caught off guard, Sean stammered, "Alexander, I... I''m sorry, I didn''t know you moved!"


    "Tear off the seal and just go in," Alexander instructed.


    "Okay!" Sean responded, not daring to say more. He knew his clumsy lie could easily be discovered by Alexander.


    After ending the call, Sean got out of the car, removed the seal, and entered the gate using the same code as before. The gate opened as expected. He turned back to bring Quinn and her dog inside, a look of relief on his face.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn looked at the familiar vi, a wave of confusion washing over her. The home had changed drastically, looking nothing like she remembered. It was empty, as if it had been ransacked. Even the furniture was covered in white cloth. She had no recollection of what had happened. Not only had she divorced Alexander, but now the vi had been transformed as well.


    Each piece of white cloth seemed to be a stark reminder of how thoroughly she and Alexander had ended things. The abandoned furnishings stood as lonely reminders of their past.


    As light filtered in from outside, the dancing dust particles seemed to be celebrating their reunion.


    Quinn stood still, taking in the unfamiliar sight of the vi.


    Sean was equally stunned. How had things changed so drastically in just over a month?


    "Let me organize it for you!" he offered, moving to uncover the white cloth.


    Just then, the sound of a car horn echoed from outside.

 Chapter 419

    Quinn''s head swiveled mechanically, her gazending on the Bentley parked in the yard. Alexander was stepping out of the vehicle, still d in his signature ck coat.


    His strides were quick and purposeful as he made his way towards the house, an air of urgency about him.


    As Alexander reached the door, his eyes met Quinn''s in a coincidental collision of gazes. Time seemed to stand still in that moment, the only movement being the dust particles dancing in the air, suspended between them. Observing this, Sean quickly made his way over, a nervous edge to his voice as he called out, "Alexander."


    Alexander''s gaze shifted from Quinn to Sean, his eyes taking in every detail of Sean''s actions.


    "Speak," hemanded. Sean''s mouth opened, then closed, struggling to find the right words. With a determined set to his jaw, he finally blurted out, "I''m sorry, Alexander, I lied."


    Alexander remained silent, his cold gaze fixed on Sean, patiently waiting for him to continue.


    Sean''s eyes flickered to Quinn''s leg. Despite her change into looser pants, the subtle swelling of her leg was still discernible.


    He gritted his teeth and confessed, "Quinn got injured; it''s not a minor injury."


    A flicker of concern shed through Alexander''s eyes as he turned his attention to Quinn''s leg.


    "Roll it up," he ordered abruptly.


    Quinn bit her lip, her head bowed as she silentlyplied, lifting her pant leg to reveal the gauze-wrapped injury.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander''s thin lips tightened, hisplexion shifting subtly, but he remained silent.Sean closed his eyes, his expression one of a man awaiting his execution.


    After a long silence, he cautiously called out, "Alexander, I..."


    "Get out."


    Sean stood frozen, themand taking a moment to register.


    "I said, get out!" Alexander''s voice suddenly rose, startling Sean into action.


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    "Okay!" Sean practically sprinted out, his pace quickening with each step.


    Once Sean had departed, Alexander slowly approached Quinn, his gaze lowered as he studied her. His lips moved slightly, as if he was about to speak, but then he fell silent.


    After a moment, he finally uttered three words, "Does it hurt?"


    These simple words triggered a flood of tears from Quinn. She looked at Alexander, her tear-filled eyes filled with usation and hurt.


    Alexander reached out, his hand gently caressing her face. He paused momentarily, then continued to wipe away her tears with his fingers.


    The more he wiped, the harder Quinn cried.Suddenly, Alexander scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the sofa. He gently ced her down, lifting her injured leg onto hisp to examine the wound. Despite the bandages, the severity of the swelling was evident.


    Alexander looked up at Quinn.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Quinn..."Tears streamed down her face as she looked back at him. Memories of his cold demeanor from the previous day flooded her mind, causing her heart to ache. She raised her finger and gestured. "What did I do wrong?"


    Alexander suddenly fell silent.


    "If I did something wrong, I apologize. Can you please not lock me up in there anymore?" she gestured.


    Alexander remained silent, his gaze fixed on Quinn.Seeing that he didn''t respond, Quinn reached out and grabbed his arm, shaking it.


    Alexander was silent for a moment longer before finally taking her hand, stopping her movements. "It''s my fault, I''m sorry. It won''t happen again."


    Tears continued to roll down her face.


    She withdrew her hand and gestured again. "But you don''t want me anymore."

 Chapter 420

    Upon reading the words, a grim expression overtook Alexander''s face, the guilt that had previously etched his eyebrows and eyes vanishing. He suddenlyughed. "Quinn, when did you be so shameless? "I don''t want you? Who gave you the courage to say that?"


    Quinn was taken aback, her mind spinning. She had assumed Alexander''s words implied that she was an unwee nuisance, even after their divorce. The thought was deeply humiliating. Her lips pursed into a tight line, her gaze dropping to the floor in sorrow. "I apologize," she gestured, "I''ll leave soon."


    Alexander''s icy stare bore into her. "And how do you propose to leave in your current state? Are you nning to crawl your way out?" Quinn remained silent, her head bowed in resignation. Abruptly, Alexander rose to his feet, dialing a number on his phone. He summoned Soren.


    Soren, upon receiving the call, was initially puzzled. However, the knowledge of Quinn''s return filled him with apprehension.


    Each summons usually signaled impending trouble.He hurriedly made his way to Regal Riverside, arriving just in time to witness Alexander unwrapping the bandages from Quinn''s leg. Soren''s eyes widened in shock at the sight of Quinn''s injury.


    "Alexander, what happened?" Soren asked, his voice filled with concern.


    "A dog bit her. Can you examine her?" Alexander''s brow furrowed as he studied her wounds. Both of her legs bore the marks of the attack, the surrounding skin swelling grotesquely. The entirety of her leg was slightly swollen due to the injury. The wounds left a bowl-shaped imprint, the center of which had turned an rming shade of purple due to the swelling.


    Soren hastily retrieved his medical kit, squatting before Quinn. He gently poked the swollen area with his fingers, asking, "Does it cause you pain?"


    Quinn shook her head. She had taken painkillers before descending the mountain, so she felt no pain at the moment, only a sense of swelling.


    Soren contemted for a moment. "The painkillers might be masking the pain for now. But the wound appears to have been treated well. I''ll disinfect it and apply some medication for you."


    As he finished speaking, a thought urred to him. "Can you still walk?"


    Quinn nodded.


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    "That''s a relief. The bones are intact. "Soren then proceeded to treat her wounds.


    Quinn sat quietly on the sofa, a sense of familiarity washing over her as Soren applied the medication.Lost in her thoughts, she barely registered the sound of Alexander''s phone ringing. He excused himself from the room to answer the call, leaving Quinn alone with her thoughts.


    She nced up at his retreating figure before lowering her gaze. Since their divorce, she had no right to question his conversations.


    Even before their separation, she wouldn''t have dared to pry.


    He was on the phone for an extended period, and by the time he returned, Soren had finished applying the medication to her wounds.


    Alexander''s tall silhouette lingered at the doorway, and Quinn noticed that he had already lit two cigarettes.


    "Okay, Quinn," Soren said, having finished bandaging her wound.


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    He nced back at Alexander before turning to Quinn, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you remember me?"


    Quinn shook her head, a vague sense of familiarity and fragmented images of Soren swirling in her mind."You''ve forgotten me again," Soren sighed. "Do you know what illness you have?" Quinn nodded, as she had read her notebook the previous day.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Soren breathed a sigh of relief. "That''s good. Remember to take your medication. Your condition is deteriorating, and you can''t afford to miss a single day of medication, understand?" Quinn nodded again. She looked around, realizing that she had left her medication in the office. Soren noticed her distracted gaze and promptly produced two bottles of medication from his bag. "Luckily, I brought some with me. Take two pills for now."He poured the pills into Quinn''s palm.


    "You must take this illness seriously. Don''t neglect your health."


    As he finished speaking, Alexander''s voice echoed from behind them. "What illness?"

 Chapter 421

    A sudden surge of terror seized Soren, his fingers trembling uncontrobly, causing the pill he held to tumble onto the ground.


    His fear heightened as he swiveled around to find a man looming behind him, his face an icy mask. The man''s eyes bore into Soren, as though attempting to prate his very soul. "Why aren''t you speaking?" Alexander asked.


    Soren swallowed hard, darting a quick nce at Quinn before he stammered out, "She has a disease that makes her body cold."


    "Is that a disease?"


    "Yes," Soren confirmed, "but aside from the chill, Quinn also suffers from a severe uterine disease. If left untreated, it could prevent her from conceiving in the future."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    He wasn''t fabricating tales; this was the harsh reality. Quinn was gued by multiple illnesses, but he had only disclosed the two least severe ones.


    Alexander''s voice still didn''t reveal any of his emotions as he responded, "Is that so?" Yet, it was this veryck of emotion that sent chills down Soren''s spine.


    "Yes, Alexander," he asserted, "I am the most aplished student my grandfather ever taught. Don''t you believe me?"


    After a moment of contemtion, Soren chose to remain silent, deciding to gauge the situation before speaking further. They were, after all, divorced.


    What if Alexander''s disdain for Quinn intensified upon learning of her illness?


    For the time being, Quinn seemed to have put the matter aside. She wouldn''t instigate a confrontation, and with Alexander looking after her, she was in safer hands. Alexander''s gaze swept over Soren''s face before he turned away to answer a phone call.


    But before he departed, he instructed Soren, "Cook her a meal."


    "Alright..." Soren exhaled a sigh.


    Once again, he was to y the role of a chef.


    He retrieved the fallen pill, dusted it off with his sleeve, and ced it back into Quinn''s hand, whispering, "Take this quickly."


    Quinn nodded, reaching for the ss of water on the table and discreetly swallowing the pill. Upon noticing the wound on her wrist, her heart fluttered in rm. She found herself envisioning the cause of the injury.


    Perhaps Alexander had discovered her illness, and in a desperate attempt to resist divorce, she had threatened him by self-harming. This could exin his intense hatred for her, his decision to abandon her among dogs, his desire to see her dead.


    As this realization dawned on her, Quinn was consumed by despair. No wonder he hadbeled her as shameless. Quinn hadn''t even been aware of her own audacity. If her assumptions were correct, his hatred was indeed justified, wasn''t it? With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Quinn nced towards the doorway. It was empty; Alexander had disappeared. He must have left.


    But ording to his conversation with Soren, he didn''t know about her illness. Then why?


    After inspecting the kitchen, Soren departed to purchase groceries. The kitchen had been barren for several days, devoid of any food. And with Soren''s departure, the vi was plunged into silence.


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    The white cloths covering most of the furniture remained untouched, painting a nk canvas within the house, emanating an aura of destion. Everything around her seemed to echo the harsh truth - she no longer belonged here. Quinn instinctively settled onto the sofa, curling up and absentmindedly tracing the edge of the cushion. After a while, Alexander returned, bearing a bag of fruit. Quinn watched him intently as he carried the fruit into the kitchen,ter emerging with a fruit tter which he ced on the coffee table.


    His actions seemed to infuse a hint of warmth into the otherwise cold vi. Alexander took a seat beside her, turning to face her as he asked, "Are you in pain?" Quinn shook her head.


    "Then don''t sleep here, go upstairs," he said. Quinn rose from the sofa, signaling to him that she would depart shortly. Alexander remained silent, his deep ck eyes fixated on her. A flicker of anger was evident on his otherwise impassive face.


    Feeling a wave of anxiety under his intense gaze, Quinn hastily gestured again, indicating, "I will leave right away."


    A bitterugh escaped Alexander, a sound born of anger.

 Chapter 422

    "Then why are you still sitting here?"


    Quinn froze for a moment, and quickly exined, "Didn''t you tell me to eat? I...I''ll leave after eating. If you''re not happy, I won''t eat." Alexander just looked at her and smiled, but his smile wasn''t as pleasant. There was even a trace of anger at the corners of his mouth. Quinn fell silent for a while, then stood up to leave.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    However, before she could take a single step, Alexander''s hand shot out, pulling her back. She was flung onto the sofa, her shin colliding with the edge. A wave of pain surged from her shin, coursing up her spine in a manner she had never experienced before. Her mouth fell open, her face contorting in agony, tears welling up in her eyes.


    Alexander approached her, his hand capturing her chin, tilting her face towards his. He studied her features, his gaze intense.


    Quinn met his gaze, her own filled with difficulty. Gradually, the pain began to recede.


    Alexander''s dark eyes held her gaze, his voice breaking the silence, "Quinn, what exactly are you doing?"


    Quinn''s mouth twitched, words failing her.


    "You berate me for leaving you, yet you attempt to leave the very next moment. Are you toying with me?" He patted her cheek lightly, his tone stern. "Don''t indulge in such games, understand?"


    Quinn was taken aback. She wasn''t ying games...


    She wanted to exin, but before she could raise her hand, Alexander got up and left.


    She watched his retreating figure, her eyes filling with tears, whether from the pain or something else, she couldn''t tell.


    This time, he didn''t return.


    Soren prepared a meal, but Quinn barely touched it. Her appetite had deserted her, and the food tasted like ash in her mouth. Soren noticed herck of appetite and didn''t press her to eat. Instead, he offered her a bowl of oatmeal, advising, "If you can''t eat, don''t force yourself. Drink this oatmeal and go to sleep."


    Quinn nodded, epting the bowl. She drank the oatmeal as if it were in water.Soren watched her, a sigh escaping his lips as he noted her dwindling frame.


    He reminded Quinn to take her medication before departing the vi, Alexander hadn''t instructed him to stay.After taking her medicine, Quinn felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her. She settled onto the familiar couch, the room growing quiet.


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    Outside, the wind howled, a faint sobbing sound carried on the breeze. The ticking of the wall clock filled the room, adding to the eerie silence. She curled up on the couch and fell asleep unknowingly. Meanwhile, Alexander exited his office. As he reached the parking lot, an arm snaked around his waist from behind.He paused for a moment, lifted the hand on his waist, and turned to look at Getty. "Why are you here?"


    "I came to wait for you. I was bored at home. I even rescheduled my ns for the next two weeks just to spend time with you, but you stayedte at the office."


    Getty nestled into his embrace, her voice filled withint. These days, Alexander would always visit her, prompting Getty to adjust her ns.


    She looked up at him, her voice coy, "Shall we go home together?"


    Alexander''s arm wrapped around her, his actions affectionate, though his words were far from it. "I''m not going to your ce tonight." Getty''s smile froze, not just because he declined her invitation, but because he referred to it as "your ce" rather than "our ce".


    It dawned on her that this man had never considered her home as his own.


    "Why?"


    "I have to go home." His voice was calm, his words matter-of-fact.Getty''s heart felt as if it had shattered.


    "Is... she the one who asked you to go back?" Getty asked.


    Alexander didn''t respond, his gaze drifting towards the parking lot exit. The wind outside was fierce, the howling sound echoing through the entrance. He released Getty. "Did you drive? I won''t send you home then."He made to leave, but Getty''s hand shot out, gripping his arm.


    "Wait, it''ste and I''m afraid to drive alone. Can you send me home?"She looked at him, her eyes filled with hope and a hint of fear, her expression pitiful.

 Chapter 423

    "Didn''t you drive?" Alexander asked.


    Getty''s lips formed a pout, her demeanor flirtatious. "I''m terrified. Can you bear to let a fragile girl like me drive alone, particrly in such fierce winds?"


    She gazed at him with a pitiful expression. Getty was undeniably beautiful; her beauty had always been there, but it was further enhanced by minor alterations, rendering her face wless. With just one look from her, most men would easily feel vanquished.


    However, Alexander merely observed her impassively for a moment before he averted his gaze, retrieving his car keys.


    "Let''s go."


    A surge of delight washed over Getty as she looped her arm through his and climbed into his car.


    It appeared he still felt sorry for her. This realization dispelled Getty''s prior mncholy. After all, she was determined to ascertain whether he was divorced or not.


    The wind that day was unusually robust, akin to a typhoon. Many branches along the roadside had been snapped off by the wind, scattering debris across the road.


    In the courtyard of the Regal Riverside, a branch was torn off by the wind and hurled into the ss, jolting Quinn awake. Her eyes flew open as she took in the sight of branches striking the window, the cracking sounds heightening her anxiety. She rose to her feet, intending to ascend the stairs. But as she took a step, a sharp pain shot through her calf, causing her to lose bnce and tumble to the ground.


    Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes as she clutched her calf, the pain unbearable. She took a deep breath, suppressing the pain as she shakily got back on her feet, her movements slow andborious as she began her ascent.


    The first room Quinn entered was the study. She pushed open the door to find it shrouded in darkness. The study window was shut, the faint glow of the moon outside casting an eerie light into the room, akin to a cold eye watching her. Quinn quickly shut the door and made her way to the bedroom, which was equally dark. She fumbled for the switch on the wall, illuminating the room.


    However, all she saw was an empty bedroom. The bed, the cab, everything was shrouded in white cloth. The stark whiteness seemed to repel her. Quinn clung to the door frame, her gaze vacant as she stared at the bedroom. She had no idea how much time had passed when a p of thunder outside startled her, causing her to drop to the floor. In the silence that followed, the wind and thunder outside seemed even more rampant.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Therger the vi, the more intimidating it felt. Even the slightest noise would echo. To Quinn, this vi was no different from a haunted house. She huddled on the floor, her hands over her ears, trying to block out the sounds. When Alexander returned, it was around one in the morning. His gaze instinctively drifted towards the sofa, but it was empty.


    His expression hardened as he swiftly ascended the stairs.


    Upon reaching the top, he spotted a figure hunched at the doorway.


    Quinn was curled up at the doorway, trembling as she covered her ears.


    Alexander''s eyes flickered as he quickly approached Quinn. He reached out, his handing to rest on her shoulder.


    At his touch, Quinn reacted like a frightened rabbit, falling to the ground before scrambling into the bedroom. Suddenly, her arm was seized.


    Quinn froze, her gaze fixed on the room. She remained still for a moment before slowly turning her head.


    Alexander''s face came into view, causing her eyshes to flutter.


    His lips were pressed into a thin line, his expressionplex as he studied her. After a moment, he tugged at her arm, pulling her into his embrace. "Don''t be afraid. I am here," he said.


    Quinn leaned against his chest, smelling his scent and a strange perfume.

 Chapter 424

    The scent of gardenias was the most prominent, a familiar fragrance that soothed her frenzied heart as she detected the rhythmic throb of the man''s heartbeat within his chest.


    Quinn extended her arms, wrapping them around his sturdy waist, and buried her face in hisforting embrace, greedily inhaling his scent.


    In response, Alexander held her close, his hand gently stroking her back in a silent reassurance.


    After a period of time that seemed both eternal and fleeting, the trembling figure in his arms finally stilled. Alexander gently released her and whispered, "Why don''t you go sleep in the bedroom?" Lifting her gaze to meet his, Quinn''s eyes were a stormy sea of red and watery, silently questioning him if he intended to leave her alone.


    With a tender touch, he wiped away the tears pooling at the corners of her eyes and murmured, "I''ll stay with you."


    With those words, he scooped Quinn into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.


    He pulled back the pristine white sheets on the bed, gentlyying her down. He then moved to the closet, retrieving a nket which he carefully draped over Quinn.


    Throughout this, Quinn''s gaze never left him, her eyes tracking his every movement around the room, as if fearful he would disappear.


    Catching her anxious gaze, Alexander reassured her, "You sleep first. I''ll take a quick shower."


    He grabbed a robe and pushed open the bathroom door, the sound of running water soon filling the room.


    Gradually, Quinn''s grip on the corner of the nket loosened. Her eyes slowly closed, the storm raging outside no longer instilling the same fear within her.


    In the past, whenever thunder roared, he was always there. Quinn knew that as long as he was home, she had nothing to fear.


    However, the tumult outside was still deafening. Despite the soundproof ss doors, the muffled rumble of thunder was audible.


    asionally, shes of lightning would prate the room, visible even with her eyes shut.


    To shield herself, she pulled the nket over her head.


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    After a while, the sound of water rushing in the bathroom began to lull her, her body rxing as sleep started to im her.


    The bed dipped beside her, a cool breeze slipping under the nket, followed by a colder touch tracing her face and body.


    Quinn''s eyes fluttered open, greeted by the sight of a handsome face.


    Alexander''s icy fingers gently brushed her cheek before slipping under the nket, encircling her waist and drawing her into his embrace.


    Quinn studied him, trying to decipher his intentions.


    Unsure if the man before her was a figment of her imagination, she mustered her courage and reached out to touch his cheek.


    His skin was soft and warm, the sensation akin to touching a living, breathing person.


    Alexander caught her hand and stared at her expressionlessly.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Their eyes remained locked for a long moment before he finally broke the silence, his tone unreadable, "Quinn, what is it that you want?"


    Taken aback by his question, Quinn''s gaze flickered, confusion clouding her eyes.


    Alexander continued to stare at her, his silence hanging heavy in the air, as if he was awaiting her response.


    Quinn averted her gaze, pressing her face against his chest, and nestled deeper into his embrace, her arms tightly wound around his waist.


    She closed her eyes, the sound of his steady heartbeat lulling her into a sense of tranquility.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It was as if the raging storm outside had receded, reced by a serene calm. Alexander didn''t push her away, instead, he held her close, his gaze thoughtful as he stared out the window. The floor-to-ceiling window mirrored their entwined figures on the bed.


    Quinn drifted off to sleep in his arms. It had been a long time since she had experienced such peaceful slumber, her dreams filled with pleasant images. In her dreams, Alexander morphed into a brown teddy bear, holding her close with a gentle, soft embrace.


    Quinn couldn''t fathom why she dreamt such a dream, but she clung to the bear, refusing to let go, as if it was her lifeline. Perhaps she held on too tightly, for the bear suddenly lowered its head and kissed her.

 Chapter 425

    Quinn''s gaze was drawn upward, locking onto the bear''s eyes. They were meant to be lifeless, fixed ck beads, yet they shifted suddenly, jolting her awake with a surge of fear.


    As her eyes fluttered open, she was met with a wash of brightness. Turning her head to peer out the window, she found that dawn had already broken, yet the space beside her in the bed was conspicuously empty.


    Rising into a sitting position, a sharp twinge of pain shot through her calves. She lifted the nket to inspect them, finding the swelling to be as severe as before, albeit slightly less painful. Tentatively, she pinched the swollen area, a gasp escaping her lips as the pain red anew.


    Abruptly, the bedroom door swung open, revealing Alexander with a tray in his hands. He crossed the room to sit beside her, drawing her attention. Dressed in a ck shirt and a silver vest, his waist appeared even more slender than usual. In his formal attire, he exuded an air of stoicism that had fooled many. From the tray, Alexander picked up a bowl and scooped some polenta, bringing it to her lips.


    "Open your mouth," he instructed.


    Obediently, Quinn opened her mouth, but her gaze remained fixed on his face. He fed her a Sebastianful of polenta, then another, until she had finished the entire bowl. Her hunger was ravenous, as if she hadn''t eaten in days, and she swallowed each mouthful without hesitation.


    Alexander cast a sidelong nce at her, asking, "Why are you staring at me?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She pursed her lips, averting her gaze to the now-empty bowl of polenta. His sigh echoed in the silence as he continued to feed her. Before long, the bowl was empty.


    "Do you want more?" he asked.


    Quinn nodded in response.Alexander studied her for a moment before augh escaped him, the sound grating against the quiet of the room. By the time Quinn looked up, he had already risen and left the room.


    He returned a few minutester with another bowl of polenta. Quinn consumed the second serving, finally satiating her hunger. She shook her head when he offered more, indicating that she was full.'' Alexander returned the bowl to the tray and stood, instructing, "Rest well, don''t get out of bed casually. Can you remember that?"


    With a solemn nod, Quinn affirmed her understanding.Alexander cast onest nce at her before departing with the tray, never to return. Left alone, Quinn remained obediently in bed. However, the call of nature soon made itself known, difort creeping in as her dder filled.


    As she deliberated whether to leave the bed for the bathroom, the doorbell rang from downstairs. The memory of Soren from the previous day came to mind. It must be him, she thought.


    Abandoning the idea of the bathroom, she braved the pain and descended the stairs to the door. With a firm grip on the handle, she pulled it open. The sight that greeted her left Quinn frozen in ce. It wasn''t Soren who hade calling, but Getty.


    Getty stood in the doorway, bundled up as usual, her gaze sweeping over Quinn from behind her sunsses.


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    The faint sound of barking from within the house finally drew Getty''s attention away from Quinn. Without waiting for an invitation, she stepped inside.


    Quinn made to block her, but Getty brushed past her with ease. Quinn stumbled, barely managing to catch herself on the door frame.


    Once inside, Getty surveyed the surroundings. White cloths still covered some of the furniture, making the situation clear at a nce. She turned back to Quinn, a smug smile ying on her lips.


    "I knew it. Alexander was doing fine with me during this time. Why did he suddenlye backst night? It turns out that it was you who was causing trouble."


    Approaching Quinn, Getty lifted her chin defiantly, removing her sunsses to stare down at her with an air of arrogance.


    She regarded Quinn as if she were the wife and Quinn the mistress.


    "You said that you were divorced. Is that true?" Getty asked.Taken aback, Quinn could only blink in surprise, a flicker of astonishment shing in her eyes.

 Chapter 426

    Divorced?


    She and Alexander were divorced?


    Upon witnessing her reaction, Getty''s fury only amplified. "Have you forgotten your own words? You imed you were divorced, didn''t you? Show me the divorce certificate!" she demanded.


    Quinn merely pressed her lips together, shaking her head to indicate that she didn''t know anything about a divorce certificate.


    "You..." Getty''s anger was palpable. "Are you ying me for a fool? Everything here is shrouded in secrecy, and I came to investigate two days prior. The door was sealed. Do you dare to deny your divorce now?Why are you so shameless? Even after getting divorced, you''re still clinging to Alexander! I thought you had already hooked up with Orion. What happened? Orion doesn''t want you anymore?"


    Quinn''splexion grew increasingly pallid at Getty''s harsh words.


    Getty scoffed, "It''s only logical, I suppose. Given your circumstances, I doubt you could survive without a man."


    Having spoken, Getty''s gaze swept over the room before she began rifling through the contents, assuming the role of the homeowner. If Quinn wouldn''t show her the divorce certificate, she would find it herself.


    Quinn watched as Getty treated her vi as if it were her own, her brows furrowing in displeasure. Despite the pain in her feet, she approached Getty, grasping her arm and shaking her head in protest.Getty regarded her with contempt. "What do you think you''re doing? Get away from me!"With an impatient shove, Getty dismissed Quinn and resumed her search. Finding nothing of interest downstairs, she prepared to ascend the staircase, only to be blocked by Quinn. "Move out of my way!" Gettymanded.


    Quinn spread her arms, blocking the stairs with no intention of stepping aside.


    "You stupid dummy, are you going to move or not?" Getty yelled.


    Quinn met Getty''s gaze with a defiant stare, not yielding an inch. She raised her hand, gesturing assertively, "This is my house, you need to leave."Getty only partially understood, but she didn''t care to ponder it further. She reached out, grasping Quinn''s arm and shoving her aside.


    "Stop gesturing and move aside!"


    With that push, Quinnnded squarely on the stairs. The impact jarred her, but the pain in her legs was far worse.


    Getty strode past her, confidently ascending the staircase.


    Quinn attempted to rise, but a sudden cramp in her calf muscle hindered her, making standing a struggle.


    She remained seated on the stairs, the sound of Getty''s high heels echoing from above, a silent sigh escaping her lips.


    Suddenly, the faint sound of dogs barking reached her ears.


    Quinn perked up, listening intently. Once she confirmed it wasn''t a figment of her imagination, she rose and followed the sound.


    To her surprise, she discovered a cage housing two small dogs in the storeroom.


    Quinn carried the cage into the living room. The two small dogs inside became excited at her presence, jumping up and down in their confinement, eager to escape.


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    Quinn stared at the two dogs in bewilderment. She had no idea how these dogs hade to be in her house, and they looked so small.


    She opened the cage, and the two dogs immediately scampered out, joyously expXavierng their new surroundings.


    Their first act of freedom was to leave a puddle of urine and two piles of feces at the doorway.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Quinn stared at the mess in a daze, her mouth agape. If Alexander were to see this upon his return, he would undoubtedly be furious.


    She hurried over, intending to corral the dogs back into their cage. However, the dogs proved to be too unruly. Before Quinn could get close, they scattered and ran away.


    They sniffed here and smelled there, even rummaging through several trash bins in search of food.Quinn stood in the midst of the chaos, feeling a sudden sense of helplessness. Just then, Getty descended from the upper floor.


    "I knew it! You two are divorced, and I found the proof!" Quinn instinctively turned her head and saw the divorce certificate in Getty''s hand.

 Chapter 427

    Quinn''s gaze bore into the divorce certificate clutched in Getty''s hand, her eyes fierce and searching, as though attempting to prate the paper''s surface. With an air of arrogance, Getty sauntered over to Quinn''s side, brandishing the document like a victorious g. "Do you have anything else to say?" she taunted. Quinn''s eyes remained locked on the certificate, her hand reaching out in a daze to touch it. But Getty was quick to lift her hand, deftly evading Quinn''s grasp. Getty unfolded the document, revealing not a picture of herself and Alexander as one might expect, but a solitary image of Alexander set against a stark red background.


    The date of registration, the divorce number, and the names were all meticulously detailed. The reality of the situation began to sink in - she and Alexander had been divorced for a week.


    Quinn''splexion drained of color, her mouth twitching as she struggled to find an appropriate expression to meet this revtion.


    The sight of the divorce certificate made her feel like a fool, a jester in this grand room of life. The memory of Alexander''s words from the previous day echoed in her mind. He had called her thick-skinned, and now she realized just how shameless she had been.


    Getty snapped the certificate shut with a smirk. "Alright, I got what I wanted. I''m leaving."She slid the document into her bag, her smile radiating a sense of pride and confidence.


    "Quinn, I suggest you gather some self-respect and leave. Don''t you feel a shred of embarrassment for lingering here? You''d better leave on your own ord. It would be quite the spectacle if Alexander had to throw you out."But given your thick skin, you probably wouldn''t mind."


    With those parting words, Getty shouldered past Quinn, exiting the vi with a flourish. However, her triumphant departure was cut short as she let out a shriek at the doorway.Quinn turned to see Getty, her face contorted in embarrassment, having stepped in dog poop.


    Getty shot Quinn a murderous re. "You stupid dummy, did you do it on purpose?"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Quinn pursed her lips and didn''t say anything.


    Getty looked very angry, she walked out of the gate, kicked off her high heels, and hurled them into the yard. She then gingerly stepped over the dog poop at the doorstep and advanced towards Quinn with a vengeance.


    Quinn instinctively recoiled at Getty''s aggressive approach, but it was to no avail. Getty swiftly raised her hand and delivered a stinging p to Quinn''s face. The force of the blow sent Quinn sprawling to the ground, her vision momentarily darkening.


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    "You stupid dummy, you''re already divorced and you''re still so despicable. You''ve only got yourself to me for losing Alexander. Why drag me into your mess?" Getty spat out, her anger reaching a fever pitch.


    She had never been this incensed before. She bent down, gripped Quinn''s cor, and hissed, "I warn you, if you dare to pester Alexander again, I''ll kill you!"


    Previously, Getty had been cautious, restrained by the fact that Quinn and Alexander were still married. But now that they were divorced, what did she have to fear? Alexander had cast Quinn aside, leaving Getty free to act as she pleased. This realization seemed to mollify Getty, even the unpleasant incident at the doorstep paled inparison.Quinn stared at Getty''s triumphant expression, momentarily at a loss for words.


    Getty was right. She had no right to interfere in Alexander''s life anymore. Getty was now Alexander''s girlfriend, and she was nothing.


    She was the secret lover without an identity.


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    She had always been a secret, but now... she was an even deeper secret.


    Even if Getty chose to strike her, she had no grounds to retaliate given her own actions. Yet, Getty''s smug expression was revolting to Quinn.


    She had once considered Getty a friend, but now, Getty had taken away the man she loved.


    "Why are you so bitter?" Getty sneered, her cold gaze fixed on Quinn.


    "What are you now? Do you dare to defy me?What right do you have to look at me like that?If you continue to cling to him, you''ll be nothing more than a shameless mistress." Getty''s words, spilling from her lips with each breath, sent a shiver down Quinn''s spine.

 Chapter 428

    Irritation seethed within Quinn, a tempestuous storm brewing beneath her calm exterior.


    Getty''s incessant tirade was like a needle pricking her patience, and in a sudden fit of rage, Quinn swiveled her head, sinking her teeth into Getty''s unsuspecting wrist. The force of her bite was such that Getty''s screams reverberated through the vi, startling the two puppies that were busily rummaging through a nearby garbage can.


    Intrigued by themotion, the dogs trotted over, positioning themselves a safe distance away. Their heads tilted in curiosity as they observed the unfolding drama, tails wagging in unison.


    "Let go of me, you dummy!" Getty shrieked, raising her free hand in an attempt to p Quinn.But Quinn was quick to react. She released Getty''s bitten wrist only totch onto the other with equal ferocity.


    Getty''s screams echoed once more through the vi. Blood smeared both of Getty''s hands. She hadn''t anticipated the sharpness of Quinn''s teeth, which had nearly torn a chunk of flesh from her hand. A deep, gruesome bite mark marred the back of her hand, the broken skin weeping fresh blood.


    "Let go of me!" Getty pleaded, struggling to free herself. She tried to yank Quinn''s hair, but her injuries hindered her strength.


    Suddenly, the re of a car horn pierced the tense atmosphere. Unfazed, Quinn bit down harder on Getty''s wrist, her pent-up anger finding an outlet.


    The harder she bit, the more her fury seemed to dissipate. Getty''s cries of pain filled the air as she begged for mercy, but Quinn was relentless. The corners of her mouth were smeared with Getty''s blood.


    "What the hell are you doing?" A voice rang out behind them. It was Alexander.


    Getty saw him as her salvation, turning to him desperately.


    "Alexander, help me! Quinn''s lost her mind!"


    Alexander''s face was a mask of fury as he took in the sight before him. Quinn still had Getty''s wrist mped between her teeth, fresh blood trickling from her mouth. Her eyes were locked onto his, flickering with an unreadable emotion. "Let go," hemanded.


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    But Quinn only bit down harder, her teeth sinking deeper into Getty''s flesh. Getty drew in a sharp breath, her sobs intensifying.


    "Alexander, pull her off! Has she contracted rabies?!"


    Alexander''s expression hardened. He stepped forward, pinching Quinn''s jaw and speaking in a low, stern voice.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    "Rx your jaw, do you understand?" Quinn''s gaze flickered, hesitation clouding her eyes, but she didn''t release Getty.


    "Quinn!" Alexander''s shout startled her. His grip on her jaw tightened, causing Quinn to wince and furrow her brows in pain.


    The sudden jolt of pain caused her teeth to loosen their grip, and Getty seized the opportunity to wrench her hand free. She stared at her blood-soaked wrist, her sobs turning into uncontroble wails.


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    "Alexander, look!" She extended her mangled wrist towards him. The bite was severe, the teeth marks barely visible beneath the deep red circle embedded in her flesh.


    Alexander''s gaze scrutinized the wound before he yanked Quinn up by her cor. "Have you lost your mind?"


    Quinn''s eyes, rimmed with red, darted between the two of them, a deste look in her eyes. They had always bullied her because of her inability to speak. Now, even her attempt at self-defense was seen as a mistake.


    To Alexander, Getty was the apple of his eye. Even the slightest touch was considered a crime, let alone retaliating. Who was she inparison? Once the secret adopted daughter of the Kennedys, now his secret ex-wife. She was nothingpared to Getty. Upon seeing her tear-filled eyes, Alexander turned to Getty, his voiceced with confusion.


    "What happened? Why are you here?"


    A pang of guilt washed over Getty. She hesitated for a moment before hastily pulling out a divorce certificate from her bag and thrusting it towards him. "For this!" she eximed.

 Chapter 429

    Uponying his eyes on the divorce certificate, a frown creased Alexander''s forehead.


    "Where did thise from?" he inquired.


    Getty''s gaze flickered towards Quinn as she retorted with a stubborn tone, "Naturally, she handed it to me. I came to confirm whether you two had truly divorced. Fearing my disbelief, she presented it as proof."


    Quinn remained silent, her eyes fixed on Getty as thetter manipted the truth to her advantage.


    Alexander''s gaze shifted back to Quinn.


    "Did you give this to her?" he asked.


    Quinn responded with a simple shake of her head.


    Observing this, Getty hastily interjected, "You little dummy, you clearly gave it to me. Why are you pretending otherwise now? Alexander, this is your divorce certificate. If she hadn''t given it to me, how would I have known its location?"


    Alexander remained silent, his expression hardening into a grim mask.Quinn''s lips tightened into a thin line as she met Alexander''s gaze, fully aware that he would be swayed by Getty''s persuasive words. After all, Getty was quite convincing, and she, a mute girl, was unable to voice her defense.


    However, Alexander''s next move was unexpected. He snatched the divorce certificate from Getty''s grasp, tore it into shreds, and nonchntly discarded it on the floor.


    The sudden act left Getty dumbfounded, momentarily forgetting her injuries."Alexander, you..." she began, but was cut off as Alexander grasped her arm, assisting her to her feet. "I''ll take you to the hospital," he dered. Getty''s resentment bubbled up. Every time a situation like this arose, he would sidestep it, changing the topic. Was he nning to avoid confronting this significant issue as well?


    "Alexander, are you just going to dismiss this? Look at the state I''m in!" she protested.


    Alexander''s response was icy.


    "What do you expect me to do? Retaliate?"Getty was momentarily speechless. She did want to fight back, but couldn''t muster the courage. All she wanted was for Alexander to reprimand Quinn and show some support for her. But what did his current actions imply?


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    Was he not taking anyone''s side?


    In the end, Getty spat out in frustration, "I am not a dog. If a dog bites me, should I bite it back?"Alexander simply responded, "Then let''s head to the hospital."


    He didn''t even rebuke Getty for referring to Quinn as a dog. Quinn, seated on the ground, dropped her gaze, feeling the sting on her cheek where she had been pped.


    Not only on this side of her face, but it felt as if Alexander had pped her on the other side as well. Their sarcastic exchanges felt like a physical blow, leaving her feeling humiliated. She couldn''tprehend why she was still there. Getty, fearful of her wound bing infected, decided to cease arguing. Given his attitude, there was no point in continuing the dispute.


    She might even provoke him to the point where he stopped caring about her entirely.


    Getty casually wiped the saliva and blood from her wound with a tissue and turned to leave. "Why aren''t you wearing shoes?" Alexander asked.


    Getty retorted impatiently, "Ask that dummy over there. She left dog droppings at the door. She was brought up by The Kennedys, a prestigious family. How did they manage to raise such a coarse individual?"


    Indeed, the poor will always remain poor. Even if they move into a mansion, they won''t transform into princesses.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander didn''t contradict her. He simply walked ahead and opened the car door for Getty.


    Even after they had departed, Quinn could still hear the echo of Getty''s harsh words and Alexander''s silent acquiescence from within the house. Quinn sat on the cold floor, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Suddenly, she burst intoughter, tears streaming down her face. Two puppies scampered up to Quinn, circling her and licking her fingers.


    One of them hopped onto herp, sniffing around her.


    Quinn lowered her head, tears dripping from her chin onto the little dog''s head. She raised her hand and gently stroked its head.

 Chapter 430

    Alexander took Getty to the hospital, and on the way, Getty kept up a steady stream ofints and curses directed at Quinn.


    Alexander, growing impatient, lit a cigarette and interrupted her sharply. "Enough," he ordered.


    Getty swiveled her head to re at him, her anger palpable. "I''ve been bitten and you''re still defending that fool. Is it too much to expect a little sympathy?" she retorted. Alexander''s response was swift and pointed. "Wasn''t it you who struck her first?"


    Getty was momentarily taken aback, then rallied to defend herself. "She bit me. Was I supposed to just take it?"


    "I recall advising you against going to Regal Riverside. Your memory seems to be failing you," Alexander pointed out.


    Getty hesitated, then guiltily turned her gaze to the window. "I wouldn''t have gone if you were still married. But now that you''re divorced, why can''t I?" she muttered.


    "We''re not divorced," Alexander corrected her.Getty scoffed, herughter bitter.


    "So tearing up the divorce papers doesn''t count as a divorce?"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Alexander chose not to respond.


    "You lied to me about being divorced. Don''t you want to marry me?" Getty pressed.


    Alexander remained silent, hisck of response causing Getty''s heart to sink.


    "Say something!" she demanded.


    "Stop the car!" shemanded.


    Surprisingly, Alexanderplied. He mmed on the brakes and turned to face Getty. She red back at him, her anger barely contained.


    "Even if I divorce her, I won''t marry you. Do you understand?" Alexander''s words were like a dagger to Getty''s heart. Her anger quickly dissolved into sorrow, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Why?" she choked out.


    Alexander''s voice was calm as he replied, "You know the circumstances under which I married her. If I wanted to marry you, who would agree?"


    "Do we need others'' approval to marry? If you truly loved me, you would marry me regardless of any obstacles. So, deep down, you don''t want to marry me, do you?" Getty''s words were punctuated by her tears. Alexander''s response was measured.


    "Do you love me?"


    "Of course I do! If I didn''t, how could I have stayed with you for so long?" Getty retorted.


    Alexander''s smile was faint. "If you truly loved me, would you say such a thing?"Getty was left speechless. She stared at Alexander, trying to decipher the man before her. If he didn''t love her, why was he so kind to her? He asked nothing of her, and gave her everything but marriage.


    After a long silence, Getty finally spoke, her voice choked with emotion. "Isn''t it natural for two people in love to want to be together? To ovee any obstacle and walk the path to marriage?"


    "Don''t be naive," Alexander responded, his words shattering her illusions. "Marriage and love are not the same thing."


    "What is your status? You need to think clearly and not involve yourself. It''s not beneficial to you." Getty''s gaze flickered at his words. She had been with Alexander for a long time, but had never heard of a wealthy young master giving up everything for love.


    She had seen many beautiful women and loved many people, but for them, love was just a temporary surge of hormones. They nevercked for admirers or romantic encounters.


    But she had always been an exception to Alexander, even earning polite treatment from their circle.


    Getty suddenly realized that she had indeed forgotten her own status and the distance between her and Alexander. She had been caught up in the illusion that she was unique, that Alexander would defy the world for her. This naive belief wasughable to others.


    Getty wiped her tears and asked him, her voice choked with emotion, "Then who will you marry?"

 Chapter 431

    Under a veil of smoke, Alexander''s gaze pierced through the windshield, lingering on the sidewalk nketed in fallen leaves.


    He remained ensnared in silence, the tendrils of his thoughts seemingly entwined with the wisps of smoke that curled from his lips.


    Getty, seated beside him, waited with bated breath until the cigarette in his hand had been reduced to a mere stub. Breaking the silence, she asked, "Are you still taking me to the hospital?"Her question hung in the air as she hesitated, lowering her gaze to the wound on her hand.


    The bleeding had ceased, but the sight of the wound was still jarring. With a gloomy undertone in her voice, she affirmed, "Yes, given the circumstances, I should at least get a rabies shot."


    Alexander shot her a cryptic look at her words, his gaze as unreadable as a cipher.Getty pursed her lips, her resolve unshaken. She was acutely aware of Alexander''s tolerance towards her, a testament to her astuteness. They say men are drawn to women with fiery tempers, especially men like Alexander who have encountered a myriad of women. A well-timed disy of temper could pique their interest even more.


    As long as she kept it within bounds, she knew he wouldn''t cast her aside so easily. With a flick of his wrist, Alexander discarded the cigarette butt through the car window, reignited the engine, and steered the car toward the hospital. Upon hearing Getty''s request for a rabies shot, the doctor cast her a peculiar look."This doesn''t appear to be an animal bite," the doctor remarked.


    Getty retorted, "Does it matter? If a rabid person bites another, wouldn''t it be contagious?"


    "There''s a chance, albeit a slim one," the doctor conceded.


    "However, if you insist on getting the shot, I won''t object."


    "Proceed," Getty said firmly. "I''ll find peace of mind once it''s done."


    Meanwhile, back at the house, Quinn was tidying up the aftermath of the chaos. She cleaned up the mess from the overturned items and the waste left at the door.


    She also retrieved the divorce certificate from the floor, mending it with glue. Seated on the sofa, she ran her fingers gently over the fissured document.


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    In the divorce certificate, Alexander''s photograph bore the same cracks, but his icy gaze remained unscathed. Even in the picture, his indifference was palpable. He wasn''t looking directly at the camera, but rather seemed to be looking down upon it, exuding an air of aloofness.


    Quinn closed the divorce certificate and ced it on the table. She then corralled the two dogs at her feet into a cage, preparing to depart from the vi. Just as she was about to leave, Sean arrived.


    Apanied by a doctor, Sean entered the vi to find Quinn on the verge of leaving with the dogs. He quickly inquired, "Quinn, where are you going?"Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn fixed him with a steady gaze, reaching for her phone to type a response, but Sean interjected, "Quinn, hold off on leaving for a bit. You still need a few more rabies shots."


    Quinn froze, her gaze instinctively flickering to Sean. She recalled Getty''s derogatory remark, likening her to a dog, and now a doctor was here to administer a rabies vine.


    Could it be that Alexander also viewed her as a dog?


    A hint of redness welled up in Quinn''s eyes as she stared at the two figures blocking the door, trying to discern their intentions. After a moment of silence, she set down the dog cage and nodded in agreement.


    The doctor promptly asked her to sit on the couch, retrieved the rabies vine from his bag, rolled up her sleeve, and administered the shot in her arm.


    The sting of the needle seemed to echo in Quinn''s heart, causing it to flutter painfully.


    But it didn''t matter. They were divorced... It didn''t matter anymore what she was to him. Whether she was a human or a dog, it was irrelevant. She was whatever he deemed her to be.After the injection, Sean said, "Okay, Quinn, are you taking the dogs to get vinated? But these two dogs have already been vinated, they don''t need it again."


    Quinn remained silent. Sean, not expecting a response, left with the doctor.


    Not long after their departure, Quinn picked up the dogs and stepped out of the vi. As she closed the door behind her, she walked along the sidewalk, the dogs cradled in her arms. She was unsure of her destination, of where she could seek refuge. The world around her felt alien and unfamiliar.

 Chapter 432

    Apart from the two dogs, she had nothing else to call her own. She had chosen to bring the dogs along simply because she was certain that Alexander would never tolerate such pets in his home. Thus, they must be hers. They appeared to be the only possessions she could im as she embarked on her journey.


    Quinn''s leg was injured, limiting her mobility. After a short walk, she found a suitable ce to rest. She spent the remainder of the afternoon in idle solitude.


    Eventually, she found herself in a park bustling with activity. It was the time when school had just let out, and parents were apanying their children to the amusement park.


    Quinn located an empty swing. She ced the puppies on the ground and seated herself on the swing, her gaze drifting towards the dark clouds looming in the sky.


    Suddenly, two little girls appeared, squatting next to the dog cage and yfully teasing the puppies inside. "Miss, are these your dogs?" one of them asked.


    At the sound of the voice, Quinn nced down at the girls. They were identical twins, no older than three or four, with their hair tied up in buns and d in matching red down jackets. Their innocent faces momentarily transported Quinn into a world of thought.


    "Miss, may we y with them?" they asked.


    Quinn studied their eager faces, managing a forced smile and a nod of approval. The children squealed in delight, opening the dog cage and each taking a puppy. They cradled the dogs, gently stroking their heads, their smiles revealing two missing front teeth.


    An inexplicable wave of sadness washed over Quinn. She had often wondered what her own child might look like. Perhaps, just like this...


    The children''sughter echoed in the park. They must have been well-loved and cared for by their parents, allowing them such uninhibited joy. Suddenly, one of the puppies darted away, causing one of the girls to squeal in surprise before chasing after it.


    Quinn watched the lively scene unfold from her swing, a simr memory ying in her mind. She too had once been that carefree and happy. The wind picked up again, tossing her hair into her face and obscuring her view. Before long, the mother of the girls approached, leading her daughters to return the puppies.


    "Give the dogs back to thedy," she instructed. The girl reluctantlyplied, cing the dog back into the cage.


    The woman offered Quinn an apologetic smile, "I''m sorry, my girls almost ran off with your dog."Quinn shook her head, dismissing the apology with a smile.


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    The woman gathered her daughters, "Let''s head home. It looks like rain."With a farewell to Quinn, the woman hurriedly left the park. One by one, the others began to leave as well.


    Quinn collected her cage and followed suit. However, as she exited the park, she realized she had nowhere to go. She sought shelter in a nearby pavilion and sat down. Within ten minutes, a heavy downpour began, the sound of raindrops hitting the ground reverberating loudly. The wind blew the rain sideways, causing it to pour into the pavilion.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn was forced to retreat to a corner, shielding the cage from the rain. Meanwhile, Alexander returned to an empty house. His eyes immediately fell on the divorce certificate lying on the table, igniting a surge of anger within him. He strode over to the table, snatched up the certificate, and clenched his fist, crumpling the document.


    With a swift motion, Alexander tossed the divorce certificate into the trash can. He ascended the stairs, expecting to find Quinn, but she was nowhere to be found. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.

 Chapter 433

    The rain was getting heavier, and the wind was getting stronger. Thunder roared in the sky. Quinn hugged the cage, trembling in the dark corner.


    When she came out, she didn''t bring her Social Security card, her phone, or anything else. She had nowhere to go now.


    Besides this corner, she didn''t know where else to go, just like a homeless stray dog.


    The two puppies were also shivering, curled up together in the cage, whimpering pitifully.


    Quinn couldn''t bear it anymore, so she opened the cage and picked up the two dogs to hold them in her arms.


    The soft puppies in her arms gave her a hint of warmth, and they didn''t bark much anymore. They kept burrowing into Quinn''s embrace, even crawling into her clothes. Feeling the movements in her embrace, Quinn''s lips unconsciously curved up.


    Suddenly, a beam of light shot over, making it difficult for Quinn to open her eyes.


    She looked up and squinted her eyes.


    In the distance, a car was parked in the rain, with its headlights shining directly on her. The windshield wipers on the car kept moving back and forth.


    Quinn pursed her lips and saw someone getting out of the car. The person was backlit, so she couldn''t see his appearance clearly, and she could only see the tall figure.


    The man held an umbre and walked toward her quickly.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It wasn''t until his backpletely blocked the car headlights that Quinn opened her eyes and looked up.


    It was Alexander.


    He held an umbre and stood in front of Quinn, looking down at her.


    His face was hidden in the darkness, and his expression couldn''t be seen clearly, but the surrounding air felt much colder.


    Alexander threw away the umbre, bent down, and pulled Quinn up.


    Only then did Quinn see his face. Anger flickered on his cold face, looking very angry.


    "Quinn, what are you trying to do?"


    It was this question again, leaving Quinn speechless.


    What was she trying to do?


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    She didn''t even know what she wanted to do. How could she answer him?


    Quinn stared at him intently. The cold wind blew, and many raindrops fell on both of them, hitting Quinn''s face and sending a chilling sensation through her bones.


    Alexander grabbed her cor, almost gritting his teeth. "Do you want to die?"


    Quinn hugged the two dogs in her arms. They squirmed in her embrace, found the cor opening, and poked their heads out, staring at Alexander.


    Quinn remained silent for a moment. She pried the man''s hand open, bent down, and put the two dogs back into the cage.


    She looked up at Alexander again, gesturing. "I don''t want to do anything. We are already divorced. You don''t have to care about me anymore. Whether I live or die, it has nothing to do with you." Quinn repeated, "We have no rtion."


    From her expression and gestures, the paleness and destion of this statement seemed to be conveyed.


    Yeah, they had no rtionship anymore. Why did hee here to scold her?


    Alexanderughed in anger. "We have no rtionship now, but who said I didn''t want her yesterday? What nonsense are you talking about, Quinn? Are you crazy?" Quinn was taken aback. She was indeed crazy...


    If she weren''t crazy, how could she have forgotten about her divorce from Alexander? How could she havee back to Regal Riverside to witness his defense of Getty? How could she have brought shame upon herself?


    If it weren''t for his harsh tone, Quinn would have thought he was actually concerned about her.


    Quinn''s lips moved, but she could only remain silent.


    Alexander stared at her with piercing eyes. "Why aren''t you speaking?


    "Have you be a dummy again?"


    He grabbed her chin as if he wanted to crush her.


    Quinn''s eyes welled up with tears as she looked directly into his eyes. The blinding light behind him made her eyes burn.


    She simply couldn''t speak.


    Alexander suddenly let go of her, causing Quinn fall onto the bench. The railing behind her hit her back, causing pain to shoot through her spine.

 Chapter 434

    "You''re right. We are divorced. I''ve meddled too much!


    "You like to stay here, then continue staying with these two damn dogs!"


    With these words, Alexander turned around and walked away without looking back.


    The umbre on the ground remained in its ce, but he kicked it far away.


    Quinn just stared at him, watching him walk alone into the rain. The heavy rain swallowed his figure.


    She watched as he got into the car and drove it far away. The beam of light disappeared, and the surroundings fell into darkness. Quinn sat nkly in the pavilion, letting the rain hit her face.


    Quinn closed her eyes and instinctively hugged herself.


    She felt like dying, but it seemed that there was still something she hadn''tpleted, something waiting for her to do.


    She picked up the dog cage and walked to the corner, curling up again.


    The two little dogs trembled in fear, just like her, homeless.


    They suffered by sticking with her. Perhaps they shouldn''t have been brought along either.


    Quinn buried her head in her knees, listening to the pouring rain and thunder outside. This night was torturous, every second and every minute. Why was this winter so long?


    Alexander didn''t go far. His car was parked not far away on the side of the road, but the lights were turned off, making the car less noticeable in the dark. He had been smoking all this time, the car filled with thick smoke. He opened the window and let the pouring rain rush in.


    It soaked himpletely.


    The cigarette in his hand got wet and extinguished.


    He brushed aside the strands of hair that fell onto his forehead, tilted his head, and looked at the blurry scenery outside the car window.


    In the second half of the night, the heavy rain gradually stopped and turned into a drizzle.


    Quinn''s lips turned purple from the cold, and her hands and feet were freezing.


    The wound on her calf was soaked in water, causing a throbbing pain. She covered her head with her hat and huddled in the pavilion with the cage all night. Finally, this long rainy night came to an end.


    The next day.


    Alexander arrived at thepany early; it was only 7 o''clock, and there wasn''t a single employee besides the janitor and guard. He pressed the elevator button and found someone already inside. "Alexander, why are you here so early?"


    Alexander looked at him coldly but didn''t say anything.


    Walter looked him up and down. Under the dim lights, he could see that Alexander''s clothes were soaked, and his hair was a bit disheveled.


    Stepping out of the elevator, Walter stood next to him and smiled. "It looks like you got caught in the rainst night, huh?


    "Let me guess. Quinn got lost, and you went out looking for her, right?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander''s calm expression finally showed a slight change as he turned to look at Walter.


    "Do you want to know how I found it out?"


    "Walter," Alexander suddenly called out to him.


    Walter raised an eyebrow. "What''s up, Alexander?"


    "Instead of caring about others, why don''t you think about how to improve your own value?"


    Walter paused for a moment, then quickly resumed his smile. "It''s my first day at work, and I workedtest night. Oliver, don''t be so harsh on me. "It''s actually you who seems to have your mind elsewhere these past few days."


    Leaning against the wall, Walter looked at him teasingly. "Actually, many things aren''t asplicated as they seem. You just need to investigate to find out. "Are you toozy to investigate, or are you afraid of finding out things you don''t want to ept? Are you afraid that you would be soft-hearted?"

 Chapter 435

    Walter was right. Alexander had countless opportunities to investigate, but he just didn''t.


    This man was proud yet strange, speaking with double meanings. Walter understood this very well. He would never admit that he loved a woman too much, especially a woman who was inappropriate for him. Alexander nced at him, his gaze turning cold.


    Walter shrugged and turned to leave. "I''m off work. See you in the afternoon."


    As he said that, he raised his hand without facing Alexander.


    Alexander looked at the elevator and went to the top floor. As he passed the office, he hesitated for a moment and subconsciously nced inside.


    He wasn''t sure what he was thinking, but he walked into the office and immediately saw Quinn''s desk.


    When she left a couple of days ago, she didn''t have time to turn off theputer. The screen was still on, and her bag was still on the desk.


    Alexander picked up her bag and nced inside. He caught sight of a small notebook.


    Without thinking, he took it out and casually flipped it open.


    When he saw the words on top, his expression suddenly changed, and he quickly flipped through a few pages.


    The office was so quiet that the sound of him flipping through the notebook seemed especially loud.


    The dark clouds outside were dense, with a drizzle floating in the air, making the office even darker, more like it was nighttime than morning.


    Several colleagues entered the office, chatting andughing. The next moment, they froze in the doorway.


    Standing in the dim office was a tall and upright man, motionless. The light from theputer screen reflected on his face, eerie and menacing. "Manager?" Hollis called out.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander snapped back to reality, looked up toward them, and discreetly closed his notebook, slipping it into his pocket as he walked towards the door.


    "Don''t forget to turn off yourputer before leaving."


    Hollis stuttered, but by the time she regained her senses, he was already gone.


    She hurriedly exined to Alexander, "Manager, that''s not my position!"


    Unfortunately, Alexander had already entered his own office, shutting out her words. She was unaware if he had heard them or not.


    Quinn had been waiting in the pavilion for a long time. She finally waited for the rain to lighten up. Holding a cage, she wanted to find a shopping mall or another warm ce. However, with two dogs in tow, she was denied entry at several ces.


    She had no choice but to squat outside the mall entrance.


    The two small dogs were probably hungry, too. They were crying pitifully inside the cage. Quinn looked down and focused on the two little dogs in the cage. She was very shocked. Because she was feeling a bit hungry herself.


    She was not only hungry but also cold, and her legs hurt.


    There was a food cart selling hot dogs and fries outside the mall. They only cost two dors, but she couldn''t afford it.


    She waspletely broke.


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    Just as Quinn was thinking about how to feed the two little dogs or how to settle them down so they wouldn''t starve or freeze with her.


    A car drove in and parked diagonally in the designated parking spot.


    The car door opened, and Walter got out.


    Because he hadn''t sleptst night, he looked a bit haggard, and his hair was a little messy.


    But when he stood next to Quinn, his fatigue didn''t seem so severepared to her.


    Quinn squatted on the ground, staring straight at him.


    Walter stood in front of her, hands behind his back, slightly leaning forward, smiling as he made eye contact with Quinn. Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Walter was already certain that she had forgotten what happened before.


    "Sister-inw." he lightly smiled. The way he called her sister-inw was not respectful but rather carried a hint of ambiguity.

 Chapter 436

    Quinn frowned, feeling a bit ufortable.


    Walter asked, "Quinn, do you have nowhere to go?" Although Quinn was skeptical, she still nodded.


    "Poor thing, forgetting even where you live," he said with a smile on his face. The curly hair falling on the sides covered his cheeks. His words sounded indifferent, as if saying, "It''s such a pity that your clothes are dirty." Quinn remained silent for a moment before gesturing with her hand, indicating that she and Alexander had divorced.


    Walter nodded and said, "I know. I''m asking if you forget where you live now?"


    Quinn was puzzled. Did she have another ce to live? But why couldn''t she remember at all?


    Walter reached out his hand to her and said, "Come on, let me take you back."


    Quinn hesitated and gestured. "I don''t want to go to The Kennedys."


    "It''s not The Kennedys. I know you got divorced," Walter said, suddenlyughing, "Do I look like a fool?"


    Quinn was stunned again. Her face instantly turned red.


    She declined Walter''s assistance and stood up, gesturing her thanks to him.


    Walter''s gaze flickered. The amusement in his eyes deepened and even carried a hint of yfulness.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He even wondered if he pped her every day, would she still thank him the next day?


    Interesting.


    "Well then, let''s go."


    Walter turned and walked to his car, personally opening the door for her.


    Quinn subconsciously looked at him again, seeing the gentle smile on his face, and got into the car with her puppy.


    After getting in the car, Walter drove her to an old neighborhood, which was the ce the doctor arranged for her before.


    Walter arrived in front of the house, took out the key from his pocket, opened the door, and said to her, "Go in."


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    Quinn became even more surprised when she saw the key in his hand. How could he have the key to her house?


    "Don''t you believe me? Go in and see if your things are all inside."


    After hearing this, Quinn took a step and walked in. Her things from before were still untouched, all scattered on the floor.


    She absentmindedly opened a package, and it was filled with her clothes.


    Quinn finally believed that she had moved here after divorcing Alexander.


    Quinn thanked Walter again, then asked him, "Why do you have the key to this ce?"


    Walter casually sat on the sofa, smiling as he looked at her, and made up a story. "Because you always forget, so you gave me a spare key."


    Quinn''s suspicion deepened on her face.


    In her impression, she didn''t seem to be that close to Walter yet.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Walter said, "You can see for yourself. These notes in the house will tell you everything."


    Hearing this, Quinn noticed that there were many sticky notes in the house. She quickly ran over to check each one.


    Then, she understood the key issue.


    After finishing reading, Quinn went to Walter and gestured her thanks to him.


    Walter smiled. "You''re wee, anyway. You''ll forget it again tomorrow." Quinn''s expression changed; she suddenly lowered her head, feeling lost.


    Walter stood up, walked to Quinn''s side, and lifted her chin.


    Quinn looked up, meeting his innocuous smile.


    He lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Write down that you have divorced Alexander. It''s best to stick it somewhere you can see every time you open your eyes in the morning. "Otherwise, if you go back to him again next time, it won''t be good."

 Chapter 437

    His voice was gentle, with a hint of charm, whispering in her ear.


    Quinn''s gaze flickered, and she instinctively tightened her fingers.


    After Walter finished speaking, he looked at her seriously and said. "Do you know?"


    Quinn nodded absentmindedly.


    It had to be written down. Otherwise, she would end up wandering likest night and being humiliated like yesterday.


    "Good girl." When his fingers touched Quinn''s face, she suddenly realized that they were standing too close, closer than a normal rtionship. She quickly took two steps back and distanced herself from Walter.


    Walter narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly. "So adorable."


    Quinn''s eyelid twitched at his words. She even began to doubt what had happened between her and Walter. Why were they so intimate? Walter grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer.


    Quinn was surprised, but before she could react, she was already in Walter''s arms.


    He bent down and lifted her up, and Quinn froze, then struggled desperately.


    "Don''t move. I won''t take responsibility if you fall."


    Quinn instinctively didn''t dare to move, but her whole body tensed up, stiff like a stone.


    Then, Walter ced her on the sofa and crouched in front of her, rolling up her pant leg.


    Because of the rain, her pants and the bandages inside were soaked, and the blood stains were faintly spreading on the gauze, like patterns printed on it.


    Quinn stiffened, not knowing what to do or what he was nning to do.


    Walter unraveled the gauze on her leg, removing eachyer for her.


    As the gauze was peeled away, the wound on her leg gradually revealed its true form. Covered by the gauze overnight, her skin had wrinkles of white, while underneath, it was a deep purple. Inside the wound, where scabs should have formed, it had turned into a sticky substancebined with the medication. When the gauze was pulled off, Quinn felt a piercing pain in her leg.


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    Walter seemed gentle, but in reality, he was not gentle at all. He yanked at the wound harshly, causing Quinn to tremble in pain.


    She gripped the sofa tightly, cold sweat forming on her forehead. Her pale lips quivered uncontrobly.


    Walter casually tossed the gauze on the floor and looked around the room, finding a first aid kit.


    He thoughtfully applied medicine powder to her wound and then used fresh gauze to rewrap it for her.


    Quinn looked at Walter squatting on the floor, her expressionplex.


    After he finished bandaging her, Walter sat down next to her and turned to look at her.


    Quinn instinctively avoided his gaze.


    Walterughed. "You''re bing more and more timid."


    As he spoke, he took out a notebook and a wallet from his pocket and handed them to her.


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    Staring at the object in his hand, she did not reach out to take it.


    Ignoring her, Walter simply threw the object onto her and stared at her for a moment before leaving.


    Watching him walk away, Quinn sighed with relief.


    She quickly opened her notebook and wrote down everything she could remember from the past few days, ensuring that she would be able to remember the next time she forgot. The room was quiet, and even the sound of her writing could be heard.


    As Quinn focused on writing, she didn''t notice another person entering the room.


    By the time she realized, she didn''t know how long that person had been standing at the door.


    Quinn looked at the person at the door, and he was looking at her, too.


    Clutching her notebook, she instinctively closed it and hid it behind her.


    Alexander noticed all her actions and stood there for a while before finally walking toward her.

 Chapter 438

    Quinn nervously looked at him.


    Why was he here after the divorce...


    Alexander approached her and looked down at her from above, ncing at her hand hidden behind her back.


    "What are you hiding in your hand?"


    Quinn shook her head and ced the notebook under her buttocks, gesturing with her hand. "Why did youe again?"


    Alexander narrowed his eyes. "Again? When did Ie before?"


    Quinn paused, suddenly not knowing how to respond.


    Alexander sat down beside her, staring at her without averting his gaze. Although his eyes appeared calm and indifferent, they seemed like they could see through her. After a while, Alexander sneered, "You remember everything about the divorce very clearly, but you can''t remember anything else."


    Hearing this, Quinn widened her eyes in astonishment.


    He knew?


    Alexander also took out a notebook from his pocket and casually threw it onto her, saying, "Why didn''t you tell me?" Quinn''s gaze trembled, and she instinctively picked up the notebook on herp and carefully read through it.


    Time passed by, and it took her ten minutes to finish reading the notebook before she looked up at Alexander. The man''s expression remained unchanged.


    Quinn didn''t know what to say. She gestured. "We''ve already divorced. It doesn''t matter whether I told you or not."


    She remembered what happened yesterday, the p from Getty, and that he had someone give Getty a rabies shot. Why was he here?


    It was ironic he sat in her room.


    Alexander took the notebook back from her hand and asked, "I just want to know, was the decision for the divorce something you made while sober?"


    Quinn shook her head. She didn''t know.


    Her mind was currently in a mess. Apart from what was written in the notebook, she couldn''t remember anything else.


    Alexander stared into her eyes, seemingly aware of what her answer would be. She couldn''t remember anything.


    He suddenly stood up and left the room.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Hearing the door close, Quinn finally rxed. She was afraid that someone would ask her about what happened before because she couldn''t remember. She felt like a fool, believing everything that others said.


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    Quinn shook her head, clearing her mind of all the jumbled thoughts, and got up to find food for the puppies.


    Soren had bought a lot of things before, but they hadn''t eaten much of it. She took out two bags of pasta and eggs from the bag, cooked a pot of pasta, and heated two boxes of milk.


    She poured the pasta and milk into bowls on the floor. The two dogs were very hungry and didn''t care if it was pasta or milk. They ate happily.


    Seeing them eat, Quinn breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, patting their heads.


    After a night of hunger and cold, Quinn felt tired and could not get any sleep.


    After feeding the puppies, she went to the bedroom and burrowed into the bed, falling into a deep sleep before long. Outside, the two puppies were enjoying their meal when they suddenly sensed something and perked up their ears, looking toward the door. Before long, the tightly closed door opened, and a figure walked in. The two puppies wagged their tails at him.


    If Quinn were awake, she would know that the personing in was none other than Alexander. He entered the room, looked around, and his gaze fell on the sofa, where the two notebooks were lying quietly.


    He walked over quickly and picked up the two notebooks, flipping them open. He turned to a page, stared at the words for a few seconds, then raised his hand and tore that page out.

 Chapter 439

    The next day, sunlight streamed into the room, shining on Quinn''s pale face. Her eyshes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes, but the cold sunlight dazzled her. She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the light. After a moment, Quinn sat up in bed. She turned her head and saw a note paper on the bedside table. She picked it up and read it silently for a while before sticking it back.


    She heard the puppies barking outside, and she hurriedly got out of bed and ran out of the bedroom. When she came out, she froze.


    Alexander was facing away from her, squatting on the ground, feeding the two puppies. She wasn''t entirely sure if it was Alexander, as she could only see his back. Quinn stood there for a moment before slowly approaching the man,ing to his side and tilting her head to get a look. She saw his familiar profile.


    Alexander seemed to sense her presence and looked up at Quinn. Quinn blinked and then turned her gaze around, taking in all the unfamiliar surroundings before looking back at Alexander. Alexander stood up, tilting his head, and stared at her intently as if waiting for something.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    After a while, Quinn raised her hand and gestured. "Why are we here?" Alexander looked at her moving fingers with a momentary daze in his expression.


    Quinn saw him distracted and reached out to pull his sleeve. Alexander snapped back to attention and said in a deep voice, "Come and look at these two dogs."


    She nced at the dogs on the ground again, but his words didn''t seem convincing.


    Alexander''s fingernded on her face as he asked, "Do you remember anything?"


    Quinn shook her head. Other than knowing that she was sick, she couldn''t remember anything, specifically how she ended up here.


    Alexander furrowed his brow slightly. He bent down and picked up the two dogs that were still eating on the ground, then casually stuffed them into a cage. Then he took hold of Quinn''s hand and said, "Since you''re awake, let''s go."


    Quinn was now bewildered. Besides following Alexander, she didn''t know what else to do.


    Alexander put the cage in the car, lifted his chin, and gestured for her to get in.


    Quinn got into the car, fastened her seatbelt with confusion, and followed him back to Regal Riverside.


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    Alexander let the dogs out and took out a bag of dog food from the storeroom, refilling the dogs'' food bowls.


    Then, he handed two notebooks to Quinn.


    Quinn began flipping through them. They contained records of what had happened during this period of time, as well as her work at Kennedy Enterprise. However, quite a few of the pages had been torn off.


    After flipping through them quickly a couple of times, she didn''t find any useful information.


    Quinn set the notebooks down and gestured to him, asking, "How did these get torn off?"


    Alexander replied seriously, "You tore them off yourself. How am I supposed to know?"


    Quinn furrowed her brows even more. Why would she tear these off?


    Just then, Soren arrived. He came back with a bunch of groceries, and the first thing he did upon seeing Quinn was greet her.


    He habitually asked her, "Quinn, do you remember me today?"


    Quinn nodded and said she remembered him.


    What felt strange was that she indeed did remember him, but only his name and his job.


    Everything else was a blur.


    This was the first time she had gotten this kind of illness, and Quinn didn''t know why it was happening. Maybe... it was just like this?

 Chapter 440

    Alexander sat down beside her and held her foot to examine the wound. "Is your leg still hurting today?"


    Quinn nodded slightly and gestured that it was not very painful, just a bit itchy.


    "Itchy is a good sign. It''s scabbing. Don''t scratch it, and it''ll heal soon."


    Quinn asked, "What happened to my leg?"


    Alexander remained silent for a moment, then said, "You fell."


    Quinn furrowed her brows. She couldn''t figure out how she could have fallen to hurt her leg like this.


    He raised his hand and gently stroked Quinn''s cheek, his eyes showing emotions that Quinn couldn''t understand.


    But for some reason, Quinn suddenly felt an urge to cry, a sourness that came without reason.


    Not long after, Soren finished preparing the food and came out wearing an apron. He said, "Quinn, Mr. Dine."


    Alexander regained hisposure and told Quinn calmly, "You go ahead and eat."


    Quinn asked, "What about you?"


    Alexander replied, "I''ll join youter." Quinn looked at him for a moment, nodded, and went to the dining room. Alexander, on the other hand, called Soren into his study.


    Soren stood in the study, feeling the heavy tension in the air, which made his heart race. Alexander''s cold gaze fell on Soren''s face. Soren''s head lowered further and further, to the point where he didn''t dare to breathe loudly.


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    Unable to bear Alexander''s scrutinizing gaze, Soren took the initiative and asked, "Sir, is there something you want to ask me?" Alexander lit a cigarette and furrowed his brows as he smoked. Soren waited for a while, swallowed, and mustered up the courage to look up at Alexander.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Even though he was still wearing a suit and looked tall, handsome, and dignified, he seemed mncholic. The air was filled with the drifting smoke, and the man''s expression had turned dull.


    Soren asked again, "Sir? If there''s nothing, I''ll..." Before he could finish his sentence, Alexander interrupted, "Why didn''t you tell me?"


    Soren hesitated, unable to recall which matter Alexander was referring to. He tentatively asked, "Is it about Quinn''s health?" Alexander nced at him but didn''t directly address it. He simply said, "Just tell me."


    These three simple words made Soren feel anxious. He didn''t ask anything specific; just told Soren to speak. It was clearly a test. If Soren spoke and didn''t give the correct answer, would he die? "Well? Soren, you don''t know anything?"


    Soren was startled and hurriedly said, "I do know. It''s just that you previously said..." He stole a nce at Alexander''s expression and whispered, "Didn''t you say that you didn''t need to be informed about anything regarding Quinn in the future?"


    After Soren said this, the temperature in the room dropped to a freezing point, causing Soren to shiver. "I''ll give you another chance. Speak," Alexander said calmly, but his tone carried an unmistakable sense of coercion.


    Soren kept his head down and stuttered, "Quinn, she''s ill." Alexander remained silent, waiting patiently. The cigarette in his hand had burned halfway, and the remaining ash was on the verge of falling. During the long silence, the ash finally couldn''t bear the weight and fell onto the wooden table.


    Determined, Soren gathered his courage and said, "She has Alzheimer''s disease. I wanted to tell you when you got divorcedst time, but you..."


    Alexander didn''t change his expression and raised his hand to extinguish the cigarette in the ashtray before casually asking, "What will happen to her?"


    "You''ve seen it... she''s been having increasing difficulty remembering things."


    "What I mean is, what will happen in the end?"

 Chapter 441

    Soren said, "It''s hard to say. She is still young, so her condition can potentially be managed with medication for now," he said.


    He paused, realizing he had yet to touch on the crux of the matter. He continued, "This illness results in a regression of memory. Not only will she lose recollection of recent events, but as the disease advances, she will forget increasingly more, including her past.


    "Ultimately, she will forget everyone, even herself," he added.


    "I''ve studied numerous cases, and the majority of these patients do not die from the disease itself. They often encounter idents or vanish. Some of them simply forget basic functions like walking or eating..." Soren took a deep breath and revealed a rtively less dire oue. "In the end, they descend into a vegetative state."


    The care required for a patient in a vegetative state demanded an enormous amount of energy and financial resources. However, he was confident that with Alexander''s ie, this would not pose a problem. The question remained, how long could the patient herself endure?


    Given Quinn''s current physical state, it was unlikely she would survive much longer before entering a vegetative state.


    Upon hearing Soren''s words, Alexander lit another cigarette. He smoked it rapidly, finishing it in just a few puffs.


    The final drag was too harsh, inducing a violent coughing fit.


    His cough reverberated through the study, sounding eerily like the death rattle of a patient.


    "Alexander..."


    After a bout of coughing, Alexander reached for the cold coffee on the table, downing it in one go. He regained hisposure instantly, ced the cup back on the table, looked up at Soren, and asked, "Is there a treatment n?" Soren shook his head regretfully. "Not currently, but I will strive to research it. I''ve been studying this disease recently."


    "And the medication you mentioned? Does it have a significant impact?" Alexander asked.


    Soren borated, "They do have some inhibitory effects, but medication alone cannot be considered a definitive treatment n. However, it''s crucial to continue taking them as they can slow the disease''s progression." Alexander nodded. "You may leave now."


    Soren let out a silent sigh, but just as he reached the door, Alexander''s voice rang out, "Wait."


    Soren''s steps faltered, and a cold sweat broke out on his back. He stood at the door, mechanically turning his head and forcing a strained smile. "Yes, Alexander?"


    Alexander fixed his gaze on him and asked, "Are you hiding something from me?"


    Soren''s neck stiffened, and he gulped hard. "No... I don''t think so..."


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed, a flicker of lethal intent passing through them.


    Despite the ring inconsistencies in Soren''s words, Alexander chose not to probe further. Instead, he issued a warning, "You''d better not be." Soren nodded frantically. "Yes. There is nothing else. Just this one thing!"


    "Get out!"


    Alexander''s sudden outburst startled Soren, who hastily retreated.


    Downstairs, Quinn was still seated at the dining table. She ate slowly, in small portions, awaiting Alexander''s arrival.


    Soren hesitated, his gaze lingering on her back, but ultimately, he chose to remain silent and quietly exited, his tools in hand.


    After a few bites, Quinn nced upstairs, but Alexander had yet toe down.


    The food on the table had already grown cold.


    Quinn rose from her seat and approached the study door, knocking lightly.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Come in."


    Quinn pushed the door open and stepped inside. Even from a distance, she could detect the lingering scent of smoke in the room.


    She had no idea how many cigarettes he had smoked, and the windows remained shut.


    Quinn approached Alexander and gestured with her hand, asking, "Aren''t you going to eat?"


    Alexander still held a lit cigarette between his fingers, the smoke slowly dispersing in the air, seemingly creating a barrier between them.


    No matter how hard Quinn tried, she couldn''t discern his expression clearly.


    Suddenly, he extinguished the cigarette and extended his hand toward Quinn. "Come here."


    Quinn obediently walked over and stood by his side, her gaze fixed on him.


    Alexander took her hands in his and returned her stare.


    He asked, "What do you remember?"


    He posed this question once again, and Quinn fell silent. She remembered much, but she was unsure of the specific memories he wanted to know.

 Chapter 442

    "Do you remember Orion?" The question hung in the air, heavy with expectation.


    Quinn nodded in affirmation, her eyes betraying a distant familiarity. As before, she could only remember his visage and name; the rest of her memories about him had faded into oblivion.


    "And Getty?" The two words seemed to strike a chord within her.


    At the mention of this name, Quinn''s demeanor shifted. An instinctive reaction made her retract her hand, her head bowing in silence. Her response spoke volumes. She remembered Getty with crystal rity, the woman whom Alexander had repeatedly favored over her.


    The sudden mention of Getty left Quinn perplexed. She was unsure of Alexander''s intentions, for he had never uttered this name in her presence before.


    Alexander''s gaze was unreadable as he studied her in silence. After what felt like an eternity, he broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper, "Do you still remember Juliet?"


    His eyes never left Quinn''s face, keenly observing her every reaction.


    Quinn was taken aback. She strained her memory, trying to recall this person, but her mind was a nk canvas. Yet, a faint pang in her heart suggested that this person held some significance. Her subconscious was screaming that this person was important, but she hadpletely forgotten about them.


    "Have you forgotten her?"


    Quinn nodded.


    In the next moment, Alexander pulled her onto hisp, wrapping his arms around her. His hand tenderly caressed her face, his body reeking of smoke. The scent wafted from his sleeve, cor, and shoulder, a harsh reminder of his vice. "What should we do?" he mused aloud, his toneced with a hint of humor.


    Quinn''s lips tightened, a wave of panic washing over her. She gestured frantically, "I''ll try my best to remember."


    Alexander gently held her hand, halting her movements. He leaned in closer, his whisper a soothing balm, "It''s okay, you don''t have to think about it."


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    Quinn blinked, her gaze meeting his. She saw a whirlwind of emotions in his eyes, aplexity she couldn''tprehend. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on her lips before pulling away.


    Their proximity was intimate, their breaths mingling in the space between them. Quinn''s grip on his cor tightened, her expression taut with tension.


    "Be obedient, okay?" His words were a familiarmand, and all Quinn could do was nod in agreement.


    Alexander''s gaze was locked onto her clear eyes. At first nce, they appeared innocent, but a closer look revealed a deep void, as if any thought she harbored would beid bare for all to see.


    He held her fingers, his touch gentle as he yed with them. Looking up, he asked, "Do you remember Abigail?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn nodded, her affirmation met with silence from Alexander.


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    She withdrew her hand and gestured, "You haven''t eaten yet."


    "I have no appetite," he responded curtly.


    Quinn shook her head. "Not eating is unhealthy. Please eat something."


    His gaze was intense, making Quinn uneasy. She understood his unspoken words but felt a twinge of pain in her leg. However, the moment was fleeting, and the turmoil in his eyes was quickly reced by his usual calm indifference. Alexander rose to his feet, cradling Quinn in his arms as he walked out.


    Quinn looked up at his face, her expression a mix of confusion and recognition. A distant memory resurfaced, of a time when he had held her just like this.


    Unfortunately, the memory was too faded, too distant. No matter how hard Quinn tried, she could only recall vague outlines and a white shirt.

 Chapter 443

    Alexander cradled her in his arms, carrying her down the stairs and into the restaurant, his grip on her unyielding.


    A sudden warmth spread across Quinn''s face. She was no longer a child, yet he held her as if she were, even as they sat down to eat. It was an unfamiliar sensation.


    She squirmed, attempting to free herself, but Alexander held firm. His arm encircled her waist, restraining her movements.


    "Why haven''t you eaten?" Alexander inquired, turning his gaze towards her. He noted the blush creeping up her cheeks.


    Flustered, she shook her head and gestured towards her empty bowl, indicating that she had already eaten.


    "You''ve eaten too little," he observed.


    With that, he picked up a Sebastian, scooping up some corn porridge and bringing it to her lips.


    Quinn felt


    wave of shyness and resistance, but she forced herself to part her lips and swallow the Sebastianful of corn porridge.


    His actions struck her as odd. Quinn felt as though she was beginning to lose her grasp on who he was, leaving her feeling somewhat adrift.


    "Eat one more bite," he urged.


    Reluctantly, Quinn took another bite.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    For a moment, she was transported back to her childhood, perched on hisp as he fed her.


    She remembered the teasing she had endured from Freya when thetter had witnessed this scene, and had vowed never to let Alexander feed her again. Reflecting on it now, their interaction didn''t resemble that of lovers, but rather that of an adult guiding a child.


    She had an epiphany - she was like a child who had never grown up.


    His little sister.


    This realization cast a shadow over Quinn''s eyes.


    When Alexander proffered the food once more, she refused to eat and struggled to free herself.


    He didn''t resist, releasing her when she had struggled enough.


    Quinn returned to her seat, lowering her head, her nose stinging.


    Alexander studied her for a moment, then nced at the corn porridge in his hand. He tossed the Sebastian aside and adjusted his tie.


    A heavy silence descended upon the dining table.


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    After a while, Alexander abruptly rose and ascended the stairs, leaving his untouched meal behind.


    Quinn was ustomed to this. He often stormed off in the middle of a meal.


    Most of the time, Quinn was at a loss as to why he was upset.


    After taking a shower and getting dressed, Alexander departed, but not before instructing Quinn, "Don''t wander around."


    Quinn listened to his familiar directive and paused for a few seconds. By the time she came to, he was already gone.


    Quinn sat in the dining room for half an hour, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, yet the lost memories remained elusive. Finally, she sighed, rose to her feet, and began to clear the table.


    Around noon, the doorbell rang.


    Quinn turned her attention to the door, setting down the puppy she was holding, and went to answer it.


    Standing on the threshold was Kyle, nked by two middle-aged women. Kyle ushered them inside, smiling at Quinn as he introduced them, "Quinn, this is Ms. Miller, and that is Ms. Moore. They were sent by the general manager to take care of you."


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    "Hello, Quinn." The two nannies greeted her with warm smiles and polite bows.


    Quinn looked at Kyle, her expression one of confusion, questioning his intentions.


    But Kyle offered no exnation, simply continuing, "From now on, these two will be responsible for taking care of you. If you need anything or have any concerns, just let them know."


    After addressing Quinn, Kyle turned to the two women, warning them, "Take good care of Quinn. If there are any problems, I will hold you ountable."


    "Yes, we promise to take good care of Quinn," they assured him.


    Satisfied, Kyle nodded. "Then I will take my leave."


    His visit was brief, and he departed as quickly as he had arrived, leaving behind only the two women he had brought with him.


    Once they were alone, the two women busied themselves, attempting to establish their presence, but the vi was immacte, leaving them with little to do.


    After a futile search for tasks, they exchanged a look of mutual bewilderment.


    Ms. Miller approached Quinn, asking respectfully, "Quinn, is there anything we need to do?"


    Quinn looked up at Ms. Miller. She was ustomed to solitude, and the sudden presence of two additional people left her feeling somewhat ill at ease.


    She nced around the room, then shook her head, indicating that there was nothing for them to do.

 Chapter 444

    "If you need anything, just let us know," Ms. Miller offered, her head bobbing in a nod of reassurance.


    Quinn reciprocated the gesture, her acknowledgement silent but clear.


    They each settled into their respective spots, their eyes, however, remained tethered to Quinn. Prior to their arrival, they had been explicitly instructed that their actions were of little consequence, but it was important to keep an eye on Quinn. They were to apany her at all times, even when she sought the privacy of the bathroom, they were to knock after a while.


    They couldn''t quiteprehend the reason behind it, but they couldn''t shake off the feeling that Alexander was being overly protective of his wife.


    This was merely the beginning. As the afternoon rolled in, Sean made his appearance.


    He was apanied by arge entourage, bustling with activity, both within and outside the house, as they busied themselves installing surveince cameras.


    Except for the bedroom and bathroom, virtually every nook and cranny was rigged with cameras.


    Quinn felt as though she had been thrust into a prison.


    She spent the entire day observing the instation crew as they moved in and out, trailed by two dogs that left muddy paw prints scattered across the house.


    In stark contrast, the two nannies seemed to be in high spirits, cheerfully scrubbing away the dirt with their cleaning cloths.


    As Quinn took in the peculiar scene, she was struck by a sense of absurdity.


    Elsewhere, Freya was embroiled in a court hearing. Despite thewyers'' best efforts to argue their cases, they failed to reach a consensus, necessitating another court hearing.


    As she was escorted out, Freya''s gazended on Walter, seated amongst the spectators.


    Her pupils dted instantly, her gaze locked onto Walter, who remained unruffled, a serene smile ying on his lips.


    His eyes met hers, and a shiver ran down her spine.


    A cocktail of excitement and fury coursed through her veins.


    He had betrayed her, abandoned her, and yet, he had the audacity to show up here. Freya trembled with rage, tears streaming down her face uncontrobly.


    Several times, she nearly broke free, the urge to confront Walter, to demand an exnation for his betrayal, overwhelming her.


    She had loved him deeply, trusted him implicitly, only to be shattered by the very person she held dearest. The pain and hatred that consumed her were beyond herprehension. Freya even contemted confessing her guilt at the subsequent hearing, if only to expose Walter and ensure he shared her misery!


    The venom in her gaze was unmistakable, and Xavier, preparing to depart, took notice.


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    Following her line of sight, Xavier''s gaze fell on Walter.


    Suddenly, he was reminded of the anonymous tip-off about the robbers'' location.


    As they prepared to leave, Xavier called out to Walter.


    "Walter."


    Walter paused, turning to face Xavier, a familiar smile gracing his features.


    "Why, it''s you, brother-inw. It''s been a while," Walter greeted.


    Without mincing words, Xavier asked, "Was it you?"


    Feigning ignorance, Walter responded, "What are you referring to?"


    Xavier shot him a meaningful nce before replying, "Nothing. I''m just curious."


    Walter chuckled lightly. "Curiosity can be a dangerous trait. It mighte back to bite you."


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    Xavier offered a nomittal smile. "Walter, you''re a father too. I presume you understand my sentiments."


    "Yes...I wish I could, but unfortunately, I can''t. After all, my son is still alive," Walter replied.


    Thement hit a nerve, and Xavier''s expression darkened.


    However, it served as a stark reminder to Xavier that if he failed to apprehend the mastermind behind this, he wouldn''t hesitate to exact revenge, even if it meant causing them to lose their loved ones. Walter picked up on his reaction and quickly added, "Brother-inw, don''t take offense. I''m a straight shooter, not good at offering constion.


    "But I understand your grief. All I can suggest is that you try to be more forgiving. But don''t harm the one Oliver loves, otherwise, you''ll find yourself without any allies.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "And...she is a public figure now, and she''s very famous."


    Walter left no room for doubt as to whom he was referring.


    very famous


    The one Oliver loved and the public figure.


    Could it be anyone other than Getty?

 Chapter 445

    Xavier''s gaze flickered, his eyes burrowing into Walter with an intensity that was hard to ignore.


    He found himself questioning the motives behind Walter''s actions. Was he being deliberately misled, or was there a deeper, more obscure intention at y?Walter was an enigma, his mystery not only rooted in his ambiguous identity but also in his inexplicable actions.


    Xavier had been oblivious to it until now, but he was beginning to suspect that Walter was intentionally stirring the pot, craving chaos. Walter offered a nonchnt smile. "I must be going. Thepany still requires my attention," he said, his voice echoing in the silence. Without a backward nce, he sauntered off towards the parking lot.He slid into his car, driving to his former residence.


    The house stood eerily silent, its emptiness echoing around him as he pushed open the door. A smirk yed on his lips as he chuckled softly to himself, his gaze lingering on the vacant room. "This man is so deep in thought," he mused. The man in question was Alexander. Seated in his office, Alexander was engrossed in the surveince footage that provided aprehensive view of the vi. Quinn was in the living room, crouched down and feeding the dogs. These two dogs seemed to have no owner and would follow anyone. When Sean had left after installing the surveince system, the dogs had followed him. It was only after a chase that Quinn had managed to catch the dogs. Kyle entered the room to find Alexander reclining in his chair, his gaze fixed on theputer screen. He knocked thrice on the door before Alexander finally acknowledged his presence. "Alexander, Mr. Collins has resolved the situation on his end.


    He wants to know when we can discuss a partnership," Kyle informed him, briefing him on the recent developments. Mr. Collins had publicly debunked the rumors circting online, attributing his nephew''s death to a hotel fire. He had also promised to hold those spreading false information legally ountable. After hearing Kyle''s report, Alexander casually manipted the mouse, zooming in on a particr surveince video. "You go talk to him," he instructed, his attention still riveted on the screen.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


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    Kyle nced at the screen, taken aback by the intense surveince. He couldn''t help but wonder what transgression Quinn hadmitted to warrant such scrutiny.


    Choosing not to voice his curiosity, he quietly exited the room after delivering his message.Alexander''s phone rang, the caller ID disying Kaitlyn''s name. He frowned, promptly disconnecting the call. Undeterred, Kaitlyn called again. With a sigh of impatience, he answered, "What do you want?" Kaitlyn''s irritation was palpable.


    "Can''t I call if I have nothing to do? Am I your mother? Do you treat me like your mother?""If you have nothing else, hang up.""Wait," Kaitlyn hurriedly said, "Come back tonight.""What''s the matter?""You''ll know when youe back. Did you hear me? Come back right after work! If you don''te back, I''ll go to your house.


    "With that, Kaitlyn ended the call, her frustration evident. She tossed her phone onto the sofa, muttering about Alexander''s unreasonable behavior. She turned to share her grievances with the Evelyn Reed, only to find an unfamiliar nanny standing behind her.

 Chapter 446

    Kaitlyn released a sigh, swallowing the words that had been on the brink of escaping her lips.


    The Evelyn Reed was still missing, and a cold dread had settled in Kaitlyn''s heart, whispering that the woman was likely in peril.


    Yet, she felt powerless to intervene, not merely because the person of interest was her own son, but more critically, due to the absence of any tangible evidence.Less than an hourter, Alexander made his return. He stepped into the living room, his gaze sweeping over the room beforending on a young woman seated beside Kaitlyn.


    His eyes lingered for a moment before he moved towards them.Kaitlyn, engrossed in a lively conversation with the woman, noticed Alexander''s entrance.


    She immediately waved and greeted him with a warm smile. "Alexander,e join us," she beckoned. The woman also turned to regard Alexander, a spark of joy flickering in her eyes.


    Alexander, however, removed his dark brown coat, tossing it to a nearby servant, and loosened his tie before striding into the living room.


    Instead of joining Kaitlyn, he chose a solitary seat diagonally across from her. The first thing he did upon settling down was to light a cigarette. The sound of the lighter echoed loudly in the quiet living room, and his aloof demeanor created an awkward tension that hung heavily over Kaitlyn and the woman.


    He hadn''t even acknowledged her presence when he entered.Kaitlyn, quick to diffuse the tension, turned to the woman with a reassuring smile. "Ms. Allen, this is Alexander. I believe you''re already acquainted with him."Ms. Allen responded with a nod and a smile.


    "Yes, we''ve crossed paths before, but never had the opportunity to converse."It wasmon knowledge that Alexander had a vtile woman by his side.


    At a previous social gathering, ady had approached Alexander for his contact information only to be publicly rebuked by Getty, causing the woman to flee in tears. Instead of reprimanding Getty, Alexander had indulged her, and since then, it was widely known that Alexander had a lover whom he deeply cherished.


    After that incident, no one dared to approach Alexander.


    His devotion was so profound that he seemed to dismiss the attention of other women.


    Kaitlyn found a sense of pride in Ms. Allen''s words, basking in the allure of her son''s charm."Alexander, meet Ms. Allen.


    She returned to the countryst year and is currently studying abroad. I thought you two could get acquainted," Kaitlyn suggested.


    Alexander took a long drag from his cigarette, remaining silent for a few moments before speaking. "So, is that why I''m here today? To meet her?"Ms. Allen, feeling a bit awkward, quickly exined, "Your mother invited me. I''m not entirely sure about the specifics."Her words were diplomatic, but internally, she was well aware of the situation.


    With Alexander''s status, even if he was smitten with Getty, he was destined not to marry her. He could only marry someone of equal standing.


    Once she became Alexander''s wife, she would have nothing to fear from Getty.Alexander was renowned, not only for his good looks and capabilities but also for his loyalty. In their social circle, few men were as faithful to one woman as he was. Kaitlyn interjected, "We invited Ms. Allen for a meal today. It wasn''t specifically to introduce you two."Alexander responded with a sardonic smile. "If you''re dining together, why did you summon me?""It''s been a while since Ist saw you. I wanted to see you," Kaitlyn replied. "So, have you seen enough now?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    His words carried a sharp edge, causing Kaitlyn to feel a twinge of embarrassment and a simmering anger. However, she refrained fromshing out due to the presence of their guest.In a low voice, she said, "What''s the rush? Finish your meal before leaving. It''s Ms. Allen''s first visit. Shouldn''t you extend some courtesy to our guest?"


    Alexander retorted indifferently, "She''s not my guest." His cold tone heightened the awkward tension in the room.Suppressing her anger, Kaitlyn asked, "Alexander, are you nning to return to Regal Riverside? I heard that you had abandoned your house there, so why have you been staying there recently?" Her words carried an underlying threat.

 Chapter 447

    The underlying implication of her words was clear; if he remained impassive, she would take it upon herself to pester the resident of the house.


    Alexander''s gaze was firmly fixed on Kaitlyn, his stern look casting a palpable tension in the air. With a sense of tact, Ms. Allen interjected, "It''s getting ratherte. Perhaps it would be best if I returned another time."Kaitlyn, however, was quick to disagree.


    Feigning anger, she shot a re at Ms. Allen. "There''s no need for a rain check. We can dine here, now. I extended this invitation especially for you, and your departure would leave me greatly disappointed. "Ms. Allen cast a hesitant nce towards Alexander, who remained silent.


    Unfazed, Kaitlyn pressed on, "Trust me, we should eat here. Alexander will join us."She didn''t even consider seeking Alexander''s input, instead making the decision on his behalf.


    Ms. Allen''s eyes darted back to Alexander.Despite his silence, his stoic face suggested that the forting meal would be anything but pleasant.As anticipated, throughout the meal, Alexander barely acknowledged her presence. Apart from sporadic conversations with Kaitlyn, both he and his father, Wayne, acted as though she was invisible, leaving her feeling mortified.


    The meal was a thoroughly ufortable experience for her.Alexander nonchntly ate a small portion before setting down his utensils and rising from his seat. "I''m finished. I''ll be taking my leave now.""Are you just going to leave, Alexander?!"


    Kaitlyn called out to him in a hurried tone. Without so much as a backward nce, Alexander epted his coat from the servant, his voice echoing from the doorway. "Enjoy your meal."Kaitlyn watched him the entire time, her face set in a stern, displeased expression.


    She shot an angry nce at Wayne.Wayne feigned ignorance, continuing to eat as if nothing had transpired.Ever since he had ceased working, Wayne had spent his days at home.


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    He had even acquired a pet parrot, leading a life of leisure and neglecting all household affairs.Alexander had previously criticized Quinn, but now, whenever father and son crossed paths, they felt like strangers. Upon returning home, Alexander''s gaze swept over the familiar sight of the sofa.Quinn was engrossed in the television, clutching a pillow.


    When she saw Alexander, Ms. Miller immediately greeted him, "Alexander is back."Alexander responded with a nod and a nce towards the sofa.


    Quinn was so absorbed in the television that she hadn''t even registered his return.Ms. Miller, a perceptive woman, quickly said, "Sir, Quinn has been awaiting your return for dinner. It''s ready. When would you like to eat?""I''m aware. You may leave now."


    He handed his coat to Ms. Miller.epting the coat, Ms. Miller nodded and tactfully excused herself. Quinn was so engrossed in the television that she only turned her head when she felt the couch dip beside her.


    Alexander raised his hand and gently ruffled her hair. "Haven''t you eaten yet?"Quinn shook her head, indicating that she had been waiting for him."Next time..."


    Alexander began, but then thought better of it. "Never mind, let''s go."He took her hand and guided her towards the dining room.Ms. Moore had prepared dinner that evening. Both she and the other nanny had been handpicked by Kyle, so their culinary skills were naturally exceptional.


    They were not only capable of creating a variety of delicacies but also understood Quinn''s signnguage.Quinn took a seat in the dining room, and to her surprise, Alexander chose to sit beside her rather than across from her.He picked up his utensils and began to fill Quinn''s te with food.Quinn was taken aback.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    She instinctively turned her head to look at him. There was something different about him, but she couldn''t quite pinpoint what it was."Why are you looking at me? Just eat."Quinn pursed her lips, turned her head back, picked up her utensils, and began to eat in silence.After dinner, Alexander escorted her to the bathroom to freshen up.


    Quinn''s face was slightly flushed, but she obediently sat on the stool. Soren had instructed her to keep her legs dry, so she hadn''t washed her hair or bathed for some time, leaving her feeling ufortable.As such, after washing her hair, she could only use a towel to clean her body, taking care to avoid the wounds on her lower legs.Alexander used a towel to dry her back, and Quinn hugged her arms around herself, feeling incredibly shy, her face flushing a deep red.

 Chapter 448

    Having finished tending to her back, Alexander moved to position himself in front of her, pulling a stool beneath him to sit. He took her hand in his, his touch gentle as he wiped her arms.


    Looking up, he was met with the sight of her face, flushed a deep red that extended to the base of her neck.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Quinn averted her gaze, her eyes finding refuge in the corner of the bathroom as her body tensed. Despite the bond of matrimony that they shared, she still found herself blushing at the intimacy of certain moments.


    In the past, Alexander had often assisted her with her baths, seemingly taking pleasure in the act. Yet, these instances often led to other, more intimate activities.


    Alexander reached out, turning her face towards him,pelling her to meet his gaze. Quinn''s eyshes fluttered, her gaze skittish and evasive as soon as their eyes locked. He handed her a towel, his voice a soft whisper, "Clean yourself up."


    A moment of hesitation passed over Quinn as she nced at him, but he showed no signs of leaving. A wave of uncertainty washed over her, leaving her conflicted about what to do with the towel now in her possession. "Should I help you clean up?"


    Quinn shook her head rapidly, biting her lip as she began to wipe her arms and neck with the towel. The overhead light was ring, casting a harsh spotlight on Quinn''s body, making her wish she could simply vanish.


    In stark contrast, Alexander was impably dressed, his ck shirt standing out under the illumination. The disparity between them was palpable, creating an unequal dynamic that left Quinn feeling unable to meet his gaze. She felt reduced to a submissive role, obediently following hismands.


    His gaze was fixed on her, tracking her every movement, his lips pressed together in a tight line, his eyes darkening with intensity.


    "It''s cold," he dered, taking the towel from Quinn''s hand. As he spoke, he reached for a fresh, warm towel.


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    However, when Quinn extended her hand to take it, he pulled away. He reached out, his handing to rest on the back of Quinn''s head, leaning in close to her.


    His whisper was barely audible, "You''re too slow. I''ll help you. Otherwise, you''ll catch a cold." His words were punctuated by a soft brush of his lips against hers.


    Quinn found herself staring at the man''s face, mere inches from her own, her gaze flickering, her fingers slowly clenching. Steam began to fill the bathroom, the figures of the two gradually bing obscured in the mist. After half an hour, Alexander emerged from the bathroom, wrapping Quinn in a towel before carrying her out.


    Quinn buried her face in his chest, her ears a bright red that was visible when she lowered her head. Heid her on the bed, tucking her in with the nket before heading to the bathroom himself.


    Quinn peeked out from beneath the covers, her gaze directed towards the bathroom.


    She had been contemting how to politely decline his advances, but he hadn''t made any... Could it be that he simply wanted to bathe first?


    As the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, Quinn found herself pondering this possibility, her eyelids growing heavy until she could no longer resist the pull of sleep. It was a while before Alexander emerged from the bathroom. Climbing into bed, he stirred Quinn from her slumber as he pulled her into his arms.


    Quinn opened her sleep-filled eyes, looking up at the man before her. Inhaling his familiar scent, she closed her eyes once more. Her cheek pressed against his chest, his skin radiating warmth. The air conditioning hummed in the background, working tirelessly against the heat trapped beneath the thick downforter.


    The heat stirred Quinn from her sleep. She opened her eyes once more, only to be met with pitch ckness. Had he turned off the lights? She raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, intending to turn over, but was stopped as the hand on her waist pulled her back. His breath was a warm whisper in her ear, his voice hoarse as he called her name, "Quinn." Quinn stiffened. In the darkness, he turned her around, and Quinn felt her lips brush against something. "Don''t be nervous, I won''t touch you," he assured her.

 Chapter 449

    The following day, Quinn awoke to the cold, empty space beside her in the bed. Her memories of the previous day were hazy, akin to the remnants of a dream. As she touched her cheek, she could still feel the lingering warmth. Turning her head, her gaze fell upon a sticky note on the bedside table, bearing a fewrge words. "Remember to take the pill, it''s in the drawer."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Quinn set the note aside and opened the drawer to retrieve the pill.


    She dressed and carried the medicine downstairs. Upon her arrival, Ms. Miller promptly handed her two notebooks. "Quinn," she said, "Mr. Kennedy has instructed you to review these notebooks first."


    Quinn held the notebooks in bewilderment, flipping through the pages before her gaze returned to the pill in her hand.


    After a moment, she closed the notebooks and nodded at Ms. Miller. Her leg injury had yet to fully heal, and each step was a painful reminder. Ms. Miller informed her that Alexander had insisted she rest at home and refrain from venturing out. Quinn spent her day idly lounging on the sofa, flicking through channels on the television before switching to her phone once the shows had run their course.


    Two dogs scampered around her feet, one even daring to leap onto the sofa, stepping on Quinn''s stomach before mbering onto her head. Quinn reached back to scoop up the tiny dog, cradling it in her arms and gently rubbing its head. Just then, a news update shed across her phone screen. Without thinking, she clicked on it. Her eyes widened at the bold headline. "Getty and Mr. Cox spotted entering hotelte at night, unseen since."


    Quinn sat up abruptly, her fingers scrolling through the article. Photographs depicted Getty being assisted into the hotel by a man.


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    Their interaction was intimate, the man''s arm around Getty''s waist, Getty''s arms draped around his neck, their bodies close. They were nearly kissing.


    Quinn was unfamiliar with this Mr. Cox. A quick perusal of thements revealed him to be a well-known male celebrity.


    Thement section was a battlefield, fans of both parties engaged in a heated war of words. Meanwhile, Getty and Mr. Cox were holed up in their hotel room, too fearful to venture out.


    They had overindulged the previous night and had awoken to find themselves naked in bed together. What shocked Mr. Cox were the red marks on the bedsheet. He stared at Getty in disbelief. Alexander''s mistress... a virgin?This gaze, however, only served to enrage Getty. She saw not admiration, but mockery and humiliation.


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    She had been with Alexander for years, and yet she had given her virginity to another man. In a fit of fury, Getty hurled a pillow at Mr. Cox, shouting, "Get out, just get out!"Mr. Cox, caught off guard, attempted to dodge the pillow, only to tumble off the bed.


    He hastily gathered his clothes to cover himself. Getty was consumed by humiliation and frustration, the reality of her lost virginity sinking in.


    She broke down in tears, her heart heavy with misery. The thought of Alexander''s reaction was unbearable. Getty had always believed Alexander''s words, that he had refrained from touching her out of love and respect, not because he couldn''t marry her.


    Yet, she had lost her virginity to Mr. Cox!Mr. Cox, however, remainedposed. He dressed and sat down, stating, "We can''t leave right now. I''m guessing there are reporters swarming downstairs." They had been roused by numerous calls from their agent, yet they were oblivious to the situation at hand.


    Getty red at him through her tears, demanding, "Why did you bring me herest night?!" Mr. Cox seemed somewhat helpless as he responded, "I don''t know either. We were both drunkst night, but you can''t ce all the me on me, can you?"

 Chapter 450

    "Are you suggesting that I should me myself, rather than you?" The words hung heavy in the air, echoing with a bitter sting.


    Mr. Cox, the epitome of nonchnce, loungedfortably in his chair, a lit cigarette held loosely between his fingers.


    "Why so hostile, Getty?" he questioned, a smirk ying on his lips. "Wasn''t our encounter a matter of mutual consent? If you had been unwilling, would we have ended up in bed together?"


    Getty fell silent, her anger only inmed further by Mr. Cox''s audacious demeanor. In front of the camera, Mr. Cox was the consummate gentleman. His approachable nature during filming and his willingness to engage with fans, even going so far as to initiate photo opportunities, had earned him a reputation as a man of the people.


    His good looks and undeniable talent had catapulted him to stardom three years prior. He was adored by many, but Getty now saw him for what he truly was. The realization filled her with revulsion. His ability to maintain this facade for so many years was a testament to his exceptional acting skills.


    Clutching the nket tightly, Getty fixed him with a re of pure loathing. "Do you have any idea who my lover is? Aren''t you afraid that Alexander wille after you?"


    Mr. Cox''sughter echoed through the room, a cruel parody of mirth. His gaze drifted towards the bedsheet, a knowing glint in his eyes. "You im to be Alexander''s lover, yet you''re still a virgin? Could it be that he''s impotent?" Getty''s face flushed with anger. She hastily grabbed the nket, using it to cover the incriminating bedsheet. She was so incensed that words failed her.


    Mr. Cox attempted to cate her. "Don''t be so tense. This isn''t a big deal. Rest assured, our PR team will handle the fallout."


    To him, this was just another scandal in a long line of indiscretions. As long as the PR team did their job, any scandal could be reduced to mere rumor. But for Getty, this was far from trivial. How could she possibly exin this to Alexander? If he were to reject her because of this... the mere thought was enough to make her feel as though the world was copsing around her.


    In the past, she would have immediately turned to Alexander in times of crisis. But now, she feared the moment he would discover the explosive news about her and Mr. Cox. Both Mr. Cox and Getty were well-known figures, and the news agencies would undoubtedly seize this opportunity to create a sensational story. She couldn''t bear to look at her phone. Major entertainment headlines were already reporting on the scandal, and a trending topic on Instagram had been created. The news of her affair with Mr. Cox was being widely circted, and the story of Alexander''s unfaithful lover was gaining traction.


    Alexander''s Instagram, which was managed by his assistant Kyle, was being inundated withments and shares about Getty''s infidelity. Kyle, who usually used the ount to postpany updates, was taken aback by the sudden influx of attention.


    Initially, Kyle had assumed that the scandal involved Quinn, another of Alexander''s lovers. But upon discovering that it was Getty who had been unfaithful, he felt a sense of satisfaction. He had never been fond of Getty, and this news meant that Alexander would likely sever ties with her.


    However, he couldn''t ignore the fact that this scandal would tarnish Alexander''s reputation. With a sense of urgency, Kyle rushed to Alexander''s office,ptop in hand.


    Alexander had just arrived at the office and was in the process of draping his coat over a chair when Kyle burst in.


    "Alexander, there''s been a serious development," he announced, handing over hisptop.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "What''s happened?" Alexander asked, his tone casual.


    "See for yourself," Kyle replied.


    Alexander took theptop, his eyes widening as he was met with a barrage ofments fromizens mocking him for his lover''s infidelity.

 Chapter 451

    With a flick of his hand, Alexander scrolled down the screen, his eyes taking in the flood of messages about his lover''s unfaithfulness. Among the sea ofments, a few kind souls had reached out with words of warning: [Alexander, don''t be deceived.]Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    [Alexander, your lover is leaving you for someone else.]There were also those who simply observed from the sidelines, theirments tinged with a strange sense of relief.


    [Even someone as handsome and wealthy as Alexander can get dumped by a woman, I suddenly feel relieved.]


    [Even Alexander is abandoned, tell me what love is!]


    Some messages were directed at Getty, Alexander''s lover.


    [Thank you, Getty, for setting Alexander free. When I marry him, I''ll reward you with lots of money. @Getty] [Getty, you''re so misguided! @Getty]


    [I hope there''s nothing wrong with Alexander. (Whispered)]


    Kyle nced at Alexander''s expression. He remained calm and even finished reading all thements.


    His reaction surprised Kyle a little.


    Before Kyle could delve further into his thoughts, Alexander abruptly mmed hisptop shut, the sound echoing in the room.


    "Handle this," hemanded.


    Kyle quickly opened his ownptop, seeking rification.


    "You mean the situation with Getty?"Alexander shot him a nce. "The messages about my supposed infidelity."


    Upon hearing Alexander''s words, Kyle had to suppress augh. He pinched his thigh to keep his amusement in check.


    "Yes!" he agreed, his cheeks flushed as he hurried out of the room,ptop in tow.


    As he left, Kyle couldn''t help but ponder the audacity of theizens. They had alle to mock Alexander. How would Alexander react to this? The news had already spread throughout thepany.


    As Kyle passed by the restroom, he heardughter echoing from within. The employees were openly mocking Alexander''s predicament.


    However, as the news of Getty''s infidelity spread, the narrative began to shift. The incident involving Getty and Mr. Cox''s hotel room affair seemed to lose its significance. Even the official statements released by bothpanies were overshadowed by the trending topic of Alexander''s scandal. It seemed the public was more interested in the personal affairs of the wealthy than the scandals of celebrities.


    Meanwhile, Quinn spent the entire day at the vi, scouring the news. She searched for any information about Getty, but the majority of what she found was about Alexander''s scandal, which had garnered significant attention.


    Quinn read the mockingments from theizens, a bitter smile ying on her lips. The world seemed to view Alexander as a pitiful figure, as if Getty and Alexander were destined to be together. And Quinn...Who was she in all this?No one knew, and no one seemed to care. Even Alexander''s friends were unaware of her existence, let alone strangers.


    Just as Quinn was about to switch off her phone, a new article caught her eye. It was a statement from Kennedy Enterprise. The message was simple, asserting that Getty had been with Alexander the previous night and that the leaked photos were fabricated.


    It seemed Alexander had not broken up with Getty, but had chosen to protect her. This was tantamount to indirectly admitting that Getty was his girlfriend.


    Quinn stared at the statement bearing the Kennedy Enterprise seal, a pang of pain in her heart. If Alexander was with Gettyst night, then who was she with? Who indeed?

 Chapter 452

    Were the hazy images merely figments of a dream? Quinn''s eyes fluttered shut as she tossed her phone onto the plush couch. Drawing her legs up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around herself in a tight embrace.


    The statement released by Kennedy Enterprise had proven to be far more impactful than the one issued by Getty and Mr. Cox''spany. Despite the skepticism that lingered among the majority, some were swayed into believing that Alexander''s devotion was genuine, while others concluded that his actions were merely a strategic move to quell the brewing storm.


    Regardless of the varying opinions, it was undeniable that the news about Getty had thrust Alexander''s identity as a "victim" back into the limelight. This unexpected turn of events had caused Kennedy Enterprise''s stock to surge, once again. Getty was deeply moved, touched by Alexander''s apparent concern for her. She had been gued by worry, fearing that Alexander would distance himself from her. His defense of her, however, hade as a pleasant surprise. "Who are you looking for?" Ms. Miller''s voice echoed from the doorway. Quinn''s gaze lifted to find Kaitlyn standing there.She sprang up from the couch, making her way towards the door.


    Kaitlyn''s expression soured at the sight of her.


    Quinn, ustomed to this reaction, merely gestured and asked, "Mom, why are you here?"


    Kaitlyn,prehending only the word "mom", brushed past her into the room, retorting, "Don''t talk nonsense. I''m not your mom."


    Quinn bit her lip, trailing behind her.Ms. Miller dutifully poured a ss of water, extending it towards Quinn. As Quinn settled down, she epted the ss. Kaitlyn, however, knocked it from her grasp, drenching Quinn''s clothes. "Quinn, I genuinely didn''t notice. How shameless can you be, returning after leaving Alexander? Is it because he didn''t provide enough in the divorce settlement?" Kaitlyn taunted.


    Quinn''s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Kaitlyn. Divorce...?


    Kaitlyn shot her a nce, continuing, "Stop ying the victim. Reflect on it. Have the Kennedys ever mistreated you? Why are you so fixated on Alexander when there are countless other men?"


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    Quinn stood frozen, her mind a whirlwind of confusion.


    Kaitlyn rose to her feet, her gaze icy as she addressed Quinn, "Alexander pities you, that''s why he tolerates you. But I''m not aspassionate as him. You''d better understand your ce and leave. Don''t test my patience, or you''ll regret it." Quinn shook her head, attempting to gesture, but Kaitlyn turned away, refusing to acknowledge her. "No need for gestures. Don''t you feel ashamed, always resorting to them?"


    Quinn halted her movements, her lips parting slightly before she bowed her head in silence. She was ustomed to this; Kaitlyn had always despised her.


    Kaitlyn continued, "I don''t want to waste my breath on you. Pack your things and leave. Alexander is getting married soon, and I don''t want him to see you when he does. If ites to that, I won''t be as gentle with you."


    Quinn''s mind was in turmoil as she looked up at Kaitlyn, who stood there, radiating arrogance. Had she and Alexander truly divorced?


    Kaitlyn''s anger red when she saw that Quinn hadn''t moved.


    "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and pack your things and leave, now!"With that, she gave Quinn a forceful shove. Quinn staggered back, struggling to regain her bnce.


    Ms. Miller and Ms. Moore watched from the sidelines, unsure of whether to intervene.


    Suddenly, a chilling voice echoed from the entrance, "Who dares to let her leave?"

 Chapter 453

    All eyes in the room instinctively turned towards the entrance.


    With a determined stride, Alexander made his entrance, positioning himself not just beside Quinn, but more urately, shielding her with his own body.


    Witnessing his protective stance over Quinn, Kaitlyn''s anger red even more.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "Alexander, she''s nothing but a dummy!" she spat out, her voice echoing in the room. "Is she really worth you defying me time and again?"


    Her words, sharp and piercing, rang in Quinn''s ears, causing her to wince.


    Alexander met Kaitlyn''s heated gaze with a frosty, icy stare. His eyes glinted with a cold light that sent a shiver down Kaitlyn''s spine.


    "It''s not me who''s defying you, Kaitlyn," Alexander retorted, his voice steady and calm. "It''s you who''s defying me. Haven''t you realized that yet?"


    Kaitlyn''s face contorted with a mix of understanding and rage. "Me, defying you? I''m doing this for your own good! Why can''t you see that I only want what''s best for you?"


    "Ridiculous," Alexander scoffed, hisughter sounding harsh in Kaitlyn''s ears. "You im to be doing this for my own good?"


    His words wereced with a threatening undertone that made Kaitlyn tremble with fury. "What are you implying? Are you nning to continue to defy me?"


    "It''s not defiance," he replied, his tone turning blunt. "Aside from being my mother, what else do you have that''s worth my opposition?"


    Kaitlyn was left speechless, her eyes burning into Alexander. If looks could kill, he would have been dead on the spot.


    "Fine, Alexander," she spat out, her voice bitter. "I''ve wasted years raising you. You''re willing to cast me aside, your own mother, for the sake of this dummy. You truly are a fine son of mine."


    Alexander regarded her with an impassive expression, allowing her to vent her anger without interruption.


    Kaitlyn''s anger seemed to amuse her. She snatched her bag from the couch, shooting a nce at Alexander before turning her gaze to Quinn.


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    "Such a good son," she sneered, her words dripping with sarcasm. Her harsh gaze made Quinn feel small, causing her to lower her head in shame.


    With a huff, Kaitlyn stormed out of the vi. The sound of her retreating footsteps echoed her peak of anger.


    Once Kaitlyn was gone, Alexander turned his attention to the two nannies who had been eavesdropping nearby. They immediately averted their gaze and hurriedly retreated. Quinn tugged at Alexander''s sleeve, drawing his attention. She gestured, asking if they were getting a divorce.


    Alexander lowered his gaze to meet hers, his voice deep as he responded, "You believe everyone else, but you don''t believe me, do you?"


    Quinn''s eyes flickered, and she quickly shook her head, gesturing that she did believe him. Only then did his icy expression soften slightly. His gaze fell on her damp clothes. "Why haven''t you changed?"Quinn pursed her lips and gestured that she would go change immediately.


    After her gesture, she moved past Alexander and headed upstairs.Alexander loosened his tie, still feeling ufortable. He tossed it casually onto the couch, retrieved a cigarette, and lit it. He sank back onto the couch, tilting his head back and exhaling a long trail of smoke.


    When Quinn returned, she found him lounging on the couch in a disheveled state. One hand held a cigarette, hanging loosely by his side, while the other rested on the backrest of the couch.


    His rxed fingers appeared even longer and more elegant than usual.


    Quinn approached him, bending down to look at him.


    He discarded the cigarette, grasped Quinn''s waist, and pulled her closer.


    Caught off guard, Quinn stumbled into his arms, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulders. He reached up to caress Quinn''s face, his gaze fixed on her, a faraway look in his eyes.


    "Will you forget about me?" His words were soft, more of a murmur to himself than a question to her. Yet, his words weighed heavily on Quinn''s heart, making it difficult for her to breathe.

 Chapter 454

    The intensity of his gaze was so profound that it almost convinced Quinn of his love for her. Yet, the only thought that consumed her was the statement issued by Kennedy Enterprise that very day. A statement that served as a stark reminder, a warning, that his love was not hers to im..


    With a slow, deliberate motion, Quinn released her hold on his fingers, raising her hand to hover before his eyes. "It won''t happen," she dered.


    His focus shifted,nding on her fingers once more. Quinn gestured again, her words echoing in the silent room. "I won''t forget you."


    How could she? His presence had been a constant in her life since she was a mere child of five. His influence was etched into her very being, a trace of him in every memory. She could forget Soren, Orion, and Abigail, but not him. Quinn was unsure whether this was a blessing or a curse. It felt like a cruel twist of fate; in the past, he was all she had, and it seemed, in the future, he would be all she would ever have.


    Alexander took her fingers in his, gently massaging them. His voice broke the silence, "Did you take the pills?"


    Quinn nodded in response.


    "You must take the pills obediently..." His words trailed off as he nced at his wristwatch, realizing the day was drawing to a close. Any further conversation seemed futile.


    Quinn nodded again. She had taken many pills that day, Soren had even given her some peculiar ones.


    She had never consumed so many pills before. Once, her body was strong, capable of running great distances in pursuit of Alexander. She used to be able to cater to his needs, buying his favorite food, washing his clothes, and maintaining the vast house single-handedly. But now, she found herself exhausted by merely climbing the stairs.


    "Is your leg still hurting today?" Alexander asked, his voiceced with concern.


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    Quinn nodded, admitting to the lingering pain.


    Alexander fell silent for a moment before speaking again, "When you''re better, we''ll have a child. A daughter."


    Quinn was taken aback. She knew he was not fond of children. Or more urately, he didn''t want children born of her, tainted by the dummy gene. Quinn was at a loss for words.


    Suddenly, Alexander sat upright, pulling her into his arms. His gaze was intense, searching her face.


    "Is that okay?" he asked.


    Quinn met his gaze, his earnest expression leaving no room for doubt. She hesitated, then nodded.


    A faint smile yed on his lips as he asked again, "Do you want to have a daughter with me?"Quinn felt her cheeks flush, she quickly averted her gaze and nodded.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Just then, his phone rang, the jarring sound of the ringtone pulling Quinn back to reality. The moment of intimacy was shattered, reced by an awkward silence.Alexander retrieved his phone, nced at the screen, and promptly ended the call before slipping it back into his pocket. He scooped Quinn into his arms, "Have you eaten?" he asked. Quinn shook her head in response.


    He carried her to the dining room, her position in his arms was ufortably reminiscent of a child being carried.


    As they reached the dining room, his phone rang again. Quinn clung to his neck, observing his expression. He seemed slightly irritated.

 Chapter 455

    Gently, Alexander set Quinn down, his phone silenced and discarded. He then took a seat beside her, his presence a quiet apaniment as she began her meal.


    For a moment, Quinn simply stared at him, her utensils untouched. Then, with a silent resignation, she began to eat.


    There was an oddity to Alexander''s behavior, a peculiar insistence on feeding her. He would extend a Sebastian towards her, and with a reluctant eptance, she would part her lips to ept the mouthful of corn porridge. Casting a sidelong nce at Alexander, Quinn found herself puzzled by his actions. Regardless of her appetite, he persisted in his feeding, as if she were incapable of eating on her own.


    His actions, whether it was bathing her or feeding her, made Quinn feel like a ything. It reminded her of her own childhood, when she would dress up her dolls andb their hair. She was his doll now.


    After thirty minutes, Quinn found herself unable to consume another bite. She tilted her head, a silent plea for respite.


    "Just one more bite. Be a good girl," Alexander coaxed.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    With a small pout, Quinn touched her already full belly, forcing herself to swallow the piece of meat despite the nausea threatening to rise.


    Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by the insistent ringing of the doorbell. Quinn blinked in surprise, her gaze shifting to Alexander.


    He frowned, a moment of contemtion before he set down his utensils. "You should go upstairs and rest," he suggested.


    Without a word, Quinn rose and began her ascent.


    Alexander moved to answer the door, revealing a drenched Getty on the doorstep.


    As soon as the door swung open, she rushed in, throwing herself into Alexander''s arms.


    "Alexander, why didn''t you answer my call?"Quinn, who had nearly reached the top of the stairs, instinctively turned at the sound of sobbing. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the sight of Alexander and Getty locked in an embrace. The scene was a harsh reality, a p to her face that left her disoriented. The man who had been so attentive to her just moments ago was now holding another woman.


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    Her emotions felt like a cruel joke.


    Alexander, meanwhile, looked down at Getty and asked, "Why are you here?"


    Tears streaming down her face, Getty looked up at him, her voice desperate. "Alexander, are you mad at me? I can exin."


    "No need to exin. I trust you," Alexander cut her off before she could finish.


    Unable to bear the sight any longer, Quinn felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She rushed to the bathroom, clutching the toilet as she vomited.


    Getty was momentarily stunned by his words, her tears forgotten. "You... do you believe me?"


    Alexander brushed away the damp strands of hair from her face, his expression unreadable. "Of course."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! His words didn''t sound like a lie, leaving Getty at a loss for words. She felt a surge of guilt and sadness at the realization that she was no longer important to Alexander. "I..." she began, intending to deny any wrongdoing. But faced with Alexander''s trusting gaze, she found herself unable to lie.


    With a serious expression, Alexander smoothed her hair back. "It''s okay. You don''t need to say anything. You''re all wet."


    He then turned to Ms. Miller, instructing her to fetch some clothes for Getty.


    Caught off guard, Ms. Miller asked, "Which room is Getty''s?"


    The close rtionship between Getty and Alexander had left her confused, especially with another woman upstairs. The lives of the rich were indeed chaotic. "Just grab any. Hurry up!" Alexander urged.


    Startled, Ms. Miller quickly ascended the stairs, knocking on Quinn''s bedroom door. However, Quinn was still in the bathroom, her retching drowning out the sound from outside.

 Chapter 456

    Upon noticing the door slightly ajar, Ms. Miller mustered her courage and gently nudged it open. The sound of retching greeted her, and she quickly moved towards the source of the distress.


    "Quinn? What''s the matter?" Ms. Miller''s voice echoed with concern as she rushed to the young woman''s side. She nced down to find that Quinn had already flushed away the evidence of her difort. With a grimace, Quinn wiped her mouth on her sleeve and looked up at Ms. Miller. She gestured dismissively, indicating that she had merely overeaten.


    Ms. Miller hesitated, her gaze shifting between the toilet and Quinn''s pained expression. "Should I get Soren to take a look?" she suggested.


    Quinn shook her head, attempting to wave off the concern. However, another wave of nausea hit her, and she doubled over the toilet once more.


    She had already expelled everything she had consumed earlier, and what followed was a bitter, acidic fluid. Her stomach convulsed violently, as if her intestines were knotting together, relentlessly churning upwards. Once the retching subsided, Quinn slumped to the floor, too drained to move.


    "Quinn, are you okay?" Ms. Miller asked cautiously.Quinn managed a weak nod and a feeble wave of her hand, signaling that she was fine.


    Despite her doubts, Ms. Miller decided not to press further. "Oh, by the way, Mr. Kennedy asked me to bring some clothes to him. Which should I take down?"


    Quinn, bereft of strength, couldn''t discern whether the spasms were in her stomach or her heart. She gestured weakly. "You can take whatever you want."


    With a nod, Ms. Miller exited the room and randomly selected a set of clothes from Quinn''s wardrobe.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Upon descending the stairs, she found the living room deserted. A quick search revealed no sign of Alexander''s coat draped on the sofa. The realization hit her - Alexander had truly left.


    Ms. Miller sighed heavily. Men were indeed unfaithful creatures. Witnessing Alexander''s tant betrayal of Quinn stirred a pang of sympathy within her.


    Upon returning to the bedroom, she found Quinn had managed to pull herself up. Seeing her unsteady steps, Ms. Miller quickly went over to help her. "Quinn, are you okay?"


    Quinn nodded and, with Ms. Miller''s support, settled onto the bed. She looked at the clothes in Ms. Miller''s hands and gestured, asking if they had left.


    Ms. Miller''s face turned a shade paler as she nodded. "I didn''t see anyone when I went downstairs. I''ll put the clothes back for you."


    After hanging the clothes back in the closet, she returned to Quinn''s side. "Quinn, don''t you think you should see a doctor?" Quinn shook her head slightly, signaling that she was tired and needed rest.


    "Alright, rest well. I''ll go downstairs for now. If you need anything, you can use the internal phone on the bedside table."


    The internal line, installed by Kyle two days prior for Quinn''s convenience, was meant to provide a quick means of calling for help.


    As Quinn copsed onto the bed, the room fell silent, save for the faint patter of rain against the windows. It was raining again. Quinn closed her eyes, and the image of the two embracing downstairs shed in her mind, triggering another wave of nausea. She curled up into a ball, pulling the nket over her head.


    Alexander hadn''t returned that evening. Instead, he had gone to the mall with Getty and bought her a new outfit.


    Getty had merely been testing the waters, pretending things were as they used to be and asking him to apany her shopping. She hadn''t expected him to actually agree.


    Getty changed into her new clothes and paraded in front of the mirror. In the reflection, she saw the man sitting on the opposite sofa, engrossed in his phone. His striking appearance drew the attention of everyone, even the salespeople couldn''t help but steal nces at him. Their envious looks filled Getty with pride. This exceptional man was hers. He trusted her unconditionally. What more could she ask for? Anyone else might have abandoned her by now. But not Alexander. He treated her as well as ever.


    In the immediate aftermath of the incident, he had stood up for her, issuing a statement on her behalf.


    A joyful smile spread across Getty''s face at the thought. She sauntered over and nestled next to Alexander, wrapping her arm around his. "Alexander, let''s go to my ceter."

 Chapter 457

    Alexander''s gaze was fixed on the screen of his phone, his attention so engrossed that Getty couldn''t help but peer over his shoulder. Her curiosity, however, quickly turned to shock as she took in the images disyed on the screen.


    He wasn''t engrossed in some random activity, he was scrolling through Instagram. The social media tform had been abuzz with information about their rtionship in recent days.


    Mr. Cox, with his massive following of over 20 million fans, was at the center of it all. His fans, driven by their fervor, hade to the conclusion that Getty had seduced him.


    Consequently, they had taken to Alexander''s Instagram, leavingments and hurling usations at Getty. This onught had given Alexander a glimpse into the true character of this woman they were vilifying.


    One particr statement had stirred up a wave of jealousy among the masses.


    Getty, a woman who had allegedly seduced men far and wide, had no significant background or identity. She had only managed to step into the entertainment industry due to Alexander''s influence. Yet, she was used of betraying Alexander, even as he stood by her side.


    It was amon belief that if someone was significantly superior to you, you would envy them. However, if they were only slightly better, you might be jealous.


    Getty fell into the first category. Apart from her beauty, she had nothing. Yet, she had managed to win Alexander''s favor, leading many to believe they could do the same. So why was it Getty, they wondered?


    "Why are you still looking at this?" Alexander asked, tucking his phone away and turning to Getty. "Have you made your decision?"


    Getty nodded, her enthusiasm for shopping having waned. "I''ve already picked what I want."


    Alexander took out his card from his pocket and handed it to the salesperson.


    The salesperson promptly processed the payment, packaged the wet clothes Getty had changed out of, and handed them to her with a respectful nod. A hint of envy flickered in their eyes.


    The recent incident at the hotel had caused quite a stir, and anyone who frequented the inte would have been aware of it. Seeing Alexander and Getty in person evoked a different feeling in the salespeople. Alexander rose to his feet, suggesting, "Let''s head back once we''re done shopping."


    Getty hurriedly said, "Aren''t youing with me?"


    Alexander''s gaze drifted to a spot outside where the sh of a paparazzi camera had caught his eye. He didn''t immediately dismiss Getty''s proposition.


    Today, Getty had ventured out without any disguise, allowing herself to be photographed by the paparazzi. She wanted to show that her rtionship with Alexander was still strong, and they hadn''t fallen out due to the recent incident. Over time, this would naturally dispel the rumors about her and Mr. Cox. The timing was perfect, coinciding with the premiere of the new drama. It could also generate some much-needed buzz.


    Many films and TV shows often created scandals before their release to generate buzz and boost ratings.


    Getty looped her arm through Alexander''s, whispering, "The paparazzi are following us. If we don''t leave, they''ll specte and report inurately."


    Alexander considered her words, his handing to rest on Getty''s waist as a smile tugged at his lips. "Let''s go. I''ll drive you home."


    Getty''s heart swelled with joy, and she held him tighter, their bodies close.


    They allowed the paparazzi to take their photos, the flurry of camera clicks filling the air.


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    As Alexander drove Getty home, several cars trailed behind them. He nced at the rearview mirror, a smirk ying on his lips as he calmly returned his gaze to the road and continued driving.


    The night was punctuated by the sound of heavy rain, the droplets striking the roof tiles like a mournfulment.


    The noise roused Quinn from her sleep. She instinctively reached out, only to find the other side of the bed empty.


    She opened her eyes, her gazending on the vacant pillow, a shadow of sadness crossing her face.


    After throwing up before bed, she was now hungry again, and her stomach began to cramp.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    She climbed out of bed and descended the stairs. Ms. Miller and Ms. Moore had already retired for the night, leaving the vi eerily quiet. The rooms had been tidied up over the past few days, and the white sheets had been put away. The vi had returned to its original state.


    Quinn surveyed the familiar vi, a wave of loneliness washing over her.


    She poured herself a ss of water and was about to turn on the TV when a knock echoed from the front door.

 Chapter 458

    Quinn hesitated as she nced at the clock on the wall. It was already two in the morning. Who could possibly be calling at this hour?


    Her grip tightened around her cup, her fear preventing her from answering the door.


    The persistent knocking continued, blending with the sound of the torrential rain outside, creating a blurred, eerie symphony.


    Swallowing nervously, Quinn drained her cup in one swift gulp. She sprang to her feet and fled upstairs, seeking refuge under the safety of her bedroom nkets.


    Eventually, the haunting knocking stopped. Quinn clutched her chest, feeling her heart hammering against her ribs, but sleep eluded her. She stared at the vacant pillow next to her, her eyes remaining wide open until the first light of dawn. Her fear was palpable, and Alexander was nowhere to be found. She was left to endure the seemingly endless night alone.


    As dawn broke, the room was bathed in a soft, weing light. Quinn could resist no longer, her heavy eyelids fluttering closed as she sumbed to sleep.


    Meanwhile, at Kennedy Enterprise, Walter sat in his office, holding a cup of tea and savoring each sip. Across from him sat Alexander. It was a stark contrast to just a month ago when these two men were on the brink of confrontation, and now they sat together, calmly sipping tea.


    Walter nced at the tea in his cup and chuckled, "Xaviercks courage. After all his bluster, this is all he could muster."Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He was, of course, referring to the scandal. Despite the scandal involving Getty and Mr. Cox causing quite a stir, it had no adverse effect on Kennedy Enterprise. On the contrary, it had boosted thepany''s stocks. Xavier must be seething in his home. It was possible that Xavier had intended to cause more damage, but he had chosen the wrong target. If someone else, perhaps that naive little dummy, had been behind the event, Alexander wouldn''t be asposed as he was now, even without the media circus.


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    Alexander reclined on the couch, puffing on his cigarette, his silence a response to Walter''s taunts.


    "What''s wrong, Oliver? Feeling sorry for Getty?" Walter teased. "You weren''t so merciful when you used Quinn."


    There were two instances that came to mind - when The Cube had captured Walter, and the Chandler incident. These events had turned Walter and Landon into enemies, forcing Walter to align with Alexander. His first task was to face Xavier in court and ensure his defeat.


    Alexander nced at Walter, his tone casual, "Have you finished your work? You seem to have a lot of free time."


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    Walter took a leisurely sip of his tea, leaning back in his chair. "Big brother, you were the one who told me to bnce work and rest. Are you picking on me now?"


    "Don''t call me big brother..." Alexander retorted, a suddenugh escaping his lips. He changed his tone, "Actually, I should be the one calling you big brother."


    Walter''s expression shifted subtly, and after a moment, he returned the smile, though it was tinged with a hint of anger. Abruptly, he ced his teacup on the table, "You''re right, I shouldn''t be idle. If you get upset and decide to shoot me, it would be quite the loss for me, wouldn''t it?"


    With that, he rose from his chair and exited the room.


    Alexander watched his retreating figure, the smile on his lips slowly fading, reced by a cold, unreadable expression.

 Chapter 459

    On the other side of the city, Getty had been sleeping for an entire day, only to be roused in thete afternoon by a call from her agent. Her role in the drama was drawing to a close, and she was summoned to the set for the final time. With a sense of impatience, Getty rolled out of bed, her fingersbing through her disheveled hair. The first thing she did was to search for Alexander.


    However, as she had anticipated, she was met with disappointment. Alexander was nowhere to be found. Despite his frequent overnight stays, he had a habit of leaving early, sometimes even in the dead of night. His departures were always silent, leaving no trace of his presence, and as a result, Getty rarely caught sight of him the following day.


    Sighing in frustration, Getty rubbed her weary eyes and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. She changed into fresh clothes and prepared to leave.


    The set was a considerable distance away, requiring a three-hour drive. The journey involved a long stretch of remote road, nked by mountains on either side, leading to the filming location.


    At one point during her drive, a van suddenly appeared from a diagonal direction, stopping abruptly in the middle of the road and blocking her path.


    Startled, Getty mmed on the brakes. Despite her quick reaction, she couldn''t prevent a collision. The airbag deployed, and her forehead struck the steering wheel with force, causing her vision to blur from the pain.


    After a while, Getty rubbed her forehead and red angrily at the van in front of her. It had to be the props team!


    A young man emerged from the van and began to approach her. In response, Getty flung open her car door and stormed over to him, her eyes zing with anger. "What are you doing? Can''t you honk your horn?" The man offered an apologetic smile. "I''m sorry."


    Getty was about to retort when the man drew closer, and she felt a sharp sensation at her waist.


    "Don''t move."


    Getty froze, her eyes widening as she looked down to see a dagger pressed against her side.


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    "What... What are you doing?" she stammered, her gaze shifting to the young man in disbelief, her voice trembling, "What do you want?"


    "You''ll find out soon. Get in the car," the young man instructed, tilting his chin towards her vehicle. Fearful of making any sudden moves, Getty cautiously approached her car. The man opened the back door and climbed inside, keeping the knife pressed against her neck as the van in front slowly pulled away.


    "Drive," he ordered.


    "Who are you? Is this a kidnapping? How much money do you want??" Getty''s heart pounded in her chest, the cold, sharp de against her neck sending shivers down her spine.


    "Stop talking and drive."Getty dared not say another word, she mechanically started the car and slowly drove away.


    She didn''t want to die, but she also knew that if she didn''t act, her life was in jeopardy.


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    The previous night''s heavy rain had left the road muddy. The sky was dark, and the surrounding hills were shrouded in shadows.Getty''s blue luxury car ventured deeper into the wilderness, disappearing into the valley. As night fell, Quinn stirred from her sleep.


    She nced outside to see the gloomy sky, shes of lightning piercing through the clouds and casting a pale light into the bedroom.


    Swallowing hard, Quinn climbed out of bed and noticed a sticky note and a notebook on her bedside table. She picked them up and leafed through the pages.


    After a moment, she closed the notebook, hurried downstairs, and located the pills in the drawer, swallowing them quickly.


    But the vi was empty, there was no one there. Ms. Miller and Ms. Moore had gone out to buy groceries, leaving her alone in the house.

 Chapter 460

    No longer able to bear the stifling confines of her home, Quinn hastily collected her phone and umbre before venturing out of the house.


    With a swift wave of her hand, she hailed a taxi, directing it towards Kennedy Enterprise. After enduring a twenty-minute wait, a sleek white car finally pulled up to the curb. Without hesitation, Quinn opened the door and slid into the backseat, the driver setting off almost immediately.


    As the car began to move, Quinn found herself anxiously twisting her fingers together, her gaze fixed on the ominous thunderstorm brewing outside. Her heart pounded in rhythm with the impending storm, each thunderp amplifying her growing tension.


    As if on cue, the heavens opened up, releasing a torrent of rain that drummed loudly against the car''s roof. The world outside the window blurred into a watercolor painting, making it impossible for Quinn to discern their direction. After what felt like an eternity, the car finally came to a halt. The driver turned to face Quinn, his voice cutting through the silence, "We''ve arrived."


    Emerging from the car, Quinn was greeted by a ssh of water as the driver sped off. Unfazed, she looked up to find herself standing before the imposing gates of the Kennedy Residence. Confusion clouded her mind. She had asked for Kennedy Enterprise, so why had the driver brought her here?


    As she reached for her phone to verify the address, therge iron gate creaked open, revealing two stern-faced bodyguards.


    "Quinn, you''re here," one of them greeted, his voice devoid of warmth.


    Caught off guard, Quinn could only stare at them in bewilderment.


    "Kaitlyn is waiting for you inside. Pleasee in," the other bodyguard gestured, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    With a tight grip on her umbre handle and a lump in her throat, Quinn ventured into the storm.


    The rain had intensified, and a fierce wind had begun to howl, threatening to rip the umbre from her grasp. Despite the onught of wind and rain, Quinn managed to follow the bodyguards to the vi''s grand foyer.


    As she stepped inside, the biting cold that had seeped into her bones began to recede. Kaitlyn was lounging on a plush couch, nonchntly sipping her tea.


    Without even ncing up, shemented, "It''s really difficult to get you here."


    Quinn, recognizing that the words were directed at her, set her umbre aside and approached Kaitlyn.


    After a few more sips of her tea, Kaitlyn finally deigned to look at Quinn. Her gaze was cold and calcting as she took in Quinn''s drenched appearance, her wet hair stered to her face, and her ck and white eyes that held a glimmer of desperation.


    Something about Quinn''s helpless expression infuriated Kaitlyn. She was convinced that Quinn used those eyes to ensnare her son, Alexander, turning him against his own mother. "Take her away," Kaitlynmanded, her voice echoing through the room.


    Quinn was taken aback, her eyes widening in confusion as she looked at Kaitlyn. Before she could protest, the two bodyguards advanced, their firm grip on her arm pulling her away.


    Despite her attempts to resist, Quinn was no match for the bodyguards. She was dragged out of the foyer and back into the relentless rain, her clothes instantly soaked through. The rain blurred her vision, the only lighting from the asional sh of lightning in the stormy sky.


    Quinn had no idea how far the bodyguards had dragged her until they finally stopped in front of a rusty iron door, hidden amongst overgrown weeds. Without hesitation, they flung her inside, the door mming shut behind her. Quinn stumbled, falling to the ground amidst the musty smell of the room. Ignoring the pain, she scrambled to her feet, only to find the door locked.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    As she clung to the iron bars, she realized she was in a basement, the bodyguards towering above her.


    From the outside, only her upper body was visible. In a futile attempt, she shook the iron door, causing it to rattle loudly. But the bodyguards simply turned and walked away, leaving Quinn alone in the darkness.

 Chapter 461

    Upon their return, Ms. Miller and Ms. Moore had intended to rouse Quinn from her slumber after preparing breakfast.


    Much to their surprise, their persistent knocking on her door yielded no response. A shared nce of concern passed between them before they reached for the doorknob, pushing the door open with a sense of urgency.


    Stepping inside, they were met with an unsettling sight - the bedroom was devoid of its upant. Quinn was nowhere to be found. Their faces drained of color, but they pressed on, scouring every corner of the vi. From the bathroom to the storage room, their search was exhaustive yet fruitless. Quinn was missing.


    "What should we do? It seems like Quinn is missing!" Ms. Miller voiced her worry, her words hanging heavy in the air.


    "Let''s not panic. Perhaps Quinn merely stepped out for some fresh air and is taking shelter from the rain," Ms. Moore suggested, trying to remain level-headed.


    Ms. Miller sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "Did you forget? Alexander explicitly instructed us to keep an eye on her at all times. How are we to report this now?"


    Ms. Moore''s expression hardened, but she maintained herposure. "Quinn is a grown woman. Surely, she couldn''t have gotten lost, could she? Let''s wait. Perhaps she''ll return soon, if..."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Interrupting her, Ms. Miller snapped, "Enough. Call Alexander. Now."


    "Are you out of your mind?" Ms. Moore retorted, gripping her hand tightly. "If Alexander finds out we failed to keep track of Quinn and she''s still missing, we''ll both lose our jobs."


    Ms. Miller hesitated, acknowledging the validity of herpanion''s point, and reluctantly abandoned the idea of contacting Alexander. With renewed determination, they decided to brave the rain and continue their search outside the vi. Despite scouring the vicinity for over two hours, their efforts were in vain. They returned to the vi, their unease growing. Even the usuallyposed Ms. Moore was beginning to feel the stirrings of fear.


    "Maybe we should call Alexander after all," she suggested, ncing at the clock. It was nearing ten.


    "We should have done that earlier!" Ms. Miller retorted, her frustration evident. She attempted to call Alexander, but to no avail. After several failed attempts, she slumped onto the sofa in defeat. "We''ll try againter." Their predicament was dire. Unable to reach Alexander and with Quinn still missing, they feared their careers were on the brink of ruin.


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    Meanwhile, Alexander''s phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. To his surprise, it was Getty on the other end, her voice choked with sobs. "Alexander, please save me! I''ve been kidnapped! They want you toe and rescue me!" "Where are you?" Alexander''s brow furrowed in concern.


    "I don''t know, I can''t see anything. It''s so dark. Please, I don''t want to die!" Getty''s pleas were desperate.


    As she finished speaking, a stranger''s voice echoed through the phone. "Alexander, if you want your little lover back, bring fifty thousand dors in cash. You have five hours. If you fail to show up, she dies."


    Alexander''s grip on his phone tightened, his voice dropping to a threatening growl. "Don''t y games. Give me the location and I''ll be there."


    Getty''s heart swelled at his words. "Alexander, I knew you love me," she sobbed into the phone.


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    The stranger''s voice returned, his tone smug. "I''ve changed my mind. Fifty thousand is too cheap for your mistress. I want two million. Transfer it immediately and bring an additional fifty thousand in cash." Alexander''s brow furrowed deeper, his voice icy. "Don''t push your luck."


    The kidnappersughed, their voices echoing ominously. "Do you want your mistress''s life? If so, do as we say. If you don''te, we won''t be polite."


    "This mistress is quite a beauty. I wonder what it''s like sleeping with her."


    "If she has been with Alexander for such a long time, she must be good at it. After we have our fun, we can sell her organs for a hefty sum, right?" "Look at these corneas, this heart..."


    Blindfolded, Getty could only feel their hands roaming her body. Their words sent shivers down her spine, her body trembling uncontrobly.

 Chapter 462

    Tears traced a path down her cheeks, dampening the blindfold that obscured her vision.


    "Alexander, save me... It''s been nearly seven years. Seven years I''ve spent with you..."Getty''s voice faltered, her words heavy with desperation and sorrow. As she tallied the years, she was struck by the realization that nearly seven years had indeed passed.


    The years spent by Alexander''s side had flown by in a blink. It felt as though it was only yesterday when she had be his lover.


    Upon hearing the words "seven years," a flicker of unfathomable emotion crossed Alexander''s eyes.


    After a moment''s pause, he finally spoke, "Alright, I promise you. Don''ty a finger on her."


    The man on the other end of the line erupted intoughter, "I knew Alexander couldn''t bear to lose this beauty. But remember, Alexander,e alone."


    "If we discover you''ve brought someone with you, we can''t promise your little mistress''s safety."


    A wave of dread washed over Getty.


    Blindfolded as she was, she turned her gaze towards the phone, as if she could see through the ck fabric and find a glimmer of hope.


    The line went silent.


    Despite the thunder and lightning that raged around her, the silence on the phone was deafening, as if it had sucked the air out of the room, making it suffocating. "Alexander, our patience is wearing thin."


    "Alright, I''m on my way." Alexander''s voice echoed through the phone, devoid of any emotion, and was quickly drowned out by the rumble of thunder. But Getty heard him.


    Her body, rigid with tension, slowly rxed as she leaned back in the chair, her sobs echoing in the room.


    "Very well, you''re living up to your reputation, Alexander. We''ll be waiting here."


    With that, the call ended.


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    The man removed the blindfold from Getty''s eyes, and in that instant, her pupils contracted sharply.


    Back at the Regal Riverside, Ms. Miller and Ms. Moore had been engaged in a flurry of phone calls, with Alexander on the line throughout.


    As the clock on the wall struck 11, panic set in.


    Quinn hadn''t returned yet. Would she stille back?


    They didn''t know, and neither did Quinn.


    Soaked to the bone and locked in a dark, cold room, she didn''t dare venture further inside due to the overwhelming darkness.


    In all her years at the Kennedys residence, she had never seen this ce before.


    She stood at the iron gate, looking out. The relentless rain pounded the ground, sshing onto her face.


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    Her hair, wet from the rain, clung to her face in a disheveled mess. She could barely endure, her gaze fixed on the faint light outside.


    She was terrified of thunder and darkness.


    Now, both fears had converged, and as time wore on, they slowly chipped away at her sanity.


    Quinn''s hands were frozen and red, but she clung to the iron bars, like a caged bird yearning for the world beyond.


    Suddenly, the light in front of her was blocked.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn slowly raised her head to find Kaitlyn standing outside, looking down at her.


    Her grip on the iron bars tightened. Quinn stared at Kaitlyn''s impassive face, her eyes brimming with confusion and sorrow.


    She didn''t know what mistake she had made to warrant being locked up here by Kaitlyn.

 Chapter 463

    Kaitlyn crouched down, her face filled with disgust as she looked disdainfully at Quinn.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Quinn''s eyes, wide and unblinking, were locked onto Kaitlyn, searching for any hint of her perceived transgression in the other woman''s words.


    However, Kaitlyn''s response was cryptic, "I had every intention of ending your life, but seeing you in such a pitiful state, I''ve decided to let you stay here and contemte your actions. You''ll be released once Alexander is wed." Quinn''s pupils dted in confusion, her expression shifting rapidly. She understood each word Kaitlyn uttered, but when strung together, they made no sense to her. ''What does she mean... "once Alexander gets married"?


    Kaitlyn''s anger red at Quinn''s bewildered expression. "You dummy, stop ying the innocent! Every time I look into your eyes, I have the urge to gouge them out!"


    In a panic, Quinn averted her gaze, too terrified to meet Kaitlyn''s eyes any longer.


    Yet, this only served to fuel Kaitlyn''s rage further.


    With a sarcasticugh, Kaitlyn turned to the servant standing beside her. "Look at this little temptress. Isn''t she always trying to ensnare Alexander with her wiles?


    "As if I''m the one who has wronged her. Tell me, if you hadn''t been so desperate to cling to Alexander, would I have felt the need to imprison you? "Quinn, this is all your doing. Don''t dare me me."


    Quinn remained silent, her gaze fixed on her toes. Kaitlyn''s eyes fell on Quinn''s fingers, still desperately clutching the iron bars, and a spiteful smirk crossed her face. Suddenly, she rose to her feet andmanded, "Seal this door as well." Quinn''s head shot up, her eyes pleading as she shook her head in desperate denial. But Kaitlyn was unmoved, her satisfaction growing as she watched despair cloud Quinn''s eyes, as if it could somehow lessen the bitterness in her own heart. "Seal it!"


    Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes as she shook the iron bars violently, wishing she could break free. But it was futile. She could only watch as the guard brought a wooden board and blocked the small sliver of light in front of her. The board was wedged tightly into the stone gap, and the guard kicked it a few times. Quinn''s fingers were caught between the board and the iron bars, the pain so intense that she nearly cked out.


    The guard then secured a stick against the outer side of the board, ensuring that no matter how hard Quinn pushed from the inside, the board wouldn''t budge. Those standing outside could see the board shaking slightly as Quinn pushed against it. But her cries of despair and pleas for mercy were swallowed up in the silence. She could only rely on the slight movement of the board tomunicate her desperation.


    However, even this faint movement seemed to affect the guard. He could almost hear the plea and despair emanating from the trembling figure. So, when Kaitlyn was distracted, he lifted a corner of the wooden board, allowing a sliver of light to seep through.


    Quinn ceased her movements, her gaze drawn to the faint light in the corner. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the dim glow became her only beacon of hope in the engulfing darkness. For a moment, she imagined Alexander stepping out of the light,ing to her rescue as he had done before. He would walk out of the light, open the terrifying door, and bring her back into the light.


    Kaitlyn, irritated by the trembling board, turned on her heel and left. She had wanted to kill Quinn, but feared Alexander''s discovery. Their rtionship was already strained, and if they fell outpletely over this simpleton, it wouldn''t be worth it. So, she decided to imprison Quinn temporarily, forcing Alexander to marry, and then release Quinn. By then, Kaitlyn would have no more worries.


    Quinn slid down against the wall, her gaze fixed on the tiny speck of light, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. It was indeed an illusion. He didn''te.


    The faint light remained dim, and she was still trapped in the darkness. She curled up, burying her face in her knees, feeling the bone-chilling cold of the freezing basement. Her clothes were soaked, and the cold seeped into every pore, causing her body to tremble uncontrobly.

 Chapter 464

    At that very moment, Alexander had made his arrival at the predetermined location. His gaze flickered upon sighting the diminutive wooden cabin nestled within the heart of the jungle. He exited the vehicle, the car door shutting behind him with a soft thud.


    The rain had dwindled to a mere drizzle, but droplets continued to trickle down from the overhead branches, pattering against his umbre. He held a silver suitcase in his grasp as he ventured towards the secluded cabin. The surroundings were eerily silent and devoid of any signs of life.


    Upon pushing open the door of the cabin, he was met with the sight of Getty, bound to a pir, blindfolded, and gagged. The creaking sound of the door opening caused her to jolt, her muffled sobs filling the quiet space. Alexander set down the suitcase and approached her, peeling off the tape from her mouth and lifting the blindfold from her eyes.


    Recognition dawned in her eyes as she saw Alexander, tears pooling in them. She managed to choke out his name, her voiceden with emotion. Her eyes were a testament to her love for him, a love that seemed to have reached its zenith at that moment.


    Alexander, however, paid her no heed, his attention focused on the iron chains that bound Getty.


    "They certainly were thorough," he sneered.


    The manner of her binding was an uncanny replica of the method used on Valerie''s children years ago, a chilling reminder of the perpetrator''s intent. This was a deliberate attempt to recreate the scene of the past crime. Getty blurted out in a panic, "Alexander, it''s him, your brother-inw!"


    Alexander''s reaction was minimal.


    "He said he wants you to experience the pain his child has suffered. What''s going on, is his child..." Getty began, but a nce from Alexander silenced her mid-sentence. Regardless, Alexander was there, ready to risk his life for her. This alone was enough to strengthen Getty''s resolve to love him, regardless of his past actions. "Alexander, can you untie it?" Getty asked.


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    "No, I can''t," he replied. His voice was steady, devoid of any panic, a stark contrast to Getty''s frantic demeanor.


    Getty had every reason to be afraid. She was the one bound and helpless. If danger were to arise, Alexander could easily escape, leaving her to face her impending doom. Yet, the sight of Alexandering to her rescue seemed to alleviate her fear, making even the prospect of death seem less daunting. "Alexander, if they really set the fire, just leave quickly. Don''t worry about me."


    Alexander paused momentarily, then resumed his examination of the iron chains.


    Getty continued to speak, her words sounding like a final testament, "I''m really happy to see you here. I thought you really didn''t love me. But now it doesn''t matter anymore. Even if you don''t love me, I still love you.


    "If I die, then... just live a good life with that dummy, I can''t trust any other woman.


    "Those women were too possessive and aggressive. I didn''t want the man I loved to be controlled by other women.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


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    "Also, don''t make my memorial photo ck and white. Use the one you took of me on the mountain before. That''s my favorite. Just take that one photo for me. "And at my funeral, don''t y sad songs, y..."


    Her rambling was abruptly cut off by Alexander''s sternmand, "Shut up!"


    She halted, about to retort, when she caught a whiff of smoke. Turning her head, she saw smoke seeping through the cracks in the wall.


    Her eyes widened, her face turned ashen, and tears streamed down her cheeks.


    "Alexander... stop it, you should leave, don''t worry about me!"

 Chapter 465

    Unyielding, Alexander remained rooted in ce, his mind tirelessly working to solve the puzzle of the iron chains.


    Getty, her voice choked with sobs, cried out, "Escape! Run while you can!"


    "Keep quiet," he retorted, "Your prattle is grating."


    Yet, Getty paid no heed to his words, her pleas growing more desperate with each passing second. "Please, leave! Don''t let this ce be your grave!" "Survive me, seek vengeance for me. I don''t want you to join me in death!"


    "I''ve been blessed to know you in this life. Our seven years together have been more joyous than most people''s entire lifetimes. I have no regrets, truly. So, please, Alexander, leave." "Alexander! Please, go!" Getty''s voice echoed through the room, her pleas carrying the weight of her desperation.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Alexander, his brow furrowed, shot her an impatient nce.


    Despite his clear irritation, Getty continued to beg him to leave. Suddenly, a deafening bang reverberated through the room, causing Getty to freeze in ce, tears streaming down her face.


    Alexander exhaled slowly, the smoke from the gun barrel dissipating as he tucked the weapon back into his pocket.


    "Are you still here?" he asked, his toneced with impatience.


    Slowly, Getty turned her gaze towards Alexander, her eyes widening at the sight of him holstering his gun. Two fresh tears slid down her cheeks.


    The room filled with smoke, causing Getty to cough uncontrobly.Without a word, Alexander took her hand and led her towards the exit. However, upon reaching the door, he found it locked. His attempts to kick it open proved futile, so he resorted to shooting the lock. The sturdy wooden door swung open, allowing the smoke to billow out in waves.


    Overwhelmed by the smoke, Getty''s vision blurred and she copsed. Alexander, quick on his feet, caught her before she hit the ground. He cradled her in his arms and swiftly exited the wooden house.


    The figures lurking in the shadows rose to their feet as they spotted the pair emerging from the smoke.Seven or eight of them drew their guns, aiming at the figures shrouded in the mist. "Don''t move."


    Before they could pull their triggers, they felt the cold steel of a gun barrel pressed against the backs of their heads.


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    There was no need to turn around; they knew all too well what was being pressed against their heads, as they held simr weapons in their own hands. Once outside, Alexander met up with several other people. "Damn it," Walter muttered, a hint of disgust coXavierng his tone as he saw Getty in Alexander''s arms.


    "You actually rescued her."ording to Walter''s n, Getty was meant to perish inside the house.


    Fortunately, she had already lost consciousness and was spared the cruel words.


    Alexander handed Getty over to a nearby person, asking, "Where are the others?"


    Walter gestured vaguely with his chin. "Over there."


    Following his gaze, Alexander spotted seven or eight individuals huddled on the ground, held at gunpoint and too terrified to move.


    He quickly approached them, scanning the area, but there was no sign of Xavier.


    Walter joined him, confirming, "Xavier isn''t here."


    Alexander took a gun from one of the bodyguards and squatted down. He locked eyes with one of the men and ordered, "Call Xavier." The man hesitated, his difort evident.


    Alexander didn''t waste any time. He pointed the gun at the man''s forehead and, with a muffled bang, the man crumpled to the ground, lifeless.


    His eyes remained wide open, blood seeping from the gunshot wound on his forehead and staining his face a gruesome red. The sight sent a wave of fear through the remaining people.


    Alexander aimed the gun at another man, repeating hismand, "Call Xavier."The man stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence.


    Suddenly, another man shouted, "I''ll make the call!"Alexander turned to look at the volunteer, giving him an approving nod.


    Trembling, the man pulled out his phone, dialed Xavier''s number, and waited for the call to connect.


    After a moment, Xavier''s voice came through the speaker. "How is it going?"

 Chapter 466

    The man cast a nervous nce at Alexander, who returned his gaze with an inscrutable smile ying on his lips.


    "Ms. Xavier, everything has been taken care of," the man reported.


    "Has Alexander died too?" came the response.


    The man''s face drained of color, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He struggled to maintain hisposure as he replied, "Yes, they are all dead. Getty is dead, and Alexander is dead too. What should we do now?" "Hide at the designated location we agreed upon earlier," came the terse instruction.


    "Yes..." His affirmation was cut short by the distant wail of sirens piercing through the jungle''s silence. The sound, transmitted through the phone, reached Xavier''s ears. He demanded, "What''s that sound!"


    Alexander took the phone from the man''s trembling hand and said, "Brother-inw, it''s the sound of police cars."


    Upon hearing Alexander''s voice, Xavier froze on the spot, dumbstruck. The phone slipped from his hand and crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces.


    Yet, the call remained connected, and Alexander''s voice echoed ominously, "Brother-inw, you need to hide quickly, otherwise, you won''t be able to escape."


    With a click, Alexander ended the call, and the recording was saved. Back at his home, Xavier copsed weakly onto the sofa. Two words echoed in his mind: ''It''s over.'' He was done for. He had been fooled by Alexander.


    Freya had managed to avoid conviction before because she had never admitted to any killings in her phone conversations with the kidnapper. But this time, he had spilled all his secrets on the phone, and nowyer, no matter how skilled, could save him now.


    He had thought Walter had betrayed Freya to oppose Alexander, and that was why he had trusted him. How foolish he had been... They were actually working together! He had been unable to handle one adversary, and now he had two against him.


    In the car on the way back, Walter opened the silver box andughed. It was empty. He turned to Alexander, "Chairman, did you give the two million?"


    Alexander shot him a nce. "Do I look stupid?"


    Walter merely smiled and said nothing.


    Upon reaching their destination, Alexander instructed Walter before exiting the car, "Take Getty back."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Chairman, did you really fall for Getty? What about the little dummy?"


    Ignoring Walter''s prattle, Alexander mmed the car door shut, effectively cutting off his words. He strode towards the Regal Riverside.


    Ms. Miller and Ms. Moore were sitting by the stairs, their faces etched with exhaustion. At the sound of approaching footsteps, they woke up, stood up nervously, and fixed their gaze on Alexander.Alexander''s gaze swept across their faces. "Where''s Quinn?"


    The two women exchanged nces, hesitated, and couldn''t seem to find the words. His voice turned cold, "I''m asking you, where is she?"


    Ms. Miller stammered, "We don''t know. Quinn was still sleeping when we went out yesterday, but when we came back... she was gone."


    Ms. Moore quickly added, "Yes. We thought she had gone out for a walk, but she hasn''t returned yet. We tried calling youst night, but couldn''t get through, you... were on the phone."


    Upon hearing this, Alexander abruptly pushed past the two and dashed upstairs.

 Chapter 467

    As he had expected, the bedroom was empty, with no sign of Quinn.


    Ms. Miller and Ms. Moore trailed with trepidation, the imposing figure of the man leading them casting a shadow of fear over their hearts. Alexander pivoted, his icy gaze piercing the two women. "Where has she gone?" he demanded.


    Ms. Miller, torn between loyalty and fear, responded, "If we had any idea of Quinn''s whereabouts, we would have... located her by now." His countenance darkened at her words, silencing Ms. Miller instantly.


    "What exactly do I hire you for?" Alexander retorted coldly, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. He then strode towards the study.


    Upon activating the surveince footage, he witnessed Quinn''s hurried exit, her anxious vigil by the roadside for twenty minutes, and her eventual departure in a car. He immediately dialed Kyle''s number. The news of Quinn''s disappearance sent a wave of panic through Kyle. Who could have taken her this time?


    Having ryed his instructions, Alexander took to the streets, his eyes scanning for any trace of her.


    As he was departing, he crossed paths with Soren, who was rushing towards him, a box of medicine clutched in his hands.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Finding his way blocked by Alexander''s car at the entrance, Soren paused momentarily before swiftly sidestepping to greet Alexander. "Alexander, I came to prepare some medicine for Quinn." Alexander cast him a brief, slightly irritated nce. "She''s missing."


    Soren''s eyes widened in surprise. "Where did she go?"


    A sharp look from Alexander made Soren realize the absurdity of his question. If Alexander knew where she was, she wouldn''t be missing, would she?


    He was such an idiot.


    Stammering, Soren suggested, "Perhaps she got lost."


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    He had previously mentioned that many individuals suffering from this ailment had vanished, their fates unknown, leaving behind only questions of life or death.


    "I''ll join you in the search," he offered.


    Ignoring Soren''s offer, Alexander started the car and sped off, leaving Soren behind in a cloud of exhaust fumes.


    Meanwhile, Quinn found herself huddled in a corner, the murmur of voices reaching her in a haze.She strained to open her eyes, her gaze falling on the iron bars. The wooden nks that had previously blocked the light had been moved, allowing the harsh sunlight to filter through.


    Shielding her eyes from the sparse sunlight with her hand, Quinn squinted through the gaps between her fingers, making out the figure of a woman moving outside.


    The woman, carrying a tray of food, squatted by the door and rapped on the iron gate. "Quinn, get up and eat."


    Her tone, while uttering Quinn''s name, was devoid of respect, instead brimming with disdain and contempt.


    Summoning her strength, Quinn pushed herself off the ground, leaning against the wall for support as she made her way to the door. She lifted her gaze to meet the woman''s.


    The sight of Quinn emerging into the light made the servant pause.


    Her once pristine white down jacket was now soiled and disheveled, her hair in disarray. Dirt smeared her face and nose, but it failed to mask the captivating allure in her eyes. The sunlight illuminated her eyes, rendering them clear and radiant. Her unkempt appearance did not detract from her beauty; it only enhanced it in a peculiar way.


    Her vulnerable state seemed to invite torment, to incite others to inflict more suffering upon her.


    The servant quickly averted her gaze, sliding the te through a crack in the door. "Here."


    As Quinn reached out to ept it, the servant abruptly released her grip, letting the te plummet to the ground.


    It shattered on impact, scattering food all over the floor.Quinn stood there in a daze.


    The servant feigned surprise and eximed, "Quinn, I''m so sorry. I identally dropped it."

 Chapter 468

    "Or you can pick it up yourself," the maid suggested.


    Quinn remained silent, her gaze fixed on the untouched food.


    The maid, with a disdainful look, grabbed a wooden board to seal the window and then left the room.


    As soon as the noise outside subsided, Quinn reached out and pushed the board.


    The maid had hurriedly left without properly securing it, so Quinn managed to create a small gap. However, the dirt on the other side prevented her from opening it any further.


    She could only push through the narrow slit between the fingers as the beam of white light cascaded onto her face.


    She could only see a small patch of grass and some scattered mud. Quinn stood there, basking in the faint light that seeped through the gap.


    She didn''t bother with the food on the floor, her attention solely on the sliver of light. She waited, watching as the sunlight gradually faded, leaving the world in darkness once more.


    Meanwhile, Alexander had spent the entire day searching for Quinn in Amber Bay, but she seemed to have vanished into thin air.


    It started raining again.


    Kyle stood in the study, reporting, "The license te on the car was fake, and the person behind this is experienced. They managed to evade the surveince, but we lost track of them. It''s going to be difficult to find any leads." Kyle paused for a moment, and then a thought struck him, "Could Quinn have been kidnapped?"


    Alexander, his gaze fixed on theputer screen, his hair still damp and disheveled, suddenly stood up.


    Kyle was taken aback and was about to say something, but Alexander had already left the room.


    Kyle hesitated briefly, then hastened to catch up.


    Without even taking an umbre, Alexander rushed into the rain, his clothes getting soaked once again.


    He got into his car and drove off, heading straight to the Kennedy Residence.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    He headed not elsewhere but directly to the Kennedy Residence.


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    Kaitlyn was in the living room,forting her grandson, who had finally stopped crying but was still restless. The child''s soft voice brought a smile to Kaitlyn''s face.


    A maid approached Kaitlyn and whispered, "Ms.Kaitlyn, Alexander is back."


    Kaitlyn''s smile faltered, her loving gaze turning into a cold sneer. "Is he back already?"


    She handed the child to the nanny and poured herself a cup of tea, sipping it leisurely.


    Soon, Alexander entered the hall, his presence bringing a chill that seemed to lower the temperature in the room. He walked up to Kaitlyn, "Where is she?"


    Kaitlyn shot him an irritated look. "Where is who? Youe in here demanding things. Am I not a person?"


    Alexander''s face darkened, and he asked again, "Where is Quinn?"


    "How would I know where she is? Your sister is still in prison. Why aren''t you this worried about her? She''s perfectly capable, yet you''re so concerned. Who is your real family?" Kaitlyn retorted.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Alexander stared at her for a while, then walked over to the other side of the table and sat down.


    Kaitlyn, with an air of confidence, sipped her tea while observing Alexander.


    His clothes and hair were wet, leaving a small puddle of water and mud on the carpet.


    Gone was his previous aloof demeanor. Alexander now appeared somewhat chaotic, which added to Kaitlyn''s anger and disappointment. Her son shouldn''t be like this.


    Alexander fixed his gaze on Kaitlyn and said, "Hand over Quinn. I won''t say it again."


    Kaitlyn''s face darkened, and she mmed her tea cup on the table. "What''s with your attitude?"


    "Is this how you talk to me for that mute?" Alexander''s eyes were filled with suppressed anger. "What do you want?"

 Chapter 469

    Kaitlyn retorted icily, "What do I want? Of course, I want you to marry someone who is a suitable match and stop wasting your efforts on that mute Getty and such."


    "As the Chairman of Kennedy Enterprise, why are you constantly revolving around these two women? Do you not feel ashamed to have this known publicly?"


    Kaitlyn paused briefly before continuing, "Alexander, as long as you get married, I guarantee that mute woman will remain unharmed. But if you insist on opposing me, you will never see that mute woman for the rest of your life." Upon hearing this, Alexander chuckled, "Is that so?"


    Seeing his smile, Kaitlyn''s anger reignited. "I''ve said what eded to say. Whether you choose to act upon it is entirely up to you."


    "It seems you''re not too concerned about Freya. Spending so much energy to deal with a mute woman, do you think capturing her will allow you to control me?" Alexander''s words cut through the tension. Kaitlyn''s expression changed once more, "What do you mean?"


    "Quite literally, if you don''t release her, then don''t. It''s your choice. And as for your talk about marriage, it''s not happening." Alexander''s tone was unwavering.


    Kaitlyn sensed that he was intentionally defying her, refusing toply with her wishes. She was willing to go to great lengths, even if it meant harming Quinn.


    This unexpected defiance left Kaitlyn feeling uncharacteristically out of control, angry, and fearful.


    Through gritted teeth, Kaitlyn said, "As you wish. Since you care so little about that mute woman, then I won''t hold back."


    Alexander nonchntly reclined on the sofa, saying, "As you wish."


    Kaitlyn was momentarily at a loss for words, feeling blocked by his attitude. She stared intensely at Alexander, desperate to detect any trace of deception on his face, but to no avail. His expression remained unchanged.


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    With a cigarette in hand, Alexander lounged on the sofa, casually observing Kaitlyn. He genuinely didn''t care about the fate of the mute woman.


    They remained in a tense standoff for an extended period.


    Finally, after a few minutes, Kaitlyn managed to suppress her jumbled emotions and asked. "Alexander, are you refusing to marry someone else just to oppose me? Not because of that mute woman?" Alexander remained silent, the smoke from his cigarette swirling gracefully in the air.


    With a solemn tone, Kaitlyn continued, "If you are refusing to marry out of spite toward me, you do not need that. I am your mother; could I harm you?"


    A cold smirk appeared at the corner of Alexander''s mouth as he replied. "That statement suits you better."


    "You!" Kaitlyn became more agitated, abruptly standing up,"Fine, whether you oppose me or it''s for that mute woman, I will kill her now!"


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    Finishing her words, she nced at Alexander, awaiting his reaction. Yet he remained unresponsive, his expression unchanged. A faint, icy smile yed on his lips as he regarded her, almost like he was watching a clown. Kaitlyn''s resolve faltered, realizing she had no power over him now. Her son was obstinate.


    She finally realized that she had truly lost control over him.


    Defeated, Kaitlyn sank back onto the sofa.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Silence enveloped the living room, neither of them speaking. The surrounding staff discreetly retreated.


    After a while, Kaitlyn reluctantly took a step back, "Fine, since you refuse to cooperate with my arrangements, let''s negotiate a condition. You rescue your sister, and I will release that mute woman."


    Alexander lowered his gaze, contemting silently for a moment.


    Seeing hisck of response, Kaitlyn''s anger rose, "Are you refusing to agree to such a simple request?"

 Chapter 470

    Alexander suddenly stood up. "It''s impossible to get her out. At least she can not be released for two years. If you can''t ept this result, then we have nothing more to discuss."


    Kaitlyn, seeing him about to leave, hurriedly blocked his path. "Alright, as long as you find a way to get her out, even if it''s not immediately, I can wait for a year or two!"


    She thought of her daughter still in prison, enduring two or three years of suffering, and her heart ached, tears welling up in her eyes. Alexander frowned, turning around, and left the living room.


    As he left, he took the umbre handed to him by a servant and walked away, his mind upied with thoughts.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    The Kennedy Residence had a backyard that was seldom visited. It used to be Ulysses'' favorite spot, where he tended to his flowers, turning the once barrennd into a vibrant garden. After his passing, the garden fell into neglect, with only asional visits from the staff for maintenance.


    The once lively blooms had withered, leaving only a few des of grass trembling in the rain.


    Quinn, in the basement, heard the sound of raindrops on an umbre. She rushed to the window and saw a pair of legs, a trench coat, and muddy shoes from that crevice.


    Her heart raced as she watched him approach. Quinn''s breath caught in her throat, expecting him to stop at the door, but he walked straight past.


    She frantically tried to move the barricade, but it wouldn''t budge. Desperation filled her as he disappeared from view. She sank to the ground, her hunger and exhaustion overwhelming her. She looked at the gap, hoping he would return, but he never did.


    The night grew darker, and the only light came from the streetmps. Inside, Alexander entered the attic, feeling a wave of warmth.


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    The room was clean but empty, a stark contrast to its former state.


    He pushed open the adjacent door to reveal a scene of remarkable disarray, where all of Ulysses'' belongingsy heaped within.


    Alexander opened a drawer and found an old book with a faded photograph inside.

 Chapter471

    The image was of three people, two men and a woman, frozen in time.


    As Alexander gazed at the photo, lost in memories.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    As if peering through this photograph, he glimpsed into a distant past.


    Many years ago, there was a hoary older man who would often sit in contemtion on the sunlit balcony, gazing pensively at this very image.


    One nce, and he could be lost for an entire afternoon.


    Passersby would catch faint sighs of wistfulness and regret escaping his lips as they went about their way.


    After a while, he heard a knock at the door. It was Wayne, his presence a mix of emotions.


    Having also aged, with silver strands gracing his temples and a slight stoop to his frame, they locked gazes for a moment before Wayne finally strode forward, leaving a trail of muddy footprints upon the floorboards. "I wonder why the light is on here, only to find it is you," he remarked.


    They exchanged a silent look before Wayne took a seat, mirroring his father''s actions.


    "Do you reckon that whenever Ulysses leaves, you start to feel like the whole world is at odds with you?"


    Alexander remained silent still.


    Wayne, gentlemanly, ced the cigarette in his mouth, lighting it with a lighter, and took a drag. In the past, while Ulysses was around, he had this penchant for smoking. Observing his gestures, Alexander''s countenance momentarily held a look of reverie.


    Wayne, in a gentlemanly manner, ced the cigarette between his lips, extracted a lighter, and ignited it, taking a puff with a soft hiss.


    He was only in his fifties, yet he exuded an air of aged wisdom.


    "I''ll be on my way," Alexander said, turning to leave but being halted by a voice behind him. "Hold on."


    He paused his back to Wayne without turning around.


    Wayne gazed at his son''s retreating figure and softly remarked, "Alexander, you were once my proudest achievement, my source of pride."


    "But also my greatest regret."


    Alexander''s curiosity piqued, and he turned to face Wayne.


    However, Wayne changed the subject, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "When I was your age, I was still being disciplined by Ulysses. Time flies; I''m now his age."


    "I''ve been contemting my actions over the years, and I realize my life has been a mess."


    Alexander furrowed his brow slightly and inquired, "What exactly are you trying tomunicate?"


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Wayne nced at Alexander, "I wanted to talk to you, but if you''re not interested, you can leave."


    Alexander averted his gaze, seemingly pondering.


    Eventually, he settled on a nearby wooden chair.


    Wayne chuckled, observing Alexander intently.


    Alexander sat upright withposure, allowing himself to be appraised.


    After a moment, Wayne spoke, "I know about your recent situation with your mother, how she pressured you to marry a suitable woman and even asked me to persuade you."


    "But I declined. Love can''t be forced. Marriage and love are two different things, but if you can marry the one you love, that''s where true love resides." Alexander''s expression remained neutral. In his youth, Wayne was also quite inconsistent, engaging in numerous affairs outside ofmitted rtionships.

 Chapter472

    The utterance of these words from his lips appeared rather ludicrous.


    Alexander listened quietly, offering no retort.


    Wayne continued, "Your mother has always been like this. If you can''t ept it, you can follow my path and cut tiespletely." Alexander questioned, "Won''t she retaliate?" Wayne dismissed, "Are you afraid of her?"


    He didn''t care about Kaitlyn''s schemes as long as she had no leverage over him. "She''s like a clown to me, very childish."


    After a brief silence, Alexander stood up abruptly. "I''m leaving." This time, he didn''t hesitate, walking out without a second nce and grabbing an umbre from the corner.


    In the dark basement, Quinn had been waiting for his return. Suddenly, she doubled over in pain, losing consciousness. Unbeknownst to her, the person she longed for had returned. Alexander instinctively looked at the conspicuous wooden board. He kicked it open, but it was pitch ck inside.


    He crouched, using his phone''s light to search, finding nothing but clutter.


    "Alexander!" Kaitlyn rushed in; she saw Alexander crouched at the entrance of the basement, her countenance shifting dramatically.


    Alexander stood up, meeting her gaze.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Kaitlyn grabbed his arm, "What are you doing here in this rain? Come with me!"


    He didn''t budge, "What''s the matter?"


    Kaitlyn gave up trying to pull him and said, "Allen is here; you should go see her."


    Alexander''s expression darkened, and his voice turned cold. "Will it ever end?"


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    Kaitlyn quickly added, "I''m not forcing you to meet her. It was her mother who arranged it. You can find a reason to refuse."


    "If I tell her, I''ll lose face." Kaitlyn was indeed concerned about her reputation, having always been able to make her own decisions. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have gone to such lengths to force him into marriage. After a moment, Kaitlyn gritted her teeth and said, "If you refuse this time, I will never introduce anyone to you again, okay? Don''t embarrass me."


    Alexander shook off her hand and headed towards the living room. Kaitlyn breathed a sigh of relief and signaled to the maid.


    The maid nodded in understanding.


    Once they were gone, the maid called for two people to open the iron gate and bring Quinn out.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Quinn was currently unconscious, being carried in someone''s arms, looking fragile. Her head hung low, wet hair covering her face, and she was running a fever.


    "What should we do with Quinn now?" the maid asked anxiously. "We need to find another ce to keep her. Alexander is already suspicious," Kaitlyn replied.


    "But where else can we go?"


    The rain poured down on them, drenching everyone, including Quinn.


    The cold raindrops brought Quinn back to consciousness.


    Kaitlyn, feeling a bit annoyed, was thinking about where to hide Quinn when she turned her head and saw Alexander standing not far away, holding an umbre and staring straight at them. More precisely, he was staring at Quinn in the bodyguard''s arms.

 Chapter 473

    Kaitlyn turned pale, especially as she met Alexander''s gaze, her expression growing flustered. She tried to speak but found herself unable to.


    Approaching Alexander with an umbre in hand, Kaitlyn tentatively began, "Alexander..."


    Caught in the act, she seemed unable to exin herself effectively. Observing Quinn''s pitiful state, she realized btedly the legal bond between the two, coupled with their longstanding rtionship since childhood. By treating Quinn in this manner, she seemed to acknowledge that she hadn''t ced Alexander in the prioritized position he deserved.


    When Alexander turned his head, his emotionless gaze fixed on Kaitlyn''s face. "Is this what you call ''intact''?"


    Attempting to justify herself, Kaitlyn stammered, "I merely instructed someone to confine her; ver anticipated they would treat Quinn like this."N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    She sought to shift me onto the servant. "These people are bing bolder by the day. Once this is over, I will have to tighten the reins..." Alexander, unwilling to engage in further discussion, swiftly approached Quinn.


    With one swift kick, he sent Quinn''s bodyguard stumbling into the nearby basement, emitting a muffled grunt.


    The servant, now paper-white, nced impXavierngly at Kaitlyn.


    Angrily, Kaitlyn snapped, "You were supposed to watch her, not that way!"


    "Grab her and throw her in!" Kaitlyn ordered, prompting two others to shove the servant into the basement swiftly.


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    The servant fell to the groundwith a cry, swiftly rising, and begged for mercy, gazing up at Kaitlyn.


    "Ms. Kaitlyn, I''m simply trying to "


    "Shut up! Stop the nonsense and lock her up!" Kaitlyn interrupted sharply, casting a nce towards Alexander, who had already walked off with Quinn without a word.


    Ignoring the servant, Kaitlyn hurriedly trailed after Alexander. "Alexander, please take her upstairs. I''ll have the doctor called over."


    Halting in his steps, Alexander turned to face Kaitlyn.


    The downpour had thoroughly soaked him and Quinn. Kaitlyn, still holding the umbre, felt a chill under Alexander''s scrutinizing gaze.


    "I hope this is thest time," Alexander stated.


    It wasn''t a warning; it was a final notice. Kaitlyn felt a sense of foreboding as though, for anyone else, this moment might have ended with a corpse. ncing at Alexander, Kaitlyn inquired, "What do you mean?"


    "I mean, this is thest time."


    Raindrops trailed down his jawline, falling incessantly. Despite his disheveled appearance, the coldness enveloping him remained palpable.


    With those parting words, he turned and walked away, his figure gradually receding into the heavy rain.

 Chapter 474

    Filled with doubts, Allen wondered what had transpired in this brief period.


    Kaitlyn stood before her, gazing deeply at Allen before sighing wearily. "Allen, please return."


    "What''s wrong?"


    Without the strength to articte further, Kaitlyn weakly made her way indoors, only to falter and copse after a few steps, losing consciousness. "Auntie Kaitlyn!"


    With Allen''s exmation, Alexander''s car departed from the Vi. He sped off, returning with Quinn to the Regal Riverside.


    Soren paced back and forth in the living room, visibly relieved upon Alexander''s return with Quinn.


    "Alexander!"


    "Give her a check-up." "After Alexander said this, he helped Quinn upstairs, made sure she wasfortable and assisted her with changing her clothing.


    As Soren arrived with a box, he swiftly examined Quinn.


    "There''s nothing major; she seems to be hungry and caught a chill, resulting in a fever."


    He just thought that for Quinn, being alive was already pretty good. Compared to those strange illnesses she had, that cold and fever were just minor issues, weren''t they?Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Soren spoke as he took out medicine from the box. After Quinn''s fasting and a few bouts of colds before, he often kept glucose and fever-reducing medicine in this box.


    He gave Quinn the medicine, wiped the sweat off her forehead, and said, "All set."


    Alexander, his gaze fixed on the unconscious figure on the bed, remained silent for an extended period, his soaked attire and dripping strands a stark contrast to his unnervinglyposed demeanor. Soren nced at Alexander''s expression, discerned nomands forting, and exited with the medicine box.


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    He was unable to decipher Alexander''s motives or thoughts. Each of his actions consistently defied Soren''s expectations.


    Quinn remained in a prolonged state of unconsciousness, awakening only after three days.


    Her eyes opened, difort engulfing her as she attempted to rise, eventually giving up.


    After a moment of respite with closed eyes, she braved the dizziness to sit up, feeling bewildered by her surroundings.


    Unsteadily, Quinn made her way out of the bedroom and into the corridor, where she abruptly froze.


    She didn''t recognize this ce.


    Palming the wall for support, Quinn proceeded hesitantly towards the staircase, an overwhelming apprehensionpelling her to depart immediately.


    However, at the staircasending, she encountered Alexander ascending.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! She stood frozen, gazing down at him-the dark shirt, indifferent eyes, hands nonchntly tucked in pockets. He tilted his head slightly upward, meeting her gaze.


    Quinn''s gaze flickered. Confronted with this unfamiliar man, she involuntarily staggered back a step.


    With no wall for support, she sank helplessly to the ground.


    Observing her, Alexander swiftly ascended the stairs to assist her, yet she recoiled.


    Alexander paused there, his gaze piercing, fixed upon her.


    Quinn pursed her lips, scrutinizing Alexander. A more mature version than the one in her memory, he neither smiled nor wore a white shirt.


    As if two entirely different individuals, she couldn''t believe this was Alexander. She thought he was only someone resembling him.


    Alexander hesitated for a moment before asking with aplex expression, "Do you... not remember me?"

 Chapter 475

    Quinn pursed her lips, her eyes flitting across his face for a while before she lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. Attempting once more to touch her, Alexander found her sidestepping, rejecting his hand.


    A sudden hush enveloped the air. The entire corridor fell into profound silence.


    Drawing a deep breath, he softly called out her name, "Quinn."


    Quinn, slightly taken aback, lifted her gaze slowly to meet his, observing that strange yet familiar face.


    He inquired again, "Do you know who I am?"


    Quinn''s gaze flickered as she shook her head.


    Suddenly, she scrambled to her feet in confusion, stumbling back into the house, where she located her phone by the bedside.


    Picking up the phone, she scrolled through her contacts to Alexander''s number and dialed it.


    As the call connected, the phone rang from behind her.


    Quinn mechanically turned, finding the man standing there, the ringtone emanating from his chest.


    ''A coincidence, it must be a coincidence...''


    Ending the call, the system''s ringtone ceased.


    Quinn''s hand holding the phone began to tremble as she palely dialed the same number once more.


    Almost simultaneously, the phone in his embrace chimed.


    Bewildered, Quinn gazed at him, seeing him retrieve the phone from his pocket and disy the screen to her.


    Iing call-Quinn.


    Faint and defenseless on the bed, Quinn scrutinized this unfamiliar version of Alexander, her gaze carrying a profound sense of unfamiliarity.


    After a while, Quinn gestured, "Why did you take his phone?"


    Alexander''splex gaze shifted continuously as he continued to fixate on Quinn, eventually asking, "I am him."


    Unconvinced, Quinn reopened Alexander''s messages and initiated a video call.


    And his phone rang again.


    As fear crept in, Quinn abruptly ended the call, throwing the phone away. She couldn''t believe this person was Alexander.


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    He didn''t look like this...


    Drawing closer, Alexander seated himself beside her, prompting Quinn to shift away, increasing the distance between them.


    A vein throbbed on his forehead as Alexander suddenly seized Quinn''s chin, turning her face towards him.


    "You said you wouldn''t forget me." His stern voice, tinged with anger, left Quinn trembling, silent, and with downcast eyes. Staring at her, a flicker of anger danced in Alexander''s eyes. Releasing Quinn, he grabbed his phone and departed.


    Dialing Soren''s number, hemanded, "You have ten minutes. Get here now!"


    Upon hearing this, Soren trembled in fear, wasting no time as he grabbed his tools and hurried over.


    Ten minutester, precisely at Regal Riverside, he panted, "Alexander, has Quinn awakened?"


    Looking up after his query, Soren was met with Alexander''s murderous gaze.


    Soren swallowed nervously.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Arriving in the bedroom with his tools, both he and Quinn appeared surprised. Frankly, he didn''t even know how to begin the examination, as he wasn''t a professional.


    "Alexander, should we take Quinn to the hospital?" he suggested, his tone edged with urgency.


    Coldly, Alexander questioned, "What''s going on with her? How could she forget so much in a matter of days?"


    Soren, anxious to exin, hurriedly offered, "It could be rted to the fever or possibly due to some emotional shock. There are numerous possibilities. We should take her to the hospital for a proper assessment." Shrouded in an aura of chilling coldness, Alexander''s demeanor was unsettling, instilling fear.


    Yet Quinn remained unable toprehend any of their conversations.


    She just wanted to know where the real Alexander had gone, this fake one looked so terrifying. Sensing her gaze, Alexander chuckled wryly. "What are you waiting for then?"N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Regaining hisposure, Soren nodded quickly, turning to Quinn. "Let''s go to the hospital, Quinn." Shaking her head, Quinn gestured, indicating she wasn''t ill and wished to depart from there. "Where do you want to go?" Alexander inquired.

 Chapter 476

    "I want to go home."


    "Home? Which home?"


    Once more, Quinn froze as his words reminded her - she had no home.


    The Kennedys wasn''t her home.


    However, wherever Alexander was, that was her home.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    With determination zing in her eyes, Quinn rose unsteadily and made her way outside.


    After only a couple of steps, her wrist was grabbed, causing her to turn around anxiously. The world suddenly spun before her, and by the time she reacted, she found herself in his arms. She struggled briefly but to no avail.


    In this manner, the man firmly carried her downstairs, shoved her into the car, and mmed the door shut.


    Dizzy and disoriented, Quinncked the strength even to unfasten the seatbelt.


    Alexander got into the car and drove her to the hospital.


    Quinn was subjected to some examinations conducted by an esteemed old professor whom Alexander had arranged toe from home-a retired but unquestionably skilled professor. Several of this professor''s students had since be notable professors or doctors.


    The professor, with sses perched on his nose, had to squint to review the examination reports.


    Flustered, Quinn sat beside him, casting asional nces outside, contemting an escape.


    While the professor scrutinized the results, she tugged on Alexander''s sleeve. When he looked her way, she gestured, indicating her need to use the restroom.


    "No, endure it," he callously denied her.


    Quinn bit her lip, lowering her head, growing further convinced in her heart that this person wasn''t Alexander.


    Her Alexander wouldn''t be so harsh.


    Setting the results aside, the professor stroked his white-bearded chin as Alexander inquired, "How is she?"


    After assessing Quinn, the professor analyzed, "Based on the reports, this young woman''s condition appears to be vascr cognitive impairment."


    "What does that mean?"


    "It''s quiteplex, with various reasons. Simply put, it''s a disorder resulting from brain tissue damage."


    "It could be due to external physical trauma or prolonged emotional distress, triggering underlying conditions."


    ncing at Quinn, Alexander fell silent for a moment before asking, "She''s been forgetting rapidly recently."


    The professor stroked his beard, exining, "In cases of emotional distress, rapid forgetfulness ismon. Memory decline can be severe, particrly when associated with distressing events that one wishes to forget." "Distressing events?" Alexander gazed at Quinn, observing her desire to escape. He scoffed.


    Were the three years of marriage with him all distressing events?


    Merely moments ago, Alexander had almost confirmed that her current memory span had regressed to a time before their marriage.


    He inquired further, "Will she continue to forget as rapidly as before?"


    Shaking his head, the professor replied, "It''s uncertain. This conditioncks a definitive professional conclusion. We''ll need to wait a few days to reassess."


    With that, he took out a piece of paper and a pen and began to write a prescription.


    Taking the prescription, Alexander rose and took Quinn''s arm, leading her out.


    Quinn resisted, refusing to walk with him.


    Alexander warned her with a nce, causing Quinn to frown - she detested this man with a face resembling Alexander''s.


    Her disdain was ring, causing the man beside her to snap.


    He pulled Quinn into his arms, grasped her chin, and growled, "Don''t look at me like that!"


    Struggling, Quinn attempted to gesture, but the man lifted her.


    In frustration, she turned her head and bit down on his shoulder.


    Unfortunately, she didn''t have much strength now, so the man didn''t feel much from her biting..


    Swiftly, he ced Quinn in the car just as she stubbornly tried to undo her seatbelt.


    Pressing her hand down, Alexander narrowed his eyes, a hint of danger seeping into his gaze. "What are you up to?"


    Quinn wriggled free, gesturing. "ed to find Alexander."


    A breeze blew by, leaving Alexander standing frozen in ce, his hands braced on either side of Quinn''s figure.


    They were close yet so far away.


    The most sorrowful thing in the world was that, at 29, he stood before her while she sought the 20-year-old version of him. Would she find the 20-year-old Alexander?


    Even Alexander himself seemed unable to find him.

 Chapter 477

    They remained in a silent stare, Alexander did not to speak further. With a breeze, a faint scent of roses drifted into Quinn''s nostrils, momentarily distracting her. He closed the car door and returned to the driver''s seat, driving Quinn back.


    Quiet for the entire journey, upon her return, Quinn locked herself away in her room. She still intended to flee because of her unfamiliar feelings for this ce. She was scared as the surrounding scene was totally unfamiliar.


    Alexander looked terrible, and both Miller and Moore dared not speak to him, feeling like he could kill someone at any moment.


    He sat in the living room with a gloomy expression, smoking. The ashtray quickly filled up.


    A visitor arrived at the door-an apprehensive Miller approached, "Sir, a gentleman named Xavier is here to see you."


    As the words left his mouth, Xavier entered and sat directly across from Alexander without a word.


    Alexander raised an eyebrow, leaning back on the couch. "What brings my brother-inw here?"


    After a brief pause, Xavier spoke frankly, " State your terms. What do you want me to do?"


    The evidence still rested in Alexander''s hands, so Xavier hade to discuss terms.


    One leg casually crossed over the other; Alexander calmly remarked, "Since my brother-inw has spoken this way, you must have the chips ready."


    With a self-deprecating chuckle, Xavier responded, "What other chips do I have? Nothing but withdrawing thewsuit. Although there''s no clear evidence of murder against Freya, her kidnapping of Valerie is an undeniable fact; she can''t be acquitted."


    "This hardly qualifies as effective chip. Even if you don''t withdraw the case, she would only be charged with abduction in the end."N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "What do you want?"


    Casually tapping the couch with his finger, after a pause, Alexander gazed at Xavier. "I want all shares currently held by the Xavier family."


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    Xavier''s pupils dted, and he contained his anger as he retorted, "You are pushing it too far!"


    Alexander''s lips curved slightly. "This is the only condition you can discuss with me. As for Freya, she does not need your concern."


    The sound of Xavier''s fingers squeezing could be heard as he stared fixedly at the man before him. "How is this any different from wiping us outpletely?"


    "You might consider this, brother-inw, when you are imprisoned, the legacy of the Xavier family may not endure. It''s better to relinquish it to preserve your own life. Who knows, there might be a chance for a fresh start in the future." Finding the notion ludicrous, Xavier scoffed at the idea of a fresh start; surrendering the shares meant no chance of beginning anew.


    Alexander''s actions clearly indicated a deliberate attempt to crush him, ensuring that he had no chance of starting anew, thereby eliminating any future threat and denying him any opportunity to recover. "So, there is no room for negotiation, is that it?"


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! "When you chose to confront me, you should have considered this oue."


    Xavier''s expression shifted as he abruptly chuckled, "It seems you are already aware."


    Alexander remained silent, calmly observing Xavier.


    Continuing to smile, Xavier remarked, "I''m clearly not cut out for your games. It''s disheartening to think - I only meant to seek vengeance for my family, yet I''ve been manipted back and forth by all of you." "Indeed, I orchestrated Juliet''s death, and I''m also the one who sent the messages to Quinn."


    He became so excited that he blurted out everything he had done. He became so excited that he blurted out everything he had done, including the recent scandals, all of which he had orchestrated. Behind Xavier, there was another mastermind, but that person hadn''t acted yet.


    In fact, there were many scandals that Xavier hadn''t released because Alexander had intercepted them, such as the news of his marriage.


    Juliet''s suicide was self-inflicted but indirectly caused by him.

 Chapter 478

    He sought out the caregiver and disclosed to Juliet Kaitlyn forced Quinn to divorce. Juliet learned that she had inadvertently caused Quinn''s suffering, and knowing that Quinn was so hurt because of her, the old woman resolutely chose to end Her passing was silent, leaving no trace of words in this world.


    her own life.


    Unfortunately, all events were beyond human control. Juliet''s death, however, had no impact on Alexander and Quinn.


    While the reasons behind this oue eluded him, the n had undoubtedly failed utterly.


    Alexander was not surprised at his confession. Unfazed, he retained his characteristic cold demeanor, a hint of scornful smirk adorning his lips.


    "Are you finished?" Alexander inquired.


    Xavier paused, his gaze prating deeply into Alexander''s, "I have finished speaking, but I have one final question for you."


    "Go ahead."


    "What moves your heart, truly?"


    "What is it that your heart is made of?"


    Despite Alexander calling him brother-inw for so many years, Xavier couldn''t see through him at all.


    This man was ruthless and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.


    His own father, sister, wife, and lover-anyone he could exploit, he would never let slip through his fingers.


    Despite Valerie not being his biological sister, they grew up together. Did heck any semnce of emotion?


    Alexander chose not to answer this question.


    Pressing on, Xavier continued, "After all the appalling deeds you''vemitted, the harm to Joseph and Deborah Kennedy, they are so young... don''t you feel any remorse?"


    In response, Alexander posed a counterquestion, "Then kindly borate, brother-inw, on what atrocious acts I havemitted? Without evidence, stating such things would be nderous."


    Xavier didn''t want to argue with him, muttering to himself, "Forget it, there''s no point in saying all this now. And let me tell you, I am furious. You can forget about trying to get your hands on all the shares of the Xavier family." Alexander, unsurprised by Xavier''s words, raised an eyebrow, "In that case, are you nning to give the Xavier family shares to someone else?"


    Xavier''s demeanor made it clear he would not give all shares to Alexander, even if he had to go to jail.


    The identity of this "someone else" was evident; there was no one but Landon.


    Instead of giving the shares to someone with a vendetta for his wife''s death, he preferred to entrust them to someone who had exploited him - that was his thinking.


    He had no other choice.


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    Alexander, unruffled, kept a smile on his face. "Well then. Time to bid adieu, brother-inw."


    Xavier suddenly stood up, ring at Alexander, especially at the nonchnt smile on his face, filled with a strong sense of provocation.


    Observing Xavier''s anger, Alexander maintained his calm demeanor. In a negotiation, the party first to demonstrate emotion was often destined to lose.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Of course, Xavier had no intention to continue. As he prepared to leave, he looked up to see Quinn descending the stairs.


    Alexander also noticed, turning slightly to spot Quinn walking towards the doorway, dressed impably.


    She knew Alexander was there, yet she pretended not to notice, lowering her head as she proceeded outside.


    "Stop."

 Chapter 479

    Quinn pretended not to hear. She pulled up the brim of her hat, lowered her head, and walked out.


    Finally, cracks appeared on Alexander''s face, which Xavier subtly noted. Xavier had no intention of leaving; he wanted to know what happened between Alexander and Quinn. Alexander chuckled, extending his slender fingers to loosen his tie. Upon closer inspection, his smile bore more anger than amusement.


    With a barely perceptible lift of his eyebrows, Xavier remarked, "It seems you have more pressing matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."


    Alexander''s gaze returned to Xavier''s face. "Why rush? I have an appointment. Won''t you apany me to meet this individual, brother-inw?"


    After casting a few more nces at Alexander, Xavier pondered for a moment and remained silent.


    Meanwhile, after Quinn emerged, Miller quickly followed suit, determined not to let Quinn get lost again.


    Quinn walked along the road outside the vi for a long while after leaving. Eventually, her strength waned, and she sat down by the roadside to catch her breath.


    Lifting her hand, she gazed at her fingers, a hint of bewilderment flickering in her eyes. Why was her body so frail now?


    After walking for some time, she began to be breathless, her heart rate elerating.


    Miller stood by her, wanting to persuade her to go back, but seeing the stubborn expression on Quinn''s face, the words died on her lips, and she could only follow her silently.


    Quinn took out her phone and hailed a cab to the Kennedy Residence.


    She boarded the cab, with Miller following suit.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn turned to look at Miller, saying nothing as they both sat quietly until they reached the Kennedy Residence.


    Upon disembarking, Quinn gazed at the iron gate ahead with a deep breath and stepped inside. The security guard recognized her and naturally did not attempt to block her way.


    Inside, Quinn''s eyes scanned the surroundings. Many familiar faces and an equal number of strangers popted the vi. Upon entering the living room, the butler approached her. "Mrs. Kennedy?" Though rumors circted about her divorce from Alexander,cking direct confirmation from him, they still considered Quinn to be Alexander''s wife.


    Upon hearing this address, Quinn looked around and finally gazed at the elderly butler, pointing to herself in confirmation.


    Was he calling out to her?


    The butler chuckled, "Mrs. Kennedy, have youe to see Ms. Kaitlyn? She has been resting in her room for the past few days due to a cold. Shall I lead you upstairs?"


    Still dazed by the addressing of Mrs. Kennedy, Quinn absentmindedly nodded in agreement.


    The butler gestured for her to follow and led the way. Arriving at Kaitlyn''s door, he knocked and announced, " Ms. Kaitlyn, Mrs. Kennedy is here to see you."


    Currently suffering from a severe headache, Kaitlyn''s pain intensified upon hearing her name. She had been sick for days, with no sign of Alexander. Instead, this mute person had returned.


    Just hearing her name now triggered anger in Kaitlyn. She even harbored thoughts of personally killing this mute, but she immediately recalled Alexander''s warning and threats. Her role as a mother no longer held any sway over Alexander.


    If there was no foolproof n, she could not rashly act against Quinn anymore.


    Annoyed, she replied, "I don''t want to see her. Send her away!"


    The old butler hesitated, ncing at Quinn, who most likely overheard.


    However, Quinn did not insist. Kaitlyn never treated her kindly, and she had grown ustomed to it.


    Besides, she hade to see Alexander.


    Following the butler downstairs, Quinn looked up at him, noticing how much older he appeared, his gaze cloudedpared to before.


    She couldn''tprehend why everyone seemed different after she woke up that day.

 Chapter 480

    It was as if she had experienced years in the span of a nap.


    Quinn couldn''t shake off Alexander''s icy demeanor. She could not ept that this person was Alexander.


    She gestured, "Where''s Alexander?"


    The old butler paused, then chuckled, "Ms. Alexander, if you don''t know where Alexander is, we certainly wouldn''t either." Quinn stared at the butler''s face, detecting sincerity, and gestured, "Then why did you call me Mrs. Kennedy?"N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    The butler seemed more puzzled now. "Well... What should I call you then?"


    He simply assumed Quinn and Alexander had divorced, hence she didn''t want him to continue to call her Mrs. Kennedy. After a moment of silence, Quinn gestured, "Just as before is fine."


    "Understood, Quinn."


    Quinn pursed her lips, opting not to continue further. She turned and left the Kennedy Residence.


    She hailed another cab to Alexander''s university. Standing at the university gates, she gazed at the many students inside, her expression distant.


    "Quinn, who are you waiting for?" Miller inquired tentatively from beside her.


    Ignoring the repeated mention of her name, Quinn looked up at Miller. The breeze tousled the fur on her hat, turning her nose and cheeks red from the cold. Her breath formed visible clouds that dissipated with the wind. She pulled out her hand from her pocket and gestured, "I''m waiting for Alexander to finish school."


    Miller stared at her moving fingers for a prolonged moment, doubting herprehension or signing skills and unsure of Quinn''s meaning.


    Finally, after a while, Miller asked tentatively, "You mean waiting for Alexander to finish school?"


    Quinn nodded, gesturing emphatically, "He''s studying; he will be out soon."


    Miller''s expression cracked a bit, but seeing Quinn in all seriousness, she felt that Quinn wasn''t ying a trick on her.


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    "But... isn''t Alexander at home?" she ventured.


    Quinn shook her head, exining, "That isn''t Alexander. When the real Alexanderes out, you''ll see."


    Her eyes were earnest, serious, and, above all, filled with a glint of hope.


    Watching the school entrance, her face illuminated with anticipation, Quinn shivered in the cold but managed a smile.


    Miller felt like she could actually wait for that person toe out.


    With a resigned sigh, Miller could only apany her in the wait.


    Quinn gestured to Miller once more, "I used to wait for him here every time. He would see me when he came out."


    She looked at Miller earnestly, seeking assurance.


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    Disappointed, Quinn stuffed her hands into her pockets, her eyes fixed on the school gates, worried about missing the person she sought.


    At the school gate, a flux of individuals ebbed and flowed, yet she failed to spot a familiar visage emerging.


    As dusk gradually descended, the temperature plummeted. Despite her thick down jacket, the cold seeped in. She hunched her neck, stomping her feet to fight the numbness. "Quinn, shall we go back? He might note out today," Miller suggested.


    Quinn shook her head, refusing to leave.


    She did not want to go back and face that man.


    As the crowd exiting the school gates thinned to a trickle and then to none, Quinn''s hopeful expression faded, her gaze dimming.


    Just then, a luxurious vehicle pulled up beside her.

 Chapter 481

    Quinn shifted away, displeased that the car blocked her view.


    As the car door swung open, Alexander emerged, but Quinn didn''t even spare him a nce. She was still waiting for her Alexander. Her line of sight was obstructed again, drawing her attention upwards. A man in a ck suit met her gaze with a stern look. Quinn averted her eyes, taking two steps aside, but the man seized her wrist firmly,manding, "Come with me."


    She red at him in disgust, struggling to free her hand.


    Her disdainful expression was tant, escting the man''s cold demeanor.


    He dragged her towards the car as she dug her feet into the ground, refusing to move. In frustration, she bit down on the man''s hand. Her teeth sunk into the prominent veins on his hand, causing Alexander to pause.


    Turning towards Quinn, his demeanor remained icy, devoid of any visible emotion, as if the victim of the bite was someone else entirely. Seeing that he showed no sign of releasing her, Quinn intensified her bite, even feeling the severity herself, yet he remained unresponsive. Just when Quinn suspected him of numbness to pain, he suddenly released her hand, then gripped her chin.


    Under the streetlight, the welts from her bite stood out starkly, with traces of blood emerging from the grooves.


    "Quinn, don''t assume your condition allows you to provoke my patience without consequences."


    His voice carried a frigid tone that made Quinn shiver in the cold air.


    This wasn''t an insult but a brutal truth about her mental state.


    Pushing the man away abruptly, Quinn gestured, "I don''t know you!"


    "Don''t you know me?" he narrowed his eyes. "Whom are you waiting for here?"


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    "Alexander," Quinn replied.


    Alexander seized her wrist, pulling her closer, holding her chin up to force her to see his face.


    "Take a good look. Do you recognize me?" he demanded.


    Quinn''s gaze wandered over his face, a familiar visage yet eliciting an unfamiliar feeling within her. She shook her head; she did not recognize this person.


    The man holding her chin prevented her from shaking her head.


    Feeling aggrieved, tears streamed down Quinn''s cheeks, hot droplets falling onto the back of Alexander''s hand.


    Tears fell on his wound, causing him intense pain.


    It felt as if she had been bullied.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! If Alexander were present, he would not allow anyone to mistreat her...


    Alexander''s eyes shed. Abruptly releasing Quinn, he dragged her and pushed her into the car.


    Quinn still struggled, but he removed his tie, restraining her hands behind her back with it, then securing them with a seatbelt.


    She squirmed but couldn''t break free, resigned to staring defiantly at the man in the driver''s seat, her eyes filled with injustice.


    Ignoring her, Alexander started the car, driving off into the distance.


    As Quinn''s tears continued to fall, his cold profile starkly contrasted with the image of Alexander in her heart. This person was not him.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Turning her gaze away, Quinn looked out of the window.


    The suffocating silence within the car felt unbearably oppressive.

 Chapter 482

    The rain was falling outside, but under the streetlights, it appeared as white flurries.


    Quinn slowly widened her eyes, pressing against the ss to gaze outside, watching the delicate rain under the streetlight, resembling... snow. It was snowing in Amber Bay.


    She stared out of the car window, the streetlights reflecting in her eyes, the swirling snowkes dancing in her gaze, which flickered unpredictably.


    In Quinn''s memories, Amber Bay had only seen snow three times before, the first when she was seven years old.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    In her slumber, a pair of cold hands slipped under the nkets, lifting her up and carrying her to the window to see the snow.


    It was a cold morning, with heavy snowkes dancing outside, and she turned to see the bright eyes of a young boy.


    The second time was at fifteen, after school in the afternoon, hearing ssmates cheer about the snow.


    Peering out the window, she witnessed an unforgettable scene a boy in a white shirt under a tree waving at her as the snow and leaves fell around him.


    It was the most stunning image of her entire youth.


    And now, the third time was upon her.


    The previous snowfalls had left a deep impression on Quinn, but this time, she felt that this snowfall was not pleasant.


    It even felt somewhat ominous.


    The ck luxury car sped through the night, disrupting the airborne snowkes. When they reached Regal Riverside, the snowfall had intensified.


    As far as her eyes could see, all she could discern was a vast expanse of falling snow intermingled with raindrops. The rain touched Quinn''s face, a sensation far from the anticipated cold. Alexander opened the car door, bending in to release her seatbelt without a word.


    Quinn stared at the man''s face inches away. His eyes, eyshes, and prominent nose were almost identical to those of the person she knew. However, the icy aloofness in his gaze felt like a world away. Lost in her thoughts, Quinn was taken by surprise as the man grasped her waist and lifted her onto his shoulder.


    Dizzy and disoriented, Quinn realized she was upside down on his shoulder, her view filled with the falling and melting snowkes on the ground.


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    Her hands still bound, she dared not move, rendering her seemingly tranquil.


    Carrying her up the stairs, Alexander kicked open the bedroom door and ced her on the bed.


    Quinn watched the man warily, instinctively inching away.


    He shed his coat, tossing it on the bed, then knelt on the bed, leaning towards Quinn.


    Seizing her cor, he pulled her closer.


    Tilting her head slightly, Quinn met the man''s gaze from a higher vantage point, his ink-like eyes hiding tumultuous undercurrents.


    "Quinn, who am I?" His voice was low, devoid of discernible emotion.


    With her wrists bound behind her back, Quinn could not respond. Watching his face, she felt a surge of resistance.


    Resisting his touch, hearing his voice, even seeing him.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Turning her head away, her wrists still struggled helplessly, the tight restraints leaving arge red mark on her wrists.


    The man pinched her chin, forcefully turning her face towards him. His dark gaze fixed on her face, making her feel uneasy.


    Unable to break free, Quinn closed her eyes and refused to look at him.


    Alexander''s eyes turned cold as he abruptly pushed Quinn onto the bed.


    Startled, Quinn opened her eyes to see the man removing his watch.


    He flung it onto the bedside table, unbuttoned his cuff, then coldly leaned over Quinn, saying mercilessly, "If you don''t recognize the current me, it''s okay. Let''s get reacquainted." Panic rose in Quinn''s eyes, intensifying her struggles.


    She desperately shook her head, but the man disregarded herpletely.


    Bending over, he pressed her onto the bed, staring into her eyes, and uttered, word by word, "Remember, my name is Alexander."

 Chapter 483

    Quinn shook her head; he was not Alexander...


    Ignoring her protests, the man grabbed her chin, silencing her lips.


    She clenched her teeth, turning her head away, crying in despair.


    Gazing hopelessly at the ceiling, tears streamed from her reddened eyes, tracing down her cheeks.


    She was unwilling to look at the face looming above her, afraid that if she did, she would believe it was really Alexander bullying her.


    But the man paid no heed to her wishes, pinching her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.


    "Do you see clearly now?" he demanded. "Am I the person you are looking for?"


    Quinn''s tears continued to fall unabated, moistening the strands of hair at her temples. Her smooth locks cascaded onto the snowy white bedsheets.


    It was a striking image, marred only by the disgust and anger evident in her eyes.


    If


    f you are not reading this book from the website:  then you are reading a pirated version with iplete content. Please visit  and search the book title to read the entire book for free Alexander chuckled, a sardonicughter escaping his lips, mingled with a hint of irritation.


    If the person she sought so persistently was someone else, he could have had that person eliminated.


    But she had been searching for was Alexander from before the age of twenty. Where could he find that person for her?


    As Alexander''s gaze turned icy, he grabbed a pillow and pressed it against Quinn''s face, obscuring her damned gaze.


    A sensation of suffocation overwhelmed Quinn, her head spinning, ;as she gradually gave up struggling.


    Eventually, she lost consciousnesspletely.


    When Soren arrived this time, he brought all his luggage with him, intending to stay at Regal Riverside.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    He felt that the constant back-and-forth travels would inevitably wear him out.


    While checking Quinn''s pulse, Soren stole nces at the smoking Alexander nearby.


    The room was filled with smoke, and even at a distance, ;Soren found it nearly suffocating.


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    However, he dared not speak up, as he could tell that the man was currently agitated. Any words from Soren would likely provoke a harsh response.


    After finishing his cigarette, Alexander shot a nce at Soren, who immediately averted his gaze.


    After a while, Soren returned Quinn''s hand to the covers and hesitantly approached Alexander.


    "Mr. Alexander."


    "Speak."


    Clearing his throat, Soren hesitated, "Could you... be a bit more restrained? Quinn''s body hasn''t fully recovered yet."


    "She''s still getting over a cold she had a few days ago."


    Alexander stared expressionlessly at him, offering no response.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Suddenly, Soren found himself at a loss for words.


    "Leave."


    Startled, Soren hesitated, "What?"


    Alexander, initially calm, elegantly brushed the ashtray before abruptly seizing a water ss from the table and hurling it at Soren.


    "Get out!"


    Soren quickly shielded his face with his hands, thess struck his arm before shattering on the floor with a resounding crash, sending shards flying everywhere.


    Ignoring the pain, Soren scrambled out, fearing a dy might prompt Alexander to kill him.


    As a result, he tumbled down the staircase in a straight descent.

 Chapter 484

    "Mr. Soren, are you okay?" Miller hurried over to assist him.


    Shakily, Soren stood up, rubbing his waist and then his arm, waving off reassuringly, still trembling from the ordeal. "I''m okay." Kindly cautioning Miller, he said, "Be careful these days, don''t provoke Alexander, he might kill someone."


    Miller turned pale, staring at Soren in shock, "What?"


    As they spoke, Alexander descended from upstairs, causing them to immediately fall silent, scurrying away to a discreet corner.


    Alexander appeared impably dressed in a suit as if the angry man from moments ago was not him at all.


    His countenance remained indifferent as he descended the stairs without a nce and left the premises, the sound of a car horn echoing a few minutester.


    Finally relieved, Soren procured some medicine, asking Miller to help him apply it. Observing the bruising on Soren''s arm, Miller was convinced of the truth in his words. Alexander was truly terrifying, resorting to violence at the slightest provocation.


    The bruises elsewhere were from the fall down the stairs, but the injury to his arm was the most severe.


    After Alexander left this time, without returning for three days or inquiring about Quinn''s circumstances.


    Quinn remained unconscious for the same duration. When she awakened, her entire body ached, and she struggled to sit up several times.


    Continuing his visits, Soren visibly exhaled with relief upon seeing Quinn awake. "Wonderful, Quinn, you''re finally awake," he eximed, hurrying over to check her pulse. Turning her head, Quinn gazed at Soren with confusion.


    After examining her, Soren nced at Quinn with aplex expression. "Quinn, do you remember what happened?"


    Prompted by his inquiry, Quinn''s gaze zed over for a moment, the pains in her body serving as painful reminders of recent events.


    Gradually, fragmented memories flooded her mind, piecing together an iplete picture.


    Her eyes widened suddenly.


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    Observing her reaction, Soren inferred her recollection and promptlybegan jotting down notes.


    "It seems your condition has stabilized a bit. As I suspect, being as young as you are, it''s improbable for it to deteriorate so rapidly."


    Reflecting on the words of the elderly professor, he exined that the forgotten memories stemmed from deep-seated anguish, prompting selective amnesia during episodes of illness. And now, her memories are stuck at the age of 18; before that, all her memories were beautiful,cking the urgency in her subconscious to forget.


    Quinn struggled toprehend his words.


    However, due to their prolonged interaction, Soren could almost decipher most of what she tried to convey from her eyes.


    Soren offered a general exnation of her condition, regardless of whether Quinn fully grasped it or not.


    Cautioning her, he added, "You must remain vignt. Your condition could worsen at any time, with potentialplications like cognitive impairment and memory loss still looming." After delivering his speech, Soren lowered his gaze, only to find Quinn staring back at him nkly.


    "Don''t you understand?"Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn nodded in acknowledgment-she couldn''tprehend the intricacies of the illness or how it was getting worse, finding it all very confusing.


    Sighing, Soren said, "Forget it, I''ll goget your medication."


    In the kitchen, as he poured out the brewed medicine, a thought urred to him, prompting a call to Alexander.


    After a dozen rings, the call finally connected.


    "Speak," Alexander''s voice remained stoic, devoid of fluctuation.


    "Alexander, I just wanted to inform you that Quinn has awakened."

 Chapter 485

    "This is not a matter of great consequence," he stated before abruptly ending the call.


    In a moment of bewilderment, Soren remained silent upon hearing the busy signal from his phone.


    Alexander casually tossed the phone onto the table, returning his attention to the documents in his hand, while the surveince feed from the vi illuminated the screen on his left.


    Ruby knocked on the door, holding a set of documents. She approached Alexander''s desk and handed him the papers. "Alexander, these are thepany''s annual reports. Landon asked me to deliver a copy to you. Please have a look." Alexander took them absentmindedly, flipping through the pages until he reached thest one, already signed by Landon.


    He tossed them carelessly back onto the table without further scrutiny.


    After a while, when Ruby showed no intention of leaving, Alexander raised his head and inquired, "Anything else?"


    "We''re just half a month away from the vacation," Ruby stated.


    "And then?" Alexander prompted.


    "Do you have any ns for the break?" Ruby inquired.


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on her face momentarily before answering, "Are you asking about business or personal matters?"


    Ruby smiled, "Just making conversation."


    Closing the documents and leaning back in his chair, Alexander engaged in small talk with Ruby in rxation, "Seems like you are eager for the break. Any ns?"


    "I have no particr ns, just looking to head home."


    "Where is your home, Ruby?"


    "My hometown is Sylvadora."


    "Sylvadora?" Alexander furrowed his brow in contemtion before saying, "Alright, you can go now."


    Ruby nodded slightly and turned to leave.


    Once she departed, Alexander picked up the internal phone on his desk and made a call. Shortly after, the call connected.


    "Alexander, what are your orders this time?" Walter''s voice,ced with a smile, came through the receiver.


    "Walter, do you have any ns for the break?"


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    "Not yet finalized. Do you have anything in mind, Alexander?"


    "If you have no priormitments, join me on a business trip to Sylvadora. There''s a project there."


    A prolonged silence ensued on the line. Eventually, Walter replied, "That sounds good."


    Alexander chuckled and added, "By the way, I heard there''s a hot air balloon base in Sylvadora. Do you know that?"


    After a brief pause, Walter chuckled, "Seems like you''ve caught me off guard there, I haven''t been to Sylvadora. If you''re interested, I can look into it."


    "No need, just prepare well. I''ll have the project details sent to you."


    "Understood."


    Ending the call, Alexander hung up and cast a nceat the screen on hisputer.


    Quinn had been unconscious for two days, not leaving her bedroom during this time. Although she had awoken today, her frail body kept her confined to the bed, unable to step out.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Getty had an evening event nned for today, continuously calling Alexander since morning. As the end of the workday approached, she called again.


    "Alexander, have you finished work? I''m in thepany''s parking lot."


    "Alright."


    Shutting down hisputer, Alexander left the office.


    Upon spotting him, Getty promptly ran over and embraced him, "I''ve been waiting for you for so long."


    Looking down at her, Alexander asked, "Why should I go to your party?"


    Getty chuckled, "Of course, to apany me, so I don''t... well..."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    She stopped mid-sentence, remembering thest time she drank too much, feeling ufortable about it, a feeling that resurfaced every time she thought about it.


    Especially when she was with Alexander, she felt she couldn''t hold her head up high and dared not tempt him again.


    She could only be thankful that Alexander had no intention of sleeping with her; this way, she could keep this secret hidden forever.

 Chapter 486

    But the reluctance persisted within her!


    "Alright, let''s go," Alexander said as he took her hand and guided her into the car.


    Getty fastened her seatbelt and turned to him, asking, "By the way, is your breaking up soon?" "Yes."


    "Then let''s go to Maple Valley, I want to go there."


    As Alexander started the car and slowly drove out, Getty inquired, "I can''t, I''m on a business trip."


    "Where are you off to?"


    "Sylvadora."


    "So would you take me along?"N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Alexander stayed silent, neither agreeing nor refusing.


    Getty grew a bit upset, she grabbed his arm, yfully pleading, "Please take me."


    "How many years has it been since youst visited home?" Alexander suddenly veered off the conversation.


    Getty paused, her gaze bing distant for a moment. After a thoughtful pause, she replied, "It must have been two years."


    She muttered, "I don''t want to go back; if I do, my parents will pressure me about finding a partner."


    "They know I have a wealthy boyfriend outside, urging me to bring him home every day. But you don''t want toe with me. What can I do then?"


    Alexander remained silent.


    "How about I go on the business trip with you to Sylvadora, then we can go back to my hometown together." Getty proposed.


    Getty didn''t want to go back because the people in the vige always talked about her, saying her boyfriend outside was an old and ugly man and she must be someone''s mistress.


    They also spected that there must be some issue since she had been in a rtionship for so many years without getting married.


    Getty kept talking, but unfortunately, Alexander didn''t say a word.


    "Alexander, can you make it happen?"


    "No."


    With just one simple word,Alexander shattered all of Getty''s fleeting fantasies.


    "Why?" Getty demanded defiantly.


    He responded coldly, "There''s no reason."


    Sometimes conversing with him was exasperating. Getty took a deep breath, suppressing her frustration, opting for silence, and turning her gaze out of the window.


    The snow that fell today was heavier than before, seeminglyrger than the two previous heavy snowfalls. It fell for a full day and night, and by now, the entire city of Amber Bay was covered in white snow, presenting a dazzling sight of pure whiteness.


    Staring it too long could darken one''s vision.


    Quinn drew the curtains, dragging her feet heavily back to the bed, leaning against the headboard with a heavy sigh.


    She had been watching the snow for quite some time just now, which now left everything in front of her pitch ck. Although the snowy scene was beautiful, it still couldn''t surpass the two heavy snowfalls before in her heart. Because Alexander wasn''t here with her.


    She wanted to go out and find Alexander, but her body was too weak. She would get dizzy and copse before even making it downstairs.


    00000 Soren insisted she take her medication, but Quinn adamantly refused, turning her head away.


    Soren said, "Quinn, this medication will benefit your health. "


    Quinn gestured that she wanted to go outside.


    Miller tranted for him, but Soren promptly shook his head in refusal, "Given your current state, why would you even think of going out? Plus, it''s snowing heavily outside. It''s freezing out there." Pressing her lips together, Quinn didn''t respond and swallowed the pills reluctantly.


    Taking the cup from her hand, Soren reassured her,"When you''re better, we can go outside together. I''ll apany you wherever you want to go."


    Quinn offered no response, turning her head to gaze out of the window. The curtains weren''t fully closed, allowing the fluttering snowkes to be seen through the cracks.


    Suddenly, her phone rang. Quinn scavenged around for it, eventually finding it in the bedside cab.


    She noticed several messages waiting for her.


    At the top was Orion, followed by Abigail, and then... Alexander.

 Chapter 487

    Quinn stared at the notes about Alexander, her gaze flickering.


    She bit her lip, reached out, and tapped on his message. The first thing she saw wasn''t a message from Alexander, but the red exmation mark at the beginning.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Furrowing her brow, she scrolled through the chat history, the dates, and conversations revealing a multitude of information. As she went through each message, her pupils gradually dted. The most ring detail was the mention of divorce. Previously, she had instructed Alexander to inform her to sign the divorce agreement.


    Images of the man with a face resembling Alexander''s surfaced in Quinn''s mind, that demon. She couldn''t believe she had married someone like him.


    She couldn''t believe she could have feelings for such a man, and her previous messages exuded nothing but vulnerability.


    As Quinn''s breathing grew increasingly rapid, her fingers trembled holding the phone. It was inconceivable to think those messages had originated from her.


    It was only now that she vaguely grasped the significance of what Soren meant by ''illness.''


    Unwilling to continue reading, Quinn scrolled down the chat history to the very end, revealing a message from Alexander just moments ago.


    Alexander: [Take your medication, it''s in the drawer.]


    Upon reading these brief messages, Quinn''s expression changed. She preferred to believe that this individual merely bore a resemnce to Alexander and was not the person she sought. Even this text message couldn''t possibly be from him.


    Quinn closed her eyes, taking two deep breaths before slowly exhaling and then deleting the contact.


    Immediately after, she entered the phone number she knew by heart and tried to add Alexander''s messages again.


    However, upon searching, the result came back empty no such person found.


    A heavy feeling settled in Quinn''s heart. She double-checked her typing, confused as to why she couldn''t add him.


    Various chaotic thoughts invaded her mind, causing her head to ache once again, prompting her to cover her head and curl up on the bed.


    Later that evening, Alexander returned.


    At the sound of the bedroom door opening, Quinn lifted her head slowly, catching sight of the weather-beaten man standing at the doorway with his anger.


    Feeling a pang of nervousness, Quinn clutched the nket and shifted beneath the covers as the man swiftly approached, pulling the covers back and yanking her from the bed.


    Quinn gazed at him with aplex expression, puzzled by why this man seemed angry the moment he entered, considering she hadn''t done anything.


    His dark eyes remained fixated on her, observing her for a while before roughly tossing her back onto the bed.


    "You''re getting bolder." He uttered this iprehensible phrase, leaving Quinn even more perplexed.


    Struggling with her dizzy head, Quinn sat up, gesturing towards him, "Let me go, please?"


    The man eyed her coldly, "Where do you want to go?"


    After a moment of hesitation, Quinn gestured again, "I want to find Alexander."


    Alexanderughed again, but it was augh of frustration.


    Seating himself next to Quinn, he cupped her cheeks, forcing her to look at him, "Forgotten already or just willfully ignorant?"


    Quinn recalled fragmented memories, causing her to tremble involuntarily. She lowered her head, daring not to utter another word.


    Lifting her chin, Alexander drew close, whispering, "If you''ve forgotten, I don''t mind reintroducing myself."


    With a deliberate pause on ''reintroducing,'' Quinn shuddered at the implications behind his words. Shecouldn''t bear the way he reintroduced himself.


    "After numerous times, you are bound to remember, do you think so?" He traced the outline of her lips with his fingertip, his tone gentle, yet Quinn sensed a threat underlying his words. Shaking her head, Quinn gestured,"But I don''t know you,you''re not the real Alexander."


    "Well then, tell me. What is the real Alexander like?"


    Quinn''s mind shed back to that young man, her expression momentarily distant.


    She was staring right at him, yet her eyes betrayed confusion.

 Chapter 488

    That was her memory.


    Quinn didn''t know how to respond. She pushed the man''s hand away, gesturing defiantly, "It''s definitely not someone like you."


    Alexander''s lips curled into a mocking smile. "And what if it is someone like me?"


    Quinn shook her head firmly. "It''s not."


    "So sure?"


    Quinn shook her head, her gaze unwavering. Over the years, she hadn''t forgotten what kind of person he was.


    If she could recall the words he spoke to her when they married, now her look towards him would be more than just distant and unfamiliar it would also hold a touch of sarcasm. After seeing her for a long while without finding any familiar expression on her face, Alexander released her.


    "Hand me your phone," he demanded.


    Quinn pursed her lips and handed him her phone.


    After a few operations on her messages, his profile picture reappeared on her contact list.


    He added himself back shamelessly and returned the phone to Quinn, warning her, "If you dare delete me again..."


    He paused for a moment before adding, "I am determined to give you something more impressive."


    A chill ran down Quinn''s spine suddenly.


    She nced at his profile-it was that same grey photo. She erged the picture, revealing a snapshot of two dolls. Showing him the photo and then gesturing, ;"Where was this taken?"


    The ring image on the phone made him feel awkward.


    Alexander scrutinized the photo expressionlessly for a good fifteen seconds before finally looking at Quinn.


    "What is this?" he inquired.


    Quinn paused in confusion. Why was he asking her about his profile picture?


    She exined, "This is the dolls that Alexander grabbed for me. If you don''t even know about this, how can you im to be Alexander?" Alexander stared at her, his eyes inscrutable.


    After a moment of contemtion, he stated, "Regardless of whether you know me or not, remember that my name is Alexander."


    Taking hold of her phone, he powered off the screen and threw it carelessly behind her. cing his hands on either side of her, he leaned in close to her face. "In the future, there will only be me."


    Quinn''s pupils contracted slightly as she turned her head away from his breath.


    She couldn''t ept that this would be the Alexander she would have to face from now on.


    Alexander turned her face back towards him. "Do you remember now?"


    Tears shimmered in Quinn''s eyes as she remained silent.


    His gaze darkened as he gripped her jaw more forcefully. "Remember?"


    Quinn tried to pry his hand away with her own, but she couldn''t match his strength. The more she struggled, the tighter his grip on her jaw became, as if he intended to crush it. He repeated, "Remember?"


    The pain was unbearable...


    Quinn wanted to speak, using signnguage, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    This terrifying man, how could he possibly be Alexander? He had never treated her like this before.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Staring at her lips, he grew angrier. Veins stood out on his forehead as he fiercely gripped her jaw, moving his hand to her delicate neck.


    "Shut up!" hemanded.


    What she actually meant was-Alexander, help me.</p<>

 Chapter 489

    Even though eighteen-year-old Quinn was obedient, sensible, and very gentle, she also had a bit of a temper because of Alexander''s indulgence. Because she knew her protector was right behind her and wouldn''t let anyone bully her.


    Even if Freya angered her, Quinn could confront her, disying a considerable amount of stubbornness.


    At that time, she had confidence, and it was Alexander who gave her that confidence.


    At eighteen, Quinn felt powerful because she had all of Alexander''s favor and the courage to defy the world.


    Some said she was a servant by Alexander''s side, treating his words as the most important thing. She would do whatever he asked her to do.


    Even if he asked her to jump from upstairs, she wouldn''t even hesitate; she would only think that he would surely catch her downstairs.


    Even if she fell to her death, she might think that she must have fallen wrong before her death.


    To Quinn, he was her faith, and she was his most devout follower.


    Others said that without him, she was nothing. Without Alexander, she was a homeless, pitiful mute.


    Indeed, their observations proved prophetic.


    The person protecting her vanished, rendering her homeless and vulnerable to mistreatment by all.


    No matter her impassioned pleas, that figure would never reappear. No one would protect her any longer.


    With eyes tinged red, Quinn gazed upon the man before her, tears descending silently.


    Gradually, her gaze fractured, the destion within her vacant eyes profound. It dawnedupon her; he no longer wanted her.


    Quinn''s hand fell limply, surrendering the struggle.


    Alexander''s hand, which had been gripping her neck, slowly loosened. He pulled Quinn into his embrace, holding her tightly.


    In a hushed whisper by her ear, he said, "It''s me; I''m Alexander." His voice was hoarse, tinged with a hint of panic.


    Quinn shut her eyes, offering no response. However, in her heart, she knew it was not him. Not him.


    Exhausted, Quinn was trapped within the man''s embrace. Listening to his resolute heartbeat, her thoughts began to wane.


    The person in his arms gradually grew still, and Alexander released her.


    She kept her eyes tightly shut, tears clinging to her eyshes, which were stuck together by the tears. Her brows furrowed tightly even as she drifted off to sleep, tears continuing to trickle down from the corners of her eyes. cing her on the bed, he brushed hisrge hand over her petite face, gently wiping away the tear droplets at the edges of her eyes.


    Time was the cruelest of all punishments, binding some individuals and events to irreversible paths.


    Just as one could never again fit into clothing from infancy and y carefreely in the yard after growing up.


    Simrly, the person Quinn yearned for would never return.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Even if he stood before her, he would no longer be the person she once held dear.


    Seated by the bedside, he was close yet emotionally distant from her.


    Soren stood at the doorway, hesitant to enter, as he observed the deste figure inside, his unprecedented destion and loneliness palpable. Soren silently retreated, pretending he had never been there.


    The snow fell heavily throughout the night.


    The following day, the sky cleared, nketing the outside world with a thickyer of snow.


    Miller and Ms. Moore wield shovels at the entrance, clearing the path and leaving a corridor free in the midst.


    Quinn was awakened by the scraping sound of the shovel outside. Her eyshes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.</p<>

 Chapter 490

    Gazing at the ceiling, a wave of destion and sorrow once again engulfed Quinn''s heart.


    Tears shimmered in her eyes, and an unexined weariness enveloping her entire being rendered her reluctant to even sit up.


    As if sensing something, Quinn turned her head and saw the man sitting at the bedside, causing her to pause in surprise.


    He was dressed in that ck shirt, neatly attired, leaning against the headboard with his eyes lowered, staring directly at her. Quinn met his intense gaze, momentarily lost in thought. Neither of them spoke.


    Quinn couldn''t recall what had happened the night before. To her, this man remained a stranger.


    Despite sharing the same face as Alexander, Quinn couldn''t find any familiar traces in those eyes. The eyes of a person could not deceive.


    Rising from the bed, Quinn disregarded the man beside her and strode out of the room.


    Alexander followed suit, descending the stairs alongside her, both shrouded in a heavy silence.


    Miller contemted inviting the duo for a meal but witnessing their tension; the words remained unspoken.


    Quinn brushed past Miller, heading towards the entrance.


    "This..." Miller''s gaze shifted from the figure at the door to Alexander. "I will follow Quinn."


    "No need," Alexander curtly replied, striding out of the vi in long strides.


    Emerging outside, the surrounding snow left Quinn disoriented. After her sleep, the entire world seemed transformed.


    Engulfed in a sea of white, the sun''s piercing rays offered nothing but a chilly brightness upon her skin.


    Traversing the path, her shoes creaked in the snow, the melting kes seeping into them, sending shivers down her spine.


    After a lengthy venture, Quinn gged down a passing taxi, showing the driver the address on her phone, to which he nodded understanding.


    The taxi brought her to the entrance of Lindwood School of Arts. Getting out of the car, she sat down on a roadside stone, wrapped in her down jacket, staring fixedly at the school gate.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    00000


    Just a short distance away, Alexander''s luxury car was parked by the curb, his gaze fixed on Quinn.


    After sitting for a while, her nose turned slightly red, and her cheeks flushed crimson.


    And she sat there stubbornly, staring at the school gate, afraid of missing the appearance of that person.


    Alexander lit a cigarette, leaning against the car window, taking slow, leisurely drags.


    Fortunately, the sun''s presence brought a degree of warmth to the icyndscape.


    Individuals swept snow by the roadside, creating soft rustling sounds. Passing students would kick at tree branches, causing snow to cascade down onto Quinn. Thankfully, her hat intercepted the snow, allowing it to slide off.


    She stared at the school gate, while Alexander stared back at her from a distance, separated by a road-not too far, yet not too close.


    00000


    As time trickled by, the sun vanished behind veils of gray clouds, sprinkling the sky with gentle snowkes, bestowing the scene with a cozy ambiance.


    Quinn''s phone rang again, and she took it out to check it was a message from Orion.


    She no longer had a clear impression of this person, but after flipping through their chat history, she had a rough idea of their rtionship.


    Orion messaged her yesterday without a response, and today, he reached out once more.


    Orion: [Quinn, you''re about to have a break, right? Where are you nning to go during the break?]


    Orion knew she had divorced Alexander, living alone now. He had checked and found out Quinn wasn''t Alexander''s sister but a foster daughter adopted by the Kennedys. After the divorce, she was essentially homeless, with nowhere to go for the holidays, right?


    The image of her all alone hit Orion hard.

 Chapter 491

    Having perused their chat history, Quinn typed in response to Orion.


    Quinn: [No ns.]


    Orion followed up with another message.


    Orion: [Where are you now?]


    Quinn raised her head to nce in the direction of the school gate, then bowed it back down to transmit her location.


    Quinn nced towards the direction of the school gate and then sent over the address.


    Each time Orion received her address, it was always somewhere unexpected, a ce he could never guess. He couldn''t fathom why she chose these peculiar locations every time. Without dwelling on it, Orion drove to Lindwood School of Arts and immediately spotted Quinn sitting by the roadside.


    Parking his car, he hurried over, calling out, "Quinn."


    Upon hearing the voice, Quinn looked up at him. Quinn heard a sound and looked up at him. Orion had a smile on his face as he handed over the coffee in his hand. "It''s hot," he said.


    Seeing the smile on his face, Quinn was momentarily stunned until he ced the coffee into her hand, which brought her back to reality.


    "What are you doing here?" Orion inquired.


    Quinn turned to look at him, Orion''s smile was warm, much like the sun behind the clouds, especially in this vast white world, reflecting a pure and clean smile on his face. Once again, she drifted off.


    Noticing Quinn''s distraction, Orion waved his palm before her, "Are you okay?"


    Startled back to reality, Quinn shook her head, setting the coffee down beside her, gesturing that she was waiting for someone.


    "Waiting for someone?" Orion nced at the school gate, perplexed. Did she know someone attending the university?


    Quinn nodded, averting her gaze back to the school gate, awaiting a person who would never arrive.


    "Is it a friend of yours?" Quinn toyed with the edge of the coffee sleeve, opting for silence instead of a response.


    Sensing her silence, Orion didn''t press further, "Then I''ll wait with you. Once he appears, I''ll treat both of you to a meal."


    He rambled on, the two of them sitting together, both dressed in white puffer jackets, resembling a matching set.


    Moreover, with their appearance and sitting in this ce, no one would question their age.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Everyone assumed they were a couple.


    Meanwhile, in his car, Alexander remained stationary, a few more cigarette butts littering the exterior.


    Kyle called him, and he answered, his gaze never leaving the duo by the roadside.


    "Alexander, are youing to the office today?"


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Xavier is here."


    "OK."


    Ending the call, Alexander observed the pair for a few more moments before turning away and departing.


    Xavier, Xavier''s mother, hade seeking Alexander to plead on her son''s behalf, hoping for clemency.


    In the meeting room, Xavier rose as Alexander entered.


    "Alexander."


    Alexander nodded slightly, gesturing for her to sit.


    Xavier appeared noticeably aged, the rapid toll of grief evident since Valerie and the two children''s passing. Unable to endure the agony of losing her children any longer, she sought out Alexander.


    "Alexander... no, Mr. Kennedy. I have known what Xavier had done. No matter his reasons or intentions, wrong is wrong, so I''m here to apologize on his behalf." Alexander lit a cigarette, reclining casually in his chair, silently listening to Xavier''s plea.


    After a brief silence, Xavier continued, "As long as you are willing to spare Xavier, I am prepared to agree to any terms."

 Chapter 492

    Alexander remained silent, lost in thought, flicking the ashes of his cigarette in the ashtray. After a moment, he gazed at Xavier and said, "Hasn''t he spoken to you about this before?" "What?" Xavier inquired.


    "He came to me before, and I stated my terms. Unfortunately, he refused to agree." Alexander exined. Anxiously, Xavier asked, "What are your terms, Alexander?"


    "My terms are straightforward. I want ownership of all the shares of the Xavier family." Alexander replied.


    At the mention of this, Xavier''s pupils slightly dted, finding it hard to believe Alexander''s audacity. In a more polite way, he said he was after a stake in thepany, but to put it bluntly, he was aiming for the entire Xavier family business. He practically asked for ownership of The Xavier family..Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alexander, are you... jesting with me?" Xavier questioned.


    In a calm tone, Alexander responded, "Do you think I''m idle enough to sit here and jest with you, Xavier?"


    Realizing the gravity of the situation, Xavier understood why Xavier had declined. If somebody else had been in her ce today-Xavier''s father, for instance they would have stormed out immediately. Alexander''s attitude wasn''t one for negotiation but a proposition aiming for total control.


    However, Xavier, being a woman, prioritized her children''s lives over interests. She hesitated, saying, "Is there truly no room for negotiation?"


    "Xavier, am I here negotiating this with you?" Alexander countered reluctantly.


    "What kind of negotiation is this? Apart from this condition, is there no room for further discussion?" Xavier''s gaze bore deeply into his, attempting to evoke empathy.


    "Valerie is your sister, and Xavier is your brother-inw."


    00000


    "We are family. Why must we fight so fiercely? Valerie and those two innocent children were undeserving of such tragedy. Put yourself in their shoes. If you were Xavier, how would you act in this situation?" Xavier gazed at him, hoping to discern a shred ofpassion, but she found his demeanor cold and beyond her expectations.


    This man''s callousness was unsettling.


    "Alexander," Xavier called out again.


    "Xavier, if you cannot ept it, then please leave," Alexander interjected firmly, without any intention of yielding.


    Xavier paled at his unwavering stance.


    "You..."


    Interrupting her, Alexander stated, "Xavier, you should understand that there''s no chance for reconciliation between me and Xavier. As you said, if Xavier were in my position, would he permit any potential threat to remain?" Shaken to her core, Xavier stared at Alexander, rendered speechless for a moment.


    "Xavier, you should go back and ponder this carefully," Alexander advised. "Xavier has made up his mind. You cannot make pivotal decisions. Your words here hold no weight."


    Silent contemtion ensued as Xavier weighed the consequences. Xavier''s health was failing, and his heart condition couldn''t withstand further stress.


    If Xavier were incarcerated, the Xavier family''s fate would be uncertain. Everyone knew deep down that agreeing to Alexander''s terms was the wisest choice; it was just a matter of swallowing their pride.


    After much internal struggle, Xavier raised her head, determination gleaming in her eyes. "I can make the decision. Can you promise me that once the Xavier family is in your hands, you will spare us?" Alexander''s reaction to her reply was expected, as he replied, "Of course."


    "So..."


    Before Xavier could finish her sentence, the meeting room''s door was thrust open, and Xavier stormed in angrily, dering, "I don''t agree!"

 Chapter 493

    Xavier''s sudden arrival plunged the meeting room into a tense silence once more. Xavier hastily stood up and tugged at his sleeve, asking, "Why have youe?" Xavier, ring furiously at Xavier, snapped, "What are you doing here?"


    "I''m here to reason with him. Do you expect me to stand by and watch you go to prison?" Xavier retorted.


    Through gritted teeth, Xavier replied, " So what if I go to prison? I will never hand over the Xavier family to such a person. Come back with me!" He grabbed Kaitlyn''s wrist, intent on leaving.


    Frantic, Xavier grabbed Xavier''s arm, pleading, "Xavier, don''t act rashly. Can''t we sit down and discuss this properly?"


    Cynically chuckling, Xavier retorted, "What''s there to talk about? It''s all just self-inflicted humiliation no matter how much we talk."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    "If I lose, then so be it. I ept defeat! If it means jail or even execution, I ept it! It''s just one life. I can afford to lose it. But I will never, under any circumstances, entrust the entire Xavier family to someone like him. Mom, if you truly care for me,e with me and nevere to see this person again!"


    Upon hearing this, Xavier burst into tears instantly. She forcefully shook off Xavier''s hand and pped him across the face.


    With a sharp "smack," the sound of the p echoed through the conference room, silencing everyone present.


    Alexander sat casually on the sofa, observing the drama unfolding before him withoutment. Xavier''s tear-streaked, weary face betrayed her disappointment and anger.


    She said word by word, "You are such a jerk. Have you ever thought about me? About your dad?"


    "What do you mean by ''just one life''? Isn''t your life also part of ours? Joseph and Deborah are already gone. Do you want your father and me to endure the pain of losing a child again? " Her words pierced the air,den with raw emotion. Xavier looked slightly bewildered, his expression a mix of emotions as he gazed at his mother whose chest rose and fell heavily. Her eyes bloodshot with grief and indignation.


    "Alright, if you can''t let this go, your father and I will go down with you. Whoever wants this Xavier family, take it!"


    "Mom!"


    Xavier pushed him away. "Don''t call me mom. In your eyes, when have I ever been a mother to you? You only think about yourself, never once considering our feelings." "You disregard your parents'' feelings. Xavier, this is not how you concede defeat." Xavier almost cried out the final words.


    Xavier stood dumbfounded in the meeting room, unsure of what to do next.


    He was torn between his parents and his enemy.


    His mother was pressuring him to submit to his enemies. What was he supposed to do?


    Surely, he couldn''t actually have his parents go down with him.


    Closing his eyes, Xavier, who had not shed a tear at the loss of his wife and child, now found tears streaming down his face in the face of his relentless mother.


    He turned away, concealing his disheveled state from Alexander''s view.


    He never imagined he would lose so miserably, appearing so feeble.


    Meanwhile, a knock on the door interrupted the scene. It was Landon entering with documents in hand, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the office as he strode over to Alexander.


    "I''ve been looking for you, Alexander. It seems I have arrived at an inconvenient time." Landon remarked.


    ncing at him, Alexander casually inquired, "Is there an urgent matter at hand, Landon?"


    Landon responded, "Have you forgotten about today''s meeting? Kyle couldn''t locate you, so I came to the meeting room to find you. Everyone is waiting for you."


    Unassuming yet assertive, Landon seemed poised, handling business matters professionally.


    It was evident to keen observers that calling Alexander for the meeting was a pretext while causing disruption was the true intent.


    Though the Xavier family business may not match the stature of Kennedy Enterprise, being a publicpany, falling into Alexander''s hands would undoubtedly empower him significantly, doubling his chances against Landon in their power y.


    The Xavier family had be a prize in this power struggle a game of who would emerge victorious.


    With a smile, Alexander crushed his cigarette in hand, rose from the sofa, and approached Landon.

 Chapter 494

    He raised his slender fingers, akin to a leader or elder, and with intimacy, he tidied Landon''s cor, saying in a soft tone, "You truly give your all for thepany. You''ve worked hard." Landon replied humbly, "You tter me, Alexander. It''s just the tasks at hand."


    Alexander smiled without words, released Landon''s cor, and walked out.


    As he left, Landon followed suit, pausing by Xavier''s side.


    His steps hesitated briefly as he turned his head, his calm gaze piercing through his sses to meet Xavier''s eyes.


    Xavier looked up, and in that moment of silent exchange, it seemed as though a myriad of unspoken words had passed between them.


    Two secondster, Landon stepped out of the office, leaving Xavier''s hand clenched at his side.


    They were all pressuring him now, including his mother. But the one certainty was that the Xavier family was on the brink of copse. Everyone was doomed.


    Snow fell heavily once more.


    Quinn''s spot was buried under a thickyer of snow, and Orion retrieved an umbre from the car, shielding her from the falling snowkes above. The melting snow dripped down the umbre''s edge like scattered beads of water. Orion sat with Quinn quietly, watching as darkness enveloped the sky. The person she was waited had yet to appear. Orion spoke softly, "Quinn, did your friend have sses today?"Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn, mirroring his confusion, bit her lip and nced sideways at Orion, feeling a sense of guilt for keeping him there.


    She gestured that she might have been mistaken and that her friend likely hadn''t had sses that day.


    Orion was momentarily puzzled but not upset, and he chuckled, "No worries. I find this quite romantic, even though it''s a bit chilly."


    His words finally brought a faint smile to Quinn''s face. She stood up, gesturing her thanks and then motioning for him to go back.


    "And what about you?"


    Quinn''s eyes flickered with uncertainty. She... she needed to figure out where to go from here. She didn''t know where else to go besides this ce anymore.


    Quinn didn''t want to dy Orion any longer, gesturing again. "You don''t need to worry about me, just go back quickly."


    Orion, in fact, didn''t want to go back. He hadn''t returned home since the argument with his father.


    He had quit his job and now spent his days idle, either sleeping or visiting the welfare center. He didn''t know where to go now.


    With work resigned from and each day aimless, he found himself at loose ends, uncertain of his next move.


    "All right then, take this umbre," Orion offered, handing it to her. "I''ll leave now. Text me if you need anything."


    Quinn nodded as Orion got into his car, soon disappearing from her view.


    Holding the umbre, she continued gazing toward the school gates. Perhaps she wasn''t truly waiting for someone specific to show up; rather, being here gave her a sense of peace, as if he were beside her.


    But as time passed, Quinn began to forget the purpose of her wait. The dark gates and night sky grew unfamiliar, the howling winds unsettling her. She was gripped with fear. Discarding the umbre, she turned around and ran towards a brighter spot.


    Amidst the heavy snow, she ran, feeling the biting cold windshing against her, her breath mingling with the falling snowkes. The horizon seemed endless before her as she ran, unable to reach its end.


    Suddenly, a piercing horn red in her ears. Quinn halted, turned around, and saw a car hurtling towards her, its brilliant headlights blinding her.

 Chapter 495

    A piercing screech of brakes made Quinn''s scalp tingle, the car grazing her body. Her legs went weak, and she fell to the ground, the vehicleing to a halt just within centimeters of her.


    Shortly after, the car door swung open, and a man stormed out, livid, approaching Quinn andunching into a tirade, pointing fingers and hurling usations. "Are you aiming to get yourself killed? If you want to die, find somewhere else for it. What the f*ck are you doing running in the middle of the road? If I had hit you with my car, it would''ve been your fault!"


    Feeling helpless, Quinn sat on the ground, the pain in her knees bing btedly apparent amid the man''s harsh reprimands. The front of the car had indeed brushed against her knee.


    Quinn looked up at the furious man, who was bald and had a face full of fat. Seeing Quinn remain silent, the man grew even angrier. "Why are you still sitting on the ground? Are you staging ident forpensation? Forget about it! I won''t give you a single penny. Get lost!"


    Quinn bowed her head and, enduring the pain in her knees, tried to stand up, but the agony was piercing with every movement.


    "What, you really want to stage an ident forpensation? Let me tell you, my car has a dashcam. Lying here won''t have any good."


    Several passing cars came to a stop, with onlookers gathering to spectate and intervene.


    "I think this girl might be injured. It would help if you took her to the hospital," one person suggested.


    The man retorted immediately, "I will not take her. Can''t you see she''s staging this forpensation? You people talk big, but it''s not you who get scammed in staged idents, is it?"


    His words silenced the surrounding spectators, yet a kind soul approached Quinn, asking, "Dear, are you alright?"


    With her head lowered, Quinn shook her head as she cradled her knee, signaling she couldn''t stand up.


    "Can you stand up?" the person inquired.


    Once again, Quinn shook her head. The pain was too intense; every attempt to rise brought searing agony.


    Looking at her in this state only fueled the man''s anger. "Look at her, trying to deceive us all. This is nothing but a scam!"


    Quinn bit her lip, bracing her hands on the ground, attempting to stand up but giving up after several failed tries.


    "She''s so young, why does she have to go around faking idents forpensation?"


    All drivers fear encountering individuals who don''t obey traffic regtions. Regardless of whether these individuals were staging idents, once they got injured while crossing the road, the drivers inevitably got implicated Many sympathized with the man, and their disdain for such individuals was profound.


    "What a shame! You haven''t seen those old folks who cling to you and you can''t get away."


    "These individuals ought to be subject to repercussions. Bro, we''ll testify for you, it''s her who''s staging the idents."


    "Yeah, miss, you better leave now, or when the policeeter, you won''t be able to escape."


    The voices of the surrounding crowd swirled above Quinn''s head, a buzzing din in her ears. She felt like a criminal of the worst kind, encircled and used by the masses.


    Clutching her head, she blocked out the sounds, refusing to hear theirments. Yet, the jeers persisted relentlessly, piercing her ears.


    Overwhelmed, she gestured in an attempt to convey her innocence, to exin that she couldn''t stand up, but her signs went unheeded.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Some even mocked her, "ying dumb now, it appears that you are indeed falling victim to deception this time."


    "Perhaps she''s truly mute, driven to scam out of desperation."

 Chapter 496

    "She could resort to begging; why choose to harm us instead?"


    Observing the pervasive malice around her, Quinn contemted an exnation, but she sadly surrendered, letting her hand fall by her side, realizing the insignificance of her rifications.


    All they cared about was their own self-interest, and they nervously dreaded the possibility of being the next victim of the staged ident.


    Initially inclined to leave, the man hesitated. What if something had actually urred to the woman? Wouldn''t he then be considered a hit-and-run culprit?


    Thus, he opted to drive Quinn away, instructing her to leave quickly.


    Quinn, unable to move, was then grabbed by the arm by the man. "Don''t y dumb here, get out of here! Are you waiting here to set up the next victim?" he said.


    As the man dragged her, Quinn, unable to move her legs, was practically being pulled by the man towards the roadside.


    The biting coldness of the umted snow saturated her clothes, leaving her in a thoroughly disheveled state.


    Behind her, the ground bore long trails from the dragged snow.


    The man dumped her on the sidewalk, where passersby paused to watch, but no one stepped forward to intervene, content to stand by as spectators.


    That man threw Quinn at the intersection like trash, then pointing at her, he scolded fiercely, "Don''t pull this bullshit again. If you run into someone hot-tempered, they''ll just run you over, and you deserve it!" Seated slumped on the ground, Quinn hung her head low, allowing the man''s tirade to wash over her.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    The man continued with a barrage of words, "You''re lucky it was me you crossed paths with today; I''m in a good mood. Otherwise, I might have just run you over."


    As he spoke, he even spat in Quinn''s direction. In heated arguments like this, silence only would serve to stoke further anger.


    The man, after finishing his tirade, was about to turn and leave. However, as he turned, his abdomen was viciously struck, causing him to take two steps back and sit on the ground.Sitting on the ground, clutching his stomach in pain, he looked up and red at the person in front of him.


    It was only then that he realized what had happened someone had kicked him in the stomach.


    The person who kicked him stood before him, dressed in a suit, with a long overcoat draped over him, tall and imposing, with a cold and stern gaze.


    He stood there, gazing down at the man with a look of contempt, as if he were disdainfully regarding a piece of trash.


    "Who... who are you?" The man was flustered. He realized that the demeanor of the person was something that couldn''t be feigned.


    Moreover, inherent dignity and disdain of the man before him seemed to emanate from his very core.


    Alexander walked up to the man, lifted his shiny leather shoe, and stepped on the man''s leg. "Are you sitting on the ground trying to fake an injury?"


    His voice was calm, as if he were just casually asking, but he didn''t ease the pressure of his foot on the man''s leg, causing the man to cry out in pain. "Ouch, ouch, ouch..."


    "Does it hurt? Seems like you''re trying to fake an injury," Alexander repeated his words verbatim. The man finally understood; this was a knight in shining armor,ing to the woman''s rescue. Panicked, he hurriedly exined, "No, no, I wasn''t trying to fake an injury!"


    Alexander''s expression remained unchanged. He casually responded, "Then why don''t you get up?"


    As he spoke, he even pressed down on the man''s leg.


    The man was at a loss; he wanted to get up, but he couldn''t with this person''s foot pressing down on his leg.


    "What? Still trying to fake an injury?"


    The man was on the verge of cursing; how could he rise when this person was stepping on him? Was this person intentionally provoking a confrontation?

 Chapter 497

    "Sir, I was wrong. Please spare me!"


    The man was no fool. The luxury car parked on the roadside, along with that license te, clearly disyed the owner''s wealthy and prestigious status. The man was someone that he dared not to provoke. Seated nearby, Quinn stared nkly at Alexander, her expression momentarily dazed by the familiar face.


    "How can you ask for mercy after trying to scam me? Where did all that confidence go from using her of scamming?"


    He was referring to the way he had just berated Quinn. The man, feeling helpless, could only plead repeatedly, "I was wrong, I was wrong. I misunderstood this beautifuldy. It''s my fault. Please forgive me!"


    Upon seeing Alexander''s indifference, the man redirected his entreaties towards Quinn. "Miss, I was mistaken earlier. Could you forgive me? I sincerely apologize to you. I''m truly sorry for my error. I misunderstood your intentions and falsely used you of being a scammer..."


    Quinn stared straight at him, taking a while to process his words, before looking up at Alexander.


    Indeed... she had been wrong.


    She shouldn''t have acted recklessly or crossed the road without caution.


    Observing a hint of softness in her eyes, the man''s countenance brightened, and he eagerly awaited Alexander''s response.


    Alexander withdrew his gaze, sparing the man a nce before finally lifting his foot andmanding, "Get lost."


    "Okay!" The man scrambled to his feet, darted into his car, and sped away.


    There were still many onlookers around, seemingly surprised by the turn of events. This woman turned out not to be a fraudster, and she even seemed quite distinguished?


    Some people recognized Alexander, given the recent rumors surrounding Getty.


    This was a neighborhood near the school, predominantly popted by college students. To them, Alexander was a familiar figure.


    Someone quickly took out their phone to take pictures, capturing the first live encounter with Alexander, a moment worth remembering. Alexander approached Quinn, squatting down in front of her, his deep gaze fixed on her face.


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    Quinn pursed her lips; she still had some resistance to his face.


    Raising his slender fingers, Alexander lightly touched Quinn''s face; his fingers were cold. However, this time, Quinn made no effort to evade his touch.


    Silent, Alexander eventually lifted her from the ground, carrying her back to the car.


    Unlike before, she sat obediently in her seat, allowing Alexander to fasten her seatbelt.


    Witnessing this exchange, those people couldn''t help but specte and discuss.


    Wasn''t Alexander dating with Getty? Who was this woman?


    Online, he was praised for his deep affection for Getty, even when there were rumors involving Getty and Mr. Cox, he remained loyal. Journalists even captured moments of them shopping together. Alexander paid no attention to the spections of these people and simply drove away from the scene.


    Arriving at Regal Riverside, Alexander exited the car and circled to the passenger side, opening the door to retrieve Quinn.


    Quinn hugged his neck, staring straight at him. He carried her back to the bedroom and ced her on the bed.


    Observing her soiled appearance and dampened hair, Alexander furrowed his brow. "Get changed."


    Quinn hesitated. She turned her head away, and didn''t move.


    With disregard, Alexander fetched a nightgown from the wardrobe and tossed it beside her. He then left the room, closing the door behind him.


    Alone now, Quinn eventually picked up the nightgown and changed into it.


    After changing, a knock sounded at the door, "Mrs. Kennedy,e down for dinner." Miller''s voice prompted.


    Upon hearing Miller''s words, Quinn rubbed her stomach; she hadn''t eaten today and was indeed a bit hungry.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Thinking of Alexander''s words, Miller pushed the door open and went in to assist Quinn.

 Chapter 498

    Miller extended her hand to help Quinn. "For now, let''s have dinner."


    With Miller''s support, Quinn got up from bed and limped downstairs.


    Alexander, in light grey loungewear, was already in the dining room. His hair looked a bit messy. He had not much expression, but he looked young.


    Quinn''s heart fluttered slightly at the sight. Besides those indifferent eyes, he looked like the young boy in her memory, which brought a modicum of calm to her wavering heart.


    As she sat across from him, Quinn''s gaze stayed locked on him with a blend of scrutiny and suspicion.


    Alexander suddenly nced up from his phone and met her gaze briefly. In that moment of eye contact, Quinn quickly looked away.


    Quinn found the boy familiar yet she knew that he wasn''t the boy she had been thinking about.


    Alexander remained silent. After setting aside his phone, he began to eat.


    Beside him, Miller picked up the tableware while pushing the food toward Quinn, "Quinn, have a try."


    Quinn quickly snapped back to reality and started eating.


    No one spoke during the meal.


    After the meal, Miller helped Quinn to the sofa, and Soren examined her wounds.


    When Quinn lifted her pant leg, the dog bite mark, now healed into thick scabs that crisscrossed her fair skin, looked rather gruesome. However, it did not pose any significant harm to her health. Once the scars fell off, the healing process would beplete.


    But her knee looked swollen and sensitive. Soren gently pressed on it, asking, "Does it hurt?"


    Quinn nodded honestly.


    Soren was about to rmend that she get an X-ray at the hospital when he noticed Alexander''s nk stare.


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    "Your bone might have been injured. But if you can walk, it shouldn''t be serious. I''ll provide some treatment," he suggested as he massaged Quinn''s knee to reduce the bruising.


    The pain was unbearable for Quinn. She gripped the sofa, trembling all over. Cold sweat ran down her forehead.


    Alexander sat across, reading the newspaper. Since they met today, he had uttered only two words.


    He was upset clearly. But no one knew the reason.


    "It''s done." Soren put away the medicine, casting a nce at Alexander, who was still engrossed in the newspaper. Sensing the tension, Soren looked at Miller, signaling that they should leave.


    After they left, the living room was enveloped in silence.


    Restless on the sofa, Quinn''s gaze stayed fixed on Alexander.


    With no response from him, she could only sit still on the couch.


    Suddenly, Alexander got a call. He stood up and walked passed by Quinn. He smelled like roses.


    The light fragrance didn''t quite fit his icy demeanor. Ignoring his expression, one might perceive him as gentle.


    Quinn''s gaze trailed after him as he ascended the stairs to answer the call. She withdrew her gaze.


    Sitting alone on the sofa, Quinn felt out of ce and unsure of what to do.


    She lost track of time while sitting there. Alexander''s callsted an hour. When he came back, it was well past ten in the evening. From the upper floor, Alexander stood and gazed down at her quiet figure on the sofa.

 Chapter 499

    Quinn, on the sofa, started to be sleepy. She almost couldn''t keep her eyes open.


    Just when she was about to fall asleep, she heard footsteps behind her. She looked over, her eyes full of fatigue.


    Alexander gazed down at her. He wanted to say something but didn''t.


    He raised his hand, hovering it near Quinn''s face. Instinctively, she flinched, struggling with the urge to pull back for reasons unknown.


    His hand lingered inches from her cheek, but seeing her reaction, he pulled it back.


    This prolonged silence was tormenting for Quinn. She couldn''t figure out what Alexander wanted to do.


    Just then, he was interrupted by another call. But he silenced his phone and threw it on the sofa after ncing at it.


    He finally spoke to Quinn as he approached her, asking, "Where do you n on sleeping?


    Quinn paused, ncing at the sofa, indicating she would sleep there.


    Expressionless, Alexander stared at her. After a moment, he said, "Okay, if you prefer."


    With that, he quickly got up, grabbed his phone, and headed upstairs without looking back.


    Soon after, Quinn heard him close the door heavily.


    He didn''t go downstairs again.


    Exhausted, Quinn curled up on the sofa and fell asleep.


    The sofa, though narrow, provided just enough space for her, giving her a feeling of security.


    Due to her knee injury, Quinn was restricted to staying at the Vi for two weeks.


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    She wanted to take some fresh air, but she couldn''t move.


    Over time, she became familiar with Miller and the others. Although she often forgot their names, she could recognize their faces.


    Soren had been tracking her condition. Her forgetfulness had decreased. Even sometimes she still forgot about things, she could recall themter on.


    In the end, Soren determined that her condition had stabilized for now. As long as it didn''t worsen, she wouldn''t undergo sudden memory regressions spanning several years.


    As the new year approached, Alexander remained busy. He had only visited the vi twice in the past half month, each time briefly and without saying a word to Quinn. Soren sensed that something was off. Was he still angry?


    Although they didn''t have much interaction, based on past experience, Alexander''s anger normally wouldn''tst for more than three days.


    Although he often frustrated Quinn, he also took care of her. His actions never quite matched his words.


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    The cold war seemed to be too much.


    Meanwhile, Quinn, looking innocent, didn''t wait for him as she usually did.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    She only wished to go out, but her legs didn''t allow her.


    It was the end of the year. Alexander had been busy with meetings over the past three days. When he walked out of the conference room with documents in hand, he met Kyle. "Alexander, there is a board meeting tomorrow, and that is thest one."


    Alexander nodded and made his way to the office, with Kyle following closely behind. "I''ve purchased the tickets for the day after tomorrow. The return date is still pending. Are you considering spending New Year''s in Sylvadora?" Alexander stopped in his tracks, looking sideways at Kyle. "How many tickets did you book?"


    "Three. Your, Walter''s, and Quinn''s."


    After a brief pause, Alexander proceeded to the office.

 Chapter 500

    Before he opened the door, Kyle added, "Xavier is waiting in your office."


    Ignoring his words, Alexander entered the room and noticed Xavier sitting on the sofa with Walter beside him. They were chatting. Xavier appeared worn. Grey hair was visible on his head.


    Upon Alexander''s arrival, Xavier merely looked at him with a fatigued expression.


    Alexander sat across him and casually asked, "What brought you here, Xavier?"


    Xavier locked eyes with him, a mix of fatigue and a hint of cryptic resentment evident in his gaze.


    "What do you think? Don''t you know?"


    Alexander chuckled, crossing his legs and lighting a cigarette. "How am I to know? I don''t read minds."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Xavier was irritated by his arrogant demeanor. Clenching his fists, his fingertips audibly cracked.


    "My father was so upset when he found out about my situation that he ended up in the ICU. Isn''t that your fault?"


    Raising an eyebrow, Alexander found it somewhat amusing. " Xavier, what''s wrong with you? Why do you keep using me?"


    "Don''t y innocent. Who else could it be if it wasn''t you? You want the stake of the Xavier family, don''t you? Well, you''ll have it." Alexander paused, studying him for a moment. "Do you finally understand, Xavier?"


    Xavier chuckled in frustration.


    Alexander smiled faintly.


    Walter interjected, "Since it''s settled. Have you prepared the contract?"


    Annoyed, Xavier replied, "No. Come to the Xavier''s house tomorrow."


    He turned to Alexander and asked, "Are you nning to merge Kennedy Enterprise under Kennedy Enterprise?


    If brought under Kennedy Enterprise, the shares would not technically belong to Alexander but to thepany itself. The funds would then be distributed based on the proportion of Kennedy Enterprise''s shareholders. His actual shareholdings wouldn''t increase.


    "Why would I? ver intended to." Alexander retorted.


    Puzzled, Xavier furrowed his brow. "Then what''s your n?"


    "You needn''t worry about that, Xavier, Get the transfer contract ready when you go back."


    Xavier narrowed his eyes in thought before saying, "I can prepare the contract, but you need to ensure my family''s safety."


    "How do I do that? If youe over and use me like today, I won''t know what to say."


    Xavier hesitated, catching the undertone of his words.


    In the future, if anything happened to his family, he would immediately suspect Alexander. If someone framed him, he would likely shift the me onto Alexander. This guarantee seemed futile.


    Xavier fell silent, grappling with an unsolvable dilemma. Giving his shares to Alexander could upset some people and potentially lead to retaliation against his family.


    After a long pause, Xavier looked at Alexander and said, "I just need to promise me that my family will be safe. No one should harm them under any circumstance. Although we had been enemies, I admit I can''t defeat you. I don''t want to put my family at risk anymore. Please, think about it, especially for Valerie''s sake."


    Though Xavier was still upset, he couldn''t stand the idea of his family suffering because of his conflicts with Alexander.


    As harsh as it may sound, the dead were dead and the living ones must move on.


    eptance was the only way out despite resentment and anger.

 Chapter 501

    Alexander puffed on his cigarette calmly, smiling, "This is simple. Why don''t you just move abroad? Then everything will be fine."


    Xavier''s pupils narrowed as he suddenly grasped Alexander''s true intentions. By taking over Kennedy Enterprise and relocating them abroad, all potential threats would be eliminated for good! After absorbing this, Xavier let out a bitter chuckle, hisughter carrying a hint of resentment, "Fine, Alexander. That sounds like you."


    With that, he stood up, brimming with anger, and stormed out of the office.


    Disregarding Xavier''s anger, Alexander turned his head and gestured to Walter, who had not left yet.


    "Walter, are you feeling like taking an early vacation today?" Walter shrugged, smiling as he nced at Alexander.


    "Alexander, wasn''t I supposed to help wee Xavier? Would you rather have someone else greet him?


    They both knew who that ''someone else'' referred to.


    "I prefer you, of course," Alexander remarked.


    Raising an eyebrow, Walter quickly understood his implication.


    If Landon did indeed coborate with Xavier and transfer his shares to him, Alexander wouldn''t be able to merge with Kennedy Enterprise. Additionally, merging with a foreignpany would only make things moreplicated.


    But if he took control of the Kennedys under his own name, Alexander could have grounds to remove him from Kennedy Enterprise. This could lead to trouble if Xavier hinders the transfer of shares to Alexander or prevents him from signing the contract.


    Nodding, Walter said, "Okay, I''ll head out now. I have the information you sent me earlier all sorted. When are we leaving for Sylvadora?" Walter inquired.


    "The day after tomorrow."


    After a brief pause, Walter gazed intently at Alexander before eventually leaving. Despite seeing no visible reaction on Alexander''s face, he hesitated for a few moments before walking away.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    In the evening, Alexander returned to the vi once again. That was his third visit within the two weeks.


    Quinn was watching an animated on the couch. Her gaze fixed on the screen.


    It wasn''t until Miller called out "Alexander" that she snapped back to reality. She sat up on the sofa and looked at the figure at the door.


    This time, he didn''t head straight upstairs. Instead, he sat down beside Quinn.


    Both were taken aback.


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    Quinn''s eyes searched his face, hoping to find some familiar signs. Unfortunately, his expression remained cold and unfamiliar.


    For days now, Quinn had not seen him smile. In the past, when she was with Alexander, his face always lit up with a gentle smile, and his eyes showed adoration. Now, all she saw was a cold, distant expression.


    Her scrutinizing gaze made Alexander''splexion gloomier.


    Suddenly, he grabbed Quinn''s chin, "What are you looking at?"


    Wincing in pain, she instinctively tried to push him away but failed.


    Interacting with Quinn, who rarely spoke, presented a challenge that would likely be felt by anyone who engaged with her.


    Her silence only served to aggravate further.


    Releasing her, Alexander''s fingers brushed against her cheek, and she instinctively tried to dodge his touch.


    Cupping Quinn''s face, he made her look at him and said, "Do you know who I am?"


    Quinn remained silent.


    She either didn''t know who he was or perhaps she did, but was unwilling to acknowledge it.


    Alexander fell silent as well, his gaze moving across Quinn''s face as he struggled to put his thoughts into words. Suddenly, Quinn reached out and touched his face with her soft fingers.


    She was gentle.


    Her fingers gently moved to his brow, lightly smoothing out his furrowed brow. Alexander hesitated briefly, his gaze intense, allowing her tofort him.


    Her fingers slowly traced down to the corner of his mouth, gently forming a curve.


    She tried to mold his face into a more pleasing expression, like manipting a puppet.

 Chapter 502

    Despite the gentle curve of his lips, there was no trace of a smile. It dawned on Quinn that the person she was searching for was truly gone, never to return.


    He grabbed her wrist, and forcibly removed it from his face. His lips returned to their cold, straight line.


    "Quinn, let me be clear. Stop pretending to be ignorant and submissive. Stay here with me, regardless of whether I am the person you want. From now on, I am him. Do you understand?" Hearing that, Quinn furrowed her brows slightly, appearing enraged.


    She suddenly twisted her wrist, desperately attempting to free herself. However, the man firmly held her, pulled her closer, and grasped her chin once more.


    "Did you remember?" he asked.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn vigorously shook her head, struggling to escape.


    Losing patience, Alexander hoisted her up and carried her upstairs.


    He kicked open the bedroom door and threw her onto the bed. Before Quinn could get up, he grabbed her wrists and pinned her back down.


    "I''ll ask you again, who am I?"


    With teary eyes, Quinn looked at his cold face. Then she looked away, refusing to meet his gaze.


    She refused to recognize this person as Alexander as if by denying it, he would no longer be himself.


    Alexander forcefully turned her face towards him, locking eyes, and said, "Deep down, you know exactly who I am. Do you think denying me can fool yourself, pretending the old Alexander still exists?" Quinn''s gaze briefly faltered, momentarily distracted from her inner conflict.


    "Quinn, there''s no turning back; it''s already done. Do you understand?" His voice softened, hovering near Quinn''s neck, almost as if he were speaking to both Quinn and himself.


    "It''s time to put an end to all this chaos."


    His warm breath tickled Quinn''s ear, his voice barely audible by the end.


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    His words brought tears down Quinn''s cheeks. She couldn''t ept it. How could she...


    Just the day before, he had been talking with her joyfully, his eyes filled with affection. But after a night, he acted like a different person who didn''t care about her at all. In an instant, they had be strangers, with him pulling further away. He left her behind, drifting further away. The divide between them was too vast; she couldn''t bridge it.


    Facing the truth, she found herself standing on the edge, looking towards the unfamiliar version of him on the other side. He had chosen not toe back and had prohibited her from trying to find him.


    What was she to do? She was left with no options.


    Tears streamed down Quinn''s cheeks as she looked at the man''s face. Raising her hand, she gestured slowly, silently questioning why he wouldn''te back.


    Alexander looked at her with aplex expression, gently brushing away the tears on her face.


    Softly, he murmured, "There''s no way back, understand?"


    Quinn''s tears and sobs became even more uncontroble. She gestured, asking. "Then what should I do?"


    His voice turned gruff, tinged with resignation, "Well, why don''t you tell me? What should we do?"


    Quinn took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in her throat, feeling a heavy weight on her chest.


    Gazing into the man''s dark eyes for a long moment, she eventually gestured, saying, "Let''s say goodbye. You move forward, I''ll go back. "Back to where?"


    Quinn didn''t answer him. She gazed at him intensely, her fingers delicately tracing his features.


    Where?


    She was going to look for "him", of course. Since he wouldn''t return, she would go for him, wherever he was.

 Chapter 503

    Alexander remained silent, his gaze fixed upon Quinn. Locked in a gaze, an unspoken feeling of distance remained between them. Quinn lowered her gaze to avoid his eyes.


    Alexander wrapped his arms around her, exhaling softly and gently stroking her hair. "It''s time to sleep," he murmured calmly, as if nothing had happened.


    Quinny in his arms, listening to the steady beat of his heart, but sleep eluded her. Neither of them managed to get any sleep that night.


    At dawn, Alexander got out of bed. As he prepared to leave, Quinn opened her eyes and watched him walk to the dressing room. He came back in a ck sweater instead of his usual suit. His whole outfit was in ck, giving off an air of aloofness.


    Ignoring Quinn in the bed, Alexander grabbed his coat and left without a word. After he had gone, Quinn got up from the bed and looked out the window.


    it hadn''t snowed for days. The sky was clear. The snow had melted, leaving only scattered ice remnants that spoiled the post-snow world.


    Alexander skipped breakfast and went straight to the office. He had a board meeting in the morning and a visit to the Xavier family in the afternoon, making sure that today would be anything but calm.


    Quinn''s injury was nearly healed, so she made her way downstairs to the living room, where Miller immediately encouraged her to eat.


    Sitting at the dining table, Quinn took a few bites absentmindedly, her appetite dwindling. Sensing her boredom, Miller turned on the television for her to watch cartoons.


    As Quinn sat down on the sofa, her phone rang unexpectedly. When she saw that the caller ID disyed Wayne''s name, she furrowed her brow. Her first thought was that Wayne had dialed the wrong number.


    During her time at The Kennedys, Wayne usually treated her like air. He almost never spoke to her. And when he did, it was most often about Alexander. Wayne rarely called Quinn.


    Although skeptical, Quinn answered Wayne''s call. "Quinn, where are you right now?" Wayne inquired. Perhaps realizing Quinn wouldn''t speak falsehoods, he quickly added, "Come to Kennedy Residence. I''ll send someone to pick you up." The call ended abruptly. Wayne had just informed Quinn of the n rather than seeking her opinion. Wayne rarely initiated contact with Quinn, so his proactive approach likely hinted at an imminent issue.


    After the call ended, Quinn gestured to Miller, indicating that her father had called her to the Kennedy Residence. Hesitant, Miller replied, "But Alexander doesn''t allow you to leave."


    At that moment, a thought struck Miller, prompting him to suggest, "Or perhaps I should give Alexander a call?" Before he could act, there was a knock at the door. A middle-aged man, recognizable as a member of Wayne''s entourage at Kennedy Residence, stood outside asking. "Is Quinn home?


    The man approached Quinn and said, "Quinn, your father wants you toe home. Pleasee with me." Quinn looked back at Miller, who hesitated before saying, "I should inform Alexander." The man quickly stepped forward and stood in front of Quinn, stating, "It''s your father''s order? Can''t he make such a request?"Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Miller was in a dilemma. Thus, Quinn got up from her seat and reluctantly followed the man to Kennedy Residence.

 Chapter 504

    Quinn got into the vehicle upon reaching the courtyard. The man quickly drove off with Quinn. As she looked out at the barren scenery, the patches of lingering snow on street corners gave off a cold atmosphere. She adjusted her down jacket and looked away. Without dy, the man drove Quinn to Kennedy Residence and parked the car just outside the living room. "Quinn, please get out," he instructed. Quinn nodded, exited the vehicle, and looked around the vi, taking note of the changes. A tree that used to be there had been reced by a flower bed and the colorful blooms along the path had been reced by evergreen nts. As she followed the man, Quinn carefully examined the changes in Kennedy Residence, scrutinizing every detail.


    When she entered the living room, only Kaitlyn was there. She looked tired as shey on the sofa covered in a nket, with a servant massaging her. As footsteps approached, Kaitlyn opened her eyes and gave Quinn a disdainful look. As Quinn tried to greet Kaitlyn, she noticed that Kaitlyn''s attention was elsewhere, with her eyes even closing in dismissal. This left Quinn feeling awkward, standing amidst mocking gazes from those around her. Turning to Quinn, a man said, "Quinn, please go upstairs. Wayne is waiting for you in the study." Quinn briefly nced before following the man upstairs. Pushing open the study door, Quinn saw Wayne sitting on the couch, holding a birdcage and entertaining the parrot inside.


    Pausing briefly, Quinn walked towards Wayne. Wayne didn''t stop feeding the parrot. Quinn, whose legs seemed to weaken, hesitated to sit until Wayne said, "Take a seat."


    Seated across from Wayne, Quinn ced her hands on herp and sat up straight. Wayne''s gaze moved over her face before he chuckled softly. "Rx, Quinn. I didn''t call you here to scold you, but to have a conversation," he said with unusual warmth in his smile. Quinn couldn''t help but feel tense, forcing a strained smile in return.


    "While idly interreacting with the bird, Wayne casually asked, "Quinn, how long have you been with us?" Caught off guard, Quinn hesitated, unsure of how to respond. ording to Soren, it had been nearly two decades. But there was only one decade in her memory.


    It was a decade of joy and happiness, a time of youthful exuberance and budding affection. Despite this, the prevailing sentiment suggested that those blissful days were long gone. Wayne, noticing her silence, continued, "I heard about your divorce from Alexander. Do you still live together?"Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn clenched her fingers, her heart unexpectedly racing. Of all the people who called Quinn, no one had mentioned her divorce from Alexander. Questions swirled in her mind. She realized she and Alexander had not only been married but also divorced.


    Wayne continued, "Even though you divorced, you grew up within the Kennedys. So for the Kennedy family, you are like a daughter." Quinn''s pupils widened slightly, her gaze fixed on Wayne in confusion. She could anticipate the ominous tone of his impending words.

 Chapter 505

    Wayne didn''t want to exin. Instead, he asked, "Would you like to move back?" Quinn looked at Wayne and found he was serious.


    Quinn didn''t know what to say. She remembered Alexander''s distant expression and the cold, unfamiliar atmosphere of the vi, causing her to tighten her grip involuntarily.


    Wayne continued, "The Kennedys have raised you up without asking anything in return. But now, you have a chance to repay the Kennedys." Quinn held her breath and waited for Wayne to finish. "I''ve found a new husband for you. Would you like to meet him soon?"


    Quinn''s face paled as she grasped Wayne''s true intention. He wanted to marry her to someone else. She wanted to refuse, but it was hard to say no to Wayne''s friendly smile.


    Although Wayne was smiling, he looked like an authority. Quinn felt that his words were an order. He wasn''t really asking for her opinion. So she lowered her head and gripped her sleeve tightly.


    "You and Alexander have divorced. People may judge if you still live together," Wayne reasoned. "When a rtionship ends, there is no benefit in keeping the connection. Both of you should move on and find a new partner. Don''t you think SO?"


    Wayne always wanted to maximize benefits, even when it was about marriage. He wanted to arrange a new marriage for Quinn and Alexander so as to form new alliances.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Raising her head, Quinn gestured in protest, "But we are both divorced."


    "That doesn''t matter. Nowadays, divorces aremon. Few people have only one partner in their lives. Besides, love is not the most important thing in a marriage. It''s interest that matters."


    Quinn was left speechless. She lowered her head in silence, choosing not to respond to Wayne''s statements. Unterally, Wayne announced, "Alright then, it''s a deal. From now on, you will be living here.".


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    He then gestured for her to leave. Quinn hesitated, considering a response, but Wayne was focused on the parrot and showed no interest in continuing the conversation. Defeated, Quinn stood up and exited the room.


    She made her way down the stairs, preparing to leave. At the door, a security guard stopped her. "Quinn, Wayne said you are not allowed to leave," the guard informed her.


    They wouldn''t let her leave until she was married again.


    Meanwhile, on the other end, after a meeting, Alexander received a call from Miller, who told him that Quinn returned to the Kennedy''s house.


    After a moment of silence, Alexander asked, "When did she leave?"


    "This morning. I called you but you were busy."


    Alexander remained silent, his expression unreadable.


    "I understand," after saying that, he hung up.


    At that moment, Landon came out of the meeting room and stool beside Alexander. He nced at him briefly before asking, "Alexander, there is nothing urgent on your agenda now. Do you have any ns?" Alexander nced at Landon from the side. His mysterious demeanor indicated that he had gotten a n.


    Adjusting his gold-rimmed sses, Landon thought, ''Alexander''s ns often catch us off guard.''

 Chapter 506

    Landon paused, looking puzzled. "What were you trying to say? I couldn''t quite catch it," he expressed.


    Alexander briefly nced at his confused colleague, a smirk appearing at the corners of his mouth. Without saying another word, he left the meeting room, leaving Landon on the spot, frowning. Alexander headed directly to the parking lot. He was going to visit the Xavier family.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    "Alexander, Wayne called you twice. He wants you to go home."


    "Drive."


    Kyle trembled slightly and chose to shut up. He wondered whether Alexander would sign the contract with the Xavier family today.


    Meanwhile, Wayne was mad at Alexander for not answering his calls. He called him again.


    This time, Alexander answered, "Is the meeting over?"


    "What''s up?"


    "Nothing too serious. This morning, I had a conversation with Quinn. Even though you two are divorced, she is still your sister. She is getting married now, don''t you want to witness it?" said Wayne. Wayne''s intention was clear to Alexander. It was a veiled threat. He wanted Alexander to cancel the meeting with the Xavier family and return home. Or Quinn would be getting married that very day. Alexander chuckled, "You guys are quick. But what difference can I make? Do you want me to go home and offer my best wishes to them?"


    Wayne, feeling a bit irritated, held back his emotions. "Don''t you think you should at least return and meet her new husband?"


    "As her ex-husband or brother?"


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    "That doesn''t matter. So, are youing back or not?"


    Alexander replied casually, "I am busy at the moment. If she is getting married today, so be it. My return won''t make a change anyway, will it?"


    This response momentarily left Wayne speechless. What could he say now? Should he tell Alexander that if he came back, the marriage could be canceled?


    Wayne wasn''t genuinely nning to make Quinn marry someone. He just wanted to stop Alexander from making the deal with the Xavier family.


    But Alexander was right. If he returned and stopped the wedding that day, Wayne would stop him with the same trick the next time he was about to visit the Xavier family. Unless Alexander rejected the Xavier family, Quinn could always be arranged to marry someone else.


    Wayne was forcing Alexander to choose between the Xavier family and Quinn.


    "Very well, go on."


    Knowing Alexander''s stance, Wayne saw no need to continue the conversation. He doubted that Alexander would actually ignore Quinn''s predicament. Throwing his phone aside, Wayne''s gaze turned to Quinn, a hint of resentment tainting his smile. "Did you hear that?"


    Quinn pursed her lips. Although she hadn''t overheard the conversation, she could assume what happened.


    Alexander had known that Wayne wanted to arrange a marriage for Quinn, but he had no intention to stop it.


    She shouldn''t be surprised though, he was now distant and cold. He hadn''t been the person who loved her and cared for her since a long time ago. Wayne rubbed his forehead in annoyance. Right then, the butler entered and told them that Quinn''s date had arrived.

 Chapter 507

    Wayne asked him to lead the guest in.


    Quinn looked over. When she saw the guy, she was shocked. It was Orion! Orion was thrilled when he saw Quinn, feeling relieved that he hade.


    He came on behalf of his friend, who refused toe upon hearing that the girl was mut and had married once. This description reminded him of Quinn.


    To confirm, he inquired about the name of thedy from his friend, who only knew that she was a Kennedy.


    Orion was sure it was Quinn. So he offered to go on the date instead of his friend.


    "Mr. Kennedy. I am Orion, my dad is William. I guess you remember him. Right?"


    Wayne paused for a moment, trying to recall the name from his memory but without sess. He simply wanted to put pressure on Alexander with the deadline. Since Alexander showed no interest in getting involved, it no longer mattered who Quinn was going to marry.


    After studying Orion for a moment, Wayne nodded and asked, "I''ve heard about you. Why didn''t your fathere with you?"


    Orion hesitated briefly before responding with a wry smile, "He''s away on a business trip. My mom isn''t home either. But I can make decisions for myself."


    Wayne remembered that Orion''s family was engaged entertainment industry, with little or no business ties to the Kennedy family.


    This arrangement suited Wayne perfectly. He feared that they might leverage the Kennedys, allowing Alexander an opportunity to evade the situation.


    Wayne observed Orion and was content with him. He stood up and gestured for Orion to take a seat.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


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    Orion looked towards Quinn and confidently sat down next to her, stealing a shy nce in her direction. Quinn pursed her lips, and lowered her head, staring at her feet.


    She couldn''t believe that Orion was her date.


    Wayne inquired, "Orion, you look young. How old are you?"


    Orion responded, "I may look young, but I''m already 25. I apologize for the rush today; I forgot to change my clothes."


    He dressed like a university student. He''d look more mature in a suit for sure. Orion was afraid that he had left a poor impression on Wayne and he would refuse to let Quinn be his wife. Wayne asked, "Do you know the situation of our family?"


    Orion nced at the girl beside him and nodded.


    Surprised, Wayne questioned, "You do?"


    Wayne didn''t understand why Orian still came here if he knew what was going on.


    Was he stupid?


    Regardless, Wayne maintained a benevolent smile. "Since you know it, I guess I don''t need to speak more. Can you make the decision about your marriage, Orion?"


    Orion, feeling somewhat anxious, responded, "Yes, but it depends on you, sir."


    While he could decide who to marry, he needed his parent''s permission to use his asset. If Wayne demanded a hefty bride price, he would need Oliver''s help. Surrendering to his father was not an option.

 Chapter 508

    Wayne''s gaze shifted over Orion''s face; having lived for many years, he had a keen eye. It was clear to him that Orion truly wanted to marry Quinn.


    "I have no specific demands. But we need to ask for Quinn''s opinion. I am old, I just want Quinn to marry the right man. She grew up in our family and I see her as my daughter." Wayne said seamlessly. He sounded like he was genuinely concerned for Quinn.


    Only he knew that Quinn''s marriage was simply a tactic to upset Alexander, as his previous threats had proven ineffective. If intimidation did not work, then repulsion would have to do.


    Upon hearing this, Orion felt a twinge of excitement. He nced at Quinn and whispered softly, "Quinn, do you have anything to say?


    Quinn raised her head to meet Orion''s hopeful but subdued look. She pressed her lips together, uncertain of what to say. Separated from Alexander, she could no longer stay at the Kennedy''s house. It felt like there was no ce left for her. She felt unwanted.


    She had no choice but to go along with Wayne''s ns, feelingpletely powerless. She couldn''t even leave the Kennedy family without permission. The only silver lining was that the person she was going to marry was Orion.


    As everyone awaited her response, Quinn stayed silent, withholding her thoughts. She felt like a puppet, controlled by Alexander during her time at Regal Riverside and now by Wayne at the Kennedy''s house.


    At that moment, Kaitlyn was standing on the sidelines, listening to the conversation. Her mind filled with suspicion. What was Wayne doing? Was he trying to gang up with her?


    Unexpectedly, Alexander, who was strongly opposed to such things, was not there.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


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    Kaitlyn found it even harder to understand her son. Didn''t he care about Quinn anymore? Was his previous defiance simply a way of rebelling against her?


    The maid beside herforted her, "This is good news. Once the mute is gone, Alexander won''t argue with you because of her anymore."


    Kaitlyn smiled. She hoped so.


    After a moment of silence, Wayne said, "Since neither of you have any objections. This matter is settled. Orion, do you have any other nster on? If not, you guys can go to the city hall to register for your marriage." Orion froze on the spot, staring at Wayne in disbelief, thinking he had misheard, "Sir... What did you say?"


    Wayne remained amiable. "I said you should go register soon. Or are there any problems, Orion?"


    Orion didn''t expect that he could marry Quinn so soon. He stammered, "Isn''t this too hasty? I haven''t prepared anything."


    "Don''t worry. You can register first. We''ll get everything readyter on. I can''t wait to see Quinn settled down. What do you think?" Wayne suggested.


    Orion hesitated, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement at the idea of marrying Quinn. "I... I have no objections. It all depends on Quinn."

 Chapter 509

    Throughout the process, Quinn remained silent, as if she wasn''t there. She quietly seated as the two men discussed her marriage.


    She couldn''t understand why Wayne had suddenly be so concerned about her marriage. Surely it wasn''t just for her benefit. He must have other motives.


    Orion gently nudged Quinn''s arm, noticing her dejected expression. After a moment of silence, he turned to Wayne and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, may I speak with her in private? "Certainly, you never came here before, right? Quinn, why don''t you show him around?" Wayne suggested.


    Quinn stood up, casting a sideways nce at Orion before leading the way outside. Orion followed closely behind, fixating on Quinn''s slender figure, feeling a sense of unexined heaviness. He figured that Quinn probably did not want to marry him.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    In the backyard, Quinn walked with her head bowed, making her way to a group of dried-up nts.


    Among the destendscape, only the pond held onto a touch of color, with a few water lilies decorating its surface, which was the only vibrant presence in the whole area.


    Quinn stood by the pond, looking at the floating water lilies, her gaze appearing distant.


    Standing beside her, Orion looked at her pale profile, unable to find the right words. After a moment, Quinn turned to face Orion, staring deeply into his youthful face, and asked sincerely with gesture, "Do you really want to marry me?" Orion, captivated by her pointed fingers, felt at a loss for words. Unsure of his own feelings, he found himself not opposed to the idea of marrying her, solely because it was her.


    "Do you wish to marry me?" Orion inquired.


    Quinn lowered her gaze, a long silence filling the room before she conveyed her thoughts through gestures, "My opinion doesn''t matter. If I don''t marry you, I''ll have to marry someone else. Alexander''s actions showed that I had no control over the situation. I must do what Wayne chooses."


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    Frowning, Orion took her hand and looked deeply into her eyes. "Quinn, if you don''t want to marry me, I can talk to Wayne and resolve everything.


    His touch was warm, like sunlight, providing aforting warmth. Quinn gazed at his face, her expression momentarily lost in thought.


    Shortly after, Quinn pulled her hand back and shook her head. "He just wants me to get married. It doesn''t really matter who the person is or if I want the marriage," she remarked.


    Orion furrowed his brow even more. "Why? He said he wanted to find the right person for you. I am sure he is not in a rush."


    Quinn tugged at the corner of her lips, taken aback by Orion''s naivety and his trust in Wayne. She bitterly smiled, which conveyed a message to Orion.


    Hesitantly, he asked, "Is it because of Alexander?"


    Quinn remained silent.


    Orion had a sudden realization. Wayne wanted her to get married not because he cared about her but to cut off her connection with Alexander so that Alexander could find a suitable new wife. For Orion, who was unfamiliar with theplexities of family politics, this was the only conclusion he coulde to.


    Yet, another thought struck him. "Do you... like Alexander?"


    Surprised, Quinn''s fingers instinctively tightened together. Her feelings for Alexander appeared to be a hidden secret among all, but as she pictured his unfamiliar face in her mind, confusion began to cloud her thoughts. Did she... really have feelings for him?


    Orion asked then. "And does he like you in return?"


    That was a sharp question. Quinn also wanted to know. Did he like her?

 Chapter 510

    Through the short exchange, Orion understood. "If he truly loves you, he wouldn''t be absent when you''re on the verge of marriage."


    He was right. Alexander''s absence had exined one thing. He didn''t care about Quinn anymore.


    Raising her head, Quinn stared directly at Orion and asked, "Orion, I see you as a friend. Are you sure you want to marry me?"


    In this instant, Quinn revealed her self-centered side, expressing her apprehension about marrying a stranger and fearing the uncertainty of another marriage. While Orion may be the logical choice, she didn''t want to deceive him. Orion stood motionless for what seemed like an eternity. The wind gently brushed against them both, causing Quinn''s nose and cheeks to flush, tinting Orion''s cheeks crimson as well. They stood facing each other, their breath mingling in the air for a brief moment before being carried away by the wind.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Despite being close, no spark of romance ignited between them. Quinn''sposed and straightforward gaze inexplicably unsettled Orion. Perhaps some are easily dismissed, and the more unattainable they seem, the more desirable they be.


    Orion''s gaze sharpened with determination as he looked at her.


    He spoke, "If you agree, I agree too. No matter what you see me as, a friend or something more, I don''t want to see you mistreated by people you don''t know. I may not be able to offer much, but I promise I''ll try my best to make you happy." Then he continued, "Take it as a favor from a friend. If someday you wish to divorce, I won''t stop you."


    A glint in Quinn''s eyes betrayed a sudden wave of bittersweet emotion. To her, she and Orion were hardly acquainted, making his actions seem undeserved. She felt unworthy of his kindness. Turning away, she gestured, "Please don''t be so nice to me. It makes me feel guilty."


    Orion held her shoulders, earnestly saying, "Quinn, please don''t stress yourself. Take it as a favor from a friend. Also, my parents are also bothering me with marriage. If we are married, they won''t bother us with this issue anymore. It''s good for both of us, don''t you think?"


    Quinn gazed at him in silence, momentarily unsure of how to react. His expression appeared sincere. He truly wanted to help both her and himself.


    Anxious yet reflective, Orion felt a twinge of sadness. All he wanted was to take care of her. But he was in no position to do so. Now, he had to lie to her, pretending that he was just doing her a favor. He also felt guilty. For a brief moment, he felt jealous of Alexander.


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    Alexander effortlessly got Quinn''s love, which Orion would kill to obtain, yet he wasted it.


    "Quinn, do you agree?


    Faced with his question, tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes. In the honesty of his gaze, Quinn found herself unable to decline. She had no reason to do so. She closed her eyes and nodded gently. Orion''s happiness was beyond words. He quickly wrapped Quinn in his arms.


    Meanwhile, at the Xavier family, Alexander was reading the contract, his eyes fixed on a specific page for a long time.


    Xavier, growing impatient, tapped the tabletop, reminding him, "Alexander, any problems with the contract?"

 Chapter 511

    Alexander snapped back to reality, realizing that all eyes were on him. Despite the scrutiny, he calmly returned to reviewing the contract.


    Walter looked at him with a meaningful expression, a subtle smile appearing on his lips. Only Kyle grasped the reason behind his preupation, which stemmed from Quinn''s uing marriage.


    Wayne''s n was clever; if Alexander were to leave because of Quinn, it would not only stop the wedding but also ce him under Wayne''s control.


    If Alexander had given up the deal with the Xavier family for Quinn, everyone would know that Quinn was irreceable in his heart. In other words, Quinn was her weakness.


    Meanwhile, Quinn and Orion had made their way back to the living room. Besides Wayne, Kaitlyn and Harold greeted them with warm smiles.


    Kaitlyn asked, "Orion, what do you think of Quinn?" Feeling embarrassed by the question, Orion looked at Quinn next to him and mustered a strained smile, "She''s very nice.


    Kaitlyn''s radiant smile was contagious. Holding Harold close, shemented, "That''s fantastic news. My husband and I were concerned that she would choose the wrong person. But now you are here, Quinn is lucky. It seems like fate has smiled upon her. We are d. You guys aren''t teens anymore, once you are married, you should have a baby soon. Look at this kid, how adorable it is."


    As Orion looked towards the baby in Kaitlyn''s arms, an image involuntarily shed in his mind. How would Quinn and his child look like? Could they be even more adorable than this child? The thought of Quinn holding a child made him feel at home.


    Orion had always found children noisy, but the thought of marrying Quinn made him excited. Noticing his fondness for the child, Kaitlyn invited Orion over, saying, "Come and take a look."


    Orion hesitated but eventually gave in to curiosity. As he approached, the baby smiled brightly at him.


    Two tiny teeth were revealed when the baby smiled. His chubby cheeks looked utterly endearing. Orion couldn''t resist the cuteness.


    "Would you like to hold him?" Kaitlyn offered.


    Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Orion admitted, "I''ve never held a child before. I''m a bit nervous..."


    Kaitlyn gave him a peculiar look, chuckling, "What will you do when you and Quinn have children? You should get ready before you be a father, or you''ll be at a loss."


    Kaitlyn''s frequent use of the word "father" brought a smile to Orion''s face. He started to imagine his future child. He carefully held the baby, gently cradling him. Kaitlyn was delighted to see that.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


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    "Come on, it''s not that hard. What will you do when you be a father?" she teased.


    Feeling embarrassed, Orion awkwardly chuckled, his eyes locked on the child''s angelic face, overwhelmed with a deep sense of warmth.


    Wayne cleared his throat, shifting the conversation back to the current issue.


    Kaitlyn got it and immediately proposed, "Let''s get back to the current thing we need to handle. The city hall is closing soon. Give me the child now. You guys should go register. Orion, do you have all the required documents? Returning the child to Kaitlyn, Orion nodded eagerly, "I have them with me."

 Chapter 512

    After his fallout with William, he never returned, so he had his ID documents with him at all times.


    "Alright, go get married then," Kaitlyn said, smiling warmly and signaling for the driver to give them a ride.


    Orion waved his hand, saying, "No need, I''ll drive."


    "It''s alright, let the driver take you there," Wayne interjected, insisting that the driver go along with them and oversee their marriage registration.


    Orion didn''t reject again. She walked to Quinn and held her hand.


    Quinn didn''t pull away, but Orion could feel the sweat in her palm.


    He was not sure if she was nervous or scared.


    Orion was feeling nervous and overwhelmed. He came for a date but ended up married.


    It all felt so unreal. Even if he was holding Quinn''s hands, he still couldn''t believe it.


    Wayne asked the driver to send them to the city hall. Quinn and Orion sat in the back seat, both nervous.


    Orion nced at Quinn asionally. She was undeniably beautiful and elegant, which made him feel like he wasmitting a crime.


    Orion didn''t know much about Quinn. They had only met a few times, and his understanding of Quinn was only on the surface. But he''d never been able to forget her eyes after they first met.


    He was curious about her. And his curiosity gradually evolved into love.


    Orion wasn''t quite certain about his feelings for Quinn. After all, he had never been in a rtionship before.


    Arriving at the city call, the driver turned to Orion, saying, "Orion, Quinn, here we are."


    Orion hesitated and looked at Quinn, "Did you bring your documents?"


    Quinn nodded. Naturally, Wayne had someone prepare her materials before Orion arrived.


    "Shall we go in?" Orion''s voice quivered with a mix of excitement and nervousness, afraid that Quinn would change her mind.


    Quinn opened the car door and got out without saying anything.


    She had no other choice. Wayne had repeatedly imed that he took her as a daughter and cared about her happiness.


    What else could she say?


    The Kennedy''s house was no longer a ce for her to stay. And the person she loved refused toe home.


    She was left with no choice.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    She and Orion walked into the building. It was getting darker outside and a strong wind was blowing, lifting the dust and leaves off the ground. It was going to rain again.


    The contract was ced heavily on the table, and everyone looked at Alexander.


    Alexander suddenly stood up, his face terrifyingly gloomy, just like the sky outside.


    Xavier frowned and looked at him, "Alexander, what''s going on?"


    Alexander pursed his lips, his gaze fixed on the document, remaining silent for several seconds.


    Xavier asked again, "Are you going to sign the contract?"


    Alexander didn''t answer. After a moment of silence, he suddenly grabbed his coat from the chair and walked out.


    When people present regained theirposure, the door of the meeting room had been shut. Alexander had left.

 Chapter 513

    Xavier had signed his name on the contract, but Alexander didn''t.


    Everyone in the meeting room looked at Walter.


    Xavier asked, "Walter, what does he mean?"


    Walter, still smiling, casually flipped through the contract on the table. "Perhaps he needs more time to think about it. I guess he''ll talk to thewyer."


    Frowning, Xavier was up to say something. Yet Walter had already instructed Kyle to leave.


    After leaving, Alexander sat in his car, looking at the messages Wayne had sent him. All of them were about Quinn''s uing marriage and the marriage application, which was a seemingly thoughtful gesture towards Quinn, but with hints of provocation.


    Throwing aside his phone, Alexander started the car and ran several red lights.


    He drove so fast that several times, he was about to hit on someone else, but he avoided them.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    The fancy ck car weaved through the congested streets, causing amotion as it passed by. Pedestrians caught only a fleeting glimpse of the car before it vanished from view once more. "Did you see something hurtle by?"


    "A car. The driver must be crazy."


    The speed of the car drew the attention of the pursuing police officers. The driver, confident in his abilities, showcased them in the city center, startling pedestrians who were practically in his path.


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    There were numerous vehicles on the road, and running red lights inevitably led to idents.


    With a tight grip on the wheel, Alexander focused intently on the road ahead, stepping hard on the elerator.


    At an intersection, he ran the red light again. Yet this time, he had a collision with a red car that was driving slowly.


    Alexander immediately slowed down and mmed on the brakes, but the car''s momentum was too strong. It veered towards the greenery, crashing into the lush area with a loud thud. Meanwhile, Quinn and Orion walked out of the city hall, each holding their marriage documents. The driver didn''t ask them any questions since it was obvious that they had gotten married. Looking at the marriage certificate in her hands, then at Orion standing beside her, Quinn couldn''t quite believe that this man was now her husband.


    Orion looked bewildered as he looked at their wedding photo as if checking if it was real. Then he looked at Quinn and quipped, "Could you hit me? I just want to know if I am dreaming." Confused, Quinn furrowed her brow and looked at him inquisitively. Orion, feeling a bit embarrassed, went on, "It feels like dream. Can you pinch me?"


    Quinn pursed her lips, feeling empty. The fact that she was married didn''t bring her any joy.


    It was just one of the days. She had a meal, took a walk, and then got married. She was unreasonably calm.


    Orion reached to Quinn''s hand gently and whispered to her, "Quinn, although our marriage may have been rushed, please know that you are now my wife and I will take care of you in the days toe."

 Chapter 514

    Quinn gazed at him. Outside, the sky was somber and it had started to rain.


    However, in Orion''s eyes, it was a bright day. He could feel the sun behind the thick cloud.


    Quinn felt bewildered. She pursed her lips but made no response. Amid the chaos, she heard a voice in her head.


    "I am your brother. I will take care of you forever."


    The sound of this voice,bined with Orion''s, stirred a painful feeling within Quinn.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Orion didn''t notice it. He nced at the pouring rain outside.


    His car was at the Kennedy''s. So he decided to call Sebastian to pick him up.


    He led Quinn to the lobby and sat down, his gaze fixed on her.


    The way he looked at Quinn made her uneasy. So she looked outside. Clutching the marriage documents, she felt a sense of destion as though she had lost something important.


    The cold weather seemed to prate Quinn''s being. even her breath felt icy, the chill creeping down her throat and settling in her chest, evoking a faint ache. She raised her hand, pressing it against her chest, feeling sick. Meanwhile, Orion was talking about his ns. He had no house yet. His band ount was frozen by his father out of anger. He had been staying in a welfare home.


    Although he sincerely wished to give Quinn a wedding, his parents were unlikely to approve it. Quinn... truth be told, besides being the foster daughter of the Kennedys, she had little else to offer.


    When he heard that Wayne arranged a blind date for her, he knew that Wayne would choose someone useful for him. He wouldn''t really care about Quinn''s well-being.


    Quinn was mute and she had a failed marriage. No wealthy families in Amber Bay would ept her because she''d bring ridicule to the family. Orion''s parents, therefore, wouldn''t ept her either.


    Orion worried that Quinn would be mistreatment by his family. After a moment of contemtion, he made up his mind and Quinn, cautiously said, "Quinn, there is something I need to tell you. I hope you won''t be upset." Quinn turned to him, her fingers tensing gradually.


    Orion gritted his teeth. "I lied to Wayne earlier today. My parents weren''t on a business trip. They''re at home and they don''t know about our marriage."


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    Quinn''sshes quivered, anticipating his next words, her fingers gripping.


    "And, my father froze my bank ount. I have little money now and I dare not take you to meet them..."


    Quinn remained expressionless.


    Orion heaved a slight sigh of relief, "I am afraid I can''t provide the life you desire. But I still want to ask, would you like to leave Amber Bay and move to another city with me? Don''t worry, I won''t let you go hungry. While life may not be as luxurious as it was in Amber Bay, I will take care of you as well as I could."


    After saying that, Orion fixed his gaze on her, waiting for her response. If she declined, they could get a divorce right away.


    Orion knew this might inconvenience her and even appear unfair, but he saw no other solution.


    With caution, Orion asked once again, "Is it okay for you?"

 Chapter 515

    He was sincere and a bit guilty. Marriage was an important event in life.


    But he got married behind his parents and asked Quinn to elope with him. That was the craziest thing he had ever done in his life.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn felt unease, her breathing somewhat heavier. Her eyes turned warm. Yet, she didn''t care much about such matters.


    She just wanted a home. Previously, Alexander was her home. She genuinely thought that Alexander would protect her forever. However, it all turned out to be fake.


    She woke up only to find that she and Alexander had not only married but also divorced. She was still with him but he had turned into a stranger and she a joke. Wayne couldn''t wait to let someone else take her away so as to make sure that his son was free to remarry.


    Everything, and everyone had changed. The world had be an unfamiliar ce. She didn''t know what to do or where to go.


    She looked at the person before her through teary eyes and nodded slightly.


    Orion was ted. He hugged Quinn tightly. "Fantastic! Where do you wish to go? We''ll leave in two days... no, tomorrow!"


    Then he continued, "I promise, once I''ve earned enough money, we will have a grand wedding, if you''re interested..."


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    Orion hadn''t forgotten that Quinn had agreed to marry him because she had no choice. Thinking of that, he looked at the marriage certificate at hand, which made him Quinn''s legal husband and felt unreal. Quinn didn''t respond. She was confused and empty. She saw no future. Therefore, nothing really mattered to her.


    Sebastian arrived soon. Orion took Quinn''s hand and said, "Quinn, let''s go. Sebastian is here." Quinn nodded and followed him out. Sebastian was standing at the entrance with an umbre in hand, joy evident on his face. "Bro, Quinn!" Sebastian eximed cheerfully, delighted that his brother had finally married his beloved woman.


    Orion yfully reprimanded him, "Hey, top yelling." Sebastian scratched his head, grinning, "I wasn''t. So you guys are married. When is the wedding? I must be your groomsman!"


    Orion''s smile dimmed when he heard the wedding. After a moment of silence, he solemnly asked Sebastian, "Not anytime soon. We''ll talk about itter. Can you keep it a secret for now?"


    Though puzzled, Sebastian agreed. "Sure. If there is no wedding, should we have a meal together?"


    "Definitely. Let''s go," Orion replied. Then he thought of Quinn and turned to her, he inquired, "Would you like to have a meal with my friends?"


    Quinn agreed. Her calmness starkly contrasted with Orion''s joy, yet he did not mind.

 Chapter 516

    "Sebastian, tell them. My treat."


    "Sure thing, bro. Quinn, hop in!" Orion took Quinn''s hand. When they were about to enter the car, they heard a big noise.


    A ck sports car sped by, sshing water all over the three of them. Annoyed, Sebastian shouted at the car, "Who the hell are you? You''ve stained our clothes!"


    The car door opened. A man stepped out, causing all three of them to shock.


    It was Alexander. However, what caught their attention was not just his identity but his disheveled appearance.


    He entered the rain without an umbre, his hair messy. There was a fresh wound on his forehead. He was bleeding. But the blood was soon washed away by the rain. There were also wounds on his hands. Blood, mixed with rain, ran down his fingertips.


    Alexander approached Quinn awkwardly, his steps unsteady.


    Alexander''s sudden presence stirred up Quinn''s emotions and caught her breath.


    Seeing himing closer, she instinctively took a step back.


    Alexander reached her, his gaze scanned her face, and then moved to her hands.


    One of her hands was gripped by Orion, the other was holding a marriage certificate, the words on it caught Alexander''s gaze.


    For some unknown reason, Quinn''s heart raced. She discreetly put away the marriage certificate.


    Orion stood out, standing before Quinn, blocking Alexander''s view. "Alexander, Quinn is now my wife. I don''t like the way you stare at her."


    Alexander''s intense gaze moved from Orion''s face to Quinn standing behind him. He ordered, "Quinn,e here." His voice, though tinged with weariness, conveyed authority that left no room for refusal.


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    Quinn stood frozen, holding the marriage application in her hand. Orion questioned, "Who are you to her? Why should she listen to you?"


    Hearing Alexander''s icymand, Orion stood firm, unperturbed. "Quinn is my wife now. You have no right to take her away. No! I disagree."


    Alexander pushed Orion aside. Orion stumbled back. Fortunately, Sebastian caught him.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Sebastian red at Alexander, "Who do you think you are?"


    Alexander ignored them. He grasped Quinn''s hand and snatched the marriage certificate from her grasp.


    Quinn resisted but to no avail


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Alexander opened the document. Rainwater from his jawline mixed with blood streaks from his forehead, leavingrge watermarks on the paper.


    Although there was not much content on the certificate, Alexander scrutinized it for two minutes.


    Orion strode over and snatched it back. "Have you seen it? Quinn is my wife!"


    "Divorce him," Alexander curtly uttered.


    Orion was stunned. Who the hell did he think he was?


    "Why would she? No!" Orion retorted.


    Alexander ignored him and looked at Quinn firmly. "Quinn, I''ll say it again. Divorce him."

 Chapter 517

    Quinn gazed at him with bewilderment. Who was he tomand her?


    Quinn clenched her fist tightly, meeting his gaze with unwavering defiance.


    Alexander suddenly smirked.


    Alexander stood beneath the eaves, blood trickling down his forehead and tracing a vivid line along his temple to his jawline.


    His smile was bloody. "Or do you prefer to be widowed?" he casually dered, as if talking about a minor issue.


    Quinn''s eyes narrowed slightly in disbelief as she looked at Alexander, feeling a sudden sense of alienation and fear creeping into her mind. For a brief moment, she felt a wave of suffocation but managed topose herself, asking with a questioning gesture, "Who are you to demand my divorce?"


    As he focused on her fingers, a moment of hesitation flickered across Alexander''s face. Clearly taken aback by her question, he stayed silent.


    Quinn went on, gesturing, "Aren''t we already divorced?"


    Quinn''s questions made Alexander speechless.


    He stood before her in silence, with no expression on his face.


    Blood was running steadily, forming a pool of red liquid at his feet.


    Silently, he grabbed Quinn''s wrist and pulled her.


    Orion instantly moved forward to stop Alexander.


    Alexander dodged when Orion wanted to grab him. He struck Orion''s jaw, forcing him to retreat.


    Quinn was startled and instinctively moved to Orion but was grabbed back by Alexander.


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    Quinn tripped and ended up sprawled on the hood of the sports car, drenched by the downpour that had tousled her hair.


    As Alexander walked toward Orion, Sebastian tried to intervene but was quickly pushed aside by Alexander''s kick,nding in a puddle and struggling to get up. Enraged, Orion clenched his fists and punched Alexander.


    Alexander intercepted the attack. He twisted Orion''s arm.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Orion winced in pain.


    Gripping his cor, Alexander loomed over him, his eyes fierce.


    "Orion, has William not taught you to stay away from what doesn''t belong to you?"


    Defiant, Orion red, trying to break free but unable to do so. "What do you mean she doesn''t belong to me? She is now my wife. Who the hell are you?"


    "You are thest person that should bother her!" Orion retorted, swinging his hand towards Alexander''s face. However, in a swift move, Alexander hurled him away. Orion staggered back until he hit the wall.


    Alexander grabbed Orion by the neck, his voice low and menacing. "I decide who she belongs to, not you. Think carefully before taking action, Orion. Think of your family. Do you think they can make up for your mistake?" Orion''s eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean?


    "Think about it. You have three minutes to cancel the marriage. I don''t want to repeat myself." Alexander dered sternly.


    Pushing him away, Orion stood his ground, his gaze cold and determined. "No! I am not going to divorce her. Do you want to punish the Orion family? Go on. I have cut all ties with them anyway."

 Chapter 518

    "Is that so?"


    Orion found himself unable to speak. The coldness in Alexandre''s eyes left him speechless.


    His conflict with William hadn''t escted to the point of turning father against son. Moreover, the Orion family wasn''t just William. It also included his mother and his brother. "You have two minutes left," Alexander reminded.


    Orion nced at Quinn, who stood in the rain, drenched and bewildered.


    She couldn''t understand why Alexander was doing so. They were already divorced, yet he refused to let her go.


    Orion said, "Quinn might not even if I agree. Instead of asking me for a divorce, why don''t you ask for her opinion?"


    Alexander replied, "Her opinion doesn''t matter."


    Orionughed. "Her opinion doesn''t matter? What does she mean to you then? Does she not even have the right to choose as a person?"


    Alexander indifferently told Orion, "That''s not your concern."


    "Why, Alexander?" Orion was puzzled. "Why do you insist on keeping Quinn by your side, even though you already have Getty? And yet, you don''t treat her well. What exactly do you want?" Alexander''s patience wore thin. "Orion, I''ve said it''s none of your business."


    More people gathered around and were curious about the situation. After all, it involved divorces and marriages.


    Many people kept their distance and whispered to each other to try to understand the situation.


    Upon closer inquiry, they discovered these two men were fighting over a woman.


    Alexander took the marriage application from his pocket and threw it at Orion. "Go in and get a divorce."


    The marriage application hit Orion''s chest and fell to the ground, getting wet.


    Quinn ran over at that moment. picking up the marriage application from the ground and staring at Alexander.


    "What do you mean?" Alexander squinted.


    Quinn put the divorce certificate in her pocket and looked at the man with an unprecedented calmness and stubbornness in her eyes. She made it clear. She had the right to choose.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Alexander''s face darkened, and he looked angry.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    He raised his hand and grabbed Quinn''s chin. "Your right to choose? I raised you, so you are mine. You don''t have that power. Do you understand?" Quinn trembled.


    Alexander''s words filled her with an indescribable sense of sorrow, anger, and despair. How could Alexander im such ownership over her? In his eyes, she was no longer a person but a possession, a pet he had raised. She could be everything but human.


    Quinn''s chest heaved with a mix of anger and sadness. With a surge of strength, she pushed Alexander away, expecting him to stand firm. To her surprise, he stumbled back, fell into the rain and crashed to the car. Quinn hesitated... Then she walked away with Orion without looking back.


    Alexander watched them leave. The rain washed the blood off his forehead. As they disappeared into the rain, he clutched his chest, coughing up blood that mixed with the rainwater. The downpour washed the blood into the drain.

 Chapter 519

    Kyle was met with an unsettling scene when he rushed over. Disregarding the need for shelter, he swung the door open and ran toward Alexander, supporting him. "Alexander, are you alright?"


    Kyle''s inquiry seemed redundant given his previous encounter with Alexander, who had narrowly missed colliding with the greenery after his car veered off course, almost shattering Kyle''s nerves. Initially considering calling for help, he was taken aback when the man staggered out of the vehicle and proceeded to abscond with his car. Upon Kyle''s second approach, he witnessed Alexander''s copse.


    "I''m fine," Alexandre said as he steadied himself against the car and tried to get up, but he stumbled, falling t on the ground.


    "Alexander!" Quinn had distanced herself from Orion, only stopping and releasing him after a considerable distance. Turning around, she raised her gaze toward Orion. Quinn, her hair unkempt and soaked through, water droplets incessantly cascading down her form, gestured, "Are you hurt?"


    Orion, momentarily fixated on her, instinctively shook his head. He quickly reassured her, "I''m fine." Apart from the punch delivered by Alexander, he was rtively unscathed. The blow seemed formidable but caused him little actual pain. Observing a bruise forming on his chin, Quinn''s expression betrayed a tinge of guilt. She had not anticipated Alexander''s violent outburst, especially since he had appeared so nonchnt on the phone with Wayne earlier.


    Sebastian arrived in his car, rolling down the window to address them, "Olien, Quinn, hop in the car!" Nodding, Orion nced at Quinn by his side and ushered her into the car.


    Sebastian transported the two back to the welfare institution, a remote location which took over an hour to reach but boasted a serene environment. Though originally intending to shield Quinn from the rain with an umbre, their soaked state rendered it unnecessary.


    "Quinn, please get off the car," said Olien as she opened the car door and gestured for her to get off. This ce, apart from his previous pet shelter, held a particr ce in his heart..


    Once Quinn disembarked, Orion guided her inside. The rainy weather had driven everyone indoors, leaving the yard deste and echoing.


    Leading Quinn into a room, Orion rummaged through the cab but found no suitable attire for her. Hastening outside, he borrowed a set from the matron, a woman who was over fifty, and her clothescked aesthetic appeal. "Quinn, please make do with these. I''ll go outter and get you something new," Orion stated as Quinn held the garments, nodding in acknowledgment.


    Conscientiously, Orion exited the room, closing the door behind him. Subtly inquiring, Sebastian asked, "Orion, are you nning to have Quinn stay here in the future?"


    The question weighed heavily on Orion''s demeanor, as Alexander''s unexpected intervention in Quinn''s life surpassed his initial expectations. Originally contemting leaving Amber Bay with Quinn, Alexander''s recent words had instilled a sense of uncertainty.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    If Alexander were to target the Orion family, Orion would bear the brunt of the consequences. Alone and vulnerable, how could he possibly contend with Alexander''s threat? It was as simple for Alexander to eliminate him as squashing an ant. "Orion?" Sebastian called his attention again.


    Snapping back to reality, Orion responded, "What is it?"


    Sebastian queried, "Shall we host tonight as nned?"


    Exhaling heavily, Orion walked to the corridor, gazing down at the yground below. "Not tonight," he replie with a hint of resignations in his tone.

 Chapter 520

    Sebastian nodded in understanding, choosing not to probe further as the day''s events had provided him with ample insight. Secretly giving Orion a thumbs-up in admiration, he marveled at his brother''s audacity-snatching another man''s wife had clearly left the victim reeling with fury.


    Emerging from her room in the newly exchanged attire, Quinn, in her long ck down jacket trailing to her heels, appeared slightly awkward in the oversized garment. Both its size and her slim figure make her head and body looked distinctly out of ce.


    "Your hair is still wet." Orion seized her hand and guided her back inside, urging her onto the bed where he proceeded to assist in blow-drying her hair.


    Quinn felt uneasy, nervously seating on the bed. The sound of the blow-dryer and the sensation of his fingersbing through her hair led her mind astray once more. Without looking up, she often mistook the figure behind her for Alexander.


    Alexander had spoken the truth, and she was raised by him. His most cherished moments included bathing her, drying and styling her hair. Long ago, he always wore a ck headband around his wrist, just as Quinn enjoyed grooming her dolls. However, her dolls had ultimately met the same fate-abandoned in a cluttered room.


    As Orion blow-dried her hair, he stole asional nces, sensing Quinn''s distress. Unsure if it stemmed from Alexander or their marriage, Orion''s guiltpounded further. The ndestine nature of their marriage application only added to his remorse, a murky affiliation that he dared not reveal to even his parents.


    The arrival of Alexander had intensified his feelings of recklessness and regret, not only for himself and his family but for Quinn as well.


    In the hospital room, Alexander had awakened, with Kyle engaging in a dialogue with the doctor.


    The doctor asserted, "Hospitalization is necessary. His injuries are severe two fractured ribs. Fortunately, he did not have any organ damage. Otherwise, his situation would have been graver."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Kyle hesitated and was well aware of Alexander''s temperament. How could he possibly be expected to rest peacefully in the hospital at a time like this?


    Sustaining such severe injuries, he still persisted in approaching relevant authorities. His recent marriage to Quinn added anotheryer of uncertainty. Perhaps it would be simpler to end it all rather than watch Alexander suffer in the hospital. "Do I need to be hospitalized? Can''t I recuperate at home?"


    The doctor furrowed, "That is an option, but the regr check-ups are crucial. Is it really worth going back and forth?


    Before Kyle could finish his sentence, he was startled by Alexander''s call from behind. "Kyle."


    Pausing, Kyle swiftly turned around to find Alexander sitting up. His pale face had no color, and fatigue was evident in every feature.


    Approaching him hurriedly, Kyle inquired, "Alexander, how are you feeling?"


    ncing at the doctor, Alexander conveyed his unspoken request. He prompted the doctor to exit the room.


    Once the door closed, Alexander pressed, "Where is Dorothy now?"


    Dorothy, Valerie''s biological mother and Wayne''s ex-wife, had caused a scene at the Kennedys when Valerie had died, but he had since disappeared.


    Recalling the individual in question, Kyle responded, "She''s still in Amber Bay. The court ruling remains pending, and she''s been tirelessly searching for people, intent on ensuring Miss Lu receives the death penalty. Alexander... why do you ask about her?"

 Chapter 521

    Leaning back, Alexander''s pale lips curved into a cold, thin smile. "Of course, it''s to offer them a grand gift." Kyle, observing the smirk on Alexander''s lips, felt a shiver run down his spine.


    He was wary of what mischievous scheme this man was concocting now. He was uncertain about the recipient of the Gift. Could it be intended for Wayne?


    Noticing something amiss, Alexander nced discreetly at the IV needle in his hand, swiftly removing it. Kyle''s eyes widened in astonishment.


    Alexander threw off the covers and attempted to rise from the bed. Kyle hurriedly steadied him. "Alexander, the doctor advised a few days of observation in the hospita. Your injuries are severe." Waving off Kyle''s assistance, Alexander grabbed his coat and coolly asked, "Will I die?"


    Taken aback, Kyle stuttered, "Die... No... you won''t die."


    Slipping into his coat, Alexander walked toward the exit. He replied nonchntly, "As long as I won''t die."


    Kyle pursed his lips and was uncertain of what to say next. Alexander clearly disregarded his own well-being. If Alexander insisted on leaving the hospital, what could Kyle possibly do but resign himself to follow along?


    Upon reaching the parking lot and boarding the car, Kyle hesitated to start the engine. He turned to Alexander and said, "Alexander, the car ident today has generated significant attention. It''s likely that Wayne and his associates are already aware."


    Seated in the back, Alexander reclined with eyes closed. He nonchntly responded, "Alright."


    Kyle inquired further, "Where are we heading now?"


    "To the Orion family."


    Kyle was taken aback and wondered if Alexandre nned to confront them directly.


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    As he drove, Kyle internallymented Wayne''s stubbornness over the phone, his regret in onlypleting half the contract, rushing to the scene of an ident resulting in a missed opportunity to finalize the agreement and losing Quinn in the process.


    What was this all for?


    At nearly 8 p.m., the lights of the Orion Vi shone brightly, indicating that the family was still at dinner. Upon hearing the report from the butler, William''s heart skipped a beat. "How did hee here?" questioned Orion''s mother, furrowing.


    Shaking his head, the butler replied, "Not entirely sure, but he is currently outside. Shall I invite him in?"


    Setting down his utensils, William''s voice turned grave, "Do you even need to ask? What are you standing there for? Hurry and bring him in!"


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    William''s immediate concern was that his son had caused trouble yet again, With Alexander''s unexpected visit, it was certainly no trivial matter. With that in mind, William decided to go out and greet him in person Following the butler outside the Vi, Alexander had disembarked from the car. Upon seeing Alexander, William was momentarily stunned. Rain was falling at that moment.


    Kyle stood beside Alexander with an umbre while Alexander, donning a ck overcoat buttoned neatly, still revealed the hospital clothes beneath. The attire perplexed William. Had he juste from the hospital? Alexander had approached before he couldprehend. William quickly put on a weing smile and greeted him, "Alexander, what brings you here? You didn''t notify us beforehand. We weren''t prepared for your visit." Casting a nce at him, Alexander replied, "I''vee to present a gift to you."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Perplexed, William stared at him, "A gift?"


    A sense of foreboding crept over William, straining even his smile. ''What has prompted Alexander to suddenly present me with a gift? And why has he personallye to deliver it? How fortunate I am!'' thought William.

 Chapter 522

    "William, you embody prowess not just fortune. When your son undertakes the significant milestone of matrimony, the act of presenting a gift bes imperative."


    A flicker danced in William''s eye. "Marriage proposal? Are you insinuating...?"


    "Has Orion not informed you?"


    William''s legs faltered slightly as he swallowed a lump in his throat. "He''s proposing marriage? Alexander, please spare me such jests. In my advanced years, I cannot bear such merriment.


    "My disobedient son. I coerced him to consider marriage, yet he refused. How could he suddenly be proposing now?"Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    With no further ado, Alexander walked off toward the Vi, indifferent to William''s queries. "William, if you doubts it, you should summon him back for verification. Once the gift is delivered, there can be no retraction." William''s countenance soured deeply, silently cursing Orion for leading to Alexander''s unwee visit. If the person in question were inconsequential, would Alexander bother to deliver a gift?


    Unavoidably, William''s thoughts drifted back to the girl he had glimpsed at the base. Could it be... her?


    Not daring to dy, William promptly dialed Orion, only to realize his number had been barred.


    William instantaneously incensed, and a ze of fury coursed through him.. He extended his hand toward the butler beside him. "Hand me your phone."


    Orion was dining with Quinn at the time of the call. They were in the cafeteria where the orphanage provided a self-service dining area. The trio sat at a table and were asionally greeted by acquaintances who curiously inquired about Quinn.


    However, Orion simply introduced her as a friend without extra boration. Given the current circumstances, their engagement with Quinn was uncertain in its longevity. He harbored no desire to tarnish Quinn''s reputation.


    The cafeteria fare was decent, yet Quinn disyed little appetite. She picked at her food with her utensils and consumed just morsels.


    As Orion was about to speak, the butler''s call interrupted. Without much contemtion, he answered the phone, "Mr. Smith?"


    "You scoundrel. Where are you now? Get back here immediately!"


    A foreboding sensation crept into Orion''s mind when he heard William''s words. Rising to take the call outside, Orion inquired, "Return for what purpose?"


    "I''m asking you, did you propose marriage?"


    Indeed, Orion''s suspicions were confirmed. Bracing himself, he asked, "How did youe to know?"


    Orion''s response nearly caused William to boil over with rage. Suppressing his anger, William demanded, "How did Ie to know? How could you, whom are you marrying, omit to inform the family?" "I''m marrying. Why should I inform you all?"


    "I am your father! Do I not have the right to know whom you are marrying? You are bing increasinglywless. Who permitted you to ndestinely propose marriage?"


    Orion, equally incensed, retorted, "If I wish to marry, I shall do so. Must I seek your ord? I am your son, not your minion. Do Ick agency even in this affair?"


    "Great! Great!" William, seething, said repeatedly, "I do not concern myself with such matters. Simply tell me, who are you going to marry? What is her name?" Orion replied, "Her name is Quinn."


    "Quinn. What is her rtionship with Alexander?"


    Growing impatient, Orion snapped, "Has Alexander approached you? Why not inquire directly from him? Why interrogate me?"


    William lowered his tone as he said, "I demand an answer today. What is the nature of her rtionship with Alexander?"


    Unamused, Orion replied, "The rtionship of former spouses. What other rtionship could there possibly be?"

 Chapter 523

    Upon hearing the revtion, William stood dumbfounded. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that his son would wed Alexander''s ex-wife.


    Even if his son had married Alexander''s sister or former girlfriend, he wouldn''t have been as shocked.


    His ex-wife... The turn of events confounded William entirely.


    Of all the women in the world, why did his son feelpelled to choose Alexander''s former spouse?


    Upon hearing prolonged silence on the phone, Orion, feeling somewhat uneasy, remarked, "Have you done speaking? I''ll hang up now."


    "Hold on!" William bellowed. "Orion, irrespective of your intentions for marrying his ex-wife or your grievances toward me, I must inform you Alexander is currently at our residence. You had best bring her back to me, or there will be consequences!"


    Furrowing, Orion even chuckled in exasperation, "Is he out of his mind? Why would he persist with Quinn after their divorce? How could he have the audacity toe there seeking her?"


    "I think the one with an issue here is you! With a plethora of women at your disposal, you don''t marry any, opting for someone no one else wants. If anyone''s got a problem, it''s you! Bring her back to me, Do you hear me?" "I won''t bring her back," Orion asserted.


    "Are you plotting rebellion?"


    "Yes! I am rebelling. You had no qualms about killing off my dogs in the past, not even batting an eye. Now that Alexander has shown up, you are rattled. Where did your audacity from those dog killings go?" "You..."


    Unwilling to engage in further conflict, Orion abruptly ended the call and powered off his phone.


    Despite just moments ago self-reproaching, William''s barrage triggered Orion''s ire. He released a long exhale,posed his emotions and returned to the cafeteria.


    With a keen eye fixed on his flushed countenance, Quinn gestured, "What''s the matter?"


    "Nothing." Irritably pushing his meal aside, Orion thought over before saying, "Quinn, let''s leave Amber Bay. We''ll depart this evening."


    Quinn hesitated, puzzled by his abrupt change of ns. Hadn''t they agreed to leave the following day?


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    "What''s wrong? Are you reluctant?" Orion inquired.


    Shaking her head, Quinn gestured, "Is it too hasty?"


    "Not at all. I reckon it is the perfect time to depart now lest Alexanderes knocking again."


    At the mention of Alexander, ripples of emotion stirred within Quinn. Her gaze briefly shifted away.


    "Are you leaving?" Orion asked once more.


    Quinn nodded after a moment of silence. Having wed Orion, where else could she belong?


    "Very well. Finish your meal quickly. We will depart once you are done.." Orion felt restless, unable to linger even a moment longer in the vicinity.


    Pushing her te aside, Quinn gestured, "I''m done."


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    Observing the exchange, Sebastian, feeling apprehensive, interjected, "Orion, are you really leaving just like that? Will you return?"


    ncing at Sebastian with aplex expression, Orion ruffled his hair. "Probably."


    Tears welled up in Sebastian''s eyes, a deep sense of reluctance evident. Oliver, whom he revered, had forsaken him for his wife. "Orion, pleasee back to visit me..."


    "Alright, I understand." Grabbing Quinn''s hand, Orion led her outside. "Let''s go. Let''s leave now. There''s nothing worthwhile in Amber Bay."


    Together, they made their way to the waiting Volkswagen. As Quinn settled in, her heart raced inexplicably. She gazed out the window at the night''s darkness due to departing a familiar ce for an unfamiliar one. In a ce where she knew no one else and unable tomunicate with anyone, her sole reliancey on Orion.


    Back at the Orion family residence, William found himself at a loss for how to face Alexander. Hesitatingly eyeing Alexander, he managed a strained smile, "Alexander, thisd is too rebellious. He created such a mess without our knowledge, and we must discipline him properly when the timees."


    Calmly seated on the sofa with his legs crossed, Beneath his draped hem of a blue patient''s gown, Alexander''sposed demeanor did little to alleviate William''s mounting pressures.


    Perplexed beyond measure, William pondered his son''s intentions and wondered why his son felt the need to marry Alexander''s former wife.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

 Chapter 524

    Moreover, the ex-wife... Truth be told, even if she is an ex-wife, she remains Alexander''s former spouse, branded with hisbel. Who would dare to take her hand in marriage? Isn''t that a direct defiance against Alexander? Alexander chuckled lightly,cking warmth in his smile. "Seems like William won''t be able to bring the young lord back."


    William hesitated momentarily before eximing hastily, "I can bring him back! Tomorrow, I will personally retrieve him, leaving him at Alexander''s disposal!"


    "No need," Alexander rose to his feet, stating softly, "I will ensure he is returned, personally."


    William''s heart raced, panic etching onto his face. "Alexander..."


    Without intending to continue the conversation, Alexander walked out of the vi, not casting another nce at William.


    Meanwhile, Orion had already driven a considerable distance with Quinn, soon approaching the highway. As they queued at the tollbooth, Orion''s mind began to waver once more. Unsure of the rightness or wrongness of his decision, he found himself unable to turn back now.


    Quinn turned to him and could naturally perceive the conflict written on his face. Extending her hand, she tugged at Orion''s sleeve.


    Orion turned to her.


    Quinn gestured, "If you leave, what will happen to your parents?"


    Lips pressed tight, Orion found himself at a loss for words.


    Quinn continued, "How about we go back then?"


    Conflicted and vexed, Orion found his thoughts in disarray. Theseplexities had not crossed his mind before marriage, yet now they weighed heavily, suffocating him.


    As the car ahead cleared, Orion drove numbly towards the tollbooth.


    Noticing his distraction, Quinn fell silent, her gaze dropping.


    At that moment, Orion''s phone rang.


    ncing at the screen, he saw it was a call from Sebastian.


    Sensing trouble, he quickly took the call after pulling over.


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    "Hello, Sebastian, why are you calling me?"


    To his surprise, there was no response from the other end. "Sebastian?"


    Two secondster, a maic voice spoke through the phone, "Orion, it appears my words have not been heeded."


    It was Alexander''s voice!


    Orion''s expression shifted abruptly. "Alexander! How do you have Sebastian''s phone? What have you done to him?!"


    Upon hearing his name, Quinn''s eyes widened in shock.


    "Orion, don''t be rmed. I simply wish to y a game with you."


    "What... what do you want?"


    After a moment''s pause, Alexander spoke slowly, "Let''s make aparison. Let''s see if you arrive first or if your dear brother meets his end." Orion''s eyes widened, gripping the phone tightly, he yelled into the receiver, "Alexander, don''t you dare do anything rash! Don''t touch him!" Amused, Alexander casually remarked, "Who was the one being rash first?"


    "Then starting now, every ten minutes, I''ll sever a finger from your dear brother. If he loses too much blood and perishes, then I''ll switch to... this David." Orion, trembling, held onto the phone, overwhelmed by fear. This man was a lunatic!N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    In the brief moments of shock, Orion heard Sebastian''s anguished cries through the phone.


    His eyes aze with fury, Orionpletely panicked, "Sebastian!"


    Amidst Sebastian''s cries, there echoed a voice akin to a demon''s.


    "Orion, the game has begun."

 Chapter 525

    Orion''s fingers clutched the phone, turning pale as if he intended to crush the device in his grip.


    Sebastian was not just a friend but a brother to him. Orion had known Sebastian since he was ten years old, always treating him like a younger sibling. Sebastian had called him "bro" for so many years, considering Orion his most trusted confidant. The bond between the two transcended mere friendship.


    Orion had not anticipated that Alexander wouldn''t directly target the Orion family but instead chose the lowest-cost yet most effective leverage: Sebastian. Following Sebastian''s agonized cries over the phone, he yelled frantically, "Bro, don''t mind me, just go!!" Sebastian was crying in pain, yet amid his suffering, he urged Orion to leave. This man was a devil; if Orion returned, things would surely take a grave turn.


    Sittingzily in his chair, Alexander disyed no anger upon hearing Sebastian''s cries; instead, a sly smile yed on his lips. "Orion, time is running out for you. You can go, the farther the better. But under no circumstances should you regret along the way, or else there will be nothing left."


    "You are insane. Do you truly believe you can act with impunity, devoid of all decency?" Orion choked on his words, Alexander''s arrogance beyond unbearable. If it wasn''t Sebastian in trouble but William or any other person, calling the authorities might help, but Sebastian... He was an orphan, without parents.


    Orion abruptly ended the call, his grip tight on the steering wheel, veins bulging on his forehead. Quinn watched him with concern.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    After a moment, she tugged at Orion''s sleeve apologetically. Orion, seeing the guilt on her face, sighed and shook his head, "It''s not your fault. This is on me; I acted recklessly." If only he hadn''t impulsively agreed to Wayne and Quinn''s marriage proposal, none of this would have happened. If he hadn''t left in anger earlier with Quinn, Sebastian wouldn''t be in jeopardy now. It was his arrogance and underestimation of Alexander that led to this moment. Quinn gestured, "Let''s go back quickly."


    Orion hesitated once more, gazing deeply at Quinn. "If we go back, what about you?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, silent for a couple of seconds before gesturing, "Let''s go back."


    With nothing more to say, Orion started the car, preparing to turn around and head back from where they came. It would take at least forty minutes to return from this point. Forty long minutes...


    Orion now knew that Alexander was truly deranged his actions surpassing all expectations of madness. He would surely proceed to sever each of Sebastian''s fingers.


    The thought caused Orion''s eyes to redden, ncing off the elerator to race the car out at top speed.


    Simultaneously, Quinn felt uneasy. She couldn''t fathom why Alexander had transformed into this monstrous version of himself. This wasn''t the Alexander they knew.


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    Meanwhile, Kyle spected that Alexander had likely gone insane. He was currently at the orphanage and hadn''t taken Sebastian with him.


    Inside the orphanage, amidst children and staff, fear had gripped them all.


    Children remained holed up inside, too frightened to venture out.


    Currently, in the storage warehouse behind the orphanage, clutter surrounded them.


    Sebastiany pinned to the ground, his left thumb already missing a digit, blood gushing forth, staining the ground in a vast crimson pool.

 Chapter 526

    Alexander lounged in his chair, legs crossed, casually smoking a cigarette. nking him stood about a dozen burly bodyguards, all stoically gazing at Sebastian.


    To Sebastian''s left stood David, a middle-aged woman nearing sixty with silvering hair, her eyes welled with tears as she watched Sebastian''s agony.


    She dared not intervene to staunch Sebastian''s bleeding, for Alexander had warned her earlier any attempt would lead to more than just severed fingers. With plenty of children in the nearby house, she couldn''t risk it and could only watch helplessly as Sebastian suffered.


    ncing at his wristwatch, Alexander remarked nonchntly, "Ten minutes are up."


    Kyle, upon hearing this, felt a shiver down his spine but signaled silently to the bodyguards on the side. They understood, and one of them drew a dagger from his waist, crouching before Sebastian.


    Without a word, he swiftly severed Sebastian''s remaining digits, causing Sebastian to awaken from his faint, screaming in utter agony, the sound reverberating through the silent warehouse for what seemed like an eternity, a chilling echo to everyone''s ears.


    In the distance, as Orion sped along the road, a sharp pang pierced his heart. He nced at the dashboard clock, tears swirling wildly in his now crimson eyes.


    Quinn''s fingers clenched tightly, the force of Orion''s eleration nearly throwing her off her seat. Despite her racing heart, she still couldn''t believe the depth of cruelty Alexander had descended to, a stark contrast to the man she once knew. Quinn''s mind shed back to that indifferent face, and she shut her eyes. Indeed, the current Alexander was no one she recognized the man with Alexander''s visage had be someone else entirely. The roady quiet, as did the warehouse.


    Sebastian had now passed out for the second time, lying on the ground with a face drained white from excessive blood loss.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Even Kyle, standing nearby, couldn''t help but wipe his palms; his anxiety was palpable, his gaze fixed on the warehouse door, silently praying for Orion''s swift return.


    The third set of ten minutes was upon them. The ticking of the watch''s hands seemed like a death knell, counting down Sebastian''s remaining moments.


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    Leaning back, Alexanderzily tapped the chair with one hand, calm andposed amidst the tense atmosphere. "Kyle, has the timee?" Alexander suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the warehouse. Kyle snapped back to reality, ncing at his watch. Swallowing hard, he replied, "It has. It''s time."


    Without further words, Alexander''s intent was clear:


    Adhere to the rules of the game.


    Kyle sighed inwardly, offering a moment of silence for Sebastian before nodding to the bodyguard.


    The bodyguard nodded in return, drawing the blood-stained dagger, just about to take action.


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    "Wait!"


    David could bear it no longer. She rushed forward, trembling as she knelt before Alexander. With tears streaming down her face, she looked up at him desperately, "Alexander, Sebastian is just a child. Spare him. You can chop off my fingers instead. I''m old, do it to me!"


    Alexander gazed calmly at her, unmoved by her plea. "Why the rush? Soon it''ll be your turn."


    A cruel smile yed at the corner of his lips, "I doubt he''llst until Orion returns."


    The blood on the ground had pooled significantly, almost submerging Sebastian entirely. Overwhelmed by what she heard, David copsed to the ground, her first encounter with such cruelty and madness in all her years. As Alexander looked towards the still bewildered bodyguard, he inquired, "What are you waiting for?"

 Chapter 527

    The bodyguard snapped to attention and swiftly moved, dagger in hand, towards Sebastian''s index finger.


    "Stop!"


    Orion''s anguished voice rang out from the doorway, nearly crawling as he rushed in, shouting, "Alexander, don''t!"


    But he was a step toote. The bodyguard''s de descended once more.


    This time, Sebastian didn''t scream. He clenched his eyes shut, his face contorting in agony as the de fell, emitting only faint, muted noises.


    Witnessing the scene, Orion''s legs gave out, and he copsed, rigidly fixated on Sebastian, tears streaming down his face as he huskily called Sebastian''s name. The words strained from his throat, each syble a struggle as Orion crawled toward Sebastian with shaking hands, desperate to provide aid.


    Reaching Sebastian, he gazed at the severed fingers, his lips trembling, his face drained of color. Ignoring Alexander beside him, Orion frantically tore his clothing, using the scraps to bind Sebastian''s wounds.


    "Sebastian, I''m sorry I''mte..." Orion murmured to himself, voice choked with emotion as he tended to Sebastian''s fingers, his tone unusually strained, "Hang in there, Sebastian."


    Meanwhile, Alexander remained unperturbed, a grim reaper in human form, watching Orion with cold detachment.


    Quinn followed behind, observing the blood-smeared scene and the unconscious Sebastian, her face a canvas of shock and disbelief. She stood motionless at the doorway, her gaze eventually shifting towards the figure seated in the chair. He sat there tranquilly, as though detached from the unfolding events.


    Sensing Quinn''s eyes on him, he shifted his gaze, locking eyes with her. Their gaze met, a moment of silent connection, where time seemed suspended in the air.


    Quinn''s knuckles whitened as she clutched the doorframe, her body trembling slightly. Despite her visible distress, Alexander remained aloof, showing no sign of guilt or self-awareness at being caught in the act.


    Once Orion had finished bandaging Sebastian haphazardly, he raised his tear-streaked eyes to meet Alexander''s gaze.


    In his eyes, a mix of indescribable hatred and anger was evident, a clear desire to rush forward and confront Alexander.


    "Alexander, how could you be so cruel?" Orion''s voice quivered with anger or perhaps profound sadness, "Sebastian is only neen. How could you do this?"Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander lowered his gaze towards him, replying coolly, "That question should be directed at Orion himself. When you choose to defy me, you must ept the consequences."


    "Unfortunately, Orion''s youthful arrogance blinds him to the cost of his mistakes."


    Standing up from his chair, Alexander strolled leisurely towards Orion, "I had hoped that you, Orion, would have learned from the lessons taught by those beasts earlier. I overestimated you." Orion''s pupils dted gradually, his shoulders trembling more violently, "What do you mean?"


    Alexander tilted his head slightly, gazing down at him condescendingly, a faint smirk ying at his lips, "Seems besides having a poor memory, Orion, your ears aren''t working well either."


    "It was you!?" Orion, eyes burning red, visions of the dogs'' gruesome deaths reying in his mind, "You instigated my father to do it?"


    His trembling usation fell t in front of Alexander, his anger appearing feeble and pale.


    "It doesn''t matter now. Since Orion has returned, it''s time to settle our score." Alexander spoke, turning his gaze briefly towards Quinn, before redirecting his attention.


    Clutching his fists, his voice hoarse, Orion demanded, "You can settle scores however you want, but can you at least get Sebastian to a hospital first?"


    Alexander chuckled, "Are you negotiating with me?"


    Orion faltered, unsure of how to respond.

 Chapter 528

    In the current circumstances, does he have any qualification to negotiate conditions with Alexander?


    He looked down at the barely conscious Sebastian in his arms, his fingers tightening continuously as he struggled internally.


    After several moments, Orion closed his eyes, took a deep breath, mustered all his courage, and implored Alexander:


    "I beg of you, let Sebastian go to the hospital."


    "One does not plead in such a manner, Orion. Has no one taught you?" Alexander''s tone carried a hint of disdain and disregard, his smile a pinnacle of condescension.


    Orion''s actions seemed akin to a three-year-old ying house, resembling a clown prancing about. Sebastian trembled in his arms, his hand growing colder by the moment. Time was of the essence.


    With Orion''s current strength and situation, he was clearly no match for Alexander,cking even the slightest room for resistance. Sebastian had suffered because of him; how could he forsake Sebastian? Inparison to Sebastian''s life, what value did his dignity hold? Even if Alexander demanded his life, he had toply. He could not betray Sebastian...


    Veins bulged on Orion''s forehead as he lowered his head, clenching and unclenching his fists. After a lengthy internal struggle with overwhelming humiliation, he gently released Sebastian, straightened his posture, and knelt before Alexander. Upon witnessing this scene, Quinn''s pupils shrank abruptly.


    For twenty-five years, this was Orion''s **first time** kneeling. When faced with his own father, he had not knelt, but for Sebastian, he did. This single act shattered his pride and arrogance of a quarter-century. In front of Quinn, Alexander exposed his most wretched and submissive side, ensuring he could never hold his head up high in her presence again.


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    "Alexander, I implore you, let Sebastian go to the hospital," Orion pleaded.


    Alexander looked down at the boy at his feet, lightly chuckling. "I thought Orion had integrity."


    Orion gritted his teeth, the sound of his fingers snapping together.


    Faced with Alexander''s humiliation, he remained silent. After a moment, he lifted his head, ring at Alexander. "Is it done now?"


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    Orion stumbled briefly before rage overtook his gaze, standing up abruptly. "You''re ying with me!"


    He wanted to rush forward and confront Alexander, but was restrained by two bodyguards behind him. Pinned to the ground, cheek pressed against the cold floor, he struggled like a trapped animal, roaring curses at Alexander.


    "Alexander, you madman! You deserve no peace!! If something happens to Sebastian, I will never forgive you! You''re truly ridiculous, unable to let go even after a divorce! Have you ever experienced happiness? With your current actions, you are destined to never experience it again. You heartless devil! You will surely go to hell! You will never find happiness in your lifetime!"


    "Alexander..."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Before he could finish his tirade, Alexander coldly interrupted, "Cut out his tongue."

 Chapter 529

    The bodyguard was stunned.


    Orion was also stunned. Then he smiled, his smile somewhat manic. "I hit the mark. You''re angry, Alexander. You deserve it!"


    Alexander nced over, and the bodyguard immediately covered Orion''s mouth.


    Orion, still unwilling to give up, cursed, but the sound that came out turned into a sob.


    The bodyguard picked up the blood-stained dagger, ready to cut off Orion''s tongue.


    Just as Alexander turned around, his coat was suddenly tugged.


    He turned around. It was Quinn.


    Quinn held onto his coat, tears blurring in her eyes as she stared at him. In her clear blue eyes, besides the distance, there was also fear toward him.


    Alexander gripped her wrist, pulled her into his arms, lifted her chin with another hand, and said softly, "Are you afraid of me?"


    He chuckled, his fingertip caressing her chin, his tone incredibly ambiguous. "It''s okay; being afraid of me isn''t a bad thing anyway."


    "You won''t remember this tomorrow."


    Quinn''s pupils slightly contracted, tears streaming down heavily, and she shook her head desperately.


    Ignoring her pleas, Alexander looked sideways at the bewildered bodyguard and decisively said, "Take action."


    Quinn suddenly widened her eyes, gripping Alexander''s sleeve tightly. Her knuckles turned white, and tears streamed down heavily.


    Seeing the man unmoved, she pushed Alexander away, rushed to Orion, grabbed the bodyguard''s arm, and looked at him impXavierngly.


    The bodyguard was momentarily hesitant, but he turned to look at Alexander, seemingly waiting for his instructions.


    Alexander had already sat back in his chair, looking indifferently at the two on the ground.


    Quinn turned back tearfully to look at him, gesturing with her hand, ";Please spare him; it''s all my fault. I am the one who wants to marry him, and I''m the one who should leave; it has nothing to do with him." Seeing this, Orion, with red eyes, said, "Quinn, don''t plead for him! Let him kill me directly!"


    Quinn anxiously nced at him, wanting to stop him from speaking, then pleaded with Alexander, hoping he would spare Orion.


    She and Orion were not close, but she never expected to bring disaster upon Orion; it was she who implicated Orion.


    From the beginning, she should never have agreed to marry Orion. He was a good person, and Quinn couldn''t bear to see him implicated because of her.


    Alexander''s lips curled with a hint of coldness, a touch of anger in his eyes.


    "You seem to like him very much; in that case, I cannot let him go even more." "Kill him."


    As these two words were spoken, everyone present was shocked, including Kyle.


    Kyle looked at Alexander in astonishment; this man seemed truly insane, brazenlymitting murder in this kind of ce, not to mention William; even Landon''s people wouldn''t let him off. Wasn''t this giving those people an opportunity?


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Kyle whispered, "Alexander, don''t act rashly..."


    Alexander seemed not to hear him, his eyes fixed on the bodyguard, "Move!


    Quinn looked at him in disbelief, her face filled with astonishment and fear, tears winding down her cheeks.


    If she hadn''t seen it with her eyes, she would never have believed that the Alexander she knew would say such cruel words.


    The bodyguard no longer hesitated; he grabbed Orion''s hair, the sharp knife approaching Orion''s neck.


    Orion was also dumbfounded. He didn''t expect Alexander to actually have the audacity kill him, unsure whether he had lost his mind or be too arrogant.


    This was the first time Orion felt the threat of death. Subconsciously, he closed his eyes, giving up on struggling.


    His only thought was that even if he died, he would be a ghost haunting Alexander every day, making sure he never lived happily and peacefully.


    But after waiting for a moment, he didn''t feel the expected pain.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

 Chapter 530

    Warm liquid dripped on his forehead, one drop, two drops, more and more.


    Orion suddenly opened his eyes and was astonished to see Quinn kneeling in front of her, her hands tightly gripping the dagger in the bodyguard''s hand.


    She gritted her teeth, furrowing her brow painfully. Cold sweat on her forehead mingled with tears on her face, converging on her pale cheeks and gathering on her chin.


    Quinn kept taking deep breaths, suppressing the pain in her palms. Fresh blood flowed down the dagger.


    Half of it dripped onto the ground, while the other halfnded on Orion''s forehead, trailing down his face, leaving a long crimson streak.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Quinn." Orion murmured her name.


    Quinn trembled her lips, reluctantly nced at him, then turned to look at Alexander.


    Alexander, with no hint of a smile on his face at this moment, stared straight at Quinn; his blue eyes became deeper and filled with indescribable emotions.


    Bodyguard dared not exert any more force, holding the dagger in his hand, at a loss, afraid of causing Quinn further harm.


    Today''s events happened because Quinn and Orion left together.


    The bodyguard wasn''t stupid; he didn''t dare to hurt Quinn.


    Seeing that Alexander hadn''t changed his mind, Quinn opened her mouth, trying to make a sound, but failed.


    And at that moment, Alexander suddenly stood up and walked towards Quinn.


    Quinn''s gaze followed his footsteps. She felt extremely uneasy.


    Alexander approached her. He extended his slender fingers and grabbed Quinn''s cor. Then he lifted her from the ground.


    "Quinn, how long have you known him?"


    His voice was deep and maic, tinged with a hint of anger, but he restrained it well, almost invisible if not listened to carefully.


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    Quinn was momentarily stunned. She didn''t know how long she had known Orion.


    She only knew that when she saw Orion''s clean and clear smile, she dared to believe that Orion wouldn''t hurt her.


    That was all.


    Alexander''s gaze locked on her face, a hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth. "I didn''t evenknow your rtionship with him had be so deep." "You''re willing to die for him, why?"


    Quinn''s eyshes fluttered, and her lips trembled, uncertain of which expression to use in response to him.


    He pinched Quinn''s chin and turned her head to look at Orion. "I want to see if you can survive after he dies." Quinn''s heart plummeted rapidly as if an invisible hand squeezed her heart, dragging it into an ice cer. Alexander coldly said, "Kill him."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Quinn shuddered all over, her eyes widened, struggling desperately, but was restrained by Alexander.


    No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn''t break free from the man''s restraint. She clutched Alexander''s cor, shaking, and the blood-stained his ck coat deeply. The bodyguard hesitated slightly.


    Orion also saw Quinn on the verge of copse, his expression somewhatplicated.


    The more Quinn struggled, the tighter Alexander held her.


    Alexander didn''t look at her, so even her pleas seemed pale and feeble.


    Quinn opened her mouth, her chest heaving, breath escaping from her throat, emitting a hoarse, faint sob.


    Bodyguard hesitated for a moment, then Alexander suddenly let go of Quinn, took a step forward, and took the dagger from the bodyguard''s hand.


    Everyone was shocked; he was actually going to kill Orion himself!


    Quinn fell to the ground, but she ignored the pain, crawled over, and hugged Alexander''s leg.

 Chapter 531

    The coldness on Alexander''s face was clearly visible at this moment; his eyes seemed to be able to freeze people.


    "No." Along with Quinn''s gasping, a few intermittent words also popped out of her mouth.


    Orion also widened his eyes, looking at Quinn in astonishment.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    She actually spoke.


    Orion thought it was his illusion before dying, and then a few words came out of her mouth with difficulty. "Please, don''t!"


    Alexander looked down at her; not only did he not waver because of her pleading, but the killing intent became more and more obvious. His knuckles holding the dagger turned white, and the next moment, he grabbed Orion''s hair, and the dagger in his hand fiercely fell! "Alexander Kennedy!" Suddenly, Quinn burst out with a hoarse shout, exceptionally loud in the warehouse, with echoes lingering. Alexander paused his movement, the tip of the knife stopping less than one inch from Orion''s neck.


    Orion stared at the dagger, his eyes fixed and unblinking.


    In just two minutes, he hade close to death on two asions, then twice more. Even if Alexander didn''t kill him, he would be scared to death.


    And suddenly, Alexander turned his head and looked at Quinn.


    Quinn tightly held onto Alexander''s leg, tears streaming down her face as she looked at him, her body shaking violently from crying.


    Trembling lips, she slowly uttered a few words, "Please don''t make me hate you!"


    Alexander''s eyes flickered. "Hate me?"


    Quinn was at a loss. She had no way at all, and she really didn''t know how to save Orion.


    She looked at Alexander impXavierngly, her hair messy and sticking to her face, drenched in sweat.


    She could only beg him.


    She was begging him in every possible way.


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    If Orion died because of her, she would owe Orion a life; she would be a murderer, a sinner.


    The rest of her life would be spent in nightmares, never at peace.


    Alexander reached out, gripping her chin. "Did you just say you hate me?"


    Quinn also realized what she had said, shaking her head vigorously.


    Alexander chuckled.


    "Do you hate me for him?"


    Quinn''s lips trembled slightly, her fingers clutching his trouser leg tightened, seemingly provoking him more.


    Alexander stared at her for a moment, ignoring her, looking back at Orion, seemingly contemting how to make Orion die more miserably.


    Quinn couldn''t find any way.


    In desperation, she stood up from the ground and pushed Alexander with force.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! She used almost all her strength.


    Just like in the morning, he was actually pushed out; even Quinn herself was somewhat skeptical.


    She watched Alexander take two steps back, supported by Kyle behind him.


    "Alexander." Kyle''s face was full of concern, and he could only see clearly just now Quinn''s palm hadnded exactly where Alexander was injured.


    And Quinn also realized that under Alexander''s windbreaker, he seemed to be wearing a hospital gown.


    A pained expression shed between Alexander''s brows, but it was fleeting, overshadowed by more killing intent.


    Quinn gestured, "This is all my fault; I should just die; I''ll atone for it."


    A vein on Alexander''s forehead twitched; he stared at Quinn''s gesturing fingers and chuckled softly.


    Hisughter sent shivers down everyone''s spine in the room.


    Fortunately, at this moment, a group of people came in.


    It was none other than William.

 Chapter 532

    Apart from William, he was apanied by a group of Police Officers.


    Alexander nced at the peopleing in at the door, and the smile at the corner of his mouth gradually faded.


    "Orion!" William saw his son being pressed to the ground, and he was not happy.


    Although the father and son always had conflicts, after all, they were father and son. Of course, as a father, he would feel distressed seeing his son being treated like this!


    But when he saw that Orion was not injured, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and turned to question Alexander, "Alexander, what do you mean by this?"


    Alexander had already straightened up, looking at William indifferently. "Just ying a game with your son; why are you so nervous?"


    William didn''t believe him at all. If he hadn''t brought the Police Officers with him, Alexander probably could have killed him on the spot.


    "William, what do you think?" Alexander''s coldness changed, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    As he said this, the Bodyguard also let go of Orion. Orion stood up from the ground and ran to help Sebastian up.


    Orion coldly looked at Alexander, "Who wants to y games with a lunatic like you!"


    He didn''t want to argue with Alexander now; he just wanted to take Sebastian to the hospital quickly.


    He picked him up and, ignoring the others, quickly rushed out of the warehouse.


    After that, only the confrontation between Alexander and William remained.


    Seeing his son run away, William was at a loss for a moment. If it wasn''t necessary, he actually didn''t want to confront Alexander.


    "Do you have any other instructions?"


    William''s face turned pale for a moment, and after a while, he said, "Alexander, I''m really sorry. Orion has never been obedient since he was a child. If he has offended you in any way, please forgive him. I apologize on his behalf." Alexander looked at him with afake smile. "Your son does need some discipline."


    William was stunned for a moment, then said, "Of course, I will definitely discipline him well when I go back. I guarantee he won''t cause you trouble again in the future." "It''s better that way."


    William did not need to stay any longer. He looked awkwardly at the Police Officers he had brought with him. Since Orion was fine, he didn''t want to make a big deal out of it. It wouldn''t benefit anyone.


    "Well then, I won''t bother you anymore, goodbye."


    After that, he said a few words to the Police Officers beside him, and the group walked out.


    William came and went quickly as if he had never appeared.


    Only therge and small drops of blood on the ground indicated what had just happened.


    After the group left, Kyle signaled to David to go as well.


    David hurriedly left.


    Quinn stood alone in the ce, the wound in her palm still bleeding, fresh blood dripping continuously from her fingertips.


    She looked up at Alexander.


    Alexander was also looking at her, and both of them were silent.


    The man''s eyes held emotions she couldn''t decipher uncertain if it was disappointment or anger-yet his face remained remarkably calm.


    "Alexander, shall we go back?" Kyle reminded me from the side.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander finally withdrew his gaze, stepped forward, passed by Quinn without looking at her again, and left.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Everyone left, and the warehouse that had just been crowded was now left with only Quinn.


    Listening to the distant sound of the car whistle, Quinn''s tense nerves finally rxed, and she breathed heavily.


    After a while, she dragged her tired body out of the warehouse.


    The rain outside had stopped; she looked at the night sky and the puddles on the ground. As the wind picked up, she felt a shiver run through her body.


    The palm of her hand throbbed with pain. Quinn raised her hand and examined the deep cut for a few seconds before weakly lowering it.


    Quinn stood at the entrance of the warehouse for a long time, suddenly not knowing where to go.


    At this moment, she was like a stray dog.


    Leaning against the wall, she slowly squatted down, curling up.


    After a while, she heard David''s voice, and Quinn subconsciously looked up.


    "Over there, I don''t know if it''s the person you''re looking for."

 Chapter 533

    Quinn stared at David and the man beside him.


    The man was dressed in dark red attire, his medium-short hair slightly curled and casually falling on the side of his face. A faint smile lingered at the corner of his mouth, giving him an ambiguously gendered appearance. The only thing that could be confirmed was that this face was not girly. He was close to six feet tall, definitely not a woman.


    Quinn was distracted for a moment, and the two had already approached her. Quinn stared nkly at him.


    "Thank you, David." Walter smiled and thanked David.


    David smiled, "Take her back quickly."


    Walter nodded, walked up to Quinn, squatted down in front of her, and smiled as he looked at her. "Do you remember me?" Quinn stared at this face for a long time; she couldn''t recall, and she had no impression of him at all. She shook her head.


    As if it was expected, Walter wasn''t upset either. He held Quinn''s wrist, and Quinn instinctively flinched.


    But his grip was tight; Quinn''s movement had no effect.


    Walter looked at her bloody hand and sighed.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    He asked David to bring the medical kit, and then he pulled Quinn up and led her into the utility room. Seeing the mess and bloodstains on the floor, Walter raised his eyebrows.


    Quinn had been watching him all along; she didn''t know this person, and maybe she had forgotten him.


    Her ailment causes her to forget too much; forgetting one person seemed insignificant. However, she could even no longer recognize Alexander, with whom she spent countless hours.


    With the medical kit quickly brought by David, Walter took out the disinfectant inside, cleaned Quinn''s wound, and disinfected it; his movements seemed light, but in reality, Quinn was already trembling with pain, and he didn''t stop. The wound was a bit deep; it needed stitches.


    Surprisingly, Walter also took out a needle and thread to stitch her up.


    At the moment the needle pierced the skin, Quinn couldn''t help but cry out in pain; although her voice was hoarse, it was still very soft, like a cat''s meow. Walter looked at her in surprise.


    Her eyes were filled with tears, shining like crystals under the light, wanting to fall but not falling; it was truly heartbreaking to look at. Walter went in with a second stitch.


    Quinn''s fingers trembled with pain, shaking uncontrobly, but held tightly by Walter; she couldn''t move.


    While stitching her up, Walter lightly smiled and said, "You were brave when you grabbed the knife, but now you know it hurts." Quinn was stunned; how did he know?


    Walter held her wrist and stitched her palm; Quinn almost fainted several times from the pain, only to be awakened by the pain. After such repetition, Quinn became numb.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! When both hands were stitched up, Quinn hadpletely copsed in the chair, sweating profusely, looking like she had been pulled out of the water. "Can you still walk?" Walter asked her.


    Quinn struggled to lift her eyelids to look at him, then weakly drooped them down. She tried to stand up but had no strength at all, so she sat back down straight. Walter bent down and lifted her, then turned to walk out of the warehouse.


    At this moment, Alexander returned to the hospital.


    For no other reason, after getting in the car, he spat out blood, which frightened Kyle into ignoring his orders and forcibly taking him to the hospital.


    On this point, Kyle still had some sense.


    Alexander couldn''t die, not just because he paid him high sry and position but also because he had too many enemies, and Kyle did most of the things that offended people.

 Chapter 534

    So now Alexander was his backup; if Alexander died, he would die too.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    After arriving at the hospital, the Doctor had him take an X-ray.


    Originally, it would have been fine with proper rest, but now, with all this fuss, the broken bone had shifted a bit, and surgery was necessary.


    Upon hearing about the surgery, Alexander immediately refused without hesitation, "No surgery."


    Kyle wanted to persuade him, but considering the current circumstances, if he underwent surgery and stayed in the hospital, how many things would be dyed?


    After some thought, the Doctor hesitated and said, "If you don''t want surgery, conservative treatment is also an option, but you must ensure bed rest and try to avoid movement as much as possible." Alexander asked, "For how long?"


    The Doctor replied, "Usually one to two months, around three months for a full recovery."


    After hearing this, Alexander threw off the nket and tried to get out of bed.


    Kyle quickly stopped him, kindly advising, "Just listen to the Doctor. Even if you don''t have surgery, don''t lie down for two months; at least stay for observation for two days."


    The Doctor also suggested, "Yes, you should be observed for three to seven days to ensure there is no infection or other organ damage before being discharged."


    Alexander, feeling impatient, stood up and tried to leave.


    Kyle had no choice but to resort to a final tactic, "Then I''ll call your wife over."


    As soon as these words were spoken, the air around them noticeably chilled, and Alexander coldly asked, "Who is my wife?"


    Kyle hesitated, stuttering, "Q-Quinn."


    Then he realized that the two had long been divorced, and Quinn was now someone else''s wife.


    "Kyle, if you dare mention her again, I''ll rip out your tongue!" Although Alexander''s voice was weak, his words still carried a terrifying weight.


    Kyle did not doubt that he was capable of doing such a thing.


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    Back in the warehouse earlier, if it hadn''t been for Quinn desperately intervening, Orion wouldn''t have known how many times he would have died by now.


    When this man went mad, he lost all reason.


    Kyle nodded, closed his mouth, and then asked, "Should I inform Getty?"


    As soon as this was said, Alexander shot him a sharp look.


    Kyle shrunk his neck, pulled the nket over, and covered Alexander, saying, "It''s alreadyte today. There''s nothing urgent to do. You should rest for the night. If you need to leave, tomorrow is not toote." This time, Alexander didn''t insist; he wearily leaned against the head of the bed, closed his eyes, and said, "Get out."


    "Okay." Seeing that he had no intention of leaving, Kyle quickly left with the Doctor.


    The ward fell silent, so quiet that one could hear any sound.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! After leaving, Kyle sent a message to Quinn.


    Although Alexander said not to mention Quinn, this man has gone crazy ever since Orion and Quinn got married.


    If Quinn didn''t divorce Orion and continued to ignore Alexander, Kyle couldn''t imagine what would happen next. His days would be challenging.


    Kyle finished editing the message and clicked send.


    At this moment, Quinn was unconscious and couldn''t see the message Kyle sent.


    Walter, standing by the window, heard the sound and nced at the phone on the bedside.


    A faint smile appeared on his lips.


    Things were getting more and more interesting.


    With all themotion caused by Alexander, Walter was curious to see how he would handle the situation.

 Chapter 535

    It was already the second day when Quinn woke up.


    She got up from the bed in confusion, feeling intense pain when her palm touched the sheets.


    Quinn subconsciously raised her hand to look, both hands wrapped in gauze, with wounds on her fingertips covered with band-aids.


    A hint of confusion shed in her eyes.


    She tried to recall something faintly in her mind, but upon closer thought, she couldn''t remember anything. She felt like something was on the verge of emerging but never quite did. This feeling made her particrly restless.


    At that moment, the door suddenly pushed open, and Walter walked in. Quinn looked up at him, equally puzzled by this person.


    Walter, dressed in a long ck coat today, walked over, head down, and locked eyes with Quinn.


    Every time saw the appearance of this person, she would be surprised, and then internally and then she would mentally distinguish whether they were male or female.


    When she saw his Adam''s apple, Quinn gestured, "Who are you?"


    Watching her movements, Walter raised a corner of his mouth. "Forgot again?"


    Quinn furrowed her brows.


    Walter sat down beside her, reached out his handsome hand to her head, and Quinn instinctively dodged.


    But he still touched her, ruffling her hair and smiling. "I''m your brother, don''t you remember me?"


    Quinn paused, her gaze shifting back and forth on his face. She had no recollection of having a brother.


    Taking advantage of her memory loss, Walter began to fabricate, "When you were five, we got separated. I searched for you for many years and finally found you three years ago, but now you don''t remember; it really makes me sad." Quinn''s eyes widened slightly. She remembered being brought back to the Kennedys when she was five, but she had no impression of anything before that age.


    She also knew she wasn''t part of the Kennedys, so she was skeptical of Walter''s words.


    No one knew how much she longed for her own family during all those years at the Kennedys.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Especially when Freya bullied her, she would think, if she were at her own home, with parents to protect her, would anyone dare bully her?


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    And the saddest part was she didn''t even know who her parents were.


    The only person she could rely on was Alexander. Every night, she would fear waking up to find even Alexander rejecting her. Therefore, when Walter imed to be her brother, it felt like a hand squeezing her heart, causing a painful ache.


    Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes, Walter''s smile faded slightly.


    "What''s wrong, don''t you believe me?"


    Quinn opened her mouth, tears uncontrobly streaming down. She shook her head, gesturing, "But why can''t I remember?" "Because you were ill."


    Walter patiently exined her illness and kindly informed her that many years had passed since the time she remembered.


    To confirm his words, Quinn took out her phone to check the time and date.


    This time, she had no choice but to believe.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Clutching her phone, Quinn looked up at Walter again as if trying to see through him.


    With a harmless smile on his lips,cking any aggression, Walter seemed gentle, like a deceiving older brother next door.


    Gradually, looking at his face, Quinn began to believe him.


    "Do you believe me now?" Walter asked.


    Quinn hesitated for a moment, gesturing, "I believe you."


    Suddenly, Walter chuckled. He ruffled Quinn''s head with his fingers and then embraced her tightly.


    "It''s good that you believe. Call me ''brother''."


    Quinn pursed her lips, trying to speak. After a few attempts, she failed.


    Walter nced down at her, finding it strange, too, as she was normally able to speak.

 Chapter 536

    She couldn''t produce sounds, probably due to her psychological state.


    If that was the case, even if she spoke, it wouldn''t make sense because the next day, she would forget how to talk again. Quinny in his arms, listening to his heartbeat and the faint scent of pine on him.


    This scent felt familiar to her, but subconsciously, she didn''t quite like it.


    So even though she believed he was her brother, there was a barrier in Quinn''s heart that separated her from Walter.


    After holding her for a while, Walter let her go and asked, "Are you hungry?"


    Quinn hesitated for a moment, perhaps psychologically influenced, and when she heard these words, her stomach also obediently growled.


    Walter naturally heard it, too, and chuckled, "Let''s go out for a meal."


    He stood up and headed towards the door first.


    Quinn stared at his back for a few seconds, then lifted the nket off the bed. She picked up her phone and saw an unread message on Facebook, so she nced at it. She immediately saw a message from Kyle.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Kyle said little else; he just mentioned that Alexander was seriously injured and hoped Quinn would see him.


    Upon seeing this message, Quinn''s heart skipped a beat.


    Was Alexander injured?


    After learning this news, she lost her appetite even for food.


    Walter, sitting beside her, nced at her and asked, "What''s wrong? Is there something in your heart?"


    Quinn pursed her lips, turned to look at Walter, set down the Sebastian in her hand, and gestured, "Are you familiar with Alexander?"


    Walter''s eyes flickered, maintaining a constant smile. "Of course, I''m currently working at Kennedy Enterprise. Do you want to go see him?"


    Upon hearing his words, Quinn trusted his identity a bit more.


    Quinn nodded. If he was willing to see Alexander with her and get Alexander''s approval, then she would believe he was her brotherpletely. From then on, she would have a family.


    Family was such a distant term.


    It always felt unreal.


    Walter ced a sandwich in her bowl and said, "You can finish your meal first, and after you''re done, I''ll take you there."


    Quinn nodded, picked up a sandwich with her fingers, and nibbled absentmindedly.


    Walter watched her quietly from the side as she ate hurriedly, her mouth stuffed like a hamster.


    He smiled and raised his hand to tuck her stray hair behind her ear.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Quinn paused, tilted her head slightly, and nced at Walter from the corner of her eye.


    She felt a strange sensation in her heart.


    Although he smiled innocently, it was different from Orion''s smile.


    Orion''s smile revealed everything, while this person''s smile only showed the surface, hiding his true feelings.


    Quinn looked away, bowed her head, and quietly finished her breakfast.


    After breakfast, Walter cleared the dishes and asked Quinn to change clothes, preparing to take her to see Alexander.


    Quinn followed him upstairs to the dressing room. When Walter opened the closet, Quinn was stunned to see the tightly packed women''s clothing inside.


    She looked at Walter in confusion and gestured, "Are these all mine?"


    Walter nodded slightly, an indulgent smile on his face. "Yes, these are all your clothes."


    He picked out two sets of clothes from the hangers and handed them to her, saying, "Wear these."

 Chapter 537

    This was a red winter dress with white fluffy cuffs and a cor, looking quite childish.


    But seeing Walter staring at her intently, Quinn still took the clothes and went in to change.


    After she changed into the clothes, Walter took her to the full-length mirror, stood behind her, and grabbed her shoulders, saying, "You should wear such beautiful clothes; they suit you well." Quinn looked at the person in the mirror; the style of this dress made her look several years younger all of a sudden, like a junior high school student still in school.


    Walter then picked up ab andbed Quinn''s hair while Quinn stood stiffly in ce.


    Looking through the mirror, she gazed at the man behind her, who was much taller than her, her gaze unfocused.


    Even now, she still felt that the fact of having an additional brother was not very real, like a dream.


    Walter tied her hair neatly into a bun, secured with a red hairband underneath, which hung two small white balls.


    Quinn bit her lip, feeling ufortable with the person in the mirror as she didn''t usually dress like this.


    But this outfit, paired with Walter''s long suit, inexplicably gave a sense of coordination.


    He liked this style of clothing.


    "Alright, let''s go."


    Walter put down theb, took Quinn''s wrist, and headed out.


    Quinn quietly followed him, walking out of this unfamiliar vi and getting into Walter''s luxurious automobile.


    Walter didn''t speak to her either; they just drove towards the hospital.


    At this moment, Alexander had not been discharged yet, discussing the Wilson Group''s matters with Kyle.


    Anyway, at this stage, the contract was bound to be signed.


    Kyle understood and said, "I''ll contact Xavier againter, or should I have hime to the hospital."


    Alexander picked up his phone and opened his email without looking up, saying, "You handle it."


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    "Alright."


    Kyle thought for a moment and nced at the breakfast he had bought on the table, but Alexander didn''t even touch it.


    He was about to persuade Alexander to eat something when there was a knock on the door outside.


    Before Kyle could see who it was, the door opened by itself.


    Walter led Quinn in, and Kyle''s eyes widened at Quinn''s attire.


    Alexander, sitting on the bed, noticed something and looked over. When he saw Quinn''s outfit, his brows furrowed slightly. "Alexander, how are you feeling today? I brought Quinny to see you."


    Walter grinned mischievously, and when Alexander heard him address Quinn, his eyelid twitched.


    Alexander shifted his gaze to Walter''s face. "Why did you dresse her like this?"


    "Is there anything wrong? Alexander, look, isn''t she beautiful?"


    Alexander looked at Quinn expressionlessly for a while, then withdrew his gaze without any expression. "What are you here for?"


    Walter said, "Of course, to visit Alexander, and there''s something Quinn wants to hear directly from you."


    Alexander''s gaze shifted back and forth between the two, "What is it?"


    Walter said, "I am Quinn''s brother, but she seems a bit uncertain; I think you should be the clearest about this matter, right?"Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Upon hearing this, Quinn also looked at Alexander, her gaze intense, as if waiting for Alexander''s response.


    After Walter made exnation to her, when Quinn saw Alexander''s unfamiliar look again, although she resisted, she was at least mentally prepared. Alexander gazed at him, "Is that how you tell to her?"


    "How should I tell then?"

 Chapter 538

    The seemingly calm conversation between the two had already filled the air with a faint smell of gunpowder.


    Quinn couldn''t quite grasp it, but she felt the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.


    After a moment of silence, Walter finally spoke, "You see, he has admitted it. Remember, from now on, I am your brother."


    Quinn nced at Alexander on the bed. He used to call himself her brother, but what was he now?


    A whileter, seeing Alexander still silent, Walter said to Quinn, "Alright, Quinn, you stay here. Alexander seems to need someone to take care of him right now." Quinn felt a bit anxious. She didn''t know how to interact with this Alexander now, nor did she know what identity to use. She instinctively grabbed Walter''s sleeve. This action brought the atmosphere in the ward back to freezing point.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Walter, however, smiled brightly. He deliberately touched Quinn''s head in front of Alexander. "What''s wrong? Wasn''t it you who wanted toe? Why do you seem reluctant to stay now?" Quinn bit her lip. She did want to see Alexander, but not this Alexander.


    Her purpose here was merely to confirm what Walter said and to take a look at the change in Alexander.


    Walter pulled his sleeve back and said, "Alright, stay here with him. If you leave with me and upset someone, he might pull my tongue out."


    He was hinting at the events of yesterday, mocking Alexander''s audacity.


    Throughout, Alexander remained silent, watching quietly as Walter "performed."


    After Walter left, leaving Quinn feeling lost, Kyle also tactfully exited, giving the two some space.


    Quinn pinched the hem of her clothes by her side, silent for a moment before mustering the courage to look at him.


    Raising her head, she found Alexander staring at her, making her back tingle like prey under a wolf''s gaze.


    "Come here," Alexander suddenly spoke.


    Quinn''s body stiffened for a moment, then she lowered her head and took hesitant steps towards him, standing in front of him.


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    Alexander looked at her for a few seconds before asking, "Do you forget what happened yesterday?"


    Quinn nodded honestly. ording to the calendar on her phone, she had forgotten not just yesterday''s events but also things from six or seven years ago.


    Alexander''s tense expression softened slightly.


    He held Quinn''s wrist, pulled her hand over, and looked at the bandaged palm.


    "Does it hurt?"


    Quinn nodded and then shook her head.


    Alexander patted the space beside him, and after a moment of hesitation, Quinn sat down next to him.


    She nced at Alexander''s face from the corner of her eye.


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    This mature and dignified face was far from the one she remembered. However, due to his hospital gown and tired expression today, with his messy hair falling on his forehead, softening his features, he seemed less intimidating. So much so that Quinn wasn''t as afraid of him anymore.


    Alexander asked, "What did Walter tell you?"


    Quinn hesitated again. She only now realized that the man earlier was named Walter, but why was his background different from hers? Alexander pinched her chin, lifting her face, "What did he say?"


    Quinn remained silent for a moment, then gestured and ryed all that Walter had told her to Alexander.


    After reading, Alexander let out a mockingugh.


    Quinn looked at him, puzzled, not understanding his meaning.


    Alexander held her face gently with his fingers, his tone much softer. "Since you''ve forgotten, let it go. As for Walter, consider it his lucky day."


    Quinn grew even more puzzled. What did he mean by ''his lucky day''?

 Chapter 539

    But he didn''t give Quinn a chance to think. He let go of Quinn, lifted the covers, and got off bed. Then he picked up the clothes Kyle had just brought, took off his hospital gown, and changed in front of Quinn. Quinn stared at him, seeing the chest strap wrapped around his chest after he took off his clothes.


    Kyle was right; he was really injured, and not lightly.


    She was lost in thought when Alexander suddenly nced at her, "Do I look good?"


    Quinn came to her senses, her face blushing instantly, quickly turning her head to avoid eye contact.


    Then, with a "click," she heard the sound of him buckling his belt.


    Alexander put on his shirt, sat down beside her, and turned her face back toward him.


    "It''s me who''s being looked at; why are you shy?"


    They were very close, just a slight movement away from their lips touching.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Quinn''s heart raced; she tilted her head slightly, avoiding his gaze.


    He chuckled. "Have you forgotten about our marriage?"


    Quinn was stunned again, subconsciously looking at him. At that moment, their lips met firmly.


    She widened her eyes in surprise, immediately trying to stand up, but a hand behind her waist pulled her back.


    Quinn started to panic.


    She couldn''t express her current feelings; she felt extremely ufortable all over and found it extremely awkward to see this face.


    The man took the initiative to kiss her on the lips, and Quinn sat there dumbfounded, her mind nk for a moment.


    He started with gentle kisses, gradually bing more dominant.


    Quinn''s fingers tightened instinctively, the pain in her palm instantly sobering her up, and she pushed him away abruptly.


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    She stood up and took two steps back, then saw the man leaning on the bed, one hand covering his wound, his face slightly pale.


    Quinn panicked again. She had just forgotten that this man still had injuries on him, and she felt somewhat at a loss for a moment. Alexander weakly raised his head to look at her. "Are you trying to murder your lover?"


    Upon hearing the word ''lover,'' Quinn''s face flushed again. She bit her lip, unsure how to respond to him.


    After all, it was just something he said, and she wasn''t sure if she was truly married to him.


    For so many years, to everyone else, and even to himself, she was just like a sister to him.


    Quinn didn''t think he would marry a sister.


    And over the years, she had thought she had hidden her inappropriate thoughts well, not letting anyone discover her feelings.


    So Alexander''s words disrupted her thoughts, leaving her mind nk.


    But at that moment, Kyle knocked on the door and entered. "Mr. Kennedy, I''ve made contact."


    Kyle saw Alexander''s weakplexion, and his voice softened, "I''ve reached out to Xavier."


    Alexander paused, sitting up, gently buttoning his shirt, his expression returning to normal. "What did he say?"


    "He said he''ll go along with your n, and he doesn''t care."


    Xavier had given in now. Ever since hepromised, he had be a man without desires or demands, simply wanting to resolve this issue quickly so that he could take his parents abroad and leave Amber Bay. At least for now, he couldn''t match up to Alexander, but who knew what the future held?


    Alexander got dressed and put on his coat. "Tell him to wait for me at The Wilson Group."


    "Okay."


    Kyle wanted to leave after speaking, but he nced at Quinn. He was puzzled. These two seemed distant yesterday, but today, they seemed to have reconciled.

 Chapter 540

    Was this what they mean by not holding grudges?


    "Mr. Kennedy do you need me to take Mrs. Kennedy back?"


    "No, follow me."


    As Alexander spoke, he took the lead, and Quinn, after a moment''s thought, quickly followed.


    Once in the car, Alexander didn''t speak to her again. Quinn kept ncing at him from the corner of her eye because Kyle had just called her Mrs. Kennedy.


    Alexander also mentioned that they were married.


    Thinking about this, Quinn felt uneasy again, her mind in turmoil.


    She felt like she was being ostracized from the world by everyone, and she was clueless. Whatever they said was gospel, and she was left with only two options: to trust or not to trust. She had lost her ability to judge for herself.


    In this quiet atmosphere, they arrived at the Wilson Group''s building.


    Xavier and thewyer were already waiting. The Wilson Group wasn''trge, but it wasn''t small either. It was a family business, with most of the shares held by the Wilson family.


    Xavier''s father had retired and held no shares. Together, Xavier''s and Xavier''s shares were about sixty percent, so acquiring the shares of these two individuals would be enough. The other shareholders had no chance to say.


    The issue now was that Alexander had already inherited Kennedy Enterprise so that he couldn''t own anotherpany. Once this contract was signed, it was unclear how he would manage it.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Landon was in a simr situation. Kennedy Enterprise''s overseaspanies were also under his name. Although they had merged, the formalities were not yetplete so that Landon couldn''t inherit The Wilson Group at the moment.


    He would try to stop Alexander from signing this contract. After the merger of the twopanies, he would be able to own shares of the Wilson Group as a shareholder, effectively inheriting the Wilson Group.


    Xavier might not match these two in tactics, but he could guess what they were up to by fighting for the Wilson Group.


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    Most likely, they wanted to transfer the assets of Kennedy Enterprise.


    With his sixty percent share here, the other shareholders had nochance to say. If they wanted, they could kick out those shareholders at any time and take over the entire Kennedy Enterprise. Therefore, nopany was more suitable than the Wilson Group.


    Thinking of this, Xavier couldn''t help but sneer, hoping these two would fight even harder.


    At this moment, the door of the meeting room suddenly opened. Alexander and the others walked in.


    Today, Walter didn''te, but Quinn reced him.


    Xavier immediately stood up, staring at Alexander. "There won''t be any more surprises today, right?" Alexander swaggered over, and Kyle astutely pulled out a chair for Quinn to sit on.


    Quinn nced at Alexander, who had already sat down, so she had no choice but to sit down as well.


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    Xavier raised his chin, and thewyer behind him quickly handed over the contract.


    Alexander took the contract and carefully examined it.


    All eyes in the meeting room were on him, but he remained calm, flipping through the contract unhurriedly.


    As time passed, Quinn felt like she was sitting ufortably beside him, not ustomed to this atmosphere.


    Just as Quinn was feeling ufortable, Alexander put down the contract. "Has your brother-inw signed it?"


    Upon hearing the word "brother-inw", Xavier felt uneasy all over and said impatiently, "He signed it a long time ago. We''re just waiting for your signature. Hurry up!"


    Alexander smiled and then ced the contract in front of Quinn. "Sign it."


    At this statement, everyone stared in disbelief at Alexander.


    Did he actually ask Quinn to sign it?

 Chapter 541

    Quinn was also somewhat stunned. Although she couldn''t understand the content of the document, she could still understand the few words of the equity transfer agreement written above.


    She looked at Alexander in confusion, silently asking him with her eyes what he meant.


    Xavier also asked, "Alexander, what do you mean? Are you nning to hand over the Wilson Group to a du...?"


    He didn''t finish the word "dummy" as Alexander shot him a nce.


    "To a what?"


    ''Of course, to a dummy. Isn''t this just a joke? Handing over such a bigpany to a dummy to y with?'' He brooded.


    He started to doubt if Alexander was out of his mind.


    Xavier held back his anger for a while before asking, "Why do you want her to sign?"


    Alexander replied, "Since you have chosen to transfer, after the transfer, the Wilson Group will have nothing to do with you anymore. What does it matter to you whom the Wilson Group will be transferred to?" Although what he said made sense, the Wilson Group was the hard work of two generations of the Wilsons, just like their own child.


    Naturally, he hoped that thepany would develop better after the transfer rather than being yed with like a toy and then discarded.


    If that were the case, Xavier couldn''t ept it. He would rather not transfer.


    Xavier said, "I don''t agree with transferring to Quinn. If you insist on doing so, then there''s no point in discussing further today."


    Upon hearing this, Alexander didn''t get angry. He smiled and said, "I advise you to think carefully about the consequences of acting on impulse."


    Xavier paused, realizing the truth behind his words.


    If he had a choice, how could he possibly transfer the shares?


    Xavier pondered for a long time, and Alexander was patient, waiting for him to think it through.


    After a while, Xavier looked at Alexander and said with less vigor in his voice, "Can you promise me that if thepany is handed over to her, it won''t go bankrupt?"


    Alexander replied, "If I want to deal with the Wilson Group, I have many ways to do so. There''s no need to waste so much time with you, do you think so?"


    Xavier fell silent for a moment, his expression finally easing.


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    Following Alexander''s words, he also realized that having Quinn sign this contract was the safest option for Alexander.


    Because Quinn was easy to control.


    With such a naive girl who obeyed his every word, what was there to worry about?


    In the future, if he wanted to reim some shares, it should be easy to do so from Quinn.


    If things took a turn for the worse and Kennedy Enterprise faced difficulties, the Wilson Group could potentially weather the storm with Quinn as thergest shareholder instead of Alexander, acting as a fallback for Alexander. With this in mind, Xavier finally saw the light. In this way, he felt that having Quinn sign would be safer than if Alexander signed. After all, the oue of the struggle between Alexander and Landon was still uncertain. "Alright, I trust you. Quinn, go ahead and sign."


    Quinn hesitated. She looked at Xavier and then at Alexander.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    The gazes of these two men encouraged her to sign the contract.


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    Alexander picked up the pen from the table, held her hand, ced the pen in her hand, and said, "Sign."


    Quinn hesitated for a moment. She found herself unexpectedly owning thispany, which seemed too surreal.


    She didn''t believe she could run apany.


    "Don''t worry, sign." He almostmanded her with thest word.


    Quinn''s fingers trembled. She endured the pain in her palm, held the pen, and signed her name on the contract.


    Alexander watched her write her name stroke by stroke, a faint smile ying on his lips.


    After signing the contract, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    Two copies of the contract were made, one for Kyle. Now that it was signed, they were ready to proceed with the transfer procedures.


    "Congrattions," Xavier said, with a hint of mockery in his tone.


    Alexander also said, "Congrattions to you, too. With early retirement, you can enjoy life now."


    Xavier''s expression changed slightly. He gave Alexander a cold stare and then turned and left.

 Chapter 542

    His wife, children, andpany were all gone. Now, Alexander was asking him to enjoy life. What was the difference between that and scolding him?


    After Xavier left, the meeting room became empty again.


    Alexander also put away all the fake emotions on his face, raised his hand, and pinched his brow.


    Kyle said, "Mr. Kennedy, I will start handling the transfer procedures this afternoon. Do you have any other orders?"


    "When is Freya''s next court date?"


    "It looks like it''s scheduled after Christmas. Xavier has withdrawn thewsuit, so now only Dorothy is following up on this matter."


    "After Christmas." Alexander muttered, remembering something else." Have you rescheduled the ticket to Sylvadora?"


    "No, I just got a refund, but I can buy it anytime.""Then buy it for the day after tomorrow."


    Kyle was a bit worried. "But Mr. Kennedy, can your body handle it?"


    Alexander was somewhat impatient. "Just follow my instructions!"


    Kyle dared not say more; he just nodded. "Yes, I understand."


    Alexander stood up, pulling Quinn up as well. "Let''s go."


    Kyle followed behind the two and then asked, "By the way, Mr. Kennedy, after thepany is transferred, how will things be arranged on the Wilson Group?"


    "It will remain the same as before." Alexander paused his steps, then remembered something and turned to look at Kyle. "Change the legal representative." "To whom?"


    "To you."


    Kyle''s mouth twitched. This was really a good thing that never came, and all the bad things were thrown at him.


    But the next moment, he heard Alexander say, "There are still forty percent of the shares of the Wilson Group unrecovered. When they are retrieved, you will keep 20%." Kyle''s eyes lit up.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Although he knew that Alexander did this to make him loyal to the Wilson Group, he was still happy. After all, with twenty percent of the shares and being the legal representative, his status had risen. He would no longer be just an employee; he was a boss to some extent now.


    And from what Alexander said, he was preparing to hand over the management of the Wilson Group to him.


    "Yes! I understand!" Kyle suppressed his excitement and promised Alexander that he would work hard.


    As they arrived at the parking lot, Kyle was so excited that he drove a bit roughly.


    Meanwhile, at the Kennedy Residence, Landon and Wayne were chatting in the study. Landon received a call and learned that the shares had been transferred to Quinn.


    He calmly put down his phone and informed Wayne about this.


    Wayne sneered. "He is openly challenging us. He used to hide his intentions, but now he directly let Quinn take over Xavier''spany. Isn''t this dering open warfare against us?"


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Landon took a sip of coffee gently. "You pushed him too hard."


    Wayne snorted coldly and remained silent.


    Kyle dropped off Alexander and Quinn at Regal Riverside. As he stopped the car, he looked at Alexander in the rearview mirror.


    Alexander was resting with his eyes closed, visibly exhausted.


    Kyle unconsciously lowered his voice. "Alexander, we''re here."


    Alexander opened his eyes, and Kyle immediately got out of the car to open the door for him.


    Just as he was about to open the door for Quinn, Kyle suddenly received a call. After hearing the news, his eyelid twitched.


    Kyle nced at Quinn, who was getting out of the car on the other side, and quietly approached Alexander, whispering, "Mr. Kennedy, it seems like Orion''s brother has passed away."

 Chapter 543

    Alexander paused in his steps, casting a sidelong nce at Kyle.


    "Seems like?"


    Kyle hesitated. "Yes, that''s what was said on the phone."


    "Kyle, take a moment to think before you speak; make sure to double-check before saying anything."


    Kyle wiped the sweat off his forehead and nodded hastily. "I understand; I''ll go check right away."


    Ignoring him, Alexander nced at Quinn, who was lost in thought, and then walked toward her, bypassing Kyle.


    Quinn lowered her head, feeling a bit at a loss.


    Alexander took her wrist and led her into the house, and she nervously followed behind him, asionally ncing up at him.


    Ms. Miller immediately greeted them, "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy."


    Upon hearing Ms. Miller''s address, Quinn''s heart skipped a beat.


    Alexander handed her over to Ms. Miller. "Get her changed out of these clothes."


    Ms. Miller hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Alright."


    Ms. Miller gestured for Quinn to follow. "Mrs. Kennedy, let''s go."


    ncing at Alexander, who had already sat down on the sofa, she followed Ms. Miller upstairs to the bedroom''s closet, surprised by the clothes inside.


    The style of these clothes waspletely different from Walter''s.


    These clothes looked more normal; at least she wouldn''t attract attention when going out.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Ms. Miller let her choose her clothes, and Quinn picked a sweater and a white down jacket.


    Ms. Miller looked at her outfit and nodded approvingly. "This looks much morefortable." Quinn pursed her lips, remaining silent.


    Ms. Miller turned and left, leaving Quinn sitting on the bed, taking out her phone to search for clues.


    After checking her phone, she noticed a notebook on the bedside table and picked it up to flip through.


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    There were few notes inside, even less than on her phone, and many pages had been torn out.


    Quinn didn''t know who tore them out, so she tossed the notebook back on the table after reading it.


    She didn''t know where to go now, so shey on the bed, staring nkly out of the window at the faint sunlight.


    Even if she was reluctant in her heart, she could only ept Alexander''s changes.


    Meanwhile, Kyle went to the hospital to confirm that Sebastian was still alive and that the person responsible for tracking Orion was a fool.


    Seeing Orion sitting outside the emergency room, they mistook the person inside as Sebastian, so when the body was wheeled out, they assumed it was Sebastian.


    In reality, Sebastian had already been transferred to a ward.


    Orion was sitting there to make a phone call.


    Sebastian had lost a lot of blood and needed a blood transfusion, but his blood type wasn''t avable in the hospital''s blood bank, so Orion was trying to arrange for blood from elsewhere. He stood at the door of the hospital room and spotted Kyle not far away.


    Both of them paused.


    After a moment of silence, Kyle walked over quickly, while Orion watched him warily, gripping his phone tightly.


    "What are you here for?"


    Kyle remained silent for a moment, then spoke carefully, "Orion, I came to see your friend."


    Orion sneered. "Stop acting; just say what you have to say."


    Kyle said, "After this incident, you should already understand in your heart that you and Quinn can''t be together. If you don''t want to involve more people, you''d better to divorce Quinn." Orion nced at him, scoffing. "Who does Alexander want to kill next?"


    "Orion, you know, this isn''t the best choice."


    Orion retorted, "He has injured Sebastian like this and still wants me to divorce Quinn; it is impossible!"


    Sebastian was his friend. Now, as Sebastiany in critical condition in the hospital due to Alexander, he couldn''t simply overlook it.

 Chapter 544

    How could he bear to look at Sebastian, lying in the sterile white of the hospital room, and he didn''t act?


    Divorce was an unthinkable option.


    Kyle''s brow furrowed, his tone shifting from its usual politeness. "Orion, are you nning to go against Alexander?"N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Orion''s voice was tinged with curiosity. "If Alexander is so concerned about Quinn, why did they divorce in the first ce?" Kyle found himself at a loss for words, the details of their separation unknown to him. "It''s absurd," Orion continued, his voiceced with scorn. "On one hand, he''s indifferent, yet he refuses to let go. Is he sick?"


    "Orion, mind yournguage," Kyle warned, his tone stern.


    Orion''s response was icy. "He''s ughtered many of my people, left Sebastian in this state, and nearly killed me. Do you expect me to be civil towards him?"


    Hearing this, Kyle knew the conversation was futile. He nodded and said, "In that case, you handle it yourself. Goodbye." Without waiting for Orion''s response, he turned and left the hospital room.


    Orion watched Kyle''s retreating figure, his fists clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles cracked. He turned his gaze to the hospital bed where Sebastiany in aa, an oxygen mask obscuring his face. He had lost so much blood that he was barely clinging to life.


    If anything happened to Sebastian, Orion swore he would never forgive Alexander.


    Once Kyle had left the hospital, he reported the incident to Alexander. Alexander casually tossed his phone aside and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze sweeping over the courtyard. The trees had shed nearly all their leaves, leaving a barrenndscape. The sun was hidden behind a thickyer of clouds, casting a dark hue over everything, the ground reflecting a near-white.


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    Quinn had been in the bedroom for several hours, growing increasingly bored, when a message from Walter appeared on her phone. She picked it up and saw that Walter was asking her toe out. Quinn scrolled up, but there was no previous chat history. It was as if this was the first time Walter had ever messaged her. She checked his Facebook profile, which was simrly devoid of activity. His profile picture, a ck upright knife against a ck background, seemed out of character for Walter.


    Quinn put her phone away and opened the door, only to find Alexander standing there. He was wearing a gray turtleneck sweater and casual pants, his tall frame towering over Quinn at the doorway. She looked up at him, a moment of confusion washing over her. He seemed familiar, like a figure from her memories.


    "What do you want?" Alexander''s voice snapped her back to reality. Quinn gestured towards her phone. "My brother asked me toe out." Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Brother?" Quinn didn''t understand his reaction but nodded in affirmation.


    Alexander chuckled. "You''re quick to get into character, calling him ''brother'' so soon." Quinn pursed her lips, not understanding hisment.


    But Alexander continued, his voice firm. "You''re not allowed to go see him."


    Quinn''s brow furrowed in confusion. Why? Before she could voice her question, Alexander grabbed her wrist, pushed her back into the room, and closed the door behind them. He pressed her against the door, his hand cupping her chin and forcing her to look at him.


    "I said no," he reiterated, his voice low and menacing.


    Quinn felt a surge of anger. She stared defiantly at him, her hand moving in a questioning gesture. "Why?"


    "No reason," he replied curtly.


    Quinn''s anger red. She tried to push him away, but before she could touch him, he caught both her hands. He lifted them above her head, pressing them against the door.

 Chapter 545

    Quinn''s fingers twitched, a wave of pain pulsating from the palm of her hand.


    Alexander lowered his gaze, leaning in close to Quinn, his breath ghosting over her face. "Who taught you?" he asked.


    Quinn''s brow furrowed in confusion, unable toprehend his question. Alexander offered no exnation. Instead, he leaned in even closer, their faces mere inches apart. Quinn instinctively tilted her head to avoid the proximity.


    His eyes darkened slightly as he used his free hand to gently turn her face towards him. "What, you still don''t recognize me?" he questioned.


    Quinn bit her lip, her gaze flitting over his face for a moment before she lowered her eyes. It wasn''t that she didn''t recognize him, it was that she couldn''t ept it.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Just then, the shrill ring of Quinn''s phone sliced through the tense silence. Alexander''s gaze dropped to her pocket where the persistent sound originated. He reached in, pulling out the device to see the caller ID - Orion. He cast a nce at Quinn upon seeing the name, but she offered no reaction. The events of yesterday seemed like a distant memory to her, and the current Orion was nothing more than a vaguely familiar stranger.


    Alexander promptly ended Orion''s call and returned the phone to her pocket. Quinn attempted to break free from his grasp, and this time, Alexander let her. She spun around to flee, only to be halted by Alexander who was now blocking the door. She turned to face him, her eyes questioning.


    "Have you taken your medicine?" Alexander inquired. Quinn was taken aback, her mind shing back to the notebook she had seen earlier, reminding her to take her medication. But she hadn''t.


    Alexander tilted his head, instructing, "Go take your medicine first."


    Quinn held his gaze for a moment, sensing that he wouldn''t let her leave without taking the medicine. Resigned, she moved to the bedside and retrieved the medicine from the cab.


    She followed the instructions, popping two pills into her mouth. She reached for the brand new bottle of mineral water on the bedside table, but her injured hand made it impossible to open. Just then, a slender hand reached out, taking the bottle from her. The cap was effortlessly unscrewed and handed back to her.


    Quinn epted the water, tilting her head back to swallow the pills. Once done, she raised her hand in a questioning gesture. "Is it okay now?" Alexander responded with a slight nod of his chin, signaling his approval. Without wasting a moment, Quinn bolted out of the room.


    Descending the stairs, she found Walter lounging arrogantly on the sofa, sipping tea served by Ms. Miller. Quinn approached him, her eyes fixed on his face. Walter nced at her under his lifted eyelids, then shed a smile. "Sit down," he suggested.


    Quinn remained standing, her gaze unwavering. The idea of having a family still felt surreal to her. She studied Walter, as if trying to etch his appearance into her memory.


    Suddenly, Walter seemed to remember something. He set down his tea cup and extended his hand towards Quinn. "Where''s your phone?" Quinn reached into her pocket and handed him the device. Walter navigated to her Facebook messages, made some changes, and updated his contact name to "brother."


    After changing all the contact names, he returned the phone to Quinn. "Now you''ll remember," he said. Quinn barely acknowledged the phone, her mind preupied. "You said you''re my brother, so where is my home?" she gestured. Walter chuckled, his gaze filled with meaning as he looked at Quinn. She shifted ufortably under his scrutiny, tilting her head as she awaited his response. A flicker of nervousness sparked within her. If he was really her brother, could she go home then?


    "I thought you liked it here so much that you''re reluctant to go home," he said. Quinn hesitated before shaking her head in denial. Walter was about to respond when the sound of footsteps echoed behind him. Both of them turned to see Alexander descending the stairs.

 Chapter 546

    "Who let him in?" Alexander''s query hung in the air, his gaze fixed on the room''s sole upant, Ms. Miller. She squirmed under his scrutiny, her difort evident as she struggled to formte a response. Before she could utter a word, Walter rose from the plush sofa, a smile ying on his lips. "Didn''t you extend an invitation for me to apany you on a business trip to Sylvadora, Alexander? I thought it prudent to arrive early. Surely, there''s no issue with that?"


    Alexander''s gaze slid from Walter''s face to Quinn''s, his eyes narrowing as he noted the change in her expression. Quinn was looking at Walter with newfound respect, her eyes reflecting the affection of a sister for her brother. Undeterred by the cold stare Alexander directed at him, Walter maintained his smile, allowing the scrutiny.


    A palpable tension filled the air, the silent exchange between the two men fraught with unspoken words.Abruptly, Alexander turned to Quinn, his voice icy as hemanded, "Go to your room."


    Ordinarily, Quinn would haveplied without question, but this time, she hesitated, her eyes darting to Walter.


    Alexander''s expression darkened further at her defiance.


    "Go!" he barked, causing Quinn to tremble.


    Walter chuckled, his amusement clear. "Look at you, being so fierce, you''re scaring my sister."


    "Quinn, go back to your room," Alexander repeated, his tone brooking no argument.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Quinnplied, retreating silently to her room. Alexander''s face remained impassive, but the twitching veins on his forehead betrayed his agitation.


    "Alexander, this isn''t working. She can''t remember anything. Why not just deceive her?" Walterined.


    "Alexander, your acting skills have always been superb, why falter now?" Walter queried, his toneced with sarcasm.


    Alexander moved to sit opposite Walter, his gaze frosty. "In terms of acting, I believe no one can surpass you, Walter." "Oh? How so?" Walter asked, intrigued.


    Alexander sneered, "I hope when we go to Sylvadora the day after tomorrow, we can still witness your superb acting skills."


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    Walter''s smile faltered slightly.


    "Are you nning to take Quinn along as well?" he asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "What''s wrong with that?"


    "Of course, nothing. It seems you know everything." Walter shot Alexander a meaningful nce. "Then I''m even more curious, what is your purpose this time?"Alexander chose not to respond.


    Walter leaned back, changing the subject. "So, which room am I staying in tonight?"


    "Up to you." Alexander rose abruptly, leaving Walter behind as he ascended the staircase.


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    During dinner, Alexander ignored himpletely, prompting Walter to take a seat at the table and eat alone.


    Quinn observed the two men from the sidelines, sensing an undercurrent of tension but unable to pinpoint its source.


    After dinner, she retreated to her room.Just as she settled into bed, Alexander followed her in, his unexpected presence making her nervous. She watched him warily as he approached the bed and slid in beside her. Quinn instinctively tried to rise, but Alexander''s arms snaked around her waist, pulling her back.


    "Where are you going?" he asked, his intense gaze sending shivers down her spine.


    Quinn gestured with her hand, indicating her intention to sleep elsewhere.


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed as he tightened his hold, pulling her against his chest. His sweater was soft against her cheek, and she caught a faint scent of him.


    "So, you don''t want to sleep with me?" he asked, his voice low and challenging.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

 Chapter 547

    Alexander''s voice was deep and maic, his breath brushing against Quinn''s ear, setting off a ticklish sensation. She lowered her head, her eyes tracing the patterns on his sweater as her heart pounded in her chest. "Because you got sick, you started misbehaving?" Alexander''s words hung in the air. Quinn, slightly startled, lifted her head to meet his gaze. His eyes were deep, unfathomable.


    They were married. Quinn''s heart was in turmoil. She had always wanted to marry Alexander, but not this version of him. However, he was indeed Alexander, unmistakably so, and she couldn''t deny this marriage just because she was sick. She loved Alexander, that was beyond doubt. Regardless of what form he took, he was still the man she loved. Her inability to ept him didn''t negate her love for him. Quinn''s emotions were a whirlwind, her feelingsplex and tangled. After a moment of silence, Quinn''s resistant gaze softened. She shook her head slightly, her eyes reflecting her internal struggle. Alexander''s fingers lightly brushed her cheek, his voice a whisper, "So now, what should you do?" Perhaps his gentleness was disarming, causing Quinn to momentarily forget his usually cold demeanor.


    Suppressing her nervousness, she leaned towards him, her lips seeking his. But in the next moment, Alexander turned his head, avoiding her kiss. Quinn froze, her mind racing. Had she crossed a line? Perhaps his words held a different meaning.


    Alexander pulled her closer, pressing her head against his chest. His voice was a whisper in her ear, "Take out your phone, open the camera, and record it." His breath grazed her ear, "This way, you won''t forget in the future." Quinn stiffened, her eyes wide with surprise. She lifted her head to look at him, his smile was slight, tempting, no different from the man in her memory. He was still him, capable of returning to his old self at any time. He could always be the person Quinn loved the most.


    "Go ahead," he urged. Quinn bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, butplied. She sat up, took out her phone, and opened the camera. She ced the phone on the bedside table, adjusting it to capture the scene.


    "Get something to prop it up," Alexander instructed. Quinn fetched a tissue box to support the phone, using a half-empty bottle of mineral water to stabilize it. The camera now captured both the bed and the bedside.


    Her face flushed as she returned to the bed, Alexander''s arms encircling her waist. He positioned her on hisp, leaning against the head of the bed. The phone screen showed a clear recording.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


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    "Now we can begin," he said, his hands cradling her crimson cheeks. Quinn lowered her head, gathering her courage. After a moment, she lifted her head and leaned in to kiss him. Her hands wrapped around his neck, her lips clumsily meeting his.


    Despite her mentalpse, her body remembered. As she kissed him, she felt a sense of familiarity. But Alexander seemed to think she was too slow. He pinched her waist and turned her around, their positions switched in a dizzying whirl. He held Quinn''s waist with one hand, supporting the back of her head with the other, kissing her forcefully.


    Quinn was almost breathless under his intense kiss. Alexander turned off the room''s light, leaving only the two dim and ambiguous lights at the head of the bed, casting long shadows in the room.

 Chapter 548

    A warm, inviting light bathed the bedside, casting the distinct shadows of two figures. The phone lying nearby served as a silent witness, recording every detail of the unfolding scene.


    Exhaustion clung to her like a second skin, teetering on the edge of sleep. When she was on the verge of falling asleep, he carried her to the bathroom and left the phone with her before departing.


    When Quinn''s eyes fluttered open again, the sun was already high in the sky, signaling the arrival of the next day. As her senses came to life, she found herself cradled in the man''s arms.


    A moment of stunned silence washed over Quinn before she instinctively pushed against Alexander''s chest, struggling to rise. Alexander''s eyes snapped open at her sudden movement. He took in her panicked expression and sighed, a sound barely louder than a whisper.


    Wordlessly, he extended the phone towards her. Quinn epted it, her gaze filled with confusion. But he was already drawing her back into his embrace, his head nestled in the crook of her neck as he drifted back to sleep.


    Quinn unlocked the phone, and a three-hour-long video appeared on the screen. The sight of her own face, captured in the first frame, greeted her. She watched herself cing the phone on the bedside table. As the video yed, a blush crept up Quinn''s cheeks. Alexander had managed to capture every detail.


    The shock of it all was too much for Quinn, who had only just woken up. She felt overwhelmed. The dull ache that throbbed within her served as a cruel reminder of the video''s authenticity.


    Quinn didn''t watch the video to the end, only making it halfway through before Alexander snatched the phone from her. He locked the screen, tossed it aside nonchntly, and wrapped his arms around her waist. He whispered into her ear, "It seems you''ve forgotten again. Let me jog your memory."


    Meanwhile, Walter had finished his lunch. He nced up at the staircase and addressed Ms. Miller, "They haven''te down yet. Why don''t you go up and call them?"


    Ms. Miller responded awkwardly, "Alexander said there''s no need to call."


    "Is that so?" Walter leaned back in his chair, lighting a cigarette. His gaze drifted upstairs, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Our Alexander is truly a trooper, even with his injuries."


    Ms. Miller found hisment peculiar. She had thought Alexander was in good health. Walter, perhaps sensing her confusion, borated, "Don''t you know? He broke two ribs. Yesterday it was two, who knows how many today"


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    His voice dripped with malice as he added, "Who knows, he might be dead by now."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Ms. Miller could only muster a forced smile, not daring to utter another word.


    Just then, the sound of high heels echoed from the entrance. Ms. Miller looked up to find Getty striding in.


    Getty''s confident steps carried her into the living room. Not finding the person she was looking for, she called out, "Alexander!"


    "Getty." The sound of her name made her pause and turn to the left.


    Walter emerged from the dining room, a chuckle escaping his lips. "Looks like you are feeling better."


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Getty furrowed her brows, struggling to ce him. "What are you doing here?"


    "If you can be here, why can''t I be here?" Walter retorted.


    Getty pursed her lips, not in the mood for a verbal spar. "Where''s Alexander?" "Him?" Walter chuckled softly, "He''s probably still lost in thend of tenderness." Getty''s expression shifted, a mix of anger and jealousy shing in her eyes. "That mute has already gotten married to someone else." she spat out. Walter raised an eyebrow slightly. "Getty, how do you know?"

 Chapter 549

    Getty''s voice bore an impatient edge as she retorted, "It''s stered all over the inte, how could I not know? Don''t you?"


    Walter, taken aback, hesitated. Truth be told, he was oblivious, having never been one to keep abreast of the entertainment news.


    With a flick of her wrist, Getty unlocked her phone and nonchntly presented him with a trending search. "See for yourself," shemanded.


    epting the device, Walter scrolled through the feed with a casual air. The hot topic of the day was an incident at the City Hall, where two men had been caught on camera, brawling over a woman.


    Under normal circumstances, such an event would be mundane, but the protagonist of this spectacle was none other than Alexander. Given the previous rumors linking Alexander and Getty, the public had naturally assumed they were an item. However, the revtion that Alexander was now fighting over another woman with a man named Orion, whose identity was subsequently exposed as the second son of the Heart Entertainment Group, added ayer of intrigue to the gossip. The higher the status of the individuals involved, the juicier the scandal.


    Their involvement in such a brawl was a deviation from their usual behavior, and this deviation piqued the public''s interest to an unprecedented degree. The question on everyone''s lips was, who was the woman who had ignited such a fierce rivalry between these two proud men?N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    The photographs suggested that Alexander hade off second best in the fight. As a consequence, Getty found herself caught in the crossfire, with the public demanding an exnation.


    Having discovered the news, Getty had tried to reach Alexander, but to no avail. She had no choice but toe here.


    After digesting the information, Walter returned the phone to Getty, a chuckle escaping his lips as he remained silent.


    Getty grumbled, "Now you understand, don''t you? He didn''t even attempt to manage this situation. Just when the rumors about us had started to fade, he''s stirred the pot again, adding insult to injury." Walter''s chuckle deepened. "He''s currently upied with a business trip to Sylvadora, so naturally, he can''t be bothered with this."


    In fact, this news had no bearing on Alexander. Regardless of whether he addressed it or not, it wouldn''t affect him. After all, he didn''t care about his reputation.


    Getty was taken aback. "He said he was going on a business trip, to Sylvadora?"


    "What? Didn''t he tell you?"


    Frustration crept into Getty''s voice. "Of course not, if he had, would I be asking you?"


    After a moment''s thought, she turned to Walter, "Him and you, anyone else?"


    Walter raised an eyebrow, "Why don''t you ask him yourself, Getty."


    Getty''s gaze narrowed suspiciously at Walter. Even though he remained silent, she could guess the truth.


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    Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Alexander, descending from upstairs. He was dressed casually, not deeming Walter a stranger. He wore a silver robe, his chest exposed but shielded by a chest belt, ensuring nothing crucial was visible.


    Upon seeing him, Getty immediately approached him. "Alexander, hello."


    As she neared, Getty could clearly see the faint scratch marks on his shoulders and chest, unmistakably left by a woman. She could easily envision how those marks had been made.


    Jealousy surged within Getty, her nails producing a cracking sound as she clenched her fists. She attempted to mask her feelings, but her slightly distorted features betrayed her inner turmoil.


    "Why are you here?" Alexander nced at her, then sidestepped her to retrieve a cigarette from the coffee table. He settled onto the sofa, lighting up.


    Getty followed, standing beside him and asked, "Have you seen the news?"


    "I haven''t, not interested."

 Chapter 550

    Getty took out her cell phone, extending it towards him, the screen illuminated with a message. "You''re not even slightly intrigued by this?" she asked.


    Alexander cast a nonchnt nce at the device, his emotions as still as a cidke. He took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke escaping from between his lips as he responded with a dismissive air, "Why should I be?" Getty was momentarily lost for words. She slid onto the seat beside him, her tone pleading, "Can you at least address it? Those people won''t stop hounding me." "If you ignore them, there won''t be an issue, right?" he retorted.


    A twitch of annoyance crossed Getty''s face. His indifferent attitude made it clear that he had no intention of involving himself in this matter.


    Undeterred, she pressed on, "Is the news urate? Did that dummy really marry Orion?"


    Alexander paused, turning his gaze towards Getty. His intense, ocean-deep stare made her skin prickle with unease.


    Despite her difort, she summoned the courage to continue, "It appears to be true, so why do you still keep her here? She''s another man''s wife now.


    "Even if you disregard this news, harboring another man''s wife in your home..."


    "Getty," Alexander cut her off abruptly, "Didn''t I explicitly tell you not to visit unless absolutely necessary?"


    Getty''s words faltered, dying on her lips.


    She stared at Alexander, a wave of hurt washing over her, causing her eyes to glisten with unshed tears. She had believed that she held a special ce in his heart, especially after he had risked his life to save her. But now, his cold indifference was a bitter pill to swallow.


    The more she pondered, the more her heart ached. Tears welled up, spilling over her cheeks. Alexander sighed, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray, his tone softening, "Alright, go back. I''ll take care of this matter." His concession rekindled hope in Getty''s wounded heart. She clung to his arm, her voice choked with emotion, "Can you not keep Quinn here?"


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    "Getty, I told you to leave. Can''t you understand?"


    Getty opened her mouth to protest, but her words were cut short by Quinn''s arrival.


    Quinn descended the stairs, her body aching and her stomach growling with hunger. She hade in search of food, but instead found herself walking into an intimate scene between Getty and Alexander. Getty nced over her shoulder at Quinn, her anger ring. The dummy was indeed here!


    "Alexander!" she began, but was interrupted by Alexander''s sudden rise from his seat, his gaze frosty.


    "Getty, can''t you understand what I''m saying?"


    "Alexander, why are you treating...?" Getty''s voice trembled, but before she could finish her sentence, Alexander cut her off, his voice rising in anger.


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    Getty froze, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Alexander in disbelief.


    For the first time in their years of acquaintance, he had told her to leave, not in jest or with a yful tone, but with palpable anger.


    His icy stare was as sharp as shards of ss, piercing through her.


    Getty stood there, dumbfounded, her mind a whirl of confusion.


    Walter, leaning against the staircase, watched the scene unfold with a smirk. He nced up at Quinn, who was equally bewildered. After all, she couldn''t recognize Quinn now. Neither did she know the reason why Alexander was so furious. "Alexander, are you serious?" Getty''s voice wavered, a hint of hoarseness creeping in. Tears streamed down her face, her expression pitiful.

 Chapter 551

    Several pairs of eyes bore into Getty''s back, their collective gaze making her flush with embarrassment. It was a novel experience for her, this public humiliation, especially in front of Quinn. The roles were usually reversed, with Quinn being the one in the spotlight of difort. Getty found herself wondering what had transpired in recent days that had led to this unexpected role reversal.


    Alexander inhaled deeply, his gaze icy as he stared down at Getty. His voice was frosty as he enunciated each word with deliberate precision. "Getty, leave. I won''t repeat myself."


    Getty met his gaze, the cold ruthlessness in his eyes causing a surge of anxiety within her. She had a sinking feeling that if she dared to defy Alexander again, he would sever their rtionship without a second thought. Mute with fear, she clutched her bag tightly, swallowing down her grievances and the sting of injustice. Rising to her feet, she cast onest affectionate nce at Alexander before making her exit, her departure a pitiful sight. Quinn watched Getty''s retreating figure with a puzzled expression. She turned to Walter, her eyes questioning. Walter merely chuckled in response. "It''s none of your business. Are you hungry?"


    It was only then that Quinn remembered her original purpose. She patted her stomach, nodding in affirmation of her hunger.


    "Then let''s eat," Walter suggested, "Don''t dwell on those messy matters. Even if you figure it out, you won''t remember it anyway."


    Quinn hesitated. Walter''s words, though true, filled her with a sense of mncholy. Every day, she woke up with no recollection of the previous day''s events. Each morning felt like a moment frozen in time, with only distant memories to keep herpany.


    There was no yesterday.


    Every time she discovered her illness, the notes in her notebooks and on her phone felt like remnants of a dream, with no memory attached. Despite epting her situation, the feeling of disconnection from the world and reality was a constantpanion. Every day, she questioned her ce in the world, feeling alienated from everyone around her. She felt like an outsider.


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    Seeing her lost in thought, Walter waved his hand in front of her face. "What are you thinking? I told you not to think about it."


    Quinn snapped out of her reverie, casting aplicated nce at Walter.


    As she lifted her gaze, she caught sight of Alexander not far off. His blue eyes were trained on her and Walter, his expression unreadable. Yet, Quinn felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She quickly averted her gaze and made her way to the dining room.


    The food on the table was still warm, and Walter had barely touched his meal. Most of the dishes remained untouched. Ms. Miller invited her to eat, clearing away the dishes that Walter had used. Alexander, meanwhile, had retreated upstairs.


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    After the meal, Quinn settled on the sofa to watch TV, with Walter sitting beside her. Every so often, she would steal a nce at him. He seemed engrossed in the television, but his gaze was unfocused, his mind clearly elsewhere. Quinn wanted to ask him about her home, about her parents. She longed to go home.


    Perhaps her gaze was too intense, for Walter suddenly turned to look at her, a smile ying on his lips. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Quinn remained silent for a moment before gesturing, "Where is our home?" Walter''s gaze followed her fingers as she finished her gesture. The smile on his lips gradually faded. "Our home?" he echoed slowly, his toneced with a hint of something unspoken. It was unclear whether he was addressing Quinn or speaking to himself.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Regardless, Quinn nodded, her eyes filled with expectation, hoping to get an answer from him. Suddenly, Walter reached out, his finger lightly touching her forehead. He held her gaze for a long moment before finally speaking. "No rush, you''ll remember on your own."

 Chapter 552

    A sudden recollection of her illness left Quinn mildly startled. She gestured once more, her voiceced with uncertainty. "Do I often ask you the same question?" She wondered if her repetitive questioning was beginning to wear on his patience. Walter regarded her with an inscrutable smile. "Quinn," he began, his tone gentle yet firm, "You must seek the answers to some questions yourself. The words of others may not always ring true." His smile slowly faded, reced by a more serious expression. "Youck involvement, as if you''re just observing life unfold on a television screen. What good is knowledge if you can''t connect with the characters? If you can''t empathize?"


    Taken aback, Quinn stared nkly at Walter. His words held a certain truth that she couldn''t deny. Yet, if she adhered to his advice, she feared she might not remember anything at all. Would she ever be able to reim her past? With a renewed sense of urgency, Quinn asked, "What about Mom and Dad? Do they want to see me?"


    Walter''s response was a silent smile, his gaze fixed on Quinn with an expression she couldn''t quite decipher.


    Just then, Kyle made his entrance, paying no mind to the pair as he made a beeline for the study. He knocked on the door before entering, a stack of documents in hand. He ced them on the desk, addressing Alexander. "All the formalities areplete. The Wilson family shares have been transferred to Quinn''s name. Should we change thepany''s name?"


    "Not for now," Alexander replied, picking up the documents and flipping through them. "Also, take care of the news."


    "The Civil Affairs Bureau?" Kyle asked, seeking rification.


    "Yes," Alexander confirmed.


    "Understood. I''ll handle it right away."


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    As Kyle prepared to leave, he paused, a sudden thought crossing his mind. "One more thing, how should we address Orion and Quinn''s situation?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Alexander halted his perusal of the documents, looking up at Kyle with a thoughtful expression. Kyle didn''t quite understand his silence but he pressed on. "Orion seems adamant about not divorcing. Should we intervene?" "No need," Alexander replied, his voice steady. "First, draft the divorce agreement and bring it to me for further review."


    "Understood."


    Once Kyle had left, Alexander resumed his examination of the documents, his expression somewhat distant. Abruptly, he tossed the documents aside. The foldernded on the desk, scattering the other papers across the surface. The faint sound of the disturbance reached Quinn, who was seated below. She instinctively nced towards the upper floor. Walter chuckled softly, "Don''t look. Let him stew in his own thoughts."


    Quinn looked puzzled. Why would Alexander be upset? In her memory, he rarely disyed anger, at least not in front of her. He always wore a smile. Now, every time she saw him in this state, she felt a wave of unease. Walter didn''t answer her question, instead picking up the remote to change the channel. Perhaps he believed she wouldn''t remember his exnation, making it a futile effort.


    Quinn lowered her gaze, staring at her toes. She felt a pang of self-loathing for this forgetful side of herself. Suddenly, she heard Alexander''s name on the television and her head shot up. The screen disyed a photograph of Alexander and Getty shopping, with the host narrating in the background. The headline was clear, "The Kennedy Enterprise heir Alexander''s rtionship with Getty seems to have hidden depths."

 Chapter 553

    The images on the screen transitioned once more, returning to an array of Getty''s photographs. Among them were her artistic portraits and stills from various scenes.


    Quinn''s gaze was drawn to the woman she had encountered earlier. Her eyes flickered with recognition.


    Getty. Rtionship.


    These two words echoed in her mind, reverberating like a persistent drumbeat.


    However, before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, Walter had already changed the channel. The screen now disyed a sci-fi series, pulling her attention away from her internal musings.


    Quinn''s gaze dropped to the floor, her mind void of any particr thoughts. She knew thate morning, she would remember none of this. Sometimes, she found herself questioning whether her condition was a blessing or a curse.


    As the afternoon waned, Walter left the house for a few hours, only to return around eight or nine in the evening. Upon his return, he handed Quinn a small box. "Put this on your wrist," he instructed.


    Inside the box was a sleek, white watch. It had no hands or timer, but the screen reflected the ceiling and her own face. Walter exined, "This is a miniature camera. You can wear it on your wrist to record everything that happens each day, so you don''t have to flip through your notebook every day."


    Quinn was taken aback. She carefully removed the watch from the box, examining it in her hand. The camera was capable of capturing a 360-degree view, epassing almost everything around her, including herself.


    Just as she was about to fasten it around her wrist, another hand swooped in, snatching the watch away. Quinn instinctively looked up, finding Alexander standing next to her. She hadn''t noticed his arrival. Alexander toyed with the watch in his hand, ncing at it briefly before turning his gaze to Walter. "Give it here," he demanded.


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    Walter feigned ignorance, a smile ying on his lips. "What thing?"


    "The receiver."


    Walter shrugged nonchntly. "What is that?"


    Alexander didn''t engage in the banter, his intense stare making it clear he wouldn''t back down until Walterplied. With a resigned sigh and a chuckle, Walter reached into his pocket, pulling out a ck, palm-sized screen. He tossed it to Alexander, who caught it with ease. After a quick inspection, Alexander tossed the watch back to Quinn.


    Catching the watch, Quinn nced between the two men. Neither spoke, so she silently fastened the watch around her wrist.


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    "It''s time to sleep," Alexander announced abruptly, turning to ascend the stairs. Quinn quickly followed, her gaze falling to the watch on her wrist. She thought of the videos on her phone, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.


    That night, Alexander didn''t enter the bedroom. Quinny in bed for a while, only closing her eyes and sumbing to sleep when she was certain he wouldn''te in.


    The next morning, as dawn was breaking, Quinn was jolted awake by a pair of cold hands. She sat up groggily, her eyes half-open as she was handed a ss of water and a pill. Alexander made sure she swallowed the pill before leading her downstairs.


    By the time Quinn was fully awake, they were already at the airport. She followed Alexander in a daze, passing through security, boarding the ne, and eventually falling asleep during the flight.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    She dreamt on the ne. It was a long, vivid dream, filled with images of her parents. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t see their faces clearly. Theirughter echoed in her ears, their voices familiar yet distant. Quinn found herself in her mother''s arms, enveloped in theforting scent of gardenias. Her mother''s embrace was warm, a tangible embodiment of love.

 Chapter 554

    They loved her very much. Her father would hoist her high into the sky, take her on soaring airne rides, and she would perch atop his shoulders, feeling the rush of the wind against her face as he ran. It was a sensation so tangible, yet it brought her such joy.


    In her dreams, there was an abundance ofughter and happiness, a home filled with warmth and contentment that she had yearned for over the span of two decades. However, dreams were just that - dreams. Even within these dreams, Quinn felt like an outsider, peering at the family of three with a mixture of longing and envy.


    In her dreams, everything beautiful seemed hazy, but what stood out most vividly to her were the twenty years she spent under the roof of the Kennedys. There, she bore the brunt of disdain and insults, beingbeled as an orphan and a wild child for countless years.


    The years at the Kennedys were shrouded in darkness and gloom, the ugly faces of the people concealed in the shadows, like devils lurking in the dark. Amidst this darkness, only Alexander shone brightly, his white shirt a beacon in the gloom. To Quinn, Alexander was a sanctuary in a storm, a refuge she sought without hesitation. He was her lifeline, her protector for many years.


    In Quinn''s mind, these strange dreams yed on a loop, happiness and sadness intertwining, leaving her heart in a state of turmoil. Quinn found herself in chaos within the dream, surrounded by a cacophony of voices, unable to discern whether they were hurling insults at her or calling out her name.


    These voices blended together, bing indistinct and eerie, like standing on the precipice of hell, with countless ghosts luring her to descend into the abyss. Quinn retreated, attempting to escape these voices, her only option was to run wildly.


    "Quinn."


    "Quinn?"


    Amidst the pandemonium, a clear voice emerged, as if descending from the heavens, cutting through the blurry and chaotic voices, piercing the darkness and reaching her ears. Quinn felt a sudden void beneath her feet, a sensation of weightlessness.


    She opened her eyes abruptly and found herself staring into a pair of deep-set eyes. As she gazed at the face before her, the surrounding voices gradually became distinct, they were the voices of the passengers.


    The fear and confusion from the dream still lingered in Quinn''s mind, her eyshes fluttered, and tears streamed down her cheeks. The man raised his hand to wipe the tears from her face, his fingertips slightly cool, grounding Quinn''s thoughts.


    "Having a nightmare?"


    Quinn stared nkly at him, and after a moment, Walter''s voice echoed from above, "Everyone has left, and you two are still here, lost in your own world."


    Quinn was taken aback, she looked up and realized that she had been nestled in Alexander''s arms, her tears had soaked the front of his shirt. Walter leaned against Alexander''s seat, one hand holding a bag, observing the two of them.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free!


    Several flight attendants in the aisle watched them with amused smiles. Quinn''s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly rose from her seat. Alexander remained unperturbed, ignoring Walter and the flight attendants on either side, he removed his sunsses, retrieved Quinn''s coat from her seat, and walked out with it.


    "Don''t need the luggage?" Walter smirked, reaching up to retrieve the items from the overheadpartment, his hands full. He even suspected that Alexander had summoned him to act as a porter.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander guided Quinn off the ne and towards the exit. As they stepped into the airport lobby, Quinn could feel that Sylvadora was considerably warmer than Amber Bay. Despite wearing a sweater, she still felt a touch of heat. Amidst the bustling crowd, a clear and loud shout of "Alexander!" could be heard.

 Chapter 555

    Quinn''s gaze shifted upwards, immediatelynding on a man of middle age, nestled within the throng of people. He was in his prime, somewhere between his thirties and forties, yet his body bore the weight of excess, his girth quite pronounced.


    He wore a vibrant short-sleeved shirt that strained against his expansive belly, resembling a woman seven or eight months into her pregnancy. A pair of sunsses rested atop his head, and a chunky gold ne encircled his neck. His face, plump and jovial, disyed a smile that hinted at a touch of foolishness.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    nking the rotund man were two individuals, their attire mirroring his own. They held aloft a banner that bore a bold promation: "Wee Alexander to Sylvadora." Their garish ensemble painted them as caricatures of viins, prompting the surrounding crowd to give them a wide berth. Their ostentatious disy was excessive, bordering on embarrassing.


    Yet, Alexander remained unperturbed. He casually removed a pair of sunsses that matched the fat man''s, discarding them into a nearby trash can. The sight elicited a chuckle from Walter.


    As Alexander guided Quinn towards the exit, the fat man promptly beckoned someone over to greet him. "Alexander, you''re finally here. The car is waiting outside, please, this way," he gestured invitingly, his gaze then shifting to Quinn. She was d in a thick, white sweater, her hair fashioned into a bun atop her head. A few stray strands hung loosely by her ears, entuating her petite face. "Why is this girl dressed so thickly?" the man queried awkwardly, his eyes darting towards Quinn several times.


    She appeared delicate, the epitome of a fresh-faced college girl. Her face was devoid of makeup, yet her skin was fair and smooth, akin to a peeled egg, its surface reflecting light as if it could glow. The fat man admired her inwardly, acknowledging Alexander''s taste.


    Feeling his gaze upon her, Quinn lowered her head further, revealing the nape of her neck adorned with fine strands of hair. The man found himself staring at her neck, gulping involuntarily.


    As he continued to gaze at Quinn, a sudden chill swept across his forehead. He instinctively looked up, only to be met with Alexander''s icy stare. Startled, he chuckled nervously, "Alexander, you don''t need to dress so thickly in Sylvadora. It''s eighteen or neen degrees during the day, perfect for short sleeves."


    Alexander didn''t respond to hisment, instead asking, "Where''s the car?"


    "It''s in the parking lot, this way," the fat man gestured, leading the way while carefully avoiding looking at Quinn. "Is it just the three of you, Alexander?"


    "Yes."


    The fat man opened the door of a Porsche, chuckling. "You can take this one, I''ll be your driver." Walter nonchntly tossed the luggage into the trunk and imed the front passenger seat. Alexander guided Quinn to the back seat.


    As the fat man drove them out of the airport, he enthusiastically introduced them to Sylvadora and its numerous attractions. Sylvadora was indeed a popr vacation spot, especially during the winter, drawing in tourists from far and wide. This fat man was the property owner of Sylvadora, owning approximately eighty percent of the hotels and resorts in the area. Walter raised an eyebrow, suddenly saying, "You''re... Quentin Ford, right?"


    The fat man scratched his round belly andughed. "I''m not worthy of that title in front of Alexander. You can just call me Fatso, many people do."


    Walter chuckled. "You''re quite an interesting person, no wonder Alexander is working with you."


    "Well, I heard that Kennedy Enterprise was looking to invest in the tourism industry, so I submitted a bid with a trial mindset. ver expected Alexander toe in person to discuss; it truly caught me off guard.."

 Chapter 556

    Walter nodded in affirmation. "Alexander has always had a keen eye for character. Now that I''ve had the pleasure of meeting you, I see the truth in his assessment. Quentin Ford, you are indeed a fascinating individual."


    At this, Volume''s heartyughter filled the air, his amusement evident. "Careful with your praise, I''m prone to letting it go to my head," he warned, his eyes twinkling with mirth.


    "I''ve had the opportunity to peruse the bid book you submitted, Quentin Ford," Walter continued, smoothly transitioning into business matters. "The n ismendable. In line with our thoughts, we propose initiating trials in two cities. If the results are promising, we can then gradually expand the scope of the n."


    Volume was momentarily taken aback. He hadn''t anticipated diving into business discussions so promptly, especially when he was still in the midst of receiving ttery.


    The tourism industry in Sylvadora had ceased to satisfy his ambitions. He yearned to branch out, but was hindered by ack of resources and connections in other regions. The mere task ofnd acquisition could potentially span a century. And that was without considering other enterprises andpetitors. Attempting to im a share in unfamiliar territories, without substantial support, was a recipe for disaster. \


    Nevertheless, a partnership with Kennedy Enterprise could help alleviate these challenges. Even if he had to y second fiddle and reap lesser benefits, it would still be more profitable than his current operations in Sylvadora. Why else would he have made such a grand gesture of personally weing them at the airport?


    Volume proposed, "You''ve all had a long journey. Allow me to escort you to your hotel for some rest. We can delve into the details of our potential coborationter tonight. Does that sound agreeable?" Walter had no objections. "That works for me."


    After all, he was the one leading these negotiations, and Alexander appeared indifferent.


    Walter was well aware that their discussions were not solely about business dealings with Volume in Sylvadora.


    Volume chuckled, a thought urring to him. "Ah, Alexander, Sylvadora has been somewhat unsafe ofte. I''d advise you to keep a watchful eye on the youngdy in yourpany."


    Walter''s interest was piqued. "What do you mean?"


    Volume sighed, a hint of mncholy in his voice. "With the New Year approaching, we have an influx of tourists. Sylvadora, being a border town next to Simnd City, has be a hotspot for human traffickers. Many young tourists have gone missing. Some are found, but they''re often tortured beyond recognition. The less fortunate ones lose their lives. In short, it''s best to steer clear of the more remote areas."


    00000


    Upon hearing this, Quinn cast a worried nce at Alexander.


    Alexander, noticing her concern, took her wrist and yed with her watch. "Don''t take this off," he instructed.


    Quinn nodded, indicating her understanding.


    She hadn''t anticipated such danger when Alexander had suggested a trip to Sylvadora.


    As she gazed out the window, the picturesque scenery struck her. Sylvadora was a stark contrast to Amber Bay, with vibrant flowers dotting thendscape.


    The roadside was lined with flowering trees, their fallen petals carpeting the sidewalks like a colorful carpet. The sky was a clear, brilliant blue, contributing to the tranquil ambiance.


    If only the traffic wasn''t so congested.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    The car was stuck in a seemingly endless jam, covering barely a mile in nearly ten minutes. The constant jolting made Quinn feel dizzy, her stomach churning ufortably.


    As the car lurched once more, Quinn gagged.


    Alexander, noticing her difort, gently guided her head onto his shoulder, his hand soothingly patting her back.


    Quinn looked up at him, slightly startled.


    He was dressed casually today, in a gray knitted cardigan and a white shirt, topped with a thin ck coat. The attire softened his usually stern appearance. His gentle gaze as heforted Quinn made her feel at ease. Lost in her thoughts, Quinn was jolted back to reality as the car lurched again.


    She gagged once more.


    "Could it be that you''re pregnant again?" Walter''s voice echoed from the front seat, breaking the silence.

 Chapter 557

    Upon hearing those words, Alexander''s gaze abruptly shifted to Quinn.


    Quinn, on the other hand, wore a puzzled expression, her mind swirling with confusion over the phrase "pregnant again." Had she been with child before? She raised her head, her eyes filled with curiosity as they met Alexander''s enigmatic stare.


    Alexander held her gaze for a moment before his eyes casually drifted elsewhere, leaving her question unanswered.


    Quinn''s gaze fell to her wristwatch, her pale reflection staring back at her from its surface. Her fingers yed with the watch''s bezel, the disy constantly shifting. Could this be a 360-degree view with no blind spots? Adjusting the angle, she managed to capture Alexander in the frame.


    Alexander, with his arm casually draped over her shoulder, wore a calm expression. A slight frown creased his brow as he stared out the window, seemingly lost in thought.


    Walter, catching sight of the pair through the rearview mirror, offered a silent smile. Volume, rummaged through the storage basket and pulled out a shriveled orange and handed it over.


    "Smell this, it should help a bit. We still have a way to go to the hotel," he suggested.


    Quinn epted the orange from Volume, sniffing it. However, it did little to alleviate her nausea.


    Suddenly, Walter proposed, "Alexander, you could take Quinn on a motorcycle ride."


    This was a unique feature of Sylvadora; dedicated motorcyclenes weremonce, and many locals and tourists alike would rent motorcycles to traverse the picturesque streets.


    Volume chimed in, "Yes, it''s a must-try, but it''s best in the evening. The roads are quite dusty at this time."


    Alexander remained silent.


    Despite her motion sickness, Quinn managed to endure the journey until they reached the hotel, where she nearly fainted. Upon exiting the vehicle, she made a beeline for a nearby trash can, sumbing to her nausea. Volume directed someone to handle their luggage while Walter left the pair, following the others into the hotel.


    Alexander remained by Quinn''s side, offering support as he gently patted her back.


    "Feeling better now?" he inquired.


    Quinn, patting her chest, nodded weakly.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Alexander then took a bottle of mineral water from Volume and handed it to Quinn.


    After a few sips, she felt a slight improvement and returned the bottle to Alexander, but Volume intercepted it.He took Quinn''s hand, guiding her into the hotel.


    The hotel, a five-star establishment owned by Volume, boasted a breathtaking seaside view.


    He arranged for them to stay on the floor with the best view, where the endless sea could be seen from thefort of their bed.


    "Well, Alexander, rest well for now. If you need anything, just give me a call. We''ll have dinner togetherter," Volume said, to which Alexander responded with a slight nod.


    Taking the hint, Volume tactfully exited, closing the door behind him.


    Quinn''s gaze wandered over the gray-white decor, an unusual style for a hotel. However, the projection of the sea and the blue sky and white clouds outside made the room exceptionally bright. It was cold, yet carried a hint of romance. Alexander took off his coat, tossed it on the sofa, loosened his tie, and sat down beside her. "If you''re not feeling well, rest for a while," he suggested.


    Quinn stared at him nkly, unsure if the brightness outside or the floor''s reflective light made his eyes seem to shimmer.


    She nodded, took off her thick sweater, and climbed into bed to lie down..


    After the long journey, Quinn was indeed tired, and as soon as her head touched the pillow, she began to doze off.


    The wind from the balcony blew in, brushing her cheek like a thin veil, providingfort.


    Unconsciously, she drifted off to sleep.Alexander sat at the head of the bed, watching her sleeping face for a while.


    He then reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Rising from the bed, he made his way to the balcony to smoke.</p<></p<>

 Chapter 558

    He stood there, gazing out at the vast expanse of the sea, seemingly lost in a world of his own thoughts.


    Quinn stirred from her slumber, the clock on the wall indicating it was already past seven in the evening. As she opened her eyes, the darkness outside was punctuated by the faint twinkling of stars reflected on the sea. A gentle breeze,


    carrying a hint of sea salt, wafted through the open window, soothing her frayed nerves. There was something to be said about the healing power of beautiful scenery.


    However, her mind was still foggy from sleep, and she struggled to remember why she was here. It took her a moment to recall that Alexander had brought her on this trip.


    Rising from the bed, Quinn surveyed the room, finding it devoid of any other presence. The white curtains fluttered gently in the breeze, casting a soft light on the grey floor, creating an aura of cold silence.


    With a sense of urgency, Quinn discarded the covers and climbed out of bed. She scanned the room, and once she was certain that Alexander wasn''t there, the unfamiliar surroundings lost their romantic charm. Instead, they instilled a sense of unease within her.


    She retreated back into the room, reaching for her phone. She quickly sent a message to Alexander, inquiring about his whereabouts. After what felt like an agonizing fifteen minutes, a response finally arrived. It was just a few words. Alexander: [I''m outside. Wait a bit. Don''t wander around.]


    A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she read his message. Just as she was about to set her phone aside, another message popped up. This one was from Orion.


    Orion: [Where are you? Have you eaten? Are you with Alexander?]


    Faced with his barrage of questions, Quinn was unsure of which one to answer first. So, she chose not to reply at all.


    Orion was just a name in her mind, a vague entity. She couldn''t recall anything about him, only that he existed.


    Tossing her phone aside, Quinny back on the bed, absently counting strands of her hair.


    Meanwhile, Orion, who had received no response, couldn''t help but feel a pang of disappointment. He nced at Sebastian, who was peacefully sleeping on the bed, and sighed. He had always suspected that Quinn''s heart belonged to Alexander, and that their divorce was a result of Alexander''s feelings for Getty.


    However, Alexander''s desperate attempt to whisk Quinn away didn''t align with Orion''s assumption of his indifference towards her. This left Orion puzzled about the real reason behind their divorce. After much contemtion, he concluded that it must have been due to a disagreement or conflict.


    Hesitant, he sent another message.


    Orion: [Have you made up?]


    Quinn, upon seeing the message, was momentarily confused. What did he mean by "made up"?


    Quinn: [What are you talking about?]


    Orion furrowed his brows and sent another message.


    Orion: [I mean, since you''re not responding to me, I figured you''d made up with Alexander?]


    Quinn: [What''s wrong between me and him?]


    Orion: [Don''t you remember?]


    Truthfully, Quinn didn''t remember. Just as she was about to reply to Orion, the electronic sound of the door opening interrupted her. She quickly turned her attention towards the door. Alexander had returned.


    He was d in a grey knitted cardigan, a white shirt underneath, and ck trousers that entuated his long legs. From Quinn''s perspective, he seemed almost unattainable. Without wasting any time, Alexander approached her, took a seat beside her, and asked, "Are you hungry?"


    Quinn stared at him for a moment, her heart finally settling down as she noticed the gentleness in his eyes. She nodded in agreement.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    "Let''s go, I''ll take you out to eat." He stood up, picked up Quinn''s sweater, and gestured for her to put it on, considering the evening temperature in Sylvadora was quite low. Quinn slipped on the sweater and gestured, "Where are we going to eat?"


    "By the seaside," he replied.</p<>

 Chapter 559

    Sylvadora was surrounded by the ocean, and there was a night market street by the sea, where all kinds of snacks were sold.


    Quinn followed behind Alexander and saw many people after entering the night market, almost overcrowded.


    He held her hand tightly, guiding her through the crowd, asking her what she wanted to eat.


    Quinn saw those snacks and couldn''t help but salivate. It seemed like she had never been to a ce like this before, as Alexander had never taken her there.


    He used to say that roadside food was not clean.


    When hell freezes over, Quinn tugged at his hand and pointed to the snacks nearby.


    He asked, "Do you want to eat this?"


    Quinn nodded, staring at the snacks on the stall, which looked very delicious.


    Alexander took out his credit card and bought her a portion.


    However, her palm was still injured and weak, and she almost drop the packaging box because it was a bit hot.


    Alexander took the packaging box from her hand, using chopsticks to pick one up and putting it near her mouth. He cooed, "Be careful, it''s hot."


    Quinn opened her mouth, putting the pizza in, and indeed it was hot. She kept fanning her mouth.


    She looked a bit funny, and Alexander watched her with slight smile appearing on his lips.


    He asked, "Is it tasty?"


    Quinn struggled to swallow the bite and nodded towards him, signing, "Delicious, do you want to try?"


    Alexander shook his head, "No, you enjoy it. Let''s go, there are plenty of food ahead."


    Quinn looked up at his tall figure, feeling a slight stir in her heart. Although he had changed in appearance, looking much more mature than before, he still filled her with a sense of security.


    It had only been a day, and she was already less resistant to Alexander, even epting him as he was.


    Quinn couldn''t believe how easily satisfied she was and deceived.


    And Alexander wouldn''t know that the many times Quinn had sought him before were not for the Alexander before he turned twenty, but for something else.


    She was seeking his favor and care for her.


    That''s all.


    The surroundings were bustling with noise, but Quinn felt these voices were distant from her. In her eyes, there was only the tall figure in front of her. The night market was vast, Quinn was exhausted after walking for a full hour.


    Alexander found empty seats to sit down to rest with her with arge pile of snacks in his hands.


    Quinn clearly couldn''t finish them all.


    He took out all the snacks and ced them on the table, including grilled squid, fish slices, scallops, grilled beef, and more.


    There was also an ice cream he bought specifically for her.


    Since Quinn couldn''t use her hands well, he picked up the snacks and let Quinn eat on her own.


    If she wanted beef, he took the beef off the skewer and then fed her.


    The two of them were showing affection here, attracting many onlookers. Handsome people always drew attention wherever they went. Alexander was such a person.


    He is tall and with a cool handsome face. She would nce at him whenever a girl passed by.


    After that, they would then look at Quinn across from him because wondered what kind of woman could match such a handsome guy.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Of course, many people recognized him. Some secretly took out their phones to take pictures, capturing the affectionate moments of the two. Alexander didn''t care about these things. Even if he saw someone taking photos, he remained indifferent, focusing on feeding Quinn. Quinn didn''t eat much, feeling full after a few bites. She shook her head, indicating she couldn''t eat anymore, and started sipping her milk tea. "You can''t eat anymore, but you can drink milk tea." Alexander nced at her and said.

 Chapter 560

    Quinn bit her straw, smiling and blinking at him with eyes like crescent moon.


    Alexander saw the smile in her eyes and was slightly stunned.


    He had almost forgotten that she still can smile like this.


    Seeing Quinn distracted, she put down her milk tea and gestured, "There''s still a lot left, what should we do?"


    Alexander came back to his mind and said lightly, "No need."


    Quinn felt a bit regretful.


    Alexander stood up and walked outside with taking her hand.


    The wind by the seaside was strong, blowing Quinn''s hair into a mess that blocked her view.


    When passing by a photo booth, Alexander suddenly stopped, turning to Quinn and asking, "Do you want to y?"


    Quinn looked up, gazing at the words "Photo Booth" on it, and she looked at Alexander in surprise.


    He had already pulled her inside.


    It was just a photo booth for taking sticker pictures, with many machines where you could take 10 photos for eight dors.


    After Alexander paying, he took the remote as he leaned on Quinn''s shoulder, asking her to look at the camera.


    But he was so tall that the camera could only capture up to his neck, so he had to bend down to match Quinn, pressing his cheek against hers, and took the photo.


    At first, Quinn was a bit awkward, but after taking a few shots, she loosened up that made various poses in front of the camera.


    Victory gestures, heart gestures, even making funny faces.


    Alexander couldn''t help but smile at the mischievous person on the screen, so there was a photo of Quinn making a heart gesture above her head, with Alexander''s chin resting on her shoulder, and he smiled. When the photos were taken, Quinn saw his smile and was momentarily stunned, although his smile wasn''t very bright, at least she could see his white teeth.


    Suddenly, Quinn felt as if time had reversed along with her memories, back to the time seven years ago with him.


    He used to smile at her like this.


    Alexander tilted his head, meeting her gaze.


    The two of them stared at each other slightly, despite the noise outside, it was quiet inside the photo booth.


    There is quiet enough to hear each other''s breathing.


    Above them was a mirror reflecting their figures.


    Quinn nervously looked at him, her heart skipping a beat.


    It seemed like she had never looked at him so closely before, his blue eyes reflecting her figure, all of it was her.


    The next moment, the man held the back of her head and kissed her, the frame was frozen on the screen.


    Quinn''s body stiffened slightly, and she instinctively grabbed Alexander''s clothes.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Staring into the man''s eyes, her gaze flickered, and she slowly closed her eyes.


    As she closed her eyes, the man became more unrestrained.


    Their breaths became rapid in the narrow space.


    Quinn suddenly widened her eyes and hurriedly pushed him away.


    Quinn felt like he was being a bit too crazy. Where were they?


    There wasn''t even a door, just a cloth curtain, anyone could see them if it was opened.


    But he ignored all that, kissing her lips all the way down.


    "Don''t do this."Quinn was so scared that she mumbled.</p<></p<>

 Chapter 561

    Alexander paused, lifting his head to meet Quinn''s gaze.


    Quinn''s face was flushed, the panic and plea in her eyes evident for all to see.


    After a moment of silence, Alexander straightened her sweater.


    Leaning in towards Quinn''s face, he kissed her lips again, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Shall we go back?"


    Alexander raised his fingers, wiping the tears at corner of her eye, with his heavy breath warm against her face. Quinn nodded, no longer in the mood to continue shopping.


    This man seemed to want to kiss her everywhere.


    After spending some time inside, Alexander led her out and had a store clerk print out the photos they had taken.


    As the clerk printed the photos, she caught a glimpse of the kissing couple and gave them a strange look.


    It was clear they were a newly in love couple so that can always disy affection, and they can''t pull off this kind of thing if they''ve been dating for over a year. The clerk handed the photos to Alexander.


    He tucked the photos into his pocket, and he walked out with taking Quinn''s hand.


    Perhaps the fresh air outside calmed them both down a bit. Alexander took her for a walk by the seaside rather than go back in a rush.


    Quinn walked on the soft sand and looked at the bustling crowd around with distant expression.


    The liveliness had little to do with the number of people, and it was about the person beside you.


    Quinn looked at him, although surrounded by strangers, she didn''t feel lonely.


    They didn''t go far, there was a crowd having gathered for some event seemingly.


    Alexander led her over to take a look, someone was setting off fireworks which were scattered all over the beach, and they was getting ready to light. Quinn suddenly remembered that the New Year wasing.


    It was almost New Year''s, no wonder there was so lively.


    "See that?" Alexander asked her.


    Quinn nodded, eagerly watching the fireworks, already imagining them blooming in the sky.


    Alexander took off his jacket and draped it over her, standing beside her to wait for the fireworks to light up.


    The sea breeze was cool, tousling her delicate strands hair which asionally brushed against Alexander''s neck and danced in the air.


    She nestled in Alexander''s embrace with catching a faint scent from him, feelingfort and warmth filling her heart.


    If only they could stay in this moment forever.


    The staff set up the fireworks and signaled for the crowd to disperse.


    A loud bang startled Quinn, causing her to instinctively move closer to Alexander.


    Alexander embraced her and patted soothingly.


    Several streaks of light shot up into the sky which blossomed into colorful starlight in the dark night so that illuminated arge portion of the sky. Quinn stared nkly at the fireworks with mesmerized expression; she hadn''t seen many fireworks before, only on TV.


    Because fireworks weren''t allow to set off in Amber Bay, she had lived for so long without ever seeing fireworks bloom in person.


    It was more stunning and impressive than she imagined.


    Alexander nced down at her face which reflected the colorful lights, her eyes sparkling with starlight, with a moment of distraction.


    With so many fireworks, it would take at least half an hour, and soon there was filled with smoke that carried a strong smell of sulfur in the air. The scent wasn''t unpleasant; instead, it carried a festive air.


    This was the smell of the New Year.


    However, Alexander''s phone rang at that moment.


    He took it out to check, silencing it and putting it back in his pocket.


    The phone rang again less than a minuteter, Quinn heard it, turning to look at his pocket this time.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Alexander frowned who took out his phone again and was about to hang up when the caller disconnected first.

 Chapter 562

    Facebook messages popped up one after another was following.


    Getty:[Alexander,e save me, I''m lost.]


    [There''s someone following me, I''m so scared.]


    [I''m in Sylvadora.]


    Alexander furrowed his brow, and he answered when the phone rang again. He stood a bit further away to avoid Quinn.


    He asked, "Why do you run to Sylvadora?"


    Getty on the phone sobbed, "Ie to find you, you leave me alone in Amber Bay, I''m so lonely."


    Alexander continued, "Where are you now?"


    "I don''t know, I don''t know the way here. I get off the ne and take a taxi to the hotel, but the driver deviate from the navigation. I pretend to be sick and get off to vomit, then I run away." She cried, "I don''t know where I am now, it''s so dark, I''m scared, I dare not take a taxi."


    Alexander pinched his brow, feeling somewhat annoyed, "Who asked you toe?"


    Getty shouted, "Ie on my own, why are you so fierce! Fine, I don''t need you to care and let me fend for myself. You''re busy with that dummy now, you don''t care about me as an outsider." Getty hung up the phone in tears angrily and sadly.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Alexander looked at the hung-up phone, then nced over at Quinn.


    Quinn was still staring at the fireworks blooming in the night sky with a pure smile in her eyes, and she was very entranced by the view.


    Alexander walked quickly to her side, patting her back, "Quinn, wait here for me."


    Quinn hesitated, as she turned to look at him, she silently asking what he was going to do.


    Alexander didn''t exin but just pointed to a seat nearby, saying, "Sit there if the fireworks are over, wait for me."


    He checked his watch, uttering, "It''s ten o''clock now, the night market closes at twelve."


    Quinn pursed her lips and nodded obediently when she looked at him with a hint of urgency in his eyes.


    Alexander instructed again, "Don''t wander off."


    With that said, he left without looking back.


    Quinn watched his retreating figure which gradually disappeared into the crowd and eventuallypletely out of sight.


    The fireworks in the sky were still blooming, but the splendor and romance from before were now gone when Quinn looked again. She walked to the spot Alexander designated to sit down, holding his coat and a half-drunk milk tea, staring nkly at the sky. The surrounding noise grew louder and the bustling crowd became more ring. Quinn felt a bit scared so that her shoulders hunched, clutching the coat in her arms. Alexander arrived at the roadside to drive the Porsche from Volume, speeding away.


    Meanwhile, Getty was navigating through dark alleys, her high heels off and in her hand, temporarily evading the person behind her. She didn''t know if it was the driver chasing her or someone else, but she was extremely afraid.


    The ground was cold under her feet, furthermore, her stockings were torn, feet rubbing against the ground that caused a painful shiver. She checked her phone with no signal, which made Getty even more panicked.


    Getty quickened her pace to turn a corner and enter another alley.


    Just as she turned, she saw two peopleing towards her.


    One of them spoke and quickly rushed towards Getty.


    Getty was too shocked to abandon her bag and throw her shoes and bag at the person, and then she turned and run.


    The man behind her was so fast that catch up in a few steps and grab Getty by the hair.


    He roared, "You little b***h, quite the runner, huh?"</p<>

 Chapter 563

    Getty screamed as the man dragged her by the hair and threw her to the ground, leaving her dizzy.


    "Who are you! Why are you chasing me?" Getty covered her head, crying with a strong sense of interrogation. The man chuckled, the night was too dark for Getty to see their faces clearly.


    He said, "You don''t need to know who we are. We will take you to make money. What are you afraid of?"


    "Who likes your money!" Getty said impatiently.


    She had plenty of money to spend. She couldn''t care less about their money.


    The man rasped, "Blowing hot air. It seems like you have a lot of money on you, so how about lending us some to spend?"


    Getty took a deep breath and nervously asked, "How much do you need?"


    He asked, "How much do you have?"


    Getty continued, "If I give you money, will you let me go?"


    The manughed, "It depends on whether your money is enough to buy your life. Where''s the money? Show it to us."


    Getty pointed to the bag, "It''s all in bag, there''s a card inside, should be worth five million. With this much money, you should let me go, right?"


    The two men were stunned to hear five million, as they exchanged a nce, understanding immediately.


    It seemed that this woman was indeed wealthy, which meant more trouble.


    If they let her go, they would be in trouble, so they might as well be thorough.


    The man picked up the bag, pulling out a bank card from it, and asking, "What''s the password?"


    She answered, "One to six."


    "If you dare to deceive me, you''re dead." The man said, pulling out a dagger from somewhere.


    Getty looked at the dagger, nervously swallowed, no longer daring to be arrogant, "It''s not a lie, I didn''t deceive you, you can check. Please let me go, I beg you!"


    The man chuckled, "Let you go, and then you go to the police?"


    Getty shook her head repeatedly, "I won''t go to the police, really!"


    But the man didn''t believe her, grabbed her hair, "Then we can''t let you go, miss. me your bad luck, we''ll take this card."


    Getty''s pupils contracted, looking at the man in disbelief.


    This time she finally saw clearly which the man had a scar on his face who looked fierce and terrifying, it'' svery intimidating.


    Getty couldn''t believe that she was about to die, especially in here.


    She felt an overwhelming sense of copse and despair, hoping that someone woulde to save her...


    The man raised the dagger, the light from the wallmp shining on the de which reflected a fierce light, he rasped, "Goodbye, miss. If you die, don''te back as a ghost to haunt me."


    A wave of panic surged over Getty that her heart clenched, and she closed her eyes, struggling for thest time.


    She screamed, "Alexander, save me!!!"


    This was the only prayer she could make at this moment.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    And just as she shouted these words, she suddenly heard the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground, along with a muffled groan from the man.


    Getty''s heart pounded wildly, she slowly opened her eyes and saw the two men who had been standing there, now lying on the ground.


    Standing in front of her was a tall figure and his back to Getty, but she still recognized him at a nce.


    Tears streamed down Getty''s face as she choked out, "Alexander."


    But the man didn''t turn around.


    The two men on the ground slowly got up, gripping the knives in their hands, warily watching Alexander, "Who are you?"


    "I should be asking you that. Who sent you?" Alexander retorted.


    The two men were taken aback by his words, staring at Alexander in surprise, but still tried to argue, "No one sent us, we just wanted to make some money. Stop the nonsense, give us the money and you two can leave, no money and you two die!"


    Alexander sneered, "No one? No one sent you, yet you target her as soon as she get off the ne?"


    The two men''s faces turned even uglier.</p<>

 Chapter 564

    Alexander said again, "Don''t hide,e out."


    After he finished speaking, the alley was empty, with no movement at all.


    The man asked, "What are you talking about, bastard?"


    Alexander looked at them indifferently, "Isn''t it just to lure me out? If you don''te out now, you''ll miss this opportunity, and there won''t be a next time."


    As Alexander''s voice fell, footsteps and apuse came from behind.


    Getty suddenly turned around to look.


    Sure enough, several people came out, not just one but seven or eight. The light in the alley was dim that made it hard to see the other side''s appearance clearly. "Alexander is indeed clever." The leader of the group stood in front of Getty, but didn''t look at Getty, instead looking at Alexander across from him.


    He asked, "How did you know I must be here?"


    Alexander was unsurprised for him, replied expressionlessly, "Because if I want to kill Alexander, I would probably have to personally keep an eye on him to feel at ease."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Landon chuckled, pushed up the gold-rimmed sses on his nose, and said, "It seems you knew I woulde."


    "Is there a better opportunity than now?"Alexander asked back.


    Landon paused for a moment and candidly said, "Indeed, Alexander is going to Sylvadora alone, there is no better opportunity than this."


    As Landon spoke, he took off his sses, took out a sses cloth, and carefully wiped them.


    "So, are there still people here?" Landon said.


    Alexander looked at him indifferently, "What do you think?"


    The calmer Alexander appeared, the more hesitant Landon became. He nced at Getty on the ground and put his sses back on.


    "I understand." Landon voiced and truly understood why Alexander hade.


    Alexander asked, "Landon, youe all this way to chase me, any instructions?"


    "I dare not call them instructions. I also like the weather and scenery in Sylvadora, just want to take a break and rx." Landon said, raising his hand slightly. The people behind him suddenly dispersed again and quickly disappeared into the darkness.


    As if they had never appeared.


    00000


    Alexander suddenly smiled, "I thought you would have some clever tricks."


    Landon replied, "I''m just here for sightseeing. If Alexander doesn''t mind, we can travel together."


    "With so many people apanying you, do you need to travel with me?" Alexander retorted.


    Landon continued, "Isn''t it lively with more people?"


    "I don''t like it too lively. Landon, if you wander outside sote, be careful."


    Landon nodded slightly, "Thank you for the reminder, Alexander."


    Alexander nced at Getty on the ground, "Get up and let''s go."


    Getty was still in a daze, not knowing what had happened. She could only follow Alexander, picking up her things and walking behind him.


    As she walked, she looked back, and Landon was still standing far away. His figure was also swallowed by the darkness as she walked further away.


    In the darkness, someone left and returned, whispering in Landon''s ear, "Boss, luckily we didn''t act. Alexander brought people and ambushed outside."


    "Yeah." Landon sighed thoughtfully.


    It would probably difficult to get away with if they kill Alexander. If he couldn''t kill him, then acting would be the most advantageous evidence. For a moment, he couldn''t tell who was outmaneuvering whom.


    After Alexander came out, Volume and others surrounded them.


    He uttered, "Alexander, I''m d you''re okay. I is so nervous just now. Who is that person, and why do they attack you?"


    Alexander nced at him, saying, "Quentin Ford, please take Getty back."


    Volume nced at Getty, then praising Alexander''s tactics.


    "Alright." He replied.


    Getty shouted, "Alexander, I''m walking with you!"


    She didn''t care whether he agreed or not who opened the car door and got in. She had just escaped danger and didn''t want to walk alone.

 Chapter 565

    "Get off." Alexander''s tone was not very friendly with a hint of weakness mixed in.


    Getty keenly noticed, nervously grabbing his arm, asking "Alexander, what''s wrong with you? Are you injured?"


    Alexander nced at her sideways with ice gaze which made Getty''s scalp tingle.


    "I told you to get off." He said.


    Getty hesitated, feeling a bit wronged, tears swirling in her eyes, "Why are you so harsh? Ie all the way to see you, almost lose my life, if you don''t care about me, that''s fine, but why treat me like this!" Veins bulged on Alexander''s forehead.


    He ignored Getty, stepping on the gas pedal and driving the car away.


    Getty sat beside, wiping her tears, especially when she thought of the recent encounter, she felt more and more wronged.


    Alexander let her sob beside him, driving fast, the night scenes on both sides rapidly retreating outside the window.


    He arrived at the seaside, where there were not many people left, just a few people strolling around.


    Most of the night market stalls had turned off their lights, leaving only a few still lit, the seaside with a mess after the hustle and bustle.


    Alexander parked the car, striding towards the spot where Quinn had been.


    The beach was in disarray, a few cleaners were tidying up, but the table he had designated was empty.


    "Alexander, what are you looking for?" Getty followed him, his pace too fast, almost unable to keep up. Alexander searched the entire beach and night market, but saw no sign of Quinn.


    She was gone!


    Alexander approached one of the cleaners and asked, "Have you seen a girl?"


    He showed the cleaner a photo who shook his head after looking for a while, "I haven''t seen her."


    Getty now understood, he was looking for a dummy.


    So was Alexander wandering the night market with that dummy beforeing to rescue her?


    This fueled Getty''s jealousy even more, her nails creaking as she clenched them.


    She watched Alexander is anxious, secretly gritting her teeth, hoping that dummy would never show up.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Perhaps the heavens heard her thoughts, as Alexander searched the entire beach but found no trace of Quinn.


    He called Quinn, but no one answered.


    He took out a receiver, probably she had no signal on her end so that the location not to show.


    Alexander put away the receiver, strode back to the car, and dialed Volume''s number.


    Volume asked, "What? Quinn is missing?!" Volume was shocked, how could a fine person like her go missing, could she have been abducted by traffickers?


    If something happened to Quinn in his ce, he would be in big trouble too.


    Thinking this, Volume quickly said over the phone, "Alexander, don''t worry, I''ll send people to find her, I guarantee we''ll locate Quinn."


    Alexander hung up, tossed the phone onto the dashboard, leaned back on the seat, pinching his temples.


    Getty, observing his expression, secretly delighted, it seemed that dummy was indeed lost, which was great.


    Maybe she was killed, or taken away to be sold.


    She deserved it.


    This dummy had clung to what belonged to her for so long, even after the divorce, still clinging to Alexander, she should have died long ago.


    Walter also got the news of Quinn''s disappearance, questioning sternly over the phone, "Don''t you know she''s sick? She could go missing at any time, how dare you leave her alone in such a ce."


    "Alexander, what are you thinking?" Walter''s tone lost its previous cheer, rare anger showing. Because he knew how chaotic that ce was, with Quinn''s condition, it was easy for her to get into trouble if she went missing. This time Alexander didn''t argue with him.</p<>

 Chapter 566

    Walter hung up the phone angrily and grabbed his coat before heading out.


    Volume contacted all the connections, as did Alexander, searching overnight for Quinn''s whereabouts.


    There were few surveince cameras by the seaside.


    But one of the cameras captured Quinn''s figure as she walked onto the main road wearing that white sweater.


    There were no cameras on the road, so they had to check nearby surveince footage bit by bit.


    The search area expanded significantly.


    The only fortunate thing was that in the footage where Quinn was captured, she was alone.


    She had just wandered off and hadn''t been abducted.


    Getty rolled her eyes, not understanding why they were so tense. A grown person like Quinn could just take a cab back even if she got lost, right? She casually remarked, "Maybe she''lle back on her own in a while."


    As soon as she finished speaking, Walter gave her a cold look.


    Meeting his gaze, Getty''s smile froze, and then she retorted irritably, "What''s wrong? I''m not wrong!"


    Walter chuckled, but there was a hint of threat in his smile, "Getty, you better hope she''s okay."


    "What''s it to me?" Getty said.


    Walter snorted and continued watching the surveince footage.


    Suddenly, Alexander stood up straight and walked out.


    Getty hurriedly followed him. When she reached the door, Alexander stopped in his tracks, almost colliding with Getty.


    Looking at her, Alexander said, "Don''t follow me."


    Getty opened her mouth, caught a glimpse of the coldness in his eyes, swallowed her words, and muttered softly, "Fine, I won''t. No need to be so mean." She couldn''t quite understand what these two men were worried about.


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    Of course, Getty couldn''t understand because most people with Alzheimer''s who went missing were usually not found again.


    It was as if they had evaporated from the earth, and no one knew how they disappeared. It was like a kind of magic or curse. Even someone with extraordinary abilities couldn''t find them, no matter how hard they tried. This was not an exception. Because it had happened before.


    Alexander drove around the nearby coastal area, searching everywhere, but despite the crowds, there was no sign of Quinn. Walter was also searching. He spent the whole day reviewing surveince footage, but there were only a few glimpses of Quinn. Firstly, there were too many people, making it difficult to distinguish.


    Secondly, each time Quinn''s trace was caught on camera, the search area expanded.


    It was like finding a needle in a haystack.


    After a day of searching, they almost turned Sylvadora upside down.


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    As the sky darkened gradually, ayer of orange-red tinted the horizon, casting a brilliant light that reflected off the sea, turning it crimson.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Alexander''s car stopped by the seaside. He leaned against the car, lighting a cigarette.


    His face also took on a dazzling hue and his deep eyes revealing a hint of mncholy.


    A car pulled up beside him.


    Walter got out of the car and walked over to him, as he leaned against the car in the same posture, lighting a cigarette for himself.


    After taking a drag, he gazed at the endless horizon and said, "Alexander, you lose her."


    Alexander remained silent.


    "You shouldn''t care, anyway. You still have Getty." Walter said nonchntly, his tone tinged with jealousy and sarcasm.

 Chapter 567

    If it weren''t for him leaving Quinn behind to save Getty, Quinn wouldn''t have gotten lost.


    Alexander is primarily responsible for this matter.


    But so what?


    She''s just a helpless dummy, even if she''s lost or dead, no one would care, no one would seek justice for her.


    She can only me herself.


    Those who nobody cares about should be treated this way.


    Walter said again, "Does she leave her phone at the hotel?"


    Yes, Quinn didn''t bring her phone either.


    And now the only hope is the locator watch on her wrist, but after such a long time with no signal, it''s unknown where she is.


    Suddenly, Alexander said, "Has Volume check the areas in Sylvadora without signal."


    "We''re checking, but there are plenty of ces without signal." Walter crushed the cigarette butt on the ground, turned around to get in the car, and for some reason, he looked back at Alexander.


    Alexander look bad, his injuries hadn''t healed, he hadn''t slept for a day and night, and his injuries worsened when he went to save Getty. Even though he didn''t show it on his face, his exhaustion was still visible to the naked eye. "If Quinn isn''t found, don''t you go dying first." After saying this, Walter got in the car and left.


    The car roared past, lifting Alexander''s coat.


    He still gazed at the sea level, where several couples were walking hand in hand by the sea, their shadows elongated by the setting sun.


    asionally, a few seagulls would fly over the sea, skimming the water''s surface like dragonflies, hunting for food, then soaring high into the sky, disappearing from sight.


    Thest bit of sunlight sank, streetmps gradually lit up,rge rednterns hung high on both sides, there was full of the festive atmosphere of the New Year, and cars speeding by on the highway emitted a piercing noise. Alexander took out an envelope from his pocket and opened it, which contained the photos takenst night inside.


    In the photos, Quinn was making various gestures, her eyes shining with happiness, her cheeks dimpled with joy.


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    He stood there, under a redntern, and the seaside became lively again.


    There was no trace ofst night''s romance here, even the fireworks bursting in the sky seemed ring.


    Alexander got into the car, looking at the photos again, putting them back in his pocket, and driving away.


    Getty was still sitting in the lobby, touching up her makeup boringly since back at the hotel.


    Seeing Alexander return, she immediately walked towards him, "Alexander, do you find Quinn?"


    She had wanted to have a good time with Alexander, but he spent a day and night looking for that dummy, leaving her alone here.


    Alexander ignored her and headed straight for the elevator.


    Getty hurriedly followed him, taking the elevator to the eighteenth floor.


    He opened the door and entered the room, everything was the same, Quinn''s coat was still on the sofa, her luggage was there, and her phone was on the bed.


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    He picked up the phone, unlocked it, and saw several Facebook messages from Orion and a dozen missed calls.


    Getty followed him, feeling doubtful, how could such a big person get lost, so useless.


    Of course, she only dared to mutter this in her heart, not daring to say it out loud.


    Alexander''s expression was clearly unfriendly now, she didn''t dare to provoke him at this moment.


    After going through Quinn''s phone, he sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette.


    Thick smoke enveloped his face which is blurry in the dim light, showing signs of weariness.


    Getty also sat with him on the sofa.


    Watching him smoke three cigarettes in a row, Getty said, "Alexander, why don''t you get some sleep, you haven''t slept all night."All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    But Alexander still didn''t pay attention to her.

 Chapter 568

    "She''s such a big person, who can''t get lost, maybe intentionally hiding somewhere, sulking with you."


    Alexander shot a nce over.


    Getty shrank her neck, blinking innocently.


    Alexander took a deep breath fretfully, then suddenly coughing.


    This cough pulled at the wound in his abdomen. He covered his abdomen, throwing the cigarette in his hand into the ashtray.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    But his body was unstable that fell straight off the sofa. He grabbed the coffee table, clutching his abdomen with veins bulging on the back of his hand.


    Getty was startled, hurrying to help him, but was pushed away by Alexander.


    "Get out." Alexander voiced.


    Getty stood still in ce for a moment.


    She see him in pain who unable to stand up for a while, sweating profusely in just a moment.


    Getty frowned with hands clenched tightly at her sides.


    Although angry, she couldn''t help but worry about him.


    She said, "Alexander..."


    "Get out!"Alexander''s voice was extremely weak whichcked any threat, he was panting heavily, clearly trying to suppress the pain.


    Getty rarely saw him like this, his emotions rarely leaked. He must be in a lot of pain to look so disheveled.


    "I''ll call an ambnce for you." Seeing him like this, Getty was heartbroken, ignoring his harsh words, she took out her phone to call an ambnce.


    Alexander nced at her, weak as he was, his tone was icy, "I tell you to get out, don''t you understand?"


    She uttered, "If I leave and something happens to you, what should I do? I''ll call an ambnce for you, and then I''ll leave."


    Getty dialed the ambnce number regardless.


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    Alexander, now shaky but standing, snatched her phone and threw it to the ground.


    With a loud crash, Getty''s phone shattered on the ground.


    Getty was stunned, looking at Alexander in disbelief.


    By now, Alexander had steadied himself, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, his expression back to normal. "Getty, don''t make me say it a third time, get out." His breath was still unsteady, his voice particrly weak.


    Getty''s anger red up instantly, ring at Alexander, "Fine, I''ll leave! You don''t know how to be grateful, suffer all you want!"


    After saying this, she angrily walked away in her high heels.


    As the door closed, Alexander slumped back into his chair, a shein on the sofa, closed his eyes weakly.


    The cold light fell on his face which reflected his pale and bloodlessplexion.


    Time passed slowly.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! The night sky outside gradually faded, a hint of dawn breaking.


    A whole night had passed, still no word from Quinn.


    All the ces to search had been covered, yet there was still no trace of Quinn.


    Walter sat in the car with staring at the Vi in front of him, he grabbed his hair with expression changing constantly.


    This Vi had been abandoned for many years which surrounded by weeds, even the rusty iron gate was covered in vines, colorful flowers blooming.


    In the distance was the main building of the Vi, the roof now a lush green, ivy with blooming flowers climbing the walls.


    The grass in the yard was knee-high, the surroundings eerily quiet, rustling as the wind blew through the grass.


    If viewed as andscape, it was as beautiful as a painting.


    But if seen as a residence, it resembled a haunted house from a movie.


    Walter gazed at the Vi who smoked several cigarettes in the car before finally pushing the door open and walking towards the Vi.

 Chapter 569

    Walter walked on the green grass, heading toward the Mansion with slow steps. As he pushed open the rusty iron gate, it let out a creaking sound. Crossing the knee-high weeds, he easily walked in. Arriving in front of the main building of the Mansion, there was no smile on his face. If Alexander were here, he would see the sadness in Walter''s eyes at this moment. Walter stood at the door for a long time, the gentle breeze blowing his short hair and long coat.


    The dark red robe he wore stood out conspicuously among the lush greenery, looking out of ce and discordant, like a prominent mistake in this world.


    After a while, he finally took a step forward toward the gate.


    The gate was not locked, so it was easy to enter.


    The interior was cluttered, filled with spider webs and thick mud everywhere, appearing chaotic at first sight.


    The more Walter walked in this Mansion, the moreplex his expression became.


    In Sylvadora''s legend, this ce was known as the haunted house, where some college students once came to explore, and two of them were scared out of their wits.


    Since then, no one visited this ce again.


    For some reason, it was not demolished; it was just left abandoned here.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Walter was very familiar with this Mansion, and even though it was a mess everywhere, he could still find the stairs urately.


    As he walked on the ground, countless bugs crawled out of the soil and scattered away.


    He ascended the staircase, walking slowly in the corridor, his gaze sweeping over every ce as if he could see the past appearance of this Mansion.


    For example, that wall should have had a painting, and in that corner, a pot of greenery should have been ced.


    But now, there was nothing, just darkness and gloom.


    Even in broad daylight, with the morning light outside, there was no light inside.


    Walter pushed open every door, inspecting every room as if trying to reconstruct every corner of the room with his gaze.


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    When he reached the end of the corridor and pushed open a door, he suddenly froze.


    He saw a person sitting on the abandoned bed, wearing a white sweater with a bun on her head, facing away from him.


    Walter''s pupils slightly contracted. "Quinn?" he unconsciously called out, and the person sitting on the bed also turned to look at him.


    Their eyes met, and the already quiet air became even more silent as if one could hear even the sound of breathing.


    Quinn showed a familiar confusion in her eyes when she saw Walter.


    Walter pondered for a moment, then strode forward and stood in front of Quinn, grabbing her shoulders, his tone and expression somewhat excited. "What are you doing here?" Quinn stared at him, and then, after a while, she struggled to push him away.


    Walter looked puzzled for a moment but soon realized that she had forgotten him again. "I''m your brother."


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    Quinn pursed her lips, not believing his words. So, Walter had to spend some time patiently coaxing her, finally dispelling the doubts in her eyes and making her believe that he was indeed her brother. Once Quinn''s wariness disappeared, Walter sat down beside her, not minding the dirt. "How did you get here? Have you been here all along?"


    Quinn nodded, but she had yet to remember how she got here.


    Walter asked, "We''ve been looking for you for two days. Have you never left here?"


    Quinn nodded, gesturing. "Where is this?"


    Walter was slightly taken aback, looking at her eyes with a hint of subtlety. "You don''t know where this is?"


    Quinn tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then shook her head,pletely clueless.


    Walter chuckled. "If you don''t know where this is, how did you end up here?"


    Quinn raised her hand and gestured. "I don''t know."


    Walter stared at her fingers, remained silent for a while, and murmured, "Don''t know."

 Chapter 570

    Walter''s voice sounded ironic, and Quinn looked at him, puzzled.


    He couldn''t be bothered exining and asked her, "You''ve been here for so long; are you hungry?"


    Quinn nodded honestly after a moment of silence. If she weren''t so hungry, she would have left long ago. The reason she was sitting here was because she was too hungry to move. She was still waiting for the person to bring food.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Her face was dirty at the moment, her sweater had turned into a patchwork sweater, her bun hade loose, and her messy hair was scattered.


    It was obvious that she was lost.


    It was fortunate that she had stayed here and not gone out. Otherwise, if she had been abducted, she would have still thought others were good people.


    Walter asked something out of the blue, "Have you encountered anything strange while sitting here for so long?"


    Obviously, it was a pointless question, and Quinn just shook her head.


    "Are you scared?" he continued asking.


    Quinn nodded repeatedly and eagerly. Of course, she was scared. There was no one else here, and it was very dark. She was most afraid of the dark.


    Just as Walter was about to speak, footsteps suddenly sounded outside. His expression changed slightly, and he turned to look toward the door. The footsteps were light as if deliberately trying to scare them.


    After two minutes, the footsteps outside stopped.


    Walter stood up and said to Quinn, "Wait here for me; I''ll go out and take a look."


    Quinn instinctively grabbed his sleeve.


    Walter patted her head and reassured her, "It''s okay. I''ll be right at the door, and I won''t leave."


    Upon hearing him say that, Quinn slowly let go of his sleeve.


    Walter brushed off the dirt on his body and walked briskly toward the door.


    As soon as he stepped out, he saw a dark figure disappear around the corner.


    His gaze sharpened, and he immediately shouted, "Appara."


    The figure that had disappeared halfway paused slightly. With his back to Walter, he stood still for a long time before slowly turning around.


    When Walter saw that face, his pupils contracted sharply.


    Appara''s face was extensively burned, making it almost impossible to see its original appearance. The skin was stuck together and wrinkled. One eye was blurry, with only one eye visible.


    The nose was also indistinct, with only two ck holes visible. The mouth was nted, looking particrly terrifying.


    Appara also stared at Walter for a long time, the remaining eye revealing incrediblyplex emotions.


    After a moment, he seemed to gather courage and walked slowly toward Walter.


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    Appara''s legs were also somewhatme, with one foot tilting inwards, making it look like he was walking on the back of his foot.


    After Walter saw him, Walter''s gaze flickered slightly, and his fingers slowly clenched.


    Appara came up to him, allowing Walter to see more clearly the ferocity on his face.


    In such a ce, anyone seeing this face would be terrified to the core, but Walter remained calm, with a hint of sorrow and anguish. The two faced each other in silence. The silence spread in the air.


    A faint light seeped through the cracks in the vines outside, shining through the window and falling on the two of them.


    "How did you end up like this?" Walter was rarely at a loss for words; he could hardly speak.


    "Walter," Appara said, his voice hoarse and rough as if squeezed out of his throat, trembling slightly. "Is it really you?"

 Chapter 571

    Walter closed his eyes, took a deep breath to steady his mind, and then nodded slightly. "It''s me," he said.


    Then he added, "Have you been here all these years?"


    Appara nodded, also somewhat excited. "Yes, I''ve been waiting here. Finally, you''ve returned."


    His ugly face looked even more terrifying when he got excited, like a ghost about to devour someone.


    Walter slowly raised his hand, paused in the air for a moment, and finally ced it on the man''s shoulder. "You''ve worked hard."


    Appara created all those rumors of haunting. With a face like that, who wouldn''t be scared?


    Even Walter himself was shocked when he saw Appara just now; he almost didn''t recognize him.


    "Not hard; the one who''s worked hard is you," said Appara.


    Walter remained silent for a long time with lowered eyes. He saw the burns on Appara''s exposed arms.


    It was hard to imagine how he survived with such extensive burns.


    As the two were talking, Quinn also walked out of the house. Appara was startled when he saw Quinn.


    Quinn had been here for a day and a night. He had tried to scare her, but she seemed a bit slow-witted. Although she was scared, she didn''t run away.


    After hiding in this room, she crouched in the corner, covering her ears and eyes as if ying dead.


    Appara walked around in front of her several times, but she kept her eyes tightly shut, giving a feeling of turning a deaf ear, pretending not to see, stubbornly staying in the corner, refusing to leave no matter what.


    In the end, he softened and gave her some food. Then she refused to leave, eagerly waiting for him to give her more food.


    Appara asked, "Who is she?"


    "She''s Quinn," said Walter.


    Appara was astonished; his gaze fell on Quinn from head to toe. He seemed somewhat doubtful. "She''s grown up so much."All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    With a sardonic glint in his eyes, Walter remarked, "Isn''t she? She''s been married twice, you know. Should she die?"


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    Appara fell silent for a moment before sighing, "It''s not her fault; after all, she was young back then."


    Walter nced at Quinn and Quinn stared at them, still looking confused.


    She was no longer afraid of the ugly Appara; he gave her food, he was a good person, and she felt a bit sorry for him.


    "Quinn,e here." Walter beckoned to her.


    Quinn hesitated, then walked up to him.


    Walter held her chin, making her look at Appara. "Remember him? Do you know who he is?"


    Quinn''s gaze lingered on Appara''s face. She remained silent for a moment and then shook her head slightly.


    "His name is Appara," said Walter.


    Quinn nodded, silently remembering this name.


    After seeing the confusion in her eyes, Walter''s face showed a hint of anger, and he pushed Quinn away with his hand.


    Quinn stumbled a bit and hit the wall before steadying herself.


    "Walter." Appara showed some concerns.


    Walter sneered. "Don''t worry. Anyway, she''ll soon forget."


    "What do you mean?" asked Appara.


    Walter said, "You don''t need to worry about it."


    Appara fell silent, didn''t pursue further, and changed the subject. "How do you suddenlye back?"


    Walter chuckled. "Thanks to Alexander, if he hadn''t called me, I might never have had the courage to set foot in this ce." "Alexander? The Kennedys family in Amber Bay?" asked Appara.

 Chapter 572

    "Yes." Walter''s gaze shifted. "You can''t be clueless about what happened back then, right?" "Hmm..." Appara looked a bit puzzled.


    Just by looking at Appara''s reaction, Walter knew the situation and said in a deep voice, "It''s okay; I''m not ming you. I''m still investigating. Not just me, Alexander ising this time, probably also investigating what happened back then. But what I can be sure of is, it''s rted to The Kennedys."


    "How could that be?" Appara was skeptical. "The Mellons and The Kennedys have such a good rtionship; several elders have been through thick and thin together for so many years, and they wouldn''t do such a thing." "Who knows?" Walter''s gaze swept over Quinn with a half-smile. "Looking at Alexander''s attitude toward her, he must know some inside information."


    Appara was very confused listening to this. After pondering for a while, he still didn''t understand the key point. Not to mention Quinn, she didn''t understand a single word.


    She only understood Alexander.


    Appara asked, "About Alexander..."


    "You ask her." Walter turned his gaze to Quinn.


    Appara turned her gaze to Quinn, too, hesitated for a while, and then called out, "Miss."


    Quinn was stunned; she pointed at herself and then nced at Walter as if asking if he was calling her.


    With a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, Walter said, "Haven''t you always wanted to go home?" He emphasized each word. "This is your home."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Quinn slowly widened her eyes; she turned her head and looked around; everything was in a mess. She didn''t believe this ce was her home.


    Before Walter could say anything else, footsteps sounded again at the staircase.


    They all fell silent, and Appara quietly retreated into the room, disappearing without a trace, like a ghost from a legend.


    After a moment, a figure emerged from around the corner.


    As expected, Walter''s mouth curved up. It was none other than Alexander.


    He was wearing a ck overcoat, but inside, he had changed into a suit. Standing in such a dimly lit room, he seemed to blend in with the surroundings. Walter said, "You came so quickly?"


    "If I hadn''te, how could I hear such an exciting conversation?" Alexander''s expression was indifferent. In the dim light, hisplexion looked no different from usual.


    "These old matters-you know them better than I do why eavesdrop there?" Walter chuckled.


    "Unfortunately, you were disappointed; you didn''t hear any useful information."


    Alexander said, "It''s not entirely like that; at least your identity has been confirmed. What do you think?"


    Walter''s gaze flickered. Then heughed. "What''s so strange about that? Haven''t you known it for a long time?"


    If Alexander didn''t know his identity, he wouldn''t be so calm every time he took Quinn away.


    Alexander said, "Knowing is one thing; confirming is another."


    Walter asked, "So what?"


    Alexander didn''t answer Walter''s "So what" but looked at Quinn. "Come here."


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on Ne5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Quinn fell silent, about to step forward, when Walter suddenly shouted, "Don''t go."


    Quinn stood still, momentarily caught in a dilemma.


    Alexander''s gaze darkened, and he looked up at Walter.


    "Alexander, tell me the truth. Otherwise, you''ll never take her away," said Walter.


    Alexander stared at him for a long time before slowly uttering a few words. "I don''t know."


    Walterughed, but it was a bitterugh. "You don''t know? If you don''t know the truth, why did you treat her like this?"


    This time, Alexander chose silence instead of speaking.


    Walter said, "Anyway, she won''t remember anything now; whether you say it or not, it doesn''t make much difference, right?" Alexander sighed, his gaze shifting back and forth between them.

 Chapter 573

    Alexander looked impatient, his tone cold. "If you want to know, you can investigate it yourself. Even if I tell you, can you guarantee that what I say is true?"


    That was the truth. Even what Walter heard from Alexander might be false.


    Walter stopped asking further and instead asked, "From what you said, you do know something?"


    Alexander replied, "What I know may not be true either. That''s why I came to Sylvadora."


    "To confirm the truth you have known?" asked Walter.


    "Yes," Alexander admitted.


    Walter narrowed his eyes, staring straight at Alexander, seemingly trying to discern the truth in his words.


    After a while, Walter chose to end the topic. He said, "Regardless of the truth, whether it''s as you know it, Alexander, you owe her."


    Alexander''s eyes sharpened. "Mind your own business. Stay out of whatever concerns Quinn and me."


    Walter chuckled. "What if I want to get involved?"


    "Then our cooperation ends here," Alexander said firmly.


    Walter shrugged indifferently. "Whatever. Whether we cooperate or not, what happens between you and Landon is none of my concern."


    Alexander also smiled, albeit subtly. "Did you bring Quinn here?"


    "If I had brought her, you wouldn''t have found her now." Walter paused, then added, "Do I need to bring her? What can she remember now?"


    For someone who couldn''t remember anything, even if one told her the truth or pointed out the culprit, she wouldn''t remember. What was the use of her?


    Alexander''s gaze returned to Quinn, who seemed somewhat dazed, still processing their conversation. He said again, "Come here."


    Quinn hesitated, ncing at Walter.


    This time, Walter didn''t stop her, so she bravely walked over to Alexander, who suddenly grabbed her chin with great force, causing tears to well up in her eyes. "Who asked you to run around?" Quinn looked at him with a sense of grievance, tears swirling in her eyes. She couldn''t answer because she had forgotten how she had ended up here.


    Seeing this, Walter couldn''t help butugh. "Alexander, you''re being unreasonable."


    With that remark, he walked past them without looking back. When he reached the staircase, he nced back at them. "Well, she doesn''t have much time left anyway."


    Upon hearing this, Alexander''s gaze grew even colder, exuding an aura as if he were about to kill someone.


    Quinn bit her lip, unsure of whom Walter was referring to, but it was highly likely he was talking about her. She thought, ''I don''t have much time left?''


    As Walter left, the dim corridor was left with only Quinn and Alexander.


    Alexander gazed into her eyes, slowly releasing his grip and gently caressing her cheek.


    Quinn gestured with her hand. "What does he mean?"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Alexander''s expression softened. He stared deeply at Quinn and whispered, "Don''t listen to his nonsense."


    Quinn bit her lip; it didn''t seem like nonsense. She could only bury these thoughts in her heart, afraid to voice them out.


    Perhaps it was also difficult to ept Walter''s words, to let someone take their imminent death.


    Alexander sighed lightly, holding Quinn in his arms, gently stroking her head. "You still have time."


    The sun outside grew stronger. Although the vines on the walls blocked out the sky, the light inside the vi grew brighter. Quinn smelled his familiar scent, feeling a bit more at ease.


    She hadn''t slept much these past few days; the first night, Appara scared her, and during the day, she was too hungry to sleep. She had been waiting for Appara to bring her food, but instead, she got Walter and Alexander.

 Chapter 574

    At this moment, she rxed in Alexander''s arms, gradually losing consciousness.


    When they returned to the hotel, Volume was still pacing back and forth in the hotel lobby.


    He was wearing a floral shirt, his belly straining against the tight fabric, the flesh on his stomach trembling as he walked.


    Seeing Alexander return with Quinn in his arms, Volume''s furrowed brow instantly smoothed out; he let out a long sigh of relief, put on a smile, and hurried over. "Quinn is found. That''s great, is she okay?" Alexander said, "She''s fine, just exhausted; I''ve called for a doctor."


    "Alright, I''ll call the doctor right away." Volume quickly took out his phone and summoned a group of doctors.


    In the spacious room, crowded with doctors, each one examined Quinn. They all came to the same conclusion: she was hungry and tired.


    Alexander asked them all to leave.


    One female doctor took the liberty to stay back, seeming to have something to say.


    Alexander nced at the doctor, his gaze chilly. The doctor felt some pressure but still said, "This youngdy is very weak."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander''s eyes shed, fixed on the doctor. "Go on."


    "I''m not entirely sure about the specifics, but it would be best to take her to the hospital for a check-up."


    Alexander fell silent for a moment. "Then tell me what you do know."


    The female doctor continued, "I can only tell that she is severely depleted, not like a young person''s body." "Anything else?" Alexander asked.


    "That''s all I can discern." After the doctor finished speaking, the room fell into silence.


    She stood there for a long time, her legs feeling numb.


    It was unclear how much time had passed before Alexander raised his hand to dismiss her.


    The doctor breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully retreated.


    Indeed, she shouldn''t have spoken out of turn; those doctors just said a few perfunctory words, nothing more.


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    Alexander stood by Quinn''s bedside. The weather was fine today, with a clear blue sky and a gentle breeze outside.


    The sunlight fell on Quinn''s face, making her look very pale, almost devoid of color.


    Suddenly, Alexander stood up and went to the balcony to smoke.


    Quinn had been asleep for a long time, sleeping deeply and having many strange dreams.


    There were many chaotic scenes in her dreams that she couldn''t understand.


    The only vivid memories were of her parents'' invisible faces, blurry, and theirughter, and the abandoned Vi.


    But the Vi didn''t reveal its true form in the dream. It was still in its dpidated state, gloomy and eerie.


    In the dream, Appara''s burnt face appeared, causing Quinn to open her eyes abruptly.


    The gloom in the dream faded, reced by brightness, a dazzling light.


    She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the bright light, then slowly lowered it and looked toward the balcony.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! She saw Alexander''s tall figure.


    He was wearing a white shirt, a silver waistcoat, and a tight vest outlining his slender waist.


    Quinn was momentarily stunned, then she pushed aside the covers and got out of bed, approaching him barefoot.


    Before she could get close, Alexander seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around, meeting her gaze. Quinn looked at his handsome face, slightly taken aback.


    "Why aren''t you wearing shoes?" asked Alexander.


    Quinn nced down at her bare feet, not feeling cold but rather cool.


    However, Alexander had already walked in, fetched her slippers, and led her to sit on the balcony swing.


    He squatted in front of her, took her feet, and put the slippers on for her.

 Chapter 575

    Quinn lowered her gaze at Alexander, her eyes somewhat dazed.


    Alexander helped her put on both shoes and then looked up at her.


    They locked eyes for a moment; something seemed to sh in his deep blue eyes too fast for Quinn to catch.


    Alexander tried to stand up, but halfway through, he frowned, staggering a bit. He managed to grab onto the balcony in time to prevent himself from falling.


    Seeing this, Quinn hurriedly stood up, reaching out to support him, a hint of worry on her face.


    Alexander lowered his head for a moment, and then when he looked up again, his expression returned to normal. He gently touched Quinn''s head. "It''s okay. Don''t worry."


    Quinn''s gaze lingered on his face for a moment, ultimately choosing to believe his words and letting go of him.


    At that moment, Quinn''s phone rang.


    She turned to look at her phone on the coffee table, feeling that the pink phone should be hers.


    She immediately left Alexander and went inside to answer the call.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She picked up the phone and saw that it was Orion calling. After a moment of hesitation, she slid to answer and put it to her ear.


    Orion''s voice came through the phone. "I thought you were ignoring me; you finally decided to pick up. Christmas ising soon. Do you have any ce you want to go?"


    Quinn couldn''t speak, and Orion found it strange. "You were talking before; why are you silent now?"


    As Orion finished speaking, the phone was snatched from Quinn''s hand.


    "If you''re feeling lonely, I can help you with that." Alexander''s voice came through, instantly quieting the phone call.


    After a few seconds of silence, Orion asked, "Are you with her now?"


    "The answer is obvious; why do you ask?" Alexander retorted.


    Annoyed, Orion said, "You two are already divorced; why keep her around?"


    "What''s it to you?" Alexander replied.


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    "What do you think? She''s my wife now. Alexander, do you have some strange fetish? Do you just like other men''s wives?" Orion was angry.


    At this, Alexander''s gaze darkened. "It seems you haven''t learned your lesson."


    Orion chuckled. "What? Do you want to chop off someone''s fingers? Or perhaps, do you want to kill someone? Do you want to kill me? Is that it? I''m waiting for you,e at me!" With that, he hung up the phone. Alexander tossed the phone back on the table and nced indifferently at Quinn. Whatever expression he wore no longer mattered.


    After all, she wouldn''t remember.


    "Are you hungry?" asked Alexander to Quinn.


    Quinn nodded. She was indeed hungry.


    Alexander dialed the internal line by the bedside and ordered a meal to be brought up.


    When food arrived, Quinn sat at the table and ate voraciously.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Alexander sat beside her, watching her eat.


    She didn''t remember anything so that she wouldn''t feel sad or upset. She just ate when she was hungry and slept when she was tired, without a care in the world. For her, waking up from a nap meant a new day as long as her condition didn''t worsen.


    The only constion was that no matter how much her memory deteriorated, Alexander remained deeply rooted in her memories.


    As long as she opened her eyes and saw that familiar face, her recollections of the past were beautiful, allowing her to feel at ease and unafraid.


    After dinner, Alexander, as usual, took her to the bathroom to bathe.


    He filled the bathtub with water, had Quinn sit in it, and carefully helped her bathe.


    It was unclear to which year her memory had regressed, but when Alexander bathed her, she no longer blushed.


    She naturally undressed in front of him, obediently sitting in the bathtub.

 Chapter 576

    At least after Quinn turned thirteen, she no longer let Alexander bathe her.


    She learned about the differences between males and females. Every time he mentioned bathing her, she would blush and lock him out of the bathroom.


    Then, she patiently exined to him that she had taken biology ss, and the teacher had talked about the differences between males and females, so they should avoid suspicion.


    But Alexander never listened, and he would still try to help her bathe, even though she would chase him out every time.


    When would he be able to help her bathe again? Probably after they got married.


    By that time, sheprehended nearly everything, epassing the dynamics within marriages and the interactions between genders.


    Quinn yed with the bubbles floating in the water, letting Alexander bathe her.


    While Alexander was distracted, water suddenly sshed on his face.


    His gaze shifted to Quinn''s face.


    She smiled at him, and she was ying with the water in the bathtub, mischievously sshing it on his face.


    The water droplets slid down his cheek, making him look somewhat messy.


    He just stared at her without any reaction.


    The smile on Quinn''s lips faded, and she looked at him in confusion.


    Quinn remembered that every time she caused trouble during bath time, he would pretend to be serious and re at her, then ssh water on her face in the same way.


    Sometimes, when she annoyed him, he would even grab the showerhead and spray water on her face, causing Quinn to dive into the water to avoid his attacks.


    Of course, sometimes, he would tell her to stop messing around.


    But never before had he looked at her like this, silently and somewhat intimidatingly.


    Quinn lowered her head despondently, dared not move anymore, and sat in the bathtub like a well-behaved student.


    After a moment of silence, Alexander wiped the water off his face, asked her to stand up, used the showerhead to rinse off the foam on her body, and wrapped her in a towel. He carried her to the bed and blow-dried her hair for her.


    Quinn could sense that he was in a bad mood, so she behaved herself and didn''t fidget.


    For a while, the only sound in the room was the blow dryer.


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    After drying her hair, Alexander put down the blow dryer and ran his fingers through her soft, delicate hair.


    He stared at Quinn for a long time, moved his lips as if to speak, but stopped several times.


    Quinn tilted her head, eyes fixed on him.


    After a while, Alexander finally spoke, gently stroking Quinn''s hair, and asked, "Quinn, how old are you?"


    Quinn raised her hand and gestured. "Eleven."


    His finger movement paused slightly.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Quinn raised her hand, touched his face, held it, and examined it from side to side.


    Then she furrowed her brows and gestured. "Brother, you seem different."


    Alexander focused on her intently.


    Quinn felt a little scared by his gaze. She shrank back, grabbed the nket, and hid her head inside, leaving only her head peeking out to sneak a look at him. Alexander stood up, walked to the sofa, and started smoking.


    Quinn tilted her head, staring at him intently.


    With his elbow on his knee and cigarette between his fingers, swirling smoke enveloped his face, making it hard to see his expression.


    He seemed unhappy.


    Quinn wasn''t sure if she had done something to upset him.


    After searching her mind, she couldn''t recall him being angry with her often.


    Thinking for a moment, Quinn lifted the nket and came out. She wasn''t wearing pajamas, just Alexander''s shirt, which barely covered her legs.


    She walked barefoot to sit next to Alexander, her head slipping through the gap between his elbow and the cigarette, and then she hugged his neck. She was so careless that the tip of his cigarette almost touched her hair.


    Fortunately, he moved his hand away.


    As Alexander lowered his head, he was now very close to her face.

 Chapter 577

    Alexander supported Quinn''s waist with one hand, threw the cigarette into the ashtray with the other hand, and extinguished it with the water in the cup.


    Sitting back down, he held her waist with both hands, gazing into her eyes. "What''s wrong?"


    Quinn hugged his neck, her gaze sweeping over every inch of skin on his face, then shook her head and let go of him.


    But the next moment, she got up again, sat on hisp, and gestured. "You seem to be getting old."


    Alexander didn''t say anything, unsure of what to say.


    For an eleven-year-old Quinn, 29-year-old Alexander did seem a bit old.


    For those who had children early, the children would be around ten years old by now.


    After a while, Alexander held her hand, smoothed the stray hair by her ear, and whispered, "Yes, you are getting younger."


    Quinn didn''t understand. Her eyes filled with confusion.


    Alexander tugged at the corner of his mouth, drawing a bitter curve.


    He lifted Quinn and ced her back on the bed. "Alright, it''s time to sleep."


    Quinn shook her head. "I can''t sleep."


    She had only just opened her eyes; how could she possibly fall asleep?


    "Then just lie down on the bed," Alexander said, lifting her and cing her on the bed.


    But Quinn still held onto his neck, bing more and more clingy to him.


    But this wasn''t a good thing.


    Alexander fell silent for a moment, then got onto the bed as well.


    He leaned against the headboard. Quinn rested her head on his chest, her hands around his waist, and her legs draped over him, hanging on him like a little kangaroo. Alexander gently stroked her hair, looking elsewhere, not saying a word.


    Quinn stared at his open cor, the exposed corbone, then looked up to see Adam''s apple. But he didn''t look happy, with no hint of a smile on his face.


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    Quinn lowered her gaze, pressing her face against his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his chest, slowly closing her eyes.


    The wind blew outside, carrying a hint of coolness; asionally, the sound of the waves could be heard.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    It was the style of the room''s decoration that made the interior look particrly cold.


    It also exuded an indescribable destion.


    Quinn said she couldn''t sleep, but listening to the man''s heartbeat, she fell asleep in a daze.


    As soon as she closed her eyes, she would dream, a very long dream.


    But now, the dream she was having was bing iprehensible.


    When she opened her eyes again, it was already the next day.


    She was still in Alexander''s arms, her hands tightly around him, and he was still holding her, not even changing his clothes.


    Quinn opened her eyes, stared at him for a while, and couldn''t help but touch his prominent nose bridge.


    But as soon as her fingers touched, Alexander opened his eyes.


    The two stared at each other.


    Quinn blinked and smiled at him.


    The smile was too dazzling, so much so that Alexander was momentarily stunned and stared at her expressionlessly for a long time. His seriousness gradually faded Quinn''s smile.


    She lowered her head, fingers fidgeting with his buttons, feeling uneasy.


    Alexander closed his eyes, pondered for several minutes, then opened his eyes again and lowered his head to look at Quinn in his arms. He lifted Quinn''s chin, asking her, "How old are you now?"


    Quinn stared into his deep eyes for a moment, feeling strange. Didn''t he even know how old she was?


    After a while, Quinn raised her hand and gestured. "I''m eleven."

 Chapter 578

    The tension in Alexander''s expression eased slightly, and he pulled her up from the bed. "You may be hungry; let''s go eat."


    Quinn nodded and quickly got up from the bed.


    She stood brazenly in front of Alexander, stretchedzily, and the thin shirt slipped down a lot. From Alexander''s perspective, nothing was left to the imagination. Alexander just nced and then sat up from the bed, holding her waist. "Be careful not to fall."


    Quinn nced at him, then smiled again. She suddenly knelt on the bed, tilted her head, and stared at him for a long time.


    She gestured with her hand. "You''re so strange."


    Alexander was slightly taken aback. "Where am I strange?"


    Quinn thought for a moment, unable to describe it, and after much contemtion, gestured. "You look unhappy."


    That was the only thing she could discern, not just unhappiness.


    Alexander moved his lips, remained silent for a while, and then showed a faint smile. "Do I?"


    Quinn nodded.


    Alexander chuckled, pulled back the covers, got out of bed, picked up his jacket from the side, and put it on. "Change your clothes. Let''s go eat."


    Quinn obediently got out of bed, looked around, found her suitcase, and took out a few pieces of clothing.


    She didn''t particrly like these clothes; the weather called for pretty dresses.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    After some consideration, she chose a mid-length T-shirt and a coat of simr length.


    As soon as Alexander turned his head, he saw her changing clothes in front of him.


    He took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and walked to the balcony.


    Quinn changed her clothes and then went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.


    When she came out, Alexander had already smoked two cigarettes.


    Quinn frowned; she remembered Alexander didn''t smoke, and she didn''t know when he had picked up the habit.


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    He put out the cigarette and took Quinn downstairs to eat.


    The hotel had a cafeteria and a separate restaurant serving cuisine from different countries.


    While in the elevator, they coincidentally met Walter from the floor below.


    As the elevator door opened, Walter paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Quinn. Quinn grabbed Alexander''s hand and hid behind him.


    After seeing this, Walter''s eyes flickered; he entered the elevator, and the doors closed.


    The elevator descended slowly, and neither of them spoke.


    Walter stared at the floors shing by and suddenly said, "Sylvadora has a well-known hospital specializing in cardiovascr and neurological diseases. You can take her there." Alexander remained silent. Walter didn''t continue either.


    Quinn hid behind Alexander, stealing nces at Walter, who asionally nced in her direction.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! When the elevator reached the second floor, Walter walked out first.


    Alexander also led Quinn out of the elevator, took a stroll on the second floor, and asked her what she wanted to eat.


    Quinn looked around but didn''t have any particr cravings, so they casually went to the hotel''splimentary restaurant, which offered a buffet breakfast. However, as soon as she entered, Getty caught up with them.


    She had been here for two days, and Alexander had been looking for Quinn every day. Just after finishing breakfast, she came out and saw these three people. She was somewhat annoyed; after being so tense before, she had found them so easily!


    Without hesitation, Getty quickly caught up with Alexander. "Alexander."


    As soon as she spoke, Alexander stopped in his tracks, and even Walter halted, turning to look at her.


    Getty felt somewhat irritated by their gazes as if she were an unwee outsider.


    Although she was indeed an outsider, she didn''t acknowledge it herself; she considered herself Alexander''s closest person.


    Quinn assessed Getty, then nced at Alexander; this woman exuded a dangerous aura.

 Chapter 579

    Even though Quinn had the psychological age of an eleven-year-old, she knew what crisis meant.


    The moment she saw Getty, she knew she was to steal Alexander.


    Instinctively, she held Alexander''s hand tighter, not even realizing the pain in the palm of her hand.


    After seeing the intimacy between them, Getty''s anger and jealousy grew even stronger.


    In the past, Alexander always took Getty with him when he went far away. She didn''t understand why he brought Quinn, this dummy this time, especially when they were already divorced!


    "What''s the matter?" Alexander interrupted Getty''s thoughts, his tone icy.


    Struggling to contain her anger, Getty said, "Can''t I call you for no reason?"


    Feeling indignant, she took two steps forward, wanting to pry Quinn away from Alexander.


    But Quinn held onto Alexander tightly, ring at Getty.


    Getty was surprised by how thick-skinned Quinn was now. She discreetly pinched Quinn''s arm.


    Quinn winced in pain. Her eyes suddenly rimmed with red.


    Getty only dared to pinch her so tantly because she was a dummy and couldn''t cry out anyway.


    To Getty''s surprise, as soon as she pinched Quinn, her wrist was grabbed.


    She was taken aback, her fingertips still pinching the flesh on Quinn''s arm, never expecting to be caught in the act by Alexander.


    She looked up at Alexander.


    His face was filled with a fierce expression, one that Getty had never seen before. It made her feel uneasy. Slowly, her fingers loosened their grip on Quinn.


    "Getty, that''s enough," Alexander warned her sternly.


    Feeling a surge of injustice, she red at Quinn with resentment, then at Alexander. "I''ve been here for two days, and you haven''t said more than ten words to me. You''ve left me aside to dine with this dummy!"


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    "Have you forgotten your previous promises?" Alexander asked her.


    "What promises?" she replied. Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander''s gaze silenced her, leaving her speechless.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    "Getty, my patience is limited. I hope you can see the situation clearly."


    Alexander''s words were like a knife stabbing at Getty''s heart, her face turning red with embarrassment, especially with so many onlookers around, making her feel utterly humiliated. She used to be in a precarious position, and now?


    It remained the same.


    Alexander turned and walked away with Quinn, no longer intending to dine there.


    Quinn followed Alexander, frequently ncing back at Getty.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Getty stared back at her with eyes filled with hatred, wishing she could eliminate Quinn.


    Getty never expected that after waiting for so long, hoping for the divorce of Quinn and Alexander. But after the divorce, she didn''t receive Alexander''s proposal. Instead, they became even closer than before. Before the divorce, Alexander at least sided with Getty whenever he would choose her first, not that dummy, Quinn.


    In Getty''s mind, she had already shattered Quinn into pieces, desperately wanting Quinn to disappear from this world.


    This thought grew stronger; even the intent to kill overflowed from her eyes.


    Suddenly, a lightughter interrupted Getty''s thoughts.


    Turning around, Getty saw Walter looking at her with a face that enjoyed the spectacle.


    Although he wore a smile on his face, Getty felt ufortable under his gaze. She asked, "What are you looking at?"


    Walter smiled. "When there''s a good show, I have to watch it a bit more."

 Chapter 580

    "You!" Getty was angry.


    "If you are not smart, don''t act recklessly, or you might regret it." Walter left these words behind and walked out of the restaurant, leaving Getty standing there dumbfounded. Walter''s words just now reminded her that with her intelligence, she wasn''t a match for Alexander. If she did something to Quinn, she wouldn''t escape Alexander''s scrutiny. She had been aware of this before, so she always kept a low profile and rarely caused trouble for Quinn.


    Even when she did make things difficult for Quinn at times, it was mostly minor tricks that wouldn''t cause substantial harm, so Alexander didn''t take it seriously.


    If Quinn''s life were truly threatened, Alexander would never allow it.


    Getty patted her cheek, trying to calm herself down and prevent herself from acting impulsively.


    Putting on a baseball cap and sunsses, she ignored the stares of the people around her and hurriedly followed outside.


    Meanwhile, after Alexander brought Quinn out, he held her hand and checked her.


    Fortunately, she hadn''t been pinched too hard, just leaving a red mark.


    Alexander let go of her sleeve and said, "Let''s go outside."


    Sylvadora had many great specialty foods. As a tourist city, it offered a wide variety of cuisines from all over the country.


    Due to Getty''s earlier disturbance, Quinn had even less appetite for food.


    Alexander didn''t eat much either, watching her take a few bites before taking her to the hospital.


    It was the hospital Walter had mentioned.


    The hospital was crowded with people, many of whom hade specifically to see the doctor.


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    There was a renowned professor who was hard to schedule with, and Volume had pulled some strings to get the doctor to treat Quinn.


    However, after a thorough examination, the results were simr to those from the previous examination in Amber Bay.


    The professor looked at the X-rays in his hand, pondered for a moment, then turned to Alexander and said, "Based on the circumstances you described,bined with the previous diagnosis, we can infer that Quinn''s rapid memory degradation is due to her brain stimtion."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Furrowing his brows, Alexander asked, "Is there more?"


    The professor continued, "Her condition is quite peculiar, different from the Alzheimer''s disease cases I''ve encountered before, and it doesn''t seem to be gic." Alexander remained silent, ncing at Quinn by the window.


    She was leaning against the ss, looking down at a park below where many people were strolling, the flowers in full bloom, and colorful butterflies fluttering about.


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    She seemed lost in thought. She paid no attention to the conversation behind her.


    The professor went on. "To stabilize her condition, we should avoid further brain stimtion. If her protective mechanisms are triggered, her memory will degrade even faster. Since she can''t control her thoughts now, she basically doesn''t retain any unpleasant memories."


    "Is there no cure?" Alexander inquired.


    The old professor sighed and said once more, "Didn''t I mention it before? Her symptoms are somewhat different from what I''ve encountered previously. I can''t guarantee a cure or predict how it will progress. The only certainty I can give you is that as long as she isn''t stimted, her condition won''t worsen."


    "What kind of stimtion counts as a trigger?" asked Alexander.


    The old professor pondered for a moment and replied, "That''s unclear, as everyone reacts differently to stimuli."


    Alexander thought in silence, but when he looked back up at the window, Quinn was no longer there.

 Chapter 581

    Alexander''s pupils slightly contracted, and he suddenly stood up, searching the room.


    Quinn was gone!


    In the blink of an eye, she disappeared.


    Alexander didn''t even bother to say anything to the professor; he just ran out.


    At this moment, Quinn was in the park downstairs, admiring the beautiful flowers and wanting to catch butterflies.


    She picked several fresh flowers and sniffed them under her nose; they smelled lovely.


    ''If I give the flowers to Alexander, he must be happy, right? He hadn''t smiled all day today, but seeing these flowers might improve his mood,'' Quinn thought so, but before she could even enjoy her happiness for a moment, arge hand grabbed her shoulder from behind.


    She was stunned.


    The hand pulled her over, gripping her wrist tightly. "Why are you running around?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Quinn nkly raised her head and saw Alexander''s furious face, his eyes shing with anger as if he wanted to devour her.


    She opened her mouth and struggled. Her wrist was being pinched painfully.


    Alexander nced at the flowers in her hand, snatched them from her, and threw them on the ground.


    The flowers scattered on the ground, petals flying everywhere due to the force, creating a mess. Someone passing by stepped on them, making a mess.


    Quinn was once again stunned, looking at Alexander in front of her. She could tell he was very angry. She tried to pull her hand back, but he held her even tighter as if he wanted to crush her bones. Without giving Quinn a chance to exin, he dragged her toward the parking lot.


    Quinn followed him, feeling a sharp pain in her wrist, her eyes stinging with tears.


    After reaching the parking lot, Alexander opened the car door, rudely threw her in, and fastened her seatbelt.


    Then he leaned in, held Quinn''s chin, and said in a low voice, "If you dare to run around again, I''ll lock you up."


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    Quinn was stunned; seeing the coldness and anger in his eyes, she couldn''t help but shrink her body.


    Alexander mmed the car door, went to the driver''s seat, and drove Quinn back.


    He didn''t even bother to take the medicine prescribed by the professor.


    Quinn curled up in the passenger seat, not daring to make a sound.


    The atmosphere in the car was too eerie; Quinn didn''t look at him but knew he was angry.


    She didn''t understand why he was so angry; she just wanted to pick a couple of flowers to give him.


    She bit her lip, hugged herself, and stared at the unfamiliar scenery outside, feeling ufortable. Indeed, he had changed a bit.


    The journey was silent, with Alexander not saying a word.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! When they arrived at the hotel, he remained silent, dragging Quinn to the room.


    He pushed Quinn into the room, grabbed the doorknob, and said, "Stay in the room and behave yourself, or I''ll break your legs if you run around again!"


    Quinn trembled, but before she could react, Alexander had already closed the door.


    It was a suite, and Quinn was locked inside without anything blocking the door; she twisted the handle but couldn''t open it.


    She knocked on the door, but there was no response from outside. Her nose tingled, and tears uncontrobly streamed down. ''Why did he lock me up?'' Outside the room, Alexander loosened his cor, unbuttoned his shirt, took out a cigarette, and lit it.


    He sat on the sofa, smoking in silence; soon, the room was filled with smoke, which was quickly dispersed by the wind from outside.


    When Getty came in, the door was not closed. Detecting the scent of smoke in the room, she furrowed her brow and hastened inside. Sure enough, as soon as she entered, she saw Alexander smoking on the sofa.

 Chapter 582

    Alexander rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing half of his arms. He was holding a cigarette, the cor open. His hair was a bit messy, with a few strands falling.


    His appearance was clearly very irritable.


    Getty hesitated, afraid of being scolded, but if she didn''t go, she didn''t know where she could find him next time.


    After much thought, she still walked over.


    She came to Alexander''s side, staring at the ashtray in front of him, not knowing how many cigarettes he had smoked.


    Before Getty could speak, she heard him say, "Get out."


    She stood still, squatted down beside Alexander, her hands on his legs, looking up at him. "Alexander, did I do something wrong, or did I make you angry somewhere? Don''t treat me like this, okay?"


    Alexander just kept smoking, not looking at her. His attitude made Getty''s heart sink even more, and she couldn''t help but shed tears again. "Alexander, if I did something wrong, at least tell me clearly; let me understand. Please don''t ignore me like this. Don''t be so indifferent to me, okay?"


    The more Getty spoke, the sadder she became. "You never treated me like this before."


    He wouldn''t humiliate her, particrly in public, nor would he ask her to leave abruptly.


    As Getty was still recounting her grievances, Alexander suddenly interrupted her. "Getty, I''m not talking to you right now; go back."


    Getty hesitated, her face turning pale, looking very ugly. "Go back where?"


    "Back to Amber Bay," said Alexander.


    Getty''s fingers suddenly tightened, and almost without hesitation, she shook her head. "No, I''m not going back. I want to be with you."


    Alexander suddenly turned to look at her. His eyes were calm, devoid of any emotion, or rather, they were chillingly indifferent. He said, "Getty, let''s break up."


    Getty''s eyes widened, her face paled, looking at him in disbelief.


    She almost thought she had misheard and asked uncertainly, "What did you say?"


    Alexander repeated mercilessly, "I said it''s over between us. Do you understand now?"


    His indifferent tone was as if he was announcing something very ordinary without a hint of nostalgia as if these few years between them had never existed, as if it was just a dream Getty had made up herself. Getty stared with wide eyes, mouth agape, her face drained of color, looking ghastly pale.


    Her frantic heart pounded, unable to find words to respond for a moment.


    She couldn''t believe that Alexander could so easily and heartlessly say these words. Alexander was the one who had courageously ventured alone to the cabin to rescue her, which appeared almost surreal. "You..." Getty opened her mouth but couldn''t squeeze out a word for a long time, her voice trembling when she finally spoke.


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    Alexander took out a check from his pocket and ced it on the table. "Here is three million dors."


    Getty sat on the ground in a daze, looking at the check that he had ced there at some point, like a wooden puppet.


    She was like an abandoned puppy, unable to speak, tears streaming down her face.


    So Alexander said again, "Or how much do you want? You tell me."


    Getty''s lips trembled; she took several deep breaths before holding back her tears.


    She cautiously asked, "You promised to take care of me for a lifetime. Are your words not worth anything?"


    Alexander''s deep gaze fell on her face.


    Getty looked at him expectantly, hoping to hear the words she wanted from his mouth.


    Alexander''s thin lips parted slightly, and he said slowly, "How much money do you want, enough tost you a lifetime?"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 583

    Alexander''s voice prated Getty''s ears word by word. Like thunder, each word was so heavy that it made her dizzy.


    Getty''s fingers slowly tightened, trembling, as she choked out, "I want 100 billion dors."


    Alexander frowned slightly, his tone bing impatient. "Do you think it''s fun?"


    Getty also went all out, staring at him defiantly. "Wasn''t that what you said? Let me name a figure."


    "Let''s part on good terms; can you understand?" asked Alexander.


    Getty shook her head tearfully. "I don''t understand. What about these seven years between us?"


    Alexander fell silent, moving his gaze away from Getty''s face and looking out the window.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    The distant sea shimmered under the sun, seagulls hunting on the surface, but it still seemed too lonely.


    Getty spoke again. "You said you couldn''t marry me; I epted it; I''m willing to follow you namelessly and without status; why do you still treat me like this?" Alexander pinched his brow, closing his eyes with a hint of weariness. "I''m tired."


    Getty found it amusing to hear this. "You''re tired? You''re tired, so you just say it''s over, write me a check, and send me away. Are your previous words all void now?" Alexander didn''t argue with her. "It is what you think."


    These words made Getty feel ufortable; she realized that when Alexander was ruthless, nothing she said mattered. "So, are these seven years between us worth nothing?" Alexander remained silent.


    Nothing was more chilling than silence.


    Silence represented his determination and unchangeable decisions.


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    Getty had experienced Alexander''s brutality before, but this time, it pierced her heart like never before.


    She desperately grabbed Alexander''s arm, pleading bitterly. "Alexander, please don''t do this. If you find me annoying, I''ll go back to Amber Bay immediately. If you think I shouldn''t appear in front of Quinn, I won''t; I''ll stay away from her; is that okay? I''ll bow and apologize to her."


    As Getty spoke these words, she was already in tears. She almost fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face. "Alexander."


    After a moment of silence, Alexander looked at Getty''s tear-stained face, raised his slender fingers, and wiped the tears from her face.


    The gesture was incredibly gentle, but his words could freeze one''s heart. "That''s it, okay, Getty?"


    When he said this, it was no different from when he used to coax her.


    If it weren''t for the coldness in his eyes, Getty would almost think he was talking about love with her.


    Getty shook her head, shaking it vigorously. "No, I don''t want this. Over the years, you have be a part of my life. Without you, I can''t go on. Alexander, I''ll be obedient in the future. I won''t argue with you anymore; I''ll listen to whatever you say. If you don''t want to see me, I''ll lock myself in my room and nevere out. As long as you don''t want to see me, I won''t appear in front of you."


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    Every word she said just dripped with humility. For Alexander, she''d do anything, even if it meant putting herself down.


    She didn''t even ask to see him; she just begged him not to say such ruthless words. All she wanted was peace of mind.


    It was so simple. She continued, "Alexander, don''t leave me, please; I don''t want anything."


    Alexander''s fingersnded on her face, moving down little by little, lifting her chin. "You don''t want anything, then what do you want?"


    He still maintained his lofty posture, showing no sadness or sorrow about parting with her.


    He was like a king, looking down at Getty from a high position.


    Getty could only kneel on the ground, looking up at him. "I just want you." her eyes were already swollen, and Alexander''s face was blurry in her vision. The only thing clear was the cruelty in his eyes.

 Chapter 584

    "Just me?" Alexander suddenlyughed.


    "Yes," Getty replied.


    "Would you rather have nothing and beg on the street, just to have me?" he asked.


    Getty looked at him with tears sliding down her face as her gaze flickered.


    "Yes."


    "Am I that good?"


    Getty took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and slowly said, word by word, "I would die for you."


    She was willing to give up her life.


    Alexander stared at her for a moment, a faint smile ying on his lips. His vision was already blurry. Then, he said, "Go ahead and die for me."


    He said it so nonchntly just like when Getty bought new clothes.


    He had said, "Go ahead and try them on for me."


    Naturally, Getty was happy to try them on for him.


    This time was no different.


    Getty''s heart had turned cold. Every word from him felt like a knife cutting into her flesh.


    Her once pale face turned ashen.


    She stared at Alexander as her eyes became firm and resolute, shing with a hint of defiance. Everyone knew that people often lost their rationality when they were consumed by anger.


    Getty slowly reached out and grabbed the fruit knife from the coffee table.


    She stared into his eyes as she held the fruit knife. Without hesitation, she ced it on her wrist.


    Alexander stared back at her with a deep and unreadable gaze.


    Getty swiftly tugged the fruit knife, cutting her wrist right before his eyes.


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    Blood oozed slowly from the wound. Like pearls scattering from a broken ne, they dripped onto the gray floor.


    As the wound deepened, the beads of blood formed a single line that went down her wrist and seeped into her sleeve.


    The air was thick with the smell of blood.


    Getty seemed to not feel the pain. Her eyes were fixed on the man in front of her, not wanting to miss any emotion that crossed his face.


    However, there was no emotion to be seen on his face.


    This made Getty feel that even if she died, he would remain indifferent.


    Getty finally realized that when his heart hardened, nothing she did would matter.


    Even in death, he would not waver.


    A wan smile appeared on her lips.


    "Alexander, you''re so ruthless," she said.


    Getty had lost too much blood. Her eyes gradually lost focus as drowsiness slowly engulfed her.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! She thought she might really die this time.


    Still, death did not seem as terrifying as she had imagined.


    However, a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her up. As Getty''s fingers loosened, the fruit knife fell to the ground with a ng.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    She weakly opened her eyes to look at Alexander.


    Alexander picked up a tie from the couch and wrapped it around her wrist.


    He put pressure on her wound with one hand while the other caressed her cheek.


    Alexander said, "Getty, I just love your foolish stubbornness."


    His voice was t with a hint of casualness, praising her as he had before.


    Getty''s gaze flickered. Perhaps due to the loss of blood, she could not understand Alexander''s words.


    She fought against dizziness, desperately wanting to hear his answer.


    "Don''t leave me, please?" she asked.

 Chapter 585

    Getty was still waiting for Alexander''s answer, but he had already taken out his cell phone and called Volume. "Call for an ambnce."


    Getty''s vision became increasingly hazy. Her eyelids felt heavier, and in the end, she did not see any change in Alexander''s expression. He was as indifferent as ever, even when she was about to die before his eyes.


    Indeed, all that so-called care and love were just her delusions.


    It was all wishful thinking on her part.


    Getty could not resist the fatigue any longer. As she slowly closed her eyes, tears slid down her cheeks.


    Volume thought Quinn was in trouble again, so he called for an ambnce and a doctor, only to find another woman lying on the couch.


    It wasn''t just Volume who was stunned, but so was the doctor.


    This was not the woman they saw yesterday.


    However, they only froze for one moment. After all, a life was at stake, so curiosity was set aside for the moment as the focus was on saving Getty.


    Getty''s wrist was still bleeding. Although Alexander had tried to bandage it with a tie, it didn''t do much to stop the bleeding. Fresh blood kept dripping onto the floor.


    It had to be said that Getty was quite ruthless when it came to herself. She was willing to go to great lengths to keep Alexander.


    The doctor treated her wound before helping her into the ambnce and driving off.


    Volume stood at the hotel entrance, wiping the sweat off his forehead. After so many years in business and having hosted numerous clients, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. He turned around and saw Walter leaning against the entrance, smiling as he watched the ambnce drive away.


    Volume asked, "Walter, when did you arrive?"


    Walter turned to look at Volume. His smile unchanged as he replied, "I''ve been here all along. Maybe you just didn''t notice me."


    "I see." Volume nodded. He had indeed been very anxious just now, with all his attention focused on Getty.


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    Volume thought for a moment and abruptly asked, "By the way, what''s the deal with these three people?"


    Walter looked at him with a smirk. "Do you want to know?"


    Volume awkwardly smiled. "I''m just curious. Mr. Kennedy is here for project negotiations, yet he brought two women with him, and both were hurt."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    He couldn''t figure out if Alexander was a master of manipting women, or if Volume himself was just too inexperienced for theirplicated games.


    Walter suddenly stood up straight, walked up to Volume, and patted his shoulder. "Volume, some things are better left unasked, but aren''t you a local from Sylvadora?"


    Volume thought for a moment about that answer before nodding in response. "Yes, I''ve lived here since I was a child."


    Volume was in his forties this year, and was quite a bit older than Walter, but he looked quite young due to his chubby figure.


    Walter pondered. "I remember there used to be an Ethereal family in Sylvadora."


    Volume said, "The Ethereal family? That sounds familiar."


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Volume thought for a moment. Suddenly, realization struck him, and he pped his thigh, saying, "I remember now. The Ethereal family used to have a great influence in Sylvadora." As Volume reminisced, he recounted what he knew from back then.


    The Ethereal family had been a legend in Sylvadora for twenty years. Those in business would tremble at the mere mention of the Ethereal family, but that had nothing to do with Volume. After all, he only sold breakfast food back then.


    Volume recalled something else and said, "There was also the Mellons family back then. These two families in Sylvadora were unmatched in both the underworld and the business world. It was said that thebined assets of those two families could rival a small country."


    Walter listened with a smile, nodding as he gestured for them to sit and talk.


    Volume continued, "They monopolized many industries. Besides them, there was also the Kennedys family. They were quite formidable."


    Volume sat on the couch, thinking as he spoke.


    Walter said, "It seems like these two families are no longer around now."

 Chapter 586

    Volume said, "Well, they''re rich. They definitely have a lot of enemies, especially since most of their industries are in the shady side of the business." Volume cleared his throat and promptly changed the topic. "Anyway, he Mellons family were inexplicably killed off in a fire. It''s still an unsolved case to this day," he said.


    "After the Mellons family was wiped out, the Ethereal family also disappeared from Sylvadora. Nobody knows where they went. Now, only the Kennedys family remains."


    "The Kennedys family is thriving now, dominating the scene. How did they manage to stay unscathed back then?" Walter asked.


    What Volume spoke of was no longer a secret.


    Volume nced at Walter, noticing the contemtion in his eyes, and immediately said, "By the way, Walter, I know someone who might know where the Ethereal family went." "Really?" Walter raised an eyebrow.


    "I''m just specting here. I''m not sure about the specifics, but it''s said that this person was associated with the Ethereal family back then. Whether it''s true or not, shall I try to contact him for you?" "No need. I probably know who you''re talking about." Walter waved his hand.


    Volume was somewhat surprised. "You know him?"


    Walter chuckled but did not answer him.


    "Well then if there''s nothing else, I''ll head back now," said Volume.


    Walter nodded with a smile still lingering on his lips. "Go ahead."


    Volume stood up and waddled out.


    As Walter watched him leave, his smile gradually faded away.


    After a moment, Walter also got up, got into his car, and left the hotel.


    Meanwhile, in the hotel room that was no longer inhabitable as Getty had just slit her wrists in there, the manager was helping Alexander with changing to another room.


    After all of the luggage had been taken out, Alexander arrived at the bedroom door, removed the stool blocking the door handle and pushed it open.


    Quinn was curled up into a ball on the floor with her small frame facing away from the door.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    Upon hearing the door open, she turned her head.


    Her eyes were red with tears still clinging to her eyshes. There was an indescribable sense of grievance in her clear blue eyes.


    Alexander walked up to her and held his hand out to her. "Get up. We''re changing rooms."


    Quinn stared at his slender fingers, then nced at his expressionless face. She pursed her lips and did not move.


    "Quinn Mellon," Alexander said with a hint of warning in his voice.


    The tone of his voice made Quinn feel uneasy. She always dreaded it when Alexander used her full name.


    She slowly reached out and ced her hand in his palm, and he pulled her up with a strong grip.


    Without saying another word, he led her out of the room.


    As they entered the living room, Quinn caught a whiff of the strong smell of blood in the air. It was almost nauseating. She could not help but gag a couple of times.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Alexander paused his steps, suddenly turning to look at her.


    Quinn covered her mouth, trying to suppress the spasms in her stomach. After a few swallows, she managed to calm her convulsing throat. However, as she raised her head, she met the man''s probing gaze. As she nervously bit her lip, confusion shone in her grievance-filled eyes. Alexander''s gaze shifted down and away her face, moving tond on her abdomen.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Nervous under his scrutiny, Quinn instinctively covered her stomach with her hand.


    After all that vomiting from earlier, she was quite hungry.


    However, she did not want him to know that because she was still angry. If he found out she was hungry, she would lose herposure. Alexander observed her for a while before averting his gaze.


    Silently, he led Quinn out of the elevator and down the ramp to the parking lot. Then, they drove off to the hospital.

 Chapter 587

    Quinn was dragged into the car by Alexander as they returned to the hospital once again.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    As Alexander had scolded her at the hospital before, Quinn subconsciously disliked the ce and started struggling before they even walked into the ce.


    After getting out of the car, she kept her fingers wrapped around the door handle, refusing to go in with Alexander.


    Alexander tried to pull her away for a while but could not move her. When he turned around, he realized she was being stubborn as her eyes told him she did not want to go in.


    Alexander paused, sensing something. His tense expression suddenly softened, and he approached Quinn, raising his hand to pat her head.


    "I was wrong before. I shouldn''t have been angry with you. Can you forgive me?" His voice was gentle, making Quinn dazed for a moment.


    Alexander continued, "Let''s go in for a check-up, and then I''ll take you out for some delicious food, okay?"


    The softness on his face caused the stubborn glint in Quinn''s eye to dim.


    "Behave. Let go," he said.


    Those words had a great impact on Quinn. She subconsciously let go of the car handle and obediently stood by his side.


    It was only then that Alexander took her to the gynecologist and registered her.


    Quinn did not know what he was up to as she just followed him wherever he went.


    With the promise to take her out for some delicious food, he coaxed her into heading into the clinic with the doctor for the examination.


    Quinn had no choice but to follow the doctor in for the check-up.


    Throughout the series of examinations, Quinn was in a daze. However, the fact that she even had her blood drawn made her dislike hospitals even more.


    However, Alexander kept a close eye on her. He stood guard at the door for every examination. Whenever she moved more than a few feet away from him, he would pull her back. Soon, the results of the examination were out.


    To prevent Quinn from disappearing again, Alexander held her hand and sat in the consultation room as he listened to the doctor''s report.


    Quinn stole a nce at Alexander. His expression was very serious with his deep eyes fixed on the doctor as if he was afraid of missing a single word.


    The female doctor finished reviewing all the reports, then put down the test results and nced at Quinn. Upon seeing Quinn''s bewildered expression, she subtly furrowed her brows.


    To anyone who was not foolish, it was clear that Quinn was not normal in the head and was not behaving like a typical adult.


    "She''s not pregnant," the doctor said, looking away from Quinn to nce meaningfully at Alexander. "Her uterine wall is thin. Have you terminated a pregnancy in the past?"


    Alexander pursed his lips and remained silent in a silent admission.


    The doctor continued, "There''s also inmmation. You should be more careful in general. Don''t engage in intercourse too frequently. Sir, you''re not young anymore. You should understand the risks of that. "Inmmation can be very dangerous if it worsens. Coupled with her thin uterine wall, it will be difficult for her to conceive again. Even if she does conceive, she could easily miscarry."


    After hearing the doctor''s words, Alexander fell into a long silence with an indescribable look on his face.


    After a moment, he finally asked, "Are you saying she won''t be able to conceive again?"


    The doctor replied, "I didn''t say she can''t conceive, just that the chances are very slim with a very high chance of a miscarriage if she does conceive." Alexander fell silent.


    Meanwhile, Quinn sat in the room with a confused look on her face. She did not quite understand their conversation.


    Quinn thought, ''Are they talking about me?''


    Alexander then asked, "What about her nausea?"


    "Gastroenteritis," the doctor said, then nced at Alexander. "If you want a child, why did you terminate the pregnancy before?"


    "It''s none of your business." Alexander refused to discuss this matter with the doctor. "What does she need to do now?"


    The doctor was a bit angry after hearing this and, seeing Quinn''s innocent appearance, had already figured out what was going on.


    In the doctor''s mind, Alexander had taken advantage of Quinn''s ignorance, either tricking her into terminating the pregnancy or had it done for hisfort.

 Chapter 588

    Either way, the doctor was certain Alexander was a bad man.


    The female doctor despised jerks like him with his attitude. However, she could not ignore Quinn''s plight. Thus, she prescribed her some anti-inmmatory drugs. She also instructed Alexander to make her eat something light.


    Quinn had been eating very littletely. On that day at the night market, she even ate some roadside food, which worsened her condition due to the stalls''ck of hygiene. After collecting Quinn''s medicine, Alexander led Quinn out of the hospital.


    He promised to take her to eat something delicious, but when they arrived at the restaurant, he only ordered a bowl of stew for Quinn.


    After all the trouble Quinn had been through, her face immediately fell when she saw the stew being served. She put her spoon down and stared usingly at Alexander.


    Alexander held the bowl, stirred the stew inside, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to her mouth. "Open up."


    Quinn tightly pursed her lips and shook her head, refusing to eat the stew.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Alexander said, "You can only eat something light for now. Can you wait until you''re better before we eat something else?"


    Quinn shook her head once more. She raised her hand to push the man''s hand away and gestured, "I want to eat spicy beef."


    Alexander vetoed it outright. "No, you can only have stew!"


    Quinn angrily red at him with her eyes turning red in an instant as she gestured, "Liar!"


    He had deceived her into sitting through all those tests just to feed her stew at the end of the day. Quinn would not stand for that.


    Alexander did not argue with her because he was indeed a liar.


    He put down the bowl and tilted her face up with his hands. As he gazed into her eyes, he whispered, "Didn''t I tell you just now? You can have spicy beef when you''re better. If you eat it now, your stomach will hurt. Aren''t you afraid of stomachaches?"


    Upon hearing that, Quinn hesitated.


    Her stomach did ache a little. It was a dull pain that she could not quite describe.


    Alexander picked up the bowl again and patiently said, "Open up. Be a good girl."


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    Quinn fell silent for a moment before obediently opening her mouth and to be fed some stew.


    Actually, she was not that ill. At her age, she was the most obedient, the easiest to coax, and the clingiest.


    As Quinn drank the stew, she noticed that Alexander was distracted.


    Although his eyes were on her, his focus was not on her face. Several times, his hand had strayed and poked her on the nose.


    Quinn immediately snatched the bowl from his hands and fed herself.


    She was quite hungry, and the stew tasted good, so she ate it with relish.


    Alexander snapped back to reality with his gaze focused back on her face.


    With her head down, she was fully focused on the stew she was solemnly decimating.


    On her face and in her eyes, there was a pure innocence that clean and untainted, devoid of theplex thoughts and nature that would belong to an adult.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Quinn had several small bowls of the stew, causing her belly to be round and full. She looked up at Alexander.


    It was strange. He was always lost in his thoughts.


    Quinn raised her hand and waved it in front of him.


    Alexander caught her hand. "Are you done with your food?"


    Quinn nodded, then patted her belly. deliberately puffed it out and pulled her clothes tight to show him her bulging stomach.


    She smiled at Alexander and gestured, "I''m going to be a mom."


    She was joking, but Alexander''s eyes flickered, and he did notugh.


    Quinn blinked, then obediently settled back into her chair.


    After a while, Alexander''s fingernded on her belly, and he yed along, asking, "Really? How many months?"

 Chapter 589

    Quinn lowered her head for a moment, not very clear about the concept of months. She made up a number casually and signed. "Five months."


    Alexanderughed. "A five-month pregnant belly wouldn''t be this small."


    Although he wasughing, besides the curve of his mouth, Quinn couldn''t tell that he wasughing.


    After a moment of thought, Quinn corrected the time frame and signed. "Two months."


    "Pregnant for two months, the belly wouldn''t show anything yet," he replied.


    Quinn deted, her shoulders sagging. She signed, "I''m not going to be a mom anymore."


    Alexander chuckled genuinely this time, though only for a brief moment, before letting out a sigh.


    He ruffled her hair. "Alright. Let''s go back."


    Quinn softened and copsed into his arms, looking up at him yfully.


    Quinn said, "I can''t walk anymore." The meaning was clear: she wanted him to carry her.


    Alexander looked at her for a moment; in her clear eyes, there was a hint of cunning.


    In addition, there wasplete trust and vulnerability towards him.


    Alexander stared at her for a long time, making Quinn feel a bit uneasy.


    Quinn always felt that he was strange, a weird she couldn''t quite put her finger on. Before she could figure it out, he suddenly leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Quinn looked at him in confusion.


    His light kiss ended quickly; his arms wrapped tightly around her.


    His lips touched the corner of her mouth; and he closed his eyes in silence for a while.


    He said, "Don''t forget it again."


    It seemed like he was talking to himself; Quinn didn''t understand, not grasping his meaning.


    She could only gaze at him, the two of them standing close, their breaths mingling.


    Quinn suddenly felt a pang of sadness for no apparent reason, a bitter sensation tingling at the tip of her nose.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    She slowly raised her hand, touching his cheek.


    As her fingers grazed his jawline, she felt a slight prickliness.


    He had grown a beard, but she couldn''t pinpoint when it had happened.


    She didn''t like it.


    After holding her for a while, the man let go of her. "Let''s go. I''ll carry you."


    Quinn snapped back to reality, quickly stood on a stool, waiting for him to turn around, then eagerly climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    He lifted Quinn onto his back, grabbed her legs, and walked out of the private dining room.


    She was light, almost weightless on his back.


    As they left the restaurant, many people nced at them; but Alexander seemed to see nothing and calmly walked out.


    Quinn clung tightly to his neck, standing tall on his back like a proud peacock as if telling everyone that he was her beloved brother, her family, and her guardian.


    On the divine shoulders, no one could bully her. She showed off to everyone how happy she was.


    The hotel was 2km away. Alexander didn''t drive. Instead, he carried her on his back along the fragrant pedestrian path.


    Shaded by green trees on both sides, the garden was filled with clusters of flowers. asionally, some petals would fall from above. Quinn didn''t recognize the flowers, but they carried a weight as theynded on her. There were also many petals on the path. When the wind blew, petals fluttered down from the trees, gently covering the ground; and the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers.


    Quinn looked at the fluttering petals and lowered her head slightly, resting her face on the man''s shoulder.


    Her eyelids felt heavy, but captivated by the beauty around her, she resisted the urge to sleep, struggling to keep her eyes open.

 Chapter 590

    She rested her head on Alexander''s shoulder, her gaze falling on the seemingly endless terrain ahead, her eyelids heavy with fatigue. Alexander stepped on the petals on the ground, walking slowly along the road.


    asionally, passersby would cast envious nces at them.


    Both of them remained silent, walking quietly on the sidewalk, just like the countless times he had carried her home before. Quinn knew that when she woke up again, she would be home.


    ...


    An hourter, Alexander returned to the hotel.


    He ced Quinn on the bed; she was already asleep, sleeping soundly.


    He sat down, gently removed her shoes, and carefully tucked her in with a nket.


    Alexander gazed at her for a long time, reaching out to tuck the stray hair on her face behind her ear, his fingers wandering on her cheek.


    The room was quiet, the curtains fluttering in the gentle breeze.


    After a while, Alexander got up, left the room, and gently closed the bedroom door behind him.


    He reached for a chair, preparing to wedge it against the door, but hesitated for a moment. Ultimately, he decided against it and put the chair back where it was.


    Closing the door, he walked out of the hotel.


    The sky was getting dark.


    In the hospital, Getty had already woken up.


    She opened her eyes weakly, turned her head, and saw the person beside her; her expression changed.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Getty herself didn''t expect that when she woke up, it wasn''t Alexander she saw, but Landon.


    Thinking of what happened in the alley that day, Getty felt uneasy; she tried to sit up but fell back because of her weak body.


    Landon looked at her indifferently, whether it was due to the indoor lighting or something else; Getty couldn''t see the look in his eyes behind the lenses.


    She only knew that he was looking at her.


    "Why is it you?" Getty frowned and asked.


    Landon sat down on the chair, staring at Getty for a few seconds before saying, "I heard you were injured, so I came to see. Isn''t anyone taking care of you, Ms. Morgan?" Those words stabbed deep into Getty''s heart.


    Getty felt a profound heaviness in her heart, particrly when she recalled Alexander''s demeanor and his words. They left an echoing emptiness within her.


    Landon asked, "Ms. Morgan, what''s wrong with you? Why would you want tomit suicide?"


    Getty moved her lips, not wanting to talk to Landon.


    She didn''t know before; but that night, when he deliberately led Alexander over, Getty knew that these two had conflicts.


    Landon didn''t get angry because of her silence and continued to ask himself, "Is it because of Mr. Kennedy?"


    Getty was slightly stunned, furrowed her brows, and looked at Landon''s face for a long time.


    Getty asked, "What exactly do you want?"


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 0005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Landon said, "Just out of concern, came to visit Ms. Morgan. Don''t be so hostile."


    Getty said, "Do you think I''ll still believe you? Are you trying to get information about Alexander from me? Forget it, I won''t tell you anything."


    Landon chuckled. "Mr. Kennedy is indeed fortunate to have someone as devoted as Ms. Morgan loving him so deeply. I just wonder if he loves you as much as you love him?" With his nonchnt remarks, Landon ripped Getty''s heart into shreds. She was left torn between anger and sorrow, her chest heaving tumultuously.


    She grabbed the nket, feeling a sharp pain in her wrist.


    Seeing Landon''s ambiguous smile, Getty tried hard to calm herself down and said coldly, "Are you trying to sow discord?"


    After a moment of thought, Landon calmly said, "If you insist on thinking that way, it''s also possible."


    Getty didn''t want to waste words with him anymore, so she turned her head away without looking at him. "I won''t believe a word you say, not a single word. Get out!" "What if I say I can make Quinn disappear?" Landon said slowly.


    Getty was taken aback, then suddenly looked at Landon. "What did you say?"


    Landon said, "What I mean is, I can make Quinn disappear; and Alexander won''t you. Would Ms. Morgan be willing to believe that?"

 Chapter 591

    For the current Getty, Landon''s words were absolutely tempting.


    It was like handing a life-saving straw to a drowning person or offering a delicious feast to a starving beggar.


    She gazed at Landon. The man seemed very confident about the conditions he had set, sitting quietly there, waiting for the prey to take the bait.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    After a long time, Getty unconsciously asked, "What do you want?"


    Yes, she couldn''t refuse the conditions set by Landon. She had no reason to refuse.


    Getty was almost going crazy for that man; if it hadn''t been for a mute girl in between, Alexander would have been hers long ago.


    Every time she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with memories of her and Alexander


    They had been so in love, a love that made everyone envious. Everyone believed she was Alexander''s irreceable wife. If she hadn''t seen his ruthless eyes at the hotel, Getty would still believe it.


    Getty thought it must be that mute girl; if not for her, she and Alexander would already be married with children.


    While she was lost in thought, Landon interrupted her thoughts. "It''s simple."


    He took out a ck button-sized round buckle from his pocket, like a button, and ced it on the table, saying to Getty, "Find a way to make him wear it all the time."


    Getty was stunned and turned her head to look at the thing on the table; she wasn''t stupid; she could recognize what it was.


    She asked, "A bug?"


    Landon didn''t answer her but stood up. "Ms. Morgan, you can think about it; I''ll wait for your answer."


    After saying that, he politely added. "Ms. Morgan, rest well; I''lle to visit another day."


    After Landon left, Getty stared at the round buckle on the table, her eyes flickering.


    It would be easy to ce this thing around Alexander, but making him wear it all the time would beplex.


    He had to change clothes and go out unless it hung around his neck; how was that possible?


    No wonder Landon came to her.


    Getty strained to lift herself from the bed. Clutching the round buckle in her hand, she felt the cool touch of the metal against her skin, elerating her heartbeat.


    Over the years, Getty had lived passively, without taking any significant actions. Now, taking this step and conspiring with Landon made her incredibly anxious.


    If she won the gamble, she would be the winner; if she lost, it would be over.


    Suddenly, hearing footsteps, Getty abruptly opened her eyes. Seeing the personing in at the door, a look of panic shed across her face; and her fingers immediately clenched. "Alexander..."


    Alexander entered the ward. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then subtly withdrew; and he walked to the bedside and sat down.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Luckily, she was already pale from blood loss, not exposing her nervousness and fear.


    "How long have you been awake?" Alexander spoke, his voice as indifferent as ever, showing no concern for Getty.


    Getty tightened her grip on the round buckle in her hand, forcing a faint smile. "I just woke up; I thought you wouldn''te."


    He looked at her indifferently. Under the bright light, his ck shirt stood out starkly, especially in this all-white environment; his all-ck attire was too conspicuous. Alexander said, "Some things need to be resolved."


    Upon hearing this, Getty''s heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"


    Alexander leaned back in his chair, not answering her question, but instead asked, "Getty, how many years has it been?"


    A faint pain pierced Getty''s heart as she weakly replied, "After this year, it will be exactly seven years."


    He gazed at Getty, paused for two seconds. "Seven years, how much do you really know about me?"

 Chapter 592

    Getty didn''t know why he suddenly said these things, but he still honestly replied, "I don''t know. I thought I knew you well, but now I''m not so sure." Alexander asked, "Do you think I''m a fool?"


    Without hesitation, Getty immediately said, "How could you be a fool? If you were a fool, there would be no smart people."


    Alexander''s mouth lifted slightly, but the smile didn''t quite reach his eyes.


    After thinking for a moment, Getty asked again, "Do you still want to leave me?"


    Alexander stood up and leaned close to Getty. "Getty, I''ve said it before. I like you for being brainless, so please don''t try to be clever."


    He lifted her chin with two fingers, his deep gaze falling on her face. "Do you understand?"


    Getty''s eyes flickered. If someone else called her stupid, she would definitely be furious. But if it were Alexander, she would rather be even more foolish. That way, he would like her even more.


    "I understand, so please don''t break up with me." Getty grabbed the man''s wrist, her sleeve slipping down to reveal a bandaged wound.


    Alexander nced sideways, released Getty''s chin, straightened up. "Rest well."


    With that, he walked away without looking back.


    Getty stared at his back in a daze, still not understanding his intentions. Was he going to leave her or not?


    Based on her understanding of him, normally, if he didn''t refuse, it meant he agreed.


    This man was incredibly crafty. If he never voiced his intentions, he couldter deny everything. After all, he hadn''t uttered a word; it was all her one-sided interpretation. And his greatest skill was leading others to wishful thinking.


    Getty''s fingers gradually tightened, the round button in her palm creaking painfully.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    It was already dark outside.


    Quinn woke up hungry from her sleep, rubbing her stomach as she opened her eyes.


    Although the room was lit, the pale light shining on the cold room made her inexplicably afraid.


    She was very afraid of being alone, as if the whole world had abandoned her.


    Quinn hurriedly got out of bed, barefoot, and went to open the door. Upon opening it, she was met with unfamiliar surroundings.


    Fear and panic surged like a tide, almost engulfing her.


    She walked to the door, opened the door to the guest room, and stepped out.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She searched for Alexander everywhere, searching for something familiar to her. But nothing seemed familiar at a nce.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Quinn clutched her clothes, barefoot on the cold floor, tears swirling in her eyes.


    Volume had people guarding the hotel lobby, ready to notice if Quinn tried to leave.


    For safety reasons, Volume would alsoe to stand guard when he had time.


    After all, Christmas Day was approaching. After finalizing the contract with Walter earlier, he had nothing much to do but wait for Christmas Day to make ns.


    He was idly ying cards with his subordinates when one of them nudged his arm.


    Volume turned around and saw Alexander had just returned. He immediately dropped the cards and went to meet him. "Mr. Kennedy, you''re back. Don''t worry, Quinn hasn''te down." Alexander nodded, walking towards the elevator without stopping.


    Volume followed him eagerly. But when they reached the doorway of the room and saw the wide-open door, Volume could no longer muster a smile.

 Chapter 593

    Alexander frowned, striding into the room quickly. Once inside, it was empty, with nothing on the bed in the bedroom.


    "What''s going on?" Volume rubbed his eyes and hurriedly exined, "I was downstairs keeping watch; I didn''t see her go down at all!"


    He shivered as he lifted his gaze to Alexander, only to meet the man''s murderous re. The sight startled Volume, sending a tremor through him. "I''ll check the surveince footage," he said.


    With that, he ran quickly to the monitoring room, calling the hotel manager as he ran.


    Volume couldn''t figure out what was going on. Quinn was an adult, not a three-year-old; why was Alexander so frantic just because she went missing for a bit?


    Sylvadora was chaotic now. But the chaos was in crowded ces, not in the vicinity of his hotel, which was very safe.


    Despite his thoughts, Volume immediately essed the surveince. The footage showed that an hour ago, Quinn had left the room and headed towards the elevator.


    But there was no sign of her in the elevator, so it was likely she took the stairs.


    For safety, Volume checked the lobby surveince again to confirm that Quinn hadn''t left the lobby. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    He copied the surveince footage and showed it to Alexander, who just nced at it and tossed the tablet back to him before leaving the room.


    Volume also instructed people to search the stairs.


    This hotel was Volume''srgest property, spanning over thirty floors, so finding her would take some effort.


    Alexander searched from the eighteenth floor upwards, while Volume''s people searched from the first floor upwards.


    After a full hour of searching, even rummaging through the trash cans in the hallways, there was still no sign of Quinn.


    Alexander searched from the top floor down to the lobby.


    He sat on the sofa in the lobby, furrowing his brow. Though he didn''t say a word, Volume was already sweating profusely beside him.


    Volume spoke softly, "Don''t worry, Mr. Kennedy. I''ve already sent people to check every floor. We''re looking into the surveince footage. We''ll surely find her."


    Alexander closed his eyes, ignoring him, as Volume continued to speak.


    When Walter returned, he saw the two men sitting there. The atmosphere seemed off.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    He walked over to Alexander and asked, "What''s wrong? Has Quinn disappeared again?"


    Alexander sighed, leaning back into the couch, and lit a cigarette.


    From his reaction, it was clear that the little mute girl, Quinn, was missing again.


    Walter also sat down, picked up a cigarette from the table, and lit it himself.


    As Volume reported the situation, Walter got a Quentin understanding. He nced at Volume. "You mean she disappeared in the corridor." "Yes, it''s really strange." Volume scratched his head.


    Walter asked, "Isn''t there surveince in the staircase?"


    Volume scratched his head again, awkwardly saying, "Why would we need surveince in the stairway?"


    Walter asked, "The stairway leads to the parking lot, right? Have you searched the parking lot?"


    Volume nodded. "Yes, we have. Mr. Kennedy just went to check. But I''ve already sent someone to look again in case we missed something."


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! After all, the two-story parking lot was arge area.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Listening to him, Walter leaned forward to flick his cigarette ash, his gaze sweeping over Alexander before he slowly said, "So if someone took her away in the parking lot, could we still find her?" His words made Volume break out in a cold sweat.


    The parking lot surveince had blind spots and was not fully covered. If someone took Quinn to a car in one of those blind spots and then drove out of the parking lot, that would be a problem. Volume said, "Isn''t that impossible?"


    "Why would it be impossible?" Walterughed. "People are watching her every day; they wouldn''t miss an opportunity."


    Clearly, the person he was referring to wasn''t Alexander but someone else.


    Alexander remained silent throughout the conversation.


    Unaware of the story between them, Volume anxiously asked, "What should we do then?"

 Chapter 594

    Walter replied, "Check the location."


    Walter took his phone out of his pocket. But before he could open it, Alexander said, "Don''t bother."


    With that, he pulled out a white watch from somewhere and casually tossed it onto the ss round table. Walter''s eyes flickered when he saw the watch.


    He picked up the watch, examined it carefully, and concluded, "It''s hers, taken off by someone?"


    Alexander replied, "Found it in the parking lot."


    Volume then realized why he couldn''t find Quinn after circling earlier. So, does it mean that someone took Quinn away?


    Walter put out his cigarette, stood up immediately, and walked out.


    Volume also said, "I''ll go find some help."


    If she were indeed kidnapped, it would be a big deal.


    Volume took a few steps, then turned back to look at Alexander. He was smoking with a serious expression, hardly saying a word.


    Alexander didn''t evensh out at him.


    Volume thought, ''Does he know who took Quinn away?''


    Volume scratched his belly fat, thought for a moment, and decided to contact someone to find her.


    Volume had a feeling that Quinn''s disappearance this time might be different from thest.


    Meanwhile, Quinn was sitting in the car, leaning against the window and looking outside. The streets passing by were unfamiliar to her. She could almost be certain that this wasn''t her familiar Amber Bay. Feeling a bit lost, Quinn withdrew her gaze and turned to look at the man beside her.


    The man was also looking at her in the dimly lit car. asionally, the light shining on his eyess lenses reflected a dazzling re.


    Quinn gestured with her hand and signed. "How long until I see Alexander?"


    Landon stared at her slender fingers, pondered for a moment, and said, "I don''t understand." Quinn pursed her lips, helplessly lowering her hand.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    He had just said he would take her to see Alexander, thinking he could understand.


    But then he added. "But you''ll see him soon."


    Quinn''s dim eyes lit up again. Landon smirked and fell silent.


    After a moment of silence, she filled the car.


    Quinn gazed back at the night scenery outside. Sylvadora''s night view was beautiful, not the bustling lights of a big city, with colorfulnterns hanging everywhere and many brightly colored lights. Everywhere was filled with the joy of the Christmas Day.


    The car drove for an unknown duration. Gradually, the rednterns outside disappeared; and the colorful lights vanished.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    The streets grew cold; the light dimmed significantly; and darkness enveloped the road, making Quinn feel nervous.


    Soon, the car came to a stop.


    "Landon, we''re here."


    The driver in front spoke, then immediately got out of the car and opened the door for Landon.


    Landon turned to Quinn and said, "Let''s get out of the car."


    Quinn was eager to find Alexander. She quickly pushed open the car door and got out.


    As she stepped out, a cool sea breeze blew in, tousling her hair into a mess.


    She walked barefoot on the soft sand, looking around in confusion.


    This was a beach, a very remote one. Besides them, there was no one else in sight.


    Quinn looked at Landon with questioning eyes as if asking him where Alexander was.

 Chapter 595

    Landon walked up to her, affectionately wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pointing ahead with his hand. "Do you see it? It''s right there." Quinn followed his finger and saw a huge white cruise ship docked at the pier. Its lights shone brightly; and faint sounds of revelry could be heard. Quinn blinked, thinking that Alexander was really inside.


    "Let''s go." Landon hugged her shoulder and nudged her forward.


    There was still some distance to walk from here to the yacht, about ten minutes.


    As they reached the pier, more people started to gather.


    There were quite a few men and women on the pier. All dressed fashionably, some in alternative styles, others in elegant and noble attire.


    The only certainty was that these people had ratherplex identities.


    Landon calmly led her towards the cruise ship. The yacht''s entrance was guarded by several heavily armed individuals who resembled soldiers but more like mercenaries.


    They were covered up tightly, with nothing visible except their eyes peeking out from their helmets.


    Quinn curiously looked around. There were many people here; and while she was curious, she also felt a bit scared.


    She instinctively held onto Landon''s arm beside her.


    Compared to these people, Landon seemed rtively normal, both in speech and attire, appearingposed and reliable.


    And now, she couldn''t understand what it meant to be a wolf in sheep''s clothing.


    Landon paused his steps and turned to look at Quinn.


    He hadn''t expected Quinn to be so easily deceived. If he had known earlier, he would have acted sooner.


    Look at her, she''s acting as if she''s counting money for him after being sold.


    He now understood. The reason Alexander had been so protective of Quinn wasn''t because she was important but because she was unable to speak; she had a physical disability. Landon was still pondering whether Alexander had intentionally shown him this, making him think that Quinn was important to Alexander, thus shifting his focus from Getty to Quinn.


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    It seemed he was just being overly suspicious.


    Under the bright lights, Quinn finally saw the eyes behind his lenses.


    They were phoenix eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, with a hint of wickedness.


    Landon embraced her and walked in calmly.


    There were even more people on the cruise ship, a mix of domestic and foreign individuals grouped, engaging in various activities on the ship.


    Quinn spotted a restaurant over there. The smell of food wafting over, and she couldn''t resist.


    She tugged at Landon''s arm, pointing towards the western restaurant over there.


    Landon halted his stride, following the direction her finger was pointing. "Are you hungry?"


    Quinn nced up at him, nodding, with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.


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    She didn''t seem afraid of him at all. After a moment of thought, Landon decided to take her there.


    They sat down at the restaurant. Landon snapped his fingers, summoning the waiter to bring two steaks.


    Quinn was really hungry; having only had a few bowls of oatmeal during the day, she was famished by now.


    In no time, the steaks arrived. Then Landon ced both steaks in front of her.


    Quinn wasted no time. She picked up the knife and fork next to her and started eating, although she wasn''t very skilled with them. She tossed the small knife aside and used the fork to eat the steak. Landon sat across from her, quietly watching her.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Her hair was a bit tousled from the wind, scattered haphazardly behind her head; and she even managed to eat some of it along with the steak. She raised her hand to pull the hair out of her mouth and continued eating the steak. The steak wasn''t cooked well, but she was too hungry to care and enjoyed it nheless.


    Quinn quickly finished the steak. With a ring of oil around her mouth, she nced at the other steak and then looked at Landon with pleading eyes.

 Chapter 596

    Understanding her intentions, Landon nudged the steak towards her. "Go ahead and eat."


    Quinn''s face lit up, and she didn''t even bother with the knife and fork; she just dug in with her hands.


    Her cheeks were a bit chubby, framed by the blonde hair on both sides, making her face appear even smaller.


    In contrast, her eyes looked bigger, with long, curlyshes drooping as she focused on eating the steak.


    It had to be said that anyone who looked at this face couldn''t help but take a few more nces.


    Landon hadn''t looked closely before. It was the first time he had carefully examined this delicate and fragile doll-like face. No wonder Alexander was nervous.


    He probably could understand the feeling of a little girl dressing up her doll.


    Dressing it up the way he liked and then crushing it ruthlessly. Perhaps his gaze was too aggressive, making Quinn ufortable. She suddenly bit into the steak and looked up at Landon. Landon retracted those strange eyes and returned to normal. "Are you full?"


    Quinn fell silent for a moment, swallowed the steak in her mouth, and left the remaining small piece on the te, indicating with her actions that she was full.


    Landon passed her the napkin from the table. "Wipe your mouth."


    Quinn took the napkin and hastily wiped her mouth.


    She hadn''t forgotten why she was here; she dropped the napkin and signed. "Where''s Alexander?"


    Landon responded with some words. "I don''t understand."


    Quinn deted, her shoulders drooping. She looked at Landon with resentment.


    Landon stood up and waved to her. "Come here."


    Quinn hesitated for a moment, then got up and walked over. If he took her to eat steak, Quinn thought he was a good person and would definitely help her find Alexander. He naturally embraced her petite body and took her upstairs.


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    At the hotel. "Mr. Kennedy, I found out that the person took Quinn to the West Coast pier and boarded a cruise ship to Thand."


    Alexander stood by the window holding his phone, looking out at the sea ahead. He was silent for a moment before asking, "When does it depart?"


    "It''s leaving in half an hour; it''s definitely toote to get there now."


    Without waiting for the other person to finish, Alexander hung up the phone, grabbed his coat, and strode out quickly.


    After leaving the hotel, he called Walter, and simply said, "Ask some people to the west coast pier."


    After that, he dropped the phone, stepped on the gas pedal, and headed straight for the west coast pier.


    Walter looked at the disconnected phone and paused.


    The old man sitting across from him asked, "Did he find Quinn?"


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    Walter nodded. "Dorian Everhart might need to borrow some people from you. That kid, I don''t know what he''s up to taking Quinn on a cruise."


    The old man stroked his beard and nodded. "No problem. Do you need me to intercept the cruise ship?"


    Walter replied, "No need. Since you''ve retired, there''s no need to get involved in these matters anymore. Just lend me the person."


    Dorian said, "If you need anything, call me anytime."


    Walter''s expression softened; and he nced at the old man again. "Okay."


    The old man wasn''t that old; he was just in his fifties and wearing a long ck coat.


    When Walter escaped from Sylvadora, changed his name, and started anew, it was all thanks to this old man''s help.


    For so many years, he had never used the old man''s connections; this was the first time.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    And it was all for that damn mute girl!


    Walter immediately stood up, nodded slightly to the old man, then turned and walked out.

 Chapter 597

    Quinn was still looking for Alexander.


    But Landon pulled her and made her change into a strange outfit. Furry crop top with a navel cutout, furry white shorts, and a hat with bunny ears.


    Quinn looked at herself in the mirror, feeling like she had turned into a rabbit.


    Landon said, "Let''s go."


    Landon pulled her out.


    By now, the cruise ship had already set sail, the huge ship slowly moving across the sea towards the boundless ocean.


    Quinn followed him, passing through the crowd and corridors, going up two floors to the top floor.


    There were guards here; and the two were stopped as soon as they approached.


    Landon took out a ck card from his pocket; and when the guards saw what he had in his hand, they let him pass.


    Quinn followed him upstairs in a daze.


    Upon reaching the top, the atmosphere on this floor changed.


    No longer brightly lit like below, the lighting on this floor was dim, with a hint of gloom.


    The people here were dressed strangely. They were casually passing by a man in a ck leather jacket, half of his face covered in terrifying tattoos, which looked particrly eerie in the dim light. Quinn held onto Landon''s arm in fear. Landon remained calm, leading her forward to the central hall.


    As soon as they entered, smoke filled the air; various perfumes mixed with the smell of smoke, making Quinn feel nauseous.


    The hall was filled with numerous tables, and many people gathered around it. Some were cing bets, some were rolling dice, and others were dancing. There were even bartenders. Quinn had seen these scenes on TV before; this was probably a casino.


    Landon led her past those gambling tables to a secluded booth in the corner.


    "Mr. Kennedy is here."


    There were already a few people seated in the ce. The man at the head was burly, with a scar on his face. He was holding a cigar and greeted Landon with a smile. Landon straightened his suit and sat down in his ce. "How did you manage to get to a ce like this."


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    The scarred man chuckled. "This ce is great; you can have whatever you want."


    With that, the scarred man nced at Quinn next to him. "Why did you bring a little sister here, your girlfriend?"


    Landon picked up the wine ss on the table. "She''s someone else''s."


    The scarred man''s smile turned even more lecherous. "Could it be for me?"


    Landon nced at the scarred man. "If you''re not afraid of death, you can take her away."


    This remark provoked the man, who took a deep drag on his cigar, then tossed it into the ashtray with a flick and said, "Hey! I might fear a lot of things; but death isn''t one of them. Come here, youngdy!" Seeing his fierce appearance, Quinn naturally refused to go over; she huddled next to Landon, tightly gripping his sleeve.


    Seeing this, Alistair ckwood couldn''t help butugh. "See, you can''t take Landon''s words at face value. Look at how close they are; it''s hard to believe she''s someone else''s girlfriend."


    With that, the people aroundughed.


    Seeing the young girl who could be killed with a p, Alistair felt a dryness in his throat. He said to Landon, "Mr. Kennedy, are you willing to let her go to me?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Landon replied, "I told you, you can take her away."


    "Really?"


    "Why don''t you try and find out?"


    Immediately, Alistair signaled to his subordinate beside him, who promptly approached Quinn. With a firm grip on her arm, he began pulling her away.


    Quinn held onto Landon''s arm and refused to let go, shaking her head desperately.


    Landon remained indifferent.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    His men pried her hand open, easily lifted her, and dragged her unsteadily to Alistair''s side, throwing her on the sofa with great force, her hat falling off her head. Quinn immediately got up to run. But Alistair hugged her waist and pulled her back, pressing her onto hisp.


    He smelled of smoke and strong sweat, which made Quinn''s stomach churn.


    Noticing the redness around her eyes but theck of any sound, Alistair sensed something was amiss. "Is she mute?"

 Chapter 598

    Landon sipped his drink lightly. "Isn''t it obvious?"


    Alistair looked at Quinn with interest. Her struggles seemed negligible; instead, the more she struggled, the more she resembled a little wildcat. Or rather, a mute little cat.


    Hisrge hand gripped her chin. Inparison, her palm-sized face truly showed its vulnerability; he could easily suffocate her with just one hand. As Quinn sat in his embrace, it was akin to a kitten sitting in a lion''s embrace.


    He chuckled, turned his arm, and pressed Quinn onto hisp. A pnded on her body, producing a crisp sound.


    Quinn bit her lip, tears streaming down her face from the pain.


    Alistair said, "You really can''t speak?"


    Unconvinced, he pinched her once more.


    The strength in his hands was not small; and he used even more force this time. Unable to withstand the pain, Quinn couldn''t help but cry out. Alistair said, "She can make a sound!"


    Hisrge hand held her face, asking, "Prettydy,e have a drink with me."


    With that, he picked up the ss on the table and handed it to Quinn.


    Quinn shook her head tearfully, refusing to drink.


    He paid no heed to her resistance, forcibly pouring the drink into her mouth. He immobilized Quinn''s face.


    She could only grit her teeth.


    Alistair was already ustomed to her actions. Squeezing her cheeks slightly, she winced in pain and opened her mouth.


    He swiftly poured the strong liquor from the cup into her mouth, causing Quinn to cough repeatedly. More than half of the wine spilled from her mouth, trickling down her chin and neck and flowing into her cor. Most men found a woman''s disarray and misery to be fatally attractive, especially if she was beautiful.


    After a ss of liquor was downed, Quinn''s entire face was covered in alcohol; and her hair dampened.


    He grew more excited, directly grabbing the bottle on the table and stuffing it into her mouth, continuously pouring whiskey into Quinn''s mouth.


    She struggled with all her might, but he only needed one arm to block all her movements.


    Quinn exerted all her strength, casting a pleading look at Landon.


    Wasn''t he supposed to bring her to find Alexander?


    Why deceive her?


    She trusted this person so much, yet Landon didn''t even nce at her. He was engrossed in drinking and chatting with the person opposite him. "Your girlfriend seems to be asking for your help," the man opposite kindly reminded him.


    Landon slightly turned his head, meeting her disappointed yet imploring gaze.


    But he merely nced and then looked away, correcting the other person. "I''ve told you; she belongs to someone else."


    The man chuckled. "Alright when Alistair is done ying, if she''s still alive, can I have a turn?"


    Landon replied, "Up to you."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! After downing arge bottle of wine, Quinn no longer had the strength to struggle. She let her hands fall andy in Alistair''s arms. Her gaze starting to blur.


    Seeing this, Alistair''sughter was loud. He tossed the bottle aside, threw Quinn onto the sofa, and stood up to unfasten his belt.


    In such a public setting, making love was not umon.


    As Alistair lifted Quinn''s waist, preparing to make love, the cruise ship suddenly rocked several times.


    The shaking was quite frequent, causing Alistair to stagger and abandon Quinn, who was quickly sitting on the sofa.


    The others in the hall were also in disarray; the bottles and sses shattered on the floor.


    "What''s happened?"


    "Go check it out!"


    Everyone was rmed, their first thought being that the ship had hit something in the sea. But after a few shakes, the cruise ship steadied again; and everything returned to normal. Landon''s gaze flickered. Once the ship stabilized, he stood up and walked towards the deck.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 599

    Due to thismotion, many people rushed to the deck to check. If they had really hit something, like an iceberg or a sunken ship, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    The wind on the deck was strong, with many people shivering inside and out.


    Alistair and Landon quickly arrived on the deck. At a nce, on the calm sea surface, dozens of yachts blocked the way ahead, with more yachts approaching from the sides and the rear. Upon counting, there were about twenty or thirty of them.


    Many people began to feel frightened, specting whether they had encountered pirates.


    Although the word "pirate" sounded a bit outdated, they indeed existed. In some deep-sea areas, they specifically targeted ships for robbery.


    "This is too audacious, isn''t it?"


    "Perhaps it''s not for robbery."


    Everyone spected about these people''s identities. If they were really pirates intending to rob, their audacity was too great. How could they be so bold, intercepting a cruise ship so openly before it even left the port? Moreover, the cruise ship was heavily guarded.


    Seeing the situation, Alistair couldn''t help butugh. He pped Landon on the shoulder. "Guy, can you tell who these people are?"


    Landon looked at the yachts on the sea and said calmly, "They arrived quickly."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Alistair was taken aback, then looked at Landon in surprise. "Do you know them?"


    Landon also nced at him. "Didn''t I already tell you when you wanted to take the mute girl away?"


    Alistair''s eyes flickered, and he instantly realized. "Could these people be here for that mute girl?"


    Landon smiled without saying a word, his expression saying it all.


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    Alistair couldn''t help but be amazed. "My goodness, did you kidnap some royal princess?"


    Landon smiled and walked away.


    Alistair followed him in. His earlier bravado was fake. Landon''s ability to maneuver people indicated hisck of fear towards the opposition. And now, the situation seemedplex.


    Alistair caught up with Landon''s pace and asked in a low voice. "Guy, tell me the truth. What''s the girl''s identity? Why did you bring her here?"


    Landon had already returned to the hall. He sat on the sofa and nced at the dazed Quinn on the sofa; something shing in his eyes, but he didn''t speak.


    Quinn had been drunk so much earlier that she was already incoherent, lying on the sofa and vomiting several times.


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    She tried to get up. But as soon as she sat up, she fell back down; and no one paid her any attention.


    Alistair lost interest, looking at Quinn. Those who came aggressively and dared to stop the cruise ship clearly had considerable strength.


    At this moment, the person in charge of the cruise ship also came out, a middle-aged mixed-race man wearing a ck short-sleeved shirt with tworge tattoos on his arms. Several mercenaries with guns followed him, looking quite intimidating.


    As soon as he appeared, people around him backed away, clearing the deck.


    The yachts all approached the cruise ship, finally stopping next to it.


    Walter took the lead and walked up, immediately several guns pointing at him.


    Walter seemed not to notice, walking towards the man, stopping 3 feet away from him.

 Chapter 600

    The man looked at Walter, saw the trench coat on him, and felt suspicious but still asked, "What do you mean by this, sir?"


    Walter smiled and said, "I''m really sorry for beingte and missing the cruise. I can only catch up with this method. And you are?"


    Hetastian said, "I am Hetastian Nightshade, the person in charge of this cruise. Sir, by stopping the cruise in such a grand manner, don''t you know whose cruise this is?"


    Walter said, "Whose cruise it is doesn''t matter. We are just here to find someone. Once we find the person, we will leave immediately. So, I hope this gentleman can cooperate." Upon hearing that they were here to find someone, Hetastian''s gaze paused on him for a moment. "Who are you looking for?"


    Walter took out a photo from his pocket. "It''s her."


    Hetastian took the photo, looked at it carefully for a while, and furrowed his brows. "I''m sorry, I haven''t seen this person."


    "Then we''ll find her ourselves." A voice came from behind Walter; and everyone turned to look in that direction.


    The man in a trench coat walked slowly from the darkness, the sea breeze making his coat rustle.


    He was tall, with handsome features. When he emerged from the darkness, many people were stunned by his appearance and demeanor.


    But Hetastian furrowed his brows. After running on the sea for so many years, he had no impression of these two individuals.


    When Alexander approached, Hetastian asked, "Who exactly are you two?"


    "Not anyone special." Alexander looked around, surrounded by a sea of people, unable to distinguish one from the other. He withdrew his gaze and looked at Hetastian, maintaining a polite attitude. Alexander said, "Just looking for someone, no need to be so tense, sir."


    Hetastian was naturally nervous because he had never seen these two people before; and they hadn''t introduced themselves. If they were here under the guise of finding someone but were actually investigating something on the cruise, he couldn''t bear that responsibility.


    After a moment of thought, Hetastian said, "I can help you find the person, but please wait a moment. If you all run around on the cruise ship, disturbing the passengers, it wouldn''t be good."


    Alexander pondered for a moment and nodded slightly. "That would be appreciated."


    Hetastian also rxed a bit and gestured. "Pleasee inside, gentlemen."


    He only let the two men in while instructing his men to stay outside with the others.


    Alexander said little. He followed Hetastian into the cabin and into one of the rooms, where some drinks were brought over.


    "There are no outsiders here now. Would you two care to introduce yourselves?" Hetastian sat down and asked.


    Walter smiled. "I''m Walter, and this is the Chairman of the Kennedy Group. Have you heard of it, Mr. Hetastian?"


    Hetastian thought for a moment and nodded. "Is it The Kennedys family from Amber Bay?"


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    Walter was somewhat surprised. "I didn''t expect you to know."


    "What''s there not to know? Compared to domestically, the Kennedy Group had a much louder reputation in Southeast Asia decades ago."


    Alexander''s eyelids twitched slightly as he suddenly looked at Hetastian. "What do you mean?"


    Hetastian continued, "There used to be a group called GL in Southeast Asia, thergest mercenary group there, almost monopolizing all the gray industries. It was said that one of the top executives of this group was surnamed Kennedy." Later, when the Kennedy Group suddenly appeared on the global stage, rapidly expanding its industries worldwide, its fame soared. Some insiders spected that the Kennedy Group was likely the former GL.


    "I see." Walter nced at Alexander beside him. "I didn''t even know about these things."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Hetastian shook his head. "I''ve only heard rumors. Whether it''s true or not, I can''t confirm. And after so many years, no matter how powerful they were before. It''s all in the past."


    Hetastian said, "All of this is hearsay for me. I can''t verify the truth of it. Of course, if Mr. Kennedy could provide some information here, that would be even better."

 Chapter 601

    Walter nced at Alexander.


    Alexander remained indifferent, seemingly not intending to discuss the matter.


    Walter smiled. "These things aren''t just known through hearsay. It seems Mr. Hetastian has quite the sources of information." Hetastian shrugged, not denying it. Having spent years at sea, he naturally knew a lot of information from all over.


    Shortly after, his subordinate came to report. "Hetastian, the youngdy has not been found."


    There was no surveince on the cruise ship, making it quite difficult to find someone among so many people.


    Hetastian knitted his brows. "Search more thoroughly!"


    The person hesitated for a moment, nodded, and then left.


    Hetastian looked at the two men somewhat awkwardly and said, "Gentlemen, is it possible that the person you are looking for is not on this ship?"


    Hetastian said, "Now that the cruise ship is stuck at sea; dying time, I''m afraid it won''t look good if we don''t deliver."


    Walter said, "We''ve agreed that once we find the person, we leave. Since we''re here, it means the person must be on this ship. If Mr. Hetastian finds it troublesome, we can search on our own."


    Hetastian''s expression had soured; the atmosphere bing tense, and it wasn''t easy to confront directly.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    With a serious face, Hetastian said after a while, "Let''s search for another half an hour. If we don''t find the person in half an hour, we''ll have to sail."


    "Alright." Alexander leaned back on the sand, took out a cigarette, and lit it.


    Walter didn''t say much, either. He had expected a fierce battle, but things were smoother than he had anticipated.


    It seemed that Landon had no connection with Hetastian, which meant those people outside were unnecessary.


    Landon stood on the top deck, leaning against the railing, lit a cigarette; his hair tousled by the roaring sea breeze.


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    The yachts remained on the sea, surrounding the cruise ship.


    Alistair walked over, lit a cigarette absentmindedly, leaned on the railing, and asked, "What exactly do you want to do?"


    Landon frowned, showing his displeasure.


    He suddenly asked, "How many people did you bring?"


    Alistair said, "Half of them are inside. What do you want to do?"


    Landon held the cigarette between his fingers, the smoke dispersing in the sea breeze. He looked at the yachts on the sea and said slowly, "I didn''t expect him to bring so many people. I underestimated him." This Alexander was more challenging than he had imagined.


    Even in Sylvadora, which was thousands of miles away from Amber Bay, he had still been able to muster forces here. Given this, he couldn''t let him leave.


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    Landon said, "Hide the mute girl well. Hetastian won''t dy with them for too long. When the cruise ship sets sail, find a way to kill him."


    Since there was no conflict with Hetastian, he had to take matters into his own hands.


    Alistair was puzzled. He nced at the yachts below and asked, "Kill him? Who is this person?"


    Landon turned to look at him, his gaze cold behind the lenses. "It doesn''t matter who he is. Since they''ve caught up on their own, kill him, throw him into the sea, who knows who he is?"


    There was no ce better than the sea for disposing of a body.


    Landon said, "Kill him, and I''ll give you 2 billion dors."


    Alistair''s pupils dted, almost thinking he misheard.


    Alistair thought, ''2 billion dors! Whose life is worth that much?'' But speaking frankly, no matter who it is, even if it were the Emperor himself, they would dare to kill for two billion! What he''s doing now, what isn''t a risky venture that could cost him his life?

 Chapter 602

    ''And it''s at sea, too. That''s perfect for disposing of the body. It''s practically like being handed 2 billion dors for free,'' Alistair thought to himself. "Just for these two billion, whoeveres today will die!" Alistair threw the cigarette butt into the sea and then headed into the cabin.


    He nced at Quinn, who was dozing on the sofa, and had someone take her downstairs to hide her, making sure those people couldn''t find her. Half an hourter, the search party indeed couldn''t find Quinn.


    Hetastian said, "Gentlemen, we really can''t find this person. As agreed before, have your people step aside. After the ship sets sail, you can go look for her yourselves."


    Alexander slightly raised his chin, signaling Walter to have the yachts move aside.


    Walter took out his phone, went outside, and made a call.


    Before long, the yachts anchored at sea began to scatter. In the darkness, they moved away in a coordinated manner, reminiscent of a celestial ballet being performed in the vast expanse of the sea. Soon, they cleared a path for the cruise ship.


    The cruise ship slowly restarted and set sail into the sea.


    Hetastian sat with them for a while, but there was little to talk about. He excused himself and went outside to have someone keep an eye on these two individuals, fearing they might cause trouble. Although the yachts had already retreated, who knew what these two were up to? Their identities couldn''t be verified, and the presence of those yachts couldn''t be underestimated. Hetastian could only take it step by step now.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    After Hetastian left, Walter said, "Looks like Landon really wants to kill you."


    He didn''t understand why that guy brought Quinn onto the cruise ship before, but now it made sense to him.


    He wanted to lure Alexander here and then use Hetastian to get rid of Alexander.


    When Alexander and his men arrived, Hetastian wouldn''t let them cause trouble in the cabin. There would definitely be a conflict with Hetastian. If a fight broke out, Landon could slip away.


    If they didn''t fight, Alexander would have to retreat. He would stay on the ship to look for Quinn, giving Landon a chance to strike.


    At sea, such a perfect ce to get rid of the evidence andmit murder, even the bones couldn''t be found.


    Alexander yed with a lighter in his hand; his gaze fixed on a certain spot and his thoughts lost.


    After a while, Alexander''s movements paused, and he asked, "Have all the peoplee up?"


    Walter nodded slightly. "They should havee up, but definitely not all of them."


    Alexander stood up suddenly and walked out. "Let''s split up and search."


    "Don''t die too quickly."


    Walter joked from behind, but it was also a sincere warning. This guy''s wounds hadn''t fully healed yet; and with a mute woman beside him, there was a risk of things going south.


    He wasn''t worried about Alexander but about what might happen if Alexander died and Landon turned back to deal with him.


    Walter initially intended to watch the show from the sidelines, but Alexander''s trap also ensnared him unexpectedly.


    No matter who it was, betrayal was intolerable; and Landon was no exception.


    For now, Walter wasn''t interested in making an enemy of Landon.


    The cruise ship wasrge, with five floors and numerous rooms. Finding someone was like finding a needle in a haystack.


    Landon sat on the sofa and nced at his watch.


    The atmosphere on this level of the ship had changed; even the discerning could sense the tension in the air. Although they were ying games and entertaining themselves, it was clear that their minds were elsewhere, as if they were waiting for someone.


    "We still have ten hours before we disembark." Landon clicked his tongue. It wouldn''t be a good time to act if Alexander showed up now.


    "Let''s get some rest." Alistair poured himself a drink, feeling bored. "Bring the mute girl over; her man is about to die anyway!"


    From earlier until now, he still had that little beauty on his mind.


    Thinking of her helpless and pitiful crying, Alistair felt a twinge in his heart.

 Chapter 603

    Landon nced at him disapprovingly. "Are you in such a hurry?"


    Alistair sucked his teeth, picked up the cigar on the table, crossed his legs. "Then what have you been doing for so long?"


    Landon didn''t say anything more, nor did he pay any more attention to him.


    Alistair also noticed Landon''s displeasure and decided not to continue mentioning the mute woman; after all, it wouldn''t be profitable to dy the matter at hand. He could clearly distinguish between 2 billion and a woman.


    With 2 billion, he could have countless mute women like her.


    Alistair took a few puffs of smoke, feeling restless. He suddenly stood up and walked downstairs.


    Landon had just shown him a photo earlier. He recognized Alexander from the picture, while Alexander didn''t know him. It was a perfect opportunity to meet Alexander.


    Alistair walked to one of the gambling tables, touched the nearby beautiful female dealer, and slipped a gun into his pocket from under the table, then walked out of the cabin.


    Alexander was currently on the second floor, where all the rooms were located. The closed doors made it unlikely to go in and search for someone one by one.


    It was alreadyte at night. But the ship was still brightly lit, and faint noises came from upstairs and downstairs.


    He walked to the deck, leaned against the railing, gazing at the sea level, and lit a cigarette.


    There were many people on the deck, both men and women.


    Not far away, three women kept signaling to him; probably no one would think that such a lewd expression would appear on a woman''s face.


    In the dim light, he wore a ck trench coat, blending in with the night. His profile was perfect and smooth, and his hand resting on the railing was long and beautiful. Just looking at him sparked endless imagination. The three women pushed and shoved,ing in a coy manner in front of him.


    "Are you alone, handsome boy?"


    The woman in the red dress spoke, the bright red color standing out in the cool night; it was cold on the sea, and she only had a shawl on.


    Alexander heard the voice and turned to look at her.


    The woman immediately straightened up, entuating herrge breasts, and raised her hand with a room key between her fingertips.


    She slid the room card gently across the man''s chest. "It''s a long and lonely night when you''re alone. Would you like to y some games with us?"


    As she spoke, the other two also revealed suggestive smiles.


    Alexander lowered his gaze, looking at the room key on his chest, then nced at the woman.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    The woman raised an eyebrow, smiling seductively. "Don''t worry, after tonight, no one will know each other."


    Alexander chuckled after hearing her words, took the room key from her hand, and then used the card to lift her chin. His voice was low and seductive. "You''re so enthusiastic. Wouldn''t it be ungrateful of me to refuse?" Seeing the smile in his eyes and hearing his seductive voice, the woman couldn''t help but swallow her saliva.


    She reached out, held Alexander''s hand, and touched the room key. "Then we''ll be waiting for you, handsome."


    With that, the woman took back the card from his hand, personally tucked it into Alexander''s pocket, and winked at him.


    After handing over the room key, the three women left the area, linking arms and whispering to each other.


    Even from a distance, their giggles could still be heard.


    Alexander took out the room key, a hint of coldness in the smile at the corner of his mouth.


    In the darkness not far away, Alistair leaned against the wall, witnessing the scene.


    He clicked his tongue. This kid was really lucky. He even suspected whether Alexander came to the ship to find someone or to enjoy himself.

 Chapter 604

    Alexander held the room key card and walked into the cabin.


    The room was 218. Alexander arrived at room 218. The door was not closed; and a woman in a green dress was leaning against it. When she saw himing, a big smile lit up her face. "Hey, handsome, why the rush? We''re not done with our bath yet." The woman gave a captivating smile, raised her hand to his shoulder, slid it down, grabbed his cor, and drew him in. Alexander followed her in, hearing the sound of water and theughter of the woman in the bathroom.


    The woman looked a bit stunned at his face. Under the light, this face looked much more handsome than it was outside.


    His features were deep and three-dimensional, with a hint of coldness. The faint smile in his eyes carried a sense of danger, giving the impression that he was not simple.


    But the moreplicated it was, the happier they were. They wouldn''t even look at ordinary men.


    Alexander swaggered in, reached back and grabbed the woman''s wrist, pulled her off his cor, and threw her on the sofa.


    The woman fell into disarray; but in the next second, she shed a captivating smile.


    She looked at the man with a seductive gaze. "My friends haven''te out yet. They will be angry if you''re in such a hurry."


    Alexander leaned slightly and raised his hand to stroke the woman''s cheek. "Having you is enough."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    The woman appeared stunned for a moment; then, her expression quickly turned to one of delight.


    She thought to herself, ''Could it be that this man is only interested in me? As expected, I am the most charming.''


    And just as the woman was lost in thought, the man''s hand suddenly gripped her waist, lifted her off the sofa, and swiftly turned her body towards the door.


    A muffled gunshot sounded in the room.


    The woman froze in ce; her eyes widened; and the smile was still on her lips. She stared at the door-there stood a burly man with a scar, holding up a gun with wisps of white smoke rising from the barrel. She stiffly looked down, arge blood hole in her chest, blood gushing out.


    And she slowly slid down in Alexander''s arms, unable to even scream.


    Alistair was also stunned. At the same time, He was amazed at the man''s reaction speed. If he had been a second slower, that bullet would have pierced through his back.


    When Alistair tried to react and fire a second shot, the two sisters in the bathrobes also came out of the bathroom; seeing the body on the floor and the gun in his hand, they let out a scream.


    Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, he turned the gun towards Alexander''s head.


    His thoughts were simple. Since it hade to this, he might as well kill Alexander.


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    But things didn''t go as nned. In the moment he pulled the trigger, a throw pillow flew towards his face. He raised his hand to deflect the pillow; but when he prepared to shoot again, he saw Alexander already in front of him. Alexander grabbed his wrist, trying to take the gun from him. In his haste, Alistair pulled the trigger, and a bullet flew out, hitting the ceiling of the cabin and making a loud noise.


    Alexander twisted his wrist, causing Alistair pain. But as a seasoned fighter, Alistair knew what it meant when the gun fell into the man''s hands.


    So, in the next second, he threw the gun away and raised his otherrge fist to smash toward Alexander''s face.


    Alexander could only dodge. As the gun fell, Alistair kicked it away.


    He intended to engage in hand-to-handbat with Alexander.


    As the two fought fiercely, the two women also ran out while shouting. "Someone''s been killed!"

 Chapter 605

    Alistair cursed inwardly, using his strength to push Alexander out.


    His strength was indeed great, causing Alexander to take a step back.


    But how could Alexander let him escape? He fiercely grabbed the back of Alistair''s cor.


    Several people ran over; and Alistair seemed genuinely anxious, using all his strength to charge toward Alexander.


    Alexander''s face changed as he was harshly mmed into the door by him, creating a loud noise.


    Alistair managed to break free from Alexander''s grip and quickly ran upstairs.


    Just as Alexander was about to chase after him, he struggled to get up, then weakly leaned back, a pained expression on his face as he pressed his chest.


    "Are you okay?!" The woman in the red dress who had just helped him looked worried.


    Alexander didn''t reply to her, instead clutching his abdomen and coughing up blood.


    Seeing this, the woman urgently shouted. "Quick, call a doctor!"


    Alexander closed his eyes for a moment, then pushed the woman aside and chased after Alistair.


    The woman, both fearful and anxious, happened to encounter Hetastian; and she urgently told him. "The culprit is a fat man with a scar on his face; hurry and catch him!" Hetastian furrowed his brow and immediately led a group of people to pursue.


    Alistair rushed back to the fifth floor in a panic, arriving at the cabin, grabbing a random person''s ss on the table, and downing it in one gulp.


    Landon could tell something was off with him at a nce and asked, "What did you do?"


    Wiping his mouth, Alistair replied irritably, "I saw him enter the room, wanted to kill him, and almost seeded!"


    "Almost?" Landon''s expression turned serious. "So, you didn''t kill him."


    Alistair shrugged. "Who knew he would grab that woman to shield himself? If those two women hadn''t screamed and attracted Hetastian, that kid would''ve been done for."


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    Landon rubbed his temples. "Why didn''t you follow my orders?"


    Alistair was displeased. "Just killing a person, right? I really didn''t expect that kid to react so quickly."


    If it weren''t for that woman, he could have silently killed Alexander; and those people wouldn''t have even found his shadow.


    Now, being entangled with Alexander, others had seen him, and there was no escaping the charge of murder.


    Landon asked, "Who is that woman?"


    Alistair replied, "Don''t know. Hopefully, she''s not someone important."


    Rubbing his temples, Landon sighed deeply. "Forget it. Are your men ready?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Alistair said, "There''s no need to worry. We have so many people. Besides, Hetastian can''t possibly make trouble for us just for that woman."


    Alistair and Hetastian were under the same leader, with Hetastian responsible for downstairs and him for this level. They weren''t exactly friends, but they were definitely colleagues.


    Just then, a group of people suddenly burst in through the entrance. Before the hired mercenaries on guard could react, the neers took them down.


    "Are you okay?" Walter nced at the man beside him.


    At this moment, Alexander was pale, with bloodstains still at the corners of his mouth, and visibly weak.


    "Find her first," Alexander said.


    Walter couldn''t be bothered with him anymore and led the group up to the fifth floor.


    As soon as he reached the top, he saw many people in the cabin, each holding various weapons, standing together in an orderly fashion. Walter paused in his tracks.


    His gaze swept over the group,nding on Alistair, who was at the forefront, and Landon in a suit.


    Landon was also looking at him. Their eyes met, creating a faint air of awkwardness between them.

 Chapter 606

    After a while, Walter raised his hand, gesturing for the person behind him to lower the gun, and smiled. "Mr. Kennedy, good to see you well?"


    With a prating gaze, Landon scrutinized him, asking, "Why?"


    The question had been well posed, though only Walter had understood its depth.


    Why had he betrayed him? Why had he assisted Alexander?


    Walter hesitated for a moment, his smile undiminished as he replied slowly, "There''s no why. People live their whole lives for just a few things. I didn''t want to, but what he offered was just too much." Landon also smiled, but it was a cold smile. "That''s not what you said when you came to me."


    Walter said, "People change."


    Landon asked, "So this time, are you here to find someone?"


    "Isn''t it obvious, Mr. Kennedy? You, too, are to me. Didn''t you know that the little mute girl is easily frightened, yet you still brought her to such a ce? You must have scared her, right?" Landon''s mouth curled in a mocking arc. "What''s your rtionship with that mute girl?"


    "What''s my rtionship with her? don''t you know?" Walter smiled harmlessly. "She is my respected sister-inw."


    Landon didn''t believe a single punctuation mark of what he said.


    Landon said, "She''s not with me."


    Walter asked, "Is that so? Would it be okay if we search for her then?"


    Alistair stepped forward and said, "Who do you think you are? Do you know whose territory this is? You say you want to search, but you may not have that much authority!"


    Walter raised an eyebrow, ncing sideways at Alistair. "And who might you be?"


    Alistair chuckled at his words. "It seems you are also here for the first time. Even I don''t know, kid, I advise you to be smart and leave on your own. This is not where you should be; otherwise, don''t me me for being impolite." Walter''s smile had a hint of sarcasm. "Is that so? Then what if I don''t leave?"


    With that said, the atmosphere tensed up again, with both sides raising their weapons.


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    "Stop!"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Hetastian also arrived with his men; looking at the tense atmosphere inside the cabin, he said in a deep voice, "There are many people on the ship. Everyone, sit down and talk. Don''t make a big fuss, or it won''t end well for anyone." Alistair said, "Hetastian, you arrived just in time. These people came looking for someone without any evidence. Isn''t this causing trouble? I suggest we throw them into the sea to feed the fish!"


    "So, you''re not nning on handing her over?" Alexander spoke up. He stepped out from the crowd, his gaze cold and unyielding. Even under the dim light, nothing seemed amiss about him. Hetastian warned, "Alistair, if you really caught someone, hand them over; don''t cause trouble for the Boss."


    Alistair said impatiently, "I said the person is not here. Hetastian, do you believe him or me?"


    The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Hetastian naturally didn''t believe Alistair. If the person really wasn''t here, how could they havee knocking on the door? But he and Alistair were partners after all, and he wouldn''t favor Alexander. Otherwise, word might spread, and he''d be seen as abandoning his own for an outsider. But if they started fighting, it would be chaos.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Hetastian was now cursing in his mind. What kind of person did this idiot catch to make so many people confront each other here?


    Alexander took a few steps forward and stood in front of Landon.


    Seeing him being so arrogant, Alistair had already gripped the gun in his pocket.


    Landon reached out and grabbed his wrist, signaling him not to act rashly.


    "What do you want?" Alexander spoke first.


    Landon''s gaze lingered on his face for a moment as if contemting something. Then he said, "What I want, Mr. Kennedy should be quite clear to you."


    Landon understood, his gaze suddenly falling on the nearby gambling table. "Then let''s make a bet."


    Landon asked, "What are we betting on?"


    Alexander replied, "If you win, you get my shares, and Quinn. If you lose, it''s the same oue."

 Chapter 607

    "Is that so?" Landon raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Kennedy, are you sure you want to y with me?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    "What''s the matter, Mr. Kennedy? Are you scared?"


    Landon chuckled and shook his head. "What do I have to fear? Since Mr. Kennedy has said so, I hope you won''t regret itter."


    Alexander raised the corner of his mouth but did not reply.


    Instead, Hetastian, seeing the situation, breathed a sigh of relief. If the issue could be resolved through a gamble, it would be the best oue for him.


    Approaching them, Hetastian took the initiative and said, "Let me deal the cards for you two. Can you trust me?"


    Landon walked to the table and sat down, ncing at the man across from him. "Of course, I trust you."


    "Let''s begin," Alexander said lightly, his peripheral vision shifting to Walter not far away.


    Walter caught his gaze and understood. He signaled to the person beside him, who nodded and quietly exited.


    Landon said, "Just making in bets isn''t much fun; let''s spice things up a bit."


    He took a card from his pocket and handed it to Hetastian. "Please exchange this for one billion in chips."


    Hetastian was slightly stunned. One billion?


    "Sir, are you sure you want to exchange for a billion?"


    Landon nodded slightly. "Otherwise, what''s the point of ying?"


    "Alright. I''ll go and exchange it for you." After all, swiping a card was a simple matter, Chips were plentiful Here. Even if it was five billion, he could provide it.


    Since Landon exchanged for one hundred million in chips, Hetastian looked towards Alexander.


    Before he could speak, Alexander also took out a card from his pocket and ced it on the table. "I have the same intention as him."


    Hetastian was amazed. It seemed like they had encountered a tycoon.


    Although this offshore casino did good business, with daily turnovers in the billions, it was thebined amount of many people. He had never seen anyone bring out several billion to gamble alone. Hetastian wanted to join the gamble.


    But he remembered that this was about resolving an issue. He took the card to verify the funds, then brought back the chips needed by the two, each at the maximum amount of five million per chip. cing the chips beside the two, Hetastian brought out a new deck of cards to shuffle.


    Onlookers surrounded the gambling table, alling to watch.


    Yet the two men remained calm, sitting there calmly. Their eyes met; and though their gazes were calm, there was an invisible tension in the air. Suddenly, Landon asked, "Can you print a contract here?"


    "Of course."


    Landon took out a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Hetastian, his eyes fixed on Alexander. "Since Mr. Kennedy wants to y, printing out this contract shouldn''t be a problem, right?" Alexander remained expressionless. "As you wish."


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Landon said, "It seems Alexander holds all the cards."


    Alexander replied, "And so do you."


    Hetastian had dealt the two their whole cards, but they hadn''t looked at them. Their gazes were fixed on each other''s faces as if trying to read each other.


    Those who had yed before knew that besides luck, this game was mostly about psychological tactics, provided no one was cheating.


    Hetastian wasn''t sure what the two were doing. He turned over the threemunity cards on the table and nced at them.


    Finally, Landon withdrew his gaze, looked at the two cards in his hand, and after examining them, casually threw a handful of chips into the pot. Alexander didn''t even look but followed suit, throwing in his chips. "I''ll see that."


    Landon smiled. "Seems like you''re very confident."


    "As you too."


    Seeing both yers match the bet, Hetastian turned over another card: the Ace of Spades.

 Chapter 608

    Landon once again tossed a chip into the pot, seeming to regard it not as a five million token in his eyes but as a worthless pebble.


    Alexander, still not peering at his cards, continued to stay in the game.


    As the fourth round unfolded, Alexander still refrained from ncing at his cards.


    Furrowing his brow, Landon found himself perplexed by Alexander''s maneuvers.


    A calm demeanor while not looking at the cards could signify either ipetence, an attempt at deception, or a desire to conceal one''s emotions.


    Alexander not looking at his cards meant that all of his reactions were ineffective in Landon''s eyes, rendering this psychological battle futile.


    However, not looking at his cards could also be a psychological tactic in itself.


    "This is the final card," Hetastian reminded.


    Landon looked at theposed man across the table. Suddenly, he pushed all the remaining chips out of his hand. "Mr. Kennedy, aren''t you going to check your hole card?"


    A smug smile tugged at Alexander''s lips. "The best hole cards are the ones even you do not know. That''s when you catch them off guard, isn''t it?"


    Landon chuckled softly. "Is that so? Well, I am indeed curious."


    Tension mounted among the onlookers as these two individuals yed high stakes; with one hundred million on the line, the ultimate wager loomedrge.


    Even Walter, standing nearby, couldn''t help but frown, wondering, ''Is this guy really that confident, or is he nning to default?''


    Landon, as if suddenly thinking of something, said, "I think the shares of The Wilson Group aren''t bad either. Mr. Kennedy, would you like to continue the game?"


    Alexander retorted, "If I hold shares in The Wilson Group, what will you bet with?"


    "All in, shall we?" Landon proposed.


    Alexander raised an eyebrow. "It seems you are quite confident."


    Landon replied, "Nevertheless, your audacity surpasses mine. Few can match your nerve, ying the game without even looking at your hand."


    Alexander remained silent, confidently pushing all his chips forward. "I''m in."


    At this, even Hetastian took a deep breath.


    Having been at sea for so many years, this was the first time he had seen such a high-stakes game. ying with money was one thing, but this was directly gambling withpany shares.


    If they lost, they''d be financially ruined in an instant. They would step off this cruise ship penniless.


    These people really knew how to y.


    Hetastian wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "You two can reveal your hole cards now." Landon nced at Alexander, seeing that he was still unmoved, and then flipped over his hole card. A spade eight and a spade nine were revealed.


    There was a murmur of disbelief around the table.


    "Isn''t this a winning hand?"


    "We still don''t know what his cards are."


    "He hasn''t even looked himself; how could this turn out well?"


    "Yes, with a spade 10, J, and Q already on the table, he won''t get lucky with an A or K this time."


    "You never know."


    Landon locked eyes with Alexander, or more precisely, with the two cards in front of him.


    Landon said, "Mr. Kennedy, why not show everyone your hole cards? Or do you have some other n?"


    Landon''s words, to others, might imply suspicion of cheating.


    Hetastian interjected, "Gentlemen, it''s time to reveal your cards."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "In that case, Hetastian, please reveal them for me," Alexander calmly replied, his hands untouched throughout, dismissing any notion of deception. And if there were any cheating to be done, it would be Hetastian who would do it.


    Hetastian thought for a moment, then stepped forward and flipped over Alexander''s two cards.

 Chapter 609

    The moment the hole cards were revealed, the entire cabin erupted.


    Even Landon stood up, staring fixedly at his two-hole cards.


    It turned out to be the Spade A and Spade K!


    Hetastian widened his eyes in astonishment and looked at Alexander. How could it be?


    Alexander said, "It seems like I have better luck."


    "How is it possible?" Landon''s face turned extremely dark. He weakly sat back in his chair, then nced at Hetastian as if using him of cheating.


    Hetastian understood his implication and immediately defended himself. "I don''t know either of you. There''s no cheating going on here. Sir, it seems like you''ve lost." Landon continued to gaze at Alexander.


    Thetter remained calm, with the same expression as before, rxed and casual, not like someone ying cards but more like chatting over tea.


    "Landon, how''s it going? Is the contract ready?" Alexander asked.


    The usually calm expression on Landon''s face had soured. He knew Alexander couldn''t be this lucky; he wasn''t a novice.


    Without even looking, he had drawn such a good card, a chance even slimmer than winning the lottery.


    And Alexander never looked at his cards from start to finish, perhaps to conceal his cheating.


    But cheating, leading to him losing everything, was something he couldn''t ept.


    Observing the fluctuation in his countenance, Alexander unexpectedly remarked, "So, it seems you''re nning to default on the payment, Landon."


    Hetastian had no say in this matter. After all, they had exchanged chips, and this verbal gambling agreement naturally didn''t fall within the casino rules.


    Alistair, with a fiery temper, suddenly pulled out a gun and said, "This guy is obviously cheating. Cheating on my turf means you''re asking for death!"


    He was desperate to kill Alexander, aiming the trigger at him.


    But Alexander stood up first, grabbed a tray from the table, and hurled it. The bullet pierced through the tray, whizzing past Alexander''s ear.


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    With the gunshot, chaos erupted in the cabin immediately.


    Tourists screamed and scattered while the henchmen on both sides pulled out their weapons and started fighting.


    In the midst of the chaos, Walter grabbed Alexander''s arm and pulled him out of the crowd, saying, "We''ve found Quinn. Let''s not linger here."


    Alexander''s eyes flickered, and he no longer paid attention to the ongoing battle behind him, following Walter out of the cabin.


    Landon, hiding behind a pir, spotted Alexander at a nce. Without much thought, he immediately followed suit.


    Alistair also rushed out of the crowd and chased after them.


    Alexander quickly descended to the fourth floor and entered the middle room.


    Walter kicked the door open, plunging into pitch darkness. He flicked on the light, immediately spotting Quinn in the corner of the room.


    It was a utility room with various tools and scattered boxes.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Quinn was in a state of unconsciousness, with her limbs bound. She was still d in entric attire, huddled in the corner, unaware of the passing time.


    Alexander swiftly approached, lifted Quinn, quickly untied the ropes binding her, and carried her.


    By this time, two pursuers had reached the doorway. Walter kicked out, his dagger shing, swiftly slicing through one person''s neck like cutting vegetables. Walter turned to Alexander and said, "You take her and go; I''ll cover the rear. The yacht has already been waiting outside!"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    After speaking, Walter kicked away the person in front of him.


    Holding Quinn in his arms, Alexander hesitated as he passed Walter. "You''d better not have given up the ghost."


    A familiar phrase that Walter had said to Alexander before.


    Upon hearing this, Walter chuckled. "I''ll return those words to you, now hurry and go!"


    Alexander wasted no time, carrying Quinn as he ran towards the deck.

 Chapter 610

    Walter watched as Landon and Alistair approached from the other side. He chuckled, then turned and ran in the opposite direction, heading towards a crowded area and firing a shot into the sky.


    A loud gunshot rang out, causing the surrounding tourists to scatter and scream as they fled.


    Alistair caught sight of him and charged forward without hesitation, pulling out a knife from his pocket to avoid identally harming any bystanders. Seeing this, Walter smirked and met him head-on.


    Once they engaged, Hetastian wouldn''t sit back either. All the mercenaries on the ship rushed out, hunting down those pursued by Landon and Alistair.


    After reaching the first floor, Landon frowned at the chaotic cabin.


    This time, he had no intention of letting Alexander leave. Apart from Alistair, he had other ns in mind.


    He smirked and headed towards the deck.


    On the deck, the sea breeze howled, almost blowing people away.


    Landon raised his hand to shield himself from the wind and made his way to the side of the cruise ship. He opened a lifeboat and jumped in without hesitation.


    Once the lifeboat had moved a distance away, he took out a remote control from his pocket, gazing at the massive cruise ship with a hint of malice in his eyes.


    His finger hovered over the button for two seconds before decisively pressing it.


    A loud explosion erupted from the sea, with mes shimmering in the darkness as the white behemoth of a ship slowly tilted.


    The ship echoed with countless cries and screams, deafening in the pitch-ck sea.


    Alexander had just brought Quinn onto the yacht when he suddenly turned around and saw the cruise ship sparking and crackling, resembling a fireworks disy. The cruise ship was slowly sinking. Many people were jumping directly from the ship to escape, and there were quite a few.


    "Let''s go." Alexander held Quinn close and turned away, addressing the yacht''s crew.


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    "Yes."


    As the crew started the yacht, it suddenly lurched violently before even setting off, pushed far away by a collision.


    Alexander turned back and saw Landon''s lifeboat colliding with theirs, with Landon already leaping onto the yacht.


    Landon said, "Alexander, you''re really lucky."


    At this moment, Landon was somewhat chaotic. His sses, which were usually perched on his nose, were nowhere to be found; and his messy hair hung over his forehead.


    He briskly walked towards Alexander, with a knife in hand.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Alexander''s gaze darkened. "Was it you?"


    A bloodthirsty smile yed on Landon''s lips. "So what if it was? Alexander, with so many people burying you, you should feel honored."


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Alexander scoffed. "Madman."


    Hearing this, Landon burst into wildughter. "You''re calling me a madman. Those words suit you better."


    "At least the people I''ve killed are strangers, but you, Alexander?" Landon approached slowly, the knife in his hand reflecting a faint light under the moonlight. "Who were the people you killed? How dare you call me a madman." "We are on the same path, so we are destined not to coexist."


    With those words, Landon lunged towards Alexander, brandishing the knife.


    Alexander set Quinn down and stood up to block Landon.


    Just as Alexander managed to grasp his wrist, Landon kicked out, sending Alexander flying like a kite with its string cut. "You can still fight back even in this state. Alexander, stop struggling."


    Alexander crashed into the yacht''s metal frame, blood spraying from his mouth.


    "I''ll send the mute girl to keep youpany in hell. You don''t need to thank me," Landon dered.

 Chapter 611

    Alexander clutched his chest, half kneeling on the ground, blood dripping continuously from his mouth, falling on the snow-white deck.


    Landon approached him, the knife in his hand particrly striking.


    "It''s quite a challenge to kill you." Landon lifted his cor, staring at him coldly.


    The person steering the boat kept looking back, feeling anxious as he saw Alexander in crisis.


    Looking at his fierce face, Alexander suddenlyughed, blood flowing even more fiercely from the corner of his mouth. "Landon, you look really ugly now." Landon was not provoked by his words, coldly saying, "Don''t worry. You''ll look even uglier soon. I''ll chop you into pieces and feed you to the fish in the sea." As soon as Landon finished speaking, Alexander suddenly grabbed Landon''s wrist tightly.


    Landon frowned, threw him out, then raised the knife and fiercely stabbed him towards Alexander''s neck.


    Alexander rolled on the spot, dodging his attack, grabbed a nearby chair, and smashed it towards Landon.


    Landon didn''t expect him to fight back and instinctively raised his hand to block.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    With a loud bang, the chair smashed against Landon''s arm, shattering it into pieces. Landon took two steps back.


    The impact was not light. His arm was numb from the shock.


    The two stood about three feet apart, both looking disheveled. The sea breeze made their hair messy and their clothes rustling.


    Alexander took off his coat, leaving only a ck shirt underneath, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked coldly at Landon.


    Landon also unbuttoned his suit, tightly gripping the dagger in his hand.


    Meanwhile, Quinn, who was lying on the deck, woke up. She opened her eyes drowsily; the first thing she smelled was blood, and then she saw the two men confronting each other in front of her. She tried to get up but failed several times due to her weakness.


    At the same time, Landon rushed towards Alexander with the knife, his eyes and actions revealing ruthlessness.


    He had one goal-kill Alexander!


    Although Alexander was injured, he was not yet at the mercy of others and he fought back against Landon.


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    However, with the knife in Landon''s hand, Alexander could only dodge and look for an opportunity to strike back.


    Quinn watched the two men fighting on the deck, feeling terrified. When she saw the blood at the corner of Alexander''s mouth, she became extremely anxious.


    She tried to get up but failed several times.


    Landon was surprised that Alexander, despite his serious injuries, could still withstand his attacks. He began to feel impatient.


    Each of his strikes carried a deadly intent. But each time, Alexander managed to evade them.


    So Landon changed his attack strategy, focusing on Alexander''s injured areas, giving up the n to strike for a fatal blow.


    This method gradually pushed Alexander back until he was at the edge of the yacht.


    Without hesitation, Landon raised his hand and stabbed him towards Alexander''s neck.


    Alexander leaned back, falling straight into the sea.


    Quinn watched him fall, her eyes widening slowly.


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    "Alexander!" she shouted.


    Just as she uttered these two words, Alexander suddenly raised his hand, grabbing Landon''s wrist.


    Landon was stunned for a moment before being pulled down by Alexander without a chance to react.


    Leveraging his support, Alexander flipped over and rolled back onto the deck.


    Landon reacted quickly, seeing himself about to fall into the water. He hooked his toes on the edge of the yacht, supported the bottom of the yacht with both hands, flipped back, and rolled back onto the deck. In this roll, he saw Quinn in front of him.


    Suddenly, Landon smiled, grabbed the knife in hand, stood up, and rushed towards Quinn, stabbing at her chest.


    Seeing the descending tip of the knife, Quinn''s pupils contracted slightly. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, with her mind going nk in the face of imminent danger.

 Chapter 612

    Subconsciously, she closed her eyes.


    The sound of the de piercing the body, along with the scorching blood, sttered on Quinn''s face.


    Yet Quinn felt no pain.


    She slowly opened her eyes and saw Alexander''s erged face.


    He was lying on top of her, blood from the corner of his mouth dripping onto her forehead, then sliding into her eyes. Staining Quinn''s vision red.


    Quinn opened her mouth, tears mixed with blood in her eyes, trickling down from the corners of her eyes.


    Landon smiled. Indeed, it was quicker to go after Quinn directly than to chase down Alexander.


    "ver expected him to care for her to this extent." Landon''s tone didn''t reveal whether it was ironic ormenting.


    He pulled the dagger out from behind Alexander, who was tightly holding onto Quinn. His face contorted in unbearable pain.


    Quinn looked up and saw Landon''s knife descending once again. She shook her head desperately.


    Quinn shouted, "No!"


    Alexander said, "Don''t be scared. When you wake up, you''ll have forgotten everything."


    Alexander weaklyy in Quinn''s arms, his cheek against her ear, his feeble voice entering her ears, appearing intimate; but the words cut Quinn like a knife.


    As Landon was about to end the lives of these two, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back.


    His figure swayed, and then he abruptly turned around.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    It was the person who had just been steering the boat, holding a knife as well, stabbing Landon in the back.


    Just moments ago, he was steering the ship, unable to let go of the wheel. The surrounding mountains posed a threat, as he feared crashing into them.


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    But now, it was a matter of life and death, and he couldn''t care about that anymore.


    Landon''s eyes revealed his murderous intent. Compared to Alexander, who was barely clinging to life, this person who dared to attack him deserved to die even more.


    So, he turned the gun on this person, choosing to attack him.


    This person was clearly no match for Landon. After a couple of rounds, he had been shed several times by Landon.


    Indeed, withoutparison, there wouldn''t be any harm. Alexander, despite his severe injuries, almost managed to counterattack Landon, while this person in Landon''s hands was like cutting cabbage. The person retreated repeatedly, ending up at the edge of the yacht.


    Landon plunged his knife into the person''s heart; and the person widened his eyes, staring straight at Landon.


    Seemingly to vent his anger, Landon''s knife tip stirred in his chest a couple of times, causing the person to scream in pain.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! And the next moment, he struggled to raise his hand, grabbing Landon''s wrist with almost all his strength.


    Landon''s eyes flickered.


    All of a sudden, the man toppled into the sea; his fingers clenched around Landon''s wrist like a vise, dragging Landon down into the watery abyss with him.


    Landon probably didn''t expect that this person to fight for his life with such determination, willing to take him down with him.


    He wasn''t just a trained mercenary; he was more like a brainwashed deadpool.


    With a ssh, both of them fell into the sea.


    The yacht sped away, leaving the two in the sea far behind.


    Quinn finally let out a sigh of relief, holding Alexander''s face in her hands, calling out hoarsely. "Alexander..."


    And hey motionless on top of her.


    Only the howling wind in her ears remained, along with the sound of the yacht.

 Chapter 613

    She held Alexander in confusion, crying heartbreakingly.


    Surrounded by the vast sea, she had no way out.


    The yacht had sailed far away; and she had no idea where it was heading.


    The previous cruise ship had disappeared into the night; and as far as the eye could see, the endless sea shimmered under the moonlight, the sea breeze stinging her cheeks.


    At this moment, Walter was still on the cruise ship. When he and Alistair were fighting fiercely, the cruise ship exploded, causing chaos throughout the boat.


    Alistair and Hetastian immediately pinned the me on Walter, relentlessly pursuing him, prioritizing his capture over their own safety.


    Walter was hiding on the cruise ship, which was gradually tilting and sinking. Many people had already run to the top deck seeking rescue.


    The lifeboats were almost all destroyed. Stranded in the middle of the sea with no aid, death seemed inevitable.


    And that''s what Landon wanted. If they escaped, then his act of blowing up the ship would be meaningless, so the first thing he blew up was the lifeboats.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    When the cruise ship sank two-thirds of the way, Hetastian began to panic.


    Hetastian shouted, "Damn it!"


    Now, only one deck could barely stand, and almost everyone had gathered there.


    Walter was no exception.


    He looked at the sea in the distance, furrowing his brows.


    The cruise ship had gone too far; and the yacht couldn''t catch up. Even if it did, the fuel on board wouldn''t be enough to return.


    Hetastian had spotted him in the crowd and immediately strode towards Walter.


    No, to be precise, Walter took the initiative to approach him.


    "Brat! I kindly let you on the ship; and you dare to cause trouble on board!" Hetastian raised his gun, pressing it hard against Walter''s forehead.


    Walter raised his hands in surrender and smiled calmly. "Hetastian, if I had done this, I wouldn''t still be on the ship."


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    Hetastian was taken aback, feeling that what he said made some sense.


    Alistair also rushed over, menacingly grabbing Walter''s cor. "If it wasn''t you, then who was it?"


    Walter nced at him, the corners of his mouth lifting into his signature smile. "You should ask yourself that, Alistair."


    This seemingly casual question dripped with sarcasm, and Alistair seemed to realize something.


    "That''s impossible! I''ve known him for so many years; he wouldn''t do such a thing!"


    Walter chuckled. "Then where is he?"


    Alistair was at a loss for words.


    "You don''t think he would really give you one billion, do you?" Walter continued to needle him.


    Hetastian turned to look at Alistair. "One billion? What billion?"


    Alistair looked sheepish. At this point, he had nothing left to hide. With a stern face, he said, "Landon told me to kill Alexander for one billion."


    "You scoundrel." Hetastian didn''t know what to say to him.


    One billion was no a small amount. Even he would be tempted upon hearing it, let alone Alistair.


    Walter said, "Based on the current situation, even if you really killed Alexander, he would still sink this ship at the right moment."


    Alistair widened his eyes. "How do you know?"


    Walter said, "One billion or a few packs of explosives, which one is cheaper?"


    "Nonsense!" Alistair pushed him away, not because he didn''t believe him, but because he couldn''t bring himself to believe it.


    He couldn''t do something so insane.


    Walter smiled. "Just consider it nonsense."


    Suddenly, Hetastian said, "Regardless of the reason, the ship has already sunk. If we don''t figure something out soon, we''ll all die."

 Chapter 614

    As he spoke, Hetastian nced at Walter, who was smiling broadly. "Do you have a solution?"


    Walter replied, "Of course I do, but you all want to kill me. I have no reason to help you, right?" Hetastian and Alistair exchanged a nce.


    At a critical moment, Alistair wasn''t foolish enough to risk his own life.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    He released Walter''s cor and apologized with a stiff face. "Sorry, buddy. I was impulsive and misunderstood you."


    Hetastian also said, "I''m really sorry. Because you all suddenly burst in, it was natural for us to think it was you. But now that the misunderstanding is cleared up; we owe you an apology." Walter smiled but didn''t continue to entangle with them; after all, he still needed their help.


    Walter said, "You get someone to take all the fuel from the cruise ship. I''ll get someone to bring the yacht over, but the yacht can''t fit so many people. You decide quickly who to take with you." Hetastian agreed immediately. "Okay, no problem!"


    The warehouse where the fuel was stored had yet to be flooded, so it was still possible to retrieve it. He didn''t want to waste time.


    He asked Alistair to take people to get the fuel while he counted and determined who must be taken away. Walter also took out a walkie-talkie and instructed those people to bring the yacht over. They should still be close behind; with Walter''smand, they would probably have been waiting at sea.


    Quinn finally regained some strength in her body. She pushed the man off her with all her might, got up from the ground, and searched for something on the yacht that could help stop his bleeding. After searching for a while, she found a few white towels and two bottles of disinfectant.


    She was delighted and ran towards Alexander with the items. Running too fast, she stumbled and fell, the disinfectant rolling far away, leaving ayer of blood on the ground.


    Ignoring the pain, Quinn got up, picked up the disinfectant, and knelt beside him.


    Fortunately, there were lights on the yacht; and she could barely see his injuries.


    His shirt was almostpletely soaked with blood on the back. Although no blood was visible; a touch revealed a bright red on his hand.


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    Gritting her teeth, Quinn picked up a dagger that someone had dropped earlier and cut open his shirt from the wound. She saw the wound on Alexander''s back. Although the wound was not wide, it was deep; and blood was still flowing out. Quinn didn''t know what to do, so she could only press the towel against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.


    However, not long after, she despairingly discovered that the area under the towel was gradually turning red, the color spreading out little by little.


    Seeing this, tears uncontrobly streamed down Quinn''s face.


    She looked around at the vast sea and saw no one to help Alexander.


    She searched his pockets and found a phone. But there was no signal when she turned it on.


    Quinn held him helplessly, tears mixing with the blood on her face, dripping from her chin.


    He showed no reaction.


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    But this time, she cried so sadly; and he didn''tfort her.


    Quinn called, "Alexander."


    Quinn cried uncontrobly on the sea; it seemed that only her cries could be heard.


    When the wind blew, even her cries were scattered.


    "Alexander..."


    The yacht lost its driver, drifting aimlessly on the sea, isted and helpless.


    It was hard to tell how much time had passed when the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn.


    The speed of the yacht gradually slowed down, suddenly hitting something, violently jolting.

 Chapter 615

    Quinn suddenly looked up and saw the yacht rushing onto the beach.


    The beach was only a small strip on the outskirts, with a jungle behind it, making it look like a small ind.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered as she looked down at the man in her arms.


    It was dawn; and the sun rose on the horizon, casting warm morning light on the two of them.


    Quinn saw his eyes tightly closed, his face pale as paper, with dried blood on his face. His expression was calm as if he were asleep. Quinn raised her trembling hand and ced it under his nose. A faint warmth breathed on her fingers, causing Quinn to finally breathe a sigh of relief and slump weakly on the deck.


    She carefully moved the towel from his back and was delighted to find that the bleeding had stopped.


    But as soon as she removed the towel, blood began to seep from the wound again. She immediately pressed the towel back.


    She looked at Alexander''s cracked lips, thought for a moment, then picked up a clean towel, dipped it in seawater, and dripped it on his lips.


    Quinn changed her sitting position, letting him lean against her, fingers holding his cheek, just like he used to hold her before.


    She kept calling his name over and over, hoping he would open his eyes and look at her.


    At this moment, Quinn really didn''t know what to do. She didn''t even dare to let go of his hand, afraid that the wound would bleed again.


    Quinn was also hungry, having felt the pangs of hunger several times; but after several times, her stomach would no longer growl. But she had no strength left.


    She watched the sunrise from the sea level to the sky, then watched it gradually move westward.


    Her vision began to blur.Quinn felt that she might also be dying.


    She leaned her face against Alexander''s head and closed her eyes, not feeling afraid. Because with him there, even in death, she could face it calmly. The most fortunate was that they could die together. How wonderful, even in death, they could be together. No one could separate them anymore.


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    Quinn closed her eyes, quietly waiting for death toe.


    At that moment, a faint groan suddenly came from Alexander''s mouth. Quinn opened her eyes abruptly and looked down.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    The man in her arms frowned tightly, his eyshes trembling slightly, showing signs of waking up.


    "Alexander!"


    Quinn joyfully shouted; and she could say his name now.


    She shouted several times before Alexander slowly opened his eyes. His scattered gaze lingered on her chest for a long time.


    After a while, he slowly lifted his head, seeing Quinn''s face smeared with blood.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! His lips twitched slightly, and after a long pause, he finally said, "Quinn."


    Quinn nodded like a little chicken pecking, indicating that it was her.


    He struggled to raise his hand, lifted it halfway, and then weakly let it fall. "Where is it?"


    Quinn looked around; all she could see was the sea, the setting sun casting a golden phosphorescence on the water. She shook her head, indicating she didn''t know.


    After closing his eyes for two minutes, Alexander finally sat up with great effort, Quinn''s hand pressing on his wound to help him move.


    After looking around, Alexander said, "Go check if there''s any food in the yacht''s box."


    Quinn hesitated a bit, not daring to let go of the towel.


    Alexander said, "Bring that coat over."


    Quinn quickly did as he was told, reaching out to pick up the overcoat he had taken off earlier.

 Chapter 616

    Alexander said, "Secure the towel with clothes."


    Quinn followed his instructions, folded the coat over, draped it on his back, pulled one sleeve over his shoulder, passed the other under his armpit, tied the two sleeves together, and finally secured the towel on his back. Now, she could finally rummage through the boxes with peace of mind.


    After meticulously going through all the boxes, she surprisingly found some sustenance: an entire box of mineral water, a bag ofpressed biscuits, some beverages, and red wine. The most amazing was that she even found three bathrobes. She moved everything she found in front of Alexander, opened a bottle of mineral water, and handed him apressed biscuit.


    Alexander didn''t hesitate either. He took the biscuit and started munching on it. After all, the most important now was to conserve energy; otherwise, with his current injuries, it would be difficult to leave this ce. Quinn also nibbled on a piece of biscuit.


    The sun was setting now; and the sea was beautiful. If it weren''t for the circumstances, it would have been romantic.


    After finishing eating, Quinn gestured. "What do we do now?"


    Alexander said, "Go check the shore. There should be some herbs. Don''t wander too far; just look around the edges."


    Quinn nodded. "What do the herbs look like?"


    Alexander replied, "Whatever you see, pick it and bring it back for me to see."


    He couldn''t move at all right now. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have ordered Quinn to do these things.


    Quinn didn''t hesitate, either. She stood up and was about to leave.


    Alexander stopped her again. "Wait, put on the bathrobe."


    Quinn obediently picked up the bathrobe and put it on, then jumped off the yacht, barefoot on the sand, walking towards the forest.


    The sand on the beach wasn''t soft but rather hard, filled with rocks and rotting tree branches. Walking on it was ufortable. Despite the difort in her feet, she pushed through and reached the edge of the forest. She picked any nt that looked like an herb, taking only one of each to save time.


    Half an hourter, she returned to the yacht with an armful of wild herbs andid them out in front of Alexander.


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    Alexander looked up at her. Her bathrobe was covered in mud; and there were scratches on her face from the thorns.


    Yet she seemed oblivious to it all; kneeling on the ground, her eyes fixed on Alexander.


    Alexander remained silent for two seconds, then picked out some herbs from the pile of grass and handed them to Quin. "This one will work." Quinn took the herbs, nodded, and then went back to the forest. There were plenty of these herbs everywhere, even arge patch around the outskirts of the forest. Quinn quickly gathered a bunch and brought them back.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Under Alexander''s instructions, she crushed the herbs, applied them to his wounds, and then rebandaged his wounds with a clean towel.


    After doing all this, Quinn sat weakly beside him.


    Quinn thought, ''He shouldn''t die, right?''


    Quinn stared at him. The sun hadpletely set by now, leaving only a sky full of red clouds. His facial features also looked darker.


    Alexander leaned against the cabin, looking at her dirty little face, and asked, "Do you remember what happened?"


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Quinn nodded and signed, "I remember someone wanted to kill you."


    Alexander asked, "Where is he?"


    Quinn signed, "He fell into the sea; and he also got stabbed. Is he dead already?"


    Alexander smirked, showing a mocking smile.


    "Who knows?" He reached out and pulled Quinn into his arms, his fingers caressing her cheek. He asked her softly, "How old are you now?"


    Quinn looked up at him in confusion, thought for a moment, and signed, "Ten years old."


    Alexander''s eyes flickered; and then he asked, "How much do you remember from yesterday?"


    Quinn signed, "I remember everything."


    That person said he would take her to find Alexander, but instead took her to a big ship. A fat man made her drink a lot of alcohol, then she woke up to see that person trying to kill Alexander. Thinking of this, Quinn''s eyes turned red. "I''m sorry. Did I cause you to get hurt?"

 Chapter 617

    Alexander stared at her for a while before speaking in a low voice. "It''s not your business."


    Quinn bit her lip and didn''t move.


    The smell of blood on him was strong. Whenever Quinn closed her eyes, she would think of him unconscious, making her fear that he might die.


    If he really died, she wouldn''t know what to do.


    Alexander asked, "Are you cold?"


    Quinn nodded. The night on the ind was indeed cold. Even though they were in the cabin, the chilly wind kept blowing in; and they were both dressed lightly.


    Alexander took another towel and draped it over both of them, holding her tighter.


    Quinn''s cheek was against his chest; and she listened to his heartbeat. Even in the wilderness, she felt particrly reassured.


    Having not slept for a day and a night, she was exhausted and soon fell asleep in his arms.


    The night was as cool as water; the moon in the sky was clear, and its reflection shimmered on the surface of the sea. When the wind blew, the moonlight shattered into fragments, turning into white, scaly light that rippled across the water''s surface.


    By now, Walter had already made it ashore. As soon as he got off the ship, numerous people surrounded him. The cruise ship had route monitoring, so when the signal was abruptly cut off, the headquarters knew something had gone wrong. Although the details were unclear, the sudden loss of connection indicated trouble.


    As a result, many family members also received the news and rushed to the dock to wait for updates. Out of the hundreds of people on the ship, only Hetastian and seven others had returned. Yes, just eight people. This was Hetastian''s final decision. If those family members found out that the ship sank due to an explosion, the oue would be difficult to achieve.


    The best way was to let them all die; then, it could be treated as a normal ident. The few people brought back were those who couldn''t afford to die. As for the others, headquarters could handle thempletely. When the crowd saw that only a few had returned, the dock instantly erupted into chaos. Taking advantage of the chaos, Hetastian and the other two left the dock and got into a car on the shore.


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    Walter immediately called Alexander, but the call couldn''t get through. He called Volume again, and the result was the same - Alexander had yet to return. Walter furrowed his brow. He made several more calls, but they all went unanswered. Finally, he called Landon, and the result was the same.


    Walter said, "That''s strange."


    Walter frowned. How could neither of them be reachable? Alexander should have returned before him.


    The yacht had enough fuel. They had even transferred fuel from several other yachts, enough to run for at least twenty hours. The situation of being unable to contact them left only two possibilities. Either they were dead, or they were lost at sea. Whichever it was, the situation could have been better. Walter immediately drove to the quaint manor on the outskirts.


    In the yard filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers, an elderly man in a suit was ying chess with the butler.


    Walter called, "Mr. Smith."


    The old man turned his head to look at him and threw the ck chess piece in his hand into the chess pot. "Walter, you''re back. How did it go? Was everything smooth?"


    Walter shook his head. "Not really. The cruise ship sank, and many people died; but that''s not my concern."


    "It''s just that Alexander and Quinn can''t be reached now."


    Mr. Smith also became serious. "Can''t get in touch? What''s going on?"


    Walter said, "I''m not quite sure either. They might be dead, or they might be lost."


    Mr. Smith pondered for a moment. "We need to find them."


    Mr. Smith said to the butler beside him, "Send a few helicopters to search the area near the incident at sea."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    The butler stood up, nodded, and then retreated.


    Mr. Smith stood up, leaning on his cane, and walked into the house. "The cruise ship sank. Hetastian is in trouble now."

 Chapter 618

    Walter asked, "Do you know him?"


    Mr. Smith replied, "I don''t know him, but they are all in the same industry. People in this circle tend to have heard of each other." Walter wasn''t interested in these people; he had his things to do.


    As the night passed, Quinn slowly woke up.


    She opened her eyes, raised her hand to shield her eyes from the ring sunlight, and then turned to look at the man beside her. Alexander was still asleep with his eyes closed, so she didn''t disturb him.


    However, as Quinn raised her hand, Alexander woke up. He opened his eyes and nced at Quinn. The first thing he asked her when he woke up was, "Do you still remember?"


    Although Quinn didn''t understand why he asked that, she nodded anyway.


    Alexander leaned back slightly and let out a sigh; and Quinn tugged at his sleeve, gesturing if he needed a change of bandages.


    Alexander nodded. "Yes."


    Quinn sat up from his side, unbuttoned his shirt, and removed the coat and towel to inspect the wound on his back.


    The herbal medicine applied yesterday had dried up, seemingly absorbed by the wound.


    She carefully removed the herbal medicine; the wound had stopped bleeding, and the area around it was stained green by the medicine. Quinn took a towel, dipped it in disinfectant, and wiped around the wound. Although she was gentle, Alexander''s forehead still broke out in a cold sweat from the pain. He furrowed his brows but didn''t make a sound.


    After cleaning the wound, its original appearance was revealed. The wound was deep, with the skin around it turned outwards, allowing a glimpse inside, although the herbal medicine packed into the gap obscured the view. It was hard to imagine that such a wound could stop bleeding.


    Following the same procedure, Quinn crushed the herbal medicine and applied it to the wound.


    She didn''t want to use her mouth; but ording to Alexander, saliva could also be disinfected, so she used her mouth to apply it.


    After rebandaging his wound, Quinn signed, "Are you feeling better today?"


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    Alexander also wanted to check. He tried to stand up by bracing against the cabin wall but failed.


    Quinn didn''t know how much pain he was in; but in her memory, Alexander never showed pain on his face or this much agony.


    The moment he moved, he broke out in a cold sweat; his brows almost knitted together,rge beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. Quinn supported him, her face full of worry.


    Alexander closed his eyes for a moment and then turned to her, saying, "I''m fine.I just can''t move now."


    Seeing him in such difort, Quinn''s eyes welled up with tears; and she tried to hold them back but failed.


    Alexander raised his hand, touched her cheek, and wiped the tears from her eyes, saying, "Don''t cry. I won''t die."


    She choked back her sobs, trying to stop the tears. But she couldn''t.


    Alexander looked somewhat helpless. "I''m already injured like this; and you want me tofort you. Aren''t you afraid I might really die?"


    Upon hearing this, Quinn immediately bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at him.


    She knelt on the ground, her robe wide open, revealing the camisole underneath, which had now gaped due to her movements.


    From Alexander''s perspective, he had seen almost everything. His expression showed additional signs of distress. Alexander took a deep breath with his eyes closed. "Don''t kneel, stand up." Quinn didn''t dare disobey him and immediately stood up, sitting beside him.


    She gestured with concern, "Are you in a lot of pain?"


    Alexander turned his head weakly, looking at her with dull eyes, and said, "Yes."


    Quinn stared into his eyes, feeling like something was off about his words, but she couldn''t pinpoint it.


    She signed, "What should we do?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Alexander watched her; his voice hoarse as he said, "Kiss me; maybe it will heal."

 Chapter 619

    Quinn looked puzzled. "Just a kiss will do?"


    "You can try."


    After a moment of contemtion, Quinn leaned in and nted a kiss on the man''s cheek.


    She then looked at him as if asking if that was enough.


    "Try the other side," He said.


    Quinn moved to the other side and gave him a peck. She then asked, "Is that okay?"


    Alexander''s dark eyes locked onto her face; and after a pause, he spoke wearily, "That''s fine." His voice was low, tinged with a hint of hoarseness and ambiguity.


    Of course, with Quinn''s current state of mind, she naturally couldn''t understand his underlying meaning.


    Thinking he was truly feeling better, she turned to get some food for him.


    After eating, the two of them idled away in the cabin, sitting together in silence, exuding a sense of peaceful tranquility.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    From her initial nervousness, Quinn gradually rxed. She would still run to the shore to catch fish but ended up falling into the water several times instead.


    Watching her return dripping wet, Alexander sighed.


    Luckily, there were clean robes. She took off her wet clothes and put on one of the robes.


    Seeing her in just the robe, Alexander''s expression turned peculiar.


    Fortunately, there were only two of them there.


    Quinn took the pile of dirty clothes to the shore to wash them, then brought them back to dry on the yacht. As she watched the clothes fluttering in the wind on the yacht under the setting sun, the day passed by. It took Alexander about four to five days to recover enough to move around.


    After these days, the food on the yacht ran low; and if he didn''t recover soon, both he and Quinn would starve there.


    Quinn had been nibbling onpressed biscuits for days and was famished. There were fish in the sea, but she couldn''t catch any.


    On the sixth day, Quinn woke up from hunger; forcefully suppressing the gnawing feeling in her stomach, she checked Alexander''s wounds.


    The wound was healing decently, showing no signs of infection or inmmation, with signs of scabbing. However, he still couldn''t exert force on it, as it might reopen identally.


    The disinfectant had run out, so she could only use thest bottle of mineral water to clean his wound.


    The herbs she had dried in the previous days were now ready. Quinn ground them into powder with a dagger and applied it to Alexander''s wound.


    Alexander mentioned that damp herbs couldn''t be used to treat the wound now, so this was the only option.


    After applying the herbs, Alexander put on a robe and got up from the yacht.


    This was the first time he had disembarked these days.


    Quinn followed him, watching as he walked into the water.


    "Give me the dagger." Alexander reached out his hand for her to pass it to him.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Quinn immediately ced the dagger in his palm. He stood in the water, signaling for Quinn not to move.


    Not long after, a few fish started swimming nearby. Alexander chose the right moment, threw the dagger in his hand, and urately speared a fish.


    Quinn''s eyes widened in delight. She ran over, picked up the fish from the water, and held it up for him to see.


    Her face beamed with a smile, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration for him.


    Standing in the gentle morning breeze, with her hair lightly fluttering and the blue sky and sea as her backdrop, she looked like a pure and ethereal being, akin to a fallen angel. Seeing her lost in thought, Alexander involuntarily smirked, raising his chin. "Take it up."


    Quinn nodded, returned the dagger to him, and walked back to the shore, cing the fish in a box. The box had been detached from the yacht and had good sealing.


    Alexander caught a few more fish and tossed them into the box. He then returned to the shore and said to Quinn, "Let''s go inside and see what else we can find." Quinn nodded, picked up an empty box, and followed him.


    When they reached the forest, Alexander instructed her to dig for wild vegetables. They gathered quite a lot of them.

 Chapter 620

    Quinn signed, "How do you know so many wild vegetables?"


    Alexander, holding a stick, struggled to move forward. "I don''t know, as long as it''s edible."


    Quinn looked surprised but didn''t argue with him.


    If he said it''s edible, then it''s edible. Quinn believed every word he said.


    After walking a while, the grass and trees inside grew lush, with many wild fruits.


    But none of them were edible.


    In the innermost part, there was a wild persimmon tree. Alexander pointed with a stick. "That one can be eaten."


    As soon as he said that, Quinn put down the box in her hand and ran towards the tree.


    "Don''t climb the tree!" Alexander shouted from behind.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Quinn arrived at the foot of the tree, looked up, and stretched her hand, but couldn''t reach. She jumped a few times, still couldn''t grab it. She had to climb the tree to pick the fruit.


    Seeing her climb, Alexander frowned and quickly walked over while supporting the branches.


    "Quinn,e down!" he urged.


    Quinn, holding onto the tree trunk, looked down and saw the anger on his face. She blinked and picked a few, obediently climbing down.


    As soon as shended, the man''srge hand grasped her cheek. ''Who allowed you to climb up? Are you being disobedient now?""


    His grip wasn''t too strong, but Quinn''s cheek still stung a bit.


    She looked at him pitifully, still holding a few persimmons in her arms.


    "Never mind, let''s go back." Alexander let go of her, leading her back.


    Quinn picked up the box from the ground and obediently followed behind him.


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    She stared at his frail figure, especially the hand holding the tree branch, which made him look very much like a man in his seventies or eighties. Quinn was lost in thought for a moment.


    Suddenly, she had a feeling of living a lifetime with him in advance. There were only two of them here, without any disturbances. Although they were hungry every day, they were happier than every day in Amber Bay. It was just like she had imagined before.


    Back on the beach, Quinn washed the wild vegetables using seawater due to limited conditions.


    Alexander checked the yacht.


    Because Quinn didn''t know how to turn it off, it burned for days and nights, running out of fuel and damaging the engine.


    When Quinn heard him say the yacht was broken, she felt a hint of joy. This meant they couldn''t leave, and staying here was the only option.


    Because he was here, Quinn liked it. Every day, they watched the sunrise and sunset together. He only spoke to her and apanied her to fish, dig wild vegetables, and explore the jungle.


    Alexander made a fire on the shore and grilled the fish.


    Since it was sea fish, it tasted a bit fishy but still decent, seasoned with salt.


    He set up an iron te on top, also taken from the yacht, which could be used as a pan for cooking.


    But with just a bunch of wild vegetables, there was little to stir-fry. They boiled them with some water and ate like that.


    "Here." Alexander handed her the grilled fish.


    Quinn took a bite full of fish scales and spat it out.


    Seeing this, Alexander said, "Forgot to remove the scales; I''ll remember next time."


    He then took another fish, removed the scales with a knife, and handed it back to Quinn.


    Quinn sat on the ground, holding a stick, devouring the fish.


    It had been a while since she had eaten meat; and this fish tasted pretty good.


    Alexander said, "Take it slow. Watch out for bones."

 Chapter 621

    The sea fish had few bones; and Quinn gnawed through it quickly, finishing a fish in two or three bites.


    He took a few bites of the wild vegetables on the iron te, cooked with seawater. The taste was decent; at least there was salt.


    Suddenly, Alexander said, "Let''s go check if there are any other water sourcester. We can''t drink this seawater directly." Quinn blinked, looking at him, puzzled.


    Alexander exined to her, "Drinking too much will lead to poisoning."


    Such a concise and clear exnation, Quinn nodded immediately.


    After lunch, Alexander, leaning on his cane, led Quinn to search for freshwater sources around.


    After searching around, they found nothing; and his stamina couldn''t support him to go too far, so he turned back.


    On the way back, they gathered a basket of wild vegetables.


    But after several days of clear weather, it suddenly turned gloomy. The sky was covered in a haze as if dark clouds were about to press down on the sea.


    The air was eerily quiet, without a trace of wind.


    It felt like the calm before the storm.


    Alexander sat in the cabin, looking at the gloomy sky outside, his expression bing serious.


    Alexander said, "It''s going to rain heavily."


    Quinn leaned against him, holding onto his arm tightly, feeling a bit scared as well.


    Alexander said, "I hope there won''t be a high tide."


    If there were a high tide, they wouldn''t even have a ce to shelter from the rain. If it just rains, the cabin could provide some cover.


    The sky had been overcast the whole afternoon, and by evening, the wind began to pick up, howling fiercely. Quinn could barely keep her eyes open against the gusts.


    The strong wind churned the seayer byyer, rolling towards the beach and fiercely hitting the yacht. Some water sshed onto the deck and flowed into the cabin.


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    The trees behind rustled, the strong wind bending the branches, all leaning in one direction.


    With the gusting wind camerge raindrops. The heavy rain pattered on the yacht; and lightning could be clearly seen over the sea.


    Quinn was so scared that she kept burrowing into Alexander''s arms.


    Alexander held her, whispering, "Don''t be afraid. This rain shouldn''tst long." As soon as he said that, a violent thunder exploded overhead, making Quinn tremble all over.


    Alexander raised his hand to cover her ears, turning to look at the heavy rain outside. Fortunately, the rain didn''t tilt towards their direction; and the cabin didn''t flood much.


    As he had predicted, the downpour didn''tst long. After about an hour, it turned into a drizzle.


    However, the wind was still blowing; and asional shes of lightning tore through the night sky, striking the sea surface.


    Outside, it was pitch ck. The lights on the yacht went out; and Alexander''s phone was off, leaving them in darkness.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Quinn lifted her head to look outside, then nestled back into his arms as if there was no safer ce than there.


    Alexander gently stroked her hair with aforting touch.


    For the past few days, Quinn''s condition seemed to have stabilized, and she remembered clearly what had happened during these days. It almost gave the illusion that she had recovered from her illness. Only after the wind outside had died down did Quinn climb up from his embrace. She hugged his waist and rested her face on his chest.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    A corner of the dark clouds dispersed, allowing moonlight to prate the clouds and shine into the cabin.


    "The rain has stopped," Alexander said.


    Quinn nodded, not looking away, still holding onto him.


    He raised his hand to support Quinn''s waist, seemingly realizing suddenly that she was only wearing a robe.


    Alexander''s hand roamed on her back, his movements taking on a different intent. In other words, his actions were bing more intimate. Quinn heard his heavier breathing and thought his wound was hurting again.

 Chapter 622

    She looked up at Alexander; and under the faint moonlight, Quinn saw him looking at her, too.


    Quinn raised her hand and gestured twice. Realizing it was too dark for him to see, she sat up straight, cupped his face, and kissed him on the cheek.


    The man''s hand moved from her back to the back of her head, his voice hoarse. "Not here."


    Quinn was puzzled.


    He lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. "It should be here."


    Quinn hesitated. He had already started demonstrating, his big hand supporting the back of her head and gently kissing her. His other hand slipped into her robe.


    Quinn''s breathing became rapid; and she gradually softened in his arms, allowing him to do as he pleased.


    Unfortunately, Alexander was injured and couldn''t move around vigorously.


    The rain outside had stopped, and the clouds covering the moon dispersed, casting a gentle light on the ground.


    The trees had just been washed by the heavy rain in the forest. The water was still dripping, and it sounded as if it were still raining.


    Alexander kissed Quinnte into the night; and finally, Quinn fell asleep in his arms.


    When the first rays of sunlight streamed into the cabin in the morning, Quinn woke up in a daze.


    She found herself still sitting on Alexander''sp. Just as she was about to get up, he hugged her waist and pulled her back.


    Quinn lifted her head, her blue eyes staring directly at him.


    For some reason, she gestured, "Does your wound still hurt?"


    She thought, ''It shouldn''t hurt anymore, right?''


    That was exactly what he had told her the previous night.


    So, a man''s wickedness didn''t change just because he was injured.


    Alexander looked at her inexplicably. After a while, his gaze shifted down her cheek, his Adam''s apple bobbing slightly. Alexander said, "It hurts."


    Quinn was puzzled; but after some thought, she decided to help treat him again.


    She hugged the man''s neck and leaned in to kiss his lips.


    An hourter, Quinny helpless in his arms, looking at him.


    Alexander reached up and smoothed the hair beside her ear. "Are you hungry?"


    Quinn nodded. She had been hungry for a while.


    Alexander finally let her go and calmly straightened his clothes. "I''ll go grill some fish for you. Rest for a while."


    Quinn was slumped in the chair, her eyelids drooping, and she nodded sleepily.


    She not only felt weak but also sleepy.


    Alexander picked up a robe to cover her, then turned and left the yacht.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Fortunately, they had gathered plenty of dry firewood before yesterday''s rain. He took the firewood to a clearing to start a fire, took out a fish, scraped off its scales, and ced it over the fire to roast. There was also the rainwater they had collected in a container yesterday. He scooped some up with a leaf and tasted it - it was salty.


    Obviously, this water was undrinkable.


    By the time Quinn woke up, the sun was almost directly overhead.


    As she didn''t see Alexander''s figure in the cabin, she panicked.


    She quickly got off the yacht and searched everywhere for Alexander.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Looking at the empty and quiet ind, even the blue sky felt oppressive. A huge panic engulfed her, almost drowning her like the sea in front of her.


    Her eyes welled up with tears; and she hurriedly ran towards the depths of the jungle.


    She was so afraid that Alexander had left her alone here.

 Chapter 623

    She didn''t know the full extent of the ind. All she knew was that the deeper she ran into it, the denser the trees became.


    Even though it was noon, the jungle was very dark due tost night''s rain. Raindrops dripped from the branches; dew hung on the grass; and the ground was muddy. Quinn walked unsteadily in the woods, stumbling several times. Her bathrobe was covered in dirt and mud; her ankles scratched; and the soles of her feet cut by sharp stones. "Alexander."


    Her voice trembled with tears, not very loud. She wanted to shout; but when she did, all that came out was a barely audible meow.


    Quinn fell several times on the ground and got up again, ignoring the pain and wiping away tears as she walked deeper. In the end, she had lost all sense of direction.


    She spotted a b of green stone not far off and hurried over to it. In the midst of the jungle, it was the only semnce of shelter she could find.


    The green stone b was encircled by intertwining vines and thick trees, creating a crisscross pattern all around. The entire setting radiated an eerie and ancient vibe.


    Quinn curled up on the green stone b. She seemed to have lost Alexander. And she seemed to have lost herself.


    When Alexander returned, he also didn''t see Quinn. Frowning, he returned to the cabin, which was empty, her discarded bathrobe lying nearby. Alexander got off the yacht and quickly walked into the jungle.


    As the sun gradually descended towards the west, faint growls of wild beasts could be heard from the jungle. Above, birds of prey circled, their calls mingling with the rustle of leaves stirred by their wings, prating Quinn''s ears. It felt as though specters were haunting her, seeking souls to im. Quinn clutched her bathrobe tightly, covering her ears, curling up into a ball.


    The light in the woods grew dimmer; and Quinn could only helplessly watch as the nts lost their outlines in the darkness.


    Rustling came from behind in the grass, not like the sound of the wind rustling through the weeds, but as if something was moving stealthily in the grass.


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    Quinn turned around fearfully. In the dim light, she saw the bushes rustling slightly. Something was moving towards her from below.


    The patch of grass split in half, like a piece of jade cracking in the middle, with a sudden gap the size of a palm.


    Quinn''s heart clenched as she stared at the spreading crack in the grass.


    One second.


    Two seconds...


    Ten secondster, she finally saw something emerge from the grass!


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Seeing that thing, her eyes widened; her face paled instantly; and her heart pounded wildly.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    It was a snake as thick as a wrist, its upright head in the darkness resembling a standing tree trunk.


    In the breeze, she and the snake locked eyes. She could even hear the snake hissing. Quinn swallowed hard, then suddenly jumped up, leaped off the bluestone, and ran swiftly into the woods. She was lost, unable to distinguish directions, not knowing which way she was running.


    She couldn''t tell if the rustling of the grass behind her was the snake chasing her or just the wind stirring the grass.


    Fear drove her to run frantically. Thorns and brambles covered the ground, her poor bathrobe already torn and hanging loosely, almost turning into strips on her body.


    She stumbled on something underfoot and fell directly. Her palm pressed on a thorn, sending a piercing pain through her. The fall drained all her strength; and shey on the ground, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly, thinking of Alexander abandoning her and leaving her all alone, she weakly lowered her head, no longer wanting to struggle.

 Chapter 624

    She was lying in the bushes. asionally, a few rats scurried past her finger;, and she had no intention of resisting.


    "Quinn!"


    Vaguely, Alexander''s voice came from deep in the jungle; and Quinn suddenly opened her eyes and looked in the direction of the sound. "Quinn, where are you?"


    Her scattered gaze became spirited.


    Alexander''s voice was also somewhat weak but urgent.


    Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes; and she quickly got up from the ground and ran towards the direction of the voice.


    Alexander shouted her name along the jungle. By now, the forest hadpletely darkened; and there was no way to find anyone except by sound.


    Quinn ran fast, getting closer to his voice.


    But he suddenly changed direction, and the sound became distant again.


    Quinn panicked, wiped away her tears, gritted her teeth, and sped up towards the sound.


    Fortunately, Alexander was not moving fast. Quinn caught up with him in no time. She was eager to shout, but the more anxious she became, the less sound she could make. "Alexander..."


    Her voice was particrly light and disappeared with the wind.


    But she had already seen the figure ahead. Quinn took a deep breath, exerted all her strength, and rushed towards the figure.


    Alexander sensed something and paused his steps.


    Then, he suddenly turned around, raised his hand, urately grabbed the neck of the person behind him, and pressed her to the ground.


    The fall was not light, leaving Quinn dizzy, her head buzzing, almost fainting.


    Alexander heard the painful gasp from under his hand and quickly let go, squatting down in front of Quinn.


    The light was too dim for him to see anything clearly.


    He took out a lighter from his pocket; and the faint me lit up, illuminating the distressed face of the girl on the ground.


    To say she was in disarray would be an understatement.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Her hair was messy, her small face dirty, and the dirty bathrobe slipped from her shoulders, revealing her slender shoulders and corbone and the faintly visible breasts on her chest; except for the waist belt barely holding the bathrobe, she was almost naked.


    The man, originally full of anger, gradually changed his expression when he saw her like this.


    Quinny on the ground for a moment before slowly opening her eyes and seeing the face that worried her.


    Compared to her dishevelment, Alexander looked much better. He was wearing a ck overcoat, buttoned up to thest button. Although his hair was a bit messy, it did not affect his dignity and severity.


    Ignoring his gaze, Quinn got up from the ground and plunged into his arms, holding him tightly around the waist.


    She couldn''t stop crying in his arms.


    Alexander paused for a moment before raising his hand, patting her back. "It''s okay. Everything''s fine."


    Quinn''s shoulders trembled, tears wetting his shirt.


    Alexander said, "Don''t run around next time."


    Quinn nodded, holding him even tighter.


    In this strange and terrifying environment, Alexander was her only reliance. She was more dependent on him than ever before both mentally and physically. Without Alexander, she wouldn''t even know which way to go.


    Ten minutester, when she had cried enough, she raised her small face, looked at him with a wronged expression, and gestured with her hand. She signed, "Where did you go?"


    Alexander raised his hand to tidy up her messy hair. "I went to find a source of fresh water. I didn''t want to wake you up while you were sleeping."


    Quinn pouted and signed, "I thought you didn''t want me anymore."

 Chapter 625

    Alexander found it somewhat amusing as he pinched her cheeks and sighed. "Are you silly?"


    He said again, "In this kind of ce, even if I don''t want you, where else can I go?"


    Quinn pursed her lips. She couldn''t think much. Waking up and not seeing him, her natural first reaction was feeling abandoned.


    Her bright blue eyes stared directly at him, tears hanging at the corners, looking as pitiful as could be.


    There was always a magical charm on Quinn''s face. A pout from her small mouth could easily dissipate one''s temper.


    Alexander gazed at her for a while, then sighed helplessly and pulled her up by the arm.


    With Alexander around, the wind seemed to soften, and the bird songs in the branches no longer sounded eerie, as if singing a luby for the birds.


    Alexander put his arm around her shoulder; and Quinn nestled tightly in his embrace as they walked through the bushes.


    Quinn had run too deep into the forest. They had been walking for a long time but still hadn''t found their way out. The trees around them all looked the same; and the canopy overhead was so dense that they couldn''t use the night sky to determine their direction. To put it another way, they werepletely lost.


    Alexander had only one lighter, which he extinguished after finding Quinn. Now, they werepletely blind in the forest, making it dangerous to proceed.


    Alexander was searching for a seemingly safe spot when he suddenly noticed many green glows floating ahead.


    Quinn widened her eyes slowly and joyfully tugged at Alexander''s arm.


    She recognized them as fireflies. Quinn had never seen fireflies before, only on TV. At this moment, seeing living fireflies, her heart surged with excitement. She let go of Alexander and ran towards the fireflies.


    Alexander cautioned her from behind. "Slow down!"


    His first reaction upon seeing the fireflies was not romantic but about water sources. Where there were fireflies, there should be water sources.


    Quinn reached the group of fireflies, the green lights surrounding her, flickering around her.


    She joyfully reached out to catch them, but each firefly she caught ended up crushed when she opened her hand.


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    Alexander leaned against a nearby tree trunk, watching her dance in the glow. In his tired eyes, a hint of inadvertent trance crept in.


    The grass here wasn''t very tall, reaching just up to Quinn''s knees. Illuminated by the glow of fireflies, one could still make out the flowers blooming amidst the grass.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    With mist rising in the woods, a faint mist hung in the air,plemented by therge green glows and flowers, resembling a world from a fairy tale.


    Quinn''s nightgown was torn; and in the hazy halo, it appeared distant and unreal yet blended with the forest as if she belonged there.


    She seemed like an elf returning to her fairy-tale forest, every expression fitting perfectly. It felt like she could disappear into the mist at any moment.


    Alexander raised his hand to his chest, breathing, pulling at his lungs. He couldn''t tell if it was his ribs hurting or the paining from his back.


    In a daze, Quinn had alreadye up to him. She held out her hands, offering them to Alexander. Quinn slowly opened her palms, and a few fireflies with green light flew out from her hands, dimly illuminating their faces. His gaze passed through the speckled lights andnded on Quinn''s face.


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    She beamed at him, her smile radiant, her eyes curved, her long hair lifting in the wind.


    Alexander''s eyes twinkled for a moment, then he extended his hand, gently touching her face.


    She held his hand, tilting her head and rubbing it in his palm, a signal of her affection.


    Alexander''s lips moved slightly, his Adam''s apple bobbing.


    Before he could react, Quinn dropped his hand and ran back, chasing after the fireflies, her white clothes brushing through the grass, dancing in the glow.


    She felt like there were more fireflies ahead. Suddenly, as she ran, the ground beneath her feet disappeared; and she fell unexpectedly.


    Alexander called, "Quinn!"


    Alexander''s expression changed abruptly; and he suddenly straightened up, rushing toward her.


    Arriving at where she fell, Quinn had already gotten up from the ground.

 Chapter 626

    Just that her body was all water.


    Alexis looked down and saw that she had fallen into a small stream. The water was not deep, only up to her ankles.


    Quinn sat in the water, pitifully staring at him.


    Their hair was all wet, hanging in front of her chest, water was dripping down her chin; and her already tattered robe was now wet as well. The man stared at her, his eyes darkening.


    Unaware of his darkening gaze, Quinn looked at him with a face of innocence.


    As the wind blew, she shivered from the cold.


    Alexander rubbed his temples in frustration, reached out to pull her out of the water, nced at her soaked bathrobe, and took off his coat. Alexander said, "Take it off."


    Quinn bit her lip, and in front of him, she took off the robe. He tightened his face, put the coat on her, and buttoned it up for her. As he buttoned, his fingers became somewhat uncontroble.


    Alexander closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then stepped back. "Button it up yourself."


    His change in attitude startled Quinn. She thought Alexander was ming her for running around and falling into the water. Quinn quickly buttoned up, walked up to him, pulled his hand.


    Veins popped on Alexander''s forehead.


    He fell silent for a moment, pulled her aside, squatted by the stream, looked down, cupped some water in his hand, and drank. It was fresh water.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Quinn sat beside him at a loss, her face filled with guilt.


    Alexander turned to her and said, "This water is drinkable."


    Quinn paused. Only after his reminder did she realize that her throat was so dry it felt like it was about to catch fire.


    She reached out, scooped up water from the stream, and gulped it down.


    After drinking the water, she felt hungry.


    Her stomach growled; and she turned her head, looking at Alexander with resentment.


    The expression on her face was simr to the two dogs waiting for food in the vi, almost identical.


    "There''s nothing to eat." Alexander ruthlessly shattered her illusions.


    Quinn sat on the ground, feeling helpless and powerless.


    Alexander sighed, nced around, and suddenly noticed a small patch of knee-high grass ahead.


    He stood up abruptly. "Wait here for me, don''t move, got it?"


    Quinn nodded.


    With her assurance, Alexander walked towards the patch of grass. He took out his knife and swiftly cut a bundle, stripping off the leaves, and returned holding the stalks.


    He gathered the verdant stems and set them before Quinn. After washing them in the water of the nearby brook, he offered them to her, saying, "Here, eat."


    Without a second thought, Quinn took it and started crunching on it. The taste was crisp, like lettuce, and didn''t have much vor.


    After finishing one stem, she gestured, "What is this?"


    Alexander handed her another one. "It''s water bamboo."


    She didn''t understand.


    "Just eat, it won''t kill you," He said, stuffing another one into her mouth.


    Quinn took a bite, looking at him with admiration, and gestured with the wild vegetable in her mouth, "You''re so amazing, knowing so many edibles." Alexander raised an eyebrow. "I have even more skills."


    Quinn blinked. "What?"


    Alexander looked at her meaningfully without answering.</p<>

 Chapter 627

    Quinn waited for a while, but when she didn''t get a response, she continued to eat the wild vegetable in big bites.


    The crisp sound was very loud. As she held the vegetable and gnawed on it, she looked just like a rabbit eating a carrot.


    Quinn had eaten half of it, burped, and still had half left in his hand. He gave it to Alexander, indicating that he couldn''t eat anymore.


    Alexander watched her, took the half-uneaten asparagus from her hand, and took a bite.


    Quinn hesitated for a moment, wanting to remind him that he had already eaten it, but he had already done so.


    Suddenly, she remembered Alexander''s injury and leaned over to touch his back, gesturing to check on him.


    Alexander didn''t say anything, nor did he refuse.


    Quinn stood up from the ground and walked around behind him.


    He was still wearing the same shirt as before, with a tear in the back that revealed the wound behind him.


    Unfortunately, the firefly''s light was dim, making it difficult to see the full extent of the wound, only a very dark gash.


    She reached out and touched it. The area around the wound was a bit swollen and slightly moist.


    Quinn raised her fingers and saw blood on the tips. She widened her eyes, quickly ran to him, and knelt in front of him, looking anxious, gesturing, "You''re bleeding. What should we do?" Alexander sat on the ground with one leg bent, took a bite of the asparagus stem, and casually said, "I won''t die."


    Quinn lowered her head and signed, "I''m sorry."


    Alexander nced at her. "Don''t run around anymore."


    Quinn nodded, silently resolving not to run around anymore. If it weren''t for looking for her, his wound wouldn''t have reopened. Seeing him bleed, Quinn thought of his unconscious state before, leaving her feeling isted and helpless. She was a bit scared. After a while, Quinn raised her head again and signed, "Let me help you treat it."


    Alexander paused.


    She looked at him innocently. Her clear eyes seemed to tell him that she really wanted to help him heal.


    Alexander paused for a moment, then said, "That''s not necessary."


    However, Quinn stubbornly shook her head, cupped his face with both hands and looked at him firmly.


    Alexander''s eyes flickered. He twitched his mouth as if to say something, but stopped.


    Quinn had no idea what he was thinking. She only knew that his wound was bleeding again. Without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed the man. Alexander stood still for a moment, not moving.


    Supporting himself with one hand on the ground and the other hand on her waist, his expression didn''t look good.


    There was no other reason, just pure pain coupled with weakness from excessive blood loss.


    Perhaps this was reaping what he had sown.


    00000 Alexander closed his eyes and then suddenly turned his arm, pressing Quinn down on the ground.


    Quinn was stunned, looking at him in confusion.


    The man leaned down and kissed her.


    At some point, the birds in the trees stopped chirping, and the whole forest was quiet, with only the murmuring of the stream remaining.


    The forest gradually brightened. The early morning forest was a bit cold. Quinn instinctively snuggled into the man''s arms.


    After a while, she still felt cold and couldn''t fall asleep.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    She opened her eyes and saw the man''s chest. Looking up along his chest, she saw Alexander''s familiar face. Quinn breathed a sigh of relief.


    But seeing his somewhat pale face, Quinn began to worry again, unsure if the treatment he received had worked.


    She propped up her weak body and sat up, and Alexander also woke up. He opened his eyes, then closed them slowly.</p<>

 Chapter 628

    Quinn stretched her neck to look at his back, and she was delighted to find that his wound had stopped bleeding. Although the blood had clotted at the wound, it didn''t look very good. At least it had scabbed over. Her pain was worth it. But he was still lying on the grass, showing no signs of getting up.


    She sat back, looking down at him.


    He opened his eyes and looked at her expressionlessly.


    She gestured seriously, "Are you still in pain?"


    His thin lips pressed tightly together, and he said nothing.


    When Quinn was about to gesture again, he suddenly sat up from the grass. "Are you hungry?"


    She hesitated for a moment, then nodded.


    However, he was injured. Quinn took the initiative to pick up the dagger on the ground and went back to the ce fromst night to cut a bunch of wild vegetables.


    Quinn washed the wild bamboos clean and handed them to him.


    She looked at him strangely, puzzled by why his wound scabbing over seemed to make him even weaker.


    Alexander took the bamboos she handed him and ate a few bites casually before resting for a while.


    Only then did he look around at the surroundings. The grass here was not lush; and wildflowers were blooming everywhere, making it look beautiful.


    After a while, he stood up, his steps somewhat unsteady.


    Quinn quickly supported him.


    He said, "Remember, if you get lost in the woods, look at the leaves. Lush leaves mean south, sparse means north."


    Quinn nodded and looked at him with concern, not understanding why he suddenly said this.


    He seemed to sense her thoughts and said, "If Walter died on the cruise ship, no one woulde looking for us, maybe..."


    He paused, his expression somewhat serious. "Perhaps you and I will have to live here forever."


    Quinn''s heart stirred slightly upon hearing this news, but she wasn''t greatly shocked.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    If it was with him, she was willing.


    Ignoring her gaze, Alexander said again, "Let''s go back first. Remember the route. This stream should be the nearest source of fresh water to the beach." Quinn remembered his words.


    With her support, the two slowly walked out of the forest and finally returned to the beach.


    When they left, Quinn had gathered many wild vegetables. And, following Alexander''s instructions, cut many vines.


    Back on the beach, Alexander made a fire, went to the sea to catch two fish, and grilled them.


    While the fish was grilling, he used the vines to make a few traps, nning to set them in the forestter.


    Another fire was burning a metal box, boiling seawater.


    Watching him busy himself, Quinn couldn''t help but sign, "What are you boiling the water for?"


    Alexander replied, "To make salt."


    Alexander sighed, looked at her expressionlessly, and exined, "Eating unrefined salt can be poisonous."


    She didn''t understand what he said, but when he mentioned poison, Quinn understood.


    She nodded like a little chicken pecking at rice and signed, "Can''t we just eat salt?"


    As Alexander wove the vines in his hands, he said, "Not eating salt can cause edema. Do you want to swell up like a balloon?"


    Quinn blinked, imagining what she would look like, swollen like a balloon, and quickly shook her head.


    She then pointed to the vines in Alexander''s hands and signed, "What are these for?"


    Alexander patiently replied, "To catch rabbits."


    Quinn tilted her head, thinking for a moment. She didn''t seem to have seen any rabbits here.


    Alexander held the woven vines in his hand, stood up, and instructed her. "Remember to add firewood. Don''t run around. I''ll be back soon."

 Chapter 629

    Quinn, although somewhat reluctant, nodded.


    She watched as Alexander left until his figure disappeared into the woods.


    Following his instructions, Quinn guarded the two piles of firewood, asionally adding more wood inside. In this nearly primitive ce, Quinn had almost no survival experience. Without Alexander, she would probably die within two days. Compared to her, Alexander''s experience was much richer. He could make use of almost everything avable.


    Alexander returned quickly after setting up traps.


    The water in the pot was still boiling; but when he approached, he saw that the water not only hadn''t decreased but had increased.


    Furrowing his brow, Alexander asked, "Did you add water in there?"


    Quinn nodded as if boasting, gesturing to indicate. "I thought the water was going to boil dry, so I poured more in."


    Alexander''s mouth twitched slightly. He took several deep breaths to calm himself down.


    He raised his hand, ruffled Quinn''s head, and said softly, "Don''t add more water there."


    Quinn blinked, puzzled.


    He exined, "The water needs to boil dry. If it doesn''t, how can we extract salt?"


    Quinn understood this time and apologized with guilt.


    Alexander said, "It''s okay, just remember for next time."


    Quinn nodded.


    Alexander went back to the yacht to collect the empty water bottles from before, stored them in a box, and brought back a basket of water from the woods.


    He boiled a basket of water and ced it on the yacht as drinking water.


    He went out several times and always returned with a full load. He even dragged back a banana tree.


    The leaves were piled together and fixed with vines to make a door for the cabin.


    He peeled open the trunk of the banana tree, removed the core inside, and gave it to Quinn to eat. He also stored a basket of bananas.


    Seeing him so busy, Quinn felt guilty and wanted to help, but she couldn''t do anything right and often ended up causing trouble.


    After he stopped her several times, she behaved and did nothing, at most picking up some firewood around the jungle, starting fires, and so on. The rest of the time was spent idly waiting for death.


    Alexander''s traps weren''t very effective; he hadn''t caught any rabbits in two days.


    However, he didn''t rely solely on traps for hunting. In his spare time, he made a bow.


    On the fifth day, when he went out, he brought back a gray squirrel.


    At the seaside, he ruthlessly gutted the gray squirrel, cleaned it, chopped it into pieces, and cooked a pot of meat.


    Quinn looked at the meat in the pot and swallowed her saliva, feeling sorry for the gray squirrel but also very hungry.


    After all, she and Alexander had been living here for over ten days without any fatty food; and every day, she was so hungry that her stomach was growling.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Alexander, using a fork made from a tree branch, picked up a piece of meat and handed it to her. "Try it."


    Quinn blew on the steaming meat before taking a bite.


    The taste was a bit gamey, but it was still edible, certainly better than being hungry.


    Alexander''s cooking skills were just average, and there weren''t many seasonings. Being able to extract some salt was already good.


    He was very experienced in survival. But when it came to cooking, he wascking.


    Quinn wasn''t picky either. She would eat whatever he gave her.


    After finishing the stewed meat, it was already approaching dusk. The sea shimmered with golden light as the sunset painted the water. Alexander and Quinn were on the rocky shore. He was shaving by the water; and Quinn was ying nearby.


    After a few uses, the disposable razor on the yacht had dulled, so he couldn''t shave properly. He had to sharpen it on the rocks.


    Quinn flicked water from her fingers onto his face.


    Without lifting his head, Alexander said, "Stop messing around."</p<>

 Chapter 630

    Quinn pouted, jumped off the rocks, took off her robe, and threw it on the stone before bathing in the sea.


    Alexander identally nced over; not looking was fine, but when he saw the mute girl had run far, the seawater had reached her neck; and his shaving hand paused. Cut to the flesh.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    He picked up the towel next to him to cover the wound and muttered softly, "Quinn,e up here!"


    She turned around, looking at him puzzled.


    She gestured, "I want to take a bath."


    Alexander said, "Let me repeat,e up here!"


    Quinn pursed her lips; and seeing his unfriendly expression, she fell silent for a moment. Then, she obediently walked towards the shore.


    Alexander didn''t bother to shave his beard anymore. He tossed away the towel, and when Quinn approached, he grabbed her and wrapped her in a bathrobe that was nearby. Alexander said, "Are you trying to get yourself killed by running that far?"


    Quinn looked at him innocently.


    Alexander looked at her for a while, sighed helplessly, and then resignedly helped her put on the robe.


    Alexander said, "Don''t bathe in the sea. Wait to go..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly realized something and looked up at the sky.


    Quinn also looked up, vaguely seeing a helicopter hovering in the sky, but it was far away; only a ck dot could be seen.


    She hesitated, then looked back at Alexander.


    Alexander, not knowing what he was thinking, grabbed Quinn''s hand and strode quickly towards the yacht.


    He pulled out the clothes she had worn before and threw them to her. "Put these on."


    Quinn caught the clothes, but when she turned back, Alexander had already gone out.


    On the helicopter.


    Kyle held up the binocrs, searching for Alexander and their traces on the sea.


    "It''s been so many days. They couldn''t have actually died, could they?" he muttered. From the beginning, he had been full of confidence, but now he was bing increasingly disappointed.


    Kyle couldn''t help but feel a bit sad, thinking, ''After so many days at sea, they would have died of thirst or hunger by now.''


    Walter was beside him, hearing this, and he chuckled. "Bad guys generally live long; he''s not that easy to die."


    Kyle didn''t know where Walter''s confidence came from, or maybe he didn''t care about Mr. Kennedy''s life or death.


    Kyle said irritably, "I see you''re eager for them to die, right?"


    Walterughed. "Whether they live or die, what does it have to do with me?"


    "But then again, if both Landon and Alexander are dead, then the Kennedy Group, wouldn''t it naturally fall to me to inherit?" After all, Walter hadn''t divorced Freya yet, so inheriting the Kennedy Group seemed fine. Kyle opened his mouth, suddenly not knowing how to refute him, so he just retorted, "You''re dreaming!"


    Walter said, "Kyle, you better be nice to me. Who knows, I might soon be your boss."


    "How could you say such a thing?" Kyle red at him.


    Walter smiled, looking straight at him.


    Kyle was furious, but now was clearly not the time to argue with this man. He picked up the binocrs and continued searching.


    The lens turned; and he suddenly saw a distant ind.


    Kyle said, "There''s an ind over there. Let''s go check it out!"


    The pilot followed the direction of his finger, turned the aircraft, and flew towards the ind.


    Walter snatched the binocrs from him and looked down through them.


    There really was an ind.


    "We''ve already checked two inds before. This ind may not have anyone." Walter poured cold water on him.


    "You Shut up!"

 Chapter 631

    Walter chuckled and tossed the binocrs to Kyle.


    Kyle held the binocrs, giving him a disgruntled look.


    Kyle asked, "Since you don''t care about their well-being, why did you go on the cruise with Mr. Kennedy before?" Walter replied, "Because I want to."


    Kyle shrugged, toozy to argue with him. He raised the binocrs and stared fixedly at the ind.


    Although he had little hope, he didn''t want to miss any chance of finding someone.


    As the helicopter approached, the ind''s appearance became clearer. He saw the beach and the yachts on the beach.


    The white yacht came into view; and Kyle couldn''t contain his excitement, trembling with excitement.


    Kyle said happily, "They''re on it! I see the yacht, quickly! Let''s go down!"


    Walter paused for a moment, turned to look at Kyle, snatched the binocrs from Kyle''s hand, and naturally saw the yacht as well.


    He squinted, the smile on his face fading away, reced by a solemn expression.


    The helicopter descended slowly, getting closer to the beach. When the helicopter stopped, both of them saw the man standing on the beach.


    It was the same windbreaker as before, billowing in the wind stirred up by the helicopter, as the man stood tall and straight on the beach.


    Kyle was ecstatic. As soon as the helicopternded, he leaped out, almost tumbling in his haste to rush towards Alexander.


    "Mr. Kennedy!" Kyle arrived in front of him, scrutinizing Alexander under the setting sun.


    Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke, "You''re safe. That''s great."


    "You''ve lost weight," Kyle added.


    Alexander looked at him coldly, then nced at Walter, who had just arrived. "Why did youe sote?"


    Kyle exined, "Why did you run so far? You were almost out of the country. We''ve searched the sea areas near the incident for half a month and explored several inds, but we didn''t find you and Mrs.Mellon." He had nned to give up after searching this area; but unexpectedly, they found thest destination.


    Of course, he couldn''t say that.


    "Where''s Quinn?" Walter asked.


    Upon hearing this, Kyle also realized. "Right, where''s the Mrs. Mellon?"


    Alexander looked at Walter. "Are you so worried about her?"


    Walter scanned his face and coldly chuckled. "Do I need to worry about you?"


    Kyle was puzzled. Why was the conversation so strange?


    Alexander heard this and chuckled meaningfully.


    By this time, Quinn had changed into fresh clothes and was wrapped in a bathrobe as she walked out. Seeing the few people on the beach, she paused.


    Her gaze swept over everyone, finallynding on Alexander''s indifferent face.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    For some reason, she felt a strange sense of mncholy and loss in her heart.


    Walter and Kyle''s arrival disrupted the original atmosphere.


    The roar of the helicopter abruptly severed reality from the dream, pulling her out of the trance.


    The fireflies, the jungle, the blooming flowers, and the babbling stream were all left behind, reced by the chilling steel of the helicopter and thepany of these irksome individuals. She instinctively resisted these people.


    Walter nced at her and called out. "Come here."


    Quinn pursed her lips, remained silent for a moment, then walked over.


    However, she didn''t go to Walter. But went to Alexander, hugging his arm.


    Seeing this, Walter raised an eyebrow subtly.


    He smiled faintly. "It seems like you''ve been doing well on the ind. If I had known, I wouldn''t havee."

 Chapter 632

    Kyle frowned and whispered, "What are you talking about?"


    Walter smiled with a hint of coldness, his gaze sweeping past Quinn andnding on Alexander''s indifferent face. "I''m not talking nonsense. Maybe Mr. Kennedy here doesn''t want us to disturb him." Looking around, he saw the campfire still burning on the ground, mes flickering in the twilight.


    Walter said, "Look, the scenery here is beautiful, like a dream. It''s perfect for a private getaway."


    Hearing his words, Alexander let out augh. Theugh was devoid of any discernible emotion, but it was certainly not friendly.


    He embraced Quinn and pulled her closer. "It seems like Walter really likes it here. But it''s indeed a suitable ce to live. If Walter is interested, he can stay for a while."


    With that, he led Quinn onto the ne.


    Below, Kyle nced at Walter, but he maintained a smile that revealed nothing.


    Kyle asked, "Walter, you''re not seriously considering living here, are you?"


    Walter nced at him. "If the opportunity arises, I might give it a try, but not now."


    With that, he also boarded the ne.


    After everyone was on board, the pilot slowly started the aircraft.


    As the helicopter ascended, it distanced itself from the beach.


    Quinn leaned against the window, watching as the ind grew smaller and smaller, eventually bing a small hill in the sunset.


    It finally turned into a ck dot,pletely disappearing from her view, leaving only the vast expanse of the sea.


    The sun had also set, casting a colorful glow on the sea.


    Alexander took Kyle''s cigarette and smoked several in a row.


    Kyle watched him with concern, his eyes filled with pity.


    Kyle thought to himself, ''Mr. Kennedy must have had a tough time on that ind without even a cigarette to smoke. He probably didn''t eat or sleep well and suffered for half a month. It''s really pitiful.'' But what Walter saw was Quinn''s reluctant expression.


    Walter thought, ''Not living well? He''s probably living so well that the mute girl doesn''t even want to leave.''


    After finishing the fifth cigarette, Alexander finally rxed and spoke, "Where''s Landon?"


    Walter came back to his senses and casually nced at him. "He''s already back in Amber Bay. Unlike you, still enjoying a private getaway on a deserted ind, oblivious to the troubles." Perhaps, as expected, Alexander wasn''t surprised.


    Alexander asked, "Is he still alive?"


    Walter replied, "Of course he''s alive. Since he dared to blow up the ship, he must have been fully prepared and wouldn''t let himself die at sea."


    Walter was right. With just that lifeboat, he couldn''t make it back to shore. So he brought a locator and had a helicopter ready to pick him up. He definitely wouldn''t die.


    Then Walter added. "If we hadn''te, were you nning to have kids on this ind?"


    Alexander calmly replied, "I won''t be delivering babies." It made Walter chuckle.


    Walter thought to himself, ''Not knowing how to deliver a baby, yet harboring such thoughts?''


    Walter said, "Alright, it''s up to you, Mr. Kennedy. Why don''t you just not go back, wait another two months, let him transfer all the shares to his name, and then you canfortably have children on the ind? I''ll find you two servants and a doctor. How does that sound?"


    Alexander nodded solemnly. "I think that sounds good."


    Kyle: "..."


    Kyle wasn''t a fool. He could tell that these two were at odds. He just didn''t know why.


    Kyle wondered, ''Could it be that Mr. Kennedy''s stranding on the ind has disrupted thepany''s affairs?''


    Walter''s smile remained, but it was a smile that bared his teeth.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Walter said, "Since our Mr. Kennedy loves the ind so much, Benjamin Davis, turn us back!"</p<>

 Chapter 633

    "What?" The driver, Benjamin Davis, was stunned and turned to look at Walter.


    Benjamin wasn''t sure if Walter was joking or serious, so he asked, "Are we really flying back?"


    Alexander leaned back calmly in his seat, showing no expression. The cabin was dimly lit, and no one could see the fatigue in his eyes.


    Kyle, on the other hand, was getting anxious. "What are you doing? We''re so far out. aren''t you going to refuel before heading back??"


    He was worried. If Alexander was left on the ind, he might actually stay there.


    Benjamin nced at Walter, who had already closed his eyes, toozy to bother with Alexander.


    After some thought, Benjamin decided not to turn back. It seemed like an idle threat; turning back now would mean conceding defeat. After flying for so long, it wasn''t feasible to waste fuel on a return trip.


    The helicopter flew towards Sylvadora in the direction of the clouds. By now, it was dark outside. Over 621 miles away, it would take more than an hour to get back. Quinn, nestled in Alexander''s arms, dozed off. Kyle reported the situation outside to Alexander.


    He had arrived in Sylvadora on the second day of Alexander''s disappearance, following Walter and the others in the search.


    Landon returned to Amber Bay on the fifth day of the cruise ship incident, reportedly seriously injured, currently inactive; and the situation was unclear.


    The cruise ship incident couldn''t be contained. It had already caused a stir online. The cruise ship was owned by the Vide Group, a joint venturepany. They publicly imed it hit an iceberg.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    It was unclear whether they were intentionally concealing the truth or had other reasons.


    Many high-status individuals were on the cruise ship. In addition to thepensation issue, someone had to take responsibility for the ident. They pushed a manager out.


    They spected it was Landon from Hetastian, but now the cruise ship''s wreckage couldn''t be found; and there was no evidence. It was still unclear how things would unfold. Kyle''s report only provided a general overview. After all, he had been busy searching for Alexander these days and had yet to delve into the specifics.


    00000


    As the helicopter passed over the area where the incident urred, they could faintly see the scattered lights on the sea surface; they were still retrieving bodies. Alexander remained expressionless as he listened to Kyle. Suddenly, he asked, "No news from Landon?"


    Kyle replied, "I had someone keep an eye on him after he returned. Currently, he''s inactive in the hospital, probably still not discharged."


    Alexander raised an eyebrow but remained silent. He closed his eyes to rest.


    An hourter, the ne slowlynded on the outskirts of Sylvadora. Volume had already sent someone to wait on the roadside.


    Quinn was still asleep. Alexander picked her up and got off the helicopter.


    Seeing a few people disembark, Volume finally breathed a sigh of relief and greeted them with a smile. "Mr. Kennedy!"


    He nced at the sleeping Quinn, then quietly closed his mouth and lowered his voice. "Get in the car. We''ve been waiting for you for a while."


    Alexander put Quinn in the car and followed suit. The car drove back to the hotel, where Getty was waiting at the entrance, craning her neck to look around. As soon as she saw Alexander, she immediately ran up to him. "Alexander..." Seeing the person in Alexander''s arms, her face stiffened momentarily. However, recalling what Alexander had said earlier, she suppressed her emotions and managed to force a smile.


    Getty said, "It''s really great that you''re okay."


    Alexander nced at her. "What are you doing here?"


    Following his footsteps, Getty spoke somewhat aggrievedly and said, "I heard about your ident. I was so scared during this time. I couldn''t eat or sleep, thinking about you every day, and I thought you..."


    As she spoke, she swallowed back the harsh words that were about to follow. She was truly afraid that Alexander had died.


    Alexander ignored her and took Quinn into the elevator.


    Getty shamelessly followed him. She kept stealing nces at Quinn, who was sound asleep.

 Chapter 634

    The elevator quickly arrived at the eighteenth floor.


    Alexander entered the room, put Quinn down, closed the bedroom door, and saw Getty, Volume, and Kyle in the living room.


    Volume said, "The doctor I called will be here soon. Just wait a bit."


    Alexander nodded slightly, walked over to the sofa, sat down, and lit a cigarette.


    He called the doctor not for himself, but to schedule a check-up for Quinn. Quinn had not been eating well recently and definitely needed a thorough examination.


    Getty looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. She had be noticeably morepliant.


    She dared not speak out of turn and naturally did not dare to argue with Alexander.


    Alexander smoked his cigarette and suddenly nced at her.


    Getty quickly became nervous, fidgeting with her hands as the faint outlines of bandages could still be seen on her wrists.


    Getty called, "Alexander."


    Alexander''s face remained expressionless. "Yes?"


    Getty hesitated briefly, then walked over and sat beside him, looking at him with affection and concern. "Are you doing okaytely?"


    She had just been pondering what the two of them had been up to on that deserted ind for so long. It was quite clear.


    If it had been her and Alexander, things would have been different.


    Alexander interrupted her, "Why are you still here? Didn''t I ask you to go back to Amber Bay?"


    Getty paused, then managed a smile and said, "Well, Christmas is just around the corner. I thought I''d go back after the holidays. And there are only two days left." Yes, indeed. Christmas was just two days away.


    At that moment, the sounds of firecrackers and fireworks filled the air. The fireworks outside the window lit up the sky, creating a beautiful disy.


    On Christmas day, the sky would be filled with even more fireworks, making it the most beautiful sight.


    Hearing her words, Alexander didn''t say much more because the doctor Volume had arrived.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    This time, he only called one doctor, a female. She arrived at the bedroom and conducted a simple check-up on Quinn.


    It appeared that the man''s condition had deteriorated. The female doctor thought to herself, ''It seems that he still hasn''t taken her to the hospital for a check-up. Alexander looked at the doctor, seemingly waiting for her to speak.


    The female doctor met Alexander''s gaze, looking a bit hesitant. After thest lesson, she wasn''t sure if she should tell the truth.


    Volume interjected, "Olivia Reynolds, just say what you need to say. Mr. Kennedy is waiting."


    00000


    The female doctor remained silent for a moment before saying," She is a bit malnourished. She needs more nutrition. ."


    "Is that all?" Volume asked.


    The female doctor nodded, "You know, I didn''t bring medical equipment, so that''s all I can conclude for now. I''d advise you to take her to the hospital for aprehensive check-up." Volume thought for a moment and then nced at Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, why don''t we go to the hospital? You look injured as well. You should also get a check-up." Alexander said, "There''s no need, I just need some bandages."


    Kyle smirked slightly, thinking to himself, "At least he knew to get it bandaged." He believed this man had already lost all regard for life and death.


    The female doctor nodded, took the medical kit, and checked his wound.


    When she saw the wound on his back, she couldn''t help but be surprised. "Mr. Kennedy, the wound..."

 Chapter 635

    Alexander hadn''t spoken yet when Kyle hurriedly asked, "What''s wrong? Is it serious?"


    The female doctor said, "I''m not sure, but it looks serious, and it''s close to the heart. I rmend going to the hospital for a thorough examination. I don''t dare to handle it recklessly." Kyle said, "It shouldn''t have hurt the heart, otherwise..."


    If it really hurt the heart, could he still be sitting here? Of course, he didn''t dare say that.


    The female doctor said, "A check-up would make things easier. The wound needs to be stitched up. Otherwise, it will be difficult to heal."


    She could see that the wound was not superficial and had not fully healed. It was filled with unknown herbs to aid in the healing process, and no one knew the exact contents.


    Alexander was already a bit impatient.


    There was some noise outside, and suddenly the bedroom door opened. Quinn rubbed her eyes and emerged from the room.


    Upon seeing the group of people gathered in the living room, Quinn was startled and instantly awake.


    "Madam," Kyle greeted.


    Quinn didn''t know him, so she simply nced at Kyle and ignored him, walking directly to Alexander''s side.


    Upon seeing Alexander shirtless, she instinctively wanted to check his wound.


    However, before she could do so, Alexander stopped her and gently redirected her gaze. Quinn''s approach to examining the wound was straightforward.


    She would take a quick look and, if she felt it hadn''t healedpletely, she would treat it.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Treating in a ce where no one was around was fine but in front of so many people...


    Mr. Kennedy also cared about his reputation.


    Alexander calmly embraced Quinn and said softly, "Let''s go to the hospital."


    Upon closer observation, despite his intimate actions, there was a noticeable sense of restraint. In this moment, Quinn''s silence proved beneficial. At least she wouldn''t say anything inappropriate in front of everyone.


    Upon closer inspection, despite his intimate actions, there was a noticeable sense of restraint. In this moment, Quinn''s silence proved beneficial. At least she wouldn''t say anything inappropriate in front of everyone. Getty''s gaze flickered back and forth between the two, unsure if it was jealousy, anger, or a mix of both. She tightly clenched her fingers, digging her nails into her flesh.


    However, she managed to keep aposed expression on her face.


    Alexander didn''t look at Getty. He just took Quinn, picked up his coat, and left.


    Getty stood behind, gazing intensely at the backs of the two.


    Unnoticed by anyone, a momentary flicker of murderous intent crossed her eyes, aimed towards Quinn.


    Subconsciously, her fingers brushed against the round button in her pocket, her gaze growing increasingly resolute.


    Quinn seemed to sense something, so she suddenly turned around and met Getty''s gaze.


    Getty''s intense gaze tugged at her heart. She quickly averted her eyes, lowered her head, and followed Alexander to the elevator.


    Quinn preferred the ind, where it was just her and Alexander amidst beautiful scenery. Upon returning tond, the way these people looked at her made her ufortable, especially Getty, causing her to feel suffocated. They soon arrived at the hospital.


    Alexander entrusted Quinn to Kyle, instructing him to take good care of her.


    He then went to the outpatient clinic, surprisingly agreeing to undergo a thorough examination by the doctor.


    The reason behind this decision was known only to him.


    After examining the X-rays, the doctor couldn''t help but exim, "It''s truly a medical miracle. Your wound has held up for half a month without getting worse."


    Alexander sat there calmly, his expression cold, as if the injured person wasn''t him.


    Kyle asked, "How is it? Is the injury serious?"


    The doctor nodded, "This is not just serious. It''s a miracle that he''s alive. The injury is only 0.3 inches from the heart, indicating significant blood loss. Additionally, it seems there was a prior rib fracture that hasn''t healedpletely, leading to furtherplications. The fractured end has shifted inward, causing damage to the pleural membrane. Take a look at this area here. It''s inmed, and there is a hematoma present."

 Chapter 636

    Kyle looked at the X-rays.


    He couldn''tprehend it, however, what the doctor said sounded very serious.


    He nced at Alexander again. In his mind, he thought, ''This guy seems to be fine. Other people would have been screaming.''


    Kyle had also had a fractured bone before, just a finger bone, yet he couldn''t bear it.


    So, the conclusion was that Alexander was not a normal person.


    "What should we do?" Kyle asked.


    The doctor also reexamined Alexander. Despite years of experience, he had never encountered someone with such severe injuries who remained so calm.


    The doctor couldn''t help but ask, "Doesn''t it hurt?"


    Alexander stared at him expressionlessly. Although he didn''t speak, the doctor could tell the answer from his eyes.


    The doctor cleared his throat and said, "Surgery is necessary."


    Kyle asked, "Is surgery the only option?"


    The doctor nced at Kyle and said, "You can choose not to have surgery and just wait for death."


    Kyle was speechless.


    Alexander asked, "How long will the surgery take?"


    The doctor replied, "The surgery will be brief, but you will need to remain in the hospital for two weeks. If you do not undergo the surgery, within a month, the hematoma and inmmation will spread to your lungs, and at that point, surgery will no longer be effective. I''m not trying to scare you. Although you have a high tolerance for pain, toughing it out won''t work for this injury."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Alexander furrowed his brow and didn''t rush to respond to the doctor. Instead, he asked Kyle, "Where''s Quinn?"


    Kyle replied, "She''s outside."


    Alexander''s expression suddenly turned serious. He stood up and hurriedly left the room. But who could be out there? ring at Kyle, he asked coldly, "Where is she?" Kyle pointed to a chair outside. "She was sitting here just now. Maybe she went to the restroom."


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    Alexander, who had beenposed just moments before, now revealed his true emotions in a burst of anger. His body trembled slightly, and he had to brace himself against the door frame to avoid falling. Kyle hurriedly supported him, "Mr. Kennedy, please calm down. I''ll find her. Quinn isn''t a child; she won''t get lost."


    Alexander closed his eyes and took a deep breath, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.


    After a while, he looked up at Kyle, his gaze as if piercing through him, "Go find her! Right now!"


    Kyle was startled by his intensity and nodded quickly. "Alright, I''ll go right away."


    Just as he was about to search, Quinn appeared from around the corner of the corridor. Kyle''s face lit up. "There she is!"


    Alexander looked over.


    Quinn wiped some water stains off her hands and then ran over to Alexander.


    Alexander asked, "Where did you go?"


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Quinn gestured with her hand, "I went to the restroom."


    Kyle chimed in, "See, I told you she went to the bathroom. You were too anxious."


    Before he could finish his sentence, Alexander passed out.


    Kyle''s expression changed, but he acted swiftly and caught him, "Mr. Kennedy!"


    Quinn was also frightened. Seeing Alexander faint, her eyes welled up with tears.


    The doctor abandoned what he was doing and rushed over, supporting the unconscious man, "Quick, send him to the operating room!"


    No one understood his condition better than the doctor.


    Perhaps his behavior seemed normal to outsiders, but in the doctor''s eyes, he was already on the verge of death.


    It was unknown what had kept him going for so long, but it was already a miracle.


    Without dy, the doctor called for a stretcher and had Alexander taken into the operating room.

 Chapter 637

    Looking at the lights in the operating room, Kyle finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    He turned his head and saw Quinn crying beside him, tears streaming down her face.


    Kyle looked a bit awkward, but he stillforted her, "Quinn, don''t worry. Mr. Kennedy will be fine."


    Quinn looked at him through teary eyes, pursed her lips, and gestured, "He was fine before."


    Kyle had limited understanding of signnguage, only grasping a few signs. Therefore, he could only guess andfort her, saying earnestly, "The doctor mentioned that he''s resilient. When the two of you were alone on the ind, if he didn''t put up a strong front, how could you have felt at ease?"


    Listening to his words, Quinn cried even more.


    She gestured beside him for a long time, but Kyle couldn''t understand at all. He could grasp a sentence or two, but beyond that, he waspletely lost.


    After a while, Kyle could only awkwardly chuckle andfort her, "Alright, don''t overthink. He''s been through so many days; a little more won''t make a difference. He''ll be fine for sure."


    Quinn thought what he said made sense, but she couldn''t help but worry.


    While they were on the ind, his wound reopened several times, but he acted as if nothing had happened. He continued to fish, gather fruits, and barbecue for her.


    Why did he be like this as soon as they returned?


    Kyle observed her expression and knew she was ming herself.


    But it was understandable. Alexander''s previous injuries from the car ident hadn''t healed yet, and he went to find her and got injured because of her. He had the reason to feel guilty.


    If Quinn hadn''t gone to the restroom just now, causing him anxiety, he might have wanted to postpone it. In reality, it wasn''t Alexander''s fault.


    After finally finding her, she disappeared again before he could even settle down. It was only natural for him to feel impatient in such a situation.


    Quinn paced back and forth outside, crying anxiously, while Kyle was busyforting her.


    Kyle thought of something, stopped in his tracks, and looked at Volume beside him, "Volume, don''t tell anyone about this."


    Volume nodded knowingly, "I understand."


    If people knew Alexander''s injuries, his enemies might seize this opportunity to attack him.


    Volume was certainly aware of this fact.


    After Volume''s assurance, Kyle rxed a bit and looked worriedly at the operating room. Kyle said, "That''s annoying."


    Perhaps Alexander didn''t want the surgery either. That was what he was worried about.


    Landon was still watching like a hawk.


    Kyle was unsure of Landon''s current situation. While waiting for Alexander toe out, he stepped outside to make a phone call and check on Landon''s condition. The update he received was the same as before: Landon was still in the hospital and had not been discharged.


    Kyle thought for a moment and instructed, "Try getting his medical records."


    "Okay."


    It had been so long that Kyle found it hard to believe that Landon could be more severely injured than Alexander.


    With people both inside and outside Landon''s room, it was impossible for ordinary individuals to enter, hence they were unaware of his condition.


    At this moment, Wayne was sitting in the ward, peeling oranges for Landon.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Wayne said, "I heard that he returned to Sylvadora."


    Both of them knew who he was referring to.


    Landon was already awake, but he was unable to move, leaning against the headboard of the bed. In addition to the wounds on his back, his hand was in a cast.


    Hisplexion was ashen, showing no vitality.


    Inparison to Alexander, he wasn''t faring much better.


    "He''s really lucky." A faintly ironic smile appeared on Landon''s pale face.

 Chapter 638

    Hearing this, Wayne frowned unhappily. He turned to Landon. "And you, why did you make such a big fuss? Why didn''t you give me a heads-up before you went?"


    Landon replied, "This was a showdown between him and me. You didn''t have to intervene."


    Wayne chuckled softly. "Oh really, and then what happened? Your arm was almost crippled. Both of you ended up getting hurt."


    As Wayne spoke, he nced at Landon''s arm in a cast.


    Initially, Landon only had wounds on his back, but after falling into the sea and being immersed in seawater for over an hour, his knife wounds deteriorated. Additionally, something from the sea nearly severed his arm, leaving him in critical condition.


    When the rescuers retrieved Landon from the water, his arm was in a horrific state, with the bone fully exposed. Not only was his arm injured, but his leg had also been bitten.


    If they had been a few minuteste, Landon''s arm would have been lost forever.


    Otherwise, Landon wouldn''t have stayed in the hospital for so long.


    Recalling his experience at sea, Landon''s eyes turned colder. "This is my fault," he confessed. "I assumed he was as good as dead, so I lowered my guard.


    If not for that, he would be dead by now." If Landon had dealt with the driver instead of targeting Alexander first, the situation wouldn''t have escted to this extent.


    Wayne replied, "Don''t cry over spilled milk."


    Landon sneered. "You''re right. It''s my bad."


    After thinking for a moment, Wayne added, "However, destroying the ship was too impulsive. What will you do if they find evidence against you?"


    Landon said, "Don''t worry, they won''t find any evidence. And if they want to act against me, they won''t need evidence."


    Wayne added, "You''re in real trouble this time."


    Landon shrugged. "Not necessarily."


    Wayne asked, "What do you mean?"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Landon responded, "If Hetastian and Alistair stay quiet, we can brush off this incident as an unforeseen mistake. What''s even more surprising is that ver imagined they woulde back unharmed." The intended victim did not die as nned, resulting in the need to spend money. It required a substantial amount of money to silence these two individuals.


    Wayne asked, "Have you contacted them?"


    Landon replied, "I did it a long time ago."


    When Landon woke up, his first action was to contact Alistair, and they had already agreed on a price.


    Otherwise, their manager at the Vide Group wouldn''t have taken the me, and Landon''s hospital room wouldn''t have been so quiet now.


    Upon hearing that Landon had taken care of it, Wayne stopped asking.


    Sylvadora.


    Quinn stood outside the operating room for a day and a night, waiting until the lights inside went out.


    When Kyle stood up, Quinn promptly did the same, fixing her gaze on the operating room door.


    The doctor came out, and the two immediately approached him, asking, "How is he?"


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on Ne5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "The surgery was sessful. You don''t need to worry."


    The doctor, thinking of something, asked, "Who is the family member here?"


    Kyle subconsciously nced at Quinn.


    At that moment, Quinn looked bewildered and naive, and Kyle didn''t know how to introduce her.


    The doctor didn''t mind and simply advised, "This time, he can''t afford to be careless. He needs to take good care of himself, or he won''t be as fortunate if he gets injured again." Kyle nodded. "I understand."


    The doctor then looked at Quinn and left the operating room.


    As Alexander was wheeled out, Quinn wanted to follow, but Kyle stopped her.


    Kyle called, "Mrs. Kennedy."

 Chapter 639

    Quinn paused and looked back at Kyle.


    Kyle said, "You understood what the doctor said earlier, so I need you to look after Mr. Kennedy and ensure he doesn''t leave the hospital without proper care." He believed that only Quinn could sessfully persuade Mr. Kennedy to follow the doctor''s advice.


    Only when Quinn watched over Alexander would he obediently stay in the hospital to recover?


    Quinn fell silent for a moment, nodding in agreement to take care of Alexander.


    Alexander couldn''t forget the scene where Quinn was on the verge of death on the shipst time. Quinn didn''t want such a thing to happen again.


    This time, Quinn was determined to look after Alexander properly!


    Seeing the determination in Quinn''s eyes, Kyle felt relieved.


    If Alexander didn''t obey, Quinn''s tears would definitely work. Kyle was very confident about this point.


    Quinn entered Alexander''s hospital room, and Alexander was still unconscious.


    Under the incandescent light, Alexander''splexion appeared even paler than when he was on the ind, almost devoid of color. With his eyes tightly shut, his long hands resting on either side, he appeared more tranquil than he did when asleep.


    Images of the deck with Alexander covered in blood, unresponsive to Quinn''s calls, kept shing in Quinn''s mind.


    Quinn always dreamed of it.


    It was a separation and farewell Quinn had never experienced before. Alexander had never felt so distant from her; it was as if Quinn feared she would never see him again if she let go of his hand. Quinn sat by the bed, holding Alexander''s hand, which wasn''t connected to any IV, and staring intently at him.


    Despite not having slept for a day and night, Quinn felt no trace of sleepiness now.


    Quinn reached out to tidy up Alexander''s messy hair.


    Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her.


    Taken aback, Quinn instinctively turning her head to see who had arrived. It was Getty.


    Getty''s gaze lingered on Alexander for a while before turning to Quinn.


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    Quinn''s fingers tightened unconsciously.


    While Alexander was undergoing surgery, Getty had visited him a few times, but Kyle had only exchanged a few words with her before asking her to leave. Getty said, "Come out, I have something to tell you."


    After some thought, Quinn didn''t decide she wanted to disturb Alexander''s sleep, so she stood up and followed Getty outside.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    The corridor was quiet, with the light casting a chilly atmosphere on the two figures. Getty examined Quinn from head to toe, her eyes betraying a hint of curiosity.


    Ufortable under Getty''s gaze, Quinn furrowed her brows unhappily.


    After a while, Getty finally said, "Quinn Mellon, what exactly do you mean?"


    Quinn didn''t understand Getty''s words and just looked at Getty nkly.


    Getty chuckled. "Stop pretending to be innocent. I see now. I underestimated you earlier. I didn''t expect you to be so dishonest. Are you pretending to be innocent in front of him, trying to soften his heart so you can easily win him over?" Getty''s words made Quinn angry. Quinn clenched her fists and shook her head.


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    Getty said, "Don''t y dumb with me. ;I see through you."


    Getty walked up to Quinn, staring into Quinn''s clear eyes with malice.


    Getty said, "You seduce those men around you with those eyes. That''s despicable."


    As Getty spoke, there was a hint of wanting to gouge out Quinn''s eyes, sending shivers down Quinn''s spine.


    Getty grew angrier as she continued.


    Getty thought to herself, ''First, there was Alexander. Then she got involved with Orion, followed by Walter. Now, she has caused a rift between Landon and Alexander. Quinn is the root of all these problems. Quinn couldn''t even speak, how did she do that?''


    Quinn stood there for a while, listening to Getty''s ramblings, but she was no longer in the mood to continue. Her thoughts were now solely on Alexander. So, while Getty was still talking, Quinn left her in the room, closing and locking the door behind her.


    Quinn didn''t know Getty and didn''t want to waste her time.


    Getty was halfway through her words when Quinn directly ignored her and left, leaving Getty stomping outside in anger.


    What made Getty even angrier was that Quinn had locked the door!!

 Chapter 640

    Getty thought to herself, ''What does this mean? Doesn''t she allow me to see Alexander? Who does Quinn think she is!''


    Of course, Getty didn''t dare to shout, afraid that Alexander would wake up.


    Getty only dared to trouble Quinn when Alexander was unconscious.


    She was clearly aware that Alexander''s attitude towards her had changed.


    Getty couldn''t reconcile.


    Alexander''s protection of Quinn was even more frustrating to Getty than Alexander''s breaking up with her!


    Getty unconsciously touched the round button in her pocket and tightened it.


    She stared at the ward door for a long time before turning away.


    Quinn stayed with Alexander for another night.


    Late at night, fireworks bloomed in the night sky outside. The sound was faint, but it was particrly clear in the quiet room.


    Quinn held Alexander''s hand, watching the beautiful fireworks outside. At some point, she fell asleep.


    When Alexander woke up, he saw Quinn lying beside him, her face buried in her arms, her messy hair hanging on both sides, covering her entire face.


    Alexander moved his fingers, but Quinn held them tightly. After a few attempts, he gave up.


    Although Quinn''s memory had regressed, her temperament had be much stronger and more stubborn.


    Alexander was the reason.


    The more Alexander pampered Quinn, the more unrestrained she became.


    On the contrary, if Alexander ignored Quinn, Quinn would gradually retract her ws and quietly retreat to the corner.


    That''s how a pet behaved when it didn''t have a master.


    Quinn didn''t sleep well.


    She had many messy dreams of Getty and Alexander.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    She had a dream where Alexander and Getty fell in love, causing Alexander to drive Quinn away and strip her of all the protection he had given her. This left her feeling vulnerable and isted, watching the affection between Alexander and Getty from a distant corner.


    Everything in the dream was too real, too intense, and too unbearable.


    Endless darkness engulfed Quinn. She kept retreating, suddenly feeling weightless, as if the ground beneath her disappeared.


    Before falling, Quinn woke up.


    "Quinn."


    Quinn heard Alexander''s voice and slowly raised her head.


    The person in front of her was blurry. Quinn wiped the tears from her face with her hand, only to find that her sleeve was already wet.


    Alexander had sat up at some point, leaning against the head of the bed, looking at Quinn.


    Alexander asked, "Did you have a bad dream?"


    Quinn nodded, the remnants of the dream still resonating in her chest. Tears streamed uncontrobly from her eyes, no matter how hard she tried to wipe them away. Alexander looked at Quinn with aplex expression, lifting his hand to gently caress her cheek, his fingers tracing the tears on her face.


    Then he asked again, "What did you dream about?"


    Quinn gestured and said, "I dreamt that you and that woman were bullying me."


    Alexander''s hand paused slightly.


    "Which woman?"


    Quinn gestured, "Getty."


    Alexander stared at Quinn, his gaze changing unpredictably.


    Quinn held Alexander''s hand, pressing her cheek against his palm. She noticed that Alexander''s fingers had a thin callus, unlike the smooth softness she remembered. But Quinn didn''t mind.


    After a while of rubbing, Quinn finally found sce in reality.


    Then, Quinn gently released Alexander''s hand and gestured to him. "You won''t let her bully me."


    Quinn''s eyes were firm, trusting Alexander from the depths of her heart, both confident and proud. "You like me the most."


    Alexander moved his lips, but didn''t say anything.


    Unable to hear Alexander''s response, Quinn grew anxious, staring intently at him with a hint of anticipation, gesturing, "Isn''t that right?"

 Chapter 641

    Alexander remained silent.


    The light in Quinn''s eyes gradually dimmed, revealing a wounded expression. She fell silent for a moment, lowering her hand sadly.


    Suddenly, Alexander lifted Quinn''s face, his palm against her cheek. "Yes."


    Quinn was stunned for a moment, then suddenly lifted her head, looking at Alexander with joy.


    Alexander leaned against the headboard, his face still somewhat pale, almost blending in with the white wall behind him. Yet his eyes were deep.


    Alexander put on a faint smile. "You''re right, I like you the most."


    Quinn''s tense expression softened at Alexander''s words, and a faint smile appeared in her teary eyes. She held Alexander''s hand, pressing it against her face even more tightly.


    Their reflections fell on the window, fireworks sparkling outside, the window''s reflection flickering.


    Alexander nced at the wristwatch on the bedside table. It was half past eleven.


    "Come sit here." Alexander patted the space on the bed.


    Quinn shook her head, gesturing, "No, you''re injured. We can''t sleep together."


    "It''s fine,e up." Alexander pulled Quinn''s hand, just out of surgery. Alexander couldn''t exert much force.


    Quinn hesitated for a moment, then stood up and sat next to Alexander.


    Alexander said, "Take off your shoes and lie down."


    Quinn once again removed her shoes, pulled back the quilt, and seated herself beside Alexander.


    Quinn turned her head to meet Alexander''s gaze.


    Alexander ced his hand on Quinn''s head, "Get some sleep."


    Quinn gestured,"No, I want to watch over you."


    Earlier, Quinn had identally fallen asleep, feeling a bit guilty as she had promised Kyle to take care of Alexander.


    Alexander said, "Why? I''m not going anywhere. Alright, it''s time to lie down and get some sleep."


    Quinn blinked, still somewhat hesitant.


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    However, Quinn was truly exhausted. She had not slept for two days and nights and had just had a nightmare when she slept earlier.


    Alexander said, "Good girl, it''s time to sleep. I promise I won''t leave."


    Whenever Alexander instructed Quinn to behave, she could only obedientlyply with his words. These two words seemed to have a powerful hold over her, like a spell he had cast. After some contemtion, Quinn crawled under the quilt. Her eyes remained wide open as she gazed at Alexander, as if she feared he might disappear. Quinn gestured,"Aren''t you going to sleep?"


    Alexander lowered his head, gently stroking her hair, "I just woke up, so I won''t sleep."


    Before Quinn could gesture something, Alexander had already switched off the light with a swift move, and the ward was instantly plunged into darkness. Quinn paused for a moment, then quickly snuggled into Alexander''s arms, her arm wrapped around his waist, burying her face in his midriff.


    Alexander''s clothe smelt like disinfectant, which Quinn didn''t particrly enjoy. But she still held him a bit tighter.


    Quinn was overwhelmingly sleepy. Within less than a minute, she had drifted off to sleep nestled in Alexander''s arms.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


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    After a while, once Quinn was sound asleep, Alexander gently lifted the quilt and got out of bed.


    He reached into his pocket for his cigarettes, walked over to the window, opened it, and leaned against the frame as he lit one up.


    The sound of the lighter echoed in the quiet ward. Its light casts a glow on Alexander''s face.


    Holding the cigarette between his fingers, he turned his head to look at the night view outside.


    The hospital was on the eighth floor, not high enough to offer a distant view. He could only see the street outside the hospital, which was still brightly illuminated at thiste hour. Compared to Amber Bay, Sylvadora was too lively.


    During the winter season, most of the shops in Amber Bay were closed, and the streets were deserted.


    The next morning, Kyle brought breakfast over.


    However, upon entering, he noticed that Quinn had imed the hospital bed and was sleeping peacefully, while Alexander was seated on the sofa, supporting his head with one hand. Alexander opened his eyes when he heard the door open. "Mr. Kennedy..." Kyle stammered.

 Chapter 642

    Alexander tilted his head, gesturing for Kyle toe in.


    Kyle quietly closed the door behind him, carrying a food box and carefully arranging the food inside. He whispered, "The doctor mentioned that you recently had surgery and should only have light meals. Mr. Volume organized this for you. It''s clean and hygienic, so both you and Mrs. Kennedy can feel at ease."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander just nced at it and said, "Leave it."


    Kyle nodded, set down the food box, and noticed the cigarettes on the table.


    He then said, "Mr. Kennedy, you''ve just had surgery. It''s important to rest well for a quick recovery."


    After Kyle finished speaking and noticed Alexander''s impatience, he didn''t continue, packed up the food box, and left.


    Quinn slept deeply until the afternoon before waking up.


    During this time, the General came once and was shocked to see Quinn sleeping in bed.


    General brought some fruits, but upon seeing Quinn still asleep. He left them and walked away.


    Getty also visited, not just surprised but also jealous and angry.


    The contrast between now and before was too significant for Getty to ept. She couldn''t handle this disparity.


    Getty ced the fresh flowers on the table and left without throwing a tantrum in front of Alexander.


    Getty may appear naive, but she is actually quite perceptive. Particrly in Alexander''s presence, Getty carefully studies his words and expressions to understand his intentions and mood. All her thoughts are centered on Alexander, as she tries to figure out how to gain his favor.


    Over time, Getty realized that no matter how hard she tried to please Alexander, he never liked her.


    Unable to win Alexander''s affection, Getty could only resort to clinging to him.


    Rubbing her eyes, Quinn felt a bit disoriented as she looked around the hospital room. She stared at the ceiling, taking a moment to recall why she was there. Suddenly, she sat up in bed and noticed Alexander standing by the window. The setting sun cast a perfect light on Alexander''s face, making his features blurry in the sunset, only the outline of his profile visible.


    Quinn threw off the quilt, got out of bed, and as she woke up from her nap, her mind cleared up a bit.


    Quinn approached Alexander, tugging at his arm.


    Alexander came back to his senses and turned to look at Quinn, "You''re awake."


    Quinn gestured, "Why aren''t you resting in bed?"


    Alexander replied, "I got up for some fresh air. It seems like it''s Christmas today. Do you want to go out?" Quinn shook her head without hesitation, her gaze firm. "No, you can''t go out." Quinn''s eyelid twitched. Alexander fell silent for a moment, picking up the cigarette at hand to light it.


    Quinn once again snatched the cigarette away from Alexander, shaking her head disapprovingly. The doctor had warned that Alexander couldn''t smoke or drink, as it could be fatal for him. Alexander looked at his empty hand, and Quinn''s forehead vein twitched slightly. "Give it to me."


    Quinn put her hands behind her back, shaking her head to refuse Alexander''s request.


    Alexander was silent for a moment, then suddenly softened his tone, whispering, "Be good, give it to me."


    Quinn still refused.


    Alexander pursed his lips and locked eyes with Quinn, who returned his gaze. They stood facing each other as the sun began to set.


    Just then, the doctor entered to examine Alexander, who finally diverted his attention from Quinn.


    The doctor asked, "Mr. Kennedy, how are you feeling today?"


    "I won''t die." Alexander replied casually, slouching on the couch. It was evident that he was in a very sour mood.


    Quinn pinched the cigarette pack in her hand. Was Alexander angry because she didn''t give him his cigarettes? But still, Quinn couldn''t give them to Alexander.


    Rather than watch Alexander die, Quinn would rather have him angry.


    The doctor also noticed this dynamic. Awkwardly chuckling, he asked Alexander to sit on the bed so he could examine his wounds. Alexander didn''t move.

 Chapter 643

    Seeing patients with a temper wasmon, but this level of anger was unprecedented. Other patients at least had a reason to be angry, but the doctor hadn''t yet to say anything.


    If Alexander hadn''t passed out earlier, the doctor wouldn''t have had the opportunity to operate on him. This man was truly stubborn.


    The doctor then turned to Quinn and said, "As a family member, we need to assess Mr. Kennedy''s injuries now. What are your thoughts..." Quinn understood the doctor''s words. After ncing at Alexander, Quinn walked slowly to him and gestured a bit.


    However, Alexander didn''t even look at Quinn.


    Quinn felt a bit embarrassed, and so did the doctor.


    Alexander didn''t look young anymore. Why would he throw a tantrum like a child?


    Quinn squatted in front of Alexander, shaking his arm.


    Alexander said impatiently, "I won''t die. There''s nothing to check."


    Alexander''s response took Quinn aback.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    The doctor exined, "Mr. Kennedy, whether you can survive or not is not up to you to decide. It''s up to me. You should have undergone surgery for this injury a long time ago, but you''ve dyed it for so long that it has be very serious. I need to assess your post-surgery recovery to ensure there will be no futureplications."


    Alexander leaned back on the sofa, looking at the doctor indifferently without saying a word.


    The doctor persisted, "Are you truly not feeling any pain?"


    It had been a while, and the anesthesia should have worn off by now.


    Quinn tugged at Alexander''s arm once more, her eyes pleading for reassurance.


    Finally, Alexander nced at Quinn, who already had tears welling up.


    Kyle''s prediction was spot on.


    As Quinn''s eyes turned red, Alexander''s expression became extremely strange andplex.


    Noticing that Alexander remained still, tears began to fall from Quinn''s eyes, one by one.


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    Quinn was terrified that Alexander would die, afraid that he would lose his response in her arms like thest time.


    She was also scared of being left alone in this world.


    Alexander smirked slightly, fell silent for a moment, rubbed his forehead with his hand, and suddenly stood up. However, having just undergone surgery, he rose too abruptly, causing his body to sway. Quinn quickly went up to support Alexander.


    Alexander closed his eyes and rxed, pulling back his hand and returning to the bed.


    The doctor examined Alexander''s wounds.


    Alexander smirked slightly, fell silent for a moment, rubbed his forehead with his hand, and then suddenly stood up. However, due to just having undergone surgery, he rose too quickly, causing his body to sway. After the doctor had checked everything, he added, "The recovery is going well, but we still need to take an X-ray."


    Seeing Alexander''s displeasure, the doctor added, "We don''t need to take it now. We can do it in a few days. Just rest well for now."


    After the doctor finished speaking, he instructed Quinn to make sure Alexander took his medication.


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    Quinn nodded in response.


    The doctor then administered an IV to Alexander, instructing Quinn to watch over it and ring the call bell once it was done.


    Quinn listened attentively, jotting down the doctor''s instructions one by one. She watched as the doctor left and promptly closed the door before returning to Alexander''s side.


    Seeing Alexander obediently receiving the IV, Quinn felt relieved and gestured, "You''ll recover faster if you listen to the doctor."


    Alexander nced at Quinn.


    Quinn ced the cigarette box in his hand on the bedside table and gestured, "You can smoke after you''ve recovered." Quinn was somewhat cautious, as she didn''t want to upset Alexander. She was scared that Alexander would ignore her out of anger.


    Alexander sighed, raised his hand, and held Quinn''s hand, "Alright, I''ll listen to you."


    Quinn was stunned for two seconds upon hearing this; then, a smile slowly blossomed on her face.

 Chapter 644

    Quinn sat quietly beside Alexander, apanying him in undisturbed moments, which was quite pleasant.


    The sun outside the window slowly dipped out of sight, bringing another night to Sylvadora.


    However, today was Christmas. Outside, every household was illuminated with lights, and the fireworks were spectacr, but the hospital was quieter than ever. Listening to the bustling noises from outside, Quinn leaned into Alexander''s arms, her gaze fixed on the dazzling fireworks in the night sky outside the window. Suddenly, Alexander''s phone rang, and Quinn hurried over to hand it to him.


    It was a call from Kaitlyn.


    Alexander furrowed his brow but still answered the call.


    As soon as the call connected, Kaitlyn''s voice came from the other end, "Alexander, aren''t you in Amber Bay? It''s Christmas, aren''t youing home?" Alexander''s face was calm, and he waited for Kaitlyn to finish before he spoke, "I''m not in Amber Bay. I''m noting back."


    Kaitlyn asked, "Why aren''t youing home for Christmas? Who are you with?"


    Kaitlyn was oblivious to the events in Sylvadora, as she never followed such news and had not been informed about Alexander being in the hospital.


    "Everyone has left. Your father is not here, your sister is still in prison, and now you''re gone too. It''s just me left in this house," Kaitlynmented, her tone growing increasingly deste, exposing an overwhelming sense of loneliness. She sighed, "Even the servants have gone home.


    Alexander remained silent, his expression unreadable.


    Not receiving a response from Alexander, Kaitlyn spoke again, "Why aren''t you saying anything?"


    Alexander said, "What should I say?"


    Kaitlyn was getting angry, "Aren''t youing back?"


    Alexander replied, "I can''te back."


    "You..." Kaitlyn was at a loss for words, perhaps feeling too lonely. Hearing Alexander''s indifferent tone, an inexplicable bitterness surged within her. Kaitlyn''s voice was filled with a mix of sadness and disappointment," Are you ignoring your mother because of that mute girl?"


    Alexander subconsciously nced at Quinn.


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    Quinn couldn''t hear the sound from the phone. Quinn''s ck and white eyes gazed directly at Alexander, reflecting innocence and a hint of childishness. It was how Quinn looked when she was ten years old.


    Alexander said, "I''ll hang up if there''s nothing else."


    "Alexander!" Kaitlyn urgently called out to him. She wanted to say more, but the words seemed to freeze, unable to escape her lips.


    Choking back tears, Kaitlyn managed to utter three words. "I miss you."


    Her voice carried a hint of sorrow and longing, mixed with a clear sense of fatigue and disillusionment.


    Alexander''s gaze flickered, and he suddenly looked out the window, hesitating to speak.


    Fireworks burst outside, filling the sky with colorful disys that reflected off the window.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    The room had good sound instion, but in the quiet atmosphere, every sound in the ward could still be heard clearly.


    Kaitlyn asked, "Alexander, can youe back tomorrow?"


    "I told you I can''te back." The room had good sound instion, but in the quiet atmosphere, every sound in the ward could still be heard clearly.


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    Without waiting for Alexander to hang up, Kaitlyn hung up herself, angrily throwing the phone onto the sofa.


    Therge mansion was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.


    Amber Bay was still experiencing heavy rain, with a downpour outside, apanied by thunder and lightning,cking any Christmas Day cheer. Alexander stared at the disconnected call, casually tossing his phone onto the bed.


    He leaned back, closing his eyes and letting out a slight sigh.


    Quinn couldn''t hear their conversation, but from Alexander''s words and expressions, she could tell that Kaitlyn was asking Alexander toe home. But Alexander was still on an IV drip; there was no way he could leave.


    Quinn held Alexander''s hand as if tofort him.


    Even though he was in the hospital on Christmas, Alexander was not alone; Quinn was there with him.


    Alexander turned his head and looked at Quinn for a moment as if recalling something, then asked, "What would you like to receive as Christmas gift?"

 Chapter 645

    Quinn shook her head, indicating he didn''t need anything.


    Alexander asked, "Then what''s your Christmas wish?"


    Quinn thought for a moment and gestured, expressing the wish for Alexander to get well soon.


    Alexander looked slightly dazed, gazing at Quinn intently, and asked, "Anything else?"


    Quinn gestured, "And to be with you every day."


    Alexander looked at Quinn''s gesturing fingers and suddenly chuckled.


    Alexander thought, ''Young people are genuine. They don''t hide what''s on their minds.''


    Quinn didn''t understand the meaning behind Alexander''sughter, and Alexander didn''t exin. Quinn pursed his lips and continued to apany him during the IV infusion. Despite not having a phone, Quinn didn''t feel bored being by Alexander''s side.


    Alexander picked up the remote and turned on the TV. Quinn leaned against the head of the bed, watching TV with him.


    The sound of fireworks outside had been going on all night. Quinn was watching TV, and without realizing it, she fell asleep on Alexander''s shoulder.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Alexander turned off the light, leaving only the sound of the TV.


    With his head tilted, in the dim light, he could clearly see Quinn''s face.


    Quinn slept soundly with his eyes closed, his face lightly resting against Alexander''s shoulder to avoid touching his wound.


    Stray strands of hair lingered on hercheeks, and Alexander raised his hand to tuck them behind Quinn''s ear gently.


    The next day, General and Kyle came to visit the two of them.


    General carried arge red fruit basket and was dressed in red, cheerfully greeting, "Mr. Kennedy, Merry Christmas."


    Kyle also ced the breakfast he brought on the table, "Mr. Kennedy, I just asked the doctor. The doctor said you''re recovering well. You just need to stay in the hospital for a few more days." Alexander nced at Kyle and asked, "Where''s Walter Smith?"


    Kyle paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered that he hadn''t seen Walter since they returned from the ind.


    Kyle replied, "I don''t know. Maybe he had returned to Amber Bay?"


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    Alexander furrowed his brows, appearing thoughtful. What was on his mind needed to be rified.


    Kyle noticed this, took out his phone, and said, "I''ll call him."


    With that, Kyle dialed Walter''s number. The phone rang, but there was no answer.


    "He didn''t answer." Kyle informed Alexander.


    Alexander raised his chin slightly, indicating that Kyle could leave.


    Kyle nodded in response, exchanged a nce with General, and then left the hospital room.


    It was Christmas Day, and outside was lively with celebrations.


    Although they couldn''t see it, they could hear the sounds of music.


    Quinn curiously leaned against the window to look outside but couldn''t see anything.


    Alexander finished his IV drip, removed the needle himself, and changed into his clothes.


    Walking over to Quinn, he pulled her into his arms. "It''s boring here. I''ll take you out." he said.


    Quinn looked up at Alexander and shook her head repeatedly.


    "Kyle just said I can leave the hospital, didn''t you hear?" Alexander mentioned.


    Quinn''s eyes showed a hint of confusion. Kyle had mentioned something like that, but Quinn hadn''t been paying attention. Alexander didn''t waste time chatting with Quinn. He grabbed her hand, and they left the room.


    The two of them sneaked out of the hospital, hailed a cab, and headed straight for Sylvadora''s busiest area.


    They arrived at Wondend Whirlwind Park.


    The ce was teeming with people, especially at the entrance of Wondend Whirlwind Park, where long lines formed.


    Quinn hadn''t seen such a bustling scene in a long time. She held Alexander''s hand tightly, afraid of losing him or getting lost herself.


    Alexander wasn''t wearing a shirt today. Instead, he wore a loose ck hoodie, dressing very casually. He was wearing the same clothes as many other boys around. However, Alexander''s good looks made him stand out, even in such a crowded ce.


    Quinn watched Alexander''s tall, slender figure, a smile lighting up her face as she followed him through the bustling crowd.

 Chapter 646

    Alexander bought VIP tickets, allowing them to bypass the queues and enter directly.


    Wondend Whirlwind Park was vast, with not only thrilling rides but also many beautiful sights.


    Due to Alexander''s injury, they skipped the exciting rides and visited the scenic spots instead.


    The first stop was a flower garden, which required a ride on a scenic bus. They boarded, taking thest two avable seats.


    To their surprise, the other passengers were not young people but a group of elderly tourists. Across from them sat an elderly couple, their heads full of white hair. Despite their advanced age, they held hands tightly. Seeing the happiness radiating from the elderly couple''s faces, Quinn subconsciously tightened her grip on Alexander''s hand.


    Alexander didn''t pull away but instead ced Quinn''s hand in his, gently caressing it with his fingertips.


    The elderlydy, noticing Alexander and Quinn, couldn''t help but smile and asked, "Are you two a married or just dating?" Quinn was taken aback and didn''t know how to respond.


    For Quinn, the term ''married'' seemed too distant, and as for ''dating,'' Quinn didn''t quite understand the definition yet. Alexander nced at the elderlydy across from them, who wore a curious smile on her face.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Alexander fell silent for a moment before speaking. "We''re siblings."


    Quinn didn''t react much, acknowledging the rtionship even though she didn''t like it.


    The older woman offered a kind smile, her gaze on Alexander reflecting an understanding that belied her words.


    "Siblings? It doesn''t quite look like that."


    Alexander pursed his lips, not responding.


    Quinn was eager to chat with the olddy, but since she couldn''t speak, she simply shook Alexander''s hand, silently wishing he''d trante for her.


    Quinn gestured for a while, but when Alexander didn''t react, Quinn turned her head and looked at Alexander expectantly.


    After a long silence, Alexander finally spoke, "Are you two married?"


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    At this, both older adults chuckled.


    The old man said, "Do we even need to say it? At our age, can we still be siblings?"


    Ignoring his teasing, Alexander continued tranting for Quinn. "You''re still traveling at this age."


    Quinn shot him a puzzled look. Alexander''s trantion was spot on, but his tone was overly rigid, almost like he was cross-examining a suspect.


    The older man, however, appeared unaffected. He cast a tender nce at the elderly woman beside him. It was quite remarkable, given their age, that they could still find such profound love in each other''s gaze.


    He then remarked, "Indeed, in our youth, we didn''t truly appreciate life. But now, in our older years, we''vee to realize how swiftly time passes, leaving us with less and less of it."


    The older man spoke quite elegantly, clearly cultured.


    He added, "We''ve made ns. First, we''ll travel within our own country and visit all the ces we''ve always wanted to see. Then, we''ll venture abroad and explore the world. Wherever we find ourselves, that''s home." As the elderly man spoke, he nced at Alexander and smiled, "Life is short. We can''t afford regrets."


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Alexander asked, "Aren''t your children worried?"


    "They support us because this is our wish," the old man said, squeezing the olddy''s hand. "Love shouldn''t be a shackle, but rather respect and understanding."


    They had no regrets except for the fact that their time together was dwindling.


    For those in love, time seemed to be short. For those who were not in love, days and nights seemed eternity.


    Alexander''s eyes flickered, and he fell silent, no longer speaking or tranting for Quinn.


    Quinn looked at them with envy.


    Envious of how they had walked through life together and still looked at each other with such intense love as if it were their first meeting.


    Quinn also wanted to be like that with Alexander.


    To hold Quinn''s hand like this when they were both old and gray.

 Chapter 647

    The old couple were deeply engrossed in their ns, chatting away without end, their affectionate manner sparking envy in those around them.


    Quinn gazed at them dreamily, and soon, the tour bus arrived at the scenic spot.


    The bus came to a slow stop, and Quinn turned to look, stunned by the sea of flowers before them.


    A colorful sea of flowers stretched endlessly as if nature had spilled a palette of colors.


    Alexander helped Quinn off the bus, and as Quinn stepped onto the pavement, she caught a whiff of the fragrant flowers mingled with the earthy scent in the air.


    The expanse of flowers stretched as far as the eye could see.


    Quinn broke free from Alexander''s hand and ran swiftly into the flower sea. As Quinn ran, butterflies in the flowers fluttered around.


    Despite the number of visitors, the vastness of the flower field swallowed up the crowds. Looking out, the field was scattered with only a few people, giving it an almost deserted appearance.


    Quinn ran for a while before stopping and looking back at Alexander.


    Alexander had his hands in his pockets, walking slowly behind Quinn.


    Quinn gestured for Alexander to take a picture.


    Alexander took out his phone and snapped photos for Quinn.


    In the midst of the flowers, Quinn made various poses, smiling brightly. As Alexander clicked the shutter, Quinn''s smile was captured on the phone.


    The flower field stretched far and wide, and Quinn had covered quite a distance. When she nced around, it felt like being engulfed by a sea of flowers, making it hard for her to tell which way to go. Alexander followed Quinn, visibly weak inplexion. Alexander held his phone up and continued snapping photos of Quinn, his finger pressing on his abdomen.


    When Kyle arrived at the hospital, he found Alexander missing.


    Not only was Alexander missing, but Quinn had also run off with him.


    "Where did they go?" General asked awkwardly.


    Kyle was also concerned that Alexander might disappear again, just likest time when he vanished for half a month, which had given Kyle quite a scare.


    Kyle called Alexander on the phone, and although the call went through, Alexander hung up on Kyle.


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    Kyle twitched his mouth, looked at General speechlessly, and said, "They must have gone out to y."


    General was puzzled, "y? This..."


    Alexander didn''t seem like a yful person at all. Would Alexander truly go out despite his injuries?"


    "Who knows." Kyle hung up the phone and rubbed his head in frustration. He had never been so concerned about someone before!


    Especially someone whom Kyle admired the most!


    Kyle tried calling Walter again, thinking the call wouldn''t go through, but this time Walter actually answered.


    "Kyle, are you wishing me merry Christmas?" Walter chuckled.


    Ignoring his words, Kyle asked directly, "Is Mr. Kennedy with you?"


    Walterughed. "Isn''t he hospitalized? How did he go missing?"


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! "Yeah, I don''t know where they went. they even took Mrs. Kennedy with them." Kyle felt he had made a mistake by letting Quinn watch over Alexander. It was like leaving the cat to guard the fish. Alexander coaxed Quinn away with just a few words.


    Walter joked, "Seriously? If he''s hell-bent on self-destruction, let him be. When I inherit the Kennedy Group in the future, I''ll make sure you get a raise."


    "You..." Kyle was infuriated, "It''s not the time for jokes!"


    Walter smiled. "Kyle, don''t worry. He''s not a three-year-old child. He knows what he''s doing."


    Kyle said, "Does he? I can''t tell. Have you ever seen someone go out right after surgery?"


    "So, as I was saying, he knows what he''s doing. Why are you so worried? He should be the one worrying," Walter said with a meaningful look. "Chances are, he''s even more anxious than you are." His words left Kyle puzzled. Kyle frowned in confusion, "What do you mean?"


    "You''ll find out sooner orter. If he wants to go, let him go. You know, some people only put in futile efforts when they''re about to lose something."


    The more Kyle heard, the more confused he became. With a pile of questions in front of him, he needed help figuring out where to start.


    Walter continued, "Instead of worrying about him, you should wish me a Merry Christmas. I have a present for you."N?velDrama.Org owns this.

 Chapter 648

    Upon hearing this, Kyle hung up the phone in anger.


    Kyle said to General, "Mr. Volume, send someone to look for him. He just had surgery. I''m afraid something might happen."


    General nodded. "I understand."


    Having wandered through the flower field for some time, Quinn began to feel a touch of fatigue. Deciding to pause, he took a moment to rest.


    The scenic area was quite user-friendly, with many chairs ced along the way for visitors to rest.


    Alexander sat down beside Quinn and opened a bottle of mineral water, handing it to Quinn.


    Quinn drank a few sips of the mineral water and then turned to look at Alexander, noticing the sweat on his forehead.


    Although the weather in Sylvadora was usually pleasant, today it was overcast with a gentle breeze, making it not too hot.


    Quinn took out a tissue from her pocket and raised her hand to wipe the sweat off Alexander''s forehead.


    Alexander held Quinn''s hand, stopping her. "I''m fine," he said.


    Quinn repeatedly looked at Alexander''s face, noticing his fatigue, especially in the dim weather that highlighted every detail of his skin and pores. She even noticed the faint stubble on Alexander''s chin. Growing concerned, Quinn gestured, suggesting they should return to the hospital.


    Alexander raised his hand, gently brushing Quinn''s hair behind her ear, and softly said, "We haven''t visisted all the ces."


    Quinn bit her lip, her eyes filled with worry. Observing the fatigue and weakness on Alexander''s face, Quinn lost her enthusiasm for further enjoyment.


    Quinn thought for a moment, put down the bottle of mineral water in her hand, and tried to lift Alexander''s clothes.


    However, Alexander stopped her, asking, "What are you doing?"


    Quinn gestured, "Let me check your wound."


    Alexander smirked, letting his clothes fall back into ce. "Don''t worry, I''m fine."


    After saying that, Alexander stood up, pulling Quinn along, "Are we done with the photos? Let''s go to the next ce."


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    Quinn tugged at Alexander''s finger, gesturing that they should take a photo together.


    Throughout their time together, Alexander had always taken pictures of Quinn, and they hadn''t taken a single photo together. After a moment of contemtion, Alexander decided to fulfill her request. He retrieved his phone, sat back down, and attempted to take a picture.


    However, Alexander''s photography skills could have improved, resulting in aically bad photo where their faces looked disproportionatelyrge.


    With a touch of dissatisfaction on her face, Quinn took the phone from Alexander''s hand. Holding it up to find the perfect angle, she leaned in closer to Alexander, making sure that the vibrant flowers behind them were also captured in the video.


    The photo of the two of them was captured on the phone.


    Quinn opened the photo, where she looked radiant with a smile, while Alexander appeared expressionless, almost like a wooden figure.


    Quinn handed the phone back to Alexander.


    "Don''t you want more photos?" He asked.


    Quinn shook her head, indicating she didn''t want to take more photos.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Without much thought, Alexander put away his phone and stood up. "Let''s go to the next ce, then," he said.


    Quinn didn''t know where the next ce was, but she followed Alexander.


    After leaving the flower garden, Alexander bought tickets for a cable car ride.


    The cable car route passed over the flower garden, providing a panoramic view of the entire area.


    Quinn leaned against the window, looking down for a while before losing interest.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    She turned to Alexander and gestured, asking where they were going next.


    Alexander leaned back, tilted his head, and gazed at her intently, remaining silent for several seconds before speaking. He asked, "How about going for a hot air balloon ride?"

 Chapter 649

    Quinn was momentarily surprised, but then her eyes lit up with joy.


    She nodded eagerly and hugged Alexander tightly.


    Hearing a muffled groan from Alexander, Quinn immediately let go, apologizing.


    She must have identally pressed on his wound.


    Despite Quinn''s excessive excitement about the hot air balloon ride, almost forgetting that Alexander had just undergone surgery, she quicklyposed herself.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Alexander held his abdomen, took a moment to recover, and his face soon returned to normal.


    He hugged Quinn and managed a faint smile, saying, "It''s okay."


    Quinn looked at Alexander with confusion, sensing that something was off.


    After a moment of thought, she gestured, suggesting they should head back, as she no longer wanted to go on the hot air balloon ride.


    Alexander''s gaze flickered as he reached up to pinch Quinn''s cheek, "Why don''t you want to go on the hot air balloon anymore?"


    Quinn gestured, "I just don''t feel like sitting. My stomach is upset."


    Alexander''s gaze swept back and forth across Quinn''s face, as if trying to determine the truth behind her words.


    Quinn looked eagerly at Alexander, hoping he would turn back.


    Before Alexander could speak, his phone rang.


    Alexander took out his phone and nced at it. It was Walter.


    Initially, he wanted to hang up. His finger hesitated on the hang-up button.


    In the end, Alexander answered Walter''s call.


    Alexander asked, "What''s up?"


    Walter replied, "Kyle is afraid you''ll die out there. He called me multiple times. Where are you?"


    Alexander frowned unhappily. "Mind your own business."


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    Kyle shouted, "Do you think I''m worried about you? You can go wherever you want, but bring Quinn back before anything happens."


    Alexander sneered. "Why would I listen to you?"


    With a sigh, Walter fell silent for a moment before speaking, "Bring her back to her family."


    When Walter said this, his tone didn''t hint at a smile, only a deep sense of heaviness.


    Alexander didn''t argue with Walter but remained silent. On the other end of the phone, Alexander nced at Quinn.


    Quinn did not react. After all, Quinn couldn''t hear the conversation.


    Walter continued, "Don''t just think about yourself. Could you bring her back? At least let her know about her family before she dies."


    "Walter, shut up!" Alexander suddenly growled, leaving Walter stunned on the other end. "If you go on with those bullshit, you will never see her again!"


    Quickly realizing this, Walter immediately mocked, "Bullshit? Who caused all of this?"


    Kyle shouted, "What''s the point of taking her to those ces now? Will she remember? Are you doing it to fulfill her wishes or to rx yourself? I don''t want to expose you. Hurry up and bring her back, or I''lle and get her myself!" After saying this, Walter hung up without hesitation, casually tossing his phone aside.


    Alexander looked at the disconnected call, then nced at Quinn.


    Unaware of the conversation, Quinn blinked and gestured, "Are we going back?"


    After a moment of silence, Alexander nced at the distant, barely visible hot air balloon and asked Quinn, "Are you sure you don''t want to go?" Quinn nodded, her expression unusually firm. "I don''t want to, let''s go back."


    Alexander pinched his brow, sighed after a while, and said, "Alright, let''s go back."


    When the cable car arrived at the destination, Alexander, with Quinn, looked from afar but didn''t board.


    Quinn watched the balloons slowly rising, a hint of envy shining on her face. They floated in the sky in various colors, truly beautiful.


    She wondered what it would feel like to be up there as if flying.

 Chapter 650

    Quinn stared off into space for a moment. After she had seen enough, she gently pulled Alexander''s hand, indicating it was time to go back. Alexander didn''t insist further. He held Quinn''s hand and returned to the cable car, retracing their previous route.


    Leaving the park, Alexander drove her away from Wondend Whirlwind Park.


    Seeing Alexander''s pale face, although Quinn felt a bit regretful for not boarding the hot air balloon, she had no second thoughts.


    Quinn thought that when Alexander felt better, they would have plenty of time to y.


    When the timees, Quinn must experience all the attractions at Wondend Whirlwind Park with Alexander.


    Thinking about this, a faint smile spread across Quinn''s lips.


    Alexander drove and didn''t go back to the hospital but took Quinn to the abandoned mansion.


    Stepping out of the car, Quinn gazed at the lonely mansion in front of her, surrounded by overgrown bushes that almost engulfed her, feeling a bit scared.


    Quinn held Alexander''s hand tightly, unsure why he had brought her here.


    But before Quinn could ask in detail, a ck Bentley came speeding towards them, screeching to a halt next to them.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    The door opened, and Walter stepped out.


    On Christmas, Walter, as always, dressed festively. His slightly curled short hair hung by his ears, lending him an androgynous vibe.


    Walter came up to the two of them and looked Quinn up and down.


    Then, Walter turned to Alexander, "I asked the doctor. Is her memory deteriorating quickly now?"


    Alexander remained silent, which was equivalent to an affirmation.


    Walter chuckled meaningfully, "Alright, get in the car."


    Quinn didn''t know Walter and didn''t want to go with him. She held onto Alexander''s arm tightly, wanting to ask when he would return to the hospital. Quinn was only worried about Alexander''s health now.


    Alexanderfortingly squeezed Quinn''s hand and led her into the car.


    Walter''s car drove ahead, with Alexander and Quinn following behind.


    As the car left the deste outskirts and entered the bustling city area, there were a lot of people today, with crowds everywhere, causing heavy traffic.


    Quinn felt carsick, and after being stuck for a while, she felt like vomiting but managed to hold it in.


    Alexander rolled down the window to let Quinn breathe. As she looked out at the sea of people, she felt a bit dizzy.


    As the congested road dragged on, Quinn couldn''t hold it in any longer and started to retch.


    Alexander looked at Quinn and handed her a paper bag, saying, "If you need to throw up, use this."


    Quinn epted the bag and nodded. She felt nauseous but was unable to vomit, which was very ufortable.


    Clutching the paper bag, she rested her head against the car window and began to feel drowsy.


    Alexander was also annoyed by the traffic jam. He rolled down his window, lit a cigarette, and smoked slowly.


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    After sitting in traffic for nearly two hours, the car finally exited the congested area and reached a more secluded suburb.


    Walter slowly stopped the car up ahead, got out, lit a cigarette, and waited for Alexander toe over.


    Upon arrival, Quinn immediately went to the nearby grass to vomit. As Walter watched her, he spoke again with suspicion. "Have you checked? Is she pregnant?"


    Alexander nced at him and replied, "You''re overthinking."


    Walter sneered. "It''s better if I am overthinking it Otherwise, she''ll be the one suffering."


    After Quinn finished vomiting, she looked back at Alexander and Walter.


    Alexander and Walter seemed to have some disagreement, although she didn''t know why.


    Walter looked at Quinn''s expressionless face, a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth. He sneered, "But then again, she''s had two abortions. She probably can''t get pregnant anymore, right?" "What do you mean?" Alexander suddenly asked.

 Chapter 651

    Walter shifted his gaze to Alexander''s face, the smirk at the corner of his mouth growing more mocking, "What do you mean? Don''t you know exactly what I''m talking about?" Alexander narrowed his eyes, and his aura suddenly diminished.


    Quinn, standing beside, also noticed the drop in temperature.


    Walter saw Alexander remain silent with a slight smile. "Don''t y dumb."


    Walter said, "Can you just ignore it and pretend it never happened, as long as you don''t look into it?"


    After saying that, Walter left the two and walked towards the cemetery. "You''re quite skilled at evading things, Alexander."


    Quinn didn''t understand. She watched Walter walk away, then looked at Alexander, puzzled.


    Quinn gestured, "Is he talking about me?"


    "He''s not talking about you." Alexander put away his emotions and took out a tissue to wipe the saliva from Quinn''s mouth. "Don''t overthink."


    Quinn nodded, just spat out. Her mouth was bitter.


    Alexander wiped Quinn''s mouth and handed her a bottle of water.


    Quinn took a few sips, and Alexander led her inside.


    The cemetery appeared old, with only a few tombstones scattered among the overgrown weeds. It took some time to spot the tombstones along the cement path. Before approaching, Walter could be seen standing in front of one of the tombstones.


    The sky was devoid of the sun. Walter stood beneath the brooding clouds, his Tang suit taking on an extra depth of solemnity, starkly contrasted by the surrounding wild grass. The atmosphere was creepy. Quinn instinctively squeezed Alexander''s hand, feeling the warmth of his palm, whichforted her.


    As long as Alexander was there, Quinn felt at ease.


    When they reached Walter, Quinn followed his gaze to the tombstone.


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    The tombstone bore the photograph of a woman. She sported a head of curled hair, was d in a skirt, and her lips were gently curved in a warm, tender smile.


    Quinn stared at the photo for a while but couldn''t recognize the woman in it. She then nced at the tombstone next to it. Surprisingly, it was a man, also wearing a suit and sporting a gentle smile.


    He had a refined and schrly air about him, an aura of erudition. At a nce, he was clearly a man of culture and refinement.


    Quinn seemed to sense something and turned to look at Walter.


    Walter was also looking at Quinn.


    The two locked gazes for a moment in silence. Quinn couldn''t quite interpret the emotions in his eyes, a blend that appeared to convey contempt, resentment, and disappointment. "What, can''t you recognize them?" Walter questioned.


    Quinn shook her head. She looked at the photos again, but she had no impression. She couldn''t recall and was unfamiliar with any of these people.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Walter chuckled. "You only know Alexander, right?"


    Quinn hugged Alexander''s arm, answering Walter''s words with actions.


    Walter''s gaze made Quinn somewhat afraid, his eyes filled with malice and ill intentions.


    Just as Walter was about to approach, Alexander raised his hand to stop him.


    Walter looked sharply at Alexander, a hint of murderous intent shing in his eyes.


    Alexander said, " Since it''s a memorial for a loved one, let''s not bring up those messy things. Besides, she can''t remember them anyway, so why bother?"This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Walter stared at Alexander, "You have it easy talking like that. She can''t remember anything now, no matter how much you''ve hurt her. She''s forgotten everything. She would love to be with you all the time. You must be thrilled to stand here lecturing me.!"


    By the end, Walter''s emotions became agitated, "What right do you have to meddle in between me and her?" Alexander quietly watched Walter lose control, revealing an ugly side that was rarely seen in him.


    Walter''s tone was a bit extreme, especially when he targeted Alexander. Quinn stepped forward and pushed him.

 Chapter 652

    Quinn may not have been very strong, but Walter stumbled back two steps, not expecting Quinn to stand up and push him.


    Walter paused for a moment, then looked at Quinn in amazement as she defended Alexander.


    Walter chuckled softly, theughter growing louder and echoing through the entire cemetery.


    After he had finishedughing, Walter gave Quinn a cold, menacing look, with a hint of malice in his eyes.


    "Ungrateful people." he remarked.


    Alexander pulled Quinn behind him, standing in front of Walter.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "Walter, stop acting crazy. Are you going to mourn or not?" Alexander''s patience was wearing thin.


    Walter took a deep breath, his expression shifting unpredictably, like adjusting the frame rate of aputer screen to find the right quality.


    After a moment, when Walter looked back at Alexander, his demeanor had returned to normal, as if he hadn''t just had a fit.


    Walter nced sideways at the tombstone before him, his voice resonating with a quiet intensity, "Mourn? They''re already dead. What''s there to mourn?"


    "I''m just revealing to them what their well-raised daughter is doing now," he continued. "Now that they see, I wonder if they are at peace in heaven."


    Alexander retorted calmly, "What can dead people see after death? What you''re doing now, isn''t it also seeking peace of mind?"


    Raising an eyebrow, Walter smirked, "Alexander, are you happy now?"


    "Sort of," Alexander replied.


    Walter looked at Quinn over Alexander''s shoulder and remarked, "Enjoy your happiness while itsts, but I doubt it will endure." Alexander said, "There were happy times, whether long or short. Unlike you, who live consumed by resentment from start to finish."


    When ites to banter, it''s not just Walter who can be sarcastic; Alexander is equally adept at hitting where it hurts with just a few words.


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    Walter fell silent.


    After a while, he turned with a smile, gazing at the tombstones ahead as if speaking to himself, "You''re right, but why am I living in resentment? Because I''ve taken on the resentment she should have borne." "She lived without hatred." Walter continued, pausing and then turning to Quinn. "I misspoke. Little mute, you brought this upon yourself."


    "You deserve it, you know? This is heaven''s punishment for you."


    Despite Walter''s harsh words, Quinn remained confused and bewildered. She couldn''tprehend anything Walter was saying.


    Alexander chuckled.


    Hisughter was like an invisible de, slicing Walter in half and exposing his true self to the sunlight.


    Everyone mocked her.


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    "What''s the use of saying all this? She can''tprehend, she won''t remember," Alexander said calmly.


    "If you have so much free time, you might as well say a few more prayers. Don''t lose your cool here. Despite our professional rtionship, I will still tease you."


    Alexander''s calm demeanor seemed to provoke Walter, who chuckled in frustration. "You just had surgery. Are you feeling okay? Why would you say these things to me? Aren''t you afraid I might hurt you?" Alexander said, "You can''t kill me."


    Walter asked, "Are you inviting me to kill you?"


    "You can try." Alexander nced at Walter casually, almost as if he were trying to provoke Walter into losing his cool.


    Narrowing his eyes, Walter suddenly raised a sharp dagger to Alexander''s neck.


    Walter said, "Mr. Kennedy, since you proposed, I won''t let you down."

 Chapter 653

    Alexander remained unresponsive, calmly standing in ce without even blinking.


    Quinn became anxious. She hurried forward, grabbing Walter''s arm and shaking her head at him. Walter stared at Quinn''s frantic gaze, a strong hint of mockery curling his lips.


    "What did you find?" Alexander suddenly asked.


    Walter red at Alexander. "Why should I tell you?"


    Alexander raised his hand and pushed away Walter''s dagger. "It''s getting dark. Let''s finish this quickly." Walter felt like he had punched into cotton as he angrily sheathed his knife and pulled Quinn over.


    Quinn stumbled to stand in front of the tombstone, gazing at the photo on it. In contrast to the previous unfamiliarity, she now felt an indescribable emotion - a heavy sensation in her chest. Alexander watched the two figures walk away, fell silent, and walked away.


    Alexander came to a nearby pavilion, leaned against a pir, and thoughtfully lit a cigarette.


    Walter cleared the weeds around the tombstone and wiped its surface. As he cleaned, he spoke softly, "Come stand here."


    Quinn furrowed her brows, looking at Walter with confusion.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    But Walter focused on clearing the weeds rather than looking at Quinn.


    Walter said, "Don''t you know how to read? Look at the names on the tombstone."


    Upon hearing Walter''s words, Quinn finally noticed the inscriptions on the tombstone: one named Sophia Grace and the other Henry Mellon.


    Mellon...


    Quinn''s eyes widened suddenly. She was forced to look closely at the man''s photo, faintly sensing a familiar taste in his features.


    Quinn''s breathing quickened slightly.


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    Quinn thought, ''This is. Could it be...''


    A terrible thought rose in Quinn''s mind. Quinn suddenly looked at Walter, hoping to get confirmation from him.


    Walter quietly organized things, his eyes stinging as he looked at Quinn.


    In an instant, Quinn seemed to lose all strength, weakly sitting on the ground.


    From the age of five, Quinn had hoped her family, the Kennedys, would find her and take her back home.


    She always believed that her parents woulde for her one day and that she still had a home with loved ones waiting for her.


    However, Walter shattered her hopes by revealing that the people buried in the cemetery were actually her parents.


    Quinn realized she had no home to return to after all.


    Walter said, "Originally, I wanted you to remember on your own, to see your regret, to make you pay for these years of indifference."


    Walter chuckled. "But you, not only did you not remember anything, you seem to forget faster. Never mind, I can''t rely on you anyway. I owe the Mellons family."


    Quinn sat on the ground, staring nkly as she listened to Walter''s words, unable to hold back her tears.


    She didn''tprehend what Walter was saying, but she knew one thing for sure - she no longer had a home. The family she had longed for, the parents she had yearned for, were all gone. All hopes and expectations, shattered by the cold tombstone before her, turned into illusions.


    Walter hadpletely calmed down, meticulously wiping the dust off the tombstone, when suddenly, his arm was grabbed.


    Walter paused slightly in his movements, turning to look at Quinn.


    Tears streamed down Quinn''s face as she gazed at Walter, as if trying to memorize his features and figure out his identity.


    But after a long look and a great effort, Quinn couldn''t retrieve this person from her memory.

 Chapter 654

    Feeling drained, Quinn dropped her hand and asked, "Who are you?"


    Observing Quinn''s tired gesture with her stiff fingers, Walter''s mouth twitched into a slight smile that carried more chill than warmth.


    "Who I am, you can think about it slowly."


    Walter avoided answering Quinn''s question, shifting his gaze to the tombstone.


    Quinn observed Walter''s profile intently, his short hair covering his cheeks and most of his face, revealing only his lips and nose from her perspective.


    Quinn struggled to remember Walter''s previous words.


    Walter asserted that he had a debt to The Smiths family, hinting that he was not Quinn''s brother.


    But who was Walter really?


    The more Quinn contemted this, the more her head throbbed inexplicably.


    She raised her hand to press against her head, tugging at her hair as she felt a sharp pain in her mind.


    Trying to gather any information about Walter from this overwhelming pain, Quinn came up empty-handed. Her thoughts were jumbled, and she couldn''t recall anything about Walter, only snippets rted to Alexander. Despite the throbbing headache, Quinn reached out and grasped Walter''s arm, her eyes filled with a pleading expression.


    She was desperate to uncover Walter''s identity and his significance to her.


    With no family or parents left, Walter was likely her only living rtive.


    However, no matter how much Quinn begged, Walter remained unwilling to disclose any information.


    Coldly pushing away Quinn''s hand, Walter locked eyes with her and uttered, "I won''t tell you. If you can''t remember, that''s your punishment."


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    After his words, Walter picked up some flowers and ced them in front of a tombstone.


    Quinn bit her lip, gazing at Walter with near despair.


    Unable to remember, Walter despised Quinn and refused to acknowledge her, using this as a form of punishment.


    Walter added, " Even if you soon forget everything that happened today, as Alexander said, remember that you have faced consequences for your actions."


    "This punishment won''t disappear with forgetfulness."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Walter took a white circr ring from his pocket and handed it to Quinn, instructing, "Make sure you don''t lose it this time."


    As Quinn attached the ring, her disheveled face was reflected on the screen.


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    After obtaining the ring, Walter nonchntly brought up, "In Sylvadora, there''s a tradition where familiesmemorate their departed loved ones on Christmas Day. It''s a day filled with festivities, and no matter where they are, even if they''re off, everyone returns home for that asion. I recall thest time I returned home, the Smiths family was particrly jubnt."


    Walter reminisced, seemingly chatting casually while his gaze drifted far away, fixed on the tombstone.


    Walter described, "The old house was lively, like a bustling market. You were in a vibrant red princess dress with two fluffy buns on your head. The whole family was busy ying with you, making sure you didn''t trip as you yed with your toys."


    "How happy you were. The entire family, just one girl, everyone cherished you."


    Walter vividly painted the scene, "The old house was bustling with energy, akin to a lively market. You were dressed in a vibrant red princess gown, sporting two fluffy buns atop your head. The entire family was engrossed in ensuring you didn''t stumble as you happily yed with your toys."


    "Are you living up to their care?"


    Tears flowed down Quinn''s face, dropping from the corners of her eyes onto Walter''s fingertips.


    "But you treat him as your lifeline, unable to live without him."


    "Quinn, you deserve to die."

 Chapter 655

    Quinn sobbed uncontrobly, unable to defend herself.


    Walter dered that Quinn deserved to die, that she should die. In that moment, Quinn even questioned her worthiness to live. As Walter observed Quinn on the ground, weeping inconsbly, a cruel smirk danced across his lips. Alexander, who had managed to approach them, stooped down to lift Quinn up from the ground. With a subtle frown on his face, he turned to Walter, appearing displeased that Walter had caused Quinn to cry. Alexander shouted, "Are you crazy?"N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Walter shrugged, appearing indifferent. "I didn''t say anything. Besides, she''ll forget soon. It''s not important."


    With that, Walter turned and departed from the cemetery. As the sky darkened, Walter''s silhouette flickered in and out amidst the gravestones, until finally fading away.


    Quinny in Alexander''s arms, tears streaming down her face. Just moments ago, she was joyfully dancing in a field of flowers. In an instant, she became an orphan,pletely alone in the world. Now, the only thing Quinn had left was Alexander.


    Quinn held onto Alexander tightly, as if he were her only hope. If he were to ever leave her, Quinn felt that she would have nothing left.


    Every memory she held dear centered around him, making Alexander her entire world. As heforted her by stroking her back and reassuring her, "Stop crying, I''m still here."


    Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes as she gazed at Alexander.


    Finally, she spoke, "Alexander, please don''t go." Alexander''s gaze shifted to Quinn''s hand before he gently held her face and whispered, "No, as long as youply, I won''t leave you."


    Quinn nodded eagerly, gesturing with her fingers, "I''ll behave and follow your instructions. I''ll do everything you ask.


    Quinn gestured with tears streaming down her face, her fingers moving frantically as if trying to reassure herself that she could stayposed.


    She was fearful of any hesitation, worried that Alexander might not trust her. Alexander''s hand gently caressed Quinn''s cheek before pulling her into his embrace.


    With her cheek pressed against Alexander''s chest, she listened to his steady heartbeat and caught a hint of gardenias on his clothing. The erratic beating of her own heart gradually subsided.


    Quinn cried for a long time before gradually calming down.


    Alexander and Quinn walked hand in hand as they departed the cemetery. Overgrown with weeds, much like the mansion, the cemetery had only a few rows of tombstones peeking out from the grass, swaying gently in the wind.


    As the couple walked away, the cemetery fell back into its quiet stillness. The tombstones stood solemnly in the fading light, their dark shapes contrasting against the lush green surroundings.


    Once in the car, Alexander handed Quinn a bottle of water.


    Quinn took the mineral water and drank a few sips before Alexander started the car and drove away.


    Alexander and Quinn went back to the hospital, not the one where Alexander had been staying, but the one where Quinn had received treatment previously.


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    The old doctor was still celebrating Christmas Day at home when the General brought him to the hospital. He looked quite displeased.


    The first thing the old doctor did was to have Quinn take an X-ray.


    Then, he discussed the recent condition with Alexander.


    The doctor looked puzzled."You mean, her memory is stuck at ten years old now."


    Alexander nodded slightly. "Yes."


    The doctor asked, "Since when?"


    Alexander thought for a moment, " It has been over half a month now. Currently, her memory each day is back to normal. She no longer wakes up forgetting the events of the previous day like she used to."

 Chapter 656

    The doctor''s expression turned conflicted, "This is indeed a rare case. I''ll need to do some research."


    Alexander asked, I simply want to understand if her memory will keep declining, or in what situations it might worsen."


    The doctor replied, "I can''t give you a definite answer on that, but for now, it seems like her condition has stabilized."


    As the doctor spoke, he paused, then added, "But do keep a close eye on her. This is the first time I''ve encountered such a case, so anything is possible." Alexander asked again, "What do you mean?"


    The doctor replied, "It means it could continue to deteriorate or remain the same. Of course, everything cane back under certain circumstances. When you go back, observe carefully. If she experiences memory degradation again next time, see what the situation is."


    Alexander turned to look at Quinn not far away, who was staring nkly at the potted nt in the corner.


    Quinn was oblivious to her condition, and Alexander''s discussion with the doctor seemed like casual banter to her. She was under the impression that she had no issues.


    After a while, Alexander said, "I understand."


    With that, Alexander grabbed the bag from the table, walked over to Quinn, patted her head, and said, "Let''s go."


    Quinn nced up at Alexander, giving a nod before standing up and embracing his arm. From that moment on, Quinn stuck to him like glue, desiring to be by his side around the clock.


    Alexander didn''t say anything and took Quinn back to the hospital where Alexander lived.


    As they entered the ward, several pairs of eyes looked over.


    Kyle felt relieved when he saw Alexander returning with the other two, his anxious heart finally settling.


    "Mr. Kennedy, where did you go? The doctor just scolded me." Kyleined, looking upset. Alexander left on his own, and the doctor didn''t dare scold Alexander, so he scolded Kyle instead.


    In addition to Kyle, there were General and Getty.


    When Alexander''s gaze fell on Getty''s face, Getty immediately stood up straight, looking nervous and expectant.


    However, Alexander merely nced at her, then redirected his gaze as if he didn''t know Getty. He said indifferently, "No fuss. Everyone, please go out."


    "Okay, I''ll call the doctor toe and check on you."


    After Kyle finished speaking, he gestured to General, and the two of them discreetly exited the ward. Getty was the only one left standing, unsure of what to say as she nced at Alexander, who ignored herpletely. Alexander''s indifference and coldness stabbed at Getty''s heart like a knife.


    Alexander sat Quinn down on the sofa and asked softly, "Are you hungry?"


    Quinn nodded, unconsciously casting a quick nce at Getty, and instantly felt uneasy. Quinn sensed that Getty was trying to rival her for Alexander''s affections.


    Sensing Quinn''s gaze, Alexander suddenly turned to Getty and asked, "What are you still doing here?"


    Getty was caught off guard. Alexander''s distant and icy stare caused tears to well up in Getty''s eyes unexpectedly.


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    Fighting back the tears, Getty managed to stammer, "I''m concerned about you. I just wanted to check if you''re alright.


    As Getty watched Alexander, who was injured but still taking Quinn out whilepletely ignoring her, she felt deeply concerned. However, all she got in response was Alexander''s heartless dismissal. Alexander said, "I''m fine. You may leave now."


    Getty bit her lip, torn between her reluctance and sense of injustice, but faced with Alexander''s indifference, she had no choice but to suppress her emotions and remain silent.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    She took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I see. I''ll leave now. Take care and get some rest." With those words, Getty turned on her heels and left.


    Quinn stared straight at Alexander. Although she did not understand the rtionship between these two, Quinn could feel that there was definitely somethingplex between Alexander and Getty. "Sit here for a while. I need to step out." Alexander said.


    Quinn quickly seized Alexander''s arm, locking eyes with him, her expression filled with resolve to prevent him from departing.

 Chapter 657

    "I''ll be back soon, alright?" Alexander''s voice was tender, as ifforting a child, while Quinn pursed her lips, her fingers still tightly holding onto Alexander. Under Alexander''s watchful gaze, Quinn had no choice but to release him. After a brief moment of reflection, Alexander turned and exited the room. Quinn stared fixedly at Alexander''s back, watching him open and close the door.


    She bit her lip, silently lowered her head, and stared at her fingertips.


    As Alexander stepped out, ready to make a call, he heard the approaching sound of high heels from behind.


    Frowning, he turned around to find Getty standing there, gazing at him with a pitiful expression, like an abandoned puppy.


    Alexander paused his dialing, pocketed his phone, and turned to face Getty.


    Getty spoke softly, "Alexander."


    Alexander asked, "Yes?"


    Getty''s eyes were red and filled with tears as she approached Alexander cautiously. "Why are you treating me so coldly?"


    Alexander maintained his calmposure as he locked eyes with Getty, unmoved by her tears. "I''ve already expressed my feelings," he stated firmly.


    Getty reached out, clutching Alexander''s arm and struggling to hold back her sobs. "Why? Have you... have you fallen for that mute... Quinn Mellon?"


    Alexander furrowed his brow subtly, stayed silent for a moment, and then gently withdrew Getty''s hand. Speaking coldly, he said, "I can''t borate on it, but I trust youprehend that you shouldn''t be seen in her presence. Clear?" Getty lowered her head, remaining silent for a long time.


    When Alexander was starting to feel impatient, Getty suddenly asked, "Can we still be like we were before?"


    "What do you mean?" Alexander countered.


    Getty gazed at him, tears trickling down the corners of her eyes. She was stunning, especially in her moments of vulnerability. She didn''t raise her voice or yell, which didn''t evoke disgust in others. Instead, there was a heartbreaking beauty in her demeanor.


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    Getty cried."Definitely not like now."


    Alexander gazed at Getty expressionlessly.


    Getty continued, "I can promise to stay away from Quinn, but could you please stop being so indifferent towards me?"


    Alexander said, "If I don''t agree, are you going to threaten me with suicide again?"


    Getty shook her head. "I didn''t threaten you. Didn''t you ask me to prove it to you?"


    Getty''s statement left Alexander speechless. In reality, Getty hadn''t used suicide as a threat; she had cut her wrist in response to Alexander''s demand for proof.


    If Alexander hadn''t intervened to save Getty, she would have perished by now, making it more of a desperate act than a threat.


    "Alright, go back." Alexander clearly didn''t want to continue the conversation. He added, "Behave yourself. Don''t cause trouble for me."


    Getty seemed to ease up upon hearing the tone of Alexander''s voice. Her face brightened, and she nodded enthusiastically.


    Getty joyfully hugged Alexander. Seeing he didn''t push her away, she looked up and whispered, "I''ll listen to you. I promise not to cause you trouble."


    Getty was very discreet. She gave Alexander a brief hug before pulling away, her mood shifting from gloomy to bright in an instant. Despite her tear-stained face, she couldn''t resist the urge to smile, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly.


    Getty said, "Well, I''ll leave now. Please don''t wander off again."


    Alexander remained silent as Getty, in high heels, turned and left the hospital.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    After Getty left, Alexander slipped his hands into his pockets. As he pulled them out, he discovered a ck round button in his palm.


    Alexander examined the object and let out a mysterious chuckle.


    Of course, Getty didn''t know about these things. After she entered the elevator, her heart was still pounding wildly.

 Chapter 658

    Getty wasn''t foolish enough to resort to such an obvious approach, but she couldn''te up with a better n. So, she disregarded the potential consequences and acted recklessly until the end.


    Alexander had already given in earlier, and Getty didn''t want Landon to harm him. Despite this, she wasn''t ready to give up just yet. Getty still held onto the hope that Landon could assist her in making Quinn disappear. This seemingly foolish approach turned out to be quite clever. It kept Alexander on high alert, leading Getty to sessfully finish the task.


    Because Getty knew that even if Alexander found out, he would leave the bug behind and turn the tables.


    This was how it was often portrayed on TV.


    Getty was feeling anxious and decided not to leave it up to Alexander, as he was worried that Landon might cause harm.


    Upon being discharged from the hospital, Getty tried calling Landon, but received no response. Determined, Getty made a few more attempts until Landon finally picked up on the fifth try.


    "Why didn''t you answer my calls?" Getty said impatiently.


    Landon replied, "What''s up, Ms. Morgan?"


    Getty fell silent for a moment and said, "I just wanted to ask if you still stand by what you promised me."


    Landon raised an eyebrow with interest and said, "So, did you seed?"


    Getty replied, "Of course, if I hadn''t seeded, would I be calling you?"


    Landon added, "Is that so? I''m not quite convinced."


    Landon wasn''t easily deceived, but he added, "However, I have my methods to confirm it. As for the promise, it may not be feasible to keep it right now."


    Getty asked, "What do you mean?"


    Landon asked, "Do you not know that Quinn Mellon and Alexander have been missing for half a month?" Upon hearing this, Getty''s pupils contracted slightly and then widened abruptly. "Did you do this?" Landon seemed slightly regretful. He sighed. "Alright, even without you saying it, I would have done it."


    Getty hurriedly said, "I only wanted that mute to disappear, not for Alexander to disappear as well, you..."


    "Ms. Morgan." Landon interrupted her. "Don''t be so nervous. If Alexander were really that easy to deal with, he wouldn''t havee back alive. So your worries arepletely unnecessary." Getty suddenly fell silent, but she still couldn''t let gopletely.


    But Landon didn''t give Getty a chance to speak. "Since you''vepleted the task, it''s no longer your concern. Just wait in peace."


    After saying this, Landon hung up the phone.


    Getty held the phone that had been abruptly disconnected, her brows furrowed in deep thought. It became evident that Alexander and Quinn''s disappearance was orchestrated by Landon. It appeared that Landon possessed an extraordinary cunning.


    Landon was now even more angry than Getty. If Landon had dealt another blow back then, Alexander wouldn''t havee back alive.


    This truly brought endless trouble by releasing the tiger back into the mountains.


    Thinking about the escting hatred between Alexander and himself after his return, Landon felt a headacheing on.


    Outside the ward, Alexander also called Amber Bay to confirm Landon''s current status.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Landon had be enigmatic, leaving everyone uncertain if he was feigning or truly had sustained serious injuries.


    Alexander called Kyle over to inquire about Landon''s medical records at the hospital.


    Kyle quickly opened his email on his phone and handed it to Alexander, expressing, "I''m unsure of the validity of this information, so I didn''t want to show it to you without confirming first." Alexander took the phone, casually flipped through it, and then handed it back to Kyle.


    Alexander said, "Don''t bother looking, it''s fake."


    Kyle was surprised. He examined the cell phone and document closely but couldn''t spot any signs of fraud.


    Puzzled, he inquired, "Mr. Kennedy, how did you discover that the document was counterfeit?"

 Chapter 659

    Alexander put his hands in his pockets, casting a sidelong nce at Kyle. Kyle felt as though he was being looked down upon again. Kyle gave an awkward smile.


    Alexander said, "This hospital is privately owned by the Kennedy Group. If you manage to obtain the document, it must be fake." Kyle asked, "Why not?"


    Alexander scoffed. "Given his nature, if he knew I was injured and hospitalized, could he not take action?"


    Upon hearing this, Kyle suddenly had a moment of rity. He eximed, "That''s it! He assaulted you right after he arrived in Sylvadora. Now that you''re badly hurt, he won''t be able to make a move. Unless he''s injured too."


    While Alexander was in the hospital for surgery, there was no attempt at secrecy, unlike Landon''s situation. No personnel were sent to guard the hospital, and Alexander even went out intentionally to attract attention and draw people in. But up till now, everything has been calm, clearly indicating that Landon has no intention of taking out Alexander.


    "It''s also possible that the other party is being cautious, thinking that we are trying to lure him in," Alexander said nonchntly, letting out a quiet chuckle.


    Kyle''s mind was almost unable to keep up. Were these two just ying mind games now?This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Truth or illusion, illusion or truth, the one who had deciphered it urately, came out on top.


    Kyle asked, "So what do we do now?"


    Alexander sauntered to the window, his eyes fixed on the lively park outside filled with birdsong and the scent of blooming flowers. After a moment of contemtive silence, he spoke up, "Call Ruby." Kyle asked, "Ruby? Ruby Anderson?"


    Alexander said, "Is there another Ruby in thepany?"


    Caught off guard, Kyle quickly scrambled for his phone. "I''ll call her now."


    Without any dy, Kyle whipped out his phone and ced a call to Ruby.


    After a short while, the call connected, and Kyle promptly handed the phone


    Alexander.


    Alexander took the call and heard Ruby''s voice on the other end. "Kyle, Merry Christmas."


    Alexander said, "Ruby, Merry Christmas."


    As soon as Alexander spoke, Ruby fell silent.


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    It took quite a while for Ruby to respond, her voice returning to its usual cheerful tone. "Mr. Kennedy, what made you call me? Is there anything you need me to do?"


    Alexander replied, "Nope? I just wanted to know where you are. May I visit you?"


    Ruby asked in confusion, "Are you in Sylvadora right now?"


    Alexander replied, "Yes."


    "Do you mean you want toe over to my ce." Ruby sounded uncertain.


    Alexander said, "Exactly."


    Ruby hesitated. ;"Well..."


    Alexander asked, "What''s wrong? Is it inconvenient?"


    Ruby chuckled nervously. "Well, a bit. Mr. Kennedy, if you have something to discuss, you can instruct me over the phone, or I can go to your ce." Alexander nodded. "It''s okay. If it''s inconvenient, then I''ll visit another time."


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on


    05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    After Alexander finished speaking, he hung up the phone and handed it back to Kyle. Kyle waspletely baffled, unable toprehend Alexander''s phone call. Alexander looked out the window with an inscrutable expression, lost in thought. Kyle asked, "Mr. Kennedy, what do we do now?"


    Alexander turned around, looked at Kyle, and said, "We are going to visit Landon."


    This time, Kyle understood that the visit Alexander mentioned needed to be more genuine.


    Kyle nodded. "I got it. I''ll arrange it right away."


    Ruby was even more perplexed. She turned to Walter beside her, throwing up her hands, and asked, "What did he mean?"


    Walter chuckled as he yed with an orange on the table and pointed to his chin, indicating, "He''s trying to figure out whose side you''re on." Ruby was taken aback.


    Walter pointed out, "If you were truly on Landon''s side, you would be at the hospital with him instead of here celebrating Christmas."

 Chapter 660

    "So that means..." Ruby''s expression changed.


    Walter casually grabbed an orange, reclined in his chair, and slowly peeled it.


    "If it''s not Landon, it''s me," he remarked. "Guessing is part of the game. Don''t stress; a promotion should being your way soon."


    Ruby didn''t quite believe it. If Alexander already knew who she belonged to, and he was promoting her, wasn''t that absurd?


    Walter looked deeply at Ruby, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Ruby, you need to sharpen your mind."


    Ruby, feeling a bit uneasy after Walter''sment, managed to hold back her anger and asked, "So why is he promoting me?"


    Walter responded, "It''s simple. Because of the ship explosion, he requires someone to reach out to the top executives of the Vide Group, expose the truth about the sinking ship, and deliver a decisive blow to Landon." Walter smiled slightly. "I happen to have the connections."


    Walter added, "He''s promoting you as a form of recognition for our cooperation. Do you understand now?"


    As Walter spoke, he popped the orange into his mouth. However, his expression quickly changed, and he spat the sour fruit into the trash bin, eximing, "Who bought them? They''re really sour!" Ruby replied, "Richard did."


    Walter said, "Don''t let him buy them next time."


    Ruby pulled a wry smile, then refocused on the topic. "So, he specifically made that call just now to ascertain whose side I''m on?"


    Walter asked, "Isn''t it obvious?"


    Walter disdainfully threw the orange into the trash can. "This guy, he''s too proud toe to me for help."N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    That''s why he started with Ruby.


    Ruby was taken aback by Walter''s analysis. While his points were logical, the Alexander described by Walter seemed distinct from the one that Ruby had perceived.


    In Ruby''s eyes, Alexander appeared as a distant and indifferent individual, exuding an air of superiority as he looked down upon others.


    However, Alexander, as described by Walter, seemed more like a stubborn, somewhat childish boy.


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    Less of the aloof arrogance and more of an approachable demeanor of an ordinary person.


    Thinking this, Ruby couldn''t help but smile involuntarily.


    Out of the blue, Walter reached out and tapped the table in front of Ruby. "Don''t get too caught up with him," he warned.


    Coming back to reality, Ruby swiftly wiped away the faint smile on her face. She defensively responded, "I''m definitely not infatuated with him."


    Walter chuckled, seeing through her without saying it out loud.


    When Alexander returned to the ward, Quinn was curled up on the sofa, fast asleep.


    Quinn curled up on the sofa, resembling a little cat.


    Alexander walked up to Quinn, bent down, and picked her up.


    The moment Alexander touched Quinn, she woke up from her slumber.


    Seeing Alexander, Quinn instinctively hugged his neck, her eyes full of grievances as if ming him for being away for so long.


    Alexander lifted Quinn and walked towards the hospital bed, then gently set her down.


    But Quinn didn''t let go of Alexander''s neck, causing him to bend over, his wound throbbing faintly.


    "Release me. the wound is going to split." Alexander''s face looked strained as if he was enduring something.


    Upon witnessing this, Quinn quickly let go of Alexander.


    He then took a seat beside her, closed his eyes briefly to collect himself, and when he reopened them, he appeared calm andposed. Alexander said, "Don''t be so nervous. I just went out for a while."


    Quinn''s eyes were slightly red as she gazed at Alexander''s chest. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and lifted his shirt. However, she was unable to see anything due to the bandages covering his chest. Quinn blinked and asked, "Are you in pain?" Alexander remained silent for a moment and uttered two words. "I''m fine."


    Quinn stared at Alexander for a long while, then gestured."Let me help you treat it."

 Chapter 661

    Quinn''s eyes were slightly red as she looked at Alexander''s chest. After a brief pause, she reached out and lifted his shirt, only to find his chest covered in bandages. Quinn blinked and inquired, "Are you in pain?" Alexander raised his hand, rubbing his forehead with a hint of weariness. "It''s not needed," he said. Unexpectedly, as soon as those words left his mouth, tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes. Perplexed, Alexander furrowed his brows and asked, "Why are you crying?"


    Quinn cried so sorrowfully that her shoulders trembled. She choked out, gesturing, "Did you seek help from someone else?" Alexander was taken aback for a moment, then reached out to touch Quinn''s face, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation. Alexander replied, "How could that be? Don''t overthink it."


    Quinn insisted." Then why didn''t you let me help you?"


    Alexander''s mouth twitched slightly. He was speechless.


    Quinn was now convinced that as long as Alexander was in pain, she could help him.


    Alexander''s silence only made Quinn sadder, tears falling like beads off a broken string.


    Alexander grimaced with a headache. He gently stroked Quinn''s cheek, soothing in a low voice, "Don''t cry, it''s all good."


    Quinn bit her lip, holding back her tears, but they continued to flow.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Alexander had recently spent time with Getty. It seemed like Alexander had allowed Getty to take care of him, making Quinn unnecessary. Those deemed unnecessary could be easily cast aside. Seeing this, Alexander fell into silence once again. After a while, he helplessly said, "Go lock the door."


    Quinn looked confused, tears streaming down her face as she gazed at Alexander, wondering why he had locked the door.


    Alexander gently held Quinn''s face, brushing away her tears with his fingers, and whispered, "Don''t let anyone see."


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    Quinn bit her lip and gestured, "Why can''t anyone see?"


    Alexander said seriously, "If someone sees it, it won''t work."


    Quinn''s eyes widened in response to Alexander''s words, taking them literally. With a swift nod, Quinn jumped off the bed, rushed to lock the door, and then hurried back onto the bed. Alexander leaned against the headboard, eyes shut, massaging his temples, his mood noticeably subdued.


    Alexander said, "I''m fine now. The pain is gone."


    Quinn struggled to keep her eyes open, staring straight at Alexander as if trying to discern the truth in his words.


    Just then, a doctor knocked outside. The doctor was puzzled, wondering why the door was locked.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Alexander let go of Quinn. "Go open the door."


    Quinn nced at Alexander a couple of times. The knocking at the door sounded urgent, so Quinn set aside his thoughts and got up from the bed to open the door. "Mr. Kennedy..." The doctor was about to speak but choked on his saliva when he saw Quinn''s messy hair.


    Alexander sat on the bed, looking perfectly normal.


    Reflecting on the locked door incident, the doctor quietly muttered "Alexander" under his breath. He couldn''t help but think, ''They couldn''t resist for only two days?'' Alexander, noticing the doctor''s changing expressions, remained impassive. Alexander spoke, "What''s the matter?"


    The doctor smiled and calmly exined, "Mr. Kennedy, we''ll need to conduct an X-ray to assess the healing progress of your ribs. If there''s no discement, there won''t be a need for any further treatment." Alexander hesitated, but under Quinn''s watchful gaze, he reluctantly agreed to cooperate with the doctor.


    The doctor was taken aback, amazed at howpliant these individuals were. With apassionate expression, the doctor gestured invitingly, "Please, Mr. Kennedy."

 Chapter 662

    Alexander rose and trailed the doctor out, directing Quinn to remain in the ward. Quinn nodded inpliance with Alexander''s instructions and observed him depart. It was alreadypletely dark outside.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Quinn walked over to the window and leaned his entire body against it to gaze at the fireworks still lighting up the night sky outside.


    Everywhere outside was filled with Christmas Day''s joy, with trees adorned with colorful lights that looked like they were dressed up from afar.


    Quinn walked up to the window and leaned his whole body against it, mesmerized by the fireworks illuminating the night sky.


    The ward on this floor was quiet, with suited guards at the staircase, elevator, and ward doors.


    Wayne didn''te today, leaving Landon alone in the ward.


    The doctor was adjusting Landon''s medication. Landon''s arm injury had been serious, nearly necessitating amputation upon his arrival, but thankfully, this skilled doctor had managed to save his arm. Addressing Landon, the doctor stated, "Mr. Kennedy, your hand will require some time to heal. It is important that you rest adequately and refrain from engaging in strenuous activities. Looking at Landon''s injury now was still shocking.


    The missing flesh on his arm was filled with tissue from other parts, unsure if it would integrate, and even if it healed, the wound looked very unsightly.


    Landon nodded faintly, "Alright, thank you."


    After re-bandaging Landon''s wound, the doctor gathered his belongings and exited the room.


    With multiple wounds on his body, Landon couldn''t leave the hospital anytime soon.


    Moreover, it might not be safe outside the hospital.


    Under the cover of night, a group of individuals quietly made their way up the staircase. The bodyguards spotted them and moved to intervene, but the intrudersunched their attack without saying a word. Within moments, several bodyguards were knocked to the ground.


    After incapacitating the bodyguards, the intruders bolted toward the patient''s room.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    Seeing this, the remaining bodyguards rallied, culminating in a fierce confrontation between the two groups.


    Upon hearing the disturbance from inside the patient''s room, Landon''s eyes sharpened with alertness. He turned to the nurse beside him and directed, "Go check out what''s happening outside."


    The nurse nodded in understanding, opened the door, and exited the room. To her astonishment, she witnessed the bodyguards and intruders locked in a violent confrontation in the hallway.


    The intruders disyed impressivebat skills and were armed with dangerous weapons. As the altercation unfolded, several bodyguards were defeated, and the previously immacte floor and walls were now stained with blood. The nurse, who had never seen such a scene before, quickly ran back to the ward. "Something''s wrong; someone is attacking."


    Landon''s expression changed slightly, even feeling incredulous. "Are they that audacious?"


    The nurse was extremely worried.


    Landon tried to get up, but his injuries were too severe; he fell back after a couple of attempts.


    Landon immediately pressed the call button by the bed.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    The medical staff rushed in and were shocked by the scene, frantically running around to call the police and security.


    As the guards'' siege wore on, the group began to lose strength. With the arrival of more people, they eventually made the decision to cease fighting and escape, abandoning their bodyguards. "Chase them!"


    The bodyguards wouldn''t let them escape easily, calling for reinforcements to capture the assants.


    If they knew who sent them, Alexander would be walking into a trap.


    As the guards'' siege dragged on, the group''s morale started to weaken. With the arrival of reinforcements, they eventually opted to stop fighting and flee, leaving behind their bodyguards.


    Two of the intruders were apprehended by the bodyguards and subdued on the ground. The remaining individuals fled the hospital, leaping into a ck car parked nearby and vanishing into the pouring rain. Once the car had traveled a safe distance, the passenger in the front seat pulled out a cell phone to report the situation.


    Upon hearing their report, Kyle broke out in a cold sweat. "Are you all idiots?" He cursed into the phone. "How could you get caught?"


    If this news had reached Mr. Kennedy, it was highly likely that Kyle would have been in deep trouble.

 Chapter 663

    "Kyle, this is an ident."


    In a fit of anger, Kyle eximed, "You''re aplete disaster, utterly useless!" He mmed the phone down and began pacing outside the ward, unable to bring himself to go in. Kyle realized he had made a mess of things. What should he do next?


    Alexander hadpleted his examination and returned. The recovery seemed to be going well, primarily focused on assessing the progress of Alexander''s pleural healing. Upon his return, Alexander found Quinn once again asleep on the sofa. This time, instead of waking Quinn, Alexander grabbed a cigarette and got ready to head out.


    As he opened the door, he was surprised to see Kyle standing there, appearing conflicted.


    When Alexander came out, Kyle was startled. "Mr. Kennedy..."


    After scrutinizing Kyle''s face for a moment, Alexander finally spoke in a cold voice. "Did they fail?"


    Kyle wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "I didn''t notice Landon''s condition, and... two people got caught."


    As Kyle continued speaking, his confidence waned, and his voice trailed off towards the end.


    Expecting Alexander to explode in anger upon hearing the news, Kyle lowered his head, preparing himself for Alexander''s fiery reaction.


    But after waiting for what felt like an eternity, Alexander still didn''t speak. Instead, the sound of a lighter flicking open broke the silence. Kyle instinctively looked up.


    Leaning against the door and blowing smoke from his mouth, Alexander remarked casually, "Looks like he''s really hurt."


    With a chuckle, Alexander added, "Get prepared. We''ll be returning to Amber Bay in a few days."


    Kyle couldn''t help but wonder if he was hearing things or if he had simply misunderstood.


    So Kyle cautiously said again, "Two people were caught."


    Alexander nced at him, "Kyle if your ears aren''t working well, I suggest you change positions."


    Kyle choked back his emotions, his mouth twitching as he swiftly lowered his head. "I get it. I''ll take care of it immediately."


    Kyle refrained from asking any further questions and hastily departed the hospital to make preparations for their return to Amber Bay. Alexander lit a cigarette and turned back into the ward.


    Kyle informed Walter that they would be returning to Amber Bay the day after tomorrow.


    Walter didn''t say anything. Even though Alexander hadn''t found anything useful in Sylvadora, he hadn''t been idle.


    The most crucial lead was now broken, and there was nothing left to investigate. It wouldn''t be too bad to return to Amber Bay for some respite.


    The bodyguards here brought the captured people back to Landon''s room for him to handle.


    Landon nced at the two of them, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. He didn''t even bother asking who had sent them.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    He waved his hand. "Take them away."


    The bodyguardsplied and promptly escorted them out.


    Landon understood that Alexander was testing him, attempting to push him away. Despite wanting to appear unaffected, Landon knew he had to confront the situation.


    If he had avoided facing the threat at his doorstep, Alexander could have deduced that Landon was immobilized.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! This was not good for Landon.


    On the third day of Christmas Day, Quinn and Alexander boarded a ne back to Amber Bay.


    General tearfully bid them farewell at the airport, a grown man weeping profusely, insisting that Alexander visit again.


    Despite the days of fear and trepidation, General found it thrilling.


    He had never experienced such excitement.


    Alexanderpletely disregarded General, who was boarding the ne with Quinn.


    Upon sitting down and ncing up, Quinn spotted Getty entering the ne from the front, causing an instant wave of nervousness to wash over him.


    Getty stopped in front of them, realizing that Alexander was avoiding eye contact, so she decided to sit at the back instead. Getty and Walter ended up seated together, and Walter''s smirk made Getty feel extremely uneasy. Getty grabbed a nket to cover herself, pretending to sleep.


    Although Getty really wanted to fall asleep. Out of sight, out of mind.

 Chapter 664

    But whenever Getty thought about Quinn and Alexander moving forward without her, she found herself unable to sleep, consumed by frustration.


    Quinn had taken the ce that Getty believed belonged to her, enjoying the love and attention that she felt should have been hers. This deep sense of resentment towards Quinn left Getty feeling incredibly uneasy. Anyone would feel resentful in his ce.


    Quinn, nestled in Alexander''s arms, was drifting off to sleep. She fell asleep halfway through the journey.


    Quinn always dreamed when she slept, and this time was no exception.


    She dreamed of a cemetery. Her parents emerged from their tombstones, cursing her in low voices just like Walter had.


    They dered, "Quinn, you are an absolute embarrassment. Truly, you are a disappointment."


    Seeing their distorted faces, Quinn was frightened and abruptly opened her eyes.


    Her view was filled with a white ceiling and the sound of drizzling rain outside the window.


    Ms. Miller said, "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re awake."


    Quinn turned her head to find Ms. Miller''s smiling face. She stared in disbelief for a moment before slowly sitting up from the bed and asking, "Who are you?"


    The smile on Ms. Miller''s face froze, "Don''t you recognize me? I''m Ms. Miller."


    Quinn tilted her head and looked at Ms. Miller for a moment but still seemed confused.


    Ms. Miller sighed in disappointment.


    Quinn looked around the unfamiliar environment, feeling a bit scared. She gestured, "Where is Alexander?"


    Ms. Miller replied, "Mr. Kennedy left after he brought you back. He should be back soon."


    Quinn lowered her eyes in disappointment and didn''t move.


    Ms. Miller asked if Quinn was hungry, but she just shook her head.


    The rain was pouring outside, and although the heating was on inside, it still felt a bit chilly.


    Quinn got out of bed and looked around.


    This ce needed to be more familiar to Quinn. She had never been here before. Why had Alexander brought her here?


    Suddenly, Quinn gestured and asked, "Why do you refer to me as Mrs. Kennedy?" In Quinn''s recollection, Mrs. Kennedy appeared to be a title reserved for Kaitlyn Kennedy.


    "Well..." Ms. Miller didn''t know how to answer. She was just used to calling her that.


    But Alexander and Quinn were divorced, so exining that they were a couple didn''t seem right.


    Ms. Miller decided not to exin. She took a phone from her pocket and handed it to Quinn, saying, "Oh, this is the phone that Mr. Kennedy asked me to give you. Keep it safe, and don''t lose it." Quinn got a new phone and unlocked it to check the contacts. She found only one contact saved - Alexander. She then opened Facebook and saw that the only person on there was also Alexander. The phone number had also been changed. Since this was a brand new number, the Facebook ount was also new.


    But it didn''t matter to Quinn. After all, even if she had her old phone, she wouldn''t recognize those people.


    Quinn nodded and tapped on Alexander''s profile. It was a system profile with no picture, just a silhouette.


    Quinn initially thought her phone was slow, clicking on it repeatedly before epting that it was indeed Alexander''s profile.


    Frustrated, she sighed, pocketed her phone, and headed downstairs from the bedroom.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Unsettled in the unfamiliar vi and with heavy rain outside, Quinn felt trapped indoors.


    Following Ms. Miller''s suggestion, she settled on the sofa and watched cartoons.


    Just as Quinn was immersed in the show, the doorbell rang. Ms. Miller rushed to answer it. Upon seeing the visitor, her expression instantly shifted.


    "Why are you here again?"


    "I just came to see... Hasn''t Quinn returned? It''s the third day of the Christmas Day. She should be back!"


    Ms. Miller said, "No, she''s not back yet. Just leave now."


    Upon hearing her name, Quinn instinctively set down her chips and made her way to the door. There, she locked eyes with the young man in the white sweater. "Quinn!" Orion''s face lit up with joy. He tried to rush in but was blocked by Ms. Miller.


    Ms. Miller said, "You can''te in!"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Orion stated, "I''m here to visit my wife. Why can''t I enter? We''re married legally; we have a certificate! Step aside, or I''ll report you for wrongful confinement!"

 Chapter 665

    1,Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    After saying this, Ms. Miller was scared. She kept looking back at Quinn''s expression.


    Quinn looked at Orion in confusion. She didn''t understand.


    It wasn''t that she didn''t grasp the concept of being in a rtionship, but she couldn''t fathom why this stranger was insisting they were married. Ms. Miller also got a little angry. "Get lost. Mrs. Kennedy just returned and needs to rest!"


    Joking aside, if Ms. Miller let Orion take Quinn away today, she would be in serious trouble tomorrow.


    Orion said impatiently. "Why did you call her Mrs. Kennedy? She is my wife!"


    With that, Orion waved to Quinn. "Quinn,e here; I have prepared a Christmas Day gift for you; let me show you!"


    Quinn eyed Orion cautiously and instinctively took a step back. Orion''s smile faltered, surprised by Quinn''s sudden change in demeanor.


    She had never shown fear towards him before. Orion''s initial thought was that Alexander had possibly threatened Quinn.


    Wasn''t theirst encounter at the welfare home a clear indication of potential danger?


    Ms. Miller said, "You see, Mrs. Kennedy doesn''t even know you. If you keep bothering us, I will call the police!"


    Orion chuckled. "Then go ahead and call the police! I have the marriage certificate on me."


    In a fit of anger, Ms. Miller blurted out. "You..."


    Orion didn''t want to engage in an argument with Ms. Miller. He turned to Quinn once more and asked, "Quinn, aren''t you joining us?"


    Quinn shook her head vigorously, indicating that she was notfortable going to someone she didn''t know.


    Observing Quinn''s reaction, Orion had to halt his thoughts for the moment.


    Orion thought to himself, It could be due to Ms. Miller''s influence or some other factor that Quinn is reluctant to leave with me. Or maybe, after the previous incident, she''s worried about dragging me into trouble.'' Thinking of this, Orion''s expression softened slightly. "Alright, I''lle find you next time."


    A hint of sadness flickered in Orion''s eyes as he gazed deeply at Quinn before turning and walking away from the vi, vanishing into the pouring rain.


    Quinn observed Orion''s solitary departure, a mix of emotions swirling in her heart. She started to speak, but then decided to remain silent.


    Quinn looked at Ms. Miller and gestured, "Is what he said true?"


    Ms. Miller hurriedly exined, "Of course not, he''s talking nonsense, don''t believe him, Mr. Kennedy is your husband."


    Husband...


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 0005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    Quinn''s heart raced with excitement. She had never dared to imagine hearing those two words. Despite Ulysses'' prediction that she would marry Alexander someday, they were still young. Quinn had always been treated like a sister by Alexander, and she couldn''t fathom the idea of bing his wife.


    As Quinn''s expression shifted, Ms. Millerforted her, saying, "Mrs. Kennedy, don''t stress about it. You are not only Mr. Kennedy''s wife but also thedy of the house. If you have any doubts, just ask Mr. Kennedy when hees back." Quinn hesitated, staring straight at Ms. Miller, unsure if what she said was true or false.


    Quinn gestured, "Where did Alexander go?"


    Ms. Miller replied, "I''m not quite sure. Maybe he had something to attend to."


    Quinn lowered her gaze in disappointment.


    Ms. Miller immediately took Quinn to the sofa to watch TV and found two funny cartoons for her.


    Later, Ms. Miller took her phone and hid in the room to call Alexander.

 Chapter 666

    Upon answering the call, Ms. Miller quickly said, "Mr. Kennedy, Orion William came again. He tried to take Mrs. Kennedy away."


    Alexander asked, "Has he left?"


    Ms. Miller replied, "He''s gone now, but Orion imed in front of Mrs. Kennedy that they are... married."


    Alexander scoffed. "It seems he hasn''t given up yet."


    Then, Alexander added, "Keep an eye on her. Don''t let her go out."


    Ms. Miller nodded. "Okay, I understand."


    Alexander hung up the call and casually pocketed the phone. When he looked up, Kaitlyn was staring at him.


    Kaitlyn''s eyelids flickered as she hesitated to speak, taking into ount Alexander''s demeanor.


    Rising from her seat, she approached Alexander and gently ced her hands on his arm. "Alexander, you''ve been putting in a lot of effort during your absence. Take some time to rest here tonight. Visitors have been dropping by over the past few days, and you and your father have both been away. What would they think if they found the house empty?


    Alexander paused and turned his head to look at Kaitlyn, "Where did he go?"


    Kaitlyn replied irritably, "Who knows which woman he''s off to."


    By the way, Kaitlyn recalled something else, "The new president at thepany could possibly be your father''s son from another rtionship."


    Alexander''s eyebrows raised slightly, the corner of his mouth revealing a smirk. "Isn''t your reaction a bit too slow?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Hearing this, Kaitlyn widened her eyes dramatically.


    Kaitlyn looked at Alexander in disbelief, and after a long pause, she finally said. "Is it really his son from outside?"


    Alexander lowered his eyes, ying with the cigarette in his hand. He didn''t say anything, but his silence answered Kaitlyn''s question.


    Kaitlyn erupted in anger. Rising from the sofa, she eximed, "Wayne Kennedy is shamelessly bringing his illegitimate son into thepany and appointing him as president. It''s obvious that he''s aiming at you!"


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    In a moment of fear, Kaitlyn considered a more troubling possibility - Wayne had been absent from home in recent days. Could he have gone to reconcile with his other family?


    Leaving Kaitlyn alone in the empty vi and guarding the empty room while they were having a family reunion.


    Kaitlyn''s face was twisted with anger.


    Kaitlyn nced at Alexander and quickly urged, "Alexander, you can''t just sit around waiting for doom. You need to find a spouse who will benefit you. Otherwise, you''ll end up being pushed out by these two." Compared to Kaitlyn''s rage, Alexander''s expression was much calmer.


    Alexander said lightly, "In your mind, apart from marriage, can you think of anything else?"


    Kaitlyn asked, "What do you mean?"


    Alexander ignored Kaitlyn''s words, put the cigarette in his mouth, and lit the lighter.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Kaitlyn found Alexander''s calm demeanor frustrating. It appeared that he needed to be as agitated as Kaitlyn in order for her to believe he was addressing the issue. Kaitlyn earnestly cautioned, "Alexander, I understand you have feelings for that quiet girl. But you shouldn''t sacrifice your future just because of your feelings for her, right?" "After all, she''s an orphan with no parents. If you really can''t bear it, after you get married, you can support her. It''s not like we can''t afford her meals, right?"


    "She would definitely agree. After all, apart from you, she has nowhere else to go. Maybe you don''t even need to ask. She''ll beg to stay with you. Isn''t this a perfect solution?" Alexander quietly smoked, the smoke hanging between them, and he didn''t speak for a long time.


    The air also quieted down.


    Kaitlyn gazed directly at Alexander. While she couldn''t im to understand her sonpletely, she believed that his silence indicated he was contemting her words. Outside, lightning shed, thunder rumbled, and rain drizzled down. Kaitlyn waited patiently, though a hint of impatience crept in.


    She repeated, "Alexander, I genuinely have your best interests in mind. Who else in this world cares for you as deeply as I do? This decision is only to help you. What more do you need to consider?

 Chapter 667

    Kaitlyn urged Alexander to give her an answer, gripping his arm tightly.


    After a moment, Alexander leaned over the table to flick off some ash, then turned to look at Kaitlyn.


    "It''s not time yet," Alexander said.


    "What do you mean?" Kaitlyn asked, stunned. But she quickly realized that he was disagreeing with her n. Kaitlyn was somewhat angry, but she restrained herself well and did not explode.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Kaitlyn eximed, "Don''t you see that your father neveres home anymore? When will you realize the situation? Do you expect us to wait until we lose everything and get kicked out? Are you still pining over that silent girl? Last I heard, isn''t she married to Orion William now?"


    Kaitlyn warned, "If you continue to keep another man''s wife close to you and word gets out, it will not end well for you.


    Alexander put out his cigarette in the ashtray, furrowed his brow, and appeared somewhat impatient. "If you brought me back just to say these things, then there''s no need to prolong this conversation." "You..." Kaitlyn was very angry, but she didn''t dare to explode.


    Alexander was no longer the obedient son he used to be. He was like a kite with a broken string, and Kaitlyn could only chase after him, but she couldn''t grab the string to pull him back.


    If she upset Alexander and he left without returning, Kaitlyn would truly be alone.


    Thinking of this, Kaitlyn''s expression gradually softened, and she looked at Alexander sadly.


    Kaitlyn started to say, "Alexander, I''m just thinking of what''s best for you..." but before she could finish, Alexander cut her off. "Enough, I''m tired of hearing these words."


    Alexander stood up and looked at Kaitlyn coldly. "If you really care about me, then don''t interfere in my affairs. Whether it''s Landon Kennedy or Wayne Kennedy, I can handle it myself. It''s not your ce to worry." Kaitlynsaid angrily, "You..."


    Alexander shouted, "Do you think I would be foolish enough to let myself be ughtered?"


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    Alexander''sst words hit Kaitlyn like a ton of bricks.


    Kaitlyn stared at him, dumbfounded.


    He was right. Even if Alexander really liked Quinn, he wouldn''t be so foolish as to give up his future for her.


    the stakes wouldn''t just be fame and wealth. He could even risk losing his life. In such a situation, what good would feelings serve?


    Thinking of this, Kaitlyn''s expression softened immediately, and she grabbed Alexander''s hand.


    Kaitlyn said, "Alright, I trust you, don''t be angry, sit down."


    After several pulls from Kaitlyn, Alexander finally sat back down.


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    Kaitlyn relented. "I only worry about you, that''s all. Since you have your own ways of handling things, I won''t meddle in your business anymore, alright? In this situation, you''re the only one I have left. Please stay with me for a little while longer."


    Kaitlyn was indeed scared. If one day Wayne abandoned her and her son distanced himself from her. What would Kaitlyn do?


    Alexander rubbed his temples, took a moment to think, and then inquired, "Has he not returned in thest few days?"


    Kaitlyn recalled. "He came back twice, but he didn''t stay for more than a few minutes each time."


    Alexander looked at the floor thoughtfully.


    Kaitlyn decided to change the subject, realizing that she could only depend on her son now, trusting that Alexander had a n. She took Alexander''s hand and said, "I''ve been practicing cooking some dishes at home recently. Let''s have a meal."


    Alexander looked at Kaitlyn for a few seconds. There was a sense of trying to please on Kaitlyn''s face.


    In the end, Alexander followed Kaitlyn to the dining room.

 Chapter 668

    Ms. Miller served the meal. Quinn took a few bites, asionally looking towards the door, waiting for Alexander to return.


    But it seemed like Alexander wouldn''te back.


    Quinn absentmindedly toyed with the food in the bowl. Despite the variety of dishesid out on the table, Quinn couldn''t bring herself to take a single bite.


    Observing this, Ms. Miller quickly suggested, "Mrs. Kennedy, if you''re not feeling hungry, at least have some soup. You can have the rest of the foodter when you''re ready. Quinn looked at the soup Ms. Miller handed over, remained silent for a moment, and then drank it all in one go.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Seeing Quinn finish the soup, Ms. Miller also breathed a sigh of relief and quickly cleaned the kitchen tableware.


    Something had happened at Ms. Moore''s house before, and she had been gone for a while. Now, there was only Ms. Miller in the vi.


    As Ms. Miller was tidying up in the kitchen, Quinn opened the vi''s door, walked to the entrance, and looked outside.


    It was a dark, rainy night as Quinn gazed at the wrought iron gate in the yard, with the stonenterns on each side still glowing, casting a faint outline in the downpour.


    In a daze, Quinn suddenly saw someone climbing over the wall from outside the yard. Quinn thought it was her imagination and rubbed her eyes.


    Looking again, there was nothing there.


    Feeling a bit scared, Quinn was about to retreat when she heard someone softly calling her name.


    Quinn nced over and caught sight of Orion in the corridor. He was soaked, his hair falling over his face, giving him an almost ghostly appearance at first nce.


    Quinn was taken aback at first, but then she soon recognized him as someone she had seen during the day. Tilting her head, she studied Orion as he waved at her. "Come over here," he called out. Quinn furrowed her brow but chose not to approach him.


    Orion took the lead and stealthily made his way over to Quinn''s side. He quickly scanned the vi, relieved to find that Ms. Miller was nowhere in sight.


    With a slight sigh of relief, he reached out and grabbed Quinn''s wrist. "Come with me," he urged.


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    Quinn didn''t want to go with Orion, but his strength was too much, and he effortlessly pulled Quinn away.


    As the heavy rain poured down, they ran out of the doorway, Quinn instantly drenched.


    Hunching her neck, Quinn followed Orion out of the vi, stumbling into a car.


    As Quinn sat in the car, she quickly attempted to open the door to leave. However, Orion entered the car and reassured Quinn, "You don''t have to be afraid of Alexander. The more you fear him, the more power he has over you." Quinn heard the words and hesitated slightly, turning to look at Orion.


    Orion had already started the car, and the white vehicle eased out of the vi and onto the road. Unaware of Quinn''s unease, Orion continued, "I believe you should assert yourself more. The more you demonstrate your dependence on him, the less he will respect you."


    "You have to let him know that even if you leave him, you can still live well. You can live without him. Do you think I''m right?"


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    Quinn stared nkly at Orion. She didn''t know if what he said was right, but Quinn didn''t understand.


    Alexander didn''t ignore Quinn. Alexander was good to her.


    Quinn had a gut feeling that Orion was lying. She clenched her fists, reached for her phone in her pocket, preparing to call the police.


    When Quinn took out her phone, she nced at Orion, but he seemed indifferent. Quinn fell silent for a moment, then opened the dialing interface.


    Then Quinn realized she couldn''t speak. How was she supposed to call for help?


    Orion must have known that Quinn couldn''t call the police, so he brazenly took her away.


    Quinn bit her lip, thought for a while, and finally opened Facebook to message Alexander. He sent a brief, desperate message: [Alexander, help me.]

 Chapter 669

    When Alexander received the message on Facebook, he had just sat down in the restaurant.


    Kaitlyn had someone bring the food to the table and smiled as she served Alexander.


    "Alexander, you should eat more. You''ve lost a considerable amount of weighttely." This wasn''t just a passing remark, Alexander had noticeably slimmed down.


    You could tell from the clothes Alexander wore the sizes were obviouslyrger.


    Alexander nced at his phone, then suddenly stood up and said, "I suddenly have something to do. I have to go."


    Kaitlyn froze for a moment, quickly put down the utensils, and asked, "What''s so urgent? Can''t you finish your meal first?"This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Alexander muttered, "Next time," before grabbing his coat from the chair and swiftly exiting the room.


    "Alexander!"


    Kaitlyn looked anxious, but no matter how much she called. Alexander didn''t even look back.


    After Alexander''s silhouette vanished from the doorway, Kaitlyn, consumed by anger, angrily swept all the delicious food from the table onto the floor. However, despite her actions, Alexander did not return. Indeed, the rtionship between Alexander and Kaitlyn had be so strained that they could hardly maintain even the semnce of civility.


    Kaitlyn sat weakly in the chair, unable to control her coffee as she cried.


    Meanwhile, Quinn gazed out of the car window, struggling to recall their location. The pouring rain distorted the view outside, leaving everything hazy. She checked her phone, but there was no response from Alexander.


    ncing at Orion, who remained concentrated on driving, Quinn nervously nibbled on her lip, fearing that tears might mingle with the coffee in her eyes. Orion had only been driving for about forty minutes when he arrived at a luxurious residential area and parked the car.


    Stepping out, he smiled at Quinn and suggested, "You should get out soon. You''re all wet. Come up with me to change clothes, or you might catch a cold. Quinn didn''t move.


    Orion paused, holding onto the car door, looking at Quinn puzzledly."Quinn, what''s wrong with you?"


    In the dim light of the parking lot, Orion saw coffee welling up in Quinn''s eyes, which left him somewhat confused.


    Orion exined, "Don''t cry. I''m not going to do anything to you. Even though we have a marriage certificate and are legally married, I will never force you to do something you don''t like." When Quinn heard this, coffee streamed down her face.


    Why did Orion keep saying they were married?


    Quinn looked at Orion with coffee in her eyes, a hint of resentment in her gaze startling Orion.


    Orion said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Quinn gestured with her hand. "Who are you?"


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    Orion was once again surprised, his eyes scanning Quinn''s face for any sign of joking, but finding none.


    He wondered, ''Does Quinn truly not remember me?''


    Orion asked, "Quinn, are you serious? Don''t you remember me?"


    Hearing Orion''s urgent voice, Quinn also began to doubt.


    Quinn wiped the coffee off her face and studied Orion again, but there was still no sign of recognition. Suddenly, she recalled Walter.


    She hadn''t recognized Walter at the cemetery, and upon returning, she also failed to recognize Ms. Miller.


    As Quinn reflected on this time, she came to the realization that many people she had met knew her, but she didn''t know them.


    Her gaze shifted, and she paused her coffee, taking a moment to carefully evaluate Orion once again.


    Orion reached out and took Quinn''s wrist gently. "Whether you genuinely don''t recall or are feigning ignorance, let''s go upstairs and get you changed first. If you end up catching a cold, I''ll hate myself."


    Quinn was still in a daze, following Orion mechanically as he guided them. It wasn''t until they entered the elevator, rode up to their floor, and entered the room that Quinn finally snapped out of their confusion and returned to reality.

 Chapter 670

    Orion had already gone in and brought out a set of clothes.


    "Here." He said, "I saw these clothes while wandering around the streets these past few days and thought they would suit you. It would help if you changed into them quickly. They''re clean." Quinn picked up the clothes andid them on the sofa. She proceeded to take off her coat, then her sweater, and finally, the thermal clothing underneath.


    Orion had just taken a sip of water when he suddenly noticed that Quinn had nearly stripped down in front of him.


    Startled, he choked on the water, spitting some out and inhaling the rest, causing him to cough uncontrobly.


    Quinn instinctively looked up at him. Her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.


    "You...you..." Orion looked at Quinn strangely. "Are you changing your clothes here?"


    Upon hearing Orion''s words, Quinn stopped midway through changing, holding her pants in hand. She was engulfed in a moment of hesitation, torn between continuing or stopping. Orion rubbed his forehead, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Quinn, and then headed towards the kitchen.


    "I''ll get you some hot coffee."


    Once Orion had left for the kitchen, Quinn continued to change her clothes. She took off her wet clothes and put on the ones Orion had given her.


    The sizes were quite fitting, which made Quinn more convinced that she must know Orion.


    Quinn took her wet clothes to the bathroom and ced them down. When she came out, she went to the kitchen.


    Orion was still wearing his wet sweater, busily making hot coffee for Quinn.


    Hearing footsteps, Orion turned to look at Quinn. Seeing her dressed so fittingly, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.


    Orion said, "It seems I remembered correctly. You look really good in this."


    Quinn nced down at her outfit - a white sweater paired with white wide-leg pants that matched Orion''s. Wasn''t it just a regr outfit?"


    Orionpleted brewing the coffee and tested the temperature of the cup by touching it. "It''s too hot. Let''s give it a moment to cool down before we drink it." Saying this, Orion took the coffee ;to the living room.


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    Quinn followed Orion with many questions she wanted to ask, but he was always busy.


    Orion set the coffee on the table before heading back to his room to change. When he returned, he shed a smile at Quinn, who responded by pursing her lips, still showing some resistance towards Orion. Orion said, "Sit down, don''t just stand there."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Quinn made a hand gesture. "Do you know me?"


    The smile at the corner of Orion''s mouth faltered slightly. He gazed at Quinn, his lips pressing together as he fell into a brief silence, his expression shifting to one of seriousness. "Don''t you remember me?" Orion asked in return.


    Quinn shook her head, her gaze at Orion full of unfamiliarity.


    Orion asked, "What happened to you? Did you lose your memory?"


    Quinn gestured, "I don''t know, I don''t recognize you."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Orion scratched his head, his face reflecting his confusion. "How can you suddenly not remember me? Did Alexander do something to you?"


    Suddenly, Quinn stood up, ring at him somewhat angrily.


    Orion was taken aback again. "What''s wrong?"


    Quinn gestured angrily, "You''re not allowed to speak ill of him."


    Orion''s pupils gradually dted as he gazed at Quinn in disbelief, struggling toprehend how much she had transformed in just over twenty days.


    Recalling Quinn''s bold act of changing clothes in front of him, Orion finally realized that something was amiss.


    "Quinn, you..." Orion was about to say something when suddenly there was a buzzing at the door.


    The words that Orion wanted to say remained unspoken. No one should be aware of Orion''s residence.


    Who could be ringing the doorbell sote at night? Orion chose to ignore the doorbell, wanting to keep questioning Quinn, but the sound rang out once more. Annoyed, Orion got up and headed towards the door, calling out, "Who''s there at this hour of the night?

 Chapter 671

    Orion tightly gripped the doorknob and as he swung the door open, his face paled.


    He hastily attempted to shut the door, but his efforts were in vain as the person outsidetched onto the door''s edge, preventing Orion from closing it.


    "Let go!" Orion red at the person at the door.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Instead of loosening his hold, Sean exerted more pressure, forcefully swinging the door open. Orion was forced back a few steps by the door''s momentum, eventually having to release his grip to avoid being crushed in the narrow gap. Sean pushed the doorpletely open, then stepped back behind Alexander.


    Alexander stood calmly at the door, wearing a ck coat, looking expressionless at Orion.


    Orion rubbed his wrist, somewhat annoyed, "What are you here for? Aren''t you afraid I''ll report you for trespassing?"


    Alexander ignored his words and walked in with long strides, passing by Orion before heading towards Quinn inside the house.


    Seeing this, Orion grabbed Alexander''s arm. "Alexander!"


    Alexander paused for a moment and nced sideways at Orion as if remembering something: "Right, Sean Vance, get him to sign the papers."


    Sean nodded, seized Orion by the cor, and shoved him against the wall.


    Orion''s head thudded against the wall, briefly dimming his vision. ring at Sean, he warned, "Don''t go too far!"


    However, Alexander pays no attention to Orion and walks towards Quinn on his own.


    Quinn, seeing Alexander, was also delighted. She immediately stood up and threw herself into Alexander''s arms.


    As Orion watched the unfolding scene, he slowly ceased his resistance, appearing bewildered and amazed by Alexander and Quinn''s actions. While Orion was still in a state of confusion, Sean swiftly moved him towards the coffee table, where heid out two divorce agreements.


    Alexander said, "Orion, sign them."


    Orion was pinned against the table. His gaze locked onto the two divorce agreements. After a moment, Orion chuckled, "Do you think I''ll sign just because you tell me to?" Sean said, "If you sign voluntarily, you might suffer less."


    Orion shouted, "I won''t sign! What can you do? If you dare, chop off my fingers."


    Sean furrowed his brows and nced up at Alexander.


    Alexander briefly looked over at Orion before shifting his gaze down to Quinn in his arms.


    Quinn, looking tense, grabbed Alexander''s sleeve, worried when she saw Orion being pressed against the table.


    Quinn couldn''tprehend why Alexander was treating Orion in such a manner. She shook Alexander''s sleeve and gestured, "He didn''t do anything to me."


    Alexander tousled Quinn''s hair with a smile. "Don''t worry. I was just kidding. There is nothing we can do now. Let''s go," he said, taking Quinn''s hand and guiding her away.


    Orion suddenly spoke up, "Alexander, what did you do to her? Why doesn''t she remember anything?"


    Alexander nced at him. "Orion, this isn''t your concern. What you need to do now is sign this agreement. I bet you don''t want your good friends to get hurt because of you again, right?" Orion''s expression changed slightly.


    Orion broke the silence with a question, "Apart from making threats, what else are you willing to do?" I understand now. You must have manipted Quinn''s memory out of fear that she would despise you, correct? Alexander, you''re despicable. Quinn, don''t listen to him. He''s maniptive and not a trustworthy person. Don''t let him deceive you."


    Before Orion could finish speaking, Sean covered his mouth. "Shut up!"


    Upon hearing Orion''s words, Quinn''s steps abruptly halted. She looked towards Alexander in bewilderment.

 Chapter 672

    Alexander''s expression darkened several shades as he red at Orion, a hint of malice evident in his eyes.


    Quinn, too, was startled by Alexander''s intense gaze, her fingers instinctively tightening.


    When Alexander nced back at Quinn, his expression softened as if what Quinn had witnessed was merely an illusion. Alexander said, "Alright, let''s go. Don''t listen to his nonsense."


    Quinn eyed Orion suspiciously and trailed after Alexander towards the door. Just as they were on the verge of reaching the exit, Orion, drawing upon some unknown reserve of strength, managed to break free from Sean''s grasp. Orion shouted at Quinn, "Quinn! Don''t trust him, he''s a monster! He''s already with Getty Morgan but he still won''t let you go. Don''t fall for his lies!"


    Then he shouted at Alexander, "Alexander, if you were a true man, you would handle this situation differently. Can you let gopletely? If you genuinely wanted to win her back, I''d have respect for you. But you''re deceiving her. I despise you!"


    Quinn trembled when she heard Getty''s name.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Alexander turned to Orion, shooting him a cold re with a hint of malice in his eyes. "Silence him," hemanded.


    Sean nodded and swiftly delivered a blow to the back of Orion''s head. Orion''s eyes rolled back as he crumpled, motionless, onto the coffee table.


    Quinn''s face changed, and she looked at Alexander in panic.


    "Don''t worry, he''s not dead." Alexander pulled Quinn into his arms, intending to take her away. Quinn kept looking back, Orion''s words echoing in her mind.


    Upon reflection, everything that had urred that day, including their conversations, appeared peculiar to Quinn. She realized that it wasn''t them who were abnormal, but rather herself. Quinn had seemingly forgotten too much and overlooked too many details.


    No one had informed Quinn about these matters back in Sylvadora, and even during her time on the ind with only Alexander, she had failed to notice. However, upon their return to Amber Bay, everything seemed to be unveiled. Thinking of these things, Quinn abruptly stopped walking, unwilling to continue.


    She looked up at Alexander and gestured, "Is what he said true?"


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    Alexander gently brushed Quinn''s cheek with his fingers, his voice soft and reassuring. "It''s not true, don''t let it sway you." His tone was velvety and alluring, exuding a captivating authority. "Are you going to trust a stranger instead of me?" Quinn bit her lip and nced back at Orion, hesitation shing in her eyes.


    After a moment of silence, Quinn tightened her grip on Alexander''s hand and shook her head.


    Her actions proved her answer. She chose to believe Alexander.


    After all, Orion was nothing more than a stranger to Quinn. At the same time, Alexander was the most significant person in her memories.


    Everything Quinn could remember was rted to Alexander. He had been so good to her; she should trust him.


    Alexander smiled faintly, took Quinn''s hand, and led her away.


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    Behind them, Oriony unconscious,pletely unaware of everything that was happening.


    By the time they reached the underground garage, Quinn couldn''t help but gesture, "What''s the deal with Getty?"


    Alexander paused, looking deeply into Quinn''s eyes.


    Quinn looked up, waiting for Alexander''s answer.


    After a moment, Alexander said with a faint smile."She''s not important."


    Quinn frowned, not understanding what he meant by "not important."


    Alexander said, "Alright, don''t think about it. Get in the car."


    Alexander pushed her into the car, not giving her another chance to ask


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Quinn''s mind was filled with questions, Orion''s words reverberating in her thoughts. Once Alexander joined her in the car, Quinn posed another inquiry, "Did I truly lose my memory?"

 Chapter 673

    Alexander''s hand paused as he fastened his seatbelt but quickly returned to normal. "We''ll talk about it when we get home. It''s tooplicated to exin now." Quinn nodded.


    She thought of Orion once more, and tugging on Alexander''s arm, gesturing with her hand, "That person we just saw, he..."


    Before Quinn could continue, Alexander swiftly took hold of her hand and said, "That''s enough, stop asking. We''ll discuss this when we get back home.


    Noticing the intensity in Alexander''s gaze, Quinn sensed his growing impatience.


    A feeling of heaviness weighed on Quinn''s heart, prompting her to silently lower her head and refrain from further questioning.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Alexander let go of Quinn, soothingly ruffled her hair, and drove the car out.


    Upon returning home, Quinn looked at the unfamiliar mansion.


    Alexander had said this was their home.


    Dr. Brown sat on the sofa talking with Ms. Miller. She wanted to introduce him to someone, and he was contemting how to decline. Just then, he saw Alexandere back. With a look of relief, Dr. Brown got up from the sofa and hurried over to greet them. "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, wee home."


    Ms. Miller also tactfully stepped forward, took the umbre from Alexander''s hand, and ced it by the door.


    Alexander guided Quinn into the house and up the stairs, with Dr. Brown close behind. It was evident to Quinn that Alexander had brought Dr. Brown here to provide rity on the situation.


    Once in the study, Alexander went to his desk and paid no further attention to Dr. Brown and Quinn.


    Dr. Brown gestured for Quinn to take a seat on the sofa. "Mrs. Kennedy, I''m here to gain insight into your current state," Dr. Brown stated.


    Quinn''s eyebrows furrowed. She stared straight at Dr. Brown, waiting for him to exin her illness.


    Dr. Brown said, "Well, you have a rtively rare form of Alzheimer''s disease..."


    Meanwhile.


    Orion slowly woke up.


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    Rubbing the back of his head, Orion groggily got up from the ground and, upon looking up, saw Sean sitting behind him.


    Orion btedly remembered what had happened and abruptly stood up, angrily saying, "You actually ambushed me."


    Sean looked at him expressionlessly, with a hint of disdain, "Do you really think I need to ambush you?"


    After saying this, he added another blow to Orion''s ego. "Worthless."


    "You..." Orion was so angry with Sean that he almost started a fight.


    But Orion had just learned that he was powerless against Sean.


    "Save your breath, Orion. Just sign the divorce papers and let''s wrap this up. There are plenty of women out there. Why keep getting tangled up with Mr. Kennedy?" Sean urged, growing impatient. Orionughed in spite. "So you knew I was opposing him."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Orion strolled over, taking a seat opposite Sean and nonchntly crossing his legs. "Save your time. I am not signing them."


    "Don''t waste my kindness, or you''ll have to face the consequences." Sean red coldly at Orion, especially because of his rogue-like demeanor. He wanted to kill him.


    Orion responded, "You''re correct; I''m the type of person who wees challenges. Whatever you have, I''m ready for it. I won''t sign. As long as I refuse to sign, Quinn remains my wife. They will never be recognized as legitimate, and when she passes away, she will be buried with me. If he''s brave enough, he should keep her by his side." With a sense of calm, Orion casually picked up an orange from the table and assessed its weight in his hand.


    Sean''s eyebrows furrowed, and he threatened. "Aren''t you afraid I''ll kill you?"


    "Well, what are you waiting for? Just do it!" Orion shot him a nce, and when he saw the anger on his face, Orion couldn''t help but chuckle. "Seems like you''re all talk and no action. So why are you still here? Just leave."


    Orion added, "By the way, Quinn is my wife. Everybody knows it online. So, you might as well not waste your effort."


    Sean''s face changed, "What do you mean?"


    Orion jerked his chin up. "Check the trending topics on Twitter."


    Sean quickly pulled out his phone and opened Twitter. Among the top ten trending topics, seven were rted to the official announcement of The Heart Entertainment Group''s second son.

 Chapter 674

    I just clicked in and saw Orion''s Instagram post.


    It was his marriage certificate with Quinn. Quinn''s name had been blurred out, but her picture hadn''t.


    Moreover, Orion shamelessly changed his Instagram ID to ''I Love My Wife the Most.""


    The caption read: [Please spend the rest of your life with me.]


    Additionally, Orion utilized all his connections, with numerous celebrities reposting his Instagram post and sending their blessings.


    With so many celebrities endorsing him, Orion''s identity and the marriage were naturally set in stone.


    "You!" Sean was almost exploding with anger. He no longer cared about signing any divorce agreement and quickly ran out to call Alexander to discuss the issue.


    After Sean left, Orion quickly ran to the door and locked Sean outside.


    Regal Riverside


    Soren told Quinn everything he had prepared earlier and showed her the notebook she had before.


    When Quinn finished reading, she didn''t find much useful information, as Alexander had torn most of it out.


    This notebook seems like a joke, aside from details about what she ate, her daily activities, and her interactions with Alexander. There was no other information, including details about Orion, Soren, Olivia, and others, all of which were missing. Quinn could only listen to Soren.


    After he finished, Quinn roughly understood what was wrong with her illness.


    Quinn nced at Alexander, who was engrossed in hisputer and didn''t notice her. She started to feel like she may have misunderstood Alexander.


    She almost believed Orion''s words just now, thinking that Alexander had really done something to her. Now, she regretted it and felt extremely guilty.


    Havingpleted his task, Soren stood up, and said, "Mr. Kennedy, bye for now."


    Sean was calling; Alexander picked up his phone and waved his hand, indicating he could leave.


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    Alexander answered the call, and Sean said on the other end. "Mr. Kennedy, something''s wrong. Check Instagram."


    Alexander hung up and opened Instagram.


    Even by looking at the trending topics, just by looking at the rmended homepage, seven out of ten posts were about Orion getting married.


    The influence of celebrities was undeniable. There are countless likes andments below the post.


    The William family held considerable power in the entertainment industry. Even without an invitation, people would probably repost upon seeing it.


    Orion posted the photos on Instagram on Christmas Day, sparking excitement thatsted for three days, and kept growing.


    Orion purposely leaked the photos to protect himself. If anything were to happen to him one day, Quinn could never be exposed by being associated with Alexander. The turmoil at the marriage registry office has just passed, and now his marriage news has been leaked.


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    Now, if Alexander wanted to take action against him, he would have to consider the consequences. Once things escte, it wouldn''t end easily.


    Alexander looked at that Instagram post, his expression gradually darkening.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Even from this distance, Quinn could feel the chill emanating from him.


    She hesitated for a moment, then timidly walked towards Alexander.


    Alexander ced his phone on the table. His voice was low, but it made Quinn shiver.


    Quinn tugged at his sleeve.


    Alexander nced at her sideways. His eyes filled with frost, making Quinn hesitant to speak to him.


    Suddenly, Alexander stood up, grabbed his coat, and quickly strode out. The wind he stirred up seemed to carry a sense of danger.

 Chapter 675

    When Quinn chased out, Alexander had already left.


    Olivia seemed afraid that she would also run out, and she stood in front of her, looking respectful but ready to stop her at any time.


    Quinn turned to look at Olivia and gestured, "What is he going to do?"


    Why did hee back and leave so suddenly...


    Olivia chuckled. "I''m not sure, but Mrs. Kennedy, it''ste. You should go to bed early.


    Quinn hesitated, looking towards the door. She didn''t want to sleep.


    But Olivia had already helped her upstairs, and under Olivia''s push, Quinn had to go upstairs.


    Quinny on the bed. The rain outside was still pattering. She tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.


    She was used to being with Alexander. Now she was alone. Therge mansion felt empty with only her and Olivia.


    After Alexander left Regal Riverside, he drove straight to Orion''s ce.


    When Orion pulled off this stunt, Charles was furious. By the time he found out, news had gone viral on the inte.


    Orion, the culprit, naturally stayed away and didn''t dare to return.


    Orion''s mother bought this house out of concern for her son facing difficulties outside, giving him a secret ce to stay. Currently, Orion could only seek refuge in this house.


    Sean crouched at the doorstep, too afraid to leave.


    Sean was contemting whether it was better to break down the door or pick the lock in order to enter and confront Orion.


    Just as he was thinking, Alexander arrived.


    Sean immediately stood up from the ground, staring at Alexander with a murderous aura, unable to help but shiver.


    Sean said, "Mr. Kennedy."


    Alexander came to the door, a chilling aura surrounding him, scaring Sean to the core.


    Alexander said, "Break the door."


    Sean hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded, raising his foot to kick the door lock. The noise was loud inside the house, catching Orion''s attention.


    His eyelids twitched as he realized it was not a good sign.


    Orion rushed to the window, pushed it open, and peered down into the darkness below. Luckily, they were on the second floor.


    Orion scanned the room and noticed the nearby curtains. The door had a password lock. After a few kicks, it set off a loud rm. Sean paused for a moment, hesitating as he nced at Alexander.


    Alexander said, "Continue."


    Sean gritted his teeth and continued to kick. The noise was too loud, and neighbors began to emerge to see what was happening. However, upon witnessing Alexander''s stern expression, they quietly withdrew. After the tenth kick, the door finally opened.


    Sean immediately pushed the door open and ran in.


    The divorce agreement sat on the coffee table, bearing a single, bold statement: [Divorce? Try it in your next life!]


    Therge words were scattered all over the divorce agreement, covering the font on the agreement.


    Upon witnessing this, Sean hurried into the house and searched through it multiple times. However, Orion had already fled long before, leaving the window wide open. Sean nervously looked at Alexander beside him.


    Alexander gazed at the curtains on the floor, his expression as still as water, and he remained silent. His cold demeanor sent shivers down his spine. Undoubtedly, if Orion were to appear at that moment, Alexander would strangle him without hesitation.


    Sean said, "This brat probably knew you were up to no good, so he ran off."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Alexander still didn''t speak.


    Sean then added, "It looks like he sent his brother away. I checked, and it appears he was sent abroad. As for the foster home, the director has been reced. I have no clue where the original director went."

 Chapter 676

    Before Sean could finish, Alexander turned around and walked out.


    Sean hurried to catch up, hesitantly asking, "Mr. Kennedy, what do we do now?"


    "Find him." Alexander murmured.


    "Okay," Sean replied.


    Sean wiped the sweat from his forehead and couldn''t help but worry about Alexander. Landon''s problem hadn''t been resolved, and now Orion had emerged, stirring up trouble. It was a crisis from all angles now. After jumping down from upstairs, Orion didn''t immediately rush to leave. Instead, he hid in a corner of the neighborhood, staring intently at the exit.


    He squatted for a while before finally seeing Alexander''s car drive away.


    As he watched the Bentley disappear into the rainy night, Orion finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    He sat on the ground, rubbing his ankle. He had twisted it when he jumped down earlier, and it was throbbing with pain.


    Charles called again. Orion took out his phone, noticed it was his father, pursed his lips, and silenced the phone before putting it away.


    It wasn''t just Alexander looking for him anymore, his father was also searching for him. Orion had gotten himself into quite a mess, but he didn''t regret it.


    When he was in the hospital and saw Sebastian barely clinging to life, Orion had silently sworn to himself to stand against Alexander.


    It was no longer about Quinn but about the hostility between Orion and Alexander.


    With the pain in his ankle, Orion gritted his teeth, stood up from the ground, and limped upstairs.


    Sean watched as the car took Alexander back to Regal Riverside, constantly ncing at the rearview mirror.


    Alexander was sitting in the back seat of the car, his arm resting on the window, pinching the bridge of his nose. His aura was so strong that it felt as if anyone who touched him would perish. He was like a hedgehog dipped in poison.


    Sean didn''t dare to speak all the way, only whispering when they arrived, "Mr. Kennedy, we''re here."


    Alexander opened his eyes but didn''t get out of the car.


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    He took out a cigarette, lit it, and sat in the car quietly smoking with a pensive look on his face.


    Sean waited silently.


    After a while, Alexander suddenly said, "Call Kyle over."


    Sean replied, "Okay! I''ll call him right away."


    Alexander opened the car door and stepped out without bothering with an umbre, braving the rain to enter the vi.


    Two dogs emerged from a doghouse in the corner upon hearing footsteps, wagging their tails as they ran towards him.


    Alexander paid them no attention, but the dogs,cking any sense of boundaries, jumped towards his heels.


    Alexander stopped in his tracks and looked back at the two dogs.


    Sensing danger, the two dogs hesitated, tilted their heads at Alexander, then immediately turned and ran out.


    Only then did Alexander retract his gaze and head upstairs.


    Kyle arrived shortly after, having been briefed by Sean on the situation beforehand. He understood why Alexander had called for him. As he entered the study, Kyle knocked on the door and pushed it open.


    Kyle said, "Mr. Kennedy?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Sitting behind the desk, Alexander looked up at Kyle and inquired, "Has Landon arrived yet?"


    Kyle nodded, "No, he hasn''t appeared, but since thepany is on holiday. It''s understandable even if he doesn''t show up."


    Alexander continued, "Have you checked Instagram?"


    Kyle replied, "I did. I checked beforeing. Mr. William appears to be addressing the issue, but it has been attracting a lot of attentiontely, and Mr. William is working on finding a solution." Alexander sneered, "He sure raised a good son."


    Kyle remained silent.


    After a moment of silence, seeing Alexander not speaking, he asked, "So how do we solve this now?"

 Chapter 677

    Alexander scoffed, "It''s not a big issue. Just make sure someone keeps a close eye on him. We can''t risk him escaping again."


    Kyle nodded in agreement. "Understood."


    Settling back, Alexander pulled out a cigarette. "I''ll pay him a visit tomorrow."


    Suddenly, a thunderous noise outside startled Quinn from her sleep. She panted heavily as she stared at the ceiling, sweat dripping down her forehead.


    Clutching the nket tightly, Quinn stared at the snow-white ceiling for a while.


    When the outside quieted down, she immediately got out of bed and searched everywhere for Alexander''s figure.


    Quinn pushed the door open, looking at the quiet corridor. Her heart was racing once again.


    As she was about to head downstairs, Kyle''s voice suddenly sounded from behind. "Mrs. Kennedy?"


    Quinn paused her steps, turning back.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, why are you still up sote?" Kyle nced at the time. It was almost midnight.


    Quinn tilted her head, staring at Kyle for a while before finally recognizing him. She gestured, "I''m going to find Alexander."


    Kyle didn''t understand, but he caught the word Alexander.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Hastily, Kyle said, "Mr. Kennedy is in the study. Why are you going downstairs?"


    Quinn blinked, then ignored Kyle and ran towards the study.


    She pushed the door open and, indeed, saw Alexander in the study. Her face lit up with joy as she walked in.


    Alexander was sitting on the sofa, reading some documents.


    Sensing something, Alexander looked up and saw Quinn running towards him.


    In three quick steps, Quinn reached Alexander''s side and, without waiting for his reaction, she threw herself into his arms. Alexander held her, looking down at her. "Why aren''t you asleep?"


    Quinn tilted her head back, looking up at him pitifully. After a moment, she gestured, "There''s thunder outside, I''m scared."


    Alexander wrapped his arms around her, letting her sit on hisp. "It''s just thunder. There''s no need to be scared. Why aren''t you wearing shoes?"


    Quinn shook her head, holding onto Alexander''s neck tightly and refusing to release him. She was afraid of thunder. In the past, whenever it thundered, she had a servant by her side. But now, when she woke up, she was alone. How could Quinn possibly not be scared?


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    Alexander helplessly looked at Quinn, reaching out to pat her head. "Should I stay with you?"


    A smile appeared in Quinn''s eyes as she nodded vigorously.


    Alexander lifted her, Quinn''s arms around his neck, and he held her legs around his waist. Quinn was hanging on him like a monkey.


    Alexander carried Quinn back to the bedroom and ced her on the bed.


    Quinn tugged at his sleeve as if afraid he would leave, holding onto him tightly.


    Seeing through her thoughts, Alexander said, "I promised to stay with you. I won''t leave."


    Quinn stared at him with wide eyes.


    Somewhat exasperated, Alexander said, "How am I supposed to undress if you don''t let go?"

 Chapter 678

    Quinn finally let go of his sleeves.


    Alexander took off his jacket, went to the closet to get a robe to put on, and then returned to bed.


    Quinn took the initiative to snuggle into his arms, embracing his waist, and fell asleep peacefully.


    Alexander held her, gently stroking her hair with his fingers in a leisurely manner. His gaze was fixed outside the window, lost in thought.


    In addition to Charles, Kyle also started addressing the trending issue.


    By the next day, the discussion became smaller.


    In the end, it wasn''t a groundbreaking event. The main reason for the sudden surge in poprity was the buzz generated by celebrities reposting. As the trending topic lost steam,izens shifted their focus to other news.


    The next day, when Orion woke up, he wanted to see what had happened. However, when he opened Instagram, it was surprisingly quiet.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    It could be described as calm.


    Rubbing his eyes, Orion doubted if he was still half asleep.


    Even more terrifying was the fact that his previous Instagram post had been deleted!


    It was definitely Charles who did it, as only he had ess to his ount.


    Orion was instantly very angry. He grabbed his phone and called Charles.


    The call connected, and Charles immediately erupted on the other end. "You troublemaker, look at the mess you''ve caused. How dare you call back? Where are you now? Come back here immediately!" Ignoring Charles'' words, Orion questioned, "Did you delete my Instagram?"


    Charles shouted, "Yes I did! So what? Nowe back, or I''ll break your legs when I find you!"


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    Orion also got angry. He said impatiently, "Come and get me then! What else can you do besides threatening me? What kind of father are you. You are against your own son. That''s pathetic! What is so good about him?" "You!" Charles was so angry that he almost had a heart attack. He clutched his chest and took several deep breaths to calm down.


    After a moment, Charles softened his tone and spoke earnestly, saying, "Orion, please listen to me. Quickly divorce Quinn. Stop fooling around, okay?"


    "There are so many women in this world. I can find you whatever type you like. Why do you have to mess with Alexander''s woman?"


    Orion responded, "He provoked me first. Whether it''s for Sebastian or those dogs at my base, I can''t possibly let him go."


    "Are you trying to piss me off?" Charles now wished he could strangle his son. He was always the number one troublemaker!


    Orion said, "Stop talking. Since you won''t help me, don''t meddle in my affairs. Do not delete my Instagram again!"


    Charles chuckled.


    Charles didn''t want to exin much. He continued persuading. "Do you know how immature your behavior is? What can you get from posting on Instagram?"


    "Do you think you''re some celebrity? You''re nothing. No one knows you. All this attention you''re getting is thanks to those celebrities. Do people really care about you?"


    "That''s their attention. Do you really think you can suppress Alexander like this? Don''t be so naive!"


    Charles'' words made Orion stiffen. He gradually tightened his fingers, holding the phone, his knuckles turning white.


    Charles was right. The heat of these days waspletely false prosperity, but if he could keep this heat going, it could lead to a qualitative change through quantitative umtion! Charles said, "Do you hear me? Come back now and stop these childish behaviors!"


    "I''m noting back." Orion also calmed down. After saying this, he hung up the phone.


    At that moment, someone suddenly pushed open the door that had been kicked in by Orion the night before and hadn''t been repaired yet.

 Chapter 679

    Orion subconsciously turned his head, and unsurprisingly. Alexander was there again.


    He had intended to run, but upon seeing Sean, he abandoned the idea of escaping.


    Alexander leisurely walked over and sat across from him, casually looking at him.


    Orion''s expression wasn''t too good. He awkwardly red at Alexander and asked impatiently, "What do you want?" Alexander looked at him indifferently, his gaze scanning his face several times before chuckling.


    Orion was puzzled. He looked up at the man in front of him. "Why are youughing?"


    Alexander said, "Orion, are you sure you don''t want a divorce?"


    Orion leaned back on the sofa, looking at him defiantly. "What if I don''t want a divorce? Are you here to kill me today?" Alexander shook his head slightly, "I want to talk to you."


    Orion said, "There''s nothing for us to talk about."


    Alexander said, "Why is that? You keep iming Quinn is your wife, isn''t that something worth discussing?"


    Orion furrowed his brows, looking at him in confusion.


    He didn''t know what schemes Alexander had, so he hesitantly asked, "What do you want to about?"


    Alexander said, "Don''t you want to know why Quinn doesn''t remember you? I can tell you."


    Upon hearing this, Orion sat up straight, staring straight at Alexander. "Are you trying to deceive me?" Alexander signaled to Sean.


    Sean immediately understood and handed a file to Orion.


    Orion suspiciously took the file bag, opened it, and looked through the documents inside.


    It was Quinn''s medical report.


    Orion carefully read through the file from beginning to end, and the more he read, the more serious his expression became.


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    After a few minutes, he looked at Alexander. "Is this true?"


    Alexander said, "Haven''t you already confirmed it?"


    Orion fell silent. Indeed,st night, when Quinn changed clothes in front of him, he sensed something was wrong. Now, seeing this report and observing Quinn''s reactions, it appeared to be true. Orion asked, "So you''re saying her current memory only goes up to when she was ten?"


    Alexander nodded slightly, "Yes."


    Orion looked crestfallen.


    Alexander said, "She doesn''t remember you now, only me. Even if you don''t divorce her, she won''t be with you."


    Orion had never really entertained the idea of being with Quinn. Maybe he had thought about it in the past, but now he just wanted to y a game with her and Alexander.


    Alexander said, "You''re hurting her. It doesn''t affect me. I can even hand her over to you for a few days."


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Orion was puzzled once more, growing more suspicious. He examined Alexander closely, wondering if he had misunderstood.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Orion asked, "What did you say?"


    Alexander replied, "I don''t want to have to repeat myself. I''m giving you this opportunity. If you can seize it and if she''s willing to stay with you, I won''t object to your marriage. But if you can''t keep her, then I hope you''ll agree to sign this divorce agreement. Our issues can be resolved through other means, without involving Quinn. I trust that when you first intended to marry her, it wasn''t to use her against me, right?" Orion fell silent.


    Alexander was right. When he initially got married to Quinn, he genuinely liked her.


    But getting married led to the current conflict with Alexander, and now he wanted to use Quinn against him.


    This was clearly unfair to Quinn.


    Orion shouldn''t hurt Quinn, especially since she was currently ill.


    Orion''s tendency to adopt numerous stray dogs indicated that hispassionate nature would likely result in him losing to Alexander.


    After contemting for a moment, Orion decisively lifted his head and gazed at Alexander. "Alright, let''s proceed as you suggested," he said.


    Alexander nodded, indicating that Sean should hand him the new divorce agreement.

 Chapter 680

    Sean understood and threw the divorce agreement on the coffee table.


    Alexander didn''t waste any more words with him. He stood up to leave, and as he walked to the door, he turned back to Orion and said, "Please take care of her."


    Orion remained silent.


    Anyway, he still wanted to give it a try.


    Since Quinn''s memory was limited to the age of ten, if Alexander could win her heart, why couldn''t he? Alexander nced at Orion''s constantly shifting eyes, his gaze intensifying before he left the room without turning back. Quinn was still having dinner in the vi at this moment.


    She didn''t eat muchst night, and now Quinn was hungry.


    Because she woke up this morning with Alexander, she was in a good mood now.


    After finishing breakfast, Alexander happened toe back.


    Quinn joyfully ran towards him and habitually hugged him.


    Alexander patted Quinn''s back, pushed her away a bit, and said, "Quinn, do you remember the person from yesterday?"


    Quinn nodded. Of course, she remembered.


    Alexander paused and said, "Would it be okay for you to stay with him for a few days?"


    A frozen smile appeared at the corner of Quinn''s mouth. She slowly widened her eyes, looking at Alexander, puzzled.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    She shook her head vigorously, gesturing, "No, I don''t want to stay with him!"


    Alexander touched her cheek and said softly, "Don''t worry, he won''t harm you. I might be too busy to take care of you these days."


    Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes. She looked deeply at Alexander, gesturing, "Don''t you want me anymore?"


    Alexander replied, "Why do you say so? It''s just for a few days."


    Quinn bit her lip, wanting to shake her head in refusal. However, seeing the unmistakable hint of disapproval in Alexander''s eyes, she forced herself to refrain from doing so. Quinn could only stubbornly grab his sleeve, tears swirling in her eyes.


    She didn''t even know that person. Why did Alexander want her to stay with him?


    Alexander rubbed the corner of her eye, wiping away the tears. "Why are you crying?"


    Quinn fought back the urge to cry and signed, "You said you wouldn''t leave me alone."


    Alexander said, "I didn''t say I was going to leave you. I simply suggested that you go and spend a few days with him. Can''t you see what I''m trying to say?" Alexander''s tone was somewhat stern, which caught Quinn off guard. Her fingers, gripping his sleeve, tightened, causing her knuckles to turn slightly white. Quinn gestured, ;"Did I do something wrong? Can I make up for it?"


    Alexander looked at her for a while, then called out, "Sean."


    Sean immediately ran in, "Mr. Kennedy."


    Alexandersaid, "Take her away."


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Sean nodded and made an invitation gesture. ;"Mrs. Kennedy, please."


    Quinn still held onto Alexander''s sleeve. She didn''t want to go. Couldn''t he see? Alexander clearly knew she didn''t want to go, but he had to send her away.


    Although he said it was just for a few days, in Quinn''s eyes, it was a rejection.


    Seeing her not moving, Sean bravely grabbed Quinn''s wrist. "Mrs. Kennedy, let''s go."


    Sean pulled Quinn away, and she looked at Alexander pleadingly, her fingers clutching his sleeve, but he did not look back at her.


    Quinn was unable to resist Sean''s strength as he dragged her away. Her fingers gradually slipped from his sleeve, eventually falling away empty. "Alexander."


    Alexander frowned and turned to look at Quinn.


    Tears ran down Quinn''s face as she noticed the impatience on Alexander''s face and the indifference in his expression. Her hand, frozen in mid-air, slowly fell to her side. If she didn''t listen, Alexander would dislike her.

 Chapter 681

    Quinn didn''t want Alexander to dislike her, so she could only obediently listen to him.


    Sean pulled her out of the vi, and the gate blocked her view of Alexander.


    Sean took Quinn to the car, and after getting in. She quieted down.


    Sean nced at Quinn through the rearview mirror. She was crying very sadly.


    But even so, Quinn didn''t insist on getting out of the car. Just sat quietly in the back and cried.


    Sean felt a bit sorry.


    However, Alexander''s method was the quickest solution. Only when Orion willingly signed the divorce agreement would he give up on Quinn in the future.


    And a few days shouldn''t be a big deal.


    ''Why is she so upset? She''s just a child within.'' Sean thought to himself, but his actions didn''t stop. He drove the car out.


    Indoors, Alexander watched the car drive away, his brows furrowed and never rxed.


    Soren reminded quietly beside him. "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy''s illness..."


    Alexander nced at him. "What do you want to say?"


    Soren said with aplicated expression. "I''ve seen the diagnosis you brought back from Sylvadora. Didn''t the doctor mention that the cause of Mrs. Kennedy''s memory degeneration hasn''t been identified yet? If you send her over in this state, won''t it... be serious?"


    Alexander said, "How serious can it be in a few days?"


    Soren said, "Well... I can''t say for certain. If Mrs. Kennedy is truly only ten years old, sending her over might not be a big deal, but given this illness, it''s difficult to say."


    Alexander asked, "Do you know what caused her memory degeneration?"


    Soren replied, "I don''t know."


    "Then shut up!" Alexander''s face changed instantly, and his sharp tone startled Soren.


    Soren dared not speak again.


    Alexander called Sean and asked him to send a few people to watch over Quinn, then plunged into the study.


    Not long after, Walter also arrived.


    Aftering in and not seeing Quinn, he was puzzled and asked Olivia, "Where''s the little mute girl?"


    Olivia looked embarrassed, nced upstairs, and told Walter about what had just happened.


    Walter raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "This guy can really do anything."


    Olivia awkwardly smiled, not knowing how toment.


    She could see that Quinn had been sticking to Alexander tightly these past few days, and now he just sent her away like that. Quinn was probably going to be heartbroken. Walter didn''t go up to find Alexander either. He went straight to the sofa and sat down, pouring himself a ss of water.


    He held the water but didn''t drink it, staring at the ss for a while.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "Orion is indeed a troublemaker, so it''s better to resolve it early." Speaking almost to himself, he took a sip of water.


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    The real trouble hadn''t been Orion but the William family behind him.


    Handling Landon alone had already been difficult, and if Landon had the chance to coborate with the William family, things would have be even moreplicated.


    So, making Orion voluntarily give up on Quinn might have been a permanent solution.


    If one could ignore Quinn''s condition, that was.


    At that time, Sean had already brought Quinn to Orion''s house.


    Sean said, "Mr. William, I have brought her here as per the agreement between you and Mr. Kennedy. The agreed period is five days. If by then Mrs. Kennedy still does not want to stay with you, I hope you will keep your promise and sign the divorce agreement."


    Orion had looked at Quinn. She seemed to have been crying; her eyes were still red.


    Upon hearing Sean''s words, Orion averted his gaze and replied, "I understand. Do you think I''m like Alexander, going back on my word?"


    If Quinn had refused to stay, Orion would naturally have had to let her go.


    He wouldn''t have been like Alexander, refusing to let go even after a divorce. Orion thought, ''Such a bad man.''

 Chapter 682

    Sean didn''t know that Orion was cursing Alexander in his heart. Anyway, the person had been brought here. He paused, looked at the divorce agreement on the coffee table, turned, and walked out. Orion immediately ran over to close the door, but the door was still broken.


    Orion attempted to close it for some time, but there was still a gap. Frustrated, he eventually gave up and propped it open with a chair.


    Orion looked at Quinn again, "Quinn, don''t be afraid. I won''t hurt you."


    Quinn raised her eyelids to look at Orion, then lowered her head again, standing at the door without moving.


    Orion went to hold Quinn''s hand. "Don''t just stand there,e and sit down."


    Orion guided Quinn to sit on the sofa, and he settled down beside her. It felt like the first time they were alone in a room together, and Orion seemed a bit awkward.


    "Quinn," Orion called out to her.


    Quinn turned her head to stare at him.


    Orion said, "Don''t be afraid, just stay for five days, and in five days, you can return to that Alexander."


    Orion didn''t know why he said that. Was it because hecked confidence in keeping Quinn, or did he feel that the bond between her and Alexander was not something he could break in just five days? Maybe Alexander was confident enough to send Quinn here because he knew Orion wouldn''t be able to hold onto her, so he was rxed.


    Regardless of the reason, Orion felt he didn''t stand a chance.


    But at least Orion could spend five days with Quinn.


    Five days would be enough.


    It was better than getting married and divorced without spending a day with Quinn.


    With these thoughts in mind, Orion let out a long sigh.


    Orion asked, "Do you want to watch TV?"


    Quinn shook her head.


    Quinn sat quietly on the sofa with red eyes showing that she didn''t like being there.


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    Orion hesitated several times while looking at Quinn''s expression, wondering whether he should send her back.


    In the end, his selfishness prevailed, and he decided to hold back.


    Orion stood up to fetch her a drink, a bottle of children''s beverage specially purchased from downstairs, aware that Quinn''s memories only went back to when she was ten years old. Quinn nced at Orion, took the drink from him, and quietly drank it.


    Watching her drink, Orion felt a slight tug at his heart.


    Compared to Quinn before losing her memory, she now seemed more obedient.


    Quinn was wearing a white sweater and a white down jacket with a fluffy hat.


    Orion was somewhat lost in thought as he watched her.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    After finishing the drink, Quinn ced the empty bottle back on the coffee table.


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    Quinn remained motionless.


    "Oh, I haven''t given you the Christmas gift I prepared for you," Orion said, getting up and running back into the room, quickly returning with a bunch of things.


    Quinn stared at the bag in his hand, watching as he took out one gift box after another, blinking her eyes.


    The first box Orion took out contained a ne.


    Orion asked, "Do you like this?"


    Quinn stared at the ne, silent, without expressing an opinion.


    Unsure whether she liked it or not, Orion took out another box, which contained a pair of white gloves.


    Orien said, "It''s cold now, so you might need these. And this bracelet was rmended by someone else. This hair clip. Isn''t it pretty? Also rmended by someone else. Although it looks small, it cost me over 775 dors." Orion rambled on about the gifts, but Quinn didn''t look at them. Her gaze fixed on his face.

 Chapter 683

    Orion took out all the gifts. At least a dozen were women''s essories.


    After introducing them, he turned to Quinn and smiled. "Do you like any of them?"


    Perhaps Orion''s smile was too bright. Quinn was distracted for a moment.


    She was silent for a moment, then looked at the gifts on the table and pointed to the pink hair clip.


    Seeing this, Orion immediately picked up the hair clip. "So you like this one. Let me put it on for you."


    He held the hair clip, stood up, and carefully clipped it in front of Quinn''s forehead.


    Orion gazed at the hair clip on her bangs with a puzzled expression. "It seems out of ce to wear it here."


    With that, Orion took it off again and clipped it to the top of Quinn''s head.


    Orion said, "Now it''s right, you look really good with it on."


    Upon receiving Orion''s praise, Quinn remained silent, pursing her lips. The atmosphere became slightly awkward after that.


    Orion thought it was not fun to sit in the house all day, so he suggested going out.


    Since Quinn didn''t say a word and didn''t interact with him, Orion took it as her consent.


    Orion took Quinn''s hand, pulled her up from the sofa, and went out directly.


    Once in the car, Orion took Quinn to a nearby park.


    The park was spacious, though somewhat dreary in the winter. Despite the season, many people, including children and couples, were still enjoying themselves there.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    The bare branches were adorned with colorful lights, and there was a river in the park with many rivernterns floating on it. However, because of the rain, some of the low-quality rivernterns had begun to deteriorate, transforming into a pile of debris floating on the surface.


    Orion said, It''s very beautiful here at night, but it has been rainingtely, so we haven''t had the chance to see it. If it doesn''t rain tonight, we can stay a bit longer."


    Orion kept talking to himself, afraid that Quinn might get lost, so he kept holding her hand.


    Quinn, on the other hand, quietly followed him, scanning the surroundings, trying to find Alexander among the crowd.


    Although it was lively here and Orion was apanying her, Quinn felt even lonelier than on the ind.


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    Quinn felt empty inside as if something was missing.


    Perhaps she felt that Alexander didn''t want her anymore.


    He sent her to Orion, but once she got settled in, he would no longer desire her. Alexander was only deceiving her by saying she would only stay there for five days.


    Thinking of this, Quinn cried again.


    Orion sensed something was wrong; he turned to look and saw her eyes red again.


    "Quinn... What''s the matter? Do you not like it here?" Orion was a bit confused. He patted his pockets and realized he didn''t have any tissues, so he rolled up his sleeves to wipe her tears. "Don''t cry. If you don''t like it here, shall we go somewhere else?"


    Orion wiped Quinn''s tears, but it seemed the more he wiped, the more she cried.


    Finally, Quinn grinned and burst into tears.


    This was the second time Orion heard Quinn''s voice. Thest time was when Alexander wanted to harm him, prompting Quinn to intervene.


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    In a sense, Quinn spoke because of Orion.


    Rather than being shocked, Orion was more amazed.


    There was a kind of indescribable astonishment, like opening a mystery box and finding exactly what you wanted inside. Quinn''s voice was almost exactly how Orion had imagined it.


    When she spoke, it pierced his heart deeply.


    But now Quinn was crying, and Orion had no intention of admiring her voice.He just wanted her to stop crying.


    Orion asked, "Quinn, what''s wrong? Tell me, don''t cry."


    Quinn sat on the ground crying directly.


    Her crying, even though she was a grown woman, drew attention from those around them. Some people thought she was being melodramatic, while others spected about what might have transpired between the two. Perhaps her boyfriend had upset her to the point of tears.


    Orion also squatted down on the ground, looking at Quinn with aplex expression.


    Outside the park, there was a ck Bentley parked.


    Kyle spotted Quinn crying on the ground at first nce. he couldn''t help but sigh." She really is like a child. And a very challenging one to deal with, at that. I wonder if Orion can handle this for five days."

 Chapter 684

    Kyle sighed and then sneakily nced at Alexander in the rearview mirror.


    He also nced at Quinn in the distance, his gaze calm and his face devoid of any expression.


    Kyle whispered, "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy is crying so much... Is everything okay?"


    Alexander didn''t respond to his words.


    Kyle mustered up his courage and said, "It looks like she really can''t be without you. I believe in less than five days, or at most two days, Orion won''t be able to bear it and will bring her back." "Let''s go." Alexander suddenly said.


    Kyle said, "What?"


    Alexander said, "Don''t understand?"


    Kyle silently drove the car out.


    Orion was at a loss with Quinn. He was not good atforting people, especially children.


    Quinn was acting like a child now. How could Orionfort her?


    Orion looked around and suddenly saw a hot dog vendor over there. He was delighted and quickly waved to the vendor. "Hey! Excuse me!"


    Orion''s voice was loud, once again attracting the attention of many people.


    The vendor also hurried over after hearing it, looked at Quinn, who was crying on the ground and smiled mysteriously.


    The vendor asked, "Young man, did you make your girlfriend cry?"


    Orion awkwardly smiled. "Can I have two hot dogs?"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    The vendor asked again, "Which one do you want?"


    Orion pointed to one of them. "How much is that?"


    The vendor replied, "3 dors each, 6 dors for two."


    "Okay, I''ll take two." Orion stood up, took out cash from his pocket, and handed it to the vendor.


    Orion''s card was frozen now, and he couldn''t use a penny on his phone. He was relying on his brother for help, so he had cash on him.


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    After getting the hot dogs, Orion squatted back down, handed them to Quinn, and said, "Quinn, what is this?"


    Quinn looked at the hot dog in Orion''s hand with teary eyes, and her crying gradually stopped.


    Finally, Orion let out a sigh of relief and handed Quinn the hot dog, saying, "Here, eat this. You''ll feel better after you''ve eaten something."


    Quinn took the hot dog, stared at it for a while, and then tasted it.


    Orion asked, "Is it delicious?"


    Quinn nodded, took a bite, and chewed.


    The hot dogs were difficult to chew, and now Quinn''s cheeks were puffed out, making her look like a hamster. With tears clinging to her eyshes, she appeared pitiful and cute. Orion held Quinn''s hand. "Alright, stop squatting on the ground. I''ll take you somewhere else to y."


    Quinn concentrated on eating her hot dog, and as Orion guided her, she followed without hesitation, as if she could be easily swayed by just a lollipop.


    Orion walked with her in the park for a while, and he saw a slide and a swing over there.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "Quinn, do you want to sit on that swing?" Orion pointed to the swing and asked.


    As he spoke, Orion turned to look at her, and she was still eating the hot dog.


    "Quinn."


    "Quinn?"


    Orion called her several times, but she didn''t respond. Orion couldn''t help but furrow his brow.


    He pinched Quinn''s hand. "Quinn, can you hear me?"


    Quinn raised her head in confusion, and Orion breathed a sigh of relief. He almost thought that Quinn couldn''t hear him just now.


    But from her expression, it seemed like she was asking Orion if he was calling her.


    Orion''s heart skipped a beat. He swallowed nervously and tentatively asked, "Do you know what your name is?"


    Quinn chewed on the hot dog, her eyes bing more puzzled.


    After thinking for a while, Quinn shook her head at Orion.

 Chapter 685

    Orion gazed at Quinn in disbelief, his eyes bulging, shocked into a speechless silence.


    Quinn was eating a hot dog,pletely unaware of Orion''s astonishment.


    Orion opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then found himself at a loss for words.


    Orion didn''t even realize when Quinn started to have an issue. If it weren''t for her clear and innocent eyes, Orion would have thought she was joking with him. Orion no longer felt like wandering around. She guided Quinn to a nearby bench to sit down.


    Orion stared straight at Quinn, trying to read something from her face.


    Quinn finished the hot dog and moved on to the second one, taking a bite.


    Orion couldn''t help but wipe the cold sweat off his forehead as he watched Quinn eat.


    Quinn quickly finished two hot dogs, looked at the packaging in her hand, then turned to Orion and handed him the packaging.


    Orion took the package box numbly. His gaze darted back and forth across Quinn''s face with a blend of confusion and disbelief, as if he were trying to see through her.


    Quinn licked the oil stain at the corner of her lips. She gazed at Orion with her clear, ck-and-white eyes, appearing somewhat dissatisfied.


    Orion scratched his head, fell silent for a moment, and tentatively asked, "Do you want more?"


    Quinn nodded.


    Orion coughed. "Don''t eat too much. Or your tummy will be upset"


    Quinn blinked, staring straight at him.


    Orion tossed the packaging into the nearby trash can, grabbed Quinn''s hand, and urgently asked, "Do you really not know your name?"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Quinn calmly looked at Orion, tilted her head in thought, and shook it in confusion.


    Orion asked again, "Do you know how old you are?"


    Quinn nodded, extending five fingers towards Orion.


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    "You mean..." Orion swallowed hard, looking at her with difficulty. "You''re only five years old now?"


    Quinn nodded vigorously. She was indeed five years old.


    Orion asked, "Do you remember your family? Do you remember Alexander and other people?"


    Quinn became confused again. She cocked her head, staring intently at Orion as if trying to discern his identity.


    Orion could tell from Quinn''s reaction that she had forgotten everything except for the fact that she was five years old. She didn''t recall anyone else. Orion weakly supported his forehead. What was going on?


    Orion carefully thought about what had just happened. He didn''t appear to do anything to upset Quinn, so why did she suddenly forget so much?


    Orion didn''t dare to dy any longer and quickly took Quinn to the hospital.


    Upon reaching the hospital, they had to register. Orion didn''t have any documents on him at the moment. If he wanted to see a top specialist, he would have to book an appointment in advance. For now, all he could do was register to see a regr specialist.


    Orion held Quinn''s hand tightly, not letting go for a moment, as they waited in line in the lobby.


    Quinn looked around nkly. Her mind was nk at the moment, unable to recall anything, whether it was the past or the future. All was nk.


    In the initial nkness of her memory, Quinn only recognized this Orion. The kicker was that she didn''t even know who Orion was. She had followed him just because he had given her two hot dogs. Therefore, all Quinn could do now was to follow Orion.


    They waited in the lobby for almost an hour before it was their turn.


    Orion quickly took Quinn in to see the doctor.


    Orion said, "She was crying a moment ago, and now she can''t even remember her own name. She doesn''t recognize anyone anymore!"


    The doctor frowned upon hearing his incoherent words. "What are you talking about? Do you have her medical records?"


    Orion patted himself, then shook his head. "No, I forgot. But what''s wrong with her?"

 Chapter 686

    The doctor said, "Tell me what happened to her before. What illness does she have? How am I supposed to know if you don''t exin?"


    Orion was too anxious. But hearing the doctor''s words, he calmed down a bit. He sorted out his thoughts and then shared what he knew with the doctor. Orion himself was not very clear on the specifics.


    The doctor was also unclear, knowing only that Quinn had Alzheimer''s disease.


    The doctor pondered for a moment and said, "So, you''re saying that she only knows she is five years old now and doesn''t remember anything else?" Orion nodded.


    The doctor asked, "Can she understandnguage?"


    Orion replied, "She can."


    The doctor asked again, "Can she speak?"


    Orion answered, "She probably can''t. She was mute before, and now she definitely can''t speak. So what''s her situation now?"


    The doctor nced at Quinn, who was sitting obediently next to Orion, much calmer than Orion''s anxiety.


    Like an elementary school student sitting up straight, waiting for the teacher to start ss.


    The doctor asked, "Does she remember anything before the age of five?"


    Orion fell silent, turned to look at Quinn, and gently squeezed her hand. "Quinn, do you remember anything?"


    Quinn shook her head. She didn''t remember anything.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    The doctor observed Quinn''s condition while recording on theputer.


    "Sir, is this curable?" Orion had researched this disease beforehand, aware that it could lead to a vegetative state in severe cases.


    Now, she was left with the mind of a five-year-old, naturally frightening Orion.


    The doctor looked serious, pondered, and said, "It''s hard to say if it''s really the disease you mentioned, there is currently no cure for it." Orion was shocked.


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    "But what puzzles me is that she knows she is five years old. She can understand what others are saying. She still has cognition, but her memory ispletely nk," the doctor exined. Orion, not understanding these medical intricacies, asked, "What''s so strange about that?"


    The doctor exined, "If the disease had truly advanced to the point where she forgets her own identity, then she would likely experience impaired cognitive functions. Her hearing, recognition, andnguage abilities would deteriorate along with her memory."


    "So, what are you implying?" Orion asked.


    After some thought, the doctor said, " Based on my assumption, I believe that before she turned five years old, she likely experienced amnesia, which is unrted to her current illness. Therefore, she retains instinctive memory of bodily functions."


    Orion scratched his head, not understanding any of it.


    The doctor added, "Of course, you can go to another hospital to check."


    This hospital was best known for its oncology department, so its neurology department may not have been as highly regarded.


    "Okay, I got it." Orion still held Quinn''s hand and asked, "Should we get her some medication or something?"


    The doctor nced at him. "Didn''t the hospital you went to before prescribe any medication?"


    Orion said, "They should have."


    "What do you mean ''should have''? Who are you to her?" The doctor scrutinized him as if he was a trafficker.


    Orion hurriedly said, "I''m her husband!"


    The doctor said, "And you don''t know if she took any medication?"


    Orion awkwardly exined, "She wasn''t with me before."


    Since the doctor didn''t want to discuss it further, he printed out the diagnosis and handed it to Orion. "You can take this to a specialized hospital for further examination," he said. Orion said, "Okay, thank you."


    Orion grabbed the diagnosis sheet, leading Quinn out of the examination room. He pulled out his phone and found Alexander''s number.


    Given Quinn''s current condition, he knew he had to inform Alexander.

 Chapter 687

    Orion was about to make a phone call when suddenly Quinn grabbed his hand and shook it.


    He paused and turned to look at Quinn.


    Quinn innocently looked at Orion, then pointed to the hamburger in the hand of a passing child, batting her eyes at him.


    A flicker of emotion passed through Orion''s heart as he stared into her lively,rge eyes. His fingers tightened around his phone.


    "Are you hungry?" Orion asked, feeling like he was asking a silly question.


    Sean had brought Quinn in the morning, and now it was already past three in the afternoon. So it would be strange if she wasn''t hungry.


    Quinn nodded. Her eyes fixed on the hamburger in the child''s hand, swallowing saliva.


    Orion stared at the number on his phone in silence for a moment. Then, he finally decided to turn off the phone.


    Putting the phone in his pocket, Orion smiled and said, "Let''s go eat something delicious."


    At the mention of something delicious, Quinn''s eyes lit up, and she vigorously nodded at Orion.


    Orion found her appearance somewhat amusing and couldn''t resist pinching her cheek. He would have never dared to do so before, but once he did, he realized how good it felt.


    "Let''s go." Orion took Quinn''s hand and walked towards the hospital''s exit.


    Quinn clung to Orion''s arm, as if afraid he would abandon her, practically hanging onto him. Orion asionally nced at her, his other hand tucked in his pocket.


    Holding his phone tightly, he suddenly had no desire to share this news with Alexander.


    Orion feared that if Alexander found out, he woulde and take Quinn away from him.


    If, over these five days, he became familiar with Quinn, then he could rece Alexander.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    By then, if she refused to go with Alexander, he might let her stay.


    From what Orion had observed of Alexander during this time. He was sure he would change his mind. He could practically bet on it.


    While Orion was lost in thought, he looked up and suddenly noticed Alexander walking towards them from the nearby parking lot, apanied by Sean.


    Orion''s heart skipped a beat, instinctively tightening his grip on Quinn''s hand. Had he found out so quickly?


    Alexander clearly noticed them. He approached with deliberate, confident steps,ing to a halt in front of the two. Orion regarded him cautiously, asking, "Have you changed your mind so quickly?" Alexander didn''t answer. His gaze lingered on Orion''s face for a few seconds, then moved to the tightly held hands of the two and finally to Quinn.


    Quinn was also looking at him. But it didn''t look like she had recognized him.


    Alexander''s gaze paused on her face for a few seconds before asking Orion, "Why did you bring her here?"


    Upon hearing this, Orion''s anxious heart eased a bit, and he confidently responded, "Didn''t you mention she was unwell? I brought her here to check if there''s an issue.


    Alexander''s dark eyes locked onto Orion as if trying to see through him.


    For a moment, it seemed like Orion had been exposed.


    Fortunately, Alexander only looked at Orion for a moment before walking past them.


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    Quinn took a deep look at Alexander''s retreating figure, then turned to Orion. Under his expectant gaze, she obediently nodded.


    Orion was taken aback. He was just testing. He didn''t expect Quinn to actually agree. He felt a slight pang of guilt.


    Orion seemed to sense something and instinctively nced back. Alexander was standing not far from him, also looking back with a serious expression.


    Startled, Orion grabbed Quinn and ran.


    Alexander observed Orion''s swift exit, his gaze thoughtful. After a brief pause, he turned to Sean andmanded, "You need to investigate this." "What should I investigate." Sean queried, perplexed.


    Alexander merely offered him a fleeting look, leaving his directive ambiguous.


    Sean touched his nose. He wasn''t as quick-witted as Kyle when Alexander mentioned investigating. It was unclear what he meant.

 Chapter 688

    Alexander looked at Sean in a daze, raised his hand, and patted his shoulder.


    Alexander said, " You would be better off raising dogs in the mountains. The earthly realm is not meant for you."


    Sean blushed. "I understand. I''ll go check now."


    With that, Sean turned and ran out to call Kyle.


    Kyle was extremely busy at the moment, and receiving his call only added to his annoyance. "Speak quickly if it''s urgent!"


    Sean said, "Mr. Kennedy wants you to investigate something."


    Kyle asked, "What should I investigate?"


    Sean replied, "I just bumped into Orion and Mrs. Kennedy at the hospital. You should look into them."


    Kyle fell silent for a moment. "I got it."


    After speaking, Kyle hung up directly.


    Sean kept following Alexander, and they reached the inpatient department, specifically the VIP ward on the sixth floor.


    The only patient on this floor was Landon, who had heightened security measures in ce following a previous attack.


    Upon seeing Alexander emerge from the elevator, the two bodyguards promptly raised their hands to block him. "Sorry, no passage allowed here."


    Alexander nced at the bodyguard who spoke, then proceeded to walk away.


    The bodyguard tried to stop him, but Sean kicked him away.


    Another guard was about to step forward when Sean immediately shouted, "Are you blind? This is Mr. Kennedy!"


    The guard was taken aback, inspected Alexander closely, and eventually recognized him. He silently stepped aside, not daring to impede him.


    Sean caught up with Alexander and impatiently remarked, "These people don''t even recognize you anymore. It''s absurd!


    Alexander quirked a corner of his lips. "There''s no need for such rm."


    Sean was still a bit angry. The guards couldn''t even recognize their own boss. What''s the point of them being here?


    Alexander reached the entrance of the hospital room. The bodyguard recognized him but raised his hand to prevent him from entering.


    The bodyguard asked, "Mr. Kennedy, what brings you here?"


    Alexander calmly looked at the bodyguard. "If I remember correctly, you are supposed to be bodyguards for the Kennedys family." "Yes."


    Alexander asked, "So, who is inside this room?"


    The bodyguard looked ufortable, stuttering without being able to utter a word.


    Alexander queried. "What''s the matter? You''re standing guard here, and you don''t know who''s inside?"


    The bodyguard quickly responded, "Mr. Kennedy, we are just doing our jobs"


    Alexander said coldly, "Is that so?"


    Alexander averted his gaze and pushed the door open to enter. The bodyguard was left in a dilemma, unsure whether to stop him or not.


    After all, the person lying inside was not a member of the Kennedy family.


    And now, Alexander was the head of the Kennedy family. Whether to follow Wayne''s orders or Alexander''s was clearly evident.


    Previously, Wayne had instructed them to let anyone in, especially Alexander.


    But now, they chose to let Alexander in.


    This surprised Wayne, who was sitting inside.


    When he saw Alexander enter, the orange in his hand fell, and he stood up abruptly. "How did you get in?"


    Alexander slowly approached the hospital bed, his gaze falling on Landon''s face, circling, then turning back to Wayne.


    He smiled faintly. "Father, I heard that Mr. Kennedy was hospitalized, so I came to visit. I didn''t expect to find you here as well. Even though you have retired, you still show great care for thepany''s employees. Not only did you personally visit Mr. Kennedy, but you also arranged for many bodyguards to protect him."


    "Mr. Kennedy, you''re really fortunate."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

 Chapter 689

    Landon''s face turned slightly ugly when he heard this. But it quickly returned to normal.


    Landon said, "I will definitely work hard for the Kennedy Group."


    Sean quickly pulled a chair and ced it behind Alexander. Alexander sat back casually and observed the bandages wrapped around Landon. Alexander feigned surprise and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, what happened? Did something bite you?"


    Landon also pretended to be ignorant. "Maybe it was a water snake. It was too dark, and I couldn''t see clearly."


    Alexander said, "It''s lucky to survive without seeing clearly. You are really fortunate."


    Landon said, "Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. I hope you said the same."


    The two chatted casually as if nothing had happened, leaving Wayne standing awkwardly on the side for no reason.


    Landon didn''t expect this person toe directly to him. Now, his appearance wasid bare in front of Alexander, like meat on a cutting board.


    Trying every means to harm others first, but ending up beingughed at by others.


    Being embarrassed was secondary. The true fear was that if Alexander learned about Landon''s current situation, he might be scheming something behind the scenes.


    Moreover, there was no movement on what Getty had ced on him. It had most likely been discovered.


    Wayne suddenly said, "Alexander, since you are here to see Mr. Kennedy, I will leave first."


    Alexander nodded slightly, "Father, take care."


    Wayne smiled, then turned and walked out. His face suddenly fell after he left the room.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Wayne looked at the bodyguard at the door. Thetter lowered his head, not daring to speak.


    "Come with me."


    This was the captain of the bodyguards. Wayne must have something to tell him.


    The captain had no choice but to follow Wayne to the corner of the stairs.


    Wayne asked sternly, "What did I tell you?"


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    The bodyguard looked embarrassed and hesitantly said, "But, Mr. Kennedy, he..."


    "What, Mr. Kennedy! Are you listening to him or me? It seems like what I say doesn''t matter anymore!" Wayne sneered. "I didn''t know you were so eager to find your next boss."


    The bodyguard felt a sense of bitterness in his heart. They were clearly all part of the same family, but it seemed like it didn''t matter who they followed. He had no desire to seek out another master. He was even more puzzled by the father and son behaving like enemies.


    This Mr. Kennedy was not as close to him as the other Mr. Kennedy inside.


    "Aren''t you and Mr. Kennedy''s family?" Wayne pointed at him, his face red with anger, but he couldn''te up with a reason.


    In the end, Wayne could only leave in frustration.


    Orion took Quinn to an afternoon tea restaurant. Most restaurants were closed at this time, so they could only have some afternoon tea.


    Orion ordered Quinn a cup of coffee, pizza, fried chicken wings, and other snacks, which happened to be Quinn''s favorite foods. Quinn held the coffee in one hand and wore disposable gloves on the other, devouring chicken wings. "Slow down. no one is going to snatch it from you." Orion picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth.


    While eating, Quinn nced at Orion, puffed out her cheeks, and smiled at him.


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    That was Quinn''s current mindset.


    She finished one serving but was still hungry. So Orion called the waiter for another serving.


    Orion rested his chin on his hand, watching her absentmindedly.


    It was obvious that Quinn was really hungry.


    Orion hadn''t known that for a long time before. Quinn hadn''t been eating properly because she was constantly weighed down by worries, feeling depressed every day, andcking any appetite. Now, it was different. Quinn''s memory was nk. She didn''t have to worry about anything, so naturally, her appetite improved.


    Quinn had eaten a lot, finished two servings, and even drank coffee. She patted her belly and let out a contented burp, then shed Orion an embarrassed smile.


    Orion was amused by Quinn''s behavior and called the waiter over to pay the bill.

 Chapter 690

    Orion was pondering how to prevent Alexander from taking Quinn away with him.


    if the scoundrel Alexander knew Quinn''s mentality was like a five-year old now, would definitely use some trick to take Quinn back.


    After much thought, Orion figured he could only take Quinn away.


    But recalling the consequences of taking Quinn awayst time, he had to give up that idea.


    Orion irritably scratched his head, cursing Alexander once again.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    After Quinn finished eating, he took her home.


    When he got back to the apartment, Orion bought a heap of snacks from the supermarket on the ground floor.


    After paying, he looked at the ten bucks left in his wallet and started to worry again.


    He had spent all the money Ryan gave him.


    Raising a child was indeed costly.


    But in his current state, Orion cannot find a job. If he leaves, Quinn might be lost.


    After much deliberation, Orion sat down on a chair in the neighborhood and called Ryan.


    "Ryan." Orion smiled awkwardly.


    Ryan instantly understood Orion''s thoughts. "What''s up? Did you run out of money again?"


    "You understand me. Can you offer me a bit more?" Orion requested.


    Ryan William sighed. " Are you still not getting along with Dad? He called mest night and said not to give you any more money."


    "Ryan, I can''t exin now. I am in trouble. Can you help or not?" Orion pleaded.


    "Okay, I''ll have someone send it overter. Just a friendly reminder, don''t put family at risk for a woman. Are your family members less important to you than a woman?" Ryan cautioned.


    Orion felt displeased upon hearing this. He retorted, "You and Dad are on the same page. In your eyes, interestse before everything else. You won''t understand. Alright, I have to go now." Orion didn''t want to hear Ryan''s nagging and hung up directly.


    Afterward, Orion turned to look at Quinn.


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    Quinn was staring at him with big eyes.


    Orion asked her, "Do you know who I am?"


    Quinn shook her head.


    Not only had she lost all her memory at the time, but she had also forgotten signnguage, making even simplemunication a challenge.


    Orion exined, "I''m Orion William, your husband. Do you know what ''husband'' means?"


    Quinn shook her head again.


    Orion patiently exined, "Husband is..."


    Suddenly, he didn''t know how to exin. Let alone how to exin it in a way that she would understand.


    After a moment of thought, Orion improvised."Your husband is someone that you spend your lives with in a legally recognized rtionship."


    Quinn looked confused. She could only grasp a few keywords.


    Together forever, as a family.


    Quinn smiled back at him and nodded, indicating she remembered.


    Orion thought for a moment, gestured with his hand, and asked, "Do you understand this?"


    Quinn nodded, finding it amazing that she couldprehend Orion''s movements.


    Seeing her response, Orion breathed a sigh of relief. "Great, you still remember. Do you know signnguage?"


    Orion gestured, "Like this, can you do it?"


    Quinn tilted her head, looking first at Orion''s fingers and then at her own. She raised her hand to mimic the gesture.


    Maybe it was muscle memory, Quinn effortlessly copied Orion''s gestures.


    Seeing this, a grin spread across Orion''s face.


    He felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Do you know how to sign ''husband'' in signnguage?" he asked. Orion felt like he was teasing a child, but he was curious to see Quinn call him her ''husband''.

 Chapter 691

    Orion nervously and eagerly awaited her response. Quinn blinked, her hand pausing in midair. This was something she was unfamiliar with. Quinn had no memory of this word, and she was unsure how to sign it in signnguage.


    Seeing the dilemma on her face, Orion sighed disappointedly. But then he perked up and gently said, "Would you like me to teach you?" Quinn nodded.


    Quinn said, "Like this, this gesture means husband."


    Quinn stared at his fingers, mimicking his movements, gesturing the word husband.


    Orion was instantly delighted. He excitedly grabbed Quinn''s wrist. "You gesture it two more times."


    Following his instructions, Quinn gestured a few more times.


    Orion was overjoyed, happiness shining through his eyes. Even though she didn''t speak, Orion remembered her voice.


    So when Quinn gestured this word, Orion imagined her voice.


    Orion suddenly understood why Alexander was having trouble letting go. Teaching her little by little was so fulfilling.


    Orion gazed at the young girl he had raised on his own, who clung to him every day. He felt an indescribable joy, a truly magnificent feeling.


    Despite the darkness of the sky, Orion''s smile radiated as brightly as the sun.


    Quinn looked at Orion''s smile and smiled too.


    Both of them were smiling, looking like a happy couple.


    Suddenly, it began to rain. Orion''s smile momentarily froze, and he quickly ushered Quinn into the hallway.


    Orion said, "Let''s go, it''s raining."


    As he ran, he raised his hand to shield Quinn''s head from the rain. Just as they entered the hall, it started pouring outside, with the sky darkening.


    The heavy rain pounded the ground and vegetation, creating a sound reminiscent of weeping andmentation.


    Quinn looked at the blurred world outside in the rain, subconsciously leaning towards Orion.


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    Orion looked at her leaning body, his expression somewhatplicated.


    Orion found himself wondering, ''Did Quinn used to behave the same way as Alexander at this age?''


    Quinn had forgotten everyone, leaving her feelingpletely isted. Shetched onto anyone who showed her kindness, depending on them with all her heart and soul.


    Orion wondered what if it were him.


    If he had lived with Quinn all these years, would she have felt the same affection for him as she did for Alexander? Orion''s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the elevator. He shook himself out of his reverie and guided Quinn into the elevator. Orion stood in the elevator, lost in thought.


    Quinn had somemon sense. She recognized the elevator, understood what others said, and was familiar with everyday things.


    Orion was skeptical at first, but now he understood. There was a distinction between being five years old and being foolish.


    It was evident that Quinn was suffering from amnesia, not stupidity.


    Orion ced snacks on the coffee table and asked Quinn to wash her hands.


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    Seeing that Quinn had gone to wash her hands by herself, Orion called someone to repair the door.


    Thanks to the good security in the neighborhood, even though the door had been open all day, no thief had entered.


    Meanwhile, Kyle had retrieved the records of Quinn''s recent visit with Orion.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    He waited in the hospital ward, and when he saw Alexander emerging from the elevator, he approached him with a serious expression and handed him the documents.


    Kyle said, "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, she..."


    Alexander took the documents from Kyle''s hand, paused at his tone, and then looked at Kyle. "What''s wrong?"


    Kyle hesitated, not sure how to say it, and said, "You better see for yourself."


    Alexander opened the file, nced through the contents, and his expression darkened suddenly.


    Kyle watched Alexander''s face and thought to himself that things were about to getplicated.


    It was indeed a difficult situation. If Quinn had remained with Orion for just five more days in her current condition, Orion would havepletely reced Alexander in her mind. Even if Orion had been willing, Quinn would no longer have left with him.

 Chapter 692

    However, taking Quinn back now would be considered a betrayal. Alexander remained silent, carefully reviewing the medical report once again.


    After a brief pause, he slid the report back into its folder and then looked at Kyle. "What did the doctor ay?"


    Kyle shook his head. "The doctor couldn''t exin it either. So what should we do now?"


    Alexander stared out at the pouring rain, his expression inscrutable. The hospital was filled with noise, but the sound of rain drowned out themotion inside.


    Kyle stole a nce at Alexander''s face. But besides a dark expression, he couldn''t discern anything. It was unclear how long Alexander stood there before finally stepping out.


    Kyle immediately opened an umbre, holding it over Alexander''s head, and they headed towards the parking lot.


    The door repairman also arrived. He couldn''t help but feel shocked as he looked at the door that had been kicked in.


    The repairman said, "This lock ispletely broken. It can''t be fixed. It needs to be reced."


    Orion leaned against the door frame, ncing at therge footprints on the lock. He cursed Sean under his breath but said aloud, "Change the lock then."


    The repairman replied, "I didn''t bring any locks with me. Would you prefer to purchase one yourself for me to install, or should I go back and retrieve one for you?"


    Orion didn''t want the hassle. He waved his hand dismissively. "Just go and get the lock. I don''t want to fuss about it."


    "Alright, I''ll go get it now. Do you want the same brand?" the repairman asked.


    "Sure, how much is it?" Orion inquired.


    The repairman answered, "$4200."


    Orion nearly choked. He never thought that a lock could be so expensive. Before, he wouldn''t have thought twice about spending $4200. But now, he was skint!


    The repairman asked, "I also have cheaper locks avable. Do you want one?"


    The repairman was feeling a bit frustrated. He found it strange that someone residing in a nice neighborhood couldn''t afford a $4200 lock recement.


    Orion asked, "What''s the cheapest one?"


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    The repairman replied, "It''s $180 for a standard lock. Of course, there''s also the key lock option, which is cheaper at $30."


    Orion pondered for a moment, then turned back to look at Quinn, who was rummaging for snacks inside the house. He made up his mind. "I''ll go with the $30 one."


    He needed to start saving money now, as he had someone else to support.


    The repairman simply replied, "Okay," gathered his tools, and left without saying another word.


    If Orion wasn''t worried about Quinn running away, he wouldn''t have bothered to fix the door. When the repairman finished and left, the person sent by Ryan to deliver the money also arrived.


    A man in a suit and leather shoes, wearing gold-rimmed sses, arrived. He held a ck umbre in one hand and extracted a brown paper bag from his coat with the other.


    "Orion, Ryan sent me to bring this to you. He told me to remind you to spend wisely."


    Orion took the brown bag, opened it, and took a look inside. He grimaced. "There''s not much here. How am I supposed to budget with this?"


    The man smiled. "Well, I''ve done my job. I''ll take my leave now."


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! After saying this, he picked up the dripping umbre and turned to leave.


    Orion closed the door, ced a chair against it, and then went back to the sofa with the leather bag to count the money inside.


    7500 dors.


    Not bad. It shouldst for a month.


    Quinn, holding a bag of chips, leaned in to watch Orion count the money.


    Orion gestured with the bills in his hand, saying, "This money is for you to buy food. Let me know what you''d like to eat, and I''ll get it for you."


    Quinn, munching on chips, grinned as she imagined a selection of snacks.


    Orion furrowed his brow. "You should eat less. You just finished a meal, and now you''re reaching for more snacks. Eating too many snacks isn''t good for your health."N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Quinn hugged the snacks to his chest, appearing somewhat reluctant. Before Orion could continue, the creaky door swung open once more.

 Chapter 693

    Orion''s heart skipped a beat as he looked toward the door.


    As expected, it was Alexander who hade over.


    Sean kicked the chair out of the way and positioned himself behind Alexander.


    Quinn, with her mouth still full of chips, spotted Alexander standing at the door.


    Remembering Orion''s advice, she discreetly moved behind him, peeking out from behind his back.


    Alexander observed Quinn''s actions, his expression bing serious.


    He entered the room, his gaze sweeping over every corner until it settled on the snacks piled on the table.


    Alexander nonchntly picked up a bag of chips, inspected it, and then tossed it back. "You''re only giving her these unhealthy snacks," he remarked.


    Orion bristled at thement. "What do you mean? I bought them because she enjoys them!"


    Alexander gazed at Quinn with a neutral expression. Quinn remained hidden behind Orion, stealing nces at Alexander.


    When their eyes met, she quickly retreated out of view. Orion kept a watchful eye on him.


    Despite Alexander''s impassive demeanor, Orion sensed a simmering anger just beneath the surface.


    Orion asked, "What are you doing here? You agreed to five days, and now, before even a day has passed, do you want to break your word?"


    Alexander shrugged off his coat and sat down diagonally across from Orion. "Five days were under the condition of no incidents. Obviously, the agreement of five days is no longer valid."


    Orion had expected this response and replied irritably. "What do you mean? The situation when she was with you wasn''t much different from now. You were sure she wouldn''t stay with me because she had forgotten. So you confidently sent her over here. And now that she has forgotten you, you''re calling it a problem. How shameless can you be?"


    Alexander remained expressionless, looking at him indifferently. "Since you''ve said all this, I don''t need to be polite anymore."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Orion furrowed his brow. "What are you going to do?"


    Alexander jerked his chin toward Sean. "Take her away."


    Sean nodded, ready to intervene, but Orion raised his hand to halt him. "Alexander Kennedy! Can''t you keep your promises? Is this how you conduct business? Besides, you''ve already divorced her. It was your decision to let her go. You have Getty Morgan; it''s widely known that she''s your girlfriend. Yet you continue to hold on to Quinn. Don''t be so greedy!"


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    Alexander seemed to ignore his words, just looking at Sean.


    Under the pressure of Alexander''s gaze, Sean bypassed Orion and grabbed Quinn''s arm.


    Orion fell back onto the sofa and turned to see Quinn being taken away.


    Orion anxiously said, "Alexander Kennedy, must you let down two women at the same time?"


    Alexander suddenly fixed him with a colder gaze. "Mr. William, don''t assume that youprehend everything just because you''ve uncovered some surface information."


    Orion asked, "What? If you weren''t fickle, could you have divorced? Could it have turned out like this?"


    Alexander retorted, "I acknowledge there may be some validity to your words, but Orion William, focus on your own affairs. I''ve been engaging in this tedious charade out of respect for your father. However, I now dere the game concluded. What can you possibly do to me?"


    Orionughed bitterly.


    The initiative of this bet had always in Alexander''s hands. It was naive of him to fantasize that Alexander would keep his word.


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    Thinking about it, Orion almost wanted to p himself.


    Orion shouted, "She doesn''t want to go with you now. You''re hurting her by forcing her to go! Alexander Kennedy, if you really care about her, stop hurting her over and over again!" Alexander nced at Quinn.


    She was struggling in Sean''s grip, trying to run back to Orion, almost in tears.


    Alexander chuckled.


    Alexander responded, "You''re proposing that you keep her for five days, ensuring she can''t leave you. Then we proceed with our agreement. I can keep my promise and let her stay with you, is that the n?" Orion asked, "Isn''t that exactly what you initially promised?"


    Alexander stood up abruptly. His face turned into an expressionless mask as he looked at Orion with chilling indifference.


    Alexander said, "I regret to inform you that I''ve decided to renege on my promise."

 Chapter 694

    Alexander spoke with the same tone as if announcing a result, expressing words of repentance. Orion was astonished by his shamelessness, speaking so confidently even while backtracking.


    No one could match his shamelessness!


    Alexander no longer exchanged many words with Orion. He turned and left the house. "Take her away."


    Sean nodded and, pulling Quinn, started to leave.


    Orion wanted to step forward to stop. "No, you can''t go back on your word!!"


    However, before he could reach Quinn, Sean kicked him in the stomach.


    Orion flew out.


    Orion copsed to the ground, feeling as though his internal organs had shifted, and he found it difficult to get back up. He gripped his abdomen, straining to raise his head.


    Quinn''s eyes were red-rimmed, and she gazed at him with intensity. Tears welled up in her eyes as she regarded Orion with a look of concern. Quinn couldn''t bring herself to leave Sean, clinging to the door frame with one hand. Just as she had in the morning, she begged Alexander not to send her away.


    But in less than 12 hours, she refused to go back.


    Alexander, watching Quinn desperately struggling, had eyes as cold as frost.


    Sean heartlessly pried Quinn''s hand open, dragging her out as if handling a chick.


    Tears spilled from Quinn''s eyes as she pped at Sean''s arm, attempting to make him release her.


    But her efforts had no effect on Sean, her nails scratching his face.


    Sean reacted quickly, dodging her attack, but still got scratched on the neck.


    Sean winced as five scratch marks immediately reddened his neck, and a few drops of blood oozed out.


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    Alexander paused, turning to look at the two.


    Seanined, "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy scratched me."


    Alexander briefly looked at Quinn, possibly sensing her gaze, while Quinn, in her distressed state, also red angrily at him.


    As if Alexander was some unforgivable viin.


    Alexander took a step forward, gripping Quinn''s wrist and pulling her towards him. Quinn raised her hand as if to strike, but Alexander was not Sean; he wouldn''t allow her to scratch him.


    Alexander raised his hand, grasping Quinn''s other hand effortlessly. He restrained both of her wrists with hisrge hands and led her away.


    With both hands bound, Quinn followed Alexander unsteadily, her gaze fixed on his back as if she wanted to etch this viin into her heart. Orion was correct.


    He was a viin, a terrible one!N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Inside the room, Orion regained his strength, rising unsteadily to his feet and hurrying out. However, Quinn''s figure had already vanished.


    As he reached the elevator, he noticed it had descended to the next floor.


    Orion quickly pressed another elevator button and stepped inside. It was now dark outside. Rain beat down heavily as Quinn was pulled downstairs, the downpour drenching her face and making it difficult for her to open her eyes. Alexander opened the car door, attempting to push her inside, but she resisted, even biting his wrist. Alexander paused, gazing at Quinn.


    She was soaked, her hair disheveled on both sides. She bit down firmly on Alexander''s wrist, her gaze fixed on him as if trying to intimidate him into letting go.


    In Quinn''s eyes, there was evident resentment and disgust.


    Sean stood by, too afraid to speak. The two stayed in their positions as if frozen in ce by acupuncture needles, unmoving despite the heavy rain pouring down on them.

 Chapter 695

    Out of the blue, a bolt of lightning and a p of thunder erupted overhead, causing Quinn to cower on the ground in shock. She wanted to cover her ears, but Alexander still gripped both of her hands. She looked up, unable to open her eyes under the onught of rain.


    The sky was too dark, and Quinn could only vaguely see Alexander, dressed all in ck, almost blending into the night. She couldn''t make out the man''s face.


    Seeing this, Sean quickly grabbed an umbre and held it over their heads.


    The umbre shielded them from the heavy rain, but Quinn was shivering from the cold.


    Although both of them were drenched, Quinn appeared much more disheveled than Alexander.


    After some time had passed, Alexander grabbed her wrists and pulled her up from the ground. "Get in the car," hemanded.


    Quinn shook her head desperately and started to struggle.


    She wanted to go back to find Orion, who was still lying on the ground.


    Without allowing Quinn to resist, Alexander grabbed her wrists with one hand and pinched the back of her neck with the other, forcing her into the car.


    Quinn was helpless as Alexander roughly threw her onto the seat. As she attempted to rise, the door was mmed shut.


    Sean immediately ran to the driver''s seat to start the car.


    Quinn tried to open the car door, but it was locked. And she couldn''t push it open.


    At the moment the car started, she saw Orion rushing out from the building, running towards her.


    As the car engine roared to life, she caught sight of Orion sprinting out of the building, racing towards her with wild desperation. Quinn pounded on the car window with both hands, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Orion, her face showing frantic desperation.


    In the corner of his eye, Alexander observed Quinn desperately beating against the window.


    Her small figure appeared both pitiful and feeble, like a cat trapped in a cage, desperate to break free.


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    Sean didn''t dare dy any longer. He stepped on the gas pedal and drove the car away.


    Tears mingled with rain streamed down Quinn''s face as she pressed her palms against the car window, feeling lost and trapped, like a headless fly buzzing around inside the car, searching for an escape. She watched in despair as the distance between her and Orion widened until he vanished from her sight, swallowed by the heavy rain.


    Orion tried to catch up with the Bentley''s tail lights, but couldn''t keep pace. He watched the car disappear, a pained expression on his face as he clutched his stomach.


    Unable to hold on any longer, he copsed to the ground with a ssh, sending up a spray of water.


    Inside the car, Quinn slowly began to calm down. Unable to escape, she eventually stopped struggling. Forty minutester, the car stopped in the courtyard of Regal Riverside.


    Alexander said, "Get out of the car."N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Alexander pushed open his door and stepped out of the car, then walked around to Quinn''s side and pulled open her door. Quinn remained seated in the car, refusing to get out.


    He reached out, grabbed her arm, and yanked her out of the car.


    At this moment, Alexander''s rough behavior made Quinn''s dislike for him reach an all-time high.


    Helpless against his strength, Quinn could only stumble along behind him, being dragged into the house and then into the bathroom.


    In the bathroom, Alexander finally released Quinn.


    As soon as she was free, she darted to a corner, pressing herself against the wall while keeping a cautious eye on him.


    Alexander dismissed Quinn''s apprehensive gaze, turned to Olivia outside, and instructed, "Bring a set of pajamas."


    Olivia nodded in agreement and quickly returned with Quinn''s pajamas. Alexander took the pajamas from Olivia and ced them on the counter before locking the bathroom door. The oppressive atmosphere within the confined space heightened Quinn''s fear.


    Alexander nonchntly shrugged off his heavy, damp coat, tossing it aside. He unbuttoned his cuffs and removed his wristwatch before refocusing his attention on Quinn.

 Chapter 696

    Quinn gazed at his stern and fearful countenance, shivering with unease. Alexander approached her, attempting to help her remove her coat. Quinn instinctively recoiled, wrapping her arms around herself and longing to disappear into the wall.


    Alexander hesitated, studying her with a gaze akin to a wary deer. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, "Don''t you remember me?"


    Quinn subtly turned her head at his words, peeking cautiously at Alexander through her hair.


    After a few seconds, she couldn''t recognize the person. So she turned her head back, burying it in the corner of the wall.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Alexander''s forehead twitched, his fingers tightening slowly, his knuckles turning slightly white. However, his tone remained calm. "Change your clothes, or you might catch a cold." Quinn ignored him, lost in her thoughts, turning her back to Alexander.


    Alexander raised his hand,nding on her shoulder, forcibly turning her around. Quinn suddenly squatted on the ground again.


    He also squatted down, prying open her hand to pull the zipper of her coat.


    Quinn tried to push him away with her hand, but it was ineffective. She clenched her fist and struck his shoulder and chest. Uncertain of where she had hit Alexander, he stiffened slightly. Taking advantage of the moment, Quinn pushed him away with all her strength, causing Alexander to unexpectedly fall to the ground.


    Quinn was somewhat surprised as she gazed into Alexander''s intense expression, her eyes shifting down to his rolled-up sleeve.


    There was a bright red bite mark on his wrist. Although washed by the rain, there was still some fresh blood oozing from the wound.


    Quinn pursed her lips, feeling a bit guilty. She grabbed her cor, shrinking into the corner.


    Alexander propped his hand on the ground, looking at her with aplex expression for a long time.


    After a while, he slowly stood up, propped himself up, and left the bathroom.


    Quinn''s eyes tracked Alexander as he opened the bathroom door and exited. Her tense expression softened slightly.


    But not long after, Olivia came in.


    Olivia greeted Quinn with a warm smile as she approached her. Crouching down in front of her, she gently spoke, "Mrs. Kennedy, please change your clothes quickly to avoid getting sick.


    "It''s very ufortable to catch a cold. You''ll have a headache, fever, and a sore throat. Are you afraid?" Olivia''s tone was like coaxing a child, but it worked.


    Upon hearing her words, Quinn indeed showed a hint of fear in her eyes.


    Olivia whispered, "Come, let me help you change your clothes, okay? Don''t worry, I won''t harm you."


    With her kind and gentle appearance, Olivia''s face radiated kindness, putting people at ease.


    With her words and demeanor, Quinn gradually let go of her defenses and nodded slightly.


    00000


    Olivia let out a sigh of relief, smiling even more warmly. She assisted Quinn to stand up, undressed her, and then took the showerhead to help her rinse off. Quinn did not resist during the process, allowing Olivia to bathe her.


    Outside the door, Alexander heard the sound of water and then headed upstairs.


    Soren began to inspect his wounds. After a careful examination, he couldn''t contain his astonishment.


    Soren advised, "Mr. Kennedy, it has only been a few days since your surgery. Please try not to overexert yourself and rest in bed to facilitate a speedy recovery." Alexander sat on a chair in the bedroom, staring at the night rain outside without saying a word.


    As Alexander remained silent, Soren continued to chatter. "You got caught in the rain, and the wound has turned white. If it gets infected, it will be troublesome."


    Both the front and back wounds were blistered by the water, with the wound on the back being particrly affected. Despite being stitched, the wound inexplicably split open, causing blood to continuously seep out, creating a frightening sight.

 Chapter 697

    Soren had to resew his wound. Although he wiped it with anesthetic, he still reminded him. "Mr. Kennedy, it''s a bit painful. Please bear with it." "Stop the nonsense," Alexander snapped back impatiently.


    Soren closed his mouth and carefully stitched up Alexander''s wound, which had been soaked in water and was difficult to sew.


    Olivia bathed Quinn, dried her hair, and then took her to the bedroom.


    The bedroom door was left ajar. Upon entering, Quinn saw a man with his upper body exposed and another man holding a needle, poking at his back. Meanwhile, Alexander gripped the sides of the sofa tightly, the veins on the back of his hands visibly bulging, his pale face covered in cold sweat. Just looking at it made Quinn feel pain.


    She was about to turn and leave when Olivia quietly exited and closed the door.


    Quinn hastily opened the door and stepped outside, clutching her nightgown. She hurried downstairs and dashed towards the door.


    However, upon reaching the front door, she found it locked and bolted.


    Quinn struggled with the key for a while but couldn''t unlock it. Feeling something furry against her heel, she turned around to see two dogs.


    The dogs nuzzled against her legs, appearing as though they wanted to be picked up.


    Quinn was moved and suddenly gave up on opening the door. She squatted down and picked up one of the round dogs. Although the puppy was small, it was really heavy.


    With the puppy in her arms, it excitedly rubbed against her and licked her face frantically.


    Quinn turned her head to avoid it, but her movement was too big, and she ended up sitting on the ground.


    So the other dog also jumped up and started bouncing around in Quinn''s arms.


    Quinn couldn''t handle it and had to push the puppies away. However, the puppies thought she was ying with them. They were pushed away, but then wagged their tails and pounced back. Olivia noticed her sitting on the ground surrounded by the two puppies and quickly ran over to pick up one of the puppies and calm them down.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, these two dogs are bing increasingly mischievous. They eat a lot every day and create chaos everywhere. They need to be confined," Olivia said as she carried the two dogs towards the cage." The two dogs had grown considerably, outgrowing their original cage. They were transferred to arger one.


    Olivia tossed the dogs in and shut the iron cage, causing the two dogs to spin around inside, howling as if resisting. Quinn gazed nkly at the two puppies.


    Olivia approached and assisted her. "Mrs. Kennedy, please go upstairs and rest. You can y with them tomorrow."


    As she spoke, she also brushed off the dog hair on her.


    Olivia led her upstairs, but Quinn kept looking back at the two puppies, who seemed eager to escape. When she snapped out of it, Olivia had already brought her back to the bedroom.


    Soren had finished bandaging Alexander, except for the wound on his back, the one on his chest, and the bite mark on his wrist from Quinn, which was also wrapped in gauze.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Quinn was about to leave, but a look from Alexander seemed to hold her in ce with an unseen force.


    00000


    Olivia and Soren quickly left the bedroom, silently closing the door behind them.


    Alexander stood up, picking up a nearby bathrobe and draping it over himself. He began to walk towards Quinn.


    Quinn instinctively backed away, feeling cornered against the door frame with no escape. Her fingers gripped the fabric of her nightgown tightly.


    Her clear, contrasting eyes were fixed on Alexander. The anxiety and panic in her gaze were impossible to hide.


    Alexander stopped half a step away from her. He lowered his gaze, silently observing her.


    Quinn felt uneasy under his gaze. In just two short hours, the perception of him as a ''bad man'' had firmly taken hold in her mind. No matter how she viewed him now, he didn''t appear to be a good person. Alexander''s lips twitched, but he couldn''t make a sound for a long time.


    He raised his hand, intending to touch Quinn''s face, but she turned her head to avoid him.</p<>

 Chapter 698

    Quinn pinched her sleeves, scattered strands of hair covering half of her face, unable to see her expression.


    "Quinn." Alexander''s hand hesitated in midair for a while before calling out to her.


    Quinn hung her head, ignoring him. At that moment, she emanated a sense of helplessness, vulnerability, and unease, like prey caught in a trap. Alexander''s hand still rested on her face, supporting her face and turning it back.


    "What''s wrong with you," Alexander said, his words trailing off.


    Quinn bit her lip, looking at him uneasily, and raised her hand to remove his hand. She then turned to twist the doorknob.


    The next moment, a slender hand pressed against the door, preventing her from opening it.


    Quinn''s eyshes trembled. She turned her back to Alexander, not daring to look back.


    Alexander gazed at Quinn''s delicate figure, lost in memories of when she first joined the Kennedy family.


    She arrived after facing rejection from others, much like she was now. She withdrew from the world, concealing herself behind a self-imposed barrier.


    Quiet and solitary, she kept to herself and avoided interaction. When mistreated, she would retreat to a corner without showing anger orint. Fragile and unapproachable, she remained a mystery to those around her.


    Until the moment when Alexander carried Quinn out of the storage room for the first time, she actively hugged him, burying her face in his neck.


    It was also at that moment that she stepped out of her safe haven, trying to get closer to him, and then he reced her safe haven.


    Although Quinn was young and naive, she could sense whether others harbored malice or kindness.


    At first, Freya pretended to be kind to Quinn, taking her to y, but then she deceived her by leading her to the edge of the backyard pool and pushing her in.


    Quinn vowed not to trust anyone again. However, when Alexander carried her out of the storage room, she found the courage to attempt to build a connection with him. From being cautious at first to bing more daringter, witnessing Quinn''s growth from a small figure to her current size.


    How important Alexander was to Quinn. Everyone who knew her was clear that she probably couldn''t live without him.


    Everyone thought Quinn couldn''t leave Alexander. No matter how he treated her, she wouldn''t go.


    There were jokes that Quinn might even go to serve Alexander''s girlfriend and help deliver a baby.


    But now, Quinn couldn''t recognize Alexander anymore.


    She wanted to get away from Alexander as far as possible now, treating him like a ferocious beast.


    Her gaze mirrored the fear and unease she had shown toward Freya and Kaitlyn when she first came to the Kennedy family.


    She appeared hesitant, wary, and reluctant to resist. It felt as though everything hade full circle.


    00000


    Twenty years of being together day and night, forgotten by Quinn in just a few hours, she was reced by someone else.


    Alexander looked at Quinn for a long time.


    Finally, he slowly withdrew his hand, ced it on Quinn''s shoulder, pulled her over from behind, and embraced her.


    Alexander leaned against her ear and whispered, "Don''t be afraid. I won''t hurt you."


    Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes. She stiffened her body, not daring to move. Alexander held her for a moment before letting her go, then picked her up again. Quinn''s body suddenly went limp, clinging tightly to his neck in fear.


    Alexander carried her to the bed,id her down, and covered her with a nket.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Quinn stared straight at Alexander, watching him sit beside her, his fingers tightly gripping the nket.</p<>

 Chapter 699

    Alexander gently stroked Quinn''s cheek and whispered, "Go to sleep."


    Quinn''s eyes flickered as she gazed at him for a moment, then turned over, facing away from him.


    Alexander looked at the back of her head in silence for a moment, then reached out to turn off the light in the room.


    As the room fell into darkness, tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes. Outside, the sound of rain had lessened, but it was particrly audible in the quiet room.


    Feeling Alexander beside her, Quinn curled up in bed, not daring to move. Time passed by slowly, with both of them in a stalemate. Eventually, Quinn drifted off to sleep in a daze.


    Quinn woke up to the bright morning light streaming through the window. She gazed at the rain-soaked leaves outside, their fresh green color shimmering.


    Getting out of bed, she caught sight of Alexander sitting beside her, his dark eyes focused on her. Quinn tensed, questioning why he was still there.


    Alexander''s gaze swept over the expression on her face, revealing a hint of disappointment.


    "It''s time for breakfast." Alexander withdrew his gaze, and William brought a tray over.


    Quinn''s eyes fell on the tray, filled with bread and pastries. She looked at the exquisite pastries and swallowed nervously.


    However, Quinn cautiously nced at Alexander.


    Alexander handed her the tray. "Aren''t you going to eat?"


    Quinn reached out eagerly for a pastry. But before she could touch it, Alexander took it away.


    Quinn furrowed her brow, awkwardly retracting her hand. Deep down, she believed he was truly a bad person.


    Alexander said, "Go wash up."


    Quinn hesitated, looking up at Alexander.


    He nodded in a direction."Over there."


    Following his gaze, Quinn saw a door in that direction.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    After a moment''s contemtion, she threw back the covers, rose from the bed, and made her way to the bathroom.


    The bathroom was well-stocked, with two toothbrushes. Quinn chose the pink one, squeezed out some toothpaste, and began brushing her teeth.


    As she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, her movements gradually slowed. The person staring back at her seemed unfamiliar, and she instinctively felt that it wasn''t supposed to be her.


    Holding the toothbrush, Quinn extended her hand to touch the mirror. The figure in the mirror mimicked her movements, their hands meeting on the reflective surface.


    Surprised, Quinn quickly withdrew her hand and proceeded to brush her teeth.


    Afterward, she washed her hands and used a pink towel to freshen up her face. Each action flowed effortlessly as if she had done them countless times before. Alexander leaned against the doorway, quietly watching her, a hint of confusion in his expression as well.


    After finishing brushing her teeth, Quinn turned around to see Alexander at the door, which startled her once again and made her face pale. Alexander turned back into the bedroom.


    Quinn followed him out, and he had already set the breakfast on the small round table, sitting on the sofa.


    Feeling a bit hungry, she gathered her courage and moved to sit across from Alexander, reaching for a pastry on the te and taking a bite.


    As she ate, she stole nces at Alexander, who was reading the newspaper and paying no attention to her.


    Quinn felt relieved and boldly grabbed more pastries from the table, stuffing them into her mouth as if she hadn''t eaten in ages.


    In her haste, Quinn choked a bit, patting her chest and letting out a burp.


    Alexander nced at her, seeing her in such a state, with the pastry stuck in her mouth.


    He picked up the milk from the table and handed it to her.


    Quinn took it and drank, washing down the pastry with the milk.


    Alexander sighed quietly, setting aside the newspaper. He then grabbed two tissues and leaned in to gently wipe the milk from the corner of her mouth. Quinn''s eyes widened, and she immediately recoiled in rm.</p<>

 Chapter 700

    Alexander furrowed his brows, his hand freezing in midair once again.


    After a moment, he casually tossed the tissue onto the table. "You can clean that up yourself," he said.


    Quinn sheepishly reached out, grabbed the tissue from the table, and clumsily wiped the corners of her mouth. Alexander asked Quinn, "Would you like to jog?"


    Quinn lowered her gaze and did not respond.


    She was nning to go out to find Orion. She preferred ying with Orion over Alexander.


    Alexander''s gaze darkened as he fixed his eyes on Quinn for a prolonged moment before abruptly rising and exiting the room.


    As the door shut behind him, Quinn let out a quiet sigh of relief and resumed snacking on the treatsid out on the table. Her mind was now consumed with thoughts of food.


    After Alexander went downstairs, Soren stood awkwardly below, smiling as he approached, "Mr. Kennedy, how is it going? Has Mrs. Kennedy forgotten about yesterday?" Alexander nced at Soren.


    Seeing his extremely displeased expression, Soren already understood that she hadn''t forgotten.


    Soren added. "That''s fortunate. Otherwise, at this rate of development, she would be at risk."


    Alexander''s expression improved slightly upon hearing this, but only slightly.


    Alexander asked, "So, Soren, after all your research, what have you found out?"


    Facing Alexander''s questioning, Soren was sweating profusely. "Her condition keeps changing. I can''t keep up with my research."


    Alexander said, "So, you''re saying there''s been no progress at all."


    The ominous tone in Alexander''s words sent a chill down Soren''s spine, and he quickly responded, "No, no, it''s just that... I''ve been researching somethingtely." Alexander said, "Speak!"


    Soren remarked, "Think about it every time Mrs. Kennedy falls ill. Isn''t it usually when you''re not around or when something you''ve done has upset her? But if you''re with her and treat her well, her condition stabilizes." Alexander fixed his gaze on Soren, who gradually lowered his head under the intensity of his stare.


    The air was silent for a moment before Alexander suddenly asked, "What about now?"


    "Now?" Soren was surprised, then replied, "Regarding the current situation, I need to conduct further research. She has no memory at the moment. Therefore, there are no feelings of sadness or joy. In other words, you... should not be able to influence her anymore.


    Alexander''s brows furrowed slightly, his expression bing even more displeased.


    Soren added, "Maybe she''s starting to stabilize, like a memory reset. Things could improve in the future." Alexander scoffed, "Improving? Do you call this improving?"


    Soren rified, "Well... as long as there''s no further decline. That can be seen as progress, especially after what you did yesterday...".


    At this point, Soren fell silent because he sensed the murderous intent emanating from Alexander.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    00000 Alexander gave him a cold nce and then turned and walked out.


    Soren breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the car in the yard.


    Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he turned to Olivia. "Olivia, you need to take good care of Mrs. Kennedy, or we''ll both be in trouble." Olivia nodded. "I understand. Don''t worry, I won''t let her leave."


    Security meshes were installed everywhere upstairs, making it impossible for Quinn to leave.


    Quinn had just finished her meal when she heard a faint noise from the window beside her.


    She paused, turned her head, and noticed a small stone hitting the ss with precision.


    Quinn wiped her hands on her clothes and swiftly ran over to lean against the window to peer outside.


    Orion was below, waving at her.


    Quinn''s eyes lit up, and she shed him a joyful smile.</p<>

 Chapter 701

    Orion caught sight of Quinn''s smile and suddenly felt that it was worth taking a risk. He gestured towards the gate, indicating for Quinn to follow him. Quinn nodded and hurried downstairs.


    Just as she entered the living room, Quinn saw Olivia feeding the dog inside. She suddenly halted, feeling a bit nervous.


    Olivia seemed to notice something, too. She looked up at her, a kind smile spreading across her face. "Mrs. Kennedy, have you eaten?"


    Quinn blinked, not sure what to say, and shook her head.


    Olivia stood up from the ground, dusted off her hands, and said with a smile. "Should I cook something for you?"


    Quinn nodded.


    Just as Olivia was heading towards the kitchen, she had a sudden thought. She turned back, closed the door, and used a key from her apron to lock it. Quinn observed Olivia''s movements, her expression falling. Orion, hiding in the shadows, naturally saw this, too. He looked at the closed gate, frowned, quietly emerged from the bushes, and approached the ss door. Quinn spotted Orion outside, but he couldn''t see her through the ss.


    She walked up to the window and knocked, but the quality was too good for Orion to hear her. She attempted to open the door, but after struggling for a while, she couldn''t twist it open. Quinn had to find another way. She hurried to other rooms, but the windows were all closed, and even if they weren''t, they had security measures in ce. She was unable to escape.


    Frustrated, Quinn gritted her teeth, sat down weakly on the toilet, looked up at the window above her head, and decided against attempting to leave.


    The person who locked her in here was indeed a bad person. Otherwise, why would they lock her up?


    As Quinn was angrily thinking, Olivia called out to her from outside.


    Quinn emerged from the bathroom and Olivia noticed her disappointed expression, but her smile remained undiminished. "Mrs. Kennedy, there are some snacks left from this morning. Come and have some," Olivia offered warmly. She beckoned, and Quinn followed her to the dining room.


    She subconsciously nced back at the ss window, and Orion was already gone.


    She lowered her gaze. It seemed that Orion had left.


    Quinn picked up the snacks on the table, nibbled on them in frustration, her mind elsewhere, and ended up finishing the whole te of snacks. Olivia watched over her. Quinn couldn''t find any opportunity to escape, and Olivia seemed to sense her thoughts, even keeping the door closed. Quinn sat on the sofa, watching cartoons on TV. But her gaze kept drifting outside, searching for Orion''s figure.


    Just then, someone rang the doorbell outside, and Quinn immediately turned to look at the door.


    Olivia also walked over to open the door.


    However, the moment Olivia opened the door, a hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder and pressed her against the door.


    Orion said, "Quinn,e out!"


    Orion had learned this move from Sean, catching Olivia off guard and leaving her powerless to resist.


    Upon hearing the voice, Quinn immediately dropped the remote control and ran toward the door.


    Olivia''s face turned pale with anxiety. She shouted at Orion. "What are you doing? Mr. Kennedy would be angry if you took Mrs. Kennedy away. Don''t you want to live?"


    Orion nced at Olivia and said impatiently, "He may be angry, but I''m not. He agreed to five days but reneged on his promise. I still want to confront him. Have you considered Quinn? You even detained her. Olivia said, "You..."


    Olivia wanted to say more, but Quinn had already dashed out joyfully. Where was the fearful person who had seen Orion earlier? She had so much faith in Orion that when he called, she ran out without hesitation, just like she did when Alexander called her back then.


    Soren was right.She no longer needed Alexander.


    When her memory was nk, anyone could rece Alexander, but he was just a step toote to enter the door to her heart.


    It was just a matter of timing, nothing irreceable.


    Olivia said, "Mrs. Kennedy, you can''t go out. If you do, Mr. Kennedy will kill me!"


    Quinn paused and turned back to look at Olivia, feeling hesitant.


    However, Orion pushed Olivia into the house and closed the door behind her.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.</p<></p<>

 Chapter 702

    Orion ran to Quinn''s side, grabbed her hand, and ran out. "Come with me!"


    Quinn followed him while looking back, and Olivia had already chased after them.


    Orion took charge of the situation. He quickly guided Quinn into the passenger seat, circled around to the driver''s side, hopped in, and elerated away, leaving Olivia in his wake. Olivia attempted to chase after them but quickly realized she couldn''t keep up. She anxiously pulled out her phone and dialed Alexander''s number.


    Alexander was on his way to thepany when he received a call from Olivia, causing him to furrow his brow. "How did someone get in?"


    With a troubled expression, Olivia responded, "I had the door closed. Who could have guessed it was Mr. William knocking? As soon as I opened the door, he restrained me!"


    Alexander rubbed his forehead in frustration, fell silent for a moment, and then said, "Never mind; let her go."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Olivia asked, "What? Let her go?"


    Alexander answered, "Then you go bring her back."


    Olivia hesitated, unsure of where Orion had taken her. She finally asked, "Will Mr. William bring her back?"


    Alexander''s voice was icy and filled with anger as he replied, "Why don''t you ask him yourself?"


    Olivia was too frightened to say anything, and then Alexander abruptly ended the call.


    Kyle nced at the passengers through the rearview mirror. His tension was palpable, making his driving cautious and deliberate.


    Alexander''s face was now as dark as the bottom of a pot, daring anyone to cross him.


    For some reason, Alexander took out his phone from his pocket, opened an app, and immediately saw Quinn''s face on it.


    Quinn sat in the passenger seat next to Orion, smiling foolishly at him.


    Orion nced at her. "What are youughing at?"


    Quinn just smiled, not answering him.


    Seeing her smile, Orion smiled too, thinking she was a silly girl.


    Her eyes sparkled with a smile that seemed to bring herfort.


    As fearful as she had been of Alexander the night before, now she was content,ughing in front of Orion.


    At that moment, she realized more clearly than ever that she no longer needed Alexander.


    Alexander red at her for a moment before tossing the phone onto the seat behind him. Though it wasn''t particrly forceful, it made Kyle in front gulp nervously. Orion parked the car by the roadside, turned to look at Quinn, and asked, "Have you eaten?"


    Quinn nodded. She had eaten a lot just now and was quite full.


    Orion''s gaze wandered over her face, then fell on the rabbit print on her chest. His smile froze for a moment. "Why did youe out in your pajamas?"


    Quinn looked down at her clothes and blinked. Weren''t these pajamas nice?


    After watching her for a while, Orion said, "Forget it. Pajamas are also fine."


    These pajamas were quite thick, so it didn''t matter.


    Orion asked, "Do you want to go y?"


    Quinn tilted her head and nodded.


    Orion sat in his seat, pondering his next move. Unsure of where to go, he retrieved his phone to consult the GPS guide. "I''ve got it, let''s go!"


    Orion eximed. He activated the navigation on his phone, ced it in the holder, and drove the car out. "I know of a fun resort. I can take you there for a few days," Orion suggested. Orion''s voice came through the phone, causing Kyle''s hand to tremble slightly as he drove.


    ''This guy has some nerve, taking Quinn to a resort for a few days,'' Kyle thought to himself.


    ncing at Alexander in the rearview mirror, Kyle cautiously asked, "Should we send someone to bring Mrs. Kennedy back?"</p<>

 Chapter 703

    Alexander remained silent with a serious expression on his face, contemting something. Seeing Alexander''s silence, Kyle continued driving and soon arrived at thepany. Alexander picked up his phone and saw that Orion was indeed taking Quinn out of the city. He closed his eyes, turned off the app, got out of the car, and walked towards thepany.


    Walter was sitting in thepany lobby, ying with his phone. Hearing footsteps, he turned around and smiled. "Mr. Kennedy, why are you here sote?"


    Thepany was gearing up for the workday, and the management team had an early meeting scheduled. As a result, there were still many people in the building, including security guards and cleaners beginning their shifts. After Walter finished talking, he observed Alexander''s displeased expression, as if someone owed him a fortune.


    Walter found it somewhat amusing. "What''s wrong?"


    With a look at Kyle behind him, he gave him a signal that likely only Walter could interpret. Walter appeared to understand the situation.


    It seemed the young mute had slipped away once more. Walter couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Alexander didn''t even look at him, heading straight for the elevator.


    Walter stood up and approached Kyle, inquiring, "What''s happening? What happened to the young mute girl?" Reflecting, Walter added, "If I recall correctly, she was taken to Orion William, isn''t that right? Why is he upset?"


    Kyle whispered, "Well, Mrs. Kennedy has encountered some trouble."


    Walter asked again, "Oh?"


    Observing Walter''s eager expression for knowledge, Kyle leaned in and whispered a few words in his ear. Walter''s smile slowly faded and eventually disappeared.


    "I can''t believe it would end up like this," Walter said.


    Kyle nodded, confirming it.


    Walter furrowed his brow in silence for a moment, nced at Alexander waiting for the elevator, and casually remarked, "This could be a case of self-inflicted misfortune."


    ??Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Kyle said, "Keep it down!"


    In the midst of their ndestine discussion, Alexander abruptly turned around, catching Kyle off guard.


    Kyle promptly straightened up and walked away, leaving Walter behind.


    With a mischievous grin on his face, Walter approached Alexander, leaning against the wall as he yfully asked, "Mr. Kennedy, who has riled you up?"


    Disregarding the question, Alexander inquired, "Walter, how is the contact with the Vide Group progressing?"


    Arching an eyebrow, Walter responded, "Not yet. We are scheduled to have a meeting. Let''s discuss it afterward."


    As the elevator arrived, Alexander paid him no further attention and boarded it.


    Walter added with a sly grin, "Mr. Kennedy, I discovered that Landon Kennedy bribed Alistair ckwood and Hetastian Nightshade to remain silent. Now both of them have vanished, likely having left the country." "Alexander asked, "So, what should we do next?"


    Walter responded, "My concern is that if I were to approach the Vide Group alone, they may not believe me. The only way they would ept that Landon Kennedy orchestrated the shipwreck incident is if Hetastian Nightshade and Alistair ckwood testify. Their testimonies would hold weight with the Vide Group''s leadership. However, there''s a potential downside. If this information reaches the Vide Group, they could turn against the Kennedy Group. This n involves risks. If the Vide Group confronts the Kennedy Group directly, wouldn''t it be counterproductive?


    Leaning against the elevator wall with his hands in his pockets, Alexander appeared nonchnt but was actually preupied.


    Walter stopped mid-sentence, nced at Alexander, and realized he had rambled on unnecessarily.


    "Mr. Kennedy, how about we skip the meeting today?" Walter shrugged. "Let''s sort out personal matters first before dealing with work."


    Alexander tilted his head slightly, fixing his gaze on Walter''s face.


    Alexander said, "I have no personal matters."


    Upon hearing this, Walter chuckled once again. "Alright, you have no personal matters. I do. After the meeting, I''ll head to Whispering Pines Resort to unwind." Whispering Pines Resort was precisely where Orion had taken Quinn.</p<>

 Chapter 704

    Alexander sneered and ignored Walter.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    The elevator reached the eighteenth floor, and the three of them made their way to the conference room together. Inside, many people were already gathered, chatting and sharing New Year''s anecdotes or grievances. As Alexander entered, the noise in the conference room gradually subsided, quickly falling into silence.


    Alexander took the main seat, and Kyle pulled out a chair for him. But he didn''t sit down.


    His eyes scanned the individuals in the conference room before settling on the vacant seat to his left, which belonged to Landon.


    Alexander redirected his gaze and casually remarked, "Our colleague Mr. Kennedy is currently unavable due to an ident and is unable toe into the office. Mr. Smith is temporarily overseeing his responsibilities."


    There was a moment of shared confusion as everyone nced at each other. Since Landon was still rtively new to thepany, it was an important time for him to establish his authority. His absence, despite any unexpected circumstances, felt odd. Wasn''t he worried about the potential threat to his position?"


    "Mr. Kennedy, has something happened to Landon?" someone dared to ask.


    Alexander gazed at the person speaking with a neutral expression and responded, "It''s a private matter. If you''re interested, feel free to call and inquire directly."


    The person shrunk back and fell silent.


    Alexander added, "Despite Mr. Kennedy''s absence from thepany, our operations remain unaffected. Mr. Smith had previously managed the tasks that Mr. Kennedy is currently handling. If you have any inquiries, feel free to approach Mr. Smith directly."


    "His words implied that Landon was dispensable to thepany.


    Upon hearing this, some people present began to waver in their thoughts.


    Many within thepany were aware of the tension between Landon and Alexander, with each of them building their own factions.


    It wasmon knowledge that having more supporters, whether in middle management or as a CEO, increased one''s security within thepany.


    However, with Landon''s sudden absence, spection began to arise.


    Had he met with an ident, or had Alexander orchestrated his absence, resulting in his inability to show up at thepany? The fact that his responsibilities were being delegated to Walter seemed indicative of a n to sideline him.


    Alexander said, "Alright, let''s begin now."


    Alexander sat back down, and it was Walter''s turn to stand up. He turned on the projector and started discussing the strategic ns for the new year''s projects.


    He spoke fluently while Alexander took out his phone, muted it, and looked at something.


    Kyle, standing behind him, could clearly see that Alexander was watching Quinn''s surveince footage.


    Orion was about to leave Amber Bay with Quinn.


    Whispering Pines Resort was situated at the juncture of Amber Bay and Everglow City, a secluded mountain destination reachable by a four-hour drive. The entry fee was thirty thousand dors, with additional expenses varying. Catering to the affluent, this destination was a haven sought by many wealthy individuals for both winter and summer getaways.


    Quinn had fallen asleep in the car, and Orion parked at the service area, turning to look at Quinn.


    Seeing her asleep, Orion took off his coat and covered her.


    Just as he touched her, Quinn opened her eyes, and their eyes met.


    Orion awkwardly smiled. ;"I was afraid you were cold and woke you up. I''m sorry."


    Quinn stared at Orion for a while and gestured with her hand.


    She could only make a few signnguage gestures at the moment, all muscle memory from past use.


    Both Orion and Alexander, observing the video from outside, could clearly see Quinn''s gesture. Orion was left stunned, while Alexander, in disbelief, quickly stood up from his seat. What Quinn said was...


    "Darling, I''m hungry."</p<>

 Chapter 705

    Alexander''s sudden move startled everyone in the conference room. Even Walter was taken aback by him.


    All eyes shifted to Alexander, noting the rare disy of emotion on his typically impassive face, now shadowed and exuding a menacing aura. Walter quirked an eyebrow, speaking with a smirk. "Mr. Kennedy, do you have a problem with what I said?"


    Alexander, his fingers tapping loudly on his phone, silently grabbed his coat and exited the conference room after a brief pause.


    Kyle, noticing the situation, hurried to catch up. The entire conference room was left in bewilderment as everyone looked at each other.


    "Mr. Smith, should we continue the meeting?" someone asked.


    Walter replied, "Yes, why not? Everyone is here. Let''s carry on."


    Alexander aimed to undermine Landon''s authority during his moment of vulnerability, hence the meeting.


    How did Alexander pursuing his wife rte to Walter?


    As they arrived at the parking lot, Alexander opened the car door and entered. Kyle seemed to anticipate Alexander''s destination, as he started the car towards the resort without engaging in small talk. Meanwhile, Quinn was still at the service area and received popcorn and fried chicken bought by Orion. She was enjoying the food, unaware of Alexander''s intense anger.


    "Is it tasty?" Orion asked with a smile, watching her.


    Quinn nodded while munching on the popcorn, eating neatly without wasting any.


    Orion held the fried chicken, waiting for Quinn to finish the popcorn before handing it to her. He reminded her, "Don''t eat the bones. Be careful."


    Quinn nodded, smelling the delicious fried chicken. She eagerly took it and started eating, leaving a greasy mark around her mouth.


    Orion found her amusing, wiping her mouth with a tissue.


    After a while, he asked Quinn, "Do you have your phone?"


    Quinn was preupied with eating fried chicken and didn''t have a free hand to respond. She gestured with her body towards the pocket of her pajamas where her phone was. Orion retrieved her phone, telling her to eat properly in the car while he stepped out to make a call.


    Taking Quinn''s phone, he called Ryan after getting out of the car, asking for his support.


    Ryan asked, "Did you really burn through fifty thousand dors in just a single day?"


    Rubbing his head, Orion sheepishly responded, "No, I''m heading to Whispering Pines Resort. Can you transfer some money to me ASAP?"


    Ryan inquired, "Are you going to Whispering Pines Resort with Quinn? Does Alexander know about this?"


    Orion responded, "Stop with the questions. Transfer the money to me now. I''m on the highway and will arrive shortly."


    Ryan inquired, "Your cards are frozen. How can I transfer the money to you?"


    Orion replied, "I''ll give you a number. Transfer the money to her digital ount."


    Ryan was momentarily speechless. He didn''t want to approve of the situation, but he couldn''t ignore his brother''s plea for help.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Once Orion sent the ount details, Ryan transferred two hundred thousand to that ount.


    Having visited Whispering Pines Resort previously, he knew that twenty thousand dors would suffice for a good ten days at the estate.


    Receiving the money, Orion felt relieved as a heavy burden lifted off his shoulders, no longer worrying about being broken.</p<>

 Chapter 706

    Orion returned to the car to find Quinn finishing the fried chicken, her fingers and mouth greasy as she licked them.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Orion grimaced, took out a wet wipe from his pocket, and cleaned Quinn''s hands. "Your hands aren''t clean. Don''t lick them randomly. You might get sick," he warned. As Orion spoke, he wiped both her hands and mouth clean. Quinn, with wide and innocent eyes, sat quietly in her seat.


    A yful smile spread across her face at Orion''s words.


    Being inexperienced in raising children, Orion appeared clumsy and cautious.


    After cleaning Quinn''s hands, Orion yfully pinched her cheek and smiled. "Are you full? Go back to sleep. We still have some time before we get there."


    Quinn nodded, patted her belly, and obediently went back to sleep.


    Orion covered her with a jacket, drove the car out of the rest area, and headed towards Whispering Pines Resort.


    The journey up the mountain was a bit rough, and Quinn slept through the entire ride in a daze. When they finally arrived, Quinn had caught up on all the sleep she had missed over the past two days.


    Orion woke Quinn up, and she rubbed her eyes, gazing at the brightly lit resort ahead with a surprised expression. From their vantage point, the area resembled a bustling town nestled among mountains, vibrant, bright, and beautiful. The sky was filled with numerous floating skynterns, giving the scene a dreamy and surreal appearance, incredibly beautiful.


    Quinn was eagerly reaching for the car door to get out, but Orion halted her. "Hold on, we''re not there yet. Let''s take in the view from here first," he said.


    Following the guide''s directions, Orion drove up the mountain road to admire the night view of the entire Whispering Pines Resort.


    Although they were on the mountain, they could faintly hear the lively soundsing from below.


    The area was named Whispering Pines Resort, but it was more than just a resort. Initially named as a vige, developerster transformed it into a resort, spurring the growth of other businesses in the vicinity.


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    Whispering Pines Resort was merely a title for the location, akin to themercial district below the mountain. In contrast to citymercial zones, the air quality was superior here, and the environment remained unspoiled. Within the resort, cars were prohibited, and walking was only permitted within the small town where motor vehicles were not allowed.


    With buildings leaning towards the retro style, Whispering Pines Resort also had another name, the Ancient City.


    Orion took out his phone and took a panoramic picture of the resort below.


    He asked Quinn, "Would you like to take some pictures?"


    Quinn nodded excitedly.


    Orion tried to take a picture with his phone inside the car, but it was difficult.


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    So he asked Quinn to step out. He guided Quinn to the railing at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the night view below, and took a photo with Quinn leaning against him. "How is it?" Orion showed Quinn the photo.


    Quinn gazed at the photo, her mouth agape in surprise. The image captured the beautiful town lights in the background and skynterns above, illuminating their faces. After holding the phone for a while, Quinn returned it to Orion and urged him to take more pictures with her.


    Orion smiled and took several more group photos, then took many solo shots of Quinn.


    "Alright, let''s go down." Orion handed her the phone. Quinn nodded while flipping through the photos, then leaned against Orion''s head and got back into the car. They were so caught up in their enjoyment that they didn''t notice a nearby car parked with someone inside watching them intently.


    The Bentley was parked in the middle of the road, causing amotion with the honking cars behind it.

 Chapter 707

    Kyle sat in the car, a shiver running down his spine. He swallowed nervously, fearful of Alexander''s potential actions. Anxiously, he spoke, "Mr. Kennedy, I have a solution." Alexander shifted his gaze from the Volkswagen ahead, fixing a cold stare on Kyle, as if one misstep would result in being thrown off the mountain.


    "Speak."


    Kyle wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and said hesitantly, "Well, Mrs. Kennedy has lost her memory now, and no one recognizes her."


    "She trusts Orion William so deeply because he has made a positive impact on her. Therefore, Mr. Kennedy, I believe it is important for you to also make a good impression on Mrs. Kennedy. If she does not resist you, it will be easier to bring her back home."


    ??


    Kyle concluded that if Alexander hadn''t intruded into Orion''s house and engaged in a series of actions that tarnished his image, Quinn wouldn''t have felt so repulsed by him. It all boiled down to Alexander, whether it was his arrogance or his tendency to be so assertive.


    Alexander stared at Kyle, silent for a moment. He neither argued nor scolded Kyle, indicating that he epted the suggestion.


    So, Kyle gathered his courage and said, " So, Mr. Kennedy, we didn''t make a good impression on Mrs. Kennedy the first time. We can''t afford to repeat the same mistake. It''s important for us to enhance our image now." Alexander nced at the Volkswagen again, which had already disappeared around the corner.


    "Follow them," Alexander''s tone softened considerably.


    Kyle let out a quiet sigh of relief. Alexander had taken his words to heart, and that was all that mattered.


    If the situation remained the same, Quinn would only be more scared of Alexander. Ultimately, he might never be able to regain his wife''s affection.


    Alexander had been selfish in the past, counting on Quinn''s inability to leave him. However, now that Orion''s name was on the marriage certificate, Quinn''s heart belonged solely to Orion.


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    Alexander had no trump card left.


    If the timing had been different, Kyle might have found it amusing, but hecked the nerve. He wasn''t like Walter. Kyle grumbled to himself as he started the car. The cars behind him were bing impatient. Before the vehicle was fully started, someone outside was knocking on the window. Kyle turned his head and saw a man.


    Alexander lowered the window, his face devoid of emotion as he gazed outside. The man standing there appeared frustrated, his anger evident. "What''s going on? Why aren''t you moving?" he demanded. Alexander turned away, responding casually and with arrogance, "If I don''t feel like moving, I won''t. Why do I need a reason?"


    ??


    The man was already unhappy, and thisment ignited his anger. "Do you own the road? You''re so arrogant."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


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    Alexander narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint appearing.


    The man yelled, "Not happy? If you''re brave enough, get out of the car!"


    And Alexander actually did get out of the car.


    The man said, "You..."


    As the man was about to speak, Alexander abruptly seized his throat and pushed him backward. The man was caught off guard, stumbling back until his back hit the guardrail of the cliff. It was only then that heprehended the situation. Enraged, the man attempted to punch Alexander, but before he couldnd the blow, Alexander tightened his grip on the man''s throat. The man''s vision dimmed as he dangled over the edge of the guardrail.


    "I got out of the car. Now what?" Alexander looked at him coldly.


    The man''s hands gripped the railing tightly, his face reddening with fear. He was terrified that releasing his grip would result in falling from the guardrail. He strained to make eye contact with Alexander, his throat tight with emotion, unable to speak a word.

 Chapter 708

    Despite the man''s embarrassment, Alexander''sposure was remarkable. He casually used only one hand, with the other hand in his pocket, to grab the man''s neck, as if he were not exerting force but rather standing by the railing, enjoying the view.


    Kyle was scared to death when he saw this, silently mocking this unlucky guy who happened to run into Mr. Kennedy at his worst moment.


    "Daddy!" A five or six-year-old girl rushed forward, grabbing Alexander''s coat, crying and begging Alexander to let go of her dad.


    The woman also cried out, "I''m sorry, it''s our fault. Please release him! It will be disastrous!"


    Despite Alexander''s seemingly indifferent demeanor, his grasp was firm. The man''s face began to transition from red to purple, and his eyes were on the verge of rolling back. If the man''s grip on the railing were to loosen, he would undoubtedly plummet off the cliff and shatter into pieces.


    "Daddy, let go of my dad..." The young girl swung Alexander''s coat with one hand while wiping her tears with the other, appearing both fierce and pitiful at the same time.


    Alexander looked down at the little girl, his expression momentarily dazed.


    Kyle stepped out of the car and whispered, "Mr. Kennedy, let''s not waste time. Let''s not deal with those people. If we''rete, Mrs. Kennedy might have already arrived at Orion''s ce!" Alexander suddenly looked at him, his eyes as sharp as knives.


    Kyle shrank his neck and dared not speak.


    Fortunately, Alexander let go of the man. "Consider yourself lucky."


    The man suddenly sat on the ground, breathing heavily and coughing desperately.


    His daughter went up to hug him and cried bitterly. The family of three squatted on the ground, crying heartbreakingly.


    Those who were considering causing trouble quickly abandoned the idea. Confronting such a vtile individual, who would dare to provoke him?


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    The man never expected this person to be so crazy. Having narrowly escaped death, his heart was about to jump out of his chest.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Alexander nced at the little girl on the ground again, then turned and got into the car.


    Kyle didn''t dare dy any longer and drove the car away. Orion and the others were probably about to get out of the car by now.


    Orion had reached the parking lot outside the mansion and was surprised to see it nearly full. He parked the car, assisted Quinn out, and nned to purchase new clothes for her to change into. Quinn followed him, looking around curiously. There were so many things to eat and y with here.


    She held Orion''s hand and pointed to the shining bunny headband over there.


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    Orion wasted no time in buying whatever Quinn desired. He bought the bunny headband and ced it on Quinn''s head to match her bunny pajamas, creating an adorable look.


    Quinn made a scissor hand gesture by her ear, asking Orion to take a picture of her.


    Orion chuckled, took out his phone, and snapped a picture of her.


    He gently pulled her along, urging her to continue moving. Quinn''s eyes were fixed on a hat, gloves, a scarf, and various quirky knick-knacks. Before long, Orion found himself carrying an assortment of small items. As they moved along, they also purchased dolls, marshmallows, and even a bubble machine.


    Orion wiped the sweat off his forehead. Indeed, children''s minds were simple, and all the things they bought were what children liked.


    After buying all the way, they finally arrived at the clothing store. Orion put all the things on the sofa in the store and went to pick out clothes for Quinn.


    When Orion stood up, two children quickly approached and started taking things from the sofa. Seeing this, Quinn frowned unhappily and rushed over to retrieve the items from the children.


    Despite her efforts, the children refused to give them back. In the ensuing struggle, one of the children angrily bit Quinn''s wrist.

 Chapter 709

    The little boy was about seven or eight years old, chubby and cute. But when he bit down, Quinn was in so much pain that she was on the verge of tears.


    Quinn shoved the young boy to the ground and grabbed the items he was holding. The child sat down and began to cry.


    Another child approached and kicked Quinn, eximing, "Stealing from a child, how shameless!"


    Quinn shot the child an angry look, clutching the items in her arms with one hand. She turned to grab the doll from the child''s grasp, but he proved to be elusive, dodging behind Quinn and taunting her by sticking out his tongue. The boy said, "Come and get me."


    Quinn turned to grab him again, but the boy ran off once more.


    Orion turned around and noticed Quinn being taunted by a child. Feeling a twinge of anger, he hurried over. Before he could reach them, the child snatched the doll and ran off, prompting Quinn to give chase. Orion called, "Quinn!"


    Realizing the urgency of the situation, Orion quickly followed them outside. The area was packed with people, making it difficult for Orion to navigate through the crowd. He kept his eyes fixed on Quinn''s back, feeling a mix of anxiety and frustration.


    Meanwhile, the young boy continued to taunt Quinn, who was boiling with anger. Gathering her resolve, she chased after the child.


    After running for a while, they reached a slightly open area on the street.


    The boy taunted, "Come and catch me, you fool!" He turned back and mocked Quinn. She was nearly in tears from anger. However, the boy, too engrossed in teasing Quinn, didn''t pay attention to his footing and tripped, falling t on the ground.


    The doll flew out far away, and he started crying loudly.


    Quinn paused beside him, taking a moment to catch her breath. She disregarded the child and bent down to pick up the doll. Just as Quinn was about to leave, she suddenly heard the boy on the ground crying for his father. "Boy, what''s the matter?" A slender man hurried over, scooped the child off the ground, and inquired, "Where''s your brother?"


    The child was crying loudly, pointing at Quinn and telling his father, "She bullied me!" The man turned to look at Quinn, who was still holding the doll in her hand. Sensing the man''s gaze, she quickly hid the doll behind her, fearful that he might take it away.


    The man brushed the dust off the child''s body and noticed a scrape on the child''s palm, instantly feeling angry. He stood up and approached Quinn. Quinn, feeling frightened, continued to step back.


    The man stood in front of Quinn, ring fiercely at her. "Hey. Why did you bully my son?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Quinn bit her lip, shaking her head repeatedly, and then gestured with the doll in her hand, trying to tell the man that his son had taken her things first.


    But the man couldn''t understand her gestures. He thought she was provoking him. He grabbed the doll and snatched it away.


    The man shouted, "You''re trying to take things from my son."


    Quinn was flustered. She reached out to take it back, but the man threw it away, making a loud noise as it hit the ground.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! People around started gathering, curious about what was happening.


    The child took the opportunity to use again. "She also pushed my brother to the ground!"


    The man became even angrier. He grabbed Quinn by the cor. "What? Are you a human trafficker?"


    The man wanted to find an excuse to vent his anger. But facing a woman, he had to find a reasonable and justifiable reason that would provoke public outrage. Hearing this, people around started whispering, "We should watch our hildren. I heard there are many human traffickers currently."


    "Human traffickers should be executed."


    "They now openly kidnap children. Ridiculous."


    In the midst of the crowd''s murmurs, Quinn felt extremely ufortable. She attempted tomunicate through gestures, but no one seemed to understand her.

 Chapter 710

    At this moment, the man''s other chubby son also came crying, pointing at Quinn and using her. "Dad, she hit me." "This woman looks kind. I didn''t expect she would hit a child."


    "Is she crazy?"


    Quinn felt extremely uneasy at that moment. Unable to defend herself, she could only endure the hostility of those around her. Quinn grabbed the man''s hand, attempting to pry it open.


    The judgmental nces from the people nearby felt like sharp thorns as if Quinn were an unforgivable viin. The sense of being scorned by everyone fueled Quinn''s desire to escape.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Both of the man''s children felt wronged. So he couldn''t let Quinn off easily. He let go of Quinn and then pped her backhandedly.


    A sharp p echoed through the air, causing Quinn to fall to the ground. The swelling was evident on her fair face, and her elbows and palms throbbed with pain. A flood of grievances and agony overwhelmed her, leading to tears streaming down her cheeks.


    Orion, finally catching up, witnessed the scene, feeling his anger rise. He pushed through the crowd, making his way to the man without a word, andnded a punch on him.


    The man staggered back two steps after suddenly being punched, covering his cheek and ring at Orion.


    The man asked, "Why did you hit me?"


    Orion''s chest heaved with anger. He charged at the man again,nding another punch. "Yes, I hit you. How dare you bully my wife? I''ll kill you!"


    The man took another blow, blood dripping from his mouth. He staggered back a few steps. "So, you''re in cahoots. You''re both human traffickers, partners in crime!"


    Orion struck him again. "Shut up!"


    Orion was fuming, never having witnessed such a scene before.


    The man regained hisposure and quickly confronted Orion, starting a scuffle. Soon, a crowd of onlookers gathered around, forming a tight circle.


    Quinn was on the ground, watching the intense fight unfold. She tried to stand up and intervene, but the chaos made it difficult. As she approached, the man identally bumped into her, causing her to stagger back a few steps.


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    The man was a local, running a guesthouse here with arge family.


    Family members were informed, and his two brothers rushed over. Seeing someone bullying their own, they immediately grabbed Orion. "Brat, how dare you?"


    The two men restrained Orion, and despite his struggles, he couldn''t break free.


    Angrily, he eximed, "Don''t you have any sense of reason? You were the ones who initiated the trouble!" As the man rose from the ground, he spat out blood and directed his ire towards Orion. "Stop falsely using us! You and your aplice tried to abduct my son. Luckily, he was sharp enough not to go with you, and then you tormented him. Do you think I''m unaware of all this?"


    Orion exined, "You''re talking nonsense! Your son snatched our things first, fell, and med us. How shameless can you be?"


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    The man eximed, "My son wouldn''t even look at your worthless belongings. Why does he take things from others? You''re just making excuses, you dirty thieves. Beating you to death would be too kind!"


    As the man spoke, he aimed a kick at Orion''s face.


    Upon witnessing this, Quinn''s pupils dted sharply. She quickly rose from the ground and rushed towards the man, pushing him. The man stumbled back, then pushed Quinn away in return. "Encountering me today is unfortunate for you!" Orion called, "Quinn!"


    Witnessing Quinn being shoved to the ground once more, Orion appeared distressed. He attempted to rise but was forcefully pushed back down.


    The man shouted, "Beat them! Kill these two filthy traffickers!"


    "Stop!"


    A voice suddenly pierced through the noisy crowd. Though soft, its distinct tone and sharpness captured the attention of everyone in the vicinity.

 Chapter 711

    The surrounding voices gradually subsided, all looking towards the person speaking.


    The crowd parted to reveal the speaker''s figure-Alexander, dressed in a ck trench coat, tall and with long legs, standing out among the crowd like a crane among chickens.


    Alexander''s presence immediately distinguished him from those around him, casting a noticeable contrast between the two worlds. As soon as the three menid eyes on him, they couldn''t help but furrow their brows. Alexander''s aura was toomanding to be overlooked.


    "Who are you?"


    Alexander emerged from the crowd with his long strides. The surrounding voices gradually hushed, and all eyes turned to him, seemingly curious about his identity.


    Orion also couldn''t help but furrow his brows when he saw Alexander arrive.


    He was sure that Alexander hade after Quinn. Orion felt relieved that he hade, yet embarrassed by his predicament of being pinned to the ground.


    Orion approached Alexander and exined, "These two kids took Quinn''s toy and ended up hurting themselves. This man used us of trafficking. Look at Quinn, she''s been hurt!"


    Orion was influenced by the children''s actions, possibly due to his time spent with Quinn, and felt that reporting the incident was not a shameful act.


    Alexander nced at Orion with undisguised disdain.


    As Orion spoke, some in the crowd naturally recognized Alexander.


    "He''s Alexander Kennedy!"


    "Which one, which Alexander Kennedy? Not...?"


    "Yes, it''s the Alexander Kennedy from the Kennedy Group. Didn''t he make headlines with some celebrity before? It was quite popr online." With this revtion, more and more people recognized Alexander.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


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    Many who came to y here were from Amber Bay, and those who could go here had some social status. So, knowing Alexander wasn''t surprising.


    Some of them were already familiar with the name Alexander, while others recognized him from previous news. However they knew of him, all understood that Alexander held a position of importance. As they listened to the murmurs around them, the three men exchanged uneasy nces.


    Seriously?


    Disregarding the onlookers''ments and stares, Alexander walked up to Quinn and gazed down at her.


    With her face swollen, Quinny in disarray on the ground. She met Alexander''s eyes with tears welling up, looking deeply aggrieved.


    Alexander extended his slender hand towards Quinn. "Get up."


    Quinn gazed at the handsome hand for a while, then shifted her gaze to Orion, who remained on the ground. Tentatively, she reached out and ced her hand in Alexander''s palm.


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    Alexander helped Quinn up from the ground, holding her hand. Her pajamas were so filthy from the rain that it was difficult to look at them, and her face was noticeably swollen. Observing her condition, Alexander''s expression turned grim. Turning to the three men, he asked, "Did you say she is a human trafficker?"


    The men also realized, releasing Orion one after another, standing together like they were in military training.


    "That... that might have been a misunderstanding," the man said with an awkward smile.


    "Both my kids were upset by them, so my initial reaction was that they were human traffickers... Who would have thought..."


    As Alexander''s expression grew more severe, the man''s voice lowered to a whisper. "Who would have thought... adults like them could intimidate young children."


    Orion countered, "Could you please exin the situation? What do you mean by bullying children? As I''ve already mentioned, it was your child who took our toy and fell while fleeing. And you, without any hesitation, struck my wife in front of everyone. There are plenty of witnesses here, so don''t even think about distorting the truth!


    "I..." the man stuttered, his heart racing with anxiety. After a thorough recall, he finally realized who this Alexander was.

 Chapter 712

    Alexander was not someone he could afford to offend.


    When Orion mentioned the word ''wife,'' Alexander''s expression darkened even more. The man thought Alexander was angry, causing him to shrink back in fear. Alexander spoke, "So, how do you n to solve thisr?"


    The man''s face paled. After a moment of contemtion, he seized his son and demanded sternly, "Both of you, speak the truth. What''s happening?! If you dare to lie, I''ll spank your bottoms."


    The child, unable toprehend the situation, simply feared punishment and stubbornly denied taking the toy. The plump child pointed at Quinn, iming, "She took my things and pushed me. She started it!" Another one chimed in, "Yes, she was the one threatening us. And given her size, how could we have possibly taken anything from her?"


    Some children often exploit their youth, speaking against their conscience because many believe children are innocent and incapable of lying.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Quinn heard the words but was unable to respond. Standing beside Alexander, she shook her head, waved the doll in her hand, and pointed to herself, attempting to convey that the toy belonged to her.


    The man said, "You all heard it. She bullied my son first. Mr. Kennedy, just because you have money doesn''t mean you can bully people unreasonably, right?"


    It had to be said that this man, being a shopkeeper, was highly skilled at winning people over.


    Before, he used Quinn of being involved in human trafficking when he hit someone. Now, with Alexander''s arrival, he resorted to moral ckmail, provoking resentment towards the wealthy from the bystanders. When Alexander heard this, he chuckled. But there was no amusement in his eyes.


    He looked at the man indifferently. "Since you put it that way, there''s no need for me to reason with you."


    The man hesitated, staring at him warily. "What are you going to do?"


    Alexander tilted his head slightly and nced at Kyle.


    Kyle immediately understood, took a step forward, and grabbed a child.


    The man was shocked. "What are you doing? Let go of my son!"


    Alexander said, "Didn''t you say we bully people without reason? If we don''t bully a bit, how can we justify your usations against us?"


    With a sudden burst of urgency, the man lunged forward, determined to retrieve his two sons. However, before he could even reach them, he was swiftly sent flying by a kick from Kyle.


    As he sat on the ground, he looked up and witnessed Kyle pping the chubby boy.


    Kyle asked the chubby child. "Did she bully you?"


    The chubby boy was pped, causing him to cry out loudly, ignoring Kyle''s wordspletely.


    Kyle raised his hand again. "Be quiet!"


    The boy immediately silenced himself, no longer daring to cry, though tears continued to flow down his face.


    Kyle asked again, "Tell everyone, did she bully you?"


    The chubby boy looked cautiously at Kyle''s hand and shook his head quickly. The man on the ground could no longer contain his emotions. He spoke up indignantly, "He''s just a kid! It''s excessive to resort to beating him like this! Have youpletely disregarded allws and decency?"


    Alexander raised an eyebrow, "Compared to your usation of them being human traffickers, I think this p is too light."


    Alexander''s eyebrows twitched slightly, "Compared to your false usation of them being human traffickers, I think this p was too light."


    "You!" The man''s forehead pulsed with visible veins, his hands clenched so tightly that they made a cracking noise. "What exactly do you want?" "Apologize on your knees," Alexander replied.

 Chapter 713

    We are not in the wrong. Why should we apologize? You were the one who bullied us first, and now you expect us to kneel and say sorry. Is that fair?" The man yelled... "Everyone, look, isn''t this bullying? It''s only because we have no money or power."


    Orion''s mouth almost twitched in anger upon hearing this. How absurd! It''s not about who is at fault or who is wealthy.


    Alexander cut him off and spoke directly, "You know what you need to do. You have five seconds to decide: either apologize and bow down, or..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence. It all turned into a vague smile.


    To the man, this statement sounded like a full-blown threat, as if saying, "Or you''ll all die."


    But judging from the chill in Alexander''s eyes, the man''s feeling was not wrong.


    His two brothers leaned in and whispered to him. The man''s expression shifted unpredictably as he grappled with intense inner turmoil. Faced with the embarrassment of losing face in front of so many people and the prospect of quietly sumbing back home, it became apparent that there was no choice left to make.


    With Alexander''s status, trying to make him disappear quietly took more work.


    Kyle grew impatient. "Are you going to apologize or not?"


    The man was startled by his scolding and quickly changed from a sitting position to a kneeling one. "Apologize! I apologize!"


    Kyle roughly pushed the two children he had been holding toward the man. "Anyone who was involved, kneel and apologize now!"


    The two children were hesitant. Their father grabbed their hands and whispered, "Kneel!"


    With a tug, the children knelt as well.


    The man''s two brothers also knelt, forming a row on the ground, like paying respects.


    "I''m sorry, Madam. I misunderstood you. I shouldn''t have hit you. I was blind. Please forgive us, and don''t stoop to our level!"


    Quinn was startled by his actions and hurriedly ran behind Orion to hide.


    Moreover, she ran from Alexander''s side to Orion''s side.


    Her actions made Alexander''s face turn sour.


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    Alexander cast a cold nce at the man on the ground, his icy demeanor enough to freeze someone solid. With the chilly weather, the man on the ground was shivering from the cold. The man was also scared by Alexander. What was going on? He had apologized.


    "Louder." Alexander said.


    The man hesitated. Seeing his murderous gaze, he gritted his teeth and spoke louder.


    "I''m sorry, Madam!"


    Not only did he kneel, he also pressed down his two sons.


    Orion was feeling uncertain. He wasn''t Alexander, and the situation was a bit awkward.


    They exchanged apologies, but Orion was unsure whether to offer a hand or make things moreplicated. When he saw the man touch Quinn earlier, he felt a surge of anger.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Turning to Quinn, he asked softly, "Are you still upset?""N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Quinn nervously nced at the man on the ground and shook her head.


    Orion looked at Alexander, but Alexander just snorted coldly and walked away from the crowd.


    Seeing this, Orion couldn''t be bothered by the people kneeling on the ground. He pulled Quinn and followed.


    The onlookers gradually dispersed, and the street regained its lively atmosphere. Some individuals had already recorded the incident and shared it online.


    Alexander walked briskly, prompting Kyle to jog to catch up. Just from observing the man''s posture, it was clear he was now extremely angry.


    Kyle caught up with his steps, whispering, "Mr. Kennedy, is this over?"


    Alexander didn''t even stop his steps and coldly said, "Make them disappear."


    Kyle widened his eyes and couldn''t help but take a sharp breath. He was truly going mad.


    He coughed, then whispered again, "Mr. Kennedy, calm down. Don''t forget our n. This is the opportunity to establish a good impression in front of Mrs. Kennedy."

 Chapter 714

    Alexander halted his steps, tilting his head slightly. His eyes focused on Kyle''s face before ncing back at the two individuals trailing behind him.


    Quinn clung to Orion''s arm, puffing her cheeks in a cute and distressed manner, seekingfort.


    Feeling sorry for her, Orion gently touched her bruised face, contemting where to buy some medicine to apply to it.


    Alexander asked, "Can you tell me how?"


    Kyle also turned back and looked, suddenly feeling like poking his own eyes.


    "Call Charles and ask him to take the person away." After saying that, Alexander walked away without looking back.


    Kyle agreed, quickly took out his phone, avoided Orion, and called Charles.


    Unaware that his father was headed to the battlefield, Orion bought the toys Quinn had dropped, along with clothes and ointment.


    With everything purchased, he then took Quinn back to the mansion.


    The entrance ticket to the mansion hotel was thirty thousand dors, which included a night in a standard double room and three meals a day for seven days.


    Naturally, these were the standard rates. If they desired better dining or amodations, they would need to pay additional fees. Orion reserved a suite for twenty-eight thousand dors per night.


    He took Quinn to the hotel suite, put down the things, and walked to the window to take a look. The location was really good, simr to the scene seen from the mountain overlooking the entire town. Orion led Quinn to sit on the sofa and took out the ointment to apply to her face.


    "Does it hurt?" Orion touched her flushed cheek, which felt warm, almost as if she had a fever.


    Quinn shook her head. The ointment was cool and relieved the burning sensation when applied to her face.


    Orion said, "If something like this happens next time, call me directly. Don''t argue with people on your own, okay?"


    Quinn nced at his concerned expression and nodded guiltily. She reached out and gently touched the corner of Orion''s mouth, feeling responsible for his injury as well.


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    Orion held her hand, showing her a bright smile. "It''s okay. I''m not hurt. Don''t worry."


    Quinn pursed her lips, her eyes slightly red.


    Seeing her like this, Orion hurriedlyforted her. "I''m really fine. Don''t cry."


    He hugged Quinn and patted her back. "It''s okay. It''s okay."


    Her clothes were soft, her hair was fluffy, holding her felt like cuddling a plush toy, but with a more tactile sensation, and she smelled better than a toy. Quinn''s soft hair brushed against his neck, tickling and soft.


    Orion smelled the scent of her hair and subconsciously swallowed.


    "Quinn..." Orion called out hoarsely.


    Quinn pulled away from his embrace, gazing at him intensely, her ck and white eyes shimmering with moisture.


    They were so close, almost just a finger''s distance apart. Orion could see the fine fuzz on Quinn''s hairline.


    Her innocent and pure look made Orion feel somewhat overwhelmed.


    He stammered. "Can I kiss you?"


    After saying that, he caught himself and felt the urge to p himself. He was manipting her. But Quinn blinked and took the initiative to lean over, kissing him on the cheek. At that moment, Orion tensed up entirely. He gazed at the spot where Quinn had kissed him, as if her warmth still lingered there, giving him a sensation of tion.


    He instinctively leaned closer to Quinn. His eyes fixed on her lips, his heart beating rapidly.


    Orion had never kissed a girl before, and now he was nervous and excited.


    Just one kiss, one... wouldn''t be taking advantage of the situation.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    At that moment, there was a loud bang at the door.

 Chapter 715

    Orion and Quinn were both startled, with Orion even jumping up from the couch guiltily.


    He nced back at the door, relieved that it hadn''t been kicked open.


    But the next moment, there was another loud noise. Nervously, Orion swallowed and stared at the door, contemting whether to open it, fearing it might be Alexander. He hurried to call customer service to address themotion outside. Before customer service answered the call, they had already sent someone to deal with it.


    "Sir, we have already sent someone to handle it. It''s a drunk guest. We apologize for disturbing your rest."


    Upon hearing this, Orion breathed a sigh of relief. "That''s good, no problem."


    Orion ended the call and turned to look at Quinn. The romantic thoughts he had earlier faded away. He thought about going out to book another room, but he hesitated, concerned about leaving Quinn alone and unsure if it would be safe for her.


    Orion came to Quinn''s side, patted her head, and asked softly, "Sleep inside tonight. I''ll sleep on the outside sofa."


    Quinny on the back of the sofa, looking up at him intently. Upon hearing Orion''s words, she shook her head.


    Orion needed rification on Quinn''s intentions. "Are you saying you''re not tired, or you don''t want to sleep indoors?"


    Quinn remained silent for a moment. She pointed at Orion, then at herself, and brought her hands together, gesturing sleeping.


    Orion blinked, understanding her gesture. Suddenly, he found himself growing tense again.


    Orion asked, "Do you mean you want to sleep with me?"


    Quinn raised a bright smile, nodding quickly.


    Orion touched his nose. "This doesn''t seem right. I promised you that..."


    Quinn waspletely lost at the moment. If she were to regain her memory in the future, she might end up hating him. When he declined, Quinn''s smile vanished, and she pouted, gazing at him with a pitiful expression.


    Unable to bear Quinn''s gaze, Orion scratched his head and turned away from her. "You sleep by yourself. Tomorrow, I''ll take you to soak in a hot spring."


    Soaking in a hot spring wasgood for health. Orion felt Quinn''s body needed it now.


    Orion nced back at Quinn, "Can you bathe by yourself?"


    Quinn blinked and shook her head.


    Orion''s eyes lingered on Quinn''s delicate features, then trailed down to her neck where her hair cascaded over the cor. Despite the darkness of the cor, it couldn''t halt his wild thoughts. Suddenly, Orion''s nose felt warm, and tears began to fall.


    Instinctively, Orion touched it, seeing his fingers covered in bright red.


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    Shocked, he covered his nose and mouth and hurried to the bathroom. Turning on the faucet, he washed his face, then tilted his head back and inserted tissue into his nostrils before releasing a long breath.


    After the nosebleed subsided, Orion undressed and took a cold shower topose himself.


    In his mind, he was reciting verses from the Bible, admonishing himself not to harbor any inappropriate thoughts!


    As Orion was reciting with his eyes closed, he suddenly felt someone poking his arm.


    Orion tensed as the cold water sshed on his face. He swallowed hard, taking a few deep breaths to gather his thoughts. With deliberate movements, he opened his eyes and turned his head. Quinn was standing right in front of him, curiously observing Orion.


    Orion swiftly covered his private parts, bending over and staring at her in terror. "What are you doing in here?"


    A touch of bewilderment appeared in Quinn''s eyes as she nced at Orion''s chest and then down at her own body.N?velDrama.Org owns this.

 Chapter 716

    "Please, step out, now!" Orion''s face turned a deep shade of red. He had never experienced such intense embarrassment, especially under the curious and naive gaze of Quinn.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Quinn shook her head and raised her hand to remove her clothes. Orion, frightened, quickly approached and pushed her hand away.


    Orion said, "Quinn, please. I implore you. Step outside!"


    Quinn paused, her gaze following down his chest.


    Orion quickly covered himself, feeling a wave of despair. With no other option, he hurriedly stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel, and swiftly wrapped it around his waist. It was only then that he felt a bit of his dignity restored. Orion pulled Quinn out of the bathroom all the way to the bedroom.


    He pressed Quinn onto the bed, his gaze stern and unyielding. "You''re sleeping here, understand?"


    Perhaps it was Orion''s stern tone that made Quinn shrink back a little, reluctantly nodding her head in acquiescence.


    Orion let out a sigh of relief, picked up the towel, and exited the bedroom. Closing the door behind him, he reiterated his instructions, "Get some sleep. Don''te out."


    Quinn red at Orion resentfully, as if ming him for something. Orion paid no mind, closing the door and leaning against it to take a deep breath. Upon returning to the bathroom, he made sure to lock the door this time.


    In the next room, Alexander was watching the tablet on the coffee table. His face scrunched up in displeasure the entire time.


    Kyle stood behind, wiping the sweat off his forehead, asionally stealing nces at Alexander on the sofa. However, apart from his dark expression, there was hardly any other emotion. Kyle was momentarily unsure, torn between leaving and staying.


    When Quinn took off her pajamas in the video, he quickly turned around."Mr. Kennedy, I''ll go out first."


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    After speaking, Kyle slipped out of the room in a hurry, afraid of being a step too slow lest Alexander think he saw something he shouldn''t have.


    Alexander remained silent throughout, leaning on the sofa, his gaze never once leaving theptop.


    After changing her clothes, Quinn noticed the watch on her wrist. She lifted her wrist, bringing her face closer to observe her reflection on the watch.


    Intrigued, she made different expressions, each one being transmitted to anotherputer screen through this small device.


    Most importantly, Quinn wasn''t wearing clothes.


    Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes, and leaned back. Quinn grew tired of ying with the watch; she found it uninteresting.


    She changed into the new clothes that Orion had purchased for her and settled down on the bed to sleep. Without any worries or troubles, she quickly drifted off to sleep. Within five minutes, she entered dreand. Alexander opened his eyes once more and nced at theptop, observing her peaceful sleeping face.


    The image on theptop was high-definition andrge, clearly showing Quinn.


    Her long hair spread across her cheeks, covering most of her face, revealing only a small, delicate nose. Her lips, barely visible, moved as if she was eating something delicious in her dream. Alexander stared at Quinn''s lips, and a curve appeared at the corner of his mouth that he didn''t even notice.


    She shifted, moving her lips a few more times. Her long eyshes fluttered as if she were dreaming, but soon returned to normal. Alexander lit a cigarette, crossed his long legs, and silently watched theptop screen. Just then, the bedroom door creaked open, and a stealthy figure entered. Alexander''s gaze intensified as he stared at the figure on the screen.

 Chapter 717

    The one who came in was none other than Orion.


    He had already showered and changed into a T-shirt and sweatpants. Walking over to Quinn''s bed, he noticed that she was asleep. Gently picking up the nket, he covered her. While covering her with the nket, Orion also noticed the watch on Quinn''s wrist.


    Orion furrowed his brow, pinching the watch to take a closer look. When he saw his reflection, he instantly understood what it was.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    This was a VR panoramic camera, a product from the Kennedy Group. It was designed to capture the surrounding environment in 360 degrees, even including oneself in the footage.


    Orion pondered for a moment and quickly grasped its purpose. It was probably used to record Quinn''s daily life due to her condition.


    Therefore, aware that someone was monitoring through the watch, Orion decided not to remove it from Quinn. Instead, he held Quinn''s hand, gently tucked her back into bed, and covered her.


    Quinn slept soundly, oblivious to Orion''s actions. That night, Quinn had many strange dreams, including a long dream solely about Alexander.


    Quinn couldn''t understand these dreams, but in them, she felt inexplicably sad, tears flowing down her face. It felt like she had lost something very significant in her dream.


    The silence in the bedroom was unsettling, and no one knew that Quinn had shed tears in her dream. The next day, when Quinn woke up, her pillow was wet.


    She ran her fingers over the pillow, slightly perplexed, but shrugged off the confusion. She climbed out of bed and ventured into the living room, only to find Orion sprawled out on the couch, deep in sleep. Quinn walked up to him and poked his cheek.


    Orion slowly opened his eyes, still a bit dizzy. When he saw what Quinn was wearing, he instantly woke up.


    She was even d in a thin T-shirt.


    Orion waspletely distraught. Having barely made it through the previous night, now, with Quinn standing in front of him like this, Orion felt like he was on the verge of exploding from the overwhelming emotions. Instinctively covering his nose, Orion got up and went to the bathroom to wash his face.


    Luckily, there was no nosebleed this time.


    He took a quick shower, changed clothes, and went out. Upon opening the door, he found Quinn eagerly waiting.


    Quinn was hungry again.


    Orion sighed and fetched Quinn a coat. Fortunately, the coat was thick, so it didn''t matter how she wore it indoors. He zipped up Quinn''s coat and then put on his own. "Let''s go. I''ll take you out to eat."


    At the mention of food, Quinn immediately perked up.


    She followed Orion to the buffet downstairs, where she could pick what she liked.


    Quinn piled her te high with food and sat across from Orion to devour her meal. After she finished eating, she returned with two ice cream cones.


    Orion was a bit surprised by her appetite. He didn''t know Quinn could eat so much.


    After finishing the meal, Quinn patted her stomach, gazing at Orion expectantly, waiting for his next n.


    Orion said, "You''ve eaten so much ice cream. Would you like to go to a hot spring?"


    Since Quinn couldn''t understand anyway, she just nodded.


    He took Quinn out for a walk to aid digestion before leading her to the mountain resort''s hot springs.


    There were various types of hot springs, like milk baths and rose baths, but Orion chose a rose pool for Quinn.


    Unable to take Quinn to the public pool, he had to reserve a private hot spring, which came at a high cost. It was priced at over a thousand dors per person for the enjoyment.


    The hot spring was located at the base of the mountain, and a small wooden cabin provided guests with an array of food and drinks, fresh bathrobes, and swimsuits for their convenience.


    Orion took Quinn to the cabin, where he found her swimsuit and allowed her to change inside. Quinn held the swimsuit in her hands, turning it over and over, unsure of how to put it on due to the many straps and holes.


    After studying it for a while, Quinn eventually managed to figure out theplicated swimsuit. She then opened the door and walked over to Orion, extending her arms wide to show him her outfit, seeking his confirmation that she had put it on correctly.

 Chapter 718

    Orion nced at Quinn in her swimsuit. Despite her petite figure, she appeared to have a nice body. Orion quickly averted his gaze, fearing he might start bleeding from his nose if he continued staring. "Go ahead," he said.


    Quinn blinked as if asking Orion why he wasn''t joining her.


    Orion seemed to understand and wiped his nose, saying, "I''ll go after you."


    Quinn tilted her head, looking confused.


    Orion exined, "Go test the water temperature."


    Quinn understood this time. She nodded and carefully stepped down the steps toward the pool.


    The water temperature was perfect, akin to a bath, with petals gently floating on the surface. Quinn began ying with the petals in the water,pletely absorbed in her own little world.


    Orion, wrapped in his down jacket, strolled over to a chair near the exit and sat down, showing no interest in joining her in the pool.


    Orion stayed there simply out of concern for Quinn''s safety.


    Quinn waved at him from the water, and Orion waved back with a smile.


    Seeing that he wasn''ting down, Quinn pouted, then swam toward the deeper end.


    Orion sighed as he watched Quinn''s figure.


    This courtyard featured arge banyan tree standing nearby, surrounded by a variety of flowers and nts, as well as rows of evergreens. The entire space exuded a lively spring atmosphere.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    As Orion was admiring the scene, someone suddenly tapped his shoulder from behind.


    Orion instinctively turned around and was shocked to see the person behind him.


    Suddenly, Orion bolted upright from his chair, staring at the person in front of him. He stuttered out. "Dad? What are you doing here!"


    Before he could make sense of it, he was sure Alexander had called him!


    Before he could think further, Charles pped him across the face.


    Charles shouted, "Do you still acknowledge me as your father? I believed you had grown so powerful that you no longer saw me as your father. You rebellious son, bringing someone to a ce like this, you are truly audacious!" Orion, holding his face, red at Charles and retorted, "Why can''t I bring her here? We are legally married..."


    Before he could finish, Charles pped him again, saying, "Shut up!"


    Not only was Orion angry, but Charles was also very angry. If it weren''t for the inappropriate setting, he would have taken off his belt.


    Charles shouted, "Take him back to me!"


    Several bodyguards immediately came forward, one grabbing Orion''s arm and dragging him out.


    Orion caught sight of Quinn in the water and felt anxious. "Dad, hold on! I cane back with you. Can you wait a moment?"


    Charles snorted, "Wait for what? You better take care of yourself first. Take him away!"


    Charles knew what his son was up to and naturally wouldn''t give him the chance.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Orion pleaded, "Dad!"


    "Let me go!" he protested against those who were trying to take him away.


    Orion struggled, not daring to speak too loudly, afraid of rming Quinn in the water and making her scared again.


    But in the end, Orion was ruthlessly dragged away by the bodyguards.


    Quinn was still ying with the flower petals in the water. After a while, she found it boring. The hot spring was warm, making her feel sleepy.


    She turned her head toward where Orion had been, only to find the spot empty.


    A wave of panic washed over Quinn. She turned around, intending to head back to the edge of the hot spring.


    "Who are you looking for?"


    Upon hearing the deep, maic voice, Quinn tensed slightly. She turned her head and spotted Alexander standing at the edge of the pool.


    He was d in a ck shirt, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. With a somewhatid-back attitude, he gazed down at her, a faint, smileless curve on his lips.

 Chapter 719

    Quinn stood bewildered in the water, her hair tied up in a bun. Orion had done it for her, but it was poorly done, messy, with some stray hairs wet and sticking to her cheeks.


    But Quinn''s entire small face was still exposed, along with her loose hair, exuding azy beauty.


    Her ck and white eyes stared straight at Alexander, somewhat unfamiliar yet nervous. Alexander made no move, casually watching Quinn.


    Quinn tore her gaze away, scanning the surroundings for any sign of Orion. When she couldn''t spot him, her anxiety heightened. She stumbled towards the edge of the hot spring, her movements filled with worry.


    Upon reachingnd, the cold wind made Quinn shiver, and she hurriedly grabbed a bathrobe from a nearby chair and put it on. Quinn then made her way to the wooden house, searching every nook and cranny in the yard, but Orion was nowhere to be found..


    ncing back, Quinn saw Alexander still by the hot spring pool, watching her from a distance.


    She bit her lip, mustering the courage to approach Alexander. She raised her hand,cking the knowledge ofplex signnguage; she could only gesture based on instinct. "He''s gone," she said.


    Quinn thought to herself, ''Alexander has helped Orion and me before. He can''t be all bad.''


    Alexander nodded seriously, speaking to Quinn in a matter-of-fact tone, "He doesn''t want you anymore."


    Quinn''s eyes widened in disbelief. She gazed at Alexander, seemingly unable to ept his words, yet they still caused a flush of red to rise in her eyes.


    Thinking Alexander was lying to her, Quinn didn''t want to deal with him and turned to leave.


    But Alexander grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "Where are you going?"


    Quinn, unwilling to engage any further, put all her strength into struggling against Alexander, attempting to push him away.


    Alexander easily caught her other hand. Quinn was at a loss for a moment, her eyes red, ring at him angrily.


    Raising an eyebrow, Alexander seemed unfazed by her disgust. "I told you. He won''te back."


    Almost instinctively, Quinn shook her head.


    Alexander asked, "Don''t believe me? Do you see him here?"


    Looking around, Quinn saw no trace of Orion. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she began to cry, her face contorted with sadness as tears streamed down her cheeks.


    Seeing her distress, Alexander released his grip. In the next moment, Quinn suddenly pushed him with all the resentment in her heart.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Caught off guard by the sudden push, Alexander fell without any warning. In thest second, he managed to grab onto Quinn''s cor.


    Both of them tumbled into the water together, causing arge ssh. Their clothes were thoroughly soaked.


    Quinn struggled in the water. Even though it was shallow, she couldn''t rise because she was face down. Gasping for air, breathing became difficult for her. In her frantic efforts, a pair ofrge hands grasped her arms, lifting her up. Quinn sat in the pool, coughing desperately, spitting out a lot of water.


    After a while, Quinn felt her breathing ease.


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    She heard Alexander''s chuckle beside her.


    Quinn turned her head in anger, only to find him sitting in the pool,pletely soaked. Water dripped from his hair, his shirt was drenched, clinging tightly to his skin and revealing the faint outline of Alexander''s muscles beneath his clothing. Both of them looked somewhat disheveled.


    "Don''t you believe me?" Alexander looked at her calmly.


    Quinn wiped the water off her face and moved her lips, not that she didn''t believe him; she just couldn''t believe that Orion didn''t want her.


    If Orion didn''t want her, Quinn didn''t know where to go, to face this unfamiliar world alone.


    It was terrifying.


    Alexander said, "You can wait here and see if hees back for you."

 Chapter 720

    After speaking, Alexander rose from the water and began walking towards the edge of the hot spring. Before he could reach the steps, Quinn hugged his leg. Alexander nced down slightly as she gripped his ankle tightly, looking up at him.


    Alexander asked, "What are you doing?"


    Quinn pursed her lips, her eyes pleading with Alexander, not asking him to stay but to take her to find Orion.


    However, this desire was destined to remain unfulfilled. Alexander sat down on the steps and gently lifted her chin with his finger.


    Alexander asked, "Do you want me to help you find Orion?"


    Quinn nodded, looking at him expectantly.


    Alexander gazed straight into Quinn''s watery eyes, silent for a moment, then said, "I can help you find him, but I can''t guarantee we will find him."


    Upon hearing this, Quinn''s eyes lit up with joy, and she nodded vigorously.


    Alexander said, "So until we find him, you''ll have to follow me."


    Quinn hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded without hesitation. Besides Orion, she only knew Alexander.


    Quinn had no other choice but to follow Alexander.


    After being saved by Alexander from a dangerous situation the night before, Quinn didn''t feel as put off by him as she had previously, though she still found him a bit irritating. Alexander sat in the courtyard, his clothes drenched and the temperature only two or three degrees. In less than a minute, his clothes had nearly frozen solid against his body. Alexander said, "Let go of me."


    Quinn hesitated for a moment, but instead of letting go, she held on even tighter. She was worried that Alexander would disappear just like Orion.


    A vein on Alexander''s forehead twitched. He reached out and pulled her up from the water. "Go change your clothes. I''ll take you to find him."


    Upon hearing that they were going to find Orion, Quinn nodded and quickly left the hot spring. She ran towards the wooden house and came out as soon as possible after changing her clothes.


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    Alexander casually picked up a bathrobe and wrapped it around himself. His face was noticeably pale at that moment, though it wasn''t clear if it was due to the cold or some other reason. Quinn stared at Alexander for a few moments, then took his hand, indicating for him to take her back.


    Alexander nced at Quinn, not doubting at all. If someone imed they could locate Orion, she would unquestionably follow them.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    As they exited the yard, with Kyle outside keeping watch, Alexander''s pale face caught his attention. He asked with concern, "Mr. Kennedy, are you okay?" Alexander raised his hand to signal that he was fine. He swiftly guided Quinn towards the hotel, with Kyle trailing behind, feeling somewhat puzzled and thinking, ''What did he say to Quinn? He actually managed to persuade her toe over just like that!'' Alexander went back to the hotel room, taking a shower in the bathroom without locking the door.


    In less than two minutes, he keenly sensed something and turned to look at the door.


    Sure enough, Quinn was standing at the door, staring at him like a thief.


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    Alexander wasn''t as innocent as Orion. He turned off the shower, walked out of the bathroom, and wrapped himself in a bath towel.


    Alexander asked, "Are you going to shower too?"


    Quinn shook her head and her gazended on the bandages wrapped around Alexander''s chest, disying a hint of curiosity. Alexander grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the bathroom. "Take off your clothes."


    Quinn stared at him straight, wanting to urge him to find Orion quickly. He was not interested in taking a shower.


    Alexander said, "You just soaked in the hot spring. Take off your clothes and wash."


    Quinn was silent for a moment but obediently took off her clothes and followed Alexander to the bathroom to take a bath.


    Of course, Quinn didn''t know how to bathe. She relied entirely on Alexander''s help.


    The bathroom was filled with steam as Quinn leaned against the wall, gazing at Alexander''s face in front of her. After studying him for a moment, she thought to herself that this man was truly handsome.

 Chapter 721

    After taking a bath, it was almost noon. Alexander helped Quinn get dressed and called for a meal.


    Quinn sat cross-legged on the sofa, gazing at the food spread out on the table. Her hunger quickly overpowered her yearning to locate Orion. She epted the piece of steak handed to her by Alexander and began devouring it with her hands.


    Alexander leaned against the sofa, quietly watching her eat.


    The window was open, and a cold wind blew in. Alexander pressed his fist to his lips and coughed a few times.


    He was already injured, and after Soren''s instructions, he had been through a lot in less than two days. The result was evident.


    He copsed.


    In the evening, while holding Quinn as she slept, Alexander''s body heat woke her up. She tried to push him away twice but couldn''t budge him.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    His chest was so warm that it made Quinn''s cheeks flush and sweat.


    After struggling for a while, she managed to break free from Alexander''s embrace, got out of bed, and hurried to open the window.


    Because he was very hot, Quinn considerately opened the window for him.


    Alexander was awakened by the cold wind from outside. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Quinn thoughtfully opening the window, both panes wide open.


    The biting cold wind poured into the room, dispersing all the warmth inside.


    Quinn returned from opening the window and squatted in front of the bed. Her face lit up with anticipation, as if she were hoping for words of praise.


    Alexander weakly closed his eyes and hoarsely said, "Close the window."


    Quinn reached out and touched his chest, still very hot, so she shook her head firmly.


    Just now, he had held her so tightly that it woke her up from the heat.


    Alexander took a deep breath, pushed the covers aside, and sat up on the bed. He resolved to close the window himself.


    However, the mix of his cold, fever, and injuries caused him to nearly copse as soon as he stood up.


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    Fortunately, he managed to sit back down in time.


    Alexander sat on the bed, the wide-open window blowing directly at him. He looked down at Quinn beside him, the veins on his forehead throbbing.


    He propped his hands on his knees, barely steadying himself, and said, "Bring me the phone."


    Quinn nced around and recalled that the phone was outside. She got up and hurried out, searching through the living room until she discovered his cell phone in Alexander''s pocket. She handed the phone to Alexander.


    The phone had either been off for too long due to water damage or had run out of battery.


    Alexander casually tossed the phone onto the cab and instructed her. "Can you get me some water?"


    Quinn obediently went out to get hot water, but the cup was too hot to hold, so she added cold water to it.


    Thus, Alexander received a cup of lukewarm water.


    He looked at Quinn and said, "Are you doing this on purpose?"


    Quinn tilted her head, gazing at Alexander with an innocent and puzzled expression. She had followed all his instructions and was unsure of what she had done incorrectly. Alexander sighed, ced the cup on the bed, and wearily reclined, repeating, "Please close the window.


    Quinn squatted on the ground and looked at him for a moment. His face was very pale, his hair disheveled, and he looked very weak.


    Seeing this, Quinn had no choice but to obey and got up to close the window.


    Shortly after closing the window, Quinn touched him again and noticed that he was even hotter than before. This frightened her, prompting her to quickly reopen the window. The next day, Kyle was outside, ringing the doorbell.


    Quinn subconsciously thought it was Orion who hade, so she joyfully ran to open the door, only to find Kyle standing outside. Her face fell instantly.


    Kyle looked inside the room and asked, "Where''s Mr. Kennedy?"

 Chapter 722

    What was strange was that Alexander was not on the sofa as usual today.


    Quinn pointed towards the bedroom.


    Kyle responded, and after looking at Quinn, he immediately understood. These two must have stayed up tootest night, which resulted in Mr. Kennedy not getting up. Heading towards the bedroom, he said, " Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Smith has been attempting to contact you but hasn''t been sessful. He requested me to pass on a message. ..." Kyle''s voice trailed off as he saw Alexander lying unconscious on the bed.


    Alexander''s pale face made Kyle realize he wasn''t just asleep. Moreover, the window was open, which...


    Kyle strode over and patted Alexander''s shoulder. "Mr. Kennedy?"


    He called out several times but had yet to hear back from Alexander. He nervously touched Alexander''s forehead, and the touch nearly scared him to death.


    Kyle dared not dy any longer and quickly called for an ambnce.


    At the hospital.


    "Why did you bring him in sote? If you had waited two more hours, we would have been preparing for a funeral!"


    "His temperature has reached 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Why didn''t you take action sooner? Why didn''t you bring him here earlier? How are you even taking care of him as a family?" Faced with the doctor''s reprimands, Quinn and Kyle stood silently by the side.


    After the doctor finished scolding, Kyle sheepishly asked, "Doctor, will he be alright?"


    "We are not sure yet. We have just administered an antipyretic injection to him. We will monitor his conditionter. You all are really careless."


    Kyle said, "He''s always been in good health. How could he have such a severe fever?"


    What puzzled him even more was that Alexander had endured such severe injuries before, had undergone surgery, and had been fine. How could a fever bring him down so badly?


    The doctor replied with a stern face, "Didn''t he just have surgery? His strength hasn''t fully returned. He caught a cold, and the wound became infected. The wound is near the heart and lungs. Ifplications arise, the consequences could be severe."


    Quinn didn''t understand everything, but she could tell that the situation was serious and that Alexander was in danger.


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    The doctor set up an IV drip for Alexander and instructed the two to keep watch and call for the doctor as soon as he woke up.


    Once the doctor had left, Kyle turned to Quinn, hesitantly asking, "Do you mind if I ask about the open window in the room? It couldn''t have been left open all night, could it?" Quinn blinked and nodded honestly.


    Kyle asked, "Why?"


    Quinn wanted to exin but couldn''t. She gestured for a long time but couldn''t make herself clear, and Kyle couldn''t understand her either.


    "Forget it," Kyle decided not to pursue the matter further. "I just hope Mr. Kennedy will be okay. If anything happens to him, it''s on you."


    Of course, Quinn might have done it on purpose. Because of Orion, she might have wanted to take revenge on Alexander.


    After all, she didn''t recognize Alexander anymore.


    Quinn''s fingers twisted together as she noticed both Kyle and the doctor were angry, realizing she had made a mistake. She shouldn''t have opened the window.


    Now, she had caused Alexander to lie in bed, and she had done something wrong.


    Thinking of this, her eyes welled up with tears, on the verge of crying.


    Seeing her about to cry, Kyle awkwardly shut his mouth, not daring to say more.


    He suddenly felt he was quite bold to speak to Quinn like that. If Alexander heard, he would probably skin him alive.


    Kyle said, "Alright, stay here. I need to go out for a bit."


    Quinn held back her tears and nodded slightly.


    She approached the bedside, gazing at the unconscious Alexander, recalling how he had assisted her and even provided her with a good meal the previous day. Despite this, she felt guilty for causing him to be ill. Quinn felt deeply guilty.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

 Chapter 723

    Quinn kept vigil by the bedside, watching him receive the IV drip.


    She was alone in the room. So when the first bottle was empty, she wasn''t sure how to rece it with the second one, especially since Kyle was not there. She watched in horror as the IV tube slowly turned red, with blood flowing back from his hand into the tube.


    Seeing the blood, Quinn panicked and clumsily tried to remove the IV needle.


    At that moment, Alexander slowly awoke, his eyes first catching sight of the red IV tube and then the flustered Quinn.


    She held his hand, grasped the needle, and pulled it out directly.


    Alexander was stunned..


    A spurt of blood sshed onto Quinn''s face, and she caught a whiff of the strong smell of blood. Upon closer inspection, she noticed his hand was bleeding.


    Terrified, Quinn reached out and pressed her hand against the back of his, tears welling up in her eyes and beginning to fall.


    She realized that she might have made another mistake.


    On the other hand, Alexander had a minimal reaction. He gazed up at the ceiling, somewhat surprised to find himself waking up alive in the hospital.


    Quinn clung tightly to his hand, pressing it against her chest in an attempt to stem the bleeding.


    She looked up to see Alexander awake, her initial joy quickly reced by guilt.


    Quinn couldn''t bring herself to release his hand or find words to speak. She could only gaze at him with intense worry.


    After a moment, Alexander gently withdrew his hand from hers. With his other hand pressing on his wound, he turned to look at Quinn.


    In a weak voice, he said, "Call the doctor."


    Quinn nodded, stood up, and hurried out to fetch the doctor.


    Alexander''s lips curled into a faint smile as he watched her frantic form. A weak, bitter grin spread across his pale face.


    He steadied himself, forced his body to sit up, and pressed the call button by the bed.


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    When the doctor and Kyle entered, they were shocked to find what appeared to be a crime scene. Blood was sttered on the floor, the bed, the IV bottle, and the discarded needle on the ground was still dripping blood. "Mr. Kennedy, did you pull this out yourself?" Kyle asked.


    Alexander leaned against the headboard, watching Kyle with an expressionless face, not responding to his question.


    The doctor was also anxious. "Mr. Kennedy, you are not taking your health seriously. Do you know how dangerous this is?"


    "Stop the nonsense," Alexander interrupted impatiently.


    Quinn walked in, bringing a nurse with her. She was surprised to see the doctors they had left earlier had returned. Quinn looked embarrassed as she nced at the nurse beside her.


    Sensing the situation, the nurse realized she was not needed, greeted the doctor, and then left.


    The doctor stopped talking and began to change the IV drip for Alexander.


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    At this point, Alexander was too weak to resist. He leaned against the headboard, allowing the doctor to do as necessary.


    The doctor instructed Kyle to closely monitor Alexander. Without any unnecessary conversation, Kyle cleaned up the remnants on the floor and then exited the room. Now, Kyle didn''t dare to leave alone. He and Quinn stayed together, keeping watch over the room.


    "Mr. Kennedy, how are you feeling now?" Kyle asked.


    Alexander closed his eyes and said faintly, "I won''t die."


    A twitch appeared at the corner of Kyle''s mouth. He thought to himself, ''Alexander always says this. If he were truly dying, he wouldn''t be able to say it.''This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Quinn still had blood on her face and clothes, making her look quite rming.


    Alexander opened his eyes, looked at her for a moment, and then said, "Take her to wash up."


    Kyle hesitated. "She will do it by herself. I''ll stay here with you."


    "I said, take her to wash up. Don''t you understand?" Despite his condition, hismanding presence remained undiminished.


    Kyle was silent for a moment. Under Alexander''s oppressive gaze, he had no choice but to take Quinn to the restroom.

 Chapter 724

    Kyle handed a disposable towel to Quinn and asked, "Did you remove Mr. Kennedy''s needle?"


    Quinn''s movements paused briefly, and then she nced at Kyle through the mirror with a guilty expression. Her reaction was evident. She had done it. Kyle immediately felt a headache approaching. "Forget it, just wash up quickly," Kyle said.


    Quinn bit her lip and used the towel to wipe the blood off her face and chest.


    However, the bloodstains on her white down jacket couldn''t be wiped clean. After trying for a while, she had to give up.


    If she went out looking like this, others might think she hadmitted a murder.


    After washing up, Kyle took her back to the ward, and the two of them quietly kept watch inside.


    Quinn had stayed up all night watching over Alexander and was feeling a bit sleepy. She sat beside him, nodding off intermittently.


    Kyle woke her up and told her to sleep on the sofa.


    Quinn immediately shook her head, straightened up, and stared intently at Alexander.


    She seemed to want to make amends, but the atmosphere in the ward was somewhat awkward.


    Alexander didn''t have much energy to talk. He leaned against the headboard, closing his eyes to rest. Despite surviving severe injuries before, he was now overwhelmed by a simple cold. It would be quite ironic if others knew. Just as the atmosphere in the ward grew eerily quiet, someone else entered.


    Hearing the footsteps, Quinn and Kyle turned their heads in unison. It was none other than Getty.


    Getty stood at the door, feeling awkward due to the subtle tension among the three.


    After all, she had promised Alexander not to appear in front of Quinn.


    "Sorry, I must have the wrong room," Getty said softly and turned to leave.


    Kyle suddenly called out to her. "Ms. Morgan, could you do me a favor?"


    Getty paused and looked back at Kyle. "What is it?"


    Kyle replied, "Could you look after Mr. Kennedy for me? I need to leave for a bit." Getty''s eyebrows twitched slightly at this, and she instinctively nced at Alexander. Alexander merely nced at her but said nothing. Was this his tacit agreement? "Of course," Getty said nervously, taking a deep breath before slowly walking in.


    Although Kyle didn''t like Getty, he had to admit that Getty was more reliable than Quinn at the moment.


    Quinn also observed Getty. She didn''t know her and had no particr reaction.


    Getty''s intense gaze made Alexander feel uneasy, but he remained silent. She approached him and whispered, "I heard from Kyle that you were hospitalized. That''s why I came to see you. I didn''t have any other intentions." As she spoke, she nced at Quinn out of the corner of her eye.


    Strangely, Quinn''s eyes werepletely calm, revealing nothing. Whether it was the previous disgust, hostility, or timidity, none of it was present.


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    All that remained was curiosity and tranquillity.


    Not only was Getty observing her reaction, but Alexander was also watching Quinn.


    After a moment, Alexander withdrew his gaze and said, "It''s nothing serious."N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Getty was momentarily stunned, then delighted. She pulled over the chair Kyle had been sitting in and sat down in front of Alexander.


    Getty said, "If it''s nothing serious, why are you in the hospital? You''ve been here twice in less than half a month."


    She had known Alexander for many years and had seen him catch colds and fevers before, but this was the first time he had been hospitalized for a cold. Alexander casually changed the subject. "Aren''t you filming these days?"


    Getty replied, "We''re still on break, so no."


    She held back the rest of her thoughts, recognizing that Alexander was trying to find something to talk about to ease the awkwardness.

 Chapter 725

    Alexander responded with a nod, then fell silent again.


    Quinn sat quietly on the side, blending into the background. She didn''t feel upset about Getty''s arrival; rather, she felt a sense of relief. Quinn thought to herself, ''With Getty here, she can look after Alexander well. There won''t be a repeat of the blood-spurting incident, and I can even rx a bit.''


    Getty needed to understand Quinn''s thoughts, but observing her silence, she assumed that something had urred between them, exining why Alexander hadn''t dismissed her.


    Nevertheless, Getty was content to remain and diligently cared for Alexander.


    At noon, Kyle brought food.


    Quinn enthusiastically took the food box, ran to the table, served all the food, and then turned to look at the two as if asking if they were going to eat.


    Seeing her so excited, Alexander''s eyelid twitched. He responded with a curt tone. "Just eat it yourself!"


    Naturally, Getty would stay with Alexander to eat. She only wanted to stay by Alexander''s side.


    Seeing that neither of them wanted to eat, Quinn sat down and ate by herself.


    She was very hungry since she hadn''t eaten in the morning.


    Getty watched her, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper. Even though she didn''t know the reason, she sensed that something was off with Quinn.


    Getty pondered to herself, ''Quinn''s reactions are off. All her behaviors are off. It seems like it''s not something that happened between her and Alexander, but something that''s happened to Quinn herself.'' "What''s wrong with her?" Getty asked softly.


    Alexander stared at Quinn eating, a faint smile ying on his lips. "Can''t you tell?"


    Getty replied, "I can''t really tell."


    "Alright, you should go back. There''s no need to stay here," Alexander began to dismiss her.


    "How can she take good care of you?" Getty was worried and didn''t want to leave. She had finally gotten to see Alexander.


    She had previously mentioned that she wouldn''t show up in front of both of them, so after she returned, she never reached out to Alexander. She didn''t search for him, and likewise, Alexander never sought her out either. Getty even questioned whether, if she had never sought him out, he would have simply forgotten about her existence.


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    Then, the two of them would never contact each other until death.


    Alexander said, "I don''t need anyone to take care of me."


    Getty was left without words by his actions. Reluctantly, she stood up, casting a deep look at Alexander.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Yet, Alexander didn''t return her gaze. His eyes were fixed on Quinn the entire time.


    Sensing his focus, Getty''s hand tightened within her sleeve. She grabbed her bag, turned, and left the hospital room.


    Instead of remaining in this tense atmosphere, she''d rather investigate what had happened to Quinn.


    Once Getty departed, Quinn finished the remaining food on the table. The stuff that Kyle had brought needed to be more appealing and appealing.


    Despite her intense hunger, she managed to eat it all. After finishing her meal, Quinn''s thoughts turned to Alexander lying in bed. Quickly dropping her utensils, she rushed over to him. Quinn wanted to ask him if he wanted to eat, but she didn''t know how tomunicate this through signnguage.


    Alexander watched her quietly, seemingly understanding her intentions, and said, "Get me a ss of water."


    Quinn nodded in agreement, picked up a disposable cup, and filled it halfway with boiled water.


    Having learned her lesson from the night before, she didn''t dare to add cold water this time, so she poured in the scalding hot water.


    She handed the cup of water to Alexander.


    Alexander took the cup and asked her to hand him the medicine on the table.


    He put the pills from his palm into his mouth, took a sip of water, and immediately spat it out as the boiling tea burned his mouth.


    The pills in his mouth were also spat out onto the floor.


    Quinn''s eyes widened, and she stepped back several steps, afraid that he would spit on her.


    Alexander tightly grasped the water cup, almost deforming the disposable paper cup.


    He leaned over the edge of the bed to catch his breath for a moment, then nced up at Quinn. "I strongly suspect that you did this intentionally," he said.

 Chapter 726

    Quinn saw the murderous look in his eyes and waved her hands repeatedly, looking at him with tears in her eyes.


    Last night, she brought him warm water, but he refused to drink it. Now she has brought him hot water again, and he still refuses. What is she supposed to do? Alexander gazed at her intensely for a moment before setting the cup down on the table. He then decided to lie back down and go to sleep.


    Quinn stood there, feeling helpless, as he looked at Alexander''s back and experienced a renewed sense of guilt.


    She felt that whatever she did was wrong, so perhaps it was better to do nothing at all.


    Quinn even thought about calling Getty back.


    She couldn''t take care of the patient properly, but Getty surely could.


    Quinn sat down in the chair in defeat, staring at her toes.


    The room fell so silent that even the sound of the wind blowing outside could be heard. As the sky darkened gradually, Quinn also drifted off to sleep on the bed. Kyle had been busy at thepany all day and brought dinner over in the evening.


    Upon entering, he saw that Alexander had fallen asleep again. Quinn was also sleeping on the bed, her expression a bit subtle.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Kyle''s first reaction was to wonder if Quinn had done something again to make Alexander pass out.


    So, he put down the food and strode over to Alexander, calling his name softly.


    The next second, Alexander''s eyes snapped open, and the coldness in them startled Kyle.


    Kyle quickly stood up straight and said, "Mr. Kennedy, it''s time to eat."


    The dishes from the morning were still on the table, so Kyle hurriedly cleaned up and set out the dinner.


    The sleeping Quinn smelled the aroma and opened her eyes.


    Rubbing her eyes, she stood up and walked towards Kyle, skillfully taking a seat in her usual spot.


    Kyle''s expression was a bit strange. He thought, ''What does she mean by this? Is she ready to have a meal? Mr. Kennedy is still lying in bed, and she actually has the mood to eat.''


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    Kyle said, "Mr. Kennedy, you shoulde over and eat something, too."


    Alexander sat up in bed and nced at Quinn''s eager expression. "Let her eat."


    Kyle looked at her with concern. "Did you skip lunch, too?"


    Alexander answered, "I wasn''t hungry."


    Kyle added. "You still need to eat, even if you''re not feeling hungry."


    Quinn nodded seriously, staring at Alexander, inviting him to eat with her with her eyes.


    Alexander looked at the two of them with an unreadable expression.


    Quinn''s gaze must have been too intense, as, after a moment of silence, he got out of bed and approached her, taking a seat in front of Quinn.


    When he sat down, Quinn smiled at him and handed him the bowl in front of her.


    Kyle quickly took the bowl and served Alexander a bowl of soup before handing it back to him.


    Alexander took a sip of the soup, and after seeing him eat, Quinn started eating.


    She quickly finished all the food on the table except for the pot of soup.


    Meanwhile, Alexander still needed to finish his bowl of soup.


    Kyle observed from the sidelines, his mouth twitching. Since losing her memory, Quinn''s personality had undergone a drastic change, disying a naive disregard for others. When she first joined The Kennedys family, she wasn''t like this. It illustrated that when a person was like a nk canvas, whatever was painted on it determined their oue.


    Quinn let out a contented sigh after finishing her food.


    She kept her gaze on Alexander as if questioning his slow pace of eating.


    Alexander was holding his soup bowl. He had only managed a few sips before setting the half-filled bowl back down.


    Alexander said, "I am full."


    With that, Quinn picked up her bowl again and served herself another portion.

 Chapter 727

    Kyle was stunned.


    Alexander gazed at her intently without uttering a word.


    Quinn drank two more bowls of soup before she contentedly set down her utensils, casting a casual nce of gratitude toward Alexander.


    She was thankful that he had allowed her to have so much to eat.


    Alexander looked at her, his expression somewhatplex.


    A knock came at the door, and Alexander withdrew his gaze, turning to look toward the entrance.


    It was Walter. His eyes swept around the room before he walked in with his signature smile.


    Walter said, "It looks like I came at the wrong time. You guys are eating."


    Kyle bent down to clear the table. "You came just in time. We just finished."


    He gathered the empty bowls and put them back into the food box. He had never realized Quinn could eat so much.


    She used to eat just a few bites, and Kyle had often suspected she was like a little cat. Now, she seemed more like a tiger.


    In Quinn''s eyes, there was only food.


    After tidying up the table, Kyle said to Alexander, "Mr. Kennedy, I''ll be leaving now. You should rest well."


    "The doctor said your fever has subsided. As long as it doesn''te back, you will be fine."


    Upon hearing this, Walterughed. "I don''t see him worrying at all."


    Kyle shot him a re. This man always made him feel awkward.


    Not wanting to deal with Walter, Kyle grabbed the food box and left the room.


    Rather than retreating to his bed, Alexander chose to take a seat on the couch. He asked Walter, "Do you smoke?"


    Walter pulled out a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket and tossed them to him, kindly reminding him. "Smoke by the window. There''s a smoke detector in the room."


    Unlike Kyle, Walter was not worried about Alexander''s health. In fact, Alexander''s well-being meant nothing to him. He was simply curious after hearing Kyle''s story and wanted to see for himself. After all, Quinn had changed significantly. Alexander did just as he said. He got up, strolled over to the window, slid it open, and while leaning against the windowsill, he sparked up a cigarette.


    Walter scrutinized Quinn, looking her up and down several times.


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    He finally asked, "Do you know who I am?"


    Quinn tilted her head, looked at Walter for a while, and then shook her head, indicating she didn''t recognize him.


    As expected, Walter strode over to the sofa and took a seat, peering at her with a look that was a curious mix of amusement and intrigue.


    He was curious to see how this little mute''s personality had changed.


    Alexander, with a cigarette delicately held between his fingertips, cast a fleeting nce back at Quinn.


    Caught off guard, Quinn and Walter sat there, exchanging wide-eyed stares as if they were silentlypeting to see who would blink first.


    In the end, Walter conceded and joined Alexander by the window to smoke.


    His eyes fell on the back of Alexander''s hand, and he clearly saw arge bruise.


    Walter asked, "Did she do that?"


    Alexander sneered."Thanks to her, I''m still alive."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


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    Walter nodded. "If Mr. Kennedy were to sumb to a cold and fever, it would definitely make headlines.."


    Alexander finished his cigarette, extinguished it on the window sill, and casually tossed it out the window.


    Alexander asked, "What brought you here?"


    Walter was blunt. "To see you make a fool of yourself."


    Alexander shot him a nce, then turned and went back to his bed. Compared to the man who had previously resisted being hospitalized, he was nowpletely transformed. Suddenly, he appeared to ce a higher value on his life. Walter pulled a lollipop from his pocket and held it out to Quinn, smiling. "Do you want to hang out?"


    Quinn''s eyes were fixed on the lollipop in his hand. She reached out and grabbed it, then nodded at him.


    A single lollipop could win her over.


    No wonder Alexander was obediently staying in the hospital.


    Today, she dared to remove his IV. Who knows, tomorrow, she might even dare to taint his food.


    Then Walter asked again, "Are you just going to abandon him?"

 Chapter 728

    Upon hearing this, Quinn turned back to nce at Alexander, who sat expressionless on the bed, and she felt a pang of pity for him.


    She looked again at the lollipop in her hand and, with some reluctance, handed it back to Walter.


    Walter chuckled softly and did not take it. "I''m just kidding. Keep it. I''ll buy you another one tomorrow."


    Quinn gazed at his gentle smile, her eyes momentarily dazed, and her affection for him surged.


    If someone were to ask her now to rank these three men in her heart, Walter would undoubtedlye in second, with Alexander lying on the bed and rankingst. Walter couldn''t help butugh as he walked over to Alexander and shared the oues of the meetings from the past two days.


    He also mentioned. "There''s one more thing. Freya''s case will have its next hearing in a week."


    Alexander nodded. "Got it."


    Walter didn''t linger. After saying this, he left.


    Alexander observed his departing figure, deep in contemtion, a mysterious gleam in his eyes. Once Walter had left, the smile on Alexander''s face disappeared as well.


    Despite their cooperative rtionship, both men understood each other''s thoughts. Walter couldn''t have exclusively supported Alexander throughout. Ultimately, he had to maintain a bnce in thispetition. What he wanted was not the victory of one side but a situation where both sides suffered.


    Of course, he was also aware that Alexander still guarded against him. Alexander had never trusted him from the beginning.


    Quinn, sucking on a lollipop, sat down in front of Alexander again.


    Alexander was in no mood to entertain her. He leaned against the head of the bed, closing his eyes to rest and mull over things.


    This time, Alexander was much morepliant than before. He remained in the hospital for seven days before being discharged, leaving only when fully recovered. Quinn remained determined to locate Orion. Additionally, the hospital food and rest were unsatisfactory, and she had been eager to depart for some time. As the time approached for him to leave the hospital, Quinn was even more ted than Alexander. Kyle came to the hospital to pick them up, driving them back to Regal Riverside.


    Upon entering the study, the first thing Alexander asked was about Orion''s situation.


    Kyle answered truthfully. "He''s currently in solitary confinement, and it''s uncertain when he''ll be released."


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    Alexander said, "Tell him to sign the divorce papers."


    Kyle nodded. "Alright, I''ll deliver them to Mr. Williamter."


    Alexander asked again, "What aboutLandon Kennedy?"


    Kyle replied, "He''s still in the hospital. He seems to be recovering well but hasn''t been discharged yet. I don''t know what he is up to."


    While listening to the report, Alexander casually strolled over to the floor-to-ceiling window, his hands tucked into his pockets. His gazended on the security screen outside, and a look of disapproval crossed his face. "Have someone remove these security screens," he ordered.


    Kyle nodded. "Understood."


    As Kyle made his way to the study door, he jumped slightly at the figure standing there. "Madam, when did you get here?"


    Hearing this, Alexander also nced back.


    Quinn paid no mind to Kyle, and her focus was solely on Alexander in the room.


    When she faced Alexander, she gave him a look of feigned innocence as if she had been unfairly treated.


    "What''s the matter?" Alexander inquired.


    Clutching her stomach, Quinn''s face contorted in an expression of difort.


    "Do you have a stomachache?"


    Quinn nodded in confirmation and extended her hand for Alexander to see, her fingers stained with blood. Alexander was momentarily stunned, his eyes locked on her fingers for a few seconds before realization struck him. Alexander said, "Turn around."


    Following his instruction, Quinn turned her back to him. Alexander''s eyes drifted downward, spotting a red stain on her white trousers.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    The source of the blood on her fingers was unmistakable.


    A vein throbbed on Alexander''s forehead.


    She was on her period!

 Chapter 729

    Alexander called out, "Olivia!"


    Olivia rushed in quickly, hearing the ominous tone in his voice, and asked anxiously, "Mr. Kennedy, what''s wrong?"


    Alexander''s face was stern. "Take her to change her pants."


    Olivia was momentarily stunned. Even though she wasn''t sure what was happening, sheplied with the instructions. She hurriedly walked over to Quinn and took her hand.


    Olivia said, "Madam, let''s go. I''ll take you to change."


    Quinn nodded, then turned back to nce at Alexander. He looked oddly upset. She was the one bleeding, so why was he angry?


    Before she could figure it out, Olivia had already led her back to the room.


    Once they were in the room, Olivia understood why they needed to change pants.


    She put down the pants she was holding and went to get a sanitary pad for Quinn, exining its use to her.


    Quinn listened in confusion for a while before she vaguely recalled that this blood flow urred monthly. She felt a bit scared.


    Wouldn''t she die if she bled every month? Olivia understood that providing too much information wouldn''t be helpful, so she showed Quinn the proper way to use a sanitary pad.


    Alexander waited in the study for a long time, but Olivia didn''t bring Quinn back. He put down the documents he was holding and went to the bedroom.


    When he arrived at the bedroom, he heard Olivia say, "You need to change this every time you go to the bathroom. Remember, I''ve put these in every bathroom."


    Olivia asked, "Do you know how to use it now?"


    Quinn, with a pale face, nodded slightly, indicating she remembered.


    Her stomach hurt so much that she couldn''t really listen to what Olivia was saying.


    After Olivia finished, she told Quinn to rest well and went out to make her a cup of peppermint tea.


    Quinn curled up on the single-seater sofa, holding her belly. The pain was so intense that tears started to well up in her eyes. Suddenly, she heard footsteps and forced her eyes open to see Alexander standing in front of her. She closed her eyes again, too exhausted to keep them open.


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    Alexander squatted down in front of her, took her hand in his, and asked softly, "Does it hurt a lot?"


    With her eyes welling up with tears, Quinn nodded. Perhaps the tenderness in his voice tugged at her heartstrings, causing the tears to spill over.


    Alexander furrowed his brows slightly and ced his hand on her lower abdomen, starting to gently massage it.


    "I''ll give you a massage," he said. She was curled up on the sofa, which made it challenging to massage, so Alexander lifted her andid her on the bed. He then sat beside her to continue the massage. Quinny on the bed, staring at him intently.


    His movements were gentle, and his palm was warm. She could feel the warmth through her clothes.


    Sensing something, Alexander lowered his eyes slightly and nced at Quinn. Alexander asked, "Why are you staring at me?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, at a loss for what to say in response.


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    She had always thought he was a bad person. Although she still felt that way, it didn''t conflict with being moved by his concern.


    So, Quinn''s current feelings were very conflicted, a contradiction she couldn''t understand herself.


    Olivia brought a cup of peppermint tea. Alexander assisted Quinn in sitting up, taking the tea from Olivia, and spoon-feeding it to Quinn. Alexander reassured Quinn, saying, "Drink this, and it will help ease the pain." Quinn looked at the peppermint tea in the cup, swallowed, and cautiously took a sip.


    It had a minty smell, and after just one sip, Quinn turned her head away, shaking it. It was too unpleasant.


    Alexander continued to coax her. "Good girl. It may not taste good, but it will help with your stomach pain."


    Quinn was still hesitant. She looked at the peppermint tea, her face full of resistance.


    "Doesn''t your stomach hurt?" Alexander asked her.


    Quinn nodded listlessly. Of course, she was feeling ufortable.

 Chapter 730

    Alexander said, "Then drink it obediently."


    Quinn pressed her lips together, deciding to face the bitter taste rather than endure the stomach pain.


    She moved closer once more, taking a breath before bracing herself for another sip.


    Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of enduring this taste slowly, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She reached out, grabbed the cup from Alexander, tilted her head back, and quickly finished the drink. Alexander raised an eyebrow slightly at the sight.


    After Quinn finished drinking, Alexander took the empty cup and returned it to Olivia. Quinn sat at the head of the bed, ring resentfully at Alexander. Despite taking the medicine, the pain persisted. Alexander kept massaging her lower abdomen and reassured her, "It won''t be instant. Lie down, get some rest, and when you wake up, the pain will be gone."


    Quinnplied andy down. She closed her eyes, but the throbbing pain kept her awake. It felt as if someone was tugging at her intestines, causing intense pain.


    Moreover, after drinking the peppermint tea, there was no relief. Instead, the pain seemed to intensify.


    Her face turned pale, and beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.


    Quinn looked at Alexander with tears streaming down her face. Unable to control her emotions, Alexander took out his phone and called Soren, seeing her in such distress.


    Twenty minutester, Soren arrived in a hurry.


    He didn''t even need to ask where Quinn was; he went straight to the bedroom with his medical kit.


    Soren asked, "Mr. Kennedy, what is wrong with her this time?"


    Alexander nced at him and said, "Her stomach hurts. Can you check on her?"


    Soren nodded, ced his medical kit down, and walked up to Quinn, studying her for a moment. At this moment, Quinn''s weakness was evident to the naked eye. Her face was unnervingly pale, a sight that was concerning. Soren quickly began his examination.


    Alexander stood quietly by, watching as Soren''s frown deepened. "Is it normal that her period hurt so much?"


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    Soren gently ced Quinn''s hand back under the quilt, stood up, and walked over to Alexander. Speaking softly, he said, "Mr. Kennedy, madam is weak." Alexander gazed at him expressionlessly. Soren added, "Her condition is serious. She has uterine inmmation, which is causing more intense pain than usual.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Alexander asked, "What should we do?"


    Soren replied, "She needs medication to regte her body. If not treated, her condition will worsen, especially..."


    He trailed off, unsure how to continue.


    At first nce, Quinn seemed to be in high spirits. Her lively and quirky personality seemed to help her overlook any unpleasant events. However, this demeanor was a stark contrast to her true physical state. Soren had mentioned a long time ago that her health did not indicate longevity. Given the numerous incidents since and theck of proper care, her health had deteriorated.


    Her current state was significantly worse than before.


    Alexander, having waited for the rest of the sentence, grew impatient. "Especially what?"


    Soren was startled by his own voice, disrupting his train of thought. He quickly added, "Especially because she doesn''t remember anything now. She''s like a child. She won''t pay attention to these things on her own. You need to keep a closer eye on her.


    Alexander said, "Just like that?"


    Soren nodded. "Y Yes, I remember prescribing her some medications before. Has she been taking them?"


    Alexander replied, "No."


    He said it so confidently that Soren didn''t know how to respond.


    Soren thought for a moment, then said, "ording to the previous prescription I provided, resume giving her the medication. She cannot continue like this."


    Quinn was lying in bed; the pain was so intense that she was about to pass out, and the two men were still whispering.

 Chapter 731

    "Leave now." Alexander nced at the person writhing in pain on the bed and added. "Bring her some painkillers."


    Soren retrieved a bottle of painkillers from the medicine cab and passed it to Alexander, cautioning, "Use these sparingly. They are effective, but they can be highly addictive." Alexander epted the medication, went back to Quinn''s side, and assisted her in sitting up to take a pill.


    Quinn was already exhausted, lying limply in Alexander''s arms, her tear-filled eyes looking up at him.


    Her hair was damp with sweat, sticking messily to her face, making her look pitiful.


    Alexander gently brushed her hair aside and whispered, "It''s okay. The pain will be gone soon."


    Quinn listened to his soothing voice, her eyes unfocused.


    She leaned against him, inhaling his scent, which felt strangely familiar.


    Alexander patted her back and gently stroked her head.


    Gradually, the pain in Quinn''s abdomen subsided, and her eyelids grew heavy. Before long, she fell asleep in Alexander''s arms.


    Once she was asleep, Alexanderid her down, covered her with a nket, and quietly left the bedroom.


    He directed Kyle to retrieve the medication as per Soren''s prescription.


    Soren had also rmended some other medications, which Alexander casually ced in the drawer of the coffee table. Upon opening the drawer, he discovered it was already stocked with a variety of medicines. Alexander stared at the drawer full of medications, his expression changing.


    He hadn''t realized when Quinn had started needing so many pills.


    Alexander gathered all the medicines. He recognized most of them, but why was there a pregnancy support medication in the drawer? Before he could dwell on it further, Walter called.


    He quickly nced at the medicine in his hand, returned it to the drawer, and answered his phone as he headed upstairs.


    By the time Quinn woke up, it was already the middle of the night. She got out of bed and surveyed her surroundings.


    The silence was eerie, and she nervously clutched her sleeve, stepping out of the bedroom.


    The hallway was empty, too.


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    Quinn felt a surge of panic. She walked down the stairs to the living room, searching but finding no one.


    Without thinking, she headed for the front door.


    Quinn opened the door and ran out, disappearing into the night in an instant.


    In the study, Alexander had just finished dealing with the umted paperwork. He rubbed his temples and returned to the bedroom.


    But before he entered, he noticed the open bedroom door, his eyelid twitching slightly. He stepped inside.


    The bedroom was empty.


    Alexander called out, "Olivia!"


    Olivia emerged from another room, rubbing her eyes and looking sleepy. "Yes, Mr. Kennedy?"


    Alexander asked, "Where is she?"


    Faced with Alexander''s question, Olivia instantly woke up. She quickly ran to the bedroom door and peeked inside.


    The sight almost scared her out of her wits.


    Olivia''s face turned pale visibly. She stammered. "She was sleeping soundly before I went to bed."


    Alexander''s face darkened his gaze like a knife on Olivia. "So, where is she now?"


    "I''ll go look for her!" Olivia didn''t dare dy. She ran out and searched every room on the second floor, then the first floor. However, she found nothing.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Meanwhile, Alexander had already pulled out his phone to track Quinn''s location. The surroundings were pitch ck, and the camera was shaking so much that it was difficult to discern her whereabouts. Quinn herself needed to find out where she was. She was running in her nightgown through the cold night.


    She wasn''t wearing shoes, her toes red and numb from the cold.


    But Quinn didn''t notice. She just kept running towards the light.


    No matter how far she ran, the light ahead always seemed brighter, so she kept running, hoping to find someone.


    The vi area was extremely secluded, with hardly anyone around at night, especially at thiste hour.

 Chapter 732

    Not a soul in sight, not even a dog.


    Quinn didn''t know how long she had been running, but she finally ran out of energy and sat down weakly by the roadside.


    The frigid wind stung her ears and cheeks, and the icy pain in her hands and feet was unbearable.


    Hugging herself tightly, a dull ache began in her lower abdomen. Quinn buried her head in her knees and tears welled up uncontrobly.


    In the midst of her weeping, a fleeting, familiar image shed through her mind, as if she had encountered something simr before. But when she tried to think about it, she couldn''t recall anything.


    Loneliness and fear enveloped her like the pitch-ck night sky, pressing down heavily.


    Quinn couldn''t help but begin to contemte, ''Who am I? Where did Ie from, and where am I headed? Who is my family? Why do I feel like a sudden outsider, estranged from this world? No one acknowledges me, and everything appears unfamiliar. Every time I open my eyes, it feels as though I am the sole inhabitant of the world.


    The more Quinn thought the less she could remember. Apart from the pain in her body, her head began to ache as well.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    She covered her head, the intense pain making her somewhat unbearable. She fell straight down from the steps, curling up on the ground.


    Suddenly, a blinding light came straight at her, casting into Quinn''s vision.


    She struggled to open her eyes. And in the blur, she saw a car stop in front of her, and a tall figure got out of the car.


    She slowly reached out to the person but finally dropped her hand weakly, and the world plunged into darkness.


    In the darkness, she had a long dream.


    Many unfamiliar fragments appeared in the dream, strange yet familiar and mostly iprehensible.


    And that blurry figure, standing in the light, she extended her hand but could not touch anything.


    The figure was very familiar. She tried her best to get closer to him, but he always maintained a distance from her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t reach him.


    The sudden white light hurt Quinn''s eyes, and she opened her eyes abruptly.


    The white ceiling came into view. She tried to get up, but the pain in her body made her fall back down.


    The bedroom was quiet, and there was still no one around.


    Quinn dared not flee this time. She could only clutch the quilt, cover her head, and find a sense of security in doing so. Today was Freya''s day in court. Alexander was absent, as he was at the courthouse for the hearing.


    With Xavier having retracted hiswsuit, only Dorothy was still pursuing the case. From the beginning of the trial, Dorothy appeared listless and disheartened, as if she knew she had no chance of winning.


    As expected, the final verdict was that Freya was sentenced to three years of probation.


    When this result came out, Freya also breathed a sigh of relief.


    Indeed, her brother was still on her side. He must have put in a lot of effort to achieve this oue.


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    Today was a very important day, and many people were present, including Kaitlyn.


    Kaitlyn nced at Dorothy, who returned her gaze. Their eyes met, and Dorothy''s weary face did not conceal her animosity.


    If it weren''t for the inappropriate setting, Dorothy would have rushed over to tear Kaitlyn apart.


    Observing Dorothy''s expression, Kaitlyn responded with a provocative smile, causing Dorothy to clench her fingers in anger. "Alexander, let''s go home," Kaitlyn said, turning her gaze away.


    Everyone dispersed, and Alexander didn''t linger. He got up and walked out of the courthouse with Kaitlyn.


    In the parking lot, he seemed to remember something and turned to Kaitlyn, saying, "Go ahead. I have something to do." Kaitlyn asked, "What is it?"

 Chapter 733

    "Thepany''s matters. We are not on the same path," Alexander leaned against the car, leisurely lighting a cigarette.


    Hearing Alexander say this, Kaitlyn didn''t think much of it and got into another car and left.


    Alexander stood in the parking lot smoking. As the surrounding cars drove away, he was left alone.


    He tossed the cigarette butt onto the ground and crushed it under his shoe. Just as he was about to open the car door and depart, someone unexpectedly called out to him from behind. Alexander paused and turned around to see Dorothy standing behind him, her face full of anger.


    He turned around, hands in his pockets,zily leaning against the car. "Mrs. Jackson, what can I do for you?"


    Dorothy took a few steps forward, staring at him intently. "What exactly did you do? Why did Xavier go abroad?"


    Alexander chuckled. "What does his going abroad have to do with me?"


    Dorothy said, "Don''t try to distance yourself. If it weren''t for you, would he give up so easily?"


    Alexander expressed, "I don''t get it. Valerie was already married. Why couldn''t your Kennedy family ept her? Must you drive her to her demise?"


    Dorothy uttered through clenched teeth, brimming with hatred and anger. She yearned to seek justice for her daughter but felt powerless to do so.


    No one was on her side.


    She was so resentful!


    Alexander watched her impassively. After a moment, he finally spoke, "Maybe you should ask your father."


    Dorothy''s expression changed. "What did you say?"


    Alexander replied, "He hasn''t shown up from the beginning to the end of this matter. Don''t you wonder why?"


    Hearing this, Dorothy''s face turned even uglier.


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    "Why? What do you think? Both of them are his daughters. No, he never regarded Valerie as his daughter." Dorothyughed self-deprecatingly.


    Dorothy shouted, "In his eyes, you all are his only family. Wayne, I''ve long seen through his true nature."


    Alexander remarked. " Freya has been protected throughout her life. She has never even killed a chicken. Would she have the courage to do something like this without someone supporting her?" Dorothy didn''t speak, but Alexander''s words made her anger grow wildly in her heart.


    Whether Wayne was involved or not, the fact was that he didn''t show up from the beginning to the end.


    Even if he had pretended, he should have sought justice for his wronged daughter. However, he only made a superficial effort.


    This indicated that Valerie''s ce in his heart was lower than that of pigs and dogs. Having such a father was undoubtedly a tragedy!


    If Freya deserved to die, then Wayne deserved it even more. The entire Kennedys family deserved to die!


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    Alexander looked at her deeply and said, "I advise you to let this matter rest. If you continue to pursue it, my father will not be pleased."


    Dorothy erupted, her voice rising as she eximed, "Who does he think he is to be upset? He doesn''t care about Valerie''s life or death. As her mother, I won''t overlook her. If I don''t seek justice for her, who will?" Alexander said, "And what can you do? At this point, anything you do is futile. Don''t end up dragging yourself down as well."


    "So what?" Dorothy''s voice wavered as her eyes filled with tears. "My poor daughter... if I can''t seek justice for her, what of the point of living?"


    Alexander said, "Good luck then, Mrs. Jackson."


    With a casual utterance, Alexander swung open the car door, got in, and drove off. Dorothy stood alone, gazing as his car disappeared into the distance. She appeared incredibly aged and weary, her back hunched. It was evident how much Valerie''s death had devastated a mother.


    Dorothy clenched her fists, her nails almost digging into her palms, with faint traces of blood emerging.

 Chapter 734

    After a moment of contemtion, Dorothy took a deep breath as if she had reached a decision. She pushed down all her emotions and retrieved her phone to call Wayne. Wayne wasn''t cold-hearted enough to ignore the call. The phone rang for only a few seconds before he answered.


    Wayne said, "Hello."


    Dorothy''s fingers trembled slightly as she gripped her phone, particrly at the sound of Wayne''s calm voice. It felt like a knife twisting in her heart, intensifying the sense of injustice over her daughter''s death. She tried to calm her voice. "The verdict was out. Do you know?"


    Wayne was silent for two seconds before he said, "I know, my condolences."


    Hearing this, Dorothyughed, and then she cried whileughing.


    Dorothy said, "Wayne, that was our daughter. How can you be so calm?"


    "What do you want me to do? Should I weep at her grave ormit suicide to join her? Would that satisfy you?" Wayne''s words were heartless and carried a hint of anger.


    Soon, Wayne regained hisposure and spoke to Dorothy with a serious tone. "Dorothy, the deceased cannot be brought back to life. No matter how sorrowful or distressed we feel, they will not return. However, for those of us who are still living, we must continue moving forward. Don''t you agree?"


    Just listen, how grandiose yet cold-blooded and selfish those words were.


    "Yes, you''re right." Despite the tears streaming down her face, Dorothy''s voice was eerily calm. "I''ve lost everything now. My daughter is dead. Wayne, what should I do?"


    Dorothy was once married to Wayne, back when her parents were still alive, and she had her own home.


    Now, her parents had passed away one after the other. Her older brother had inherited her family''s wealth. Her rtionship with her brother had be distant now that he had his own family, and he even had his eyes on the shares she held. Dorothy had sought her brother''s help, but he had only given her perfunctory responses, leaving her to bear everything alone in the end.


    Dorothy truly had nothing left.


    Wayne sighed. "I''ll send you some money. Take care of yourself. Life is short. Don''t spend the little time you have left on those who have passed."


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    Hearing this, Dorothy almost crushed her phone.


    She suppressed the urge to kill and calmly said, "I want to see you. Can youe and stay with me?"


    Wayne was silent for a while but eventually agreed.


    Wayne said, "Send me the address."


    Dorothy said, "Okay."


    Dorothy hung up the phone, unable to control the surging hatred in her chest, which all surfaced on her face and turned into overwhelming murderous intent. Since thew couldn''t avenge her, she would do it herself!


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Wayne had no idea about this. After receiving the address from Dorothy, he drove over.


    Before he went, he could never have imagined what awaited him.


    The address Dorothy gave was quite remote, an old vi district.


    Wayne sat in his car, gazing at the old vis, and suddenly felt a wave of nostalgia. He recalled the time when he and Dorothy had lived there, and they had been very happy together. Unfortunately, Dorothy had injured her body when giving birth to Valerie and could no longer have children. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have ended up divorced.


    If only Dorothy could have given him a son, there would be no ce for Alexander and the others now.


    Thinking this, Wayne shook his head and sighed, got out of the car, and walked towards the vi.


    The vi door was ajar. Wayne stood at the door, pondering for a long time before pushing it open and walking in.


    Wayne was a sentimental man. At this moment, what he was actually thinking about was how to face Dorothy, whom he hadn''t seen in a long time.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

 Chapter 735

    When Wayne proposed divorce back then, Dorothy was not entangled much. She knew she could no longer bear him children and understood his need for an heir.


    So, she endured the pain, signed the divorce agreement, and left Amber Bay.


    She believed she was fulfilling Wayne''s wishes, thinking that her thoughtfulness and generosity would make him love her more.


    In fact, it was all a joke.


    Less than a month after she left, Wayne returned with another woman and a son. This woman had taken over everything that once belonged to Dorothy. It was at that moment that Dorothy saw Wayne''s true intentions. She felt foolish and regretful for willingly stepping aside for another woman.


    For so many years afterward, she lived alone, with her only attachment being Valerie. Now, Wayne had taken even her only daughter away.


    Wayne did not deserve to live in this world!


    As Wayne stepped through the door, he shivered from the cold air inside.


    He frowned and walked further into the house.


    Inside, Dorothy sat on the sofa, dressed for the asion in an elegant red cheongsam and her hair styled in a bun. Her every movement exuded elegance and charm, just like the first time they had met. Wayne paused upon seeing her.


    Dorothy poured a drink, looked up at Wayne, and smiled. "You''re here."


    Wayne felt suspicious but did not show it on his face. He nodded slightly, walked over, and sat opposite Dorothy.


    Wayne asked, "Why do you want to drink?"


    Dorothy looked at him and bitterly smiled. "What else can I do if I don''t drink?"


    Seeing her haggard and sorrowful appearance, Wayne''s expression softened for a moment. "Drink less. We''re not young anymore. It''s not good for your health." Dorothy''s smile turned more sarcastic." Yes, at our age, how many days do we have left? It''s better to pursue our desires, or we''ll regret it when we pass away."


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    Wayne felt displeased hearing this but said nothing, knowing she was in a time of grief.


    Dorothy handed him a drink. "Drink with me."


    Wayne refused. "ed to drive."


    "Don''t go back," Dorothy said, her eyes burning into him. "You said you will stay with me."


    Wayne stared back at her for a long while.


    Eventually, he took the drink from Dorothy''s hand and drained it in one gulp.


    Seeing his drink, the corners of Dorothy''s mouth rose slightly, and a hard-to-detect glimmer shed in her eyes.


    Dorothy asked, "Wayne, after all these years, have you ever felt guilty toward me?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Wayne put down the ss and sighed in silence. "I have."


    Dorothy was once dignified and elegant, a gentle and consideratedy from a prestigious family. She was an impable mistress. However, despite feeling satisfied, Wayne did not have any emotional connection with her. They held mutual respect for each other, yet their married life was mundane andcked excitement. When she could no longer bear children, she willingly stepped aside. Wayne viewed everything she did as wless. Therefore, when Wayne asionally thought of her, he still felt guilty.


    Dorothy asked, "Why didn''t you help Valerie seek justice? Why did you let the murderer go unpunished?"


    Wayne frowned and said irritably, "I told you. The person is already dead. What''s the point of dwelling on it? They were both my daughters. Valerie is dead. Do you want me to kill Freya to make it fair?" Dorothy found his words absurd,ughable, and even unbelievable. Could a father really say such things?


    Dorothy retorted, "But a murderer should pay with their life. It''s the right and proper thing, regardless of who that person is. If she took a life, she should face punishment, not..."

 Chapter 736

    "Stop!" Wayne interrupted her. "If this is the reason you called me. I gotta go." Dorothy''s voice came to an abrupt halt, and tears welled up in her cloudy eyes.


    Seeing this, Wayne''s expression softened once again. He spoke cautiously, "Let''s not dwell on it. Overthinking will only make things moreplicated. Even though Valerie is gone, you have me. If you ever need my help in the future, tell me. I''ll do my best."


    Dorothy swallowed her tears and forced a smile. "You said it. Alright, I won''t say anymore. Let''s drink."


    With that, she poured Wayne another ss.


    Since it was red wine, Wayne didn''t think much of it and drank another ss.


    Dorothy poured him another ss.


    Wayne finally sensed something was off, "What are you up to?"


    Dorothy gave him a look. "Aren''t we just drinking?"


    Wayne said, "Nobody drinks in this manner."


    Observing his reaction, Dorothy halted pouring him more wine and set down the decanter. "Okay, we won''t drink anymore," she dered.


    Wayne studied her face, detecting that something was amiss. If anything, it was her unnaturalposure.


    She was too calm, not at all like someone who had just lost a daughter and neededpany.


    She didn''t appear as fragile as she sounded on the phone, and she didn''t seem interested in reminiscing after years apart or reigniting an old me.


    All these oddities led him to conclude that Dorothy had ulterior motives.


    Wayne asked, "What exactly do you want?"


    Dorothy stared at him intensely. Her eyes, once gentle, now held a coldness that made Wayne shiver.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    "What do I want?" she said. "There''s much I want to do. I want to avenge my daughter. I want to send you to hell to apologize to Valerie. But above all, I want to curse you, to make every single one of you Kennedys pay for what you did to my daughter.


    Wayne stood up abruptly, staring at Dorothy in shock as if he couldn''t believe such horrifying words coulde from such a dignified and elegant person.


    Wayne said, "You''re crazy. It seems you''ve been too heartbroken and have lost your mind. You should see a doctor."


    Dorothyughed. "I''m very clear-headed. It''s you who are selfish, hypocritical, and deceitful. People like you shouldn''t exist in this world."


    "You..." Wayne wanted to leave, but the next second, his face changed.


    He clutched his chest, his face quickly turning red, and he copsed weakly back onto the sofa.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Wayne asked, "What did you put in the wine?"


    Dorothy stood up and walked slowly to him, looking down at him. "Take a guess."


    "Crazy, truly crazy!" Wayne panted, his face flushed, struggling to pull out his phone to make a call.


    The next second, Dorothy snatched his phone away.


    Dorothy said, "Don''t waste your energy. No one can save you."


    Wayne stared at her in horror. At this moment, Dorothy''s face was twisted and sinister, like a vengeful ghost. Wayne was truly scared.


    Wayne shouted, "Viper... you''re nothing but a viper! Have you lost your will to live?"


    Dorothy sneered, her words filled with bitterness. "Finally catching on, are you? I''ve had no desire to live for a while now. Do you still see me as the person you once controlled? Let me make it clear, my sole purpose now is to avenge Valerie. I won''t just end your life. I''ll eliminate every member of the Kennedys family. However, you won''t witness it because... you''ll perish before them."


    Dorothy''s deration of not wanting to livepletely extinguished Wayne''s hope.

 Chapter 737

    Wayne tried to persuade Dorothy, but he opened his mouth and remained unable to utter a single word for a long time.


    His breathing quickened, feeling increasingly suffocated. At that moment, he copsed onto the sofa like a fish out of water, gasping desperately for air. However, all that escaped his lips was a pained syble. At the sound of his groan, Dorothy''s expression turned even more deranged. She retrieved a sharp dagger from beneath the table and sat affectionately beside Wayne.


    Dorothy said, "Wayne, you don''t think I''d let you die that easily, do you?"


    Her sinister words reached Wayne''s ears, his pupils dting in terror as he looked at Dorothy.


    He struggled to extend his hand, attempting to grasp Dorothy''s neck.


    Just then, Dorothy shed his palm with the dagger, causing Wayne to let out a muffled groan of pain as blood trickled down his hand.


    Dorothy held the bloodied dagger, the tip of the de gently gliding across Wayne''s face. "Don''t worry, I''ll ensure your death is excruciatingly miserable. I''ll make sure you see exactly how I''m going to do it..." Wayne''s eyes bulged, unable to breathe, his mouth emitting gasps that revealed his immense suffering.


    "Not only that, I will dismember you so thoroughly that no one will be able to find you. And even if they do, they won''t be able to piece together aplete body. I''ve heard that if a person isn''t whole after death, they can''t go to heaven. Someone like you doesn''t deserve to be human; you should stay obediently in hell," Dorothy menacingly dered. Her spine-chillingugh as she spoke made Wayne feel even more terrified.


    Dorothy expressed, "Experience the despair of witnessing your dismemberment, then you''ll grasp the depth of Valerie''s pain. Only by enduring what she did will you empathize andprehend my current agony."


    As Dorothy spoke, images of her daughter''s torment before her passing flooded her mind. The weight of her anguish at the time of her death weighed heavily on Dorothy''s thoughts.


    How she wished someone had saved her.


    Tears streamed down Dorothy''s face as she gripped the dagger and stabbed it fiercely into Wayne''s hand.


    Veins bulged on Wayne''s forehead, his eyes bloodshot and filled with blood. He opened his mouth in agony, but only the sound of despair escaped.


    Wayne could never have imagined that a fleeting moment of vulnerability would bring about his untimely end.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Even more shocking was the realization that his life would end at Dorothy''s hands.


    Whether it was from pain or despair, a tear trickled down from the corner of Wayne''s eye.


    His hand gripped the sofa cushion tightly, veins protruding on the back of his trembling hand.


    However, a minuteter, his grip on the cushion ckened, and his hand dropped lifelessly to his side.


    Meanwhile, at the Kennedy Residence.


    Kaitlyn, enjoying a moment of rxation on the sofa during her midday break, was suddenly awakened by the loud cries of a baby.


    Her eyes flew open, and she sat up quickly. She turned her head towards the sound and discovered Peanut, her grandson, crying inconsbly in his cradle.


    A wave of tenderness washed over Kaitlyn. She quickly scooped up the child, gently patting his tiny back.


    Kaitlyn asked, "My precious little one, what''s the matter? Why did yourughter turn to tears so suddenly?" The nanny from across the room also rushed over, swiftly checking Peanut''s diaper. She gently informed Kaitlyn, "Madam, the young master has wet his diaper. I''ll change it for him."


    "Alright," Kaitlyn replied, handing the still-crying child to the nanny.


    The baby''s cries continued unabated, each wail tearing through the serenity of the room.


    Though it wasn''t the first time, Peanut''s cries today inexplicably irritated Kaitlyn, making her restless.


    Kaitlyn stood up and walked outside the vi, hoping to get some fresh air.


    But the cold air in the yard made her shiver, and her anxiety only grew, not knowing what was wrong.


    The nanny changed the baby''s diaper and fed him milk, but he still cried.


    He wouldn''t drink the milk, and it felt like before when nothing could soothe him.


    Kaitlyn, after getting some air outside, heard the baby still crying and felt even more agitated.


    Kaitlyn briskly walked back into the room, approaching the nanny. With a concerned tone, she asked, "What''s the matter?"

 Chapter 738

    The nanny, holding the baby in one arm and a bottle in the other, gazed at the regurgitated milk with a concerned look.


    "He may have had a little fright while sleeping. He should be fine soon," she reassured. Kaitlyn waved her hand dismissively.


    "Take him downstairs andfort him." After giving her instructions, Kaitlyn went up the stairs and locked herself in her room. Despite not hearing the baby''s cries anymore, she still felt unsettled. It was as if something was gnawing at her from the inside.


    Alexander returned to Regal Riverside and pushed open the bedroom door. Seeing a curled-up figure on the bed, his tense expression eased a bit.


    Olivia spoke from the side, "I''ve been guarding at the door. She didn''t go out."


    Alexander waved his hand, signaling her to leave. Olivia tactfully stepped out of the room.


    Alexander approached the bed, pulled back the covers, and found Quinn sound asleep.


    However, because her head was covered, her forehead was covered in a denseyer of sweat, and her hair was scattered across her face, obscuring her features.


    He sat down at the bedside and, with his long fingers, gently brushed her hair back from her face.


    Despite his gentle movements, Quinn woke up.


    She slowly opened her eyes, saw Alexander sitting beside her, and then closed her eyes again.


    In her grogginess, Quinn felt like she had lived through this scene many times before. The familiar feeling of security it brought made her drift back to sleep almost automatically.


    Quinn, half awake, sensed a presence beside her, as if she hadn''t truly slept and someone was nearby. It seemed like she had only closed her eyes for a moment, but when she opened them, it was already dark. Alexander was neatly dressed, leaning against the head of the bed but not actually on it. His eyes were closed, and it was unclear whether he was sleeping or had his eyes shut.


    Quinn carefully got up and stared at him for a while. She could see the fatigue and mncholy between Alexander''s brows.


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    In her mind, Quinn thought, ''He really is handsome. But he''s a bad person.''


    The notion that he was a bad man had somehow be deeply ingrained in Quinn''s mind.


    It could have been when Alexander first barged into Orion''s house. Or perhaps it was when he informed her in the hot spring that Orion didn''t desire her. Alexander opened his eyes and turned his head to look.


    He saw Quinn kneeling on the bed, curiously observing him.


    Alexander asked, "Do you think I''m handsome?"


    Quinn nodded. He was handsome, and she admitted that.


    Alexander reached out and ced his hand on Quinn''s forehead, which was no longer hot. He asked again, "Is your belly still hurting?"


    Quinn rubbed her stomach, then nodded slightly. Her stomach still hurt, but it wasn''t as severe as before.


    Alexander said, "Don''t wander off next time. If you get lost again, no one wille looking for you."


    Quinn was stunned. She thought it had been a dream, but she had actually run out. Reflecting on this, Quinn lowered her head in shame.


    Alexander stared at her for a long time before speaking softly,"Is that Orion really so good?"


    He was asking Quinn but also talking to himself.


    Quinn looked up, meeting his intense gaze and the intricate expression that puzzled her.


    She was unsure how to respond. Alexander inquired, "You''ve only been with him for a few days, and you can''t imagine being without him? Is he truly superior to me?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

 Chapter 739

    Quinn stared nkly at Alexander, unable to decipher his words. Nevertheless, the hint of sadness in his eyes caused her heart to inexplicably flutter twice. Alexander gazed at her for a moment, then smiled wryly.


    He abruptly rose from the bed, cast a quick nce back at Quinn, and instructed, "Now that you''re awake, try to get some rest and refrain from wandering around."


    Quinn gazed at him expectantly, hoping he would lead her to find Orion, but she struggled to articte her thoughts.


    Alexander didn''t pay her any more attention, turned around, and walked out. The door closed softly, but the sound made Quinn shrink back a little.


    Alexander went to the study and didn''te out again.


    After thest lesson, Olivia didn''t dare to ck off and stayed by Quinn''s door almost 24 hours a day.


    A few dayster, Quinn''s period ended, and her stomach no longer hurt. She was full of energy again.


    But Olivia brought her a bowl of dark, bitter medicine. Quinn didn''t even want to drink it after smelling it.


    Olivia had to coax her for a long time before she reluctantly took a sip, only to immediately spit it out and run out barefoot. Olivia was terrified and quickly set down the bowl to chase after her, asking, "Madam, where are you going?" Quinn ran downstairs barefoot and hid behind the sofa. When Olivia chased her, she ran to the other side.


    Olivia was both puzzled and frustrated by this behavior. "Madam, taking the medicine is for your own benefit. Why are you trying to avoid it?"


    Quinn clung to the sofa, eyeing her warily.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    The medicine was so bitter. She didn''t want to drink it! Olivia was at a loss on how to handle the situation. She tried saying all the kind words she could, but Quinn refused to take the medicine.


    When Alexander came downstairs, he saw the two of them ying hide and seek. He stood on the stairs, watching Quinn.


    Quinn''s hair was messy, and her clear ck and white eyes stared intently at Olivia. As soon as Olivia moved, she would run.


    At her age, Olivia couldn''t keep up with Quinn. After a fewps, she was panting heavily.


    She turned and saw Alexander at the staircase as if seeing a savior. " Mr. Kennedy, Madam refuses to take the medicine under any circumstances. I am unable to persuade her to do so."


    Quinn heard the voice and also turned to look at Alexander.


    After pausing for a moment, Alexander began walking towards her. Quinn realized they were working together, so she quickly turned and ran. She couldn''t outpace the two of them this time. Olivia blocked her on one side, and as she turned back, Alexander stood behind her. She halted her run, pouted, and looked at Alexander with teary eyes. Alexander came up to her, raised his hand, and touched her cheek. "Why won''t you drink the medicine?"


    Quinn moved her lips and made a pained expression, indicating it was too bitter.


    Alexander grabbed her wrist and led her to sit on the sofa, signaling Olivia to bring the medicine.


    He told Quinn, "Take your medicine, then we''ll go out." Quinn blinked and shook her head firmly.


    Alexander then said, "I''ll treat you to something delicious."


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    Quinn hesitated, tempted by the thought of tasty food, and couldn''t help but swallow.


    Shortly after, Olivia brought the medicine over and handed it to Alexander.


    He praised her by saying, "Good girl, drink it.


    Quinn stared at the dark soup in the bowl, her small face wrinkled up, her eyes full of resistance.


    Alexander asked, "Do you still want to eat something tasty?"


    Quinn nodded.


    Alexander said, "Then drink this."


    Quinn bowed her head in silence for a long time before gathering the courage to ept the bowl from Alexander''s hand. With one hand pinching her nose, and the other holding the bowl, she slowly poured the soup into her mouth.

 Chapter 740

    Quinn fought back the urge to vomit and summoned all her strength to down the medicine in one gulp. She then handed the bowl to Alexander, grimacing as she fanned her mouth to rid herself of the bitter taste. However, it made little difference. Once again, she doubled over the trash can, vomiting a couple of times, and ended up expelling most of the medicine.


    Seeing this, Alexander furrowed his brow slightly and reached out to pat Quinn on the back.


    After she finished retching, Alexander handed her a ss of water. She took the ss, gulped down the water, and then looked at Alexander with red-rimmed eyes, feeling upset. Alexander took out a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and ced it in her mouth.


    Quinn, who had been on the verge of tears, suddenly tasted sweetness on her tongue, and her tears stopped instantly. Her mood shifted as swiftly as turning a page in a book.


    Alexander watched her for a moment in silence, then called Olivia to take her to change clothes.


    Olivia nodded in agreement and took Quinn upstairs to change.


    A momentter, Olivia led her back downstairs to Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, she''s ready."


    Alexander nced at her briefly, then stood up, took Quinn''s hand, and led her out the door.


    Quinn thought Alexander was taking her out for a nice meal, but instead, he drove her straight to thepany.


    She had previously worked at thepany, and even though she wasn''t widely known, some people still remembered her.


    So, when Alexander walked into thepany holding her hand, they instantly attracted countless stares, with eyes turning towards them in unison.


    In the past, when Getty was at thepany, Alexander had never even held her hand whileing to work.


    But things had changed!


    Alexander confidently strolled into the office hand in hand with another woman, who was nonchntly enjoying a lollipop.


    Some whipped out their phones to capture photos of the pair and promptly shared them in thepany chat group.


    Quinn was unaware of everything happening around her. She was solely focused on finding something delicious to eat. The medication she had taken earlier still left a bitter taste in her mouth. However, when she looked around, she didn''t see any food.


    In the elevator, she handed Alexander the stick with the finished lollipop.


    Alexander nced down at it, then at Quinn, but didn''t take it.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Quinn extended her hand towards him again. Herrge eyes fixed on him unwaveringly.


    A silent tension filled the elevator.


    After a moment, Alexander finally reached out and took the trash from her hand. Stepping out of the elevator, he casually tossed it into a nearby trash can, before leading Quinn to his office. Once the office door closed, Quinn became a bit unhappy because there was no food in the room!


    But after a while, there was a knock on the door. With permission, Kyle entered.


    Kyle entered the lounge carrying arge box. He hurriedly made his way to the coffee table, set the box down, and opened it to reveal an array of snacks.


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    "Madam, please take your time and enjoy these. If it''s not enough, I can go out and get more," Kyle offered.


    Quinn peeked into the box, and her previously sullen face lit up with a smile. She nodded vigorously at Kyle.


    Kyle forced a smile and added, "Please enjoy your snacks here, okay?"


    Quinn had already opened a bag of chips and was sitting on the sofa, eating by herself.


    Kyle sighed and exited the lounge, joining Alexander outside. "Mr. Kennedy, the meeting is about to begin."


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on the figure behind the ss for a few seconds before he grabbed the documents on the table and left the room.


    Quinn sifted through the box of snacks, dumping them all onto the coffee table and selecting her favorites.


    She didn''t even realize that Alexander had left the room.


    Before long, the office door opened once more, and someone entered.

 Chapter 741

    Ruby entered and turned her head toward the lounge, where she indeed saw Quinn from the photo.


    She picked up her phone and nced at it. The screen disyed the photo taken earlier when Alexander and Quinn arrived at thepany.


    In the photo, Alexander was impably dressed in a suit and tie. At the same time, Quinn sported a white turtleneck sweater, her hair neatly pulled back in a bun, with a lollipop she was enthusiastically enjoying. Quinn''s eyes sparkled with vivacity, and her cheeks puffed out from the lollipop in her mouth, creating an image of endearing charm.


    However, Alexander did not look askance. He was leading her into thepany premises with confident strides, showing no signs of evasion or difort.


    The intriguing part was that, for some inexplicable reason, the photo depicted them as a surprisinglypatible duo.


    Ruby wondered, ''What does Alexander mean by this? Is he nning to reveal Quinn''s identity?''


    Ruby frowned as she walked into the lounge, standing in front of Quinn and scrutinizing her.


    After a long time, Quinn seemed oblivious to her presence, continuing to snack on her own. It was only after a while that Quinn, btedly, looked up and met Ruby''s curious gaze. Ruby smiled slightly. "It''s been a long time since I''ve seen you at work."


    Quinn, with a cookie in her mouth, looked at Ruby in confusion, not understanding and not recognizing her.


    Furthermore, fearing that Ruby might snatch her snacks, Quinn subtly pulled the snacks closer to herself.


    Ruby found this somewhat odd. "What''s wrong? It''s been so long, and you don''t recognize me?"


    Quinn shook her head, indicating she didn''t know her.


    Ruby was a little confused, but she maintained her smile. "Has Mr. Kennedy assigned you any new tasks?"


    Quinn didn''t understand Ruby''s words and had no intention of responding, continuing to search for more snacks on the coffee table.


    If Ruby still couldn''t sense that something was wrong with Quinn, she had failed as an assistant. Seeing that Quinn ignored her, Ruby smirked and turned to leave.


    By this time, the group chats were buzzing with intense discussions about Quinn.


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    Someone had recognized her as a former employee of thepany and had dug up her information.


    Rumors swirled about Quinn. Some said she got her position through Kyle''s connections, others hinted at a flirtation with Leon, and now she was supposedly involved with Mr. Kennedy. The gossip was getting more and more absurd. Eventually, the narrative took a disparaging turn: Quinn was portrayed as a cunning woman who used others to climb the corporatedder.


    "Ms. Anderson, is this true?" A colleague approached Ruby, knowing that she and Kyle might be the only ones who knew the truth.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Ruby paused her typing and nced at the colleague. "What are you talking about?"


    "It''s this one. Aren''t you in the group chat?" The female coworker handed her phone to Ruby.


    Ruby took a quick look before focusing back on her work. "Seems like you have too much downtime. If you''re looking for something to do, I can certainly find some tasks for you." The colleague pursed her lips and quickly put away her phone to get back to work.


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    When Ruby had just started working, she was notified of her transfer to the board office, which was not far from what Walter had spected. Alexander had indeed promoted her. And now, Alexander had openly brought Quinn to thepany. Ruby vaguely sensed that Alexander must have a n.


    Ruby sent the photo to Walter.


    Walter was in a meeting when he received the message. He brazenly took out his phone during the conference, and of course, no one dared to say anything. Apart from Alexander, he was the highest authority there. If Alexander didn''t speak, who would dare?


    Walter''s smile gradually faded as he looked at the photo. He nced up at Alexander, who sat calmly in his chair, listening indifferently to the discussion. After the meeting ended, Walter didn''t rush to leave. He waited until everyone had dispersed before calling out to Alexander. Walter called out, "Mr. Kennedy, hold on."


    Alexander stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Mr. Smith, is there anything else?"


    Walter stood up, smiling. "Everyone in the group seems to be curious about the woman Mr. Kennedy brought along. Shouldn''t you be a bit more discreet?"

 Chapter 742

    Alexander asked, "Then, ording to Mr. Smith, what should be done?"


    Walter replied, "Don''t forget. She is still Orion''s wife. If this gets out, it will only put all of you in a difficult situation."


    A slight smirk appeared on Alexander''s face. He held Walter''s gaze for a moment before finally speaking, "Impressive, Mr. Smith. Not only are you proficient at your job, but also you take a keen interest in others'' personal affairs. It seems that your talents are somewhat wasted in your current role as Vice President."


    Walter chuckled, unwilling to waste time with him. "So, what exactly did you do?"


    In the past, Alexander would never have dared to be so tant. But now, he had no qualms..


    Thus, Walter was curious about what Alexander had done or what scheme he was up to.


    Alexander said, "Mr. Smith, you''re incredibly smart. Why don''t you take a guess?"


    Walter''s brow twitched as he thought carefully about recent events. It seemed there was only Freya''s trial. So, he could only specte on that matter.


    Walter looked at the faintly smiling curve of Alexander''s lips as if he had some knowledge of it, but not quite.


    Alexander didn''t say much more to him, leaving a confused Walter behind as he walked out.


    The matter was already settled, so it didn''t matter if everyone knew.


    Alexander returned to his office to find Quinn had eaten more than half of the snacks in the box. He quickly walked in, staring at the empty bags on the table, his brows furrowing.


    Quinn looked up at him and kindly offered him the snack in her hand.


    Alexander said nothing, picking up the box on the floor and packing the remaining snacks.


    Quinn was puzzled by his actions until he ced the box on a bookshelf out of her reach.


    Quinn stared nkly at the box on the shelf, then mechanically turned her head to look at Alexander, her eyes filled with usation.


    Alexander said, "Save some for tomorrow."


    Quinn''s mouth drooped, looking as if she was about to cry.


    Alexander raised his hand to pat her head and said softly, "Alright, I''ll take you out to eatter."


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    Quinn was easily appeased now. All it took was some delicious food.


    Upon hearing this, Quinn instantly cheered up and nodded quickly.


    With Alexander busy on the other side of the office, Quinn was left to her own devices, gued by a creeping sense of boredom. She meandered aimlessly around the room, her eyes darting from one ce to another, her hands absentmindedly exploring the surfaces of various objects. Eventually, she gravitated to the floor-to-ceiling window, where she found herself pressed against the ss, gazing down at the world below.


    Every time Kyle came in, he had the illusion that Alexander was bringing a child to work.


    After Quinn had her fill of looking out the window, she came to Alexander''s desk, pouting and lying on the table, watching him work out of sheer boredom.


    Alexander nced at her, seeing her resentful eyes due to boredom, and tossed her a tablet to watch videos on.


    Quinn held the tablet, quickly bing engrossed in the videos.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    After watching several videos, she suddenly came across one about making paper airnes. Her eyes lit up, and she casually picked up a document from the desk, tearing off a page to learn how to make a paper airne.


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    Hearing the sound, Alexander suddenly looked up and saw the word contract written on the paper in Quinn''s hand.


    Alexander''s mouth twitched as he stood up abruptly. He grabbed the torn document from her.


    It was an agreement that had just been signed.


    Lost in the simple pleasure of crafting paper airnes, Quinn remained blissfully unaware of the thunderous expression that had turned Alexander''s face as dark as thunder. Alexander rubbed his temples and called Kyle into the office.


    Kyle hurried in. "Mr. Kennedy."


    Alexander threw the iplete contract to Kyle. "Handle this."


    Kyle opened his mouth. "This..."


    Turning his head, he saw the paper in Quinn''s hand and suddenly understood.


    However, Quinn''s paper airne had failed. She puffed out her cheeks and casually picked up another document.


    Kyle was stunned.

 Chapter 743

    Alexander watched her impassively as she tore up the document.


    Kyle stole a nce at Alexander, thinking, ''Is Alexander not going to stop her?''


    Quinn picked up another document, and Kyle couldn''t sit still any longer. He hurriedly rushed over and pressed down on the document, trembling as he said, "This one, you can''t tear this one!"


    This was a government-bidding project contract. If it were torn, he really wouldn''t know how to handle it.


    Quinn shot Kyle a look of bewilderment, unable to fathom his apparent fear. Nheless, she relinquished her grip, considering the abundance of them on the table.


    Kyle took the document and held it in his arms, nervously wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He said to Alexander with a forced smile. "Mr. Kennedy, how about I help you organize these? I''ll sort out the important documents." Kyle kept a smile on his face, but inside, he wasining furiously. If these documents were torn, Alexander would be happy to amuse her, but in the end, it would be his misfortune.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Alexander didn''t care. It was just a matter of saying a few words.


    Alexander nced at his wristwatch and then said, "You handle it."


    He added, "By the way, has Orion signed the divorce agreement?"


    At the mention of Orion''s name, Quinn immediately perked up her ears and stared intently at Alexander.


    Kyle said, "I''ll call and askter. But with Mr. William there, it shouldn''t be a big problem."


    Alexander nodded slightly. After speaking, he walked over to Quinn, took her hand, and led her out, saying, "Let''s go. I''ll take you to eat."


    Quinn quickly grabbed her tablet and followed him to the parking lot.


    Once in the car, Alexander received a call from Kaitlyn.


    He connected the car''s Bluetooth, and as he held the steering wheel and drove out of the parking lot, Kaitlyn''s voice came through the speakers.


    Kaitlyn asked, "Alexander, have you contacted your dad in the past few days? He hasn''t been home for almost ten days. And I can''t reach him by phone. I don''t know where he is!"


    Alexander replied calmly, "No, can''t you get in touch?"


    Kaitlyn replied, "If I could reach him, I wouldn''t be telling you this. Come home tonight. Let''s discuss it and see if he has run off with some woman."


    Wayne had resigned from his position at thepany and didn''t have to deal withpany matters anymore. He had quite a bit of money in his hands, and he might have taken the money and run off to enjoy life with some woman. Alexander nodded. "Alright, we''ll talk when I get back."


    Alexander hung up the phone without any urgency to return home. Instead, he took Quinn to eat first.


    However, Quinn had eaten too many snacks at noon, so by the time they got to the restaurant, she could only eat a few bites before she was full.


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    Quinn preferred snacks over meals.


    Meanwhile, Orion was originally locked in a room for reflection. But now, Charles and his wife were outside, begging him to open the door.


    The reason, of course, was the divorce agreement that Kyle had brought.


    Charles had previously assured that he could get Orion to sign the divorce agreement, but now almost a week had passed, and Orion still refused to sign.


    Not only that, but after being pushed to the limit, Orion had locked himself inside and hadn''t eaten or drunk anything for three days.


    Charles was very anxious outside.


    "Orion, open the door and listen to Mom, okay?" Orion''s mother, Odette, was crying outside. She had said many ttering words over the past two days, but Orion still wouldn''t open the door. No one knew how he was doing after three days without food.

 Chapter 744

    There was no response from inside the room, and the people outside grew even more anxious.


    Charles, in a fit of rage, kicked the door twice and then turned to the butler, saying, "Go get an axe and break this door open for me!" The butler nodded in agreement, immediately fetched an axe, and began to hammer at the lock. The vi echoed with a loud noise. After about a dozen strikes, the lock finally gave way, and Charles immediately pushed the door open and rushed inside. However, what he saw nearly scared him to death.


    Orion had torn the bed sheets into strips, tied them together, and hung them from the ceiling light fixture, creating a noose.


    Orion was hanging from it at that very moment.


    "Orion..." When Odette saw this, she rolled her eyes and immediately fainted.


    Charles''s mind went nk for a moment. Then he angrily shouted for someone to get Orion down.


    A group of people rushed forward, took Orion down from the noose, andid him on the ground. The butler stepped forward to check his breath, secretly sighed in relief, and turned to Charles, saying, "Mr. William, he''s still alive." Charles''s legs went weak, and he nearly fainted like Odette, but fortunately, someone behind him caught him.


    "This rebellious son, quickly call the doctor!" Charles had never experienced such a heart-stopping moment in his life; he was nearly scared to death by this rebellious son!


    The vi was in utter chaos for a while.


    Orion was ced on the bed, and the family doctor arrived quickly. After a brief examination, he immediately saw that Orion had only recently attempted to hang himself and that he had fainted from hunger.


    The doctor instantly understood Orion''s intention. He must have tried to hang himself just as Charles was breaking in, just to scare Charles.


    But in fact, this tactic was very effective. Odette had fainted from fright and had not yet woken up.


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    Charles was sitting there, his legs shaking uncontrobly.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    After being fed a few sips of sugar water, Orion soon woke up, looking around at the people with a somewhat confused expression.


    "Mr. William, Orion is awake."


    Upon hearing this, Charles immediately made his shaky way to the bedside with the assistance of the butler. He stared at Orion, who was extremely weak, tears streaming down his aged face. "Am I... dead?" Orion croaked weakly.


    Charles wanted to scold him, but after seeing Orion in this state, he couldn''t bring himself to say the words. He worried that Orion couldn''t take the stress and would try to kill himself again.


    Charles replied, "Don''t talk nonsense! You''re alive and well, you little rascal. What were you thinking? Your mother fainted from the shock. You really are..."


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    Orion stared nkly at Charles. He opened his mouth, his throat sore, and after a long pause, he finally spoke, "Wasn''t it you who pushed me to this?"


    "You..." Charles suddenly found himself at a loss for words. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Why put yourself through this for just one woman? I can find you as many as you want. Is she worth dying for?" Orion closed his eyes, not wanting to talk to him. "You just don''t understand."


    "I..." Before he could finish, the butler coughed twice, and Charles swallowed his harsh words, speaking earnestly instead, "Orion, what will it take for you to give her up?"


    Orion shook his head. "I won''t give up unless I''m dead."


    Charles felt himself losing control again, but he had no solution. He couldn''t really let his son die.


    Orion was his flesh and blood.


    Just then, Kyle''s phone call came in at an inopportune moment, making Charles feel even worse.

 Chapter 745

    Charles cautiously picked up the phone, forcing a smile. "Mr. Astor, what can I do for you?"


    Kyle said, "I just wanted to ask if the divorce agreement has been signed. Can I send someone over to pick it up now?"


    Charles''s face turned pale, and he was at a loss for words for a moment.


    Sensing his silence, Kyle frowned in displeasure, his tone bing less friendly. "Mr. William, you promised me before. Are you going to go back on your word?"


    Charles immediately took the phone out of the bedroom with a fawning expression on his face and said, "Mr. Astor, I will definitely fulfill what I promised you. You can rest assured of that. It''s just that there have been some issues. Can you give me a little more time? I will personally deliver the signed divorce agreement to you."


    Kyle said, "It''s been almost a week. Has Mr. William encountered some difficulties? Or are you saying that even as his father, you can''t handle this matter?"


    Charles said, "I can. Of course, I can make the decision. As I just said, there was an unexpected situation. I will never go back on my word. Mr. Astor should know my way of doing things. I am consistent in business, let alone in such a small matter."


    Kyle said, "Alright, then I will give Mr. William one more day. After one day, I want to see the signed and stamped divorce agreement."


    Charles nodded. "Okay, I see."


    Kyle hung up the phone in doubt. The situation seemed to be moreplicated than he had imagined. Even after all this time, Charles had not managed to settle things with Orion. Giving him another day might not solve the problem either. But if this matter wasn''t handled well, he would also be implicated, and this thought gave Kyle a headache.


    After dinner, Alexander took Quinn out of the restaurant and drove straight to the Kennedys'' family estate.


    For the past few days, Peanut had been crying incessantly, giving Kaitlyn a headache.


    Kaitlyn said, "Alexander, you''re finally back."


    Seeing him, Kaitlyn immediately handed the baby to the nanny and made her way to Alexander.


    Alexander nced at the baby in the nanny''s arms and asked, "What''s wrong?"


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    Kaitlyn said, "I don''t know what''s going on. The baby has been crying a lot recently. The doctor has seen him, and we''ve been to the hospital, but we still don''t know why he''s crying." Alexander asked, "He''s not hungry, not cold, and his diaper is clean. Why is he crying again?"


    Alexander led Quinn to the sofa and sat down. ncing at the baby, whose eyes were swollen from crying, he asked, "Has Walter note back to check on him?"


    At the mention of Walter, Kaitlyn''s expression turned sour. "Walter? I almost forgot about him. Can you believe it? As his father, he hasn''te back to see the baby for months as if the child isn''t his!" Alexander did not respond to Kaitlyn''s words. He raised his hand to take the baby from the nanny, but the child in his arms cried even more heartbreakingly..


    Quinn curiously watched the baby, feeling pity for such a little baby crying so miserably.


    Unable to resist, Quinn extended a finger to poke the baby''s cheek.


    The baby raised a tiny hand, waving it around aimlessly. Although his eyes were closed, he still managed to grasp her finger urately.


    The baby''s hand was soft and small. It held Quinn''s finger, making her heart go soft. A look of affection appeared on her face. "Do you want to hold him?" Alexander nced at Quinn.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Quinn, feeling both nervous and expectant, looked at Alexander hesitantly. She didn''t quite dare to hold the baby.


    Alexander turned and ced the baby in her arms. Quinn, stiff and awkward, held the baby, standing there without daring to move. Because the baby was so small, Quinn was afraid that even a slight movement might harm him.


    Kaitlyn watched her coldly, her disdain obvious, but she refrained from acting out because of Alexander.


    Moreover, the baby''s crying gradually subsided in Quinn''s arms, which made Kaitlyn, who was about to intervene, hold her tongue.


    Kaitlyn instructed the nanny to take Quinn and the baby outside, clearly wanting to have a private conversation with Alexander.

 Chapter 746

    The nanny led Quinn, and her steps were mechanical as she followed behind the nanny out of the living room. She moved cautiously, fearing that the child might slip from her hands. Once they had left, Kaitlyn broke the silence, asking, "Alexander, did you investigate the issue I brought up before?"


    Alexander casually sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, and replied indifferently, "No."


    Kaitlyn asked, "Why didn''t you check? Wayne has been missing for half a month."


    "What does that have to do with me?" Alexander retorted.


    Kaitlyn retorted irritably, "That''s your father. Besides, what if he takes the money and runs off with another woman?"


    Alexander lit a cigarette, his expression a mix of amusement and skepticism as he replied, "How much money could he possibly have?"


    Kaitlyn said, "Who knows? Probably a lot."


    With the cigarette between his fingers, Alexander stared into the distance, lost in thought.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Kaitlyn pressed again, "Won''t you say something?"


    Coming back to his senses, Alexander looked at her quietly, absorbing the unease written all over Kaitlyn''s face.


    A faint, mocking smile curled his lips. "Wouldn''t that be perfect?"


    Kaitlyn asked, "What?"


    Alexander exined, "I mean if he neveres back, you would be the head of the Kennedys family. What do you need him for?"


    Kaitlyn was momentarily taken aback, her heart slightly stirred. She then considered, "But if everyone finds out he ran off with another woman, I''d be aughingstock as thedy of the house." Alexander asked, "And how do you know he ran off with another woman? What if..."


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    He gazed at Kaitlyn, his eyes so chilling they made her heart race. He said, "What if he''s dead?"


    His voice was soft, yet it sent shivers down Kaitlyn''s spine.


    Kaitlyn''splexion turned noticeably paler. She stared at Alexander in rm, her voice dropping to a hushed tone, "Are you out of your mind? He''s your dad!"


    Alexander sneered. "Do you think he ever treated me like his son?"


    Kaitlyn suddenly found herself at a loss for words. Wayne''s recent actions had also infuriated her.


    Alexander said, "What a pity."


    Kaitlyn asked, "What do you mean a pity?"


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Alexander leaned back a bit, his voice casual as he said, "Sadly, all his shares have fallen into the hands of Landon Kennedy."


    The more Kaitlyn listened, the more uneasy she felt. She had to scrutinize her son more closely.


    After a moment, she hesitantly asked, "Do you know where he is?"


    Alexander lit another cigarette, taking his time to exhale the smoke. After a long pause, he said, "How would I know? Maybe we should call the police. It''s not normal for him to be missing for so many days." Kaitlyn''s eyebrows slowly furrowed. "Do we really need to call the police?"


    What she implied was whether Alexander was involved in Wayne''s disappearance.


    Would Alexander be implicated if they reported it?


    Pretending to misunderstand her implied question, Alexander responded, "What else can we do? He''s been missing for days. If we don''t do something, that''s what will lead to a gossip."

 Chapter 747

    Kaitlyn thought it made sense. In the past, Wayne would often be gone for a few days, but he never ignore calls or messages and always told her where he was going.


    But this time, Wayne had disappeared without a trace, as if he had never existed.


    If something really happened to him and they didn''t report it to the police, they might even be suspected of being involved.


    Thinking of this, Kaitlyn immediately had someone call the police.


    As she considered Alexander''s words, fear began to take hold of her. She moved to sit next to Alexander and proposed. "Alexander, how about you stay here and not go back? And let''s have Quinn stay here as well. Everyone should take care of each other. Look at us now. We''re such arge family, but we''re so divided. Is that how a family should be?"N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Alexander responded, "Let''s talk about itter."


    As he stood up to leave, Kaitlyn quickly grasped his arm. "Wait."


    After some thought, Kaitlyn took a deep breath as if to steel herself for what she was about to say. "I understand you''re worried that I''ll make things difficult for Quinn. I promise you I won''t bother her anymore, okay?" Alexander frowned impatiently and shook off Kaitlyn''s hand. "This has nothing to do with it. It''s just inconvenient for us to stay here."


    Kaitlyn asked, "What''s so inconvenient?"


    He got up and went out to find Quinn without answering Kaitlyn''s question.


    Quinn was in the yard ying with Peanut. The nanny saw her holding the child nervously and suggested that she put the child in the stroller and push it around.


    Quinn was now pushing the stroller and walking around the yard.


    Alexander stood not far away, hands in his pockets, quietly watching her.


    Next to him was a huge banyan tree. Quinn squatted under the tree, leaves falling gently from above her head. She held the child''s hand, her face beaming with a radiant smile.


    Even though the season was clearly one of destion, the smile on Quinn''s face created an illusion of revival, as if her cheerfulness had the power to breathe new life into everything around her, filling the surroundings with an unexpected hint of spring.


    She loved children very much, whether it was before or now that she had be a child herself.


    And Quinn wouldn''t remember that a few months ago, in the same ce, she held Freya''s child, her eyes filled with a deep-seated hatred.


    Quinn also wouldn''t remember that in this ce, she had lost her child.


    Now, she waspletely enamored with the child in front of her, and she found him to be adorable, chubby, and very likable.


    Alexander walked over to Quinn.


    The nanny saw him and immediately greeted him. "Mr. Kennedy."


    Quinn also looked up at him and gave him a bright smile.


    Alexander looked down at her, his face expressionless.


    The child in the stroller was still holding onto her finger, unwilling to let go. Quinn reached out and pinched his cheek, making the child giggle. Because he had cried before, the child''sughter was a bit hoarse.


    "Do you like him?" Alexander asked her.


    Quinn nodded, her affection undisguised.


    Alexander pondered and said, "If you like him, take him home for you to y with for a few days."


    Upon hearing this, the nanny''s expression turned odd. She thought to herself, ''Can a child be used for ying?''


    But Quinn was very happy to hear it. She also liked ying with the baby.


    Alexander grabbed the stroller''s handle and said to the nanny, "I''ll take the child away for a few days. Go back and tell my mother." The nanny said, "This..."


    Alexander asked, "What?"


    What could the nanny say under Alexander''s unyielding gaze? She could only nod with an awkward smile. "I got it, Mr. Kennedy." Alexander said, "Quinn, let''s go home."

 Chapter 748

    Quinn stood up from the ground, happily following behind Alexander. Alexander was pushing the baby stroller, looking like a father.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    She gazed at Alexander''s back, something flickering in her mind, too fleeting to grasp, but it made Quinn feel like crying for some inexplicable reason. Quinn thought to herself, ''Dad? Why don''t I have a dad?''


    Alexander ced the stroller in the car, but as soon as he stepped away, the baby began to cry.


    Hearing the cries, Quinn felt a pang in her heart. She gave up the front passenger seat and ran to the back to sit.


    Sitting at the back, Quinn took the child''s small hand in hers. Gradually, the child''s crying subsided.


    When most people are children, they y role-ying games. They cradle dolls in their arms, imagining themselves as mothers or fathers.


    But now, Quinn had a real baby in her hands, making this role-ying game feel more real to her, and she became increasingly invested in it.


    Alexander was driving, his gaze asionally shifting towards the rearview mirror to look at the backseat. He saw Quinn, head down, the softness in her eyes and facial expression that she might not have noticed.


    It was the gentleness thates from being a mother.


    Alexander, who had just taken out a cigarette, put it back and stepped on the gas, returning to the Regal Riverside as quickly as possible.


    Olivia greeted them with a beaming smile, but her smile froze when she saw the baby stroller in Quinn''s hands.


    Olivia pondered, ''How did they manage to bring back such a big child after just a short trip out?


    ''Could it be their child?


    ''But surely, no child this size could have been born in just a day, right?''


    While Olivia was still guessing, Alexander instructed her to go out and buy baby supplies, as they had left in a hurry and brought nothing with them.


    Olivia reluctantly agreed, keeping looking back at the baby as she left. She felt that the world had be too surreal.


    After getting the baby, Quinn''s desire to find Orion diminished significantly, as the child''s cuteness captured all her attention.


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    Quinn took the child to the bedroom, watching him crawl on the bed.


    Peanut was almost a year old and could barely able to sit up on his own, but it was still difficult for him to stand and he would fall back down.


    Alexander returned to the study to continue working, leaving Quinn to y with Peanut in the bedroom.


    Two hourster, Olivia returned and saw only Quinn and the child in the bedroom. She marveled at Alexander''s trust in Quinn to take care of the baby alone.


    Olivia ced the baby supplies in the room and handed some toys to Quinn.


    Olivia tried to teach Quinn how to change diapers, but after two attempts, she gave up.


    With the toys, Quinn became even more engrossed in ying, and it took several calls to get her toe down for dinner.


    It wasn''t until Peanut fell asleep that she reluctantly went downstairs to eat.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! After dinner, Alexander pulled her to take a bath, and she seemed somewhat eager.


    Sensing her thoughts, Alexander held the showerhead and sprayed her. "He won''t wake up that quickly."


    Quinn shrank back from the water, hugging herself and ring at him in displeasure.


    Alexander moved closer to her.


    Quinn looked at him in confusion.


    Alexander gazed at her cheeks. The bathroom was filled with steam, and the soft light cast a gentle glow on her face.


    Quinn''s eyes seemed to be covered with ayer of mist.


    Alexander lowered his head and kissed her lips.


    Alexander said, "Close your eyes."


    Quinn stared at Alexander for two seconds, then slowly closed her eyes. In the darkness, the sound of the water in the bathroom was incredibly clear.

 Chapter 749

    Quinn did not know how she had ended up on the bed. Her whole being was in a daze.


    As she looked at the shadow over her, her eyelids grew heavier.


    Alexander was still saying something by her ear, but Quinn couldn''t hear it clearly. It was as if the sound wasing from a great distance, vague and muffled, as if it was being transmitted from the sky. "Quinn."


    "Quinn..."


    Quinn heard the ethereal voice and forced her eyes open.


    In the white mist, a woman dressed in white smiled gently. The woman slowly crouched down and opened her arms towards her.


    She called softly, "Quinn,e here."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    "Come to Mommy."


    Mommy...


    Quinn gazed at the woman''s tender smile and slowly moved towards her.


    The light around the woman was so bright that she seemed bathed in a holy glow, and her white dress seemed ready to vanish with the light at any moment.


    Quinn reached out, trying to touch the woman''s hand.


    The woman said, "A girl''s tears are like pearls. Don''t cry.


    "Quinn is such a good girl."


    "Mommy..." Quinn reached out but couldn''t grasp the woman. Though she was so close to her, she could never catch her.


    It was like something in a dream, always out of reach.


    A wave of sorrow surged up her throat, her nose tingled, and tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.


    "Mommy." Quinn''s faint voice reached Alexander''s ears.


    He turned his head slightly, looking at her furrowed brows, her moist eyes, and the tears trickling down her cheeks.


    He raised his hand, caressing Quinn''s palm-sized face, his fingertips wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes.


    Quinn burrowed into his arms, her hands reaching up to grab Alexander''s neck, hugging him tightly, her cheek buried in his chest.


    The warm tears fell on his skin as if carrying a burning heat.


    In his sleep, he could hear Quinn''s soft murmuring. "Mommy."


    Quinn had been having this dream for a long time.


    Until a baby''s cry woke her from the dream. She slowly opened her eyes to see Peanut crawling toward her.


    Quinn raised her hand to support Peanut''s body, preventing him from falling.


    Peanut cried as he crawled on her, seemingly searching for something.


    The baby was hungry and was naturally looking for food. Despite his small size, he was incredibly precise in finding his sustenance.


    As Alexander entered the room, he saw Peanut tugging at Quinn''s nightshirt, which wasn''t really a nightshirt but Alexander''s shirt.


    The shirt slipped, revealing Quinn''s slender shoulder and corbone.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Alexander''s face turned stern. With a swift stride, he rushed forward, grabbed Peanut by the cor, and flung him to the side.


    The child let out a cry, wailing heartbreakingly.


    Quinn was stunned for a moment, then immediately propped herself up and climbed to her feet, ring at him discontentedly.


    "It''s mealtime. Don''t fuss over him." Alexander assisted her in dressing up, carefully securing each button.


    Yet, Quinn picked up Peanut and was unwilling to release him.


    Alexander''s face grew even more somber.


    Regardless, Quinn didn''t heed him. She carried the baby, left the room, and walked downstairs. Olivia handed the mixed baby form to her.


    Quinn settled the baby into the stroller and took a seat on the sofa to feed him.


    Presumably famished, Peanut gripped the bottle and started drinking. His eyes were moving around, constantly focusing on Quinn as if he was fearful she would vanish abruptly.


    Alexander tried several times to lead her to the dining room table, but Quinn adamantly declined, because her mind and eyes werepletely absorbed by the baby.


    Ultimately, Alexander had no other option but to bring her meal to her.

 Chapter 750

    Alexander said, "Open your mouth."


    Quinn looked at him, then at the bowl of food She subsequently parted her lips to take a spoonful of food. Thus, while Quinn fed the baby, Alexander fed her.


    After the meal, Alexander intended to take her to thepany, and she insisted on carrying the baby.


    At this moment, Alexander seemed to realize that he had made a very erroneous decision.


    He went too far in distracting her.


    Now, Quinn stopped finding Orion, but nearly all her thoughts were on Peanut.


    In the end, he agreed to let her take Peanut to thepany.


    As soon as they entered the office, Alexander called Walter over.


    Before Walter could speak, he heard the sound of a baby. He instinctively turned his head to look.


    As expected, Quinn was in the nearby lounge, engaging Peanut in y.


    She bent over, stuck out her tongue, and made funny faces at the baby in the cradle, making the child giggle.


    Walter''s eyelids twitched, and he looked at Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, what does this mean?"


    Alexander replied, "Are you not going to take care of your son?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Walter mused, "I''m swamped at the moment. Besides, it''s not like I can take the baby to work, right?"


    Alexander, flipping through documents calmly, said, "Then you can take him back."


    Walter sighed, walked towards the lounge, and stared at the baby in the stroller for a while, his expression somewhat peculiar.


    Quinn sensed something, nced at him, and pushed the stroller out as if afraid he would take the baby.


    Quinn went to sit on the sofa outside and continued ying with the child.


    Walter''s eyebrows subtly rose as if he had guessed something.


    He smiled slightly, walked to Alexander, propped his hands on the desk, and said, "Mr. Kennedy, are you nning to adopt this child?"


    Alexander paused, nced at Walter, and said, "I can have my own."


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    Walter asked, "Really? With Ms. Morgan?"


    Alexander said, "Walter, if you don''t want this child, I can find a ce for him."


    Walter let out a light chuckle. "Given Mr. Kennedy''s generous nature, I should probably extend my thanks ahead of time."


    Alexander said, "I really doubt if he is your biological son."


    Walter said, "If he''s not my biological son, could he be Mr. Kennedy''s?"


    Alexander followed with augh and said, "There''s no need to hurry. The paternity test results will be out shortly. Then, we''ll discover who the true father is."


    Walter''s smile faltered for a moment, but he swiftly masked it with his usualposure.


    Walter said, "I really don''t understand, Mr. Kennedy; why are you so concerned about who Peanut''s father is?"


    Alexander replied, "Some people fake their identities, infiltrating the Kennedy family. Naturally, I wonder if even things like a child''s parentage could be fabricated."


    The conversation between the two grew increasingly tense.


    Walter stared at him intently, silent for a long time before he slowly spoke, "If some people regain their identities, they might take away certain things, like their family. Mr. Kennedy, I believe if it were you, you would do the same, right?" Alexander replied, "Of course, but only if I had the capability."


    Quinn, hearing their murmured conversation, nced over in confusion. Both men wore strange smiles that were not genuine.


    Amidst the rising tension, Alexander received a call from Kaitlyn.


    Kaitlyn said, "Alexander, your father seems to have really gone missing."


    Alexander asked, "What do you mean?"


    Kaitlyn said anxiously over the phone, "The police called, saying your father didn''t leave Amber Bay. He went missing in Amber Bay." Alexander asked again, "Really? Do you have any leads?"


    Kaitlyn said, "Not yet, but we found thest ce he disappeared from. Guess where?"


    Alexander didn''t respond, waiting for her to continue.


    Kaitlyn said, "It''s his old vi, the house where he lived before he divorced Dorothy."

 Chapter 751

    Alexander still showed little reaction. "Let''s find him first."


    Kaitlyn hesitated and said, "Why do I feel like he eloped with that woman?"


    Although Wayne was irresponsible, he had never spoken ill of Dorothy in all these years. He even kept a photo of them together in his study.


    Wayne exined that he was toozy to clean up, so he left it there, but he never threw it away; he just moved it to an inconspicuous corner.


    Every time Kaitlyn thought about this, it felt like a thorn in her heart. Fortunately, Dorothy hadn''t returned all these years. Otherwise, she didn''t know if she could keep her current position. Alexander said, "You''re overthinking it. Let''s wait for the police report."


    Alexander left this remark and then hung up the phone, casually tossing his cell phone onto the table.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Walter''s gaze flickered towards the phone on the table, "Is Wayne missing?"


    Alexander said, "Mr. Smith, you are indeed well-informed."


    "With the police involved, how could it be kept a secret?" Walter said, "The Kennedy Group''s previous crisis hasn''t been resolved, and now Wayne is missing again. If this news gets out, the Kennedy Group''s stock will probably plummet." Alexander said, "What are you afraid of? Don''t we still have Landon Kennedy?"


    Alexander stood up and walked slowly to the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city below. "Wayne rmended him as the president of the Kennedy Group, so his ability is unquestionable. I believe Mr. Kennedy will turn things around and get us through this crisis."


    Walter chuckled. "You really are something."


    For a moment, Walter didn''t know how to evaluate Alexander. He was ruthless, even to the point of not sparing his father.


    Thinking of something, Walter nced at Quinn, who was still ying with the child.


    She was still in the dark, knowing nothing.


    Walter looked at Quinn for a moment, didn''t say anything further, and turned to leave the office. Naturally, he didn''t take Peanut with him.


    Not long after, Kyle came in with a document and handed it to Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, this is the paternity test report."


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    Alexander took the document and opened it.


    Kyle said, "The result is as you expected. Peanut is not Mr. Smith''s biological son."


    "Interesting." Alexander casually tossed the document onto the table. "Take it ande with me to the prison."


    "Understood." Kyle moved a few steps, then turned back to look at Quinn. "But what are we going to do about the madam?"


    Alexander replied, "Bring her along."


    Kyle thought, ''Is this a prison visit or a family visit? Why are you bringing so many people?''


    In the visiting room, Freya, dressed in prison clothes, had her long hair cut short and looked haggard and much thinner.


    When she saw Alexander, her eyes filled with tears, and she almost threw herself against the ss. "Alexander, when will you get me out? I don''t want to stay here another day!"


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Alexander held the phone, staring at Freya for a moment before speaking. "You and Walter..."


    He stopped halfway through his sentence.


    Freya''s eyes glistened with tears. She gripped the phone tightly and choked out, "What about him? Is he here?"


    Alexander said, "You should know very well what kind of person he is. Why do you think he woulde?"


    Upon hearing this, Freya''s tears fell. "He..."


    Freya, in the midst of her tears, let out a self-mockingugh. "He''s the kind of person who appears refined on the outside but is cruel at heart. Why did he approach me in the first ce?"


    This was something Freya had never figured out. Walter had gone to great lengths to get close to her, acting gentle and considerate, but he had no love for her at all.


    If he wanted money, Freya could give all her shares to Walter. But she had tested him, and he didn''t want money at all.


    On the contrary, Walter cared nothing for money or material things..

 Chapter 752

    "He..." Alexander said lightly, "What he wants is not simple."


    Freya asked, "What?"


    Alexander said, "Never mind, it''s pointless to talk about it. I just came to show you something."


    Alexander raised his hand and ced the appraisal report on the ss. Freya''s gaze passed through the transparent ss and clearly saw the results of the appraisal. Freya''s pupils gradually erged, and she immediately showed an expression of disbelief. "How is this possible?"


    Alexander asked, "Is it hard for you to ept? Well, that''s understandable."


    Freya asked, "Why would it be like this..."


    Alexander looked at Freya, who was on the verge of breaking down, squinted his eyes, and asked again, "You''ve been with him for so long. Didn''t you know?" Freya''s expression was somewhat flustered. She clutched her sleeve tightly, finding it difficult to speak.


    After a long while, she finally made up her mind and told Alexander the truth.


    Freya said, "Alexander, I''ve been married to him for over a year. I got pregnant right after we got married, ten months of pregnancy and one month of postpartum recovery..."


    Freya felt embarrassed to say it. After giving birth, Walter became extremely busy, leaving early and returningte, barely touching her.


    And Freya was also exhausted by the child every day, having no energy to think about such matters.


    So, when Freya thought that even the few sexual encounters might not have been with Walter, her heart felt as if it was being carved out with a knife.


    Freya asked, "Did he really despise me that much?"


    Alexander raised an eyebrow, listening to her words without speaking.


    Alexander asked, "What do you n to do with this child?"


    Freya lowered her head with her fingers intertwined and said, "I don''t know, I don''t know anything..."


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    Freya suddenly thought of something and looked up at Alexander sharply. "Who is he really?"


    Alexander replied, "I don''t know."


    Freya said, "How is that possible? You must have found out. Alexander, please tell me, at least let me die knowing the truth!"


    Freya stared intently at Alexander, her emotions growing more agitated.


    Alexander pondered for a moment and finally said, "I really don''t know."Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Then he added, "I only know he''s from the Mellons family. As for which one, I''m still investigating."


    Freya stared nkly at him. "The Mellons family? Which Mellons family? Could it be..."


    Freya thought of Quinn.


    Could it be that Walter approached her because of Quinn?


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Alexander nodded. "Yes, you''re right."


    Freya found it even more unbelievable that the man she loved had approached her for another woman.


    "But that''s not right." Freya said hoarsely, "He doesn''t treat Quinn well. How could he havee for her? Before, it was he who personally took Quinn to get an abortion. If he was Quinn''s brother or some other rtive, why would he do that?" Alexander asked, "What?"


    Freya was stunned for a moment, realizing she had let something slip. She nervously nced at Alexander.


    Seeing the dreadful look, Freya had no choice but to tell the truth. "It was a few months ago. Mom took Peanut to the hospital and ran into Quinn there."


    Freya pushed everything onto Kaitlyn. "So Mom had someone investigate and found out she was pregnant. So she kept it from you and had Walter bring Quinn over for an abortion."


    Alexander gazed intently at Freya, his face devoid of any discernible emotion, yet his eyes were a whirlpool of hidden emotions.


    Freya''s voice gradually grew smaller. "It was all Mom''s doing. It had nothing to do with me."

 Chapter 753

    "And don''t you dislike children as well? Last year, you agreed too," Freya said.


    Alexander suddenly let out augh.


    Alexander scoffed, "You all are really something."


    With an ambiguous tone, Alexander finished his sentence, then mercilessly hung up the phone and got up to leave. Freya watched his back with a sudden panic in her heart. "Alexander..."


    Without turning his head, Alexander left the prison.


    Freya stared nkly at Alexander until his figure disappeared from her sight, then she weakly lowered her hand.


    The car was parked under the shade of a tree by the roadside. Quinn was pushing Peanut back and forth on the sidewalk, and Peanut wasughing loudly in the stroller. Kyle was smoking nearby, unable to understand what was so fun about running back and forth.


    Alexander did not hurry over. He lit a cigarette and quietly smoked on the side.


    Quinn hadn''t run for more than a few minutes before she was exhausted and had to stop to rest.


    She was panting, too exhausted to do anything but slump to the ground. Her heart was pounding rapidly, and she even felt a bit dizzy.


    Peanut, seeing that they had stopped, started calling out from the stroller as if to urge Quinn to continue the game.


    Quinn was too tired to run anymore. She fished out a small toy from her pocket and shook it in front of Peanut.


    Seeing Alexander approaching, Kyle immediately stepped forward and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, did you find out anything?" Alexander did not answer him. Instead, he took out his phone and walked to the side to make a call.


    The call was quickly connected, and he asked, "Have you found him?"


    "No, it seems that person is no longer here."


    Alexander said, "Keep looking; find him for me."


    "Yes, sir."


    Alexander hung up the phone, and Kyle came up again to ask, "Mr. Kennedy, haven''t you found the burned man yet?" Alexander replied, "He''s not that easy to find. If he wants to hide, we might not even find him in that abandoned vi." Kyle nodded. "That''s true."


    Previously, they didn''t know there was someone in the vi. It was only after Walter went there that the person appeared, but after that appearance, he vanished without a trace. Walter must have told him to hide.


    Kyle said, "If that''s the case, it means he definitely knows Walter''s identity. As long as we find him, Walter''s identity will be clear."


    "I hope so." Alexander threw his cigarette on the ground and crushed it with his toe.


    Kyle dabbed the sweat from his brow, "If only the Mellons family didn''t have so many men, our investigation wouldn''t be that troublesome."


    Ignoring his words, Alexander walked over to Quinn.


    Quinn was sitting on the steps without any grace, leaning on the stroller and shaking the small toy in her hand.


    A shadow loomed over her, and she instinctively looked up.


    Seeing Alexander, Quinn was momentarily stunned.


    At that moment, there was was an endless expanse of blue sky and white clouds behind him, and the early morning light was shining behind him, making him seem to glow. Quinn thought of the blurry figure in her dream.


    Except for theck of a face, it was exactly like Alexander.


    And just like in the dream, he extended his slender and beautiful hand towards her. "Get up. We''re going back."


    Quinn stared nkly at his hand for a moment before slowly raising her hand and cing it in his palm.


    Alexander pulled her up and led her to the car.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    The stroller was folded and ced in the trunk, and Kyle handed the child to Quinn.


    Quinn held the child, pinching his little hand, a gentle smile appearing on her face.


    Alexander turned his head to look at her, his expression inscrutable.


    Kyle started the car and drove off, but instead of returning to thepany, they went to the Kennedy Residence.


    After getting out of the car, Alexander led Quinn into the living room and asked her to hand the child over to the nanny.


    Quinn was reluctant. She held the child and hid behind Alexander, looking as if she didn''t want to give him up.

 Chapter 754

    The nanny was slightly embarrassed and cast an uneasy look toward Alexander.


    Alexander turned around, raised his hand to touch Quinn''s head gently, and said softly, "This belongs to someone else. Can you give it back?" Quinn bit her lip and tightened her grip on the child.


    After a brief silence, Alexander spoke again, "Good girl, give Peanut back. When you have your own baby in the future, you can take care of him, alright?" Quinn blinked, looking at him in confusion.


    She wanted to ask him where her own baby was.


    Alexander reached out and took Peanut from her arms. This time, Quinn did not resist and let him take the child away.


    Watching him hand the child back to the nanny, Quinn grabbed Alexander''s hand and looked at him with anticipation. She raised her hand, gesturing stiffly. "Where?"


    Quinn was asking where her baby was.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Alexander held her hand and ced her fingers on her lower abdomen. "Here, but not born yet."


    Quinn''s mouth dropped open. She instinctively touched her lower abdomen but felt nothing.


    She was skeptical of Alexander''s words.


    Alexander said, "It''s still early. When the timees, it wille out."


    Quinn looked at him with a mix of belief and skepticism, but if she had her own baby, she would be very happy.


    So, she asked him impatiently, "How long?"


    Alexander casually said, "About a year."


    Quinn''s eyes widened again. She started counting on her fingers, trying to figure out how long a year was.


    It felt like a very long time.


    Suddenly, Kaitlyn came running out of the house. She hurried to Alexander''s side and said anxiously, "Alexander, the police called again." Alexander frowned.


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    They arrived at the vi where Wayne had disappeared. The area was already cordoned off, and many people were watching from outside.


    As soon as Kaitlyn arrived, she was moring to see Wayne, her emotions slightly agitated.


    A police officer stopped her. "Lady, please calm down first."


    Kaitlyn asked, "What happened to him?"


    A police said, "I hope you are prepared for the worst."


    Upon hearing this, Kaitlyn''s legs went weak. Fortunately, the nanny supported her.


    Alexander handed Quinn over to Kyle and walked inside.


    Behind him, Kaitlyn took a few deep breaths to stabilize her emotions and prepare herself mentally.


    She then said, "I''m ready. Let me see."


    The police lifted the cordon to let her in. Kaitlyn held her breath, clenched her fists, and mustered the courage to follow Alexander inside.


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    The reality was even more horrifying than she had imagined.


    In the middle of the living room, there were two ck stic bags with blood faintly seeping out.


    Kaitlyn stared at the stic bags, her mind nk for a moment. She looked at the police in a daze. "You can''t be telling me that this is..."


    Police said, "To be certain, we need to wait for the forensic DNAparison. But first, see if there are any familiar features."


    This was essentially an admission that it was Wayne.


    Kaitlyn''s expression changed unpredictably. She opened her mouth slightly, trying to approach, but the thought that this was someone she had lived with day and night made her hesitate. Instead, Alexander took the gloves handed by the police, put them on, and opened the bag.


    Kaitlyn covered her eyes and immediately turned around, her body trembling violently. Alexander picked out a watch from inside, looked at it, and said, "It''s his."


    He turned to look at Kaitlyn, his expression unreadable. "Mom,e and see, is it my dad?"

 Chapter 755

    Kaitlyn''s shoulders trembled as she stiffly turned her head to look at the human tissue in the stic bag. She couldn''t catch her breath, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted straight away.


    Alexander tossed the watch back, then looked at the other stic bags, asking, "It''s not all there, is it?"


    A police said, "Yes, we''ve only found a part of it. We''re still searching for the rest."


    Alexander stood up, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He looked at the police. "Please, you must catch the killer."


    The police said, "Of course, even without Mr. Kennedy''s request, we will do our utmost to bring the murderer to justice."


    Alexander said, "Thank you."


    "It''s our duty; no need to thank us." The police took out a few photos for him to see. "These were taken before he went missing. It seems someone invited him here. But there are too few surveince cameras here, and this vi hasn''t been lived in for a long time. There''s very little footage, so we don''t know who else might have been here."


    Alexander asked, "Where''s his phone?"


    The police replied, "We haven''t found it. The murderer probably destroyed it. We''ll know once we get themunication records."


    Alexander nodded, talked a bit more, and then had someone carry Kaitlyn back to the Kennedy Residence.


    Kaitlyn was so shocked that she fell ill after returning. When she woke up, she was listless and unable to speak.


    Whenever Kaitlyn closed her eyes, those images would appear in her mind. Even drinking water felt like drinking blood, and she would vomit after just one sip.


    Alexander didn''t return to Regal Riverside for the time being and stayed at the Kennedy Residence with Quinn.


    Quinn liked it here because she could continue ying with Peanut.


    Kaitlyn leaned against the headboard, her eyes vacant.


    Alexander sat beside her, peeling fruit. Suddenly, he heard Kaitlyn say, "Have the resultse out?"


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    Alexander nodded. "Yes, they have."


    She slowly turned her head, staring nkly at Alexander, and hoarsely asked, "Is it him?"


    Alexander stopped peeling. He looked up at Kaitlyn and, after a moment, said two words. "It is."


    Kaitlyn closed her eyes in despair, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    Kaitlyn asked, "Do you think your father passed away without any regrets?"


    Alexander said nothing, continuing to peel the fruit.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Kaitlyn choked, "Alexander, please be honest with me. Does his death have anything to do with you?"


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Alexander didn''t look up. "Do you hope it does or doesn''t?"


    Kaitlyn was suddenly at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond.


    She looked at Alexander for a long time before struggling to speak. "He is your father."


    "You''ve said that before." Alexander''s voice was so calm that it sent chills down Kaitlyn''s spine.


    It seemed like he wasn''t peeling fruit but killing someone.


    Fear washed over Kaitlyn''s face and herplexion grew paler. "Even though he''s been confusedtely, after all these years, don''t you have any feelings for him? How can you be so calm?" Alexander retorted, "And what should I do instead? Lie in bed, wallowing in sadness like you, to express my feelings for him?"


    Kaitlyn said, "You..."


    Alexander always had a way of silencing her with his words.

 Chapter 756

    Kaitlyn did not argue with Alexander about this matter. She looked up at the ceiling and muttered to herself. "Do you remember the first time you came here? You were only five years old then."


    At that time, Alexander was an obedient and well-behaved child, always wearing a polite smile and treating others with warmth and courtesy.


    When he met Wayne, he was neither humble nor arrogant, answering every question he asked.


    From the moment Wayne saw him, he took an instant liking to him.


    Wayne held Alexander''s hand, looked him up and down, nodded in satisfaction, and told him, "From now on, this is your home. I am your father. Call me Dad, will you?"


    Young Alexander looked at his so-called father, a hint of confusion in his eyes, but he still smiled and called him father.


    Hearing Alexander call him father, Wayne was happier than ever.


    Since Alexander joined the Kennedys family, Wayne took him everywhere and introduced him to everyone as his son.


    Although everyone knew Alexander''s situation, because of Wayne''s affection, they treated Alexander with a bit more courtesy.


    Aftering to the Kennedys family, Alexander hardly suffered any grievances.


    That was because Ulysses also liked him. Moreover, Ulysses and Wayne both had the intention of grooming him. So whether they were discussing business or analyzing the market, they let him sit by and listen. Ulysses thought Alexander had more talent for business than Wayne, so sometimes he even took him to meetings.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    From a young age, Alexander had already gained quite a reputation in thepany. Many of the old employees knew in their hearts that he was the future sessor.


    Wayne also enrolled him in various sses and spared no effort to cultivate him, wishing to mold him into a perfect heir with multiple talents.


    In contrast, while the Ulysses and Wayne were lenient with Alexander, Kaitlyn was extremely strict with him.


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    Whenever he scored one point less than the previous exam, Kaitlyn would hit his palm or punish him by not allowing him to eat.


    After Freya was born, Kaitlyn had just started to ease up on Alexander.


    Kaitlyn gave the Kennedys family a son and a daughter, which gradually made Ulysses ept her, and her status in the Kennedys family slowly stabilized.


    Freya''s case was different. She was brought up in the loving care of the whole family. Even if she failed an exam, no one would me her.


    After all, they thought she was a girl. There was no need for her to study so hard, and soon, she was going to get married.


    As Kaitlyn spoke of the past, tears streamed down her face.


    Alexander ced the peeled apple on the table and said, "It''s all in the past. Why bring it up?"


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Kaitlyn said, "Yes, it''s in the past, but only time has passed, not the feelings."


    Hearing this, Alexander smiled mockingly.


    He said, "Before Landon Kennedy came back, I asked him why, but he didn''t tell me."


    Kaitlyn opened her mouth slightly, but before she could speak, Alexander continued, "Likewise, you made the doctor abort my child without telling me. I don''t deny the effort you put into me, but can you honestly say that everything you did was truly for me? It was for yourselves, for honor, for so-called dignity. You never even asked me what I liked."


    Unable to speak for a moment, Kaitlyn stared at his calm face.


    Alexander picked up the apple he had just peeled and handed it to Kaitlyn. "And you, do you know what I like?"


    She reached out to take the apple, but Alexander put it back.


    Alexander said, "I don''t like apples. I like lychees. You thought lychees cause internal heat, so you forced me to eat apples. If I didn''t eat them, you would crush the lychees in front of me. So this is what you call love in your words."

 Chapter 757

    Kaitlyn listened to these words, her eyes blurred with tears, yet she couldn''t utter a single word.


    Alexander''s voice was calm as if he were telling someone else''s story.


    "I had a dog. It was disobedient, so I hit it. Maybe I pushed it too far, and it bit me." He looked at Kaitlyn calmly. "Even a dog will bite when it''s extremely angry, let alone a person." Kaitlyn called out, "Alexander..."


    Alexander said, "Get some rest. I need to go to the police station."


    With that, Alexander rose and left the bedroom.


    From beginning to end, Alexander''s emotions were eerily stable. Rather than the heart-wrenching interrogations and fury, it was his calm demeanor that was truly terrifying.


    Because Kaitlyn knew that he only showed no emotion when facing someone insignificant.


    It wasn''t worth it, nor was it necessary.


    This was something Kaitlyn had once taught him.


    Kaitlyn raised her hand to cover her face, closing her eyes in exhaustion, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    No one had expected things toe to this point.


    When had Alexander started to change so drastically?


    Kaitlyn thought for a long time, vaguely remembering that it was about six years ago, after his car ident.


    After he was discharged from the hospital, he never smiled the same way again and gradually began disregarding Kaitlyn''s words.


    Could a car ident really change a person''s character?


    Kaitlyn was lost in thought for a long time. Suddenly, she sat up straight, hurriedly grabbed her phone from the table, and called the hospital.


    Kaitlyn asked, "Mr. Dawson, could you send me the treatment records from Alexander''s car ident six years ago?"


    "Six years ago?" Gabriel Dawson, the hospital''s former director, was a bit surprised but said, "That shouldn''t be a problem, but you''ll have to wait a bit."


    Kaitlyn said, "Alright, please do it as soon as possible."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Alexander walked into the living room, where he found the nanny teaching Quinn how to knit a sweater.


    Quinn was clumsy and couldn''t get the hang of it. After a long time, she hadn''t even started properly.


    The nanny held her hand, teaching her step by step. "Like this, through here, loop it around, then pull it through and that''s it."


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    Quinn found it fascinating. She tried it herself and seeded this time, giving the nanny a delighted smile.


    "Mr. Kennedy." The nanny quickly put down what she was holding and stood up.


    Alexander tilted his head slightly, signaling her to leave.


    The nanny picked up the things on the sofa and walked out.


    Alexander cast a look at the item in Quinn''s hands. "What are you knitting?"


    Quinn gently pulled at her own clothes, signaling that she was knitting a piece of clothing.


    Alexander asked again, "Who is it for?"


    Quinn then affectionately rubbed her belly. After all, Alexander had mentioned it himself. She was expecting their baby; so naturally, the knitting was intended for the baby. She suddenly thought Alexander was quite dense.


    Alexander pondered as he looked at Quinn for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Keep it up."


    Quinn nodded, showing him her knitting needles, indicating she had learned and would soon have a garment for the baby.


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    Quinn was so absorbed in the joy of knitting that she seemed not to hear Alexander''s words as she continued to loop the yarn.


    Alexander stood for a while, seeing that Quinn indeed ignored him, then turned and walked out.


    He sat in the car and lit a cigarette.


    Leaning against the car window, he watched the setting sun, his expression wistful.


    After finishing his cigarette, Alexander drove to the police station.


    Wayne''s call records had already been retrieved, and thest call was to Dorothy.


    Police said, "Dorothy Jackson is also missing now, and we can''t find her anywhere. We strongly suspect that she is involved in this matter."


    Alexander reviewed the documents, frowning. "No leads at all?"


    A police answered, "None. It''s surprising that Dorothy Jackson, at her age, has such strong counter-surveince skills. If she is indeed the culprit, she must have nned this well in advance. But if she did this, she should know she can''t escape." "What is she nning by hiding?" The officer pinned Dorothy''s photo on the whiteboard.


    Hearing the officer''s words, Alexander began to look serious.

 Chapter 758

    "She hasn''t shown herself. She must be plotting something," Alexander thought, dropping the files in his hand and rushing out of the police station. Alexander got into his car, mmed on the gas pedal, and sped toward the Kennedy Residence.


    While driving, he dialed Kyle''s number.


    Kyle said, "Hello, Mr. Kennedy?"


    Alexander said, "Kyle, send people to the Kennedy Residence immediately, as fast as possible!"


    Kyle asked, "What''s going on? Has something happened?"


    Alexander asked, "Don''t waste time. Just do as I say!"


    Kyle was startled by Alexander and quickly agreed, "I got it!"


    Alexander hung up the phone. When he saw the red light ahead, he didn''t hesitate and ran through it, causing chaos on the road.


    Because Kaitlyn was ill inside the mansion, Quinn was ignored. After dinner, a servant led her back to her bedroom.


    She also brought the baby with her. Quinny on the bed, patting the baby''s back to lull him to sleep.


    The baby dozed off, and she began to feel sleepy as well.


    Suddenly, she caught a whiff of smoke.


    Quinn nced over her shoulder at the door, noticing a faint wisp of smoke creeping in from under the crack.


    Puzzled, she rubbed her eyes and got out of bed to check.


    But when she grasped the doorknob, she couldn''t open it, no matter how hard she tried.


    Quinn thought she had identally locked the door, so she twisted the knob back and forth, but it still remained locked.


    Peanut, still in the bed, inhaled smoke and began to cry.


    Quinn pounded on the bedroom door, hoping someone outside would open it, but there was an eerie silence, and no one came.


    As the smoke thickened, Quinn began to cough.


    She pounded on the door with her fists and used everything within reach to try to break it down, but it was too solid.


    Covering her nose and mouth, Quinn returned to the bed, picked up the baby, and ran to the bathroom.


    She knew there was a fire outside, and the bathroom had water that could help.


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    Quinn turned on the faucet, and water gushed out from the shower head instantly. The cold water drenched her, sending an involuntary shiver to run through her.


    When Alexander returned to the Kennedy Residence, he was met with the sight of a raging inferno.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    The mes engulfed the main building, illuminating his face.


    Alexander mmed the car door and rushed into the living room. The interior wasn''t fully aze yet, but the thick smoke made it hard to see.


    He vaguely saw a figure lying on the sofa. Covering his nose and mouth with his cor, he ran over but found it was just a servant.


    The servant wasn''t dead and just unconscious.


    Not only on the sofa but also on the staircase and in the hallway, servantsy on the ground.


    Even the bodyguards were down.


    Suddenly, Alexander heard banging from his left. He paused and immediately ran towards the sound.


    The door was locked from the outside, and someone inside was still pounding on it.


    Alexander stepped back and kicked the door.


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    Alexander paused for a moment before raising his foot again, kicking at the door lock with all his strength.


    The bedroom door swung open, and a figure stumbled out.


    Alexander reached out to catch the person.


    Kaitlyn said, "Alexander, you''re finally here. I thought I''d never see you again."


    Kaitlyn covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, tears streaming down her face. Whether it was from the smoke or fear, he couldn''t tell.


    Seeing her, Alexander''s gaze flickered slightly. He pushed Kaitlyn aside and moved further into the room.


    However, before he could take a few steps, his arm was grabbed.


    Kaitlyn said, "Alexander, don''t go any further. It''s too dangerous. Come out with me!"


    Alexander shouted, "Let go!"


    "Alexander, I''m begging you,e out with me!" Kaitlyn clung to him desperately, trying her best to pull him out.

 Chapter 759

    Alexander shook off Kaitlyn''s hand and walked further into the hallway without looking back.


    Kaitlyn hesitated, wanting to follow him, but the surrounding mes made her retreat.


    She stared at Alexander''s back as he disappeared into the smoke, gritted her teeth, and turned to run out.


    Alexander pushed open each door to look inside. He had already checked the previous bedroom and found no one there. Since Quinn couldn''t speak, he had no choice but to search room by room. Alexander called out, "Quinn! Quinn, can you hear me?"


    The smoke in the room was so dense that it was nearly impossible to see anything. Alexander inhaled the heavy smoke and soon started to cough.


    He dashed into a nearby bathroom, turned on the shower, and drenched himself from head to toe. Then he grabbed his shirt cor to cover his mouth and nose and proceeded to the next room. Meanwhile, Kyle and Walter had arrived with their respective teams.


    Seeing the intense mes engulfing the vi, both of them were taken aback.


    Suddenly, a figure emerged from the raging fire and staggered towards Kyle. The figure moved with urgency, as if driven by sheer willpower, before copsing abruptly at Kyle''s feet.


    Kyle raised his hand to support her and saw it was Kaitlyn. He hurriedly asked, "Madam, where are Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Mellon?"


    Kaitlyn gestured towards the engulfed mansion with a shaking hand. Her voice was raspy, barely audible as she stuttered. "Inside. Hurry and save them. Go now!"


    Walter''s brow furrowed, and without a second thought, he rushed towards the zing building. At the entrance, he grabbed a bucket of water meant for watering nts and doused himself with it. Discarding the bucket, he plunged headlong into the inferno.


    Kyle watched Walter''s reckless act in surprise.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Kyle shouted, "Quickly, put out the fire!"


    Kyle ordered the bodyguards behind him. Although he was unsure if the fire department had been alerted, he took out his phone and dialed 911 once more.


    The fire had started inside the vi, and the dry furnishings caused the mes to spread rapidly. When Walter entered, all he could see was fire.


    Quinn was hiding in the bathroom. Due to the fire, the power had gone out.


    The water from the faucet was scalding hot, so she had to turn it off.


    Holding Peanut, Quinn watched as the fire spread into the bedroom, turning everything red.


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    She didn''t dare stay in the bathroom any longer. Holding Peanut, she rushed out. As soon as she exited, the firelight from the window caught her eye.


    Quinn stared at the dancing mes, her pupils constricting, and she sat straight down on the floor.


    The spreading fire, like a fiery serpent, devoured everythingbustible in its path, advancing towards Quinn.


    The air grew thinner, and mes flickered in her eyes. She stared at the ze, letting the smoke envelop her. Quinn sat on the floor, too scared to move.


    In a daze, she saw shadowy figures in the fire.


    These figures ran, screamed, and cried out in despair amidst the mes, creating chaos.


    Their faces were blurry, familiar yet strange, making Quinn''s nose sting with inexplicable sadness.


    Her eyes glistened in the firelight as tears rolled down her cheeks.


    "Quinn!"


    An urgent voice seeped in from beyond the door. Quinn''s eyshes fluttered nervously. In the blink of an eye, the shadowy figures amidst the mes vanished, leaving behind only the menacing crackle of the fire. The thick smoke slithered its way into her nostrils, making each breath she took moreborious than thest.


    Suddenly, there was a thunderous crash from outside, and in the next instant, the bedroom door shattered open.


    Alexander rushed in and immediately saw Quinn on the floor.


    Alexander called out, "Quinn!"


    He rushed towards Quinn, pulling her up from the floor. He was panting, his voice a mixture of gasps and trembles.


    Alexander asked, "Are you okay?"


    Quinn lifted her head, staring nkly at him. Her hair was disheveled, her face smudged with soot, and her clothes bore multiple burn marks. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and Quinn''s knees buckled.


    Alexander swiftly caught her, picked her up in his arms horizontally, and dashed out of the bedroom.


    Quinn slowly opened her eyes, gazing at Alexander''s cheek. The surrounding mes illuminated everything brilliantly, making his face incredibly clear. Quinn''s eyes were blurred as the scenes from her dream returned. This time, she could clearly see the face of the man in her dream.

 Chapter 760

    A realization dawned upon Quinn, ''It''s him. It''s really him.''


    Tears welled up in Quinn''s eyes as she gazed at Alexander''s face, her vision growing increasingly blurred. Walter also ran over, and upon seeing the two of them, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    However, before he could speak, Alexander handed Quinn to him, saying, "Take her out."


    Walter was slightly taken aback and couldn''t help but give him a couple of extra nces.


    "Are you okay?" Walter asked suspiciously.


    Just as he finished speaking, there was a loud crash from behind them, as if something had fallen.


    Alexander gave Walter a strong push. "Get out of here!"


    Walter, after giving him a deep look, didn''t hesitate anymore. He gripped Quinn tightly and turned to make a run for it.


    Quinn forced herself to look back.


    Through the thick smoke, Alexander''s figure seemed to waver and distort. The intense heat from the fire was warping the air, making his image elusive and almost ghostly.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered, tears streaming down her cheeks. She opened her mouth but closed it weakly, her arms falling limply by her sides.


    Watching Walter walk away, Alexander exhaled, his tense expression rxing slightly. He took slow, staggering steps towards the outside.


    However, he hadn''t gone far when a thick cloud of smoke hit him, causing him to cough violently. He raised one hand to support himself against the wall, the other clutching his abdomen, a look of pain crossing his face. Alexander forced himself to keep going, his eyes fixed on the hallway ahead, moving forward step by step with great difficulty.


    In the next moment, his body swayed, and he copsed heavily to the ground.


    Outside, the fire trucks had arrived, and firefighters were busy setting up their equipment to extinguish the ze.


    The sounds of sirens, firefighting, and ambnces echoed through the night, creating a chaotic scene outside the vi.


    Kaitlyn hurried forward, and seeing only Walter and Quinning out, she grabbed Walter and asked, "Where''s Alexander?"


    "He''s still inside," Walter replied, then bypassed Kaitlyn and rushed towards the ambnce with Quinn in his arms.


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    Kaitlyn looked towards the vi engulfed in mes, her face growing increasingly pale, her eyes filled with despair.


    With such a massive fire, could Alexander still make it out?


    Seeing this, Kyle couldn''t help but want to rush in, but the firefighters held her back.


    The fire was too intense now; going in would mean noting out.


    Getty also arrived as soon as she got the news. Seeing the fire in front of her, she trembled violently.


    Upon learning that Alexander hadn''te out, Getty didn''t hesitate and rushed in, ignoring everyone''s attempts to stop her.


    Her action left everyone stunned. Not only Kaitlyn but even Kyle hadn''t expected her to charge in without hesitation.


    Of course, Getty herself was surprised at her bravery, daring to rush in like that.


    The mes around her scorched her skin, and Getty began to regret her decision. But thinking that she was already inside, she gritted her teeth and pushed further in.


    Because the high-pressure water jets extinguished the fire outside, the temperature inside the vi temporarily dropped, but the smoke was much thicker than before.


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    Covering her mouth and nose with her sleeve, Getty weaved her way through the smoke.


    Getty called out, "Alexander, Alexander! Where are you?"


    She shouted as she made her way upstairs.


    Whether from fear or the smoke, Getty''s tears flowed freely. She cried out desperately for Alexander.


    But there was yet to be a response.


    There were several bodies on the floor, and she had stumbled over them multiple times, her palms sizzling from the scorching hot floor.


    Biting her lip, Getty forced herself to stand up, disregarding the pain in her body as she searched the bodies on the ground.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Chunks of debris kept falling from above, causing her to scream in fright, but even so, she didn''t give up her search.


    Crying and searching, Getty continued her desperate quest.


    Suddenly, her foot kicked something, and she screamed as she fell.

 Chapter 761

    When she fell onto someone, she tried to get up but as she lifted her gaze, she saw a familiar face.


    "Alexander." Getty was both surprised and delighted, staring at Alexander''s face repeatedly.


    Alexander was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, clearly unconscious.


    Cradling his face, Getty called out his name several times, yet he showed no sign of rousing.


    She climbed off Alexander and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him up.


    However, Getty''s strength was indeed too feeble, her efforts proving futile as she struggled to move him. The sense of helplessness drove her cry even more desperately.


    Getty knelt on the ground in despair, crying out hoarsely into the void beneath her.


    "Help!"


    "Somebody, help!"


    "Alexander, wake up, please wake up."


    "Alexander."


    Getty held Alexander, crying inconsbly, refusing to leave.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    "Don''t die... What will I do if you are gone!"


    After having narrowly escaped death once before, Getty realized that death didn''t seem so scary.


    She even thought that dying with Alexander wasn''t a bad option.


    ''So what if Alexander married Quinn?


    In the end, wouldn''t it still be her who was with Alexander?'' she thought.


    The more Getty thought about it, the crazier she became. This thought clung to her like a parasite, tightly entwining her, spreading uncontrobly in her heart.


    "Why are you here?" Alexander asked.


    Getty''s crying halted, and she stiffly lifted her head from Alexander''s embrace, a sh of joy glimmering in her eyes.


    Perhaps it was her loud crying that woke Alexander up; He had opened his eyes at some point, gazing at her with half-closed eyes.


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    "Alexander, you''re awake?"


    Alexander closed his eyes, pausing for a few seconds.


    He opened his eyes again and said, "Go. Don''t worry about me."


    Alexander''s voice was barely audible as he spoke.


    Getty shook her head vigorously. She rose from the ground and continued to pull Alexander''s arm, "Get up, let''s get out together."


    "Get up!" Getty urged, tears falling again, "I''ll take you out, I will definitely take you out!"


    After a moment of silence, Alexander supported himself up from the ground and stood.


    Getty''s expression brightened as she looped his arm around her shoulder, supporting him step by step towards the lower floors.


    As the fire gradually died down, the copse elerated. Stones and debris were falling from above, hitting them both, making each step aborious endeavor. But at this point, they couldn''t feel the pain anymore.


    Supporting Alexander as they descended, Getty glimpsed firefighters below rescuing people. Getty''s heart lifted, and she turned to Alexander. "Alexander, we''re about to be saved! Just wait..."


    However, before the sentence was concluded, Getty found herself in a sudden void beneath her feet, her right leg fell straight down the stairs. With a cry of rm, Getty tumbled backward, but held up by her leg stuck in the stairs.


    Alexander, however, rolled down the stairs, but he quickly grabbed the scorching handrail, the smell of burning flesh immediately filling the air.


    As Alexander raised his gaze, he saw a huge piece of the ceiling fall, precisely hitting Getty''s trapped leg.


    Getty let out a piercing scream as the stone smashed through the stairs, dragging her down.


    Alexander''s pupils contracted slightly.


    The entire staircase copsed without warning, falling and burying Gettypletely.


    Alexander stood upon a lower step, so although he fell to the ground, the impact wasn''t severe. He onlynded on the rubble, getting cut by sharp objects. Firefighters rushed in, pulling the dazed Alexander away.

 Chapter 762

    Alexander stared intently at the rubble, the smoke and fire in the air gradually obscuring his vision.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    It wasn''t until he reached the open space outside that Alexander came back to his senses.


    "Alexander!"


    "Mr. Kennedy!" Kyle rushed over joyfully and handled a bottle of water to Alexander.


    Alexander waved away the water, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a moment.


    After a while, he opened his eyes, looked at the vi that had almost turned into ruins, and asked, "Who let Gettye here?" Kyle was stunned and exchanged a nce with Kaitlyn.


    Both of them also realized that Getty had not to have emerged.


    Could it be...


    A doctor came over, trying to get Alexander onto the ambnce, but he waved them away.


    He leaned against the car, sitting on the ground powerlessly, staring at the smoking vi with an indescribable expression.


    "Mr. Kennedy, let''s go to the hospital first. Ms. Morgan will definitely be fine," Kyle advised.


    "Where''s Quinn?"


    "She has already been sent to the hospital; she should be fine."


    Alexander nodded and said no more.


    Not long after, Getty was also carried out from inside. As Kyle passed by, he caught sight of the woman on the stretcher, covered in blood and flesh, which profoundly shook him.


    Getty was too seriously injured to dy, so she was taken to the hospital immediately.


    At the hospital, after examination, Kaitlyn was found to be fine, but due to her age, she showed signs of mild carbon monoxide poisoning.


    Quinn, due to her poor physical resilience, had fainted from carbon monoxide poisoning and was still being resuscitated.


    Getty''s condition was grave; aside from poisoning, she suffered extensive burns and fractures all over her body, along with multiple fractures, notably in her leg, which sustained aminuted break. Alexander was also poisoned, and since his surgery had been less than a month ago, his condition was not very optimistic. However, he was in good physical condition, so his symptoms didn''t seem as severe. The doctor bandaged his burns and advised him to undergo further examinations.


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    "No need," Alexander refused tly.


    The doctor said, "You haven''t fully healed, and both wounds are close to vital organs. It''s best to get checked."


    He Ignored the doctor''s suggestions and picked up his clothes, put them on, then walked out.


    Watching his back, Kyle and the doctor exchanged a nce.


    "Mr. Kennedy is really stubborn."


    Kyle sighed. "There''s just no other way."


    Alexander left the hospital and headed to the police station.


    Dorothy had already been captured. When the vi caught fire, she was outside watching and had no intention of escaping.


    When the police arrived, she was still chuckling, a disturbing mix ofughter and tears, emitting an eerie, almost manicughter.


    Even when taken to the police station, Dorothy was still proud of her scheme, boasting about her masterpiece.


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    "You..." Dorothy, handcuffed, stared at Alexander in shock. "You''re not dead?"


    Alexander sat down across from her, gazing at her calmly. "Sorry to let you down. I''m alive, and everyone you wanted gone is still alive."


    "How is that possible? I clearly locked the doors!" Dorothy, agitated, stood up from her seat but was pressed back down by the police.


    Dorothy had already confessed everything. She had used all her savings to bribe the servants at Kennedy Residence to drug the food of those servants and bodyguards, ensuring that no one woulde to the rescue when the fire started. After incapacitating the servants, she went to lock Quinn and Kaitlyn''s doors, making them experience the agony of being burned alive in the fire.


    She also wanted Alexander to feel the unbearable despair of losing loved ones.


    However, what Dorothy didn''t expect was that Alexander would return so quickly and rush inside.


    Dorothy was still regretting that Alexander would die inside and wouldn''t be able to experience her pain.


    Dorothy was still regretting that Alexander would die inside and wouldn''t be able to experience her pain. But who was sitting right in front of her, alive and well?

 Chapter 763

    "Yeah, you were so close to sess," Alexander looked coldly. "Tell me, how does it feel to fail?"


    Dorothy stared nkly at him, her eyes gradually turning red.


    She hadn''t nned to act so quickly, but unexpectedly, Wayne was found so soon. If she didn''t act, she would be caught. However, she still failed.


    "Wish I''d started a bigger fire," Dorothy said, ring at Alexander with bloodshot eyes, as if they were about to bleed. Her current wrath and reluctance were evident. She had staked everything to bring down the Kennedys family with her. However, she failed.


    However, Alexander clearly didn''te today just to hear Dorothy confess.


    He took a picture frame from his pocket and ced it in front of her. "This was something he always locked in his study."


    Dorothy was slightly taken aback. She reached out and turned the frame over, her expression changing.


    In the frame was a family of three: Wayne in a suit, Dorothy in a dress, elegant and dignified, with a two-year-old girl in his arms.


    The three of them sat on a sofa, facing the camera with smiles, the whole scene filled with happiness.


    Dorothy, entranced by the photograph, found herself momentarily transported back over two decades.


    The woman in the photo still had a familiar shadow of Dorothy in her features, ovepping with the reflection in the frame.


    After a while, Dorothy''s eyes refocused. She lowered her head and observed the aged, worn, and disheveled face reflected in the ss frame.


    Dorothy looked up at Alexander, forcing a smile that seemed to hide her emotions, giving a sinister impression.


    "Why did you bring this photo? I''ve already confessed. What more can you do to me?"


    Alexander ignored her words and calmly said, "I told you, this photo was always hidden in his study."


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    "So what?"


    "When Valerie was dating Xavier, he had people investigate Xavier and secretly followed them. When Valerie got married, he went to Grandpa and gave Valerie ten percent of the shares." Dorothy listened,ughing as tears rolled down her cheeks, making it unclear whether she wasughing or crying.


    "So what? Are you trying to tell me he still cared about me and Valerie?"


    "But Valerie is dead. Do you know what he told me? He said, ''Dead is dead.'' Both were his daughters, and he chose to side with Freya."


    "Do you think I will believe your words? Even if it''s true, who cares? I have no regrets. My only regret is not making him suffer more!"


    Alexander chuckled. "Suit yourself. I just came to drop off his stuff. What you do with it is your business. Throw it away or keep it, it''s none of my concern."


    Alexander rose to his feet, and as if remembering something, turned back and said, "I can only say, you used the wrong method."


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    Dorothy was stunned, her gaze locked on Alexander''s receding figure until he disappeared.


    Compared to the photo, Alexander''sst words were the most devastating blow to her.


    Alexander was right. Just by Wayne''s immediate agreement to see her, it was clear he still had feelings for her.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    If Dorothy had shown some weakness and held onto Wayne, the situation might have been more interesting than now. Perhaps Dorothy had been too hasty.


    Dorothy lowered her gaze to the photo in her hand, closed her eyes, tears tracing down her chin and falling onto the frame. But so what?


    There were no "ifs."


    After leaving the police station, Alexander didn''t return to the hospital. Instead, he smoked a cigarette in his car.

 Chapter 764

    Alexander had inhaled a lot of smoke in the vi earlier that day. So as soon as he put the cigarette in his mouth, he started coughing violently.


    He had to throw it away, clutching his abdomen, and it took him quite a while to catch his breath.


    In the hospital, Landon naturally received the news as well. He was somewhat surprised, not expecting things to develop this way.


    Landon stood by the window, looking at the scenery outside the hospital, his expression inscrutable.


    With Wayne dead, the bodyguards stationed here naturally left, and now Landon was alone in the hospital room.


    Suddenly, Landon heard footsteps and turned to check.


    It was none other than Walter.


    Landon cast him a fleetiing nce and then continued to gaze below, his expression very calm, as if he hadn''t seen Walter at all.


    Walter walked to his side and looked down. There was a family of three: a little boy in a wheelchair with a cast enfolding his leg, while his parents nked him, holding toys to cheer him up.


    "Envious?" Walter grinned, staring at the family.


    Landon said, "Why I am envious?"


    Walter''s grin widened. "I didn''t ask you the reason."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Landon ignored him and dragged his weak body to the sofa and plopped down. "Why are you here?"


    Walter turned around, half-leaning against the window, and looked at him with a smile. "Such a big thing happened, so I''m here to inform you."


    "Do you think I''ve lost?"


    "Not necessarily. Do you think you''ve lost?" Walter countered.


    Landon was silent for a while. He leaned back on the sofa, staring at a spot in mid-air.


    "What will he do next?"


    "Well, obviously, he''ll announce Wayne''s death and naturally inherit his estate." Walter thought for a moment. "By the way, do you know how much Wayne''s estate is worth?"


    "You think I would know this?"


    "Now that Freya is in jail, Valerie is dead, and the others can be easily dealt with, what about you? Are you ready to acknowledge your identity?"


    Landon stared at him intensely for a good ten seconds before speaking, "Walter, what exactly do you want?"


    Walter''s smile didn''t fade. "Take a guess."


    "I''d say you''re trying to y us against each other, me and Alexander, just to watch both of us crash and burn."


    Walter arched an eyebrow and joked, "You two are really hard to deal with, both so clever."


    "You''re no pushover either, or else you wouldn''t be standing here alive."


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    Landon was stating a truth. If Walter were even slightly less clever, neither of them would have let him live.


    Compared to an adversarial rtionship, Walter''s role in maintaining bnce proved to be the hardest.


    But in a sense, Walter had won.


    Landon remained stuck in the hospital, unable to leave, while the Kennedys family had been almost wiped out by the fire.


    Only Walter was still standing here, perfectly fine.


    Landon said, "Since you''re here, it seems the scales of victory have tipped in Alexander''s favor."


    Walter smiled but said nothing.


    Landon said, "You won''t let him win, will you?"

 Chapter 765

    Upon hearing this, Walter chuckled softly.


    He stared at Landon for a moment before speaking. "If I admit it just because you told me to, wouldn''t that be quite embarrassing?" Landon cut to the chase. "So, what''s your n?"


    Walter leanedzily against the window, pondering, "If he really announces Wayne''s death, it means Wayne''s estate is substantial." "You want me to admit my identity?"


    Walter shook his head, "Now that Wayne is dead, admitting your identity is meaningless. He might be doing this to force you to admit it."


    "If you admit your identity, your reputation might take a hit."


    Landon: "So?"


    Walter smiled. "So, Wayne probably has more than one child floating around, right? With their father dead, they''re bound to be eyeing the huge inheritance." Landon''s expression was somewhat subtle, but he didn''t refute Walter''s words.


    The emergency room door opened, and Quinn was wheeled out. The doctor called for a family member to sign, but there was no one outside except Kyle. Kyle stepped forward and asked, "Can I do it? Is she okay, right?"


    "Who are you to her?"N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Kyle scratched his head, unknowing what to say.


    Upon seeing this, the doctor didn''t give him the form but said to Kyle, "Her condition isn''t good. She''s already pretty weak, and now with carbon monoxide poisoning, her lung function and central nervous system are both damaged to some extent."


    "Is her life in danger?"


    "She''s out of danger now, but whether there will be anysting effects is hard to say. She needs to be hospitalized for observation."


    Kyle nodded. "Alright, thank you, doctor."


    The doctor replied him and instructed the staff to transfer Quinn to a ward. Her lung tissue was damaged, and to prevent her from suffocating due to breathing difficulties while unconscious, she needed to be on a venttor. Once Quinn was settled in the ward, Kyle ran to another emergency room to keep watch.


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    Inside was Getty.


    Her surgerysted a long time, and until morning, it was still ongoing.


    The doctors had issued several critical condition notices, but Getty wasn''t a local, and with no her families around, Kyle couldn''t sign the forms.


    Holding a stack of critical condition notices, Kyle had no choice but to call Alexander.


    The call was immediately hung up as soon as it connected. Just as Kyle was about to call again, he heard footsteps.


    Looking up, he saw Alexander.


    "Mr. Kennedy, could you sign these?" He handed the form to Alexander.


    Alexander took it, flipped through it, casually tossing it onto a chair, "What''s the current situation?"


    "I don''t know. The doctor said it''s very dangerous. It''s been 12 hours, and she''s still not out..."


    They had arrived at elevenst night, and now it was already daylight.


    At this moment, Walter and Ruby also arrived.


    Walter asked, "Has she still note out?"


    Kyle shook his head, "Not yet."


    He thought to himself, whether she coulde out was a problem.


    Ruby said, "She''s still in surgery, which means she''s still alive."


    Alexander sat on the bench, silent, lost in thought.


    Walter cast him a nce and found it somewhat amusing, "Why is everyone here? I just went to Quinn''s ward, and there was no one there." Kyle''s eyelid twitched, and he subconsciously peeked at Alexander beside him.


    Alexander said, "Call Olivia over."

 Chapter 766

    Kyle nodded and went out to call Olivia.


    Upon receiving the call, Olivia immediately packed up and rushed to the hospital.


    Walter and Ruby exchanged a nce, their expressions somewhat ambiguous.


    At this moment, the doctor came out of the emergency room again and said, "We''re running out of blood bags. Is anyone here RH negative?" Everyone was a bit surprised; they didn''t expect Getty to have such a rare blood type. Where could they find it now?


    The doctor nced around and asked in confusion, "None of you are her direct rtives?"


    Walter said, "We''re all her friends. Her immediate family isn''t here. If we call her parents now, will it be toote?"


    "If they can get here within twenty minutes, it''s still possible. If not..." The doctor didn''t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    If there was no blood source within twenty minutes, Getty would die.


    Walter asked, "Mr. Kennedy, where are Getty''s parents?"


    Alexander looking a bit weary, pinched his temples and replied, "Very far away."


    "I''m RH negative." Ruby suddenly spoke up from the side. As soon as she spoke, everyone turned to look at her.


    Alexander scrutinized Ruby''s face, "Ruby, that''s not a funny joke."


    Ruby said, "I really am RH negative. If you don''t believe me, just check it."


    Even the doctor was extremely surprised. Such a rare blood type, and now two people have it?


    "Then let''s check your blood type first."


    The doctor called someone over to take Ruby for a blood test.


    Watching Ruby''s back, Walter furrowed his brows in confusion.


    He seemed to think of something and said, "Mr. Kennedy, has anyone ever mentioned that Ruby and Ms. Morgan look a bit alike?" Alexander''s eyelids twitched slightly.


    He had indeed heard the absurd stories spun by staff at thepany about the three of them. He had even read some.


    For example, Alexander and Ruby were old ssmates who had dated, and after breaking up, Alexander found Getty as a substitute.


    Alexander squinted, "Can DNA tests determine if they''re sisters?"


    Walter stroked his chin, musing, "It shouldn''t be definitive, but it can be indicative. If the simrity is over twenty-five percent, it suggests they could very well be sisters." Walter then smiled. "It seems to be more and interesting."


    "Kyle!"


    Kyle immediately ran over from nearby, "What''s up, Mr. Kennedy?"


    "Did you hear it?"


    "I did!" He was still in shock. The possibility that Ruby and Getty might be sisters was quite explosive news, and he couldn''t digest it immediately.


    Alexander tilted his head. "Go handle it."


    "Got it."


    Without dy, Kyle immediately went to handle the matter. He was also curious now; maybe the two really were sisters?


    Half an hourter, Ruby returned in her high heels.


    She looked a bit pale.


    Seeing the two men''s gazes, Ruby was a bit puzzled, "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "No worries, we are just thinking you''re beautiful and kind-hearted, willing to help others. You''ve saved the person Mr. Kennedy loves, so your rise to the top is just around the corner." Ruby nced Walter strangly. Though puzzled, her mood was quite disturbed by his words.


    Actually, Ruby hadn''t wanted to admit her blood type earlier.


    But on second thought, even if Getty died, there was still Quinn. It would nevere to her turn.


    So, she might as well help out. At least Alexander would appreciate her kindness.</p<>

 Chapter 767

    Walter didn''t linger there. He stood for a moment and then left with Ruby. When they arrived at Quinn''s ward, Walter hesitated for a moment.


    Then, he pushed the door and walked in. "You go back first," he said to Ruby.


    Ruby looked at his back, a hint of confusion shing in her eyes. When the door closed, she finally decided to leave the hospital.


    Inside the ward, Olivia was wiping Quinn''s body. Hearing the footsteps, she assumed it was Alexander. But when she turned around, she saw it was Walter. So she simply greeted him and continued with her work. Quinn was wearing a breathing mask, with her hair cut short, and there were a few burns on her face, though they weren''t as severe as Getty''s.


    "Has she woken up?"


    Olivia shook her head. "I just got here a little while ago, so I don''t know yet."


    Walter sat down thoughtfully beside her, staring at Quin


    Walter wondered what Alexander might be thinking at this moment and what decisions he would make next.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    After all, Alexander now owed Getty a life.


    It was quite interesting.


    After Olivia finished wiping Quinn''s arm and covered her with a nket, she turned back to look at Walter, "Mr. Smith, if you have something to do, you can go ahead. I can manage here by myself."


    Olivia had assumed Walter was sent by Alexander, so she said that.


    Walter smiled and said, "I have nothing today. I''ll sit here for a while."


    "Alright."


    Olivia nodded awkwardly. She didn''t have anything else to do, so she sat with Walter.


    They sat for five hours. Quinn showed no signs of waking up, but the light in the operating room went out.


    Then Getty was wheeled out.


    The doctor said to Alexander, "She is out of danger for now, but she won''t wake up anytime soon. Also, the burns on her body will likely require cosmetic surgery. Her broken right leg will take at least a year of wheelchair use for full recovery." Alexander nodded slightly. "Thank you."


    Getty was not transferred to a regr ward but to the ICU. She would stay there until her life was no longer in danger.


    The next day, Getty''s parents arrived.


    Unexpectedly, her parents were not young. They appeared to be at least seventy, with gray hair and unsteady steps.


    When they arrived at the ward, they saw Alexander. The olddy nervously asked, "Are you Getty''s boyfriend?"


    Alexander didn''t answer her question but asked, "Are you Getty''s parents?"


    "Yes. I''m Getty''s mother. How is she now?"


    "She is temporarily out of danger, but we need to see her progresses."


    As Getty''s parents were about to push the door open, Alexander raised his hand to stop them. "This is the ICU. No visitors allowed. I''ll arrange a ce for you to stay and notify you once her condition stabilizes." Getty''s parents hesitated, then stood on tiptoe, trying to straighten their hunched backs to take a peek inside.


    Unfortunately, Getty was wrapped up like a mummy, and they couldn''t see anything. They could only wipe their tears and give up.


    Alexander called Ruby over to arrange amodation for them.


    Not long after, Kyle returned with DNA test results for Getty and Ruby.


    Alexander opened the envelope and took out the test report, flipping directly to the final result.


    Simrity: 30%.


    Kyle cast a sneaky nce at Getty in the ICU and couldn''t help but be amazed. "They are really biological sisters!"


    "Her parents are here."


    Kyle immediately understood what he meant. "I got it. I''ll go right away."


    If it was confirmed that Getty had no blood rtion with her current parents, then it meant that she and Ruby were definitely biological sisters. Moreover, Ruby''s parents were very likely to be her parents as well. But what did this have to do with Alexander?


    Kyle asked awkwardly, "Mr. Kennedy, are you trying to help Ms. Morgan find her biological parents?"


    Alexander nced at him.


    Kyle shrank his neck in fear.


    Alexander said, "Have you read Ruby''s file?"


    "Yes, nothing special."


    "Have you investigated it?"

 Chapter 768

    Kyle awkwardly smiled. "Why would I check on her?"


    Alexander said, "Her information is fake, and her true identity, like Walter''s, has been concealed by someone."


    Kyle''s eyes slowly widened, as if something shed in his mind but he couldn''t grasp it. "Mr. Kennedy, what do you mean?" Alexander curled his lips, his gaze shifting towards the end of the hallway, flickering uncertainly.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    "Walter, let''s see how long he can hide it."


    Upon hearing this, Kyle suddenly understood his intention.


    If they found Getty''s biological parents, they would uncover Ruby''s identity, and Ruby was closely connected to Walter.


    In this way, Walter''s identity might alsoe to light.


    Excited, Kyle quickly said, "I understand. I''ll go look into Ms. Morgan''s parents right away!"


    In another ward, Quinn had not yet woken up, but her breathing suddenly became rapid. Seeing her trembling body, Olivia quickly called for the doctor.


    After rushing to the room and examining Quinn, the doctor gave her an injection of a sedative.


    The doctor said, "She must be having a nightmare, it looks like she''s about to wake up."


    Hearing it was just a nightmare, Olivia sighed in relief, "Thank you, doctor, sorry to trouble you."


    "No problem, call us immediately if there''s any abnormality."


    "Okay."


    After the sedative injection, Quinn gradually calmed down.


    But her nightmare continued...


    In the dream, mes were everywhere, and Quinn was held in someone''s arms, moving through the raging fire.


    The air was filled with the smell of blood, and horrificscreams echoed in her ears.


    A woman''s anxious yet gentle voice came from above, "Quinn, don''t be afraid, Mommy won''t let anything happen to you."


    Quinn''s fingers tightly clutched the woman''s clothes. Whether it was due to the smoke or her tears blurring her vision, everything around her was horribly distorted.


    Those people were like ghostly shadows, flickering in the fire.


    00000


    Suddenly, a scalding liquid sshed on Quinn''s face, staining her vision red.


    She slowly raised her head, and what met her eyes was a terrifying hole in the woman''s chest, blood soaking through her clothes in an instant. The feeling of weightlessness came over them; both Quinn and the woman fell to the ground together.


    The woman held her tightly, the warmth of the blood seeping into her skin. She looked up and saw the woman''s eyes filled with despair and pain. She gently caressed Quinn''s cheek, her eyes filled with unbearable sorrow and desperation.


    Blood trickled from the woman''s open mouth, each dropnding on Quinn''s face, scalding her cheek.


    The woman seemed to have a thousand words to say, but in the end, she only managed a few. "Don''t make a sound."


    "Don''t make a sound."


    "Quinn... Mommy loves you."


    These were the woman''sst words, her voice so weak, yet the tone was unshakably firm.


    It was her final confession to Quinn, and her only dying words.


    With herst bit of strength, she hugged Quinn tightly in her arms, blocking her from all view.


    Then there was no more movement.


    All Quinn could feel was darkness, apanied by the surrounding screams of agony.


    And in her mind, only those words echoed


    Don''t make a sound.


    Don''t make a sound.


    Quinn pushed the woman, but she no longer responded.


    Tears mixed with the woman''s warm blood, rolling down her face.


    Don''t speak.


    Don''t make a sound.


    Like a curse, etched into her bones.</p<>

 Chapter 769

    "Ma''am?"


    Quinn struggled to open her eyes, using all her strength, but her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, her consciousness being pulled back and forth between dream and reality.


    In a blur, Quinn saw someone move the woman off her, and the light from outside suddenly flooded in.


    She had no choice but to close her eyes to avoid the blinding light.


    But when Quinn opened her eyes again, she saw Olivia''s face.


    Overjoyed, Olivia cried out, "You''re awake! I''ll go get the doctor!"


    As Olivia ran out in her joy, Quinn stared at the unfamiliar surroundings, her eyes momentarily dazed.


    Suddenly, another figure appeared in her sight.


    Quinn''s gaze slowly moved upward, trying to see the person in front of her clearly, but her vision was blurry, and the face was doubled.


    Staring at the face, her gaze became more vacant.


    "What happened? Did you go silly?"


    Quinn''s eyshes fluttered, finally matching the face and voice in front of her.


    Seeing that she had regained focus, Walter sat down beside her.


    "Do you know who I am?" Walter asked.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Quinn blinked and made no move. She felt her breathing was somewhat obstructed and slowly raised her hand to remove the oxygen mask from her face.


    Before she could react, a group of medical staff rushed in.


    Quinn''s face was pulled and prodded into various shapes, feeling the doctors'' rough handling.


    A few minutester. "She''s awake, and she''ll be fine. She needs rest. The rest are superficial injuries, nothing serious."


    The doctor''s words buzzed in Quinn''s ears, and she couldn''t clearly hear what they were saying.


    Her mind was filled with the fire, a huge fire.


    She couldn''t tell if it was the fire from her dreams or reality, but it all felt incredibly real.


    Soon, after the doctor removed the oxygen mask and other equipment, Quinn felt much lighter.


    Walter frowned, grabbing the doctor and asking, "What''s her condition? She seems like an idiot."


    The doctor nced back at Quinn and exined, "She''s been unconscious for several days. It''s normal to feel disoriented when waking up. She''ll be fine after some rest. Talk to her more. She might still be in shock from the previous danger."


    00000


    Walter was somewhat skeptical and suspected that Quinn might really be mentally impaired.


    Hadn''t the doctor said before? Her condition could eventually lead to mental impairment or a vegetative state.


    Now Quinn was showing signs of being in a vegetative state.


    Walter reached out and waved his hand in front of her eyes, "Can you see this?"


    Quinn blinked.


    "It seems her eyes are fine."


    "Who are you?"


    "I am..." Walter hesitated, his hand frozen in mid-air, staring at Quinn in shock, "Did you just speak?"


    Quinn stared straight at him and then weakly responded.


    Walter slowly stood up from the chair and nced back at Olivia.


    Olivia was also stunned, her face a mix of confusion and shock.


    "Why are you standing there? Go get the doctor!"


    Olivia had just run back, only to get scared and scramble to find the doctor. Before long, the doctor returned.


    He started examining Quinn again, and Quinn frowned, feeling somewhat displeased. Why did they examine her again?


    After a while, the doctor finished the examination and said to Walter, "There''s nothing wrong."


    Walter said, "She just spoke."


    The doctor replied, "Is that a problem?"


    "She..." Walter found it increasingly strange. If Quinn had regained her memories, why didn''t she recognize him?


    If she hadn''t regained her memories, why did she suddenly speak?


    For years, Quinn would always use signnguage when she woke up.


    Walter frowned deeply and waved his hand. "Alright, that''s fine."


    The doctor didn''t dare say anything more and quickly left the ward with his team.


    Inside, Walter and Quinn stared at each other.

 Chapter 770

    Walter slowly sat back down in the chair, sizing up Quinn from head to toe, "Who are you?"


    Quinn stared at him, thought for a moment, and said, "I''m Quinn."


    Because her throat was still injured, her voice was a bit hoarse.


    "How old are you?"


    She held up four fingers. "Five."


    Walter was stunned.


    "Do you remember what happened?"


    "Fire, hot fire." Quinn recalled the feeling of being scorched by the mes, and her whole body started to ache. Her face carried a hint of fear.


    Walter looked at her thoughtfully, as if he had already guessed something.


    "Your name is Quinn. Then do you know what are your parents'' names?"


    Quinn looked at Walter warily and puffed out her cheeks, "I''m not telling you."


    Mom had said that when strangers ask about the family, she shouldn''t tell them.


    Walter raised an eyebrow and said, "It seemed you have gained your memories."


    She gained the memories before the age of five, but everything after that was still nk.


    Quinn''s face was covered with several band-aids, but it didn''t affect the brilliance in her big, clear eyes.


    Her gaze at Walter was both curious and wary, but without nervousness or fear.


    Walter knew that the little princess of the Mellons family-was back.


    At this moment, Alexander also walked in.


    He was in a hurry, with water droplets on his suit and hair, clearly having rushed over without the umbre covering him properly.


    Standing at the door, he saw Quinn awake on the hospital bed, and his tense expression slightly eased.


    Afterposing himself, he walked in.


    Ignoring Walter, he just came directly to Quinn''s bedside, looking down at her for a long time.


    Quinn was also staring at him.


    Suddenly, she spoke with delight. "I remember you."


    With that, Alexander was taken aback.


    He instinctively nced at Walter. "What''s going on?"


    Walter shrugged. "Isn''t it obvious?""


    Quinn had already struggled to sit up in bed. She reached out to grab Alexander''s hand, looking at him seriously. "You saved me."


    When Alexander arrived, Olivia had told him to be prepared. He thought there would be something wrong with Quinn.


    Now he understood what the preparation about.


    Before Alexander could say anything, she spoke again. "What reward do you want?"


    Alexander looked puzzled.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Walter started chuckling softly from the side.


    Walter could see it, and naturally, Alexander could. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "What reward can you give me?"


    "I don''t know, what do you want?" Quinn proudly patted her chest, "I have a lot of money."


    "How much money?"


    Quinn looked a bit troubled, furrowing her little face in thought. She knew she had a lot of money, but how much exactly?


    Alexander sat down beside her, scrutinizing Quinn several times.


    He repeated the questions Walter had asked earlier.


    Quinn was growing impatient. She threw off the covers, intending to get out of bed. "You guys are so annoying, asking the same questions over and over. I want to go home." She sat on the edge of the bed, put on her shoes, and walked out of the ward without looking back.


    The two men in the room stared straight at Quinn''s back.


    Quinn walked out so confidently, but then she returned with a gloomy face in less than a minute.


    "Where am I here?" she asked, a bit scared, with tears welling up in her eyes.


    "In hospital," Alexander replied.


    "Hospital?" Quinn tilted her head and looked around again, "Where are my mom and dad?"

 Chapter 771

    Then both of them fell silent.


    Quinn stared intently at Alexander and Walter. After waiting for a long time without hearing a word from them, she started to get angry. "Speak up, or I''ll have my dad dock your pay!"


    Clearly, Quinn considered them as bodyguards.


    Finally, Walter stood up and walked over to her. "Miss Quinn, your parents are on a business trip."


    "Where did they go?"


    "Somewhere far away."


    Quinn frowned again. Why hadn''t they take her along on this business trip? They always took her before!


    She pouted and reached out to Walter. "I want to call them."


    Walter took out a phone from his pocket and handed it to her.


    She took the phone and dialed the number she knew by heart.


    She thought to herself, they left her alone to go on a business trip, so this time she would definitely give them the silent treatment for three days!


    After two seconds, a mechanical voice came through the phone.


    [The number you have dialed is not in service. Please try againter...]


    Quinn looked at the phone in confusion, a wave of panic rising in her chest. She clutched the phone and looked around at the people in the room.


    Walter extended his hand, signaling for her to return the phone.


    Quinn hesitated but handed the phone back to him.


    She didn''t know what to do.


    She looked pitifully at Walter. "I want to go home."


    Walter nodded. "Alright, I''ll take you home."


    With that, Walter took Quinn''s hand, but before he could lead her out of the room, someone grabbed his shoulder.


    "Where are you taking her?"


    Alexander''s voice came from behind. Walter paused and turned to look at him.


    "Isn''t it obvious? Since she gained her memories, I''m taking her back to Sylvadora."


    "You can go there, but she can''t."


    Walterughed. "Just because you say no, it doesn''t mean I can''t? Did you ask her opinion?


    "And besides, Getty hasn''t woken up yet. You should think about how you''re going to deal with Getty before we talk about Quinn." Alexander still held his shoulder, not letting him go. "I''ll handle Getty, and Quinn stays here as well."


    "What if I don''t?"N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    As soon as Walter said this, seven or eight bodyguards rushed in and blocked the doorway.


    Alexander withdrew his hand, putting both hands in his pockets, "Then try it."


    Walter nced at the bodyguards, cursing Alexander under his breath. There was no one more despicable than him.


    Alexander looked at Quinn. "Come here."


    Quinn looked at him suspiciously. These two were really strange.


    "Of course."


    Quinn immediately broke free from Walter''s hand and ran to Alexander''s side.


    Walter watched her, squinting his eyes.


    "It seems you''re destined to fall for him. In that case, you don''t deserve any sympathy, Quinn. I just hope I won''t see the day you regret it." Quinn looked at Walter, confused. She didn''t understand.


    Walter then turned to Alexander, "And as for you, you better pray she never gets her memory back, never recalls all the times you''ve lied to her." Alexander pulled Quinn into his arms, holding her shoulder, and shooting Walter an indifferent look, "That''s none of your concern."


    Walter sneered and walked out.


    The bodyguards didn''t stop him and let him leave. At Alexander''s instructions, they also left, including Olivia.


    Quinn looked up at Alexander and pulled away from his hand, stepping back, "Then take me home."


    Alexander looked at Quinn with an inscrutable expression, staring at her for a long time.

 Chapter 772

    Growing impatient, Quinn tugged at his sleeve again. "Let''s go."


    Alexander said, "You''re sick and still in the hospital. We''ll talk about it when you get better."


    "I''m not sick!"


    "Are you a doctor?"


    Quinn shook her head..


    "The doctor said you''re sick. Who do you trust, the doctor or yourself?"


    Quinn hesitated, pondered for a moment, and then said reluctantly, "The doctor."


    "That''s right." Alexander pulled her back to the bed. "You need to rest and get better first. We''ll talk about itter."


    "Okay, but remember to take me home," she said. Maybe when she got better, she could see her mom and dad at home. "Okay."


    Quinn grinned, showing her white teeth. She got back into bed and pulled the covers over herself.


    Alexander didn''t stay long. Seeing her so well-behaved, he left.


    As he reached the door, he heard Quinn''s voice behind him, "Don''t forget to take me home."


    Alexander paused for a moment but didn''t respond. He walked out.


    After Alexander left, Quinn felt an itch in her throat, and she coughed a few times.


    But the more she coughed, the worse it got. She covered her mouth with one hand and her stomach with the other, coughing for a long time.


    When she finally stopped coughing, she opened her hand and saw a patch of bright red blood.


    Seeing the rming blood, Quinn got panicked and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe the blood off her hand.


    While wiping the blood, her tears streamed down her cheeks.


    So she was really sick, coughing up blood.


    It took a lot of tissues for Quinn to clean the blood off her hand. She then thew the bloody tissues into the trash can.


    Back in bed, she saw her phone on the bedside table.


    Holding the phone, Quinn dialed her parents'' number over and over again, trying every number she could remember, but no one answered.


    Quinn felt a bit discouraged. She put the phone down, leaned against the headboard, and gazed out the window.


    Outside, it was raining. The heavy rain washed over the ss, blurring the outside world a blur and making it impossible to see clearly. She really wanted to go home.


    Meanwhile, after leaving, Alexander ran into Walter at the corner.


    Besides Walter, there was also a doctor.


    The doctor was talking to Walter about Peanut''s condition.


    Peanut was too young and had inhaled too much smoke. Although they managed to save his life, he might have intellectual disabilities in the future. "Intellectual disabilities?"


    The doctor sighed. "Yes, the baby''s organs are not fully developed. Having suffered such a great trauma, it''s a miracle that he survived." Walter, however, didn''t react much; he didn''t care about the child''s life at all.


    "I understand."


    After signing, the doctor left.


    Walter turned and saw Alexander. the atmosphere between the two was somewhat tense.


    They went to the infant ward. Peanut was lying in bed, wearing a respirator, with various wires attached to his body.


    It looked simr to Getty''s condition.


    Walter said, "Alexander, you''re creating suffering."


    "It has nothing to do with me."


    "You can''t deny your involvement. If you hadn''t provoked Dorothy, she wouldn''t have done something so crazy."


    "If you hade back a littleter, you would have seen countless bodies, including Quinn and your mother."


    Alexander looked at the baby in the bed without any expression, pondering for a long time.


    Then he turned slightly to look at Walter, with a hint of mockery in his eyes.


    "What are you going to do with this child?" he asked.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.

 Chapter 773

    Walter said, "What else can we do? It''s just a punishment. Let him fend for himself." Alexander chuckled.


    It seemed like he wasughing at Walter''s sermon just now.


    "I thought Mr. Smith had turned over a new leaf and started being a good person."


    Instead of being annoyed by his words, Walter chuckled softly, "It''s not easy being a good person. When someone stabs you, you still have to persuade them to put down the knife."


    As they were talking, Kyle hurried over, panting, "Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Morgan is awake."


    Getty had been in aa for four days, and today, she finally woke up.


    Without wasting any time, Alexander followed Kyle to Getty''s ICU room.


    On the way, Kyle said to him, "Oh, by the way, Mr. Kennedy, the paternity test results for Ms. Morgan and her parents are out. But I forgot to bring them."


    "What''s the result?"


    "They are not biologically rted."


    Alexander nodded and said no more.


    To see Getty, one had to wear a cleanroom suit, and this was Alexander''s first time going in.


    Getty was extremely weak at this moment, her entire body wrapped in bandages, making it almost impossible to see her original appearance.


    She could only move her head, with no other part of her body able to budge.


    Getty''s eyes followed Alexander''s movements. When she saw his tall figure, her eyes welled up with tears.


    Tears flowed from the corners of her eyes onto the gauze, touching her wounds, causing her whole body to tremble in pain.


    Alexander sat down beside Getty. He wore a mask and a cleanroom cap, with only his deep eyes exposed.


    Getty opened her mouth, already weak, and with the breathing mask on, her voice was barely audible. "Alexander."


    Alexander looked at Getty, remaining silent for a long time.


    Getty tried to discern something in his eyes, whether it was pity, love, or guilt.


    But Alexander''s eyes remained calm and unreadable, devoid of any emotion.


    This made Getty feel upset.


    "You shouldn''t havee," Alexander suddenly spoke.


    Getty was slightly taken aback. She breathed with difficulty and said hoarsely, "If I didn''te, what would you do?"


    "I wouldn''t die. When you came in, the firefighters were already there. Even if they found meter, I''d just be lying in a hospital bed for a few more days."


    "Why did you go through all this trouble?"


    Hearing this, Getty''s heart sank even further.


    So what did Alexander mean by this?


    Was he saying she deserved it, or was he trying to distance himself from her?


    00000


    Regardless of the interpretation, it hurt Getty to the core, tears blurring her vision.


    The calmer Alexander appeared, the more agitated Getty became, her breathing growing increasingly rapid.


    The monitor beside her emitted a piercing rm, and Alexander just sat there, quietly watching her.


    Noticing Alexander''s indifferent demeanor from the corner of her eye, Getty felt as if ants were gnawing at her wounds. She couldn''t move, and the pressure in her chest intensified. Getty wanted to scream, to vent, to break free from her restraints.


    Soon, the doctor rushed in. Seeing Getty so agitated, they immediately administered a sedative to her.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Getty stared fixedly at Alexander. Unsure if it was the dimness of the room or her tears clouding her vision, she could no longer make out Alexander''s eyes.


    Getty''s fingers clutched the bedsheet, veins bulging on the back of her hand, desperately trying to discern the emotions in his eyes.


    Despite her immense unwillingness, she couldn''t resist the overwhelming drowsiness that swept over her, and slowly, she closed her eyes.


    The doctor pushed Alexander out and began emergency treatment for Getty.


    Kyle, ncing at the nearby Alexander, suddenly felt the temperature around him drop significantly, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

 Chapter 774

    Alexander slowly removed his mask and dust-free cap, casually tossing them into the trash can.


    His eyes were murky and inscrutable, making it hard for others to discern what he was thinking.


    Kyle cast another nce at the ICU.


    He wasn''t sure what had just happened inside, but with so many doctors going in, something must have gone wrong with Getty.


    Getty''s greatest desire at the moment was to see Alexander now. Could it be that seeing him caused her to get too emotional, worsening her condition?


    "Bring Getty''s parents over," Alexander suddenly said, interrupting Kyle''s thoughts.


    Kyle snapped back to reality, nodded in agreement, and immediately made a call to have Getty''s parents brought to Regal Riverside.


    Getty''s parents had been here for several days, but they hadn''t seen Getty even once.


    Led by Kyle, they walked into the vi. Seeing Alexander on the sofa, they couldn''t help but feel a bit nervous.


    Trembling, they approached him and urgently asked, "Sir, how is Getty? Has she woken up?"


    "When can we see her?"


    Alexander sat on the sofa, quietly observing them, making their already hunched bodies bend even more.


    "Don''t rush. Have a seat first," he said calmly.


    They dared not to resist and cautiously sat down diagonally across from Alexander, feeling a bit at a loss.


    Alexander lit a cigarette and crossed his legs.


    After taking a puff, he spoke, "You are very worried about Getty?"


    The olddy quickly nodded, "Yes, she is our daughter. Of course, we are worried about her."


    "Biological?"


    At these words, both of their faces froze. They exchanged a nce and struggled to find words, unsure why he was asking this. Alexander said, "Rx, I just want to get a sense of the situation."


    After saying that, he added, "Of course, I''ve already checked your identities, so let''s try to avoid small talk to save each other''s time." Growing increasingly tense, they sat on the edge of the sofa, as if they might topple over at any moment.


    "So, what do you want to know?"


    Alexander asked, "Where did you adopt Getty from?"


    The olddy recalled, "From a ditch."


    "Be more specific."


    "We used to work in Sylvadora. One night after work, we heard a child crying near the factory. We ran over and found a baby lying there."


    "I had a difficultbor before and lost the baby. After that, I couldn''t get pregnant. When we saw that child abandoned, we thought it was a gift from God, so we took her home."


    The elderlydy grew emotional as she delved into the past, her eyes welling up with tears.


    Unsure whether the child was lost or abandoned, they quitted their jobs and returned to their hometown out of a strong desire for the child.


    The couple went through great hardships to raise Getty.


    But as Getty grew older, she started to resent her parents. While other kids'' parents were young and morous, hers appeared shabby, aged, and ugly.


    Every time they visited her school, she would get angry, feeling that they had made her lose her dignity.


    Gradually, for Getty''s self-esteem, they rarely appeared in front of her and her friends.


    Sometimes, even if they crossed paths on the street, they pretended not to know each other, not exchanging greetings.


    However, they never shortchanged Getty. Whatever her ssmates had, she had too. They scrimped and saved to buy the best things for Getty.


    It wasn''t until Getty graduated from college, perhaps as she matured, that she started to view her parents in a different light, no longer resenting them as before. Moreover, she started to use her sry to buy them clothes and gifts, and even sent them a significant sum of money.


    But that was about it. After graduating, she rarely came home.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    They were afraid that visiting Getty wouldpromise her dignity, and with their advanced age, they couldn''t handle the hassle, so they never went to see her. She treated them fairly well, often sending things and money back, so they were living decently at home.


    "So, you found Getty in Sylvadora? Was there any other child there? Or, was there any keepsake?"

 Chapter 775

    Both of them thought carefully for a while and then shook their heads. "No, just a nket, nothing else."


    Alexander lowered his eyes, deep in thought for a long time.


    The olddy added, "Sir, can we go see Getty now?"


    "Kyle, have someone take them to the hospital."


    Kyle nodded and made a gesture of invitation. The two finally stood up with a sense of relief and followed Kyle out of the vi.


    After sending them off, Kyle came back and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, should we send someone to investigate?"


    "Don''t you think it''s a bit strange?"


    "What?"


    Alexander nced at him but didn''t exin anything. He got up and walked out.


    In the hospital, Quinn was wolfing down the food Olivia had brought, as if she hadn''t eaten in hundreds of years..


    Olivia said beside her, "Ma''am, slow down. There''s more here."


    But Quinn seemed not to hear Olivia, picking out only the meat from the bowl and pushing all the vegetables aside.


    She didn''t know why she was so hungry, just craving meat.


    After finishing her meal, she let out a satisfied burp, patted her stomach, feeling quite full, and then handed the utensils back to Olivia. "When can I go home?"


    This was the eighth time Quinn had asked since waking up. Olivia, growing impatient, replied, "You can go home once you''re better." Quinn''s shoulders drooped. For some reason, she felt like she hadn''t seen her parents in a long time. She really wanted to go home.


    Seeing her disappointed look, Olivia wanted to say something tofort her but didn''t know where to start.


    Outside, Alexander stood at the door without entering. He seemed to think of something and turned back to ask Kyle, "Has Orion''s divorce papers been signed yet?"


    Kyle was taken aback and then quickly took out his phone to call Charles.


    "I''ll ask him now!"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    After a short while, the call got through, and Charles''s apologetic voice came from the other end, "Mr. Astor."


    "Mr. William, it''s been almost a week. Has it been signed?"


    "Yes, yes, it''s signed. I''ll send it to you tomorrow."


    "Okay." Kyle said, ncing back at Alexander. Seeing Alexander''s displeased expression, he quickly added, "But Orion has to bring it himself." "Does it have to be Orion?"


    Kyle replied, "Of course, for a divorce, how else would it work?"


    "But Orion has been bedridden recently and can''te. How about waiting a few more days?"


    Charles had the signed the divorce agreement, but it was his own signature on it.


    He had originally nned to stall for time and then work on convincing his son to go through with the divorce. But who knew Orion had to be there in person? Now, he didn''t know what to do.


    On one side was Alexander''s pressure, and on the other was his son, who was threatening to harm himself. What could he do?


    And most importantly, given Quinn''s status, it wasn''t worth falling out with Alexander.


    Kyle sought Alexander''s opinion again, but from his expression, it was clear there was no room for negotiation.


    So, he issued Charles a final ultimatum, "Mr. William, if we don''t see the divorce agreement brought by Orion within three days, we''ll have toee over ourselves." "Mr. Astor..."


    "Mr. William, you''d better find a way to get Orion to sign it as soon as possible."


    With that, Kyle hung up and then nced awkwardly at Alexander.


    Ignoring him, Alexander pushed open the ward door and walked in.


    Quinn was lying on the bed, bored, with her phone propped up on the headboard, watching a cartoon that Olivia had found for her. She was so engrossed that she didn''t notice Alexander had arrived.


    Alexander watched her for a while before Quinn finally turned her head and noticed him.


    When Quinn him, her eyes lit up, and she quickly got up from the bed, "You''re finally here. I''m so bored. When can I be discharged?"


    As Alexander heard her fluent speech, his expression was somewhat subtle.


    She looked up at him, seemingly no different from before, but the rity and brightness in her eyes were incredibly dazzling. She seemed more spirited and confident.

 Chapter 776

    But something was missing.


    For example, the joy and dependence she used to show when looking at Alexander, or the humility and fear when she was scared of him.


    Just a change in her gaze made her feelpletely different as if she had be a new person.


    Seeing his silence, she extended a finger and poked his belly, "I''m talking to you. Why aren''t you answering? So rude!"


    Alexander snapped out of it and said, "Soon."


    "When is soon?"


    "I don''t know. I''m not a doctor."


    "Then go ask a doctor?"


    Quinn was acting as if it was only natural, treating Alexander like her bodyguard.


    Alexander sat down beside her, held her hand, and said, "I''ll askter. Aren''t you bored now? I''ll keep youpany."


    "What can you do to keep mepany?"


    "What do you want to do?"


    Quinn tilted her head and stared at him for a momen. "I want to y ''airne''."


    "How do you y that?"


    "It''s like I sit on your shoulders, and you run around with me. Why are you so clueless? You don''t even know how to do this?"


    Quinn spoke clearly, showing no signs that she had once been mute.


    After looking at her for a moment, he refused, "I can''t do that."


    "Why not?"


    "No reason."


    Hearing this, Quinn got a bit angry. She red at Alexander, threw off the covers, and went towards the bathroom.


    She put on her shoesand huffed her way into the bathroom.


    Less than a minute after she went in, a scream came from inside.


    Alexander''s face changed slightly. He got up and rushed in. He pushed the door open and saw her standing in front of the mirror, covering her face in terror. "What happened?"


    Quinn extended a finger and pointed at the mirror. "Who, who is that person?"


    Alexander tilted his head slightly and looked at the mirror. There were only the two of them in it.


    "Isn''t that you?"


    She slowly opened a gap between her fingers and peeked at the mirror through her fingers, only to quickly turn her head away again.


    "No! That''s not me!"


    Alexander slowly walked over to her, held her wrists, and gently removed her hands from her face.


    "Look again."


    Quinn took a quick nce at the mirror, then threw herself into Alexander''s arms, cautiously looking at the mirror again.


    With a sobbing voice, she said, "No, it''s not me. I don''t look like that."


    Alexander held her by the shoulders, making her face the mirror. He stared at the panicked face reflected there and said, "This is you, the grown-up you."


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on Ne5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Through the mirror, Quinn locked eyes with Alexander standing behind her.


    She stared nkly at the mirror and slowly raised her hand to touch her cheek, and the person in the mirror did the same.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Then she pinched her own cheek.


    "The grown-up me?" she murmured.


    "Yes."


    She mustered up her courage to take a couple of steps forward and got closer to the mirror, staring at her reflection. "So, this is what I look like when I grow up?"


    Once Quinn realized that the reflection was her own, her fear gradually subsided, reced by curiosity and novelty.


    If someone woke up to find themselves grown up, they would probably react simrly.


    Alexander wrapped his arms around Quinn from behind and whispered in her ear, "Do you like it?"


    She nodded and said happily, "Now that I''m grown up, I can marry Lucas."

 Chapter 777

    Alexander''s gaze turned cold slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He looked at the person in the mirror and asked, "Who is Lucas?" Quinn broke free from him and turned around to look at him. "Lucas is Lucas. Who else could it be?"


    "What''s his full name?"


    "You don''t know?"


    Alexander smiled slightly. "No. Can you tell me?"


    His smile carried a dangerous undertone, but unfortunately, Quinn didn''t detect it.


    She said, "You''ll know when we get back."


    After speaking, she continued to admire herself in the mirror, curiously sizing herself up over and over, even forgetting to go to the bathroom. Alexander''s gaze fell on the mirror, watching her joyful expression, his eyes growing increasingly icy.


    After Quinn finished looking, she nced down at her hands and thenpared her height with Alexander''s.


    Why was she only up to his shoulder?


    Quinn was dissatisfied with her height.


    Alexander grabbed her hand, stopping her from touching him all over, "Weren''t you going to use the bathroom?"


    Only then did Quinn remember why she hade to the bathroom. She eximed and hurriedly pushed Alexander out, "You go out!"


    Alexander walked out of the bathroom and nced at the closed door, the hint of a smile on his lipspletely disappearing.


    He took out his phone and called Kyle.


    He asked him to investigate Lucas.


    Kyle was a bit confused. Who was this Lucas? Where was he supposed to start?


    But since Mr. Kennedy had instructed him, he had no choice but toply.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    After Quinn finished using the bathroom and washed her hands, she came out and saw that Alexander was still there.


    He was standing by the window, looking down. It was dark outside, with only a few streetlights. Under the dim yellow light, a light rain was drifting.


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    She trotted over and grabbed Alexander''s arm.


    Quinn asked him, "I''ve already grown up, so has Lucas grown up too?" When Alexander heard Lucas''s name, a vein throbbed on his forehead. He withdrew his gaze, turned to look at Quinn, and said, "Of course."


    Quinn was curious about what Lucas would look like grown up. She had changed so much, so Lucas must have changed too. She wondered if she would still recognize him. She was somewhat lost in her thoughts. For five-year-old Quinn, she didn''t really understand what growing up meant.


    The concept of growing up to her was just getting taller and bigger.


    Like what they showed on TV, you went to sleep and woke up all grown up.


    Quinn clung to his arm, pouting, "Take me home quickly. I don''t want to stay here anymore."


    "Go back for what? To see your Lucas?"


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    Quinn shed a bright smile, her eyes twinkling, "How did you know?"


    Alexander pried her fingers off and looked down at her. "Of course, because I also want to meet this Lucas."


    "But your body isn''t fully recovered. After you''re discharged, I''ll take you back."


    Quinn''s face fell, and she was a bit unhappy. "Alright then."


    She remembered that she had vomited blood in the afternoon, so she didn''t continue to pout. Otherwise, it would upset her mom and dad.


    Every time she got sick before, her mom would get so anxious that she''d cry, so this time, she definitely didn''t want her mom to know.


    Alexander didn''t stay with her for long. After half an hour, he left the hospital.


    Once again, Quinn was left alone in the ward.


    Quinn asked Olivia for a mirror, but Olivia didn''t have one and had to go out to buy one.


    After Olivia left, Quinn picked up her phone and used the screen as a mirror. As she looked, she slowly became familiar with her reflection, but it still felt somewhat unfamiliar.


    She tilted her head, looking left and right, making all sorts of strange faces. It was as if she had just gotten a new body, curious yet unustomed.

 Chapter 778

    When Walter arrived, he found her making faces.


    He paused for a moment before entering.


    Quinn cast him a brief nce, then continued ying with her face. She muttered to herself, "Will Lucas recognize me?"


    When Walter heard this, his expression changed slightly, and he asked, "What did you say?"


    "Lucas, don''t you know him, either?" Quinn looked at him strangely.


    Walter locked his eyes on Quinn without speaking for a long time.


    Both of them fell silent, and Quinn didn''t want to talk to him anymore. She lowered her head and continued looking at herself.


    Walter slowly sat down next to her, watching Quinn with an unreadable expression.


    After a while, Walter finally spoke, "Do you really want to see him?"


    Quinn nodded. "I want to see him. I''m grown up now; I can marry him."


    As Quinn thought of this, her face broke into a silly grin.


    "Do you know what it means to marry him?"


    Putting down her phone, she thought seriously for a moment, and then said, "Yes. It''s like being a family with Mom and Dad, being together forever." Walter''s gaze flickered, and he said nothing more.


    Quinn cupped her face in her hands, grinning at Walter. "Do you think Lucas will like the grown-up me?"


    "I don''t know. Why don''t you ask him yourself?"


    Quinn deted, "But why doesn''t hee to see me?"


    "Well, Mom and Dad don''te to see me either."N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    She kept asking questions that were hard to answer, so Walter could only remain silent.


    His silence made Quinn unhappy.


    After a while, Olivia returned with a mirror. Quinn held the mirror, delighted, as she could now see herself more clearly.


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    Seeing it was gettingte, Olivia told her to go to bed, but she hid under the covers ying with the mirror.


    Walter also left.


    Quinn yed until she was tired and fell asleep holding the mirror.


    In the middle of the night, she started coughing, waking herself up in her sleep.


    She curled up into a ball, clutching her stomach. Once she was fully awake, she covered her mouth with both hands.


    Outside the covers, Olivia patted her shoulder. "Ma''am, are you okay?"


    Quinn had all the covers pressed under her, so Olivia couldn''t pull them off and didn''t know what was going on inside, only that her cough was severe. Quinn coughed for a full minute before she could slightly catch her breath.


    She opened her palm to see spots of blood again.


    She hid under the covers, too scared toe out. She clenched her fists, trembling with fear.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Seeing this, Olivia quickly went to call the doctor.


    While Olivia was out, she immediately wiped her hands with a tissue and threw it in the trash to destroy the evidence.


    She suddenly wondered, ''Could it be this illness that was keeping my mother and others from visiting me?''


    Otherwise, why wouldn''t theye to see her? Why wouldn''t they let her leave the hospital?


    As she was lost in thought, the doctor came in.


    Olivia exined, "She suddenly started coughing badly just now. Is there something wrong?"


    The doctor examined Quinn and then turned to Olivia, "It''s a lung issue. She had inhaled too much smoke before, which damaged her lung function. There''s some infection, and she needs to recuperate slowly. It can''t be rushed." "Is the coughing normal then?"


    "Coughing means she''s expelling toxins. Blood flow to the heart increases at night, making it easy to cough."


    Olivia sighed in relief, then asked, "So it''s normal and we don''t need to worry, right?"

 Chapter 779

    "If there are no other symptoms, you can ignore it. But if the coughing gets really bad, you''ll need to use a nebulizer."


    "Okay, I understand. I''m really sorry for the trouble, doctor."


    "No problem. Just keep an eye on the patient''s condition."


    After giving his instructions, the doctor left the ward.


    Olivia sat by the bed, asking softly, "Ma''am, do you feel ufortable anywhere else?"


    Quinn pointed to her neck,. "Here."


    She coughed hard, her throat hurt, and she felt a bit short of breath, but she didn''t know how to express it, only that it felt very ufortable. Olivia said, "You''re injured. It will get better after a while."


    Quinn looked at Olivia worriedly and asked cautiously, "Will I be okay?"


    "Of course, you''re still so young. You''ll recover from any illness, so don''t worry too much. Just listen to the doctor and you''ll be out of here soon." Hearing Olivia''s words, Quinn felt a bit more at ease.


    She held Olivia''s hand and asked, "Why haven''t my mom and dade to see me? Do they not want me anymore?"


    Olivia was unsure how to answer for a moment. She didn''t know much about Quinn''s situation, so she could only tell her what Alexander had said before, that her parents were on a business trip. "Do they even know I''m sick?"


    "They probably don''t know. If they did, they would definitelye to see you."


    Quinn finally felt a bit relieved.


    Olivia added, "So you need to take good care of yourself and listen to the doctor. Don''t make your parents worry about you from so far away."


    Quinn nodded and said softly, "I will listen to the doctor. Get better and not make my parents worry."


    "That''s the spirit. Now, go to sleep. It will be morning soon."


    Olivia helped her lie back down and tucked her in.


    Quinny with her hands under her head, her eyes fixed on the door of the hospital room, unable to sleep at all.


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    But to get discharged as soon as possible, she cooperated with the doctor. The first thing she did in the morning was get an IV. When the needle pierced her skin, it hurt so much that tears welled up in her eyes. Instinctively, she looked around, wanting to whine to her mom, but there was nothing there, no familiar faces.


    Staring at the unfamiliar hospital room, she silently held back her tears.


    Alexander hadn''te to see her either because he was very busy these days.


    Wayne''s death was made public, but it didn''t cause much of a stir online. After all, it wasn''t a piece of gossip, and the buzz died down after a couple of days.


    However, the stock market was very vtile, with the Kennedy Group''s stocks continuously falling over these two days.


    Alexander had gone to check Wayne''s assets. The total his bank deposits and all real estate properties was close to $40 billion.


    As Wayne''s wife, Kaitlyn had a 50% inheritance right.


    The remaining 50% naturally went to Alexander.


    However, when it came to inheritance, a bunch of people with even the slightest connection showed up, all wanting a share of the inheritance.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Apart from the main building that was burned down, the other houses in the Kennedy Residence remained intact.


    Therefore, the Kennedy Residence had been very bustling these days, with all sorts of rtivesing over.


    They imed to be there to mourn, but everyone knew what they were really there for.


    For these people, even if they could get twenty million dors, it would be enough for a lifetime offort. It was a sum that would tempt anyone. Landon had also been discharged from the hospital, his arm still in a cast. Sitting there, he looked like a determined person despite his injury.


    But today, he was there in his capacity as thepany president.


    In the mourning hall, arge crowd of people was crying, seemingly more heartbroken than if their own fathers had died.


    In contrast, Alexander, dressed in ck, stood by observing coldly, looking very much like an outsider.


    Of course, besides him, there was also Walter.


    He hadn''t divorced Freya yet, so he was still considered a son-inw of the Kennedys. But unlike Alexander''s indifferent demeanor, he was doing a good job of putting on a show.

 Chapter 780

    Walter helped Kaitlyn with various tasks for the memorial service, greeting guests and bowing on Kaitlyn''s behalf. Wayne''s body had been kept for almost a week, yet there were still many peopleing to pay their respects every day.


    The weather was gloomy, and the vi echoed with mournful tunes. The sound of the funeral music, though faint, was clear and seemed to blend with the air, omnipresent.


    When someone came in to pay their respects, Alexander would bow slightly to greet them. Even if someone tried tofort him, Alexander would appear as if he didn''t want to talk much. To outsiders, he seemed heartbroken and unwilling to speak.


    Kaitlyn walked over and whispered to him, "Everyone who should havee has already been here, right? The funeral procession is tomorrow. I wonder if these people will cause any trouble." As she spoke, her gaze fell on the people in the hall who were putting on a show.


    Wayne had three sisters, all of whom hade with their families.


    There were also other women who brought their children. Kaitlyn had been grieving, but upon seeing those who imed to be Wayne''s children, she instantly felt that Wayne deserved his death. Although she didn''t know if these people were telling the truth, with so many of them, there must be some truth to it.


    She had no idea Wayne had so many illegitimate children! Just looking at them made her feel Wayne was detestable.


    Alexander nced over them and quickly withdrew his gaze, saying indifferently, "They couldn''t stir up trouble when Wayne was alive let alone now that he''s dead."


    "That''s true, but it''s like all these people coordinated or something, showing up out of nowhere. I''m a bit worried something unexpected might happen."


    Alexander chuckled coldly and nced over at Landon, who was sitting and watching the scene.


    Kaitlyn noticed, too, "Is he trying to get a piece of the inheritance too?"


    "Well, it depends on whether he wants it or not."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Four billion dors was no small amount. Even Alexander hadn''t expected Wayne to be so wealthy.


    Kaitlyn continued, "You said before that I could get half. That should be all good, right?"


    "No issues there."


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    "Great, that''s a relief." Kaitlyn breathed out quietly.


    Alexander casually added, "And as for the other half, you also have the right to distribute it."


    Kaitlyn''s eyes lit up. "Seriously?"


    Alexander didn''t want to waste words with her. He took off the armband from his arm and casually put it in his pocket. "It''s getting dark. You stay here. I''m going out for a bit." "Are you going to the hospital again? If you leave, I can''t handle all these people!" Kaitlyn hurriedly grabbed him.


    Alexander nced at her and said coldly, "If you can''t handle it, then maybe you shouldn''t inherit the estate."


    He shook off Kaitlyn''s hand and turned to leave.


    Kyle saw him and immediately opened the door of the Bentley. "Mr. Kennedy."


    Alexander got into the car and asked, "How''s it going at the hospital?"


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    "Nothing much. Ms. Morgan had a close call yesterday and hasn''t woken up yet. As for the madam, Olivia said she''s been very cooperative with the doctors and hasn''t thrown any tantrums." "Also, you''ve got a bunch of things to take care of at thepany."


    "Landon has been discharged, hasn''t he? Let him handle it." Alexander leaned back and closed his eyes, looking slightly fatigued.


    Ruby, holding a stack of documents, sat outside Quinn''s ward, clearly waiting for Alexander.


    Upon seeing Alexander, she immediately walked over with the documents, "Mr. Kennedy, these are some urgent documents that need your signature."


    Alexander casually took the documents, flipped through them, and signed his name with the pen from his pocket.


    There were seven or eight documents in total. As Alexander skimmed through them, he asked nonchntly, "Do you have any siblings?"


    Ruby was slightly taken aback and instinctively nced at Alexander.


    He was signing the documents with his head down as if he had just asked casually.


    But after signing the documents, he looked up at Ruby, seemingly waiting for her answer.

 Chapter 781

    Ruby forced a smile and said, "No, I''m the only child in my family." "Only child?"


    "Yes, Mr. Kennedy. Why the sudden interest in my family situation?"


    "Just curious. You''ve always been mysterious." Alexander quickly signed thest document and handed it to Ruby. Ruby maintained her smile. "I''m just from an ordinary family, nothing mysterious about it."


    Alexander smiled faintly. "Alright, get back to your tasks."N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Ruby nodded slightly, gave him a puzzled look, and then ran out with the documents.


    At the corner of the stairs, she looked back at Alexander, only to see him already opening the door to the ward.


    She frowned slightly and entered the elevator deep in thought.


    Quinn was slumped on the bed, with a tablet and phone in front of her, looking very bored.


    Hearing the sound, she looked up at the door. When she saw Alexander, her face lit up, and she immediately sat up straight.


    Alexander sat down beside her. "How are you today?"


    He habitually looked at her fingers, but both her hands were hidden under the nket, and her clear voice came to his ears.


    "What do you mean?"


    Alexander paused, shifting his gaze to her face. "How are you feeling?"


    Quinn responded, extending her hands and looking at him pitifully. "I don''t want any more needles. When can I leave?"


    Her exposed hands were covered in needle marks, indicating she had been pricked quite a bit these past few days.


    Alexander held her hand, examining it carefully, his fingers gently rubbing the back of her hand. He spoke nonchntly, "You need to ask the doctor."


    Thinking of the doctor''s words in the morning, Quinn pouted in frustration, "The doctor said I need to wait a few more days."


    "Then wait a few more days."


    Quinn said with a frown, "But can they stop pricking me?"


    "If you don''t get the IV, you won''t get better."


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    Shey back down weakly, turning her head to look at Alexander with a resentful expression. Alexander nced at Olivia, who hadn''t slept much these past few days and looked very tired. Alexander said, "You should go home and rest. Come back tomorrow morning."


    Olivia hesitated. "Mr. Kennedy, are you staying here?"


    "Yes, I''ll be here tonight."


    "Alright, I''lle early tomorrow." Olivia needed rest to take better care of Quinn.


    So she didn''t refuse. She then packed up and left the ward.


    With only the two of them left in the ward, Quinn stared at him, and he looked back at her, their eyes meeting.


    Quinn blinked and suddenly asked, "What do you do during the day?"


    "I''m busy with work at thepany."


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "Why is everyone so busy? No one''s here to keep mepany." She pouted, looking a bit unhappy.


    "Aren''t I keeping youpany now?"


    "You''re boring, not fun at all."


    Alexander raised an eyebrow slightly. "Not fun with me? Then who is fun? Lucas?"


    Quinn didn''t catch the undertone in his words and pouted, "He doesn''t evene to see me."


    His gaze deepened, and he said meaningfully, "Maybe he can''te?"


    "Why?"


    Alexander looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. Quinn was still waiting for his answer when he suddenly got up and went to the window to smoke. Quinn watched his back for a moment, then got out of bed and walked over to him.


    Just as she was about to speak, the smoke from his hand made her throat itch, and she started coughing uncontrobly.


    Alexander paused slightly, turning his head to nce at her.


    Seeing her covering her mouth and coughing painfully, he threw the cigarette out the window right away.

 Chapter 782

    He pressed her trembling shoulders with both hands and frowned, asking, "What''s wrong?"


    Quinn was coughing so violently that her entire face was scrunched up, leaving her no time to respond to him.


    Because of the coughing, her pale little face gradually turned red.


    Feeling something rising in her throat, she quickly rushed into the bathroom.


    After the bathroom door was shut, she could no longer suppress what was overflowing from her throat. She leaned over the sink and vomited.


    Blood sttered in the sink, like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow, very ring.


    Alexander knocked on the door outside.


    She hurriedly turned on the faucet and washed away the blood. Then she wiped the blood off her lips with her hand and frantically cleaned up the remaining bloodstains. She thought, ''I can''t let anyone know, or I won''t be able to leave the hospital.''


    The bathroom door suddenly swung open, startling her.


    She nervously looked at Alexander, whose gaze swept around the bathroom before finallynding on her face.


    "Why did you close the door?"Alexander questioned.


    Quinn gripped the sink with both hands and stammered, "eded to use the bathroom."


    His gaze wandered back and forth on her face as if trying to see through her.


    She tensed up, afraid he would ask something.


    But he didn''t say much. He withdrew his gaze and closed the bathroom door.


    Quinn patted her chest and let out a long breath.


    ''I just want to be discharged, to go home, to see my parents. Once I see them, I will definitely cooperate with the treatment!'' she thought.


    Because every time she fell asleep, she would have that dream, dreaming of the major fire, dreaming of her mom carrying her and running in the fire. She looked at herself in the mirror, her gaze gradually bing resolute.


    ''I have to go home!''


    Quinn squatted in the bathroom for a while before opening the door and going out.


    Alexander was standing at the door waiting for her, "Are you feeling better now?"


    She nodded. As she looked up, she saw a few doctorsing in at the door, and she instinctively tightened her grip on the hem of her clothes. The doctors were going to examine her again, and she instinctively resisted.


    And this time, it wasn''t just a simple check of her heartbeat; they were going out for aprehensive examination.


    Alexander held her hand,forting her, "It''ll be over soon, and it won''t hurt."


    She looked up at him and asked, "When can I be discharged?"


    "Didn''t the doctor tell you? A few more days of observation."


    Quinn lowered her head and silently followed the doctors into the CT room. After that, she had several more tests and had a vial of blood drawn.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    She had never suffered such grievances before. These past two days, every time she opened her eyes, she was being poked here or there. Now, she was scared just seeing those needle tips. After the blood draw, she sat on the bench, shedding tears.


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    Alexander held a cotton swab in one hand, and with the other, he wiped away her tears.


    "There, there, don''t cry. When you get better, I''ll take you to eat something delicious." Quinn bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at him. "I miss my mom."


    Alexander paused slightly. He bent down, looking at Quinn with aplex and inscrutable expression.


    After a moment, he continued to wipe her tears and said softly, "You''ll see her as soon as you''re discharged. But if you don''t cooperate with the doctors and can''t get discharged, you won''t be able to see them." Upon hearing this, Quinn cried even harder.


    The doctor beside them watched in amazement. Although Quinn no longer looked like a child, her delicate face showing such a pitiful expression was not out of ce at all.


    Instead, it made people feel pity for her. Even the doctor who had just given her the injection felt he had been too rough. He really shouldn''t have been!


    Fortunately, there weren''t many people around, so they let Quinn sit inside.


    It took Alexander about ten minutes tofort her until her crying gradually subsided. However, her eyes were red-rimmed, as if she had suffered a great grievance. "When will the test results be out?" Alexander asked.

 Chapter 783

    The doctor said, "About two hours or so."


    Alexander nodded and led Quinn back to the ward. It was quiet in the ward, and even with Alexander by her side, Quinn felt very lonely. ''I hate this ce!'' she thought.


    She got back into bed,y under the covers, and reached for the mirror under her pillow. She looked at her reflection in it for a while.


    It started raining again. She heard the pitter-patter of the rain against the window and wrapped herself tighter in the nket.


    Alexander sat beside her, looking at her with an inscrutable expression.


    Before long, it started thundering outside. The thunder was deafening, and Quinn clutched the nket, trembling all over.


    ''If only I were at my own home,'' she thought. ''I could take my pillow and go to my parents'' room, hide in mom''s warm embrace, and I wouldn''t be scared.'' Alexander ced his hand on Quinn''s shoulder, pulling down her nket.


    Only then did he see Quinn''s posture. She was curled up into a ball, kneeling on the bed, her two hands covering her ears, her entire face buried in the pillow.


    "Quinn."


    Quinn couldn''t hear his voice, only the thunder outside.


    She tried hard to cover her ears but still couldn''t block the pervasive thunder.


    Alexander grabbed her shoulders and turned her face towards him. Her face was already covered in tears.


    Seeing him, Quinn immediately threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.


    He gently stroked her back. "Don''t be afraid. It''s just thunder."


    Quinn''s cheek was pressed against his chest, her tears soaking through his shirt.


    He held her in his arms, his fingers running through her hair as if tofort her.


    The thundersted for nearly half an hour before it gradually subsided, but Quinn still clung to him, unwilling to let go.


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    In this situation, Alexander was her lifeline, and she had no choice but to hold on tightly.


    She vaguely heard his heartbeat and thought of her parents.


    "I miss Mom."


    A choked whisper came from her, very soft and tearful.


    Alexander''s movements paused. This time, he didn''t speak, just held her, his gaze falling on the window.


    Their reflections were cast on the window. A sh of lightning streaked across the sky, slicing through their images, the ghastly light shattering the reflections. Quinn continued, "I miss Dad."


    "Why don''t theye to see me?"


    "It hurts so much."


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    Alexander lowered his eyes slightly, looking at her face in his arms. "Where does it hurt?"


    "My body hurts."


    He sighed silently and held her tighter. "Go to sleep."Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Quinn stared at his arm, her eyshes trembling as silent tears fell, darkening his ck shirt to an even deeper hue.


    Outside, it was still raining, muffled thunder rolling through the clouds, indistinct but oppressive.


    The doctor came in with the test results. He stood at the door without entering, just gesturing for Alexander toe out.


    Alexander looked down at Quinn in his arms. She was already asleep, but her brows were still furrowed, tears clinging to her eyshes. The bright light illuminated her pale cheeks, making her look like a porcin doll that could shatter at any moment.


    He gently ced Quinn on the bed, covered her with the nket, and then got up to join the doctor outside.


    After closing the door, he asked, "How is she?"


    The doctor handed him the test results, "Not good, to be precise, pretty bad."

 Chapter 784

    Theprehensive physical examination just now had found out all the previously undetected issues.


    Alexander flipped through the report, his expression growing increasingly serious.


    The doctor said, "Her condition is indeed not very good."


    For a moment, the doctor didn''t know where to start. Even he was startled when he saw the test results.


    None of them were serious diseases, but there was a plethora of minor ones. umted together, they could be life-threatening. Just dealing with them could exhaust a person.


    "Right now, her most serious issue is probably her lungs. The other issues can be managed slowly."


    "Can it be cured?"


    The doctor said, "It''s hard to say. Her lung function is damaged. Even if it''s cured, there''s a chance ofsting aftereffects."


    "And her central nervous system has also been damaged to some extent, which is difficult to treat. We can only hope it doesn''t get worse."


    Alexander quickly finished reading the report and asked, "Is her current condition rted to this illness?"


    "Well, it''s hard to say. We''ll have to wait until Mr. Halles tomorrow. He''s a neurology professor, so he''ll know more."


    Alexander nodded, put away the lists, chatted with the doctor for a bit, and then returned to the ward.


    Quinn was still sleeping. He stood by the bed, watching her for a long time.


    It wasn''t until Olivia arrived at dawn that he left the hospital.


    When he arrived at Kennedy Residence, it was the right time for Wayne''s funeral.


    Due to the rain, it wasn''t really light yet. It was a dull gray outside, with a light drizzle falling.


    When Kaitlyn saw him, she immediately came up and pulled him inside. "You''re finally back. We''ve been waiting for you. Hurry up and get ready; Wayne''s funeral is about to start." ording to tradition, the eldest son should carry the urn during the funeral.


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    If Alexander didn''t show up, the people here would use this as an excuse to cause trouble.


    Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose, walked to the center of the mourning hall, and picked up Wayne''s urn.


    His movements were smooth as if he were handling official business,pletely devoid of the pain and sorrow of losing a loved one. Compared to the people around him, he seemed like just a staff member. The people around him started crying again, and with the mournful music in the air, it truly felt exceptionally sorrowful.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Kyle held an umbre for him, and the group slowly walked out of the mourning hall. Raindrops fell on the umbre, apanied by the sad music, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.


    A procession of luxury cars drove down the road, heading straight for the cemetery.


    By the time they reached the cemetery, it was just getting light.


    The funeral officiant gave a sorrowful speech, bringing many to tears.


    Kaitlyn couldn''t help but cry as well.


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    Although she thought he deserved to die, with the years they spent together, his sudden death left her feeling empty.


    Wayne''s body hadn''t all been found yet, but Alexander decided to bury him first. Kaitlyn initially disagreed, but considering the mess left behind, it was starting to look quite terrifying after some time. The trouble ensued was that it would make the search efforts afterward more difficult.


    Alexander''s decision seemed to indicate that he believed there was no need to continue searching for the remaining body parts.


    Listening to the officiant''s words, even Kyle was moved. He held the umbre for Alexander, and while most people were crying uncontrobly, he nced at the man beside him.


    Alexander, dressed in a ck suit and ck coat, stood there expressionless. The ck umbre covered half his face, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.


    At the end of the funeral, he bowed slightly along with the crowd.


    The rain started to pour, washing over the tombstone. Everyone looked solemn except for the smiling photo on the tombstone.


    As the officiant announced the end of the funeral, the head of the Kennedys family also came to aplete end, finishing his life. There was no more Wayne in this world.

 Chapter 785

    Guests gradually dispersed, and Kaitlyn left with the support of others.


    In just a few minutes, only four people remained in front of the tombstone. There were Kyle and Alexander, and the other two were Walter and Landon.


    The four stood in a row, none of them speaking. It was unclear whether they were mourning the deceased or thinking about something else.


    Walter suddenly spoke up, "Can''t you believe our father''s powerful life ended so abruptly."


    After he finished, the other three remained silent. He continued, "I heard he left nearly forty billion dors in inheritance. Mr. Kennedy, has the allocation been decided?" Alexander finally nced at him, "You want a share, too?"


    Walter smiled. "I''m also part of the Kennedys family. It''s only fair that I get a piece. If I don''t, people would find it odd, right?"


    Alexander said, "Freya is just in jail, not dead. Even if the inheritance is divided, it will go to her. How you two split it is your own business."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Walter didn''t react much to this, his expression remaining unchanged. He said, "That doesn''t matter. Freya is in jail, and as her husband, I''m just fighting for her rights. That''s all." Alexander gave a cryptic smile.


    Walter nced at Landon and asked with a smile, "Why is Landon still here? Landon insisted on attending Wayne''s funeral despite his injuries. No wonder Wayne valued him so much." "I''m sure he would be deeply moved if he knew."


    Landon gave him a sidelong nce, said nothing, and left the cemetery with his umbre.


    Walter was a bit surprised. "I thought he would fight for the inheritance."


    "He doesn''t need money." Alexander''s gaze fell on Walter''s face. "Do you need money?"


    "I do. I need money very much. No oneins about having too much money. Mr. Kennedy, you don''t need money, either. Are you willing to give up the inheritance to me?" Alexander said, "I''m willing to give it, but you might not be able to hold onto it."


    His words seemed to have a deeper meaning, though it was unclear whether he was referring to money or something else. Walter raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Wanna give it a shot?" Alexander ignored him and also left the cemetery.


    Walter watched his car drive away, then turned back to look at the tombstone.


    It had been bustling just moments ago, but now, it was so deste.


    He stared at the photo on the tombstone for a moment before slowly looking away and leaving the cemetery.


    Walter got into a Mercedes outside, closed the door, and patted the water droplets off his ck suit.


    Ruby, in the driver''s seat, stared at him for a moment before speaking, "I feel like Alexander is investigating me. He already knows about my rtionship with you, so why is he still digging into me?" Walter slowly fastened his seatbelt and said calmly, "Do you have a sister?"


    Ruby was taken aback. "Why are you asking that too?"


    "So he asked you as well. So, do you?"


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    Ruby replied irritably, "Whether I have a sister or not, you know very well."


    "I mean, have your parents ever mentioned it?"


    "No, they never mentioned it. My mom said she had a massive hemorrhage when she gave birth to me, and both she and me nearly died. After that, she was too scared to have more kids," Ruby exined. Walter raised an eyebrow at her, "Is that so?"


    Ruby frowned. "What else could it be? What kind of riddles are you ying?"


    Walter said, "You and Getty might be sisters. You didn''t know that, did you?"


    Ruby burst outughing at this, as if she had heard a funny joke. "That''s impossible. My parents never mentioned it. If I really had a sister, there''s no way they would have kept it a secret all these years." "So, things are a bit fishy," Walter leaned against the car window, looking at Ruby meaningfully, "But I suggest you find a way to get your parents and Getty to do a DNA test." "No need. She can''t be my sister. I don''t have a sister," Ruby stated firmly.


    Ruby had no good feelings toward Getty and had even been very disgusted with her at one point. Even if Getty turned out to be her biological sister, she wouldn''t let Getty be recognized by her family.

 Chapter 786

    Walter watched her expression change, smiling without saying a word.


    They sat in the car for a while, and as it got dark, Ruby finally drove home.


    In the hospital, Quinn opened her eyes to find herself receiving an IV. After yesterday''s examination, today''s IV was different, with several more bottles than yesterday. Judging by the four hours of infusion yesterday, it would take at least six or seven hours today.


    Tired of lying in bed, she moved to the couch to lie down.


    She stared at the ceiling in boredom, asionally letting out a sigh.


    When Olivia talked to her, she didn''t respond, lost in her own world.


    It wasn''t that Quinn was ignoring her; she was just too weak to speak. She was very tired and didn''t want to make a move except to breathe.


    Alexander came to the hospital at noon. He stayed with Quinn until the IV was finished. Seeing her listless appearance, he suggested taking her out for a meal.


    When Quinn heard that she could go out, her eyes finally lit up. She quickly sat up from the couch, staring intently at Alexander.


    Alexander asked her to bring her clothes and help her get dressed, then took her out of the hospital.


    As soon as they stepped out of the inpatient building, cold wind hit them, making Quinn shiver and cough a few times. Fortunately, she didn''t cough up blood this time.


    Alexander nced at her. "It''s very cold outside. Are you sure you want to go out?"


    Quinn nodded firmly. She tugged at Alexander''s hand, urging him impatiently, "Let''s go!"


    Her hand had several bruises from the IV needles, which became even more noticeable in the natural light outside.


    Alexander looked at her for a moment before holding her hand and leading her to the parking lot with an umbre.


    In the car, she curiously leaned against the window, looking outside, trying to find her home, thinking, ''If I can find it, I could go home by myself.''


    Alexander nced at her from time to time, momentarily dazed by her thin and frail figure.


    Quinn saw a familiar mall. She remembered that she had to pass this mall to get home.


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    Feeling a bit excited, she thought, ''I''m going to find my way home!''This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Quinn turned and tugged at Alexander''s sleeve. "I want to go there!!"


    Alexander nced sideways. "You want to go to the mall?"


    She nodded repeatedly.


    Then he made a U-turn and drove into the mall''s parking lot. He parked the car and led Quinn out.


    As soon as she got out of the car, she quickly ran into the mall, drawing the attention of many people.


    She was wearing a hospital gown underneath a long white down jacket. The half of her pants visible made it clear that she had juste out of the hospital. Alexander quickly followed behind. "Slow down!"


    Quinn ignored him, running very fast. Seeing the familiar mall, she felt like she could find her parents there.


    Her mom used to bring her here often to buy lots of pretty clothes.


    While running, Quinn scanned the faces in the crowd, trying to find someone familiar.


    But after running through one floor, she didn''t see anyone she knew.


    She ran up to the second floor.


    Just as she was about to get on the esctor, a figure rushed out from the other side. They met at the esctor entrance and collided.


    Quinn crashed into the person''s chest, her vision darkening, and she plopped down to the ground.


    The intense pain made her nose tingle, and tears uncontrobly welled up. She sat on the ground and started crying.


    The person she collided with also took a few steps back. Hearing her cry, he looked closely and eximed in delight. "Quinn!"

 Chapter 787

    Quinn paused for a moment, lifted her head, and looked at him through teary eyes. She didn''t recognize this person. Noticing her confused expression, Orion hesitated.


    "You don''t recognize me again?" He looked at her strangely. It had only been a few days, and she had forgotten him again. Quinn''s reaction said it all; she indeed didn''t recognize him.


    She tilted her head, looked at Orion for a while, wiped the tears from her face, and got up from the ground by herself.


    Just as Orion was about to speak, Alexander suddenly walked over.


    "What did you do?" Alexander looked at Orion with a hostile expression, as he hadn''t seen what had happened between the two, only that Quinn was crying.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Orion hurriedly exined, "I didn''t do anything and just identally bumped into her. What happened to her? She doesn''t remember me again?"


    Alexander looked at him coldly. "Why should she remember you?"


    Orion was at a loss for words, but then, he thought of something and retorted confidently, "Because I''m her husband now."


    Being Quinn''s husband was the only leverage he had over Alexander.


    But as soon as he said that, Alexander''s expression turned even more sullen.


    "If you hadn''t mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Mr. William said you were bedridden and couldn''te to get a divorce, but judging by your current state, I guess you must be all better now," Alexander remarked. Orion was stunned for a moment. He roughly guessed what Alexander was going to say and turned to run.


    However, before he could take two steps, a force hit his backside, causing him to fall uncontrobly.


    He fell heavily to the ground and slid about an inch across the floor.


    Themotion attracted a lot of onlookers. Someone was actually fighting in the mall!


    Quinn was also startled. She widened her eyes, looking at Orion, then at Alexander.


    At this moment, Alexander''s face was sulky, and a terrifying aura surrounded him, scaring Quinn into shrinking back and hiding behind the esctor.


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    Oriony on the ground groaning in pain, unable to get up.


    Just as he recovered a bit, Alexander approached from behind, grabbed his cor, and yanked him up.


    "Mr. William has opposed me repeatedly. Do you really think I wouldn''t dare to touch you?"


    Orion gritted his teeth and looked at Alexander,ughing angrily. "Then go ahead!"


    Alexander sneered and threw Orion heavily to the ground again.


    Immediately after, he ced a foot on Orion''s chest, preventing him from getting up.


    He applied a lot of pressure, and Orion felt like his chest was going to be crushed.


    Alexander leaned down slightly, looking coldly at Orion. "I''ll ask you one more time, do you want to divorce Quinn?"


    Orion frowned in pain, staring at Alexander intently. "I''m not divorcing Quinn."


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Alexander chuckled. "Good to know."


    Orion''s pupils contracted as he clearly saw the murderous intent in Alexander''s eyes. It was impossible to say he wasn''t afraid.


    But Orion had never liked obeying others since he was a child. So, even if he were scared, he would neverpromise or admit defeat.


    Meanwhile, a group of people appeared, seemingly looking for something.


    Orion immediately recognized them. They were the people his father had sent to catch him.


    He had been hiding from them earlier and hadn''t expected to run into Quinn, but now, seeing them, he felt an immense sense of relief.


    He was about to call for help, but Alexander also saw the group. He increased the pressure on Orion, causing his voice to get stuck in his throat, turning all his words into cries of pain. Just then, Kyle arrived. Alexander grabbed Orion from the ground and casually handed him over to Kyle. "Take him away."


    Kyle nodded and dragged Orion out.

 Chapter 788

    "Let go of me!" Orion struggled a couple of times. He couldn''t fight back against Alexander, but he could still resist a bit in front of Kyle.


    Kyle wasn''t very skilled, almost letting Orion break free.


    He dragged Orion into the hallway, and the two started fighting there.


    Alexander paid no attention to them because Quinn was missing!


    In just the blink of an eye, she had run off!


    Quinn was still wandering around the mall, looking for her parents. She was familiar with the environment, but the people werepletely strange to her.


    She searched every floor but couldn''t find who she was looking for, so she started to wander aimlessly.


    Alexander found her on the surveince cameras. She was in a coffee shop on the basement level.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    The coffee shop was crowded, and Quinn stood in line with everyone else. It took her over ten minutes to get to the front.


    The barista asked her what she wanted to buy, and she pointed to thette on the menu.


    But when it came time to pay, she had no money.


    The barista looked at her strangely and repeated, "Miss, six dors."


    Quinn blinked, patted her pockets, and then said, "I don''t have any money."


    The barista paused, still smiling. "Sorry, if you don''t have money, I can''t take your order."


    Quinn looked around. In the past, others had always paid for her. Even though she had no money, she really wanted the coffee. Therefore, she stood at the entrance, unwilling to leave.


    The people in line behind her grew impatient, urging, "If you don''t have the money, can you step aside and let us through?"


    "Yeah, seriously, who can''te up with 6 bucks nowadays?"


    A woman said sarcastically, "She''s probably banking on her looks, thinking she can get a freebie because she''s pretty."


    "That''s hrious. She must think she''s super charming," another person added with a chuckle.


    Good-looking people often attracted jealousy.


    Whenever there was an opportunity, others would spare no effort to belittle and mock them, showcasing their nobility while also achieving psychological bnce.


    Hearing their ridicule, Quinn lowered her head silently, reluctantly ncing at the colorful coffee pictures before making way for the people behind her.


    But someone noticed her hospital gown and said, "Is she an escapee from a mental hospital?"


    At this, everyone turned to look at her.


    Facing their probing gazes, Quinn instinctively clutched her clothes and nervously took two steps back.


    Her reaction only made others more convinced that she was mentally ill; otherwise, she wouldn''t have reacted like this.


    "Quick! Call the mental hospital! I heard crazy people kill!"


    "Seriously?"


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! "Yeah, for real! Haven''t you seen the news before? Psychos running around on the streets attacking people."


    The crowd buzzed, with someone immediately taking out their phone to call the hospital.


    Being ostracized and hated by so many people, Quinn turned and fled in fear.


    And her actions only further confirmed to everyone that she was mentally ill; otherwise, why would she run when she heard about the call?


    Some were scared, but others, seeing her confused state, had vicious thoughts and quietly followed her.


    By the time Alexander arrived, Quinn was no longer at the coffee shop entrance.


    He looked around and went straight to the barista. "Where''s the woman who was wearing a down jacket over a hospital gown?"


    Someone behind chimed in, "Are you looking for that crazy woman? She bolted when she heard we were calling the mental hospital." Hearing this, Alexander snapped towards the speaker.

 Chapter 789

    The coldness in his eyes startled the woman who was speaking.


    She was about to say something more when she heard him ask, "Which way did she run?" "That way." The woman pointed to the left.


    Without dealing with her, Alexander turned to chase in that direction.


    Quinn ran out through the side door. After leaving the mall, she found herself on a pedestrian street lined with shops, most of which sold food. Various aromas filled the air, making Quinn''s mouth water. But realizing she had no money, she had to give up on the idea of buying anything. She walked aimlessly towards the end of the pedestrian street. It was drizzling, and soon, her hair was covered with tiny droplets of water. She lifted her sleeve to wipe her face, but her sleeve was also wet, leaving her face dripping with water.


    Suddenly, someone patted her on the shoulder.


    Quinn turned to see two unfamiliar men. She remembered Orion from earlier, who seemed to know her, too. "Who are you guys?"


    Joe Brown and Billy Brown exchanged nces and then smiled. "You don''t recognize us? But we know you."


    Quinn scratched her cheek, wondering, ''Am I that famous? Why so many people seemed to know me?''


    "What are you looking for? We can help you."


    Quinn said, "I''m looking for my home. Do you know how to get to my house?"


    "Of course. I''ve even been to your house."


    Quinn was a bit delighted and excitedly grabbed Joe''s hand. "Really?"


    Joe and Billy''s smiles grew more lecherous as they saw her reaction, thinking, ''Seems like she''s really got some mental issues.'' "Of course it''s true. Come with us, and we''ll take you home."


    Quinn nodded repeatedly.


    ''Can I finally go home now?''


    Thinking about seeing her parents soon, she couldn''t contain her excitement, pulling the man along and urging, "Let''s go quickly." "Alright, don''t rush."


    The two men didn''t expect her to be so easily coaxed. They grabbed her hand, hailed a taxi by the roadside, shoved Quinn inside, and gave the driver an address. The car slowly drove away. "Quinn!"


    Hearing someone calling her name, Quinn sat up straight and looked out the window, seeing Alexander running out of the mall.


    He sprinted towards the taxi, but all he got was a trail of exhaust fumes.


    Alexander stood by the roadside, staring intently at the taxi. He panted heavily, his breath dispersing in the air as the wind blew.


    In the blink of an eye, the taxi disappeared into the misty rain.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Alexander closed his eyes, took a deep breath to calm himself down, and took out his phone to make a call.


    The two men in the car were unaware of all this, as they didn''t even know Quinn''s name.


    They both stared at Quinn, who was sitting in the middle. She was wearing a down jacket with the zipper pulled all the way up, and her furry hood covered her entire head, leaving only a small face exposed. Her hair was loose, and her face was a bit chubby, making her look plump. Paired with her innocent, clear eyes, she appeared naive and pure.


    The sight made the two men''s throats dry, and they began to imagine her eyes bing murky, turning into a mess like a puddle of mud in the mundane world.


    Billy urged the driver to go faster.


    The driver drove as fast as he could to the destination, a rundown old residential area on the outskirts, where most of the houses were about to be demolished, and not many people lived there. After getting out of the car, Quinn looked around at the surroundings and furrowed her brow. "Where is this?"


    Billy said, "This is your home. Don''t you remember?"Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Quinn shook her head firmly. "This is not my home!"

 Chapter 790

    Disappointed to see these old houses, she turned around to leave.


    Joe hurriedly grabbed her and corrected what Billy had said earlier, "Yes, this is not your home. Your home is too far away. We need to get ready first." Quinn paused. "Get ready for what?"


    "Prepare a bunch of stuff. Anyway, juste upstairs with us first. We''ll take you hometer."


    The two leered at her, thinking about raping her upstairs and then dumping her on the roadside. She probably wouldn''t know anything.


    Before Quinn could ask more, they grabbed her arms and started pulling her upstairs. "Alright,e on up. Look at how you''re dressed; you should at least change your clothes before going back, right?" This sessfully convinced Quinn. She thought for a moment and followed them upstairs.


    After going upstairs, they arrived at the room in the far corner. It was a one-bedroom apartment with poor lighting. As soon as they entered, an unpleasant smell hit them.


    It was unclear whether something was moldy or rotten; it felt like everything was there, mingling in the air. Upon smelling this odor, Quinn felt nauseous.


    Joe turned on the light and forcefully pushed Quinn inside.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Only then did Quinn see the full picture of the room. The floor was covered with trash - various takeout boxes, used tissues, and moldy instant noodle soup emitting a sour stench.


    Beer bottles were everywhere, making it easy to trip over.


    Clothes were scattered all over the bed, sofa, and chairs.


    There was aputer desk, and it was also extremely messy, with ashtrays, ashes, and cigarette butts scattered all over it.


    The most terrifying thing was that there were cockroaches scurrying around the room!


    Quinn was so scared she almost cried. She turned to open the door and leave, but the man pulled her back.


    "Why are you running?"


    Quinn shrank her neck and pointed at the bugs. "There are bugs."


    Her eyes welled with tears, and she pouted, feeling extremely aggrieved.


    Seeing her pitiful look, Joe and Billy felt increasingly horny, pulling her towards the bed.


    Quinn dodged the trash on the floor, bing increasingly resistant to the ce.


    "I don''t want to stay here!" Quinn shouted.


    "We gotta handle some business first, then we''ll leave," Joe said, tossing her onto the bed.


    Quinn was dizzy from the impact. In a daze, she saw a cockroach running past her ear, scaring her into climbing back up from the bed.


    She let out a scream.


    She started crying and struggled to escape.


    Billy hastily swept the trash off the bed onto the floor and pinned Quinn down, pulling out a rope from somewhere to tie her hands behind her back.


    No matter how hard she struggled this time, she couldn''t get up from the bed.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Hearing her cries, Joe said, "Gag her, or we''ll attract attention."


    Billy agreed and grabbed a pair of shorts from the cab, stuffing them into her mouth. To be safe, he wrapped a strip of tape around her mouth.


    This way, there was no way she couldn''t spit it out.


    Quinn struggled on the bed, realizing these two men were bad people.


    Her eyes turned red, and since she couldn''t use her hands, she kicked Billy several times.


    But she had no strength, and her kicks didn''t hurt. Instead, Billy easily grabbed her ankle.


    "Rx. Soon you''ll enjoy making love with us."


    Billy reached out and unzipped her down jacket, then pulled open the hospital gown she was wearing underneath.


    A chill ran through Quinn, and she shivered. She instinctively curled up, trembling from the cold.


    But Billy didn''t let her have her way. He grabbed her ankles, straightened her out, and pulled off her pants.

 Chapter 791

    Quinn whimpered, tears streaming down her face.


    The wind from the window kept blowing into the room, making her shiver with goosebumps.


    They held her down, and all her struggles were in vain.


    Joe looked at her beautiful figure, swallowing hard, and thest bit of sanity in his eyes gradually disappeared, his expression bing increasingly frenzied. Although she was a fool, she was indeed an excellent choice for lovemaking!


    He couldn''t wait to take off his clothes, but just as he had taken off half of them, a loud noise suddenly came from outside.


    The two were almost scared to be impotent.


    "Damn it!"


    Joe cursed, and the next second, the loud noise sounded again.


    This time, they finally realized something was wrong. After exchanging a nce, they quickly put on their clothes, grabbed the damp bedding, and hid Quinn inside.


    They got up to open the door, but just as their hand touched the doorknob, there was a loud bang, and the door burst open, directly knocking the person opening the door flying out.


    Joe let out a miserable scream as he was flung far away by the iron door,nding on the ground stiff and unconscious.


    Billy stood frozen in ce, looking at the blood-covered Joe on the ground, then at the people outside the door.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Two men stood at the door, clearly not here with good intentions.


    "Who are you..." Before Billy could finish his sentence, Sean walked in first and gave him a hard kick.


    Billy fell heavily to the ground, clutching his stomach, groaning in pain.


    Sean didn''t stop there. He grabbed Billy by the cor and punched him twice in the face.


    Sean''s punches were strong, and with one punch, Billy''s nose started bleeding.


    "Daring to mess with Mrs. Mellon. You''re asking for trouble!"


    Billy, in his daze, heard this and was shocked, staring at Kyle in terror.


    ''She is Mrs. Mellon? Isn''t she just a lunatic?''


    Sean didn''t give him time to regret it; he pressed him to the ground, punching him again and again, causing him to scream in pain.


    Meanwhile, Alexander had alreadye to the bedside. He lifted the nket covering Quinn, revealing her barely clothed state.


    With tears in her eyes, she stared at Alexander. Her eyes were red, her mouth gagged, her wrists tied behind her back, and she curled up like a helpless animal. Alexander''s face was stern, and he said nothing.


    He removed the gag from Quinn''s mouth and untied the ropes on her hands. Because of her intense struggle, her wrists had been left deep marks.


    Quinn threw herself into his arms, crying aggrievedly.


    The scent on him was pleasant, with a fresh fragrance that seemed to dispel the stench in the room.


    Alexander''s face, originally filled with anger, gradually softened as she cried in his arms, leaving only helplessness.


    After she cried for a while, Alexander sighed and patted her back.


    He pulled her away, dressed her, picked her up, and walked out of the room.


    Billy was already beaten to a bloody pulp, barely alive. Sean sat on Billy, asking, "Mr. Kennedy, what should we do with these two?"


    "Chop them up and feed them to the dogs." Alexander said coldly.


    He didn''t look back, leaving only this cold sentence, making Sean shiver.


    The dogs on the mountain were not to be messed with.


    Previously, because Quinn was injured, they had been starved for half a month, and a third of them had died of hunger.


    Now, only a few were still alive.


    However, besides dogs, there were other animals that could also eat.


    Quinn returned to the car. She was much more obedient now, sitting quietly in the passenger seat, nervously fiddling with her fingers. Alexander fastened his seatbelt and turned to look at her.


    "Will you run around recklessly again?"


    Quinn shook her head quickly.

 Chapter 792

    Alexander said, "From now on, remember, don''t trust anyone except me, no matter what they say."


    Quinn looked up cautiously and nced at him.


    Meeting his deep, unfathomable gaze, she felt a hint of fear.


    "Did you get that?" he asked again.


    Quinn nodded quickly and whispered, "I want to go home."


    His eyes darkened. He stared at her for a long time but said nothing, then drove her back to Regal Riverside. Upon returning, he took her for a bath.


    She was much more obedient, seemingly frightened.


    She sat quietly in the bathtub, letting Alexander use the showerhead to bathe her.


    He pressed his lips tightly together, his face looking gloomy.


    Especially when he saw her in this defenseless, innocent, and pure state.


    With patience, he bathed her several times before wrapping her in a towel.


    She followed closely behind him, clutching the towel tightly, and went upstairs with him.


    He rummaged through the wardrobe and found a simple set of clothes, personally helping her put them on.


    Quinn remained very quiet throughout, without any resistance or words.


    However, she noticed his breathing getting heavier and looked up at him in confusion.


    But seeing his gloomy and serious face, she silently lowered her head again.


    With onest piece of clothing, he casually threw it on the bed and said to Quinn, "Wait here."


    She nodded.


    Then, she saw him take off his wet clothes and walk into the bathroom.


    Quinn sat on the bed, observing her surroundings.


    It felt both strange and familiar.


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    It was much better than the dirty and messy house from before at least there were no scary bugs.


    Alexander stayed in the bathroom for a long time. She got sleepy while waiting and eventually fell asleep.


    When she woke up, she was already back in the hospital.


    She was about to rub her eyes, but as she raised her hand, she saw the needle in the back of her hand.


    "You''re awake. Don''t move, you''re on an IV," Olivia reminded.


    Quinn looked nkly at the back of her hand, then nced at Olivia. She awkwardly put her hand down and scanned the room for Alexander.


    She thought to herself, ''Too bad. He isn''t there.''


    She sighed,y back down, and stared at the white ceiling.


    ''I''m back in the hospital again.''


    Meanwhile, Alexander had returned to the hillside.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Besides him, there was Orion.


    Orion had already been dealt with, his face covered in bruises. He was tied up and thrown on the ground,pletely exhausted.


    His eyes were fixed on a nearby opennd where a few dogs were eating.


    The sight made his face pale, his stomach churning, and he had vomited several times.


    He didn''t want to look, but Sean forced him to watch.


    In front of him, Alexander sat in a chair, a cigarette between his fingers, looking at him with a fake smile.


    "Mr. William, still not getting it?"


    Orion couldn''t speak this time. Only now did he realize that Alexander was even more twisted than he had imagined.


    Alexander continued, "If you are really unwilling to divorce, then widowhood is the only option."


    Orion, pale-faced, asked, "Aren''t you afraid my dad wille looking for me?"? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Alexander said leisurely, "So what if hees? If he can''t find your body, can he still frame me?"

 Chapter 793

    Orion''s eyes widened as he strained to look at Alexander. Alexander sat there, all smug, like a king judging a peasant. "But you," Alexander sneered, "you won''t get off so easy."


    Orion''s face twisted. "Why are you so messed up?"


    Alexander just shrugged. "Guess you don''t know me well enough, Mr. William. I can get a lot worse. Don''t get that divorce, and you''ll see."


    Orion''s face darkened, ring but speechless.


    Alexander leaned in. "You''re smart. You know once you''re dead, it''s game over."


    Orion looked down, silent, thinking, ''If I die, being Quinn''s husband means nothing. I''ve pushed Alexander too far. If I keep this up, he''s done ying.''? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Alexander smirked. "Made up your mind yet, Mr. William?"


    Orion opened his mouth, wanting to give in, but couldn''t. He didn''t want to give in to Alexander because he didn''t want to lose. But then he saw that hunting dog gnawing on a bloody bone and swallowed hard. ''If I die, what do I have left? Haunt him as a ghost?'' Orion thought.


    Alexander said, "Having backbone is good, but too much is just dumb."


    He stood up, ready to leave. "Looks like you''ve made your choice." "Wait!" Orion blurted out.


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    Alexander paused, ncing back.


    Orion closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and finally said, "I''ll get a divorce."


    Alexander smiled.


    "You win. I''ll agree to the divorce," Orion said weakly.


    "Guess your feelings aren''t that deep," Alexander scoffed.


    Orion didn''t argue, lying there like a rag doll. He''d never admitted defeat, not even to his father. The humiliation and anger almost crushed him. Alexander ignored him, walking away. "See you at City Hall at nine the day after tomorrow."


    Sean let go of Orion, who justy there, lifeless.


    Sean nudged him with his toe. "nning to sleep here? Need a nket?"


    Orion rolled his eyes at Sean.


    After a while, he sat up, looking defeated. "Does Alexander really have the guts?"


    Sean looked at him coldly. "Haven''t you figured it out? Be d you have a powerful dad and brother, or you''d be dog food by now."


    Orion frowned. Whenever someone mentioned his family, he felt annoyed. Without them, he was nothing. And deep down, he knew it was true.

 Chapter 794

    Killing him would be as easy for Alexander as squashing an ant. The only reason he dared to challenge Alexander recently was because of his own background, wasn''t it? Orion let out a self-mockingugh. "So, I should thank them then."


    "Of course you should thank them. Otherwise, do you think someone like you could waste so much of Mr. Kennedy''s time?" Sean scoffed.


    Mr. Kennedy just didn''t have the energy to deal with the William family right now; otherwise, he wouldn''t have tolerated Orion living this long. Orion stood up from the ground and dusted himself off, demanding, "Take me down!"


    "You can go down by yourself," Sean said coldly.


    "Are you seriously making me go down all this way by myself?" Orion couldn''t believe his ears.


    Sean nced at him. "You brought this on yourself. If you can''t even walk this little distance, how do you expect to go against Mr. Kennedy?"


    Orion was left speechless and finally walked away angrily.


    The road up the mountain was long; even driving took more than twenty minutes, so walking would definitely take a whole day!


    No wonder Alexander told him to go to City Hall the day after tomorrow!


    While Orion was still trekking, Alexander had already driven to Kennedy Residence.


    Although Wayne had already been buried, Kennedy Residence was busier than any day when he was alive.


    Kaitlyn was pacing back and forth in the yard, looking worried. Hearing the sound of a car, she looked up joyfully.


    Sure enough, it was Alexander''s car.


    The ck Bentley stopped in front of her, and Alexander got out.


    She ran up to him, grabbing his arm like she had found a lifeline. "Alexander, where have you been? These people are so shameless. No matter how much we try to drive them away, they just won''t budge. You have to think of something." Alexander nced at the vi ahead, where voices could still be heard faintly.


    "If they like it here, let them stay. Who cares what they do?" he remarked.


    "That''s easy for you to say. They pestering me every day, asking how to divide the inheritance. How am I supposed to answer?"


    Alexander sneered, pulled his arm back, and walked towards the house.


    As soon as he entered, the voices inside gradually quieted down.


    One of the women stood up and directly asked, "Now that the funeral is over, when are we going to distribute the inheritance? We can''t just wait here forever, can we?"


    Alexander turned his gaze towards the woman who had spoken.


    She had a justified look on her face, clearly determined not to leave without getting the money.


    Alexander walked to the main seat and sat down, casually scanning the people in the room before finally focusing on the woman who spoke, "And you are?"


    Ruth Gonzalez straightened her chest and said, "I''m Wayne''s girlfriend, and this is his son."


    "He left so much inheritance. We don''t need much. Just twenty million dors would be enough. Even if each of these people gets twenty million dors, it''s just a drop in the bucket. You and your mother can still keep most of it." "Howe I didn''t know he had so many children?"


    Another woman chimed in, "He didn''t tell you, so of course, you didn''t know!"


    "So, do you have any evidence to prove that you''re his girlfriend and that these people are his children?"


    Anna Scott said, "I have photos together with him and also paternity tests!"


    Alexander lit a cigarette slowly and said calmly, "Photos can be doctored, and paternity tests can be faked. They''re not exactly reliable."


    "What do you mean? Are you nning to hog all the inheritance?"


    "You''ve got a lot of nerve. With that much money, can you handle it?"


    "Exactly. Even though we don''t have official status, our children, as Wayne''s biological offspring, we have the right to inherit!"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    "If you try to back out, we''ll have to take legal action!"

 Chapter 795

    The room was a cacophony of voices, chaotic like a pot of boiling soup.


    Alexander quietly smoked, watching their performance as if observing a bunch of clowns.


    After a while of their incessant chatter without a word from Alexander, they gradually quieted down.


    Eventually, everyone turned to look at Alexander.


    "What''s on your mind? How do you want to deal with it? Alexander, if you don''t divide the inheritance, we''ll have to take this to court."


    Alexander casually flicked the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray and pondered. "Well, if you''re so keen on it, then show me the so-called paternity tests. I''ve got awyer, and I''ll have him take a look and determine whether the paternity tests you have are real or fake."


    They were here for the inheritance, so naturally, they had the paternity tests with them.


    Hearing his words, thinking he hadpromised, Ruth, who was the first to demand the inheritance, immediately took out the paternity test from her bag.


    "See it yourself!"


    Alexander took the paternity test from her. The creases were deep, but it was still rtively new, indicating it had been well-preserved.


    Others also took out their paternity tests and handed them over.


    Of course, some couldn''t produce theirs, either because they weren''t prepared or were just trying to take advantage of the situation.


    Alexander flipped through each one. By the time he finished, Kyle had arrived with thewyer.


    "Mr. Kennedy." Kyle greeted him.


    Alexander handed the paternity tests to Kyle. Understanding the gesture, Kyle nced at the tests and then, in front of everyone, tore them to pieces.


    The sound of tearing paper echoed in the room, shocking everyone.


    "What are you doing!"


    Someone panicked and tried to rush forward but was stopped by bodyguards who appeared out of nowhere.


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    Alexander coldly looked at the crowd. "Next time, remember to bring copies. If they''re originals, well, now they''re gone."


    "You''re out of line!"


    "What gives you the right to tearour stuff? Believe or not, I''ll sue you!"


    "You can''t do this! We just want some security, not the entire inheritance. You''re pushing us to the edge!"


    Alexander leaned back nonchntly and slowly spoke, "Just as well, I''ll ask thiswyer here, what should be done if someone impersonates a rtive and causes trouble?" Stanley Rogers said, "Causing trouble and harassment can lead to imprisonment for serious offenders."


    "When did we cause trouble? We''re here to reason!"


    "Yes! The inheritance rightfully belongs to us. We''re just fighting for our fair share!"


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Alexander retorted, "The inheritance belongs to you? Where''s the proof?"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    "Wasn''t it torn up by you!"


    Alexander raised an eyebrow. "You can eat anything, but you can''t say anything. If you can''t provide evidence, that''s another charge of defamation."


    Suddenly, a man burst out, pointing angrily at Alexander. "You''re shameless!"


    This man was in his twenties and did bear some resemnce to Wayne.


    Alexander smiled, "And who are you?"


    Ernest snapped, "It doesn''t matter who I am! Let me tell you, originally, I just wanted twenty million dors, but now, with all this going on, I''m demanding two hundred million dors!" He was indeed Wayne''s son, but unfortunately, he wasn''t the kind of person Wayne would have liked.


    Upon learning he was Wayne''s son, he chose to be a hedonist, never striving in school or work.


    Anyway, Wayne had money, and knowing his son couldn''t achieve much, Wayne gave him and his mother a million dors to get rid of them.

 Chapter 796

    Over the years, a million dors had long been squandered by him. Now that Wayne was dead, there was no one he could ask for money from, and he could no longer live a life of debauchery. Therefore, this time, no matter what, he had to get the money, at least to ensure that he could continue to enjoy himself for the rest of his life without working hard.


    Alexander sneered. "Two hundred million dors? Let me tell you, you ain''t getting a single penny."


    "What makes you think you can decide Dad''s inheritance distribution?"


    Stanley then chimed in, "Everyone, please quiet down a bit. I''m here to announce something else." Everyone looked at Stanley.


    Stanley took a document out of his briefcase and showed it to everyone.


    "I am Wayne''swyer. Here''s the will he had me draft, signed by him personally. You can take a look."


    He opened the document, took out a thick stack of copies, and passed them around.


    After reading it, Ernest tore the will in half and threw it heavily on the ground. "Don''t try to fool me! His death was an ident. How could he have made a will!"


    Stanley said, "This is indeed the will Wayne made, and it was made ten years ago. The date is clearly written on it."


    "Who knows if this is real! Maybe you all conspired to create a fake will to deceive us!"


    Stanley replied, "If you don''t believe it, you can verify it at the probate office. I am awyer, and I can vouch for the authenticity of this will with my reputation!" These words almost sealed their fate.


    The will stated that if he had an ident or died, Alexander would inherit fifteen percent of the deposits and cash, and the remaining five percent, including all real estate and immovable property, would be inherited by Kaitlyn, Freya, and Valerie, respectively.


    Freya was still in prison, and Valerie had long been dead. The remaining five percent would all go to Alexander.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    They really wouldn''t get a single penny.


    Many people were deted, but a few were still not convinced.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    "Fine, we''ll check it!" Ernest said stubbornly. "You really think I wouldn''t dare to check?"


    With that, he took his mother and left, and a few others who were unwilling to give up followed. They were going to verify the will. Kaitlyn also looked at the will and found that she could only inherit two percent of the five percent. She instantly became unsettled. ''Wasn''t it agreed that I could inherit half?''


    ''Although it is still over four billion dors,pared to two hundred billion dors, the gap is toorge!'' She calcted in her mind. Meanwhile, at thepany, Walter and Landon also learned about the news.


    After reading the will on their phones, Walter couldn''t help butugh.


    Landon casually threw the tablet on the table and sneered. "Ten years ago, Alexander hadn''t even joined the Kennedy Group, and Wayne had already made a will."


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! When Wayne was young, he was obsessed with having an excellent heir. He went around selecting outstanding women to have children with just to cultivate an excellent heir.


    He had so much money that he would do things that ordinary people couldn''t understand for fun.


    And ten years ago, Alexander hadn''t yet joined the Kennedy Group, so it was obviously unrealistic for Wayne to have made a will then.


    Walter said, "It''s normal. Wayne valued Alexander a lot back then. Although I don''t know what happenedter, the will is real. Those wealthy people often make wills early to prevent idents."


    Then Walter shifted gears. "However, this is a will from ten years ago. With everything that has happened in recent years, the rtionship between the father and son has deteriorated. Wayne must have made changes to the will." "Therefore, this will is definitely not the real one. You should try to find Wayne''s recent will from the past few years. There will definitely be new findings," Walter added.


    Landon raised an eyebrow.


    Alexander was truly audacious.


    If the real will were found, just the fact that Alexander had tampered with the will would be enough to ruin him.

 Chapter 797

    Landon said, "Wayne''s will has never been made public. As it stands, thatwyer Stanley is already on Alexander''s side. To get thetest will, we have to start with him."


    "We can give it a shot," Walter said, fiddling with his phone, looking thoughtful.


    Landon nced at him a few times. "But I''m really afraid you''ll switch sides at any moment."


    Walter chuckled. "Have you ever heard of the art of ruling? Like a double-edged sword, if you wield it well, you can y enemies. But if you wield it poorly and you''ll harm yourself." Landon didn''t say anything but agreed with him; otherwise, he wouldn''t have let him sit here.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Meanwhile, at Kennedy Residence, after sending those people away, Kaitlyn found Alexander and questioned him about the inheritance.


    Alexander said, "The will is very clearly. If you want to know what''s going on, you''ll have to ask Wayne."


    "You..." Kaitlyn was no longer daring to confront Alexander.


    He had inherited the estate, Wayne was dead, and she had no background or support. From now on, she would have to rely entirely on this son. Suddenly, Kaitlyn seemed to understand Wayne''s fear of him.


    The oppression from a son she had raised with her own hands was indeed suffocating, making her feel both angry and powerless to speak out. Alexander got up and walked out.


    As he passed by the main building and saw the heap of charred ruins, he paused for a moment.


    Kyle also nced at it. The building no longer resembled its original form, just a heap of useless debris.


    "Mr. Kennedy, should we get someone to clear this rubble?"


    "Clear it and rebuild it exactly as it was."


    Kyle was momentarily stunned, a bit puzzled, but after thinking it over, he realized it made sense. Thisnd was not only valuable but had housed several generations. It would be a shame for it to remain a ruin. "Alright, I''ll get someone on it right away."


    Alexander got into the car and headed straight for the hospital.


    He had Kyle bring a copy of the divorce agreement, pushed open the hospital room door, and found Quinn lying on the couch, bored, watching cartoons.


    "Mr. Kennedy," Olivia stood up to greet him.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    Alexander nodded, indicating she could leave.


    Olivia quickly packed up and left the hospital. She was experienced now; when Alexander told her to leave, it meant she coulde back the next day.


    After Olivia left, Alexander sat down next to Quinn.


    Quinn only noticed him then but just nced at him before continuing to look at her phone.


    Alexander asked, "How are you feeling today?"


    "I feel great," Quinn said, then nced at Alexander again. "Can I be discharged now?"


    "Not yet," he replied.


    Hearing his words, Quinn deted again and continued looking at her phone.


    Alexander raised his hand to ruffle her hair. "But if you feel bored, I can take you out to have some fun."


    Quinn blinked and looked up at him. "Where to?"


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! "Wherever you want to go, I''ll take you."


    Quinn tilted her head and thought for a moment. "I want to ride a roller coaster."


    "Alright."


    Alexander took out the divorce agreement and ced it on the table. "Sign this first, and I''ll take you tomorrow."


    Quinn nced at the divorce agreement. She couldn''t recognize all the words and didn''t know what it was.


    "What is this?" she asked.


    Alexander, with a straight face, spun a tale, "Oh, this is just an application form for going out to have fun. Since you''re a patient right now, you can''t just go out without the doctor''s permission." "Okay then," Quinn replied.


    He handed her a pen. "Sign it."


    Quinn took the pen, ced her phone in his hand, then leaned over the table and carefully signed her name where he indicated.

 Chapter 798

    "Alright." Quinn handed the pen back to him.


    He picked up the divorce agreement and nced at it. Her handwriting was very crude, almost like a child''s first attempts at writing-crooked and barely legible. "Very good." He smiled and praised her.


    Quinn grinned and then rested her head on hisp, picking up her phone to watch cartoons.


    Her arm got tired from holding the phone, so she poked his chest, demanding, "Hold this for me."


    Alexander took the phone and adjusted it to a good angle, and held it up for her to watch.


    Quinn noticed the bandage wrapped around his hand and asked curiously, "Are you wearing a glove or something?"


    He nced at the bandage on his hand and responded indifferently.


    Quinn acknowledged and continued to focus on her phone. Her eyes were glued to the screen, watching intently. After a while, she felt ufortable and shifted to a side-lying position. Alexander looked down at her cheek, his expression somewhat inscrutable.


    The divorce agreementy quietly on the table. A breeze from the window lifted the pages, revealing the name she had just signed.


    It wasn''t raining tonight, and a few stars were visible, but it was still very cold.


    Quinny on hisp, and as she watched, her eyelids began to droop.


    It was clear she loved watching cartoons. Just as her eyes were about to close, she forced them open again, only to have them slowly close after a few seconds.


    Alexander''s arm rested on the back of the sofa, holding the phone. He found her struggle to stay awake amusing.


    When her eyes were wide open, her bright pupils and curled eyshes could be seen clearly, making her like a kitty.


    In the end, she couldn''t fight off the sleepiness. She rubbed her eyes, reached out to hug the man''s waist, and fell asleep with her face pressed against his stomach. Alexander turned off the phone and casually tossed it onto the sofa.


    She slept soundly, but her position made him ufortable.


    He tried to pry Quinn''s hands off, but as soon as he did, she clung back to him, even nuzzling against his leg.


    Alexander''s expression turnedplicated.


    Before long, she groggily opened her eyes. She squinted and looked up at the man above her.


    His lips were tightly pressed together as he gazed deeply at her.


    Quinn felt something hard and reached up to touch it. "What''s this? A phone?"


    He grabbed her hand and effortlessly lifted her up. "Go sleep on the bed."


    Alexander ced her on the bed and pulled up the nket to cover her. Just as he was about to get up, Quinn grabbed his shirt.


    He looked down and saw her clear eyes staring straight at him.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    "I don''t want to sleep alone." Quinn pouted.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Alexander looked at her in silence for a moment.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Her eyes gradually took on a look of pity and pleading. Under the light, they appeared very watery, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.


    Finally, Alexander resigned and sat down beside her. "Alright, I''ll stay with you."


    Quinn''s worry turned to joy.


    He sat at the head of the bed next to her but didn''t lie down.


    Quinn didn''t mind and hugged his waist, continuing to sleep.


    His waist was firm, just like her dad''s, which made her feel safe.


    Quinn slept soundly that night, without any nightmares, and woke up at dawn.


    When she woke up, she was still hugging his waist in the same position as the night before.


    He was also leaning against the headboard, eyes closed, still asleep.


    She let go of him, lifted the nket, and got up to go to the bathroom. As soon as she moved, Alexander woke up.

 Chapter 799

    Quinn came out of the bathroom just as Olivia arrived with breakfast.


    Knowing Alexander was there, she brought enough for two.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    The food she brought was light, which Quinn didn''t like, so she only took a few bites before taking some medicine.


    She always needed to be coaxed into taking her medicine. Alexander, with great patience, promised to take her out for some fun. Only then would she take the pills. After she took the medicine, Alexander had Olivia help her change clothes, picked up the divorce papers from the table, and then took Quinn out of the hospital. However, when they arrived at City Hall, Orion did not show up.


    Alexander sat in the car and called Sean.


    "Where''s Orion?"


    Sean replied, "He went down the mountain the day before yesterday afternoon. Didn''t he go to City Hall?"


    Alexander squinted his eyes and hung up.


    He dialed Orion''s number again, but no one answered.


    Quinn, feeling bored in her seat, tugged on Alexander''s sleeve. "Let''s go ride the roller coaster."


    "Wait a moment," Alexander said, busy on his phone without looking at her.


    Quinn pouted, ring at him.


    Alexander drove to the parking lot but didn''t get out of the car and just parked there.


    Quinn sat in the car for half an hour, her butt starting to hurt. She gradually became angry.


    "You''re a liar!" she red at Alexander angrily.


    Alexander received a call and ignored her.


    It was Kyle calling, saying that Orion had gone missing on his way down the mountain.


    Kyle said, "We''ve checked the surveince near the bottom of the mountain, but we didn''t see hime down."


    "But even though the road down from halfway up the mountain is long, it''s a straight highway, not dangerous. Could he be hiding in the mountain?" Alexander tappped his fingers on the steering wheel, staring at the City Hall entrance not far ahead.


    After a moment, he said, "Send someone to search for him."


    "We''ve already sent people, but there''s no surveince on that road. If he really went missing there, it might be difficult to find him."


    Alexander didn''t speak, his expression bing serious.


    Driving up that road takes only a few dozen minutes, and a round trip would be less than an hour.


    Soon, Kyle called back, saying they hadn''t found him.


    "Mr. Kennedy, it seems he''s really missing. Could he have changed his mind and run off to hide in the mountain?"


    Alexander said, "Send people to search in the mountains."


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! "They''ve already gone, but the mountains are huge on both sides, and we might not find him."


    Alexander coldly said, "He''s not an idiot; hiding won''t do him any good."


    "Then what''s going on?"


    "Most likely, someone is trying to frame me."


    Kyle was shocked and instantly understood what he meant. "Is it possible that Landon is trying to set you up?"


    "Go find him. Quickly."


    "I got it."


    Kyle didn''t dare dy. He hung up the phone and immediately sent people to search.


    If it was really as Mr. Kennedy said, Orion might be in serious trouble.


    After all, everyone knew about the grudge between Orion and Alexander, and Mr. William knew toost time, Orion almost died at Alexander''s hands.


    If something happened to Orion, Charles would definitely suspect that Alexander was behind it.

 Chapter 800

    At that time, Alexander would have one more opponent.


    Mr. William, although displeased with his son for being unproductive and hedonic, still cared for his own child. Moreover, Ryan was no pushover. Given how much he doted on Orion, if something happened to Orion, Ryan wouldn''t let it slide. The day before yesterday, many people had seen Orion being taken away by Alexander at the mall. Now that Orion had disappeared on the way down the mountain, anyone would suspect Alexander.


    Landon seized the opportunity and discreetly made a move on Orion.


    Sean was now deeply regretting not sending Orion down himself.


    Now, he was in trouble again.


    Fortunately, they had kept Orion''s jacket from yesterday. He took a search dog and went searching with Orion''s clothes.


    Quinn was still pestering Alexander to take her to the amusement park.


    But Alexander drove straight back to Regal Riverside.


    Because Olivia called to say that the William family hade looking for them.


    When they got back to Regal Riverside, they saw three luxury cars parked at the entrance before they even got out of the car.


    Alexander got out of the car and walked in with Quinn.


    In the living room, Ryan and Charles were sitting on the sofa, with Olivia treating them.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you''re back!" Olivia sighed in relief upon seeing him return.


    Charles immediately stood up and walked briskly towards Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, you''re finally back. We''ve been waiting for you." His tone was polite, but the barely suppressed anger on his face was evident.


    Alexander said, "Why didn''t you inform me in advance? Almost made you wait."


    Just as Charles was about to speak, Ryan stepped forward and spoke first, "Sorry about dropping by unannounced, Mr. Kennedy."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Orion''s been missing since you took him away the day before yesterday. Wewanted to ask you where Orion is now."


    In essence, they were here to demand Orion''s return.


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    Alexander walked inside and sat down on the sofa.


    When Charles saw his unhurried demeanor, his anger became more apparent, almost uncontroble.


    After sitting down, Alexander said, "I did take him away, but I don''t know where he is now."


    Ryan said, "Orion is mischievous. If he has offended Mr. Kennedy in any way, I apologize on his behalf. Please forgive him and don''t hold it against him." "Although he often angers our father, he is still a member of the William family. If anything happens to him, we won''t be able to exin it to our ancestors." Ryan''s words were more polite than Charles''s, but they carried a clear threat.


    He was telling Alexander that although the William family didn''t want to be enemies with the Kennedy family, it didn''t mean they were afraid.


    Alexander looked at him calmly and, after he finished speaking, suddenly chuckled.


    "Mr. Kennedy, what''s so funny?"


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! "If I wanted to kill Orion, do you think he would still be breathing?"


    Ryan''s brow furrowed slightly.


    Alexander said, "However, he did go missing while in my care. I don''t deny that. I''ve got people looking for him, so don''t worry, I''ll get to the bottom of this. You can trust me on that." Charles said, "We don''t just want an answer; we want the person, alive and well!"


    "I''ll find the person for sure. But as for his condition when found, I can''t promise you anything."


    "You..."


    Alexander interrupted him, "It''s Orion who''s been causing trouble, going against me time and again. I warned you before, you gotta keep your son in check."


    "Now that he''s missing, that''s on you, not me. I''ve agreed to help you find him, and that''s me doing my bit. If you wanna me me for this mess, then I guess there''s nothing more to say." When Charles heard these words, his face gradually turned red with anger.


    Ryan remained calm and stepped forward, saying, "Alright, since you''ve made it clear that Orion''s missing ain''t on you, can we at least get a solid timeline on this ''result'' you mentioned?"

 Chapter 801

    Alexander rubbed his watch with his fingers, staring into Ryan''s eyes. The two of them locked gazes for a moment. He suddenly spoke, "Can''t give you one."


    Ryan almost lost hisposure, but Alexander quickly added, "But it definitely won''t take more than three days."


    Ryan, who was about to blow up, suppressed his anger. "Fine, we''ll wait for the good news."


    With that, he nced at Charles, signaling to leave.


    Once they got in the car, Charles finally let out his pent-up anger. "Alexander is so arrogant!"


    Ryan nced at the rearview mirror, which reflected the vi''s gate. He said in a deep voice, "I''ve heard rumors about trouble brewing within the Kennedys family, and now it seems to be true."


    "What does that have to do with us? Their own family drama spilling over to the William family, that''s just not right!"


    Ryan said, "Haven''t you noticed that Alexander has been dodging any involvement with us? Someone is deliberately trying to drag us into this mess."


    Charles was taken aback. "What do you mean?"


    "I can''t say for sure, but from what he said, it seems someone is trying to frame him. Therefore, Orion is probably in great danger right now. We need to find him quickly; the longer we wait, the worse it will be for him."


    "Would these people really dare to harm Orion?"


    "It''s entirely possible. If something happens to Orion, we''ll definitely go after Alexander." Ryan rubbed his aching temples.


    "But the person behind this isn''t stupid. They won''t harm Orion directly; they''ll probably wait to see how we handle Alexander. If we go after him, Orion''s chances get even slimmer."


    Charles'' heart skipped a beat at these words as herealized why Ryan had stopped him from getting angry earlier.


    He silently cursed himself for being too impatient and losing hisposure.


    "Well then, let''s not waste any more time. Let''s go find Orion!"


    Ryan nodded slightly. "Let''s hit the road."


    The car slowly started and left Regal Riverside.


    Inside the house, Quinn sat nearby, sulking.


    Alexander had broken his promise to take her to the amusement park and had brought her here instead, which was no fun at all.


    Alexander leaned back on the sofa, hiding all his emotions, with a hint of fatigue showing on his face.


    He closed his eyes and didn''t look at Quinn.


    After sulking for a while and seeing that he had no intention of paying attention to her, Quinn walked over and sat next to him, tugging at his sleeve. Alexander opened his eyes and turned to look at her, just staring without saying a word.


    Quinn clutched his sleeve, looking at him expectantly. "Let''s go y."


    He reached out and touched her cheek. His hand, wrapped in bandages, felt a bit itchy on her face.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    The man stared at her deeply for a long time before speaking, "How about we go y in a couple of days?"


    Quinn shook her head. "I want to go now."


    Alexander chuckled, "You really want to go now?"


    "Yes!"


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    "Alright, let''s go." Alexander stood up and led her out of the vi.


    Quinn was delighted, happily following behind him.


    Once they got in the car, Alexander drove straight to the amusement park.


    The amusement park was crowded, and Alexander held her hand the entire time.


    They had nned to ride the roller coaster, but once they got inside, she kept looking around, buying this and that.


    Food, toys, she bought a bunch of stuff.


    With a coffee in one hand and candy in the other, she spotted an ice cream stand.


    Quinn tugged at his sleeve and pointed to the ice cream.


    Alexander pulled her along. "You can''t have it."


    "I want it!"


    "You''re still sick; you can''t eat it." This time, Alexander was firm and had no intention of buying it for her.

 Chapter 802

    Not sure if it was his terrifying expression or the sadness of not getting ice cream, she pouted and stared straight at Alexander, on the verge of tears. Alexander softened his tone, patting her head, saying, "Be good. You can have some when you get better."


    "I want it now, buy it for me!"


    "No."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    So, she lost her temper and threw the coffee and candy in her hand to the ground. "I want it now!"


    A vein throbbed on Alexander''s forehead.


    When she saw that he still wasn''t buying it, she started crying loudly.


    Her crying drew the attention of people around them.


    Alexander stood there, feeling embarrassed for the first time in his life.


    Quinn squatted on the ground, crying without any regard for her image, and the onlookers couldn''t help but chuckle.


    A passing five-year-old boy pointed at her and said, "That girl is already grown up and still crying. Isn''t she embarrassed?"


    When Quinn this, her crying softened a bit, and she turned to look at the little boy.


    Alexander squatted down in front of her. "Alright, stop crying."


    Quinn sniffled and looked at him, clearly still wanting the ice cream.


    Alexander stared at her for a moment and finally gave in. "Alright, I''ll buy it for you, but you can only have one bite." "Only one bite?" She looked pitiful, clearly not happy with the condition.


    "Otherwise, no ice cream."


    "Okay, just one bite!!" Afraid he would change his mind, she grabbed his sleeve.


    Alexander pulled her up, but she squatted down again to pick up the candy and coffee from the ground.


    Alexander took the items from her hand and casually threw them into the trash can. "They''re dirty, we''ll buy new ones."


    Quinn wiped the tears from her face, nodded, and followed him to buy the ice cream.


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    To prevent her from eating more, Alexander held it in his hand and let her take one bite.


    When she reached out to take it, he raised his hand to dodge her. "We agreed. Just one bite."


    Quinn stared longingly at the ice cream, stuck out her tongue, and licked the cream around her lips. "Didn''t you want to ride the roller coaster? Let''s go."


    Alexander threw the remaining ice cream into the trash can and led her to the roller coaster.


    After half an hour in line, they finally got on the roller coaster.


    Quinn forgot about the ice cream and sat in her seat, excitedly waiting for the ride to start.


    As the roller coaster slowly started, she nervously grabbed Alexander''s hand.


    When the roller coaster ascended, her excited screams joined those of the other riders.


    Alexander turned his head slightly, watching her happy smile. The wind tousled her hair, strands brushing against his cheek, seemingly blurring his vision.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 00005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! After one round on the roller coaster, Quinn still wanted more.


    She pulled Alexander and pointed to the drop tower in the distance.


    Alexander''s eyelid twitched slightly.


    When she wanted something, if she didn''t get it, she would do whatever it took, even if it meant throwing a tantrum. Alexander was powerless against her stubbornness. However, while they were in line, the hospital called to say Getty had woken up.


    "Got it."


    After saying this, he put his phone away and got on the drop tower with Quinn. It had been less than two months since his surgery.


    It was easy to imagine what his condition would be after such intense activities.


    After getting off, he leaned against the nearby railing, pressing his abdomen. His face was pale, and a bit of cold sweat had appeared on his forehead.


    Quinn ran over and hugged his arm. "What''s wrong with you?"

 Chapter 803

    Alexander took a moment to catch his breath, exhaling deeply. His expression returned to normal.


    "I''m fine. What do you want to do next?"


    Quinn looked around and didn''t see anything she wanted to y with at the moment. She pointed to the distance. "Let''s go over there and take a look." "Okay."


    Now it was Quinn pulling Alexander along, not the other way around.


    Finally, Quinn discovered the pirate ship ride.


    Alexander was silent.


    It was better than the drop tower, a bit less intense.


    But not by much, it was on par with the roller coaster.


    Afterwards, she wanted to go on the space shuttle and cliff swing rides. She didn''t even nce at the gentle rides like the Ferris wheel.


    Because when her dad used to take her to the amusement park, they only rode the Ferris wheel and carousel. He never let her go on the thrilling rides.


    So, she dragged Alexander along and went on all the exciting rides her parents never let her try before.


    After trying all the rides, she finally left the amusement park,pletely satisfied.


    As for Alexander, he sat in the car, his face pale, and his hands shaking as he gripped the steering wheel.


    It wasn''t from fear, but from pain.


    Quinn sipped her coffee, seemingly not noticing his pale face, and handed him her coffee.


    "Do you want some?" she asked.


    Alexander waved away her coffee, resting in his seat for a full half hour before mustering the strength to drive Quinn back to the hospital.


    When they arrived at the hospital, they saw the doctor asking Olivia where the patient had gone.


    Olivia didn''t know either. When she saw them at the door, she eximed with joy, "They''re back!"


    The doctor saw the two of them and was about to say something, but Alexander copsed as soon as he walked in.


    This startled the doctor.


    Quinn was also frightened. She dropped her snacks and knelt on the ground, shaking Alexander. The doctor pulled her away and called for a stretcher to take Alexander to the emergency room. Quinn stood there, bewildered. She didn''t understand why Alexander had suddenly copsed. Olivia stepped forward tofort her. "It''s okay, Mr. Kennedy is probably just exhausted."


    Quinn blinked, thinking, ''Since we have yed so long in the amusement park, he must be tired.'' ''But his health is really poor. I am also tired and I didn''t copse at all.''


    Kyle rushed to the hospital after getting the news. Alexander had already been transferred to a room next to Quinn''s.


    He asked the doctor, "What''s going on? Why did he copse again?"Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "We''re not sure what he did, but his surgical stitches haven''t even been removed yet, and now they''re all torn open."


    Kyle frowned, feeling like Alexander was courting death.


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    "Is it just the stitches that tore?"


    "It''s definitely more than just a simple wound split. His injury hasn''t been healing well. A few days ago, his wound already split once, plus inhaling so much smoke, the check-up revealed he has mild hypoxemia." "What''s that illness?"


    "It''s aplication from carbon monoxide poisoning, one of themon critical conditions in respiratory medicine."


    Kyle didn''t hear anything else, just the word "critical." "Is his life in danger?"


    "At the moment, it''s not too serious. As long as he stops pushing himself and takes care of his body, he won''t be in life-threatening danger. Otherwise, there''s a high risk of respiratory failure in theter stages, with a very high mortality rate." Kyle became tense, silently thinking to himself, ''What if Alexander doesn''t end up dying at Landon''s hands, but at his own instead?''


    He asked the doctor for some precautions and then thought about finding someone to take care of Alexander.


    Otherwise, at this rate, Alexander might die before Quinn.


    But after thinking it over, it seemed like no one could manage him!


    Except for Quinn.


    But given Quinn''s current condition, she could barely take care of herself, let alone Alexander.

 Chapter 804

    Kyle walked dejectedly into Quinn''s ward.


    Quinn was sitting properly on the sofa, waiting for Alexander to return.


    But it was Kyle who showed up.


    She stood up, ran to Kyle, and asked, "Where''s Alexander?"


    Kyle sighed. "He''s in the next room. What did you guys do today?"


    Quinn tilted her head and thought for a moment, counting on her fingers, replying, "Roller coaster, that really tall one, the spinning one, and a bunch more."


    They had tried seven or eight rides, but aside from the roller coaster, she didn''t know the names of the others.


    But as Kyle listened, his forehead started to throb, and he couldn''t help but think, ''Oh boy.''


    Seeing Kyle''s expression change, Quinn paused her counting and asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Kyle thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Kennedy, he''s not in good shape right now. He can''t do those things, or he could die."


    "What does ''die'' mean?"


    Kyle was silent.


    He actually thought Quinn could keep Alexander in check.


    He took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said, "Dying means you''ll never see him again. He''ll be gone from the world."


    "So next time, don''t let him do those things, okay?"


    Quinn lowered her head and was silent for a while. She thought, ''Does this mean we can never go out and y again?''


    After a moment, she reluctantly said, "Okay."


    "He''s in the next room. Go check on him."


    Kyle still had to find Orion, so he didn''t have time to take care of Alexander. Fortunately, Olivia was there, and Quinn''s condition was stable for now. As long as she didn''t pull out Alexander''s IV, everything would be fine. But Kyle didn''t realize that letting Quinn take care of Alexander was the biggest danger.


    Quinn went to the next room, where Alexander was still unconscious.


    She walked over and stared at him for a moment.


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    He was dressed in the same clothes as her, lying quietly on the bed, looking like he was just asleep.


    With no expression on his face, his thin lips tightly pressed together, and his tousled hair falling down, he didn''t look as intimidating anymore.


    Quinn, thinking he looked handsome, reached out to poke his cheek.


    Olivia said, "Mrs. Mellon, don''t disturb him. He is sleeping."


    "Okay."


    Quinn sheepishly withdrew her hand, sat down on a stool, rested her chin in her hands, and stared at him.


    She was still waiting for him to take her home.


    Olivia handed a wrung-out towel to Quinn. "Mrs. Mellon, could you help him wipe his face?"Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Quinn looked at the towel, nodded, took it, spread it out, and ced it on the man''s face. She then began to haphazardly wipe his face with both hands pressing down on the towel. Olivia thought there shouldn''t be any problem for Quinn with just wiping his face, so she took the basin to change the water.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 5s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! As Quinn wiped his face, she pressed both hands firmly against his face, trying to clean him thoroughly.


    She didn''t notice that Alexander''s fingers twitched slightly as hey unconscious.


    The next second, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, startling her into a yelp.


    The hand let go of her and removed the towel from his face, as he breathed heavily.


    He saw Quinn beside him and closed his eyes again, trying to steady his breathing.


    Quinn called out softly, "Alexander."


    After about a minute, his breathing finally steadied.


    Alexander opened his eyes, turned to look at her, and weakly said, "Were you trying to smother me just now?"


    Quinn waved her hands repeatedly. "No, I was wiping your face."


    Alexander remembered something, raised his hand, and looked at what he was holding.


    It was a thick, heavy towel.

 Chapter 805

    "Thank you for your hard work." He tossed the towel aside, his tone not sounding like apliment.


    But Quinn couldn''t tell and thought he was genuinely praising her.


    She grinned and shook her head, saying, "It wasn''t hard for me. I wiped your face and then you woke up. Am I amazing or what?"


    Alexander fell silent after hearing this. After a long pause, he finally said, "Yes, you are amazing."


    Although he was woken up in a rather unpleasant way. In a sense, she was indeed amazing for sessfully waking him up.


    Quinn''s smile grew even brighter. She sat down next to him, grabbing his arm with both hands. "You need to get better soon. You still haven''t taken me home."


    Alexander turned his head to the other side and closed his eyes, ignoring her.


    Quinn circled around to his left and said, "Why are you so quiet? Don''t tell me you don''t want to take me home anymore?"


    Alexander turned his head again.


    Unrelenting, Quinn circled back.


    A vein throbbed on Alexander''s forehead.


    Seeing that he seemed angry, Quinn looked at him, puzzled. "What''s wrong with you?"


    "Could you just like be a bit quieter?"


    Quinn blinked. Instead of quieting down, she pressed on, "So, are you gonna take me home?"


    Alexander sighed and closed his eyes wearily.


    His silence made Quinn anxious. "Why aren''t you saying anything!"


    Olivia came out and saw the situation. She immediately stepped forward and pulled Quinn aside. "Mrs. Mellon, Mr. Kennedy needs to rest. Let''s wait until he''s feeling better to talk."


    Quinn nced at the person on the bed, saying, "But he hasn''t promised to take me home yet."


    "Even if he promises now, he can''t leave. Just drop it, okay?"


    Quinn thought about it and realized it made sense. She reluctantly sat back down next to Alexander.


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    In a very soft, almost whispering voice, she said to Alexander, "Alexander, I won''t talk anymore. You need to get better soon."


    Alexander opened his eyes and stared straight at her.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    The worry on her face didn''t seem fake, but it was unclear whether she was worried about him or about not being able to go home.


    After a while, Alexander propped himself up and sat against the headboard, looking at her.


    Quinn asked, "Aren''t you going to rest?"


    "I''m done resting."


    "So soon? Does that mean you''re all better now?"


    Alexander pressed his lips together and said nothing.


    Quinn awkwardly covered her mouth, indicating she wouldn''t speak anymore.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Alexander picked up his phone and called Kyle, asking if he had found Orion.


    Kyle said, "We''re still looking. Sean brought a dog and it picked up Orion''s scent. We should find him soon."


    "I see."


    Somewhere in the mountains, a figure was sprinting with a group of people chasing behind.


    It was getting dark, and visibility in the forest was low.


    As Orion ran, he cursed Alexander in his mind, ''I''ve already agreed to the divorce, yet this jerk still sent people to hunt me down!''


    Earlier, while he was halfway down the mountain, a few people suddenly emerged from the forest. Realizing they were after him, he ran without a second thought.


    The group chasing him was well-trained, and he couldn''t outrun them, so he had to jump over a fence and run into the forest.


    Using the dim light andplex terrain, he temporarily got rid of them, but he himself also got lost and couldn''t find a way out.


    He wandered in the forest for a whole day and night. With no phone signal, he could only walk aimlessly through the woods. Unfortunately, he ran into that group again, forcing him to resume his escape.

 Chapter 806

    He didn''t know what these people were up to, but judging by the situation, he knew if he got caught, it wouldn''t end well for him.


    Orion hadn''t eaten all day and was extremely hungry. On top of that, he had to evade the pursuers behind him, and he was on the verge of losing his mind. The lights behind him asionally swept over him, and the dense footsteps were getting closer. All these signs told him that danger was approaching. Orion gritted his teeth and used all his strength to dash forward.


    This was a mountainous area, full of slopes and uneven ground. Suddenly, his foot slipped, and a sense of weightlessness overwhelmed him instantly. He let out a cry as his entire body rolled uncontrobly down the slope.


    The world spun around him. His mind went nk, and all the surrounding scenery became distorted in his vision.


    The people chasing him stopped at the slope, shining their shlights downward. They could vaguely see the figure rolling farther and farther away. "Should we keep chasing?"


    The leader stared at the figure rolling away until it disappeared from sight. He figured that the slope was very steep, and if Orion didn''t die from the fall, he''d at least be seriously injured.


    "Let''s go around and search for him."


    After all, the forest was vast, and he couldn''t escape.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    The slope was indeed very steep. When Orion rolled halfway down, his head hit a rock, and he lost consciousness.


    At the bottom of the slope, there was another figure with a backpack approaching. Seeing something rolling down the hill, this person quickly stepped aside.


    But it was toote. Orion was rolling too fast, and in the blink of an eye, he collided with the person.


    They crashed into each other hard, hitting the person''s leg. The impact caused the person to fall backward, hitting their head on a tree trunk and copsing straight down. They fell on top of Orion.


    It was unclear how much time had passed before Orion slowly regained consciousness.


    Orion clutched his forehead, taking a deep breath in pain.


    He shook his head and was about to get up when he realized something was pressing down on him.


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    He raised his hand to push the object off and sat up from the ground. It was still pitch dark around him, indicating that it wasn''t dawn yet.


    But fortunately, he had shaken off those people.


    A groan of pain came from beside him, startling Orion.


    He fumbled around on the ground, found a rock, and swung it at the person next to him.


    Sensing the danger, the person rolled away, dodging the rock, which then hit the dirt.


    A blinding light then shone on Orion''s face, and he reflexively raised his hand to block it.


    After a day and night of turmoil, Orion could no longer contain his anger and shouted at the person, "Damn! I''ve already agreed to the divorce! What more does that bastard Alexander want?!" "Alexander?"


    Hearing this voice, Orion was taken aback. He squinted against the blinding light and looked at the person in front of him.


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    This person had short hair, wore a ck jacket, and had arge backpack on the ground beside them.


    They looked like a man, but their voice was female.


    "Who are you?"


    "And who are you? Why were you calling Alexander a bastard?"


    Orion looked at her warily. "What''s your rtionship with Alexander?"


    "I''m not rted to him, but if you were just dissing Alexander, we might just be friends."


    Orion was puzzled. He thought inwardly, ''So, dissing Alexander makes us friends, meaning this person is also Alexander''s enemy?''


    ''That scumbag is really up to no good, making enemies left and right. You bump into anyone, and they''re probably his enemy.''


    "I have a friend who was with him, but I haven''t been able to contact her for a long time. I suspect something''s wrong, so I snuck back to check out Alexander''s secret base to see if she''s locked up in there by him," the woman chimed in. Orion sighed at that. "Your friend is probably in trouble. You don''t know. He''s got a bunch of wild beasts up on his hill. I saw him feed someone to the dogs once, it''s sickening!"


    "What did you say?"

 Chapter 807

    Abigail grabbed Orion by the cor. "Did you say that douchebag killed Quinn?" Orion, choking from the grip on his cor, was even more shocked by her words.


    "Did you mention Quinn?"


    "You know Quinn, too?"


    They stared at each other, the shlight tossed aside, its beam stretching far into the forest, illuminating the ground covered with fallen leaves and twigs.


    The people chasing Orion saw the light and started heading their way.


    "Damn! They''reing after us." Orion quickly got up from the ground, looking around frantically. Realizing he was lost, he turned to Abigail, asking, "Do you know the way out?" "Yes. Who are those people?" Abigail asked.


    "I don''t know. Maybe Alexander sent them to catch me. Stop asking questions. Just get me out of here first!" Orion urged.


    Hearing this, Abigail gave Orion another look. She bent down to grab the bag on the ground, "Follow me!"


    She pulled Orion along at a quick pace in the other direction.


    Orion was impressed by her; carrying such a big bag and still running so fast, she didn''t seem like an ordinary woman.


    Abigail led him through twists and turns, making him dizzy. After running for about half an hour, they finally stopped. "Why did we stop?" Orion asked.


    "Take a break." Abigail said, letting go of him and cing her backpack on the ground. She pulled out a bottle of water and tossed it to him, then grabbed one for herself and sat down on the backpack. Orion, both hungry and thirsty, sat down and finished the entire bottle of water.


    After a moment, Abigail asked, "You mentioned Quinn earlier. Is she really dead?"


    Orion choked on the water, coughed several times, and patted his chest to steady himself. "No, she''s not dead. She''s alive, just not in a great situation."


    "What happened? Tell me quickly!" Abigail demanded.


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    Orion nced at her, saying, "Can''t exin it all right now. Got any snacks?"


    Frowning, Abigail rummaged in her bag and tossed him a few bags of cookies.


    "Your bag sure holds a lot," Orion remarked as he tore open the packaging and started devouring the crackers.


    Abigail waited quietly for him to finish eating.


    Feeling revived after eating and drinking, Orion finally felt alive again.


    Abigail urged him, "Hurry up and tell me!"


    "Quinn is my wife now." Orion spoke up.


    Abigail looked at Orion in confusion, seriously doubting if he was making things up.


    Orion stood up and said to her, "Get me out of here first. I''ll exin on the way. Besides, Quinn isn''t on the mountain; she''s down below."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Can I trust you?" Abigail asked.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Orion replied irritably, "Why wouldn''t you trust me? I have nothing to gain by lying to you!"


    Abigail thought about it and realized he had a point. "Alright then, let''s go. We''re almost at the exit."


    Following behind her, Orion pondered where to start and decided to begin with the first time he met Quinn.


    The first time he saw Quinn was at the entrance of Regal Riverside. She was lying on the ground, crying in utter despair.


    At that time, Orion didn''t know what had happened to her, but he was deeply drawn to her tearful eyes. Many times afterward, he would find himself thinking about those eyes.


    He never expected to meet her again at his father''s banquet, where he saved her life, and that''s how they got to know each other.


    Listening to his words, Abigail felt a pang of emotion. So much had happened to Quinn in the few months she had been away.


    Especially thinking that Quinn might not even recognize her now, she felt even more upset, and her hatred and resentment towards Alexander grew stronger.


    "And what about her child?" she suddenly asked.

 Chapter 808

    Orion paused and asked, "What child?"


    "Isn''t she pregnant? You didn''t know?" Abigail asked in surprise.


    "I had no idea. No one told me, and she didn''t look pregnant at all!" Orion replied.


    Abigail''s anger red up even more. She pondered in her heart, ''Orion didn''t know Quinn was pregnant after all this time. There is only one possibility - the child has been aborted.


    ''Quinn has been so looking forward to that child; she would never have aborted it willingly!


    ''It must have been Alexander who forced her to do it, that jerk!


    ''How desperate Quinn must have felt when she lost the baby! But I wasn''t there at the time, and she had to endure it all alone.''


    By now, the sky had brightened, and even without a shlight, Orion could see the anger in Abigail''s eyes.


    Orion had a rough idea of what was going on.


    ''How heartless must someone be to abort their own child?


    ''As it turned out, Alexander had no heart.'' Orionmented in his heart.


    After leaving the mountain, they reached the foot of it. Orion took out his phone, which had only 1% battery left, and called Ryan to send someone to pick them up.


    Abigail called Oliver. After learning about Quinn''s condition, she decided against visiting Quinn, not wanting to scare her.


    Ryan and Oliver arrived at the foot of the mountain one after the other.


    When Ryan got out of the car and saw Orion''s disheveled state, he sighed helplessly. "You had us worried sick."


    Orion scratched his head and said, "It was an ident. You almost didn''t see me again."


    "Let''s get in the car first," Ryan said.


    Meanwhile, Oliver was looking Abigail up and down. "You didn''t give us a heads up beforeing back. How did you end up here?"This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "It''s a long story," Abigail replied.


    As they talked, Oliver and Ryan exchanged nces.


    They smiled and shook hands. Both were from the same city, and even if they didn''t run in the same circles, they still knew each other. "Mr. William, what a coincidence."


    Ryan shook his hand and smiled. "Indeed, I didn''t expect to run into you here."


    "Let''s go; this isn''t the ce to talk."


    Ryan nodded, and the four of them got into the car and headed toward the city center.


    The people who had been chasing them saw the car drive away and made a call.


    "Orion got away, and Ryan took him."


    Landon answered the call but wasn''t angry. "If he got away, he got away. It seems Ryan isn''t that easy to fool after all."


    It was just a test; they never intended to kill Orion.


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    If they couldn''t turn the William family against Alexander, killing Orion would only backfire.


    Walter scoffed, "I told you not to mess with this. Politicians aren''t stupid. You''ve managed to piss off the William family, even though they might not retaliate, but you''ve rubbed them the wrong way." Landon shrugged, saying, "Ryan''s position isn''t that influential. He can''t help with small matters and can''t handle big ones. So what if I''ve offended him?"


    "No one stays in the same ce forever."


    "Who can say what the future holds?"


    Walter didn''t argue with him. However, since Ryan is ambitious, he probably wouldn''t get involved in these matters easily, there was no need to worry. Quinn had spent the night in Alexander''s ward.


    When she woke up, she found herself in his bed, but he was nowhere to be seen.


    Olivia was preparing breakfast nearby. The aroma instantly woke Quinn up, and she was no longer sleepy.


    She got out of bed, went to the dining table, and asked Olivia, "Where''s Alexander?"

 Chapter 809

    Olivia said, "I don''t know. He was gone when I came in the morning. He must have gone out."


    Quinn pouted, saying, "Why did he recover so quickly?"


    Olivia gave an awkward smile, not knowing how to respond, so she made up something, saying, "He''s a man. Men are generally healthier."


    Quinn tilted her head and thought for a moment, then picked up the breakfast on the table and started eating.


    The news that Orion had been found naturally reached Alexander as well.


    At this moment, he was sitting in the William family home with Kyle, dressed in a ck suit, legs crossed, with a cold and stern expression. Except for his slightly pale face, he looked no different from usual. Charles was no longer angry. Orion was fine, and besides, Orion had taken over Alexander''s wife, which put them in the wrong.


    Orion hadn''t changed his clothes yet. He sat properly on the couch, his face dirty, his clothes tattered, looking like a refugee. Charles said sternly, "Orion, stop causing trouble! Go get the divorce done quickly."


    Orion sighed helplessly, his tone somewhat impatient. "I know."


    Alexander held a cigarette between his fingers, calmly watching Orion. "This time, you won''t go back on your word, right?"


    Orion red at him. "I keep my word. Do you think I''m like you?"


    "Watch your tone!" Charles snapped.


    Orion shrank his neck and said no more.


    Although he didn''t really want a divorce, after witnessing Alexander''s perverse behavior, he felt a bit intimidated.


    ''It''s one thing to use that method against me, but if he really goes crazy and harms my friends, then...'' The thought alone made Orion''s scalp tingle.


    Alexander didn''t get angry. He smiled slightly, stood up, and said, "Then at 2 PM, I hope to see you at City Hall."


    With that, he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and walked out.


    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Abigail arrived at Quinn''s ward, but there were bodyguards at the door. She tried to go in but was stopped by the bodyguards. Quinn didn''t know her, and she couldn''t force her way in.


    As she was wondering how to meet Quinn, she heard footsteps behind her.


    Abigail turned around and saw Alexander walking towards her. Seeing his smug look, she couldn''t control her anger.


    Alexander stopped in front of her, looking at her intently.


    Abigail sneered, saying, "What are you looking at? Don''t you recognize me?"


    Alexander smirked at her. "You actually dared toe back."


    "Why wouldn''t I dare toe back?" Abigail retorted.


    Alexander said, "Since you''re back, just behave yourself. Stir up trouble again, and your luck won''t be as good asst time."


    "I''m causing trouble?" Abigail raised her hand to block his way, "Alexander, tell me, have I ever done anything to hurt Quinn?"


    Alexander nced at the hand blocking his way, then looked back at Abigail''s face.


    "Move aside," Alexander said coldly.


    "You selfish jerk! You use me of causing trouble just because you don''t want Quinn to interact with others. And by the way, did you get Quinn''s child aborted?" Abigail''s tone was usatory.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander''s eyes flickered, and his gaze on Abigail grew colder.


    "Our matters are none of your business. Move, don''t make me say it a third time." Alexander replied coldly.


    Abigailughed angrily. "Looks like it''s really you, Alexander. Do you even have a heart? You''ve aborted your own two children. Don''t you feel any remorse or guilt?" "Oh, I forgot, you have no heart, so you wouldn''t know what guilt is." Abigail scoffed.


    Alexander stared at her coldly. Though he didn''t explode, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop.


    Seeing this, Kyle stepped forward and pulled Abigail away aside. "Hey, maybe you should hold back a bit. You don''t know everything, so stop making wild guesses!" Abigail red at Alexander, saying, "Well, then why don''t you guys tell me what''s really going on? If you don''t say anything, how am I supposed to know?" Alexander ignored her and pushed the door open to go inside.


    Abigail shook off Kyle and red at him. "Why are you pulling me?"This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Kyle said irritably, "You just got back and now you want to leave again?"

 Chapter 810

    Abigail was indignant. "If he has the guts, let him make me leave again!"


    "What''s the point of this bravado? In the end, you might not help at all and just get yourself into trouble," Kyle said. Abigail wanted to retort, but his words left her speechless.


    When Alexander went in, Quinn was receiving an IV, which had been going on for several days.


    At that moment, she was asleep in bed.


    The window was slightly open, letting in a bit of cold air. The bright hospital room illuminated her pale cheeks.


    Alexander sat beside her, quietly watching her.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn slept for a long time until the doctor came to remove the needle, the pain on the back of her hand rousing her.


    She slowly opened her eyes and saw Alexander by her side. She smiled at him.


    "We''re going out this afternoon," he said, holding her hand and gently rubbing the back of it, noticing the medical tape with some blood seeping through.


    Quinn shook her head, rolling onto her side and staring at Alexander. "We can''t go out."


    "Just a quick trip, and we''ll be back soon," he insisted.


    After some thought and meeting his gaze, she reluctantly agreed.


    "Alright then."


    Alexander smiled and stroked her cheek with his fingers.


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The doctor came in and said to Alexander, "Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Morgan wants to see you."


    "Let her wait."


    The doctor quietly left and closed the door.


    Alexander sat with Quinn for a while, then stood up and walked out.


    Quinn still felt very sleepy. She stared at the closed door and slowly closed her eyes again.


    Getty was still in the ICU, but she was much better today thanst time, no longer needing a venttor.


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    Her face was still wrapped in bandages, only her features visible.


    Her eyes followed Alexander''s figure as he sat down in front of her, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.


    "Alexander, you came to see me."


    "How are you feeling today?"


    Getty''s voice was extremely weak, and she spoke with great effort. "I don''t feel well. Am I dying?"


    Before Alexander could respond, she cut him off. "It might be better if I die. Then you won''t be torn between choices." Her voice was particrly clear in the quiet ward.


    Indeed, her words left Alexander speechless. He stared at Getty for a long time without saying anything.


    Getty had already epted his attitude towards her.


    She also knew that in her current state, she must look very ugly,pletely not good enough for him.


    Alexander said, "Don''t talk nonsense. You''re not going to die."


    Getty forced a smile, saying, "The doctor said that even if I get stic surgery, I won''t look the same as before."


    "Looks aren''t that important."


    "Then will you marry me?"


    "Getty, I won''t marry you, not because of your looks."


    Getty stared at him for a good seven or eight seconds before weakly asking, "Then why not? Now, one should be able to hold you back now, right?" Alexander remained silent.


    Getty continued, "Do you like Quinn?"


    Alexander looked at her for a moment, then shifted his gaze elsewhere. "I don''t know."


    "What do you mean you don''t know? You used to say you saw her as a sister, now you say you don''t know. Itseems like there''s some liking there." She lowered her eyes in disappointment. "What about me? Have you ever loved me? Even for just a second."

 Chapter 811

    Alexander''s eyes locked onto her tear-filled ones. His lips moved, but no words came out.


    Getty''s tears streamed down as she reached out, trying to grab his hand. "Alexander, even if you lie to me, it''s okay. I don''t think I can hold on much longer. Lying here every day is really painful," she pleaded. Alexander frowned, irritation flickering across his face. He suddenly stood up and said coldly, "Stop overthinking. Get some rest. I''lle see you another day."


    Getty''s hand froze in mid-air before slowly lowering. She watched Alexander leave, tears sliding down her cheeks.


    Once Alexander had left, the doctor approached. "Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Morgan''s condition is deteriorating."


    Concerned, Alexander inquired, "What makes you say that?"


    The doctor sighed heavily. "She has been resuscitated twice, suffered significant blood loss, developed pulmonary edema, and sustained multiple fractures. She requires pain medication daily, but excessive use can lead to adverse effects."


    Alexander said, "Give her the best medicine and cure her."


    "We''ll do our best," the doctor replied.


    Alexander paused for a moment, then left and returned to Quinn''s ward. Quinn had fallen asleep again.


    He frowned and asked Olivia, "Didn''t she sleepst night?"


    Olivia responded, "She did sleep, but perhaps she became restless and dozed off again."


    Alexander walked to the bed, gently shaking her shoulder. "Quinn."


    After calling her several times, Quinn slowly opened her eyes. Seeing it was him, she raised her hand to rub her eyes. "When can I go home?" she asked. Alexander paused. "Come with me for a trip first."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Quinn didn''t want to move; she felt exhausted and just wanted to sleep. But she forced herself to sit up, got dressed, and followed him out of the hospital.


    It was freezing outside. Quinn wrapped herself in a down jacket, her neck shrinking against the cold. When the wind blew, she huddled even more.


    Seeing this, Alexander grabbed his coat and wrapped her in his arms, holding her close as they walked to the parking lot. "It''s not far, we''ll be there soon," he said. Quinn nodded, snuggling into his arms to block the wind.


    After getting in the car, she still felt sleepy. She leaned against the window, and as the car started moving, her eyelids began to droop.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander drove, asionally ncing at her. Half of her face was hidden in the furry cor, her eyes closed, sleeping peacefully.


    He slowed down the car, parked by the roadside, and looked at her with an unreadable expression.


    His phone rang in his pocket. Alexander took it out and saw it was Orion.


    He answered, and Orion''s impatient voice came through, "Are youing or not? I''ve been waiting for two hours. If you don''t show up soon, I''m leaving." "Just hold on!" Alexander snapped.


    Orion wasn''t pleased with his tone and said irritably, "You tell me to wait, so I wait? I''ll give you half an hour. If you don''t show, I''m gone." With that, he hung up angrily. Alexander put his phone back in his pocket and started the car again.


    Arriving at City Hall, Alexander gently woke Quinn up. She rubbed her eyes, groggily looking around. "Where is this?" she asked.

 Chapter 812

    "Get out of the car first," Alexander said, opening the door and stepping out.


    Quinn pouted but followed him out.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Orion noticed her looking down and shot Alexander a suspicious nce. "What''s up with her? Didn''t she sleep?" Alexander gave him a look. "What''s it to you? Just get inside and finalize the divorce."


    Orion smirked, not bothering to argue. Since they were getting divorced, he had no reason to care about Quinn anymore.


    To make sure Orion didn''t back out, Charles had sent someone to follow him. So when they got to the window, there were four of them, and the staff couldn''t help but take a few extra nces, probably never having seen such a big fuss over a divorce.


    In about ten minutes, Orion had two freshly issued divorce certificates in his hands. He looked at them, noting how they were simr to the marriage certificates fromst time, except now they said "Divorce."


    He sighed inwardly. ''My marriage with Quinnsted only two months. Now it''s over. But it doesn''t seem to matter much. Even though we were married, we never really spent time together. It felt more like a charade, a mere formality.'' Beside him, Quinn leaned against Alexander''s chest, a look of confusion on her face. She had no understanding of the significance of the divorce certificate they held. Only Orion seemed to harbor a sense of regret.


    While Orion was still sighing, a slender hand suddenly snatched his divorce certificate. He looked up, stunned, to see Alexander. "What are you doing?"


    Alexander flipped through the certificate, then tore it in half and tossed it in the trash. "No need to keep something that doesn''t belong to you."


    Orion, a bit angry at the mockery, retorted, "You''re wrong. Even though we''re divorced and you tore up the certificate, the system still shows my marriage record with Quinn."


    "As long as it existed, there will be traces," Orion said smugly, knowing this was proof he had been with Quinn. It was something Alexander could never change.


    Alexander stared at him for a couple of seconds, then turned and pulled Quinn away.


    Orion watched them walk off, his smug look slowly fading into loneliness. He walked to the trash can, picked up the torn divorce certificate, stared at it for a long time, then put it in his pocket and left City Hall.


    Actually, besides Alexander''s pressure, it was mostly because of Quinn. With her current memory loss, the ongoing conflict between him and Alexander would only cause her further harm in the end. Last time, her memory regressed to when she was five because she came to him, and he didn''t dare to take that risk again.


    Alexander took Quinn back to the hospital, and she fell asleep again on the way. She had slept so much throughout the day that anyone could tell something was wrong. So, the elderly professor was brought to the hospital again. After looking at Quinn''s test results, the professor stroked his beard and said, "From what I can see, her condition hasn''t disappeared; it''s actually getting worse."


    Alexander frowned. "What do you mean?"


    The professor exined, "I mean, her Alzheimer''s hasn''t gone away just because she remembered memories from when she was five. It''s still there. As for why she regained her memory, it''s likely that the disease stimted her subconscious defense mechanism, so she regained her memory. Amnesia and memory regression are not the same condition, so even though she seems normal now, it''s just temporary. You could say it''s a final burst of rity." Alexander stared at the professor for a long time, silent and lost in thought. After a while, he finally spoke, "Can it be cured?"

 Chapter 813

    The old professor shook his head. "At this stage, it''s nearly impossible to cure."


    "So, what do we do?" Alexander asked.


    The professor sighed and looked at Alexander. "Spend as much time with her as you can while she can still talk."


    Alexander''s expression hardened. "How long does she have?" he inquired.


    "I can''t say for sure. It''s all up to fate," the professor replied.


    Alexander''s fingers clenched on the table. He was deep in thought. After a moment, he got up and went back to the ward.


    Quinn was sleeping soundly. Alexander just sat quietly by her bedside. He skipped work today. Landon thought he was ignoring thepany''s affairs.


    For the past two days, Quinn had been mostly sleeping, waking up asionally to chat with Alexander. But Alexander wasn''t much of a talker, so their conversations were short. Bored, Quinn would just go back to sleep. On the third day, Alexander decided to discharge her and take her back to Regal Riverside.


    Quinn woke up in his arms, saw the change in surroundings, and asked groggily, "Are you taking me home?" Her voice was hoarse and soft, like a cat''s.


    Alexander carried her to the sofa, sat her on hisp, and stroked her face with one hand. "Not yet," he said.


    Her eyes turned resentful. "Am I discharged?"


    "Not really, just changing ces to recuperate," he said, delivering another blow to her heart.


    Quinn sighed sadly, rubbed her face against his chest, and said, "I''m hungry."


    "What do you want to eat?" he asked.


    "I want ice cream," she said softly.


    Alexander was silent for a moment but eventually gave in. He nced at Olivia beside him. "Go buy some."


    Olivia nodded and quickly went out to get ice cream.


    Quinn hugged his waist, looked up, and smiled at him.


    "Why are you smiling?" he asked, their faces close, breaths mingling.


    Her eyes were too clear, dispelling any romantic atmosphere. She blinked and said softly, "You''re different from other bodyguards."


    "How so?" he asked.


    "They don''t talk to me. You y with me and bring me delicious food," she exined.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Alexander chuckled. "Really?"


    "Yes, when we get back, I''ll ask Dad to give you a raise," Quinn replied.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! The smile on his lips faded a bit, and his gaze deepened.


    Quinn didn''t notice. She tightened her arms around his neck. "Stay with me from now on."


    Alexander remained silent, his gaze distant. Though he was looking at her, his mind was elsewhere.


    Quinn touched his cheek. "Why aren''t you talking?"


    His thoughts returned, and he smiled slightly. "Okay, I''ll stay with you from now on."


    Quinn felt happy and pressed her face tightly against his chest. She loved his scent and nuzzled into his embrace.


    Half an hourter, Olivia returned with the ice cream. She bought various vors, a whole box, for Quinn to choose from.


    Quinn pondered for a moment, then chose a mango-vored one. She handed it to Alexander, asking him to help her open the packaging.

 Chapter 814

    Alexander held her close while trying to unwrap the package. To Olivia, it looked like an adult taking care of a child. He handed the ice cream to Quinn. She happily took it and started eating, while Olivia seized the moment to cook. Even though Olivia bought a whole box, Alexander only let her have one. The rest were for after dinner and medicine. To get the ice cream, Quinn had to reluctantly swallow the bitter medicine first.


    Quinn was a bit upset. She curled up on the couch, eating her ice cream, and watched Shrek on TV with intense focus. She had never seen these cartoons before; they were all new to her.


    Walter arrived at the vi and walked in. He looked around and found the two in the living room. Alexander had aptop on hisp, working while watching TV with Quinn. "Mr. Smith."


    Hearing Walter''s voice, Alexander paused his typing and slightly turned his head, already seeing Walter walking over. Without waiting for an invitation, Walter sat down diagonally across from them, his gaze falling on Quinn''s face. Quinn didn''t look at him; all her attention was on the TV. Alexander closed hisptop and asked, "What brings you here, Mr. Smith?"


    Walter withdrew his gaze and smiled. "You haven''t been to thepany for a few days, so I came to check if something happened. But it seems I was overthinking."


    "Isn''t that exactly what you all wanted?" Alexander retorted.


    Walter said, "That''s not right. You''re the backbone of thepany. We can''t do without you. Without your leadership, we''d be in turmoil."


    Alexander acted as if he didn''t hear thepliment. He took the trash Quinn handed him and casually threw it into the trash can. Walter''s eyebrows slightly raised. "I want more," Quinn looked at Alexander eagerly.


    Alexander sternly refused, "We agreed, only one."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


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    She pouted but didn''t ask again. She licked the cream off her lips and kept watching the cartoon, resting her head on her hands.


    Walter looked at her for a moment before saying, "I heard her condition isn''t very good?"


    "What does her condition have to do with you?" Alexander leaned back on the couch, looking at Walter expressionlessly. "Who are you to her?"


    Walter''s lips slowly curled up. If someone impatient heard these words, they might have exposed their identity. But Walter just said calmly, "I was just being polite and asking. Today, I mainly came to see you." "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Smith," Alexander said coldly.


    "It''s only natural," Walter replied, casting another nce at Quinn, who had drifted off to sleep at some point.


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    Neither of them spoke again, and Walter showed no intention of leaving. Alexander continued working on hisptop. As it got dark outside, Walter still had no ns to leave. He leaned on the couch, eyes glued to the TV, watching Shrek with great interest.


    "Mr. Smith, are you staying for dinner?" Alexander suddenly asked.


    Walter withdrew his gaze from the TV, saying, "Since Mr. Kennedy is so hospitable, I would be greatly honored."


    When it came to thick skin, these two were evenly matched. Alexander''s brow twitched slightly.


    Olivia watched from the side, not daring to say anything, and quietly went to cook. Alexander picked up Quinn, leaving Walter downstairs, and went upstairs.


    Quinn was in a deep sleep and didn''t react when ced on the bed. Shey quietly with her eyes closed,pletely unaware of everything outside. Alexander sat beside her, gently stroking her cheek.


    Despite Walter staying for dinner, Alexander didn''t join him downstairs but remained in the bedroom. In the middle of the night, Quinn woke up feeling hungry. She groped around and the first thing her hand found was Alexander''s chest.

 Chapter 815

    She slowly opened her eyes and saw him sleeping next to her, still in the clothes he wore before she fell asleep.


    ''He''s so gross! He doesn''t even change his clothes,'' Quinn thought to herself.


    Then she nudged him, and Alexander''s eyes snapped open, staring at her for a few seconds.


    "What''s up?" His voice was hoarse from sleep.


    His deep, alluring voice had a uniquely sexy quality to it, leaving Quinn slightly puzzled but with a tingling sensation in her ears. Quinn touched her ears, blushing slightly. "I''m hungry."


    Alexander sat up, reached for the desk phone, and instructed Olivia to bring some food.


    Soon enough, Olivia arrived with borscht and pastries.


    Quinn got out of bed, examined her hands, and then extended them towards Alexander. "ed to wash my hands." Alexander thought for a moment, got out of bed, and carried her to the bathroom to wash up.


    She scrubbed her hands seriously, even more seriously than in ss.


    Alexander stood behind her, staring at her reflection in the mirror, his expressionplicated. After washing her hands, she rinsed her mouth and then went back to the bedroom to eat.


    She ignored the borscht and grabbed the pastries with her hands, picking the prettiest ones.


    Alexander, wearing a ck shirt with two buttons undone at the cor, sat across from her, watching her eat.


    In her eyes, there was nothing but food and cartoons.


    Even when she looked at him, her gaze was incredibly clear.


    To her, he was a stranger, or at most, an acquaintance.


    There were no extra feelings.


    Quinn nced up at him when she had a moment. Seeing him staring at her, she thought he also wanted to eat.


    So, she thought for a moment and handed him the pastry in her hand.


    "Do you want to eat?"


    Alexander nced at the pastry in her hand and shook his head slightly. "No."


    "Go ahead, eat it. I''m giving it to you!" She acted very generously, thinking, ''Since he would be following me from now on, I shouldn''t treat him poorly.'' Alexander gazed at her, looking at her bright, clear eyes and her stubbornly outstretched hand.


    He reached out his slender, beautiful fingers and took the pastry. Under her eager gaze, he put it in his mouth and took a bite.


    "Is it tasty?" Quinn asked eagerly.


    He pursed his lips, struggling to swallow the overly sweet pastry, then nodded slightly. "It''s good."


    She smiled at him and proceeded to finish the rest of the pastry.


    Alexander still had half a piece left in his hand. He looked at it again and again, and finally, when Quinn wasn''t looking, he ced it in the trash can under the table. Quinn ate and drank her fill, even finishing the borscht.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! She burped and put down the bowl, saying contentedly, "I''m full."


    Alexander responded and took her to the bathroom to wash up.


    Quinn sat on a small stool in the bathroom, enjoying his service as he washed her hair and then her body.


    The whole process was very familiar, making her more satisfied with this bodyguard-cum-nanny. ''If only his fingers didn''t have calluses,'' she thought.


    Alexander dried her hair with a towel, and she looked up at him.


    He had a stern face, looking unhappy.


    Quinn thought for a moment, then reached out and grabbed the towel from his hand. "I''ll do it myself."Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander looked down at her, contemting for a moment before releasing the towel.


    She proceeded to dry her hair in a somewhat careless manner, but his continued unhappiness was evident. His gaze made her feel like she was a delectable treat he longed to devour. Despite sensing his dissatisfaction, Quinn chose to ignore it and focused on finishing drying her hair.

 Chapter 816

    After wiping her hair, she handed him the towel, her hair a tangled mess.


    Alexander took it, grabbed the bath towel next to him, and draped it over her, helping to dry her hair.


    The warm air from the hairdryer made her a bit dizzy, and she felt like dozing off again.


    Ten minutester, Alexander carried her out of the bathroom, and she was half-asleep in his arms. However, Alexander found himself unable to sleep.


    Ever since he entered the bathroom, he had been enduring an unprecedented inner turmoil.


    He gazed at Quinn, closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and then switched off the light.


    The following day, he made his way to thepany.


    When Quinn woke up, it was already noon. Olivia brought her meal to the bedroom, saying, "Mr. Kennedy went to thepany. He probably won''t be back until evening."


    "Okay." Quinn picked up the fork, speared a piece of chicken breast, and popped it into her mouth.


    ''I don''t care where he has gone,'' she thought.


    ''If he''s not around, maybe I can sneak a couple more ice creams!''


    But it seemed Alexander had anticipated her thoughts. Even though he wasn''t there, Olivia only gave her one, and that was after she had taken her medicine.


    After eating, she wanted to nap but couldn''t fall asleep, so she started rummaging through the room out of curiosity.


    She found a phone in a drawer.


    She picked it up and unlocked it with her fingerprint. Unfortunately, it was almost out of battery, with only five percent left.


    She found a charger, plugged it in, and started ying with it while lying on the bed.


    There wasn''t much fun on the phone, so she just browsed through the photo album.


    She was surprised to find many photos of herself and a few of Alexander, all taken from sneaky angles.


    She continued browsing and found two videos.


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    She clicked on one. It was three hours long and featured her and Alexander.


    As the video progressed, her eyes widened because she didn''t remember any of these events.


    ''What game were we ying? It looked like a lot of fun,'' she thought curiously.


    She finished watching the video and then reyed it. The sounds in the video were very clear.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    When Olivia came in and saw the video content, she quietly backed out.


    After watching it twice, Quinn found it boring. She got out of bed and started rummaging through the room again, finding quite a few photos in a drawer.


    They were photo booth pictures of her and Alexander.


    She looked at these photos carefully, her expression growing more surprised. ''Why can''t I remember any of this?'' she thought.


    She didn''t remember when she took these photos with Alexander. ''Were we always this close before?'' she wondered.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Perhaps these things had too much of an impact on her, causing her to be unable to sleep all afternoon.


    When Alexander came back, he saw her sitting cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by a mess of things.


    He walked over, bent down, picked up a photo, and looked at it. "Where did you find these?"


    Quinn pointed to the drawer. "There."


    Alexander nced at the drawer and didn''t react much. He asked, "Did you remember anything?"


    Quinn shook her head in confusion.


    But she remembered something else. She picked up the phone and handed it to Alexander. "Why don''t you y games with me anymore?"


    Alexander gave her a puzzled look. "What game?"


    Quinn held the phone and patted the bed, signaling him to sit down.


    After Alexander sat down, she unlocked the phone, found the video, and showed it to him. "This game."


    Alexander''s gaze fell on the video, and his expression gradually changed.

 Chapter 817

    Alexander nced at her for a couple of minutes before snatching her phone and hitting pause.


    "You''re not well enough to y," he said.


    She looked at him, confused. "But I''m feeling better."


    "Are you a doctor?" he shot back.


    She shook her head but crawled over to Alexander and hugged his neck. "I''m so bored. y with me." "You can''t y," he said firmly.


    "You''re so annoying!" Quinn red at him, then let go and muttered, "I''ll find someone else to y with." Alexander''s expression darkened, and he suddenly pulled her close, gripping her jaw. "What did you say?"


    He squeezed a bit too hard, making her wince.


    She stared at him with wide eyes. "It hurts."


    Alexander said coldly, "You''re not allowed to y games with anyone else."


    She pped his arm, a bit angry. "Let go of me, it hurts!"


    Alexander stared at her intensely. After a moment, he closed his eyes, exhaled, and released her.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    He then gathered all her things from the bed and walked out.


    Quinn red at his back angrily. ''He''s no good at all!'' she thought.


    ''I''ll have my dad fire him when I get home!'' she decided.


    Because he took her things and was mean to her, Quinn was now reluctant to talk to him.


    During dinner, she was still sulking, making noises to express her anger.


    Alexander nced at her but ignored her, letting her stew in her own anger.


    After dinner, Olivia helped her take a bath.


    She returned to the bedroom in her pajamas and saw him on the couch looking at his phone. She deliberately made heavy footsteps to get his attention.


    When he looked up, she snorted at him and then climbed into bed, pulling the covers over herself.


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    Alexander looked at the lump under the covers, paused, and then went back to his phone.


    The people in Sylvadora had found the man.


    Someone called, and Alexander got up to answer by the window.


    "Mr. Kennedy, the man''s name is Daniel Mellon. He used to be Henry''s assistant. Should we bring him back?"


    "Bring him back. Keep a close watch on him. If any harm befalls him en route, be prepared to face the consequences," Alexander stated icily. "Yes, sir."


    Then Alexander hung up and nced at the bed. Quinn was peeking at him.


    He turned around suddenly, catching her gaze.


    She quickly hid under the covers when she was caught.


    She heard footstepsing her way and blinked under the covers, thinking about what he could say to make her forgive him.


    But the next second, the footsteps retreated.


    She peeked out again, only to see him leaving the bedroom and closing the door.


    Quinn got angry again, thinking, ''This bodyguard is too annoying. I have to get my dad to fire him!''


    ''The previous bodyguards never dared to defy me. But he always makes me angry and neverforts me.''


    Quinn was so upset she couldn''t sleep all night.


    And Alexander didn''te in all night.


    In the morning, when Quinn got up for breakfast, he was already gone.


    She held her fork, stirring the food on her te. The anger fromst night had umted and was about to explode.


    Olivia saw her angry face and exined, "Ms. Mellon, Mr. Kennedy has been busy these past two days, so he left early."


    "I don''t want to see him anyway," Quinn replied angrily.


    Olivia could tell she was being contrary and chuckled awkwardly. "Ms. Mellon, hurry and eat. There will be ice cream afterward." Hearing about ice cream, Quinn''s anger subsided a bit.

 Chapter 818

    Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.


    Olivia rushed to open it.


    It was Abigail, but Olivia didn''t know her, so she asked, "Hi, who are you looking for?"


    Abigail peered inside, replying, "I''m here to see Quinn."


    Olivia hesitated.


    Abigail added, "I''m her friend. I told Alexander I wasing. If you don''t believe me, call him."


    Hearing that she had informed Alexander beforehand, Olivia finally let her in but still called Alexander to be sure.


    Alexander simply said, "Let her in."


    Meanwhile, Abigail had already made her way in.


    She found Quinn in the dining room. Thinking Quinn might not remember her, she hesitated.


    Quinn finished her breakfast and was about to ask Olivia for some ice cream when she saw Abigail.


    Quinn looked at the unexpected visitor. Curious, she asked, "Who are you?"


    Abigail''s heart sank but she forced a smile. "You don''t remember me? I''m Abigail, your friend."


    Quinn tilted her head, scrutinizing Abigail, then shook her head. "I don''t know you."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    "No worries, let''s get to know each other again." Abigail extended her hand. "Hi, I''m Abigail."


    Quinn stared at her for a few seconds. She couldn''t tell if Abigail was a boy or a girl, but the person in front of her was good-looking, and Quinn liked good-looking things.


    She extended her hand, grabbed Abigail''s, and smiled brightly. "Okay, we''re friends now."


    As Abigail looked at Quinn''s innocent and naive expression, her smile faded a bit, and a hint of sadness shed in her eyes.


    She thought resentfully, ''Maybe it''s good Quinn forgot all the bad stuff. But it''s a win for Alexander! He made her suffer so much, and now she''s forgotten everything and is happy with him. He gets a fresh start without any effort. What a lucky jerk!''


    Quinn had been boredtely with no friends to y with, so she was thrilled when Abigail said she was her friend.


    She pulled Abigail along and shared her ice cream.


    Unlike Alexander, who was picky about ice cream, Abigail ate it all without fuss.


    She even talked about cartoons with Quinn and showed off her drawing skills, sketching all the characters.


    Quinn watched in awe.


    "Abigail, you''re amazing!" Quinn eximed.


    "Here, this is for you." Abigail handed Quinn a notebook filled with her drawings.


    Quinn took it happily and gave Abigail a big hug. "Thank you, Abigail, you''re my best friend!"


    Abigail patted her back and smiled.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! After letting go of Quinn, Abigail turned her gaze on Quinn''s t stomach, and she grew sad again.


    Quinn noticed the sad look on Abigail''s face and looked down. "Do you like this dress?"


    Abigail snapped out of it and forced a smile. "Yeah, where did you get it? It''s beautiful."


    "Alexander bought it for me. I have more. I''ll show you." Quinn pulled her upstairs. "I have so many pretty clothes."


    "Slow down," Abigail said, chuckling.


    Olivia watched them and sighed.


    Since Abigail arrived, Quinn hadn''t slept at all today.


    This seemed like good news, so she texted Alexander.


    Alexander was on the mountain when he got the message, and his subordinate had just brought Daniel back.

 Chapter 819

    Alexander was sprawled on the couch, holding an old, yellowed photo. He nced over at Daniel, who sat across from him.


    Daniel''s burns were so severe that he barely looked like the guy in the picture.


    Daniel''s one good eye was locked on Alexander.


    After a moment, Daniel broke the silence. "Why''d you bring me here?"


    "You know why. Spill what you know and save yourself some pain," Alexander said coldly.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Daniel chuckled, his scarred face making the smile creepy.


    "Look at me. I''ve already been through hell. What more can you do?" Daniel shot back.


    Alexander smirked. He handed the photo to Sean, who was standing nearby, then pulled out a cigarette. Sean quickly lit it for him.


    "You don''t know me well. You can''t even begin to imagine what I''m capable of doing to you," Alexander threatened.


    Daniel didn''t flinch. "Do your worst. No matter what, I won''t talk."


    Alexander, with smoke curling around his fingers, looked at him calmly. His smile, shrouded in smoke, turned more sinister.


    "You''ve got guts," Alexander mused, "I like people with guts."


    As if thinking of something, Alexander turned to Sean and said, "Bring Quinn here."


    Daniel immediately sat up straighter. If his face wasn''t burned, his changing expressions would be obvious.


    "What are you gonna do?" Daniel''s voice had a hint of nervousness.


    Alexander''s lips curled. "I told you, something you can''t even begin to imagine."


    "You''re despicable!" Daniel could now guess Alexander''s intentions. He could take any torture, but Quinn might not.


    "You''re smart. I''ll ask you one question, and you better answer honestly," Alexander said.


    "What question?" Daniel asked.


    Alexander pulled out another photo and tossed it on the table. "Tell me his real name."


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    Daniel''s eyes fell on the photo. The guy in it wore a dark red suit, and was tall and slender, with a hand across his front and a smile on his lips. His slightly curly short hair hung down one side. The guy was strikingly beautiful, almost androgynous.


    It was Walter.


    Daniel stared at it for a long time, saying nothing.


    "Don''t tell me you don''t know him," Alexander warned.


    Daniel hesitated, then looked at Alexander. "He''s the eldest son of the Mellon family, Mark Mellon."


    Alexanderughed suddenly. "So we can''t have an honest conversation, I see."


    Daniel got a bit angry. "If you don''t believe me, why bother asking?"


    "Daniel, this is yourst chance. Who is he really?" Alexander repeated his question seriously, then added, "I might know more than you think, so don''t try to fool me. My patience is running thin, and I don''t usually give second chances." Daniel clenched his fists.


    The room fell silent. Walter''s smiling photoy quietly on the table, his smile eerie.


    After a long pause, Daniel finally spoke up in his rough voice, "He''s the adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. Mellon."


    Alexander squinted.


    Daniel paused, then said, "His name is Lucas Mellon."


    Hearing the name, Alexander snapped his cigarette in half, his smile turning murderous.


    "So it''s him."


    Daniel looked at Alexander in surprise. "You know him?"


    "I''ve checked out the list of all the males in the Mellon family. He didn''t match any of them, no wonder I couldn''t find him."


    Alexander sneered. If Quinn hadn''t called out "Lucas" that day, he might never have found out.

 Chapter 820

    Daniel said, "He''s not in the Mellon family tree, so it''s no wonder you can''t find him."


    "He was really adorable as a kid. Mr. Mellon found him outside. He couldn''t bear to let Quinn marry out, so he decided to bring in a child from outside the family to raise and eventually marry Quinn." That was how the adorable Lucas was chosen by Henry and brought back, to be Quinn''s ymate and future husband.


    Even though he was an outsider, the Mellon treated him like their own, investing a lot in him. After hearing this, Alexander''s face was unreadable, and the coldness in his eyes intensified.


    "If it weren''t for that, he might not have escaped the assassination so easily," Daniel added. Alexander asked, "So, you don''t know who wiped out the Mellon family either?"


    Daniel shook his head. "I don''t. I was shot and passed out. I didn''t even think I''d survive."


    "How did Lucas escape the assassination?" Alexander pressed.


    "He was at a friend''s house that day, getting a birthday gift for the old master. He came backte and missed the attack. His identity was never revealed, so the culprits didn''t count him among the dead," Daniel exined. Alexander looked down, thoughtfully staring at the photo.


    Daniel added, "Mr. Kennedy, the Kennedys and the Mellons have been friends for generations. Please, help us find the culprits!"


    "What about the Ethereal family?" Alexander asked.


    Daniel thought for a moment and shook his head. "I don''t know. When I woke up, the Ethereal family had already moved away, and no one knows where they went."


    "I once suspected them," Daniel added.


    "And now?" Alexander questioned.


    Daniel sighed. "I don''t even know where they are. What''s the point of suspecting?"


    Alexander tapped his fingers on the sofa, staring at Daniel. "You want me to find the Ethereal family?"


    "If possible," Daniel said with a bitter smile. "In my current state, I can''t do anything but guard that abandoned vi."


    Alexander said nothing more, neither agreeing nor refusing Daniel''s request.


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    He tossed his cigarette into the ashtray, poured water over it, and extinguished the butt.


    Alexander stood up and told Sean, "Get him a room."


    "Yes, sir."


    Alexander then turned and walked out.


    Daniel watched him leave, then picked up the photo on the table.


    Sean said, "You can stay here for now. I could use some help."


    Daniel didn''t refuse. He had nowhere else to go, and this ce was perfect-isted and quiet.


    After the interrogation, Alexander drove back to Regal Riverside.


    Before he even got inside, he saw Walter leaning against the front door.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! He stopped the car, got out, and walked over.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter, arms crossed, leaned against the door, blocking the way.


    Seeing Alexander, he smirked. "Mr. Kennedy, you''re a hard man to catch. I had to wait at your house."


    Alexander, hands in his pockets, walked up to Walter and looked at him calmly. "Seems like you''re too idle at thepany, Mr. Smith. I''ll find more work for you tomorrow." Walter didn''t mince words. "Where did you take Daniel?"


    "You''re well-informed, Mr. Smith. But don''t worry. He''s my guest, and I treat my guests well," Alexander replied.


    Walter frowned, then said, "He knows nothing. Capturing him is pointless."


    Alexander chuckled, brushing the imaginary dust off Walter''s shoulder like a boss showing concern for an employee.


    "He knows plenty. And even if he didn''t, his value is far greater than yours," Alexander scoffed.


    Walter caught his meaning andughed angrily. "You think capturing him will give you control over me?"

 Chapter 821

    "Mr. Smith, a little narcissism is fine, but too much is a problem," Alexander said this casually, walked past Walter, and headed straight into the vi.


    Walter watched his back, the smile fading from his face.


    Inside, Alexander didn''t see Quinn, but the sofa was a mess, littered with crumpled paper.


    "Where''s Quinn?" Alexander asked.


    Olivia quickly answered, "She''s upstairs, ying with Ms. Vanderbilt."


    Alexander thought for a moment, then went upstairs. Before he even reached the bedroom, he heard Quinn''sughter.


    He paused, then pushed the door open.


    Inside, Quinn and Abigail were ying a game they found online. Quinn, blindfolded, was trying to catch Abigail, who stepped on toys, making noise to guide her. Despite not catching Abigail all afternoon, Quinn was having a st. "Abigail, stop running! I know where you are!" Quinn said, feeling her way toward Abigail.


    Abigail quietly moved away but identally stepped on a toy, making a sharp noise.


    Quinn burst intoughter, teasing, "Abigail, you''re so clumsy!"


    Just as Abigail was about to respond, she saw Alexander standing at the door.


    Alexander, dressed in ck with a long coat, stood there expressionlessly, dampening the mood.


    Quinn, unaware of his presence, reached out, touched the doorway, and then his chest.


    She hugged him tightly, saying excitedly, "Got you, Abigail! Now it''s your turn to catch me."


    Quinn took off her blindfold, only to see she was clinging to Alexander''s chest. He was wearing a ck suit.


    Her smile faded, and she looked up to see Alexander''s stern face.


    "Why is it you?" Quinn let go of him, unhappy.


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    Alexander ignored her and looked at Abigail. "You should go home."


    Abigail bit her lip, wanting to curse at him. But knowing the consequences would mean she might never see Quinn again, she swallowed her words.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She untied the toy from her foot, tossed it aside, and smiled at Quinn. "I''lle y with you again tomorrow."


    "Abigail, are you going home?" Quinn held her hand, not wanting her to leave.


    "Yeah, it''s getting dark. If I don''t go home, Oliver will scold me," Abigail said softly.


    "Alright then." Quinn let her go but looked at her with reluctance.


    Abigail turned and walked out. As she passed Alexander, she nced up at him but said nothing, leaving the vi.


    She constantly reminded herself not to provoke him, or he might not let her visit Quinn next time.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! After she left, Alexander walked into the room and approached Quinn.


    "Did you have fun?" he asked.


    Quinn blinked and said, "Yes!"


    Alexander''s eyes flickered. He raised his hand to tidy her messy hair.


    Since her hair had been burned in a fire, it was now cut short, barely reaching her shoulders.


    Seeing that he wasn''t responding, Quinn didn''t speak to him either. She turned to pick up the toys in the corner and put them in a small box.


    She also gathered all the drawings Abigail had made for her.


    She knew she had to take care of her toys herself, or they might get stolen.


    Alexander watched her busy figure on the floor, his expression somewhat dazed.


    After tidying up, she washed her hands and looked up at him again.

 Chapter 822

    After spending a whole day with Abigail, Quinn hadpletely forgotten about Alexander scolding her. She clung to his arm, leaning on him as if she were a boneless creature.


    "I''m hungry," she said in a coquettish tone.


    Alexander sighed, turned around, and said, "Let''s go."


    Quinn skipped along behind him. She hadn''t been this happy since she woke up, and even her steps felt lighter.


    But this happiness onlysted until it was time to take her medicine.


    Seeing the dark, murky liquid, Quinn''s face instantly fell, and she turned her head away.


    "Come on. Be a good girl and take your medicine," Alexander said.


    Quinn shook her head vigorously, refusing to take it.


    Alexander coaxed her for a long time, but even ice cream didn''t work this time. Finally, he had to threaten, "If you don''t take it, you won''t see Abigail tomorrow."


    Quinn was stunned for a moment. She turned to look at Alexander, asking, "Why?"


    "Because you''re not being good. Abigail doesn''t y with bad kids," Alexander said.


    Quinn pouted, looking like she was about to cry. "I''m not a bad kid."


    "Then take your medicine, and you''ll be a good kid," Alexander coaxed.


    Quinn stared at the medicine, conflicted. She looked at Alexander again and held up two fingers to negotiate. "Then I want two ice creams." Alexander smirked. "Deal."


    Quinn grinned, immediately picked up the medicine on the table, and drank it all in one go while holding her breath.


    After drinking it, she grimaced andy on the bed, dry heaving into the trash can, throwing up half of the medicine she had just taken.


    Olivia quickly handed her the ice cream.


    Quinn retched for a while before miserably lifting her head, her face covered in tears.


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    "Here you go," Alexander ced the ice cream in her hand.


    Quinn took a few bites but couldn''t suppress the bitterness in her mouth. She ate the ice cream while tears streamed down her face.


    Seeing her in that state, it was hard to decide whether to feel sorry for her or tough at her.


    "You can go now," Alexander said to Olivia.


    Olivia nodded, tidied up, and left.


    After finishing two ice creams, Quinn finally felt a bit better. Having yed all day, she felt a little sleepy.


    Alexander carried her to take a bath, and halfway through, she fell asleep in the tub.


    Seeing herpletely defenseless state, he felt a bit of a headache.


    He quickly washed her clean and carried her back to the bed.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! In the following days, Abigail came to y with Quinn every day. Quinn didn''t sleep as much now that she had someone to y with.


    Alexander was also busy at thepany.


    However, Walter couldn''t get into the vi anymore. Every time he reached the door, he was either stopped by Olivia or Sean. It was clear that Alexander didn''t intend to let him see Quinn.


    Walterughed in anger, realizing that Alexander was finally aware of his identity and refused to let him in.


    But that was the least of his troubles. Alexander also assigned him a bunch of misceneous tasks, like checking thepany''s fire safety, inventorying vehicles, and auditing fixed assets. These were manageable, but he was also given difficult contracts to handle and tasked with terminating agreements with some troublesome smallpanies.


    Even Landon could see that Alexander was deliberately targeting Walter.


    The previous financial officer, Leon, was in jail, and the position of financial supervisor was still vacant. As a result, Walter was assigned to temporarily take over Leon''s duties.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Alexander gave him several financial reports to verify, and almost every report was missing a few dors or a few cents.


    This led to Walter and the entire finance department working overtime, and he practically lived at thepany for several days.


    "Mr. Smith, did you offend Mr. Kennedy?" a female employee asked with a tearful face.

 Chapter 823

    Walter casually checked the receipts without even lifting his head as he replied to his subordinate, "Maybe."


    "These are the bad ounts Leon left behind. This has never happened before. Howe they''re all short by a few cents? My eyes are going blind," the employee grumbled. Walter stayed calm, barely reacting.


    Meanwhile, in the chairman''s office, Kyle and Alexander were deep in conversation.


    "Landon met up with Stanley. No clue what they talked about," Kyle said.


    Alexander paused his file review, looked up, and asked, "When?"


    "Seems like it was the day before yesterday. Want me to contact Stanley?" Kyle offered.


    Alexander thought for a moment before replying, "No need. If he''s smart, he''ll know what to say and what not to say."


    "Got it," Kyle nodded, thinking, ''If Stanley betrays us, he''ll only screw himself over.''


    Kyle then asked, "Mr. Smith seems pretty chill. Is his workload too light?"


    Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"


    "Yeah."


    Kyle had expected Walter to be swamped andining, but instead, he found Walter annoyinglyposed.


    Alexander smirked slightly, leaning back on the sofa. "Then give him more work."


    "Will do," Kyle said happily. Making Walter''s life harder was his favorite pastime.


    "Oh, and Ms. Morgan''s condition has stabilized," Kyle added.


    "Good to know."


    Following that, Kyle reported a few more key updates before leaving Alexander''s office.


    Alexander''s eyes drifted to theputer screen, which was disying surveince footage of the vi.


    Abigail was teaching Quinn to paint, and they had paint everywhere.


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    Quinn''s face was covered in paint, and her clothes were a mess of colors.


    She sat by the window, paintbrush in hand, painting with a serious expression.


    Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow around her. In the light, she looked almost ethereal, like a fairy who might vanish from the painting at any moment. She stared at the canvas, her eyshes casting faint shadows under her eyes.


    Despite her serious demeanor, her work looked like scribbles. Abigail couldn''t make out what she was drawing even after a long look.


    But Abigail still praised her, boosting Quinn''s confidence and prompting her to paint two more pictures.


    Time passed, the sun set, and the light outside turned a golden hue, casting a healthier glow on Quinn''s pale face.


    Abigail sat across from her, looking at Quinn with a somewhat dazed expression.


    She thought, ''Maybe it''s good that she forgets, as long as her condition doesn''t worsen. She can stay carefree like this.''Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "Abigail, look!" Quinn waved, showing off her painting.


    Abigail leaned in and could barely make out three figures: two adults and one child.


    "Who are these?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn giggled, "This is Mommy, this is Daddy, and this is me."


    Abigail nodded, lying through her teeth, "You did a great job."


    Quinn put down the paintbrush and held Abigail''s hand, "Abigail, will youe to my house to y? My mom and dad will definitely like you."


    Abigail was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "Sure, where is your house?"


    Quinn tilted her head, thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don''t know, but Alexander said he would take me home."


    Hearing this, Abigail felt a bit helpless, thinking, ''She actually believed that jerk!''


    However, Abigail didn''t want to make Quinn sad, so she just smiled and nodded. "Alright, I''lle to your house then."


    "Great!" Quinn smiled and picked up the paintbrush again, adding color to the little figures.

 Chapter 824

    Abigail checked the time; Alexander should be back soon. She got up, said goodbye to Quinn, and left.


    ''Better to leave early than get kicked out,'' she thought.


    Sure enough, as soon as she stepped out of the vi, she saw Alexander''s car pulling in.


    The car drove right past her without stopping, like he didn''t even see her.


    Abigail muttered a few curses under her breath and sped off on her motorcycle.


    Quinn carefully finished coloring her painting, but her clumsy hands turned the figures in her painting into three blobs of colorful mess.


    Still, she was pretty pleased with herself.


    She took the painting down and puffed her cheeks to blow on it.


    When she felt the painting was dry enough, she stood up with a smile, ready to save her masterpiece.


    Just as she turned around, she bumped into someone and stumbled back a few steps.


    Alexander caught her by the waist and pulled her back.


    She rubbed her forehead and looked up at him. He was still in his usual ck clothes, making it easy to recognize.


    Ignoring the pain, she eagerly unfolded her painting to show him her masterpiece. "Isn''t my painting beautiful?"


    Alexander looked at the painting, trying to figure out what it was. He wanted to ask about the blobs, but seeing her eyes curved in a smile, her face covered in colorful paint, he couldn''t do it. She looked at him expectantly, hoping for apliment.


    He tactfully asked, "What did you paint?"


    "Daddy, Mommy, and me," she replied happily.


    Alexander''s expression froze for a moment. He had to look at the blobs again. After a long while, he reluctantly nodded.


    "You did a good job," he lied.


    Quinn beamed with joy, carefully folding the painting and tucking it into her pocket.


    "But, when can I go home?" she asked, looking at him with hopeful eyes, wishing he could take her home.


    She missed her mom''s cookies, her dad''s cakes, and the wooden figures her grandpa carved. She missed them all.


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    Alexander remained silent.


    Quinn kept talking, "They''ll be so surprised to see how much I''ve grown."


    As she spoke, she spread her arms wide, her words filled with exaggeration and childlike innocence.


    Alexander grabbed her wrist and said, "Go wash your face first."


    He pulled Quinn towards the bathroom, ignoring her persistent requests to take her home.


    She kept on rambling, "Take me home.


    "I don''t want to stay here; it''s no fun.


    "I miss Daddy''s cakes. I''ll share one with you.


    "Daddy makes the best cakes. He can make them in all kinds of shapes: rabbits, bears, dogs..."


    As she kept talking, Alexander said nothing, wringing out a towel to wipe her hands and face.


    Even while washing her face, she couldn''t stop talking.


    She chattered like a little sparrow, endlessly talking about how great her dad was, how wonderful her mom was, and how annoying her brother was.


    By the end, her voice grew softer.


    She looked up at Alexander with pitiful eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    Alexander paused and looked at her.


    Quinn sniffled, saying, "I miss them."


    Towel in hand, Alexander gazed into her eyes, his expression unreadable.


    Her freshly washed face was flushed, and her pleading eyes looked at him.


    Alexander''s grip on the towel tightened, the warmth slowly fading, turning cold in his hand.


    After a long while, he reached out and cupped her cheek, then wiped away her tears.


    "Don''t cry," he said softly, his tone hard to decipher.


    He asked Quinn, "Don''t you want to be with me?"? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

 Chapter 825

    Quinn shook her head, her voice trembling as she muttered, "I want to go home."


    Alexander looked down, staying silent for what felt like forever.


    She grabbed the corner of his shirt and gently tugged at it, her eyes pleading. "Didn''t you say you''d take me home?"


    He leaned in close, their faces just inches apart, but it felt like a vast distance separated them. He couldn''t read her clear eyes, and she couldn''t understand the depths of his.


    "Didn''t I tell you, once you get better, I''ll take you back," Alexander replied.


    Quinn stared at him, confused. "When will I be healthy enough to go home?"


    "That''s for the doctor to decide," Alexander said.


    "But the doctor isn''t here," Quinn shot back.


    "Tomorrow, I''ll have the doctore and check on you, okay?" Alexander tried to soothe her.


    Quinn nodded, hoping the doctor would say she was better.


    Alexander took her hand and continued to wash off the paint.


    Quinn quieted down, but the sadness lingered on her face.


    She thought, ''I miss home so much. I''ve never been away this long by myself.''


    After helping her clean up, Alexander helped her change into a fresh pair of clothes. After dinner, she started to feel sleepy again.


    However, a bowl of medicer, she was no longer sleepy.


    Every time she took medicine, it was torture. She''d drink half and spit out the rest.


    After vomiting, shey weakly in Alexander''s arms, crying, "ver want to drink it again."


    He patted her back, trying tofort her.


    A long time ago, when she was upset, she would also lie in his arms, holding onto him and refusing to let go.


    But back then, she couldn''t speak, didn''t act spoiled like this, and didn''t throw tantrums.


    She had relied on him, and they were seemingly close, but there was always an inequality between them. She was always cautious around him.


    Back then, she was always watching his expressions, sensibly acting spoiled within the limited boundaries.


    For a moment, it felt like they had returned to the past, yet it was different.


    She had her own pride and temper now.


    Alexander lowered his head, cupped her face, and wiped away her tears,forting, "Don''t cry. Once you''re better, you won''t have to drink it anymore." Quinn had heard this many times before; she didn''t know when she would actually get better.


    She pouted and looked at him with dissatisfaction.


    "But it''s so bitter," sheined.


    "Just bear with it," Alexander coaxed.


    Quinn shook her head. "No, I won''t drink it!"


    "Stop fussing." He pressed Quinn onto the bed. "Go to sleep."


    Quinn started throwing a tantrum again, rolling back and forth on the bed, shouting, "I won''t drink the medicine anymore!"


    Her pajamas had a hood, and she grabbed it and put it on. Then she rolled around on the bed, wrapping herself up in the nket like a cocoon.


    When she realized she couldn''t get out, she looked at Alexander, blinking pitifully.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Alexander looked at her but didn''t move.


    Quinn whispered, "I can''t get out."


    "Will you sleep quietly if I help you?" Alexander asked.


    She nodded obediently, the bunny ears on her hood bobbing with her head nods, looking incredibly cute.


    Alexander pressed his lips together, reached out, and freed her. She wriggled over to his side and hugged his waist.


    "Stay with me while I sleep," she demanded sweetly.


    Alexander was silent for a moment, then removed her hands from his waist. "You sleep first. I''m going to take a shower."


    Quinn allowed him to go shower and even urged him, "Hurry up."


    Alexander got up and went to the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water came from inside.


    Quinn told him to hurry, but he took over forty minutes to finish.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    By the time he came out, Quinn should have been asleep, but she wasn''t.

 Chapter 826

    She had already moved from the head of the bed to the foot, staring intently at the bathroom door, waiting for him toe out. When he did, she patted the bed, inviting him over.


    Alexander walked out, drying his hair with a towel, wearing a white bathrobe. The open cor showed the bandages on his chest.


    "Why are you at the foot of the bed?" he asked.


    Quinn tilted her head back with a cheeky smile. "Waiting for you."


    Alexander met her gaze, feeling a mix of emotions.


    He wiped his hair a few more times, tossed the towel onto the sofa, and lifted the nket off her. "Get back to the head of the bed." "Okay," she said quickly, crawling back to the head of the bed.


    After turning off the lights, as soon as he got into bed, she snuggled into his arms.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    He held her close; her pajamas were so thick it felt like he was holding a furry soft toy.


    Quinn loved his scent, a faint fragrance she couldn''t identify but somehow, it made her feel secure.


    In her homesick loneliness, holding Alexander and smelling his scent was her onlyfort.


    Her hair brushed his jaw, the fuzz on her pajamas tickled his chest, and her breath warmed his neck.


    Just as she was about to fall asleep, the tightening grip around her waist woke her up.


    With her cheek pressed against his neck, sheined softly, "You''re holding me too tight."


    But instead of loosening, his grip tightened even more, it almost seemed as if he wanted to squeeze her in half. She struggled a bit, dissatisfied.


    Alexander rubbed his cheek against hers and whispered in her ear, "Quinn."


    "What is it?" she asked.


    His fingers wandered around her waist, his voice bing husky. "I can''t hold back anymore."


    Quinn didn''t understand and thought for a moment. "Do you need to go to the bathroom? Go ahead."


    "I''m not talking about the bathroom," Alexander gritted his teeth.


    "Then what can''t you hold back?" Quinn asked naively.


    Suddenly, Alexander pressed a switch, and the room lights came on.


    The ring light made her instinctively bury her face in his neck.


    He pried her away and sat up on the bed, looking at her deeply.


    She looked at him in confusion, thinking, ''Why is he pulling me up? I don''t need to go to the bathroom.''


    "What are you doing?" Quinn asked, puzzled.


    Alexander held her hand and said ambiguously, "Do you remember the video?"


    Quinn thought for a moment and nodded. "You mean that game?"


    He lifted her chin and kissed her lips. "Just think of it as a game."


    Quinn kissed him back, then said, "But I''m sleepy. Let''s y tomorrow."


    She used the same tone he used to coax her, to coax him. She couldn''t understand his gaze or guess his thoughts because she was tired.


    Alexander rested his head on her shoulder, closed his eyes, and stayed like that for about ten seconds.


    Then, he sighed in frustration and finally let go of Quinn. "Go to sleep."


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Just as Quinn was about to lie down, she sat up again. "ed to go to the bathroom, too."


    A vein throbbed on Alexander''s forehead. "Go by yourself!"


    Quinn hugged his neck, asking coquettishly, "No, you carry me."


    Alexander''s expression changed unpredictably. Suddenly, he flipped her onto the bed, pinning her down, and warned, "If you keep hugging me like this, don''t me me for what happens next." Quinn''s hands were pinned down, and she struggled a bit but couldn''t break free. She looked at him innocently.


    "But I need to go to the bathroom," she insisted.


    ''If he doesn''t want to carry me there, I can go by myself; why is he being so fierce?'' sheined to herself.


    As he stared into her clear eyes, his breathing became more erratic.


    "Don''t look at me like that," he muttered.


    "You''re acting weird. How should I look at you? I..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, he suddenly lowered his head and kissed her, swallowing the rest of her words, turning them into muffled whimpers.

 Chapter 827

    Quinn squirmed unhappily, thinking, ''I really need to use the bathroom! Is he dumb or just ignoring me?''


    Alexander kissed her hard, like he was starving and she was his meal.


    Quinn could barely breathe; he had her wrists pinned, so she couldn''t move.


    Just when she thought she''d pass out, Alexander finally let her go, but only to start kissing her neck.


    Her face turned red from holding it in. She gasped for air and whispered, "Alexander."


    He lifted his head, meeting her embarrassed gaze and her moist lips, hesitating for a moment before asking, "What is it?"


    Quinn blushed. "I couldn''t hold it in anymore."


    Alexander was slightly taken back.


    Quinn felt too embarrassed to face him.


    She ran into another room and hid under the covers, her face so red it seemed like it could bleed.


    Alexander tried to pull the covers off her, but she snatched them back, wrapping herself up like a cocoon again.


    Afraid she might suffocate herself, he pulled her out.


    She shrank back into the covers, then after a while, poked her head out to look at him.


    "You can''t tell anyone," she ordered.


    Alexander pursed his lips, staring intently at her from the side.


    She reached out from under the covers, tugging at his robe. "Did you hear me? You can''t tell anyone, or I won''t talk to you anymore."


    Alexander looked at her flushed face, the dark tide in his eyes not receding.


    He leaned in close to her, his long fingers pinching her chin, staring at her pink lips, and said in a low voice, "Then you have to agree to one condition."


    "What condition?" she asked eagerly.


    "You have to take your medicine obediently every day from now on," he replied.


    Her eyes widened slowly, her face instantly falling into a tearful expression as she looked at him.


    "If you don''t agree, I''ll tell everyone you wet the bed," he threatened.


    Quinn panicked immediately. She quickly hugged his arm, almost crying as she pleaded, "No! You can''t do that!!"


    "So, do you agree or not?" he pressed on.


    "But it was you who wouldn''t let me go to the bathroom!" she retorted.


    Alexander''s expression was somewhat subtle. "So what?"


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! "You''re a bad person!" Quinn said angrily, pushing him away. "I won''t sleep with you anymore!"


    Alexander grabbed her hand and continued, "Do you agree or not?"


    She struggled a couple of times but couldn''t break free. Thinking about how embarrassing it would be if other people found out, she had no choice but topromise.


    She hesitated for a long time before finally nodding pitifully.


    "I agree, just don''t tell anyone," she relented.


    A smile appeared on Alexander''s lips. "Alright."


    She extended her finger, saying, "Then let''s pinky swear. If you lie, you''ll turn into a dog."


    He nced at her finger, pondered for a moment, and finally extended his finger to hook hers. "You have to keep your word too."Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn shook his finger, then pried open another of his fingers to touch hers, saying, "We pinky swore, you can''t lie."

 Chapter 828

    "Alright," Alexander said, lying down next to her and wrapping an arm around her waist. "Let''s get some sleep."


    Quinn nodded, snuggling into his embrace and wrapping her arms around him. She was exhausted and quickly fell asleep.


    But Alexander, lying beside her, couldn''t drift off.


    They went to bedte, so Quinn was still asleep when Abigail showed up the next morning.


    Abigail nced at her sports watch, noting, "It''s already ten. Isn''t she getting up for breakfast?" Olivia had a weird look on her face as she sneaked a nce upstairs. "Maybe she slept in."


    Last night, Olivia had tidied up the bed. She didn''t know exactly what had happened, but she could briefly guess what went down. Helpless, she could only sigh inwardly at Alexander''s many tricks, having been through simr experiences herself.


    Abigail gave Olivia a suspicious look, guessing a bit from her odd expression.


    ''Jerk,'' Abigail thought, sitting down on the couch and cursing Alexander multiple times in her mind. ''Quinn is so sick, yet he still wants to have sex with her. He really only thinks with what''s in his pants.''


    As she was cursing, Alexander came downstairs.


    "Mr. Kennedy, would you like breakfast?" Olivia quickly greeted him, also as a warning to Abigail to stop cursing.


    Abigail nced upstairs.


    Alexander was wearing his usual ck shirt, with broad shoulders and long legs, looking quite proper.


    He was on the phone and didn''t look at Abigail.


    Seeing his outfit, Olivia guessed he was going out, so she quickly brought him his coat.


    Alexander took the coat Olivia handed him and left the vi without looking back.


    The call was from Kyle. Some inspection team members and police had arrived at thepany.


    Alexander got into the car but didn''t rush to thepany. Instead, he lit a cigarette and listened to Kyle''s report.


    "I''m entertaining them now, Mr. Kennedy. Should I tell them you''re on a business trip?" Kyle''s voice carried a hint of worry.


    Alexander chuckled. "What are you afraid of?"


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    "But it seems like they came prepared. They supposedly have evidence, although I haven''t seen it," Kyle exined.


    "I''ll be at thepany soon. I want to see what evidence they have." Alexander hung up, started the car, and slowly drove out of the garage towards thepany.


    In thepany''s conference room, seven or eight people were seated.


    Seeing Alexander push the door open ande in, Kyle immediately went up to greet him. "Mr. Kennedy, you''re here."


    "You can leave now," Alexander said.


    Kyle nodded, nced worriedly at the group in the conference room, and then left.


    A middle-aged man came over and showed his credentials. "Hello, Mr. Kennedy. I''m John Johnson, the leader of the fifth group of the Inspectorate."


    Alexander extended his hand. "Mr. Johnson, please have a seat."


    Both parties sat down, with Alexander smiling slightly. "What would you like to inspect?"


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    "Your assistant should have mentioned on the phone that Stanley, who notarized your father Wayne''s will, went missing the day before yesterday.


    "His family reported it, and after a search, the police found a letter of usation in his study."


    As he spoke, John took a letter from his bag, ced it on the table, and pushed it towards Alexander.


    Alexander nced at it, picked up the envelope, and took out the letter inside.


    He skimmed through it. The letter roughly used Alexander of bribing Stanley, falsifying the will, and altering it. Stanley wrote that his conscience couldn''t bear it, and he was also threatened by Alexander, so he wrote this letter of usation. It bore Stanley''s signature and seal.


    "After verification, the handwriting is Stanley''s, and the letter was written the day before he went missing," John continued.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander finished reading the letter, put it back in the envelope, and looked at the people across from him without changing his expression. "So, you suspect that Stanley''s disappearance is rted to me?"


    "Don''t misunderstand. It''s just that all the evidence points to you, Mr. Kennedy. We''re just following procedure and asking you some questions," John exined.


    Alexander smiled. "Have you considered that if I really made Stanley disappear because of this letter, would I have left it behind?"

 Chapter 829

    Hearing Alexander''s reasoning, a few people exchanged nces.


    "Yeah, that''s one of our concerns too. That''s why we''re here to ask if what Stanley said in his letter about you forging and altering the will is true," John said.


    Alexander rubbed his temples and sighed. "Stanley left this letter and vanished, and it just happened to end up with you. Let''s not even talk about the will right now; I''m starting to think this letter might be fake." "This is definitely Stanley''s handwriting," John insisted.


    Alexander shot back, "Handwriting can be forged. People can fake famous paintings, historical artifacts, even money. A letter is nothing.


    "If you think Stanley''s disappearance is my doing, or if you believe I altered the will, then find the evidence or the real will. Show me hard proof, and I''ll face the consequences. But don''t interrogate me here," Alexander added coldly. "I''ve already told you, this is just a routine inquiry, not an interrogation. We hope you''ll cooperate," John said.


    Alexanderughed. "If I wasn''t cooperating, I wouldn''t be sitting here wasting my time. I''ve said all I need to say. If you have more questions, talk to mywyer."


    Kyle had been watching from outside, feeling the tension and worrying for Alexander.


    Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder.


    Kyle turned around quickly and saw it was Walter. He sighed in relief. "You scared me. What do you want?"


    Walter nced at the meeting room and smiled. "I heard Mr. Kennedy''s in some trouble, so I came to check. How''s it going?"


    "I don''t know," Kyle replied. He couldn''t hear what was being said inside. Suddenly, he turned to Walter again and asked, "Is this your doing?"


    Walter tilted his head. "Don''t talk nonsense. nder is illegal, Mr. Astor."


    Kyle sneered. "Stop pretending. I know what kind of person you are."


    ''You and Landon are in cahoots!'' Kyle thought.


    Walter just smiled, his eyes fixed on Alexander''s calm figure inside the meeting room.


    After a while, he patted Kyle on the shoulder and said, "Don''t worry, Mr. Kennedy won''t go down that easily."


    With that, Walter walked past Kyle and left.


    Kyle red at his back, then used, "So it was you after all!"


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    Walter didn''t respond, just kept walking.


    Kyle was fuming when the meeting room door suddenly opened, and Alexander walked out.


    Alexander didn''t look at Kyle, his whole demeanor icy, as he headed for the elevator.


    Kyle didn''t dare say anything and quickly followed him to the office.


    Alexander tugged at his tie, finding it annoying, and then pulled it off, tossing it onto the desk.


    He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, hands in his pockets, staring at the skyscrapers outside.


    Kyle cautiously approached him. "Mr. Kennedy, what did they say?"


    Alexander didn''t speak.


    After a long while, he turned to Kyle and instructed, "Send someone to investigate Stanley''s whereabouts."


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! "Isn''t he missing?" Kyle asked.


    Alexander''s eyes flickered as he looked at the distant buildings. "If he''s really missing, it''s all the more reason for us to find him."


    Kyle thought for a moment and nodded. "That letter of usation, could it really have been written by Stanley?"


    Alexander sneered. "Do you believe that?"


    Kyle shook his head. "No, I don''t. So, someone must have forged the letter and kidnapped Stanley. They nned to use the letter to get the police to find the real will."


    "What do you mean by ''real will"?" Alexander gave him a cold look.


    Kyle''s eyes widened, and he quickly pped himself. "Sorry, that was a slip of the tongue. I meant, they think there''s another will, so when they couldn''t find a breakthrough with Stanley, they resorted to this method." Kyle, eager to survive his boss''s wrath, added, "In any case, they are bound to be disappointed. The will in your hands is the real will!"This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander leaned against the window, lit a cigarette, and watched the smoke drift out.


    Seeing that Alexander had no other instructions, Kyle turned and left.


    Meanwhile, Kaitlyn received an email from Mr. Walker.

 Chapter 830

    It was the information about Alexander''s car ident and hospital stay from seven years ago that she had asked Mr. Walker to dig up.


    She stared at it for ages but couldn''t make heads or tails of it.


    Finally, she shoved the papers in a drawer and headed to Regal Riverside.


    Nowadays, she lived alone in the vi, feeling super lonely. Plus, the house next door, which had burned down, was being rebuilt every day, making a racket and disturbing her peace.


    She couldn''t figure out why Alexander was so set on rebuilding that house. It wouldn''t be done for months.


    When Kaitlyn got to Regal Riverside, Abigail was about to take Quinn out for some fun.


    They walked to the door and bumped into Kaitlyn, who was just getting out of her car.


    Quinn didn''t recognize her, and Abigail pulled Quinn behind herself protectively.


    Kaitlyn ignored them and casually asked, "Is Alexander home?"


    Abigail replied, "He left a while ago."


    With that, she took Quinn outside and grabbed a helmet to put on Quinn''s head. "Put this on, we''re heading out."


    Quinn touched the heavy helmet and nced back at Kaitlyn, who had already walked into the house like she owned the ce.


    "Who is she?" Quinn asked, curious.


    Abigail got on the motorcycle and said irritably, "Alexander''s mom, who else."


    Abigail started the motorcycle, and it shot off like a rocket. Startled, Quinn hugged her waist tightly in fear.


    "Hold on tight. I''ll take you for a ride," Abigail said.


    "Okay."


    Quinn clung to Abigail''s waist. Even though the weather was warming up, the wind rushing past them as the motorcycle sped along was still chilly.


    Quinn shrank her neck and hid behind Abigail to hide from the cold wind.


    She tilted her head, watching the scenery sh by, feeling super excited.


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    Abigail sped down the road, but soon, her phone started vibrating frantically in her pocket.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "So annoying, who is it?" Abigail grumbled.


    She pulled over, took out her phone, and her face immediately darkened.


    It was Alexander.


    ''Does he know I took Quinn out?'' she wondered.


    After a moment, Abigail answered, "What do you want?"


    Alexander was blunt. "Bring her back."


    Abigail frowned. "Did you put a tracker on her or something?"


    "I''ll say it again, bring her back, or you won''t see her tomorrow," Alexander threatened.


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    Abigail was pissed and shot back, "Why do you keep her locked up at home every day? She''s already sick. Aren''t you worried her situation will get worse?"


    "That''s not your concern. Don''t make me say it a third time. Abigail, if you keep doing things your way, you''ll face the consequences," Alexander warned coldly.


    Even through the phone, Abigail could feel the chill in his voice.


    Alexander didn''t say anything else and hung up after the warning.


    Abigail sighed in frustration and turned to look at Quinn behind her. "Quinn, do you want to go back?"


    Quinn was lying on her back, holding her tightly but already half-asleep.


    "Quinn?" Abigail asked again.


    Quinn slowly woke up, groggily lifting her head. "What did you just say?"


    "I''ll take you back," Abigail said, noticing how unusual it was for her to fall asleep on a motorcycle.


    Quinn rubbed her eyes and mumbled, "I want to sleep."

 Chapter 831

    Abigail was getting more and more confused. ''Why is Quinn feeling sleepy again?'' she thought. ''Didn''t she just get up two hours ago? Maybe she''s just worn out fromst night with Alexander. Yeah, that makes sense.'' After mulling it over, she decided to head back.


    Halfway back, Quinn had already dozed off again despite the speeding motorcycle and the hypnotic scenery along the way.


    When they pulled up outside the vi, a Bentley came from the opposite direction.


    The Bentley stopped a few feet away, and a momentter, Alexander stepped out.


    Abigail smirked, "Perfect timing. Got a tracker on her or something?"


    Alexander ignored her, walked over, and nced at the sleeping Quinn.


    He took off Quinn''s helmet, letting her hair fall over her face.


    Quinn slowly opened her eyes, saw Alexander, and then drifted back to sleep.


    He lifted Quinn out of the motorcycle and said to Abigail, "I''m telling you again. Don''t take her out, especially not in that junk bike of yours."


    "Junk? You just don''t get it," Abigail shot back, thinking, ''You must be blind not to see how cool my bike is.''


    Alexander didn''t care enough to give a response. He carried Quinn off the motorcycle and headed to the vi. Inside, they could hear Kaitlyn bossing Olivia around.


    "Look at this dust! What are you even doing here?


    "And those dogs! Can''t they stay outside? They make the house stink."


    Olivia tried to exin, "Mrs. Kennedy Senior, the dogs go outside to do their business. They don''t do it inside."


    Kaitlyn snapped, "I say it stinks, so it stinks! Who''s in charge here, you or me?"


    "Mr. Kennedy owns them," Olivia muttered.


    "Well, he''s my son. Can''t I at least be the boss of two dogs?" Kaitlyn said coldly.


    Olivia looked conflicted, unsure what to say. When she saw Alexandere in, she seemed relieved.


    "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy Senior..." Olivia started.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "I heard everything," Alexander cut her off, heading upstairs.


    Kaitlyn saw him carrying Quinn and snapped, "Why are you carrying her? She''s a grown woman. Does she need to be carried?"


    Alexander ignored her, not even greeting her, and carried Quinn upstairs.


    Seeing him disregard her, Kaitlyn was furious.


    ''Alexander''s habit of ignoring me is getting worse!''


    Alexander ced Quinn on the bed, then covered her with a nket. She mumbled something, turned over, and clutched the nket, falling into a deep sleep.


    He watched her for a moment before leaving the room.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! When he came out, he found Kaitlyn waiting at the top of the stairs, ready for a confrontation.


    "Alexander, are you nning to disown me as your mother now?" Kaitlyn questioned.


    Alexander stopped in front of her, looking down at her.


    After a moment, she felt a bit dazed, realizing how tall Alexander had grown.


    Even in heels, she barely reached his shoulder.


    She had never felt such a stark contrast before.


    Alexander looked at her and said, "Seems like you still have too much free time."


    With that, he walked past her towards the sofa.


    Kaitlyn snapped out of it and quickly followed, "I really don''t have much to do right now, so Alexander, I''ve decided to stay here for a while."

 Chapter 832

    Alexander stopped in his tracks and nced back at Kaitlyn. "Can''t the Kennedy Residence take you in?"


    "It''s not that it can''t. It''s just boring being there alone. I wanted toe here and have you keep mepany," Kaitlyn exined.


    "I don''t have time for that. If you''re bored, go hang out with your friends," Alexander replied coldly.


    Kaitlyn moved to stand in front of him, looking up. "Alexander, why are you acting like this? I''m still your mother. What''s wrong with me staying here for a while? It''s not like there aren''t any extra rooms." Alexander lit a cigarette and tossed the lighter onto the table. It hit the table with a sharp and jarring sound.


    Kaitlyn sat down too. "Alexander, there''s something else I need to talk to you about."


    "What is it?" he asked.


    "You said I''d get half of the inheritance. But I''ve only received this much, which isn''t what you promised," Kaitlyn said.


    Alexander nced at her sideways. "The will is clear. If you have any objections, talk to awyer. Asking me is pointless."


    Kaitlyn was baffled. "Who writes a will like that? Giving you ny-five percent?"


    Alexander let out a mockingugh.


    Kaitlyn''s expression turned uneasy at hisugh.


    "Why do you need so much money?" Alexander asked, his gaze piercing. "You can''t spend it all, and eventually, it''ll still be mine.


    "Unless, you are nning to leave it to someone else?" he said suggestively.


    Kaitlyn was taken aback, looking guilty as she averted her gaze.


    "What nonsense are you talking about? You''re my son. Of course, what''s mine is yours. Who else would I give it to? I''m just thinking about Freya!" Kaitlyn said, agitated.


    Alexander''s gaze locked onto her, making her scalp tingle. She felt like he could see right through her.


    After a while, he finally looked away and said indifferently, "If that''s the case, then why do you care who gets more and who gets less?"


    Kaitlyn had no rebuttal.


    He continued, "It''s still early. You should go back."


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    Kaitlyn suddenly red at him. "Are you kicking me out?"


    "I''m asking you to leave. If you insist on being kicked out, I don''t mind doing that either," Alexander said coldly.


    Hearing his cold-hearted words, Kaitlyn stood up abruptly, ring at him, her body trembling with anger.


    "You really have less and less respect for me. Aren''t you afraid of being punished by God for treating me like this?" Kaitlyn used.


    Alexander leaned back on the sofa, looking amused. "Then you should be even more grateful that you''re still my mother. Cherish that identity and don''t always act high and mighty."


    Kaitlyn''s expression changed. "What do you mean?"


    "Nothing." He didn''t intend to exin. After extinguishing his cigarette, he stood up. "Olivia, see her out."


    With Alexander''s instruction, Olivia gained confidence. Earlier, Kaitlyn had been bossing her around, and Olivia didn''t dare to retort. Now that Alexander had spoken, she naturally didn''t bother to act polite anymore. "Mrs. Kennedy Senior, please leave," Olivia said firmly.


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    With Olivia''s firm attitude, Kaitlyn trembled with anger, ring at Alexander.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Alexander ignored her and walked straight upstairs.


    "Alexander!" Kaitlyn shouted.


    Alexander ignored her, pushed open the bedroom door, and walked in.


    Quinn was sleeping in a poor position, the nket somehow ending up under her, and the window was open, letting in a cold breeze that tousled her hair.


    He sat by the bedside and reached out to tidy her hair.


    As his fingers brushed against her delicate skin, she grumbled in dissatisfaction and swatted his hand away.


    His deep eyes fell on her face, his fingers caressing her cheek, then slowly moving to her lips.


    In her sleep, Quinn felt ufortable with the roughness on her lips and unconsciously stuck out her tongue to lick them.


    Her tongue brushed against Alexander''s fingers, causing him to stiffen slightly.

 Chapter 833

    Quinn was cluelessly munching on fried chicken in her dream.


    Her mom never let her eat junk food, so she was fighting with her mom in the dream. Determined to keep the chicken leg, she bit down hard on it. She used all her strength to protect that chicken leg, her teeth mping down tighter and tighter.


    Alexander''s face darkened. He pinched her jaw with his other hand and yanked his fingers out of her mouth.


    His fingers were covered in saliva, with a deep bite mark across them.


    He quickly got up and walked out.


    Downstairs, Kaitlyn was still arguing with Olivia. Alexander ignored them and headed to the study.


    After a while, finally, Kaitlyn left in a huff.


    Just as she was leaving, Kyle showed up looking for Alexander. She grabbed Kyle and asked, "Mr. Astor, what''s Alexander been up totely?"


    Kyle was caught off guard and hid the documents behind him. "He''s been busy withpany stuff, of course."


    Kaitlyn gave him a suspicious look.


    Kyle didn''t want to get tangled up with her, so he bowed slightly and said, "Mrs. Kennedy Senior, I need to go in."


    With that, he quickly entered the vi and went straight to the study.


    "Mr. Kennedy." Kyle handed a stack of documents to Alexander.


    "We checked all the surveince and Stanley''s call records. The footage shows he drove to the suburbs and never came back."


    "Thest call on his phone," Kyle hesitated and nced at Alexander, cautiously saying, "was with you."


    Alexander took the documents and looked through the surveince and investigation records.


    Kyle continued, "Stanley''s wife also said he went out after getting a call.


    "There was nothing unusual that happened when he left; it was just like any other time he went out."


    Alexander listened quietly, looking at the surveince photos in his hand, a cold smile forming on his lips.


    "He went to great lengths to frame me," Alexander mused.


    Kyle knew exactly who "he" referred to-none other than Landon.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Thinking about the troublemaker, Kyle got a bit angry. "He just got out of the hospital and is already causing trouble. He must be really bored!"


    Alexander said, "He''s not bored; he''s targeting me."


    He threw the photos on the table. "If everything goes ording to his n, the police will soon find Stanley''s body, and all the evidence will point to me."


    Kyle was shocked. "What should we do?"


    "We need to find his body first," Alexander replied simply.


    "Okay, wait, how do you know Stanley is dead?" Kyle was confused.


    Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose. "If he''s not dead and is found, the truth wille out."


    Kyle suddenly understood. It seemed Stanley was likely dead.


    "I''ll send someone to find him immediately," Kyle said.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! "Look in obvious ces. Landon wants the police to find the body, so he won''t hide it too well," Alexander suggested.


    "I understand."


    Kyle nced at the documents on the table, hesitated, and said, "I suspect Mr. Smith is also involved in this."


    Alexander raised an eyebrow slightly. "I almost forgot if you hadn''t mentioned him."


    "What do you mean?" Kyle asked, puzzled.


    "Take Walter with you to find it. He should know where the body is."


    Kyle frowned in confusion, wanting to ask why but fearing Alexander would think him stupid. So he didn''t ask and went out to handle it.


    After leaving, he called Walter.


    Walter was still working overtime at thepany, going through almost a year''s worth of ounts.


    After receiving Kyle''s call, he dropped everything and left thepany without hesitation.

 Chapter 834

    Kyle met Walter at the highway entrance, surprised he showed up so quickly.


    "Mr. Smith, you got here fast," Kyle spoke up first.


    Walter shut the car door, smiling. He strolled up to Kyle and replied, "I''d rather do something meaningful with you than audit ounts." Kyle eyed him and mocked, "I think you actually enjoy auditing."


    Walter chuckled. "Caught me, huh? But you know, it''s important to bnce work and rest. Even I need a break from working overtime." Kyle felt a bit stumped, then quickly changed the topic, "You know what we''re looking for, right?"


    "Of course, but if we find it, we might get caught red-handed and there''ll be no way to exin that," Walter said matter-of-factly. Walter''s words hit home for Kyle.


    ''If we find the body and the cops show up, we could be suspects,'' Kyle thought worriedly.


    "So, what now?" Kyle asked.


    "Ask Mr. Kennedy, not me. I can''t take that heat." Walter shrugged.


    Kyle hesitated, then called Alexander from the car.


    Alexander just told him to keep searching.


    With no choice, Kyle instructed Walter to help him search the suburbs for Stanley.


    They searched all night but found nothing.


    Kyle grew suspicious. He couldn''t help thinking, ''Walter''s dragging this out on purpose. He doesn''t want me to find the body!''


    As dawn broke, Kyle felt defeated.


    He nced at Walter, who was casually smoking by the car. "Where''s Stanley?"


    Walter turned his head to look at him, somewhat amused. "We''re both looking for him. If you can''t find him, why would I?"


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    "You know where he is!" Kyle insisted.


    Walter raised an eyebrow. "Watch it, or I might sue you for nder."


    Kyle red but said nothing.


    He rested a bit, then drove back to the office, leaving Walter to continue the search alone.


    At the vi, Abigail came to y with Quinn again.


    But Quinn was still asleep. Abigail went to the bedroom and woke her up.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Quinn, rubbing her eyes, was happy to see her. "Abigail, what are we ying today?"


    Abigail pinched her cheek. "Eat first, then we''ll y."


    Quinn nodded sleepily and went to wash up.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! When she came out, she still looked sleepy from being forcibly woken up.


    "What time did you go to bed?" Abigail asked.


    "I don''t know," came the sleepy response.


    Quinn still felt pretty groggy at the moment. She went to eat and reluctantly drank her bitter medicine.


    The bitterness jolted her awake for a moment.


    Abigail suggested ying hide and seek, and Quinn readily agreed.


    Abigail told her to hide while she counted.


    Quinn quietly went upstairs and hid in a small room.


    As soon as she closed the door, darkness enveloped her, filling her with inexplicable fear.

 Chapter 835

    As fear consumed her, she fumbled for the doorknob, opened the door, and ran out as if a beast were chasing her.


    Quinn ran all the way back to the bedroom, pushed the door open, and hid under the covers.


    Her heart was racing, and she was trembling under the covers.


    She covered her ears, and fragmented memories shed through her mind, causing her intense pain.


    Abigail pushed the door open and immediately saw her hiding under the covers. She quietly walked over, grabbed the nket, and yanked it off. "Got you!" Abigail said excitedly.


    She intended to scare Quinn, but after pulling off the nket, the smile on her face faded.


    Quinn was curled up, her hands covering her ears, eyes tightly shut, her face pale as a ghost.


    "Quinn, what''s wrong?" Abigail raised her hand and patted her shoulder.


    Quinn opened her eyes, looked at Abigail, and suddenly lunged at her.


    She clung to Abigail as if she found a lifeline, hugging her tightly.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail was momentarily stunned, her hands frozen in mid-air, unsure of what to do. After a moment, she patted Quinn''s back tofort her. "It''s okay. Don''t be afraid. I''m here." Abigail''s voice was soft.


    Quinn clung to Abigail, her mind filled with countless despairing images in the dark, and she couldn''t help but cry.


    Even though she remembered nothing, the fear and sadness still flooded her mind, piercing her heart like needles.


    The unfamiliar feelings left her at a loss.


    Abigailforted her for a long time before Quinn gradually calmed down.


    By the time Abigail realized it, Quinn had already fallen asleep.


    Abigailid her on the bed, picked up the nket to cover her, and wiped away the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes.


    Even in her sleep, Quinn''s brows were furrowed, as if she was still sad in her dreams.


    Abigail sat with her for a while, sighed, and then got up to go downstairs.


    She was waiting for Quinn to wake up.


    However, she waited the entire day. Soon, the golden hues of sunset shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting light at Abigail''s feet.


    Abigail looked at the easel in front of her; the painting was almost finished.


    In the painting, Quinn was smiling happily, carefree, a smile Abigail had never seen since she had reunited with Quinn this time.


    Seeing Oliviae downstairs, Abigail put down her paintbrush and asked, "Is she still not awake?"


    Olivia sighed and shook her head.


    Following Olivia downstairs was Soren.


    Abigail stepped forward and asked, "What''s wrong with her?"


    Soren also shook his head and replied, "I can''t find the reason."


    The three of them fell into silence.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Olivia said, "A few days ago when Quinn was ying with Abigail, she didn''t seem to want to sleep at all. But today, she fell asleep while ying with Abigail."


    "Where''s Alexander?" Abigail asked.


    Olivia replied, "Mr. Kennedy went out early this morning and hasn''te back yet. He''s been quite busy these past few days."


    Abigail sneered, "All he knows is to be busy. He doesn''t even care about Quinn''s well-being and locks her up in the room."


    Olivia couldn''t help but defend him, "He''s also afraid something might happen to Quinn."


    "I think he''s afraid Quinn will fall for someone else. He''s always been a shameless person," Abigail retorted.


    Abigail found Alexander''s actions amusing and confusing at the same time. ''It''s one thing to guard against men, but he even guards against me, a woman. Is he out of his mind? ''Back then, to prevent Quinn from interacting with me, he used every means possible to drive me away.''


    While Abigail wasining about Alexander, Oliver called her, urging her to return.


    She answered the phone and walked out of the vi.

 Chapter 836

    Oliver''s voice crackled over the phone, "Abigail, steer clear of Quinn for a while."


    Abigail froze mid-stride as she mounted her motorcycle. "Why?"


    "Alexander''s in some deep trouble. You don''t want to get mixed up in it," Oliver exined.


    "That''s actually great news. Spill the details so I can savor it," Abigail said, a grin spreading across her face. Oliver chuckled, "Why are you so thrilled?"


    "Because I hope hends in jail. If that ever happens, I''d throw a party," Abigailughed.


    "That might not happen," a voice said from behind her, clearly not Oliver''s.


    Abigail''s smile froze, a chill running down her spine. She turned around slowly, clutching her phone.


    There stood Alexander, his presence unnoticed until now.


    "Are you a ghost? How do you sneak up like that?" Abigail asked.


    Alexander had a cold smile on his lips as he looked down at her. "Maybe you were just too happy to notice."


    Abigail pouted. She had been too caught up in her thoughts of Alexander''s misfortune to pay attention to her surroundings.


    She didn''t bother to hide her feelings and shot back, "It''s not just me. Plenty of people would be thrilled. Think about how many enemies you''ve made."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander shrugged. "Lots of people want me gone, but none of them can pull it off. Neither can you."


    Abigailughed. "Don''t be so cocky. You can''t always win."


    With that, she grabbed her helmet, started her motorcycle, and sped off.


    Alexander watched her leave, his eyes following her until she was out of sight. The golden sunset bathed him in warm light, but his eyes remained cold.


    Back inside, Olivia mentioned that Quinn had been sleeping all day, even dozing off while Abigail was around.


    "Want to take Quinn for a walk?" Olivia suggested.


    Alexander ignored her and headed upstairs. As expected, Quinn was still asleep.


    He stood by the bed for a moment, then walked to the window, opened it, and stepped onto the balcony to smoke.


    Later, he got a call. Stanley''s body had been found in an abandoned kiln in the suburbs. The police discovered it first, followed by Walter, who made sure he wouldn''t be implicated.


    Since Stanley''sst call was with Alexander, he was brought in for questioning. The situation blew up online, with someone stirring the pot, making it a big deal.


    Previously, Alexander''s incident with Getty had made him a popr figure. He was seen as the perfect man, and became even more famous than some celebrities. Hence, when this new incident with Stanley''s death came to light, people were shocked.


    Many had believed their favorite celebrities might do shady things, but not Alexander. Now, after hearing of Stanley''s death, they concluded that Alexander was ruthless. Some even spected that Wayne''s death and thewyer''s murder were also his doing.


    The rumors spread, forcing the authorities to investigate. Sometimes, being in the spotlight wasn''t a good thing.


    Quinn slept all day and woke up in the middle of the night.


    Since the night beforest, she had only eaten breakfast, and now she was very hungry.


    Olivia, who had been sleeping on the couch in the living room, woke up when she heard the door open. As she opened her eyes, she saw Quinn stepping out of her room.

 Chapter 837

    Olivia nearly toppled off the couch, startled. She dashed over to Quinn and grabbed her arm.


    "Quinn, where are you going thiste?" Olivia asked, puzzled.


    Quinn nced back, touching her stomach. "I''m hungry."


    Olivia pulled her back. "Come on, I saved some food for you. If you''re hungry, just tell me. Don''t run outside."


    "Where''s Alexander?" Quinn asked.


    Olivia hesitated. Honestly, she had no clue where he was, but she''d been following the news online. She guessed he was probably at the police station.


    Of course, she couldn''t tell Quinn that. Instead, she said, "He''s busy at the office. He''ll be back soon. Let''s eat first."


    Quinn was dragged back to the dining room. She couldn''t tell if it was dinner or breakfast since it was already past four in the morning.


    After the meal, Quinn drank a big bowl of medicine. It was as bitter as always, making her shed tears.


    With Alexander not around, she had no one toin to. She just wiped her tears and sat on the couch eating a lollipop afterward.


    It was toote for ice cream, so Olivia gave her a lollipop to cheer her up.


    Olivia turned on the TV, trying to find a cartoon. The news was on, talking about Stanley''s case.


    The host was careful not to name names, just saying it might be rted to apany''s will dispute and that the matter was under investigation.


    However, everyone knew who it was. Alexander had many enemies, like the old Vanderbilt family. Many were waiting to see him fall.


    Quinn didn''t want to watch the news and told Olivia to change the channel.


    Olivia quickly put on "Shrek," letting Quinn watch quietly while she cleaned up the dining table.


    Just before dawn, Walter arrived.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He walked in and saw Quinn asleep on the couch. He didn''t disturb her and sat down next to her, getting engrossed in the cartoon. Olivia was startled when she saw him.


    She walked over and whispered, "Mr. Smith, why are you here?"


    Walter gestured for her to be quiet, indicating not to wake Quinn.


    Olivia said, "She won''t wake up easily when she''s asleep."


    Earlier, Olivia had tried to wake her for dinner but couldn''t. She definitely wouldn''t wake up now.


    Walter looked down at Quinn.


    She was wearing a nightcap, curled up in the corner of the couch, looking like a little puppy.


    Olivia started to shoo him away again. "Mr. Smith, Mr. Kennedy said he doesn''t want you disturbing Quinn."


    Walter smiled. "He''s in trouble himself right now, and you''re still listening to him. You might not even get your paycheck this month."


    Olivia was taken aback and asked worriedly, "Is he really in trouble?"


    "I don''t know either." Walter reached out and yed with the ears on Quinn''s hat, looking indifferent.


    Olivia didn''t know what to do, so she didn''t continue to chase Walter away.


    Walter added, "But I think things aren''t that simple."


    Olivia was stunned again. "What do you mean?"


    Walter smiled faintly. "You''ll know when the timees."


    Based on his experience of being defeated by Alexander twice, Alexander wasn''t someone who could be easily taken down.


    Alexander hadn''t made any moves yet, so he might be nning something big.


    Walter wasn''t involved in this matter. One reason was that Daniel was still under Alexander''s control. Another reason was that if Alexander went to jail and Landon won, it wouldn''t be fun. Ruby, however, had rushed back to Sylvadora overnight to find help after learning about this. It was uncertain whether Alexander would appreciate her effort.


    Olivia nced at Walter hesitantly, thinking, ''After all, there is no conclusion yet. It would be premature to quit now. What if Alexander is fine?'' Then she went back to her tasks.</p<>

 Chapter 838

    Walter nced down at Quinn beside him. His slightly curly hair fell over half his face, and a faint smile yed on his lips, but his eyes were distant. Quinn was lost in a long dream.


    She dreamt of Lucas. For as long as she could remember, Lucas had always been there.


    That handsome brother always had a gentle smile. Even though he was the same age as her other brothers, he seemed more mature and steady. Out of all her brothers, he was her favorite.


    Whenever she got into trouble, she''d run to him first and hide behind him.


    He had promised to always protect her and never let anyone hurt her.


    When awake, Quinn could barely remember his face; he was just a vague outline in her memory.


    But in the dream, his face was clear.


    In the dream, with birds singing and flowers blooming, she could feel the gentle breeze on her cheeks and see his smiling eyes under the bright moonlight.


    He brought her delicious food, shielded her from her other brothers'' anger, braided her hair, and pushed her on the swing.


    She instinctively reached out to touch him, but her hand went straight through him, touching nothing.


    Yet he still looked at her dotingly, smiling as always.


    A sudden emptiness surged in her heart, startling her so much that she fell off the swing.


    Quinn abruptly opened her eyes, staring at the white ceiling, gasping for breath as a wave of loneliness enveloped her heart. "You''re awake?"


    Hearing the voice, Quinn looked up.


    Meeting Walter''s smiling eyes, her gaze became vacant. His eyes gradually ovepped with the smiling eyes in her dream, merging into one person. "Lucas," she murmured.


    Walter''s smile froze.


    "What did you call me?" Walter asked in disbelief.


    Quinn stared at him without blinking, tears suddenly streaming down her face. She quickly got up and threw herself into his arms.


    "Lucas, I missed you so much," she cried as she embraced him.


    Hearing what she had just said, Walter could no longer smile.


    He just sat there stiffly.


    Quinn snuggled in his arms, feeling as if she hadn''t seen him in a long time, holding him tightly, unwilling to let go.


    She was afraid that he would disappear like in the dream, no matter how hard she tried to hold on.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Olivia, seeing the two hugging, was shocked.


    Standing there helplessly for a moment, Olivia walked forward, trying to separate them. "Walter, she needs to take her medicine."


    00000 Quinn had been asleep since the morning, and now fifteen hours had passed.


    Walter was silent for a long time before he ced his hand on Quinn''s shoulder and pushed her away. "You need to take your medicine," he said. Quinn looked up, blinking, staring at him for a long time before realizing he looked different from before.


    She raised her hand and touched his cheek, saying, "Lucas, you''ve grown up too."


    Walter removed her hand and said tly, "You got it wrong, I''m not Lucas."


    Quinn shook her head, looking at him firmly. "You are," she insisted.


    Then, as if thinking of something, she hugged Walter again. "Lucas, did I do something wrong? Are you unhappy?" Just as Olivia was at a loss, she turned and saw Alexander standing at the door, not knowing when he had arrived.


    He stood there, exuding a cold aura, his sharp eyes and ck trench coat almost blending into the night outside.


    Olivia was so frightened that she trembled, and the bowl in her hand suddenly fell.


    The porcin bowl hit the ground with a crash, shattering into pieces as the dark medicine slowly spread across the floor.</p<>

 Chapter 839

    "Mr. Kennedy," Olivia stuttered.


    Olivia''s sudden movement startled the two on the couch.


    Quinn was so focused on Lucas that she didn''t even notice Alexander. She clung to Walter, refusing to let go.


    Walter looked towards the door, his usual smile returning.


    "Mr. Kennedy, why are you back sote?" Walter spoke up first.


    Alexander stared at him for a moment, then his gaze shifted to Quinn in Walter''s arms before he stepped inside.


    "Mr. Smith, disappointed to see me?" Alexander sneered.


    Walter smiled. "Not at all. I''m actually d you''re back."


    Alexander stood in front of Quinn, staring at her intently. She didn''t notice, still holding onto Walter like he might vanish.


    "What now?" Walter sighed, his smile infuriating.


    Ignoring him, Alexander grabbed Quinn''s shoulder and pulled her away from Walter.


    Quinn red at Alexander. "What are you doing?"


    "Did you take your medicine?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn froze for a moment, then pouted in pain, looking pitifully at Walter as if he would help her unconditionally.


    Walter ignored her and stood up. "It''ste, I should go."


    Quinn, hearing this, stood up too, wanting to leave with him.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    But Alexander grabbed her wrist, pulling her back after a few steps.


    Walter chuckled, turned around, and left without looking back.


    Quinn watched him go, tears streaming down her face. "Lucas, I want to go home too! Don''t leave me."


    No matter how much she called, Walter didn''t look back and soon disappeared.


    Alexander held her tightly, his eyes full of anger.


    Seeing she couldn''t break free, Quinn started hitting Alexander. "Let go of me! I want to go home! I hate you!"


    But as soon as she said that, he threw her onto the sofa with such force that she felt dizzy.


    She struggled to get up, but a pair of hands pressed her back down.


    Quinn looked up at Alexander''s grim face. Whether from sadness or fear, she started crying heart-wrenchingly. Seeing this, Olivia quietly retreated.


    "Shut up!" Alexander shouted.


    Quinn cried even harder.


    Veins bulged on Alexander''s forehead. He pinched her cheeks, making her face scrunch up.


    Quinn''s face hurt, and she could barely make a sound. She could only re at him with teary eyes.


    She was furious, clenching her fists and hitting his shoulder, mumbling for him to let go.


    Alexander stared at her, then slowly released his grip.


    Her cheeks were red on both sides.


    Quinn tried to push him, but he grabbed her wrists again, so she could only re at him.


    Alexander instructed Olivia to bring the medicine.


    Olivia carefully brought the medicine over and handed it to him.


    "Drink the medicine," Alexander ordered.


    Quinn, still sulking, shook her head and refused to drink, wanting to get off the sofa to find Walter.</p<>

 Chapter 840

    But she couldn''t escape Alexander''s grip.


    Quinn was furious. She jumped up from the couch, saw the bowl of medicine in front of her, and knocked it out of his hand.


    The porcin bowl hit the ground, shattering and spilling medicine all over his hand.


    She red at him. "You''re awful! I don''t want to y with you!"


    Alexander''s face darkened, anger shing in his eyes, but he didn''t lose it. Instead, he turned to Olivia and ordered, "Get another bowl."


    Olivia nodded and rushed to the kitchen, pouring out thest bowl of medicine from the pot.


    "Mr. Kennedy, this is thest one," Olivia reminded.


    Alexander pressed his lips together, took the medicine without a word, and handed it to Quinn. "Drink it."


    Quinn''s anger red even more. She had made it clear she hated him, yet he still insisted she drink the medicine.


    She tried to knock the bowl over again, but Alexander lifted his hand, dodging her strike.


    In the next moment, he grabbed her jaw.


    Quinn winced in pain as he forcefully opened her mouth, then poured the bitter medicine in.


    She instinctively tried to spit it out, but Alexander didn''t care and kept pouring.


    Her sounds of resistance turned into whimpers as the bitter medicine spread in her mouth, half of it spilling from the corners and staining her white pajamas.


    She pushed against Alexander''s chest with all her might.


    After thest drop was in, Alexander let go of her and threw the bowl behind him. It shattered on the ground with a loud crash. Quinn shivered in fear.


    She hunched her shoulders and neck, looking at him in terror.


    Even if she didn''t understand much, she could feel the coldness radiating from Alexander and see the anger in his eyes.


    She shut her mouth, silently shedding tears.


    Alexander stared at her for a long time before gradually calming down. He reached out to wipe the stains from the corners of her mouth.


    But Quinn was so scared she dodged his hand, retreating and curling up in the corner of the couch, looking at him with tearful eyes. His hand froze in mid-air.


    Quinn watched him warily for a few seconds, then took advantage of his distraction to jump off the couch and run out. "Quinn, don''t run around."


    Olivia chased her to the door. By then, Quinn had already run barefoot far away, her silhouette about to disappear into the night. She turned back to look at Alexander on the couch. He still maintained his previous posture, his fingers slowly clenching in mid-air. "Mr. Kennedy, Quinn ran out, she didn''t even wear shoes," Olivia said, her voice tinged with worry.


    "Let her go."


    Alexander''s tone was emotionless, but Olivia could still hear the restrained anger.


    He was clearly furious.


    Olivia tried to persuade him, "The weather forecast said it will rain in the middle of the night."


    Although the weather was warming up, it was still winter, and the temperature at night was only forty-seven degrees Fahrenheit.


    Quinn hadn''t been running for long before her feet started to hurt from the cold.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She wiped her tears and ran under the streetlights, her shadow stretching long behind her.


    She thought, ''I want to go home, to see my mom and dad.''


    But earlier, Lucas didn''t take her home either. It seemed like her family had abandoned her. Did they not want her anymore? Thinking of this, she cried even harder, wiping her tears with her sleeve.


    Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, she crouched down on the ground, shivering.


    Lucas had once told her that if she got lost, she should stay where she was, and he would find her.


    Under the streetlight, she curled up into a small ball, like an abandoned puppy.</p<>

 Chapter 841

    Quinn waited for what felt like forever, and soon, a light drizzle started to fall. The fine drizzle floated under the streetlights, refracting a sparkling light.


    She looked up, watching the drizzle and letting itnd on her face and hair.


    In a daze, she seemed to see Lucas under the moonlight again. As usual, he was smiling at her with that familiar eyes that were always full of affection for her.


    "Lucas," she murmured, slowly reaching out her hand. "Are you here to take me home?"


    Lucas stayed silent, his figure almost transparent under the moonlight, like he could vanish any second.


    Her fingers passed right through him, touching nothing, just as it had urred in her dreams previously.


    Tears welled up in her eyes, blending with the rain as they cascaded down her face.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "You all don''t want me anymore," she choked out, staring at the illusion, for fear that he would disappear once she blinked.


    The rain fell harder, soaking her face and hair and mixing with her tears.


    Suddenly, a blinding white light appeared in her vision.


    Quinn raised her hand to shield her eyes. Once she adjusted herself to the light, only to find that Lucas''s image was gone.


    Panic surged in her heart as she looked around, only to see a car parked by the roadside.


    Alexander got out and strode towards her.


    Quinn looked up at the tall figure in front of her; he was so tall that even with her head tilted back, she couldn''t clearly see his face in the night.


    Alexander crouched down in front of her, their eyes meeting.


    "Had enough?" he asked, his tone as cold as the air around them.


    Tears burst from Quinn''s eyes, and she opened her mouth, making a faint sound. "You liar."


    Alexander''s expression shifted slightly. "What did you say?"


    "You liar, you said you would take me home."


    Alexander pressed his lips together, saying nothing. The rain continued to fall on both of them.


    Quinn wiped her tears and grabbed his sleeve, "Why won''t you take me home?"


    Alexander looked down at her hand, rainwater sliding down his face and dripping from his chin to the ground in the end.


    He said, "You haven''t recovered."


    "You''re lying. I''m already recovered, I''m not even coughing anymore!" Quinn shot back.


    Alexander looked at her. "Let''s go back first."


    "No, I don''t want to. That''s not my home, I want to go to my own home!" Quinn shouted.


    Alexander suddenly stood up and gripped her wrist. "You''reing with me."


    "I don''t want to. Let go of my hand! Let go!"


    Standing on the ground with her bare feet, Quinn resisted and naively thought he would definitely give in if she persisted.


    But Alexander didn''t let go of her hand. Instead, he dragged her towards the car.


    "Alexander, you''re a jerk. I hate you! I''ll never talk to you again!"


    Quinn cried, but ultimately her strength couldn''t match Alexander''s, and she was shoved into the car.


    He secured her with the seatbelt, closed the door, and got into the driver''s seat.


    Quinn tugged at the seatbelt, unable to unfasten it.


    She couldn''t help thinking, ''My family doesn''t want me anymore. And you''re bullying me!''


    The grievance in her heart surged again, and she started crying once more.


    Alexander, however, acted as if he didn''t hear, driving the car back to Regal Riverside.


    When he stopped the car at Regal Riverside, he pulled her out of the car and took her all the way back to the bedroom upstairs.


    Quinn struggled but couldn''t break free at all. In despair, she angrily bit his arm.


    He paused, looking back at her.


    Quinn red at him, trying to show her anger. However, her eyes were still red, and her gazecked any real menace, instead looking innocent and pitiful.</p<>

 Chapter 842

    Alexander grabbed her chin, hoping the pain would make her release her bite on his arm.


    "You bit me again," he used.


    Quinn was taken aback. She thought, ''Again? This is clearly the first time!''


    Before she could figure it out, she was already dragged into the bathroom. Alexander locked the door and ordered, "Take off your clothes." She red at him, hands on her hips. "No way!"


    Expressionless, he repeated, "Take off your clothes."


    "You''re so annoying! I don''t want this game anymore!"


    With that, Quinn reached for the doorknob, trying to open it only to find it was locked. She struggled with the handle, but it wouldn''t budge. Just as she was about to twist the lock, he yanked her back.


    The slippery floor sent her crashing into his arms.


    "Who do you want to y with?" His cold voice came from above her. He grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look at him. "Lucas?" he asked.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes, I¡ª" she started, but his grip tightened, turning her words into a cry of pain.


    He leaned in, staring into her eyes. "Quinn, I don''t want to hear his name from your mouth again."


    She red at him, wanting to retort, but his grip on her mouth made it impossible, and her words came out muffled. His eyes darkened.


    He suddenly let go, pushing her away.


    She slipped and fell hard, her butt feeling like it had split in two. She rubbed it, ring at him usingly.


    "You''re so mean! I''m going to have my dad fire you, and I''ll never talk to you again!"


    Alexander squatted in front of her, a cold smile on his lips. "Your dad?"


    "Yes! I''ll have my dad fire you!"


    "You won''t get that chance."


    Quinn was stunned. "Why?"


    "Because your dad is already dead."


    She froze, eyes widening, mouth open, unable to speak.


    After a long moment, she trembled, her lips quivering. "You''re lying."


    "Why would I lie? What good would it do me?"


    Quinn panicked. She opened her mouth, and then shook her head. "You''re lying. I don''t believe you. You''re a big liar!"


    He grabbed her jaw, lifting her face. "Then why haven''t theye for you?"


    "They''re on a business trip."


    "Didn''t you call them? Even on a business trip, they wouldn''t be unreachable. Quinn, you can y dumb, but don''t test my limits."


    "I''ll say it onest time. Don''t mention Lucas again, or you won''t even be able to see him." His voice was ice cold.


    Quinn''s gaze shifted from anger and disbelief to fear.


    She heard his words and was truly scared.


    She feared her parents were really dead, feared she''d never see Lucas again, and most of all, she feared Alexander.


    Because she realized Alexander wasn''t her bodyguard.


    He was aplete and utter viin.


    Alexander saw the change in her eyes andughed, a hint of self-mockery in his tone.


    "See, isn''t it better to be obedient?"


    He rubbed her lips with his thumb, his eyes dark and dangerous. "You forced me to say these things. You made me unhappy, so neither of us will have a good time."</p<>

 Chapter 843

    Quinn''s eyes widened in panic, her gaze dropping to his slender fingers.


    His fingers pressed hard against her lips, as if trying to draw blood.


    Tears streamed down her face, but she didn''t dare make a sound. There was no one around to help her.


    His fingers gently caressed her cheek, his tone and expression returning to normal.


    "Take off your wet clothes," he demanded.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She lowered her head and started undressing silently. She moved slowly, and Alexander just watched her quietly, not in any rush. The wind and rain made her sneeze.


    In the quiet bathroom, her sneeze was jarring. She cautiously nced at Alexander.


    He showed no reaction.


    She dropped her nightgown and then her pants. Standing in front of him, she whispered, "I''m done."


    Her voice was thick with congestion, barely audible, and sounded somewhat aggrieved.


    Alexander remained expressionless, picked up the showerhead, adjusted the temperature, and helped her bathe.


    Quinn was much more obedient, not saying a word throughout the bath.


    After the bath, shey in bed, feeling feverish and dizzy.


    Alexander''s cold hand fell on her forehead, and she vaguely heard him sigh.


    Soren arrived at the vi and checked her condition and temperature.


    "Mr. Kennedy, Quinn has a cold," Soren reported.


    Alexander was sitting on the sofa nearby, pinching his temples with his eyes closed in thought.


    After Soren finished speaking, he raised his head and nced over. "I see. Anything else?"


    Soren thought for a moment and then said, "Not for now, but her body is weak. Even a cold can be quite taxing on her. It''s best to avoid such illnesses." Alexander turned to look at the person sleeping on the bed and gestured for Soren to leave.


    Soren picked up the medical kit and ced it in the corner. "Call me when the IV is done. I''ll be downstairs."


    After saying that, he turned and left.


    Quinn wasn''t actually asleep; she was just in a daze. Her head hurt, and the world seemed to be spinning. She felt awful.


    She vaguely saw someone by the bed and tried to see clearly. However, the more she looked, the dizzier she became. She struggled to get up but fell back down weakly.


    She looked at the person beside her and slowly reached out, clutching his sleeve.


    Alexander looked down at her. Her face was flushed with fever, her lips pale, and her eyes misty.


    She looked fragile, like a delicate porcin doll.


    There was a certain, sickly beauty to her.


    He held her hand, asking, "Are you feeling very ufortable?" "Daddy."


    She murmured, looking at him. She reached out and grabbed Alexander''s sleeve tightly as if she was afraid he would disappear. Alexander was slightly taken aback.


    Quinn cried, her voice hoarse. She moved closer to him with difficulty.


    She hugged his waist, just like she would with her father, choking as sheined, "Someone bad bullied me. I want to go home." Quinn rubbed against his leg, the coolness of his trousers easing the heat on her face.


    "Don''t leave me," Quinn pleaded.


    Alexander looked at her intently, his fingers brushing her face, tucking the stray hair behind her ear.


    Smelling his scent, Quinn felt a bit more at ease.</p<>

 Chapter 844

    Quinn kept calling out "Daddy" over and over, her eyes sparkling with a hint of happiness.


    She clung to Alexander''s waist, acting all spoiled, expecting him tofort her like her father used to. But Alexander didn''t respond for a long time. Quinn held on for a bit, then drifted back to sleep.


    Alexander gently pried her fingers off, tucked her in, and left the room.


    Soren came in to change her IV bottle.


    The next morning, her fever had gone down a bit, yet she still had a slight fever.


    Soren put another fever patch on her, looked around downstairs, and found Olivia. "Where''s Mr. Kennedy?" he asked.


    Olivia, busy cleaning the dining table, didn''t look up. "He went out early this morning. He''s been really busytely."


    "I see," Soren replied, deep in thought, and headed back to the living room.


    Quinn slept all day, and Alexander didn''te back.


    Soren couldn''t help but wonder, ''What''s Alexander so busy with? Quinn''s still sick, and he''s nowhere to be seen. How is this any different from before? Does Quinn''s life or death not matter to him?'' Abigail didn''t show up today either. The house, usually bustling, felt eerily quiet.


    There had been some progress in Stanley''s matter, but it wasn''t good news.


    Kaitlyn had heard that when Wayne made his will, anotherwyer was present beside Stanley.


    After much effort, she tracked down thatwyer.


    In the vi, Kaitlyn sat across from a middle-aged man.


    She handed him a document. "Mr. White, do you recognize this will?"


    Paul White took the document and carefully examined it.


    "Yes, this is the will Wayne made. Both Stanley and I were there, personally witnessing it."


    Kaitlyn felt a pang of disappointment. "Is this really the will he made?"


    She hadn''t expected Wayne to value Alexander so much.


    After reading it, Paul frowned. "Butter, Wayne made another will, which hasn''t been notarized."


    "Although I don''t know if this will was revoked, Stanley and I have both seen theter will, but we aren''t sure where it is."


    Kaitlyn was stunned for a moment and hurriedly asked, "Really? When was the will changed?"


    Paul thought for a moment. "A year or two ago, I can''t quite remember."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Kaitlyn asked again, "If I find this will, can it take effect over the previous one?"


    Paul frowned. "It''s not certain. In theory, both wills are valid. If there are multiple wills, the notarized one should prevail. When multiple wills conflict, thest one should prevail. So both wills are valid; it depends on how you weigh them." Kaitlyn was in a bit of a dilemma. She thought, ''I haven''t seen theter will and don''t know the situation, but given Wayne and Alexander''s rtionship, Alexander definitely wouldn''t get as much inheritance in theter will. And why did Wayne make a new will but not directly change it? Did he forget, or was he hesitating?''


    00000


    While Kaitlyn was deep in thought, a few people suddenly came in from outside.


    The butler quickly stepped forward and said to her, "Mrs. Kennedy, Landon is here."


    Kaitlyn was stunned for a moment. When she turned around, she saw Landon walking in with two people.


    Considering him as Wayne''s illegitimate son, she didn''t feel inclined to get up and greet him.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, I apologize for the sudden visit," Landon greeted her politely.


    Kaitlyn gave him a cold look. He was wearing a silver-gray suit and gold-rimmed sses, looking quite refined.


    ''I have to admit, Wayne''s taste in women is impable, and even the children they have are quite good-looking,'' Kaitlyn thought.


    Landon''s eyebrows vaguely resembled Wayne''s.


    "What are you here for?" Kaitlyn asked coldly.


    Landon nced at Paul and said calmly, "I''m here to see Mr. White. I''ve heard of his reputation for a long time but never had the chance to meet him. Knowing that you invited him over, I came uninvited, hoping to make friends with Mr. White."

 Chapter 845

    Kaitlyn shot him a suspicious look. She didn''t believe Landon was here just to make friends.


    She turned away, clearly annoyed and not wanting to engage with Landon.


    Paul noticed the tension and stood up to greet Landon. "You tter me. I''m not that famous."


    Landon replied, "Mr. White, you''re too modest. Got any nster?"


    Paul sensed Landon had something to discuss and thought for a moment. "I do have some things to handle. Kaitlyn, I''ll be off now."


    Kaitlyn nodded. She was busy looking for that will and had no interest in dealing with them.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Paul and Landon exchanged a nce and were about to leave when someone else walked in.


    "Mr. Kennedy," the servants greeted with bowed heads.


    Everyone turned to see Alexander entering with Kyle.


    Landon''s lips curled up slightly.


    Alexander approached and looked around. "What''s the asion? It''s quite lively."


    Kaitlyn''s face soured. She thought, ''This matter shouldn''t have been known to others, especially not to Alexander. As his mother, I''m unhappy with the inheritance distribution and called awyer. If this leaks, it won''t look good.'' Landon said, "Mr. Kennedy, perfect timing. We were discussing the will. Even though Stanley''s gone, we found Paul. With him, we can prove your innocence."


    Alexander''s gaze fell on Paul, and he smiled. "Really? Didn''t expect you to care so much. Should I say thanks?"


    "No need. It''s my honor to help."


    Landon nodded slightly. "Since you''re back, I won''t intrude. Goodbye."


    Alexander nced at him indifferently and said nothing.


    Landon didn''t mind and left the vi with his people as quickly as they hade.


    Paul observed for a moment and then followed suit.


    Kaitlyn looked embarrassed and awkwardly nced at Alexander.


    Alexander didn''t look at her, walked past, and sat on the sofa. He crossed his legs and calmly looked at her, ready to question.


    Kaitlyn felt even more awkward. She slowly sat down and forced a smile. "Alexander, why are you back?"


    Alexander looked at her indifferently. "Is there no ce for me here anymore?"


    "That''s not what I meant. I mean, whye back suddenly without a heads-up? I could''ve had someone prepare a meal."


    She continued, "You always overthink. This is your home, and I''m your mother. Who would dare say there''s no ce for you in the Kennedy family?"


    Alexander''s smile deepened, but it had a hint of sarcasm. "Did you find out?"


    Kaitlyn was taken aback. "What?"


    Alexander said, "The other will."


    Kaitlyn''s face turned even paler. She forced a smile. "What will? It''s all nonsense. I called Paul to consult about those illegitimate children. They''ve been here a few times and won''t leave. I''ve called the police twice. It''s really annoying." Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Really?"


    "Yes, why would I lie to you?"


    Alexander said nothing.


    Kaitlyn felt awkward. She thought for a moment, stood up, and sat next to Alexander.


    She spoke earnestly, "Alexander, I''m your real mother. Anyone might harm you, but I definitely won''t."


    Alexander lit a cigarette and looked at her leisurely. The smoke swirled between them, like an invisible barrier.


    Kaitlyn opened her mouth but didn''t know what to say. So she asked, "How''s the matter with Stanley?"</p<></p<>

 Chapter 846

    "Thanks to you guys, now I get questioned by the cops and the DA''s office multiple times a day," Alexander scoffed.


    "You say that like it''s my fault."


    Alexander smirked. "Of course, it''s not your fault. You''re just focused on snagging a bigger piece of the inheritance now."


    Kaitlyn''s expression changed, and the smile on her lips froze.


    "You''re talking nonsense. I''m most concerned about you. That was why I just called Paul over. I simply wanted to make sure you weren''t being framed." Alexander''s face was unreadable.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Kaitlyn stared at him, feeling uneasy as if he could see right through her.


    After a moment, Alexander stubbed out his cigarette and stood up.


    "I''m leaving."


    Kaitlyn was taken aback and quickly stood. "You''re leaving already? You just got here."


    Alexander paused, looked back at her, and mocked, "What else do you expect? Should I call Paul back so we can chat some more?"


    Ignoring her, he walked away without looking back.


    Back at Regal Riverside, Olivia and Soren approached him.


    "Mr. Kennedy."


    "How is she?" Alexander asked.


    Soren and Olivia exchanged nces, each waiting for the other to speak. Alexander frowned, his gaze shifting between them. He then headed upstairs.


    He opened the door and found Quinn still asleep.


    He reached out to touch her forehead and found it was no longer hot.


    Alexander turned to the two. "Has she been in bed all day?"


    Olivia nodded and whispered, "Yes. Besides, she hasn''t had any food all day."


    "I called her several times, but she didn''t get up," Olivia continued.


    Soren added, "I tried to give her medicine, but she threw it all up. I did give her some nutrients intravenously, so she shouldn''t be in immediate danger." Alexander raised his hand, signaling them to leave.


    They quietly exited, closing the door behind them.


    Alexander sat down by the bedside.


    The room was silent.


    Quinny there with her eyes closed, her face pale, looking lifeless. If not for the slight rise and fall of her chest, one might think she was a corpse. Outside, the sky gradually darkened.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on Ne5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! He sat in the bedroom all night.


    The next morning, Olivia knocked on the door, assuming Alexander had left. To her surprise, when she opened the door, he was still sitting there.


    Even his posture was exactly the same as when she had left the night before.


    Olivia sighed, walked up behind him, and softly called, "Mr. Kennedy, breakfast is ready."


    Alexander didn''t respond.


    Olivia called again, "Mr. Kennedy..."


    "Leave me alone," Alexander interrupted her.


    Olivia hesitated, nced at Quinn on the bed, and then quietly left.


    After eight o''clock, Alexander''s phone kept ringing, but he ignored it.


    The ringing was so loud that Quinn''s eyebrows twitched.


    Alexander took out his phone, ready to hang up. As he noticed her movement, his finger paused over the hang-up button and then slowly moved away.

 Chapter 847

    The phone kept ringing in Quinn''s ear, eventually blending into her dream.


    It felt like the school bell that was pushing her to get to ss.


    In her dream, she was frantically trying to finish her homework. However, there seemed to be so much that she couldn''t get it done at all. Finally, she started crying in frustration. Then she woke up.


    The ringtone got louder. She opened her eyes and turned her head, freezing when she saw Alexander.


    Then she remembered what he had said before, and her expression darkened, tinged with fear.


    Alexander hung up and tossed the phone aside.


    "Are you hungry?"


    Quinn nodded. She tried to get up but had no strength and fell back down.


    Alexander called Olivia to bring breakfast, helped Quinn sit up, and brought a spoonful of porridge to her mouth.


    Quinn hesitated and nced at him. Maybe she was really too hungry to care if Alexander was good or bad, so she opened her mouth and ate the porridge.


    Alexander fed her slowly, and she ate quietly.


    After she finished, he asked, "Do you want more?"


    Quinn shook her head and leaned back on the bed, feeling weak.


    Alexander also brought her a bowl of dark medicine. Just seeing it made her feel nauseous, and she wanted to vomit.


    "Drink it. You''ll get better faster," Alexander said softly.


    Quinn''s nose twitched, and she shook her head. "You''re lying."


    Alexander paused.


    "I''ve drunk so much, but I still feel awful. And you won''t take me home. You even lied to me that my dad was dead."


    As Quinn spoke, tears streamed down her face.


    She was so weak that her words came out in broken sentences, like an elderly person on their deathbed.


    Maybe some elderly people were even more spirited than she was.


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    Quinn didn''t realize it herself. She thought, ''Once I get better, I can go out and y like before.''


    ''I want to ride roller coasters, pirate ships, and hot air balloons. I want to y them all every day. I also want to invite Abigail to my house and introduce her to my parents.'' Alexander held her hand and said solemnly, "I''m sorry, I did lie to you about your dad."


    He paused and then added, "But you''re sick because you didn''t listen to my advice and ran around in the rain. Don''t run around anymore."


    Quinn pouted, tears streaming down her face. "Then don''t lie to me anymore."


    Alexander nodded slightly. "Okay."


    "Let''s pinky promise."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She slowly extended her hand, holding out a finger to him.


    Alexander stared at her for a moment, then freed a hand to hook her finger. "Okay, pinky promise. I promise I won''t lie to you anymore."


    "If you lie, you''re a puppy," Quinn added.


    "Okay, if I lie, I''m a puppy."


    Finally, a smile appeared on her face. "You have to take me home."


    "Okay."


    He let go of her hand and handed her the medicine. "Drink it."


    Quinn stared at the dark liquid, stayed silent for a while, and then forced herself to take the bowl and drink it down.


    She couldn''t finish thest sip. The bitter, choking taste filled her mouth and nose, and she suddenly leaned over the bedside, vomiting everything from her mouth and stomach. Alexander''s expression wasplex as he patted Quinn''s back.


    Quinn vomited for a few minutes, her mouth filled with bitterness. Shey on the edge of the bed, unable to get up.


    Alexander supported her, took a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in her mouth.


    Quinn bit the lollipop, wiped the tears from her face, and looked at him resentfully.


    ''I hate the taste!''

 Chapter 848

    The sunlight outside was perfect, streaming through the window and lighting up her pale face.


    Dust particles floated in the air, barely visible.


    She stood in the light, which cast a light tint over her. She seemed to be transparent as if she might vanish any second.


    Alexander held her hand, gently rubbing the back with his thumb. "You took your medicine. You''ll get better soon," he said softly. Quinn stared at him, tears glistening in her eyes.


    The bedside phone rang, breaking the peaceful moment. Quinn nced at it; the call was from an unknown number. Alexander sighed and answered.


    Whatever was said made his face darken with coldness, and even the temperature in the room seemed to drop a bit.


    He hung up, turned off the phone, and pocketed it.


    Looking back at Quinn, he said, "The weather is nice today, how about I take you out to get some sun?"


    Quinn looked out the window. The sunlight was warm but not harsh, and she could see the scenery outside.


    She saw swallows flying by and nodded.


    Alexander pulled back the covers and lifted her from the bed.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    He carried her downstairs to the yard, where Soren brought a chair for her.


    She tilted her head slightly, noticing the willow tree starting to sprout, birds flitting through its branches, chirping away.


    The flowers by the garden wall had buds, ready to bloom.


    Alexander stood by her side, quietly following her gaze.


    Soren and Olivia stood behind them, looking at their backs with a sense of mncholy.


    Olivia whispered, "Soren, is Quinn going to die soon?"


    She was almost thirty years older than Quinn but still strong and healthy, while Quinn was so young yet so fragile.


    Not long ago, she was lively and energetic.


    Soren sighed at Olivia''s words, saying nothing.


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    Last year, he had said Quinn''s test results showed she wouldn''t live long, but he thought she had at least eight years.


    Now, it seemed she might not even make it eight months.


    And the one responsible for all this was Alexander, who was standing right beside her.


    Even though he was trying to make amends now, his presence was deeply ironic.


    Soren said, "Forget it, and go do your own thing."


    Olivia nodded. She had nned to tidy up the living room, but Abigail hadn''te in the past two days, and Quinn hadn''t gotten out of bed, so the house was clean and didn''t need tidying. She found herself with nothing to do.


    Quinn sat outside for a while and started to feel sleepy.


    She tugged on Alexander''s hand and said weakly, "Alexander, I''m tired."


    Alexander was slightly taken aback and looked down at her.


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    In the sunlight, she looked listless, her eyes about to close.


    "I''ll carry you upstairs."


    Just as he picked her up, several cars suddenly came outside the iron gate.


    The cars stopped, and seven or eight people got out.


    They walked directly to Alexander.


    "Mr. Kennedy, we have some questions for you."


    "Wait for a while."


    Alexander was about to walk away with Quinn when John quickly stepped in front of him, blocking his path.


    "Mr. Kennedy, we asked you politely and showed you respect. We hope you can respect us in return and cooperate with our investigation."


    Alexander''s expression grew colder. "I said wait for a while!" he snapped.


    "Mr. Kennedy..."


    Alexander cut him off, "Why are you in such a hurry? Are you about to die?"

 Chapter 849

    John''s face flushed with anger as he red at Alexander.


    Alexander ignored him, carrying Quinn past him and heading straight into the house.


    He took her upstairs to the bedroom, set her down, and turned to leave.


    Suddenly, someone tugged at his sleeve. He paused and looked back at the person on the bed.


    Quinn, with tear-filled eyes, looked at him and asked softly, "Where are you going?"


    Alexander held her hand, gently pulling it away from his clothes, and sat down beside her.


    "ed to go out for a bit. I''ll be back soon."


    Quinn pouted, feeling a bit reluctant. It seemed like every time he left, it took forever for him to return.


    He had promised her that he would take her home, but he was always nowhere to be found.


    Alexander sat for a while, then let go of her hand and stood up to leave.


    Quinn watched his departing figure, slowly tightening her grip on the nket.


    In the top-floor conference room at the Kennedy Group, Alexander and the others entered, and there were already quite a few people inside..


    Besides Landon and Walter, there was also Paul from before.


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on Paul for a moment, and thetter somewhat guiltily avoided his eyes.


    He sat down in a chair and said indifferently, "Go ahead. What''s thetest development?"


    John also sat down and said, "Paul, could you please repeat it?"


    Paul thought for a moment and then opened the file on the table.


    "This is the will Waer established. At that time, he instructed both Stanley and me to follow this will."


    Alexander listened quietly.


    Paul continued, "The previously notarized will was not revoked for certain reasons, but Wayne did say that this will should be followed."


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    John asked again, "So, is the notarized one authentic?"


    Paul replied, "After examination, we found it had been altered, but since Stanley is deceased, the specifics are unknown."


    John said, "Stanley''s report stated that the will was changed a month before Wayne''s death. After investigation, it was indeed a month before, which was before Christmas, a month before Wayne''s death." Alexander remained silent.


    John turned his head to look at Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, do you have anything to say about this?"


    Alexander picked up the will on the table and casually flipped through it. "What do you want me to say?"


    "A will changed a month before his death. From what you''re saying, you think I knew he was going to die in advance and changed his will?"


    John said, "But you did have contact with Dorothy. ording to Dorothy''s statement, the things you said to her were also somewhat suggestive." Alexander chuckled. "What nonsense. Given Dorothy''s act of setting fire to Kennedy Residence, her statement ispletely unreliable."


    He continued, "Moreover, how can you prove that this unnotarized will is genuine?"


    Paul said, "I witnessed Wayne making this will with my own eyes. How could it be fake?"


    "Really?"


    Alexander gave him a meaningful look.


    Seeing Alexander''s calm demeanor, Landon frowned, feeling that he was tooposed.


    It was hard to tell if he was pretending to be calm or if he really had a way to handle the situation.


    Paul plucked up the courage and said, "Of course it''s real! All the evidence points to you. You are currently the prime suspect."


    Alexander didn''t argue with him. He took a USB drive from his pocket and said, "Kyle, bring theputer."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Kyle nodded, ran over, and brought theptop from the other end of the table.


    He then took the USB drive from Alexander''s hand and inserted it into theptop.

 Chapter 850

    A familiar voice broke the silence in the conference room.


    "Landon, what is the matter?"


    As soon as the voice sounded, Paul and Landon''s faces turned pale.


    It was Paul''s voice.


    To be precise, it was the conversation Paul and Landon had after leaving the Kennedy family yesterday.


    Landon handed him a document. "I''ve got another will from Wayne here. Can you check if it''s legit?"


    Paul took the document and scanned it. His face went white. "Mr. Kennedy, this isn''t..."


    Landon cut him off, "Paul, look again. Is it or isn''t it?"


    Paul saw the look in Landon''s eyes, hesitated, and took another look. He knew why Landon hade to him.


    After a long pause, Paul stammered, "Yes, this is Wayne''s will."


    "What did he say back then?" Landon pressed.


    "He dered that this will is valid, and all actions must align with its directives."


    Landon grinned. "What a pity! Stanley got killed because of this will. Lucky for you, you''re still here. If he were alive, he''d want you to tell the truth, right?" The words seemed harmless, but Paul felt the threat.


    If he didn''t y along, he''d end up like Stanley.


    Paul nced at him and swallowed hard in fear. He then muttered, "I get it. The will you have is real, and the notarized one was faked."


    "You are smart."


    The recording stopped. Two minutester, Paul''s voice came from theputer again.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    "Baby, take this card. We''re leaving the country tomorrow."


    "Why the rush?" A woman''s voice sounded then.


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    "Someone paid me ten million to lie, but don''t worry. The evidence is solid, and this money is easy."


    "Are you nuts? If this is discovered, you''re done!"


    "What choice do I have? He threatened me. If I don''t, I''ll end up like Stanley!"


    Everyone listened to the recording in stunned silence.


    Landon red at Paul with murderous intent.


    Paul slumped in his chair, pale and sweating.


    He knew he was done for.


    Landon''s calm facade cracked. He stared at Alexander, clueless about when Alexander had started nning this.


    Yesterday at the Kennedy Residence, Alexander and Paul hadn''t interacted. He had no idea when the bug was nted on Paul!


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    Theputer also yed Paul''s conversation with Kaitlyn, showing the bug was on Paul before he met her, just waiting for him to slip up.


    Others in the room had varied reactions, all eyes on Landon.


    John suddenly stood up, furious. "Landon, Paul, care to exin this recording?"


    Landon tried to stay calm. "This is all Paul''s imagination and has nothing to do with me. I just gave him a will to verify, that''s all."


    Something came to his mind. "Besides, this secretly recorded audio isn''t admissible as evidence, right?"


    Alexander chimed in, "True, it can''t be used as evidence, but it does prove my innocence, doesn''t it?" Landon was momentarily speechless.


    Alexander continued, "But I''m curious. Landon, you have no connection to my father. Where''d you get this will? Did he give it to you personally?"


    "If so, why didn''t he revoke the notarized will? Did he foresee his own death, foresee that I''d tamper with the will, or did he use his life to set me up?" Alexander leaned in, smirking at Landon. "Is that what you think?"

 Chapter 851

    Landon''s face was hard to read as he stared at Alexander.


    After a long pause, he finally pulled himself together.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you must be joking. This is your family business; why would I think about such things?"


    But Alexander wasn''t nning to let him off the hook and pressed further, "Then where did you get this will from?"


    He looked around the room. "I bet I''m not the only one wondering. Everyone here wants to know."


    This was a tough spot for Landon. If he said Wayne gave it to him, people would question his rtionship with Wayne, maybe even tie him to the inheritance mess and Stanley''s death.


    If he said he got it elsewhere, they''d think he forged it. Either way, he was in trouble.


    The room got quieter, and all eyes moved from Alexander to Landon.


    Everyone was waiting for him to speak.


    Landon adjusted his sses and smiled a bit. "Kaitlyn gave it to me. She wanted me to get it verified. If you don''t believe me, ask her."


    Alexander chuckled.


    The two men locked eyes, both with knowing smiles like they had some unspoken agreement.


    They both knew the will was fake.


    Wayne had a real will somewhere, but no one knew where it was.


    By saying Kaitlyn gave it to him, Landon could pin the me on Paul.


    So, the real will wouldn''t show up, and if Kaitlyn produced itter, it would be seen as fake.


    After a moment, Alexander smiled and said, "I see. Then this will must be genuine."


    He then changed his tone. "Since both wills are genuine, which one should we follow?"


    Landon replied, "We should follow the notarized one. As John mentioned, the will was amended, likely by Wayne himself."Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "In other words, the will Mr. Kennedy has is valid, while the one on the table is probably an old one. That''s why it was amended, not revoked, and why it wasn''t notarized." With that, he basically gave in.


    Alexander lit a cigarette, took a couple of slow drags, and then looked at John.


    "So, does anyone have any more questions?"


    John looked around and exchanged nces with the cop next to him.


    "Since the will issue is settled, my job here is done. As for Stanley''s death, that''s a criminal case and the police will handle it."


    He picked up his bag. "Sorry for taking up your time, but I wanted to clear this up quickly. Thanks for your understanding."


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    With that, John left the room with his team.


    The police also took Paul away.


    Now, only the Kennedy Group members were left in the room.


    Landon lit a cigarette and started smoking. The funny part was his arm was in a cast, making his smoking look kind of pitiful.


    Walter leaned back in his chair and pped. "That was quite a show."


    Landon nced at him. "You don''t seem surprised."


    Walter smiled. "No matter what happened today, I wouldn''t have been surprised. But this result was indeed within my expectations." He had long suspected that Alexander, having stayed quiet and cooperated with the investigation, was setting a trap.


    And his suspicions were confirmed.

 Chapter 852

    Based on what he knew about Alexander, if the guy realized he was about to lose, he wouldn''t just y along. He''d either make a run for it or cause some chaos to get out of the mess. Alexander flicked his cigarette into the ashtray, stood up, and said, "Thanks for bailing me out today, Landon. To repay you, I''ll find out who really killed Stanley and clear your name." Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the conference room.


    Landon nearly crushed his cigarette between his fingers.


    Walter chuckled. "Looks like your n still can''t beat his."


    Landon sneered. "Easy for you to say. Weren''t you supposed to help me?"


    Walter shrugged. "I did help you, but you shouldn''t have gone to Paul. You can''t me anyone else for this; it''s your own fault."


    He added, "Even if I help you, you know my goal isn''t to take down Alexanderpletely."


    Walter thought, ''I told you to use Stanley as a way in, and you did well. But why couldn''t you just chill? Running to Paul gave Alexander leverage over you. If you hadn''t gone to Paul, we could''ve worn Alexander down. Even if we couldn''t take him out, we could''ve done a lot while he was busy with this mess.''


    Walter said, "So, Landon, don''t be too impatient. Learn from your mistakes."


    He sighed and stood up. "The Stanley issue isn''t over yet."


    Landon frowned. "What''s he gonna do?"


    Walter replied, "Didn''t he just say? He''ll find out who killed Stanley and clear your name."


    The implication was clear: whether or not Landon killed Stanley, the investigation would ultimately point to him.


    Landon pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn''t show it, but he was furious inside.


    This time, he lost.


    And he lostpletely.


    No one likes losing over and over.


    Landon''s eyes darkened behind his sses. He slowly crushed the half-burnt cigarette in his hand without feeling any pain.


    After leaving thepany, Alexander drove straight back to Regal Riverside.


    He had spent too much time at the office, and it was already evening when he got back.


    The sunset was beautiful, with fiery clouds painting the sky. The eerie light seeped into the dim bedroom, giving it a strange sense of destion. Quinn was lying on the bed, sleeping soundly.


    He walked to the bedside, sat down, and gently brushed the stray hair from her face.


    The room was too quiet, as was the entire vi, making it feel like the whole world had fallen silent.


    Olivia knocked and entered. "Mr. Kennedy, what would you like for dinner? I''ll go buy the groceries."


    "Anything will do," Alexander replied without looking up.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    "Okay."


    He then asked, "Has she been sleeping since I left?"


    Olivia paused. "Yes, she has been sleeping the whole time. She didn''t even have lunch. Soren just finished giving her a nutrient infusion this afternoon." Alexander raised his hand, signaling her to leave.


    Olivia gently closed the door and left.


    Inside the room, his gaze remained fixed on Quinn. He held her hand, moved his lips, but made no sound.

 Chapter 853

    After Olivia finished buying groceries and cooking, Alexander was still sitting inside.


    Olivia called him twice for dinner, but he didn''te down.


    Olivia had no choice but to give up in the end.


    Quinn slept longer than ever, and it wasn''t until noon on the third day that she slowly opened her eyes.


    She looked around the quiet room and closed her eyes again in disappointment.


    She thought, ''Every time I open my eyes, I''m alone as if no one wants me.''


    She felt empty, with an indescribable sadness and loneliness.


    She closed her eyes for a while, then forced her weak body to get up, struggling to move slowly towards the bathroom.


    Alexander pushed the door open. When he saw that the bed was empty, his expression changed slightly.


    He quickly walked towards the bathroom, where he found Quinn sitting on the toilet, her shoulders slumped and appearing drowsy.


    She had actually finished using the toilet a while ago, but she was so weak that she couldn''t get up on her own.


    Seeing Alexandere in, her dim eyes lit up.


    "You''re back?" Her voice carried a hint of surprise.


    Alexander stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, have you finished using the toilet?"


    "Yes, but I can''t get up." She pouted, looking at him innocently, with a hint of coquettishness.


    Alexander paused, walked over to help her up, flushed the toilet, and then supported her to the sink to wash her hands.


    He then carried her back to the bed.


    Quinn leaned against the headboard, looking at him weakly. "Why were you gone for so long?"


    "I didn''t leave, I was just outside. Are you hungry?" Alexander''s voice was soft.


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    Quinn touched her stomach and nodded. "Yes."


    "I''ll get you something to eat. Don''t fall asleep." He stroked her cheek, and after getting her affirmative response, he got up and went out.


    Soon, he brought back some light food.


    Quinn looked at the nd porridge and soup and instantly lost her appetite.


    Alexander held the bowl and fed her spoonful by spoonful.


    Probably because she had been hungry for too long, even though it was nd, she ate quite a bit.


    After finishing thest bowl of soup, she grabbed his hand again. "I don''t want to stay here anymore. When can I go home?"


    Alexander fell silent.


    Quinn looked at him expectantly, but after waiting for a long time without a response, she bit her lip and let go of Alexander''s hand. Alexander reached out and touched her cheek. "When you get better."


    Quinn had heard this too many times. She sighed gloomily, unknowing what it meant to be better.


    Suddenly, voices came from downstairs, but they were very faint, so she couldn''t tell who had arrived.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn listened carefully; it seemed to be Abigail.


    It wasn''t just Abigail; Orion was there, too.


    The two met at the door, looked at each other, and spoke simultaneously.


    "What are you doing here?"


    "Why are you here?"


    Orion hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly scratched his head. "I came to see Quinn. I was in solitary confinement when she was trapped in the fire and haven''t visited her since. I don''t know how she''s recovering." Abigail looked him up and down, and then as if she thought of something, she took a step forward and grabbed Orion by the cor.

 Chapter 854

    "I almost forgot, you''re married to Quinn. Have you done anything to her?"


    Orion''s ears turned red. "What could I possibly do to her?"


    Abigail sneered. "Neither you nor Alexander are any good. If you didn''t have some ulterior motive, would you have married her?"


    Abigail was tall. Orion was six feet, but standing in front of her, there wasn''t much of a height difference.


    And she could easily lift Orion, which made him doubt his own physique.


    He thought to himself gloomily, ''It''s one thing for Alexander and those bodyguards to overpower me they''re trained fighters-but in front of Abigail, I''m still so weak?'' Orion was a bit angry. He pushed Abigail away. "What''s it to you? Don''t touch me. Haven''t you heard of personal boundaries?"


    Abigail''s mouth twitched slightly, and sheughed in surprise.


    "Talking about personal boundaries? Are you from the olden days?" Abigail nced at him disdainfully and patted her hands as if she had touched something dirty.


    "Tell me honestly, have you had sex with Quinn?"


    Orion red at her, annoyed. "Do you think I''m like Alexander, with nothing but lust on my mind? I married Quinn because I genuinely like her, okay?"


    Abigail looked at him with increasing disdain. "It seems you''re not only no good but also a hypocrite. You''re no different from Alexander, doing things but not owning up to them, right?"


    Orion became increasingly angry. He suddenly took a step forward, his aura so strong that it startled Abigail into stepping back.


    "What are you doing?"


    Orion red at Abigail, gritting his teeth. "I haven''t done anything to her! Besides, if I did, would Alexander let me off the hook?"


    Abigail raised an eyebrow, thinking, ''That makes sense. Back then, just because I was close to Quinn, Alexander had tried every way to drive me away. But Orion has already gotten a marriage license with Quinn. If he did anything more, would Alexander let him off?''


    "Do you believe me now?" Orion said irritably.


    Abigail nodded. "Alright, I''ll believe you for now. But aren''t you afraid he''ll hear you badmouthing him at his door?"


    As soon as she said this, both of them realized something and turned to look at the door.


    Then they saw Alexander standing at the door, hands in his pockets, leisurely watching them.


    They didn''t know how much he had heard.


    But both of them felt a chill running down their spines, as if they had seen a ghost.


    Abigail immediately distanced herself from Orion, pointing at him. "I didn''t say anything bad about you. He did!"


    Orion stared at Abigail in shock. She had just said that dissing Alexander made them friends, and now she was pushing all the me onto him.


    Alexander suddenly spoke, "Are you going to leave on your own, or do I need to help you?"


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Abigail quickly said, "What does this have to do with me? I''m here to see Quinn. How is she doing?"


    She had been locked up by Oliver for the past two days and had just been let out today.


    Abigail wanted to exin but felt there was no need to exin to Alexander.


    Alexander looked at her coldly. "Her condition has nothing to do with you. I''ll say it one more time, get out."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Abigail was always infuriated by him. Just as she was about to retort, Orion grabbed her and dragged her out. "What are you doing!"


    Orion pulled her outside and only let go when they were out of Alexander''s sight.


    "Alright, why argue with him? If you make him angry, how can we have the chance to see Quinn in the future?" Orion tried to calm her down.


    Abigail hesitated, thinking he made sense. "So what do we do?"

 Chapter 855

    Orion nced around. "Don''t worry. We can sneak when he is not around."


    Abigail raised an eyebrow. "You''re pretty clever."


    Orion threw an arm around her shoulder, making them look like old pals. "Didn''t you say we have amon enemy? That makes us friends."


    He added, "Friends help each other out. We can''t shirk responsibility like you just did!"


    Abigail crossed her arms and smirked.


    Orion felt justified. "Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong?"


    Abigail replied, "You''re right, but don''t think I don''t see through you. Just because I don''t like Alexander doesn''t mean I''ll let you, a pig, get close to Quinn." "What? Who''s a pig? Are you calling me a pig?" Orion got agitated.


    "Whoever gets mad is the pig," Abigail scoffed.


    Orion didn''t want to argue anymore. After a moment, he red at her. "I''m not going to argue with you!"


    Seeing him so angry, Abigail couldn''t help butugh.


    Meanwhile, Alexander came back upstairs. Quinn had just gotten out of bed, holding onto the wall as she walked toward the door.


    He went over to support her. "Where are you going?"


    Quinn looked up at him, panting. "I heard Abigail''s voice."


    Alexander picked her up and brought her back to bed. "You heard wrong. There''s no one downstairs."


    Quinn furrowed her brows, confused but certain she heard something.


    Alexander tucked her in. "You need to rest. I''ll stay here with you."


    "But I don''t want to lie in bed."


    Alexander paused. "Then where do you want to go?"


    Quinn thought for a moment and looked at him eagerly. "I want to go on a hot air balloon ride."


    Alexander held her hand gently. "You''re not well enough for that."


    Quinn pouted, looking at him with a grievance.


    "Be good and rest at home. When you get better, I''ll take you on a hot air balloon ride. You can do whatever you want then."


    He coaxed her patiently, and Quinn bit her lip, saying nothing.


    "If you really don''t want to lie in bed, I''ll carry you downstairs, and we can watch TV together. How about that?"


    She nodded. "Okay."


    So, Alexander carried her downstairs to the living room sofa.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    He turned on the TV, found her favorite cartoon, and handed her a lollipop.


    Quinn leaned against him, watching the cartoon intently with the lollipop in her mouth.


    Alexander watched with her though only he knew whether he was actually paying attention,.


    He held her shoulder and nced down at her.


    From his angle, he could only see her profile: her small, high nose, curled eyshes, and the mouth holding the lollipop.


    The lollipop moved from side to side in her mouth, making her cheek puff out asionally.


    When she saw something funny, she wouldugh with the lollipop in her mouth.


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    Quinn looked up and met his gaze. He pointed at the TV and said, "This bad guy is so dumb."


    He smiled. "Really?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yes, he always gets defeated."


    Alexander gazed into her clear and bright smiling eyes, falling silent for a moment as if he had been dazed by them.


    Quinn didn''t mind and turned back to watch TV, asionallyughing.


    The vi, which had been quiet for days, finally echoed with her voice.


    But a phone ringing broke the peaceful atmosphere in the vi.


    Alexander took out his phone and saw it was a call from the hospital.


    He nced at Quinn before answering.


    The hospital reported on Getty''s condition. Getty was recovering well and had been moved to a VIP room. In another week, the bandages on her face could be removed.

 Chapter 856

    The doctor hoped Alexander could be present when they removed the bandages for Getty.


    Alexander listened quietly. When the doctor finished, he said, "I understand," and hung up.


    At the hospital, Getty''s parents were by her side.


    Every day, the first thing Getty did when she opened her eyes was look for Alexander. But every time, she was disappointed.


    "Getty, what do you want to eat? I''ll get it for you," her mom, Lucy Carter, asked with concern.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Getty looked away, disappointed. "He still hasn''te, has he?" she asked, her voice rough and hoarse. She thought it was because she was weak, but it had been like this for a long time. The doctor hadn''t said anything, but she knew her voice might be ruined.


    Lucy sighed. "Getty, Mr. Kennedy is very busy. Maybe he''lle once he''s free."


    Getty gave a bitter smile. "Maybe he''s busy with someone else."


    ''In the past, no matter how busy he was, my call could bring him to me, even if it meant driving for hours. He would drop everything to see me. But when did he start to be cold towards me? Eventually, he stopped caring about me. Now,


    it is as if he has forgotten my existence. I have always been immersed in the fantasy he created, even if it was just an act. As long as he treats me well and makes me feel that he cares about me and that he likes me, I''m willing to deceive myself and stay with him. But now, he doesn''t bother to lie to me anymore.''


    Thinking of this, Getty felt heartbroken, and tears streamed down her face.


    Lucy quicklyforted her, hurriedly wiping away her tears.


    "Getty, don''t cry. The doctor said you shouldn''t get too agitated. Mr. Kennedy really cares about you. He even asked us about your background before."


    Getty was slightly stunned. "What did you say?"


    Lucy realized she had let something slip and looked at her awkwardly, her expressionplicated.


    Seeing this, Getty struggled to sit up. "Mom, tell me, what is my background?"


    Lucy hurriedly pressed her back down. "Lie down properly first, and I''ll tell you."


    Getty looked at her mother anxiously, eager to know the truth.


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    Lucy hesitated for a while before making up her mind. "Getty, you used to say that we weren''t your biological parents because we look so in, and you look so beautiful." Lucy paused, feeling a bit sad. "It''s true. We are not your biological parents. We adopted you."


    She told Getty everything, including Alexander''s previous inquiries.


    After hearing it all, Getty''s eyes were filled with shock.


    "What did you say?"


    Lucy wiped her tears. "Getty, I''m sorry. We didn''t mean to deceive you. We just didn''t know who your biological parents were, so we never told you."


    Getty stared at her, tears welling up in her eyes, mixed with resentment.


    She slowly withdrew her hand, the distance between them evident, making Lucy flustered.


    "Getty, what''s wrong?"


    Getty hoarsely asked, "Why didn''t you tell me earlier?"


    "If you had told me earlier, maybe I would have found them by now!"


    Lucy''s expression froze at these words.


    She hadn''t expected that the first thing her daughter, whom she had raised for nearly thirty years, would say upon learning the truth was to me her for not telling her sooner. Nearly thirty years of nurturing couldn''tpare to the biological parents who had dumped her and whom she had never met.


    Getty cried heartbrokenly, constantly imagining, ''If I found my biological parents, I might have a status that matched Alexander''s. Maybe he would have married me by now. It''s their fault. They should have told me earlier, and then I wouldn''t have ended up like this now.''


    The more she thought about it, the deeper the resentment in her eyes grew. Her gaze made Lucy feel heartbroken, but meanwhile, it left her speechless.

 Chapter 857

    The next morning, Orion and Abigail returned to Regal Riverside. They arrived early and lurked nearby, waiting for Alexander to leave.


    They hid behind a tree near the vi''s gate, keeping a close watch.


    Around nine, Alexander emerged from the house and got into a Bentley parked at the entrance. Just before opening the car door, he nced in Orion''s direction but saw nothing. He got in and drove away. The two behind the tree stayed put until they heard the car horn. Only then did they peek out again.


    "He''s gone," Orion sighed in relief.


    Abigail shot him a disdainful look and headed towards the vi. "Wait for me!" Orion quickly caught up.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    They rang the doorbell, and Olivia soon opened the door. She looked a bit delighted to see Abigail. "Abigail, you''re here?"


    Abigail nodded. "Where''s Quinn?"


    "She''s sleeping upstairs," Olivia replied.


    "I''ll go check on her."


    With that, Abigail hurried inside, finding the bedroom with ease. As expected, Quinn was asleep. Abigail''s expression turnedplicated. Orion, puzzled, asked, "What''s wrong with her?"


    "I don''t know. I heard she''s been sleeping all day, and Soren couldn''t figure out why," Abigail replied, sitting next to Quinn.


    Orion frowned at Quinn. "And Alexander is still running around. Is he really that busy every day?"


    "Who knows." Abigail rolled her eyes in disdain.


    She tried to wake Quinn, but there was no reaction.


    "Abigail, is she dead?" Orion blurted out.


    Abigail kicked him. "Shut up! You''re the one who''s going to die!"


    Orion dodged her kick, realizing his mistake. "I misspoke. Quinn will definitely be fine!" He looked at Quinn worriedly.


    With nothing else to do and Quinn still asleep, they took out their phones to y games. One sat on the bed, the other on the sofa.


    "Why are you so bad? Attack him!"


    "You''re running too fast, I can''t keep up. Slow down!"


    Olivia stood at the door, listening to their bickering. She hesitated but then silently retreated.


    Their noise eventually woke Quinn in the afternoon. She opened her eyes and saw them lying on the sofa, their phones still connected to chargers, engrossed in their games. She felt a bit delighted and forced herself to get up. She called out a couple of times, but she was too weak, and they were too absorbed in their games to hear her. Leaning weakly against the headboard, she touched her stomach, thinking, ''I''m so hungry.''


    The two were too loud, and Quinn''s calls went unanswered. She stared at them resentfully, thinking about how to get their attention. Suddenly, the bedroom door was kicked open!


    The loud noise startled Quinn, and the two on the sofa looked up in unison. Standing at the door were a dozen masked, menacing figures.


    "Who are you?" Abigail dropped her phone and stood up abruptly.

 Chapter 858

    Only then did Abigail notice that Quinn was awake. She quickly jumped in front of Quinn to shield her.


    Orion rushed over, too, spreading his arms to block the masked figures. "Do you even know where you are before barging in?!" The intruders didn''t say a word and dashed to Quinn.


    Abigail reacted in time and grabbed something from the bedside and threw it at them. It fell, shattering on the ground.


    It didn''t do much. In seconds, the intruders were right in front of them.


    Orion tried to stop them but got kicked to the ground in just two moves.


    Abigail looked at him, both anxious and angry. "How can you be so weak?!"


    Orion clutched his stomach, painfully looking up at Abigail. "Stop with the sarcastic remarks."


    Meanwhile, at thepany, Alexander had just finished a meeting and returned to his office. Kyle was updating him on Stanley''s case.


    "We found the person Stanley met in the suburbs. He has call records with Landon. We''ve got the key evidence now."


    They had the leverage to negotiate with Landon. This time, Landon was bound to lose.


    Alexander looked at theputer, his expression changing slightly.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Something''s wrong," he said in a deep voice, interrupting Kyle.


    "What do you mean?"


    Kyle leaned in to look at theputer screen, which showed surveince footage of Quinn''s bedroom.


    Orion and Abigail were being subdued by the group, and a few others were taking Quinn away from the bed.


    Kyle''s face changed dramatically. "Who are they? What do we do now?"


    Alexander''s face was stern as he threw the documents onto the table and turned to leave.


    Kyle quickly followed, calling Sean to send people to the vi to chase the group and monitor their movements.


    After the call, he and Alexander arrived at the parking lot.


    Alexander suddenly asked, "Where is Landon?"


    "I don''t know. He didn''te to the office today. Did he do this?" Kyle asked, confused.


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    Alexander frowned. "It''s not him, but it''s definitely rted to him. Drive."


    Kyle nodded and sped towards Regal Riverside.


    When they arrived, Sean''s people had just gotten there. As they ran into the vi, they found Olivia lying on the ground, unconscious.


    Two bodyguards ran over. "Mr. Kennedy, we werete."


    Alexander nced at them. "How were you protecting them?"


    "They climbed up from the upper floor. When they came out, they used Quinn as a hostage, so we didn''t dare to act. But others have already gone after them." Alexander ignored them and went upstairs. The bedroom was a mess, Quinn was gone, and even Orion and Abigail were missing.


    Kyle said in shock, "Does Landon have the guts to do this?"


    ''Stanley''s matter hasn''t been resolved yet, and now he get the nerve to kidnap Quinn? Even Abigail and Orion were taken away. This is too brazen,'' Kyle thought. Alexander turned and walked out. "It wasn''t him. We''re not at the point of mutual destruction yet. He wouldn''t be this stupid."


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! "Then who did it?" Kyle asked, puzzled.


    "We''ll find out soon enough."


    Alexander got back in the car. This time he drove himself, leaving Kyle outside.


    Kyle looked around, grabbed a bodyguard''s car, and quickly followed Alexander.


    Quinn was being held by two people. She was scared seeing the masks on their faces.


    "Who are you?"


    No one responded.


    Several cars were in hot pursuit behind them, with Abigail among them. She was riding a motorcycle, leaving the bodyguards far behind, and was less than four feet away from the kidnappers'' car. Orion was sitting behind her, holding her waist tightly. "Slow down. The bike is about to take off! Do you want to die?!"


    Abigail kept her eyes on the vehicle ahead and snapped, "Shut up. You''re so annoying!"


    Orion swallowed hard and instinctively held Abigail tighter.


    Even with a helmet on, he felt like he could barely breathe.

 Chapter 859

    A few minutester, the car drove onto the overpass, and Abigail followed on her motorcycle, keeping up with the car. "Quinn!" Abigail yelled.


    Hearing her voice, Quinn jumped up and clung to the window, spotting Orion and Abigail outside.


    "Abigail!!" Quinn pounded on the window, tears streaming down her face. "Let me out! I want to get out!"


    She frantically searched for a way to open the door, but it was locked tight.


    Abigail shouted from outside, "Stop the car!"


    "You guys are nuts, kidnapping Quinn like this. Are you asking for trouble?"


    The driver ignored her, floored the gas, and sped up.


    "What do we do? So many pursuers!" a man in the car said, worried.


    "Keep driving. We''ve got Quinn. If we stop now, Alexander won''t let us go."


    The people in the car cursed, not expecting Alexander''s crew to be so relentless. This kidnapping n was a failure; they hadn''t even left the city center before being chased.


    Now, they had no choice but to stick to the n.


    Quinn kept shouting, annoying the people in the front. "Gag her."


    They stuffed something into Quinn''s mouth, silencing her.


    Her hands were tied, and after struggling a bit, she was exhausted.


    Abigail kept chasing. The guy in the passenger seat grabbed the door handle, veins bulging.


    "Didn''t you hear? Stop the car!"


    "If you don''t stop the car..."


    Before Abigail could finish, the passenger door suddenly opened, and her motorcycle crashed into it.


    With a loud crash, her voice turned into a scream.


    Quinn''s eyes widened as she watched the motorcycle crash into the door, breaking it in half.


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    The motorcycle flipped over, and Abigail and Orion were thrown off, falling off the overpass.


    Quinn''s gaze followed Abigail, then slowly turned back, staring as they fell.


    She sat in the car, startled and unable to make a sound. Tears streamed down her face.


    The car sped away, with the pursuing cars close behind. The wrecked motorcycley abandoned on the ground, unnoticed.


    The vehicles sped recklessly, disrupting traffic, with the sounds of brakes and horns filling the air.


    Quinn sat in the car, dazed. Her mind was filled with the image of Abigail and Orion falling.


    They drove off the overpass and onto the highway, lined with green trees. There were few cars on this road, so they became even more reckless.


    The cars behind continued to chase, and it was unclear how far they had gone.


    "They''re still chasing us. What do we do?" a panicked voice said.


    "Keep driving. What else can we do?"


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! The speaker took off his mask and angrily threw it out.


    Through the rearview mirror, Quinn saw the man''s face. He was young, in his twenties.


    If Alexander were here, he would recognize him.


    He was Ernest, who had caused trouble at the Kennedy family''s ce before.


    Unhappy about not getting an inheritance, he had caused trouble at the Kennedy family''s ce several times, only to be driven out.


    Kaitlyn not only drove him out but also secretly sent people to teach him a lesson and threaten him.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    His mother, trying to protect him, took a blow to the head, which left her in aa.


    This incidentpletely enraged him, and he wanted revenge!


    Someone told him that if he captured Alexander''s wife, he could get whatever he wanted from Alexander, even Alexander''s life. So, Ernest kidnapped Quinn, intending to negotiate with Alexander.

 Chapter 860

    Ernest nced in the rearview mirror. Those cars could easily catch up, but they kept their distance.


    He knew that guy was right; as long as he had Quinn, Alexander wouldn''t make a move.


    They wouldn''t dare act, so Ernest wasn''t in a rush either.


    "Slow down," he told the driver.


    The driver eased off the gas, and as expected, the cars behind them slowed down too.


    Ernest smirked. His hunch was spot on.


    The bodyguard behind noticed too. The one in front grabbed a walkie-talkie. "Mr. Kennedy, they''ve slowed down. Should we catch up?"


    Alexander gripped the steering wheel, eyes locked on the ck car ahead. After a moment, he said, "Catch up."


    "Yes, sir."


    The bodyguard floored it, quickly closing the gap.


    In no time, two cars nked the ck car, boxing it in and forcing it to stop. The sudden halt nearly threw everyone inside forward.


    The car jolted, and Quinn''s head smacked against the seat, leaving her dazed.


    "Damn it," Ernest cursed, kicking the car door. He nced at the cars in front and behind.


    "Get her out," he ordered.


    Quinn was still groggy when they dragged her out.


    Ernest grabbed her, one hand around her neck, the other holding a gun to her head.


    "Don''t move, or I''ll shoot," he warned.


    Quinn struggled to breathe, her eyes darting around.


    They were on a wooded road on the outskirts, trees lining both sides, the asphalt stretching out in front of them.


    The sky was darkening. Shadows crept in, blurring the surroundings.


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    Ernest''s eyes were glued to the cars blocking the road. A dozen burly bodyguards stepped out.


    Seeing this, Ernest tightened his grip on Quinn''s neck.


    The bodyguards moved aside, making way.


    Alexander, in a suit, walked forward, the car lights behind him casting his tall figure in silhouette. "Stop right there!" Ernest shouted as Alexander approached. "One more step, and I''ll kill her."


    Alexander paused, his gaze fixed on the gun in Ernest''s hand.


    "You actually have a gun?" Alexander seemed surprised.


    Ernest hesitated but then bluffed. "None of your business! Just tell me, can the inheritance be redistributed?"


    Alexander said nothing and just stared at him.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Time ticked by, and Ernest grew impatient.


    "Answer me!"


    Alexander finally spoke, "Ernest, do you really think, with what you''re doing now, even if I agree to redistribute the inheritance, even if I give it all to you, you''ll have the chance to get it?" Ernest''s face twisted. He looked at Quinn, his fingers trembling on the gun.


    He knew what he was doing.


    Alexander continued, "If I were you, I''d let her go, go back, extort a big sum from whoever put you up to this, and disappear."


    Ernest was stunned, hesitation flickering in his eyes.


    He eyed Alexander warily. "What do you mean?"


    Alexander said, "I mean, if you let her go, I can pretend this never happened."


    Ernest scrutinized him, trying to gauge if he was serious.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    "Would you really let me go??"

 Chapter 861

    Alexander spoke calmly, "Got any other options now? You either trust me and let Quinn go, and everyone stays safe, or if you hurt her, there''s no turning back." Ernest wavered, his mind racing with indecision.


    Alexander stood quietly, waiting for Ernest to decide.


    The car lights behind him were blinding, casting light from both sides. Though he blocked most of it, the remaining light made it hard for Quinn to keep her eyes open. She couldn''t see Alexander''s expression clearly.


    But Alexander could see both her and Ernest perfectly.


    Ernest asked again, "Will you really let me go?"


    "I don''t want to repeat myself. Have you made up your mind?" Alexander pressed.


    Ernest hesitated. Just as he was unsure, a maskedpanion whispered in his ear, "Don''t trust him. Alexander is ruthless and vengeful. If you let her go, we''ll all die here."


    Ernest''s face changed, and he looked sharply at Alexander.


    "Are you lying to me?"


    Alexander squinted, his gaze sweeping over the masked man.


    "So you refuse to negotiate?"


    Ernest sneered. "I don''t believe you unless you bring me a million dors in cash right now!"


    "Ernest, are you really going to be so stubborn?"


    "Stop talking nonsense. Bring the money, or there''s nothing to discuss." Ernest became firm.


    He grabbed Quinn. "Get in the car."


    He shoved Quinn back into the car and watched Alexander warily as he got in.


    "Alexander, you''d bettere with the money alone. Since I''m going to be retaliated against anyway, I don''t mind taking your wife down with me!" Ernest warned.


    The group got into the car, which slowly started and soon disappeared from Alexander''s sight.


    Kyle quickly stepped forward, worried. "Mr. Kennedy, what do we do now?"


    Alexander stared straight at the end of the road. Only when the car''s taillightspletely vanished did he look away.


    "Go get the money."


    Kyle hesitated, "Mr. Kennedy, if we get the money, they''ll definitely use Quinn as a hostage to escape."


    ''What if Ernest, being ruthless, kills Quinn after they get away?'' Kyle thought.


    "I said, go get the money." Alexander turned his head to look at him. His gaze scared Kyle.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Kyle rubbed his nose, not daring to speak further, and quickly made a call to get the money.


    Alexander got into the car, lit a cigarette, and leaned against the window, feeling irritated.


    About ten minutester, Kyle returned to the car and said, "I''ve given the order. Sean will bring the money in about forty minutes."


    "Also, Orion and Abigail fell into the river under the overpass. The William family and the Vanderbilt family have been calling me, asking what happened." Alexander flicked the ash from his cigarette out the window, asking, "Are they dead?"


    Kyle wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "They probably won''t die, right?"


    He analyzed, "When they were hit, Ernest''s car was also driving at high speed, so the impact wasn''t that great. It''s just that the height of the fall is a bit dangerous." Kyle calcted the height and concluded that the impact from the fall should be significant.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander remained silent, staring at the dark asphalt road ahead, lost in thought.


    Kyle continued, "But you don''t need to worry. Mr. Vanderbilt has already sent people to look for them. They will definitely be safe."

 Chapter 862

    Alexander smoked a few cigarettes while the guy kept talking.


    Forty minutester, a stretch limo screeched to a halt nearby.


    Walter stepped out, mming the door behind him. He walked up to Alexander and bent down to peer inside. "Mr. Kennedy, I brought the money." Alexander nced at him and said nothing.


    Walter chuckled. "What''s going on? How did Ernest end up kidnapping Quinn?"


    "Shouldn''t I be asking you that?" Alexander shot back coldly.


    Alexander pushed open the car door and got out, standing toe-to-toe with Walter, his gaze icy.


    Walter smiled, meeting Alexander''s stare without flinching. "What does this have to do with me?"


    Alexander sneered. "Walter, you always think you''re so clever."


    Walter''s smile wavered.


    "You think you can control everything, y me and Landon against each other, hoping we''ll both lose," Alexander continued. "Isn''t this all your doing?"


    "No wonder you won''t admit your identity to her. You know what you''ve done can''te to light."


    Walter''s smile vanishedpletely, leaving only a faint curve. He appeared no longer as rxed as before.


    He didn''t deny it; his actions had implicated Quinn. Worse, he had even kidnapped her and done unforgivable things.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you''re not much better than me."


    Walter added, "Let''s not waste time. Let''s go save her."


    Alexander didn''t argue. He turned and got into the limo.


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    Walter followed.


    They drove down the asphalt road, which had no intersections, leaving Ernest and his crew with nowhere to go.


    By now, Ernest had reached the end of the road, which led to a cliff. Below was a slope, but it was too dark to see the details.


    They parked by the roadside, too scared to go down.


    Ernest paced anxiously. "Do you think Alexander will bring the money?"


    "Don''t worry. He will. He won''t abandon Quinn," the masked man said confidently.


    Ernest was still jittery. "But even if he brings the money, how do we get away?"


    "Quinn is our leverage; they won''t act recklessly. Besides, if hees alone, we have numbers and a gun. Worst case, we kill him."Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Ernest''s eyes widened in shock. "Are you really that bold?"


    ''He''s just a guy I hired for a few hundred bucks, and he''s this fearless?'' Ernest thought.


    The masked man said, "We''re in too deep. What choice do we have? We can''t just die here."


    Ernest scratched his head in frustration. "But after we get the money, where do we go? How do we escape?"


    "I''ve got it covered. Someone will pick us up," the masked man reassured him.


    Ernest eyed him suspiciously. "Who are you? One of Landon''s guys?"


    The masked man didn''t answer. He looked into the distance, where lights flickered. "He''s here."


    Ernest didn''t have time to ponder the masked man''s identity. He looked up and saw car lights cutting through the trees, sweeping towards them.

 Chapter 863

    Ernest tensed up, yanking a gun from his pocket and dragging Quinn out of the car.


    Quinn''s eyelids drooped. She leaned heavily on Ernest, barely able to stand.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Ernest tapped her face with the gun, making her head slump onto his shoulder. Seeing this, Ernestughed angrily. "Even now, you''re falling asleep? You must really trust Alexander, huh?" Quinn didn''t respond. Her breathing was weak, and without Ernest holding her, she would''ve copsed.


    An SUV sped up and stopped just a few steps away.


    Alexander stepped out alone, standing in front of the car. "I brought the money. Let her go."


    Ernest nced at the car but held onto Quinn. "Show me the money first!"


    Alexander tilted his head, signaling him to check.


    Two masked men quickly walked over, opened the trunk, and found it filled with silver suitcases. The back seats were packed with cash.


    They opened the suitcases and checked the cash inside. Seeing the money, they got a bit excited.


    It was ten million dors. Seeing it was a whole different experience.


    After checking, they returned to Ernest. "The amount''s about right."


    Ernest was excited too. The most he''d ever seen was a million, never ten times that.


    Alexander said, "Can you let her go now?"


    Ernest snapped out of it, tightening his grip on Quinn. "Not yet. If I let her go now, I can''t escape." Alexander sneered. "I came alone. What are you afraid of?"


    "Who knows if you have people hiding nearby?" Ernest was alert.


    Alexander''s eyes darkened. "Ernest, I''ll say it one more time. Let her go, or face the consequences."


    His tone was icy, making Ernest tremble.


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    Ernest looked around. He couldn''t see anyone, but Alexander''s calm look suggested he had a n.


    "You really did arrange people. That makes me even less likely to let Quinn go." Ernest pointed the gun at Alexander. "Move aside!"


    Alexander squinted but didn''t move.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Ernest shouted, "I told you to move! Can''t you hear me? If you don''t move, I''ll shoot!"


    He tightened his grip on Quinn''s neck. She struggled to breathe, her vision blurry.


    Seeing this, Alexander frowned.


    Ernest waved the gun wildly, looking crazed.


    Alexander''s calm made him more nervous and scared. Under such tension, it was easy to lose control.


    "Move aside!!"


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Ernest yelled, losing patience. He ced his finger on the trigger, red at Alexander, and suddenly pulled it.


    A loud bang echoed in Quinn''s ears.


    Hot liquid sttered on her face.


    The smell of blood filled her nostrils.


    Her eyes widened, looking at Alexander.


    Under the bright car lights, he stood there unharmed. A gust of wind lifted his coat slightly.


    Quinn slowly turned her head, her eyshes trembling.


    Ernest still held the shooting posture, his left hand gripping her neck. Fear and anger on his face hadn''t faded, his eyes wide with disbelief and despair.


    There was a bloody hole in Ernest''s neck, with blood gushing out..


    The surrounding masked men panicked, reaching for their weapons.


    But before they could draw them, several gunshots rang out from the forest, and they fell one by one.

 Chapter 864

    Alexander hurried toward Quinn.


    Ernest''s eyes glinted with malice, a sinister smile spreading across his face.


    With hisst bit of strength, he tightened his grip around Quinn''s neck and stepped back.


    Alexander''s eyes widened.


    He lunged forward, reaching for Quinn, but his fingers only brushed her arm, unable to hold on.


    He watched helplessly as Quinn and Ernest tumbled off the cliff.


    "Quinn!" Alexander shouted.


    Without hesitation, he jumped off the cliff after them.


    "Mr. Kennedy!"


    Kyle and the others burst out of the woods, just in time to witness Alexander leap.


    By the time they reached the cliff''s edge, Alexander was already gone.


    Walter shone a shlight down, but the darkness revealed nothing.


    "This is the second time," Walter said suddenly.


    Kyle, lying at the cliff''s edge, turned to Walter. "What do you mean?"


    Walter''s expression wasplicated, his brows deeply furrowed.


    "This is the second time Alexander''s jumped off a cliff for Quinn."


    "No, actually, it''s the third time."


    "Remember the incident on that ship? He took a knife for Quinn without a second thought."


    Thinking of this, Walter let out a wryugh. "Alexander always says he doesn''t care about Quinn, but when ites down to it, he''s always there for her."


    "Never for himself," Walter added silently.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Kyle was taken aback, recalling simr moments, and couldn''t help but feel surprised.


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    "It really seems like Alexander values Quinn''s life more than his own."


    "But why won''t he admit it?" Kyle wondered.


    "They won''t die, will they?" Kyle asked, worried.


    "Who knows," Walter replied, turning away from the cliff. "We''ll find out when we go down and check."


    Meanwhile, Quinn was still falling.


    The wind roared past her ears, the sky above filled with stars and a bright full moon.


    She saw Alexander rapidly approaching her.


    In a daze, she found the scene eerily familiar.


    Amidst the swaying shadows of the trees, images shed in her mind.


    She looked up at Alexander, who blocked the moonlight. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! She slowly reached out her hand, and above her, Alexander did the same.


    Though only two feet apart, their hands couldn''t touch.


    The cold mountain wind howled, blurring her vision.


    The three of them fell rapidly, crashing into tree branches, and then hitting the ground hard.


    With Ernest beneath her, Quinn had some cushioning, but it still felt like her internal organs were shattering.


    Her vision darkened, and a metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.


    After hitting the ground, she continued to roll down the slope.


    She didn''t know how long she rolled, but her head spun, and she lost consciousness.


    Before cking out, she saw Alexander grab a tree branch. The impact bent and broke the branch. Consequently, Alexander fell to the ground.


    He rolled once, discarded the branch, got up, and rushed toward Quinn, holding her tightly as they rolled down together.

 Chapter 865

    A cold drop of dew sshed on Quinn''s face.


    Her eyshes fluttered. She forced herself to endure the headache and struggled to open her eyes.


    What she saw was the dappled shade of trees, with dew dripping down like rain.


    Quinn nced to her right.


    Seeing Alexander''s face, she was startled and abruptly pushed him away.


    Quinn propped herself up from the ground, clutching her chest and gasping for air.


    After a few minutes, she looked back at Alexander.


    He was lying on the ground, his clothes torn by branches, his hair disheveled, and his face covered with scratches of various sizes. His eyes were shut tight, and it was unclear whether he was dead or alive.


    Quinn remembered that when they rolled downst night, she was in his arms, and his hand was protecting the back of her head.


    She grabbed his hand and looked at it. The back of his hand was a bloody mess, looking like it had been hit countless times.


    She checked his body. When she reached her hand to the back of his head, she felt something sticky.


    She looked at her hand only to find her palm had been covered by blood.


    Her face changed. She shook Alexander''s shoulder, trying to speak, but the words seemed to stick at her throat.


    Finally, she managed to make one, "Alexander, wake up!"


    He didn''t move. Quinn looked around. They were surrounded by woods, sunlight filtering through leaves, casting streaks of light.


    It was eerily quiet.


    She grabbed her nightgown, tried to tear it with her teeth. However, its quality was too good. She couldn''t rip it.


    Quinn focused on Alexander''s trench coat.


    She grabbed the torn part and pulled hard.


    She tore off a piece and then wrapped it around his head to bandage the wound.


    She then tore another piece to bandage his hand.


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    Exhausted, Quinn copsed, panting.


    After resting, she found a phone in his pocket.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    She used his finger to unlock it. The battery was at one percent, and there was no signal.


    Quinn sat beside him, looking at Alexander, who was unconscious, with aplex expression.


    After half an hour, he still didn''t wake up. Quinn picked leaves, collected dew, fed it to his mouth.


    She propped him up against a tree trunk.


    She used her sleeve to dab dew, and then wiped his face with it.


    His handsome features emerged, but scratches remained.


    Quinn sat beside him, looking up at the sun through the branches.


    Scenes from the past reyed in her mind. The dappled shadows and sunlight made her eyshes flutter.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Birds sang, filling the forest.


    Quinn turned to Alexander, her eyes filled with mixed emotions.


    Sunlight fell on his face. His fingers twitched.


    A few minutester, he opened his eyes.


    He tried to stand, but pain made him sit back down.


    He saw the bandages on his hand. He then touched his forehead and found that it was also bandaged.


    Alexander slowly turned his head.


    Their eyes met, and a quiet atmosphere fell between them.


    Seeing the unclear emotions in Quinn''s eyes, Alexander''s gaze flickered. "Are you okay?"


    Quinn just looked at him.


    It was a strange yet familiar look.


    Alexander realized something and smirked.

 Chapter 866

    Alexander remained silent for a long time before finally whispering, "You got your memory back?"


    Quinn looked away, avoiding his eyes.


    Her silence was answer enough.


    Alexander half-closed his eyes and turned his gaze elsewhere too.


    The silence between them deepened, and even the birds overhead stopped chirping.


    It was quieter than when he was unconscious, as if even the air was holding its breath.


    After what felt like forever, Alexander looked at her again. "How much do you remember?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, saying nothing.


    Alexander slowly reached out, trying to take her hand. But before he could touch her, she pulled away.


    "You all lied to me," Quinn finally said.


    Alexander was taken aback, looking at her sharply.


    She lowered her eyes, tears welling up. She stared at her hands as tears fell onto them.


    Alexander opened his mouth but couldn''t find the words.


    A cool breeze blew, lifting the strands of hair by her ear.


    Suddenly, she stood up and walked away unsteadily.


    Alexander watched her go, wanting to get up and follow. But as soon as he moved, a wave of dizziness hit him, and he sat back down weakly.


    He clutched his chest, staring at her retreating figure, pain shing across his face.


    Quinn picked up a stick, using it to steady herself as she walked away.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    The light over there was so bright, and in a daze, Alexander saw her walking further into it.


    It was like Quinn disappeared into the light.


    Alexander closed his eyes, leaning against the tree trunk, a bitter smile on his lips.


    After a while, he fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.


    Leaning against the tree, he lit a cigarette.


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    The light filtered through the canopy, thin wisps of smoke rising, intertwining with the light, like the smoke was dancing.


    Suddenly, he heard light footsteps approaching and turned his head.


    It was Quinn,ing back.


    His fingers holding the cigarette paused slightly.


    Quinn sat down in front of him, spreading out the hem of her clothes and revealing a handful of berries.


    Alexander looked at her in shock.


    She took out a few and handed them to him.


    Alexander slowly reached out, taking the berries from her hand, and looked up at her again.


    These were the same berries they had eaten when they were stranded on that deserted ind.


    Alexander smiled bitterly. "So, you really do remember."


    Quinn knelt in front of him and stared at him intently. She then habitually raised her hand to use signnguage.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! She signed, "Yes, I remember, not just this."


    Alexander''s eyes flickered. "What do you mean?"


    She signed, "I remember a group of people burst into our house on my grandpa''s birthday when I was still five."


    Alexander''s fingers gripping the berries tightened.


    Quinn continued signing, "They had guns and shot at everyone they saw. My mom held me, hiding everywhere, but she was still shot through the heart."


    As she recalled those memories, tears streamed down her face.


    Her fingers stiffened, making it hard to continue signing. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart, making it hard to breathe.


    She choked out, struggling to speak, "She hid me in her arms, saving me from harm."


    Her speech was not fluent, often pausing due to the pain, her voice trembling.


    Every word she spoke added ayer of sadness to her face.


    "Someone pushed my mom away, and I saw him."


    Alexander listened quietly until this sentence, then he asked, "Who was it?"

 Chapter 867

    Quinn stared at him, her emotions unclear.


    She stayed silent for a long time, tears welling up and eventually streaming down her cheeks.


    Alexander nced at the berries in his hand and said, "Forget it."


    Quinn pressed her lips together and leaned against the tree trunk. The sunlight in her eyes was blinding.


    She closed her eyes, and in a daze, images long forgotten began to sh through her mind.


    A dream dragged her back to that painful past.


    Blood, fire, and screams filled the air.


    Her mother''s body turned cold.


    When a ray of light pierced the darkness, she saw his face.


    It was Ulysses, the man who had taken her home back then.


    She had never expected that beneath that kind face was a heart full of malice.


    All these years, she had lived with her enemy, treating him as family and her protector.


    If her parents knew, they would think she was a disgrace to the Mellon family.


    What was even moreughable was that despite all the scorn and abuse, she still deeply loved Alexander and treated him like a god.


    Tears slid down her cheeks.


    In her nightmare, the memories of the past twenty years seemed to be reyed.


    Each scene mocked her,ughed at her ignorance, andughed at her for treating her enemy as family.


    She also dreamed of her parents'' disappointed faces. They stared at her, eyes full of hatred and me.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She felt that she had be an unforgivable sinner, betraying everyone in the Mellon family and everyone who loved her.


    Their silence was the cruelest weapon.


    Silently, it stabbed her heart, again and again.


    Quinn stumbled and ran towards her parents, wanting to throw herself into their arms like she did as a child.


    But no matter how hard she ran, she couldn''t reach them.


    She fell to the ground, looking at their distant, unreachable faces.


    "Mom, do you hate me?"


    "I''m sorry. I was wrong. Please don''t abandon me."


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    "I really know I was wrong."


    Shey on the ground, tears streaming, reaching out to grab Sophia''s hand.


    In the past, whenever she cried, Sophia woulde over, pick her up, and gentlyfort her.


    But now, even though she was crying so sadly, Sophia still looked at her coldly.


    "I was wrong. I know I was wrong, Mom."


    She cried her heart out, but her family remained indifferent.


    Never had Quinn felt so deserving of death.


    "No wonder I''ve dreamed so many times, and you never wanted to hug me."


    Quinny on the ground, repeatedly apologizing to the shadows of Sophia and Henry.


    "I''m guilty. I deserve to die."


    "I''m the sinner of the Mellon family."


    Suddenly, a voice sounded.


    "Quinn, wake up."


    "Quinn!"


    Quinn''s body trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.


    Through her tear-blurred vision, she couldn''t see Alexander''s face clearly.


    She looked at him nkly, tears silently flowing.


    "I''ll take you back," Alexander said softly.


    He touched her cheek, wiping away her tears.


    Her vision gradually became clear.


    Her gaze fixed on his face, yet her eyes reflected only emptiness.


    Even so, she still clearly captured the fleeting panic in his eyes.


    She slowly raised her hand, ced it on his chest, and pushed hard.


    Unguarded, Alexander was pushed to the ground though Quinn didn''t use much force.


    He sat there, staring at her, his face showing unprecedented embarrassment.

 Chapter 868

    Quinn shut her eyes, suppressing the bitterness and sadness. When she opened them again, only detachment and hatred remained. Hatred even Alexander had never seen before.


    His eyes flickered, and he tried to speak, but no words came out.


    Footsteps approached.


    It was Kyle and Walter.


    "Mr. Kennedy!" Kyle''s face lit up as he rushed over. "It is great to see you''re okay."


    But then he sensed something was off.


    His eyes darted between Quinn and Alexander, feeling the tension.


    Walter locked his gaze onto Quinn''s face. As he noticed her expression, his eyes changed slightly.


    Alexander stared at Quinn for a long moment before looking away. He pushed himself off the ground and walked away without a word.


    Kyle nced at Alexander''s unsteady back, then at Quinn, who sat dazed on the ground. He hesitated, then stepped forward to help her up. Quinn pushed his hand away.


    Kyle was stunned. "Quinn."


    Walter patted his shoulder. "You go. I''ll take care of her."


    Kyle thought for a moment and decided to follow Alexander, who seemed more seriously injured.


    As they left, the forest fell silent again.


    Walter stood in front of Quinn, watching her quietly.


    After a long time, she finally looked up at him.


    Her eyes were red, and tears streamed down her face when she saw Walter.


    She opened her mouth, her voice hoarse, and called his name.


    "Lucas."


    Walter stiffened. He looked into her eyes for a long time.


    A breeze blew, lifting the corner of his suit and making the loose strands of hair around his ears flutter.


    He slowly squatted down in front of her.


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    He looked at her seriously, without any hint of a smile. His expression was different from the false masks he usually wore.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    His eyes showed genuine emotions-surprise, excitement, and a bit of nervousness.


    "You recalled everything?" Walter asked.


    Quinn grabbed his wrist, pressing his hand against her face.


    She stared into his eyes and said, word by word, "Hit me."


    Walter''s eyes flickered. His fingers trembled as they touched her skin.


    "I deserve it. I deserve to die. I was wrong." She clutched Walter''s wrist tightly, crying her heart out.


    "Quinn." Walter wanted to say something but couldn''t find the words.


    She knelt on the ground and cried harder. Gradually, her cries became hoarse and desperate.


    If Walter hadn''t been holding her, she might have copsed.


    Even the birds on the branches were startled by her cries, pping their wings and flying away. They shook the dew from the trees, which fell on the two of them.


    Walter pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly and patting her back without saying a word.


    Quinn cried uncontrobly in his arms, releasing all the grievances and pain she had endured over the years.


    Walter looked at thetrees in the distance, his expressionplex.


    ''She has every reason to be sad.''


    ''She should have had a happy family, growing up with the love from her family. Instead, she ended up with a broken home, living in someone else''s house and suffering humiliation.'' ''They caused her suffering and then offered her salvation. As a result, she treated her enemies like gods. The person she loved for so many years is a misced affection.''


    ''And originally, she shouldn''t have had to endure any of this.'' Walter couldn''t help but feel sorry for her.


    It was unclear how much time had passed before Quinn gradually quieted down.


    The dark red fabric on Walter''s chest was soaked with her tears, turning a deep ck.


    She slowly lifted her head, looking at him with sorrow.


    "Lucas, can you take me away from here?"


    "I want to go home."


    "Lucas, take me home."

 Chapter 869

    Walter reached out and gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear, a gesture more tender than ever before. "Alright, I''ll take you home," he said softly.


    At that moment, he dropped all his pretenses, showing a tenderness that matched his appearance. This was the real him.


    He held Quinn by the arms and helped her up from the ground.


    Quinn leaned against him as they slowly walked out of the woods.


    The dappled shadows of the trees fell on them, their fragmented silhouettes stretching behind them.


    When they were kids, he would hold her hand and walk her home from school, just like how he did now. The only difference was that there was a touch more loneliness right now.


    Lonely, they leaned on each other.


    In this world, they only had each other left.


    As for what Walter had done to her before, Quinn didn''t hate him.


    Because she felt he wasn''t wrong.


    She even thought, ''I deserve to be punished. I don''t deserve to live.''


    ''I have let down the Mellons family, Sophia, and Henry.''Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    ''And also Lucas.''


    ''I should have borne all this hatred, but I let him face it alone for so many years. He shouldn''t have borne this.'' ''How could I dare to hate him?''


    "So, was what happened back then rted to the Kennedys family?" Walter''s voice echoed in the woods. "Yes."


    "Then it seems I didn''t find the wrong people," Walter replied.


    Quinn closed her eyes and began to recall the past again. When she saw Ulysses, many people were standing behind him and she witnessed them shooting. When Ulysses picked her up from the bodies, his subordinate was about to shoot her.


    Ulysses raised his hand to stop him. "No."


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    "Ulysses, keeping her might bring endless trouble."


    Ulysses waved his hand, looking around at the bodies, and sighed wistfully.


    "I worked with her grandfather. Let''s leave a descendant for their family."


    He bent down slightly, showing a kind smile to Quinn. "Quinn, do you know who I am?"


    Quinn stared at him with her clear eyes, fearless and unhurt. She shook her head nkly.


    "Then how about I take you home?" Ulysses asked.


    Quinn tilted her head, stared at him for a long time, then cautiously reached out and grabbed his sleeve.


    At that moment, there was tenderness in his eyes. Ignoring his subordinates'' objections, he picked her up.


    "Let''s go home!" His voice carried a hint of delight.


    Alexander looked at the woods outside the car window, his expression inscrutable.


    Kyle nced at him several times, then looked outside, thinking, ''Quinn hasn''te out yet.''


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    "Mr. Kennedy, why don''t we head back first and let Sean bring Quinn backter?" Kyle suggested.


    Alexander withdrew his gaze, staring nkly at a certain spot ahead. "Will shee back?"


    His voice was hard to read, almost like he was talking to himself.


    Kyle casually replied, "She will, right? Where else could she go?"


    Kyle didn''t know that Quinn had regained her memory. In his mind, her recollection remained fixed on when she was a naive five-year-old girl. He thought she had nowhere to go and had to rely on Alexander. Alexander didn''t respond, the sound of a lighter was his only reply to Kyle.


    "Drive," Alexander demanded.


    Kyle nodded and drove the car away.


    Back at Regal Riverside, Soren was already waiting in the living room.


    Olivia, who had been knocked out earlier, now had her head bandaged. Standing at the door and seeing Alexander in such a disheveled state, she trembled with fear. "Mr. Kennedy, I''m sorry, I..."


    Alexander raised his hand to interrupt her, walked past her, and headed straight inside.

 Chapter 870

    Soren was about to bandage the wound for him, but Alexander headed to the bathroom for a shower first.


    When he came out, Soren moved toward him, but Alexander called Kyle over instead.


    "Mr. Kennedy, what can I do for you?" Kyle asked.


    Alexander lit a cigarette, leaned on the sofa, and stared at the dark TV thoughtfully. "Have Sean bring Quinn back."


    Kyle was confused but nodded. "Yes."


    Alexander''s gaze was deep, and no one knew what he was thinking, but one thing was certain: he was in a very bad mood.


    Meanwhile, Sean, waiting outside the woods, got the call and was equally puzzled. But he wasn''t the sharpest tool in the shed, so he didn''t dwell on it. He waited for about ten minutes without seeing Quinn, so he took some guys in to look for her.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    When they reached the spot where Quinn was supposed to be, they found she was gone.


    Sean started to panic.


    He thought, ''Did Quinn get lost?''


    He thought for a moment and then told the bodyguards, "Spread out and search."


    The bodyguards immediately scattered into the woods.


    By this time, Quinn and Walter had already made it out of the woods. The sun was setting, and a deserted dirt road stretched out before them. Quinn was exhausted. She had walked as far as she could and couldn''t go any further.


    Walter helped her sit on a rock. He took out his phone and made a call to have someonee pick them up.


    After the call, he turned back to Quinn.


    She was a mess, with dried blood on her face, tangled hair, and a dirty nightgown. Despite it all, her exhaustion was clear.


    Walter said, "With Alexander''s personality, leaving won''t be easy."


    Quinn nced at him.


    Thinking of Alexander made her feel resistant.


    Whenever she thought of him, she remembered the tragic deaths of Sophia and Henry, and her own failed life over the past twenty years.


    Walter sat beside her and said softly, "But I''ve promised you I''ll get you out of here."


    Quinn''s eyes flickered as she stared at him.


    Walter wasn''t the same as Lucas from their childhood, but Quinn recognized him instantly.


    Maybe it was the familiar suit he wore, or maybe it was the look in his eyes.


    Quinn remembered that Henry and Loren both liked to wear suits, but Walter rarely did.


    Walter pulled out a handkerchief and tried to wipe the blood off her face. But it had dried and wouldn''te off.


    Quinn lowered her head and said softly, "All my brothers are dead."


    Her youngest brother was two years older than her. If he were alive, he''d probably be as handsome as Walter by now.


    Walter paused.


    Quinn had eight brothers, three biological and five cousins.


    She was the youngest and the only daughter of her generation.


    Back then, the Mellon family was harmonious and peaceful.


    Her brothers, who had never seen their sister, loved to surround her, tease her, pinch her, and y tricks on her. Quinn used to hate them when she was little.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! But now, she couldn''t see them even if she wanted to.


    "Don''t think about it." Walter put away the handkerchief and helped her up. "Let''s go."


    Quinn stood up, but her legs gave out, and she fell again.


    Walter quickly caught her.


    He looked at her with aplex expression, sighing inwardly. ''Even though she remembers, her body hasn''t recovered.''


    Walter paused, then turned around and squatted in front of her.


    "Get on. I''ll carry you."


    Quinn bit her lip, raised her hands to wrap around his neck, andy on his back.


    His back was much stronger than when they were kids.


    Back then, she always felt like she would fall off.


    But now, his broad back gave her a sense of security.


    In the blink of an eye, he had really grown into someone who could protect her, just like he promised when they were kids.

 Chapter 871

    The setting sun was somewhat blinding. Quinn wrapped her arms around Walter''s neck and softly called out from his back. "Lucas."


    Walter''s steps faltered. After a few seconds, he responded.


    A smile spread across Quinn''s face.


    She thought, ''He finally admits it.''


    She hugged him tighter and murmured, "I''m sorry."


    "Sorry for what?" Walter asked.


    "I forgot everything, leaving you to bear all that pain alone. Please don''t be mad at me, okay?"


    After a brief pause, she could now speak inplete sentences, though her voice was weak and not very clear.


    She thought, ''When he kidnapped me, he must have been so angry and disappointed. If it had been Sophia and Henry, they would have been even more disappointed.''


    Quinn couldn''t imagine how he had gotten through these years and what he had endured.


    Walter''s eyes flickered. He looked at the setting sun ahead, remaining silent.


    He just carried her, walking on the uneven dirt road.


    Quinn was a bit tired. She rested her face on Walter''s shoulder and slowly closed her eyes.


    Before falling asleep, she vaguely heard Walter say,


    "Do you not hate me?"


    Walter recalled in his mind, ''I personally took you to Kennedy Residence and aborted your child. At that time, I was so angry. I even wanted to strangle you. I hate you for carrying Alexander''s child.'' Unfortunately, Quinn did not answer.


    As they were about to finish this stretch of road, several ck cars sped towards them, blocking their way.


    Kyle got out of the car with his men. He looked at Quinn on Walter''s back and frowned.


    "Mr. Smith, Mr. Kennedy sent me to bring you back." Kyle spoke.


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    Walter chuckled, his face returning to his signature smile.


    "It seems that if we don''t go back, you''re prepared to take strong measures."


    Kyle advised kindly, "Mr. Smith, you should be aware of Mr. Kennedy''s temperament. If he doesn''t let you go, you won''t be able to leave."


    "So, don''t make futile struggles."


    Walter pondered for a moment and then smiled faintly. "Then I''ll trouble you."


    He wasn''t a fool. Now, outnumbered, he wouldn''t forcibly resist Kyle.


    Even if he wanted to leave, he had to n everything carefully. At the very least, he had to make sure Alexander could never find Quinn in this lifetime. That would be a true departure.


    He ced Quinn in the car, got in, and went back with Kyle.


    However, he couldn''t enter Regal Riverside and was stopped by the bodyguards outside.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Walter didn''t mind. He watched Kyle carry Quinn inside before turning to leave.


    Soren examined Quinn''s body and then turned to Alexander, saying, "Mr. Kennedy, Quinn has some superficial injuries, but nothing serious."


    "Her body is weak and needs proper care."


    Alexander sat on the sofa, his usual cold eyes fixed on Soren.


    "Now that she remembers everything, will she still fall into the same deep sleep as before?"


    Soren thought for a moment and shook his head. "I can''t guarantee that. We''ll know with further observation."


    "Interestingly, she can remember. This means she doesn''t have true Alzheimer''s. It should be pseudo-dementia caused by brain trauma and excessive stress."


    Soren had researched a lot on this topic recently and came to this conclusion.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "This pseudo-dementia, when severe, indeed resembles Alzheimer''s."


    He continued, "I had suspected this some time ago. Logically, her memory had regressed to when she was five years old. She shouldn''t remember anything or anyone, but she remembers very clearly, with coherent behavior and speech."

 Chapter 872

    "Looks like Quinn''s got pseudo-amnesia," Alexander muttered, rubbing the sofa as he stared at Quinn lying on the bed. "Will it rpse?"


    Soren shrugged. "Hard to say. Since she remembers now, the chances of rpse should be low, right?"


    Alexander waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.


    Soren nodded, backed out respectfully, and closed the door behind him.


    Alexander got up, walked over to Quinn, and sat down. He reached out his long fingers and tucked the stray hair behind her ear, revealing her small face.


    She wasn''t sleeping well. Her brows were furrowed, and tears glistened on hershes. It seemed that she was trapped in a nightmare.


    Alexander''s fingers brushed her brows, trying to smooth the nightmare out of her mind.


    When her face finally rxed, he stood up and left the room.


    Kyle was waiting in the living room.


    Seeing Alexander, he stepped forward. "Mr. Kennedy, the bodies have been dealt with."


    Alexander sat on the sofa and asked, "How?"


    Kyle replied, "They turned on each other over the loot and killed each other."


    Alexander picked up the remote and turned on the TV. "Any news on Abigail and Orion?"


    Kyle shook his head. "Not yet. Mr. William and Mr. Vanderbilt are still searching. The river''s shallow and slow. If we haven''t found bodies, they might still be alive."


    Alexander nodded. "What about Landon?"


    "No idea. He hasn''t shown up at thepany."


    A cold smile crossed Alexander''s lips. "Time to end this game."


    Kyle looked puzzled. "What do you want me to do?"


    "Find Stanley''s wife. You know what to do."


    Kyle thought for a moment, then nodded. "Got it. I''ll handle it."


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    Once Landon was out of the picture, no one in the Kennedy Group or all of Amber Bay could challenge Alexander.


    Quinn slept through the next day, waking up in the afternoon.


    She opened her eyes, recognizing the room, and felt her heart sink.


    She got out of bed and headed for the door.


    Just as she reached it, Alexander opened it from the outside.


    He was in casual home clothes, clearly not having gone out.


    Seeing his familiar face, Quinn instinctively stepped back. Alexander''s gaze was steady, his eyes unreadable. He took long strides toward her.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on


    Quinn backed up until she hit the bed and fell onto it.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander reached out to touch her cheek.


    Quinn turned her head away.


    His hand hovered in the air, inches from her face.


    "This day was bound toe," Alexander sighed.


    005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    Quinn, noticing the bandage on his hand, felt a tremor in her heart.


    Her eyes moved up to his inscrutable face.


    His fingers twitched, thennded on her cheek.


    Quinn suddenly pushed his hand away. "Alexander, let me go. Let me leave."


    "What do you mean by ''let you go''?" Alexander leaned in, his voice low and emotionless, his fingertips brushing her face.


    "You''re speaking so fluently now. You were cuter when you didn''t."

 Chapter 873

    Even though Alexander''s eyes didn''t show much emotion, Quinn could hear a stubborn edge in his voice.


    Quinn looked down, hiding the mockery in her eyes. "When I can''t speak, don''t you think I''m embarrassing you?"


    "So that''s what you think," Alexander replied.


    Quinn nced up at him. "Isn''t it?"This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "If you think so, then it is," he said, pausing. "But I don''t like hearing that. Don''t say it again."


    Quinn''s fingers slowly clenched, anger flickering in her eyes.


    "Why do you still think I''m the same as before? That I''ll just listen to you? That I''ll be your pet,ing and going as you please?"


    Alexander''s lips curved slightly, forming a faint smile, but it was devoid of any warmth.


    "You will, unless you want to see Appara and Lucas disappear from this world," he threatened.


    Quinn''s eyes widened in disbelief, her gaze fixed on Alexander.


    Her eyes reddened as she realized that in twenty years, she had never truly understood him. His obsession and perversion were beyond her imagination.


    "What about Getty?" Quinn asked, staring at him intently. "Your Getty, don''t you care about him?"


    "That''s not your concern." He sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I told you, we''ll get along like before. If you behave, nothing will happen."


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    Quinn looked at him, tears rolling down her cheeks.


    "Why?" she asked hoarsely. "You clearly don''t love me, so why keep me?"


    He was silent for a long time as if wanting to say something but holding back. Finally, he looked into her eyes and habitually raised his hand to wipe her tears.


    "If I said I love you, would you stay?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn was stunned, her lips trembling. After a moment, she turned away. "You know the answer."


    Among them, beyond the long-standing hatred resulting from the Mellon family''s ordeal, there were other innocent lives entangled, including Juliet, who tragically perished under Abigail''s vehicle and their two children. All these incidents meant they were destined never to be together.


    She had been a sinner to the Mellon family for twenty years. If she continued down this wrong path, she wouldn''t need Walter to take action. She herself would feel too ashamed to live and to face Sophia and Henry after death. Alexander chuckled. "Yes. Since we both know, why ask such a boring question?"


    It was as if he was talking to himself, or to Quinn.


    For a moment, Quinn seemed to understand his evasion. How could such a proud person allow himself to be a loser in love? As long as he didn''t admit it, he could pretend it never happened and pretend he never loved. This way, he was still him, the proud and arrogant Alexander. Whether in business or in love, he had never lost.


    Quinn stared at him. "Did you know all along? Did you know who killed my entire family?"


    Alexander looked away. After a while, he stood up, walked to the window, and lit a cigarette. He gazed at the budding willow tree in the yard. It was now lush and green.

 Chapter 874

    Quinn turned to look at Alexander standing by the window, Alexander didn''t say a word.


    His silence said it all.


    So he had known all along. That''s why he kept her locked up for years, not letting her interact with anyone, especially those who had been at Kennedy Residence for a long time.


    It was all to prevent any idents and to cut off any chance of her remembering.


    He was truly selfish and cruel.


    Quinn found it ridiculous when she thought that she still loved him deeply.


    Quinn stood up, walked over to him, and grabbed his sleeve.


    She whispered, "Alexander, I know you didn''t do this. It has nothing to do with you. I can choose not to hate you. I only ask for one thing: let me go. Is that okay?"


    With a heavy heart, she choked up. "We have no future anymore."


    Alexander nced at her and calmly said, "No."


    Quinn was stunned.


    He touched her cheek and smiled, saying, "But once I''m dead, you''ll be free."


    "What do you mean?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander didn''t answer. He stubbed out his cigarette and turned to leave. "Get some rest. Don''t try to escape. You know I have little patience."


    The sound of the door closing made Quinn shudder.


    She copsed onto the sofa, covering her face in pain as tears streamed down her cheeks.


    It was almost dark outside. Alexander changed his clothes and left Regal Riverside.


    There were many more bodyguards outside now. In the past, only two bodyguards hid in the shadows. Now, a dozen bodyguards tantly stood in the yard and inside the house, guarding almost everywhere. In this situation, not even a fly could get in or out.


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    Under the overpass.


    The wide river was calm, the water shimmering under the moonlight. Lush grass on both banks swayed gently in the night breeze.


    Ryan and Oliver stood by the riverbank, both looking serious. The people they had sent out had been searching up and down the river for a whole day and night, but had found nothing. "Mr. Kennedy is here," Oliver''s assistant said beside him.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Oliver turned around and saw Alexander approaching with a group of people. They quickly reached them.


    "Alexander, why are you here?" Oliver asked, his face not looking good. Although this matter started because of Alexander, he couldn''t me him.


    After all, it was Abigail who insisted on chasing the car.


    Alexander nced at the calm river and gestured for his men to join the search team.


    Once the men dispersed, he said to Oliver, "I came to check. Any news?"


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    Oliver shook his head and sighed heavily, saying, "We''ve been searching for so long and found nothing. If something happened to Abigail, I really don''t know how to exin it to my parents." They hadn''t told their parents about this yet, fearing they couldn''t handle it at their age.


    Moreover, it was Oliver who allowed Abigail to go find Quinn and even covered for her without telling their parents.


    Alexander looked around and said, "It''s been a whole day and night. If she were really dead, she would have floated to the surface by now. Stop searching the river. Check the nearby hospitals or clinics." Oliver and Ryan exchanged a nce, thinking his words made sense.


    They immediately called and redirected half of the search team to search in the nearby area.


    They also sent people to check all the surveince footage they could find in the area.


    After doing all this, Oliver looked at Alexander and asked, "Alexander, are you okay? I heard you and Quinn fell off the mountain."


    "Not dead," he replied simply and bluntly, cutting off Oliver''sforting words.


    "What about Quinn?" Oliver went on.

 Chapter 875

    Alexander shot Oliver an irritated nce. "You ask too many questions."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "I just care about you." Oliver shrugged.


    Alexanderughed. "Isn''t it a bitte to care now?"


    Oliver was taken aback. He knew Alexander was talking about the will incident. Back then, Alexander almost ended up in prison, and everyone distanced themselves from him.


    But Oliver had no choice. Alexander had schemed against Abigail, and Alvin held a grudge. When Alexander was in trouble, Alvin wouldn''t let his kids get involved. Not kicking him while he was down was the best Alvin could do. As for helping him, that was out of the question.


    Luckily, Alvin didn''t kick him while he was down. Otherwise, Alexander wouldn''t be here now and help them find Abigail. Those who did kick him while he was down must be feeling uneasy now. Alexander was vengeful, and those who crossed him would face his wrath.


    Oliver sighed and apologized. Alexander patted his shoulder. "No need to apologize. Protecting yourself was the right move. Not helping was also right. I was afraid you might make things worse." Oliverughed in exasperation. "You''re really confident."


    "Alright, I''m going to check elsewhere. Call me if you have any news." Alexander turned and left with Kyle.


    Watching him go, Oliver sighed. Ryan, who had been silent, spoke up. "Is his conflict with Landon still not over?"


    Oliver shook his head. "I don''t know. It should be over soon."


    Ryan began to worry about Orion. He thought, ''Orion, if you''re still alive, I hope you don''t provoke Alexander again.''


    If Landon was defeated, Alexander would control the Kennedy Group. Given that he had already taken over the Wilson family, he''d be even more unscrupulous with no one to restrain him.


    In a dazed sleep, Quinn dreamed of Abigail and Orion falling off the overpass to save her. She woke up in a panic, gasping for breath, her forehead covered in sweat.


    After a while, Quinn calmed down and hurriedly searched for her phone. She found her old phone in a cab, but it was off. She turned it on and called Abigail''s number, but it was off. She called Orion, but it was off too. Frantically flipping through the phone book, she didn''t know who to call.


    Suddenly, the bedroom door opened, scaring Quinn so much she dropped her phone. She knelt on the ground, looking up in panic. It was Alexander. He seemed to have juste back, carrying a chill, and hadn''t taken off his coat. He walked over and saw the phone on the ground. Quinn quickly picked it up and hid it behind her, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Don''t take my phone away."


    Alexander reached out, grabbed her arm, and helped her up. "I''m not taking your phone. You can''t leave anyway." He pulled two tissues from the bedside table and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Did you have a nightmare? You''re sweating so much."


    He acted naturally, as if nothing had happened. Quinn grabbed his sleeve, her voice trembling. "Where is Abigail? Is she okay?"


    Alexander replied, "She''s been found and is alive."


    After reviewing all the surveince footage, they found Abigail and Orion in a nearby town. They had fallen into the river, and a passing boat had rescued them and taken them to a nearby hospital. Because there were no cameras on both sides of the river, it took all night to find them through various surveince cameras.

 Chapter 876

    Luckily, they were rescued just in time. Now, they were both alive, lying in the hospital ward.


    Hearing this, Quinn let out a sigh of relief and slumped back onto the bed. Her mind drifted.


    ''As long as Abigail and Orion are okay, everything will be fine. If something happened to them because of me, I''d never forgive myself. Juliet''s ident was my fault too. If I hadn''t insisted on taking her to Regal Riverside, it wouldn''t have happened.''


    She nced at Alexander again and asked, "What about Grandma Taylor? How is she?"


    Even though she already knew the answer, she still held onto a glimmer of hope.


    After all, Alexander had once told her that Juliet was just hidden by him.


    Alexander replied bluntly, "She''s dead."


    At this point, there was no point in hiding anything. One more life didn''t make a difference between him and Quinn.


    Quinn was stunned.


    Seeing Alexander casually say Juliet was dead made her breathing quicken.


    She couldn''t bear to look at his face. She nervously clutched the bedsheet, her whole body radiating helplessness.


    Alexander sat down beside her, scaring Quinn into raising her hand to push him away.


    But he grabbed her wrist.


    Tears streamed down her face. With red eyes and a trembling voice, she asked, "Why are you so cruel?"


    Alexander sneered, "It seems like you still need to get to know me better. Don''t worry; we have plenty of time for that."


    Quinn stared at him, looking at his hands, wondering how many people had died because of him.


    "Why did you be like this?" Her voice was hoarse and barely audible.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The once gentle and sunny boy had turned into this monstrous figure.


    Just looking at him made Quinn feel terrified.


    Alexander didn''t answer her question.


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    He asked, "Are you hungry?"


    Quinn turned her head away. She just wanted to escape from him. Every second with him felt suffocating.


    Alexander continued, "I''ll take you to see Abigail."


    Quinn was stunned and looked at him suddenly.


    He always knew exactly what she cared about, making it impossible for her to refuse.


    No, he was even more unscrupulous than before, not even bothering to pretend in front of her.


    He disyed his cold and ruthless side so openly.


    Alexander took in her reaction and called out towards the door, "Come in."


    Within two seconds, Olivia came in with a tray.


    Besides the food, there was also arge bowl of dark medicine.


    Alexander took the tray and handed it to Quinn, saying, "Eat. After you eat, I''ll take you to see Abigail."


    Quinn lowered her head, her hair falling and covering most of her face.


    Alexander wasn''t in a hurry. He just held the tray, waiting for her to move on her own.


    After a moment, Quinn closed her eyes, took a deep breath, wiped her tears with her sleeve, grabbed the utensils, and started eating in big bites. She was like a lifeless machine.


    Although she couldn''t taste anything, she ate everything clean, then picked up the bowl of dark medicine and gulped it down.


    She had previously refused to drink it, but now, she drank it up like water.


    She didn''t even need Alexander to coax her.


    Alexander stared at her intently. Although his face showed no extra emotion, his fingers holding the tray were white at the knuckles. The bandage on the back of his hand faintly showed traces of blood seeping through.

 Chapter 877

    Quinn ced the empty bowl back on the tray and looked up at Alexander.


    He calmly handed the tray to Olivia, stood up, and said to Quinn, "You should change clothes first."


    Olivia followed him out and closed the door behind her.


    As soon as the door clicked shut, Quinn''s face changed. She covered her mouth and rushed to the bathroom.


    She leaned over the toilet and vomited violently.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The medicine was unbearably bitter, way beyond what anyone should have to endure. Whether before or after her amnesia, she couldn''t handle such a strong impact.


    She never knew medicine could taste this awful.


    Quinn vomited for a full two minutes, expelling more than half of what she had just ingested.


    Her stomach kept contracting, and the bitter taste lingered, causing her to lean over the toilet and retch again.


    This time, only a mouthful of sour water came out.


    Exhausted, Quinn slumped to the ground, her face pale as a ghost.


    Thinking of Abigail still in the hospital, she rested for a moment, wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve, and used the toilet for support to stand up and change clothes.


    When she went downstairs, Alexander was watching TV on the sofa. She nced at the screen and saw it was Shrek.


    She paused for a moment and walked behind him.


    Olivia called out, "Mrs. Kennedy."


    Quinn was slightly taken aback and nced at Alexander on the sofa. He was watching TV with his legs crossed, not even sparing her a nce.


    Quinn pursed her lips and said, "Don''t call me Mrs. Kennedy. I''m not Alexander''s wife anymore."


    Olivia also nced at Alexander but quickly reacted, staring at Quinn in shock. "Mrs. Kennedy, you can talk?"


    Alexander slightly turned his head, catching sight of Quinn from the corner of his eyes.


    A few secondster, he stood up, turned to Quinn, and said, "Let''s go."


    Quinn quickly followed him outside the vi, where the sunlight was a bit dazzling.


    Kyle, right on cue, opened the car door. "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy."


    Quinn silently got into the car, and the next second, Alexander squeezed in as well, making the spacious car suddenly feel cramped.


    She turned to Alexander and said, "Don''t let them call me Mrs. Kennedy anymore. We divorced a long time ago."


    Alexander also turned, meeting her gaze calmly, and said, "Their mouths are their own. I can''t control them."


    Quinn frowned. He was clearly being unreasonable. With just one word from him, no one would dare to call her that.


    "But," Alexander seemed to suddenly remember something and leaned closer to Quinn, continuing, "you reminded me something. When are we going to register our marriage again?" "Alexander, am I not clear enough?" Quinn stared at him, anger flickering in her clear eyes. "We will never remarry!"


    Alexander''s deep eyes locked onto her, not speaking for a long time.


    After a while, he chuckled and said, "Being able to talk really makes a difference."


    He looked the same as before, the same face, the same eyes, but with a bit more aura.


    Of course, it also had to do with her remembering her identity.


    After all, the former Quinn was pampered at home, with her own pride and temper.


    But the amnesiac Quinn was like a nk te. The unfamiliar new environment had made her humble and timid.


    He avoided the subject, making Quinn feel he was still the same, just as hard tomunicate with as before.


    She turned her head in frustration, not wanting to talk to him anymore.


    Suddenly, Alexander''s hand cupped her face, forcibly turning her head to meet his gaze.


    Alexander said in a low voice, "Quinn, I had made it clear, too. I raised you, so you are mine."


    Quinn''s pupils slightly contracted.

 Chapter 878

    Kyle, watching the chaos ahead, quietly raised the partition, pretending he didn''t exist.


    Quinn''s eyes turned red as she heard Alexander''s words. "How dare you say that? If your grandfather hadn''t killed my entire family, would you be raising me? Without you people, I''d have a much better life." She continued, "I wouldn''t have faced years of discrimination and ridicule, wouldn''t have lived under someone else''s roof so humbly."


    Tears streamed down Quinn''s face as she recalled the past. "You made me lose everything, and you expect me to be grateful?"


    Alexander listened quietly, his expression unchanged.


    He replied calmly, "You''re right, but that''s your thought. It doesn''t mean I have to think the same way. I raised you, and that''s true." Quinn''s breath caught, and she looked at him in disbelief.


    She had never felt Alexander was so unreasonable as she did now.


    Alexander continued, "So, it doesn''t matter what you think. You just need to behave and listen."


    Quinn stared at him, momentarily speechless by his shamelessness.


    Anger spread in her heart. Whether from being too angry or too sad, her face gradually turned red.


    She suddenly raised her hand to push him away.


    But Alexander appeared to have predicted her move. He grabbed her wrist before she could touch him.


    He seemed not to notice the anger and hatred in her eyes, slowly approaching her and whispering, "Alright, stop it."


    He coaxed her in the same tone he used with children, but to Quinn, it sounded full of sarcasm and absurdity.


    As Alexander''s lips were about to touch hers, she turned her head to avoid him.


    But that didn''t stop Alexander. He freed one hand, pinched her chin, turned her face, and kissed her lips. Quinn struggled, but it was futile.


    The more she struggled, the harder Alexander kissed.


    Infuriated, she opened her mouth and bit down.


    Alexander paused, lifting his eyes to meet her gaze.


    Quinn tried to break free, but the next second, he pinned her down on the seat, resulting in an even more intense kiss.


    Under his kiss, Quinn began to suffocate, her brain deprived of oxygen.


    Gradually, her whole body went limp.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But he didn''t stop there. His hands roamed over her body, skillfully slipping under her clothes.


    It was as if he was dering his ownership and using his actions to assert who she belonged to. "No."


    Quinn looked at him feebly, her voice barely audible.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! He held her waist, pulling her into his arms, his cheek pressed against hers.


    In a deep voice by her ear, he asked, "Who do you belong to?"


    Quinn closed her eyes, desperately turning her head to avoid his breath.


    Her chest heaved violently. Under his misdeeds, she didn''t even have the strength to lift her hand.


    As Alexander saw her silence, his fingers continued downward. His slightly calloused fingertips grazed her skin, causing her to shiver slightly.


    "Why aren''t you talking? Weren''t you good at talking?"


    Alexander whispered in her ear, suddenly biting her earlobe.


    Quinn''s eyes suddenly opened, clear eyes misty with tears, and she began to struggle again.


    Alexander pressed down on her, rendering herpletely immobile.

 Chapter 879

    Kyle was driving ahead, his hands trembling slightly on the steering wheel.


    He now desperately wished he were deaf, unable to hear anything.


    While driving, he fumbled for his earphones in his pocket, freeing one hand to take out his phone and quickly y some music.


    Hearing the sound from the earphones, he felt an unprecedented sense of security.


    Abigail and Orion had already been transferred to the central hospital, which was quite far from Regal Riverside. Kyle drove slowly, so the forty-minute journey took almost an hour and a half. During this hour and a half, Quinn had no idea how she got through it.


    She was in a daze, dominated by Alexander. She couldn''t tell if Alexander was humiliating her or conquering her.


    Perhaps, it was both.


    Kyle took off his earphones, swallowed nervously, and cautiously spoke, "Mr. Kennedy, we''re here."


    After speaking, he quickly opened the car door and found an excuse to leave. "I''ll go buy some gifts first."


    The car was silent. Quinn, disheveled, curled up in her seat, her face red down to her neck, making it unclear whether she was ashamed or angry.


    Next to her, Alexander was neatly dressed, forming a stark contrast with her.


    "Aren''t you here to see Abigail? Why are you still lying here?" he asked as he lit a cigarette. He then rolled down the window and started smoking leisurely.


    The smoke wafted in, tickling Quinn''s nose and making her throat itch. She covered her mouth and nose, coughing twice.


    She closed her eyes to steady herself, then propped herself up and began to straighten her clothes.


    Alexander nced at her and found that her loose hair almost covered her entire face.


    After zipping up her clothes, she didn''t look at Alexander and pushed the car door open to get out.


    As soon as she got out, her legs went limp. She quickly grabbed the car door to avoid falling.


    She wanted to go straight in but didn''t know which ward Abigail was in.


    Alexander finished his cigarette in the car before getting out.


    He walked over to Quinn and suddenly reached out his hand, scaring Quinn into shrinking her neck.


    Alexander''sughter came from above her head. "Am I that scary?" he teased.


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    Quinn''s fingers gripped the car door, her knuckles turning slightly white.


    She snorted silently, ''Do you think you''re kind and approachable?''


    Alexander''s fingersnded on her face, slowly tidying her hair. Her hair wasn''t as long as it used to be, so it easily became messy.


    "With your look, everyone will know what happened," Alexander said.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    As Quinn heard his words, her body stiffened, not daring to move.


    After he finished tidying her hair, he also helped straighten her clothes. Throughout the process, he acted as he always had.


    He insisted on doing the same things as before, as if nothing had changed between them.


    Quinn stared at his face; he was still as calm andposed as ever.


    Suddenly, Quinn smiled.


    Alexander paused, asking, "What are you smiling at?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Quinn looked at him and softly said, "I''mughing at you, pretending to be deaf and dumb. You''re no different from how I used to be."


    Since yesterday, he had been deceiving himself and pretending he was still the winner.


    No matter what she said, he acted indifferent, as if he hadn''t heard anything.


    Even if he got angry, he didn''t show it, as if showing anger meant he lost.


    If theyid everything out, their rtionship would bepletely broken.


    But in fact, their rtionship had long been beyond repair.


    When they got married, he was right.


    He told her not to fall in love with him, but why did he break his own rule first?


    The more Quinn had longed for his love before, the more suffocated she felt now. She would rather he had never had feelings for her. Alexander silently looked at her, not letting her see any hint of satisfaction.


    After a while, he continued to straighten the wrinkles on Quinn''s clothes. "You''re getting more sharp-tongued."

 Chapter 880

    Quinn''s face twisted with a mix of emotions.


    "Alexander, what will it take for you to let me go?" she asked. Without missing a beat, he replied, "There''s no chance."


    "Even if I hate you, it doesn''t matter?" she pressed.


    He shot her a nce. "That''s your choice."


    He gently caressed Quinn''s cheek with his fingers. His every movement was filled with tenderness. "Even if you hate me, don''t think about running. Otherwise, I won''t hesitate to break your legs and silence you again." His voice was calm, almost tender, as he said those chilling words. "I can''t help but begin to imagine the time when you hate me but can only rely on me."


    A smile crept onto Alexander''s lips. "Not bad, right?"


    Quinn was speechless, a numbness spreading through her.


    In ast-ditch effort, she asked, "What if I die?"


    Alexander seemed ready for this. "You can try."


    Then he shifted gears. "But, Quinn, I found out something. Your two brothers might still be alive."


    He then teased, "Wouldn''t you want to see them before you die?"


    Quinn''s eyes widened, her heart racing, but she quickly masked her excitement. "You''re lying! I won''t believe you!"


    "That is your thing. But think about it. If Appara and Lucas survived, why not your brothers?" Alexander reasoned.


    Quinn opened her mouth but couldn''t argue.


    Deep down, she hoped her brothers were alive, even if Alexander was lying.


    He always knew how to dangle hope in front of her and how to make herply.


    "The Mellon family had many people. Before your mom died, she protected you. Wouldn''t others try to protect your brothers too?" Alexander continued. His words chipped away at her resolve, almost convincing her.


    Just then, Kyle returned with two fruit baskets and bouquets. "Mr. Kennedy, I got them."


    Alexander nced at him and ended the conversation. He took Quinn''s hand and led her toward the inpatient department.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn followed, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, unsettled by his words.


    It wasn''t until they were in the elevator that she snapped out of it.


    "What information did you find?" she asked, looking up at Alexander.


    He smirked. "I''m not telling you."


    He paused. "But if you behave, I might."


    Quinn studied his face, searching for any hint of deceit.


    But his eyes were unwavering, making it hard to doubt him.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! She lowered her gaze, hiding her turmoil.


    If Alexander could find out, could Lucas too?


    Her mind raced, anxiety gnawing at her. Thinking so much made her head throb.


    Lost in thought, they arrived at Abigail''s hospital room.


    "Why are you here?" Oliver was the only one in the room. He stood up as soon as he saw them.


    Quinn''s eyes fell on Abigail, who looked worse than she had imagined.


    Abigaily unconscious, limbs in casts, a breathing mask on her face, bandages around her head.


    Seeing Quinn''s concern, Oliver reassured her. "Don''t worry. The doctor said she''s not in any life-threatening danger and will wake up soon."


    Alexander sat nearby, giving Quinn time to see Abigail.


    Guilt washed over Quinn as she looked at Abigail''s state. Her eyes welled up as she turned to Oliver. "I''m sorry."


    "You don''t need to apologize." Oliver was taken aback, looking at Quinn in surprise. "You can talk?"

 Chapter 881

    Oliver nced at Alexander. "So, what do you think?"


    Alexander just shrugged, not giving an answer.


    Quinn nodded, worry etched on her face. "When will Abigail wake up?"


    Oliver sighed, shaking his head. "I don''t know, hopefully soon."


    The injuries were bad but not life-threatening. If they were, she''d be in the ICU, not here.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    "It''s all my fault," Quinn muttered, looking at the sleeping Abigail, guilt gnawing at her.


    Abigail had been in danger because of Quinn more than once, yet she still treated Quinn like a friend. Quinn had no idea how to repay that. Oliver tried tofort her. "Don''t me yourself. Abigail won''t hold it against you. It''s rare to have a friend willing to risk their life for you."


    He continued, "Think about it. How many friends would you risk your life for? If she''s willing to do it, it means you''re worth it."


    Quinn looked up at Oliver, his words making her feel even worse.


    In her mind, she thought, ''I''m not worth it. I''ve let Abigail down so many times. I don''t deserve her friendship.''


    Oliver pressed on, "If it were you, wouldn''t you do the same?"


    Quinn fought back tears. She didn''t answer, but the answer was yes.


    Oliver reassured her. "Then you are worth it. Don''t overthink it. When Abigail wakes up and knows you''ve regained your memory, she''ll be happy."


    Quinn was surprised. She hadn''t expected him tofort her instead of ming her.


    It was Abigail lying in the hospital bed, yet his words made Quinn feel like she was being overly dramatic.


    Quinn forced a smile at Oliver. "I understand. Can I stay here with Abigail for a while?"


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    Though she was speaking to Oliver, she was really asking Alexander.


    Oliver smiled. "Of course."


    Quinn nced at Alexander. He was on the couch, ying with his phone and seemingly not paying attention. It seemed to be silent consent.


    Quinn pulled up a chair and sat next to Abigail.


    The room fell silent. Oliver felt awkward, so he stood up. "Alexander, can we talk privately?"


    Alexander nced at him, then got up and followed Oliver out.


    After they left, Quinn rxed a bit. She held Abigail''s hand and whispered, "Abigail, please get better soon. I''m still waiting for you to take me on a trip. I haven''t been to any of the ces you''ve been." Quinn had always dreamed of traveling the world with Abigail. It was a dream she longed for but couldn''t reach.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Abigail slept quietly, not responding.


    Quinn stayed by her side, just as Abigail had stayed by hers before.


    Outside the ward, Oliver and Alexander reached the stairwell and both lit a cigarette.


    Seeing the bandage on Alexander''s hand, Oliver asked, "Are you really okay?"


    Alexander looked at him. "What do you want to say?"


    Oliver paused. "Just wanted to thank you for helping me find Abigail. And, I wanted to apologize for what happened before."


    Alexander, cigarette in hand, leaned against the wall and nced at him. "Why say all this?"


    Oliver replied, "We''ve known each other for years. I consider you a friend and don''t want any business interests to mess that up."

 Chapter 882

    Alexanderughed. "Really?"


    He continued, "Only when interests are involved do true feelings show."


    Oliver was taken aback, then gave a bitter smile. "You''re right. I did let you down." "I''ve said it before, no need to apologize. You did the right thing," Alexander repeated. Oliver shook his head. "Maybe it was right factually, but emotionally, I was wrong."


    It wasn''t about helping, but at least showing some support, even if it didn''t help.


    Alexander said, "Talking about this now is pointless. Instead of wasting time, think about how you''ll exin this to your father." Oliver thought about it and felt a headacheing on.


    If Abigail couldn''te home soon, it would be impossible to hide what happened to her.


    If Alvin found out Alexander was involved, it would cause big trouble.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He nodded. "I understand. I''ll handle it."


    Alexander tossed his cigarette, crushed it with his foot, and walked past Oliver towards the hospital room.


    "Mr. Kennedy?" Someone called from behind.


    Alexander paused and turned to see Getty''s mother, Lucy.


    Lucy''s face lit up when she saw him, and she quickly walked over, a bit unsteady.


    "Mr. Kennedy, finally, I see you." Lucy was nervous, her fingers anxiously pinching her clothes.


    Alexander waited a couple of seconds, then asked, "What''s the matter?"


    Lucy looked at him pleadingly. "Can you go see Getty?"


    Alexander didn''t respond.


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    Lucy continued, "She can''t move right now, but she keeps insisting on leaving the hospital to find you. She''s not cooperating with the doctors. I''m worried her condition would get worse." She pleaded, "Please, talk to Getty for me."


    She stared at Alexander, her eyes filled with desperation.


    The hallway was quiet for a moment, then Alexander suddenly turned and walked away.


    He walked past Abigail''s room, heading deeper into the hallway towards Getty''s room. Lucy was overjoyed and quickly followed him.


    When they reached Getty''s room, they could hear her voice even before entering. "Get away! I won''t eat. Just let me die!!"


    Along with her voice, there was the sound of something being thrown to the ground.


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    Alexander pushed the door open and saw the broken pieces of a bowl at his feet.


    Her father, Gilbert Morgan, was trying to calm her down. Getty looked up and saw Alexander at the door.


    He was the same, dressed in a suit, tall and handsome, with a cold expression and deep, emotionless eyes.


    Getty couldn''t remember thest time she saw him.


    His face seemed to possess a kind of magic and attraction, making her unable to look away whenever she saw it.


    Getty was stunned for a moment, then joyfully said, "Alexander, you''re here!"


    Alexander stood at the door for a moment, then stepped over the broken pieces and walked towards Getty.


    Getty''s eyes followed him, as if she was afraid he might disappear.


    "Alexander, I feel so awful. Why haven''t youe to see me?" Getty looked at him with tearful eyes. Her voice, though trying to be sweet, was ruined and unpleasant.

 Chapter 883

    Getty hadn''t looked in the mirror since the ident. Her face was wrapped in bandages, leaving only her eyes and mouth visible. Naturally, her expressions were hard to read.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "What''s going on here?" Alexander asked, surveying the mess of fragments and fruit around him.


    Getty leaned against the headboard, looking at him pitifully and tugging at his sleeve.


    "I thought you despised me and abandoned me. My face was disfigured, and even you have left me. What''s the point of living?" she said, her eyes fixed on Alexander, ignoring Lucy and Gilbert beside her. Her parents couldn''t help but tear up at her words.


    "Alexander, do you think I''m ugly now? And I''m half-paralyzed," Getty said,ughing bitterly. "Who would like someone like me?"


    Alexander stayed silent for a moment, then asked, "Is this why you don''t want to eat?"


    "I don''t even want to live, so why eat?" Getty replied hoarsely.


    Alexander frowned. "If that''s the case, then I have no reason to stay."


    He turned to leave, but Getty grabbed his wrist. "Don''t go!"


    She looked at Lucy and Gilbert. "You two go out first. I need to talk to Alexander."


    They exchanged nces and left the room.


    When the door closed, Alexander asked, "What is it?"


    "My parents said you were investigating my background. They told me I''m not their biological child," Getty said. "Can you tell me who my real parents are?"


    "Do you really want to know?" Alexander asked.


    "Of course I do. They''re my biological parents!" Getty nodded.


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    Sensing something in Alexander''s eyes, she quickly added, "I just want to ask them why they abandoned me."


    "You can ask Ms. Anderson," Alexander said.


    "Ms. Anderson?" Getty thought of Ruby from the Kennedy Group. "Is it Ruby?"


    Alexander nodded. "That''s right."


    "Why ask her?" Getty was puzzled.


    "When you were being rescued and urgently need blood transfusion, she donated blood for you. Your DNA test results are almost a hundred percent simr. What do you think?" Alexander exined. Getty''s eyes widened. His words implied that Ruby was her sister.


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    "If she''s my sister, why didn''t she look for me?" Getty asked.


    "You''ll have to ask her that," Alexander replied.


    Getty''s mind was a mess. She didn''t know much about Ruby''s background or where she lived. They had conflicts at the Kennedy Group and didn''t get along, so it made sense Ruby wouldn''t want to acknowledge her. "You should focus on recovering. I''m leaving," Alexander said.


    Getty snapped back to reality and grabbed his hand again, pleading, "Can''t you stay a bit longer?"


    "I have things to do," Alexander said, brushing off her hand and leaving.


    Getty stared at him, her fingers clenched tightly. Even in this state, she couldn''t earn hispassion. All her injuries were because of him.


    Hearing the door close, Getty''s tears burst out, and a surge of unwillingness and anger made her eyes instantly red.


    Alexander left Getty''s ward and returned to Abigail''s ward.

 Chapter 884

    Quinn was wiping Abigail''s face. Her movements were skillful and proper, unlike when she took care of Alexander before. Alexander still remembered that one time she identally pulled out his needle, and on another asion, she almost suffocated him.


    Oliver was nowhere around, so it was just Quinn in the ward.


    Hearing footsteps, she turned and saw Alexander. She then went back to wiping Abigail''s hands.


    After finishing, she took the basin to the bathroom.


    A bitter, she came out.


    Alexander said, "We should go."


    Quinn almost used signnguage but stopped herself. "I want to stay a bit longer."


    Alexander replied, "You''ve been here long enough today."


    It was a firm no.


    Quinn bit her lip, stayed quiet for a moment, then walked over to him.


    She was feared that if she upset Alexander, she wouldn''t be allowed toe and see Abigail again.


    Alexander took her hand and led her to the elevator.


    Halfway there, Quinn stopped and looked up at him. She also wanted to see Orion.


    However, before she could ask, Alexander said, "No."


    Quinn frowned, thinking, ''I haven''t even said anything. How does he know? Am I that easy to read?''


    But she stood her ground and insisted, "I just want a quick look."


    "I said no." His tone was firm as he pulled her to the elevator.


    Quinn was annoyed, but Alexander seemed even angrier, pulling her along quickly. She almost had to jog to keep up.


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    After leaving the hospital, Alexander shoved her into the passenger seat and drove off.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    The car was silent.


    Quinn felt her phone in her pocket. She took it out and saw it was her old phone, with all the data still there.


    Opening Facebook, she saw the pinned chat with Alexander.


    She long-pressed the chat and unpinned it.


    Thinking about her past obsession with him, she felt like pping herself and repenting at Sophia and Henry''s graves for days.


    She did love Alexander, but the blood feud in her memory overshadowed that love.


    Any affection for Alexander was drowned by guilt towards the Mellon family and the innocent people who had died.


    This pain was worse than when Alexander hurt and neglected her.


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    If he didn''t know about the huge gap between them, he wouldn''t be so stubborn.


    He must have known, which was why Alexander, destined to fail, would rather risk his life for her than say"I love you" to Quinn.


    This was probably his way of keeping hisst bit of dignity and pride.


    It was hard to say whether he wasughable or pitiable.


    Quinn stared nkly at their chat, noticing his profile picture. At some point, he had changed it back to that grayish image. It was still those two bears.


    Quinn knew what the picture was but didn''t have the courage to click and zoom in on it.


    Soon, they arrived back at Regal Riverside, and Quinn was still in a daze.


    Alexander turned his head, his gaze falling on her phone, and he saw his profile picture too.

 Chapter 885

    Alexander''s eyes flickered.


    After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and said, "We''re here."


    Hearing his words, Quinn snapped out of it. She then turned off her screen, pocketed her phone, and got out of the car.


    Olivia had lunch ready, but since it was past three, she reheated the food before bringing it out.


    Along with the meal, there was a bowl of dark, murky medicine for Quinn.


    She could skip the meal, but she had to drink the medicine.


    The familiar smell made Quinn nauseous even before drinking it.


    Alexander pressed her into a chair and sat beside her. "Eat something first, then take the medicine."


    With that, he ced the food in front of her. Seeing she wasn''t eating, he picked up a piece of steak with a fork and brought it to her mouth.


    Quinn turned her head away. "I don''t want to eat."


    "Then drink the medicine first," Alexander said, putting down the fork and picking up the bowl.


    Quinn frowned, feeling even more nauseous. "I don''t want to drink it either."


    "How will you get better if you don''t?" he asked, cing the bowl in her hand. "Be good. Drink it up."


    His familiar tone made Quinn angry and resistant. It reminded her of the past-how she had depended on him, loved him humbly, and felt ridiculous and lowly.


    Suddenly, she threw the bowl to the ground. The porcin shattered, and the medicine spilled everywhere.


    "Do you find this amusing?" She red at Alexander.


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    He stared at her without saying a word.


    Quinn clenched her fists in anger. "Alexander, what''s the point of this? Besides deceiving yourself and looking ridiculous, what else does it achieve?"


    She waited for him to get angry, but he just kept staring at her, neither sad nor happy.


    Finally, there was a slight ripple in his eyes. He turned to Olivia and ordered, "Bring another bowl."


    Olivia silently went to the kitchen and brought out another bowl of medicine.


    Alexander handed it to Quinn. "Drink it."


    The familiar scene made Quinn panic. She looked into his calm eyes and sensed the turmoil beneath.


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    "Refill it," Alexander said without looking at the bowl on the floor.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Olivia wiped the sweat from her forehead and brought another bowl of medicine. However, this is thest one she could get. "This is thest one," she reminded him. Alexander handed the bowl to Quinn.


    Determined to resist, Quinn grabbed the bowl and sshed it onto Alexander''s face.


    Olivia widened her eyes, expecting an argument.


    But then Alexander grabbed Quinn''s wrist, spilling half the medicine on her clothes, staining her white jacket.


    Quinn struggled, spilling more medicine.


    "Looks like you want me to feed you," Alexander said coldly.

 Chapter 886

    Quinn was momentarily stunned as he snatched the bowl from her hand. He then grabbed her jaw and expertly poured the medicine into her mouth. The bitter medicine went down her throat, making her cough repeatedly. Most of it spilled out of her mouth and flowed down her neck into her cor.


    She grabbed Alexander''s wrist with both hands, trying to pull him away, but the difference in strength was too great; she couldn''t move Alexander at all.


    In no time, the bowl was empty. Alexander let go, and Quinn immediately clutched her throat, trying to spit it out. With nothing in her stomach, the vomiting left her feeling awful. Alexander calmly set the bowl on the table, waiting for her to finish. Then he grabbed a napkin, lifted her chin, and wiped the drool from her mouth.


    Quinn looked up, eyes red and teary. "See? If you behaved, you wouldn''t be in this mess," he said nonchntly.


    Quinn, exhausted, croaked, "Alexander, why not just kill me instead of torturing me?"


    He paused, nced at her, and said, "It''s just medicine. No need to be dramatic."


    Quinn retorted, "Why would I drink it? You keep torturing me. If my health doesn''t improve, just let me die. Stop tormenting me."


    She looked at him seriously, pleading, "For the sake of all these years, have some pity."


    Alexander''s grip tightened, making her wince. He suddenly smiled, "That''s not going to happen. You can''t die before me."


    Quinn was puzzled. His words seemed familiar. "What do you mean?" she asked.


    He didn''t exin. Instead, he tossed the napkin aside and asked, "Do you want to eat something?"


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    Quinn pressed her lips together and turned away. "No, I don''t want to eat."


    "Then go change your clothes," he said, eyeing her dirty outfit with disdain.


    Quinn didn''t want to stay with him any longer. She tried to stand but copsed after a few steps, her legs weak from vomiting.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Before she could react, Alexander picked her up. Startled, she grabbed his cor and shouted, "Put me down!"


    "Don''t move," he warned.


    He carried her upstairs, ced her on the bed, and went to the closet for pajamas. Quinn''s expression changed.


    Seeing the clothes, she quickly said, "I''ll change myself."


    "What''s there to be shy about?" he teased. He then leaned down, cing his hands on either side of Quinn and trapping her. "Anyway, I had done it before."


    Memories shed through her mind, making her cheeks blush with embarrassment. She turned her head away, saying, "I can change myself."


    He chuckled and straightened up. "Then change yourself."


    But he didn''t leave. Quinn clutched the pajamas and urged, "Get out!"


    He put his hands in his pockets and said, "If you say something that displeases me again, I don''t mind helping you change personally."

 Chapter 887

    Quinn bit her lip. In the standoff between the two, she felt a bit defiant. She stood up and changed clothes right in front of Alexander.


    Alexander shamelessly stared without blinking.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Eventually, Quinn couldn''t handle his gaze and turned her back to him to finish dressing.


    Just as she was about to turn around, Alexander''s hand wrapped around her from behind.


    His deep voice whispered in her ear, "Quinn, be good at home."


    Quinn paused.


    Alexander kissed her cheek tenderly. "You should eat something."


    Quinn''s fingers tightened. She looked at the setting sun outside the window and suddenly broke free from him.


    "I''m going to sleep," she said.


    Alexander stared at her back and paused. "Then you rest first."


    Momentster, the bedroom door closed.


    Quinn looked back and found that he was already gone.


    Back in bed, she picked up her phone and scrolled through it; the chat logs were still there.


    Seeing these messages again, she felt disoriented.


    When she scrolled to the photo album, her expression changed. She didn''t dare to open it and closed her eyes to delete it.


    After deleting the videos, she tossed the phone aside. However, when shey in bed, her earlier drowsiness was gone.


    She seemed to think of something, picked up her phone again, opened Facebook, and found Walter''s chat box.


    She was silent for a while, then typed: [Are you there?]


    She got no reply.


    After waiting for more than half an hour, she was overwhelmed by sleepiness. Although it wasn''tpletely dark outside, she couldn''t hold on and fell asleep groggily.


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    Alexander hadn''t returned since he went out in the afternoon.


    In the evening, Olivia came to call Quinn for dinner. After calling a few times without a response, she took out her phone and called Soren.


    Quinn hadn''t eaten all day, and Olivia was worried, so she asked Soren to check on her.


    Soren arrived quickly. He skillfully set up an IV for her.


    Afterward, Olivia pulled Soren aside and asked, "Is she okay?"


    Soren sighed, "How would I know? Wasn''t it like this before?"


    Olivia thought for a moment and said, "But the medicine you prescribed is too bitter. Mrs. Kennedy can''t drink it at all. She keeps throwing up. I''m worried it might damage her stomach." Soren said, "This is a secret recipe from my grandfather. It''s bitter, but it works."


    He continued, "Can you talk to Mr. Kennedy? Ask him to find a way. If she drinks it for three months, I promise, her health will improve."


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Olivia said irritably, "But she has to be able to drink it first!"


    She had tried it before, and it tasted awful.


    Their whispering woke Quinn up.


    She propped herself up in bed and checked her phone. It was already midnight, but the Facebook icon on the screen was very prominent, waking her up instantly. Walter: [Yes.]


    Quinn quickly called him.


    After a few seconds, the call connected. Quinn nervously said, "Lucas."


    There was a moment of silence before Walter''sughing voice came through, "What''s up?"


    "What have you been busy withtely?" Quinn asked.


    She actually wanted to ask when he was nning to take her away. However, seeing Alexander''s attitude these past two days, she didn''t want to drag Walter into it. Walter replied, "Nothing. About that matter, you need to wait a little longer."

 Chapter 888

    Upon hearing that, Quinn quickly rified, "I don''t mean to rush you."


    Walter asked, "Then what is it? You don''t call just to chat, right?"


    Quinn went silent, thinking about her two brothers.


    Walter pressed, "Why aren''t you saying anything?"


    Quinn couldn''t hold back anymore. "Alexander told me I might have two brothers who are still alive. Do you know anything about that?" She was desperate for answers.


    Walter chuckled, "You still believe him?"


    "I hope it''s true," Quinn replied.


    Walter reassured her. "Don''t overthink it. Focus on recovering your health. I promise I''ll take you and Appara away."


    His tone was gentle, and Quinn could tell he was sincere.


    She realized she shouldn''t trust Alexander. Even if her brothers were alive, they were just leverage for him.


    Alexander only mentioned having clues, not that he found them. Therefore, one she left, she could investigate herself. With that thought, she steadied herself, ended the call, pulled out the needle from her hand, and got out of bed.


    She hadn''t eaten all day and was starving.


    With hope in her heart, her mood lifted.


    She knew she couldn''t be a burden to Walter when they left. She needed to get her health back.


    In her current weak state, even walking was hard, let alone leaving Amber Bay.


    When Olivia saw hering down, she hurried over. "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re awake?"


    Quinn nodded. "Don''t call me Mrs. Kennedy."


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    Olivia smiled awkwardly and changed the subject, "Are you hungry? I''ll heat some food."


    "Okay, thank you," Quinn replied.


    Seeing her willing to eat, Olivia beamed and went to the kitchen.


    She quickly brought out freshly made food and a bowl of dark, murky medicine.


    Quinn sat in the dining room eating. She was so hungry that everything tasted good. Even the unpleasant-smelling medicine nearby didn''t affect her appetite.


    Olivia watched her eat with a loving expression.


    When Olivia looked up, she saw Alexander approaching. Just as she was about to greet him, Alexander raised his hand to stop her.


    Olivia then silently closed her mouth, took Alexander''s coat, and left the dining room.


    Alexander entered and saw Quinn eating a drumstick, her back to him.


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    Quinn was engrossed in her meal, not noticing him.


    After finishing one drumstick, she picked up thest one on the table.


    Alexander leaned against the door, quietly watching her.


    After finishing thest drumstick, Quinn burped contentedly. She wiped her hands and nced at the bowl of medicine.


    After hesitating for a while, she picked up the bowl, took a deep breath, and drank it all in one go.


    As she swallowed thest mouthful, she abruptly put the bowl down on the table, covered her mouth with both hands, and clenched her teeth to keep from throwing up.


    Despite her efforts, her stomach convulsed. She had to swallow the medicine repeatedly, which was more painful than vomiting.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Some medicine dripped from her fingers onto the floor. She kept her eyes shut, cold sweat forming on her forehead.


    However, she endured it all without making a sound.

 Chapter 889

    Quinn had no idea how long it had been before she finally lowered her hand, weakly gasping for breath.


    Exhausted, she slumped in the chair, staring nkly at the ceiling.


    Suddenly, a familiar scent hit her. She turned and saw Alexander sitting beside her.


    Too tired to speak, she just nced at him and looked away.


    "Are you full?" Alexander asked, taking her hand and wiping off the medicinal residue from her palm.


    Quinn stayed silent for a bit before finally saying, "Are you nning to keep me locked up in the vi forever?"


    Alexander paused, then kept wiping her hand. "I''m not keeping you locked up. You can go out anytime."


    Before she could respond, he added, "But someone has to go with you."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Quinn smirked, thinking, ''What''s the difference? It''s still the same.''


    But remembering what Walter had said, she swallowed her words. The best move now was to keep Alexander calm and let his guard down.


    Only then could she leave smoothly.


    "Can I visit Abigail every day?" Quinn asked.


    "Yes," Alexander nodded. Then he added, "But you can''t see Orion."


    Quinn nced at him.


    He was still holding a grudge against Orion. It was he who had pushed her to Orion in the first ce, yet now he wouldn''t even let her see him.


    Quinn pressed her lips together and looked down. "I understand."


    Alexander looked at her, noticing her suddenpliance. A flicker of emotion crossed his eyes.


    "How long have you been up?" he asked.


    "Just got up," Quinn replied.


    Suddenly, he pulled her to her feet, touched her cheek, and said softly, "If you can''t sleep, I''ll take you somewhere."


    Quinn was a bit surprised and looked up at him. "Where?"


    "Just follow me," he replied.


    Quinn followed him closely as he took his coat and draped it over her shoulders.


    Every move he made was gentle and thoughtful.


    It was different from before. In the past, his consideration felt like they were siblings. Now, he truly acted like a husband.


    If there was a difference, it was probably that his current thoughtfulness carried a subtle undertone of seeking to please her.


    If it were in the past, she would have been deeply moved.


    But now, no matter what he did, it couldn''t make up for the hurt he had caused her, no matter his reasons for doing these things.


    Once in the car, Alexander drove her to the outskirts.


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    Quinn didn''t feel scared. Maybe because she knew he wouldn''t abandon her.


    This was what was called a sense of security, something she had once desperately sought but now couldn''t shake off even if she wanted to.


    Suddenly, lights appeared ahead. As the car got closer, Quinn saw where they were.


    It was a cemetery.


    Quinn turned to Alexander, asking, "Why did you bring me here?"


    Alexander parked the car and looked at her. "Get out."


    Quinn frowned but then she opened the car door and followed him out.


    Since it was so dark, Quinn still felt a bit scared, especially in such a creepy ce.


    She instinctively moved closer to Alexander.


    Alexander noticed that and smiled slightly.

 Chapter 890

    Alexander held Quinn''s hand. She wanted to pull away but held back.


    The night wind was cold, stinging her face. She wrapped her coat tighter.


    It was Alexander''s coat with a familiar scent.


    They walked along the cobblestone path to a lone tombstone.


    Under the streemp, Quinn saw a ck-and-white photo on the tombstone. It was Juliet.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered, and she quickly broke free from Alexander, running over. All her fear vanished, reced by deep sadness and guilt.


    She slowly touched the photo, her nose stinging.


    Juliet had given her warmth and courage when she was most helpless.


    But she hadn''t given Juliet a good ending.


    Juliet''s death was her fault.


    Overwhelmed by sadness, Quinn''s body swayed. She held onto the tombstone, slowly kneeling down.


    If it weren''t for her, Juliet might still be alive.


    Alexander stood behind her, watching her thin, lonely figure. He lit a cigarette.


    The night wind blew, rustling the flowers and grass.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    This was the priciest cemetery in Amber Bay, with a good environment and a high price.


    But what was the point? The dead couldn''t see it.


    It was just a way for the living to findfort.


    Quinn had many things to say, but when she opened her mouth, she only choked out, "I''m sorry."


    She thought she shouldn''t have reunited with Juliet or craved her warmth.


    She thought it was all her fault Juliet didn''t have a good end.


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    Quinn''s back slowly bent until she was almost lying prostrate in front of the tombstone, as if she was repenting.


    Alexander threw his cigarette to the ground, walked over to Quinn, squatted down, and grabbed her arm to help her up.


    Heforted her, "The dead can''te back. Don''t be sad."


    Quinn''s eyes reddened, and she slowly turned to look at him.


    The dim streetlight cast a glow over the two of them, making Alexander''s usually stern face appear softer, as if a gentle filter had smoothed out his sharp features.


    For a moment, Quinn seemed to see him as he was ten years ago.


    "Alexander," Quinn called hoarsely, her voice light and distant.


    "Have you ever been sad?" Quinn stared at him. "Do you know what sadness is?"


    Although she had known him for twenty years, Quinn suddenly realized she had never seen Alexander show sadness.


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    Alexander looked at her too. Their eyes met, and silence hung between them.


    Quinn broke the stillness. "When your father died, were you sad?"


    She pressed on, "When Valerie and her two young children died, did you feel even a moment of pity?"


    "And those innocent lives crushed under Abigail''s car, do you ever think about their shattered families?" "And those stray animals Orion adopted, what did they do wrong?"


    "When Grandma Taylor died," Quinn listed his sins, her voice trembling, "did you think about how I would feel?"


    She weakly used him, "You knew how important Grandma Taylor was to me."


    Alexander quietly squatted in front of her, saying nothing and showing no emotion.


    It was as if everything Quinn said had nothing to do with him, and he was just a silent listener.


    Quinn rolled up her sleeve, revealing faint scars on her wrist. There were also bite marks from a dog on her leg.

 Chapter 891

    Quinn''s tears kept streaming down her face.


    She went on, "Alexander, do you remember what you did to me?Our two unborn children, do you remember them? Since you''ve already gone this far, what are you doing now? Don''t tell me you''re trying to repent." Alexander''s lips were tightly pressed together. He grabbed her hand and wiped her tears, saying softly, "You''re wrong. I have no regrets. ver regret anything I''ve done."


    Quinn stared at him, shocked he admitted his crimes so calmly.


    "If I regret anything," he said, looking deeply at her, "it''s not keeping a closer watch on you. Surprisingly, you remembered so soon."All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn was left speechless.


    His stubbornness and obsession were almost pathological.


    Just looking at him made her shudder in fear.


    He suddenlyughed. "See, I told you. You shouldn''t have gotten involved with those people. They led you astray."


    "Especially Walter," he added, his eyes shing with clear murderous intent.


    Even now, he was still ming others, stubbornly refusing to admit he was wrong.


    Quinn knew there was nothing left to discuss.


    She wiped her tears, pushed his hand away, and stood up.


    "You''re truly unreasonable," she scolded.


    She turned and walked out of the cemetery, the wind stinging her cheeks.


    Alexander stayed crouched, the wind lifting a strand of hair from his forehead.


    When Quinn was about to disappear at the end of the path, he finally looked at the photo on the tombstone, then got up and caught up with her.


    Quinn walked to the Bentley, and Alexander arrived just in time to open the car door for her.


    She got in. She wouldn''t resist him now.


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    She couldn''t let a moment of impulse ruin her chance to leave.


    Alexander drove her back to Regal Riverside.


    Quinn checked her phone; it was past three in the morning.


    She scrolled through Facebook silently, the car eerily quiet.


    Suddenly, Alexander asked, "Do you really think Walter is a good person?"


    Her heart skipped a beat at his words; for a moment, she thought Alexander had discovered something.


    Quinn clutched her phone and turned to look at him.


    As the streetlights flickered over his features, Quinn could vaguely make out the outline of his profile in the shifting light.


    "He''s not a good person, but at least he didn''t kill my family," Quinn scoffed.


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    Quinn added, "ver thought he was a good person. But at least he''s been working hard for the Mellon family''s revenge."


    "Didn''t expect you to have double standards," Alexander said coolly.


    He continued, "Because he did bad things for the Mellon family, you believe in him and can forgive anything he does." Quinn was taken aback.


    Alexander casually said, "Even if hemitted murder and arson, you would find reasons to justify it and then forgive him." His words left Quinn speechless.


    In a way, he and Walter were the same kind of people.


    Alexander turned slightly and smiled at her, saying, "So Quinn, how much better are you?"

 Chapter 892

    He continued, "Everyone''s selfish, so don''t act all righteous with me. He didn''t kill your family. Neither did I, right?"


    Quinn''s eyes flickered. His words felt like a weight on her chest, making it hard to breathe.


    She started to wonder if she was really that selfish.


    If she wasn''t, she''d have to lump Walter in with someone like Alexander, hating them both equally, just like Alexander suggested. But deep down, Quinn knew she couldn''t do that.


    Everyone''s selfish, but they show it differently and focus on different things.


    It wasn''t until they were almost at Regal Riverside that Quinn realized Alexander''s words were meant to stir things up.


    When she saw through his scheme, her anger started to fade.


    She thought she shouldn''t have allowed Alexander''s words to sway her.


    In this world, Walter was the closest person to her.


    If she pushed him away, she''d be truly trapped by Alexander.


    After getting out of the car, she walked quickly into the vi, went straight to the bedroom, and buried herself in the bed, not wanting to talk to Alexander.


    Alexander followed her in but ignored her on the bed and went straight to the bathroom.


    Hearing the water running, Quinn closed her eyes, turned over, and pulled the nket over her head.


    She didn''t know how much time had passed when the water stopped.


    Quinn, half-asleep, woke up to the sound of Alexander''s footsteps behind her.


    The bed sank slightly behind her as Alexandery down beside her, his arm reaching over her waist, pulling her into his embrace.


    Quinn clenched her fists and turned to look at him, asking, "What are you doing up here?"


    Alexander looked at her nonchntly and replied, "This is my house. Why can''t I be up here?"


    Quinn couldn''t argue and got up to sleep somewhere else.


    But the next second, his arm pulled her back, holding her even tighter. "Where are you going?"


    Quinn whispered, "We''re divorced. It''s not right to sleep in the same bed."


    Alexander shamelessly said, "What''s wrong with it? If you think it''s wrong, we can remarry, then it''ll be fine."


    Quinn was so mad she couldn''t speak.


    "Let go of me!" she shouted, trying to pry his hand off. However, his grasp was firm as a vice, impossible to shake off.


    Due to herck of strength, her struggling movements had no impact. Instead, they merely made her appear like a harmless kitten to Alexander,pletely non-threatening. Alexander warned, "If you keep moving, I''ll take it as you trying to seduce me."


    He pressed her into his arms, whispering in her ear, "I''ve been holding back from having sex with you for long enough."


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! His hot breath tickled her ear, making it itch, so she turned her head to avoid it. She didn''t dare move much.


    Indeed, he hadn''t been intimate with her for a long time. While they were in the car that day, he nearly lost control of his desires, but ultimately managed to restrain himself.


    Quinn stopped moving, but his hands kept roaming over her body.


    She pressed down on his hand, trying to look back at him. With a hint of pleading in her eyes, she said, "Don''t mess around."


    Alexander asked, "What do you mean by messing around?"


    He turned her around, his fingers pinching her chin. "I think you like it."


    Quinn''s cheeks blushed, and she turned her head away. "Stop talking nonsense!"


    He grabbed her hand, guiding it into her pajamas. "Did you speak just to be hypocritical?"


    After years together, Alexander knew her body better than she did.


    He could easily make her give in.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!

 Chapter 893

    Thinking about how he treated her, both then and now, she felt utterly humiliated.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    He treated her like a pet or a toy, never giving her the respect she deserved.


    Humiliation welled up inside her, making Quinn''s nose tingle. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face.


    Alexander suddenly stopped, and the room went silent.


    A cool hand touched her cheek. He asked softly, "What''s wrong?"


    Quinn didn''t want to talk, burying her head in the pillow. Grief and sadness filled her as she held back her tears, her shoulders trembling.


    Alexander watched her for a bit, sighed, and then sat up.


    "Sorry," he said, frustrated.


    He got out of bed, and a few secondster, she heard the door close.


    Quinn clutched the pillow, her desire to leave at its peak.


    She wished she could just fly away from here.


    He didn''te back, and in less than two hours, it was already dawn.


    Quinn didn''t sleep. When she heard birds chirping outside, she irritably sat up.


    Downstairs, Olivia was making breakfast. Seeing Quinn, Olivia asked, surprised, "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re up early?"


    Quinn didn''t bother correcting her. She scanned the living room but didn''t see Alexander.


    Olivia noticed and exined, "Mr. Kennedy left early this morning."


    Quinn pressed her lips together and said nothing.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, have some breakfast. It''s ready," Olivia called out.


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    Quinn walked to the dining room and sat down. But looking at the food, she had no appetite.


    But seeing the medicine next to her, she still picked up the porridge and drink half a bowl.


    Taking medicine on an empty stomach would be ufortable, and there was no need to make herself suffer.


    Seeing her eat and take her medicine, Olivia smiled with relief.


    After Alexander left, he didn''te back for three days.


    Quinn didn''t go anywhere except the hospital to see Abigail. But when she tried to visit Orion, the bodyguards stopped her.


    Abigail was still unconscious, and Oliver had hired two caregivers for her. Quinn stayed with her for half an hour each time before leaving.


    The rest of the time, she watched TV on the couch. Everything seemed to return to the starting point, those days when he left her at home.


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    The news was still about Stanley''s murder.


    Cases like this could be blown up or downyed easily, but only for people like Alexander with money and power.


    Alexander''s incident had put him in the spotlight, drawing a lot of online condemnation.


    Later, when he proved his innocence, his poprity didn''t drop but increased. Since he didn''t have a personal ount on the social media, thepany ount under his name had over twenty million followers. When chatting with Abigail, she would joke that even if Alexander went bankrupt, he could still make a lot of money by live streaming and selling things online.


    Alexander and Landon shifted the me onto Paul, and the news reported that Paul and Stanley had a disagreement, leading to the forged will incident.


    This matter had just calmed down, and now Stanley''s wife was causing trouble again.


    She wanted justice for Stanley, posting videos online every day and getting reporters to help her get exposure.


    Now, the focus was back on Landon.

 Chapter 894

    Landon, who had not been to thepany for a few days, suddenly walked straight into Alexander''s office. Alexander wasn''t surprised at all by his arrival.


    He put down his file and smiled. "Landon, where have you been? You didn''t evene to thepany."


    Landon sat on the sofa, poured himself a ss of water, and asked, "What do you want?"


    Alexander already had most of the evidence of Landon''s wrongdoing. He was here to negotiate.


    Leaning back in his chair, Alexander asked, "What do you have? Or rather, what do you have that''s worth trading?"


    Landon paused, thenughed bitterly.


    "You want my shares?" he asked.


    Alexander smiled but didn''t speak; the meaning was clear.


    Landon looked up. "I''m not giving you the shares. I''m here to resign."


    Alexander raised an eyebrow.


    Landon pulled a resignation letter from his pocket and ced it on the table. "I''m leaving Amber Bay and won''t interfere with Kennedy Group anymore."


    This meant he was stepping back from the fight but keeping his shares. It was his biggest concession.


    "Honestly, the Stanley incident alone won''t ruin me. So don''t think you can use it against me," Landon said.


    "I don''t care much for these shares, but I need some security. Don''t you agree, Mr. Kennedy?"


    Landon wasn''t worried about the Stanley incident. It wouldn''t affect him much.


    He kept the shares to guard against the Vide Group. If he handed them over, he wouldn''t be part of the Kennedy Group anymore. If Alexander then teamed up with Vide Group against him, he''d be in trouble. By holding onto the shares, he stayed part of the Kennedy Group. If Alexander wanted to deal with him, he''d have to consider whether the Vide Group would take action against the Kennedy Group.


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    This was his security.


    Alexander stood up, walked over, and sat opposite Landon. He picked up the resignation letter and nced at it.


    "ver force anyone. If you want to resign, I won''t stop you," he said with a faint smile.


    Landon stared at Alexander through his sses.


    After a moment, heughed. "Mr. Kennedy, I''m curious."


    Alexander nced at him coldly. "Curiosity won''t do you any good."


    Landon chuckled. "Why are you doing all this? For what?"


    Everyone in his way was dead. The only lucky one was Freya, who ended up in prison.


    He wanted to know what motivated Alexander to engage in all of this-was it money or power? And what was there to be proud of in exchanging the lives of loved ones for all this? Alexander, however, didn''t answer.


    "Is it for Quinn?" Landon guessed. "But I heard she''s recovered. All you''ve done has only brought you betrayal and istion. Even Quinn hates you now."


    "So, what are you after?"


    Alexander stared at him. "Landon, ask yourself the same question. Since you''ve resigned, you shouldn''t be here. If you don''t leave now, you might not be able to leave at all." Landon squinted, a glint in his eyes.


    He drank his water, ced the cup upside down,ughed twice, and left.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    After he left, Alexander looked at the resignation letter.


    Kyle walked in, ncing at Landon''s departing figure. "Mr. Kennedy, any instructions?"


    "Keep an eye on him," Alexander said, tearing the resignation letter. "I don''t want him leaving the country alive."

 Chapter 895

    Kyle was a bit shocked. He looked at Alexander and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, the turmoil from Stanley''s murder hasn''t settled yet. If we take action now, won''t it arouse suspicion?" Alexander nced at him. "Kyle."


    A chill ran down Kyle''s spine. Every time Alexander looked at him like that, he felt he had done something stupid.


    "Yes!" Kyle quickly replied.


    Alexander hinted, "Do you know what an ident is?"


    Kyle, embarrassed, lowered his head. "Yes, I get it."


    He didn''t stick around and left the office as fast as he could.


    Landon probably guessed Alexander woulde after him, so he stayed in Amber Bay, with no intention of leaving for the time being.


    But even if he stayed, Alexander had ways to make him leave.


    With Stanley''s murder all over the inte and the evidence Alexander provided, Landon became the main suspect.


    He had no choice but to leave Amber Bay.


    At night, a ck car sped down a country road, chased by several police cars.


    Landon was inside.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    He nced at the shing police lights in the rearview mirror and smirked.


    He took off his sses and tossed them aside, then floored the gas pedal, causing the car to speed away, kicking up a cloud of dust.


    As he drove through dense woods, the road got muddier, and the car bounced around.


    After a while, the car reached a cliff. Without hesitating, he drove off the edge.


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    The police cars stopped at the cliff, and officers shone their shlights down.


    A loud explosion followed, and mes erupted from below as Landon''s car blew up.


    The mes flickered and then died down like nothing had happened.


    "Quick! Search down there!" the police shouted.


    Kyle reported this to Alexander, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Falling from that height, Landon must be dead, right?"


    Alexander''s gaze remained fixed on theputer screen, as if he hadn''t heard Kyle''s words.


    Kyle knew Alexander was watching surveince footage. Alexander hadn''t left the office for days, just staring at the monitors. Kyle had no clue what Alexander was thinking. After waiting a bit, Kyle was about to leave when Alexander, usually silent, spoke up.


    "Just a trick to escape. We don''t even need to stage an ident."


    Kyle was stunned, taking a moment to process.


    "You mean?" Kyle asked, shocked.


    Alexander finally looked up from theputer. "He knows I wouldn''t let him leave alive easily, so he''s faking his death to flee the country."


    Kyle was horrified, amazed by both Landon''s boldness and Alexander''s insight.


    Alexander smirked. "Now that Landon has faked his death, even if he really dies, no one will care."


    ''Some people dig their own graves. Being too smart can be foolish,'' Alexander taunted in his heart.


    Kyle nodded. "Got it. I''ll take people to find him right away."

 Chapter 896

    The office door shut, and the room went quiet again.


    Soon after, someone knocked and entered.


    This time, it wasn''t Kyle but Ruby.


    She hesitated at the door, then gathered her courage and walked in. She approached Alexander and hesitated before saying, "Mr. Kennedy." Alexander nced at her. "I heard you took some time off and went back?"


    Ruby nodded. "Yes."


    She asked cautiously, "You knew about it, right?"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Alexander smiled. "Thanks for getting help for me."


    Ruby didn''t feel relieved by his thanks; instead, she felt uneasy.


    She had gone back to get help but failed and ended up exposing herself to Alexander''s people.


    Ruby hesitated before speaking, "Mr. Kennedy, I..."


    Alexander raised his hand to stop her. He looked at Ruby thoughtfully and said, "Isn''t working as an assistant here a bit beneath you?"


    Ruby''s face changed. Nervously, she said, "Mr. Kennedy, I didn''t mean to hide it from you. I just..."


    "No need to exin. I can forgive your deception, but now you have a chance to make it right," Alexander interrupted.


    "What chance?" Ruby asked eagerly.


    "Tell me everything about Walter, without leaving anything out," Alexander demanded.


    Ruby bit her lip, feeling conflicted. She clenched and unclenched her hands, trying to speak but failing.


    "What? You have concerns?" Alexander said with a faint smile, "If you don''t want to talk, you don''t have to."


    Ruby quickly said, "No!"


    Seeing the smile in Alexander''s eyes, she felt annoyed at her own anxiety.


    But since she had already spoken, she had no choice.


    She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and said, "I''ll tell you."


    Alexander hadn''t been back for seven days.


    Quinn was bored at the vi, watching the news every day to stay updated.


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    She had a rough idea of what Alexander was up to.


    The financial news frequently reportedpanies in trouble, some dering bankruptcy overnight, and even some bosses getting arrested.


    Although she couldn''t be sure it was all Alexander''s doing, so manypanies having issues had to be rted to him.


    Quinn watched the news, feeling a growing irritation.


    Considering Alexander''s vengeful nature, she began to worry if she could really leave Amber Bay unscathed.


    The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. She turned off the TV and decided to go out.


    As soon as she stepped into the yard, a bodyguard followed and respectfully asked, "Mrs. Kennedy, where are you going? Do you need a ride?"


    Quinn nced at him. "I''m going to the hospital."


    "Please wait a moment," the bodyguard said.


    He went to the garage, brought out a car, and opened the door for her.


    Before Quinn could get in, she heard a car horn from outside. She looked up and saw it was Alexander''s car.


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    He got out of the car and walked towards Quinn.


    He was still wearing that ck suit, but the jacket buttons were undone, making him look less serious and more casual than usual.


    Alexander came up to Quinn and stared at her for a moment before asking, "Where are you going?"


    Quinn avoided his gaze and said, "I''m going to the hospital to see Abigail."


    Abigail had woken up the day before yesterday, and Quinn visited her every day.


    "I''ll take you," Alexander said, waving the bodyguards away.


    Quinn bit her lip and got into the car. Whether it was him or the bodyguards going with her, it made no difference.


    Alexander also got into the car, started it, and slowly drove away.


    The car was as quiet as ever, with neither of them speaking.


    Since that night he left, he had been even more silent. Between them, there was a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity.


    It perfectly fit the phrase "familiar strangers."

 Chapter 897

    Soon, they got to the hospital.


    He walked Quinn to the ward, where a caregiver was feeding Abigail.


    "I don''t want this. Give me some meat," Abigail demanded.


    She couldn''t use her hands, so she leaned against the headboard, eyeing the food on the tray.


    The caregiver patiently fed her a piece of meat.


    Hearing the door, Abigail looked up and saw Quinn. Her face lit up.


    "Quinn, you''re here!" She asked the caregiver to take the food away, smiling eagerly at Quinn.


    Quinn sat beside her, holding her hand. "How are you feeling today?" she asked, worried.


    "Much better. Don''t worry," Abigail reassured her, ncing at the door where Alexander stood, just a corner of his suit visible.


    She whispered, "Quinn, how are you?"


    "I''m fine." Quinn forced a smile.


    Abigail sighed, looking seriously at Quinn. She still preferred the Quinn who had lost her memory; at that time, she was always carefree and happy. But now, those beautiful eyes held a gray sadness. She thought, ''It''s good Quinn is back to normal. At least she won''t forget me.''


    Lowering her voice, Abigail asked, "What''s going on with you and Alexander?"


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    Quinn was taken aback, unsure how to answer. She didn''t know her rtionship with Alexander anymore. Was she a prisoner or a pet kept by him? Moreover, they hadn''tmunicated for seven days. Seeing Quinn''s confusion, Abigail stroked the back of her hand. "Don''t be sad. When I get better, we''ll have some fun."


    Quinn nodded, then asked, "What did the doctor say about your recovery?"


    Abigail sighed, "The doctor said I need to be in bed for three months, but I think I''ll be up in half a month."


    Quinn got anxious. "Abigail, listen to the doctor and take care of yourself."


    Abigailughed. "You''re still so cute."All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


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    Abigail sighed, "Don''t worry, I''ll take care of myself. I still want to take you out."


    Quinn felt a pang of mncholy, unsure if they''d ever get that chance.


    Not wanting to tire Abigail, Quinn stayed for half an hour before leaving.


    Outside, Alexander was gone. Surprised, she headed to Orion''s ward, which was just upstairs.


    At Orion''s door, she knocked but got no response. She opened the door and saw Orion on the bed, eyes closed. It was unclear whether he hadn''t woken up yet or was just sleeping.


    The ward was quiet, with no one else around. An IV was attached to the back of his hand, and the IV bottle was still more than half full, indicating it had just been reced.

 Chapter 898

    "Want to go in and take a look?" Alexander''s voice startled Quinn, who quickly shut the door.


    She turned around and saw Alexander standing behind her, with a mischievous smile on his lips. Quinn shook her head. "No."


    "You''re always so stubborn," he said, touching her cheek. His tone was a mix of frustration and something darker. Quinn stared at her toes, mumbling, "I just wanted to see."


    "Did you see enough?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn nodded. "Yes."


    He took her hand. "Let''s go. Don''te back."


    His voice was gentle but firm.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn followed him silently to the parking lot.


    In the car, Alexander suddenly asked, "Are you bored at home?"


    Quinn looked at him, unsure of his intentions.


    "If you''re bored,e to thepany," he said, starting the car and driving away from the hospital.


    At thepany, Quinn couldn''t remember thest time she''d been there. It felt like ages, though it hadn''t been that long.


    Her feelings for Alexander had changed many times, but she always depended on him.


    Whether she had amnesia or not, that dependence felt like a curse, making him the only person in her life.


    Sometimes, she felt they were both lonely, relying on each other forfort.


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    After returning this time, Alexander gave her that bedroom and didn''t intrude again. Most of the time, he stayed in his study or the adjacent bedroom.


    He knew what she wanted but pretended not to, or maybe he was just too selfish to care.


    Quinn couldn''t stand staying home. One sunny morning, she asked to work at thepany.


    With Walter silent, she didn''t know how long she''d have to wait. To keep from overthinking, she needed something to do.


    When she asked, Alexander paused, put down his knife and fork, and looked at her.


    "Are you sure?" he asked.


    Quinn nodded. "But I don''t want my old job."


    Being his secretary wasn''t for her.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! "What do you want to do?" Alexander asked.


    "Anything but a secretary," Quinn replied.


    Alexanderughed. "Alright, no secretary. Finish your meal and take your medicine."


    Quinn sighed in relief, ate a few bites, and took her medicine.


    After breakfast, Alexander took her to thepany.


    He didn''t give her a position but brought her to his office.


    Seeing the familiar office, Quinn got anxious. "I thought I wasn''t going to be a secretary?"


    Alexander nced at her, took off his jacket, and threw it on a chair. Just then, someone knocked on the door.


    "Come in," he said, loosening his tie.

 Chapter 899

    Kyle walked in and was surprised to see Quinn. He thought, ''Did they make up?''


    He didn''t dare to ask more and went straight to Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, do you have any instructions?"


    Alexander nced at him. "Find her some work."


    Suppressing his curiosity, Kyle asked, "Same position as before?"


    Quinn quickly stood up. "No."


    Alexander said, "Let her choose."


    Kyle nodded and said, "Mrs. Kennedy, follow me."


    Quinn followed Kyle out.


    Outside, Kyle asked, "Mrs. Kennedy, which department do you prefer?"


    Quinn thought for a moment. "Anywhere no one knows me."


    She didn''t want to be seen as just Alexander''s wife; she wanted her own life and to prove she could live without him.


    Kyle thought, ''This is tricky. Last time, Alexander made a big deal of bringing her here, and many people saw.''


    He led Quinn outside, thinking about where to ce her.


    As they went downstairs, they ran into Waltering out of the elevator.


    Quinn''s eyes lit up when she saw him but then dimmed. She remembered Alexander''s words.


    Walter noticed her change in expression, stared for a moment, then smiled and walked out of the elevator.


    "Mr. Smith, where have you been? I''ve been looking for you," Kyle said.


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    Walter, now in a suit, looked gentler. He stopped in front of them and nced at Quinn, then at Kyle. "I was on a business trip. Do I need to report to you?"


    Kyle gave him a suspicious look. He didn''t know about the trip, but Walter didn''t need to inform him.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Walter said, "Mr. Kennedy asked me to check the ounts. There were discrepancies, so I went to the tax bureau and otherpanies."


    Kyle remembered Walter hadn''t finished sorting out the ounts.


    Kyle knew about the tension between Walter and Alexander. It was odd for them to coexist peacefully.


    "What are you two up to?" Walter asked.


    Kyle said, "I''m finding work for Mrs. Kennedy, thinking about which department to ce her in."


    He told Walter about Quinn''s request. Walter smiled. "How about the New Media Operations Department in Marketing?"


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    That department was in another building, covering inte-rted projects.


    The department was established a couple of years ago, and Alexander hadn''t paid much attention to it, letting it develop on its own.


    It had been doing well over the past two years and showed great potential. Maybe it would soon be one of thepany''s pir departments.


    "Alright, I''ll take Mrs. Kennedy there." Kyle turned to Quinn. "Mrs. Kennedy, let''s go."


    Quinn nodded and nced at Walter again.


    Walter smiled, revealing nothing, as if nothing had changed.


    Quinn didn''t know his n but decided to cooperate and act like she didn''t know him well.

 Chapter 900

    Kyle took her to the New Media Department, went straight to the General Manager, Otis Patterson, and introduced Quinn to him.


    Otis, in his thirties, looked young. He nced at Quinn and, seeing Kyle had brought her, asked, "Mr. Astor, is she new?" Kyle nodded. "Yeah, she''s new. Just find something for her to do."


    This meant not to give her special treatment, which was exactly what Quinn wanted.


    Since she wanted to keep her identity secret and experience the workce independently, Kyle respected her wishes.


    "Got it," Otis replied.


    Kyle nned to give Quinn some advice but gave the idea up on a second thought. He thought, ''She is just like any other person now and shouldn''t face any more trouble.'' With that, Kyle left, feeling relieved.


    Otis looked at Quinn again and asked, "What can you do?"


    Quinn replied honestly, "I don''t know."


    Otis was surprised. If not for her sincere eyes, he might have thought she was messing with him.


    Since Kyle had brought her, Otis asked patiently, "What was your major?"


    Quinn lowered her head, embarrassed. "Education, but I didn''t graduate after two years."


    She had wanted to be a teacher for the deaf and mute. After Ulysses died, she married Alexander, and Kaitlyn wouldn''t let her go back to school.


    Kaitlyn, afraid people would know Quinn was from the Kennedy family, mocked her, saying a mute person should just stay home and that education was useless.


    So, she never went back to school and spent her days focused on Alexander.


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    Thinking about the past, Quinn felt a tight grip on her heart, making it hard to breathe.


    She often imagined that if Ulysses hadn''t interfered, her life would have been different and happier.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    With loving parents like Sophia and Henry, she would have had her own dreams, happier than most people, instead of feeling defeated and worthless.


    What was even more frustrating was that she didn''t know who to hate now.


    Ulysses, Wayne, Valerie were dead, and Freya was in prison. All those who bullied her, except Kaitlyn, were gone.


    Alexander had avenged her in his own way, eliminating almost all his families, whether for his benefit or hers.


    She had no reason to hate him, but she couldn''t forgive him either.


    So, it was best to leave him forever and never see him again.


    Otis didn''t know what she was thinking, but seeing her sad expression, he sighed.


    He called someone and handed Quinn over to Ernest Bell.


    Ernest was the head of social media, managing various media ounts for video bloggers and streamers.


    He was in charge of tform operations, blogger branding, and video editing.


    After learning about Quinn, Ernest took her to the department, introducing along the way.


    "Our department isn''t closely overseen by Mr. Kennedy, so Mr. Patterson, whom you just met, is in charge here."


    "Even though our unit isn''t as high-end as other Kennedy Group projects, our annual revenue is pretty close."


    "Since you don''t have much work experience, you can start by interning with the photography team."

 Chapter 901

    Quinn had no objections. The photography team wasn''t just one group but seven or eight smaller ones.


    Thepany had two major influencers with over ten million followers each, and each of them had their own dedicated team.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    The other six teams handled four to five influencers each, making them the busiest.


    Ernest said, "Ronald, there''s a new employee. You can assign her tasks."


    Ronald Lewis, the team leader, nced at Quinn, acknowledged her, and went back to his script.


    Ernest ced her in Team Three, which had fifteen members.


    Although there were only fifteen people, the team included screenwriters, directors, lighting techs, and stylists. No one had time for Quinn.


    She stood there for ten minutes without anyone talking to her. She thought for a moment and then walked up to Ronald and asked, "Mr. Lewis, what should I do?"


    Ronald nced at her and said, "Wait. We''re going out for a shoot. Help move those props."


    Quinn nodded and waited quietly.


    Everyone seemed busy.


    This team handled one of the two major influencers, a couple who made short couple videos.


    While standing there, Quinn overheard some inside info.


    The couple had been promoted by thepany from the start. Now that they were popr, they wanted to go solo. However, due to contract restrictions, they couldn''t leave and were causing issues within the contract''s limits. These two were now harder to deal with than some celebrities.


    Just this month, Alexander had invested in two talent agencies and opened an entertainmentpany under the Wilson Group. The couple wanted to switch to artist contracts.


    They had the highest hopes of switching to artist contracts. So, even though they weren''t celebrities yet, they were already acting like divas.


    After an hour, the team finally started working. Under Ronald''s direction, Quinn moved the props to the car.


    The items were heavy, and with her current condition, she had to stop to catch her breath after a few steps.


    The main group had gone far ahead. When Ronald saw how far behind she was, he walked over angrily, scolding, "Can''t you even carry these? What are you here for?" Quinn felt guilty and apologized, "I''m sorry."


    Ronald continued, "I don''t know what Ernest was thinking. Am I not busy enough already? And now he sends a newbie like you."


    Quinn bit her lip and lifted the props higher.


    Ronald gave her an annoyed look. "Hurry up and keep up. If you can work, then work. If not, just leave early!"


    He turned and walked away.


    Quinn bit her lip and followed with the heavy props. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead; her body was really weak.


    Just then, she felt the weight lighten. A voice said, "Let me help you."


    Quinn was stunned and turned to see a young woman.


    Helen Hill smiled at Quinn. "Let''s go."


    Helen looked to be in her twenties, with fair skin. She wasn''t particrly beautiful but seemed very approachable.


    "Thank you," Quinn said gratefully, walking with her to the parking lot while carrying the props together.


    Helen said, "You''re wee. I''m the screenwriter for this team. My name is Helen Hill. Since you''re new, you might not know much about Team Three. Ronald may seem fierce, but he''s actually a good person." Helen added, "You''ll see over time. Our team is very harmonious and united, with a better atmosphere than the other teams."


    As Quinn heard Helen''s words, her smile deepened. "I understand."

 Chapter 902

    Even though Ronald had just scolded her, Quinn felt a new sense of fulfillment and hope. She''d been out of the social circles for too long.


    Every day, it was either Alexander or Olivia, or sometimes Soren. The emptiness and loneliness made her lose interest in life. She often felt that life was meaningless.


    ''But now, maybe I can live a normal life.'' Quinn thought, smiling genuinely for the first time in days. Even the props in her hands felt lighter.


    She and Helen moved the props to the van. Ronald checked his watch and nced back at thepany.


    "Aren''t Rex and Maya here yet?" he asked.


    Rex Ingram and Maya Parker were the influencers they were going to film today. They were a famous couple with nearly ten million followers online.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Helen said, "They''re probably still at home. I''ll go check. You guys head to the set first, and I''lle over directly."


    "You two go together," Ronald said, looking at Quinn. "You staying here is pointless."


    "Okay," Helen sighed. Ronald was in a bad mood today, so Helen didn''t argue. She took Quinn out of thepany and hailed a cab to Maya''s ce.


    The trip was short, about ten minutes.


    It was a high-end apartmentplex, and the dorms were arranged by thepany for them.


    Helen arrived at Maya''s ce and rang the doorbell for a long time, but there was no response.


    "Could they not be home?" Helen muttered, ringing the doorbell again.


    A few secondster, the door finally opened. Maya, wearing a camisole nightgown and looking sleepy, stood at the door. "Why are you ringing the bell so much? It''s annoying."


    Quinn was a bit surprised to see her. She had seen Maya''s videos before. So it was her.


    Maya and Rex filmed a series of short dramas, always appearing sweet and cute on camera. However, the person standing in front of Quinn now was arrogant and rude.


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    Helen patiently said, "Did you forget we have a shoot today? Everyone is waiting for you."


    "I already said I''m not feeling well today and don''t want to shoot. I asked for a day off. Why are you still here?" Maya said impatiently, her eyes shifting to Quinn. "Are you new here?" Quinn nodded slightly. "Hello, I just started today. My name is Quinn."


    Maya looked her up and down.


    Quinn was undoubtedly beautiful, even making Maya feel threatened at first nce.


    She was sure that if thepany reced her with Quinn for the short dramas, the followers would only increase, not decrease.


    The more Maya looked at Quinn, the deeper her hostility grew. "What does this mean? Is she the new partner thepany found for Rex?"


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Quinn exined, "No, I''m just a new assistant."


    "Really?" Maya clearly didn''t believe it. She kept feeling that Quinn would rece her.


    Originally, she was very confident in her appearance. She thought she could even beparable to Alexander''s girlfriend, Getty. She was sure thepany wouldn''t dare rece her.


    She had even thought that, ''If Alexander sees me in person, I''m sure I can rece Getty as his girlfriend.''


    But now, with Quinn''s appearance, she wasn''t so sure.


    "Yes," Quinn said.


    Maya, barely containing her anger, said, "I don''t want to see you. Helen, go back and tell Ronald to fire her, or I won''t shoot."


    Helen was puzzled. "Why? She just started today and hasn''t offended you, right?"

 Chapter 903

    Maya crossed her arms, leaned against the doorframe, and looked at the two of them indifferently. "Why? I just don''t like her."


    Quinn frowned. She''d never met Maya before, so she wondered why Maya was so hostile towards her.


    She couldn''t figure out what Maya was thinking.


    To Maya, Quinn was a threat to her spot on the team and her ns with Alexander. After all, Getty hadn''t shown up for days. Maya thought maybe Alexander and Getty had broken up, giving her a chance. Getty''s hospitalization was a well-kept secret, so Maya had no clue. The longer Getty was gone, the more Maya believed they had broken up.


    ''Maybe Alexander already dumped Getty,'' Maya thought, her resolve hardening. She looked at Helen and said, "I''ve said my piece. You figure it out."


    "Maya..." Helen started, but the door mmed shut.


    Quinn and Helen exchanged bewildered looks.


    Quinn hadn''t expected this on her first day and was at a loss.


    She was about to speak when Helen cut in. "Forget it, let''s just go back."


    Quinn followed her downstairs in silence. Finally, she said, "Maybe I should just quit, Helen. You can tell her."


    To Quinn, it wasn''t a big deal, and she doubted Ronald would dy filming for a neer like her.


    ''Why face more trouble?'' she thought.


    Helen grabbed her hand. "Ignore her. Let''s go back. Maya''s tantrums are nothing new."


    Helen exined, "Since she got popr, she''s been causing trouble daily, trying to get thepany to terminate her contract. Ronald doesn''t like her either. Let''s talk to Ronald. This isn''t your fault." Quinn thought for a moment, saw Helen''s determination, and nodded.


    On the way, Helen told her a lot about Maya.


    Thepany decided not to terminate Maya''s contract but instead opted to let it run its course until its expiration. Maya''s contract would conclude in three years. Going against thepany would likely result in her being marginalized and achieving little else.


    Back at the office, Helen told Ronald what happened, and Ronald''s face turned red with anger.


    Ronald fumed, "We''ve all been waiting for her, and she just doesn''t show up? Does she think she''s irreceable?"


    No one dared to speak.


    Helen asked, "So what do we do now?"


    Ronald sneered. "She thinks we can''t shoot without her? We''ll shoot without her."


    "How?" Helen asked.


    Ronald''s gazended on Helen. "How about you take her ce?"


    Helen was shocked and smiled wryly. "Mr. Lewis, you must be joking. I can''t do it. We can''t just rece her like that."


    Ronald said irritably, "Thest series is done. It''s normal to change people for a new series. I''ll talk to Mr. Bell."


    Helen waved her hands. "No way. I don''t look as good as Maya, and she has so many fans. We need someone better, or the fans won''t be happy."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Ronald thought about it and realized she was right. He looked around and his gaze settled on Quinn.


    Quinn''s back stiffened, and she had a bad feeling.

 Chapter 904

    Ronald looked Quinn up and down, then suddenlyughed. He pointed at her with the script and said, "You fill in." Quinn waved her hands frantically. "No way. I''ve never acted. I know nothing about acting."


    "We''re doing a skit, not a movie. Acting skills don''t matter much," Ronald insisted.


    He handed her the script. "Here''s the script. Take a look at it. Just read the first chapter and remember the plot."


    Quinn wanted to refuse, but Ronald was already off arranging things with the others.


    Stunned, she thought, ''Wasn''t I here to intern as an assistant?''


    Helen patted her shoulder with a smile. "Quinn, you can do it. I believe in you."


    "I really can''t," Quinn said, looking worried.


    Helen reassured her, "You can. It''s just a short skit. You don''t need great acting skills. Do your best. The script suits you."


    "Maybe you''ll get popr with the traffic on this ount," Helen added excitedly.


    "But I really can''t," Quinn said helplessly.


    "Just take a look first. Ask me if you need help. We don''t have much time, so try to remember the content quickly," Helen said gently but firmly.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Seeing no way out, Quinn sighed and reluctantly agreed.


    She took the script and sat down to read it.


    The script was short-about two thousand words, with fewer than fifty lines of dialogue and easy for her to memorize, but acting it out was a challenge.


    A voice said, "Don''t worry. Don''t be nervous. You''ve seen our videos. Acting skills aren''t that important."


    Quinn turned and saw it was Rex, Maya''s partner.


    He was smarter than Maya, not openly defying thepany. Both had attended art school, but their acting skills were far from professional, though not entirely without merit.


    Their poprity was thanks to thepany''s packaging, scripts, and their looks.


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    Without thepany, they''d probably still be extras somewhere.


    Quinn nodded and continued reading the script.


    In the office, Alexander stood by the window, smoking. He called Kyle over.


    Kyle quickly arrived. "Mr. Kennedy."


    "Which department did you assign her to?" Alexander asked, his expression unreadable.


    Kyle answered, "The New Media Operations Department, also known as the Online Media Department."


    "What kind of department is that?" Alexander asked again.


    Kyle was a bit speechless. "It''s the n proposed by Marketing two years ago to expand the online market. You forgot?"


    Alexander frowned, thinking. "So far away?"


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Kyle thought, ''Quinn is just in the building behind, a few steps away, and that''s far?''


    He replied, "Mr. Kennedy, the New Media Department isn''t far."


    Alexander rubbed his watch, his tone unclear. "Looks like she really ns to be independent."


    "Quinn is already an adult," Kyle muttered softly.


    Alexander suddenly stood up and walked out quickly.


    Kyle hurried to follow.


    At home, Maya started to worry since Ronald hadn''t called her for so long.


    After thinking it over, she decided to go to the filming site.


    She took a cab to the filming site. As she arrived, a ck Maybach sped up and stopped right in front of her taxi.

 Chapter 905

    When Maya saw Alexander step out of the car, her hand froze on the door handle, eyes wide in shock.


    Alexander, in a suit, looked tall and sharp. They were close enough for Maya to see him clearly for the first time.


    He had this cold, powerful vibe that made people made people afraid to look directly at him.


    Maya''s heart pounded.


    She thought, ''Isn''t that Alexander? The Alexander I only saw on TV, here in person. Why is he here? If I knew he wasing, I wouldn''t have thrown a tantrum.''


    Maya wanted to get his attention, but Alexander was already walking away. Panicking, she opened the car door and ran out.


    "Mr. Kennedy!" she called out.


    In her rush, she tripped and fell.


    Hearing themotion, Alexander nced back.


    Maya looked up and met Alexander''s deep, oppressive gaze.She felt so nervous that she even forgot to get up.


    She justy there, staring at Alexander, who appeared to be so noble and unattainable.


    But he only gave her a quick look before heading to the filming set.


    Maya snapped out of it, got up, and decided to take a shortcut from the left.


    Quinn had finished reading the script and knew how to act. It was a simple, attention-grabbing story.


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    The CEO, yed by Rex, went on a business trip and was chased by enemies halfway. He got separated from his assistant, changed into aborer''s clothes, and then met the female lead.


    It was unlike the usual plot, in which the male lead didn''t hide his identity and told the female lead who he was, trying to borrow her phone and money, but the female lead thought he was a scammer.


    However, she still helped him out of kindness, so the male lead developed feelings for her. He kept trying to prove to her that he was really wealthy, but every time, misunderstandings made the female lead think he was bragging. The series had fifteen episodes, one per day, and it could be finished in half a month.


    Quinn, now in costume and makeup, stunned everyone, even Ronald.


    She rarely wore makeup, but her natural beauty shone through. With makeup, her features became more striking, like a vivid sketch.


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    Without makeup, she looked innocent and pure; with makeup, she seemed like a goddess from a painting, ethereal and otherworldly.


    Since the character in the script was supposed to be pure, the makeup artist didn''t apply heavy makeup, trying to enhance her natural look with light makeup.


    It made her eyes look even more lively.


    Ronald, snapping out of his daze, cleared his throat. "Let''s roll."


    Helen gave Quinn an encouraging nod.


    Quinn took a deep breath and walked to the camera with Rex.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    "Wait!" A voice came abruptly.

 Chapter 906

    Just as they were about to start, a rushed voice cut in.


    Quinn turned and saw Maya, panting and leaning on her knees, trying to catch her breath.


    "Aren''t you not filming anymore?" Ronald asked coldly.


    Maya exined, "When did I say that? It''s Helen spreading rumors again. I just had a stomachache and asked her to tell you to wait. How did that turn into me quitting?"


    Helen looked shocked. "Maya, what are you talking about? You said it yourself!"


    Maya nced at her, then pretended to be upset, wiping away fake tears.


    With tearful eyes, Maya said, "I know you don''t like me and think I''m not good enough for your script, but we''re a team. We should support each other."


    Helen was so mad she couldn''t speak. She pulled Quinn over and, in her anger, directly called out Maya''s real name. "Quinn, tell everyone. Didn''t you also hear her say she wasn''t filming? Ang, how can you nder me like this?" Maya replied, "If you insist, I have nothing to exin. Let''s wait for Mr. Kennedy to decide."


    Helenughed angrily. "Mr. Kennedy doesn''t have time for you. You''re overestimating yourself!"


    Quinn nodded, about to defend Helen, when Kyle''s voice came from behind, "What''s going on here?"


    Everyone turned to see Kyle and Alexander. They were shocked; Alexander rarely showed up at thepany, let alone the filming site.


    They all looked at Maya, thinking, ''Did she really foster a bond with Alexander? Is that why he''s here? No wonder she''s getting more and more arrogant; it turns out she has Alexander''s backing.'' Seeing their expressions, Maya felt secretly pleased that her little trick really worked.


    Even if Alexander didn''t help her, it was just their spection and had nothing to do with her.


    Anyway, she wouldn''t lose anything.


    Ronald quickly approached Alexander, asking respectfully, "Mr. Kennedy, what brings you here?"


    "I was passing by and thought I''d take a look," Alexander said, ncing at Quinn.


    Quinn frowned, thinking, ''Is he worried I''d run away? I''ve only been at work for half a day, and he''s already here. What is he up to?''


    Mayained, "Mr. Kennedy, I wasn''t feeling well and was a few minuteste. They want to rece me with a neer. Is that fair?"


    She continued, "I''ve been with thepany for two years, built my ount from zero followers, and now they want to rece me. Is there any fairness left? What do they take me for?"


    Maya started to cry, looking very aggrieved. "I''ve been dedicated to this team and thepany, and this is the result?"


    Everyone else was angry but uneasy, unsure of Alexander''s intentions.


    "Neer?" Alexander asked.


    Maya pointed at Quinn. "It''s her. She''s been here less than four hours, and they reced me with her. It''s really disheartening."


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on Quinn before he looked away. "What are you filming?"


    Ronald quickly handed him the script.


    Alexander flipped through it casually, ncing at Quinn. She sensed danger and worried. ''Does Alexander not even want me filming with another man?'' Alexander asked, "Who''s the male lead?"Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Rex stepped forward nervously. "Mr. Kennedy, it''s me."


    Alexander looked at him expressionlessly, raising the script. "You two, filming this?"


    "Yes," Rex replied quickly.


    "Holding hands and hugging?" Alexander asked.


    Rex was stunned, not knowing what he meant, and nodded stiffly. "Yes. It''s necessary for the plot. It''s not a very intimate scene."

 Chapter 907

    Alexander paused, like he remembered something, and looked at Maya. "What did you just say?"


    Maya was taken aback but quickly repeated herself. Afterward, she wiped her tears with her sleeve, looking upset.


    "If thepany doesn''t need me, just end the contract. No need to target me like this," she added.


    Alexander watched her expressionlessly. Once she finished, he turned to Ronald. "Is that true?"


    Ronald frowned, unsure if Alexander wanted to follow the rules or back Maya. He hesitated before saying, "We waited for her on set for a while, so I asked Helen to call her. I don''t know the details." Helen felt let down, not expecting Ronald to stay neutral at such a moment.


    Alexander''s gaze shifted to Helen.


    Helen''s expression changed slightly. She lowered her head, unsure what to say. She had already exined everything. If Alexander couldn''t see the truth, there was nothing more she could do.


    "Then what are we waiting for? Continue shooting," Alexander ordered.


    He then casually walked to a chair and sat down.


    Ronald asked cautiously, "Do you mean let Maya be the female lead?"


    Alexander looked at him coolly. "Then who else?"


    His meaning was clear. No objections meant agreement. Ronald sighed and turned to everyone. "Get ready. Maya, go get your makeup and costume done."


    Maya was thrilled. She nced at Alexander and started daydreaming.


    She thought, ''Alexander never shows up, but today he came to help me. This can''t be a coincidence. He must be interested in me.''


    Suppressing her excitement, she quickly went to change.


    Ronald looked at Quinn with some regret. He said, "Don''t be discouraged. There will be another chance."


    This wasn''t just tofort her. Ronald believed she could really sign with thepany. With her looks, she could quickly gain fans even if she started anew. Quinn nodded slightly. "I understand."Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Although she hadn''t been keen on shooting, Alexander''s interference made her angry.


    With so many people around, Quinn didn''t confront him. She ignored Alexander and went to help set up the scene.


    Watching Quinn busy herself, Alexander leisurely lit a cigarette and sat quietly.


    This ce used to be a pedestrian street under a mall. After their department made some money, Otis rented it outst year. It had all kinds of stores, making it perfect for shooting. Besides shooting, these stores also did business, but only offered delivery services. The money earned helped cover the rent.


    Alexander sat in a caf¨¦ with several umbres overhead. Once he sat there, no one else dared toe over.


    They had to move the equipment to the caf¨¦ in front.

 Chapter 908

    Kyle bought a coffee for Alexander and ced it on the table.


    "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy is fitting in quickly. It''s only been a morning," Kyle said.


    Alexander, lounging in his chair, ignored Kyle and stared off.


    Quinn and the team had been busy for over half an hour. She was assigned a role by Ronald, which was to sit on the side as an extra.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Ronald wanted to start shooting but saw Maya talking to Alexander, which frustrated him.


    Maya, now changed, approached Alexander.


    "Mr. Kennedy, thanks for speaking up for me today."


    Alexander nced at her but said nothing.


    Maya continued, "It might seem a trivial matter to you, but to me..."


    Kyle cut in, "Miss, everyone is waiting for you."


    Maya, momentarily stunned, saw everyone staring at her.


    Feeling a bit proud, she smiled. "I know. Just wanted to thank Mr. Kennedy. I''ll go over now."


    She walked over to Ronald.


    Helen whispered to Quinn, "Has Maya really forged a bond with Mr. Kennedy?"


    Quinn shook her head slightly. "I don''t know."


    She hoped so, thinking it would keep Alexander away from her. And then, she wouldn''t have to find ways to escape.


    Helen muttered, "If so, Mr. Kennedy has bad taste."


    She had heard rumors about Getty, mostly negative. Helen thought that Getty couldn''t be a nice person if ny out of a hundred people said Getty was bad, even though many of them might be motivated by jealousy. Helen added, "Maya and Getty look simr."


    The more Helen thought about it, the more worried she became.


    Quinn nced at Maya, thinking Getty was much more attractive in person.


    Maya walked over, and Helen went quiet, ying her extra role.


    Ronald called for action, and the shooting began.


    Maya, eager to impress Alexander, acted with great effort, showcasing all her learned skills.


    Quinn and Helen sat in the corner, asionally ncing at the coffee shop across the street.


    Alexander hadn''t left, making Quinn uneasy.


    Alexander suddenly asked, "How''s the matter with Landon going?"


    Kyle, caught off guard, started sweating. "The police found a body, confirmed as Landon''s through DNAparison."


    He quickly added, "But we''re still looking. If he''s alive, we''ll find him."


    Alexander sneered, "It seems he was prepared for this. In that case, arrange a press conference to announce his death." Kyle nodded. "What about his shares? His mother is still alive."


    "His mother?" Alexanderughed. "You''re right. His mother is alive. So, his overseaspany should go to her, right?" Kyle was shocked, thinking, ''Is he nning to use Landon''s overseaspany against him?''

 Chapter 909

    Alexander fiddled with his watch, staring off into the distance.


    He suddenly spoke, "Kyle, how long do you think she''ll stay in Amber Bay?"


    Kyle, caught off guard, followed Alexander''s gaze and realized he meant Quinn.


    Quinn and the crew were working as extras. Maya, worried Quinn might draw fan attention, insisted that Quinn turn her back to the camera.


    Quinn had no interest in this at all. She changed her position, turning her back to the camera. She just wanted to finish filming and get back to the office. She felt it was super boring.


    But she underestimated the time. Even a short scene took six to seven hours, and they had to change filming locations asionally.


    With Alexander around, no one dared to leave early.


    Thanks to Maya''s acting skills, filming went smoothly. Now, they had to change filming locations, so Quinn had to carry stuff.


    Helen handed her a reflector board. "Take this. It''s lighter."


    Quinn shook her head. "No need. This isn''t very heavy either."


    "Really? We have to walk for twenty minutes. Are you sure you can manage?" Helen asked.


    "I can handle it," Quinn insisted.


    Quinn was carrying a light fixture and some props. They weren''t light, but she could handle them.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Helen didn''t push further and nced at Alexander''s spot, noticing he was gone.


    00000


    "Finally, he''s gone. I''ve never been this nervous at work. It was terrifying," Helen said, relieved.


    Quinn knew who she meant. She looked over and saw the caf¨¦ area empty. Alexander had left without her noticing.


    She followed the team with her stuff.


    Helen walked beside her, admiring, "Mr. Kennedy is really handsome."


    She added, "He looks even better than on TV." She then sighed. "Too bad he has poor taste."


    Quinn was taken aback, wanting to respond but finding no words. She pressed her lips together and quickened her pace.


    Helen noticed Quinn wasn''t much of a talker.


    There were few girls on the team, just two or three. Helen usually had no one to chat with, so she tried to befriend Quinn.


    The next filming location wasn''t far. It was a solo scene for Rex, with another guy as his assistant.


    Maya wasn''t in this scene. Seeing Quinn and Helen chatting, she followed them.


    "Quinn, get me a bottle of water," she said, sitting down with a folding stool.


    Quinn nced at her. "It''s right there."


    The water was just a few steps away on Maya''s left. She could easily get it herself.

 Chapter 910

    Maya was ticked off. Ever since Alexander showed up, the team members started treating her differently, and now Quinn had the nerve to talk back. "I don''t want water. Get me a Coke," Maya snapped.


    Quinn didn''t move and looked away. "Get it yourself."


    Maya jumped up. "You''re new here, and I''m giving you a chance by asking for help. How dare you refuse?"


    Quinn met her gaze. "Who says the newbie has to get you water? You don''t pay me, and you''re not my boss. Why should I listen to you?"


    Maya was about to fire back when Helen stepped in. "Alright, you two, stop it. I''ll get it for Maya. Do you want it cold or at room temperature?" Maya red at Quinn, fuming. "What''s wrong with asking her to get it? I can''t believe I can''t make a newbie do something."


    Quinn stayed calm. "I''m not going."


    Maya''s face turned red with anger. "You''re not going? Today, I insist you go."


    She then called out, "Ronald!"


    Ronald, already annoyed, turned around. "What''s up?"


    Maya pointed at Quinn. "How do you manage your people? I asked her to get me a Coke, and she won''t go!"


    Ronald nced at Quinn. "What water do you want? There''s water right there."


    "I want a Coke. Make her get it," Maya demanded.


    "We''re almost done shooting. Can''t you wait?" Ronald asked.


    "No!"


    Maya was firm. It wasn''t about the Coke anymore; she just wanted to vent her dissatisfaction. She didn''t believe she couldn''t handle a newbie. Ronald frowned and said to Quinn, "Go get it for her."


    He wanted to calm Maya down, but Quinn had other ideas. "I''m not going. If she wants it, she can get it herself."


    Ronald was stunned. He didn''t expect Quinn to refuse him too.


    Maya sneered. "See? This is the newbie you hired. You''re not doing a good job as a team leader."


    Feeling embarrassed, Ronald frowned at Quinn.


    Quinn stood her ground. Ronald didn''t know what to do with them.


    "Figure it out yourselves," Ronald said angrily.


    He didn''t want to deal with it. Quinn had no obligation to listen to Maya. Getting her a Coke would be a favor, not a duty.


    If he forced Quinn, it would be too obvious he was taking sides. Plus, he didn''t like Maya much himself.


    Maya was even angrier when she saw Ronald wasn''t going to intervene.


    She red at Quinn. "You''re really something!"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As long as Quinn worked here, Maya had plenty of ways to make her life difficult.


    Maya stormed off.


    Watching her leave, Helen was worried. She tugged on Quinn''s arm. "Why did you argue with her? You''re asking for trouble."


    Quinn didn''t answer.


    She had endured enough bullying over the years. Now that she had regained her memory and could speak, she wouldn''t let anyone push her around again.


    It wasn''t just about losing her self-esteem. It was about bringing shame to the entire Mellon family.


    Seeing how stubborn she was, Helen sighed. "Maya will definitely target you in the future."


    Helen added, "Maya is petty. She always acts like a star, bossing everyone around as if thepany can''t function without her. I heard she went through several assistants before. They all quit because of her. I bet she wants you to be her assistant."


    Helen hadn''t been here long either, just under a year since her internship turned into a full-time position. But in that time, she had seen Maya go through three assistants.


    Helen was right. Maya went to the side and called Ernest, wanting Quinn to be her assistant.</p<>

 Chapter 911

    Ernest felt a headacheing on when he heard she needed another assistant.


    If it weren''t for her huge fan base, Ernest wouldn''t bother with her. But if they canceled the contract, the ount would be toast. "Just talk to Ronald. Isn''t Quinn on your team?" Ernest asked.


    "I have to report to you first. So, you agree, right?" Maya said smugly.


    "I don''t care." Ernest hung up.


    Maya assumed he agreed.


    By the time the shoot wrapped up, it was past three, and no one had eaten.


    Ronald invited everyone to eat, but Maya declined, packed up, and left.


    Helen linked arms with Quinn, saying, "Let''s go eat. You just got here and haven''t had a chance to get to know everyone."


    Quinn nodded and was about to leave when she suddenly got a call.


    She saw it was from Kyle.


    Quinn let go of Helen. "ed to take this."


    She walked aside and answered.


    Kyle said on the phone, "Mrs. Kennedy, I brought you something. Can youe to the parking lot?"


    "What is it?" Quinn asked.


    "Your medicine," Kyle replied.


    Just hearing "medicine" made Quinn nauseous.


    Kyle added, "If you don''te, I can bring it to you."


    Quinn knew he meant she had toe. She paused, then said, "I''lle now."


    She hung up and told Helen, "You go ahead. I have something to do."


    Helen was surprised. "You''re noting?"


    Quinn nodded. "Sorry."All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "No problem, there will be other chances. Go take care of your business," Helen said, waving.


    Quinn said goodbye and headed to the parking lot.


    Before she got close, she saw Kyle waiting by the car.


    Kyle quickly took out a food container. "Mrs. Kennedy, your medicine."


    Quinn paused. "Can you stop calling me Mrs. Kennedy?"


    Kyle didn''t respond. "Here, it''s still warm. Drink it while it''s hot."


    Quinn gave up. She took the container and opened it. The bitter smell hit her. She took a deep breath and drank it all in one go.


    The familiar, nauseating taste made her dry heave against the car.


    She didn''t expect that even after starting work, she couldn''t escape the medicine.


    Kyle handed her a pack of candy. "Mrs. Kennedy, these help with the bitterness."


    Quinn pushed the candy back. "No need."


    Kyle looked at her, puzzled.


    He thought the amnesiac Quinn was cuter. Now, she seemed different, harder to get along with.


    00000 After recovering from the bitterness, Quinn was about to leave but Kyle stopped her.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, let me drive you back."


    Quinn paused and looked back at him. "I''m not off work yet."


    "It''s time to leave. Let''s go back," Kyle said, bracing himself. "Besides, Mr. Kennedy is waiting for you."


    Quinn scoffed internally, ''That''s the real reason, huh?''


    She clenched her fists. "Can''t I go back myself?"


    "For your safety, it''s better if I drive you. If you don''t go back, Mr. Kennedy wille himself," Kyle said gently but firmly.


    Quinn''s eyelid twitched.


    ''What does Alexander want!'' she thought.


    "Please." Kyle opened the car door.


    Quinn remained silent for a moment but got in the car.


    Helen and the others finished eating around four or five. By the time they got back, it would be time to clock out. She really didn''t have anything else to do.</p<>

 Chapter 912

    Kyle drove her back to Regal Riverside.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Quinn was glued to her phone, scrolling through Maya''s ount and watching all her videos. There were short dramas and single clips, each with tons of likes. Fans clearly loved their duo.


    No wonder Maya was so arrogant in Group Three. Actually, she was arrogant in the whole New Media Department.


    Quinn thought it would be a nightmare if she ended up as Maya''s assistant.


    Lost in thought, Quinn didn''t realize they had arrived.


    She got out of the car and walked into the vi, spotting Alexander reading a newspaper on the sofa.


    He was in a ck shirt, cor unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, lounging casually.


    Quinn ignored him and headed upstairs, but he called out, "How was your work today?"


    She paused and looked back. "Weren''t you there? You already know."


    Alexander put down the newspaper and walked over, stopping just a step away. He looked her up and down.


    "Are you mad because I didn''t let you shoot a video??" he asked.


    "Why would I be mad? Now everyone thinks you went to support Maya. Thanks to you, I''m about to be her assistant," Quinn snapped. Alexander chuckled. "Are youealous?"


    Quinn red at him. "You''re overthinking it."


    She turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.


    He was strong, and she stumbled into his arms. Before she could break free, he wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her tight.


    He lowered his head slightly, meeting her eyes.


    "If that''s the case, then what are you angry about?" he asked in a low, maic voice.


    Quinn frowned and pushed him. "Let go of me!"


    "If you don''t want to see her, just rece her," Alexander said casually.


    Quinn struggled but couldn''t break free. She red up at him. "Let go of me first!"


    His eyes darkened, and he pinched her chin. "Do you hate me that much now?"


    Quinn turned her head away. "You know it."


    He chuckled, gently caressing her cheek and tucking her hair behind her ear. "What should I do then?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, staying silent.


    She knew arguing was pointless. Alexander wouldn''t let her go, and it would only make him mad.


    When he got mad, he went crazy.


    And when he went crazy, who knew what he''d do.


    "You haven''t eaten yet, have you? Let''s go," Alexander finally said. He released her and held her hand instead. He then pulled her hand, leading her to the dining room. Following behind him, Quinn suddenly said, "Can you stoping to our department in the future?"</p<></p<>

 Chapter 913

    Alexander stopped and looked back at her.


    "If you don''t want me to go, I won''t," he said slowly.


    Quinn looked up, surprised. His expression was sincere.


    "If you don''t want to see Maya..."


    Quinn cut him off, "I''ll handle it myself."


    Alexander raised an eyebrow. "You sure you don''t need my help?"


    Quinn looked serious. "I can''t rely on you for everything. Otherwise, what''s the point of me going to work?"


    Alexander listened quietly, his gaze growing moreplex.


    After a while, he said, "If that''s how you feel, I won''t interfere."


    His tone was hard to read-maybe a mix of sigh and resignation.


    Quinn was surprised he agreed so easily.


    "Really?" she asked.


    Alexander touched her face gently. "How could I not agree?"


    Quinn pulled away, distancing herself from him.


    She didn''t need him now, and she''d need him even less in the future.


    Alexander watched her for a long time before pulling his hand back. "Let''s eat."


    Quinn felt relieved. They ate in silence, the only sound was cutlery clinking against tes.


    After dinner, Quinn went to the bedroom and took a shower. Despite the warm weather, she chose thick pajamas.


    Shey on the bed, staring at the door. After two hours, she was sure he wouldn''te in. She finally closed her eyes.


    Exhausted from work, she quickly fell asleep.


    Her dreams were filled with past events and memories, always featuring Sophia, Henry, and the Mellon family.


    Their eyes, full of me and disappointment, tormented her.


    They med her for not leaving Alexander.


    No matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t hold onto Sophia and Henry. They appeared and disappeared, neither leaving nor approaching. For Quinn, it was torture.


    She woke to the sound of birds. The lingering mncholy from the dream hadn''t dissipated, leaving her feeling empty inside.


    Quinn stared at the ceiling before getting up and heading to the bathroom. She changed clothes and then went downstairs.


    Before reaching the dining room, she smelled the medicine.


    The scent filled the vi. In the dining room, a bowl of medicine waited on the table.


    Olivia smiled. "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re awake. Come have breakfast."


    Quinn nodded and sat down, ncing at Alexander''s empty seat.


    Olivia exined, "Mr. Kennedy might still be asleep. Should I wake him?"


    "No!" Quinn said quickly, then awkwardly added, "Let him sleep longer."


    This way, she wouldn''t have to see him all day.


    Olivia, thinking Quinn was concerned about Alexander, smiled.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "Alright, then you go ahead and eat."


    Quinn ate a little and then picked up the bowl of medicine and drank it down.</p<>

 Chapter 914

    Soren showed up right after Quinn finished her medicine.


    He was there to check on Quinn''s health.


    Quinn nced at the clock; she had two hours before work, so she let him do the check-up.


    After a bit, Soren nodded. "Looks like the medicine''s working. You need to keep taking it for at least six months."


    Quinn was taken aback. "Six months?"


    Soren replied, "Yep, after that, you can cut back. Your body''s pretty messed up, and it won''t heal quickly. Besides the medicine, you need a regr, nutritious diet." It sounded like a hassle.


    Soren then asked Olivia if she was cooking ording to his instructions.


    From the test results, her body was slowly recovering, which was a good sign.


    "You have to go to work now, right? That''s good. Walking and exercising will help with your recovery," Soren said.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn nodded. "If there''s nothing else, I''ll head to work."


    "Alright."


    Quinn grabbed her stuff and walked out. Two bodyguards approached and gestured for her to get in the car. "Mrs. Kennedy, the car''s outside."


    As expected, Alexander hadn''t given up on monitoring her.


    Quinn followed the bodyguards to a Mercedes parked outside and headed to thepany.


    Inside the vi, Soren looked around and asked, "Has Mr. Kennedy left?"


    Olivia replied, "Haven''t seen hime down yet. He probably workedte and hasn''t gotten up yet."


    Soren frowned. "That can''t be. I''ll go check."


    Then he grabbed his medical kit and went upstairs to the study. Just as he was about to knock, the door opened.


    "Mr. Kennedy," Soren said first.


    Alexander, wearing a coat, stood at the door and gave him a cold look. "What''s the matter?"


    Soren touched his nose and said softly, "Just checking on you. I thought something might have happened."


    He nced at Alexander''s face. It looked pale, maybe from staying upte or some health issue.


    Soren cautiously said, "Mr. Kennedy, you don''t look well. Do you need me to check on you?"


    His old injuries hadn''t healed, and after falling from the mountain, new injuries added to the old ones. Soren had checked him once and found the the situation wasn''t good at that time. Now, he didn''t know the current situation because Alexander wouldn''t let him check his condition.


    This time was no exception. Alexander didn''t even look at him, walked past him, and left. "No need. I won''t die."


    As expected, Soren got the same response.


    Soren followed him downstairs awkwardly, and Alexander asked about Quinn''s condition.


    Soren reported Quinn''s condition. Since it was good news, there was no need to hide it.


    Alexander listened, walked slowly to the sofa, and sat down. He coughed a few times and took out a cigarette.


    Before he could light it, Soren advised, "Mr. Kennedy, you should quit smoking."


    Alexander ignored him and lit the cigarette anyway.


    Soren made a wry face. He''d seen people ignore advice, but never thispletely.


    He asked about Quinn''s health every day but never cared about his own. Soren couldn''t figure out what he was thinking.

 Chapter 915

    Quinn had no clue about this. When she got to thepany, Ronald found her and asked her to be Maya''s assistant.


    Quinn, unfazed, asked, "Can I refuse?"


    Ronald replied, "I wanted thepany to sign you for a short drama, but Ernest disagreed. So, you have to follow the arrangement."


    He looked her over. "You don''t seem to need the money. If you really don''t want to do it, don''t force yourself."


    His message was clear: if Quinn didn''t agree, she should resign.


    Although Quinn''s clothes were simple, Ronald could tell that they were expensive, probably costing as much as several months of his sry.


    Therefore, he thought she could naturally resign if she didn''t want to put up with this arrangement.


    Ronald was surprised. "Are you sure?"


    "Since I''m here to work, I''ll follow the arrangement. I''ll be her assistant," Quinn said.


    Ronald nodded approvingly. "Then get her to start work. It''s always hard to get her toe."


    Quinn agreed and left thepany, taking a cab to Maya''s ce. She found Maya''s apartment easily.


    She rang the doorbell, but there was no response, so she knocked.


    After a few knocks, Maya finally opened the door, annoyed. "Why are you knocking so much?" she snapped, ring at Quinn. Maya already knew Quinn was her new assistant. Ignoring her, Quinn said, "Ronald asked me to get you to start work."


    Maya smirked. "I thought you had some backbone and wouldn''te today. Yesterday, you wouldn''t even buy me water. Why are you here now?"


    Quinn replied, "I''m just doing my job. So, are youing or not?"


    "Wait!" Maya snapped, mming the door.


    She wanted to make things difficult for Quinn, making her wait as long as she wanted.


    Quinn didn''t mind at all. She went downstairs to a coffee shop, bought a coffee, and started watching videos on her phone.


    Time flew by, and three hours passed quickly.


    During this time, Ronald called to hurry her up. Quinn exined that Maya had told her to wait and wouldn''t let her in.


    Ronald, knowing Maya''s personality, just urged Quinn to find a way to get her toe.


    Maya thought Quinn would obediently wait at the door. When she opened it two or three hourster, she found Quinn was gone. Maya was furious.


    She changed, grabbed her bag, and stormed out, calling Quinn.


    When Quinn answered, Maya yelled, "Quinn, where did you go? I told you to wait, and you dared to leave? Is this how you fulfill your duty?" Quinn calmly replied, "I didn''t leave. I''m in the coffee shop downstairs."Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Maya was even angrier. She had been starving in her apartment for three hours, while Quinn was downstairs drinking coffee.


    She was too angry to speak for a moment.


    Quinn''s voice remained calm. "Are you ready? If not, I can wait a bit longer."


    Maya fumed for a while and then hung up.</p<>

 Chapter 916

    Maya stormed into the caf¨¦, where only a few customers were scattered around.


    Quinn sat by the door, sipping coffee and ying on her phone.


    Maya approached, ring at Quinn.


    "Are you ready?" Quinn asked, sensing her presence.


    Maya plopped down across from her. "I''m hungry. Get me breakfast."


    "What do you want?" Quinn asked.


    "Whatever," Maya snapped. No matter what Quinn bought, she wouldn''t be satisfied anyway.


    "Are you sure?" Quinn confirmed.


    Maya shot her an annoyed look. "Don''t you understand? You''re my assistant. Go get it!"


    "Alright," Quinn said, putting down her phone and grabbing the menu. She ordered a fruit sd from the caf¨¦ owner.


    Maya frowned. "You''re getting it from here?"


    "Didn''t you say whatever?" Quinn retorted.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Maya was left speechless.


    Soon, the fruit sd arrived. Just looking at it made Maya feel full.


    "It''s almost noon, and you bring me this? What are you thinking?" Maya demanded.


    Quinn stared at her. "What are you waiting for? I don''t want this. Get something else!" Quinn sighed, pulled out a voice recorder, and yed back their conversation. Maya''s face turned red. "You recorded me?"


    "It''s just a work recording," Quinn said. "If you don''t want this, what do you want?"


    Maya felt like she was losing control. Grabbing her bag, she stormed out. "I''m not eating!"


    Quinn looked regretfully at the sd.


    By the time they reached the filming location, it was noon. Ronald and the others had gone to eat, and the props were still in the car.


    The third team knew Maya''s personality well. If she didn''te to work, everyone else would choose to take a break too.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "Looks like they''re at lunch. See you in the afternoon," Quinn said, checking her phone.


    Maya grabbed her. "Where are you going?"


    "Off work," Quinn replied calmly.


    "Who said you could leave? You''re my assistant, and I haven''t eaten yet!" Maya fumed.


    Quinn pulled her hand away. "I''m your assistant, not your servant. After work hours, your problems aren''t mine."


    "Quinn!" Maya gritted her teeth, eyes burning with anger.


    Quinn ignored her. "I came at nine. You dawdled until now. Everyone else is off work. That''s not my fault. If you want to eat something, just figure it out yourself." With that, she walked away, leaving Maya alone by the roadside.

 Chapter 917

    Maya stood there for ages, only snapping out of it when Quinn vanished, and was so mad sheughed.


    Thepany had given her loads of assistants, but Quinn was the first to defy her. Maya used to make things tough for others, but now Quinn was the one rejecting her. This made Maya feel like she had no clout in thepany. With millions of followers, she thought she deserved better.


    She grabbed her phone toin to Ernest.


    Ernest, still indifferent, just told her to rece Quinn if she was unhappy.


    Maya got even angrier.


    Quinn''s attitude showed she wasn''t scared of losing her job, so recing her was pointless.


    Dealing with someone who didn''t fear being fired made it tough for Maya to make things difficult for her.


    Quinn didn''t care what Maya thought. She went to another parking lot and saw Kyle again, who had brought her medicine and food.


    Quinn took the food box from him, not wanting to be seen, and got into the car.


    She ate a few bites, took the medicine, and then got out of the car.


    Kyle smiled and asked, "Mrs. Kennedy, how was work today?"


    He still treated Quinn like the mute who couldn''t speak before, as if she was a fragile flower.


    Quinn paused, nced at Kyle, and replied, "Pretty good."


    Kyle noticed the indifference in her eyes and felt regret. He forced a smile and said, "That''s good."


    Quinn ignored him and walked to the set.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Today they were shooting in a different location, a nice park. When she arrived, no one else was there yet, and Maya was nowhere to be seen.


    Work started at two, and it was only twelve-thirty. She checked the distance to the central hospital on her phone, just 8.7 miles away, so she asked a bodyguard to take her to the hospital. She wanted to visit Abigail, whom she hadn''t seen in two days.


    Abigail was recovering well. Although the cast hadn''t been removed, her spirits were much better. She could even go to the bathroom by herself, though she needed help.


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    When Abigail saw Quinn, her face lit up. "Quinn!"


    She tried to get out of bed, but Quinn quickly walked over to support her. "Don''t move around."


    Abigail smiled and pulled Quinn to sit beside her. "I feel almost recovered. Don''t worry, I''ll be out of the hospital soon."


    Seeing her in such good spirits, Quinn also smiled. "I''m so happy to see you getting better."


    Abigail, unable to move her hands for now, could only gaze deeply at Quinn. After a long look, she sighed, "You''ve lost weight again."


    Quinn was slightly taken aback. She raised her hand to touch her cheek. "It''s only been two days. Can you really tell I''ve lost weight?"


    Abigail nodded seriously. "I feel like you have. Eat more and don''t always go hungry. No matter what, take care of your health. Let Alexander do whatever he wants. Don''t make yourself suffer for him." Hearing this, Quinn fell silent.

 Chapter 918

    Abigail thought Quinn was still upset about Alexander and tried tofort her for a while.


    Quinn snapped back to reality and forced a smile. "I get it."


    Abigail was at a loss for words.


    Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of Alexander passing by the slightly open door and her eyes widened.


    "I think I just saw Alexander," Abigail said, surprised.


    Quinn instinctively turned but saw nothing.


    She remembered Getty was still in the hospital. If it was Alexander, he was probably there to see Getty.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    "Alright, maybe I was mistaken," Abigail changed the subject. "I saw Orion yesterday. How did you agree to marry him?"


    "He''s so timid and afraid of everything," Abigail said with some disdain. She had kindly visited him, only to be scolded. It was hard to believe Quinn liked him.


    Quinn thought of Orion, who was still unconscious thest time she saw him.


    "How''s he doing?" Quinn asked, concerned.


    "He''s fine, better than me," Abigail said. "He even had the nerve to me me. I didn''t force him to get on my motorcycle." She cursed again, "Men are all the same, no good ones."


    Quinn held her hand and said guiltily, "I''m sorry, I dragged you all into this."


    Abigail shook her head, her expressionplicated. She looked at Quinn and said softly, "What nonsense? Aren''t we friends?" Quinn felt emotional. She forced a smile and tightened her grip on Abigail''s hand.


    She never thought she''d meet a friend like Abigail, and of course, Orion, who risked his life for her.


    Quinn thought she''d live in Alexander''s shadow, lonely and isted.


    In those dark times, Quinn felt incredibly fortunate, as if she had used up all her luck to meet them.


    Meanwhile, in another ward.


    Getty was being held down by several doctors, and the fruit knife in her hand was taken away and thrown onto a distant table.


    When Alexander walked in, this was the scene he saw.


    Getty had been struggling, but when she saw Alexander enter, she suddenly quieted down and turned her head away, trying not to let him see her face.


    The doctors and others also turned to look and finally let out a sigh of relief. "Mr. Kennedy, you''re here. Please talk to Ms. Morgan."


    Getty had her stitches removed today and insisted the doctor bring a mirror.


    When the stitches were removed, she seemed calm and didn''t react much.


    The doctors thought she had epted her disfigurement, but no one expected that once everyone left, she would struggle out of bed and grab a fruit knife tomit suicide. Fortunately, Lucy came in and saw her. Lucy tried to hold her, and in the struggle, Lucy got cut.


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    There was a lot of blood on the floor, but it wasn''t Getty''s; it was Lucy''s. She had a deep cut on her palm, and blood was everywhere, including on Getty''s hospital gown.


    When Alexander arrived, the room finally quieted down. Lucy sat on the floor, holding her hand and crying.


    Getty also turned her head, desperately avoiding Alexander''s gaze, tears silently streaming down her face and onto the floor.


    "Everyone, please leave," Alexander said in a deep voice.


    The people exchanged nces. A nurse stepped forward to help Lucy up and take her out to bandage her wound.


    Everyone left, and after the door was closed, the room was a mess.


    Alexander slowly walked over to Getty.


    Hearing the footsteps, Getty clenched her fists. She almost buried her face in the floor.


    "Don''te near me."


    She almost pleaded, her hoarse and humble voice barely audible.

 Chapter 919

    Alexander ignored Getty''s words and walked up to her, squatting down slowly.


    Getty tried to cover her face, raising her arms in front of her.


    Alexander''s fingers touched her shoulder, making Getty shudder.


    He tried to turn her over, but she struggled and shook her head. "Don''t look at me. Please leave. I''m begging you!"


    "Getty!" Alexander''s voice rose. Getty froze, lying awkwardly on the ground.


    A few secondster, she broke down, crying uncontrobly, her sobs echoing through the ward.


    Alexander looked down at her. Getty was covered in bloodstains, her short hair now even shorter than his.


    Burn scars were visible on her forehead, temples, jaw, and neck. The wounds had just started to scab, and the scars hadn''t fallen off yet. They crisscrossed her skin like dark brown wrinkles. Getty''s scars were beyond ugly; they were downright disgusting.


    She had tried to prepare herself mentally, but she broke down the moment she saw the mirror.


    The calmness the doctor saw was extreme desperation.


    One look in the mirror, and she no longer wanted to live.


    At that moment, Getty wished she could die and disappear from the world.


    The impact of disfigurement on a woman was immense, especially when it was so severe, making her unrecognizable.


    When Getty''s sobs subsided, Alexander asked, "Do you regret it?"


    Getty closed her eyes, hesitating.


    To say she didn''t regret it would be a lie.


    But regret was useless.


    After a while, she answered, "I regret it."


    She added, "I don''t regret saving you, but I regret that even after all this, I couldn''t earn your pity. I regret risking my life for nothing."


    As she spoke, tears fell again, soaking her sleeves.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now!


    Alexander was silent for a long time before helping her up.


    Getty still turned her head, avoiding his gaze.


    She heard Alexander say, "When you do something expecting a reward, you''re destined to be disappointed."


    Getty was stunned.


    Alexander continued, "People are greedy. They will never be satisfied."


    His voice was calm, almost chilling.


    "So?" Getty asked.


    "So, don''t be so foolish next time," Alexander added.


    Gettyughed, herughter mixed with sobs, making it hard to tell if she was crying orughing.


    "Yes, I''m a fool, but I was proud of it because you said you liked my simplicity and innocence," Getty said, almost hysterical. She turned her head abruptly, meeting Alexander''s gaze.


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    Her disfigured face was exposed right in front of him.


    Getty''s face was even more terrifying than imagined, covered in brown scars. Her nose was copsed, t and broad, with her nostrils slightly upturned. Alexander didn''t react much, only his eyes flickered.


    "Do you still like me like this?" Getty stared at him, exposing all her embarrassment and ugliness.


    But she didn''t see the expression she imagined on Alexander''s face.


    She didn''t know if he had a strong mental fortitude or if he truly didn''t care about her appearance.


    "No," Alexander answered bluntly.


    This left Getty stunned, unable to respond.


    After a long time, she finally said, "Didn''t you say looks don''t matter?"


    "Yes, but that''s a different matter," he answered nonchntly.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    He blocked all of Getty''s words, leaving her torn between admiring his honesty and being saddened by his ruthlessness.

 Chapter 920

    Alexander suddenly stood up, picked Getty up from the floor, and put her back on the bed.


    His actions showed that not caring about her looks was different from not liking her.


    He really didn''t care about her appearance and didn''t dislike her for it. He still gently picked her up.


    Then he bluntly told her he wouldn''t like her as she was.


    This side of Alexander made Getty both love and hate him.


    Alexander said, "Don''t do anything foolish again. If you care about your looks, once you recover, I''ll find the best stic surgeon for you."


    Getty turned away, still too scared to face him with her current appearance. After all, he was the person she loved deeply.


    "Will stic surgery help? No matter what I do, I can''t go back to how I was." Getty had calmed down, but thinking about her future made her feel hopeless.


    Even if Alexander said he liked her now, she wouldn''t believe it. She couldn''t even look at her own face, let alone expect others to.


    Even if Alexander proposed to her right now, she no longer had the confidence or courage to ept. She could only ept her ruined life.


    It didn''t matter if she became Alexander''s wife.


    She would have nothing to boast about. People would mock her and look down on her.


    Without her good looks, she suddenly lost all desires. Money, power, honor-they all seemed worthless to her.


    Alexander said, "Not necessarily."


    Getty didn''t even have the desire to speak now.


    She was silent for a long time, trying to calm herself. After a while, she finally said, "Can you promise me two things?"


    "Go ahead," Alexander replied immediately.


    "First, help me find my biological parents," Getty said.


    Alexander nodded slightly, "Okay."


    Getty didn''t want to return to her family. She just wanted to see what her parents, who had abandoned her, looked like and ask them why she was less than Ruby. Why did they abandon her?


    "And the other?" Alexander asked.


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    Getty thought for a moment and said, "The other thing is, can youe see me every day?"Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    As she spoke, she instinctively looked at his face. When she realized what she was doing, she was too tired to avoid it.


    Getty said, "I''ve already ended up like this. Although I saved you voluntarily, it''s also a fact that I became like this because of you. This request isn''t too much, is it?" Alexander looked at her without hesitation and responded, "It''s not too much."


    "Then if you promise me these two things, we''ll be even. You won''t owe me anything, and you don''t have to feel guilty, although you probably don''t feel much guilt anyway." After saying this, Getty quietly looked at him, waiting for his answer.


    If she couldn''t make him fall in love with her, she would at least try to spend as much time with him as possible.


    And what she needed most now was hispanionship. It was the only thing keeping her going.

 Chapter 921

    Alexander thought for a while before saying, "I''ll do my best."


    He didn''t give a straight answer, but for Getty, this was moreforting than a definite yes.


    From past experience, the quicker he agreed, the more likely he was to break his promise. A thoughtful response meant he was serious. Getty finally smiled, though her smile was more unsettling than no smile at all.


    Outside, Quinn heard everything.


    She gave a bitter smile and quietly left.


    She hade to say goodbye to Abigail before heading to the filming location but ended up overhearing Getty''s requests.


    Once again, she saw Alexander''s unconditional favoritism towards Getty.


    No matter what Getty asked, he would agree. Even her disfigured face didn''t lessen her importance to Alexander.


    So, why did he insist on keeping her around?


    Quinn couldn''t figure it out. She walked out of the hospital, and the sun was hidden behind clouds. It looked like it was about to rain. She sat in the car, with two bodyguards driving.


    Quinn took out her phone, found Walter''s Facebook, and opened the chat. No new messages.


    His silence made her doubt if he really meant it when he said he''d take her away.


    Her fingers tightened, and for a moment, she thought about leaving on her own.


    But she didn''t dare risk it. If she got caught, she''d never get another chance.


    Quinn sighed, put her phone away, and pushed the thought aside.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Back at the filming location, everyone had arrived except Maya.


    As soon as Ronald saw her, he asked, "Didn''t you go to call Maya?"


    Quinn looked around and frowned. "She didn''te?"


    "If she did, would I be asking you? How could you not bring one person here?" Ronald snapped.


    Quinn exined, "She came in the morning, but you all had left. She probably got tired of waiting and went back."


    Ronald was so angry heughed. "She''s already a handful, and now you''re adding to it. Did you two fight? Is that why she''s not here?"


    Quinn shot back, "She made me her assistant to make things difficult for me, didn''t she?"


    That shut Ronald up. Maya made her an assistant just to cause trouble, and Ronald had approved it. So, it wasn''t really Quinn''s fault. He shared the me too. Ronald got even more frustrated. He put his hands on his hips and paced.


    Then he said angrily, "Stop filming. Do whatever you want. This isn''t mypany. I don''t owe you anything!"


    With that, he kicked a trash can and drove off.

 Chapter 922

    The crowd stood around, looking confused.


    "What now? Are we really done filming?" someone asked, puzzled.


    "Ronald''s already left. What''s the point?" A few others left too, and soon, everyone was gone.


    Helen stayed behind. She walked up to Quinn and said, "Ronald''s always like this. Don''t take it personally. It''s not the first time." Quinn smiled a bit. "I''m not upset. I didn''t do well, so it''s understandable he''s mad."


    "It''s not your fault. You''ve just started. It''s Maya who often makes Ronald so angry he stops working," Helen defended Quinn.


    Helen nced around and saw everyone had left. She whispered to Quinn, "Ronald wants to switch teams, but Ernest won''t allow it. Plus, Ernest always sides with Maya. We all think Maya and Ernest have something going on." Quinn was surprised by the gossip.


    Helen lowered her voice, "Don''t tell anyone. I just heard it from others, and it might not be true. Yesterday, Mr. Kennedy came by, and I think she might have something with him instead."


    Alexander''s visit to the set yesterday was odd. The only exnation was a rtionship with Maya.


    Quinn pressed her lips together and stayed quiet.


    "Looks like we have the afternoon off. Quinn, want to go out or head home?" Helen asked.


    Quinn paused, then shook her head. "I don''t want to go home."


    "Thene shopping with me. We just got paid, and I''ll treat you to coffee," Helen suggested excitedly.


    Quinn wanted to go to the hospital but decided to go shopping with Helen instead.


    She couldn''t remember thest time she went shopping-probably before Christmas at Sylvadora or before she married Alexander, back when he didn''t have a girlfriend.


    Back then, he would take her out to have fun, watch movies, eat good food, and go to amusement parks. He knew all the best spots.


    He seemed like he could do anything. Whatever she wanted to eat, he could find the best ce, whether in a busy mall or a quiet street. There was no ce he couldn''t find.


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    Those were the only happy times she had while living under someone else''s roof.


    He was her only light.


    That''s why she loved Alexander so deeply and couldn''t find a reason to hate him. Quinn absentmindedly followed Helen. The mall was just across the street.


    Once inside, Helen got them coffee, and they wandered around.


    After a while, Helen looked at a lot of clothes but didn''t buy anything.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Quinn was getting tired and asked, "Helen, what are you looking to buy?"


    Helen shrugged. "Nothing, just browsing. My sry can''t afford anything here except coffee and food." "Really?" Quinn looked surprised.


    Helen did the math. "My base sry is five thousand dors. With bonuses, it''s just over ten thousand."


    She calcted, "Rent is three thousand, food is about two thousand,muting costs three hundred if I don''t take a cab, and phone bills are seven hundred. That''s already six thousand gone."


    "Then look at the clothes here. The cheapest ones are seven or eight thousand. Do you think I can afford them?"


    The more Quinn listened, the more shocked she became. She hadn''t realized a ten-thousand-dor sry could be so tight.


    During her divorce with Alexander, he froze her cards, making her realize how hard life was without money, though it was only for a short time.


    After that, she hardly spent any money, or rather, she didn''t spend her own money, so she didn''t know how much a regr person needed to live in the city.


    Now she knew.


    Just moments ago in the car, she was thinking about how to escape, without considering how she would survive once she did.

 Chapter 923

    Helen reminded her to save money before leaving Amber Bay and figure out a way to leave.


    "Quinn, what''s on your mind?" Helen waved her hand in front of Quinn''s face. "Don''t be upset. Your sry will go up over time." Helen thought Quinn was upset about the low pay.


    Quinn forced a smile. "I know, I''ll work hard."


    She still didn''t know her sry. Kyle hadn''t handled any of the onboarding or mentioned pay after bringing her over. Quinn wanted to ask Kyle about it.


    After walking around for a bit, Helen sighed. "These clothes are so beautiful. I wonder when I can buy them freely." Quinn reassured her, "Soon."


    Helen smiled. "You always know what to say. Done shopping?"


    Quinn shook her head. "I want to go back."


    She was exhausted and just wanted to sleep.


    Helen suggested, "Let''s go. I should head back too."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Helen linked arms with Quinn as they left the mall. "Now that you''re here, I finally have a friend. The other two women in the department are married and busy with their kids. No one goes shopping with me."


    She rambled on, saying how lonely it was working at thispany.


    Some colleagues pursued her, but Helen didn''t want to date or get married. She enjoyed her freedom.


    Quinn listened quietly, smiling.


    Though Helen didn''t have much money, Quinn saw the happiness she longed for in her.


    At the roadside, Helen hailed a cab and asked if Quinn wanted to share.


    Quinn declined since they were heading in different directions.


    After Helen left, Quinn noticed the two bodyguards nearby.


    They kept their distance but stayed within her sight, blending in when people were around.


    Quinn was about to ask them to take her back to Regal Riverside when a ck Maybach pulled up.


    She recognized it as Alexander''s car.


    After a moment, she opened the door and got in.


    "Did you have fun?" Alexander asked.


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    Quinn looked at him. He was still in his ck suit, just as he was in Getty''s ward.


    A few hours ago, he was chatting with Getty in the same tone. Now he was asking her. It felt ironic.


    Quinn looked away, buckled her seatbelt, and said, "Yes, I had fun."


    "Then why the long face?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn turned to look out the window, ignoring him.


    Alexander started the car and drove off. They didn''t speak, and the car was eerily quiet.


    Suddenly, Quinn asked, "How much is my monthly sry now?"


    Alexander''s eyes flickered. "Why are you asking? Are you short on money?"


    Quinn lowered her head, having spent no money.


    Alexander had given her a card, but he had frozen it before, and she didn''t know if it was unfrozen.


    "No, just asking. I can''t work for free, can I?" Quinn shot back.


    Alexander chuckled. "How much do you want?"


    It sounded more like he was asking how much money she wanted.


    If she asked, he would transfer it immediately.


    But the money was his, and he could freeze it anytime.


    If she withdrew money often, he would notice. She didn''t want his money.


    If she earned her own, she could leave without attachments.


    Alexander, not getting a response, stopped at a red light and looked at her.


    Under his gaze, Quinn said softly, "Just pay me the normal employee sry."


    "Normal employee?" Alexander raised an eyebrow. "For your position, the internship sry is at most four thousand dors." Quinn looked at him in surprise.


    "Too low?" Alexander asked.


    "No." Quinn quickly looked away, afraid he''d see through her.


    Alexander stared at her for a moment, then smiled. When the light turned green, he restarted the car.

 Chapter 924

    The car soon pulled up at Regal Riverside.


    Olivia had dinner ready and was waiting.


    "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, you''re back. Wash up and eat," Olivia said, taking Alexander''s coat.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Quinn walked into the dining room and saw the familiar medicine again.


    She sighed, took the medicine, washed her hands, and came back to eat.


    After dinner, it got dark. The sky had been gloomy all afternoon, and now it was drizzling.


    Quinn was exhausted. She went upstairs, copsed on the bed, and fell asleep to the sound of rain.


    Alexander headed to his study.


    He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the rain with an unreadable expression.


    After a while, he opened the window, letting the rain drift in.


    He lit a cigarette, and the smoke mingled with the rain before disappearing into the night.


    Later that night, the rain got heavier. A thunderp jolted Quinn awake.


    She woke from a nightmare, gasping and staring at the ceiling, then touched her sweaty forehead.


    After calming down, she looked around the room.


    No one was there.


    Since thest time, Alexander hadn''te into this bedroom. Maybe he felt guilty.


    Quinn got out of bed. The window wasn''t closed properly, and rain hade in.


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    She went to close it. Just as she touched it, another thunderp and lightning startled her.


    A few secondster, the bedroom door opened, and Alexander walked in.


    He saw Quinn crouching on the floor, hands over her ears, head buried in her knees, trembling.


    She had just woken from a nightmare, and the thunder was too much.


    Quinn''s heart pounded, and she couldn''t even close the window.


    Suddenly, a pair of shiny leather shoes appeared, stunning her.


    She looked up, but before she could see clearly, Alexander crouched in front of her.


    His face was close, and Quinn''s gaze flickered.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "Did it scare you?" he asked softly.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, not wanting to speak, but her eyes betrayed her fear.


    Their gazes met, and the room was quiet except for the rain.


    It was a familiar scene as she had experienced this many times.


    The wall she built against him crumbled with a single thunderp.


    She was vulnerable and helpless again.


    As Quinn was lost in thought, another thunderp sounded. She forced herself not to throw herself into his arms.


    But then, Alexander pulled her into his embrace, her cheek hitting his solid chest.

 Chapter 925

    Alexander held her close, gently stroking her hair. "It''s just thunder. Don''t be scared," he whispered.


    With her cheek against his chest, she inhaled his familiar scent. The heavy rain drowned out his breathing. Lightning shed, overpowering the nightlight and casting the bedroom in stark white.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Thunder followed, sounding as if it were right next to Quinn''s ear through the open window.


    She shut her eyes, waiting for the thunder to fade.


    The rain got heavier, and they crouched under the window. Raindrops sshed in, chilling the back of her neck.


    After about half an hour, the rain eased, and the thunder retreated, muffled by the clouds.


    Quinn pushed away from him. "I''m fine, thanks."


    Alexander stared at her. Her face was still pale, and her damp hair hung on both sides, making her look like her old self.


    After a while, he stood up and closed the window.


    Then he bent down and helped her up. "It shouldn''t thunder again. Go to sleep."


    Quinn gave him aplicated look and then lowered her gaze.


    Alexander didn''t stay long. He looked at her for a moment, then left.


    Quinn watched the door slowly close.


    She walked to the bed and sat down, staring at the window. Outside was pitch ck, and her reflection was visible on the ss.


    Unable to sleep, she sat on the bed for half the night, listening to the rain until the sky brightened.


    She sighed, got up, and left the bedroom.


    The vi was quiet, with only Olivia bustling about. Sounds came from the dining room.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re up early today," Olivia said cheerfully. Lately, Quinn had been getting up even earlier than Alexander, which Olivia saw as a sign of recovery. Olivia thought happily, ''Things are looking up. My days will be better.''


    Quinn forced a smile.


    "Come have breakfast," Olivia said, setting the table.


    Quinn sat down and picked up the utensils. She instinctively nced at Alexander''s seat.


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    He had been getting upter andter, unlike the Alexander she knew.


    She didn''t dwell on it, grabbed her utensils, and started eating. Then she headed to the office.


    To her surprise, Maya was there, having arrived even earlier than Quinn.


    Everyone was surprised. Since Maya''s followers had surpassed five million, she hadn''t been seen at the office before ten.


    She was sitting on the couch reading a script, and no one dared to disturb her.


    When Helen saw Quinn, she walked over and whispered, "What happened between you two? It''s so unlike her to show up this early."


    Quinn nced at Maya. She didn''t know either.


    She guessed, ''Is Maya nning something against me? Or does she want to see someone, like Alexander?''

 Chapter 926

    Quinn quickly walked up to Maya and greeted her, "Maya."


    Maya looked up and smirked. "Finally, you''re here! You''re such a useless assistant, making me wait forever."


    She stood, tossed the script onto the sofa, crossed her arms, and looked down at Quinn.


    Maya mocked, "How about you be the blogger, and I''ll be your assistant?"


    Quinn stared at her for a moment before asking, "Anything you need me to do?"


    "Of course. It''s work hours, right?" Maya replied.


    "Yes," Quinn said.


    Maya pulled an A4 paper from her bag and handed it to Quinn. "This is my breakfast order. Go get it."


    Quinn nced at the list. It had about ten items, all from different ces. One dessert was from a food street six miles away.


    Maya smiled, "Go buy it. We''ll start working after I eat."


    Everyone realized Maya wasn''t early to work hard but to mess with Quinn. They thought they''d start early, but by the time Quinn got the breakfast, it would be lunchtime. Quinn asked, "Will travel expenses be reimbursed?"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Maya sneered, "You''re asking for travel reimbursement for breakfast? Are you that broke?"


    Quinn retorted, "How much do I make a month? Should I spend it all on travel for you? Reimburse me, or I won''t go."


    Maya was furious but knew Quinn had a point. With everyone watching, she couldn''t argue.


    "Fine! I''ll reimburse you! Here''s a hundred dors. Now go!" Maya threw two hundred dors at Quinn, one hundred for breakfast and one hundred for travel.


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    Quinn took the money and asked, "Anything else?"


    Maya, remembering Quinn''s recorder, sat back down, "No!"


    Quinn nodded and walked out.


    As Quinn left, Maya wondered why she felt angrier despite getting her way. Seeing everyone watching with amused looks, she felt like a clown.


    She didn''t know if she was making things hard for Quinn or if Quinn was ying her. She came early just to make a fool of herself.


    Gripping her bag tightly, she eventually stormed out.


    By the time Quinn returned with breakfast, Maya was gone.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Ronald was speechless and didn''t want toment on Maya''s temper anymore. He sat on the edge of the bed, smoking a cigarette.


    After finishing, he stood up and said, "Grab everything and go help Group Five with their shoot."


    The group was tense, and no one spoke.


    Quinn ced the breakfast on the table, grabbed her things, and went to the shooting location with the others.


    They were helping shoot another blogger. Group Five was too busy, so they were lending a hand.


    This blogger''s team wasn''t as famous as Maya''s, but the atmosphere was much better. They were cooperative and didn''t act like inte celebrities at all.


    They stayed in thepany to shoot an office scene.


    Quinn, with nothing to do, took out her phone and saw a message from Walter.

 Chapter 927

    Quinn was a bit surprised to get a message from Walter.


    She quickly walked to thepany entrance and spotted Walter''s car. Knowing Alexander''s bodyguards were watching from the shadows, she didn''t bother hiding. She just opened the car door and got in. Walter was inside, wearing his usual smile and suit.


    "How''s work been?" heasked, sounding concerned.


    Quinn smiled. "Pretty interesting."


    "Really? I heard Maya''s been giving you a hard time. You still find it interesting?" Walter said, surprised.


    Quinnughed, thinking of Maya''s angry face. "Yeah."


    Maya''s antics didn''t bother Quinn. Compared to Alexander and Walter, Maya''s schemes were child''s y. She didn''t take it to heart.


    Suddenly, Quinn remembered something. "Why did you want to see me? Is it because..."


    She didn''t finish, but Walter got it.


    Walter shook his head. "Not yet. I came to give you something."


    He pulled out an exquisite box from the glovepartment and handed it to Quinn. "Here."


    Quinn opened the box. Inside was a pendant, a hollow alloy sphere like a tiny bell, the size of a fingertip. She shook it, feeling something inside, but it made no sound.


    "What is this?" Quinn asked, curious.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter took the pendant from her hand, his fingers caressing the sphere. "Your birthday present."


    Quinn''s smile stiffened. "My birthday present?"


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    "Don''t you remember?" Walter asked.


    Quinn lowered her head. She really didn''t. For years, her birthday marked the day she joined the Kennedy family.


    Now that she thought about it, that birthday felt like a disgrace.


    It was more like the anniversary of Henry and Sophia''s death. She had celebrated her birthday on their death anniversary several times.


    If they knew, she couldn''t imagine what they''d think of her.


    "Come here, let me put it on you," Walter interrupted her thoughts.


    Quinn shook off her sadness and leaned towards Walter.


    Walter put the pendant around her neck and tidied her hair.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Quinn looked up and met his gentle gaze, momentarily stunned.


    They were very close, less than four inches apart.


    Quinn could clearly sense his breathing.


    His cool fingers wandered over Quinn''s cheek. As their eyes met, she saw an inscrutable look in Walter''s eyes.


    It seemed like he was looking at Quinn, but also through her, at someone else.


    Was it another woman, or her younger self? She couldn''t tell.


    He cupped Quinn''s face and murmured, "Didn''t you say you wanted to marry me when you grew up?"


    Quinn was slightly taken aback.

 Chapter 928

    Quinn was in a daze, and the gap between her and Walter kept shrinking. His face got closer until she could only see his eyes.


    Quinn jolted awake, straightened up, and put some distance between them. "I should get back to work," she said.


    She tried to open the car door but found it locked.


    Walter''s hand froze mid-air. Looking at her, he smiled and sat back. "You got scared," he said, unlocking the door. "I was just joking."


    Quinn gave him a suspicious look. His usual smile made her sigh in relief. For a moment, she thought about never seeing him again. Now, he exined it was a joke, making her emotions go up and down. Thinking back, Walter had teased her a few times since joining The Kennedy family. She knew he didn''t have feelings for her, but his behavior just now made her feel foolish.


    Blushing, she said, "Lucas, don''t joke like that."


    Walter tilted his head, not answering. Instead, he said, "Don''t take off the gift I gave you, okay?"


    Quinn looked at the pendant, sniffing a faint fragrance. "What''s inside this?" she asked.


    "Just ordinary spices," Walter replied.


    Quinn nodded and put the orb back under her clothes. "Okay, I won''t take it off."


    Walter stared at her for a long time, making her uneasy. "Alright, you can go now," he finally said. Quinn nodded and asked, "How much longer do I have to wait?"


    Walter, looking into the distance, said, "Not much longer."


    Seeing he wouldn''t say more, Quinn got out of the car. Walter watched her leave, his smile fading.


    Back at the office, filming was still ongoing. Quinn sat down at a workstation as an extra. Filming went smoothly, but it was gettingte, so Ronald told everyone to have dinner before continuing. Thepany had a cafeteria, and Helen took Quinn there. It was Quinn''s first time there, and she was surprised by its size.


    "Do you have a meal card?" Helen asked.


    Quinn shook her head. "No."


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    Helen exined, "You should get one from the logistics department. It has a monthly subsidy of fifty dors, and you can recharge it. Eating here is cost-effective."


    She handed Quinn her meal card. "Use mine today. Take any dish you want."


    Quinn followed Helen, picking dishes and checking out. She suddenly remembered Kyle hadn''t brought her medicine today. Skipping one dose shouldn''t hurt. Just as she found a ce to sit, Kyle called. She sighed and answered, "I''m eating. Can Ie outter?"


    Kyle replied, "Sure, but I''m not calling about the medicine."


    "Then what do you need?" Quinn asked.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    "Mr. Kennedy wants to see you," Kyle said.

 Chapter 929

    Quinn was a bit surprised. ''Alexander''s looking for me?''


    ''Why now?'' she wondered.


    Kyle didn''t give her a chance to ask. "Please finish your meal ande over here ASAP, or Mr. Kennedy mighte looking for you himself." Quinn felt uneasy. Before she could ask more, Kyle hung up.


    "What''s up?" Helen asked, concerned.


    Quinn put her phone away and forced a smile. "Nothing, let''s eat."


    Helen gave her a suspicious look. One call and Quinn''s mood changed; something was definitely up. But Helen didn''t press.


    Quinn quickly finished her meal, returned her tray, and headed to Alexander''s office.


    Having been there many times, she found it easily and knocked on the door.


    "Come in," Alexander''s voice called.


    Quinn opened the door and saw Alexander by the window, hands in his pockets, back to her.


    She paused, then walked over. "What do you want?"


    Alexander turned, looking down at her. The sunlight made it hard for her to see his face clearly.


    He stared at her without a word.


    She lowered her head to avoid his gaze. "If there''s nothing, I''ll get back to work."


    As she turned to leave, he grabbed her wrist. Her pupils contracted, and the next moment, her back hit the floor-to-ceiling ss.


    She looked up and saw Alexander''s face. He was now in the sunlight, his face almost glowing.


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    He leaned in and lifted her face with one hand.


    Quinn''s heart raced. What was he up to?


    His face got closer, almost kissing her.


    She tried to push him away, but he pinned her wrist against the ss.


    "What are you doing?" she shouted, angry. He''d been behaving for days, and now this.


    Their lips were almost touching, but he didn''t move closer.


    Finally, he spoke. "Walter can kiss you, but I can''t?"


    Quinn understood.


    She recalled what happened in the car and realized that if the bodyguards outside had seen it, it would have easily led to misunderstandings. But it wasn''t a misunderstanding; they were just as close as she and Alexander were now.


    "Aren''t you going to exin?" Alexander asked coldly.


    Quinn met his gaze and found it amusing. "Exin what?"


    Alexander squinted, silent.


    Quinn said, "We have no rtionship now. Why should I exin anything to you?"


    "No rtionship?" He pulled out a document and showed it to her. "Does this count as no rtionship?"Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Quinn saw the title "Marriage Certificate" and her eyes widened.

 Chapter 930

    "When did you do this?" Quinn asked, stunned.


    "Take a guess," Alexander said casually.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn yanked the marriage certificate from his hand and checked it. Sure enough, it was a photo of them, dated just yesterday! The photo looked familiar, like the one from their old marriage certificate.


    "I wasn''t even there. How did you get it?" Quinn asked, horrified.


    Alexander took the certificate back, smiling faintly. "Don''t worry about that. Just know we''re married now."


    Quinn stared at the certificate, her fingers tightening, anger building.


    She tried to tear it, but Alexander didn''t stop her.


    "Go ahead. It''s useless anyway," he said nonchntly.


    Quinn froze, remembering they needed it for a divorce.


    She crumpled the certificate in frustration. "Alexander, what the hell do you want?" she yelled, throwing it at him. "Is this fun for you?"


    The certificate fell to the ground between them.


    Alexander stayed calm. "Sure! We''re married. Isn''t that interesting?"


    Quinn''s anger felt powerless against him.


    Just like Maya''s anger towards Quinn.


    Quinn took a deep breath. "Let''s get a divorce."


    Alexanderughed, like hearing a joke.


    Quinn realized how pointless her words were. If divorce was an option, he wouldn''t have gotten the certificate.


    She turned to leave, but Alexander pulled her back, pinning her against the ss.


    "Exin now, as my wife," he demanded, gripping her shoulders.


    After a moment of struggle, Quinn gave up.


    She stared at Alexander, his deep eyes unreadable.


    Finally, she spoke softly, "Does it matter?"


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    "Exactly," Alexander replied seriously.


    Quinn''s gaze turned mocking.


    This was new for her. Her eyes were usually clear, but now they showed a crack, like a wed gem.


    It was jarring and annoying.


    Quinn mocked, "Do you want an exnation, or are you just fooling yourself? Alexander, why are you doing this?"


    For a moment, Alexander''s calm eyes wavered.


    But he quickly regained hisposure, smiling meaningfully.


    "It doesn''t matter. He shouldn''t exist anyway. I''ve let him go too many times," Alexander said threateningly.


    He caressed Quinn''s chin, speaking cruelly in a gentle voice, "Let''s just kill him."


    "Are you crazy?" Quinn asked, shocked.


    "Maybe," he replied softly.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Quinn knew he wasn''t joking. He was capable of anything. If he could harm his own family, a stranger was nothing.


    Quinn grabbed his sleeve, pleading, "Don''t! Please don''t kill him. I''m begging you."


    Alexander smirked. "And in what capacity are you begging me?"


    Quinn''s eyes flickered. She nced at the marriage certificate on the ground.


    She closed her eyes in despair, feeling helpless.


    No matter what she did, she couldn''t escape Alexander''s control.


    She was tired of feeling this way!


    Alexander''s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Is it that hard to answer? Seems he isn''t that important after all." Quinn found his words ironic.


    Admitting to being Alexander''s wife would prove Walter''s ce in her heart. Forcing her to admit it this way was ironic for Alexander too, wasn''t it?

 Chapter 931

    Quinn stayed quiet for a while before finally looking at Alexander.


    "Then go kill Walter," she said.


    Alexander looked shocked, disbelief shing across his face.


    "If you want to kill someone, just do it," Quinn said casually. "Haven''t you killed enough people already?"


    She scoffed, "Might as well kill them all-Walter, Abigail, Orion, everyone. Then you can''t threaten me anymore." Alexander just stared at her, silent.


    Quinn red back, not backing down.


    After a bit, when Alexander still didn''t speak, Quinn smiled, pushed him aside, and walked out of the office.


    This time, Alexander didn''t stop her.


    The marriage certificatey on the floor, out of ce in the tidy office.


    Kyle had just reached the door when he saw Quinn leaving. She ignored him and walked away before he could greet her.


    Kyle touched his nose and peeked into the office.


    Alexander was leaning on the desk, eyes closed, taking a deep breath.


    Kyle was about to go in when a loud noise startled him.


    He saw that Alexander had swept everything off the desk, even breaking theputer.


    The office was in a mess.


    Kyle stood at the door, unsure of what to do.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Alexander looked over at Kyle, making him instinctively straighten up.


    Alexander''s face was calm, despite the mess on the ground.


    Kyle awkwardly walked over and started picking things up, holding his breath.


    "Go. Inform Walter to take over thepany in Miami," Alexandermanded coldly.


    Kyle was taken aback. "Mr. Kennedy, do we have apany there?"


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    Alexander shot him a look, and Kyle quickly said, "Right, there''s a logistics site there. I''ll handle it."


    Alexander waved him off.


    "What if he refuses?" Kyle asked tentatively.


    "He doesn''t have a choice," Alexander replied coldly.


    Kyle wiped the sweat from his forehead, stood up, and bowed slightly. "Alright, I''ll arrange it immediately."


    He quickly left, not feeling confident about the task.


    Walter wasn''t easy to deal with. Would he reallyply?


    Kyle sighed and went to find Walter, who was calmly dealing with ounts in the finance department.


    Everyone else wasining, but Walter was leisurely drinking coffee while going through the books.


    "Mr. Smith," Kyle said, approaching him, "I have something to inform you."


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Walter paused and smiled. "What is it?"


    "Thepany in Miami has issues. Mr. Kennedy wants you to take over," Kyle announced.


    Walter smiled. "When?"


    "As soon as possible," Kyle replied.


    "Alright, I understand," Walter said calmly and continued with the books.


    Kyle was puzzled. Did he agree too easily?


    This wasn''t like the Walter he knew.


    Seeing Kyle still standing there, Walter nced at him. "Anything else?"


    Kyle gave him a suspicious look. "No, just get ready. Best if you leave by tomorrow or the day after."


    With that, Kyle turned and walked out.


    He still felt something was off and looked back at Walter, who remained calm.


    Kyle couldn''t figure out what Walter was thinking, so he decided to stop worrying and went back to report to Alexander.

 Chapter 932

    Quinn rushed back to the department, worried her earlier words might push Alexander to actually kill Walter.


    The team was on lunch break. She saw Helen by the window, ying on her phone.


    Quinn sat next to her on the sofa.


    Helen looked up and whispered, "Back so soon? Thought you went home to rest."


    Quinn smiled. "What are you up to?"


    "Reading the news. Check this out," Helen said, handing her the phone.


    Quinn saw news about Landon. Both the Kennedy Group and the police issued a statement that Landon drove off a cliff and died.


    Her eyes widened in shock.


    She knew Landon and Alexander were always at odds, but she didn''t expect Landon to die.


    Quinn didn''t buy the ident story. Alexander was clearly on a killing spree.


    She worried her words might have provoked him.


    Helen sighed, "Such a shame. He was young and promising, just took office."


    Quinn stayed silent, her mind racing.


    Helen continued, "But Landon''s death isn''t good for Alexander."


    Quinn was puzzled. "What do you mean?"


    Helen whispered, "People are hinting Alexander is suspicious. So many Kennedys have died in less than a year, even Freya''s in jail, and only Alexander is doing well."


    Helen asked, "If it were you, what would you think?"


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey!


    Quinn knew Alexander was behind it all.


    Helen reasoned, "But it''s strange. I don''t think Alexander is that kind of person."


    Quinn looked at her. "How can you tell?"


    Helen thought of his handsome, indifferent face. "Just a feeling. He already has everything. Why would he do this?"


    Quinn''s eyes flickered.


    She thought, ''Yeah, he has it all. What more could he want?''


    Helen was actually a fan of Alexander. She picked up her phone and started arguing with those badmouthing him. Despite being hated by many, he had many fans as well. Both sides argued fiercely, but it was pointless.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! It wouldn''t make Alexander notice them, nor would it lead to his downfall.


    All the arguments just boosted his poprity.


    It was amazing. Alexander never appeared on entertainment tforms or posted updates, yet he was more popr than some top celebrities.


    He probably didn''t even know how famous he was.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It was unprecedented.


    "Mr. Kennedy is really handsome," Helen sighed dreamily. Quinn nced over and saw a video of Alexander at an event.


    The video was blurry, clearly old. Alexander wore a white suit, exuding elegance, without his current coldness.


    Was this Alexander from ten years ago?

 Chapter 933

    Quinn looked a bit dazed, thinking, ''Can someone really change that much?''


    The old Alexander was a blur in Quinn''s memory, but the Alexander in Helen''s video was crystal clear, making the current Alexander seem like a different person.


    As Quinn was lost in thought, she heard the sound of high heels.


    She and Helen turned to see Maya had arrived.


    They thought Maya wouldn''t show up for the shoot again, but here she was in the afternoon.


    Maya scanned the room and found Quinn. She smiled and walked over.


    Quinn watched her suspiciously, wondering what Maya was up to this time.


    Maya sat across from Quinn and greeted, "Good afternoon."


    Quinn and Helen exchanged nces, both sensing she had an agenda.


    Quinn asked, "Good afternoon. Need something?"


    Maya red at Quinn. "Just saying hello. Why so surprised? Rx, I''m not here to cause trouble."


    Quinn''s eyelid twitched. She didn''t buy it.


    Maya continued, "Don''t look at me like that. We''re in the same department. No need to make things ugly."


    She added, "I''m still under contract. Offending thepany doesn''t help me. It''s not worth it."


    She had a point. It seemed like she was targeting Quinn, but she was really going against thepany. It was rare for her to realize this.


    "Really?" Helen asked, somewhat relieved. If Maya didn''t cause trouble, life would be easier.


    "Of course. Why else would I be here?" Maya brushed her hair and smiled at Quinn again.


    Quinn frowned, still skeptical.


    Human nature was hard to change.


    Quinn hadn''t seen others change, but Alexander was a prime example.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey!


    However, to prove herself, Maya was very proactive in the afternoon. She even helped everyone out.


    Many were surprised.


    Some spected she might be crazy or had a fling with Alexander, putting her in a good mood.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    But since she wasn''t causing trouble, Quinn was happy to rx. She had little to do, just helping Maya with her bag and water.


    Maybe because she was too bored, Quinn got sleepy while they were shooting, yawning constantly.


    Helen noticed and asked, "Quinn, are you okay? Didn''t sleep wellst night?"


    "Maybe." Quinn rubbed her eyes and nced at the people still shooting.


    She hadn''t slept well in the second half of the night.


    Helen suggested, "Go home and rest early after work."


    Quinn nodded and yawned again.


    Judging by the situation, it would take at least another two hours to finish shooting. She sat in the chair, drooping her head, and didn''t know when she fell asleep. Someone pushed her several times, and Quinn suddenly woke up. She looked up nkly and saw many people standing in front of her.


    "Are you serious? You can sleep through this!" Maya snorted.


    Ronald added, "Are you feeling unwell? If so, you should go to the hospital."


    Suddenly being asked by so many people made Quinn uneasy, and she remembered she was still at work.


    She apologized, "Sorry, I didn''t sleep wellst night."


    Maya pouted, scoffing, "You really treat this ce like your home, sleeping whenever you want."


    The fact that she could sleep through all the noise was absurd.


    Ronald looked at her a few more times and then said, "Forget it, pack up and go home. We''re done for the day."

 Chapter 934

    Seeing Quinn was okay, everyone left.


    Quinn checked her phone-it was already 7 PM.


    She quickly got up to help move things. Some folks were heading back to the office for dinner, others were going home.


    After most people left, Quinn went to the nearest parking lot and took the bodyguard''s car home.


    When she got back, she was surprised Alexander wasn''t there.


    Only Olivia was waiting. She smiled and said, "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re back?"


    Quinn nodded and asked, "Is he noting back?"


    Olivia replied, "Mr. Kennedy said he had something to do and would be backte. He asked you to eat first."


    Quinn felt uneasy.


    She suddenly thought about Alexander''s talk of killing Walter. Could his business be rted to that?


    "ed to use the restroom," Quinn said quickly. She rushed upstairs, locked herself in the room, and called Walter.


    However, his phone was off.


    She kept calling, but it stayed off.


    Desperate, she tried a voice call, but no answer.


    How could this be?


    Her heart raced, and she clutched her phone tightly. A sh of lightning outside startled her.


    Quinn checked her contact list, took a deep breath, and then called Alexander.


    He answered quickly, his deep voice asking, "What''s up?"


    Quinn tried to stay calm, "Where are you?"


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey!


    "Out," Alexander replied.


    Quinn didn''t know how to ask without provoking him. If Walter wasn''t dead yet, he might be because of her question.


    Noticing her silence, Alexander asked again, "What is it?"


    "It''s going to rain, and I''m a bit scared. Can youe back?" Quinn''s voice sounded scared and pitiful.


    Alexander chuckled, his voice softening, "Alright."


    Quinn hung up, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, hoping her plea would make Alexander spare Walter.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    If Alexander had any sense, he would know what killing Walter would mean.


    Quinn waited anxiously for over half an hour. She heard a car engine outside and got nervous.


    Soon, Alexander walked in.


    Quinn immediately stood up, staring at him.


    He walked slowly to her, looked at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Have you eaten?"


    Quinn shook her head. "I was waiting to eat with you."


    Alexander stared at her for a long time, making Quinn''s scalp tingle.


    Just when she couldn''t bear his gaze any longer, he smiled slightly and pulled her into his arms. "Don''t wait for me next time. Let''s go."


    Quinn hadn''t done hisundry in a long time, yet he still carried a faint scent that evoked indescribable feelings in her.


    Quinn followed him to the dining room. She ate absentmindedly, ncing at Alexander from time to time.


    But she couldn''t discern anything and didn''t dare to ask.


    After dinner, she took her medicine, and for the first time, it seemed tasteless.

 Chapter 935

    Alexander nced at Quinn and suddenly pulled out a candy from his pocket, handing it to her.


    Quinn was momentarily stunned and took the candy. "Thanks."


    He smiled brightly. "You''re wee."


    To Quinn, that smile seemed fake.


    He wasn''t clueless. They had shed earlier, and now she was acting all nice. He knew she had an agenda.


    But he decided to y along.


    ying dumb was his specialty.


    Quinn lifted her lips into a smile.


    Unsure how to ask her questions, Quinn simply went upstairs to sleep.


    In the bathroom, she looked at the candy and tossed it in the trash.


    She turned on the shower, letting cold water pour over her. The weather was chilly, and the water felt even colder.


    She touched the bell around her neck, opened her eyes, and stared at it.


    Walter''s face popped into her mind, and she felt a bit lost.


    Even if Walter wasn''t a good person, he was herst family and onlyfort in this lonely world.


    No matter how bad he was, her heart always leaned towards him.


    Quinn was deep in thought when there was a knock on the door.


    "Quinn, are you done?" Alexander''s voice called.


    Quinn quickly turned off the faucet, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around herself. "Yes," she replied as she walked out.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey!


    She opened the door and saw Alexander leaning against the doorway, looking at her calmly.


    His gaze moved to the bell around her neck.


    Quinn''s heart skipped a beat, and she forced a smile. "Do you want to shower?" Alexander looked back into her eyes and brushed her wet hair aside.


    "Why didn''t you dry your hair first?" he asked.


    Quinn was surprised. He had already grabbed a towel and started drying her hair.


    She stood still, letting him dry her hair. He was skilled, having done this many times before.


    Once her hair was mostly dry, he led her to sit by the bed and took out a hairdryer.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! It started raining outside, the raindrops hitting the window, blending with the sound of the hairdryer.


    Quinn''s mind wandered, and old feelings resurfaced.


    She didn''t feel happy, just a cold loneliness.


    When the hairdryer stopped, the room was silent except for the rain.


    Alexander turned to leave, but Quinn grabbed his sleeve.


    He paused and looked back at her.


    Quinn looked up at him, opened her mouth, but couldn''t speak.


    Alexander sat back down beside her and lifted her chin. "What''s wrong? Afraid to sleep alone?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together and stared at him for a few seconds.


    Suddenly, she threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

 Chapter 936

    Alexander nced at Quinn, his eyes flickering.


    Her messy hair almost covered her face.


    He found it kind of funny. "What are you doing?"Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Quinn looked up, her clear eyes meeting his. After a pause, she muttered, "I... I''m scared to sleep alone." "Really?" Alexander sounded skeptical.


    "Yes," Quinn replied.


    They locked eyes for a long moment. Alexander''s fingers brushed her lips. "All cleaned up?"


    Quinn nodded stiffly.


    Then, he leaned in and kissed her.


    Quinn clutched his cor, closing her eyes. She knew what wasing.


    So, she didn''t resist.


    His kiss was intense, making it hard for her to breathe. Her face blushed, and she felt dizzy.


    She shivered as he tossed her towel away.


    Before she could react, he pushed her onto the bed, pressing down on her.


    His fingers trailed down, and his kisses moved from her lips to her neck.


    Quinn gripped the bedsheet and whispered, "Where''s Walter?"


    The mood shattered, and Alexander stopped.


    After a brief silence, he lifted his head and met her eyes.


    "Finally said it?" he asked.


    Quinn looked away, feeling futile.


    She had forgotten how rational Alexander was. Even in bed, he wouldn''t let lust cloud his judgment.


    He had known her intentions from the start and just yed along.


    Quinn braced herself. "Is he still alive?"


    Alexander sneered, turning her head to face him.


    "For him, you sacrificed so much? Even using sex with me as a bargaining chip." His fingers lingered on her face, his tone calm. "You really are devoted." Quinn was taken aback.


    She shot back, "You know our rtionship, so why provoke me?"


    Alexander''s lips curled into a cold smile. "Of course I know. Your childhood sweetheart, the one you always wanted to marry. Too bad you ended up with me." Quinn tried to speak but was silenced by his fingertip on her lips.


    Alexander stated coldly, "You want to say that if it weren''t for me and Ulysses, you two would be happy now, right?"


    Quinn stayed silent, closing her mouth.


    It wasn''t exactly what she wanted to say, but close enough.


    Alexander imed, "But he really is patient, hiding it so well. Even now, no signs."


    Quinn''s eyes widened, her heartbeat quickening with unease.


    "What do you mean?" she asked.


    Alexander replied, "Nothing much. Since you''re so eager to please me for info about him, I''ll give you a chance."


    Quinn''s eyes flickered in confusion, but before she could figure it out, he moved off her.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! He walked to the sofa, lit a cigarette. "Why don''t you do something interesting?"


    Quinn frowned. "What do you mean by interesting?"


    He crossed his legs, nonchnt. "Think for yourself. Make me happy, and I''ll tell you."


    Quinn climbed off the bed, staring at him.


    She couldn''t think of anything.


    So she asked, "Can you just tell me what you want me to do?"


    Alexander''s gaze made her scalp tingle as she sensed his intentions were indecent.


    He bent down, opened a drawer, and took out a wooden box, tossing it onto the bed.


    The box fell open, spilling various adult toys.


    Quinn''s pupils contracted in shock.


    She recognized them. Alexander had used them to test if she could make a sound. After a few tries, he lost interest.


    She understood he wanted her to use them to please him now.

 Chapter 937

    Quinn slowly lifted her head and stared at him in disbelief.


    "Alexander," she said.


    He paused, looking up, waiting for her to continue.


    Quinn''s fingers tightened around the box, her eyes locked on him. "What do you think I am to you?"


    Alexander just stared back, not saying a word.


    They held each other''s gaze for a long time. This time, Alexander looked away first, taking a drag from his cigarette, smoke swirling around him.


    After a moment, he looked back at her. "Weren''t you the one who came on to me?"


    He smirked. "I thought you''d do anything for him."


    Quinn''s knuckles turned white, her eyes reddening.


    She had believed his efforts to keep her meant he had changed.


    But he hadn''t; he still did whatever he wanted and humiliated her whenever he was upset.


    Maybe she was wrong. How could someone so cold ever change?


    Maybe he never cared about her; it was all about control.


    Like a kid with a favorite toy, he wouldn''t let anyone else have it, but he''d still y with it however he wanted.


    A toy.


    She had always been his toy.


    Alexander suddenly stood and walked to the door. "If you can''t do it, don''t use cheap tricks. The more you use them, the less they''re worth."


    Quinn understood the undertone in his words; he was basically calling her cheap.


    She forced a smile. "If I do it, will you let him go?"


    Alexander paused at the door.


    He turned slightly. "With that sad face, do you think any man would be interested? If you want to seduce someone, go to The Cube and learn from its exotic dancers." With that, he walked out without looking back.


    Quinn sat on the bed, dazed. The rain outside pounded harder against the window.


    She wiped her tears, looked at the items on the bed, put them back in the box, and tossed it on the bedside table.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    Downstairs, Alexander drove away from Regal Riverside.


    At The Cube.


    The waiter brought more bottles of strong liquor; several empty ones already littered the table.


    In the dim private room, Alexander sat alone. The screen was off, and only a few night lights were on.


    Brenda Butler walked over, sat next to him, and poured him a drink.


    "Sir, why are you drinking alone? It''s no fun," she said charmingly. Alexander nced at her.


    Brenda handed him the ss, smiling. "Something on your mind?"


    He took the ss and downed it in one gulp.


    "Get out," he said coldly.


    Instead of leaving, Brenda poured him another drink. "I''m just want to apany you. It''s my job. As long as you pay, I can drink with you for days," she said.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! She was the fifth woman toe in; the others had all been kicked out.


    Everyone knew they could make money in this room, so they all wanted a shot. If they stayed, it was at least ten thousand dors.


    "Really?" Alexander asked.


    "Of course. In our line of work, it''s all about the money. No money, no drinks," Brenda replied naturally.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Alexander looked at her thoughtfully. "If I wanted to buy you for a lifetime, how much would it cost?"


    Brenda was momentarily stunned, but she wasn''t a greenhand who would be easily swayed by Alexander''s words.


    She didn''t think he had fallen for her, wanted to marry her, or make her his mistress.


    If she answered wrong, she''d be kicked out like the others.


    She smiled. "Depends on what you''re buying."


    "What do you think you have?" Alexander asked again.


    She thought for a moment. "If you''re talking organs, a kidney''s at least forty thousand dors, right? If it''s for sex, The Cube''s rate is eighteen hundred a night. That''s quite a bit." She finished with a smile. "So, what do you want to buy?"

 Chapter 938

    Alexander chuckled and downed his drink.


    He rubbed the ss and said, "What if I buy both the person and the heart?"


    "The heart?" Brendaughed. "The heart''s the least valuable. If you buy me, the heart''s free."


    Alexander smirked. "Yeah, it''s worthless."


    "Are you talking about love?" Brenda sighed. "For some, love''s a bonus. For others, it''s a burden."


    Alexander stayed silent, pouring himself more drinks.


    Brenda continued, "Love can''t be eaten or spent like money. But for some rich folks, it''s rare and precious."


    "Too much power can be lonely," Brenda remarked.


    Alexander paused, then leaned back, lit a cigarette, and smoked quietly.


    Brenda teased, "Even rich people have their troubles, huh?"


    Alexander sneered, "This ce must be good."


    Brenda agreed, "Of course, or people wouldn''te here."


    Alexander said, "A ce that breeds someone as glib as you."


    Brenda was momentarily stunned but quicklyposed herself.


    "Sorry, I spoke out of turn. I''ll drink as an apology," she said, downing a few sses.


    Alexander didn''t stop her. When she finished, he tossed a card on the table.


    Brenda looked puzzled. "What''s this?"


    Alexander coldly said, "Let''s see if you can drink for three days and nights."


    Brenda panicked, ncing at the card.


    "One million dors," Alexander said.


    Brenda forced a smile. "Alright, I''ll start drinking."


    Alexander watched her.


    Brenda turned on the wall monitor, picked up the mic, and said, "Just drinking is boring. I''ll sing and drink for you." Alexander sipped his drink, saying nothing.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Brenda had good tolerance and was smart. She danced and sang to reduce her drinks.


    Alexander let her be.


    Even with her high tolerance, drinking for three days straight was impossible.


    When Kyle found them the next day, he was surprised. Alexander usually disliked the barmaid at The Cube.


    Now he was partying with one all night. Kyle wondered if he was dreaming or if Alexander was acting out of character.


    He quickly walked over, leaned down, and whispered, "Mr. Kennedy, Walter left yesterday afternoon. Our people saw him board the ne." Alexander toyed with his ss and muttered, "What''s he nning?"


    Kyle was confused. "Mr. Kennedy, you think he agreed too easily?"

 Chapter 939

    Alexander smoked quietly, deep in thought.


    Kyle said, "But Mr. Kennedy, now that he''s gone, he won''t bother Mrs. Kennedy anymore."


    Alexander replied coldly, "Let''s hope so."


    Kyle asked, "Heading to the office today?"


    Alexander nced at him, and Kyle got the hint. He smiled nervously, "Mr. Kennedy, you go ahead. I''ll leave now."


    He awkwardly nced at Brenda, who was dozing with the microphone, and slipped out.


    Once he left, Brenda slumped on the sofa, looking at Alexander miserably. "Sir, let''s take a break. Money''s important, but life is more important."


    Alexander snickered, "Scared of dying?"


    Brenda shot back, "Who isn''t? Aren''t you?"


    Alexander stared at his half-burnt cigarette, the ember glowing and fading, his expression unreadable.


    Brenda sat with the phone, smiling. "Sir, you''re different from others."


    "How so?" Alexander inquired.


    Brenda said, "Hard to exin, but you''re just different. You''re above it all, noble but detached."


    She added, "Others are too worldly."


    Alexander''s smile turned mocking. "Are you saying I should die?"


    Brenda''s face changed, "Of course not! But now that you mention it, I think I know how you''re different."


    "What is it?" Alexander asked.


    Brenda analyzed, "You seem indifferent to life and death. Are you a believer in God? But I''ve seen many believers, and they don''t have your aura."Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    "Belief in God?" Alexander sneered, "Even God can''t help me."


    "Is it that serious?" Brenda asked, surprised.


    Alexander changed the subject, "We''re out of wine."


    Brenda knew he didn''t want to continue. She stood up. "I''ll call for more. Just a moment, I might need to change."


    After drinking all night, she reeked of alcohol.


    Quinn didn''t know when she fell asleep, but when she woke up, it was noon. She checked her phone-twelve o''clock. But it was Saturday, so that was good.


    She rubbed her eyes and got out of bed, her body aching. While dressing, she saw the box again.


    Quinn stared at it, feeling uneasy. She quickly picked it up and threw it in the trash.


    Downstairs, Olivia urged her to eat, "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy went outst night and hasn''te back."


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Quinn didn''t react. She picked up a bowl of medicine. "It''s none of my business. No need to tell me next time."


    Olivia paused, realizing they had argued again.


    She sighed. Every time they fought, she suffered.


    Olivia said, "You eat first. I''ll go feed Liberty and Buddy."


    "Who are they?" Quinn asked, puzzled.


    Olivia reminded her, "The two dogs you brought back. I named them Buddy and Liberty."


    Olivia added, a bit embarrassed, "They''re used to the names now, so it might be hard to change them."


    Quinn remembered the dogs she brought down from the mountain.


    She hadn''t fed them twice, so she stopped eating to check on them.


    They were in the yard. Because she and Alexander often argued, Olivia kept them locked up to avoid annoying Alexander and getting them killed.

 Chapter 940

    Quinn and Olivia walked into the yard where the dogs were still snoozing.


    Their doghouse was a custom two-story vi built by Sean.


    Catching their scent, the dogs came out, tails wagging at Quinn and Olivia.


    "Let them out," Quinn ordered.


    "Okay." Olivia opened the cage, and the dogs bolted out, running wild in the yard. Quinn watched, a bit dazed.


    They''d grown so much.


    Standing up, the dogs were almost waist-high to Quinn. She squatted and called them. They tilted their heads, then rushed over.


    They circled Quinn, tails wagging, rubbing against her.


    Quinn smiled faintly and petted their heads.


    Olivia reminded her, "Mrs. Kennedy, let''s eat first. The medicine will get even more bitter if it cools down."


    Quinn paused, nodded, let the dogs go, washed her hands, ate, took her medicine, and then yed with the dogs a bit more.


    With no work in the afternoon, she headed to the hospital to see Abigail.


    Abigail couldn''t move freely yet but was restless and insisted on going out with crutches.


    When Quinn got to the ward, Abigail wasn''t there, just a caregiver.


    The caregiver asked, "Ms. Mellon, here to see Ms. Vanderbilt?"


    "Where is she?" Quinn asked.


    "Upstairs visiting a friend. Want to wait? I can call her," the caregiver offered.


    "No need. I''ll find her myself," Quinn said.


    She left to go to Orion''s ce but was stopped by bodyguards before she could go upstairs.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy said you can''t see Mr. William," they said.


    Quinn frowned. He still wouldn''t let her see Orion.


    Was he trying to cut her off from Orion?


    She didn''t know how Orion was doing. "I just want to look from the door, not go in. Is that not allowed?" she asked. The bodyguards stood firm.


    "Sorry."


    Quinn felt a surge of anger. She red at them. If it weren''t for them tattling, she wouldn''t be unable to contact Walter now.


    She wanted to see Orion, but they blocked her at every turn.


    "If you don''t let me up, I''ll tell Alexander you harassed me," Quinn threatened.


    The bodyguards were momentarily speechless.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! "Mrs. Kennedy, we''re just following orders. Please don''t make it hard for us. Last time you saw Mr. William, so now we''re your bodyguards," they exined.


    Quinn was stunned. She hadn''t noticed before, but they were different from the previous two.


    "What happened to them?" she asked.


    "Don''t know," one replied.


    Quinn let out a wryugh. Alexander hadn''t changed a bit.


    What she knew was already hard to ept. How much more didn''t she know? How many more unforgivable things had he done?


    The thought made her uneasy.


    Quinn tried to negotiate again, "I''ll take a look. If neither of us tells, he won''t find out."


    The bodyguards looked troubled.


    Seeing this, Quinn angrily took out her phone and called Alexander.

 Chapter 941

    The bodyguard quickly snatched Quinn''s phone. "Mrs. Kennedy, please hurry. Just take a quick look, okay?"


    Quinn was surprised. She had wanted to call Alexander to scold him, not to tattle.


    But since they agreed, she didn''t exin. She put her phone away and headed upstairs. "Got it. Thanks."


    As she went up, the bodyguards sighed in relief, wiping sweat from their foreheads.


    If it was found out that Quinn went to see Orion, they might get a beating. But if she used them of molestation, they might lose their lives. They knew which was the lesser evil.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Quinn had be more difficult since she started speaking.


    Quinn quickly reached Orion''s ward. The door was open, but she didn''t go in to avoid trouble for the bodyguards.


    She stood at the door and looked inside. Orion and Abigail were ying cards with another person she didn''t recognize, probably a caregiver.


    Orion seemed to be recovering well. He wore a neck brace, and one leg and one arm were in casts.


    Their card-ying movements were stiff.


    "I won again, sorry. Where should I draw this time?" Abigail, with both hands in casts, clumsily held a pen with two fingers.


    She asked the caregiver, "Can you help me out?"


    The caregiver lifted her arm to reach Orion''s face.


    Orion looked helpless. "Enough already. My face is almost covered with your drawings!"


    Abigail grinned wickedly, drawing a turtle. "It''s your fault for being bad at cards. How can you think about marrying Quinn with skills like that?"


    "What do you mean?" Orion asked, agitated.


    Abigail scoffed, "I just feel sorry for Quinn''s poor judgment. She really has bad taste in partners, made the wrong choice twice."


    Orion was displeased. "That''s nonsense. How am I not good enough? I''m way better than Alexander! I think you''re the one with poor judgment, no wonder you''re still single!" Hearing this, Abigail pressed harder, causing Orion to cry out in pain.


    "What are you doing! I''m bleeding!" Orion eximed.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    "You''re not that fragile! No blood. Suck it up!" Abigail roared back.


    "You''re so vicious!" Orion used.


    Abigailughed. "Yeah, unlike you, you''re fragile but kind-hearted. Now stop moving, I''m almost done with this drawing."


    Orion suddenly raised his hand to push her away, angrily saying, "Who are you calling fragile? I''m very strong!"


    Abigail shot back, "Getting angry now, huh? Who was the one crying earlier?"


    Orion froze, his face turning red. "That was because of the pain. I told you countless times, those were reflex tears! I don''t believe you didn''t cry!"


    Abigail rebutted, "Do you think I''m like you? I didn''t cry."


    Seeing them having so much fun, Quinn quietly turned and left.


    As long as they were okay, she was relieved.


    With Alexander by her side, she could never fit in and have fun like they did.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Only by staying far away from them could they be happier.


    If it weren''t for her, they wouldn''t be lying here now.


    As Quinn went downstairs, she suddenly turned her head to look down the hallway.


    Her gaze fell on Getty''s room.


    The two bodyguards exchanged worried nces and called out, "Mrs. Kennedy."


    Quinn withdrew her gaze. "Let''s go."


    She knew they were afraid she would go and provoke Getty. Alexander probably knew about her eavesdropping outside Getty''s wardst time, which was why they were so nervous. Alexander was really protective of Getty.


    She wouldn''t visit Getty either, and even if she did, she wouldn''t know what to say.


    After all, before Alexander married her, he was first in a rtionship with Getty.

 Chapter 942

    On the way back, Quinn''s phone rang.


    She casually checked the caller ID and then sat up straight. It was Walter.


    Walter: [Don''t worry, I''m fine. Just got to Miami.]


    Quinn''s heart skipped a beat. She quickly typed: [Why are you in Miami?]


    Walter: [Alexander sent me to take over thepany here.]


    Quinn knew it was because of yesterday''s events. Alexander sent Walter far away to Miami. But why did Walter agree?


    If he was in Miami, how could he help her?


    Walter: [I''ll be back after handling things here. There''s still time, no rush.]


    Quinn: [What do you mean?]


    Walter: [It''s early here. I can still grab breakfast. The air''s nice, just a bit hot.]


    What was he trying to say?


    Quinn didn''t think he meant that. She couldn''t rely on Walter and had to figure things out herself.


    But no matter how smart she was, she couldn''t outsmart Alexander. Even Walter lost to him, and Landon was killed by him. What chance did she have?


    Quinn sighed and looked out the window. She stretched out her hand, sunlight falling on her slender fingers.


    ''The sun''s out. When will hopee into my life?'' she thought.


    It seemed Alexander hadn''t restricted her freedom, but she felt shackled everywhere.


    After returning, she slept all afternoon.


    In the evening, Olivia called her for dinner, and Alexander still hadn''te back.


    Quinn didn''t care. After eating, she went back to sleep.


    She spent the entire weekend in bed, only getting up to eat. When she woke up, she felt weak all over.


    ''Aren''t people with amnesia supposed to stop feeling sleepy once they recover? Why am I still so tired?'' she wondered.


    Quinn propped herself up on the bed. Maybe she had slept too much; she felt exhausted, even breathing was tiring. She sat on the edge of the bed to rest before dragging herself downstairs.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Olivia was worried. Quinn''s mental state had improved for a few days, but now she was lethargic again.


    Was she bored at home, needing to work and stay busy?


    "Mrs. Kennedy, are you alright?" Olivia asked.


    Quinn shook her head. "I''m fine."


    She went to the dining room and took the medicine on the table. After taking it, she had to rest for a while to recover.


    Just then, Kyle called.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Quinn weakly answered.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy is in trouble," Kyle said, unsure how to start.


    "What happened to him?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle took a deep breath. "Mr. Kennedy has been drinking at The Cube for two days and nights. Can you go and persuade him?"


    She hadn''t seen Alexander for two days and had just remembered him.


    "If he likes to drink, let him. What does it have to do with me?" Quinn said nonchntly.


    Kyle exined, "Mrs. Kennedy, his injuries haven''t healed yet. Not to mention the previous ones, the ones from falling off the cliff with you haven''t healed either. If he keeps drinking like this, his body won''t take it!" Quinn paused, and the scene of him protecting her as they rolled down the cliff shed in her mind. But it was quickly overshadowed by his words from two nights ago.


    Heined she didn''t know how to seduce men, so he went to The Cube to drink with barmaid. But what did that have to do with her?


    Kyle anxiously added, "Mrs. Kennedy, no matter what happened between you two, just think of it as repaying him for saving your life several times. You should go and persuade him, right?"


    He pressed, "Do you really want to see him die?"

 Chapter 943

    Kyle''sst words hit Quinn hard, leaving her a bit confused.


    She''d been thinking about escaping him but never considered letting him die.


    Kyle''s words threw her off.


    Quinn wondered, ''If Alexander died, would I be free?''


    She closed her eyes but couldn''t find an answer.


    This showed she didn''t want Alexander to die.


    She hung up, got up, and asked the bodyguard to drive her to The Cube.


    When she got there, the manager was at the door of Alexander''s private room. Seeing Quinn, he knew she was Alexander''s girlfriend.


    The manager asked, "Miss, are you a friend of Mr. Kennedy?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yes, what''s wrong with him?"


    The manager sighed, "He came the night beforest and hasn''t left. He orders a lot of alcohol at night and keeps drinking even when we close. It''s the same today." "I''m really worried about his health."


    The manager thought, ''If Alexander drinks himself to death here, it''ll be a big problem for me.''


    Quinn said, "Let me see."


    She pushed the door open, and the smell of smoke and alcohol made her cough.


    The room was dim. She almost tripped over a bottle as she walked in.


    When the bodyguard had the manager turn on all the lights, Quinn saw the mess.


    Bottlesy scattered everywhere - some empty, some full, some half-finished and spilled.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    The manager exined, "He wouldn''t let us clean up, so it''s this messy."


    Quinn saw Alexander in the corner, leaning on the sofa with a bottle in his hand, liquid dripping from it.


    As she got closer, she noticed a woman lying on the floor at Alexander''s feet. She didn''t know if the woman was dead or not.


    The manager called someone to carry the woman away. Quinn shook Alexander''s shoulder. "Alexander, wake up."


    His eyes were shut tight, brows furrowed, annoyed by her voice.


    At least he was alive.


    Quinn pushed him again.


    "Alexander!" she called.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! He finally reacted, opening his eyes a bit, but the light was too bright, so he raised his arm to block it.


    "Turn off the light," he rasped.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Quinn obeyed, leaving only the screen on the wall lit.


    She sat next to Alexander, moved his hand, and patted his cheek. "Alexander? Are you okay?"


    He tilted his head, his blurry gaze on her face. He didn''t speak, just looked at her.


    "Get up, I''ll take you home," Quinn said, trying to pull him up but failing.


    Instead, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. The next moment, he copsed onto her.


    His head rested on her shoulder, and he murmured, "Quinn."


    Seeing this, everyone else left and closed the door.

 Chapter 944

    Quinn was a bit surprised. "You''re still awake? Quit faking and get up."


    He rubbed his stubble against her neck, making her flinch.


    Quinn tilted her head away and pushed him. "Alexander, get up!"


    "Quinn, I''ll sing for you," Alexander murmured.


    He hugged her and whispered, "What do you want to hear?"


    Quinn shook her head. "I don''t want to hear anything."


    Ignoring her, he started singing softly in her ear.


    His voice was deep and melodic, each word filled with emotion.


    Quinn sat there, dazed, listening.


    After a few lines, his voice faded into a low chuckle, tinged with bitterness and loneliness.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered, momentarily forgetting to move.


    She had never heard him sing before, let alone with such feeling.


    She scoffed inwardly, ''Did he learn this from a barmaid?''


    While she was lost in thought, Alexander let go and slumped onto the sofa next to her.


    She turned to see him staring nkly at the ceiling, his shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing his Adam''s apple.


    Quinn reached out to pull him up. "Let''s go."


    He pulled her into his arms, making her fall onto him.


    Quinn struggled, but he held her tight.


    Just as she was about to lose her temper, Alexander''s low, hoarse voice came from above her head.


    "What should I do?"


    Quinn was stunned and looked up at him.


    His eyes were downcast, unfocused on her face.


    He closed his eyes again, as if talking to himself, "I have no way out."


    Quinn pressed her lips together, her expressionplicated.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading!


    The room fell silent.


    The door blocked out the noise from outside, creating a stark contrast.


    Alexander suddenly opened his eyes, looking at Quinn seriously.


    He tried to smile, gently stroking her cheek. "I''ll avenge you. Just don''t leave, okay?"


    For the first time, Quinn saw helplessness in his eyes.


    He muttered, "It wasn''t me. It wasn''t me."


    His words were slurred, probably because he was really drunk.


    Normally, he''d never say this, and now it was so hard for him.


    But Quinn knew what he meant.


    She remembered when she was a child, Freya used her of stealing, and Quinn cried and denied it, but she took the punishment.


    She was mute and couldn''t exin, so she epted it quietly.


    She hoped Alexander woulde back and save her.


    But who could save Alexander now?


    Quinn couldn''t say a word. She''d once yearned to speak, but now wished for her old muteness.


    "I know a fun ce. I''ll take you there, okay?" Alexander offered gently.


    He pinched her cheek, grining. For a moment, Quinn saw the old him.


    He was taller but would always squat down to talk to her, pinching her cheeks and smiling.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    While Quinn was still in a daze, he suddenly sat up, grabbed her hand, and led her outside.


    His steps were unsteady, stumbling as if he might fall.


    Quinn opened her mouth but didn''t know what to say, so she just followed him.


    Seeing hime out, Kyle sighed in relief.


    Alexander dragged Quinn to the parking lot. He was so drunk he couldn''t find his car, pulling on several car doors but couldn''t open any. In a fit of anger, he punched someone else''s car window.

 Chapter 945

    Alexander''s bodyguards all turned away, not wanting to see his drunken mess, worried he''dsh out when he sobered up.


    Kyle, gathering his nerve, stepped forward, unlocked the car, and pointed to the Bentley. "Mr. Kennedy, that car."Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Alexander shot him a sideways nce.


    Kyle shrank back in fear.


    Alexander dragged Quinn to the car, opened the door, and shoved her inside.


    "Quinn, sit tight." He got in and buckled her seatbelt, but his weight pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.


    The strong smell of alcohol made Quinn turn her head away.


    After fastening the seatbelt, Alexander stumbled into the driver''s seat.


    Kyle, too scared to argue, called for others to follow in another car.


    Kyle silently prayed Alexander would drive safely despite being drunk.


    Quinn clutched the seatbelt, nervously watching Alexander struggle to start the car.


    "Alexander, you''re drunk. Are you trying to kill me?" she asked.


    Alexander ignored her, still fumbling for the start button. Even Kyle couldn''t take it anymore and pointed it out. "Mr. Kennedy, bottom right."


    Alexander finally found it, pressed the button, and got the car going.


    Quinn closed her eyes and sighed.


    As they drove off, Alexander scraped another car''s side mirror.


    Kyle frowned, deeply worried.


    He had people follow Alexander''s swerving car, feeling extremely nervous, especially with the speed.


    Quinn gripped the seatbelt tightly, not daring to speak and distract him.


    She nced at Alexander.


    In the dim light, she could only see his outline.


    Quinn slowly unfastened her seatbelt, closed her eyes, and felt the wind.


    Despite his drunken driving, Quinn felt little fear. Death, she thought, hold no terror for her.


    With her eyes closed, she thought if an ident happened, at least she''d die peacefully.


    But there were few cars, and nothing happened for a long time.


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! The car eventually stopped. Quinn opened her eyes to darkness, and the sound of water reached her ears.


    Alexander had already gotten out. He walked around, opened her door, and extended his hand.


    Quinn ignored his hand and got out herself.


    He took her hand anyway and led her forward.


    They walked on soft grass, with a breeze carrying the scent of seawater.


    They were by the seaside.


    Quinn looked up and saw the shimmering sea and a crescent moon.


    Moonlight scattered on the water, creating ripples that spread like ayer of white gauze over the sea.

 Chapter 946

    Quinn stared at the sea in astonishment. She never knew Amber Bay had a spot like this.


    The view had her mesmerized.


    "Beautiful, right?" Alexander said suddenly.


    Quinn turned to him. His voice sounded more normal; he seemed sober.


    "Why did you bring me here?" she asked.


    Alexander walked up to her. The distant car lights lit up his face, making him clear to see.


    "I don''t know," he said, the sea breeze lifting his shirt and messing up his hair.


    He looked a bit disheveled, less serious than usual.


    "I heard the sunrise here is beautiful," Alexander said.


    Quinn was surprised.


    He continued, "I thought, in life, we should make some beautiful memories. When we''re dying, if we don''t have beautiful memories, how sad would that be?"


    Quinn looked at him, unsure if he was sober or still drunk.


    After a long silence, she said, "If that''s the case, dying wouldn''t be sad. It''d be a relief."


    Alexander replied, "But I''ve heard that when people die, they think of beautiful things."


    "Did a dead person tell you that?" Quinn shot back. Alexander chuckled and reached out his hand to her.


    Quinn was confused but ced her hand in his.


    He gripped her hand tightly and took a step back.


    "You''ll know if you try," he said.


    Quinn''s eyes widened. Before she could react, she felt a violent sense of weightlessness as Alexander pulled her down.


    Her mind went nk. ''He''s crazy!'' she thought. ''He''s actually brought me here tomit suicide!''


    The wind roared past her ears, stinging her cheeks, and the scenery blurred.


    Quinn had fallen off a cliff twice before; this was the third time. She knew this feeling too well.


    Her mind was nk, unable to think.


    Just before hitting the water, Alexander grabbed her waist, and they plunged into the sea together.


    The icy water rushed at her, filling her mouth and nose. The salty water burned her chest and left her gasping for air.


    She iled in the water, but a hand gripped her waist. The more she struggled, the more she sank.


    Quinn couldn''t swim or hold her breath. The first few seconds in the water were the worst.


    She inhaled water, coughed, and inhaled more water. Her lungs filled, making her cough more. After a while, she calmed down.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Quinn no longer felt pain. She was unusually calm, even opening her eyes to see the beautiful underwater scenery. She saw moonlight prating the water, colorful fish swimming by, and the surrounding azure water.


    Quinn felt like she had merged with the ocean, floating weightlessly, unable to tell if she was sinking or rising.


    Images shed in her mind: the faces and smiles of Henry and Sophia from her childhood.


    She saw them waving and walked towards them, Sophia''s hand in hers, ready to reunite with her family.


    This time, she finally grasped Sophia''s hand, a happy smile on her lips.


    Quinn thought sweetly, ''Has Sophia finally forgiven me?''


    ''Alexander was right. In the moments before death, you do think of beautiful memories.''

 Chapter 947

    Quinn saw Alexander staring at her.


    In the water, she couldn''t remember her feelings for him, just a sense of familiarity.


    He leaned in and kissed her.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    For a moment, she felt a breath that wasn''t from the sea, reigniting the pain in her lungs.


    Instinctively, she clung to Alexander, drawing in the air that eased her pain.


    She lost track of what she was doing, driven purely by instinct.


    After some time, a sharp pressure hit her chest, and she coughed violently, expelling water from her nose and mouth.


    Her lungs stung, but the fog in her mind cleared, and she slowly regained consciousness.


    The happy scenes vanished, reced by a dark sky and a crescent moon.


    Quinn coughed for a while, clearing most of the water from her lungs, and started to feel better, gasping for air.


    After lying on the beach for over half an hour, a sea breeze blew by, and she sat up weakly.


    She met Alexander''s deep gaze.


    Quinn, recalling everything, asked weakly, "Why did you save me again?"


    Alexander replied, "Did you find the answer?"


    Quinn closed her eyes, too tired to curse him. "You''re nuts!."


    Alexander chuckled. "Just not fully sober."


    Quinn nced at him. "Are you sober now?"


    He shrugged. "Maybe."


    Quinn asked, "Do you know what you''re doing?"


    Alexander looked at the horizon. "Sure."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!


    He continued, "For a moment, I wanted to sink to the bottom of the sea with you, never to be separated."


    Quinn was stunned.


    He smiled wryly. "But I''m too sober for that."


    Quinn asked, "Are you afraid of dying?"


    He replied, "No. But if you''re dead, there''s nothing left."


    Quinn didn''t know how to respond, so she stayed silent.


    She looked at Alexander, who was sitting casually on the sand, looking rxed and unrestrained for the first time.


    He wasn''t high and mighty or cold, just a normal person.


    It was the first normal conversation they''d had in a long time.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Alexander."


    He turned to look at her, water dripping from his hair, the moonlight outlining his features.


    Quinn said, "Let''s end this."


    Alexander just looked at her.


    He chuckled, looked away, and gazed at the sea without answering.


    Quinn lowered her eyes in disappointment; he still wouldn''t let her go. Then she changed the subject, "Why did your grandfather do that?"


    "I don''t know," Alexander said calmly, looking into the distance. The moonlight faded, and the night grew darker, making it hard to see each other''s faces. Quinn stared at him, unable to read him.


    She asked, "Do you really not know, or do you just not want to say?"


    Alexander stood up and walked towards the sea, his voice carried by the wind, "Does it matter? It won''t change anything."


    Quinn watched him walk away and fell silent.

 Chapter 948

    The sea breeze was chilly, making Quinn rub her arms. ''Alexander had gone nuts today, making me jump into the sea and then sit here in the wind. I really don''t know what he''s thinking.'' Thinking about it, Quinn was momentarily stunned.


    Before, she would''ve happily spent the night in the sea with him, let alone sitting here enjoying the wind.


    In rtionships, one person''s confidence and mood are shaped by the other''s attitude.


    Now, Quinn knew he wouldn''t let her go, so she wasn''t anxious or cautious anymore.


    Sitting here, she just thought he was crazy.


    Was Getty like this before?


    She finally got where Getty''s arrogance and confidence came from.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Quinn lowered her head, a bitter smile on her lips.


    The horizon was lightening. Quinn looked up and saw Alexander was gone.


    Stunned, she quickly stood up and scanned the vast beach and ocean, but saw no sign of Alexander.


    Did he walk into the sea?


    Quinn was shocked and rush towards the sea without thinking.


    "Alexander!" she called out.


    The waves knocked her down several times. She struggled up, took off her shoes, rolled up her pants, and kept going deeper.


    The water rose from her ankles to her calves, and the waves made it hard to move.


    "Alexander, where are you!" Quinn shouted, but no one answered.


    She thought he might have left, but in this emptiness, she would''ve seen him in minutes.


    So, he must be in the sea!


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    Quinn gritted her teeth and kept going. She imagined Alexander''s body floating up, making her move faster.


    She stumbled and sshed in the water, now up to her waist. When the waves hit, it rose to her chest.


    Quinn shouted for a long time. Exhausted, she panted, looking at the vast horizon, feeling lost.


    The sky was dark red, the moon a faint shadow, and the light dim. Standing in the water, she looked like a ck silhouette from a distance.


    Just as Quinn was dazed, a wave hit her, making her lose bnce and fall into the water.


    The familiar seawater submerged her, and she struggled for a long time without getting up.


    Then, a force pulled her from the water.


    Quinn spat out seawater and saw Alexander smiling at her.


    Her anger red. She raised her hand to hit him, roaring, "Are you crazy! Why did you run into the sea? If you want to die, don''t do it in front of me!"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander held her waist, letting her weak fists hit him.


    Water dripped from his hair, falling down his face.


    After Quinn finished scolding him, Alexander finally spoke, "Why did you run down here? Were you worried about me?"


    Quinn was stunned.


    She stared nkly at Alexander. Both were soaked, with wet hair sticking to their faces.


    In the dim light, they could only see each other''s outlines.


    Quinn snapped, "No way! I''m afraid you''ll die here, and I''ll be med for murder!" Alexander chuckled.


    She got angrier. "You''re stillughing. Next time you want to die, don''t involve me! You..." Before Quinn could finish, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

 Chapter 949

    Quinn''s eyes widened, momentarily forgetting to react.


    His kiss was gentle and lingering, different from before.


    It was just a simple kiss, no sexual desire.


    Water on Quinn''s face slid into her mouth, salty and slightly bitter.


    The waves hit her again, snapping her back to reality. She pushed him away abruptly.


    She staggered, almost falling again.


    Alexander quickly wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her back.


    "You..."


    "The sun''sing up," Alexander interrupted.


    Quinn turned her head. The horizon was turning orange-red, with magnificent clouds spreading out, tinting the sea.


    The sun peeked out, golden light piercing through the clouds.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    In Quinn''s eyes, the golden sun grew from a crescent to arger shape.


    The sea calmed down, light shimmering on the surface.


    Quinn stood dazed in the water. The tide receded, the water only reaching her knees.


    She kept her eyes open, not blinking, not missing a moment of the sunrise.


    A flock of ck seagulls flew by, weing the sunrise. Everything looked like a painting. Quinn had never seen such a beautiful scene.


    She quickly took out her phone to take pictures, but it had gotten wet and shut down. Quinn sighed in frustration and turned to find Alexander watching her.


    He hadn''t looked at the sunrise at all; his attention was on her face.


    Quinn clutched her phone, turning away. "Why are you looking at me?"


    "Is the sunrise beautiful?" Alexander gave an irrelevant answer.


    "It''s okay," Quinn replied, trying to sound nonchnt.


    Alexander smiled. "Since you can talk, you''ve be quite the liar."


    Quinn red. "We froze out here all night for these two minutes. What''s so great about it!"


    Alexander said slowly, "All the beauty in the world is fleeting. The wait is long, but as long as you know it will appear, everyone is willing to wait."


    Quinn rebutted, "Waiting so long for just a few fleeting minutes isn''t worth it."


    Alexander said, "It''s because it''s fleeting that the wait is meaningful. If it were easy to get, no one would cherish it, and no one would think it''s beautiful."


    Quinn was taken aback, feeling his words had another meaning.


    Not wanting to discuss philosophical issues, she rubbed her arms and urged, "I''m so cold, let''s go."


    She turned and walked towards the shore.


    Kyle had appeared on the beach, holding a phone and taking pictures. He had secretly taken many photos earlier to show Alexander when he sobered up, so he wouldn''t be upset about being seen drunk and out of controlst night. "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy, heading back?" Kyle asked with an awkward smile.


    Quinn ignored him and walked on.


    Alexander stopped in front of him and held out his hand.


    Kyle was puzzled. "What do you want?"


    "The phone," Alexander replied bluntly.


    Kyle quickly handed it over.


    Alexander flipped through the photos. Kyle had taken many, including ones of Alexander and Quinn kissing.


    Due to poor light, all the photos were silhouettes, but the background of the sea and morning glow was clear. The photos looked artistic.


    Alexander handed the phone back. "Print them out."


    "All of them?" Kyle instinctively asked, then quickly nodded, "Got it, will do!"


    A gust of wind blew, and Alexander coughed twice.


    "Mr. Kennedy, are you okay?" Kyle asked worriedly.


    Alexander waved his hand, indicating he was fine. "Let''s go."


    Quinn took a long detour to return to the grassy cliff. By now, the sun was high in the sky, ring.

 Chapter 950

    After getting home, both Alexander and Quinn caught colds.


    They sat in the living room. Quinn was wrapped in a nket, holding a ss of water, sneezing now and then.


    Alexander looked just as bad. He was pale and kept coughing.


    He wore loungewear, his hair was messy, and he was still smoking.


    Soren brought over two cups of cold medicine and couldn''t help but remind them, "Mr. Kennedy, you''re not fully recovered. You''ve been drinking, soaking in the sea, and dragging Mrs. Kennedy along. You''re not a kid." Seeing Alexander still smoking, Soren turned to Quinn. "Mrs. Kennedy, you should talk to him. He doesn''t take care of himself."


    Alexander cut him off, "Mind your own business. Leave!"


    Soren nced at Alexander''s cold stare and backed off awkwardly.


    Quinn took her cold medicine and some pills on her own.


    She had spent her previous life trying to please Alexander. Now she wanted to live for herself and wouldn''t neglect her health like he did.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    After taking the medicine, she felt sleepy and went upstairs to sleep.


    Kyle had given her a few days off. After two days of rest, Quinn''s cold was almost gone.


    Alexander, however, wasn''t getting better. He still looked very weak.


    He didn''t go to the office and stayed home every day.


    Even though they were both home, they hardly saw each other. Alexander was always in the study, so they only met during meals.


    Olivia prepared breakfast and said to Quinn, "Mrs. Kennedy, go call Mr. Kennedy for breakfast."


    Quinn nodded and went upstairs.


    He had locked himself in the study, and Olivia couldn''t get him out.


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    Fearing he might still be sick or worse, Quinn called him for breakfast to check if he was alive.


    Quinn knocked on the study door. "Alexander, it''s time to eat."


    No response. Quinn frowned. "I''ming in, okay?"


    She grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open.


    She saw Alexander slumped over the desk, with only a thin coat on.


    Quinn walked over and patted his shoulder. "Alexander, it''s time to eat."


    He didn''t respond. Quinn''s expression changed, and she called out to him twice more.


    After a moment, Alexander finally stirred. He propped himself up on the desk and sat up straight, his face terribly pale.


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    He coughed several times into his fist, then closed his eyes to steady himself before turning to look at Quinn. "What time is it?"


    Quinn nced at the clock. "It''s nine o''clock."


    Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose and stood up. Suddenly, he swayed and almost sat back down.


    Quinn instinctively supported him and felt his forehead.


    It was burning hot!


    "Are you running a fever?" Quinn asked, "Did you skip your medicine again?" Alexander gave a weak smile. "I''m not going to die. Why are you so worried?" Quinn retorted, "Who''s worried about you? I''m just afraid you''ll die in front of me." Alexander''s smile didn''t fade. "Wouldn''t it be perfect if I died? You''d be free then."

 Chapter 951

    Quinn was left speechless, stunned for a moment.


    Irritated, she asked, "Can''t you just let me go? Do I have to wait until you''re dead? What''s the difference?" Alexander rubbed his temples but stayed calm. "You''re getting more annoying with your words."


    Quinn didn''t reply. She grabbed some cold medicine from the table and swapped out the water cup. She handed Alexander the medicine. "Take your medicine."


    Alexander looked at her, then at the medicine. "I''ll take it if you take back what you said."


    Quinn smirked. "Are you a child?"


    After a pause, Alexander picked up the water cup, took the medicine, and swallowed it in front of her.


    Seeing that, Quinn turned to leave. "Time to eat."


    Alexander watched her go, smiling thoughtfully.


    Her attitude towards him had changed.


    He put down the water cup and followed her downstairs.


    Olivia noticed the change between them. It seemed like the power dynamic had shifted.


    She wasn''t sure if it was her imagination, but Alexander seemed unusually obedient following Quinn.


    ''It must be an illusion,'' she thought, deciding to wash her eyes in the bathroom. As she got older, her vision seemed to deceive her more often.


    Quinn sat at the table, eating alone. After finishing, she took her medicine, going through the routine with ease.


    Alexander suddenly asked, "Have you been to The Wilson Group?"


    Quinn looked confused. "Why would I go there?"


    "It belongs you now," Alexander said calmly.


    "That''s not mine." With that, she remembered she had signed the share transfer agreement.


    "Are you nning to be Maya''s assistant forever?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn was stunned again.


    She worked just to pass the time, never thinking long-term.


    But if she kept wasting time, what would she do after leaving Amber Bay?


    With resources avable for learning and training, she had no reason not to be tempted. Plus, Walter was still abroad.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! She nced at Alexander, conflicted.


    He was already drinking his porridge, as if what he said was her imagination.


    Quinn asked, "When should I go?"


    Alexander put down his bowl, wiped his mouth slowly. "Whenever you want."


    "Should I just go directly?" She didn''t know the procedures or who to contact.


    Alexander said, "Ask Kyle to take you."


    Quinn was silent for a moment, then made up her mind. She stood up. "I''m done eating. I''m going to work."


    Alexander coughed, threw the napkin on the table, went upstairs to change, and drove to the office.

 Chapter 952

    Landon''s mom, Aurora Wells, showed up today.


    She went to the police station to pick up the urn and ran into Kyle outside.


    "Ms. Wells," Kyle greeted. "Mr. Kennedy wants to meet you."


    Aurora held the urn, nodded, and followed Kyle to the car.


    Aurora was in her fifties, yet she had maintained herself well and looked around forty.


    Despite the grief of losing her son, she still looked beautiful, with an elegance that only time could bestow.


    She arrived at the meeting room just as Alexander walked in.


    "Hello, Madam," Alexander smiled, extending his hand.


    Aurora shook his hand. "You must be Alexander?"


    Alexander nodded and gestured. "Please,e in."


    Aurora sat down after Alexander did, cing the urn on herp, stroking it like she used to caress Landon''s cheek.


    "You know the general story?" Alexander asked.


    Aurora nodded. "The police told me."


    Landon killed Stanley, then fell off a cliff while fleeing. The car was wrecked, and he died, leaving her with only a box of unrecognizable ashes. Only the custom watch she gave him made her believe it was Landon. Alexander sighed, "What a pity."


    Tears welled up in Aurora''s eyes. "Mr. Kennedy, is this the truth? Why did he kill Stanley?"


    Alexander exined, "Stanley helped him forge a will, and Landon killed him to keep him quiet."


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    Aurora closed her eyes, holding back tears, looking suddenly older.


    "I told him not toe," she said, tears falling.


    Alexander asked, "So you knew why he came?"


    Aurora wiped her tears, "Landon was alwayspetitive. If someone bullied him, he''d go to great lengths for revenge."


    She recalled, "In elementary school, he tricked a ssmate into the mountains. It took two days and nights to find him."


    "Because of his personality, we moved a lot. Later, we went abroad, hoping to settle down."


    Aurora''s expression grew sadder. "But then Wayne found us."


    Alexander asked, "When was that?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Aurora thought, "Many years ago. He suddenly showed up wanting to reunite with Landon."


    "Landon wanted his father toe but wouldn''t admit it."


    Aurora recounted how Wayne stayed for a long time, treated Landon well, and taught him business and life skills. He even helped him start apany and visited every year. But Landon never called him father. Alexander listened with a hint of a mocking smile.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Aurora continued, "I just wanted Landon to grow up safe and healthy, even if he lived a simple life. I didn''t want him involved in these things."


    "I didn''t discipline him well enough," she said, tears streaming. "It''s my fault."


    Alexander signaled, and Kyle ced documents in front of Aurora.


    "Ms. Wells, the dead can''te back. Please ept my condolences. These are Landon''s shares. As his only rtive, you should inherit them."

 Chapter 953

    Aurora nced at the stock contract and flipped through it.


    "I don''t get business stuff. You guys handle it," she said.


    "And I don''t want any more ties with the Kennedy family," she added.


    Alexander asked, "He put a lot of effort into this. Are you sure you don''t want it?"


    Aurora shook her head. "No, I just want to take him home, back to where we used to live."


    "What about hispany abroad?" Alexander asked.


    Aurora shrugged. "I have no idea. There are plenty of people to handle it."


    Alexander warned, "If no one manages thepany, those people mighte after you, making peace hard to find."


    Aurora looked confused. "So, what should I do?"


    Alexander smiled. "If you trust me, I can send someone to manage it. You just need to be the chairman and appoint a CEO. You won''t have to worry about the rest." Aurora hesitated. "Is that all it takes?"


    Alexander nodded. "Yep, as long as you control the shares, no one can take thepany without your consent."


    Aurora was puzzled. "But why are you helping me?"


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    "Because Landon is my brother too," Alexander said seriously. "We''re in simr situations now. I get how you feel."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    His gaze turned distant. "No matter how much power and money you have, if you''re alone, what''s the point?" Aurora looked at him, sensing his sincerity. He looked ill and worn out, making his words more believable.


    After a long pause, Aurora finally nodded. "Okay, let''s do it your way."


    Kyle, who was nearby, said, "Ms. Wells, you still need to sign this document."


    Kyle added, "As the legal heir, if you don''t want these shares, you need to authorize Mr. Kennedy to handle them."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience¡ªall for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! He ced another document in front of Aurora.


    She realized they had prepared this in advance. If she didn''t sign, leaving would be tough. She had no ambitions to fight for these things, so she quickly signed her name. "Can I leave now?" she asked.


    "Landon is gone, and all grievances with him," Alexander sighed. "If you need anything,e to me. I''ll ensure you live in peace. Kyle, help Aurora back." "Yes," Kyle replied.


    Aurora nced at Alexander a few more times. He seemed kind, but she knew he wasn''t simple. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be in his position.


    She left with Kyle but told him she didn''t need an escort at the elevator and left alone.

 Chapter 954

    Kyle walked back into the conference room and handed the document to Alexander. "Didn''t think it would go this smoothly," he said.


    Alexander skimmed through the document, barely interested. "She''s not dumb."


    Kyle nodded. Aurora wasn''tpetitive or aggressive, but she was living quite well.


    She knew she couldn''t hold onto these things, so she let them go. With Alexander still indebted to her, she could live a life offort and ease without lifting a finger..


    "She probably heard about Dorothy and decided not to push her luck," Kyle added, a hint of admiration in his voice. She was smart enough to y the victim in front of Alexander, who might have killed her son. No wonder she raised someone like Landon.


    Kyle had another thought. "Should we keep looking for Landon?"


    "Of course. Our business isn''t finished," Alexander replied, his tone cold but his eyes full of killing intent.


    Kyle nodded. "Got it. I''ll take care of it. Even if he''s alive, knowing hispany is under your control will drive him nuts."


    Thepany abroad would be easy to handle. They just needed to rece Landon''s allies and shareholders to bankrupt thepany. Even if Landon came back, it would be pointless. "Go ahead," Alexander ordered.


    "Who do you want to send abroad, Mr. Kennedy?" Kyle asked.


    Alexander tapped the table, thinking. "How about Ruby?"


    Kyle was skeptical. "Her? Can she handle it? And she''s a woman. They might not take her seriously."


    Alexander smirked. "Why not? She has the Dixon family backing her."


    "The Dixon family? Which one?" Kyle was confused, unsure of what he missed.


    "To be precise, half of the Ethereal family," Alexander rified.


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    Kyle was even more puzzled. "The Ethereal family from Sylvadora?"


    Alexander nodded, reminiscing. "The current Dixon family head was the Ethereal family''s deputy leader. After the Ethereal family disappeared, most of their assets went to the Dixon family." Kyle finally got it. "Got it. So, should we send Ms. Anderson?"


    Alexander nodded. "Yes."


    Kyle couldn''t help but admire Alexander''s cleverness. Ruby, with her feelings for Alexander, would do her best in this task. If she struggled, she''d turn to her family, pulling the Dixon family into it. Alexander had the Dixon family on his side effortlessly. The forces abroad wereplex, and they didn''t know what Landon had behind him. If anything happened, Landon''s forces would me the Dixon family first. Alexander was truly brilliant.


    Kyle didn''t waste any time and set to work on these matters.


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    When Ruby got the news, she was thrilled. "Mr. Kennedy really wants me to handle this?"


    Kyle looked at her, unimpressed. "Yes, but if you find it too hard, I can talk to him."


    Kyle''s tone and attitude suggested Ruby wasn''t up to the task and that he was the better choice. He clearly wanted her to back out.


    Seeing this, Ruby agreed without hesitation. "Thank you, Mr. Astor. I won''t let Mr. Kennedy down."


    Kyle looked even more displeased, eyeing Ruby doubtfully. "Good luck, then."


    Ruby smiled and nodded.


    After Kyle left, Ruby still felt Alexander might be overestimating her.


    She messaged Walter about it, asking what Alexander meant.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Within two minutes, Walter called her.

 Chapter 955

    Ruby picked up the phone, and before she could say anything, Walter''s voice came through, "Did you agree?"


    "Yeah, of course. What''s up?" Ruby replied.


    Walter sighed andughed a bit. "You got yed by Alexander and you''re still thankful. Are you even happy about it?"


    Ruby frowned. "What do you mean?"


    "Nothing. Since you agreed, just go ahead and do it," Walter said, then hung up. He rarely contacted Ruby now and hardly managed her affairs.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    When Walter wanted toe to Amber Bay, she insisted on tagging along. Her initially reluctant parents eventually agreed, provided she followed Walter''s ns.


    Walter had the power to decide her stay or leave, so Ruby was still somewhat wary of him.


    But it seemed Walter''s focus was no longer on the Kennedy Group, and Ruby had no idea what he was busy with.


    His words left Ruby puzzled. What did he mean by being used by Alexander?


    Quinn spent another day in the department, carrying Maya''s bag and asionally acting as an extra.


    Whenever she had free time, she started to doze off.


    Maya no longer made things difficult for her, and she came to the office on time every day. At most, she would ask Quinn to buy lunch or reserve a restaurant, with all requests made in advance and no further nitpicking. This made Quinn suspect that Alexander might have talked to her. Otherwise, why had she be so well-behaved?


    After work, Quinn returned to Regal Riverside. On the way, she thought, ''Maybe it''s time to visit the Wilson Group.''


    The Wilson Group had now been renamed the Mellon Group, a name with very subtle implications.


    Alexander chose the name, and the message he wanted to convey was quite clear.


    Hearing this name made Quinn reluctant to go there.


    She put down the documents in her hand and leaned against the car window for a nap.


    Upon returning to Regal Riverside, Olivia immediately approached. "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy needs to take his medicine."


    Quinn paused while taking off her coat. "He didn''t go out today?"


    Olivia replied, "He did, but he came back in the afternoon. Soren said his illness hasn''t improved and is even worse than before. When you''re absent, Mr. Kennedy refuses his medicine and IV."


    Quinn''s eyelid twitched as she pondered his actions. She nonchntly said, "If he doesn''t want to take it, then let him be."


    Olivia pressed, "If you don''t care about him, he might really not take the medicine."


    Quinn opened her mouth but was speechless. Olivia was right; with his temper, he might really prefer to die from the illness rather than take the medicine.


    She dropped her coat and headed upstairs.


    Olivia shook her head and sighed. With her experience, she could understand Alexander''s feelings.


    People would engage in self-destructive behavior to prove their importance in others'' hearts and to gain the care they desire.


    This was a sign of insecurity, which she didn''t expect from Alexander.


    Quinn pushed open the study door but didn''t find Alexander.


    She went to another bedroom and found Alexander on the bed, watching something on a tablet.


    He used to work in the study, but now he was already in bed. Was his illness really this serious?

 Chapter 956

    Hearing the door open, Alexander looked up at Quinn. "You''re back?"


    With his pale face and messy hair, he looked pretty pitiful.


    Unsure if he was faking it, Quinn walked over, touched his forehead, and found it burning hot.


    "You''re burning up. Why haven''t you gone to the hospital?" she asked, worried.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    He grabbed her hand and took it off his forehead. "It''s nothing. I won''t die. Don''t worry."


    "Who''s worried about you?" Quinn snapped, surprising herself. "Are you going to the hospital or not?"


    Alexander coughed and asked, "Do I really have to go?"


    Quinn paused. "You can call Soren over."


    "Fine, I''ll call him." He stifled a cough, pulled out his phone, and called Soren.


    Quinn stood by, staring at him, unsure of what to say.


    If he were his usual domineering self, she could resist, but seeing him so sick left her unsure of what to do. She even suspected he was faking it to keep her around. Alexander was truly cunning.


    Soren arrived quickly, looking resigned. Without checking, he said, "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy has a fever of 103.3 and a mild lung infection. He needs an IV."


    Quinn frowned. "Then give him an IV."


    Soren thought, ''If he wanted an IV, it wouldn''t be this bad.'' He looked at Alexander and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, IV?"


    Alexander extended his hand, surprisinglypliant.


    Soren grumbled internally but didn''t show it. He set up the IV quickly.


    "Alright, Mrs. Kennedy, I''ll prescribe two sets of meds. He needs to take them three times a day for a week," Soren said.


    Quinn nodded, thinking Alexander should also taste the bitterness of medicine.


    Soren packed up and left to get the meds, leaving the room quiet.


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    Quinn eyed Alexander suspiciously. "Olivia said you didn''t want an IV or meds. Why are you willing now?"


    Alexander looked confused. "When did I refuse? I was cooperative, as you saw."


    Quinn, skeptical, asked, "If you took the meds, why do you still have a fever?"


    Alexander replied, "This just proves Soren''s a quack, and his meds don''t work."


    Quinn said, "Then go to the hospital for a check-up."


    Alexander responded, "Let''s give him one more chance."


    Quinn wasn''t sure whether to believe him. His acting skills made it hard to tell if he was pretending.


    After a while, Olivia brought the meds. She nced at Alexander and awkwardly handed them to Quinn. Quinn was about to drink it when Olivia stopped her. "Mrs. Kennedy, this is for Mr. Kennedy."


    Quinn realized Soren had also prescribed meds for him and handed them to Alexander.


    Alexander raised his hand but let it drop weakly. "I can''t move." Quinn scrutinized his face, wondering if he was really that weak.


    After a pause, she sat next to him and lifted a spoonful to his lips.


    As Alexander sipped, his face stayed impassive, making Quinn suspect his medicine wasn''t as bitter as hers. If that were the case, it would be too unfair. She offered him another spoonful, which he drank without a reaction.


    "Isn''t it bitter?" she finally asked.


    Alexander shook his head. "It''s sweet."


    "How is that possible?" Quinn could already smell the medicine. No way it could be sweet.


    She couldn''t help but scoop a spoonful and took a sip herself.

 Chapter 957

    Quinn rushed to the trash can and spat out the medicine.


    She red at Alexander, who had a smug smile on his face.


    Quinn ced the medicine bowl on the bedside table. "Drink it yourself."


    She walked out, not caring about Alexander''s condition anymore.


    Soren was asked to stay temporarily. When he saw Quinning down, he quickly asked, "Mrs. Kennedy, did Mr. Kennedy take his medicine?"


    "He did," Quinn replied.


    "That''s a relief," Soren sighed, though he still looked worried.


    Quinn gave him a suspicious look. "Is it serious?"


    Soren quickly smiled. "If he takes his medicine on time, it won''t be. But if he doesn''t, who knows?"


    Quinn remembered when she had asked Soren to help hide her illness; he had the same look in front of Alexander.


    She stared at Soren for a long time, wanting to ask something but held back.


    If his condition was worse than she thought, what would she do?


    Quinn tried to avoid thinking about Alexander and all the possibilities. Ignoring it was better.


    She was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly and didn''t ask more.


    Olivia brought her medicine. Quinn looked at the bowl and then at Soren.


    "Does this medicine work? I''ve taken it for so long without any change," Quinn asked.


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    "Let me check." He invited Quinn to the sofa and used the avable equipment to give her a check-up.


    After a moment, Soren said, "Mrs. Kennedy, as I said, you need to take this medicine for at least six months. It''s too early to see any effect, but..." Soren paused. "But what?"


    Soren frowned. "Your body data looks strange."


    "Show me more details."


    "Have you felt any abnormalities recently?" Soren asked.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn shook her head. "No, it''s the same as before. I''m just tired and always wanting to sleep."


    Soren scratched his head and continued to stare at the data. After a while, he looked back at Quinn.


    "If you feel fine, it shouldn''t be a big problem. I''ll check the information when I get back."


    Soren felt he had looked up more information in the past six months than in all his years of study. He was starting to doubt his medical skills.


    Quinn didn''t ask more questions. She took the medicine and drank it all in one go.


    Soren went upstairs to check on Alexander, who was leaning against the headboard, quietly receiving an IV. Quinn said he had taken the medicine, but it was still on the bedside table. "Mr. Kennedy, why haven''t you taken your medicine?" Soren asked.


    Alexander looked at his tablet without raising his head. "I''ll take itter."


    Soren sighed, realizing he couldn''t convince Alexander. After changing Alexander''s IV bottle, he quietly left the room.

 Chapter 958

    After finishing her meal, Quinn returned to her bedroom.


    She was clearly very tired, yawning constantly, yet inexplicably suffering from insomnia. Unable to sleep in the middle of the night, she rose to check on Alexander.


    She quietly pushed open the door. The light was on, but the bed was empty.


    She opened the door a bit more and saw him sitting by the window, quietly smoking.


    Quinn felt a surge of anger, the impulse to m the door and storm out strong within her. However, her body acted before her mind could catch up. She ended up pushing the door open and entering the room instead of leaving. Alexander paused slightly, nced at Quinn, and then at his phone.


    It was 3 AM.


    Alexander asked, "Why aren''t you asleep?"


    Quinn walked up to him, staring at the cigarette in his hand without saying a word.


    Alexander fell silent for a moment. He then flicked the cigarette into the ashtray, grabbed the cup of water, and used it to extinguish the cigarette.


    Quinn sat down across from him, staring at him for a long time.


    Alexander said, "I already put out the cigarette."


    Quinn finally said, "Let''s talk."


    Alexander leaned back on the sofa, "I don''t want to talk."


    "You never say anything I want to hear," he continued, changing his mind. "If you want to talk, fine, use signnguage."


    Quinn clenched her fists, trying to stay calm and keep her tone as even as possible, "You didn''t use to be this unreasonable."


    "You didn''t use to talk to me like this," Alexander shot back.


    Quinn was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Then, she replied, "We can''t live in the past forever. I used to obey your every word. Of course, you preferred the old me, but I didn''t like it."


    Alexander gave her a mocking smile. "It doesn''t matter. Whether it''s the old Quinn or the current Quinn, it''s still you."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Quinn was taken aback, feeling as if she had run into a solid wall.


    "So you really won''t let me go?"


    With a hint of impatience in his eyes, Alexander decided to conclude the conversation, saying, "You should head to bed early."


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    Quinn stared at him, wanting to say something, but he grabbed the nket beside him, covered himself, and closed his eyes, "I''m going to sleep."


    Quinn twitched her mouth, staring at Alexander for a long time. He didn''t move, sleeping peacefully and calmly.


    She knew he wasn''t asleep; he just didn''t want to talk to her.


    Quinn angrily stood up, deliberately dragging the sofa across the floor to make a loud noise, but it didn''t affect him at all. He didn''t even lift an eyelid. She left the room, and suddenly, she quickly went downstairs and walked outside.


    As expected, as soon as she reached the vi''s entrance, two bodyguards followed her.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, where are you going sote? Do you need us to drive you?"


    Quinn paused, looked back at them. "What if I want to leave Amber Bay?"


    The two exchanged nces, looking a bit troubled. "Mrs. Kennedy, I''m afraid that''s not possible."


    Quinn asked, "Even if you follow me, I still can''t leave here?"


    "Yes, Mr. Kennedy''s instructions were clear. You are free to move within Amber Bay, but if you intend to leave the area, we are obligated to intervene."


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    Despite Alexander''s current sickly appearance and seeming tolerance, if she crossed this line, he would go crazy.


    "I''m going to the hospital. Take me there." Quinn didn''t want to stay here any longer.


    Going to the hospital was no problem so the bodyguards immediately brought the car and took her to the hospital.


    In the middle of the night, Abigail must be asleep.


    She pushed the door open a crack. As expected, Abigail was asleep, with Oliver watching over her.


    Oliver was resting his head on his hand, eyes closed, seemingly asleep as well.


    Quinn quietly closed the door and stepped back out.


    Not knowing where to go, she stood in the quiet hallway for a while, then suddenly saw an old womaning out of Getty''s ward.


    Quinn thought for a moment and walked towards Getty''s ward.


    The bodyguards didn''t stop her, allowing Quinn to enter Getty''s ward.


    Getty was actually awake, sitting in bed watching TV. Sensing something, she suddenly looked towards the door.

 Chapter 959

    Getty''s face changed, and she quickly looked away from Quinn.


    "What are you doing here?" Getty snapped.


    Quinn walked over and sat on the bed, eyeing the burn on Getty''s neck. "Just passing by, thought I''d check on you."


    Getty stiffened, not caring about her appearance as she red at Quinn. "You can talk now?"


    "Yeah," Quinn replied casually.


    Getty''s fingers gripped the nket tightly, turning white. She looked at Quinn''s still beautiful face, now able to speak, while she felt ugly and defeated.


    "Here tough at me and show off?" Getty mocked.


    Quinn shook her head. "What''s there to show off? I don''t find you ridiculous, just pitiful."


    Gettyughed angrily. "Pitiful? I need your pity? Who do you think you are? If anyone''s pitiful, it''s you. Remember how pathetic you were in front of Alexander? How is that any better than my situation now?" Quinn stayed calm. It was clear Getty was trying to intimidate her.


    Quinn sighed. "Yes, our situations are simr. No need to get so worked up."


    Getty red, her chest heaving. Under Quinn''s calm gaze, she gradually reined in her hostility.


    "What are you really here for?" Getty questioned.


    "I told you, just passing by. It''ste, and I didn''t know where to go. I saw your door open, so I came in. No need to be so hostile," Quinn said.


    Getty scrutinized Quinn suspiciously, not believing her words.


    Quinn continued, "Remember the first time we met? You helped me chase away those guys who were harassing me. I thought you were kind and wanted to be friends."


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    Getty was stunned Quinn remembered that.


    "Why bring that up?" she sneered.


    "What else should we talk about? Getty, did you ever consider me a friend?" Quinn asked.


    "No! I approached you to get close to Alexander," Getty replied coldly, a sinister smile on her lips. "You still don''t know, do you? I was the one who got those guys to harass you." Now it was Quinn''s turn to be stunned.


    She stared at Getty''s twisted face and thought the burned, ugly skin was her true appearance.


    Quinn gave a bitterugh. "So that''s how it is."


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "Who would want to be friends with a mute like you? You have no idea how much trouble I went through to learn signnguage," Getty continued, trying to provoke Quinn. "Do you know why Alexander dated me?"


    "When he had that car ident, you called me for help. I carried him out of the mountains. He woke up halfway and asked who I was. I told him I found him and carried him out." "Later, when he was in the hospital, I visited him every day. After he was discharged, he said he wanted to repay me and asked me to name a condition. Guess what it was." Quinn pressed her lips together, seeing the smug look in Getty''s eyes. She didn''t need to guess. "You wanted to be his girlfriend."


    "Yes, I made that request, and he agreed," Getty said, her gaze distant as if reminiscing about her time with Alexander.


    "He was a perfect boyfriend. Initially, I believed he was merely indulging me by agreeing, but as the days passed, he consistently stood by me, fulfilling my every desire." Getty''s smile faded. He was perfect in every way, except he didn''t love her.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 960

    At that moment, Quinn finally grasped the underlying reason for the sudden romance between Alexander and Getty, and how Getty had taken possession of her years of happiness.


    During Alexander''s hospitalization, Kaitlyn held her responsible for everything, confining her to the house and forbidding her from visiting Alexander.


    Throughout that month, she endured various punishments from both Kaitlyn and Freya. Consumed by guilt, she believed Alexander went racing because of her.


    Kaitlyn made her kneel and withheld food, while Freya resorted to physical violence and harsh words. She bore it all, convinced that she was to me.


    She prayed every day for Alexander to recover soon and hoped for his return.


    However, when she finally saw him, Getty was holding his hand, a scene of their intimate affection.


    Alexander told her calmly, "This is my girlfriend. You know her, so I won''t introduce her."


    That was the first time in all her years with the Kennedy family that she felt heartbreak.


    No matter how much she had suffered before, she had never felt as sad as she did at that moment.


    She believed he was angry because she didn''t visit him in the hospital.


    No matter how hard she tried to please himter, she could never get a smile from him again. That was the beginning of his cold and distant attitude towards her.


    Getty looked at her pale face and smiled even more triumphantly.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Are you angry? These seven years should have belonged to you. You should have been happy and harmonious, but instead, you lived so miserably. Are you furious, and resentful?" "Too bad, your anger is useless because no one can change the past."


    Quinn suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and smiled. "I''m not angry. I should thank you."


    Getty''s smile froze as she looked at Quinn in disbelief. "What do you mean?"


    "If it weren''t for you, I might not have made up my mind now."


    Getty''s eyes widened, and her burned features became even more hideous. "Are you crazy, or are you saying this on purpose?"


    Quinn sighed, "I mean it."


    The deep hatred between them, no matter how happy they were, was an insurmountable chasm. At least the seven years of pain had made her determined, so it wasn''t a total loss. Alexander probably understood this too.


    He had no way, and neither did Quinn. They couldn''t cross this chasm.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have neglected her on one hand and protected her on the other.


    Getty stared at her suspiciously, never believing that Quinn could be so calm.


    Quinn stood up and looked deeply at Getty. "Thank you for telling me all this. Now that I know the truth, we''re even."


    While Getty was in a daze, Quinn said her first retaliatory words of the night, "You enjoyed happiness that didn''t belong to you, so you ended up like this. You deserve it." Getty was shocked. She couldn''t believe these words came from the Quinn she knew.


    By the time she reacted, Quinn had already walked out the door.


    Getty grabbed the water cup from the bedside and threw it at her. "Quinn, stop right there!"

 Chapter 961

    The cup smashed against the door frame, then hit the ground, shattering into pieces.


    Quinn didn''t seem to notice. She left the hospital but didn''t go back to Regal Riverside. Instead, she spent the night in the park next to the hospital. Getty''s words kept running through her mind.


    Quinn and Alexander had known each other for twenty years. Given his current cold attitude, there was no way he''d date someone he didn''t like, even if Getty had saved him. Unless he already liked Getty before.


    But Alexander had never shown any interest in Getty before. Even when Quinn brought Getty around, he mostly ignored her.


    So how did he suddenly agree to date Getty and show such intense affection?


    What happened during that month he was hospitalized?


    The more Quinn thought about it, the more confused she got, leading to a terrible headache.


    She knocked on her head and looked up at the sky. She saw someone standing in front of her.


    It was Kyle.


    "Mrs. Kennedy."


    Quinn asked, "What are you doing here?"


    Kyle''s expression wasplicated. He looked at Quinn, hesitating.


    Quinn pressed, "What do you want to say?"


    "I heard Mr. Kennedy is ill."


    Quinn replied nonchntly, "Then go find him. Why are you looking for me?"


    Kyle sighed and thought for a moment. "Because finding you is more useful. He just wants you to care about him a little."


    Kyle struggled to find the right words to persuade her.


    Quinn lowered her eyes and stayed silent.


    Kyle, making a final effort, said, "Even if you just pretend to care, he''ll be happy. And you''ll feel a bit better too."


    Quinn asked, "Will he let me go if he''s happy?"


    Kyle didn''t know how to answer.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, you might think he''s cold and ruthless. But have you ever wondered why he killed so many people, yet Walter is still alive and well?" Quinn was slightly stunned.


    Kyle didn''t spell it out, but his meaning was clear.


    Alexander dared to kill his own father, yet he spared Walter, who had repeatedly provoked him.


    He used to think Walter was Quinn''s brother, so Alexander didn''t harm him.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    But knowing Walter was Quinn''s childhood friend and Henry''s chosen husband for her, Alexander only sent Walter to Miami to run a branchpany. Kyle analyzed, "What does this mean? It means he still hopes for you two to be together. He''s trying, in his own way, to distance himself from Ulysses." "You stay out of it, he avenges your grievances, bearing the infamy, yet you still think he''s cruel and heartless. And he doesn''t even take credit for it."


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    Quinn''s fingers clenched tightly. She lowered her head, staring at her toes, her thoughts even more chaotic.


    "Stop talking."


    Kyle looked at her seriously. He came today to persuade Quinn, so he wouldn''t stop now.


    "Sometimes, you and Mr. Kennedy are really alike. You both deceive yourselves, thinking if you don''t understand or know, you can pretend it didn''t happen. Mrs. Kennedy, do you really think he did these things out of cruelty and heartlessness?"


    Kyle still remembered when Alexander saw Wayne and Landon sitting together, he said one sentence to Kyle.


    "Why?"


    Although it was just one sentence, Kyle could feel the myriad of emotions he was hiding.


    He didn''t truly hate Wayne. It was just thatter, Wayne and Landon joined forces to push him to the brink, causing him topletely explode.


    Kyle remarked, "I can''t be sure if he regretted doing these things, but I don''t think any individual would be happy doing it."


    After all, Wayne was the man he had called ''father'' for over twenty years.

 Chapter 962

    Kyle asked, "Mrs. Kennedy, if you left him out of hatred, would you still want to live if you were in his shoes?"


    Quinn kept her head down, hiding her face with her short hair.


    After a long pause, she finally said, "Stop defending him. How much do you really know about him?"


    Kyle replied, "Not much, but as an outsider, I see things clearly. He might seem cold and say bad words, but his actions towards you don''t match that."


    He continued, "He''s stubborn and duplicitous. It reminds me of when I was a kid. My family was poor, so while others had nice lunchboxes, I had a stic bag. I''d eat before school and throw the bag away to avoid being looked down on. Even kids understand dignity, let alone adults." Quinn looked up, surprised.


    Kyle went on, "When I grew up, I stopped caring about that. But then I met a girl I liked. She was amazing, and I didn''t have the courage to talk to her. I kept thinking, what if she got to know me and found out about my poor background? What if she looked down on me? So, I thought it was better not to start anything. That way, I wouldn''t feel sad or embarrassed."


    People wereplicated.


    Things that seemed iprehensible to others were often because they hadn''t experienced them. They criticized from an outsider''s perspective, not realizing their own struggles might seem trivial to others. The park was quiet, and Kyle''s voice was gentle but clear.


    Quinn sat on the bench, staring at Kyle.


    "I''ve said enough. Think about it. If you really hate him that much, pretend ver came."


    "Dawn''s breaking. You should rest."


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    Without waiting for her reaction, he bowed slightly and left the hospital.


    Quinn stayed in the park until the sky lightened. The breeze covered her in dew.


    She finally stood up and had the bodyguard take her back.


    When she returned to Regal Riverside, it was just past five, and the sky was still dim.


    Quinn went to Alexander''s bedroom door. She paused, then pushed it open and walked in.


    He had moved from the sofa to the bed and seemed to be asleep.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 5s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Quinn walked to the bed and looked down at him.


    The dim light from the bedsidemp made his face hard to see. In his sleep, his sharp features softened.


    This was how he used to look.


    Quinn reached out and touched his forehead.


    It was still a bit hot, but not as bad as earlier.


    Just as she was about to pull her hand back, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Startled, she looked up and met Alexander''s deep gaze.

 Chapter 963

    Quinn was a bit surprised. Before she could react, she found herself on top of Alexander. Their eyes locked, and as Quinn tried to pull away, Kyle''s words echoed in her mind.


    She pressed her lips together and slowly rxed.


    ''Fine, just like Kyle said, pretend to care before leaving so everyone feels better,'' she thought. Alexander stared at her and asked, "What do you want from me this time?"


    Quinn looked back and said, "Since you''re sick, I won''t argue."


    He chuckled, spun her around, and pulled her into the space beside him, holding her close.


    "Then stay with me for a while," he said gently.


    Quinn''s cheek was against his chest. His fever made his embrace warm.


    He grabbed a nket and wrapped them both in it.


    Quinn, feeling tired, whispered, "Help me take a day off."


    Then she fell asleep.


    Alexander stroked her hair and softly said, "Okay."


    Quinn slept soundly.


    When she woke up, it was noon, and Alexander was gone.


    She rubbed her eyes, got up, and looked around but didn''t see him.


    Quinn went downstairs and found him in the living room, busy with aptop on his knees.


    Olivia brought over a bowl of medicine. "Mrs. Kennedy, this is Mr. Kennedy''s medicine. Please have him take it before eating."


    Quinn nodded, took the medicine, and walked over. "Alexander, time for your medicine."


    He paused and nced at her.


    Quinn held a spoonful of medicine to his mouth.


    Alexander stared at her and said, "You must need something from me."


    "Whatever," Quinn said irritably.


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    As she pulled her hand back, Alexander grabbed her wrist and drank the medicine.


    Quinn scooped another spoonful for him.


    After a few sips, convinced Quinn wouldn''t ask for anything, he continued working.


    Quinn fed him, watching as he drank the medicine like water. She poured half the spoonful out and fed him half a spoonful at a time.


    A few minutester, Alexander couldn''t take it. "Why is there so much?"


    He saw there was still half a bowl left.


    Quinn said, "You''re drinking too slowly."


    Alexander guessed her intention, took the bowl, drank the rest in one gulp, and handed it back.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn rubbed her nose awkwardly, stood up with the bowl, and said, "Stop working and eat." "Just a moment."


    After waiting for half an hour, Quinn asked, "Not done yet?"


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    Ten minutester, Quinn snatched theptop and closed it.


    Alexander was stunned and looked up at her.


    Quinn never showed any facial expressions, which she learned from Alexander. It was very effective.


    With no expression, she had an aura of authority.


    Alexander said nothing. He stood up, "Alright, let''s eat."


    They went to the dining room.


    After the meal, Soren came to check on Alexander.


    He took his temperature, which was only 100 degrees Fahrenheit.


    "No need for an IV. Keep taking the medicine, and you''ll recover in a week," Soren said.


    Quinn nodded. With nothing to do in the afternoon, she wanted to visit The Wilson Group. She asked Kyle to take her there.

 Chapter 964

    An hourter, Kyle got to Regal Riverside and took Quinn to The Mellon Group.


    On the way, Kyle filled her in on thepany''s situation.


    "Xavier and hisfamily are abroad. We''ve cleared out most of the stubborn shareholders and cut some unnecessary business. Right now, thepany doesn''t have many projects."


    Kyle handed her a document. "Check this out."


    Quinn skimmed through it. The Mellon Group was working on a few projects, mainly a big construction project-amercial district in the neighboring state, nearing its second phase. There was also a railway project that startedtest year.


    It looked like The Mellon Group focused on civil engineering and real estate.


    Quinn felt unsure about managing such a bigpany. She asked, "Do people know who the boss is?"


    Kyle replied, "Not yet. If you want to take over, you can announce it."


    Quinn thought for a moment and shook her head. "Let''s keep it quiet for now. I don''t want it to affect thepany''s development."


    Kyle nodded. "That''s fine. Get familiar with things first."


    They arrived at thepany, and Kyle led her upstairs.


    Kyle had contacted the general manager, Lester Scott, earlier. Lester greeted them warmly.


    "Mr. Astor, good to see you." He smiled, shaking Kyle''s hand, then nced at Quinn. "Is this Ms. Mellon you mentioned?"


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    Quinn felt a bit odd hearing that title. Since marrying Alexander, few people called her that.


    Kyle smiled. "Yes, but keep it quiet. Quinn is just here to look around, no pressure."


    "Oh, got it. This way, please." Lester led them to the elevator.


    In the conference room, Lester made tea for them. He asked, "Ms. Mellon, are you here to tour thepany or check on business progress?"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Quinn nced at Kyle, who gave her an encouraging look.


    Quinn said, "Let''s just chat. I''m not very familiar with the business."


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    Lester started, "Alright. Thepany started operations not long ago. With the change in shareholders, there have been many personnel changes, including resignations and dismissals. Our main task now is to recruit new employees. Also, with some business cut off, the ongoing projects are still in progress, and the next major project payment is expected in three months."


    "So, thepany is a bit tight on funds right now," Lester said, smiling awkwardly. "If you want to do something, I suggest securing some investment first to develop new business."


    Quinn asked, "If we don''t develop new business, is the current funding enough?"


    Lester hesitated. "It is, but just barely. If any project hits a snag, the cash flow will be disrupted, affecting other business. We need a financial reserve."


    Kyle added, "Before Xavier went abroad, he invested in many projects, tying up thepany''s funds. Those projects won''t yield returns soon. I cut off the ones without prospects and recovered some funds. But considering thepany''s other ie, it might still be hard tost three months."


    Quinn quickly realized Xavier had caused trouble before leaving. She asked, "So how much do we need?"

 Chapter 965

    Lester thought for a bit and then said, "At least $400 million."


    Quinn was speechless for a moment.


    She looked at them both. "You don''t expect me to ask Alexander for the money, do you?"


    Kyleughed. "Mrs. Kennedy, $400 million is nothing to Mr. Kennedy. If you ask, he''d give you $4 billion without blinking."


    Quinn asked, "Didn''t he want The Mellon Group himself? Isn''t he handling it?"


    Kyle replied, "He doesn''t want to take over The Mellon Group. He just wants to avoid future problems. If the shares weren''t in your name, the groupwould already be part of the Kennedy Group." Quinn felt a headacheing on. "Then let him acquire it."


    Kyle added, "Buying it also needs funds, way more than $400 million. Given The Mellon Group''s current state, acquiring it wouldn''t be worth it. Mr. Kennedy wouldn''t do that. So you have to ask him for the money."


    Quinn finally got it. Alexander had called her to The Mellon Group just to get her to ask for help.


    She asked, "What if the funding chain breaks?"


    Lester said, "Then it goes bankrupt. Most of thepany''s business is in civil engineering, and there are many workers to pay. If wages can''t be paid, as the owner, you''d have to bear the risk. You get it, right?" Quinn was momentarily stunned. She imagined scenes from TV dramas where workers hold banners, block thepany, and demand money from her.


    This was thepany he gave her, a big headache!


    Quinn asked again, "How much usable money is left in thepany''s ount now?"


    Lester replied, "About $200 million."


    Quinn was shocked. The Mellon Group was a listedpany, yet there was only this much money in the ount.


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    ''How much has Xavier invested?'' Quinn wondered.


    "Let me think about it." Quinn instantly lost interest in The Mellon Group. She stood up and said, "I''m leaving now."


    Watching her leave the conference room, Lester looked at Kyle worriedly. "Mr. Astor, will this work?"


    Kyle gave him a reassuring look. "Don''t worry."


    Lester still had shares in The Mellon Group, so he didn''t want it to go bankrupt. The best solution was for Alexander to acquire it.


    With the Kennedy Group''s support, all of The Mellon Group''s current projects would be secure. Once all the projects arepleted, their returns would be huge.


    The Mellon Group''s previous projects also brought in revenue every month. However, the expenses far exceeded the ie, leading to this awkward situation.


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    It was all Xavier''s fault for investing over $20 billion from thepany''s ount, deliberately leaving them with such a huge risk.


    Kyle chatted with Lester for a while and then got up to find Quinn.


    Seeing Quinn waiting in the parking lot, Kyle let out a sigh of relief. He ran over to open the car door for her. "Please get in."


    Quinn got in the car, still looking troubled.


    Kyle asionally nced at her. He cleared his throat and said, "Mrs. Kennedy, if you don''t want to manage thispany, let Mr. Kennedy acquire it."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "How much would the acquisition cost?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle thought for a moment and said, "Based on the current market value, about $25 billion."


    Quinn smirked. She might as well ask him for the investment.

 Chapter 966

    Kyle dropped Quinn off at Regal Riverside. Before she got out, Kyle reminded her, "Mrs. Kennedy, The Mellon Group is counting on you." Quinn ignored him, opened the car door, and got out.


    Alexander was still working on the sofa. Quinn walked over quickly and stood in front of him, staring.


    He looked up and smiled, "You''re back. How do you feel?"


    "Not great. Did you do it on purpose?" Quinn asked.


    "What?" Alexander looked puzzled.


    Quinn sat down, annoyed. "I don''t want The Mellon Group anymore. You take it back."


    Alexander replied, "We''d need an acquisition to take it back. A stock transfer won''t work. Are you nning to sell it to me?"


    Quinn frowned. "Would you buy it?"


    Alexander said, "Sure, but the Kennedy Group doesn''t have so much funds right now. You''ll have to wait."


    Quinn wasn''t convinced but couldn''t check the Kennedy Group''s ounts. Her only option was to seek investment from Alexander.


    But if she took his investment, she''d be under his control. Whenever he wanted, The Mellon Group could face a financial crunch, and she''d have to turn to him.


    Quinn asked, "Alexander, when we signed the contract with Xavier, did you know he had invested thepany''s money elsewhere?"


    Alexander smiled, "Don''t use me wrongly. I don''t have that kind of power."


    "Of course you do. Forget it. Even if you knew, you wouldn''t admit it," Quinn said. "Lester mentioned he needs $400 million for cash flow."


    Alexander''s eyes showed a subtle expression. "Are you negotiating a partnership or asking for money?" he asked.


    "Is there a difference?" Quinn asked.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander exined, "Of course. If it''s business, we followmercial rules. But if you''re asking for money as my wife, it''s normal for me to support you. I can transfer the money right now." Quinn didn''t know how to respond but remembered something. "Is that marriage certificate real?"


    Alexander said calmly, "You can check it."


    Quinn was momentarily speechless.


    She didn''t want to ask him for money, but negotiating a partnership seemed like a trap.


    Quinn opened her mouth but then swallowed her words.


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    Maybe there was another way. She didn''t have to get his investment.


    With that thought, Quinn suddenly stood up and went upstairs.


    She locked herself in the bedroom and messaged Walter, exining the situation.


    She wanted to ask Walter if he had any solutions.


    After sending the message, Walter didn''t reply for a long time. She wasn''t sure if he was busy or asleep because of the time difference.


    After waiting, she threw her phone on the bed in frustration.


    Shey on the bed, staring at the ceiling.


    She thought of Kyle''s words fromst night and Alexander''s behavior just now.


    Quinn was so annoyed she scratched her head.


    Suddenly, her phone rang. She quickly checked it.


    It was a message from Walter.


    He asked Quinn to send him the projects Xavier had invested in.


    Quinn was delighted and immediately contacted Kyle to send over the project documents.


    Kyle was efficient. In less than twenty minutes, he sent a document to her.


    Without looking at it, Quinn forwarded the document to Walter.


    Walter replied: [Let me take a look first. Don''t worry.]


    Quinn felt a bit relieved. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, startling her. She quickly put away her phone.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, it''s time to eat."


    Hearing Olivia''s voice, Quinn sighed in relief.


    She deleted her chat history with Walter, put away her phone, and went downstairs.


    In the dining room, Alexander was already waiting. His gaze swept over Quinn, as if he knew what she had been doing upstairs.


    Feeling guilty, Quinn avoided Alexander''s eyes. She picked up the medicine beside her and drank it first.


    Alexander suddenly said, "It seems you still trust Walter more."

 Chapter 967

    Quinn choked on the medicine, quickly set down the bowl, and started coughing hard.


    The dark liquid sprayed from her mouth and nose, dripping through her fingers onto the floor.


    As she coughed, a hand gently patted her back.


    After a couple of minutes, someone handed her a handkerchief. Quinn took it and wiped her mouth and hands.


    She was coughing so hard that tears streamed down her face. The bitter taste in her mouth and nose made her feel nauseous with every breath.


    Seeing this, Olivia quickly poured her a ss of warm water.


    Quinn drank it and finally felt a bit better.


    She turned and red at Alexander. "Did you spy on my phone again?"


    Alexander looked amused and poked her forehead. "Do I need to?"


    Quinn covered her forehead, frustrated. "Then how did you know?"


    "Your emotions are obvious," Alexander replied. "You should learn to control them so you don''t use me of spying next time."


    Quinn was taken aback, even more confused.


    ''Is it really that obvious?'' she thought. ''Or can he just see right through me?''This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn avoided his hand, not wanting to continue the conversation. She turned around, picked up her utensils, and started eating in silence.


    Alexander didn''t push the topic either, and they both ate quietly.


    After the meal, Quinn couldn''t help but nce at him, puzzled. ''Since he knows, why isn''t he angry?'' she wondered. ''Is he okay with me asking Walter for help?''


    Quinn suppressed her doubts, watched him drink the medicine, and then went back to the bedroom.


    She took out her phone and saw a message from Walter sent ten minutes ago, asking her to call him back.


    Quinn nced at the bedroom door, found Walter''s number, and called him.


    The call connected quickly, and Walter''s voice came through, "I thought you went to Alexander for money."


    Quinn replied, "No, did you look at those documents?"


    Walter said, "I skimmed them. Many projects are basically angel investments. Whether rushed or intentional on Xavier''s part, there''s no clear agreement on returns or repayment times." "Angel investments?" Quinn asked, puzzled.


    "Yeah," Walter confirmed, "It is about investing in high-risk startups. These investments total about a billion dors, with at least half yielding no returns, and the rest unlikely to see returns within three years. The best solution is to file for bankruptcy in three months. Alexander won''t ignore you, and it would be easier for him to acquire thepany."


    Quinn was silent for a moment. "How is that different from asking him for money?"


    Walterughed. "Big difference. If you ask for money, you''re passive. If he helps you voluntarily, he''s passive. Plus, it''s a one-time solution, and you won''t have to worry about him using thepany to control youter."


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    "Is this the only way?" Quinn asked.


    "It''s the simplest and most convenient," Walter said. "There are other methods, but they''re moreplicated."


    "Tell me more about it." Quinn asked.


    Walter thought for a moment. "For instance, the filmpany Xavier invested in is apetitor of the William family. You could sell the shares to Mr. William. Xavier invested a billion dors and holds ten percent of the shares." Quinn asked, "If I sell the shares, do I need a shareholders'' meeting?"


    Walter replied, "Yes, but don''t worry. Thispany has been suppressed by the William family and isn''t very profitable. No shareholder would buy it. However, if Mr. William wants to buy, he has ways to make it happen." Quinn was still confused. "But Mr. William could buy shares from other shareholders. Why mine?"


    Walter exined, "You''re right, but thepany isn''t bankrupt yet and still pays dividends. No shareholder with more than ten percent would sell, and Mr. William wouldn''t be interested in buying less. Your ten percent is enough to tempt him."


    He added, "Mr. William has spent more than a billion dors just to suppress thispany."


    Quinn finally understood but was still worried. "Wouldn''t this offend thatpany? Is it illegal?"

 Chapter 968

    Walter shrugged. "What''s there to worry about? If anything goes wrong, Alexander''s got your back."


    Quinn thought his advice was terrible. ''Is this how they do business?'' she wondered.


    She couldn''t tell if Walter was tricking her or setting up Alexander.


    But he was right about one thing: she and Alexander were married, so if she got into trouble, he''d be dragged into it too. Walter joked, "Maybe business isn''t your thing. Just let thepany go bankrupt. Why wait three months? Do it in one." Quinn sighed; she didn''t care about thepany anyway.


    "I''ll think about it."


    She hung up, walked to the window, and stared into the night. It was pitch dark, with only a few willow trees swaying in the wind.


    The next morning, her rm woke her up. She dragged herself out of bed, checked the time, and headed to the bathroom.


    Alexander had given her this room and rarely came in, but his stuff was still in the bathroom.


    Annoyed, she put his toiletries away.


    After freshening up, she went downstairs. Olivia told her Alexander had left early.


    Quinn nodded. "Did he take his medicine?"


    Olivia shook her head. "No, he didn''t."


    Quinn was at a loss for words.


    She had a quick breakfast and headed to thepany. Compared to the mess at The Mellon Group, she preferred carrying Maya''s bag.


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    It was another regr shooting day. When she arrived, Maya was touching up her makeup.


    Helen pulled her aside and whispered, "Quinn, what did you do to make her act normal?"


    Quinn was puzzled. "I didn''t do anything."


    "She''s been early, cooperative, and hasn''t caused trouble. It''s odd," Helen said.


    Quinn nced at Maya, convinced Alexander had talked to her. Otherwise, she couldn''t think of another reason.


    But Maya hadn''t mentioned anything. If Alexander had talked to her, she''d be bragging about it.


    Quinn couldn''t figure it out and decided not to dwell on it.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! They had to shoot outside again today. Quinn followed the team to the location, which turned out to be Maya''s apartment.


    Since she wasn''t needed as an extra, she and Helen chatted to pass the time.


    They wrapped up around 1 PM, and Quinn had time to visit Abigail in the hospital.


    After saying goodbye to Helen, she went to the parking lot. Kyle appeared, holding a thermos box and smiling.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, I''ve brought your medicine."


    Quinn looked around to make sure no one was watching before taking the box from Kyle.


    She took out the medicine and drank it.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Kyle, standing beside her, said cheerfully, "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re amazing. Mr. Kennedy invested two billion dors in The Mellon Group today."

 Chapter 969

    Quinn stopped what she was doing and looked at Kyle, surprised. "What did you say?"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Kyle was a bit shocked by her reaction. "You didn''t know?"


    "I had no idea." Quinn frowned. Alexander had said yesterday that any cooperation needed to follow business rules. But today, he directly invested two billion dors.


    With this, thepany''s funds were temporarily stabilized, and in three months, it could start operating again, avoiding bankruptcy.


    What Walter saidst night was now irrelevant.


    No wonder Alexander wasn''t angry yesterday. No matter what Walter suggested, Alexander could easily make it pointless.


    ''It''s good to have money,'' Quinn thought.


    Kyle was happy anyway. Knowing it was thanks to Quinn, he smiled even more eagerly.


    Quinn handed the bowl back to him and got into the bodyguard''s car.


    She didn''t want to deal with thepany''s affairs. Alexander could do whatever he wanted. After all, she was just a nominal boss, while Alexander was the real power behind The Mellon Group. Whether it was bankruptcy or continued operation, it was all up to him.


    When Quinn arrived at the hospital, Abigail was using crutches for her rehab exercises and still struggling to walk.


    "Quinn, you''re here," Abigail said, struggling to walk towards Quinn with her crutches.


    Quinn wanted to help her, but Abigail refused, "Don''t help me. I need to walk on my own. The doctor said rehab relies on willpower. As long as I persist, I''ll recover quickly."


    Hearing this, Quinn awkwardly withdrew her hand. "Alright then, take it slow."


    Abigailughed. "Don''t worry, I''ve been walking for half an hour. At this rate, I believe I''ll be bouncing around in no more than half a month."


    Quinn replied, "You''ve said that before."


    "Really? Doesn''t matter. I feel like I''m getting better." Abigail waved her hand and continued walking around the room with her crutches.


    Quinn watched her unsteady steps, afraid she might fall, and silently followed her.


    After walking for more than half an hour, Abigail finally couldn''t walk anymore. She asked Quinn to help her to the sofa.


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    Abigail opened a bottle of water but remembered something before drinking. She turned to ask, "Quinn, how have you beentely?"


    Quinn replied, "I''m doing fine."


    Seeing that Abigail still had trouble lifting her hand, Quinn held her arm and helped her drink the water.


    Abigail drank half the bottle, and Quinn took it back to screw the cap on.


    Abigail looked at Quinn, her voice lowered, "How are things between you and Alexander? You relied on him when you couldn''t speak, couldn''t leave him when you had amnesia, and now that you''repletely normal, do you still like him? What''s so special about him?"


    "Abigail, I don''t know how to exin it to you," Quinn said, lowering her eyes. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to leave him, but Alexander wouldn''t let her go.


    However, Quinn didn''t dare to tell her, fearing it might harm her like before. Abigail had juste back and could finally talk to her.


    If Abigail knew, with her temper, she would probably try to help her leave again. Alexander was different now; he had no scruples when he lost control.


    Back when Wayne and Landon were still alive, Orion tried to take her away, and Alexander almost killed him. Now, it would be even worse.


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    So, the best way was to keep Abigail out of it.


    When she left, Abigail wouldn''t be implicated.


    "What''s so hard to say? Also, now that you''re back to normal, I haven''t asked you about the child. Did he make you have an abortion again?"


    At the mention of the child, Quinn''s face turned pale. Her heart tightened as if gripped by an invisible hand, making it hard for her to breathe.


    Quinn instinctively touched her stomach. She had almost forgotten that there had been two little lives here.


    The first abortion was tacitly approved by him.


    The second abortion wasn''t his doing. However, when she messaged him for help, he was celebrating Getty''s birthday.


    She had really been desperate when she messaged him, still holding out hope that he woulde to save the child for the sake of their years together. After all, it was his biological child.


    But he didn''te, didn''t even ask.


    As Quinn recalled the past, the heart-wrenching pain swept over her once again.

 Chapter 970

    Abigail saw Quinn''s face go pale and quickly grabbed her hand. "Sorry, I shouldn''t have asked. Don''t be sad. You''ll have more kids."


    Quinn forced a smile. "It''s okay. It''s in the past."


    Abigail asked, "Was it Alexander?"


    Quinn shook her head. "No, it wasn''t him."


    She wasn''t sure if she should me him. She hadn''t told him, fearing he''d side with Kaitlyn like before. Not knowing what Alexander would think, she kept quiet.


    Quinn whispered, "It''s my fault. I didn''t protect my child."


    Abigail looked at her with concern, already feeling a strong urge to kill Alexander.


    If she wanted to die one day, she''d take Alexander down first!


    But Oliver kept warning her not to provoke Alexander or risk her whole family. She felt trapped.


    Oliver said, "You''re still defending him. I suspected he''s put a spell on you. Should I find a witch?"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn chuckled.


    "You''re stillughing." Abigail nced at the door and lowered her voice. "I''m serious. Do you know how the Kennedy family got rich?"


    "What?" Quinn asked..


    Abigail leaned in and whispered, "By selling arms."


    Quinn''s eyes widened. "How do you know that?"


    Abigail shrugged. "Just rumors, but it doesn''t matter. What matters is people like them know witches. Even if I don''t believe in witchcraft, many rich and powerful folks do, so there must be something to it." Abigail looked confident. "So I think you''re bewitched."


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    Quinn smirked. "Don''t talk nonsense."


    Abigail waved her off. "When I get out of the hospital, I''ll find a witch to check on you."


    Abigail thought Quinn was just clinging to Alexander. Quinn couldn''t exin and let her think that.


    As long as Abigail stayed out of it, it was fine.


    Quinn spent the whole afternoon with her, and Abigail spent the whole time trying to convince her.


    Around 8 PM, Maya called, asking Quinn to pick her up.


    Quinn used the chance to say goodbye to Abigail.


    She checked the location Maya sent, which seemed to be a club. Since Maya had been goodtely, she had the bodyguard drive her there.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Quinn arrived outside the private room Maya mentioned, only to find bodyguards standing guard. They stopped her before she could enter.


    "Who are you looking for?" a bodyguard asked.


    Quinn said, "I''m here to pick up Maya. She asked me toe."


    The bodyguard looked her over before letting her in.


    Quinn pushed open the door, and a foul smell hit her.


    The room was lit with a harsh red light, smoke everywhere. There were five or six people, and it was hard to tell their genders in the red light. Quinn looked around but didn''t see Maya.


    Just as she was about to leave, a handnded on her shoulder.


    Before she could react, she was pulled into an embrace.

 Chapter 971

    A man''s voice called from above, "Miss, who are you looking for?"


    Quinn looked up and saw a guy in his thirties or forties, wearing a suit and sporting a scruffy beard.


    He didn''t seem like a good guy.


    Quinn struggled but couldn''t break free. "I''m here to find Maya. Where is she?"


    "Maya?" Ethan Gray put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the sofa. "Are you the woman she introduced? Let''s have a look."


    Quinn was thrown onto the sofa, and several pairs of eyes turned to her.


    She was shocked by their appearances. She recognized two women with quite a few followers.


    She didn''t know the other men, but their attire indicated they held significant status.


    "You look good. It''s a pity if you don''t start live streaming," someonemented.


    "What''s the future in live streaming? Miss, interested in bing a star? Join ourpany, and I''ll make you a famous one," another voice said.


    Quinn''s body stiffened, and her gaze fell on the coffee table. It wasn''t the sight of these influencers that shocked her the most, but the items on the table.


    Besides the bottles of alcohol, there were several used syringes. She had a rough idea of what they were for, considering the atmosphere and the people''s state.


    "Sorry, I need to find someone. I''ll take my leave," Quinn said, trying to get up.


    As she was about to stand, someone pressed her shoulder back down. "Who are you looking for? Maya? Didn''t she introduce you here? Why are you trying to leave now?"


    Quinn''s face changed, and she instantly understood.


    No wonder Maya had been so quiet these past few days. It wasn''t because of Alexander; she had been plotting to bring her here.


    "Since you''re here, you can''t leave without joining us," Ethan said, smiling as he pulled out another syringe.


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    Quinn''s face turned pale, and she struggled even more frantically. "Let me go! I didn''t see anything. I won''t tell anyone, please believe me!"


    But they didn''t believe her.


    "Miss, take this shot first. Then we''ll talk," Ethan said with a smile.


    Quinn stared at the needle, her eyes filled with terror. She shook her head frantically. "No."


    Suddenly, she shouted towards the door, "Nathan!"-her bodyguard.


    As soon as she called out, the door was kicked open, and the two bodyguards guarding the door were thrown inside.


    They fell heavily to the ground, staring in shock at Nathan and Matthew Brooks. Even though they were bodyguards themselves, they were taken down in a single move. The people in the room stood up and looked at Quinn. "Who are you?"This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Let go of Mrs. Kennedy!" Nathan stepped over the fallen bodyguards and quickly approached.


    Ethan grabbed Quinn by the neck, looking at them warily. "Mrs. Kennedy? Who are you?"


    Hearing them call Quinn "Mrs. Kennedy," the group rxed a bit. They had assumed the two were undercover cops.


    Nathan said coldly, "We''re just bodyguards. But seriously, you better let her go, or you''ll deal with the consequences."


    "Don''t try to scare me. Even if God himself showed up today, no one is leaving this room!" Ethan dered arrogantly, signaling to someone nearby.


    That person immediately pulled out a walkie-talkie and called for backup.


    Nathan and Matthew exchanged a nce and clenched their fists. Just as they were about to rush in to rescue Quinn, seven or eight more people poured into the room. "Take them down!" Ethanmanded.

 Chapter 972

    At themand, a bunch of people attacked Nathan and Matthew right away.


    Quinn''s eyes widened; she didn''t expect this group to be so bold. She thought having bodyguards would make her feel safe, but now, seeing Nathan and Matthew getting attacked, she got nervous. This group was clearly more dangerous than she thought.


    Nathan and Matthew were skilled, but their attackers were no pushovers either; they were obviously trained.


    A few minutes in, they started struggling.


    Seeing they were about to lose, Ethan smiled. He wrapped his arm around Quinn and asked menacingly, "Miss, who are you? If you don''t tell me, these two might not make it."


    Quinn looked at him, her fingers clenching. "Do you know Alexander?"


    Ethan''s expression changed briefly but then went back to normal. "So it''s him. Are you his wife?"


    He seemed wary of Alexander. Quinn had to use Alexander''s name to get out of this. She tried to stay calm and said, "Yes. You''d better let me go, or he won''t let you off!"


    Ethan squinted. "I''ve never heard he has a wife. His girlfriend isn''t you, right?"


    Quinn was stunned and couldn''t answer.


    She found it almostughable. Everyone knew Getty, but hardly anyone knew about her.


    While Quinn was silent, Nathan and Matthew were already beaten down, both pinned to the ground.


    "Ethan, what should we do with them?" someone asked.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn looked at the two worriedly and grabbed Ethan''s sleeve. "Let them go."


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    Ethan nced at Quinn and then at the syringe in his hand. "I can let them go, Mrs. Kennedy. But for safety, you''ll have to endure a bit of hardship."


    Even though Ethan had never met Quinn, the fact that she had skilled bodyguards-who managed to take down four opponents despite being outnumbered-proved that even if she wasn''t Alexander''s wife, she had a significant background. "Mrs. Kennedy, no!" Nathan shook his head frantically. He tried to get up but was pinned down.


    Quinn tried to rush over but was pulled back by Ethan.


    Ethan said, "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re so kind. How could you bear to see such loyal bodyguards suffer?"


    Quinn gripped her sleeve tightly. She looked at Ethan, whose eyes gleamed with calction.


    She tried to calm down and said, "Ethan, even if I inject this stuff, it might not be safe for you. The safest option is to let me go. You know Alexander and what he''s like. He doesn''t care about your business, but if you involve me, he won''t let it go. If you let us go, I can pretend nothing happened today, and we can all go our separate ways."


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Ethan raised an eyebrow.


    Quinn''s words had an effect. But if this got out, it will be the end of the road for him..


    Plus, he had never heard Quinn''s name or that Alexander had a wife.


    He joked, "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re putting me in a tough spot."


    Ethan was still undecided, torn between injecting Quinn with drugs or believing her.


    Just as he hesitated, a nonchnt voice came from the doorway.


    "Ethan, if it''s a tough spot, then don''t do it."


    Everyone turned to look at the door.

 Chapter 973

    The first person everyone saw wasn''t Alexander but Sean, followed by bodyguards, and then Alexander.


    In a ck suit, he walked in slowly.


    Ethan''s eyes narrowed when he saw him, then he nced at Quinn.


    Quinn struggled a bit, and Ethan let her go, after confirming her identity.


    Quinn quickly ran to Alexander.


    Ethan smiled. "Mr. Kennedy, what brings you here?"


    Alexander looked at Quinn, saw she was fine, and smiled slightly at Ethan. "You detained my wife. If I hadn''te, would you have used all this on her?" Heughed awkwardly and tossed the items on the table. "No way. I was just joking with Mrs. Kennedy."


    Ethan then signaled his men. "Let them go!"


    His men released Nathan and Matthew, who then stood behind Alexander, looking disheveled.


    "Mr. Kennedy, we''re sorry. We failed to protect Mrs. Kennedy."


    Alexander raised his hand, signaling them to leave. "Take Quinn back."


    Ethan''s expression changed. Just as he was about to stop them, Alexander said, "I have private matters to discuss with you. Everyone, please leave." Alexander''s people left the room. Quinn hesitated, nced at Alexander, and then followed them out after Matthew called her twice.


    Once everyone left, Ethan knew Alexander had something to discuss. He waved his hand, signaling his men to leave, even the two influencers.


    "Mr. Kennedy, please sit," Ethan said, gesturing.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander sat down casually.


    Ethan asked, "What do you want to discuss?"


    "A deal," Alexander replied calmly.


    "What kind of deal?" Ethan asked.


    Alexander crossed his legs and looked at him. "Tell me where Landon is."


    His eyes fell on the syringe on the table. "And I''ll help you cover this up."


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Ethanughed angrily. It felt more like a threat than a deal!


    "Landon? Isn''t he dead? You''re asking the wrong person," Ethan replied, eyeing Alexander suspiciously.


    Alexander said, "Ethan, don''t lie. If you didn''t know where he is, how did you get involved with Maya?"


    Ethan lit a cigarette, thought for a while, and said, "I haven''t seen Landon, but Maya was brought over by Simon from Apex Holdings Group."


    He added, "Seeing Maya was popr online, I chatted with her. She wanted to sign with us, but her penalty fee was too high. I didn''t agree." Alexander nodded. "And then?"


    Ethan said, "Nothing much. Out of respect for Simon, I had a few drinks with her. Do you think I have something to do with Landon?" Alexander looked at him thoughtfully, then smiled. "It''s a misunderstanding. It seems you haven''t met Landon."

 Chapter 974

    "It was a misunderstanding, Mr. Kennedy. I don''t have much to offer, so let me toast to you," Ethan said, pouring a ss of wine and handing it to Alexander.


    "I was rude to Mrs. Kennedy earlier. My bad. I''ll buy you a drink as an apology. We''ll be friendster."


    Though he said "friends," Ethan just wanted Alexander to keep quiet about what happened.


    Otherwise, things would get ugly.


    Alexander picked up the wine, smiled, and drank it all, signaling he agreed.


    Ethan sighed, "I like dealing with smart folks like you. If what you say is true, we''ve been yed."


    If he and Alexander had shed tonight, the schemer would have won. Luckily, Alexander trusted him and chose to talk.


    Alexander put down his ss, stood up, and said, "Ethan, you''re smart too. Since everything is fine now, I won''t keep you. Goodbye."


    With that, he turned and walked out.


    Ethan watched him leave, sighing with aplex look.


    "Ethan, he won''t spill, right?" a subordinate asked nervously.


    Ethan nced at him. "He''d be nuts to do that. Rx, it wouldn''t help him either."


    Luckily, Ethan realized Alexander was after Landon and came clean. Now that everything was out, Alexander had no reason to reveal anything.


    As Alexander left the club, Sean followed. "Mr. Kennedy, you okay?"


    Alexander got into the car, deep in thought.


    After a while, he told Sean, "Investigate Apex Holdings Group."


    Sean was surprised but nodded. "Got it."


    Meanwhile, Quinn returned to Regal Riverside and ran into Kyle at the door.


    Seeing her, Kyle quickly asked, "Mrs. Kennedy, didn''t Mr. Kennedye back with you?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn shook her head. "He had something to discuss with Ethan. Who is Ethan, Kyle?"


    Kyle replied, "Ethan? He''s not from Amber Bay but has some investmentpanies here and visits sometimes."


    "Is he powerful?" Quinn asked, curious.


    Kyle thought for a moment. "Depends. In Amber Bay, not much, but in Sydney City, he''s on par with Mr. Kennedy. His family deals in mining and has a strong background." Quinn nodded. "Got it."


    Ethan might not have much pull in Amber Bay, but if things went south, it wouldn''t be good. Seeing Kyle so tense, Quinn reassured him, "Don''t worry. Alexander knows what he''s doing." Kyle replied, "I understand. You should rest. I won''t disturb you."


    Quinn nodded and walked into the vi.


    She was puzzled about how Maya got involved with Ethan.


    Quinn couldn''t figure it out. Alexander didn''te back that night.


    She nced at the time; it was almost midnight. ''Is he still at the club?'' she wondered.


    She picked up her phone, wanting to call him, but hesitated and put it down.


    However, this started because of her. If she ignored itpletely, she''d feel guilty.


    After much thought, she finally called Alexander.

 Chapter 975

    The phone rang for a bit before someone picked up. Quinn quickly asked, "Are you still with Ethan?"


    "No, just dealing with some stuff. You should get some sleep," Alexander simply replied.


    With that, he hung up. Quinn looked at her phone and frowned.


    Meanwhile, Maya stood nervously in front of Alexander, fidgeting with her sleeves. Alexander tossed his phone on the table and looked at her. Feeling his cold stare, Maya shivered and lowered her head even more.


    "Do you know why I called you here?" Alexander asked leisurely.


    Maya shook her head nervously. "No, Mr. Kennedy. It''ste. Is something wrong?"


    Sean, standing nearby, shouted, "Stop pretending! You lured Mrs. Kennedy to that club and almost got her hurt. What are you ying innocent for?"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Maya trembled at Sean''s words. She looked at Alexander in disbelief and asked, "Mrs. Kennedy?"


    Alexander''s face remained nk. "Do you get it now?"


    Realizing the truth, Maya panicked, feeling a chill run down her spine. She asked again, "Quinn is your wife?"


    Alexander didn''t answer, looking impatient. "Tell me, what''s going on with you and Ethan?"


    Maya quickly said, "Mr. Kennedy, Ethan and I just had a few drinks, nothing else."


    Alexander pressed, "And luring Quinn to the club?"


    Maya stammered, almost in tears from fear.


    She had once fantasized about getting close to Alexander, but now his presence was overwhelming.


    "Maya, you get one chance. Use it wisely," Alexander threatened.


    Maya''s eyes widened in fear. "I lured Quinn there to teach her a lesson. She always embarrassed me. I knew Ethan liked pretty women, so I thought he''d teach her a lesson."


    She had pretended to be nice to lower Quinn''s guard and then lured her to the club, knowing what Ethan was up to.


    Quinn barged in and discovered Ethan''s secret; it certainly didn''t end well for him.


    However, she had never imagined, even in her wildest dreams, that Quinn was Alexander''s wife.


    ''I''ve never heard Alexander was married. How did his wife suddenly appear?'' Maya wondered.


    At this moment, Maya''s legs were shaking with fear.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! "You''re really vicious," Sean said through gritted teeth.


    Maya was so scared she knelt on the ground. "Mr. Kennedy, I was wrong. I didn''t know she was your wife. If I had known, I wouldn''t have done it!" Alexander asked, "How did you meet Simon from Apex Holdings Group?"


    Maya stammered, "He added me after watching my short videos. He said after my contract ended, I could join hispany and he''d make me a star." Alexander asked again, "When did this happen?"


    Maya stuttered, "About a week ago. I''m sorry, Mr. Kennedy. I won''t do it again. Please forgive me!"


    Alexander rubbed his temples, not looking at her or speaking. His silence made Maya feel like she was waiting for a judgment. She cried in fear. After a while, Alexander finally waved his hand. "Take her away."

 Chapter 976

    Maya''s eyes went wide with fear as she crawled toward Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, I truly realize my mistake. Please, let me go. I swear I won''t bother Quinn again," she begged.


    Sean quickly grabbed her arm just as she was about to touch Alexander''s pant leg and yanked her back.


    "No! Let me go, Mr. Kennedy. I was wrong. Don''t kill me, help!" Maya pleaded, her words a jumbled mess. Although she didn''t know why, the feeling that she was going to die was overwhelmingly strong.


    She was truly terrified.


    When Kyle arrived, he saw Sean dragging her out.


    "Where are you taking her?" Kyle asked.


    Sean shrugged. "No idea. Mr. Kennedy said to handle it. I''ll just feed her to the dogs."


    Kyle frowned. "Don''t be rash. I''ll talk to Mr. Kennedy."


    Hearing this, Maya felt a glimmer of hope and tried to throw herself at Kyle. However, he walked past her before she could reach him.


    Kyle found Alexander inside. "Mr. Kennedy, Maya has a lot of fans online. If she vanishes, it could stir up trouble. Someone might exploit it."


    Alexander looked at him. "So, what do you suggest?"


    Kyle thought for a moment. "Let''s leak some of her scandals first. Once her poprity drops, we can act."


    Alexander leaned back, staring at the table. After a moment, he said, "Keep a close watch on her."


    Kyle nodded. "I''ll have someone keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn''t escape."


    Alexander stood up, walked past Kyle, and headed outside the vi.


    Kyle quickly caught up and opened the car door for him.


    Before getting in, Alexander paused and looked back. "There are still Landon''s people in thepany. Root them out."


    Kyle was taken aback, his expression serious. "Yes, sir!"


    Quinn had been waiting for Alexander to return. However, she eventually found herself lying on the bed, staring at the phone screen. At some point, she drifted off to sleep.


    In a daze, she felt a hand caressing her body and someone kissing her.


    She woke up, suffocating, to find Alexander on top of her.


    Instinctively, she pushed him away. "What are you doing?"


    Alexander grabbed her hand, staring intently. "What else do a husband and wife do at night?"


    Hearing the words "husband and wife," Quinn got angry.


    Quinn snapped, "Who is your wife? You got the marriage certificate behind my back. ver agreed to it!"


    Alexander, unfazed, said, "Doesn''t matter if you don''t acknowledge it. Thew does." He nuzzled her neck, his breath making her shiver.


    Alexander had been normal for a few days, but now he was acting crazy again. Quinn''s concern for him vanished.


    She pushed against his chest. "What are you doing now?"


    Alexander kissed her neck and whispered, "Quinn, let''s have a baby."


    Quinn was stunned.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    After a while, she suddenlyughed.


    Hearing herugh, Alexander looked up and saw the bitter and mocking smile on her face.


    He touched her cheek. "Don''t you like kids?"


    His fingers slid to her lips. "I remember you said you liked daughters."


    Quinn''s expression changed unpredictably as she looked at him. Clenching her fingers, she mocked, "Guess if the two kids I aborted were boys or girls?" Alexander fell silent, just looking at her.


    Disappointment shed in Quinn''s eyes. "So you knew. You knew about the childst year, didn''t you?"</p<>

 Chapter 977

    Their eyes locked, and Alexander''s silence cut Quinn deep.


    She realized all her efforts to hide the truth and make excuses for him wereughable.


    She wanted to speak but found there was nothing left to say. Tears welled up in her eyes before she could utter a word.


    Alexander thought for a while, then let go of her andy down beside her.


    "You have every right to hate me," he finally said.


    Quinn turned away. "Hate is still an emotion. I don''t hate you. I just me myself for being naive."


    True heartbreak wasn''t about hate; it was about not even giving him the satisfaction of any emotion.


    Alexander said nothing but suddenly sat up.


    He stared at Quinn, his gaze unreadable.


    After a long pause, he said, "You can''t do it."


    Quinn was taken aback.


    She clutched the pillow, eyes fixed on the window''s reflection. Slowly, she let go and said calmly, "I can."


    Alexanderughed. "We''ll see."


    Sensing danger in his words, Quinn quickly turned. "What are you going to do?"


    Alexander brushed her face, tucking her hair behind her ear. "It''s easy to make someone hate you, don''t you think?"


    His casual tone sent a chill down her spine.


    Quinn stared at him, her breathing quickening.


    She tried to calm down and realized Alexander was a madman.


    He never acted predictably. If she provoked him, he''d just mock her for not trying hard enough.


    Realizing this, Quinn changed the subject, "I went to see Getty."


    He leaned back and lit a cigarette, uninterested in the previous conversation.


    "I know," he replied calmly.


    Quinn watched the smoke. Alexander''s expression became even harder to read in the smoke.


    "She told me everything. You agreed to date her to repay her for saving you. I know you''re not that kind of person. Why did you agree?" Quinn asked. Alexander smoked quietly, staring into space, not speaking for a long time.


    00000 Just when Quinn thought he wouldn''t answer, he spoke.


    "I wanted to fall in love with someone else."


    Quinn was stunned, her heart skipping a beat. She regretted asking.


    But it was toote.


    "It doesn''t matter if it''s Getty or anyone else. They''re all the same to me. She just happened to be there," Alexander continued.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He flicked ash onto the nightstand. "But it seems I failed."


    Alexander stared at the half-burnt cigarette, the ember flickering.


    His gaze was somewhat lost, as if he saw a scene from seven years ago through the smoke.</p<>

 Chapter 978

    "I heard you went racing because of Quinn and got hurt. Alexander, you''re being reckless!" Ulysses scolded.


    Leaning against the headboard, Alexander smiled. "I''m not dead, am I? Where''s Quinn? Did my mom punish her again? This isn''t her fault..."


    "Shut up!" Ulysses snapped. There was anger on his aged face, but more so helplessness and mncholy.


    After a pause, Ulysses calmed down. "Alexander, are you too concerned about Quinn?"


    Alexander looked confused. "What do you mean?"


    "You know what I mean. When I said she''d be your wife, it was a joke. You didn''t take it seriously, did you?"


    Alexander frowned and looked away. "I don''t know."


    Ulysses sat beside him and sighed. "I''ve seen how good you are to her. I owe her, so it''s right to be kind. But don''t get too attached. Remember, no one is more important than yourself. You''re the heir to the Kennedy family. Don''t let emotions cloud your judgment. Otherwise, you''ll lose everything, including her."


    Alexander looked at Ulysses. "Grandfather, I don''t understand. What secret does she have?"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Ulysses sighed deeply, showing rare sadness. "When I was young, I made mistakes. But now, it''s toote to regret them. I found Quinn under her mother''s corpse, a woman I killed." Alexander was shocked. "What?"


    "Yes, you heard right. Whether she forgot or is pretending, she''s grown up now. We can''t kill her. So, think carefully. Even if she remembers, how will you face her? The oue is predictable. It''s better to let go now than to lose everything." Ulysses paused and looked at him. "You know what I admire about you? Yourpetitiveness and ruthlessness. You''re like me when I was young. Though you seem humble, I know you can be ruthless. I don''t believe you''re indifferent to rumors or working hard just to silence gossip. I don''t believe you''re okay with being an illegitimate child. I value strength and ability, not birthright. You''re better than your father. Don''t disappoint me. Many are waiting for you to fail. Think it over."


    Alexander listened, his eyes flickering. His fingers clenched, veins bulging, blood seeping from his wound, but he didn''t feel the pain.


    Ulysses observed his reaction and remained silent for a moment. He then patted Alexander''s shoulder and got up to leave. "The doctor said you need at least a month of rest. Think about what you want." As Ulysses reached the door, Alexander suddenly asked, "Why did you do it?"

 Chapter 979

    Ulysses paused for a moment. Without looking back, he said, "Let the past stay in the past. People need to move forward, and so do you."


    With that, he left the ward, leaving Alexander alone to take the information hard.


    Quinn noticed Alexander was zoned out, the cigarette in his fingers burned down to the end, scorching him without him noticing.


    Then she nudged him.


    Alexander snapped out of it and nced at her.


    Quinn looked at the cigarette and said, "It''s burned out."


    Alexander seemed to just realize it. He nced at it indifferently, ignoring his scorched fingers, and put it out on the bedside table without any expression.


    There used to be an ashtray in the bedroom, but after he moved to another room, Quinn had Olivia remove it.


    ''You smoke wherever you want and leave the mess,'' Quinn thought.


    "You''ve had it tough, being good to Getty for seven years. I''m going to sleep now, you should leave." Quinn started to shoo him away, not wanting to talk anymore. Alexander stayed put.


    Quinn threw off the covers, got out of bed, and opened the window. The wind blew in, clearing some of the smoke.


    She grabbed a trash can and tissues to clean the ash off the bedside table.


    Alexander''s gaze followed her as she moved around. After tidying up, she didn''t want to talk to him, so she tossed the trash and nned to leave.


    ''If you like this bedroom, you can have it,'' Quinn thought.


    Just as her hand touched the doorknob, she felt a sudden tightness around her waist, and Alexander''s breath came from behind.


    "Don''t go," Alexander said.


    Quinn turned her head to avoid his breath. After a moment of silence, she softly asked, "Alexander, what do you really want?"


    "I''ve been thinking about that for years." He held her from behind, resting his head on her shoulder. His tone was t, but Quinn sensed a hint of helplessness.


    Alexander continued, "Maybe people are just like that, not wanting what they have and striving for what they can''t get. So, in this life, people are constantly gaining and losing, gaining and losing, and in the end, they get nothing."This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn frowned and her grip on the doorknob tightened.


    Suddenly, she turned around to look up at Alexander, and called his name, "Alexander."


    Alexander looked down at her.


    Quinn smiled at him. "If you tell me you love me, I won''t leave."


    Alexander was slightly taken aback.


    He stared at Quinn intensely, as if trying to see through her.


    Quinn met his gaze without backing down. The two locked eyes, and an eerie silence fell between them.


    She saw various emotions sh through Alexander''s eyes, too fast to grasp. For several seconds, Quinn felt he was about to speak, making her tense up.


    But in the end, she didn''t hear a word.


    Quinn secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again. "Can''t say it? Or is it because you don''t love me? Then why don''t you want me to leave? Mr. Kennedy, you can go find Getty. She''d dly y this deep affection game with you." With that, Quinn turned and opened the door.


    The next second, Alexander grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. Quinn stumbled and crashed into the door, which closed again.


    Alexander pinned her against the door, leaning in close. The suppressed anger he had been holding back reappeared. He exuded a dangerous aura.


    "Quinn, do you really want to hear it, or are you trying to provoke me? If you want to hear it, I''ll say it." His tone was icy, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear. "But if you''re ying with me, I''ll make you pay a heavy price." Quinn''s body stiffened at his words. She caught the sh of murderous intent in Alexander''s eyes, realizing she had truly provoked him.


    She tried to steady her nerves, maintaining a smile. "Already angry? Seems like you''re not asposed as I thought."


    Alexander also smiled, but it was devoid of warmth.


    "How could I be angry with you?" He caressed Quinn''s cheek. "But next time, remember not to say such foolish things." Quinn frowned, but before she could speak, Alexander had already let her go.


    "Get some rest." As he said this, his expression returned to normal. He pushed Quinn aside, opened the door, and walked out.</p<>

 Chapter 980

    Quinn looked down, took a deep breath, and then weakly sat on the bed.


    Meanwhile, Alexander headed downstairs. Olivia saw him step outside and sit on the steps, not caring about his appearance.


    His ck suit almost blended into the night.


    He smoked one cigarette after another.


    Olivia stood inside, unsure whether to leave or approach him.


    Soon, she noticed Alexander had gone through five or six cigarettes. She sighed to herself, ''What happened this time? Another quarrel?''Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    After thinking for a bit, Olivia walked up behind Alexander and softly said, "Mr. Kennedy, you''re still not well. Come back inside. It''s windy out here." Alexander ignored her. After a while, he seemed to hear something.


    He looked towards a dark corner and asked, "What''s over there?"


    Olivia replied, "That''s Liberty and Buddy."


    "Buddy and Liberty?"


    Olivia rolled her eyes. The couple couldn''t even remember their own dogs.


    "They''re Mrs. Kennedy''s dogs."


    Alexander ordered, "Let them out."


    Olivia sighed, walked over, and released the two softly whining dogs from their cage.


    00000


    As soon as they were free, they ran towards the house. They loved it and always rushed inside whenever they could.


    But with Alexander sitting at the door, Liberty and Buddy wagged their tails and hovered around him, wanting to go inside but too scared to. They probably sensed his hostility and were a bit wary.


    Alexander casually grabbed Buddy and roughly petted its head.


    Buddy stuck out his tongue and didn''t dare to move, only wagging its tail to please him.


    Seeing this, Alexander sneered, "You really take after your owner. She used to be just like you. Are you trying to imitate her?"


    Olivia wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. Talking to a dog in the middle of the night, he was getting more and more strange.


    Olivia quietly turned and left, not wanting to get involved.


    Buddy shook its head and rubbed against Alexander''s palm, seemingly wanting to lick his fingers.


    Then, Alexander grabbed the scruff of its neck and pulled it closer. Buddy stopped wagging its tail, slowly tucking it between his legs. He seemed to be muttering, "You''ve been locked up too long, and now you don''t know your ce. Better to keep you locked up." Buddy struggled to escape his grip.


    Alexanderughed, tightened his fingers, and pulled it back.


    Buddy whimpered in pain. Liberty, seeing Buddy being bullied, barked furiously at Alexander but didn''t dare to step forward. Quinn heard the barking from upstairs. She suddenly stood up, opened the door, and ran downstairs.

 Chapter 981

    Quinn snapped, "Alexander! What are you doing?"


    She was furious at seeing him bully the dog.


    Alexander let go of Buddy, who ran to its cage, tail between its legs.


    Dusting off his hands, Alexander looked at Quinn. "Just ying with Buddy. Why are you down here?"


    Quinn eyed him warily. "ying what?"


    "Why so tense? Do you think I''d kill them?"


    Quinn was speechless. He''d kill people, let alone dogs.


    Weren''t the miserable conditions of those stray animals Orion adopted back then also his doing?


    Reading her thoughts, he wiped his fingers with a white handkerchief. "Rx. If they behave, I''ll take care of them."


    Quinn wasn''t sure if he meant the dogs or her.


    He tossed the handkerchief aside and walked out.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Soon, car lights lit up outside, and Quinn saw him drive away.


    She sighed in relief. He seemed more unhinged every day.


    Alexander didn''t return. Early the next morning, Quinn headed to the office, eager to leave the vi.


    After two hours at her desk, people started trickling in.


    The vibe was off. Usually, everyone was busy prepping for filming.


    Today, they were all on their phones, like they were on strike.


    When Helen arrived, Quinn pulled her aside. "What''s up today? No filming?"


    Helen gave her a weird look. "Didn''t you see the group chat?"


    Then she remembered. "Oh, right. You''re not in the group. Something happened to Maya, so filming''s paused. Ronald''s in a meeting with Ernest." "What happened?" Quinn asked, confused.


    Helen said, "Check online. You''ll find it."


    Quinn quickly searched Maya''s name and found tons of news.


    Piecing it together, she got the story.


    It started with chat screenshots. While chatting with another influencer, Maya badmouthed other influencers and mocked several celebrities.


    The influencer exposed the chats because Maya had seduced her boyfriend.


    There were also secrets about Maya hooking up with rich men and photos of her partying.


    In short, Maya''s character was awful, and her private life was a mess. She was juggling multiple rtionships.


    The scandal videos were viral, causing an online uproar.


    Some cursed her, others demanded she exin.


    But Maya hadn''t shown up, acting oblivious.


    Ernest, clueless, called a meeting to figure it out.


    They couldn''t reach Maya. Just as they were about to send someone to her ce, Kyle showed up.

 Chapter 982

    As soon as Kyle arrived, he confronted Otis.


    "What did you guys do? Mr. Kennedy knows now. Maya''s under contract with us, and her actions have trashed our reputation. How are you fixing this?"


    Otis quickly put down what he was holding and approached with a forced smile. "Mr. Astor, we don''t know what happened either. We were just about to ask Maya." Kyle, looking stern, said, "No need. I''m here with a message."


    Otis asked, "What is it?"


    Kyle announced, "Mr. Kennedy says you need to issue a statement. Maya brokepany rules and hurt our reputation. We''re terminating her contract and demandingpensation for damages and breach of contract." Otis was shocked and hurriedly said, "Mr. Astor, doing this would confirm those things, wouldn''t it?"


    Kyle shot back, "Aren''t they true? She''s just an influencer. You think thepany will spend money on PR for her? Just do it."


    Otis sighed. Since it was Mr. Kennedy''s decision, he couldn''t protect Maya anymore.


    "Alright, I''ll handle it."


    Kyle nodded and left without another word.


    Once the announcement was made, Maya would have no way to turn things around.


    In the afternoon, Otis went to see her. Maya had locked herself in her room, looking disheveled, pale, and terrified. Seeing Otis, she shrank into the couch.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Her phone on the coffee table kept ringing, one call after another.


    It was a call from her family because they had received awyer''s letter; she owed thepany over a million dors.


    Her family couldn''te up with that much money. Even selling everything they had wouldn''t amount to a million dors.


    In the morning, her family had taken turns scolding her over the phone. Now, Maya was terrified of the phone ringing, covering her ears and trembling. Maya stammered in fear, "Don''t kill me. I was wrong."


    Seeing her in such a miserable state, Otis exchanged a nce with Ernest, both shaking their heads in pity.


    It seemed she had gone crazy. Even if the issues were rified, she wouldn''t be able to continue filming normally.


    Everyone had no choice but to leave the room.


    On the way, they discussed what to do with her ount. It was a pity to waste an ount with over ten million followers. With Rex still around, they could rece her with a new lead. Ernest said, "Looks like that''s the only option."


    Another staff member sighed, "It''s a shame. So much money was invested in that ount, and now we have to start over."


    Otis shrugged. "No choice. Mr. Kennedy knows about it, so let''s just do it."


    As they were talking, a loud noise suddenly came from behind, startling them.


    They all turned around to see a bloody figure lying on the ground.


    Passersby screamed, attracting a crowd.


    Maya had jumped.


    When Kyle received the news, he quickly nced back at the office behind him. It was Alexander''s office.


    Kyle''s face turned pale because he knew something was off.


    Last night, Alexander had indeed adopted his suggestion, but only partially. He let the scandal about Maya spread but didn''t wait for her poprity to drop.


    ''Thepany made an announcement in the morning and Maya jumped in the afternoon. Is this not making a big enough scene?'' Kyle thought in shock.


    Yet he didn''t dare to ask Alexander. He could only suppress his panic and quickly leave the office.


    The news spread quickly, and Quinn and her colleagues also found out.


    When Quinn looked at the overwhelming news online, her fingers trembled as she held her phone.


    She thought, ''Alexander has been out all night. What has he been doing?''


    Someone said, "Who would''ve thought Maya wouldmit suicide over this? It''s just a contract termination and a million-dor debt. Was it worth jumping for? But this shouldn''t have anything to do with ourpany, right?" Quinn''s face was pale, and she didn''t say anything.


    At that moment, a message suddenly popped up on her phone. It was from Walter.


    It was just a short sentence.


    Walter: [I''ll be back in a week. Keep it secret.]

 Chapter 983

    Quinn''s hand shook as she opened Facebook to confirm the message. Feeling nervous, she thought about replying but changed her mind. Instead, she deleted their chat history and put away her phone. Because of Maya''s ident, the whole new media department got the day off, except for the leaders who had to attend a meeting.


    Maya had already hurt thepany''s reputation, and now her jumping off a building would impact both the reputation and the stock. They needed a solution fast, or Mr. Kennedy would be furious. Instead of heading back to Regal Riverside, Quinn went to see Abigail.


    Abigail''s ward had an unexpected visitor: Orion, whom she hadn''t seen in a long time. She nced at Nathan and noticed the two bodyguards looked uneasy.


    Ignoring them, Quinn walked into the ward. The bodyguards wanted to stop her but had no reason to. After all, it was Abigail''s ward.


    "Quinn''s here," Abigail greeted her happily.


    Orion turned to look at Quinn, knowing she could speak again and was back to normal. He seemed a bit nervous.


    "Quinn," he stuttered.


    Quinn nodded and walked over.


    Orion worried if Quinn remembered anything from when she had amnesia. His cheeks turned red at the thought.


    He stammered, "I heard from Abigail that you''ve fully recovered?"


    "Yes," Quinn replied calmly.


    An awkward silence followed.


    Abigail watched them with amusement. After a moment, she tapped Orion''s leg with her crutch.


    "Why are you blushing? Weren''t you two married?" Abigail teased.


    Orion red at her. "Stop talking nonsense! Our marriage was just a temporary measure."


    Quinn agreed. "Yes, Orion was just helping me."


    If it weren''t for Orion, Wayne might have given her away to someone else.


    "Really?" Abigail said. "That''s not what you said before."


    She started to reveal something but Orion lunged at her, covering her mouth.


    Abigail, already injured, fell back onto the bed.


    "Abigail, please be quiet!" Orion was embarrassed and angry.


    Abigail pushed him away. "Are you crazy? I''m injured, it hurts!"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Orion, even redder, red at her. "Stop talking nonsense!"


    Abigail, amused, pretended to be in pain and waved at Quinn. "It hurts, Quinn. Help me up."


    Quinn quickly ran over to help her.


    Abigail leaned on Quinn''s shoulder, giving Orion a provocative look.


    She asked Quinn in a sweet voice, "My back hurts, can you rub it?"


    Quinn nodded and started rubbing. "Here?"


    "A bit lower."


    "Yes, that''s it."


    Orion, clearly provoked, stood up, grabbed Abigail''s crutch, and hobbled out. "I''m going to the bathroom," he said.


    Though not as injured as Abigail, his limping looked a bitical.</p<>

 Chapter 984

    Abigail grinned at Orion''s angry back.


    "So, Quinn, what do you think of Orion?" she asked.


    Quinn was surprised but then smiled. "He''s good. Kind-hearted and righteous."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail nodded. "Yeah, a bit silly, but at least he won''t bully you."


    Quinn looked confused. "Why would he bully me?"


    Abigail exined, "I think he likes you. If you two were together, even though he''s a bit silly, he''s better than Alexander."


    Quinn''s mind shed to Maya''s incident. She thought worriedly, ''Abigail still wants me to break up with Alexander. If he finds out...''


    Quinn suppressed her thoughts and said, "Abigail, I only see Orion as a friend. He''s just kind-hearted to everyone. Don''t get the wrong idea."


    "I get it," Abigail sighed, then looked at Quinn seriously. "Do you really like Alexander?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yes. So, please don''t say things like that anymore."


    "Alright, I can''t convince you," Abigail said, scratching her head. "As long as you''re happy."


    Quinn forced a smile.


    She stayed with Abigail a bit longer until Nathan urged her to leave.


    She said goodbye and left the hospital with Nathan, who took her back to Regal Riverside.


    Alexander wasn''t home yet; only Olivia was there.


    After dinner, Quinn went to her room and fell asleep immediately.


    Alexander came back just after eight. He looked around but didn''t see Quinn.


    Olivia reported, "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy went to her room to sleep after dinner." Alexander nodded, tossed his coat to Olivia, and went upstairs.


    He found Quinn asleep, checked her forehead, and found her temperature was normal.


    He called Olivia. "How long has she been sleeping?"


    "She went to bed after dinner, probably for more than two hours," Olivia whispered.


    "Call Soren," Alexander ordered.


    Soren, buried in books, found his phone and rushed over with his medical kit.


    When he arrived, Alexander barely recognized him.


    "Have you be a beggar?" Alexander asked.


    Soren looked down at his pajamas, scruffy chin, and messy hair, feeling awkward. "Mr. Kennedy, I''ve been doing research and didn''t have time to clean up. What''s wrong? Are you unwell?" "Check on Quinn," Alexander said.


    "What''s wrong with her?" Soren asked.


    Alexander lost patience. "Just go!"</p<>

 Chapter 985

    Soren shivered, clutching the box as he rushed upstairs.


    Alexander was right behind him, sending chills down his spine. Soren feared something had happened to Quinn.


    Quinn was just sleeping soundly. Even when Soren checked, she didn''t wake up.


    Soren wiped his forehead and nced at Alexander.


    Alexander asked coldly, "What''s her condition?"


    Soren whispered, "Nothing''s wrong."


    Alexander''s gaze turned icy, making Soren shudder again.


    As Soren fumbled for words, Alexander grabbed his cor. "One more chance. Speak!"This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Soren was near tears.


    He stammered, "Okay, I''ll talk."


    Alexander let him go, ring, ready to strangle him if he lied.


    Soren struggled for a long time and did not know how to open his mouth. After a while, he shrank his neck and said, "Mr. Kennedy, I''ve been researching Mrs. Kennedy''s condition."


    Alexander asked, "Tell me more about it."


    Soren replied, "Her body data is chaotic."


    Alexander asked, "What do you mean?"


    Soren exined, "I can''t diagnose her right now." He said delicately, knowing if he mentioned it looked like a dying condition, Alexander might kill him.


    He continued, "I suggest taking her to the hospital for a detailed exam."


    Alexander understood.


    He red at Soren, "Nonsense. Is this what your grandfather taught you?"


    Soren smiled awkwardly, "Mr. Kennedy, I''m not lying. Her condition isplicated. I''ve been researching for days. I''ve never seen this before."


    Alexander stared at him, trying to see through him.


    After a while, he said, "Don''t let me find out you''re lying."


    Soren waved his hands, "I won''t. I asked Mrs. Kennedy, and she said she''s fine. Her drowsiness is probably due to physical weakness. Her body hasn''t fully recovered yet. Last time, you even..." took her to soak in the sea. He didn''t finish the sentence.


    Alexander snapped, "Get lost."


    "Okay."


    Soren quickly scurried out.


    Alexander nced at Quinn on the bed; she still hadn''t woken up.


    His phone rang. Alexander took it and walked out of the bedroom.


    Kyle reported, "Mr. Kennedy, I''ve contacted Mr. and Mrs. Dixon, but they''re out of the country. Mrs. Dixon knows you''re looking for her and said she''ll handle her affairs and return soon." "I get it."


    Kyle added, "Also, the incident with Maya jumping off the building has caused a stir. Many online are questioning thepany. Should we suppress public opinion?"


    Alexander dered, "No need. She jumped herself. It has nothing to do with us. Get the police to issue a statement."


    "Okay, understood."


    Kyle added, "Mr. Kennedy, one more thing."


    "Speak."


    Kyle said, "Kaitlyn has been going to the hospital frequently. Not sure if she''s unwell."


    Alexander sneered, "If she''s unwell, it''s not your ce to tell me. Keep an eye on her."


    Kyle thought about it and agreed. If Kaitlyn were really unwell, she''d be at Regal Riverside resting, not running to the hospital herself.


    "Okay."

 Chapter 986

    Quinn woke up to her rm the next morning. She checked her phone and saw it was already ten.


    Then she remembered she was on vacation, so shey back down and opened Facebook. No new messages from Walter since hisst one. She thought, ''He asked me to keep it a secret. Did hee back quietly?''


    ''Maybe he''s got everything set up already?''


    ''But it doesn''t seem like he''s done anything.''


    ''If I know about his ns, how can he hide them from Alexander?''


    After pondering, Quinn put down her phone and nced out the window. A swallow flew by.


    Spring had arrived.


    This was her fourth year in the vi. She knew everything here, even though she thought about leaving every day.


    But now, she felt the sadness of parting.


    Suddenly, the bedroom door opened. Quinn looked up and saw Alexander with breakfast, acting normal. He sat beside her. "Hungry?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn scanned his face but didn''t speak.


    Alexander asked again, "How are you feeling?"


    Suspicion shed in Quinn''s eyes. "What do you mean?"


    Alexander said, "You''ve slept a long time. Are you feeling unwell?"


    Quinn shook her head. "No, just bored, so I slept."


    Alexander asked, "Is that all?"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Quinn snapped, "What else should it be?"


    Alexander was silent for a moment, then took the breakfast to the table. "Go freshen up and eat."


    Quinn found him odd. She got out of bed, freshened up quickly, and sat at the table to eat.


    Alexander''s gaze stayed on her, making her ufortable.


    He suddenly said, "Do you want to go to the hospital for a check-up?"


    Quinn paused and looked at him. "Why should I go to the hospital when I''m fine?"


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    Alexander replied, "Just to be sure."


    Quinn saw his serious face and found it amusing.


    She teased, "Are you that worried about me?"


    Alexander didn''t speak, just stared at her seriously.


    She lowered her head and continued eating. "I''m fine. I''m not going."


    "Suit yourself." Alexander stood up and walked out without looking back.


    Quinn watched him leave and smirked. "You''re the one who''s sick, always acting so weird."


    For the next few days, Quinn stayed home, visited Abigail at the hospital, or just rxed.


    Orion seemed to avoid her. Whenever she visited and he was in Abigail''s ward, he''d find an excuse to leave.


    One day, Quinn went to the hospital again.


    Before entering Abigail''s ward, her phone vibrated.


    She checked it, her expression changed, and she quickly put it back in her pocket.


    She turned to Matthew and Nathan. "ed to use the restroom."


    She went to the bathroom, locked the stall, and took out her phone. It was a message from Walter.


    Walter: [Find a way to shake them off. I''m waiting for you outside the hospital.]


    Quinn quickly called him. He answered, "What''s up?"


    "You''re really back? Wasn''t it supposed to be a weekter?" Quinn asked, surprised.


    It had only been four days.


    Walter said, "I said that in case your phone was monitored. But it seems like it isn''t." Quinn asked, "Did youe back secretly?"


    "Yes."


    Quinn asked again, "What if I get caught seeing you?"


    Walterughed. "It''s fine. Juste out."

 Chapter 987

    Before Quinn could say anything, he finished the call.


    She put her phone away and stepped out of the stall. She looked around; it was the fifth floor, so climbing out the window was a no-go, and there was only one door. How could she escape? She couldn''t shake off her two bodyguards.


    Just as Quinn was feeling stuck, a girl walked into the restroom. Quinn stared at her, an idea forming.


    The girl noticed Quinn''s stare. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, her gaze bing more subtle.


    Nathan and Matthew had been waiting outside for over forty minutes, worried that Quinn had fainted in the restroom.


    Nathan called out, "Mrs. Kennedy, are you okay in there?"


    No response.


    He called out louder, "Mrs. Kennedy, if you don''te out, we''reing in!"


    Still no response.


    Their faces changed. They rushed into the women''s restroom without hesitation.


    Their sudden entrance startled the women inside, who screamed.


    "Mrs. Kennedy!"


    Nathan ignored the screams and kicked open each stall door, causing another round of high-pitched screams.


    When Nathan checked thest stall, a girl dressed like Quinn walked out.


    They finally realized they had messed up.


    Meanwhile, Quinn was already in Walter''s car, which had driven far away.


    Quinn looked at Walter. "Lucas, where are we going?"


    He focused on driving. "I''m taking you away from Amber Bay, remember?"


    Quinn was stunned. "But I haven''t prepared anything. Are we just leaving like this?"


    Walter replied calmly, "Yes."


    Quinn felt uneasy. She thought, ''Is this what he meant by taking me away from Amber Bay? So hasty?''


    She asked, "Are you sure we can just leave like this? How about we take a longer-term approach?"


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    Walter smiled, eyes on the road. "Don''t worry. I''ve got it all under control."


    Though he seemed calm, Quinn felt he was unreliable.


    She had disguised herself to shake off Nathan because she thought Walter wanted to discuss something. Even if they found out, they wouldn''t dare tell Alexander. But now, Walter was taking her away directly. They wouldn''t hide it, and Alexander probably already knew.


    Quinn was right. Alexander had received Nathan''s call.


    A dangerous smile appeared on his face, and there was a clear anger in his eyes.


    Even from a distance, Olivia could feel his anger.


    The next second, he threw his phone to the ground. With a loud crash, it shattered into pieces.


    He stepped on the phone fragments and quickly left the vi.


    Quinn, in the passenger seat, anxiously said, "Lucas, stop the car! Alexander must know by now. If we stop now, there''s still a chance."


    She could exin she was out for a drive with Walter, catching up, or even on a date.


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    But it couldn''t be that he was taking her away.


    Walter stayed calm. He chuckled. "Are you that afraid of him?"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "I''m worried about you! I''m afraid he''lle after you." Seeing they were about to leave the city center, Quinn got more nervous. She grabbed Walter''s arm and shouted, "Stop the car!" Walter suddenly mmed on the brakes, stopping by the roadside. The sudden stop almost threw Quinn out of her seat.


    He turned to look at Quinn.


    "Quinn, do you trust me?"


    Quinn hesitated. Looking into his smiling eyes, she was speechless.


    She trusted him, but not his current behavior. If they left like this, even if they escaped, it would implicate many people. Walter touched her cheek. "Trust me this once, okay?"


    "But..."


    He interrupted, "No buts. You''ve known me for so long, don''t you understand me by now?"


    Quinn stayed silent. She admitted Walter was smart and capable, but he had never won against Alexander.


    If they failed this time, she couldn''t imagine the consequences.

 Chapter 988

    Walter didn''t give her a chance to talk; he just drove off. In no time, they were in the suburbs.


    Seeing the road sign, Quinn felt a wave of despair. Her bad feeling grew stronger.


    She twisted her fingers nervously, looking at the scenery. It all felt unreal.


    She hadn''t brought anything with her and now Walter had taken her to the suburbs. She thought, ''He wants to take me away from Amber Bay. This is crazy.'' Her phone suddenly buzzed. Quinn stiffened and saw it was Kyle calling.


    She sighed in relief but didn''t have the courage to answer.


    When the call ended, it rang again.


    "Aren''t you going to answer?" Walter asked.


    Quinn nced at him. "You''ve already driven us out here. What am I supposed to say?"


    She pleaded, "Let''s go back, okay?"


    "We''re already this far. Going back is pointless," Walter replied, leaving Quinn speechless.


    The phone rang again.


    Quinn looked at the screen, the constant buzzing making her more nervous.


    Walter sighed, "You should answer it. It''s giving me a headache."


    Quinn gripped her phone, staring at the answer icon. After hesitating for a while, she still couldn''t answer.


    She remembered when Orion failed to take her awayst time. What about this time?


    When the fifth call came, Quinn finally realized Kyle wouldn''t stop calling.


    She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm down.


    She finally answered.


    "Quinn, tell him to stop the car. I can pretend nothing happened." It was Alexander''s voice.


    Quinn opened her mouth but couldn''t say a word, then turned to look at Walter.


    He kept driving, one hand on the wheel.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Quinn nced at the rearview mirror and saw several ck Mercedes catching up. It had to be Alexander. "Did you hear me?" Alexander''s voice came again, "Don''t push me."


    Quinn, feeling nervous, had beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead and her back was drenched in sweat.


    Walter, knowing they were being chased, stayed calm. As the road got more remote, Quinn realized something. Maybe he didn''t want to take her away but wanted to confront Alexander.


    Quinn hung up and grabbed Walter''s arm. "What are you trying to do? Did you lead him here on purpose?" Walter nced at her, smiling gently. "Are you worried about him?"


    Quinn stiffened.


    His voice was gentle, but his words were chilling. "Quinn, don''t forget. He''s our enemy. If he dies, won''t we leave Amber Bay easily?"

 Chapter 989

    Quinn stared at Walter, stunned. "Are you going to kill him?" she asked with difficulty.


    Walter, calm as ever, replied, "There''s no point in fighting him anymore. If we pull this off, I''ll get you out of Amber Bay. No one will threaten you again. You can go wherever you want." Quinn pressed, "What if we fail?"


    Walter just smiled, not answering.


    Quinn waited, but he stayed silent. She had no clue what his n was or if he had a backup.


    Was he prepared for failure, or was he ready to burn his bridges?


    She nced in the rearview mirror. The road was too rough to see the car behind, but she knew Alexander was back there.


    Her palms were sweaty and her fingers clenched tightly.


    She''d tried to convince Walter to give up, but he was set on his course. No matter what she said, he remained unmoved.


    Kyle, gripping his seatbelt, nervously nced at Alexander in the driver''s seat. "Mr. Kennedy, something feels off. Watch out for traps."


    Alexander had taken over driving because he thought Kyle was too slow. Now, Kyle felt they were going too fast.


    Alexander, serious, focused on the road, ignoring Kyle.


    Kyle wiped sweat from his forehead, gripping his seatbelt tighter. Alexander was driving like a maniac.


    He had no idea how long they had been driving. The sun was setting, and the mountain road was winding and steep. The mountain blocked the sunset, making the road dim, while the sky zed red. Kyle recognized the road. "Mr. Kennedy, I think we''ve been here before."


    This was where Walter had kidnapped Quinn the second time and where Quinn and Alexander survived by jumping off a cliff into the river below.


    This wasn''t the way out of Amber Bay.


    Kyle asked again, "Mr. Kennedy, Walter must have a n. Shouldn''t we be more careful?"


    "Shut up!" Alexander snapped.


    Kyle shrank back, silent.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Half an hourter, halfway up the mountain, Alexander mmed on the brakes, nearly throwing Kyle out of the car.


    Kyle saw a ck car blocking the road. It was Walter''s.


    "They''re nearby," Kyle started, but Alexander was already out of the car.


    The wind was strong, blowing the knee-high withered grass. Kyle asked, "Mr. Kennedy, should we go in and look?" Alexander''s eyes flickered as he stared ahead.


    Sean and his men arrived, standing behind Alexander.


    Before they could speak, Alexander walked in.


    Kyle nced at Sean, signaling him to protect Alexander.


    Walter''s car here meant an ambush, but Alexander walked in anyway.

 Chapter 990

    Meanwhile, Quinn was at a slightly higher vantage point, where she could clearly see Alexander and his crewing.


    She nced at Walter, who was busy putting together a sniper rifle. She gripped the tree trunk, her mind in turmoil. Sweat poured down her forehead. "Are you really going to do this?" she asked.


    Walter didn''t look up, just kept working on the rifle. The sound of it made Quinn even more nervous.


    She crouched down and grabbed his arm. "Walter, he''s got a lot of people with him. Even if you kill him, we won''t get away. Don''t be impulsive, okay?" Walter touched her cheek and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry."


    Quinn frowned. She thought, ''How can I not worry? You are nning to kill Alexander.''


    ''Even if you pulls it off, we''re screwed.''


    Walter nodded towards the scene. "Look."


    Quinn turned and saw people rising from the grass behind Alexander. They were camouged and nearly invisible until they stood up.


    Once they stood up, they started shooting at Alexander''s group.


    With several gunshots, the bodyguards at the back were hit.


    "Mr. Kennedy, watch out!"


    Sean reacted first, tackling Alexander to the ground.


    The others quickly dropped and returned fire.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Their quick response caught the attackers off guard, and some were shot down. The rest ducked back into the grass, moving around.


    "See? Alexander''s ready. His men are armed," Walter said calmly.


    Quinn watched in disbelief. She never thought she''d see something like this.


    As Walter''s men dodged bullets, Sean''s group got a chance to fight back, leading to a standoff.


    Sean nced at the sky. It wasn''t the right time to move. The attackers had the advantage of camouge, so any movement would be risky.


    They had to wait until nightfall when the attackers would lose their edge.


    "Move!" Alexander tried to push Sean away, but Sean held him down.


    "Mr. Kennedy, don''t be rash! These guys are prepared. You''ll get killed out there."


    Sean knew Alexander was furious, so he didn''t let him go.


    Alexander sneered, "Doesn''t she want revenge? I''ll give her the chance."


    He pushed Sean away and stood up.


    Sean quickly got up and positioned himself behind Alexander.


    Gunfire erupted. Sean took a bullet to the chest.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Alexander stopped and turned to look at Sean. The other bodyguards stood up, engaging in a fierce gunfight.


    Sean clutched his chest, blood seeping through his fingers. "Mr. Kennedy, be careful," he said with difficulty.


    Then he copsed.


    Alexander reached out. "Sean?"


    But Sean''s hand went limp and the bullet hole in his chest was clear. He could no longer respond.


    Kyle crawled over. When he saw Sean in such a state, his face changed dramatically.


    "Mr. Kennedy, is Sean okay?" Kyle asked.


    Alexander''s face grew darker and he was surrounded by a chilling aura.


    He took Sean''s gun, handed Sean to Kyle, and walked deeper into the mountain.


    Kyle looked at Sean, then at Alexander. He gritted his teeth and pressed his hand against Sean''s bleeding chest.

 Chapter 991

    "Sean, don''t die!" Kyle''s voice trembled as he saw the blood pouring out.


    Up above, Walter had his sniper rifle ready, with Alexander in his sights.


    Quinn looked at the chaos below, filled with regret. She wished she hadn''te with Walter or gotten in his car. She wanted freedom, but not like this.


    Quinn turned to see Walter aiming at Alexander.


    Walter kept adjusting, calcting the distance, inching the crosshairs toward Alexander''s forehead.


    Alexander didn''t seem scared and walked right into danger.


    ''Alexander''s thest of the Kennedys. Killing him will avenge the Mellons,'' Walter thought.


    His finger on the trigger, he started a soft countdown.


    "3, 2, 1."


    He fired. The bullet flew.


    Alexander''s steps faltered. He stopped, standing in the wind as the grass swayed.


    The bullet was heading straight for him.


    In the next second, his expression changed. He clutched his chest and fell to his knees.


    Meanwhile, Walter slowly turned to look at Quinn.


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    Quinn, with red eyes, clutched his hand, trembling.


    Walter looked down at her hands gripping his and asked, "Why?"


    Quinn''s breathing was rapid. She couldn''t speak, tears streaming down her face.


    Walter''s eyes burned with anger. The bullet should''ve hit Alexander''s forehead, but Quinn had pulled him.


    Quinn''s tears fell harder. She didn''t know why she had instinctively pulled Walter.


    As Quinn choked up, hot liquid sttered on her face. She froze.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Her eyes widened. She looked at Walter''s chest.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on Ne5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! A bleeding hole had appeared. Blood oozed out, staining his suit dark.


    Walter suddenly smiled. "You were tricked, fool."


    His smile was bitter, his face pale from blood loss.


    Quinn stood there in a daze, her mind nk. Tears streamed down her face and her vision turned red from the blood.


    She wanted to press on his wound, but Walter pushed her away. "He has a sniper too. I only had one shot."


    "Quinn," he said, eyes cold like when they first met two years ago. "I was wrong to trust you."


    Quinn shook her head repeatedly, desperate to help stop his bleeding, but Walter wouldn''t let her touch him.


    "Traitor. Quinn, remember. You''re a traitor to the Mellon family." He spoke with difficulty, shakily standing, and began tough lowly.

 Chapter 992

    Alexander looked up and saw Walter above him.


    He raised his hand, signaling the sniper to stop.


    Walter stepped back, looking down at Quinn with mockery in his eyes.


    The mountain wind tousled his hair, partially hiding a face filled with despair.


    Walter said, "Take your sins and stay with Alexander."


    Realizing what was happening, Quinn knelt, panic spreading. She tried to stand but couldn''t.


    She crawled towards Lucas, struggling. "No."


    Walter watched her,ughing sadly.


    "All these years, I''ve been a joke. I searched for my enemy for twenty years, gave up everything to infiltrate the Kennedy family to repay Henry for adopting me. But Quinn, you''re the real Mellon."


    Quinn looked at him, tears blurring her vision. She couldn''t see Walter clearly but heard the sadness and disappointment in his voice.


    "Since you love him so much, the Mellon grudge isn''t worth avenging."


    He retreated to the cliff''s edge.


    Quinn shook her head frantically. "No, Lucas. I was wrong. Please, don''t leave me. Please."


    She used all her strength to crawl towards him, almost reaching him.


    Walter watched her. Just as she was about to touch him, he fell backward off the cliff.


    Quinn grasped at nothing.


    As he fell, Quinn''s heart sank.


    "Lucas!"


    Her desperate voice echoed through the valley, making Kyle below look up sharply.


    Quinny at the cliff''s edge, the echo fading, with no response.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The sky darkened, and the bottom of the cliff was shrouded in darkness.


    How disappointed he must have been to jump, leaving her with a lifetime of guilt and regret.


    She became aplete sinner.


    From now on, she''d live in self-me and regret, never finding peace.


    This was Walter''s punishment for her.


    Quinn''s gaze lost focus, her face showing numb defeat as she struggled to get up.


    There was nothing left for her in this world.


    Memories shed through her mind. An afternoon from her childhood. Shey on a small boat in the backyard lotus pond, with lush lotus leaves overhead, dragonfliesnding on the budding lotuses, and the sound of cicadas filled the air. Lucas sat beside her, gently fanning her. When she wanted lotus seeds, he picked them for her, peeled them, and ced them in her mouth.


    Her brothers joked, "What would you do without Lucas? Starve?"


    She retorted, "Henry and Sophia said Lucas will always be with me."


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    She turned to Lucas, "Am I right?"


    Lucas smiled, cing a lotus seed in her mouth, gently saying, "Yes."


    Quinn clutched her chest, pain spreading from her heart to her entire body.


    She found it hard to breathe, gasping for air, and took a step towards the cliff.


    Quinn closed her eyes, facing the fierce mountain wind, and fell forward.


    But then, she was pulled back by a force, falling heavily to the ground.


    Quinn opened her eyes and saw Alexander above her.


    She froze, then raised her hand to push him away. As her palm pressed against his chest, she felt hot liquid flow down her fingertips, onto her hand, and into her sleeve.


    It felt like a bug crawling along her skin, apanied by the overwhelming smell of blood.


    She didn''t stop. Even though she knew it was his wound, she used all her strength to push him.


    But his hand on her shoulder didn''t budge, even though his blood stained her entire hand.

 Chapter 993

    Alexander''s persistence just made Quinn angrier.


    Unable to push him away, she started hitting him wildly, using him as an outlet for her emotions. She kept striking his wounds until her hands felt sticky, losing count of the blows. Neither of them spoke; words seemed pointless.


    Eventually, Alexander copsed onto her but still held her tightly.


    "I will find him," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the wind.


    Quinn stared at the dark sky, gasping for breath, tears streaming down her face.


    After a moment, she let out a low, sorrowfulugh, the same kind as Walter had earlier. When sadness peaked, sometimes all that''s left wasughter.


    Herughter grew louder, almost hysterical. Even from a distance, Kyle could hear the sadness in it, unsure if she was crying orughing.


    Alexander closed his eyes, silent but still holding her.


    No one knew how much time passed before Quinn quieted down. Shey on the ground, staring at the sky, tears still flowing.


    Kyle arrived with his men and called softly, "Mr. Kennedy."


    "Walter''s men are all captured. Three are alive; the rest are dead. What should we do with them?" he reported.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    There was no response from Alexander, whoy on top of Quinn.


    Kyle smelled blood in the air and realized something was wrong. He quickly stepped forward and patted Alexander''s shoulder.


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    "Mr. Kennedy?"


    There was still no response. Kyle confirmed Alexander had passed out and hurriedly called the bodyguards to pull him away.


    At the hospital, Kyle brought Quinn along, adding two more bodyguards to watch over her. She sat dazed on a chair outside the operating room, her hair disheveled, and her face, body, and hands covered in dark red blood-some of it was Walter''s, some Alexander''s. Under the bright fluorescent lights, it looked eerie.


    Kyle paced back and forth, asionally ncing at Quinn. She stared at the floor, her eyes empty. She hadn''t move a bit since she sat down.


    Kyle couldn''t help but ask, "Mrs. Kennedy, we don''t know when the surgery will be over. Why don''t you rest a bit?"


    Quinn ignored him, not even blinking. At this moment, she truly embodied the meaning of despair.


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    Kyle sighed and continued to wait.


    An hourter, Kaitlyn arrived.


    "Where''s Alexander? How is he?" she asked, grabbing Kyle''s hand.


    Kyle reassured her. "We don''t know yet. But the doctor said the wound wasn''t in any vital organs, so he should be fine."


    Though shot in the chest, it was on the right side. Unfortunately, he had lost a lot of blood by the time he was brought in. Kyle realized the excessive blood loss was likely because Alexander hadn''t stopped the bleeding when he went to find Quinn.


    When Quinn stood up, Alexander knew what she was going to do. Ignoring his own injuries, he ran to her, leading to the excessive blood loss.


    Kaitlyn anxiously looked at the operating room, then turned to Quinn, as if she had thought of something.

 Chapter 994

    When she saw the blood on Quinn, her face darkened.


    She stormed over, grabbing Quinn by the cor. "Quinn, is this your fault again?"


    Quinn''s eyshes trembled. She slowly looked up, meeting Kaitlyn''s angry gaze without a word.


    Kaitlyn''s anger red as she shoved Quinn down and raised her hand to p her.


    The p echoed through the hallway, startling Kyle and the bodyguards.


    Kaitlyn yelled, "It''s always you! Alexander keeps getting hurt because of you! Since you joined our family, how many times has he been injured? And you? Why are you still fine? Why don''t you just die!!" "Mrs. Kaitlyn Kennedy!" Kyle interrupted, worried her words might push Quinn over the edge.


    Kaitlyn turned to Kyle, furious. "What? Am I wrong? You''ve worked for Alexander for years. You know how many stupid things he''s done for Quinn. My son is in there, fighting for his life. Can''t I even scold her?" Kyle''s expression wasplicated. He nced at Quinn and then lowered his voice. "Mr. Kennedy is still in surgery. Please keep quiet. We can talk after."


    Kaitlyn knew Kyle was right. She took a deep breath and suppressed her anger. "I''ll deal with youter."


    They waited for about four more hours. Finally, the light in the operating room went out, and the doctor came out.


    Kaitlyn rushed over. "Doctor, how is Alexander?"


    The doctor replied, "He''s not in immediate danger, but he''s lost a lot of blood. His body is very weak and needs proper care."


    Kaitlyn sighed in relief. "That''s good."


    Kyle also rxed. He approached Quinn and said softly, "Mrs. Kennedy, you should go home first."This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn kept her head down, her loose hair covering her face.


    Kyle signaled to Nathan to take Quinn home.


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    Nathan nodded and helped Quinn up. "Mrs. Kennedy, I''ll take you home."


    Quinn didn''t speak or resist. She just walked as Nathan led her.


    Kyle then called Matthew over and instructed him to keep a close watch on Quinn. He told him to remove all dangerous items from the house and even seal the windows. Matthew noted down all his instructions and followed Nathan back to Regal Riverside.


    When they got back, Olivia was shocked to see Quinn''s condition.


    She asked, "What happened?"


    Matthew exined the situation to Olivia and told her to keep a close watch on Quinn.


    Alexander had nearly died to bring her back. If anything happened to her, none of them would be able to survive.


    Olivia turned back to look at Quinn in shock.


    Quinn was sitting on the couch, staring nkly at the dark TV screen.


    Olivia replied, "I understand. I''ll keep a close watch on her."


    Matthew nodded and instructed his men to remove all dangerous items from the house, even taking away the nail clippers.


    They also removed any breakable bottles and jars, and addressed the sharp table corners. All the windows on the second floor were sealed, turning the vi into a prison once again. Olivia walked over to Quinn and said softly, "Mrs. Kennedy, you should change your clothes."


    Quinn seemed not to hear her, still staring nkly at the TV, out of focus.


    Olivia sighed, "Would you like something to eat?"

 Chapter 995

    No matter what Olivia said, Quinn ignored her.


    Olivia went back to the kitchen, made some porridge, and brought it out to ask if Quinn wanted to eat. Unfortunately, it was still no use.


    Olivia sat next to her, scooped a spoonful of porridge, and tried to feed her. Quinn turned her head away.


    Now Olivia was at a loss.


    Bodyguards surrounded the vi, leaving no chance for Quinn to harm herself. If she stayed in the bathroom for more than five minutes, they''d knock on the door.


    Quinn trudged upstairs, with Olivia right behind her.


    Quinn went to her bedroom, and Olivia followed, practically glued to her side.


    Quinn stopped and looked at Olivia.


    Olivia smiled awkwardly and said, "Mrs. Kennedy, do whatever you want. I won''t bother you, as long as I can see you."


    Quinn stared at her for a moment, then started searching the room.


    She rummaged through a drawer and found an envelope with photo booth pictures from Sylvadora.


    They were pictures of her and Alexander.


    There were a thick stack, at least a dozen sets, and in every photo, she was smiling brightly.


    Alexander, however, was only smiling in three or four of them.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    She flipped through the photos one by one. After looking at thest one, she found a lighter in the drawer, walked to the trash can, and started burning the photos one by one.


    Olivia wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. Unable to stop her, Olivia just watched as Quinn burned the photos.


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    After burning the photos, Quinn continued to rummage through the room and found a white watch, more urately, a tracker.


    It stored everything from her time with amnesia. Unable to burn it, she threw it on the ground forcefully. After several attempts, it still wouldn''t break. She squatted down, picked up the tracker, and bit it. This action scared Olivia, who quickly went to the corner to call Soren.


    By the time Soren arrived, Quinn had already thrown the tracker into the trash can.


    "Where is she?" Soren asked.


    Olivia nodded towards the closet and said, "In the walk-in closet."


    The two of them went over together and saw Quinn rummaging through clothes, throwing everything from the closet and shelves onto the floor, making a mess of the room. Then she grabbed a gray suit. Just as she was about to pull it down, she felt something in the pocket. She paused, reached into the pocket, and took out a small velvet box.


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    The box looked like it had been handled many times, with worn edges.


    Her eyes flickered as she slowly opened the box, revealing a sparkling diamond ring inside.


    Soren pulled Olivia outside and whispered, "She''s fine. Just leave her be."


    Olivia asked, "Are you sure? You didn''t see what she was doing before you got here."


    Soren sighed, "Whatever she''s doing, it''s better than doing nothing. It''s good that she''s letting it out."


    Olivia finally understood that she was venting.


    Olivia asked tentatively, "So we just leave her alone?"


    Soren replied, "Yes, just keep an eye on her."


    So they really left her alone, standing guard outside.

 Chapter 996

    By midnight, Quinn still hadn''te out of the closet.


    Worried, Olivia went to check on her and found Quinn asleep, curled up in the closet.


    For the next two days, Quinn stayed in the closet, refusing to eat or drink. Olivia tried to coax her out, but Quinn wouldn''te out.


    Olivia had no choice but to call Kyle for help.


    The next day, Alexander woke up and wanted to discharge immediately.


    But Kyle and the doctor stopped him.


    Another day passed, and Olivia called, leaving Kyle unsure of what to do.


    Alexander sat weakly on the bed, surrounded by doctors, Kyle, and Kaitlyn. They clearly weren''t letting him leave.


    He looked frail, but his sharp eyes made everyone uneasy.


    After some thought, Kyle said to the doctor, "Doc, Mr. Kennedy isn''t in immediate danger. Can he go home to rest?"


    The doctor frowned. "If you can ensure he avoids strenuous activities, gets his IVs, takes his meds, and changes his dressings on time, then okay."


    Kyle looked at Alexander. "No problem, right, Mr. Kennedy?"


    Alexander turned his head away, hisck of refusal taken as agreement.


    The doctor sighed. "Alright then."


    Kaitlyn tried to persuade him. "Alexander, why rush? Stay a few more days."


    Kyle exined, "Mrs. Kennedy, the issue with Walter isn''t resolved. Mr. Kennedy needs to handle it."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Kaitlynined, "Walter''s such an ingrate. What did we do to make him act so outrageously?!"


    Alexander ignored her, got up, put on his coat, and walked out weakly.


    There wasn''t much to handle. He just needed to pin everything on Walter.


    Alexander''s team was still searching for Walter at the mountain''s base. Even though Walter had jumped, they needed to find his body.


    In the car, Alexander asked, "Found him yet?"


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    Kyle replied, "Not yet. The sniper didn''t hit any vital organs, but with such severe injuries and the fall, survival chances are slim."


    Alexander rubbed his temples. "Don''t underestimate him. Keep searching."


    Kyle nodded. "Yes, we''re still searching. If we can''t find his body, he might still be alive."


    Alexander asked, "How''s Sean?"


    At the mention of Sean, Kyle took a deep breath. "He''s lucky. The bullet almost hit his heart. However, he''s still seriously injured and in the ICU, not out of danger yet."


    He nced at Alexander through the rearview mirror and saw his furrowed brows. "Mr. Kennedy, something else?"


    Alexander said thoughtfully, "Something feels off."


    Kyle asked, "What''s off?"


    "Why did he agree to go abroad?"


    Kyle was stunned for a moment and realized something was indeed off.


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    If Walter had nned this, there was no reason to go abroad. He could''ve just lured Alexander and killed him before leaving.


    Kyle guessed, "Maybe he went to find help?"


    Alexander shook his head and closed his eyes wearily. "We''ll discuss it when we get back."


    Kyle said no more and drove steadily to take Alexander back to Regal Riverside.


    Olivia saw Alexander return and rushed to him.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you''re finally back."


    Alexander asked, "Where''s Quinn?"


    Olivia looked troubled. "She''s in the closet upstairs. She hasn''t eaten or drunk anything for two days. I don''t know what to do." She didn''t have the courage to force-feed Quinn like Alexander.


    Alexander bypassed Olivia and went straight upstairs.


    He searched through each cab and found Quinn in thest one.

 Chapter 997

    Quinn was curled up in the closet, head buried in her knees, still in the same clothes. The blood on her body had gone bad, giving off a nasty smell.


    Alexander squatted down, touched her shoulder, and softly called, "Quinn."


    Quinn didn''t respond.


    He nudged her a couple more times, and she just went limp.


    Alexander''s eyes went wide, and he quickly scooped her up.


    Kyle yelled, "Mr. Kennedy, the doc said no heavy lifting!"


    Ignoring him, Alexanderid Quinn on the bed and had someone call Soren.


    Soren used a stethoscope to check her heartbeat, which was super weak.


    In a moment of desperation, he checked her breath with his finger, which was a scary move.


    Olivia and Kyle were both stunned, eyes wide.


    Alexander, overly agitated, clutched his chest and started coughing, a patch of blood slowly seeping through his hospital gown.


    "Mr. Kennedy!" Kyle called out as he rushed to support him. "Don''t get worked up, Mrs. Kennedy will be fine."


    Alexander red at Soren.


    Soren felt a chill down his neck and awkwardly pulled his hand back. "She''s alive, probably just fainted from hunger. I''ll get her some saline."


    Alexander wanted to chew him out but couldn''t speak due to the pain.


    Kyle snapped at Soren, "Hurry up!"


    Soren quickly went to prepare the saline.


    Kyle helped Alexander sit on the bed, trying to calm him. "Mr. Kennedy, you need to rest. Focus on recovering, or you''ll struggle when Mrs. Kennedy wakes up." Alexander panted. The gunshot had really taken a toll.


    Soon, Soren returned and administered the saline to Quinn.


    He then turned to Alexander. "She should wake up soon. You need to rest too."


    Alexander raised his hand, signaling them to leave.


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    Soren wanted to re-bandage him, but found himself dragged away by Kyle.


    The room fell silent. Alexander sat by the bed from morning until afternoon.


    When Quinn woke up, the room was dim. She looked at the familiar ceiling and closed her eyes weakly.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    She wasn''t dead.


    It turned out that refusing to eat was useless. As long as she fainted, they would save her.


    When she closed her eyes now, all she could think about was what happened on the mountain. Walter aimed his gun at Alexander, she saved Alexander, who shot Walter in return. These scenes reyed, making her feel ridiculous. She didn''t even know her role in all this.


    She opened her eyes again. When she saw the needle in her hand, she struggled to pull it out.


    As she removed the needle, she saw Alexander beside her.


    He was sitting there, leaning against the headboard, eyes closed.


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    He grabbed her arm.


    She looked up, meeting his deep eyes. He just held her without speaking.


    Once, she had hoped he would stay and hold her like this.


    But he had pushed her away.


    Now, Quinn tried to push him away too, but couldn''t make it. Despite his injuries, he was still strong.


    "Let go," she croaked, her voice weak from hunger.


    "Where are you going?" he asked.


    "Bathroom, or do you want me to wet the bed?" she snapped.


    "Then wet the bed," he said nonchntly.


    Quinn turned her head away, closed her eyes, and said nothing.

 Chapter 998

    After a long, awkward silence, Quinn finally looked at him. "Alexander, did youe there ''cause you knew I''d save you?" Alexander shrugged. "I had no clue. If you wanted me dead, I''d be six feet under by now."


    He was just rolling the dice. Win, and he''d get Quinn back; lose, and he''d be toast. Either way, it wasn''t a total loss for him. Quinn let out a bitterugh. "If you die, will Lucas magicallye back?"


    Alexander replied, "We haven''t found his body yet. He might still be alive."


    Hearing this, Quinn struggled to break free from him. But he wouldn''t let go, so she used all her strength to escape.


    Eventually, she broke down, crying her heart out.


    She yelled, "Alexander, you liar! You always lie to me! I''ll never believe you again! My whole family was killed by your family. What do you want me to do? Tell me!"This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander said nothing, stubbornly holding onto her.


    Quinn cried and thenughed. "It''s all my fault. I deserve to die the most. I shouldn''t be alive. Why didn''t Ulysses kill me back then?"


    She gripped Alexander''s arm tightly, pouring all her strength and hatred into it, as if she wanted to tear a piece of flesh from his arm.


    She pleaded, "I should have died long ago. Kill me, please."


    Alexander pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.


    She struggled wildly, using both her hands and feet.


    Blood seeped from Alexander''s chest as her cheek pressed against it, the smell of blood filling her nostrils once again.


    "Quinn, if it were me who died, would you do this to Walter?" His hoarse voice came from above, not loud but clear enough for her to hear.


    She gradually stopped struggling, crying her heart out in his arms.


    She didn''t dare to think about anything. She couldn''t tell who was right or wrong.


    When Walter jumped off the cliff, she felt the ultimate hatred towards both Alexander and herself.


    Now her only thought was to die. She couldn''t go on living and wanted to leave this world.


    After crying for a long time, she had no strength left.


    The smell of blood enveloped her, and the room becamepletely dark, making it impossible to see anything.


    Quinn dered, "Alexander, I hate you."


    He gently stroked her hair and replied softly, "It''s okay, then hate me. I just want you to live."


    Quinn let out a bitterugh and said, "Let me go."


    Alexander firmly responded, "No."


    Exhausted, she let her hands fall weakly and gradually closed her eyes.


    Olivia knocked on the door outside. "Mr. Kennedy, the porridge is ready."


    Alexander said, "Bring it in."


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    Olivia came in with the porridge. The room was pitch dark, and when she turned on the light, the scene on the bed almost made her drop the tray.


    Alexander was still wearing the hospital gown he hade back in, but now half of it was stained with blood.


    Even in this state, he still wouldn''t let go of Quinn.


    Olivia asked worriedly, "Mr. Kennedy, how about bandaging yourself first?"


    Alexander repeated, "Bring it over."


    Olivia cautiously brought the tray over.


    She watched as he gentlyid Quinn down, her freshly changed clothes already stained withrge patches of blood.


    Alexander seemed not to notice at all. He picked up the bowl of porridge, scooped a spoonful, and carefully fed it to Quinn.


    When porridge dribbled from her mouth, he wiped it clean with a tissue and continued feeding her.


    He repeated this process, focused and meticulous, until he had fed her more than half the bowl.


    He stood up to put the bowl back on the tray. However, before he could reach the tray, the bowl slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor. He also copsed, falling straight to the ground.

 Chapter 999

    "Mr. Kennedy!"


    Olivia dropped the tray and bolted over to help him, yelling, "Soren, get over here!"


    Soren dashed in and grabbed Alexander from the other side. "Oops, why are you bleeding like a stuck pig?"


    Alexander steadied himself and plopped down. "I''m good."


    Soren smirked, thinking, ''To this guy, only death is a big deal.''


    He pped some more meds on and bandaged Alexander up, reminding him, "Mr. Kennedy, the cut ain''t bad, but you''re bleeding like crazy. Do this two more times, and you''re toast." Alexander shut his eyes and leaned back on the couch. "Get out."


    Soren frowned and exchanged a look with Olivia. She nodded, and they slipped out quietly.


    The room went dead silent, and even the bright lights felt icy.


    When Quinn woke up the next day, the room was empty.


    She pushed herself up and sat up. After starving for two days, she was as weak as a kitten. She struggled out of bed, opened the bedroom door, and walked out.


    The bodyguards in the hallway snapped to attention as soon as they saw her, eyes glued to her.


    Quinn made her way downstairs, bodyguards everywhere, watching her like hawks.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re up. Want some grub?" Olivia rushed over, reaching out to steady her.


    Quinn shook her head and kept heading for the door.


    Just as she got to the front door, Nathan blocked her.


    Quinn looked up at him. "ed to go to the hospital."


    "Mr. Kennedy said you''re not in great shape right now. You should wait till you''re better before heading out."


    She knew he''d say that.


    She gave a bitter smile and turned back.


    She looked so frail, like a stiff breeze could knock her over.


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    Before going back to the bedroom, she saw Kyle hurrying to the study and paused with her hand on the door.


    In the study, Alexander was half-lying on the couch, eyes closed, resting.


    All the curtains were drawn, making the room dark, with just a sliver of light sneaking in.


    Kyle came in and quickly walked over to the couch, handing some papers to Alexander.


    "Mr. Kennedy." Kyle hesitated, looking at him with aplicated expression.


    Alexander opened his eyes and stared at him. "Spit it out."


    Kyle handed him the papers. "Our men found a body at the bottom of the mountain, but it''s so messed up from the water, you can''t tell who it is." Alexander sat up, took the papers, and flipped through the photos.


    The body was in bad shape, but the height, clothes, and hairstyle matched Walter''s, even the bullet wounds were the same.


    Alexander frowned. "Did you do a DNA test?"


    Kyle replied, "We did, but there''s no DNA of Walter in the system, so we can''t confirm it''s him."


    Alexander looked at the photos again. "Three days, and it''s this messed up."


    Kyle exined, "Yeah, the forensic guy said the water there is nasty, full of microorganisms. So this kind of decay in three days is normal." After he finished, he nced at Alexander''s face.


    Alexander still had a furrowed brow, looking seriously troubled. Kyle asked softly, "Mr. Kennedy, you got any other doubts?"


    "Where''s the body?" Alexander asked.


    Kyle replied, "At the funeral home."


    Alexander suddenly stood up and stormed out of the study.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you should stay home and rest. The doc said you..." Kyle''s words trailed off as he saw Alexander stop at the door. He looked up, his face going pale. Quinn was standing at the door.

 Chapter 1000

    Alexander and Quinn just stared at each other, not saying a word.


    Quinn''s eyes started to tear up. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.


    She reached for the photo in Alexander''s hand, but he held on tight. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t get it.


    "Don''t look at it," Alexander said.


    Quinn, being stubborn, kept trying to yank the photo away, using all her strength. It was hard to tell if she was fighting him or just desperate to see it.


    Alexander sighed, grabbed her shoulders, and finally let go of the photo.


    When he let go, Quinn stumbled back but didn''t fall because he caught her.


    She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and looked at the photo.


    Even though she was ready, the messed-up photo still shocked her.


    She trembled as she flipped through the photos, tears making it hard to see.


    Images of Walter shed in her mind his smile, his anger, his coldness.


    No matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t match the person in the photos with the one in her memories.


    Alexander watched her closely, his grip on her shoulder tightening.


    After looking through the photos, she finally asked, "So, he''s really dead?"


    Alexander''s face was unreadable. He opened his mouth but took a while to say, "I don''t think he''s dead."


    "You think? Are you out of stories?" Quinn mocked.


    Facing her questioning, Alexander took a deep breath and looked away to pull himself together.


    He met her gaze again, saying, "He''s dead. Is that what you wanted to hear?"


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    Quinn''s fingers loosened, and the photos slipped from her hand, scattering all over the floor.


    She copsed, her eyes vacant. She brushed off Alexander''s hand and walked away.


    Alexander watched her intently as she walked away, her steps unsteady, as if she might fall at any moment.


    Kyle cautiously asked, "Mr. Kennedy, are we still going?"


    "Yes," Alexander said, still watching Quinn until she was out of sight. "Why not?"


    With that, he walked out quickly.


    Kyle thought, ''Are you still thinking you''re still physically strong?'' He then hurried to chase after Alexander, worried he might copse.


    Quinn went to her bedroom and sat by the window, staring at the trees outside.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! After a while, she picked up the inte and asked Olivia to bring some food.


    Olivia was happy to hear she wanted to eat and quickly brought the food up.


    Olivia said, "Mrs. Kennedy, see if these dishes suit your taste. If not, I''ll make something else for you."


    Quinn nced down and saw that even the utensils had been reced with stic ones.


    "You can go now."


    Olivia nodded. "Enjoy your meal."


    She left and closed the door behind her.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn touched the tray; it was sturdy. She emptied a te and tried to break it, but it didn''t snap.


    She took the te and went to the bathroom.


    Soren came to check on Quinn, but Olivia stopped him. "Wait a bit. Mrs. Kennedy is eating."

 Chapter 1001

    Soren was kinda taken aback. "She''s actually eating?"


    "Yeah, I just brought it to her. I''m so relieved she''s eating," Olivia sighed.


    The past few days, she''d been on edge, worried something might happen to Quinn and Alexander would pin it on her.


    Soren nodded and hung out with her.


    After more than half an hour, he couldn''t help but ask, "She should be done by now, right?"


    Olivia replied, "But she hasn''t called me in yet."


    Soren sighed, annoyed, "Then let''s wait a bit longer."


    So, they waited another twenty minutes.


    Soren couldn''t take it anymore. "It''s been an hour. She should be done by now, right? Let''s go check."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Olivia hesitated and said, "But what if we upset her and she stops eating?"


    Soren pressed, "What if something happened?"


    "What could happen? The tes are stic," Olivia shot back.


    As they whispered, Alexander''s voice came from behind, "What are you two doing here?"


    Startled, Olivia quickly said, "Mrs. Kennedy asked me to bring in some food. It''s been an hour, and we were just deciding whether to go in."


    Alexander immediately pushed the door open and went in.


    They followed, only to discover the food was untouched and Quinn was gone.


    Olivia''s legs went weak instantly, and she almost copsed to the ground, but Kyle quickly caught her.


    Alexander pushed open the bathroom door, and his pupils contracted sharply at the scene before him.


    Quinn was on the floor, using a broken piece of the te to cut her wrist repeatedly.


    The stic te wasn''t sharp, but it was pointed. She had cut herself countless times to make a single wound.


    She kept cutting at that wound, her wrist a bloody mess, both hands covered in blood.


    Even when the door opened, she was still cutting.


    Quinn slowly looked up, meeting Alexander''s gaze.


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    Her expression was numb, and her eyes were vacant. She clutched the broken piece of the te as if she couldn''t feel the pain.


    Even after realizing she had been discovered, she gritted her teeth and finished the cut she had started.


    Alexander strode forward, grabbed her wrist, and took the broken piece from her hand.


    Quinn lunged to grab it back but was thrown out of the bathroom by him, the broken piece falling to the floor, sttering some blood.


    "Let go of me," Quinn shouted, trying to pick up the remaining pieces nearby.


    Alexander flung her aside, causing her back to hit the wall and making her dizzy.


    He grabbed her jaw, lowering his voice, "He died, and you can''t go on living?"


    "You want to die with him?"


    His voice was filled with barely contained anger as his grip on her jaw tightened, his knuckles turning white.


    Quinn looked at him calmly. Noting his furious expression, she weakly tugged at the corner of her mouth.


    "Yes," she said with a smile. "Saving you once repays all the years of kindness. I owe you nothing now." Alexanderughed through gritted teeth. "Saving me once?"


    He continued, "You led me there. You think that''s saving me? At most, it''s attempted murder."


    He seemed as if he were going to crush her jaw, her skin turning red. "Soren, bring me the knife."


    Soren was stunned. "Mr. Kennedy, what do you need a knife for?"


    Alexander roared, "Bring it over!"


    His raised voice startled everyone present.


    Soren swallowed, rummaged through a box, and found a scalpel.


    He handed it over nervously.


    Without looking, Alexander grabbed the scalpel. The sharp de cut his finger, but he seemed unfazed.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered as she stared intently at the scalpel in his hand.


    He took her hand, ced the scalpel in her palm, and guided her hand to point the de at his heart. "Thest shot missed. This time, aim better. Come on, stab here," he said.

 Chapter 1002

    Alexander yanked Quinn''s hand hard. The knife tip had already poked through his shirt, and blood was starting to seep out. Quinn''s fingers were shaking, and her eyes were all red. She kept backing up, trying to break free from him.


    Alexander had a cold smirk on his face. "What''s the matter? Weren''t you gonna get your revenge? Go on, do it!" His shout made Quinn shiver all over.


    Quinn shrank back, tears rolling down her face.


    Alexander pressed on, "Can''t do it, or just too chicken?"


    "Let go," Quinn said.


    Alexander''s face was terrifying. Right now, with a chilling vibe around him, he looked more like a devil from hell.


    "What''s the deal? Not gonna get your revenge anymore? So Lucas died for nothing?"


    He kept throwing out words to provoke Quinn, each one like a dagger stabbing her heart over and over.


    Quinn was trembling all over, shaking her head non-stop, and kept saying, "Let go. Let go of me."


    Alexander didn''t let her go, as if he wouldn''t stop until she stabbed him herself today.


    He pushed Quinn''s hand towards his heart, and Quinn tried her best to pull back.


    Alexander pressed, "Don''t dodge. Do it."


    Quinn shook her head frantically.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    "No. Let go," she said, almost breaking down. She raised her bleeding hand to grab Alexander''s, trying to pull the knife back.


    Alexander stared at her intensely, his eyes red and looking kinda wild.


    He watched the blood from her hand stain the back of his own hand.


    After a moment, he finally let go, causing Quinn to fall backward from the force and hit her head against the wall. The knife in her hand dropped to the ground with a sharp clink. Alexander took a deep breath, calmed himself, and stepped forward to hold her, gently stroking her hair.


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    "It''s okay now. Don''t cry," he whispered.


    Quinn trembled uncontrobly in his arms, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.


    His voice softened. "Don''t do this again, or I''ll lock you up in a cage. Got it?"


    Quinn closed her eyes, feeling like a rock was sitting on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She couldn''t speak, her mind totally nk.


    After a while, Alexander picked her up and took her back to the sofa in the living room.


    He waved to Soren, signaling him toe and bandage Quinn.


    Soren didn''t dare to breathe loudly. Shaking with fear, he carefully bandaged Quinn''s wounds.


    He really wished he could stop breathing altogether, scared of drawing Alexander''s attention.


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    After finishing the bandaging, Soren quickly packed up his stuff and ran out in a panic.


    Alexander sat down next to Quinn. She kept backing away, curling herself into a ball, trying to stay as far from him as possible.


    Alexander didn''t mind. He picked up the food on the table to feed Quinn, but she dodged it.


    Alexander asked, "Not hungry or something?"


    Quinn hugged her knees in silence, her loose hair covering her face.


    Alexander calmly put the bowl back and looked at Olivia. "Kneel."


    Olivia was stunned, kinda confused.


    "I said kneel." His voice was calm but full of menace. Olivia was so scared her legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground. He added, "You can get up when she starts eating."

 Chapter 1003

    Quinn''s eyes shot up, locking onto Alexander''s.


    He gave a little smirk and said, "Not hungry now? Just eatter."


    Quinn stared hard, trying to find something familiar in his face, but nope, just a stranger.


    Then, his phone buzzed in his pocket.


    Alexander pulled it out-Ruby was calling.


    He shoved the phone back, ruffled Quinn''s hair, and said in his usual soft tone, "Rest up and eat right." With that, he strolled out with his phone.


    After he left, Quinn''s eyes drifted to Olivia on the floor.


    Olivia looked at Quinn with puppy-dog eyes, wanting to tell her to eat but too scared to say a word. Quinn nced at the now-cold food on the table.


    Olivia kept staring. Under her hopeful gaze, Quinn slowly reached out and grabbed the bowl. Olivia let out a big sigh of relief.


    Quinn ate like a robot, not tasting a thing, just swallowing it down.


    Out of sheer stubbornness, she almost finished all the food, which was her usual daily amount. Olivia watched, looking even more worried.


    Quinn said, "I''m done. You can get up now."


    Olivia sighed in relief, stood up, and started clearing the table. "Mrs. Kennedy, you okay?"


    "I''m fine." Quinn looked down at the bandage on her wrist, her eyes flickering.


    Olivia didn''t notice and quickly cleaned up the dishes to report to Alexander.


    Alexander hadn''t left. He was in the hallway, still on the phone.


    Olivia carried the tray over to show him. He nced at it and nodded, signaling her to go downstairs.


    On the phone, Ruby asked, "Is Walter really dead?"


    Alexander scoffed, "So, you nning to avenge him too?"


    Ruby was silent for a moment before saying, "My grandpa valued him a lot. This is causing a big mess. I''m just worried you might get into trouble."


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    Leaning against the railing, Alexander said, "Don''t worry. Just do your job."


    Ruby asked, "What should I say if my grandpa asks about it?"


    Alexander replied, "I''ll handle it."


    Ruby sighed. "Alright then, just be careful."


    As soon as Alexander hung up, Kyle came running over with the info on Apex Holdings Group.


    He handed the info to Alexander and reported, "Apex Holdings Group started just a year ago. It''s not big, but its investors are pretty high up." Alexander asked, "How high up?"


    Kyle replied, "They''re foreigners and tight with the Vide Group."


    Alexander casually flipped through the info and said, "Looks like Landon is still in Amber Bay."


    "What do you mean?" Kyle asked, confused.


    "Send someone to find him. Use any means necessary to bring him back to me." Alexander pped the info against Kyle''s chest. "Got it?" Kyle nodded. "Got it. I''ll send someone right away."


    "Wait."


    Kyle asked, "Mr. Kennedy, anything else?"


    Alexander rubbed his fingertips, thinking. "If he''s in Amber Bay, it''s probably for Aurora. Keep an eye on her and use her to lure Landon out." Kyle''s eyes lit up. "Why didn''t I think of that? Got it!"


    Aurora was Landon''s mom. Alexander had used fake news of Landon''s death to lure her out, making her show up as the chairman to appoint a CEO. But she didn''t buy it and kept stalling. She stayed in Amber Bay and refused to go abroad, which meant she hadn''t contacted Landon yet. This was getting interesting.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Landon was ruthless, but only to outsiders. He valued Aurora more than his own life.


    Plus, his move to Amber Bay and joining the Kennedy Group wasn''t just about the inheritance.


    People are funny like that; the more they miss something in childhood, the more they cling to it as adults.

 Chapter 1004

    Alexander strolled back into the bedroom and found Quinn knocked out on the sofa.


    He scooped her up without a second thought.


    The second he touched her, her eyes flew open, staring at him like a deer in headlights.


    "Go to bed," Alexander said, giving her a quick nce while carrying her over.


    He plopped her down and then flopped onto the bed himself.


    Quinn turned her back to him, but he didn''t care. He wrapped his arms around her, locking her in his grip.


    He didn''t say a word, but Quinn could feel his stubbornness in every move.


    It was as if he were silently telling her that no matter what, he wasn''t letting go.


    Unless she kicked the bucket, she was stuck with him.


    Quinn shut her eyes and tried to sleep. That''s when she felt the sharp pain in her wrist, making it impossible to sleep.


    For the past few days, Alexander hadn''t left the house and stuck to her like glue. They didn''t talk, and he didn''t care if Quinn spoke or not. As long as she ate and changed her bandages, he kept his mouth shut. But if she resisted, everyone paid the price.


    Quinn was too drained to fight him anymore.


    A weekter, Soren took off her bandages. The wound on her wrist had a thick scab, rough to the touch.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Soren said, "No more meds needed, but keep it dry. Let the scab fall off on its own."


    Quinn stared at the reddish-brown scar on her wrist, her eyes zed over.


    Getting no response, Soren asked again, "Mrs. Kennedy, you hear me?"


    Quinn looked up and forced a smile. "Yeah, got it."


    The sun was zing outside, and the light bouncing off the floor made Quinn look even paler.


    Soren gave her a suspicious look, sensing something was off but couldn''t put his finger on it.


    "Alright, I''m out," Soren said, packing up his medical kit and leaving.


    Quinn leaned against the headboard, staring at the sunlight outside and gently rubbing the scar with her fingers.


    As night rolled in, Alexander brought her dinner and sat beside her to feed her.


    Quinn stared at him, obediently opening her mouth to take the spoon he offered.


    Alexander asked, "Tastes good?"


    Quinn gave a slight nod.


    A faint smile crept onto Alexander''s face as he kept feeding her.


    Since Quinn had been pretty chill this past week, Alexander was more rxed, and he looked a lot better.


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    He patiently fed her dinner, showing no signs of getting annoyed, and even seemed to enjoy it.


    Before Wayne''s death, Quinn thought he was somewhat normal, but now he was getting weirder by the day.


    Even though she saw his face every day, she felt like she was starting to not recognize him.


    "What''s on your mind? You''re zoning out while eating," he said softly, pulling out two tissues to wipe her mouth. Quinn stiffened, not moving an inch, her body tense.


    Quinn said, "I''m done."


    Alexander tossed the tissues in the trash and didn''t push her to eat more. "Alright, no more then."


    He handed the tray to Olivia.


    After Olivia left, he carried her to the bathroom. He helped her wash up, and then carried her back to bed.


    Hey down beside Quinn, wrapped his arms around her, turned off the light, and whispered in her ear, "Go to sleep."

 Chapter 1005

    Quinn still had her back to him.


    The room was dead silent. She waited forever, until the whole world seemed to hush. Then, she quietly pulled her hand away.


    Her fingers brushed against the raised scar on her wrist. She shut her eyes tight and started peeling the scar bit by bit.


    The scab had grown into her flesh, so every pull felt like a knife, even worse than when she first got cut.


    She didn''t dare move anything but her fingers. She bit down hard, holding her breath to get through it.


    As soon as she tore open a tiny gap, she felt the smooth liquid and let out a sigh of relief.


    The pain and the pressure in her chest bnced out. She didn''t feel the pain anymore, just a desperate need for relief.


    All the bottled-up emotions from the past days finally started to ease.


    Sure, she could kill Alexander and then off herself; he wouldn''t even fight back.


    But she knew she couldn''t do it.


    If she hadn''t pulled Walter, Alexander would be dead already. If she hadn''t pulled, Walter wouldn''t have jumped off that cliff in despair.


    These days, she kept asking herself if she''d make the same choices if she had to do it all over again.


    Still no answer.


    The Mellon family''s downfall had nothing to do with Alexander. But the deaths in the Kennedy family? That was on him. In a twisted way, he avenged her.


    He went up the mountain because she and Walter led him there. Walter jumped off the cliff because she let him down.


    None of this was Alexander''s fault. It was all on her; no matter what she did, it was always wrong.


    And by running away like this, she was just getting back at Alexander for all the crap he put her through over the years. For someone proud and powerful, living in constant pain was the worst punishment.


    She said she didn''t me Alexander, but she''d never forgive him.


    After a deep breath, she ripped off the entire scar.


    After the intense pain, she exhaled in relief, hid her hand under the pillow, and closed her eyes peacefully.


    Under the white pillow, her blood slowly spread, turning the pillow red.


    She remembered Alexander saying, "Before people die, they think of beautiful memories."


    Once again, it proved true.


    As she closed her eyes, past events reyed in her mind.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    The first time she met Alexander, he was still a kid but looked so grown-up.


    He said she looked like a monkey.


    Did she really look like a monkey back then? Quinn couldn''t quite remember.


    When she was with the Mellon family, she was chubby, and people said she was cute.


    Maybe Freya was just too fat back then, making Quinn seem a bit frail.


    Even though he said she looked like a monkey, his gaze still lingered on her. He looked her up and down multiple times.


    Later, he secretly found her and asked if she was really the wife Ulysses had found for him.


    Back then, she couldn''t speak; she just stared at him, blinking, not understanding what "wife" meant.


    When he found out she was mute, he regretfully rubbed her head and said seriously, "What a pity, just like me."


    She didn''t get it. He had everything; how could he be pitiful?


    One time when his exam results sucked, she heard Wayne and Kaitlyn scolding him, while Freya, who also failed, was ying with toys on the couch. Only then did she start to understand what he meant by pitiful. Her thoughts got more and more blurred. Due to blood loss, her mind got fuzzy, but those distant scenes became clearer, shing through her mind.


    In the end, she selfishly thought, ''If I could do it all over again, if I could never remember, being mute would be so good.''


    Her tears slid down the corners of her eyes. The images in her memories began to fade, like photos losing their color.

 Chapter 1006

    Alexander''s eyes snapped open, the stench of blood hitting him like a freight train.


    He yanked the nket off and saw a huge, dark red stain under the pillow. His eyes went wide.


    He grabbed Quinn''s wrist from under the pillow, her whole hand drenched in blood.


    "Quinn!" Alexander yelled.


    He pressed the nket against her wound and pped her face lightly, shouting, "Quinn, Quinn. Wake up!"


    Quinn''s eyes stayed shut, no response. Tears clung to hershes, sparkling in the light.


    "How could you?" Alexander roared.


    A whirlwind of emotions-anger, fear, panic-shed across his face.


    "Soren!"


    His furious shout jolted Soren awake on the downstairs couch, making him tumble to the floor.


    Rubbing his eyes, he quickly grasped the situation and bolted upstairs.


    "What happened, Mr. Kennedy..." His words died in his throat when he saw the blood-soaked bed, his eyes going wide.


    He rushed over to bandage Quinn''s wound without missing a beat.


    "The wound''s messed up again. Blood vessel''s busted, needs stitches." Soren wiped sweat off his forehead and did the quickest thing he could think of, tying a rope tight around Quinn''s wrist to stop the bleeding. "Get her to the hospital. Now!" Soren urged, "She might need a transfusion."


    As soon as Soren finished, Alexander scooped Quinn up and dashed out of the room.


    He sped to the hospital like a madman.


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    Outside the OR, Alexander stood silent.


    He was still covered in Quinn''s blood, just like she had been.


    Kyle and Soren stood nearby, shaking in their boots, sneaking nces at Alexander.


    Alexander''s hair was a mess, and he was in ck loungewear, staring nkly at the floor.


    Kyle and Soren exchanged looks, trying to piece together what had happened.


    Soren shook his head, clueless. Just from the wound, he could tell Quinn had been dead set on ending it, ripping open a freshly healed scar.


    It takes guts to peel off a hangnail, let alone a deep scar like that.


    Four hourster, the doctor came out, and Alexander''s head snapped up.


    Kyle asked, "How is she?"


    The doctor frowned, sighed, and shook his head.


    Alexander shot up, grabbing the doctor''s cor. "Why are you shaking your head?"


    The doctor''s face paled at Alexander''s deadly re. "Calm down."This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander''s eyes bore into the doctor, teeth clenched. "Tell me, why are you shaking your head?"


    The doctor had seen plenty of troublemakers, but Alexander was different; he''d never seen such real, murderous intent.


    He knew if he shook his head again, Alexander might actually kill him.


    Kyle chimed in, "What''s her condition? Just say it! It''s just blood loss, it can''t be..."


    He couldn''t bring himself to finish.

 Chapter 1007

    The doc shot a nervous nce at Alexander, gulped, and stammered, "Uh, her condition''s pretty bad. She lost a ton of blood, and her vitals are all over the ce." Alexander''s eyes narrowed. He let go of the doc and even fixed his cor. "What''s up with her vitals?"


    The doc sighed. "Look, it''s not looking good. You should brace yourself."


    He was sugarcoating it as Quinn''s situation was way worse than he let on.


    Kyle chimed in, "She''s still alive, right?"


    The doc wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Yeah, she''s still hanging in there."


    Kyle let out a sigh of relief, thinking if the doc had said something worse, Alexander might''ve snapped and done something crazy.


    Quinn got moved to a regr room for a blood transfusion. She''d lost so much blood that if they were even half an hourte, she wouldn''t have made it.


    Outside, Soren tracked down the doc from earlier to get the lowdown on Quinn.


    "How''s Quinn doing?"


    The doc gave him a once-over. "And you are?"


    Soren replied, "I''m a doc too. I know her condition, so spill it."


    "If you know, why ask me?" the doc shot back.


    Soren looked a bit sheepish. "Honestly, I knew before, buttely, I can''t figure it out."


    The doc looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"


    Soren exined, "I can''t feel her heartbeat, so I wanted to know what yourtest check-up showed."


    "Really?" The doc thought for a moment and added, "But honestly, she''s in bad shape. The readings are super low, and she seems to have given up. Anyway, I feel..."


    The doc stopped, remembering Alexander''s earlier vibe.


    Soren pulled him aside. "Go ahead. No one''s around, and I won''t tell Mr. Kennedy. I just need to know how much time she has."This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    He needed to n his escape.


    He knew if Quinn died, he''d be the first one Alexander woulde after.


    The doc frowned and held up one finger.


    "A year? That''s not too bad. I figured the same," Soren said, relieved. He thought, ''If Quinn cooperates with treatment and stays positive, she could recover in a year and live another seven or eight years. With medical advances, who knows? But if she keeps wanting to die, a year tops.''


    The doc looked at him and said, "I meant one month."


    "One month? You gotta be kidding!" Soren was shocked.


    The doc sighed. "You can read the data, right? Come see her vitals yourself. Saying she has a month is being optimistic."


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    They walked to the office. After seeing the data, Soren knew it was time to bail.


    In the ward, Quinn was still out cold.


    Alexander sat beside her, staring at her face but looking lost. Under the harsh light, he lookedpletely defeated.


    Kyle stood by, his expressionplicated. Alexander was nothing like the confident guy he used to be.


    Alexander had wed his way to the top, bing someone people could only admire from afar.


    But overnight, he seemed to have crashed down.


    Now, to Kyle, he was just a regr guy.


    His emotions were raw, showing that even someone as powerful as him could feel the same pain as anyone else. Kyle didn''t dare say a word and quietly left the room.

 Chapter 1008

    The next morning, Kyle swung by with some breakfast for Alexander, who was still glued to the same spot asst night, eyes locked on Quinn.


    Quinn wasid up in bed, looking ghostly pale. If it weren''t for the slight rise and fall of her chest, you''d think she was a goner.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you gotta eat something," Kyle murmured, trying to get through to him.


    Alexander didn''t even flinch, let alone respond.


    Kyle sighed, setting the breakfast down on the cab next to him. "I''ll just leave it here. Eat itter, man. You still need to recover and get some rest." With no reaction from Alexander, Kyle had no choice but to bounce.


    As he stepped out, Soren came up and asked, "So, any change? Mrs. Kennedy wake up yet?"


    Kyle shook his head. "Nah, probably not anytime soon."


    Kyle was torn. If Quinn woke up, she''d be in pain. If she didn''t, Alexander would be. Either way, it was a lose-lose situation.


    While they were chatting, Kaitlyn rolled up with her butler, Oscar Fisher.


    Kyle''s face shifted when he saw them. "What are you doing here?"


    Kaitlyn shot back, "I''m here to see Alexander. Heard he came to the hospital. What''s up? Is his health acting up again?"


    Kyle exined, "It''s not Mr. Kennedy. It''s Mrs. Kennedy who''s sick."


    At the mention of Quinn, Kaitlyn''s face twisted, and a sh of disgust crossed her eyes. She snapped, "Her again."


    With that, she made a move to go in.


    Kyle raised an arm to stop her. "You really shouldn''t go in. Mr. Kennedy''s not in a good mood right now."


    Kaitlyn wasn''t having it. "He''s in a bad mood? Then as his mother, I should definitely go in and see him. Move aside."


    Kyle stood his ground.


    Kaitlyn''s face darkened, and she red at him. "Kyle, are you defying my orders?"


    Kyle replied, "I''m stopping you for your own good."


    Kaitlyn shouted, "Get out of my way!"


    Without wasting time arguing, she shoved him aside and pushed the door open.


    Alexander finally turned his head to look over.


    Kaitlyn demanded, "Alexander, what''s wrong with her?"


    Alexander just looked away and said one thing. "Get out."


    Kaitlyn instantly blew up. "What do you mean? I heard you came to the hospital and rushed over to see you, and this is how you talk to me?"


    "I told you to get out!" Alexander''s voice rose, making Kaitlyn jump.


    Then he nced at Quinn on the bed and softened his tone. "Don''t disturb her."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing that, Kaitlyn got even angrier. "Alexander..."


    Before she could finish, Alexander shot her a look that shut her up.


    That look was cold, angry, and downright murderous, making her scalp tingle. He looked like a beast about to snap.


    Even though she was his mom and usually pretty cocky about it, she felt a bit scared now.


    After a moment, she swallowed her anger. "Fine, I won''t disturb you. I''m just d you''re okay."


    With that, she left with Oscar.


    Once they were out of the hospital, she fumed, "This is infuriating. He ignores my concern but cares so much about Quinn. What''s so great about her?" Oscar said softly, "Mr. Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy have a unique bond."

 Chapter 1009

    Kaitlyn stopped dead in her tracks and sneered, "What''s the big deal? I don''t see anything special!"


    If Alexander really cared about Quinn, he wouldn''t be hanging out with Getty.


    Oscar chimed in, "Maybe he didn''t want anyone to know. When he tied the knot with Mrs. Kennedy, it was his own idea, and no one..."


    Oscar suddenly realized he had spilled too much and mmed up.


    Kaitlyn''s face shifted, and she demanded, "What did you just say?"


    Oscar awkwardly looked down, staying silent for a moment.


    Kaitlyn snapped, "Oscar, what else are you hiding from me? Spill it!"


    Oscar looked conflicted. "I can''t say."


    Kaitlyn got even more pissed. "Everyone''s dead now, what can''t you say? If you don''t tell me, I''ll go ask him myself."


    Oscar looked troubled. He nced at Kaitlyn, who was about to blow a fuse, and stammered, "I don''t know much either."


    Kaitlyn pressed, "Then just tell me what you do know."


    Oscar sighed, looking defeated. "Back then, I was taking care of Ulysses. He asked Alexander if he had any wishes."


    Oscar''s eyes clouded over, and he was lost in a memory.


    Back then, Ulysses was on his deathbed, and Alexander visited him almost every day.


    One day, Ulysses suddenly said to Alexander, "I''m dying. I won''t be able to help you anymore."


    Alexander looked at Ulysses with aplicated expression, hesitating to speak.


    Ulysses, being sharp, saw that Alexander had something on his mind and asked, "Got any concerns or wishes to share?"


    After a moment of hesitation, Alexander finally said, "I want to marry Quinn."


    Ulysses was stunned. "Do you know what you''re saying?"


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    Alexander replied, "I know. Even though saying this will upset you, I have to. Once you''re gone, they''ll definitely arrange her engagement. I don''t want her marrying someone else."


    "Don''t you have a girlfriend?" Ulysses seemed to get it and smiled bitterly. "I thought you had already moved on from her."


    Alexander sighed, "I thought so too. I tried to transfer all my feelings for her to my current girlfriend, but after all this time, I just can''t."


    Ulysses smiled. "You''re just taking advantage of the fact that I can''t move to say whatever you want, aren''t you?"


    Alexander lowered his eyes and stayed silent.


    Ulysses reminded him, "Have you really thought this through? Do you know what''ll happen if you marry her? Your dad''s a restless guy, and your mom, will she agree to you marrying Quinn?" Alexander said, "That''s why I need your help."


    Ulysses smiled bitterly. "Alexander, you better think this through. You''re not strong enough yet. Marrying her would give others leverage over you. You can''t protect her all the time. And her identity..."


    "I know." Alexander cut him off, determination and madness shing in his eyes. "I''ll hide her well, so no one will find out. As for her identity, she might not even remember it."


    nning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! When Ulysses saw Alexander''s gaze, his expression changed.


    He couldn''t help but ask, "Alexander, I''m suddenly curious. What kind of feelings do you have for her?"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander replied, "I don''t know. I just know she has to be by my side."


    Ulysses asked cautiously, "What if she remembers?"


    Alexander stubbornly said, "Then I''ll deal with it when she does."


    Ulysses sighed deeply, "I can''t change your mind, can I? Fine, since you''re so determined, I won''t push you. I can help you, but you must promise me you won''t put her on a pedestal and won''t do anything that would shame our family!" Alexander rubbed his fingers and said in a deep voice, "I understand."


    Ulyssesmanded, "Oscar, call everyone in. I have something to say."


    After that, Ulysses, in front of everyone, said he was very worried that Quinn wouldn''t be happy and ''forced'' Alexander to marry her.

 Chapter 1010

    Kaitlyn was shaking with anger.


    "So, marrying Quinn wasn''t Ulysses'' dying wish? It was Alexander''s own idea?" she snapped.


    Oscar nodded. "Yep. I swore to Alexander to keep it a secret."


    Or else, Alexander would off him.


    Kaitlyn smirked. "I thought he really didn''t like Quinn. Turns out he was just hiding it so well that he fooled everyone." Oscar agreed, "Yeah, maybe he even fooled himself."


    Kaitlyn suddenly grinned, as if she just had an epiphany. "Alexander''s ruthless, even to himself."


    "What do you mean?" Oscar asked, confused.


    Kaitlyn said, "When Quinn aborted their first kid, did you see how cold he was? What do you think that means?"


    What really freaked her out was Alexander''s behavior back then. When he held that mass of flesh in a bottle, he smiled at her and said, "Mom, do you think this is a hand or a foot? Looks like a boy."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    At the time, she thought Alexander didn''t care, which was why he smiled so casually. But now, thinking back to that smile, it made her skin crawl.


    It was hard to imagine what he was feeling when he smiled at her back then.


    Around the corner, Kyle heard everything and bolted, scared he''d get killed to keep the secret.


    Knowing all about Alexander and Quinn''s history, Kyle finally got it. Alexander had fallen for Quinn a long time ago.


    But Alexander was too scared to admit it, afraid she''d run away.


    He tried everything to distance himself from the rtionship while constantly stopping Quinn from falling for him, thinking it would make it easier to part ways in the end. But neither of them could pull it off. Looking back, his attitude towards Quinn, though cold and distant, was never over the top. He kept her at Regal Riverside, giving her a cushy life.


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    But after Quinn asked for a divorce, he went nuts, getting more and more unhinged. Plus, Wayne''s constant pressure made things even worse.


    Alexander began to go crazy every day, paranoid someone would take her away. He treated everyone who got close to her as an enemy and used every trick in the book to keep her by his side. Despite all his efforts, he still couldn''t keep her and only pushed her further away.


    So who was he really torturing?


    Kyle couldn''t figure it out. Just thinking about it made him feel torn.


    Another day went by.


    In the hospital room, Quinn slowly opened her eyes. The smell of disinfectant hit her nose, and the bright light above was blinding.


    She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. She stared at the light, a bitter smile on her face.


    She tried to get up but had no strength.


    Then she turned her head and saw Alexander sitting beside her, his head resting as if he had fallen asleep.


    There were still bloodstains on him, and he looked haggard-a far cry from his usual cold and distant self.


    The bright light hurt her eyes, so she closed them, letting tears slide down her temples.


    She struggled to lift her hand, bringing her wrist in front of her eyes. It was already bandaged.


    Quinn took a deep breath, reached out, and started peeling off the bandage bit by bit.


    But the next second, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.


    Quinn paused and looked up.


    Alexander had woken up at some point. He gripped her wrist, his deep eyes staring intently at her.

 Chapter 1011

    Alexander looked as if he''d been through the wringer. Quinn never thought she''d see him looking so beat up.


    "Quinn, no." His voice was all raspy, barely a whisper, like he was begging.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered. She couldn''t tell if it was her wounds or her heart that hurt more, bitterness washing over her.


    She swallowed and said weakly, "Alexander, I''m done. So done. Can you just let me go?"


    Alexander''s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at her.


    They just stood there, staring at each other, time dragging on.


    Finally, after what felt like forever, Alexander croaked out, "Okay, I''ll let you go. Once you''re better, you can go wherever you want, alright?"


    Tears slipped down Quinn''s cheeks. She wanted tough but it came out all bitter.


    She asked, "Where can I go? Alexander, where do you think I can go? I don''t even have a home anymore. Where do you want me to go with all this pain?"


    Alexander squeezed her hand tight, his head hanging low. He couldn''t say anything, just kept holding her fingers.


    After what seemed like an eternity, he finally managed, "What do I need to do to make you want to live?"


    He wasn''t even asking for forgiveness. He was just begging her to stay alive.


    In his thirty years, this was the first time he had ever begged anyone. He was begging her to stay alive.


    Quinn shook her head slightly. "Can you even understand how I feel right now?"


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    She really couldn''t go on living.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    As long as she was alive, she''d be haunted by endless guilt and regret. She''d caused the death of herst family member, Walter, who died seeking revenge for the Mellon family. She''d caused his death. What was even worse was that she couldn''t bring herself to kill Alexander.


    Apart from death, she couldn''t find any other way to make up for her sins.


    "Quinn," Alexander called out.


    Quinn pulled her hand away and looked at the gloomy sky outside. "Alexander, if only you hadn''t been so good to me when we were kids, how great that would''ve been. At least now, we wouldn''t be in so much pain."


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    Alexander closed his eyes, held his forehead, and took a deep breath. He threatened, "Do you really want to push me?"


    Hearing his threat, Quinn felt nothing.


    She shot back, "What''s the point of all this? Will Lucase back to life? Will our two kidse back to life?"


    "Kids," Alexander repeated, his emotions all over the ce.


    Quinn continued, "Two kids. You ignored them, pretended you didn''t know even when you did. So why can''t you keep pretending this time?"


    "Quinn, it''s not that I didn''t care. I was scared." Alexander looked up at her, his eyes sincere. "By the time I figured it out, it was toote. I was scared to ask because I didn''t know what to do."


    He had thought of a million excuses, but in the end, he could only say, "I deserve to die."


    He suddenly grabbed Quinn''s hand. "I''ll die, and you live well, okay?"

 Chapter 1012

    Quinn turned to look at him.


    He tried hard to force a smile, trying to show he was being real.


    "Alexander," Quinn called out.


    "Yeah, I''m here," Alexander replied right away.


    Quinn struggled to lift her busted hand and ced it on his, staring at him. "Promise me one thing, and I''ll let it go, okay?" Alexander was a bit thrown off. "What''s that?"


    Quinn replied, "I want you to live well, to stay healthy. Do that, and I''ll forgive you."


    Alexander stared nkly at Quinn, a slight smirk forming at the corner of his mouth. "Are you forgiving me or punishing me?"


    "As long as you promise me, I won''t try to off myself again. We''ll live peacefully for the rest of our days. If you don''t promise me," Quinn said, exhaling deeply. "Then ourst peaceful moments are out the window." Alexander''s fingers tightened, veins popping on the back of his hand. He stared at Quinn, not wanting to speak.


    Quinn also looked at him, waiting for him to decide.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    In reality, he had no other choice.


    After a moment, he finally nodded. "Okay, I promise you."


    He said slowly, "I''ll live well, healthily."


    A faint smile finally appeared on Quinn''s pale lips.


    She said, "Swear it."


    Alexander''s eyes flickered and he asked, "You don''t trust me?"


    Quinn said, "If you swear, I''ll trust you. Say, if you break your promise, Quinn will die a horrible death and go to hell." Alexander suddenly stood up and stared intently at Quinn, anger shing in his eyes.


    Quinn pressed, "If you can do it, why not swear?"


    Alexander snapped, "I don''t want to swear on you."


    Quinn''s eyes sparkled as she looked at his stubborn expression, a flicker of determination shing across her face. Suddenly, she raised her hand to tear off the bandage on her wrist.


    In the next second, Alexander grabbed her wrist forcefully.


    She looked up, meeting hisplex gaze.


    Alexander''s breathing grew heavier, as if he were about to explode with anger.


    But under Quinn''s calm and resolute gaze, the violent aura around him gradually cooled down.


    Finally, he sat back down in defeat.


    "I swear, if I break my promise..." He struggled with the words, unable to finish the sentence.


    Quinn''s fingers slowly tightened, and she stared at him intently. "Say it."


    Alexander closed his eyes, whether out of anger or suppression, he was trembling.


    Quinn pressed on, "Alexander, say it."


    After what seemed like forever, he suddenly opened his eyes, veins bulging on his forehead. He said through gritted teeth, "I swear, if I break my promise, Quinn will die a horrible death and go to hell." As he uttered thest word, Quinn finally let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes weakly.


    The oath itself might not mean much, but it depended on who was swearing it.


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    If Alexander truly cared about her, he would make sure to keep his promise. Regardless of whether it woulde true, he would never gamble on it.


    Alexander ced her hand back under the covers, staring at her intently. "You also have to keep your word and take good care of yourself." Quinn nodded slightly.


    In reality, it didn''t matter much anymore. A person destined to die couldn''t be kept.


    Alexander reached out his fingers to touch her face, and he smiled slightly, his expression returning to normal as if nothing had happened. "Hungry?" he asked as he took out his phone and called Kyle to bring some food.


    Kyle was stoked to hear that Quinn was willing to eat and quickly prepared and brought it over.


    The atmosphere in the hospital room eased up a lot, as if nothing had happened.


    Alexander held a bowl of porridge, feeding Quinn with care and attention, and Quinn obediently ate.


    Kyle finally sighed in relief, thinking, ''They must have reached an understanding. Things are moving in a positive direction.''


    Quinn looked at Alexander''s attentive demeanor, lowered her eyes, and drank the porridge from his spoon.


    She thought silently, ''Alexander, you should truly experience the longsting loneliness.''

 Chapter 1013

    When Alexander saw her polish off that whole bowl of porridge, he finally let out a breath he didn''t even know he was holding.


    He grabbed her hand and said, "Get some rest. If you need anything, just holler."


    Quinn nodded, eyeing his grubby clothes. "You should go change, man."


    Alexander hesitated for a sec.


    She reassured him, "We already agreed. I won''t do anything stupid."


    Hearing that, he nodded. "Alright, I''ll go change now."


    He gave her a little head pat, then got up and walked out.


    Quinn watched the door close slowly, then looked down at the bandage on her wrist, gently rubbing it but not pulling it off.


    She didn''t know how much longer she had, but she knew her body was on the fritz.


    She closed her eyes, not because she was sleepy, but because she was just worn out.


    After leaving the hospital, Alexander drove straight back to the vi to clean up and change.


    Once he was all freshened up, he went from looking like a hobo to the high-and-mighty Alexander again.


    First thing he did was head back to the hospital. Seeing Quinn lying there quietly, he let out a sigh of relief.


    He plopped back down next to her, barely leaving her side.


    They had three chill days together.


    On the fourth day, Kyle brought breakfast as usual. Out of nowhere, Alexander asked, "Where''s Soren?"


    Kyle looked around, confused. "Yeah, I haven''t seen him for days. He even forgot to change your bandages. I''ll call him."


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    Alexander took out the breakfast and started feeding Quinn himself.


    Out of the corner of her eye, Quinn saw Kyle making a bunch of calls, but it looked like he couldn''t get through.


    Kyle said, worried, "Mr. Kennedy, Soren''s phone is off. I can''t reach him. Maybe something happened?"


    Alexander scooped up some porridge and brought it to Quinn''s mouth, saying, "Go find him."


    Kyle nodded and rushed out to get people looking for Soren.


    Normally, Alexander wouldn''t care about just a doctor. But Soren''s grandpa was the one who treated Ulysses.


    Sadly, Soren''s dad wasn''t into medicine, but Soren picked up his grandpa''s skills.


    The Brown family got a lot from Soren''s grandpa''s work with the Kennedys. But after he passed, the Browns were pretty much sidelined.


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    Still, Soren was useful. Most importantly, he knew Quinn''s condition best, so they had to find him.


    After some searching, Kyle came back to tell Alexander that Soren had left overnight.


    "Left?" Alexander was surprised.


    Kyle rubbed his nose and said, "Yeah, he left three days ago, by ne. We tracked him to Sydney City, but who knows if he''ll go abroad."


    Today, Quinn was getting out of the hospital. Her wounds were starting to scab over. Hating the hospital smell, she asked Alexander to take her back to Regal Riverside to recover, and he was cool with that. Alexander was busy packing for Quinn. When he heard Kyle''s news, he had just finished folding a piece of clothing.


    Alexander ordered, "Get Ethan to help bring him back."


    With that, he picked Quinn up from the bed and walked out of the ward without looking back.


    Kyle rubbed his nose and decided to grab the stuff from the bed first.

 Chapter 1014

    Quinn rolled back into Regal Riverside, feeling as if she were stuck in a loop.


    She plopped down on the bed with Alexander right there, who was not interested in anything else but being her shadow.


    He checked out her wound, which was healing up well. But after getting hurt again, it looked even nastier than before.


    If it was a cutst time, now it was a full-on canyon. During thest healing, she ripped off the new skin, and blood gushed out like a horror movie.


    Alexander''s fingers hovered over her wound but pulled back just before touching it. He looked up at Quinn, all worried, "Does it hurt?"


    Quinn shook her head a bit, "Nah, it doesn''t."


    She really couldn''t feel any pain; her mind was all foggy, as if she were tipsy. How could she feel pain?


    When Alexander talked to her, she could barely make out what he was saying.


    Alexander tucked her hand back under the covers, his long fingers gently ying with her shoulder-length hair. He said thoughtfully, "Looks like it''s grown a bit."


    Quinn nced up at him.


    He was staring at her hair, eyes down. The breeze blew through his hair, making him look softer.


    In a daze, Quinn felt as if she were back in her younger days.


    "Time flies," she sighed.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Twenty years sounded long, but some things felt like they happened just yesterday.


    "It does fly," Alexander agreed, casually tucking her hair behind her ear, revealing her face.


    He looked at her face, a bit lost in thought. He muttered, "In a blink, you''ve grown so much."


    Quinn pressed her lips together, staying quiet.


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    He kept stroking her cheek, saying, "Watching you every day, ver noticed your changes. It''s like you''ve always looked the same since you were little."


    Quinn''s eyes felt a bit warm. She had clearly seen his changes.


    She watched him grow taller, saw the smiles on his face be fewer and faker, and his eyes grow colder.


    Yeah, only in pain did time drag; happy times always zipped by.


    Alexander recalled, "Back then, you were always behind me, no matter where. I always thought you''d hide behind me forever."


    Alexander''s eyes flickered as he continued, "But one day, you said you were bored and wanted to work. I agreed and let you work at Abigail''s coffee shop. From then, everything started to change." Quinn closed her eyes and turned her head away, not wanting to dig up those old memories.


    Alexander kept going, "Not long after you started, you came back wanting a divorce. Quinn, do you know? The moment you handed me the divorce papers, I felt like all these years were a joke. How could you be led astray by someone you knew for just a few months?"


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    005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! "Enough." Quinn cut him off, looking at him. "My divorce from you has nothing to do with anyone else. Do you really not know why I wanted a divorce?"


    Alexander stared at her, saying nothing.


    Quinn scolded, "Alexander, even now, you still me others for this. Have you really looked at yourself?"


    Alexander looked away, suddenly standing up.


    He said stubbornly, "I still believe that if I hadn''t let you go to work, none of this would have happened."


    Quinn didn''t want to talk to him anymore. She suddenly felt short of breath and raised her hand to clutch her chest, gasping for air.


    Alexander''s expression changed. He quickly bent down to support her, asking nervously, "Quinn, what''s wrong?"


    Quinn struggled to push him away. "Don''t touch me."

 Chapter 1015

    Alexander was kinda stumped for a sec and thought about hollering for Soren, but the guy had already bounced.


    He reached over and gave Quinn a pat on the back, trying to help her catch her breath.


    After a bit, she started to feel a tad better. He plopped down next to her, staring at her and asked, "Feelin'' any better?" Quinn met his worried eyes and felt even more wiped out.


    She weakly yelled, "Get out!"


    Quinn shot him a look. Seeing he didn''t budge, she said again, "I wanna sleep. Can you not sit here?"


    Alexander replied, "Go ahead. I''ll keep an eye on you."


    Quinn snapped, "If you''re watching me, I can''t sleep!"


    Alexander nced at his watch and said, "It''s still early. You can sleepter tonight."


    Quinn shut her eyes, trying to chill out, and decided to just ignore him.


    Seeing Quinn didn''t wanna deal with him, Alexander stared at her for a bit and sighed quietly.


    He sensibly said, "Alright, rest up. I won''t bug you."


    After that, he nced at her again. She still didn''t react, so he got up and walked out.


    Hearing the door close, Quinn opened her eyes. A wave of exhaustion hit her. She leaned weakly against the headboard, unsure if she was mad at him or if it was just her physical state, and her mind felt even more foggy. Alexander went downstairs, and Buddy came over with a ball in its mouth. It eagerly dropped the ball at Alexander''s feet, wagging its tail, wanting to y.


    Alexander nced at it and kicked the ball away.


    Buddy immediately turned to chase it, but after a few steps, it stopped. The ball had flown over the yard''s fence, out of reach.


    Olivia, standing nearby, sympathetically touched her nose, feeling sorry for Buddy for a few seconds.


    Alexander tugged at his tie and sat down on the couch, his face dark and intimidating. Olivia didn''t dare to speak to him.


    Kyle had already contacted Ethan, who was still in Amber Bay and used his connections to intercept Soren.


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    With a private jet, it took less than four hours for Soren to be brought back to Regal Riverside.


    Soren stood obediently in front of Alexander, asionally sneaking a nce at him.


    He had been standing there for ten minutes, while Alexander remained silent.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    The TV was ying cartoons, and Alexander watched it, casually fiddling with the remote.


    The sound from the TV seemed out of ce with the current vibe in the living room.


    Unable to stand the feeling of waiting for judgment, Soren softly called out, "Mr. Kennedy."


    Alexander still ignored him, leaning on the couch, focused on the TV.


    Soren swallowed and mumbled again, "Mr. Kennedy, I went to Sydney City to attend a medical exchange conference." Alexander finally looked up at him.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Soren, feeling guilty, lowered his head. He regretted not buying a ticket to leave the country earlier.


    If he had left overnight, he might have already been settled abroad by now.


    Alexander asked, "Why''d you run?"


    Soren was stunned and quickly defended himself, "I didn''t run. I really went to attend the medical exchange conference."


    Alexander pressed, "Really? What did you get?"


    Soren awkwardly smiled, saying, "Even if I told you, you wouldn''t understand."


    Alexander said chillingly, "Then tell me about Quinn''s condition."


    Soren''s face changed. He lowered his head, trying to hide his expression. "Mrs. Kennedy lost a lot of blood and is very weak." Alexander dered coldly, "Seems like you didn''t get anything useful."


    Soren was taken aback. Before he could react, he heard Alexander add, "Then you''re of no use."


    As soon as Soren heard this, his eyes widened, and his legs gave out, causing him to kneel beside Alexander.

 Chapter 1016

    Soren was practically begging, "Mr. Kennedy, I''m sorry. I was wrong! Please spare me!"


    Alexander leaned in, getting all up in Soren''s face. His stare was so intense that Soren started sweating bullets.


    With a voice colder than ice, Alexander said, "I''ll give you one more shot. Spill it."


    Soren wiped his sweaty forehead, his voice shaking, "Mrs. Kennedy''s not just weak, she''s super depressed. If she can''t get her emotions in check, her body''s gonna get worse and worse, and eventually..." He trailed off. "Eventually what?" Alexander pushed.


    Soren gulped, "Physical stuff''s easy to fix, but emotional issues? Not so much. Eventually, her body will just give out, and she''ll die from depression."


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed. He repeated, almost to himself, "Die from depression?"


    "Yeah." Soren sneaked a look at Alexander, patting himself on the back for his quick thinking.


    By ming Quinn''s condition on her emotions, he could dodge the me, leaving Alexander with nothing to argue about.


    Quinn''s mood was part of the problem, and her body was also seriously messed up. Thebo made her extremely fragile.


    Otherwise, Soren wouldn''t have bolted in the middle of the night.


    Alexander frowned deeply but didn''t keep grilling Soren or tell him to get up.


    Soren stayed kneeling, figuring he was lucky Alexander didn''t punish him; kneeling wasn''t gonna kill him.


    So, as long as Alexander was chilling on the sofa, he stayed on his knees.


    It wasn''t until dinner time that Alexander finally left the living room.


    Quinn had been tossing and turning all afternoon and was woken up by Alexander for dinner. She gave him a weak nce, too tired to even talk.


    Alexander helped her sit up, propping a pillow behind her, and brought over a bowl of porridge.


    "Here. Careful, it''s hot," he said gently.


    Quinn turned her head away, "I don''t wanna eat."


    Alexander coaxed, "Just a few bites. Come on, be good."


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    He had already put the spoon to her lips, leaving her no choice but to swallow the porridge.


    After a few bites, she couldn''t take any more. She mped her lips shut and turned her head away.


    Alexander didn''t push it. He put the porridge down and took her hand. "Quinn, anywhere you wanna go?"


    Quinn shook her head slightly.


    She didn''t wanna go anywhere; she was too tired.


    Alexander tried again, "Anything you wanna eat?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn shook her head again.


    He kept at it, "Anything you wanna do?"


    "Alexander," Quinn said weakly. "I just wanna sleep. Can you stop talking?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander opened his mouth, but seeing how exhausted she was, he swallowed his words.


    He stood up, helped her lie back down, and covered her with a nket. "Then get some good rest."


    Quinn had already closed her eyes, ignoring him.


    The phone on the bedside table suddenly rang. Alexander picked it up and unlocked it, seeing a bunch of messages for Quinn.


    Helen was asking when she''d be back at work.


    Abigail was asking about Walter. With so many people dead from that ident, it was impossible to keep it under wraps.


    The guys Walter brought were mercenaries, which everyone knew. Plus, Walter was already dead. He made the perfect scapegoat. Alexander stared at Abigail''s profile picture for a long time before dialing her.


    Abigail answered all cheerful, "Quinn, you haven''t visited or contacted me in ages. What have you been up to?" "Abigail."


    The second Abigail heard Alexander''s annoying voice, her smile vanished.

 Chapter 1017

    When Quinn woke up the next day, the first person she saw wasn''t Alexander but Abigail.


    She thought she might be trippin''. Blinking and rubbing her eyes, she realized it was real and tried to sit up.


    "Chill out," Abigail, still banged up herself, moved awkwardly to help Quinn.


    Quinn grabbed her hand and stared at her as if she might vanish if she blinked.


    "Abigail?" Quinn called out.


    Abigail nodded quickly. "Yeah, it''s me. You feeling any better?"


    "Why are you here?" Quinn asked, totally confused.


    Abigail sighed, "Alexander called me. That jerk only thinks of me when stuff hits the fan. What does that tell you? Even he knows I''m more important to you than he is, right?"


    This wasn''t the first time Abigail had brought this up. Quinn never got why Abigail always seemed to want topete with Alexander over stuff like this.


    But seeing the hopeful look on her face, Quinn smiled and nodded.


    Abigail was happy with Quinn''s reaction, but when she saw her pale face, her eyes filled with worry.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Abigail asked softly, "Quinn, what happened to you in just a few days? What did Alexander do to you?"


    Quinn looked down and shook her head.


    Seeing she didn''t want to talk about it, Abigail didn''t push. "Anyway, you gotta hang in there. You''re still so young. Don''t let that jerk get to you. I haven''t even taken you on a trip yet."


    She continued, "Ever seen rime ice? It''s when water vapor freezes into these beautiful formations. Let me show you. I took some picsst winter and haven''t shown you yet." She pulled out her phone and showed Quinn the photos.


    The pics looked like they were taken on a mountain. Everything was covered in white, with trees decked out in pristine, glistening ice. It felt pure and sacred, like it could cleanse your soul.


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    It looked like a fairnd.


    Abigail said cheerfully, "Beautiful, right? But seeing it in person is even more epic. Once you get better, I''ll take you to see it."


    Quinn stared at the photos, feeling all sorts of emotions. The scenes in the pictures seemed so far away, as if she might never see them in her lifetime.


    Hearing Abigail''s words, Quinn guessed that Alexander had called Abigail to cheer her up.


    Even though Abigail disliked Alexander, she wouldn''t ignore Quinn because of that. She still wanted Quinn to be okay.


    "Quinn," Abigail called her.


    Quinn snapped out of her thoughts and smiled slightly. "Okay."


    Abigail smiled too. "Then it''s a deal. Get better soon, okay?"


    Quinn nodded in agreement.


    Meanwhile, Alexander was smoking in the hallway, listening to their conversation. He leaned on the railing, a cigarette between his fingers, watching the two dogs ying in the living room downstairs. Soren approached and said cautiously, "Mr. Kennedy, it''s time to change your bandages."


    Alexander threw the cigarette on the ground and crushed it with his toe. "What happens if I don''t?"


    Soren mumbled, "Nothing much. It''ll just heal slower."


    Alexander snapped, "Get lost."


    "Okay."


    With that, Soren quickly left.

 Chapter 1018

    Before long, Abigail hobbled out of the bedroom with a cane. She shut the door behind her and spotted Alexander not too far away, her face scrunching up in annoyance.


    She stomped over to him, fuming. "Alexander, what the hell is going on? What did you do to her? You just called me tofort her without telling me squat. The more I look at you, the madder I get!" Alexander just stood there, taking it all in, and then said, "It''s none of your business."


    Abigail let out an angryugh. "Look at me. I''m still in the hospital, and I rushed over here just because you called. Now you tell me it''s none of my business? If it''s not my business, then why did you even bother calling me in the first ce?" Alexander stayed calm and changed the subject, "Is she feeling any better?"


    Abigailughed again, even angrier. "I get it now. She turned out this way because you pissed her off, didn''t you?"


    She even gave him a sarcastic thumbs-up. "You''re really something so good at pissing people off. Quinn is really unlucky to have met you."


    If Abigail had said this before, Alexander would have thrown her out, but now, he barely reacted.


    Instead, he nodded. "You''re right."


    Abigail was almost speechless.


    After a bit, she mocked, "Are you starting to self-reflect?"


    Alexander didn''t say anything. He leaned on the railing, staring off into the distance, lost in thought.


    Abigail waited for a while, and when he still didn''t speak, she pressed, "Alexander, what exactly happened? Tell me, or how can I persuade her?"


    She pushed, "Say something, aren''t you good at talking?"


    Alexander turned to look at her. "Say what?"


    Abigail was furious.


    She asked, "Then let me ask you, what are your feelings for her?"


    This time he answered bluntly, "You don''t need to know."


    Abigail stormed off, hobbling away angrily with her cane. "Don''t call me again!"


    "This crazy lunatic, how could anyone possibly like him."


    Abigail cursed all the way from the house to the yard, and her cursing could still be heard inside the vi.


    Olivia nced at Alexander, then looked up and met his gaze, which scared her into immediately lowering her head.


    "Am I really that annoying?" Alexander asked.


    Olivia chuckled awkwardly, saying, "Ms. Vanderbilt is just standing up for Mrs. Kennedy."


    Alexander walked to the bedroom door, pushed it open, and saw that Quinn was already asleep.


    He closed the door and went straight downstairs.


    Although Abigail was angry and said she wouldn''te again, she still came the next day.


    But Quinn only talked for a short time, maybe no more than an hour, before she couldn''t stay awake any longer and fell asleep. Every day after that, Abigail woulde to see Quinn. However, despite all her efforts, Quinn showed no signs of improvement.


    And Alexander''s face grew darker by the day.


    Now everyone in the vi was living in fear, treading carefully.


    Since Soren was caught after hisst escape attempt, he didn''t dare to run away again. Alexander was now looking for someone to vent his anger on, so if Soren got caught again, he might not be so lucky. Kyle came into the living room with some documents. As expected, Alexander was watching TV again.


    Every time he came, Alexander was watching cartoons. Kyle didn''t know how many times Alexander had watched the same cartoon; just hearing the sound made Kyle want to vomit.


    Kyle said, "Mr. Kennedy, these are the documents that need your signature."


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    Alexander sat with his arms crossed, eyes glued to the TV.


    It was hard to imagine a man in a suit and tie sitting there so seriously watching cartoons.


    "Mr. Kennedy," Kyle called again.


    Alexander nced at him and said, "Leave them."


    Kyle awkwardly ced the documents on the coffee table and reported, "Landon hasn''t shown up. We''ve checked the Apex Holdings Group but found no trace of him. We don''t know if he''s left Amber Bay or is nning something." Alexander picked up the remote and switched to the next episode. "Keep an eye on Aurora. Don''t worry about anything else."


    "Understood," Kyle replied.


    "Kyle," Alexander suddenly called.


    "Yes, Mr. Kennedy."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander asked him, "What do you do when you''re alone?"


    "What do you mean?" Kyle asked, confused.


    Alexander exined, "If you had to live alone for the rest of your life, what would you do when you''re by yourself?"

 Chapter 1019

    Kyle scratched his head and said, "Work."


    He was so swamped running twopanies, he barely had time to grab a drink. When Alexander heard that, his face got all stormy, looking seriously ticked off.


    Kyle asked, "Mr. Kennedy, why you asking all of a sudden?"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander said, "Forget it. You can go now."


    Kyle gave him a few awkward nces and only left when he saw Alexander glued to the TV. Abigail came downstairs, totally ignoring Alexander like he was invisible, and just walked out. After she left, Alexander turned off the TV and headed upstairs.


    He plopped down next to Quinn, grabbed her hand, and just sat there with her.


    Abigail came to chat every day, but Quinn was still looking worse, more worn out by the day.


    Alexander looked at her hand in his. It was so skinny, just bones. Half a month ago, it had some meat on it.


    Olivia brought in dinner, set it down gently, and whispered, "Mr. Kennedy, dinner''s here."


    Then Olivia backed out.


    After a bit, Alexander woke Quinn up.


    Quinn wasn''t really asleep; she was just too beat to open her eyes.


    She nced at Alexander, sighed weakly, and sat up with his help.


    Alexander held a bowl, scooped some porridge, and handed it over. "Here, it''s cooled down."


    Quinn weakly refused, "Alexander, I don''t wanna eat."


    Alexander coaxed, "You gotta eat at least a bit. Come on, open up."


    Quinn couldn''t argue, so she reluctantly took a couple of sips.


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    She really only had two sips and then refused to eat more.


    Alexander looked at her with aplicated expression, finally putting the bowl back. The room went silent again.


    He held Quinn''s hand, checking her wound, which was healing okay.


    But herplexion was getting worse. She was almost unrecognizable.


    "Why you getting so thin?" Alexander asked, holding her hand, his eyes on her face.


    Quinn weakly tugged at the corner of her mouth, not knowing how to answer and not wanting to talk.


    "Quinn, when you gonna get better?" Alexander asked again.


    Quinn leaned against the headboard, stared at him for a moment, then closed her eyes. "What''s the point of getting better?"


    Alexander replied, "You can do whatever you want. I said, as long as you get better, I''ll let you go."


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! He tightened his grip on her hand, then loosened it. "Okay?"


    Quinn wanted tough, but after trying for a long time, she only managed a slight curve. "Don''t you think it''s toote?"


    Alexander pressed his lips together, momentarily speechless.


    Quinn didn''t want to go anywhere now. Even talking was hard, she could go nowhere.


    Alexander asked, "Walter''s death made you unable to live on?"


    His tone was calm, but you could tell he was holding back his anger.


    Quinn lifted her eyelids and looked at him indifferently, feeling that even arguing with him was a waste of energy.


    So she replied, "Yeah."


    Anger shed in Alexander''s eyes, but he held it back bit by bit. "You hate me that much?"


    "Yeah."

 Chapter 1020

    Alexander suddenly let out augh, a weird mix of anger and helplessness.


    He said, "Quinn, when did you get so cold? Even if you hate me, do you really gotta punish me like this?"


    "Cold? Compared to your crap, this is nothing," Quinn shot back, pulling her hand away and looking down. "Honestly, I can''t even me you. It''s all on me."


    She went on, "You warned me back then. Told me not to fall for you. I didn''t listen, so yeah, I deserve this. Can''t me anyone else."


    At this point, she figured death would be a sweet escape.


    Every time she thought about what Walter said, and how he jumped off that cliff in such disappointment, she felt like she didn''t belong in this world and just wanted out.


    But Alexander wouldn''t let her. He used all these pricey herbs every day to keep her hanging on, stuck in this half-dead state.


    "Quinn," Alexander grabbed her hand again, pulling it back. He looked at her seriously, like he wanted to say something but couldn''t get it out.


    Quinn stared at him, waiting forever, but he never said what he wanted to.


    Finally, she broke the silence, "Alexander, no matter what you say, no matter what secrets or problems you have, it won''t change a thing. What''s done is done."


    Alexander stayed quiet for a long time.


    He finally nodded. "You''re right. Nothing I say can change what happened."


    Quinn''s eyes flickered. "So it''s still my fault."


    Alexander said, "It''s not your fault. It''s mine."


    Quinn asked, "If ver loved you, would you have let me go?"


    Alexander stayed silent.


    Maybe he didn''t even know the answer.


    Quinn looked at him, a bitter smile on her lips. "Would it have been any different?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Before he could reply, she continued, "ver had control. Alexander, you''re too selfish. Everything you did was for you."


    "You said you wanted to love someone else. That''s just an excuse. You could''ve let me go and then loved someone else, but you never tried."


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    "Even if, hypothetically, you did fall for Getty, would we still be like before? Like siblings, like family? No way."


    It was just because he didn''t love Getty that he wouldn''t let her go. If he had fallen for Getty, none of this would have happened.


    Everything he did screamed one word: selfish.


    He was truly selfish and greedy.


    Alexander didn''t argue with a single word Quinn said, proving she was right.


    She smiled bitterly. "So, Alexander, how can you expect me not to hate you?"


    She pressed, "Why aren''t you saying anything?"


    Alexander looked up and stared at her. "I got nothing to say. You''re right about everything."


    Quinn asked, "So this is really what you think?"


    Alexanderughed at himself and replied, "Sometimes I don''t even know what I''m thinking. No matter how I look at it, it''s a mess." He then got serious. "So yeah, I think you''re right."


    Abigail always said he was nuts, and sometimes he thought so too.


    Others couldn''t get him; he couldn''t even get himself. This tangled mess stayed unresolved, so he didn''t argue and couldn''t argue.


    Quinn didn''t want to talk about it anymore. No matter what the truth was, it didn''t matter now.


    She said, "Alexander, you must live well."


    Alexander looked a bit stunned.


    Quinn smiled, thinking, ''You need to feel the loneliness, the endless waiting, and suffering, just like I did for the past seven years. You should live every moment in regret.'' From his constant self-destructive behavior these past few months, Quinn saw that he, like her, was looking for a way out of this world.


    But Quinn wouldn''t let him have his way.

 Chapter 1021

    Alexander let out augh through clenched teeth. "Quinn, I''m gonna live just fine. And trust me, I''ll make sure you do too." "Remember, my promise hinges on you ying ball with my treatment. Otherwise, your whole n''s toast."


    Quinn sighed, shutting her eyes in exhaustion. "Whatever."


    "Get some rest." Alexander pulled up the nket, tucking her in, and then walked out of the bedroom.


    Once he hit the study, all the bottled-up emotions exploded. He swept everything off the desk, his face dark and terrifying.


    Quinn upstairs couldn''t hear it, but the folks downstairs sure did, and they were quiet as mice.


    Before long, he made a call and asked Soren toe upstairs.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Soren looked at Olivia with a mournful expression.


    Olivia gave him a sympathetic and good luck look.


    Soren, trembling, knocked on the study door and shuffled to the sofa like he was approaching a judge''s seat.


    Soren stammered, "Mr. Kennedy, is there something you need?"


    Alexander yanked at his shirt cor, and with too much force, the buttons popped off. This revealed the bandages on his chest, already stained with blood, with arge patch of red on the white bandage. Alexander said in a cold voice, "Change the bandage."


    Soren was stunned for a moment, not quite processing it. ''Has Alexander calmed down after his outburst?'' Soren wondered.


    In the two seconds Soren was in a daze, Alexander shot him a re that scared him into action.


    "I''ll get the medical kit," Soren stuttered and quickly ran out. In less than two minutes, he returned with the kit.


    Alexander sat casually on the sofa, letting Soren remove the bandages. The wound had indeed reopened, with fresh blood continuously oozing out.


    His chest had more than just this one wound. The scar from thest surgery hadn''t faded, and it wasn''t far from this gunshot wound.


    There was also a scar on his back, likely from when Landon stabbed himst time.


    Soren whispered, "Mr. Kennedy, this needs to be stitched up again. I didn''t bring any anesthetic."


    "No need."


    Soren wiped his sweat, sterilized the medical instruments, put on medical gloves, and carefully began stitching the wound.


    He tried to distract Alexander, saying, "Mr. Kennedy, your wound hasn''t fully healed yet. You gotta avoid overexertion and emotional rollercoasters, or it''ll mess with the healing."


    Despite Alexander''s lively demeanor, Soren knew the severity of his injuries. Even though the bullet hadn''t hit any vital organs, it was still a gunshot wound, and he had lost so much blood.


    It was no exaggeration to say that Alexander probably couldn''t even beat him now; one punch could knock Alexander down.


    Of course, he only dared to think about it and wouldn''t dare to try.


    "How''s Quinn doing now?" Alexander ignored his words.


    As Soren heard this, his hand shook, causing the needle to go off course and stab directly into the wound.


    Soren fell silent.


    When he looked up, he met Alexander''s cold gaze.


    He swallowed hard, hurriedly lowered his head, and focused all his attention on the wound. "Mrs. Kennedy''s condition isn''t looking good. Her health''s going downhill. Maybe we should take her to the hospital?" Alexander snapped, "Didn''t you say her physical weakness was due to emotional distress? Will the hospital help?"


    Soren''s hand almost shook again, but he managed to hold it steady. He pretended to be calm and said, "Maybe other doctors have ways to counsel her."


    Alexander''s probing gaze swept over his face, as if he was trying to see through him.


    Alexander dered threateningly, "Soren, if I catch you lying to me again, you''re dead."


    Soren used all his concentration to keep from trembling.


    Alexander exuded a menacing aura from head to toe. Being this close to him felt like having a sword hanging over Soren''s head, ready to fall at any moment, sending a chill down his neck.

 Chapter 1022

    Soren patched up Alexander''s wound, pped on some meds, and wrapped it up in no time.


    "All set, Mr. Kennedy," Soren said.


    Alexander grabbed his shirt, threw it on, and strolled out. Watching his straight back, you''d never guess he just got stitched up.


    For a guy that hardcore, Soren figured Alexander wouldn''t go easy on anyone else either.


    So, he had to figure out a way to bail.


    Next day, Quinn woke up to a bunch of foreigners standing around her. Judging by their getup, they looked like doctors.


    They were jabbering in somenguage she couldn''t make heads or tails of. Quinn wasn''t in the mood to care. Plus, her head was all foggy, making it impossible to get what they were saying. She shut her eyes again, letting them do their thing. This was already the third group.


    Yesterday, Abigail told her that Alexander had put up a bounty online, offering $4 billion to anyone who could cure her.


    It was $2 billion before, and now it was up to $4 billion. She wondered if Alexander would keep upping the ante.


    Sure, it might bring in someone legit, but it also meant a bunch of chancers would show up.


    The group was bickering loudly by her bed, making her head throb even more.


    Alexander, dressed in ck, was chilling on the sofa, coldly watching them argue.


    Kyle whispered to Alexander, "Mr. Kennedy, these folks say they have some special meds. Should we really try it on Mrs. Kennedy? We don''t wanna mess things up with too many different drugs." Alexander asked, "Did you check their backgrounds?"


    Kyle nodded, "Yeah, their IDs and qualifications check out."


    Alexander didn''t say anything else, his eyes on Quinn''s face. Seeing her frown, he suddenly said, "Get them out."


    Kyle was taken aback for a sec, then quickly moved to escort them out.


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    Some of them weren''t ready to give up, shouting to try their meds. The next second, bodyguards stormed in and dragged them out.


    Soon, the room was quiet.


    Alexander got up and sat next to Quinn, gently touching her cheek. "Quinn, how you feeling today?"


    Quinn opened her eyes and nced at him, struggling to sit up.


    Alexander immediately helped her up.


    The effort seemed to drain her. Panting, she said, "Alexander, can you stop torturing me?"Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander frowned and said, "I told you, I''ll cure you. Just ignore them and cooperate with the treatment."


    Hearing this, Quinn felt a surge of anger. She grabbed her cor and panted heavily.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Quinn!" Alexander called out, worried.


    He immediately let her lean against him, gently stroking her back.


    Quinn panted, no matter how hard she tried, her lungs felt blocked. She couldn''t get any air, just like when she was drowning.


    "Soren!" Alexander shouted.


    Soren was at the door. Hearing Alexander''s angry shout, he rushed in immediately.


    Seeing Quinn''s face turning red, Soren was also freaked out. He took out silver needles from his kit, lifted Quinn''s sleeve, and stuck the needles into her forearm. Within two seconds, Quinn felt a surge of energy rushing up her throat.


    A mouthful of blood sprayed onto Alexander, the hot blood slowly trickling down his neck into his shirt cor.


    His chin and face were also sttered with blood.

 Chapter 1023

    "What''s going on!" Alexander barked.


    His face twisted. If he wasn''t holding Quinn up, Soren would''ve been toast by now.


    Soren stuttered, "She got super upset, and her blood pressure went through the roof, but she''s chill now." Alexander nced at Quinn again and saw her breathing was back to normal.


    His face rxed a bit. Ignoring Soren, he used his sleeve to wipe the blood from Quinn''s mouth.


    Quinn closed her eyes for a sec, then looked up at Alexander and softly said, "Alexander."


    Alexander froze. Seeing the plea in Quinn''s eyes, he went quiet.


    After what felt like forever, he finally said, "If you don''t want them around, they won''te anymore."


    Quinn sighed in relief and closed her eyes.


    Alexander gentlyid her back on the bed, covered her with a nket, and sat down, looking all conflicted.


    Soren stood there, head down, trying to be invisible.


    But Alexander still shot him a look.


    Even without looking up, Soren felt the heat of Alexander''s re. He kept wringing his hands, sweat dripping from his palms.


    "Soren, spill it. She really..."


    Alexander left the sentence hanging.


    Soren got the hint, and cold sweat ran down his back. If those foreign docs had been here, Quinn might''ve been a goner before they even started.


    The silver needle trick Soren pulled was something most docs couldn''t do, which is why Alexander was kinda calm.


    Soren''s face showed he was torn between talking and staying quiet.


    He was scared Alexander might lose it and kill him if he knew the truth.


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    Alexander pushed, "What''s up? Scared to say it or don''t know how?"


    Soren wiped his sweaty palms and stammered, "Mr. Kennedy, honestly, instead of wasting time with those docs..."


    Under Alexander''s intense stare, Soren whispered, "You should spend more time with her."


    Alexander stared hard and asked, "What do you mean?"


    "You already know," Soren muttered.


    Even though Soren''s voice was low, Alexander heard it.


    But Alexander didn''t blow up. He sat there, dazed for a moment, then looked back at Quinn.


    Rubbing his temples, he closed his eyes, exhausted, and ordered, "Everyone, out."


    Feeling like he just got a get-out-of-jail-free card, Soren bolted, leaving the room dead silent.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Outside, a gentle breeze blew, and birds chirped, their sounds drifting into the room.


    Quinny there quietly, eyes closed, her breathing so faint she barely seemed alive.


    Kaitlyn had tried to visit twice but couldn''t get in. The next day, she came again and was stopped by the bodyguards. This time, she forced her way in.


    Matthew rushed in to report, "Mr. Kennedy, Kaitlyn''s here again. We can''t stop her."


    As soon as he finished, Kaitlyn burst in.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alexander!" Kaitlyn shouted.


    Alexander frowned and red at Kaitlyn. "Get out."


    Kaitlyn''s eyes flicked to Quinn, her expression shifting. "What''s wrong with her?" she asked.


    Quinn''s face was ghostly pale, looking pretty scary.


    Alexander sneered, "Isn''t this what you wanted to see? Why act like you care?"

 Chapter 1024

    Kaitlyn sauntered over and plopped down next to Alexander, all serious-like. "Alexander, you got it wrong. I really came to see Quinn."


    She kept going, "Look, I watched her grow up. I get the bond you two have from back in the day. Even if I was hard on her before, it was just me trying to guide her, you know? ver meant any harm." Alexander shot her a nce. "You done?"


    Kaitlyn got a bit ticked off. "What''s with the attitude?"


    Alexander shot back, "If you''re done, then bounce. Let her rest."


    Kaitlyn felt a bit embarrassed. Her face darkened, and it took her a minute to pull herself together.


    Then she yelled, "Alexander, why you gotta be like this? I''m your mother!"


    Alexander''s forehead veins popped in anger. He stared her down coldly and said, "Don''t make me say it a third time. Get out!"


    Kaitlyn''s temper red. She put her hands on her hips and red at him. "I ain''t going nowhere. You gonna hit your own mother?" Alexander didn''t even bother arguing. He called out, "Matthew, show her out!"


    Kaitlyn''s face twisted in shock and anger. "Alexander, what the hell is this?"


    Alexander ignored her. He gently fixed Quinn''s hair, his face soft and tender, a total 180 from how he was with Kaitlyn.


    This almost made Kaitlyn blow a fuse.


    But before she could lose it, a bunch of bodyguards surrounded her. "Please leave."


    "Alexander! Ever since you took charge, you don''t see me as your mother anymore, do you?" She couldn''t hold back and yelled, "How could I have raised someone as ungrateful as you? I brought you into this world and raised you, and you treat me worse than a mute girl? If I knew you''d turn out like this, I wouldn''t have had you!"


    No matter what she said, Alexander didn''t even look at her. Her rant made her look like a clown.


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    "Kaitlyn, please leave." Nathan, seeing she wouldn''t budge, grabbed her arm and started dragging her out.


    "Let go of me!" Kaitlyn yelled, trying to break free.


    She kept cursing, "Alexander, you ungrateful jerk. Aren''t you afraid of going to hell for treating me like this? Look at Quinn''s frail state now. It''s God''s punishment for you." Alexander suddenly looked up, his cold gaze cutting through her.


    Kaitlyn froze when she met his eyes, and the next moment, Nathan dragged her out.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Her eyes were a bit dazed. In that brief moment, she thought she saw a murderous look in Alexander''s eyes.


    ''He actually wants to kill me!'' Kaitlyn thought, shocked.


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    A chill ran down her spine. Even after Nathan threw her out of the vi, she still hadn''t recovered from the shock.


    Every time she tried to talk to Alexander, he always provoked her, making her lose her cool.


    But never before had she felt his murderous intent so clearly.


    He cared so much about Quinn, way more than she ever expected.


    Kaitlyn''s shouting had woken Quinn. She struggled to open her eyes, and Alexander noticed right away.


    "Did it wake you?" Alexander held her hand tight, looking at her with concern.


    Quinn''s gaze drifted past him to the clear sky outside. Unfortunately, the security bars blocked her view, making her feel like a bird in a cage.


    "It probably won''t snow again," she murmured, her eyes dim, like she was talking to herself.


    "Do you want to see the snow?" Alexander asked, sensing her longing.

 Chapter 1025

    Quinn''sshes fluttered as she looked away, all bummed out.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    She figured she probably wouldn''t get to see it.


    Alexander stared at her for a sec, then suddenly got up and messed up her hair. "Wait here."


    And with that, he bounced.


    Quinn''s eyes trailed after him until he left the room, then she shut her eyes again.


    She was stuck in bed every day, losing track of time, not even knowing how long he''d been gone.


    When Alexander woke her up again, she could totally feel the temp had dropped a lot.


    Alexander scooped her up from the bed and plopped her on the couch by the window, wrapping her in a thick down jacket. "Quinn, look."


    He held her shoulders, pointing her to look outside.


    Quinn looked up and was totally floored.


    Outside, everything was covered in white. Snowkes were dancing around,nding on trees and windows. She had no clue when it started snowing, but all the buildings were nketed in fresh snow. This snowfall was way bigger than any she''d ever seen. The whole scene lost its shape in the sea of snowkes.


    When the wind blew, the snowkes swirled like they were having a party.


    Quinn''sshes fluttered. It seemed like she was really seeing winter.


    "How''d you pull this off?" she asked, shocked.


    Alexander met her surprised look and gave a little smile. Then he picked her up, saying, "Come on. Let''s go check it out."


    Quinn, all curious, followed him outside. Snowkes hit her face, cold and just like real snow.


    But there were no machines around making the snow.


    Alexander put her in the car, hopped in himself, and drove them out.


    On the way, snow wasing down hard. The green trees on both sides of the road were covered in thick snow, and the road was nketed too.


    Even when it did snow in Amber Bay, it was never this heavy.


    Quinn looked out the window, suddenly feeling kinda lost.


    It was like she took a nap and time rewound a few months, from spring back to winter.


    "Am I tripping?" Abigail mumbled as she rubbed her eyes hard and grabbed her phone to check the calendar. She thought in disbelief, ''No way. It''s April. Snow this heavy in Amber Bay in April?'' Just then, Oliver came in with lunch. When he saw the shocked look on her face, he couldn''t help butugh.


    "Why you so surprised?" he asked.


    Abigail didn''t even have time to answer him. She threw off the covers, forgetting her crutches, and hobbled to the window. As she opened it, the cold air hit her, making her shiver. She reached out to catch a snowke. Itnded on her hand and melted fast.


    Oliver walked over and closed the window for her. "Careful. Don''t catch a cold."


    Abigail turned to look at him and asked, "Oliver, what''s going on? Snow in April? Why aren''t you surprised at all?"


    Oliver shoved his hands into his pockets. "Never seen fake snow?"


    "No. Who did this?" Abigail said. Her eyes widened as she suddenly realized something. She asked, "It couldn''t be that jerk Alexander, could it?"

 Chapter 1026

    "Why you always gotta call him a jerk? Just the other day, Quinn was talking about wanting to see snow. Next thing you know, he drops nearly a billion bucks to make it snow over half of Amber Bay." Abigail scoffed, "What''s the point now? Too little, toote. Why didn''t he do this sooner?"


    She added, "And won''t this whole snow thing mess up traffic and screw with the environment?"


    Oliver shot back, "Nah, it won''t hurt the environment. Weather modification''s a natural process. No new chemicals or anything. The snow''s just like the real deal, totally harmless." Abigail rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, keep defending him. You think a little snow''s gonna make Quinn like him more?"


    Oliver just shook his head. Abigail''s beef with Alexander ran deep; no matter what he did, she''d never be cool with it. So, he dropped it.


    He switched gears, "Just eat your food. Quinn might not be at Regal Riverside today, so just chill at the hospital."


    The snow came outta nowhere. Even though the weather folks called it, nobody really believed it until it actually started falling. Everyone was tripping out, seeing snow in April. While everyone knew it was snowing, only a few knew how it happened.


    As Alexander was driving, Quinn saw people on the streets going nuts over the snow.


    Snow was a rare sight in Amber Bay. In all her years there, she''d only seen it twice.


    The white kes blurred her vision, making Quinn''s gaze kinda hazy.


    Who knows how long they were driving before the car finally stopped.


    Quinn looked up and recognized the ce. Seeing the distant sea, she realized this was where Alexander had once taken her to jump into the ocean.


    Alexander walked around, opened the door, wrapped her in her coat, and carried her out.


    He took her to a big stone b and sat down.


    "Pretty, huh?" Alexander asked.


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    Quinn looked around. The sea was in front of her, dark clouds hanging low. Behind her was a snowy field, and the trees along the road were covered in snowkes, just like the frost photos Abigail had shown her. She nodded slightly. "Yeah, it''s beautiful."


    Alexander held her close, letting the snowkes fall on them. Before long, their shoulders and heads were covered in snow.


    "Feeling better?" he asked again.


    Quinn was a bit surprised and looked at his face. His hair, eyebrows, and eyshes were all dusted with snow.


    He looked down at her, eyes full of concern.


    Quinn slowly raised her hand, her fingertips touching his face. She softly said, "You look like an old man."


    Alexander held her hand, a slight smile on his lips. "So do you."


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Quinn said, "A long time ago, I used to wonder what it would be like when we got old."


    Alexander''s eyes flickered, but he just held her hand tighter, staying silent.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Quinn continued, "If back then, I had stuck to my guns and not agreed to marry you because of your grandpa, would things be different now?"


    When Ulysses first asked them to get married, Quinn refused. She knew Alexander had a girlfriend and was scared that agreeing would make him hate her even more.


    But Ulysses was dead set on their marriage, saying he wouldn''t die peacefully otherwise. Quinn felt she had no choice; she couldn''t let Ulysses die with regrets. Alexander''s silent agreement made her too selfish to refuse again. Before Alexander could say anything, she went on, "Things would probably be different. At least I''d still be your sister, instead of this weird thing we got going on now."


    Quinn''s mind grew foggy, and she didn''t even know what she was saying.


    She just had this feeling that if she didn''t say certain things now, she might never get the chance to say them again.

 Chapter 1027

    Alexander held her close, her voice as soft as a whisper in the wind. He lowered his head, resting his face on hers.


    He stayed quiet.


    Quinn shut her eyes, too drained to talk. The cold wind brushed her cheeks, and she sighed inside, ''Feels like winter for real.''


    The snow was easing up, floating around like mist. Soon, only the chill in the air was left.


    Quinn weakly said, "Alexander, I wish we never met."


    Alexander paused, then straightened up, looking down at her.


    "Do you regret it?" he asked.


    "I''ve regretted it for a long time. Ever since we got married," Quinn said, opening her eyes to meet his.


    His face was tense, his deep eyes locked on hers.


    Quinn said, "Every night I spent alone, I regretted it. I regretted meeting you. I regretted being so stupidly in love with you."


    "Stop talking," Alexander cut her off, not letting her continue.


    Quinn acted like she didn''t hear him, going on, "You always acted like you didn''t get it, like you didn''t know."


    Alexander''s lips twisted into a bitter smile.


    Quinn also tried to smile. Saying this stuff now felt pointless.


    He seemed too tired to even exin.


    Quinn whispered, "I''m tired. I wanna sleep for a bit."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander raised his hand, gently brushing her hair from her face. "Can you sleep when we get back?" he asked softly.


    Quinn shook her head slightly. She couldn''t hold on any longer; her eyelids were getting heavier.


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    He paused, cupped her face, and softly called, "Quinn."


    His voice was getting blurry. Quinn couldn''t hear clearly as sleepiness took over. She struggled to stay awake, raising her hand with difficulty to touch his face.


    But she had no strength. As her hand fell, Alexander caught it, cing it on his face.


    His cheek was cold, but there was a bit of warmth.


    In a daze, she remembered when she was young, she couldn''t resist touching his face while he slept.


    When he woke up and caught her, she quickly pulled her hand back, but he grabbed it and ced it back.


    Quinn remembered it was a sunny afternoon. He smiled at her, his deep eyes reflecting the bright light.


    Quinn smiled slightly.


    It seemed that in every memory, he was always so captivating. He was like a scene from a movie, etched in her mind.


    But memories were just memories. As time passed, she could never find him in her memory.


    She closed her eyes, and her frail hand slipped from his grasp.


    Alexander grabbed her hand, cing it back on his face.


    "Quinn?"


    His voice seemed frozen by the cold, carrying a slight tremor.


    "Quinn."


    The snow had stopped, and even the air was quiet.


    A gust of wind blew, lifting the snowkes on the ground. They struggled briefly before settling back down. Everything was white.

 Chapter 1028

    When they rolled back to the vi, it was already evening.


    Soren had been on edge ever since Alexander took Quinn out. Hearing the car horn, he bolted outside. He stood there, all jittery, and saw Alexander stepping out of the car with Quinn in his arms.


    Quinn''s face was buried deep in his chest, so you couldn''t tell how she was doing.


    But when Soren saw her hand just hanging there, swinging with Alexander''s steps, his face went pale.


    He rushed over, looking at Alexander all worried, and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, why''d you take her out?"


    Soren thought, ''She''s already super weak. Going out in the cold is like asking for trouble!''


    Alexander ignored him and marched into the vi with Quinn. Soren trailed right behind.


    Once they got to the bedroom, Soren immediately checked on Quinn. He listened with a stethoscope for a long time, hesitant to say anything.


    "How is she?" Alexander asked from the side.


    Soren''s hand shook, and he cautiously turned to look at Alexander.


    Alexander''s eyes were glued to Quinn''s face, not even ncing at Soren.


    His eyes were dark and empty, like all the light had gone out.


    No need to spell it out, really.


    Quinn was already gone.


    As Soren hesitated, Alexander suddenly looked at him, and Soren instinctively tensed up.


    Alexander demanded, "Why aren''t you saying anything?"


    Soren swallowed hard, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying. "Mr. Kennedy, please ept my condolences."


    As soon as he said that, Alexander suddenly stood up and kicked him hard.


    Soren went flying, crashing into the solid wall and then rebounding to the ground.


    He was in so much pain he felt dizzy. Before he could react, Alexander grabbed his cor and dragged him back to the bed.


    Alexandermanded, "Check again."


    Alexander''s tone was calm, but his actions were anything but.


    Soreny on the bed, swallowing the blood in his mouth, and tremblingly reached out to check Quinn again.


    The result was the same; he couldn''t feel her heartbeat. Although he often couldn''t feel it before, it would asionally beat once or twice.


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    But now, after checking for a full five minutes, he still didn''t detect any heartbeat from Quinn.


    He even checked Quinn''s carotid artery and used a monitor, but still couldn''t find any signs of life. Alexander watched him dangerously from behind, making Soren feel like a knife was at his throat. After a few more minutes, Alexander grabbed his cor and pulled him back.


    Soren stumbled, his back hitting the wall again.


    Alexander''s mouth curled into a sinister smile as he asked, "How is she?" Soren, looking at his creepy smile, swallowed and said, "She''s asleep." Alexander questioned, "Asleep, is she?"


    "Yes, she''s very tired and fell asleep," Soren said with a mournful face.


    Alexander knew the truth very well but didn''t want to ept reality. He wanted to deceive himself, so Soren could only go along with it.


    Alexander finally let him go and even thoughtfully straightened the wrinkles on his cor. "That''s fine."


    Soren shakily wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Before he could catch his breath, he heard Alexander say, "It''s time to eat."


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    He immediately said, "I''ll go get dinner!"


    With that, he fled the bedroom in a panic. In his haste, he slipped and tumbled down the stairs.


    "What''s wrong with you? You look like you''ve seen a demon," Olivia asked, feeling strange.


    Soren grabbed Olivia''s arm and said in terror, "Olivia, run quickly, or it''s over!"


    "What happened?" Olivia asked.


    Soren stammered, "Alexander has gone mad."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Soren was so scared that he even called out Alexander''s name. Just thinking about Alexander''s eyes made his scalp tingle.


    Alexander now was no different from a demon.


    Olivia frowned. "Do you think you can escape? You tried before and were caught."


    When Soren heard this, his shoulders slumped in near despair, and he copsed to the ground.


    "There''s nothing more to say. Just wait for death," Soren said in despair.

 Chapter 1029

    Soren asked Olivia to drop off the grub, and she had no clue how serious things were. She just waltzed in with the food like it was any other day.


    Inside, nothing seemed off. Alexander was busy cleaning up Quinn''s face and hands.


    "Mr. Kennedy, dinner''s here."


    Olivia plopped the food down, spun around, and headed out. Just as she hit the door, she nced back, feeling a bit confused. ''Isn''t this the usual?'' she thought. She shook it off, stepped out, and shut the door behind her.


    Outside, the snow was melting, and the drip-drip from the eaves was loud in the quiet room.


    After cleaning Quinn up, Alexander grabbed the bowl, scooped some porridge, and tried to feed her.


    But the porridge just dribbled out of her mouth.


    He quickly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe it up and kept trying. Each time, it just flowed out again.


    Quinny there with her eyes closed, looking all peaceful like she was just sleeping.


    By the time the bowl was empty, she hadn''t swallowed a single bit.


    Alexander stared at her, holding the bowl, feeling totally lost.


    He slowly reached out and touched her cheek.


    "Quinn, wake up and eat, or you''ll be starvingter."


    "Why are you being stubborn again?"


    "If you don''t eat, I''ll kill them all. You hear me?"


    His murmurs echoed in the room, but no one answered.


    "Quinn, don''t you wanna go on that hot air balloon ride?"


    "Get up, and I''ll take you."


    "Don''t you wanna go home? I''ll take you home, okay?"


    He said everything he could think of, but still got nothing. He chuckled to himself.


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    As night fell, the sound of dripping snow got louder, matching the ticking clock on the wall.


    Like always, Alexandery down next to Quinn, holding her close.


    "Go to sleep. Tomorrow, I''ll take you on that hot air balloon ride," he said, kissing her forehead.


    That night, the vi was super quiet, like the calm before a storm.


    In the morning, Olivia brought in breakfast and found Alexander wiping Quinn''s face again.


    "Mr. Kennedy..." Olivia started, but Alexander shushed her, and she stopped.


    "Don''t disturb her," he said.


    Olivia nodded, a bit suspicious, as she set the breakfast on the table, sneaking a nce at Quinn.


    Quinn was still in the same spot as yesterday, pale as ever, no change.


    Soon after, Abigail showed up but got stopped outside.


    "What do you mean? Why can''t I go in?" Abigail demanded.


    Nathan said, "Mr. Kennedy says you don''t need toe anymore."


    Abigail was stunned, then her face changed. "What''s wrong with Quinn?"


    Nathan urged, "Please leave."


    Abigail''s eyes flickered. She tried to push her way in, but her injuries held her back. After a few tries, she not only failed but got tossed out.


    "Alexander!" Abigail struggled to get up and shouted at the house, "Why won''t you let me in? Didn''t you ask me toe before? What''s wrong with Quinn? Come out and tell me!" Nathan frowned and stepped forward again, saying, "Ms. Vanderbilt, please keep it down. Don''t disturb Mrs. Kennedy''s rest."


    Hearing this, Abigail''s worry eased a bit. "She hasn''t woken up yet?"


    "Not yet," Nathan replied.


    So, Abigail sat down nearby. "Fine, I''ll wait for her to wake up."


    She insisted on waiting there, and Nathan had no choice but to let her be.

 Chapter 1030

    The snow had Amber Bay freezing its butt off, so the snow by the roadside was still hanging around. Abigail had only been sitting for a bit before her hands and feet went all numb from the cold. She rubbed her hands together and pulled out her phone to check the time. It was already noon.


    Abigail stood up again and asked, "Quinn still out cold?"


    Nathan shook his head. "Not yet."


    Abigail shot him a re and plopped back down.


    As time dragged on, even Olivia started to sense something was off. She went in to drop off some food and saw the breakfast was still untouched, and Quinn was still out.


    She went downstairs to ask Soren, "Soren, why hasn''t Mrs. Kennedy woken up yet?"


    Soren, slouched in a chair, looked at Olivia weakly. "She ain''t waking up."


    Olivia''s eyes went wide. "What do you mean?"


    "Exactly what it sounds like. But act like you don''t know and don''t bring it up in front of Mr. Kennedy, or he might lose it," Soren warned.


    Olivia finally felt a chill run down her spine. Yesterday, Soren said Alexander had gone nuts, and she didn''t think much of it. Now, hearing this, Olivia fully realized just how crazy Alexander had be.


    "So he''s just hanging out with Quinn''s body?" Olivia asked.


    Soren nodded, scratching his head in frustration. With the current cold, Quinn''s body could still be preserved. But in a few days, it would start to dpose.


    He couldn''t imagine how much crazier Alexander would get then.


    Olivia got goosebumps, rubbing her arms and shivering.


    Later, Kyle showed up.


    He handed Alexander a document and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, this anonymous document was sent to you. Wanna check it out?"


    Alexander nced at it. The document was addressed to him, with no other info.


    He took it, pulled out the papers inside, and skimmed through them.


    His expression suddenly changed.


    Alexander asked, "Where did thise from?"


    Kyle replied awkwardly, "I don''t know. Kaitlyn gave it to me the day before yesterday. She said a courier left it with her and mentioned it was important and had to be given to you. What''s up?" Alexander put the documents back, grabbed the folder, and quickly walked out.


    Abigail saw himing out and immediately stood up to approach him. But before she could get closer, he got into a car and sped off from the vi.


    Abigail frowned suspiciously. She thought, ''Alexander left in such a hurry. Could something have happened?''


    Alexander drove to Kennedy Residence. He got out of the car and stormed into the living room.


    Kaitlyn was sipping tea in the living room. She was so startled by his aggressive entrance that she almost dropped her teacup.


    "Alexander, what are you doing here?" Kaitlyn asked.


    Alexander mmed the document on the table and demanded, "Is this true?"


    Kaitlyn picked up the document in confusion, looked at it, and her face also changed dramatically. "Where did you get this?"


    "Answer me! Is it true?" Alexander raised his voice, almost shattering her eardrums.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Kaitlyn hurriedly said, "It must be fake. Who gave this to you? This person must have bad intentions. Bring him here, and I''ll teach him a lesson!"


    Alexander was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang.


    He took out his phone and saw it was a call from Regal Riverside.


    "Mr. Kennedy, something terrible has happened!" Nathan gritted his teeth and said, "Soren colluded with outsiders and took Mrs. Kennedy away." Alexander''s expression changed, and he looked at Kaitlyn more intently.


    Kaitlyn took a step back warily. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Alexanderughed, his eyes void of any mirth. Anger surged in his eyes. "Good! You''re all very good!"


    With that, he turned and walked out of Kennedy Residence, driving back to Regal Riverside.


    He returned to Regal Riverside as quickly as possible and kicked open the bedroom door. As expected, it was empty, and the security window outside was also gone.


    He stood at the door, enveloped by a chill more terrifying than yesterday''s snow.


    "Mr. Kennedy, a message from Landon," Kyle said, handing him the phone.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

 Chapter 1031

    Alexander shot a frosty nce at his phone; the number was unfamiliar, and the message read: [Alexander, the snow is beautiful. Thanks for letting us see it. To repay you, I''ll help you bury Quinn, so you won''t have to look at a dead person every day and feel heartbroken.]


    Alexander''s face twisted in shock. He snatched his phone and dialed the number back.


    The first call got cut off. As he dialed again, he stormed out, yelling, "Find them for me!"


    He kept calling as he marched out.


    After several tries, the call still wouldn''t go through. Kyle caught up and said, "Mr. Kennedy, that number''s a burner. It won''t connect."


    Standing in the yard, Alexander radiated a chill colder than the weather. He red at the phone and then dialed Soren''s number on his own phone.


    As expected, it was off.


    He suddenly spun around and saw Olivia standing nearby, trembling.


    Olivia shivered, trying to blend into the background.


    Seeing this, Kyle stepped up and asked, "Olivia, what the hell is going on?"


    Olivia whispered, "Soren told me Mrs. Kennedy wouldn''t wake up. He kept telling me to run away."


    "And then?" Kyle pressed.


    Olivia replied, "Then I told him not to run. I knew we couldn''t get away. Butter, he seemed to get a call and came out asking if I wanted to run, saying he could guarantee our escape. I didn''t agree, so he went upstairs. You know the rest." After listening, Kyle pieced it together, "It must have been Landon who contacted him and asked him to coordinate from the inside. He took Mrs. Kennedy, and Landon helped him escape."


    Alexander said, "First, find out where they are. With Quinn, they can''t leave Amber Bay."


    Kyle nodded and rushed to make arrangements.


    They mobilized almost everyone, searching nearly all of Amber Bay.


    A few hourster, Kyle returned to Regal Riverside and told him, "Mr. Kennedy, we found them. They took Mrs. Kennedy to..."


    Alexander sat upright on the sofa. Hearing Kyle''s hesitation, he looked up and asked, "Where?"


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    Kyle stammered in a low voice, "The crematorium."


    Alexander suddenly stood up, staring daggers at Kyle.


    Kyle shrank back in fear, almost feeling that Alexander was going to strangle him, mistaking him for Landon.


    Just as he was about to leave, Alexander''s phone pinged with another message from Landon.


    Landon: [Alexander, I''ve already taken Quinn to the crematorium. I suggest you don''t do anything impulsive. One word from me, and Quinn will turn to ashes. Let''s make a deal.] Alexander called back immediately. This time, Landon answered.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "Landon, what do you want?" Alexander demanded.


    Landon chuckled. "That''s funny. Would you give me whatever I want?"


    Alexander said, "Tell me what you want first."


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    "Okay," Alexander agreed without hesitation.


    Landon added, "Arrange a helicopter to take my mother to a ce I specify."


    "Fine."


    Seeing Alexander agree almost without hesitation, Landon couldn''t help butugh. He scoffed, "Alexander, you''re so generous. If only you had been like this earlier."


    "Landon,y out all your conditions at once. But if you even think about harming Quinn, I''ll make sure you and your mother regret it," Alexander threatened.


    Landon said calmly, "Transfer the Kennedy Group shares to my mother."


    Clenching the phone, Alexander suppressed his anger and said, "Fine."


    His quick agreement surprised Landon. "Alexander, I''m serious."


    "So am I, Landon. I can fulfill your requests right away. Just return Quinn to me, unharmed!" Alexander demanded.

 Chapter 1032

    Neither Landon nor Alexander said a word; just the wind howling through the phone.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Landon stayed quiet on the phone for what felt like forever.


    Alexander shot Kyle a look, and Kyle got the hint, turning around and leaving.


    After a bit, Landon finally spoke up, "When she was alive, you didn''t give her a look. Now you''re ready to blow everything on a corpse. Alexander, don''t you think that''s kinda nuts?"


    Alexander snapped, "None of your business! Landon, if you got nothing else to say, just shut up."


    Landon ignored his anger and kept pushing, "How is it not my business? If you had half a brain back then, we wouldn''t be here. Look at you, you went through all this crap to get everything, and now you''re trading it for a corpse. Alexander, you gotta regret it, right?"


    Alexander hung up abruptly.


    A secondter, Landon called again.


    Alexander looked at the number, veins popping on his forehead, but he still picked up.


    Landon said, "Why''d you hang up so fast? Do what I asked right now and show me the results."


    "Landon, enjoy your little victory while you can!"


    With that, Alexander hung up and then called Ruby.


    Ruby was a bit taken aback by his order, but hearing the seriousness in his voice, she had no choice but to agree.


    "Alright, got it. I''ll be back tomorrow."


    Landon sent over the address where Aurora was to be sent and arranged for someone to handle it.


    Once everything was set up, Landon''s phone went dark.


    But Kyle called to let Alexander know his guys had already infiltrated the crematorium.


    Without wasting any time, Alexander drove to the crematorium.


    He parked diagonally across from the funeral home. As soon as he got out of the car, Kyle came up to him and reported, "Mr. Kennedy, the people inside are still searching. Once they find Mrs. Kennedy, they''ll signal us. Please wait a moment." The alley was dimly lit, and with the car lights off, Alexander''s face was hidden, just his silhouette showing.


    Kyle asked, "Mr. Kennedy, about the shares, do we really need to transfer them?"


    "No need. That''s not what he wants," Alexander said in a voice as cold as ice. Kyle could tell he was in a murderous mood.


    Kyle nodded and said, "I get it. His main goal was to leave Amber Bay with Aurora and to make Ruby pull out from his overseaspany, right?"


    Alexander said nothing.


    Kyle thought it made sense. Transferring shares couldn''t be done quickly. Whether Landon returned Quinn or had Quinn cremated, Alexander wouldn''t let him off.


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    Landon''s main task now was to escape; only by fleeing Amber Bay would he be safe.


    Otherwise, even if he got the shares, he''d be dead meat.


    Alexander was willing to give up the Kennedy Group, so it was clear he wouldn''t care about killing someone.


    If Landon stayed in Amber Bay, he was a goner.


    Kyle sighed, "No wonder he hasn''t made a move in Amber Bay for so long. He must have been waiting for this moment."


    Then he realized something was off and asked, "How could he have known Mrs. Kennedy would end up like this?"


    He didn''t dare say the word "dead," but it seemed things had taken a strange turn.


    Just then, Kyle''s phone buzzed.


    He said excitedly, "They found her!"

 Chapter 1033

    Alexander''s eyes lit up, and he made a beeline for the crematorium.


    Kyle barked at his crew to follow, and they barged into the funeral home like they owned the ce.


    The funeral home was pretty much deserted; it had this creepy, cold vibe. The air was icy, the lights were dim, and those green signs just made it all the more spooky.


    The ce was huge, with a separate spot for storing bodies and another for cremation, so you had to walk a bit to get between them.


    Next door, someone was having a funeral. The sad cries and prayers floated through the air, making the whole ce reek of death.


    Kyle nced at Alexander and saw his face was colder than a popsicle. If Quinn was in the morgue, she''d freeze solid if she wasn''t already dead.


    He couldn''t wrap his head around why Alexander was so hung up on a dead body.


    Since Quinn was already gone, this was just part of the process.


    Alexander rushed to the cremation room, and as soon as he got in, he saw a bunch of bodyguards sprawled out on the floor.


    By the furnace, the conveyor belt was slowly moving, pushing a familiar figure inside. The mes in the furnace made the whole room glow like hell.


    "Quinn," Alexander shouted.


    He lunged for the body without thinking.


    Just like all those times Quinn had fallen off cliffs, he rushed forward without a second thought, his body moving faster than his brain.


    But before he could reach her, Kyle grabbed him tight.


    "Mr. Kennedy, chill out!" Kyle held him back. If Alexander wasn''t hurt, Kyle knew he wouldn''t stand a chance.


    Because of Kyle''s grip, Alexander couldn''t even touch the body''s clothes and had to watch as the mes swallowed it.


    "Kyle, let me go!" Alexander yelled, trying to break free.


    "Mr. Kennedy!" Kyle shouted, holding on for dear life.


    "She''s not dead. I gotta save her. Let me go!"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


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    Alexander lost itpletely, shoving Kyle away with all his might.


    Kyle stumbled but then rushed back to hold him again, shouting, "Mr. Kennedy! Quinn''s already in there. Even if she wasn''t dead, she is now!"


    Alexander stood there, stunned, his eyes locked on the zing fire. He forgot to move.


    It wasn''t until the furnace lid started closing that he snapped out of it. He pushed Kyle away and rushed forward, trying to open the lid. "Quinn, Quinn!"


    He called out her name, frantically pushing the lid like a lost kid. When he couldn''t open it, he started searching for the switch. Kyle watched from the side, his eyes tearing up.


    After a while, Alexander came back, grabbing Kyle''s shoulders and shaking. He roared, "Quick, open the lid. Quinn''s still in there."


    Kyle looked at him with aplicated expression.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Alexander let go of Kyle and turned to the bodyguards, shouting, "Open the lid, do you hear me? Hurry up!"


    As he shouted thest sentence, his eyes turned red. He grabbed a bodyguard and threw him towards the furnace. "Open it!"


    The bodyguards looked at each other, thinking he had lost it.


    They all kept their heads down, not daring to move. They were scared that if they opened the lid, Alexander might jump in.


    He seemed like a wild animal, grabbing and throwing several bodyguards.


    It was unclear whether he wanted them to open the furnace or join Quinn in death.


    "Open it! Open it for me!" His voice was hoarse as he grabbed a bodyguard by the cor, almost begging, "Save her."


    The bodyguard kept his head down, not daring to move.


    The room fell silent, with only the sound of the firewood burning in the furnace.

 Chapter 1034

    Alexander stood there, totally out of it, eyes shut, stumbling back a couple of steps.


    Kyle rushed over to steady him, worry all over his face. "Mr. Kennedy."


    Alexander took a beat, then opened his eyes and nced back at the cremation furnace.


    He muttered, "She must''ve been in so much pain, right?"


    Kyle had no answer for that.


    Alexander shrugged him off, walked over to the conveyor belt, and sat down, eyes glued to the furnace lid.


    Kyle waved the bodyguards away.


    They quickly left, leaving just Alexander and Kyle in the room.


    "Kyle," Alexander called out.


    "Right here," Kyle answered immediately.


    Alexander raised his hand, gently touching the furnace lid. His voice was calm now. "Find Landon and Soren, no matter what."


    Kyle nodded. "Got it."


    Alexander''s voice turned icy. "I want them to know what it''s like to burn alive."


    "Understood," Kyle replied.


    Alexander still couldn''t ept that Quinn was gone. He med Landon and Soren for everything.


    He believed they had burned Quinn alive.


    For the first time, Kyle felt sorry for this powerful man, Alexander.


    Alexander murmured, "I couldn''t save her. She''ll never forgive me. She must''ve been so desperate in there."


    He seemed to be talking to himself. Kyle looked down, unsure of what to say.


    Suddenly, Alexander ordered, "Get someone to open it."


    "Mr. Kennedy, please don''t do anything rash," Kyle pleaded.


    Alexander gave a bitter smile. "I promised her I''d live well," he said.


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    He closed his eyes. "I''ll keep my promise to her."


    Kyle sighed in relief and went to get someone to open the furnace.


    A staff member came in with a tray, eyeing Alexander''s back. "Sir, the furnace is running and can''t be opened. Plus, opening it would leave the body iplete, which would be distressing. I believe the deceased wouldn''t want their loved ones to see them like that."


    He stepped forward with the tray. "Sir, please wait an hour. These are the belongings left by the deceased. Please check them."


    Hearing "belongings," Alexander turned to look at the items.


    It was just a piece of clothing with a pendant on it.


    Alexander reached out, took the pendant, nced at it, and then tossed it on the ground at Kyle''s feet.


    As he picked up the piece of clothing, something fell out.


    It was a white wristband.


    He paused, bent down to pick it up, and turned on the screen, which showed his tired face.


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    He exited the camera mode and opened the storage. As he randomly clicked on a file, Quinn''s smiling face popped up on the screen.


    She was making all sorts of faces at the camera, her eyes full of joy. She looked so carefree.


    He sat on the conveyor belt, watching the videos on the wristband while the furnace burned beside him.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    As he watched the videos of her, he waited for her to turn to ashes, his emotions unreadable.


    Even as an outsider, Kyle felt a heavy weight in his chest, making it hard to breathe.


    An hour passed, and Alexander was still glued to the videos. The staff member approached and reminded him, "Sir, it''s done."


    Alexander paused, then looked up at the staff member.


    Seeing the murderous look in his eyes, the staff member instinctively stepped back.


    But it was just for a moment; Alexander had already looked away and stood up, using the conveyor belt for support.


    Holding Quinn''s clothes, he walked slowly towards the exit. Each step was a struggle.


    Just as he reached the doorway, he stumbled and fell.


    "Mr. Kennedy!" Kyle shouted.

 Chapter 1035

    Alexander woke up in a hospital bed, feeling groggy and disoriented.


    The room was packed with people, and as soon as he opened his eyes, Kyle shouted, "He''s awake!" and rushed to get a doctor.


    In no time, the doctor showed up and gave Alexander a thorough once-over.


    "How''s he doing?" Kyle asked, looking anxious.


    "Now that he''s awake, he''s stable. But he needs to chill and avoid any stress. If he doesn''t take care of himself, his body will give out," the doctor said, eyeing the crowd. "Also, this room''s too crowded. It''s not good for his recovery." "Alright, everyone out. I''ll stay with him," Kyle told the group.


    Kaitlyn gave Alexander a look like she wanted to say something but decided against it and left with Oscar.


    Oliver tried to pull Abigail away, but she wasn''t having it.


    She stepped up to Alexander and demanded, "Where''s Quinn? What did you do with her?"


    Ignoring her, Alexander sat up, yanked the IV out of his hand, and got out of bed.


    Kyle looked worried. "Mr. Kennedy, your IV isn''t done yet."


    Alexander didn''t respond. He grabbed his coat, threw it over his shoulders, and headed for the door, brushing past everyone.


    Abigail blocked his path, her eyes zing. "Where do you think you''re going? You haven''t told me where Quinn is! What happened to her?"


    She red at him, her eyes full of anger and pain.


    Abigail already had a hunch but didn''t want to believe it. Just days ago, she had been talking to Quinn.


    epting someone''s sudden disappearance was tough and took time. You didn''t immediately feel their absence.


    It was only over time, as you remembered the moments you shared, that you realized they were truly gone.


    Alexander looked at her coldly. "Move."


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    "No way, not until you tell me where she is!" Abigail stood her ground.


    Alexander didn''t say a word, just stared at her.


    The tension in the room was palpable.


    Finally, Oliver pulled Abigail aside. He apologized to Alexander, "Abigail''s just worried about Quinn. Don''t take it to heart."


    "Oliver," Abigail called out, but Oliver gave her a look to stop.


    Alexander ignored them and walked out, with Kyle quickly following.


    Back at Regal Riverside, the funeral home staff, including the person in charge, were waiting in the living room, looking nervous.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Someone whispered, "He''s here," and everyone fell silent.


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    Kyle said, "Mr. Kennedy, all the staff who were here that day are present."


    Alexander sat on the sofa, his eyesnding on a box on the table-a cremation urn.


    His eyes flickered, and he looked away, focusing on the staff in front of him.


    Kyle ordered, "Alright, tell us everything that happened that day."


    They had already gone over this before, but now it was time for a repeat. One of the managers stepped forward and said, "I wasn''t here that day. I heard they got a body and were told to cremate it ASAP." Kyle cut him off, "Did you know our people went in?"


    "We really didn''t," the manager said, sweating. "We don''t have cameras here, and honestly, who just wanders around a crematorium for fun?"


    Since they didn''t even know their own people went in, they wouldn''t know if Landon''s people did either.

 Chapter 1036

    Kyle asked again, "Who was responsible for cremating Mrs. Kennedy''s body?" Everyone''s eyes darted to the dude on the far left. It was clear he was the one.


    The guy started shaking like a leaf and said, almost crying, "I swear, I don''t know anything! I got the body and started preparing, but before I could do squat, I got knocked out. When I woke up, my clothes were gone. I thought it was some demon''s doing!"


    He felt super bummed, knowing zilch but still getting med.


    Kyle shot a look at Alexander, who didn''t even flinch, so Kyle told everyone to scram.


    Once they were gone, Kyle said, "Looks like Landon had someone sneak in and act like staff, just waiting for you to show up so they could cremate Mrs. Kennedy right in front of you."


    Kyle was fuming as he spoke. He thought bitterly, ''Landon''s a real piece of work, messing with Alexander''s head like that! Making him watch Quinn get cremated-man, that must''ve hurt worse than death.'' Surprisingly, Alexander didn''t lose his cool. He just sat there, staring nkly at the urn on the table.


    He couldn''t wrap his head around the fact that Quinn''s ashes were inside, or maybe he just couldn''t ept it. He just kept staring, not touching it.


    He stared at it for what felt like forever.


    Kyle sighed and stood quietly next to him.


    "Any word on Landon and Soren?" Alexander suddenly asked.


    Kyle quickly replied, "Not yet. The chopper you set up for Aurora got swapped by Landon. They didn''t make it to their destination and switched rides after leaving Amber Bay, so tracking them''s a pain." Alexander lit a cigarette, eyes still glued to the urn as he took a drag.


    Olivia walked over and cautiously asked, "Mr. Kennedy, I got the medicine ready. Should I bring it to you?"


    Alexander nced at her.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Olivia shrank back, getting the hint, and was about to leave.


    Suddenly, Alexander said, "Bring it over."


    Olivia was momentarily stunned, then thrilled, and quickly ran to fetch the medicine.


    She handed the bowl to Alexander, who downed it in one go, like it was water.


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    After finishing, he looked at the empty bowl and said thoughtfully, "That''s really bitter."


    He said it was bitter, but his face didn''t show any difort.


    Alexander then thought of something and asked Olivia, "Got any ice cream?"


    "Yeah, I''ll get it!" Olivia replied immediately.


    She turned to get the ice cream, bringing back a bunch of vors and setting them on the table. Alexander picked a mango one, slowly unwrapped it, and took a bite.


    Kyle and Olivia exchanged a look.


    Alexander said nothing, just sat there eating ice cream. After finishing one, he grabbed another.


    Before long, he had polished off all five ice creams Olivia had brought.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Kyle reminded, "Mr. Kennedy, your body''s still recovering. You shouldn''t eat anymore."


    Alexander paused, looking at the ice cream in his hand, and murmured, "Kyle, even the ice cream tastes bitter."


    Kyle''s expression wasplicated, and he didn''t dare say anything.


    The bitterness wasn''t in the ice cream, but in his heart. To him, everything tasted bitter.


    Alexander closed his eyes and leaned back on the sofa, saying, "Everyone out."


    Kyle nodded and gave Olivia a look, signaling her to follow him out.


    Outside, Kyle instructed her, "Keep an eye on Mr. Kennedy. If anything weird happens, call me, got it?"


    Olivia nodded repeatedly. "Don''t worry, Mr. Astor. I got it."


    Kyle gave Olivia a few more instructions before leaving.


    Olivia thought to herself, ''First I had to watch over Quinn, now it''s Alexander. This job ain''t easy.''


    When she got back to the vi, she suddenly noticed Alexander was gone. Panicking, she heard a loud noiseing from the utility room, scaring the crap out of her.

 Chapter 1037

    Olivia bolted to the storage room and found Alexander had turned the ce upside down, still hunting for something.


    "Mr. Kennedy, what are you looking for? Let me help you," Olivia offered.


    Alexander didn''t even nce her way, just kept digging through the mess.


    After what felt like forever, he finally found it.


    He yanked a box from the corner. When he brought it out, Olivia saw it was stuffed with shredded paper.


    Alexander hauled the box to the living room, plopped down on the couch, and dumped out the pieces. He started piecing them together on the table. There were so many pieces, it was like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle from hell. Even though a lot of pieces didn''t fit, he stayed cool and kept at it.


    With his head down, his bangs fell over his forehead. Still in his hospital gown, Alexander was so into the puzzle that Olivia thought he looked like her eight-year-old grandson ying with Legos.


    Alexander glued each piece he finished, then set it aside and pressed it down with something.


    Olivia wanted to help, but he waved her off.


    She just stood there, watching him work. He kept at itte into the night.


    The next day, Kyle showed up and found Alexander still at it.


    "Mr. Kennedy, there are documents that need your signature," Kyle said, handing over the papers. Without even looking, Alexander scribbled his name and tossed them aside. Then he went back to the puzzle. "Mr. Kennedy, what is this?" Kyle asked, curious.


    Alexander ignored him.


    Kyle scratched his head, worried this was gonna mess with Alexander''s health, but he had no clue what to do.


    After standing there for a bit, Kyle quietly backed out.


    After working on the puzzle non-stop for a day and a night, Alexander finally finished it. It was a notebook filled with dense writing.


    It had Quinn''s memories from when she had amnesia, and her wishes.


    He flipped to a page, which read: "I seem to have forgotten some things again and made him unhappy."


    "We got divorced."Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


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    "We got divorced."


    "We got divorced."


    "I must not go looking for him again."


    "When he saw that I wrote about wanting to ride a hot air balloon, he got so angry. He seemed to have forgotten that he had promised me that."


    "In elementary school, I lost a kite-flying contest with my ssmates. He promised to make me a unique kite, bigger than a house, to beat them all." "I''ve waited so long, yet he still hasn''t made it. He must have forgotten."


    "If I forget everything, will I be his favorite sister again?"


    "Definitely. He said that as long as I behaved, he would be good to me for a lifetime. Even if I forget everyone else, I''ll remember him."


    He flipped through the pages, and even though the writing was all over the ce, each sentence seemed to scream her helplessness and bitterness.


    Olivia, who had woken up from a nap nearby, opened her eyes and saw Alexander still on the couch, flipping through the notebook.


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    Rubbing her eyes, Olivia got up and walked over to him, softly saying, "Mr. Kennedy, you haven''t slept again?"


    Without looking up, he turned to the next page and replied, "What?"


    "Sleep," Olivia repeated.


    "Sleep? Do I deserve to sleep?" He said, mocking himself, gently stroking the writing on the paper with his fingers. "If I had just looked through this carefully back then, maybe..." Halfway through, heughed at himself. "It probably wouldn''t have changed anything."


    Walter would still jump, and she would still leave.


    Olivia gathered her courage to persuade him, "Mr. Kennedy, maybe you should try to see it differently. For Mrs. Kennedy, this might be a kind of relief."


    "I already agreed to let her go. What more relief does she want?" he said as he closed the notebook and hugged the urn. "She''s clearly punishing me." Olivia forced a smile, not sure what to say.

 Chapter 1038

    Holding the urn, Alexander dragged himself upstairs to the bedroom.


    He set the urn on the bedside table, his fingers tracing the box like he was touching Quinn''s face.


    The wind outside rustled the curtains. In the empty room, even the wind felt lonely.


    For the next two days, Alexander holed up, refusing to see anyone who came by.


    No funeral, no arrangements. The vi stayed the same, like Quinn was still around.


    Olivia thought he''d given up. But on the third day, he came downstairs all dressed up, looking totally normal.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you''re up?" Olivia asked, rushing over.


    Alexander''s eyes instinctively darted to the sofa, but it was empty and the TV was off.


    "Turn on the TV," he said.


    Olivia was taken aback for a second, then quickly turned on the TV, flipping to a cartoon channel. The familiar sounds brought a bit of life back to the cold vi.


    For a moment, it felt like someone was really there watching TV.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Only then did Alexander head to the dining room, eating and taking his meds like usual. But there was always a clean set of tableware at Quinn''s spot.


    Honestly, Olivia found Alexander''s behavior pretty creepy.


    But after what happened with Soren, she didn''t dare to run or even think about quitting.


    After breakfast, Alexander went out like usual.


    When he showed up at thepany, Kyle was floored, thinking, ''He actually came to work?''


    Once there, Alexander buried himself in work. He worked from morning till night, harder than anyone who actually loved their job.


    At eleven o''clock at night, seeing the light still on in Alexander''s office, Kyle couldn''t help but knock and go in. As expected, Alexander was still grinding away. "Mr. Kennedy, it''s almost midnight," Kyle reminded him.


    Alexander paused, nced at his watch, and looked momentarily lost. He murmured, "It''s already midnight."


    After a moment, he stood up, grabbed his coat, and walked out.


    Kyle followed him, driving him back to Regal Riverside.


    Before stepping inside, Kyle heard the TV from within, and his heart skipped a beat. He rushed in ahead of Alexander.


    But inside, it was just the TV ying. Kyle sighed in disappointment and nced back at Alexander, who was also staring in that direction.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you should rest. I''ll be heading back," Kyle said.


    After Kyle left, Alexander walked to the sofa, sat down, turned off his phone, and focused on the TV.


    A drizzle started outside in the middle of the night. The sound of raindrops mixed with the TV''s noise, echoing in the living room.


    Most of the lights were off, casting a dim glow. Olivia came out and was startled to see him. For a moment, she thought it was Quinn sitting there.


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    No matter how far Alexander went or how long she waited, he always returned.


    As long as Quinn knew he woulde back, she would wait.


    But what was Alexander waiting for?


    Olivia took a nket over and carefully covered him.


    The moment she touched him, Alexander suddenly opened his eyes, staring nkly at Olivia. His gaze was somewhat dazed, like he hadn''t fully woken from a dream. Olivia quickly pulled her hand back like she''d been shocked.


    As Alexander heard the drizzle outside, his gaze became clearer. He closed his eyes and softly said, "Why do I dream of her every time I close my eyes? Is it a sign of something?" Olivia blurted out, "Mr. Kennedy, it must be because you miss her so much."

 Chapter 1039

    Alexander paused for a sec, his eyes flicking to the TV, and let out a chuckle.


    Olivia hesitated, shot him a nce, and then quietly backed off.


    Alexander crashed on the couch all night, but by morning, he was back to his usual self. He hit up the restaurant for breakfast and took the meds Olivia handed him. When Quinn was around, he never touched the meds, but now that she was gone, he was prettypliant.


    Kyle showed up early and waited outside the vi for him.


    Seeing hime out, Kyle jumped to open the car door. "Mr. Kennedy, heading to the office today?"


    "Yeah," Alexander replied, keeping it short.


    Kyle remembered something and added, "Oh, and Mrs. Dixon''snding at Amber Bay this afternoon."


    They''d reached out to the Dixon family earlier, and Cynthia Barnes agreed toe. She flew straight to Amber Bay from abroad.


    "Got it." Alexander''s response was still super brief.


    Kyle nced through the rearview mirror and saw Alexander staring nkly at the two dogs outside.


    Kyle didn''t say more, started the car, and drove towards thepany.


    The ride was quiet, with a bit of traffic. As they neared downtown, Alexander suddenly spoke from the back seat, "Stop the car!"


    The suddenmand startled Kyle, making him brake hard and pull over.


    As soon as the car stopped, Alexander jumped out and bolted towards the sidewalk.


    Kyle scrambled out and chased after him.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    When he caught up, he saw Alexander chasing an electric bike.


    In just a few strides, Alexander caught up with the bike and grabbed its rear seat, forcing the rider to stop.


    The rider was a girl in a white helmet, white sweater, and jeans. She was petite and almost toppled off the bike due to Alexander''s sudden grab. But Alexander quickly steadied her.


    "What are you doing?" The girl asked, steadying herself and eyeing him warily.


    The moment she spoke, a sh of disappointment crossed Alexander''s eyes. He apologized, "Sorry, I thought you were someone else."


    The girl gave him a suspicious look. Alexander was quite handsome, but she didn''t expect him to be a nutcase.


    She then got back on her bike and rode off.


    Alexander watched her until she vanished into the crowd.


    Kyle whispered, "Mr. Kennedy, let''s go."


    The girl''s back did look like Quinn''s, especially her outfit, so no wonder he got so hyped and chased after her.


    Before she turned around, Kyle was excited; after she turned around, he was just as bummed.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Alexander pulled his gaze back and got into the car.


    As Kyle drove, Alexander suddenly said, "Kyle, I feel like she''s still alive."


    Kyle yed along, "Yeah, I feel like she''s still alive too."


    "Really?" Alexander asked, his tone shifting. He stared at Kyle intently, like a student eager for an answer.


    Kyle tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Really, I read somewhere that when a loved one passes away, if your subconscious hasn''t epted their departure, the brain creates a protective mechanism..." "Shut up!" Alexander cut him off, and the temperature in the car seemed to drop several degrees.


    Kyle shrank back and didn''t dare to speak again.


    Alexander ignored him for the rest of the afternoon. When Kyle brought him documents to sign, Alexander tossed them aside. During meetings, he sat in the conference room, silently staring at the speakers. His silence made everyone anxious and scared of saying the wrong thing.


    Thepany''s senior managers had heard some rumors that Alexander''s wife had died. Although the truth was still murky, everyone at thepany had been walking on eggshells for the past few days.

 Chapter 1040

    At three o''clock in the afternoon, Cynthia showed up..


    Cynthia''s Ruby''s mom. Ruby got the memo from Alexander to head home, and coincidentally, they both arrived on the same day. Kyle picked them up but didn''t take them to thepany. Instead, he took them directly to the hospital.


    Getty was doing better now. She couldn''t get outta bed yet, but everything else was working fine.


    Alexander sat on the edge of the bed with his back to her. He hadn''t said a word since he arrived and just sat there in a daze.


    Unable to stand the silence in the ward, Getty reached out and patted Alexander''s shoulder, asking, "Alexander, what''s wrong? Why so quiet?"


    Still nothing from Alexander.


    Getty stared at his back, all confused. "Something go down?"


    "Getty, have you ever regretted anything?" Alexander suddenly asked.


    Getty was caught off guard, eyes flickering with confusion. "What are you talking about?"


    Alexander replied, "Everything."


    Getty was quiet for a sec, then said, "Except for running to save you, nope, no regrets."


    But deep down, every time she saw her face, she regretted it. She regretted making such a huge sacrifice and not even getting a sympathetic look from him.


    After that, the room went dead silent again.


    Soon enough, Kyle brought in Cynthia and Ruby.


    When Ruby entered and saw Getty''s face, a trace of disgust shed in her eyes.


    She knew very well why Alexander had brought Cynthia here. Maybe she was about to get another sister.


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    "Cynthia, this is Mr. Kennedy," Kyle introduced.


    Cynthia looked pretty young, maybe in her forties. Except for some crow''s feet when she smiled, her face was smooth.


    The moment she walked in, her eyes locked onto Alexander, checking him out.


    She smiled and said, "I know. Mr. Kennedy''s so famous. Who wouldn''t know him?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Their sudden entrance made Getty scramble for a hat and mask, gearing up before looking at Cynthia.


    "Are you Ruby''s mom?" Getty asked.


    Cynthia shifted her gaze to Getty, her smile fading. "Yeah, Mr. Kennedy brought me here right after Inded. Must be about her, right?"


    Alexander stayed silent.


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    Ruby clung to Cynthia''s arm as if afraid someone would take Cynthia away, and they both sat down on the sofa.


    "So, can we get to the point now?" Cynthia asked.


    Kyle hesitated, ncing at Alexander, who still looked disinterested.


    Kyle had to spill, "Here''s the deal. When Ms. Morgan was being rescued earlier, the hospital ran outta blood bags. In a pinch, your daughter donated blood for her..."


    He recounted the whole story, and everyone listened quietly. Getty''s adoptive parents were there too, eyes all red. They probably knew their daughter might be someone else''s now.


    Kyle wrapped it up, "So Cynthia, Ms. Morgan wants to do a paternity test with you."


    Surprisingly, Cynthia''s face didn''t change much.


    She gives a slight smile and said, "No need for that. I can tell you straight up, she''s not my daughter."

 Chapter 1041

    Kyle was totally thrown off; her reaction was way outta left field.


    Getty couldn''t keep her cool and blurted out, "We haven''t even done the paternity test yet. Why are you so sure? Are you just gonna deny me like that?" Cynthia let out a sigh and said calmly, "Ms. Morgan, I''m really not your biological mom. If you still have doubts, we can do the test."


    Even Alexander couldn''t help but give Cynthia a look.


    Cynthia stayed chill, like she was dead sure Getty wasn''t her kid.


    Getty snapped, "Fine, let''s do it now!"


    She couldn''t believe it. The test showed almost a 100% match with Ruby. No way that happens without a blood connection.


    She figured Cynthia just didn''t wanna im her ''cause of her messed-up face.


    Alexander shot Kyle a look, and Kyle got the hint. He went to get the doc to collect DNA for the test.


    Dr. Daniel Morris showed up fast. He took the DNA samples and headed out to run the test.


    Just as he reached the door, Alexander called out, "Hold up."


    Daniel stopped and turned back. "Mr. Kennedy, anything else?"


    Alexander''s eyesnded on Ruby. "Since we''re doing this, Ms. Anderson should get tested too."


    Ruby frowned, looking confused.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Cynthia''s face changed a bit, her smile getting kinda stiff. "Ruby''s my daughter, I''m sure of it. No need for this, right?"


    Alexander said, "Ruby and Getty''s DNA are almost a 100% match. We need to clear this up. If you''re so sure Getty isn''t your daughter, testing both will convince her, right?"


    Before Cynthia could respond, Getty jumped in, "Exactly. Let''s do it together. Unless the results match what you said, I won''t believe you!"


    "Is this really necessary?" Cynthia asked.


    "It is," Alexander said firmly, "Do it together."


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    Cynthia frowned deeply, a flicker of anger in her eyes.


    Ruby suddenly stood up, walked over to Daniel, and shot Getty a disdainful look.


    "Fine, let''s do it. Mr. Kennedy''s right. We need to clear this up. I''m game," Ruby said, yanking a few hairs from her head and handing them to Daniel. "Here you go." "Ruby." Cynthia tried to stop her, but it was toote.


    Daniel took the hair and left.


    Cynthia''s calm demeanor vanished, reced by visible worry. She identally locked eyes with Alexander''s intense gaze.


    Startled, she quickly looked away.


    The room fell silent. Except for Alexander, no one noticed Cynthia''s guilt and panic.


    After what felt like forever, Daniel came back with two test reports and handed them to Kyle.


    Kyle passed them to Alexander.


    Alexander opened the documents and skimmed through them. When he saw the final results, a mocking smile crept onto his face. Seeing this, Ruby rushed over. "What''s it say?"


    She went straight to the final results. A smile appeared when she saw Getty''s report, but it vanished when she saw her own.


    "No way," Ruby murmured, stunned.


    Getty, still seated, was anxious. "What''s the result? Let me see!"


    Anger shed across Ruby''s face as she red at Daniel. "Did you mess with the results?"


    Daniel said, "Miss, I''m just doing my job. Tampering with the results wouldn''t benefit me. The results are what they are. If you don''t believe it, get it done somewhere else." Ruby panicked and turned to look at Cynthia.

 Chapter 1042

    Cynthia''s face was all kinds of weird, her eyes darting around, totally dodging Ruby''s stare.


    Alexander waved the two ID reports in his hand and locked eyes with Cynthia, saying, "Cynthia, wanna take a peek at these?"Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ruby snatched the reports and stormed over to Cynthia, demanding, "Mom, what''s the deal? Howe it says I''m not rted to you either?" The room went dead silent after Ruby''s outburst.


    Getty was floored too. She had thought maybe she wasn''t Cynthia''s kid, but Ruby not being hers either? That was a shocker.


    For some reason, Getty couldn''t help butugh, especially thinking about Ruby''s earlier smug face. It made herugh even harder.


    "So that''s how it is. Now I get it," Getty said, turning to Cynthia. "You were so sure I wasn''t your daughter and wouldn''t let Ruby get tested. So you knew she wasn''t your daughter either?" Cynthia looked like she was in a tough spot and stayed quiet for a long time.


    Getty pushed on, "Since that''s the case, you must know who Ruby''s real parents are, right? So, who are they?"


    Hearing this, Cynthia instinctively nced at Alexander.


    Alexander squinted, like he was holding something back.


    Cynthia only took a quick look before dropping her head and saying, "I don''t know."


    "How could you not know? If you didn''t know, how could you be so sure I''m not your daughter? And why are you defending Ruby like this?" Getty pressed, getting more worked up. Suddenly, Cynthia stood up and said in a heavy tone, "I''m sorry. I''m not feeling well. I need some fresh air."


    With that, she bolted out of the room. Watching her panicked exit, everyone exchanged confused looks.


    Kyle instinctively looked at Alexander.


    Alexander frowned deeply, lost in thought.


    "Mr. Kennedy, what''s going on?" Kyle asked.


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    Alexander suddenly stood up and walked out without a word.


    Kyle quickly followed.


    Cynthia said she needed some air, but she had already run out of the hospital.


    In the car, Alexander suddenly picked up a document beside him, opened it, and thoughtfully browsed through the contents.


    "Mr. Kennedy, where are we going?" Kyle asked.


    "To Kennedy Residence," Alexander replied.


    Kyle was puzzled for a moment but still drove towards Kennedy Residence.


    Kaitlyn had gone out to y cards and didn''t get back until eight in the evening.


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! She said to Oscar beside her, "Remind me earlier next time. It''s toote for dinner now. Have the chef cook somethingter."


    Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly noticed someone sitting on the sofa inside and instinctively stopped.


    Upon closer inspection, she saw it was Alexander.


    Dressed in ck, he sat motionless like a statue, creating an eerie vibe.


    For some reason, seeing him sitting there with such a gloomy aura gave Kaitlyn a bad feeling.


    She steadied herself, put on a smile, and walked over. "Alexander, when did you get here? Are you feeling better?"


    Her gaze shifted to the paper on the coffee table, and her smile froze.


    Alexander rubbed his watch as he spoke, "I finally get it now."


    His tone was unclear, making Kaitlyn feel uneasy.


    "What do you get?" Kaitlyn forced a smile and sat down opposite him.

 Chapter 1043

    Alexander''s lips twisted into a cold smirk. "Now I get why he''d rather back Landon and boot me from the Kennedy Group."


    Kaitlyn''s face went stiff. They both knew exactly who "he" was.


    She forced a grin. "You''re overthinking it. Who gave you this? Such nasty intentions, it''s disgusting!"


    Kaitlyn grabbed the document on the table and ripped it to shreds.


    It was a paternity test between Alexander and Wayne from seven years ago.


    Alexander just let her tear it up.


    But soon enough, Kyle showed up, and he wasn''t alone. An old dude in his sixties tagged along.


    "Mr. Kennedy, I brought Gabriel," Kyle said.


    Kaitlyn''s face darkened when she saw Gabriel. She shot a look at Alexander and asked, "Alexander, what''s this about?"


    Alexander leaned back on the sofa, staring at her coolly. "Don''t you recognize him?"


    For a moment, Kaitlyn was speechless, not sure what to say.


    Alexander added, "Haven''t you been running to the hospital every daytely to meet him?"


    "How did you know?" Kaitlyn blurted out, instantly regretting it as her face froze with indecision.


    Gabriel stepped forward and asked, "Any other questions for me?"


    Alexander said, "She ims this paternity test is fake. Gabriel, this is your signature. Is it fake?"


    Even though Kaitlyn had torn up one copy, Kyle had another. He pulled it from his pocket and handed it to Gabriel.


    Gabriel took a look, nodded, and confirmed, "It''s real."


    He revealed, "When Wayne came to me back then for a paternity test, he specifically asked me to keep it hush-hush. All the staff who did the test left their jobs because of this."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Kaitlyn broke out in a cold sweat, trying to defend herself, "Alexander, Wayne''s already dead. What''s the point of digging this up now? Besides, he treated you well over the years."


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    She went on, "Ulysses wanted to ce you in the Kennedy Group, and Wayne fully backed it. That was after the paternity test, right? If he really cared so much about blood ties, he wouldn''t have let you into the Kennedy Group in the first ce, would he?"


    Alexander sneered. "Would he dare to tell the truth? He''s the one who brought me back and announced my identity to everyone. Do you think he''d dare to admit it?"


    Kaitlyn was at a loss for words.


    Wayne had personally brought Alexander back and raised him for years. Even after finding out Alexander wasn''t his biological son, he couldn''t admit it openly, or it would mean acknowledging his own mistake.


    So, Wayne could only scheme in secret, trying all sorts of ways to kick Alexander out of the Kennedy Group.


    Back then, Alexander had sensed it, so the two had been secretlypeting. Though it wasn''t obvious, Alexander had almost cleared out Wayne''s people from thepany.


    To get Alexander out, there had to be a new sessor, so Wayne thought of his other son, Landon.

 Chapter 1044

    Kaitlyn said, "It''s all ancient history. Whatever he did, he''s outta the picture now. You''ve already snagged control of the Kennedy Group. Why you still trippin'' over this stuff?" Alexander shot her a frosty look. "Is it really ancient history?"


    "Well, what do you think?" Kaitlyn shot back.


    Alexander said, "Back then, you had a lot to say about the inheritance split. Did you think you got shortchanged, or were you trying to hand it over to Freya?" "What kinda crap are you spewing! I never said that." She was all flustered, like a cat with its tail stepped on, almost jumping out of her seat.


    Alexander''s face showed a hint of weariness. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, they were ice-cold.


    He stared right at Kaitlyn, "Got anything else to say?"


    Kaitlyn yelled, "What else can I say? You got all the power now. If you don''t wanna call me your mom, you can make up any excuse. What else can I say!"


    Alexander chuckled and looked over at Kyle. "Kyle, the results in yet?"


    Kyle checked his watch and said, "They should be. I''ll call and check."


    With that, he stepped outside to make the call.


    Seeing this, Kaitlyn''s face went even paler. Whatever results Alexander was talking about, they couldn''t be good.


    In less than five minutes, Kyle came back. "Mr. Kennedy, the results are in. Dr. Morris will be here soon."


    "Alexander, what''s this about?" Kaitlyn asked nervously, "What results?"


    Alexander sneered, "You''ll find out soon enough."


    Kaitlyn''s face went white. She thought, ''What''s Alexander up to? Whether or not he''s Wayne''s real son, he''s already got the Kennedy Group. Keeping it under wraps is all gain, no pain. What''s he trying to do? Does he really wanna air out his dirtyundry? He''s nuts!''


    Ten minutester, Daniel showed up with Getty and Ruby.


    Getty''s adoptive parents pushed her wheelchair, trailing behind Daniel. Ruby, still in denial about not being the Dixon family''s daughter, had a nk look on her face and no clue why Alexander had called her.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


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    Kyle turned to Ruby, "Ms. Anderson, where''s Cynthia?"


    Ruby stared at Kyle for a few seconds before answering, "I don''t know."


    Daniel walked over to Alexander with a file folder and handed it to him.


    Alexander took the file and casually flipped through it.


    The room was dead silent, the only sound was him turning the pages. Everyone was watching him, barely daring to breathe.


    Two minutester, Alexander tossed the file onto the table. The sound wasn''t loud, but it was clear as day to everyone.


    Getty signaled Lucy to push her over and asked, "Alexander, why''d you call me here?"


    Alexander nced at her, saying, "Aren''t you looking for your real parents?"


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! "Yeah." Getty said, her heart suddenly racing. She instinctively looked at Kaitlyn and asked, "What do you mean?"


    Alexander replied, "See for yourself."


    Getty held her breath and picked up the scattered papers on the table. The first page was the DNA test between her and Kaitlyn.


    Her eyes quickly moved to the result, which showed a 99.9% match.


    Her eyes went wide, and she quickly flipped to the next page, which was the DNA test between Kaitlyn and Ruby. The result also showed a 99.9% match!


    Getty was in total shock and didn''t know who to look at.


    After ncing around, she stared at Alexander, asking, "Is this for real?"


    Alexander looked coldly at Kaitlyn. "Why don''t you ask her?"


    Getty quickly looked at Kaitlyn and handed her the DNA report with trembling hands. "Is this for real?"

 Chapter 1045

    Kaitlyn was floored when she saw the test results. It wasn''t just shock; it was straight-up disbelief.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She gawked at Getty, her eyes wide with emotions, like she didn''t even know her.


    "How is this even possible?" she stammered, her voice shaky. Seeing Getty like this freaked her out even more.


    Kaitlyn''s reaction made Getty both pissed and bitter. Getty demanded again, "Is it true? Are Ruby and I both your daughters?"


    Ruby, still in a fog, heard this and looked up, stunned. She rushed forward, snatched the test report, and read it. Her face mirrored Kaitlyn''s shock.


    "This is nuts. How can this be real?" Ruby muttered, totally thrown.


    Kaitlyn was also in shock. She sat there, pale and trembling, trying to keep it together.


    Getty wheeled herself over to Kaitlyn, grabbed her arms, and shook her hard. Agitated, Getty yelled, "Say something! What the hell is going on? If this is true, why? Why was I left in the gutter while she got to be a rich kid? Why? Tell me!" Kaitlyn was getting dizzy from the shaking, tears welling up in her eyes.


    "Are you mute?" Getty was on the edge of losing it. Her voice, still raspy, was filled with a crying tone, making it even more unsettling.


    "Enough!" Kaitlyn suddenly shouted, shaking off Getty''s hands forcefully.


    Getty quieted down, staring nkly at Kaitlyn, her tears soaking through her mask.


    In front of everyone, Kaitlyn covered her face and started sobbing, her cries echoing in the living room.


    Ruby''s face was serious too. Things had gone way beyond what she expected. But she wasn''t as freaked out as Getty. After all, even if she was Kaitlyn''s daughter, she was just switching from the Dixon family to the Kennedy family. For her, it wasn''t a big change or loss. She was more interested in the truth now.


    Kaitlyn cried for a long time. Eventually, she stopped, her eyes red and filled with guilt as she looked at Getty.


    "Getty, I had no choice," she said, her voice breaking. "I never imagined that after meeting so many times, I wouldn''t recognize you."


    Her words were basically an admission.


    Getty was stunned, sitting in her wheelchair, at a loss.


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    At this point, denial was pointless. Alexander had alreadyid out all the evidence, including another test report.


    It was between Alexander and her.


    The result showed no blood rtion.


    Lucy couldn''t help but ask, "Kaitlyn, if both of them are your daughters, why did you abandon Getty?"


    Kaitlyn''s face was conflicted, like she was hesitating to speak.


    "Because the couple next door only had one child, but she had twins, so she could only swap one and abandon the other."


    Cynthia''s voice came from the doorway, and everyone turned to look.


    Cynthia walked in slowly. Compared to when she was in the hospital, she seemed moreposed.


    Kaitlyn frowned upon seeing her. "Who are you?"


    Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you''re not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on theplete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it''s all free! Ruby said, "She is my mother. You swapped the children with her. Don''t you recognize her?"


    Kaitlyn said guiltily, "There was no one in the nursery. How would I know whose kid it was?"


    Hearing this, Getty got even more pissed. She demanded, "So why did you swap her and not me?"


    She was still holding a grudge. ''If I had been the one swapped, I wouldn''t be in this mess now!'' she thought bitterly.


    Kaitlyn said helplessly, "I just swapped randomly."


    Getty red at her, fuming, "There were so many kids. Couldn''t you have swapped me too? Why did you have to abandon me?"


    Hearing her words, Cynthia looked at her strangely, almost relieved that it was Ruby who was swapped and not her.


    Cynthia said, "She probably kept you for another reason. Let me guess, it was for a paternity test?"


    Kaitlyn was taken aback. Then she turned her head away without speaking, which was as good as an admission.

 Chapter 1046

    Cynthia guessed, "With Wayne being so sharp, he wouldn''t just buy into someone saying they had his kid without proof. He''d definitely need a paternity test and would probably handle it himself." She continued, "So, Kaitlyn took you for a paternity test. By the time it was done, you were too old to be swapped with another baby at the hospital. Scared of getting caught, she just ditched you." Getty, hearing Cynthia''s logic, stared hard at Kaitlyn. "Is that true?"


    Kaitlyn stayed silent. Her silence said it all.


    Getty sneered, "So, all this time, I was the one you dumped. Why?"


    Ruby suddenly had a lightbulb moment and asked, "So, Mom, does that mean Alexander is your son?"


    As soon as she said this, everyone''s eyes turned to Alexander.


    Alexander sat there, stone-faced, not saying a word, like he was just a bystander.


    Cynthia opened her mouth to say something but held back.


    She walked to the coffee table and picked up the stack of paternity tests.


    Since Alexander had thought of Ruby and Getty''s identities and had paternity tests done for them, he naturally wouldn''t have left himself out.


    So she flipped to thest page, which was her paternity test with Alexander, showing no blood rtion.


    Alexander had no blood rtion with anyone present.


    Ruby, who had been focused on her own paternity test, now saw this and eximed in surprise, "He''s not? Then whose kid is he?"


    Cynthia''s expression wasplicated as she put the papers back on the table.


    Cynthia told Ruby, "Actually, I can''t have kids. Ruby, you were given to me by a friend."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She continued, "She had long discovered her son had been swapped with a girl andter found out who had swapped the children. But she didn''t take Alexander back. I always wanted a daughter, so she gave Ruby to me." Kaitlyn was puzzled. "Why didn''t she take Alexander back?"


    Cynthia replied, "Because she knew what you were up to. At that time, they were in conflict with the Kennedy family. If the Kennedys could raise their son and leave him an inheritance in the future, why would they want to take him back? If you couldn''t get into the Kennedy family, she would have taken him back. And since I had no children, Ruby was given to me. Wasn''t it a win-win?"


    "You guys are so selfish," Kyle said angrily. "Using your kids as tools for profit."


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    He looked worriedly at Alexander.


    If it weren''t for them, Alexander''s rtionship with Quinn wouldn''t be so strained. But now, Quinn was dead, and these truths no longer mattered.


    Kyle couldn''t imagine what Alexander was feeling at that moment.


    Alexander stayed silent, his face calm, leaving everyone guessing his thoughts.


    "Who are they?" Alexander finally spoke, his voice low and suppressed.


    Cynthia looked at him apologetically. "I''m sorry. I can''t tell you."


    Alexander forced a self-mocking and bitterugh.


    He stood up from the sofa, ignoring everyone, and slowly walked out under their gaze.


    His back looked deste, shrouded in an inescapable gloom, his steps unsteady as if he might copse at any moment.


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    Kyle looked around and quickly followed him out.


    When they reached the yard, Alexander stumbled and almost fell, but he managed to grab the stone table for support.


    Kyle rushed to support him. "Mr. Kennedy, are you okay?"


    Alexanderughed softly, a hint of sorrow in his voice. "Kyle, do you find this funny?"


    Kyle was stumped.


    "Mr. Kennedy, Alexander, it''s all a joke," Alexander said, grabbing Kyle''s shoulder and almost gritting his teeth. "Kyle, I''m a total joke! Can''t you see that? Has anyone messed up their life as much as I have?" Kyle looked at him worriedly. "Mr. Kennedy, this isn''t your fault."


    Alexander snapped, "Don''t call me that. It''s disgusting!"


    Then heughed, a sound forced from his throat, filled with endless anger and a touch of madness.


    As heughed, he suddenly clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.

 Chapter 1047

    Kyle was freakin'' out, thinking about what Alexander just dropped on him. He had no clue how to even talk to the guy now.


    Kyle, all worried, said, "Your injury''s still messed up. Doc said you gotta chill and not get all worked up."


    Alexander shut his eyes, took a sec to get his act together, then casually wiped the blood off his mouth with his sleeve. "I''m good," Alexander said.


    He was back to his usual self, like he hadn''t just almost lost it a minute ago.


    He shoved Kyle aside, got in the car, leaned back, and closed his eyes, looking totally wiped.


    Kyle nced at him, too scared to suggest a hospital trip. He just started the car and drove away from Kennedy Residence in silence.


    Kyle, still worried, asked, "Mr. Kennedy, now that you''re spilling the beans, what''s gonna happen to thepany?"


    Alexander wasn''t Kaitlyn''s or Wayne''s kid. If this got out, a bunch of wannabe Kennedy heirs would stir up trouble.


    Even without those folks, Ruby and Getty wouldn''t just sit back and chill.


    Alexander kept his eyes shut, totally ignoring Kyle.


    Feeling awkward, Kyle shut up and kept driving. A light drizzle started, and the car vanished into the night.


    In a room, Quinn woke up from a long, dark sleep. She opened her eyes, staring at the white ceiling, looking totally out of it.


    She couldn''t tell if she was dead or alive.


    Her mind was still stuck in the heavy snow, but this wasn''t Regal Riverside.


    A woman''s startled scream came from the doorway. Quinn turned her head with effort and saw a woman running out. Quinn furrowed her brows, staring hard at the doorway.


    A minuteter, a bunch of people came in, including three doctors. One of them was Soren, someone she recognized. They started checking her out as soon as they walked in.


    Quinny there, dazed, ignoring the doctors and focusing on the two people in the back.


    A voice said, "She looks pretty shocked."


    It was Landon and, shockingly, Walter, who was supposed to be dead.


    Seeing them, Quinn''s mind almost short-circuited. She couldn''t wrap her head around why they were both standing there.


    ''Weren''t they both dead?'' she thought, even more confused about whether she was in hell or still alive.


    After the doctors finished, they quickly stepped back behind the two men. The older doctor said, "Mr. Mellon, her body''s still weak, but now that she''s awake, she''s out of immediate danger." Walter had a familiar smile and motioned for them to leave.


    The group respectfully exited. Landon, smirking, nced at Quinn before following them out.


    Quinn and Walter were left staring at each other.


    "Why are you looking at me like that? Don''t you recognize me?" Walter asked, sitting beside her and looking down.


    Quinn opened her mouth, her throat painfully dry. After a while, she managed to say, "Am I dead?"


    Walter said, "If you were dead, wouldn''t all my efforts be for nothing?"Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn painfully dug her hand into the nket and pinched her leg, almost bringing tears to her eyes.


    "I''m not dead?" Quinn asked again, sounding surprised.


    "Well, do you want to die?" He said, pulling her hand out and revealing the nasty scar on her wrist.


    Quinn stared at him with bright eyes, her emotions all over the ce. It was hard to tell if she was more shocked or angry.


    Walter, acting like he didn''t notice her look, examined the wound on her wrist and casually said, "I thought you chose Alexander and would be happy with him. Why''d you do something like this?" He looked up at Quinn, smiling, but his eyes were full of mockery.

 Chapter 1048

    Quinn''s head was a mess, and she really didn''t wanna chat with him. She blurted out, "What the hell is going on? Where are we?" Walter ignored her question, his eyes zeroing in on her neck. "Where''s the pendant I gave you?"


    Quinn shrugged. "I don''t know."


    He frowned a bit, like he was piecing something together, then turned to the door and yelled, "Get in here."


    A secondter, a young dude in a ck suit walked in. "Sir."


    Walter ordered, "Send some guys to Amber Bay to get the pendant. Don''t let it end up with Alexander."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    The young guy nodded. "Got it."


    After he left, Quinn stared at Walter, even more confused. She couldn''t help but ask, "What''s so special about that pendant?"


    Walter exined, "It''s super valuable. Without it, you wouldn''t have been able to trick those doctors and their machines."


    The stuff inside the pendant, when you breathed in a lot, would mess you up. If you were already weak, it would make things worse, making your vital signs like breathing and heartbeat go haywire. That''s why Soren couldn''t feel her heartbeat.


    Plus, the pendant''s material messed with machines. Except for blood tests, other equipment would show a 30% drop in all bodily functions.


    It was a dangerous piece of work because when your body got super weak, you''d look almost dead. Breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure would get so faint, you''d seem like a goner.


    One tiny mistake could turn that fake death into the real deal.


    Sounds wild, but it happened a lot in hospitals. Docs had ways to check, and the pendant was used to dodge those checks.


    Quinn didn''t get it all, but she was totally shocked.


    She stared at Walter, stunned. "So, you nned this from the moment you gave me that thing?"


    Walter nodded, "Yep, and it''s clear Alexander really cares about you since he didn''t let you lose it."


    That time he pretended to kiss Quinn was just to throw Alexander off. He knew Quinn and Alexander would sh over this. Once they did, Alexander wouldn''t ditch the pendant, or their rtionship would get even messier. Quinn asked, "If that''s the case, why did you still lead him up the mountain?"


    Walter gave her a knowing look. "Don''t you get it yet?"


    He exined, "If he had been killed then, none of this would be happening now." He paused andughed mockingly. "Actually, it was expected. You couldn''t do it."


    Quinn stared at him nkly. Only now did she fully get his whole n.


    If Alexander were dead, they''d be chill.


    If they failed to kill him, everything that followed would be Walter''s payback for her.


    She was in total despair, wanting to die. The stuff in the pendant sped up her physical breakdown, making her spend a month in pain and self-torment.


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    Quinn bitterly tugged at the corner of her mouth.


    Both he and Alexander had seen thising. He knew Alexander wouldn''t dare kill him, and Alexander bet she wouldn''t be able to do it.


    In their game, what role did she y?


    She was just a pawn.


    In the end, she was the fool.


    The guilt and sorrow she had felt over the past month seemed so ridiculous.


    Walterughed. He said proudly, "See, I promised to take you away, didn''t I? Alexander will never find you again. He''ll spend the rest of his life in pain and torment, which is way more fun than killing him." Quinn turned her head away, not wanting to talk to him anymore.


    She couldn''t be mad at Walter, nor could she ept his methods.


    Seeing this, Walter said quietly, "After all the trouble to get you out, you won''t go back to see him again, will you?"

 Chapter 1049

    "I ain''t gonna see him," Quinn muttered, barely audible. She wasn''t just dodging Alexander; if she could, she''d avoid Walter too.


    She didn''t wanna see any of ''em ever again.


    "That''s probably for the best. If I catch wind of you talking to him..."


    Walter cut himself off. Given her state and all that went down, he swallowed the rest of his threat.


    Quinn suddenly shot him a look. "You gonna turn out like him too?"


    Before he could answer, she chuckled bitterly. "Nah, you two are cut from the same cloth."


    Both of ''em were selfish and ruthless, ready to do whatever it took to get what they wanted. Lying there, she couldn''t help but think how absurd it all was.


    One minute, she felt guilty and indebted to Walter, even ready to die for him. Next thing she knew, he was in front of her, spilling the beans that it was all part of his n.


    She felt like a total fool, yed by them from the start.


    Walter''s eyes flickered. He reached out, cupped Quinn''s cheeks, and smiled. "Yeah, we''re the same, but you and me, we''re the closest. From now on, we''ll live here peacefully, away from all that outside drama, just like when we were kids." Quinn blinked, taken aback. "Where even is this?"


    "This is Las Veges. There''s a prairie nearby. Once you''re better, I''ll take you to see it," Walter said.


    Quinn was stunned again. Waking up here was thest thing she expected.


    He picked this spot, like he wanted to live off the grid. Quinn looked at him, her expression a mix of confusion and suspicion.


    ''Did he really go through all that trouble, infiltrating the Kennedy family and battling Alexander, just to ditch everything and hide out here?'' Quinn wondered.


    But after all the lies Walter had fed her, she wasn''t buying it just yet.


    Walter let go of her and tucked her in again. "Get some rest."


    With that, he got up and walked out.


    The room fell silent. Quinn stared at the unfamiliar decor, a wave of indescribable sadness washing over her.


    Outside, Walter found Landon waiting.


    It was a standalone vi, no neighbors for miles, surrounded by grasnd.


    From a distance, the vi stood out like a sore thumb in the prairie.


    As soon as he stepped out, the wind whipped his hair around.


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    When Walter sat down, Landon finally spoke, "Quinn''s awake. Guess it''s time for me to bounce, huh?"


    "Why didn''t you bring her stuff back?" Walter asked.


    Landon shrugged. "We left in such a rush. Who cares about personal junk? Alexander''s got a bounty on my head. If he catches me, I''m toast." Walter rubbed the teacup with his fingers and sneered, "Personal junk? If Alexander gets his hands on that one thing, all my work goes down the drain."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Landon''s eyelids twitched. "It''s that serious?"


    "What do you think?" Walter shot back.


    Landon shrugged again. "Well, good luck with that. I did my part. You didn''t give me a heads-up, so don''t pin it on me. Hurry up with my new ID. You wanna hide out with Quinn here, but I ain''t sticking around in this wastnd." A cold glint shed in Landon''s eyes behind his sses. "Things between him and me ain''t over yet."

 Chapter 1050

    Walter let out an angryugh. "You got some nerve, man. Who told you to take her to the crematorium?"


    Landon shrugged. "How else was Alexander gonna buy it?"


    Walter shot back, "You just wanted to mess with him, huh? Landon, same advice I gave him: good luck, and don''t let him catch you."


    Landon adjusted his sses. "Thanks for the tip."


    Walter handed over the new documents and passport. If Landon wanted to keep beefing with Alexander, Walter wasn''t gonna stop him; it didn''t hurt him any.


    When Landon saw his new name, his face twisted.


    "Did you do this on purpose?" He waved the documents, showing the name Brent Jones.


    Walter shrugged again. "You think it''s easy making a new identity? Be grateful for what you got. If you don''t want it, leave it."


    Landon''s face darkened, but he pocketed the documents and stormed off.


    Walter arranged a car for him. It was a 31-mile trip to the city, and without a familiar driver, anyone would get lost.


    Watching the car disappear into the green prairie, Walter chuckled softly.


    "Brent Jones," he repeated, feeling pretty pleased with himself. "What a good name," he murmured.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn still needed a lot of time to recover, so Walter left Soren behind to help nurse her back to health.


    Soren brought the medicine to the room and instinctively called out, "Mrs. Kennedy."


    But he quickly corrected himself, "Ms. Mellon, please drink this soup."


    Quinn propped herself up and gave him a once-over. "Soren, are you in cahoots with Walter too?"


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    Soren paused, setting the soup on the table. "No, I really didn''t know."


    He exined, "I really thought you were dead. Landon contacted me and said if I helped him steal your ''body,'' he''d take me with him. It was only after leaving Amber Bay that I found out you were alive. If I had known, I wouldn''t have run away with them."


    He''d been in Amber Bay for years. Leaving wasn''t easy for him.


    He seemed so sincere that Quinn decided to believe him.


    When she found out Walter was alive, it felt like a weight lifted off her chest. She didn''t have to worry about anything anymore, and her mind felt clearer than ever.


    She drank the medicinal soup Soren brought her.


    Meanwhile, Getty stayed at the Kennedy Residence after reuniting with Kaitlyn.


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    Ruby was the biggest winner. Cynthia still acknowledged her as a daughter, so now she was the daughter of both families.


    Even though Getty resented Kaitlyn, she couldn''t give up being her daughter. Sheined to Kaitlyn, who listened with regret and guilt.


    Getty asked, "Mom, since I''m the real daughter of the Kennedy family, Alexander shouldn''t be eligible to inherit the Kennedy Group and Dad''s estate, right?"


    Kaitlyn sighed, "It''splicated. Thepany is full of Alexander''s people now, and the inheritance issue has already caused a lot of trouble. Ernest and Landon are both dead. It won''t be easy to take it back."


    Getty said, "Simple. Just have him marry me. That way, he can rightfully inherit the Kennedy Group."


    ''He married Quinn back then. Now that I''m the real daughter of the Kennedy family, what reason will he have not to marry me?'' Getty thought.


    "It''s a good idea, but will he agree?" Kaitlyn was feeling the pressure. Alexander might have tolerated her before because she was his mother. But now, he had no reason to amodate her.


    "I''ll go talk to him. I''ll convince him!" Getty said confidently.


    After all, Quinn was already dead. No matter how she looked at it, Alexander should marry her.

 Chapter 1051

    Originally, Getty was totally down in the dumps, but now she felt a flicker of hope light up. She was already daydreaming about her new look post-stic surgery. Even though her burns were pretty gnarly, with enough cash, she could still get them fixed.


    Kaitlyn was all jittery but decided to give it a shot, so she dialed up Alexander.


    But no one picked up. This wasn''t the first time either. Now, guilt was eating her up, and Alexander not answering made her freak out.


    "He''s not picking up," Kaitlyn said, all panicked.


    Getty shrugged. "Then tryter. Maybe he''s just in a funk right now."


    After all, he had just found out about his past and probably needed some time to process it.


    Kaitlyn figured that made sense. She put the phone down, nning to callter. But she still hit up Kyle to see what Alexander was up to.


    Kyle peeked into the office. Inside, Alexander was leaning on his hand,zily fiddling with those perpetual motion balls on his desk, looking super bored. Holding the phone, Kyle stepped aside and whispered, "Mr. Kennedy''s in a meeting."


    Kaitlyn said, "Tell him toe to the Kennedy Residence when he''s done."


    "Got it, I''ll let him know," Kyle replied.


    He hung up, walked into the office, and eyed the mountain of paperwork on the desk. Hesitantly, he called, "Mr. Kennedy."


    Alexander shot him a re, making Kyle swallow his words.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Frustrated, Kyle asked, "What should I call you now?"


    ''Can''t just call him by his first name, right?'' Kyle thought.


    Alexander looked away, still ying with the balls. "What''s up?"


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    Kyle said, "Do you want to handle these documents?"


    Seeing no response, Kyle added, "Oh, and Kaitlyn called. She wants you to go to Kennedy Residence."


    Alexander''s fingers paused, stopping thest ball.


    "She actually dares to call me back." He smirked coldly.


    Kyle chuckled awkwardly. "Should I tell her no?"


    He thought Kaitlyn had some nerve. It was a miracle Alexander wasn''t giving her grief, and she still dared to reach out.


    Alexander sneered, "Let''s see what she''s up to."


    He suddenly stood up, grabbed his coat, and strode out.


    Enjoying the book? Don''t forget to visit 00005s.org for the full experience. You won''t find the next chapter anywhere else. Happy reading! Kyle thought for a second and quickly followed.


    In the car, Kyle told Alexander that Ruby and Cynthia had gone back to Sylvadora, and it seemed like Cynthia had dragged Ruby back. Alexander stared out the window, expressionless. "Kyle, Walter''s dead, and the Dixon family hasn''t made a move?"


    "Nope, they''re acting clueless." Kyle said, then noticed something was off. "You suspect something? Since Cynthia knows your identity, maybe the rest of the Dixon family does too? Is that why they''reying low?" "Where''s Appara?" Alexander asked.


    Kyle replied, "Still in the mountains. Sean''s still in the hospital, so we don''t know how he''s doing up there."


    Alexander said thoughtfully, "Find a time to bring him down."


    "Okay," Kyle replied.

 Chapter 1052

    The car rolled up to the Kennedy Residence in no time.


    Kaitlyn and Getty were still yapping in the living room. The more Kaitlyn had hated her before, the guiltier she felt now.


    If she had known earlier that Getty was her daughter, she wouldn''t have been so against her being with Alexander. If Alexander and Getty had a kid, everything would be peachy now. She was kicking herself for her past actions.


    But hey, it wasn''t toote. Getty had been with Alexander for years, and there was still some spark between them. If she got along with Getty, it was like getting along with Alexander. When Alexander walked in, he saw this picture-perfect scene. On the surface, it looked all happy, but only the two of them knew what was really going on.


    Getty was the first to spot Alexander. She greeted him with a big smile, "Alexander, you''re here."


    As soon as she spoke, Kaitlyn also looked over, all nervous.


    Alexander, dressed in ck, stood at the door, almost blocking the light and making it hard to read his expression.


    Kaitlyn didn''t dare to act all high and mighty and said with an awkward smile, "Alexander, why are you standing there? Come in and sit down."


    Alexander''s eyes swept over their faces before he walked over with long strides and plopped down on the sofa. His expression stayed cold and indifferent.


    Kaitlyn and Getty exchanged a nce, not sure how to kick off the conversation.


    After a bit, Kaitlyn braced herself and asked, "Alexander, is thepany keeping you busy?"


    Alexander looked at her indifferently. "Do you hope it''s busy or not?"


    While Kaitlyn fumbled for words, Getty jumped in, "Alexander, now that our identities are clear, what are your ns?"


    "What are your ns?" Alexander shot back.


    Getty said, "I am the biological daughter of the Kennedy family. Naturally, I want to return to the Kennedy family with dignity. We should at least hold a press conference, right? Otherwise, what''s the point if only a few of us know?" Alexander''s lips curled slightly, and he asked, "And then?"


    Getty continued, "Then I''m a bit worried about you. If we hold a press conference, won''t your identity be exposed too?"


    Alexander said, "Go on."


    His attitude stayed indifferent, making Getty unsure of what he was thinking. She continued, "Alexander, you know I have feelings for you. I''m even willing to face death for you. This identity isn''t a necessity for me. I''m ready to make sacrifices for you, but please, acknowledge my emotions too."


    Getty finished in one breath, staring intently at Alexander.


    Alexander said, "So, what''s on your mind?"


    Getty''s face lit up, and she blurted out, "I think we should get married. Whether our identities are exposed or not doesn''t matter. We''re a family. What''s mine is yours, right?"


    Alexander leaned back, a smile of unclear meaning forming on his lips.


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    Getty thought he was moved and smiled too, but the scars on her face were so hideous that her smile looked like that of a demon.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander suddenly said, "Are you threatening me?"


    Getty''s smile froze, and she hurriedly exined, "How could it be a threat? I''m just having an open conversation with you. This matter needs to be resolved, right? We''ve been together for so many years. You used to say our identities didn''t match, andter you said you couldn''t divorce Quinn because of your promise to Ulysses."


    "Now both of these issues are gone, aren''t they? Shouldn''t you give me an exnation for these years?"


    "Look at my face, my leg. They are all because of you. You may not love me, but you can''t just walk away from marrying me."


    "You could be with me before, so why can''t you marry me now?"


    Getty''s arguments were logical, and she felt she was almost convinced herself. From any angle, Alexander had no reason to refuse her.


    Their marriage was the best solution.

 Chapter 1053

    But Alexander was chill the whole time.


    He shot back, "You done yappin''?"


    Getty was caught off guard. His icy tone made her freak out a bit.


    "Alexander, are you saying no?" Getty had been around him long enough to read his vibes, and she could kinda guess his reaction. Alexander let out a smallugh. "So, it''s the Kennedy Group you''re after, huh? If that''s what you want, it''s yours."


    Getty was floored, her eyes wide with confusion. "Alexander, what do you mean?"


    Alexander replied, "Exactly what I said. When you break the news to the press, give me a heads-up. I''ll be there to back you up."


    With that, he got up from the couch and strolled out.


    Even after he was gone, Getty and Kaitlyn were still scratching their heads. They thought, ''Is he really gonna give up the Kennedy Group, after all that work?''


    "Mom, what''s he ying at?" Getty was ticked off, thinking, ''I can''t even sway him with the Kennedy Group?''


    Kaitlyn shook her head, frustrated. "How should I know? It''s not just you. Even I can''t figure him out anymore."


    A spark of defiance lit up in Getty''s eyes.


    "Does he think I won''t call a press conference?" she snapped.


    Kaitlyn looked at her, surprised, and warned, "Getty, don''t do anything rash. You can''t beat him."


    Getty shot back, "I''m not fighting him. I''m just taking back what''s mine. You think all the crap I''ve been through was for nothing?"


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    Kaitlyn looked at her, worried. Getty had juste to terms with her identity and was still on edge. She was way too confident and oversimplifying things. Her little schemes were like kid stuff to Alexander and were bound to flop.


    Kyle was also concerned. He asked Alexander quietly, "You won''t really let Getty hold a press conference, will you? If it goes public, it won''t look good for you." Alexander leaned back, closed his eyes, and said calmly, "You really think a press conference will do anything?"


    "What do you mean?" Kyle asked, confused.


    Alexander didn''t answer, and Kyle didn''t push it. He just started the car and drove off.


    Getty wasn''t in any shape to hold a press conference now. Even if she wanted to, she''d have to wait until she was better and had her stic surgery.


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    Otherwise, if she showed up on camera looking rough, no one would buy it. Wearing a mask would just make her look sketchy.


    She was itching to get the surgery and nned to do it as soon as she was physically ready, which would be in three months.


    During those three months, Alexander got busier, just like before his identity was out. He still left early and came backte, but he always returned to Regal Riverside before midnight.


    He never went upstairs to the bedroom again and crashed on the living room couch every night. He could only sleep with the TV on.


    A few times, Olivia had quietly turned off the TV, and he woke up instantly, his eyes cold and deadly. After that, Olivia never dared to turn off his TV again.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail hade by a few times but never found him.


    So, Alexander would often hear weird noises in the middle of the night, like windows breaking or Buddy and Liberty barking in the yard. Alexander just ignored it all.

 Chapter 1054

    The weather was warming up.


    Quinn was finally getting a bit better. That near-death thing really messed her up, and it took her three months just to get out of bed and shuffle around.


    Today was the first time Walter let her step outside. Wrapped in a coat and leaning on Walter, she finally walked out of the vi.


    A breeze with a hint of grass hit her, still kinda chilly. Quinn looked at the grasnds around her, and from a distance, it seemed like the sky had turned green. She was amazed. Walter helped her sit in the yard and had someone bring her a ss of juice.


    "How you feeling today?" Walter asked, sounding all concerned.


    Quinn pulled her gaze back. "Way better. Just a bit out of breath."


    "That''s normal. The altitude here is high, and you''re still weak. You need to get used to it," Walter said gently.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Quinn nced at him. He looked the same as always. With that fake gentle smile, he seemed like a harmless, handsome guy.


    His hair was longer now, almost touching his shoulders, making him look even more androgynous.


    Anyone who didn''t know him would totally be fooled by his looks.


    Quinn looked away and said, "It''s so boring here. No TV, no phone, nothing."


    Walterughed. "You don''t know anyone here. Even if you had a phone, who would you call? What''s the point?"


    "Can''t I go online?" Quinn shot back.


    "Go online? Is it ''cause you''re bored, or you wanna check on someone?" Walter said.


    Quinn was taken aback. She suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, not sure if it was the altitude or Walter''s words.


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    She snapped, "I said I wouldn''t see him again, and I won''t. If you don''t believe me, why''d you bring me here?"


    Walter''s smile deepened. "I never said it was him."


    Quinn retorted, "Isn''t that what you mean? This ce is pretty, but keeping me locked up feels just like being in prison. It''s just swapping Alexander''s cage for another one." She continued, "Walter, I hate this. If you brought me out of Amber Bay just to lock me up, I''d rather be dead."


    Walter stared at her, his smile fading, reced by a colder look in his eyes. "You used to call me Lucas, didn''t you? Why don''t you call me that anymore?"


    Quinn felt a surge of anger. She turned her head to look at the distant grasnds. "What you''re doing now is nothing like the Lucas who always protected me when we were kids."


    "Are you ming me?" He suddenly leaned closer, grabbing her chin and turning her head towards him. "Quinn, don''t forget. This was your choice. You could''ve avoided all this. If Alexander had died back then, none of this would be happening."


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    He pressed, "Or do you think it was wrong for me to avenge The Mellon family?"


    Quinn''s eyes flickered. Faced with his questioning, she couldn''t say a word.


    It was just like when Alexander asked her if she couldn''t live without Walter.


    The event itself wasn''t the problem; it was impossible to say who was right or wrong.


    Walter let go of her and smiled faintly. "Alright. Let''s drop it. If you''re bored, I''ll get a TV installed in your room."


    He continued, "Go back and rest. It''s not good for your health to be out in the wind too long. As for what you said, I don''t agree. If you can go two years without contacting him or checking any news about him, I won''t restrict your freedom." With a meaningful smirk, he added, "I believe you won''t have any more entanglements with your enemy, right?"


    He deliberately emphasized "enemy," as if reminding Quinn topletely give up on Alexander.


    As long as he kept reminding her that Alexander was her enemy, she''dpletely sever any thoughts of him.

 Chapter 1055

    A crazy rainstorm hitst night. Thunder and lightning were going wild outside Regal Riverside, and the rain wasing down like a waterfall.


    Alexander''s eyes snapped open. The TV was barely audible over the storm. He grabbed the remote and cranked up the volume.


    Out of nowhere, the vi door swung open. Nathan barged in, dragging someone along.


    "Mr. Kennedy, we caught this person sneaking around outside. What do you want us to do?" Nathan asked.


    Alexander turned to look. Nathan tossed the person to the floor. It was Abigail.


    She was soaked to the bone. She shook out her short hair and got up from the ground.


    Irritated, she said, "Who was sneaking around? I was just passing by. You guys grabbed me without knowing the facts. Watch out, I might sue you for kidnapping!" Alexander gave her a once-over and said, "Looks like you''ve recovered."


    Abigail sneered and ignored him.


    Nathan chimed in, "We''ve seen you several times before, throwing stones at the window. Still denying it?"


    Abigail shot him a look, "Got any proof?"


    Nathan replied, "I saw it with my own eyes."


    Abigail snapped back, "Well, I saw you picking up hookers with my own eyes!"


    Nathan was taken aback for a second, then retorted, "Stop talking nonsense!"


    "You started it." Ignoring her wet clothes, she walked over, plopped down opposite Alexander, and crossed her legs. "Anyway, you guys hurt me by mistake. Compensate me! If you don''t pay me $200 million, I''m not leaving." Just as Nathan was about to call her shameless, Alexander stopped him with a look. Nathan had to swallow his words and quietly left the vi.


    Abigail nced at Alexander coldly and sneered, "Didn''t you nevere home before? Now you''re pretending to be all sentimental?"


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    She followed Alexander every day and knew he came home every night. Now she seized the opportunity to mock him. Alexander looked at her expressionlessly, not bothering to argue.


    Abigail looked around the empty room, and a wave of anger and sadness rose in her chest.


    She scoffed, "How does it feel to be alone? How does it feel to be abandoned? But this is just the beginning. There''s a long way for you to go." She continued, "Quinn doesn''t want you anymore. She''s hiding. You''ll never find her in this lifetime. Serves you right."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Finally, there was a flicker of emotion in Alexander''s eyes. He asked eagerly, "Do you know where she is?"


    Abigail rolled her eyes at him, looking at him as if he was an idiot. She said irritably, "If I knew where she was, would I still be sitting here?"


    But then she remembered the main issue and asked seriously, "Alexander, tell me the truth. Is she still alive?"


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    "Yes, she''s still alive." His response didn''t seem directed at Abigail; it was more like a quiet admission to himself.


    Abigail was stunned. Although she didn''t know if he was telling the truth, she had never believed Quinn was dead, so she readily epted Alexander''s words.


    "I knew she was still alive," Abigail affirmed once more. "She must be hiding somewhere I don''t know, secretlyughing at you."


    Alexander closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Abigail, get out before I lose my temper."


    Abigail, also angered, abruptly stood up and red at Alexander. "Who are you pretending to be noble for? If it weren''t for Quinn, do you think I''d want toe here?"


    She continued, "I really don''t know what you''re so proud of. What do you have now? You''re like a stray dog. It''s hrious. Can you even find one person close to you now?" Alexander''s gaze grew colder with each word Abigail said.


    As Abigail spoke, her spine started to tingle, and her tone weakened a bit. "If you had treated Quinn well back then, at least you''d have someone who truly loves you now. It''s your own fault that you lost her. Who can you me? Why are you ring at me? Did I say anything wrong?"


    She finished speaking in one breath and quickly ran towards the door.

 Chapter 1056

    Just as Abigail was about to step out the door, the bodyguard blocked her way. Feeling a bit guilty, she snapped, "Move it!"


    "Why the rush? Weren''t you just yapping away? Say a few more words," Alexander''s voice came from behind, sending a shiver down her spine. She spun around to see Alexander standing there, cold as ice, looking like he could freeze hell over.


    "I''ve said my piece. Figure it out yourself! Oliver called me, so let them move," she stammered.


    Alexander''s lips curled into a sly smile.


    Abigail took a deep breath and said, "What do you want? I''m warning you, don''t mess with me. If you touch me, Quinn will never let you off!" Alexander took a step closer, slowly closing the gap.


    Abigail, almost eye-level with him, could see the dangerous glint in his eyes.


    "What are you doing? Stay back!" she stuttered.


    Alexander stopped just inches from her, his eyes scanning her face. "If you had the guts toe here, what are you scared of?"


    Abigail scoffed, "Scared? Me? Never. Just my bad luck, that''s all!"


    Alexander suddenly straightened up. "Really?"


    Before she could answer, he said, "I gave you a chance. Take her away."


    Fear gripped Abigail. "What are you gonna do?"


    Alexander turned his back on her, done with the conversation. Nathan and another bodyguard grabbed her and dragged her out of the Regal Riverside. "Where are you taking me?" Abigail yelled, struggling to break free.


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    Raindrops blurred her vision. She wasn''t scared of dying, but Alexander''s twisted games terrified her.


    Thinking about what he did to herst time sent chills down her spine.


    The two men stayed silent as they shoved her into a car and drove off.


    Feeling uneasy, Abigail watched the rain-soaked streets fly by and quickly texted Oliver.


    Soon, they arrived at a movie theater.


    Abigail was momentarily confused. Knowing Alexander, she couldn''t imagine what he had nned in a theater.


    But she soon found out.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


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    The bodyguards tossed her into a small, enclosed room, about 50 square feet. Screens surrounded her on all sides. As soon as she entered, they lit up, creating a 3D space. She turned to leave, but the door was locked tight.


    As she fumbled with the door, a loud crash startled her. A truck burst through the screen, making her scream and stumble back into the wall.


    Horrified, she watched as the truck in the video hit a motorcycle, dragging the rider under its wheels, crushing and tearing them apart.


    Her stomach churned, and she almost puked.


    She looked away, but another wall showed another gruesome car ident. The 3D, high-def images were so real, it felt like they were happening right in front of her. Several times, she felt like the blood and guts were about to stter on her face.


    Standing in the cramped space, Abigail turned pale and started trembling all over.

 Chapter 1057

    When Oliver found her, she was huddled on the ground, shaking like a leaf, hands mped over her ears, eyes squeezed shut.


    For Abigail, who''d been through a car crash, these videos were like a punch to the gut.


    Already messed up from the ident, those hour-long videos were enough to tear down all her mental walls and drag her back to her darkest days. "Abigail." Oliver rushed over and reached out to touch her shoulder.


    Abigail screamed and shoved Oliver away.


    Caught off guard, Oliver hit the ground. Pain etched across his face. He''d watched Abigail grow up, always so brave. But he''d never seen her like this. Alexander always knew how to dig up people''s worst fears.


    When Abigail looked up and saw him, the fear on her face started to fade, and she threw herself into Oliver''s arms. "Oliver!" she cried, her voice shaking. Oliver patted her back, trying to calm her down. "It''s okay. It''s over."


    Abigail was really freaked out this time. She sobbed in Oliver''s arms, cursing, "That jerk Alexander. How can he be so twisted!"


    Oliver sighed. It had been ages since he''d seen Abigail so scared that she''d cling to him like this.


    Oliver said, "Haven''t you known this for a long time? I''ve told you so many times, but you just wouldn''t listen."


    Hearing this, Abigail cried even harder, like she was letting out all the bottled-up emotions.


    No one knew how long she cried before she finally stopped. Sniffling, she pulled away from Oliver, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    "Let''s go back," Abigail said, her voice hoarse.


    Oliver patted her head. "Are you still going to see Alexander?"


    Abigail shook her head. "No, that jerk doesn''t deserve any sympathy. He deserves to be single for life!"


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    Oliver gave her a warning look.


    Abigail pouted. "Fine, I won''t curse him anymore. And I won''t look for him. Is that okay? Just thinking about him now makes me feel unlucky."


    "Alright, enough. Let''s go." Oliver pulled her up and led her out of the theater.


    The rain outside had eased up. Abigail got into the car, finally feeling a bit safer.


    She wrapped herself in Oliver''s coat, clutching the cor tightly. She nced at the light rain outside and murmured, "I wonder if it''s raining where Quinn is." Oliver''s fingers paused slightly.


    He nced at Abigail.


    Abigail couldn''t ept the news of Quinn''s death and didn''t acknowledge it. She still believed that Quinn was alive.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "Abigail, why do you care about her so much?" Oliver asked.


    Leaning against the car window, Abigail thought of Quinn''s appearance. "I don''t know. When I first saw her, I thought she was cute. She looked so small and fragile, making me want to protect her."


    As Oliver listened to her description, his mouth twitched. If a guy had said these words, it would have sounded so creepy. Luckily, Abigail was a girl.


    Abigail continued, "Oliver, don''t you think that just looking at her makes you want to protect her? No matter how I tease her, she never gets angry. Sometimes I even want to marry her. That damn Alexander, how could he treat her like that? The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Damn it!"


    "Abigail! No swearing," Oliver warned in a low voice.


    Abigail cleared her throat, "Slip of the tongue. I was just too angry."


    She went on, "I always wanted to save her, to get her away from Alexander, but in the end, I couldn''t save her."


    Abigail kept talking to herself, while Oliver drove, feeling more and more uneasy as he listened.

 Chapter 1058

    He couldn''t help but blurt out, "Abigail, have your tastes changed or something?"


    Abigail was caught off guard for a sec. She shot a look at Oliver. "Nah, not really. But if it were Quinn, I might just switch teams."


    Oliver cut in, "Whoa, hold up. Don''t say stuff like that. If Dad hears, you''re toast."


    Abigail chuckled. "Rx, I''m just messing around."


    As they kept chatting, Abigail''s fear from the movie theater faded, and she started thinking about Quinn.


    After that whole thing, Abigail did chill out a bit. She stopped bugging Alexander.


    Not many folks knew about Quinn''s death, and Orion was still in the dark ''cause no one had clued him in. He was too wrapped up in his own guilt to reach out. Six monthster...


    The year was winding down. Amber Bay was back to its usual misty rain. The sky stayed gloomy all day, with a light drizzle hanging in the air.


    In the hospital, Getty sat in front of the mirror, touching her cheek.


    She looked at herself and smiled. The stic surgery was pretty decent, bringing back about sixty percent of her old look.


    But her smile was still too stiff, making it hard to tell she was even smiling; it just looked like she was tugging at the corners of her mouth.


    After staring at her messed-up face for so long, she was actually happy to see this stiff, expressionless one.


    She thought, ''Man, having money rocks. Even a face this messed up can get fixed.''


    First thing she did after ditching the bandages was head straight to Alexander.


    When she got to thepany, it was like everyone had forgotten her. No one even gave her a second nce.


    The surgery marks were too obvious, and she wasn''t exactly a looker.


    She marched straight to Alexander''s office, calling out before she even stepped in, "Alexander!"


    Alexander was lounging on the couch, feet kicked up on the coffee table, looking like a mess.


    Getty plopped down next to him, looking all eager. "Look, I did it," she said.


    "Congrats," Alexander said coolly, then went back to his newspaper.


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    Getty grabbed his arm. "So now you can marry me, right?"


    Alexander paused, then folded the newspaper and turned to look at her.


    Getty stared at him, hopeful.


    "Perfect timing," Alexander said, putting his feet down and pulling out his phone to call Kyle.


    Soon, Kyle walked in with a file folder. "Mr. Kennedy, here are the papers you wanted."


    Alexander took the folder and casually tossed it to Getty. "Sign it."


    Getty opened the file, suspicious. It was a stock transfer agreement.


    She quickly pulled out the document and read it carefully. Alexander was actually giving her all his shares.


    "Alexander, what the heck does this mean?" she asked, shocked.


    Alexander stood up, hands in his pockets, looking down at her like he didn''t care. "I told you before, if you want the Kennedy Group, it''s yours. Sign it, and it''s all yours."


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    Getty was stunned. "So, let me get this straight. You''d rather give up the Kennedy Group than marry me?"


    Alexanderughed. "Getty, not marrying you and giving up the Kennedy Group are two different things. If you don''t sign, you get nothing."


    Getty didn''t know whether to be mad or sad.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She looked over the document again, feeling suspicious. "Is there something fishy with this?"


    Alexander replied calmly, "If you''re not sure, get awyer to check it out."


    His words eased some of Getty''s doubts, but she still didn''t sign right away. Holding the document, she stood up and said, "I need time to think this over. And you should too. You''ve put so much into the Kennedy Group and lost a lot. Make sure you''re making the right call."


    Getty left with the document. She was more confident now, not the same person she used to be.


    She and Alexander were on equal footing now; she didn''t have to bow down to him anymore.


    Watching her walk away with her head held high, Kyle nced back at Alexander.


    Kyle asked, "Mr. Kennedy, are you really gonna go through with this?"

 Chapter 1059

    Alexander pulled his eyes away and strolled over to the window, peering down through the floor-to-ceiling ss.


    He fished out a notebook from his pocket, his fingers tracing the worn edges. He had painstakingly put it back together, page by page. Alexander murmured, "We''ve already blown too much time."


    Kyle spotted the notebook and let out a sigh. He knew Alexander''s mind had drifted far from thepany and Amber Bay. He was still hanging around because there were loose ends to tie up. Kaitlyn and the others thought Alexander had beenying low for the past year out of some sense of gratitude for his upbringing. If they believed that, they clearly didn''t get Alexander at all. She had nearly wrecked Alexander''s whole life. As the main culprit, there was no way Alexander would let her off the hook.


    And when Getty got the documents, the first person she ran to wasn''t awyer but Kaitlyn.


    When Kaitlyn saw the transfer agreement, her first thought wasn''t about letting Getty take over thepany.


    Instead, she gently advised, "Getty, you''ve never run apany before. Do you really want to take on these shares?"


    Getty shrugged, all casual-like. "Who says I can''t learn? Nobody''s born knowing how to run apany. Mom, don''t you have my back?"


    Kaitlyn forced a smile, saying, "Of course I do, sweetie. I''m just worried. You just got better, and now you want to jump into such a tough gig. Can your body handle it?"


    "After Alexander took over, he was grinding long hours every day, sometimes even crashing at the office. Running apany isn''t as easy as it looks," Getty added. Getty hesitated for a moment before asking, "So, what do you suggest?"


    Kaitlyn said, "You''re a girl. Girls should chill at home and enjoy life, not run apany."


    She rambled on without getting to the point, so Getty asked again, "So, are you saying I should ditch this stake?"


    Kaitlyn said, "Of course not. We gotta take them. Even if he doesn''t marry you, thepany shouldn''t end up in his hands."


    Getty was getting more and more impatient.


    Kaitlyn said, "Of the 65% shares here, 10% are mine, and Valerie and Freya each have 10%. If you take it all, others might have issues."


    Getty thought it made some sense. "Then I''ll give back the shares that belong to you all."This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Even if she gave away 30%, she''d still have 35%, which was plenty.


    Kaitlyn fell silent for a moment.


    "Getty, you''re not getting my point. How about you let me decide how to split it?" Kaitlyn proposed.


    Getty instantly got suspicious, eyeing Kaitlyn warily.


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    Kaitlyn continued, "You and Freya are both my daughters, and so is Ruby. You''re all my daughters. I messed up back then, and I want to make it right. I don''t want the shares. You three sisters can split them. You''ve had it the hardest, so how about you take 25%?"


    She had it all figured out. She was getting older, and these shares were useless to her. By splitting the shares, she''d have three daughters, and at least one of them would look after her.


    To outsiders, it would seem she was being fair and would earn her a good rep.


    Although Getty was reluctant, Kaitlyn''s distribution left her with no reason to oppose. Plus, she hadn''t received the shares yet, so she couldn''t fall out with Kaitlyn.


    After mulling it over, she said, "Alright, but I have one condition."


    Kaitlyn asked eagerly, "What condition? Just say it. If it''s within my power, I''ll do it."


    Getty said, "I want you to hold a press conference and publicly acknowledge that I am your daughter."


    Kaitlyn let out a sigh of relief. "Just that? Sure, I''ll set it up right away."


    No matter what, she did owe Getty that recognition.

 Chapter 1060

    Kaitlyn got someone to hit up the big media outlets, and they set the press conference for three dayster.


    Kyle told Alexander, who was chilling on the ground feeding the dogs. Alexander didn''t even blink. He just held a sausage, watching Buddy and Liberty go nuts over it. Three dayster, Kaitlyn and Getty showed up at the press conference all dressed up. They got there, but besides their own crew, the ce was dead. "What''s the deal?" Getty asked, looking around.


    Kaitlyn was just as puzzled. She turned to Oscar, "Where is everyone? Are they all runningte?"


    "Lemme check," Oscar said, pulling out his phone and dialing up his contacts.


    Ten minutester, he came back looking kinda sheepish.


    "Kaitlyn, I can''t get ahold of anyone. A few media outlets said they''re swamped and short-staffed."


    One outlet being short-staffed is whatever, but all of them? No way. Someone''s definitely messing with them.


    Getty, fuming, chucked the mic to the ground. "What''s his game?"


    Kaitlyn was pissed too, but also a bit nervous. She thought, ''Has Alexander gotten so powerful he can control all the media in Amber Bay?''


    As they were debating whether to bail, the door swung open.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Getty''s heart skipped a beat, but when she looked up, it was Alexander. Her smile vanished.


    Kaitlyn and Getty exchanged a look, both wondering what he was doing there.


    Alexander strolled to the front row, sat down, and smirked at them on stage.


    All dolled up, Kaitlyn and Getty stood there looking like idiots.


    "Alexander, was this your doing?" Kaitlyn demanded.


    Alexander yed dumb. "Kaitlyn, what are you talking about? I''m just here to support you."


    He nced around. "Isn''t this a press conference? Where''s everyone at?"


    Kaitlyn''s face twisted in anger. She stormed up to Alexander, trying to keep her cool. "What do you want?"


    "Sorry, I don''t get what you mean," Alexander said, looking all innocent.


    Kaitlyn said, "Alexander, I know you''re scared I''ll spill your secret, so you pulled this stunt. Getty and I talked. I''ll just say she''s my daughter and won''t out you." Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Should I say thanks?"


    Kaitlyn shot back, "I raised you for years. Maybe I wasn''t perfect, but I did my best, right?"


    Alexander''s smile turned icy. "Would my life be worse if you hadn''t swapped the kids?"


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    Kaitlyn was speechless. Alexander''s original status wasn''t low either. Maybe without the swap, he''d be even better off.


    She tried to exin, "Yeah, I was selfish, but I never treated you badly, did I? Without me, would you be where you are now?"


    Alexander fired back, "Then tell me, if you hadn''t swapped your daughter with me, would you have married Wayne and be standing here today?"


    Kaitlyn was getting mad. "You''re grown now. What''s the point of bringing this up?"


    Alexander looked at her calmly. "Do you still want those shares?"


    Kaitlyn snapped, "Didn''t you give them up willingly?"


    Alexander''s smile grew, making her uneasy. "Why are you smiling?" she asked.


    Alexander tilted his head. "Did everyone get that?"


    As he finished, red curtains dropped, revealing a bunch of media folks. All the cameras were aimed right at them.

 Chapter 1061

    Kaitlyn''s face went ghost-white in a heartbeat.


    This wasn''t a no-show situation; everyone and their grandma showed up, way more than she ever thought!


    From the get-go, she never nned on blowing Alexander''s cover. ''Cause once that cat''s outta the bag, sure, Alexander would take a hit, but she''d be the one really getting wrecked. She''d used some shady moves to get into the Kennedy family. If this got out, she''d be toast.


    And Alexander?


    No matter how much it messed with him, he was still the victim. Now he ran thepany, and even if he didn''t wanna hand it over, they couldn''t do squat about it.


    The reporters swarmed in, their blinding cameras all up in Kaitlyn''s face. She was boxed in by so many people she couldn''t even think about escaping.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, is what you just said true?"


    "Did you swap your daughter with someone else''s son to get into the Kennedy family? As a mom, don''t you feel any guilt for that?"


    "Did the family you swapped kids with know? Ever think about how the other parents felt?"


    "Have you felt guilty all these years?"


    "Is status more important to you than your own kid? Is your child just a pawn to boost your status?"


    And one reporter even threw out a wild one, "Was Wayne''s death tied to this?"


    Kaitlyn''s face got darker. She raised her arm to shield her face, trying to push her way out, but she was stuck.


    "Security!" Kaitlyn yelled, but no one came to her rescue.


    Some reporters who couldn''t get close enough turned to Getty, surrounding her too.


    They asked if she knew her real identity, if her rtionship with Alexander was all Kaitlyn''s doing. Getty stood there, totally freaked out.


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    Today was supposed to be the day Kaitlyn revealed her identity. In a way, it was revealed, but not like this.


    She scanned the crowd for Alexander, only to see him chilling in a lower seat, arms draped over the chair, watching the chaos with a cold look. Getty, cornered by the questions, shouted, "I don''t know. I don''t know anything!"


    Agitated, she yelled, "I was dumped in a ditch as a kid. If my adoptive parents hadn''t picked me up, I''d be dead. What did I do wrong? I''m the real victim here!" As soon as she said this, the mics picked it up, her voice echoing through the ce.


    Kaitlyn was floored. She turned back to look at Getty in shock.


    Her own daughter had thrown her under the bus.


    She looked at Getty''s stiff face and the way Getty was desperately shifting the me onto her. The harmony of the past year now seemed like a joke.


    Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you''re on ?e5s.org to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Getty''s words got the media even more hyped. This was a juicy, sensational story of a rich family''s drama, sure to grab tons of attention.


    To back up her story, Getty even called Gilbert and Lucy, who confirmed everything and showed family photos.


    Alexander, bored out of his mind, got up and walked out.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Outside the venue, Kyle quickly opened the car door, "Mr. Kennedy, should we call the cops?"


    Alexander scoffed, "Call the cops? For what? Child abandonment, child trafficking? She''d get a few years, tops."


    He added nonchntly, "That''s too easy on her."


    Kyle was stunned, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He thought this was the end, but it seemed like just the beginning.


    Alexander lit a cigarette, his gaze drifting out the car window with the smoke, looking at the rain outside like a mist. "Prison would be a protection for her," he said.


    A few yearster, once she was out, no one would remember this. She could still live a normal life.

 Chapter 1062

    Kaitlyn had been swamped by reporters all day at the venue and didn''t manage to escape until nightfall.


    When she finally got home, she flopped onto the couch. "Oscar, get me a ss of water."


    No answer.


    She called out again, but it was like the whole vi was a ghost town. She dragged herself off the couch, looked around, and saw people were there, but they were all acting like she was invisible. "What the hell is this?" she yelled, but still, no one responded.


    Just as she was about to blow a fuse, Getty walked in.


    Seeing Getty only made her blood boil more. She snapped, "What are you doing here?"


    Getty didn''t even acknowledge her, just walked up and pped some documents on the table. "Sign it."


    Kaitlyn picked up the papers, suspicious. It was a property transfer agreement.


    "What the hell is this?" Kaitlyn demanded.


    Getty replied, "I talked to awyer. All the inheritance and assets you have are considered unjust enrichment. You don''t have the right to inherit my dad''s estate. As his daughter, I should get your share." Kaitlyn was shaking with rage. Pointing at Getty, she struggled to get the words out, "I am your mother!"


    Getty sneered, "Oh, now you wanna y the mom card? Where were you all this time? Who was it that always gave me a hard time, kept me out, and left me in the gutter? Which of those actions scream ''mother'' to you? Don''t disgrace the title."


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    With a mocking smile, she added, "Now you say you''re my mother, how can you even say that?"


    Kaitlyn stared at her in shock, took a moment to pull herself together, and then asked, "Did Alexander put you up to this?"


    Getty shrugged, "Why do you care? Just sign it. If you don''t, you''ll end up in jail. I''ve checked, you''re involved in trafficking and abandonment, and you''ll be in prison for several years at least."


    Giving Kaitlyn a once-over, Getty remarked, "I''m not even sure if you could handle prison for a few years, considering your health."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Kaitlyn, now visibly panicked, pleaded, "No, you can''t do this to me, Getty. Have you forgotten? I''ve been so good to you this past year, I found you the best stic surgeon, took care of you personally every day. How could you..." Getty cut her off, "Enough. Stop pretending. Do you really think a few small favors would make me forgive you? Let me tell you the truth, if it weren''t for your connection to The Kennedy family, I wouldn''t even bother with you."


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    Every word Getty said was like a p in the face, mercilessly hitting Kaitlyn.


    She had always felt guilty towards Getty and tried every way to make it up to her, but she never expected Getty to think this way.


    Getty urged impatiently, "Quit stalling, okay? Just sign it."


    Kaitlyn''s momentum weakened, and she looked at Getty almost pleadingly. "Getty, if I sign it, what will happen to me?"


    "Why should I care? Just sign it, or don''te crying to me when the police arrive," Getty threatened.


    Kaitlyn turned to look at the agreement on the table, as if she had aged a decade. Once she signed this agreement, she would have nothing left.

 Chapter 1063

    "I''m not signing!" Kaitlyn suddenly blurted out, her eyes zing with determination. "Even if it means jail time, I ain''t signing."


    Getty''s temper exploded. Pointing at Kaitlyn, she spat, "You ungrateful bitch! Fine, you wanna go to jail? I''ll make it happen. Let''s see if you can walk out alive!"


    With that, she angrily whipped out her phone and started dialing.


    Seeing Getty was serious about calling the cops, Kaitlyn jumped up and grabbed her hand. "Don''t call! Getty, please, don''t do it."


    Getty''s eyes shed with disgust as she snapped, "So, you gonna sign or not? Let me tell you, even if you don''t sign, I can still get this stuff back legally. By then, not only will you be in jail, but you won''t get a single penny." Her words shattered Kaitlyn''sst bit of resolve.


    Kaitlyn knew she had no choice. Knowing Getty, she wouldn''t say this stuff unless Alexander was behind it.


    Kaitlyn slowly let go of Getty''s hand and gave a bitter smile. "Alexander, I really didn''t waste my efforts on you."


    She thought, ''He knows exactly what I care about and made sure I lose it. If these tactics weren''t used on me, I''d be proud. The wealth and status I''ve worked so hard for will be gone in an instant. I''ll be worse off than thirty years ago, ending up with nothing.''


    Kaitlyn closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Fine, I''ll sign," she said, defeated.


    She sank back into her seat, trembling as she picked up the pen. Turning to thest page, she painstakingly signed her name, stroke by stroke.


    Getty''s eyes gleamed with triumph as she watched Kaitlyn sign.


    Once Kaitlyn finished, Getty snatched the document and handed it to thewyer behind her.


    Then she crossed her arms and looked down at Kaitlyn. "Kaitlyn, this vi is mine now. Move out."


    Kaitlyn was stunned, staring at Getty in disbelief. "What did you say?" she asked, shocked.


    Getty snapped, "I told you to move out. Didn''t you get it? Also, all the assets under your name are now mine. Don''t think you can take anything with you."


    "I signed the agreement, and now you''re kicking me out?" Kaitlyn asked, still in shock. She had gambled, thinking Getty would treat her better for signing. Getty sneered, "Yeah, you signed. Why would I keep you around? Get out now, or I''ll have someone throw you out."


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    Kaitlyn trembled with anger.


    Getty didn''t care. Seeing Kaitlyn not moving, she called people to throw her out.


    The door closed, leaving Kaitlyn outside.


    She stood in front of the familiar door, speechless.


    She couldn''t believe the ce she had lived in for thirty years suddenly wasn''t hers anymore.


    The drizzle fell on her head, making her hair wet. She looked wretched and haggard.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Getty took the agreement and went to find Alexander.


    She ran to Alexander, eager to show off, and handed him the agreement. "Alexander, look, I did it. That bitch is out and homeless," she said proudly. Alexander nced at it casually. "Well done," he praised calmly.


    She immediately sat down next to him. "So, will you marry me now?" she asked hopefully.


    Alexander looked at her, a smirk forming. "When did I say I''d marry you?" he asked.


    Getty was stunned. "You had me do all this, wasn''t it to marry me?" she asked.


    Alexander extended his hand, and Kyle behind him immediately ced a document in it.


    He handed the document to Getty. "I have a better reward for you," he said.


    Getty looked and saw it was another stock transfer. She threw it aside and shouted, "I don''t want this. I want to marry you!"


    Alexander stared at her, a flicker of disdain in his eyes.


    "You don''t want it? Don''t regret it then," Alexander said, trying to take the document back. The next second, Getty grabbed it again.

 Chapter 1064

    Alexander''s lips twisted into a smug grin.


    Getty squared her shoulders and blurted out, "So, you''re really not gonna marry me?"


    If Alexander was dead set on not marrying her, she had no reason to give up those shares.


    Alexander just kept smiling, his silence saying it all.


    Seeing how stubborn he was, Getty clutched the documents tight and yanked them away. "Fine! I''ll sign," she grumbled.


    Alexander tilted his head and called out, "Kyle, get ready for a shareholders'' meeting."


    "Got it," Kyle replied.


    For some reason, Alexander''s chill vibe made Getty uneasy.


    Even though he said it was to make it up to her, she just couldn''t buy it.


    This wasn''t the Alexander she knew.


    The next day, the shareholders'' meeting went down as nned. Alexander announced the transfer of shares to Getty and hisplete exit from the Kennedy Group, which everyone at the meeting approved. In front of the media andwyers, Alexander and Getty signed the transfer agreement.


    Alexander shed a slight smile and extended his hand to Getty, saying, "Congrats. From now on, you''re the chairman of the Kennedy Group."


    Getty wanted to smile too, but her recent cosmetic surgery made it impossible. Any effort to smile just made her face look weird.


    Finally, she chose to shake Alexander''s hand, marking the end of the share transfer ceremony.


    Abigail bit the remote control, watching the scene on TV, and muttered, "Alexander must be nuts, handing thepany to Getty. If he likes her so much, why''s he been acting all torn up over Quinn''s death?" Oliver walked over, snatched the remote from her hand, and turned off the TV. "Stop watching," he demanded.


    "Why''d you turn it off?" Abigail asked, annoyed.


    "If you keep following Alexander''s news, you''ll just get mad. What''s the point?" Oliver asked, exasperated.


    Abigail pouted and said, "I''m just waiting to see when he kicks the bucket so I can celebrate."


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    Oliver shook his head and took the remote away.


    Abigail habitually pulled out her phone and checked Instagram. She mainly opened Quinn''s profile, but there was nothing new.


    She could only stare at Quinn''s cartoon avatar for a long time.


    She sent Quinn a message: [Orion keeps asking me where you went. Should I tell him? But I don''t know where you went either, so how can I tell him?]


    The message was sent, but as usual, no reply.


    Inside Regal Riverside, Alexander was standing in front of the study''s floor-to-ceiling window. He''d been there for ages.


    Kyle knocked and walked in,ing up behind him to report, "Mr. Kennedy, everything''s settled."


    He added, "With Getty''s skills, she definitely won''t notice thepany''s issues. By the time she figures it out, thepany will be toast."


    Kyle thought, ''If the Kennedy Group tanks under Getty''s watch, it''s kinda sad. The Kennedy Group''s copse would have big consequences. When that happens, Getty''s real ''good days'' will start. Hope she can handle it.''


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    "Any movement from the Dixon family?" Alexander asked.


    Kyle shook his head, saying, "Still nothing. After all, Walter isn''t their biological kid. Maybe you''re overthinking it?"


    Alexander closed his eyes, looking a bit worn out.


    "What about Landon? Still no news?" Alexander asked again.


    Kyle instinctively shrank his neck, saying, "Nope, we''ve checked almost everywhere, but there''s no sign of him. I guess he might''ve changed his name."


    Alexander suddenly opened his eyes, a sh of coldness in them as he stared at the withered tree outside.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    He murmured, "Fine. I''ll wait for him toe to me."


    Kyle remembered something else and added, "Yesterday, Matthew and the guys caught a thief. This is the fifth one this year. Something feels off, so I wanted to let you know."


    Alexander suddenly looked at him and asked, "A thief?"


    Kyle replied, "Yeah, before they caught them and sent them straight to the cops. Yesterday, I happened to be there and found out this was the fifth one. Knowing there are bodyguards, why would they still try to steal? Are thieves really this dumb nowadays?"

 Chapter 1065

    Alexander gave Kyle a look that could freeze hell over.


    Kyle felt a shiver run down his spine and awkwardly suggested, "Uh, maybe we should bring them in for questioning?"


    Alexander shook his head. "Nah, no need. Just tell Matthew and the crew to let them in next time. I wanna see what they''re after." Kyle''s eyes lit up. "Got it."


    In his head, Kyle was thinking, ''Interrogation might not get us much, but if we let them in, the vi''s packed with cameras. We''ll catch everything they do. When we nab them, we''ll know exactly what they''re up to.'' He couldn''t help but admire Alexander''s smarts.


    Alexander raised his hand, signaling Kyle to scram.


    He then plopped down in a chair and pulled out a white wristwatch from his pocket, gently rubbing it with his fingers.


    The screen on the watch silently disyed images.


    Outside, the sky was dark and heavy with rain. The unlit study was dim, made gloomier by the weather.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    From the doorway, only Alexander''s dark silhouette was visible.


    Kyle sighed, walked out, and closed the door behind him..


    Kaitlyn''s baby-switching scandal was still blowing up online, turning into some major gossip.


    Meanwhile, Alexander''s exit from the Kennedy Group had folks singing his praises. He was seen as the biggest victim.


    As for Getty, she was already regretting taking over thepany on her first day, unable to make sense of the chaotic documents. She even regretted signing the stock transfer agreement.


    Meanwhile, over in Las Vegas, Walter saw the news and smirked. "Alexander''s really something."


    A subordinate next to him asked, "If he left the Kennedy Group, doesn''t that mean he''s got nothing now?"


    "Why do you always underestimate him?" Walter said, giving the subordinate a look that made him lower his head in shame.


    Walter casually tossed the documents into the firece, where the mes quickly ate them up.


    The warm firelight danced on his face as he spoke in the small room, "Do you really think the Kennedy Group is just an empty shell now?" "So, did he transfer the assets?" the subordinate asked, suspicious.


    "Who knows? He waited until now to transfer thepany. What do you think he''s been doing all year?" Walter said, his smile growing colder.


    Alexander, proud and arrogant, would never stick around the Kennedy Group after finding out his true identity. Even if it was his now, he wouldn''t care to keep it.


    But he couldn''t let the Kennedy Group go down the drain. Aside from the criticism, if the Kennedy Group went bankrupt, he wouldn''t be able to leave Amber Bay. Getty was the perfect scapegoat. Walter tilted his head slightly, as if thinking of something. "Does she know about this?" he asked.


    The subordinate replied, "No, the TV doesn''t have financial channels, nor is it connected to Amber Bay''s channels."


    "Have the people sent to Amber Bay to retrieve the pendant not returned yet?" Walter asked again.


    The subordinate shook his head. "No."


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    "Completely useless," Walter said indifferently. His tone wasn''t angry, but it made one''s scalp tingle.


    Outside, snow was falling heavily, nketing everything in white. Even the windows were covered with a thickyer of snow.


    But in Amber Bay, it had been raining for days. The once-morous Kaitlyn now squatted disheveled under a bridge.


    She had just been to Kennedy Residence and got kicked out again, clutching the crumpled two hundred dors Getty had given her.


    As she walked, she asionally heard news from passersby. She was notorious now; almost everyone knew about her.


    The wives of those powerful families refused to see her and had blocked her number. Freya was still in prison, and she couldn''t even visit her.


    Kaitlyn had tried seeking help from Ruby. However, Ruby, who didn''t want to be associated with her, perfunctorily transferred her two thousand dors.


    Now she was like a pariah. If anyone recognized her, they would take pictures and post them online, where she would be condemned by countless people. So she could only walk around in this state, hoping not to be noticed.

 Chapter 1066

    Suddenly, a coin got flicked in front of her. Kaitlyn stared at it for a sec, then slowly looked up to see some college kid walking away. Watching that figure, she kinda saw Alexander back in his school days.


    Every time she saw Alexander turning more and more into the son she always dreamed of, she couldn''t help but beam with pride.


    Her tears started to blur her vision. It wasn''t until that figure vanished that she reached out, picked up the coin, and kept rubbing it in her palm.


    Christmas was around the corner, and joy was everywhere, even under the bridge.


    Kaitlyn thought, ''I''m over fifty now, and here I am, homeless.''This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Thinking this, she couldn''t help but cover her face and start crying softly.


    She didn''t know how long had passed when suddenly a pair of shiny leather shoes appeared in her sight.


    Kaitlyn was stunned for a moment. She looked up nkly, her gaze slowly moving up through her messy hair.


    Alexander, dressed in a ck coat, looked down at her from above.


    A hint of joy shed in her eyes. "Alexander?" she asked, surprised.


    She thought she was seeing things and rubbed her eyes hard. After confirming that the person in front of her was real, she propped herself up against the wall and stood up shakily. She looked at Alexander in front of her, her eyes full of hope. "Why are you here?" she asked.


    "The environment here looks nice," Alexander said, ncing around. "It suits you well," he scoffed.


    Kaitlyn trembled all over, unable to hold back her tears. She tried to reach out and grab his hand, but when she saw his cold eyes, her hand froze in mid-air, too afraid to move forward. "Alexander, I know you''re mad. I''ve already gotten the punishment I deserve these days. Can you forgive me? Let mee back," she pleaded.


    Alexander remained unmoved, his emotionless gaze resting lightly on Kaitlyn''s face.


    "You think wandering outside for a few days counts as punishment?" he said coldly.


    "Then what do you want?" Kaitlyn asked.


    Alexander''s eyes turned cold, carrying a hint of murderous intent. "Bring Quinn back," he demanded.


    Kaitlyn''s pupils contracted.


    Alexander took a step forward, causing Kaitlyn to instinctively step back until her back was pressed against the wall. She stared at him in panic.


    Alexander said, "If it weren''t for you, if it weren''t for the Kennedy name, she and I wouldn''t havee to this."


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    He suddenly grabbed Kaitlyn by the neck, pressing her against the wall, his voice bone-chillingly cold. "If you had told me earlier, I might have spared you."


    Kaitlyn stared at him, her face turning red, her eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. She couldn''t utter a single word, only making painful sounds, her fingers constantly pping Alexander''s arm. Alexander dered coldly, "But now it''s toote."


    He continued, "Kaitlyn, you really deserve to die. Do you know what I want to do? I want to tear you into pieces and make you watch as dogs eat your own body."


    Kaitlyn''s mind went nk. She couldn''t hear anything; she could only see Alexander''s sinister and terrifying face.


    Just as she was about to suffocate, Alexander suddenly released his grip.


    She slumped weakly to the ground, clutching her neck and gasping for air.


    Alexander took out a handkerchief to wipe his fingers. "Such punishment is still too light for you."

 Chapter 1067

    Alexander squatted down in front of her, a smirk ying on his lips, but his eyes were ice-cold.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    He sneered, "Kaitlyn, you''re the first person I can''t figure out how to punish ''cause nothing seems harsh enough for you."


    Kaitlyn finally caught her breath and looked up at Alexander, her eyes filling with tears.


    The cold seeped into her bones, making her shiver uncontrobly. "You hate me that much?" she croaked, staring at Alexander''s familiar face, suddenly feeling like she didn''t know him at all. Alexander stared at her for a moment before giving a curt nod. "Yeah."


    Kaitlyn''s lips twitched, caught between a sob and augh.


    When he was one, Alexander grinned at her with his two front teeth and called her "Mom."


    At four, he ran out at night to find her when she came homete, throwing himself into her arms and promising to make lots of money to take care of her when he grew up.


    Her heart softened for the first time then, but she still patted his head and said, "Then you gotta study hard, be good, and make your dad like you. Only then will he take us home, and we can have a good life." Alexander, too young to fully understand, saw the hope in her eyes and nodded firmly.


    And he didn''t let her down. He skipped kindergarten and went straight to elementary school. The first time he showed her a perfect score, she almost forgot he was someone she had stolen. She was proud of him, like he was her own son.


    After joining the Kennedy family, she got stricter with him. At first, he admitted his mistakes and reflected on them, but over time, he started arguing back and eventually went silent. She worried daily about her position being threatened and poured almost all her hopes into Alexander.


    She didn''t know when theirmunication dwindled and they grew distant. Ridiculously, she thought he was bing more mature and steady, more in line with her expectations. Her position became more secure.


    The lust for power really made her lose her mind. Amid the envious and ttering gazes of others, she became increasingly unwilling to recall the days when they depended on each other in a rented apartment, let alone how she had stolen Alexander.


    Now, suddenly, she began to miss those days.


    Alexander tossed a handkerchief in front of her and stood up. "The feeling of being betrayed and having nothing isn''t good, is it? This is what you deserve. Enjoy the rest of your days." With that, he turned and walked away from the bridge.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Kyle saw Alexandering and immediately opened an umbre to meet him.


    Kaitlyn sat on the cold ground, watching his figure disappear into the night. She hugged herself tightly but still couldn''t escape the biting wind.


    The rain poured down harder, and cars zoomed by in front of her.


    No one would help her. Alexander had made his disgust for her clear, and she couldn''t find any job, not even as a janitor.


    Her documents were cklisted, preventing her from renting an apartment, staying in a hotel, or leaving Amber Bay.


    She could only beg or pick up trash in Amber Bay, living under the bridge and avoiding crowded ces for fear of being recognized.


    Lacking the courage to end it all, she could only live in pain.

 Chapter 1068

    Alexander had been hanging around Regal Riverside for over a month, waiting for that sneaky thief to show up. Finally, on January 15th, the thief made his move. That night, Alexander took a little stroll. Around nine, Calvin Wood, all decked out in ck, scaled the wall and slipped into the yard.


    He snuck up to the second floor through a window,nding in one of the rooms and started tearing the ce apart.


    He didn''t touch any of the pricey stuff, though. When he couldn''t find what he was after, he moved on to the next room.


    He pretty much ransacked every room, even the storage, but came up empty-handed.


    Not ready to throw in the towel, he went back to the study and gave it another thorough search.


    After confirming he was out of luck, he bailed, climbing back out the window and hopping over the wall to leave the vi.


    But then, he froze.


    A bunch of people were standing there, with Alexander front and center, arms crossed, looking amused. "Well, didn''t find anything you like?" Alexander asked. Calvin''s face went pale. Just as he tried to bolt, the bodyguards yanked him back.


    They kicked his knees, making him drop to the ground in pain.


    Alexander stepped up, bent down, and stared at him. "Spill it, what are you looking for?" he asked.


    Calvin kept his head down. After a few seconds, he looked up, panicked, and pleaded, "I messed up. I just wanted to steal some cash. I won''t do it again. Please let me go!"


    Alexander locked eyes with Calvin for a moment, then stood up straight and ordered, "Search him."


    At Alexander''smand, Matthew stepped up, pinned Calvin down, and searched him.


    Matthew found a few nes, a phone, and some watches, making it look like Calvin was really there to swipe valuables. He handed the stuff to Alexander. Alexander casually flipped through them and picked up the phone. Using Calvin''s finger to unlock it, he opened the phone and found just a few contacts. One wasbeled Mr. rk.


    Alexander dialed the number, and Calvin''s face twitched.


    A momentter, the call connected, and a man''s voice came through. "How did it go?"


    No one on this end spoke.


    After a brief pause, the man on the phone spoke again, "Why aren''t you talking? Did you find it?"


    Calvin on the ground lost his cool and shouted at the phone, "Mr. rk, I''ve been caught!"


    "What?"


    The guy on the other end seemed to catch on and immediately hung up.


    Alexander nced at Calvin, who shrank back and stayed silent.


    "I''ll ask you onest time, what are you looking for?" Alexander asked coldly.


    Calvin gritted his teeth and kept his head down, saying nothing.


    Alexander didn''t get mad and tossed the phone to Matthew. "Make him talk," Alexander demanded.


    "Got it," Matthew replied right away.


    After Calvin was dragged away, Alexander went back to the vi. He turned on the TV, rested his head on his hand, and closed his eyes, deep in thought.


    "Kyle, dig into this guy and find all his buddies," he ordered.


    Kyle nodded. "Got it."


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Buddy and Liberty ran over, squatted around him, and stared at him for a while. When they didn''t get any food, theyy down dejectedly at his feet.


    The TV was sting cartoons, the sound echoing through every corner of the living room. Yet, there was still a weird chill in the air.


    Buddy, not ready to give up, rubbed against Alexander''s ankle.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander opened his eyes and looked down to see Buddy staring at him eagerly.


    He reached out and patted Buddy''s furry head.


    Suddenly, the phone rang. He pulled his hand back, picked up the phone, and answered it. It was Matthew.


    Matthew reported, "Mr. Kennedy, this coward spilled the beans. He said he was looking for a ne."


    Alexander squinted. "What ne?"


    Matthew scratched his head. "I couldn''t make sense of his description. I''ll bring him over so you can grill him yourself." Alexander replied, "Alright."


    Half an hourter, Matthew brought Calvin back and tossed him at Alexander''s feet.


    Matthew said, "Speak for yourself."

 Chapter 1069

    Calvin was a mess on the ground, missing a front tooth, blood all over his mouth. Two of his fingernails were gone, leaving his hands a bloody wreck.


    Shivering, he knelt there, wiped his nose with his sleeve, and mumbled, "It''s the ne you guys took earlier, the green one."


    Matthew dumped the jewelry onto the table, rummaged through it, and pulled out a green gemstone ne. "This one?"


    Calvin nodded frantically. "Yeah, that''s the one."


    Alexander toyed with the ne, looking at him without emotion. "Why''d you steal this ne?"


    Calvin replied, "Because it''s valuable."


    Alexander kept pushing, "How do you know it''s valuable? Or better yet, how''d you know I had this ne?"


    Calvin was stunned for a sec, then tried to argue, "In such a big mansion, there''s gotta be something valuable."


    Alexander pressed on, "What I mean is, there are tons of things more valuable than this. Why''d you specifically steal this? What''s your deal? Who sent you to grab it?"


    "I..." Calvin stammered, totally lost for words.


    Alexander nced at Matthew, his tone getting dangerous. "This what you call a confession?"


    Matthew''s neck stiffened. He grabbed Calvin again, snapping, "Still lying, huh? Guess you haven''t had enough pain!"


    He was about to drag Calvin off for another round.


    "Wait." Alexander signaled for him to put Calvin down, leaned in a bit, and stared at Calvin''s bloody face. "You were looking for a pendant that looks like a bell, right?"


    Calvin was taken aback. He looked up at Alexander in shock and met his smiling eyes, realizing he''d been yed.


    He quickly lowered his head and argued, "No!"


    Alexander''s lips curled slightly. "No?"


    Calvin shook his head quickly, blood and spit almost sttering on Alexander.


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    Alexander straightened up, stepped back a bit, and signaled Matthew to take Calvin away.


    Matthew asked, "What should we do with him?"


    "Don''t need him," Alexander said casually.


    Terrified, Calvin ignored the blood on his hands and grabbed Alexander''s pant leg. "I''ll tell the truth. Don''t kill me!"


    Alexander said, "Let''s hear it."


    Calvin, trembling, said, "It''s the ne you mentioned, the one that looks like a bell."


    "Who sent you?" Alexander asked.


    Calvin spilled, "It was my boss. He''s a habitual thief. I don''t know why he wants this. He just told us to find it and said we''d get a lot of money if we did."This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Alexander squinted, his fingers slowly tightening, but his face stayed nk. He asked again, "Where''s your boss now?"


    "I don''t know. He only contacts us when there''s something he needs us to steal. We can''t find him otherwise," Calvin said.


    "What''s his name?" Alexander inquired.


    "I don''t know. We all just call him ''boss.""


    After he finished, he pleaded with Alexander, "I''ve told you everything I know. Can you let me go?"


    Alexander looked at him with no expression and said calmly, "Unfortunately, none of this is what I wanted to hear. Matthew." Getting themand, Matthew dragged Calvin out.


    Calvin kept begging for mercy, but Matthew shut him up with a single chop.


    The vi went quiet. Alexander sat on the sofa, staring at the images on the TV, emotions swirling in his eyes.

 Chapter 1070

    The next morning, Kyle rolled up to Regal Riverside and spotted Alexander just sitting there, frozen on the couch.


    Kyle figured Alexander was asleep and tiptoed over, only to see his eyes wide open, staring at something, looking quite frightening.


    "Mr. Kennedy," Kyle whispered.


    After a few beats, Alexander finally turned his head.


    Kyle said, "I did some digging. They''re just some low-life thieves. Their boss is Vincent rk. He''s been locked up twice for theft, no big connections." "Where''s he at?" Alexander asked.


    "Nathan''s already on it. We should hear back soon," Kyle replied.


    "Kyle," Alexander suddenly called out.


    "Yeah?" Kyle asked.


    "Among the stuff the crematorium folks brought, there was a ne with a bell. Where''s that?" Alexander asked.


    Kyle scratched his head, thinking, and said, "Pretty sure you tossed it."


    Alexander shot up, staring at Kyle with this intense look that sent chills down his spine. Kyle stammered, "What''s the deal?"


    "Can we still find it?" Alexander asked.


    "That''s gonna be tough." Kyle thought, ''It''s been a year, where would we even start?'' But seeing Alexander''s grim face, he quickly changed his tune, "The funeral home shut down after that mess. If the junk''s still there, we might get lucky." Alexander brushed past him and stormed out.


    Just as he got in the car, Nathan called to say they found Vincent, but he was already dead.


    Alexander headed to the scene. Cops were hauling the body out, and folks were gossiping.


    Word was he mixed antibiotics with booze and croaked at home.


    Alexander stood in the crowd, staring at the corpse under the white sheet until it was loaded into the police car.


    Nathan came over and whispered, "When we found him, he was already dead at home."


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    Alexander turned and left. He jumped in the car, floored it, nearly mowing down some onlookers, who started cussing him out.


    Seeing this, Kyle quickly followed, worried something might go down.


    They sped all the way to the funeral home. Alexander got out and stared at the door.


    No one had been there for a year, and weeds were growing in the cracks.


    "Mr. Kennedy, what are we doing here?" Kyle asked.


    "Open the door!" Alexander barked, grabbing Kyle by the cor and tossing him over.


    Kyle stumbled to the door. The lock was too big for him to handle, so he had to call a locksmith toe unlock it.


    As soon as the door opened, Alexander rushed in.


    He headed straight to the cremation room, searched it, found nothing, and moved next door.


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    Kyle trailed behind, neck shrinking, looking around nervously. The dark hallway and eerie silence gave him the creeps. He quickly caught up with Alexander, sticking close to provide light.


    The ce was pretty much untouched. In some spots, there were even piles of ash. Kyle didn''t want to think about what kind of ash it was.


    Suddenly, Alexander flipped a stretcher, and the loud crash nearly made Kyle jump out of his skin.


    Wearing a suit was a pain for moving around, so Alexander ditched his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt and cuffs.


    He started digging through a pile of discarded iron racks. As he grabbed one, a sharp piece of metal sliced his forearm, and blood started oozing out.


    "Mr. Kennedy," Kyle called out instinctively.


    Alexander ignored him, not even ncing at his wound. He kept pulling down iron racks, stretchers, and chairs.


    Under the pile were scattered items like trays, scissors, and clothes. What he was looking for might be buried there.


    Kyle was worried. He thought, ''This junk is all tangled up. If we''re not careful, it could alle crashing down.''Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Just as he thought that, a loud crash echoed. The pile of junk, about 6.7 feet high, copsed, all falling towards them. Kyle''s eyes widened, and he shouted, "Mr. Kennedy!"

 Chapter 1071

    The ce was a total mess, but Kyle and Alexander were in the worst shape.


    They were sitting in the middle of the chaos, both banged up. Kyle picked up a phone from the ground; it was a bit busted, and the light was flickering.


    Being in a funeral home was already creepy, and the flickering phone light made it even spookier.


    "How about we wait till daylight to look for it? Or I could call someone to help us search," Kyle suggested.


    But when he looked at Alexander, he saw him with one arm on his knee, head hanging low in silence. His messy hair cast shadows over his face, making it hard to see his expression.


    Kyle was a bit worried. He thought, ''Did something happen to him?''


    He cautiously moved closer to Alexander, trying to see if he was still alive.


    "Kyle, Quinn might still be alive," Alexander suddenly said, startling Kyle so much that he fell back onto the ground.


    Even though he had heard Alexander say this many times before, there was a difference this time. Before, he would only say Quinn was still alive. But this time, he added the word "might."


    The former was his obsession and refusal to ept reality, while this time, his words carried a certain conviction.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you wouldn''t be..." crazy, would you?


    He didn''t finish the sentence; saying it in a ce like this would be too terrifying.


    Alexander suddenly lifted his head, and Kyle was shocked to see blood on his forehead, trickling down from his hairline along his temple.


    "You''re hurt?" Kyle blurted out.


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    Alexander averted his gaze, looking at the pile of clutter, ignoring Kyle''s words. "She must still be alive."


    Kyle felt a bit helpless. To get along with Alexander, he asked, "Did you find any clues?"


    In a low voice, Alexander replied, "Those thieves were after that ne. It was a gift from Walter. If there wasn''t some secret in it, Walter wouldn''t have gone to such lengths to steal it." "Walter? Is he still alive too?" Kyle stammered, clearly surprised.


    Alexander braced himself on the ground, slowly rising to his feet. He then started to analyze, "If he had died, the Dixon family wouldn''t have just ignored it. Landon hid in Amber Bay for so long without making a move, but as soon as Quinn ''died,'' he showed up to take the body."


    He continued, "If he didn''t already know, he wouldn''t have been able to stay calm for so long. All the signs indicate that they''re all still alive."


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Alexander''s tone was calm, more so than ever before, which convinced Kyle with his analysis.


    "But after Walter jumped off that cliff, there was no news. It might be difficult to find him," Kyle reminded, looking troubled.


    "As long as he''s alive, we''ll find him one day." Alexander''s voice carried a hint of coldness, as if he were talking to himself. "You actually went along with him to deceive me." Kyle was taken aback. He thought, ''That ''you'' probably didn''t refer to me, right? Could he be talking about Quinn?''


    Alexander stepped over the obstacles and headed towards the door.


    Kyle thought for a moment and hurriedly followed, asking, "Aren''t we looking for the ne?"


    "There''s no need to look for it anymore," Alexander said.


    Then they walked out of the funeral home and drove away. Behind them, the funeral home stood silently in the wilderness, witnessing their car disappear into the dawn.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1072

    A few dayster, Getty was all kinds of stressed out over thepany''s mess and headed to Regal Riverside to hit up Alexander for some help. Even if she couldn''t hand thepany back to him, she had to figure out a way to get him to take the reins.


    But when she got to Regal Riverside, something felt off. It was way too quiet. The bodyguards at the entrance? Gone. Even those two annoying dogs in the yard? Nowhere to be seen.


    Frowning, she hit the doorbell.


    Two minutester, Olivia opened the door. "Ms. Morgan, what brings you here?" Olivia asked.


    "I''m here to see Alexander. Where''s he at?" Getty said, stepping inside. The ce looked the same, but Alexander was MIA.


    Olivia followed her and said, "Mr. Kennedy''s left."


    "Left? Where''d he go?" Getty asked.


    Olivia gave an awkward smile. "I don''t know. He took off the day before yesterday and probably isn''t in Amber Bay anymore."


    "What?" Getty was floored. She thought Alexander had just stepped out, but he had actually left Amber Bay.


    "Did he say when he''d be back?" Getty asked again.


    "Nope, he just told me to keep an eye on the ce. Now it''s just me in this big vi," Olivia replied.


    Olivia felt pretty bummed. Living alone in such a huge ce was super lonely.


    Getty stood there in the living room, feeling a bit lost, like a piece of her heart was missing.


    Meanwhile, on the highway, two ck Range Rovers were parked by the roadside.


    Sean was squatting on the ground, checking the map, scribbling in his notebook while two dogs ran wild in the field next to the road. This time of year, there were no crops, just wild grass.


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    "Mr. Kennedy, I''ve noted all the spots here. Take a look and decide where to hit first," Sean said, handing the notebook to Alexander, who was leaning against the car, smoking. Alexander nced at it and casually tossed it back to Sean, saying, "Let''s move to the next spot." He flicked the cigarette to the ground, stomped it out, opened the car door, and called out, "Buddy!"


    The two dogs ying in the field heard him and bolted towards him, tails wagging, and jumped into the car.


    Sean scratched his head and got into his own car.


    As the cars took off, the two dogs stuck their heads out of the windows, tongues hanging out, watching the scenery whiz by, their fur ruffled by the wind.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Before this, Kyle thought Alexander would deploy everyone to search for Quinn.


    Instead, Alexander took off with just two dogs and Sean, leaving Kyle in Amber Bay to manage ''the Mellon Group.''


    Alexander also carried Quinn''s notebook, which listed all the ces she wanted to visit. He nned to hit up all these spots, hoping to bump into her somewhere. Unfortunately, despite visiting many ces, he never saw Quinn''s familiar face.


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    Over the course of a year, he had traveled across most of the country. He had been hospitalized five times due to high altitude sickness from the lingering effects of a previous fire. Although he seemed fine in other ces, he couldn''t handle high altitudes.


    But even hospital visits couldn''t kill his drive to keep going. Sean was speechless; even the two dogs were in better shape than Alexander, constantly worried about his health. Yet, just after leaving the hospital, he wanted to keep heading west. Sean hurriedly ran up to stop him, advising, "Mr. Kennedy, let''s head back. Or go south; there are still plenty of ces we haven''t hit. Don''t go further west."


    Alexander nced at him, pushed him aside, and said, "If you wanna go back, go back yourself."


    With that, he opened the car door, got in, and drove off.


    Sean scratched his head in frustration, unable to do anything to stop Alexander. He checked his phone''s map and saw that if they kept going, they''d hit Las Vegas, another high-altitude area. It seemed they needed to stock up on more oxygen tanks for the trip.

 Chapter 1073

    "The Kennedy Group''s stock just tanked this month. Ever since Getty took over as chairmanst December, it''s been a downhill ride. All their businesses are in the dumps. Right now, a bunch of their industries are just stuck in limbo." The TV was ring thetest scoop on the Kennedy Group. Over the past year, they''ve been all over the headlines, with bigpanies circling like vultures, waiting to pounce.


    The Kennedy Group had its fingers in a lot of pies. Now that things were going south, all those small and medium businesses they used to squash were having a field day.


    But because they were so spread out, they couldn''t just throw in the towel and dere bankruptcy.


    If they couldn''t turn things around, they''d have to wait for their subsidiaries to get gobbled up by otherpanies, making sure there wasn''t any social chaos before they could call it quits.


    Sean nced at Alexander, who was curled up on the couch. They''d just gotten here not too long ago and were snowed in by a massive blizzard.


    They couldn''t leave or move forward.


    Stuck in this tiny town, at least there were plenty of houses. Alexander had snagged this two-story ce.


    There was heating inside; otherwise, they''d be popsicles by now with all that snow outside.


    After checking the weather forecast, Sean walked over and said, "Mr. Kennedy, the forecast says this blizzard''s gonnast till March next year. Even if the snow stops, the roads will be icy, and cars won''t budge." Alexander propped his head up, looking pale. Hearing Sean''s words, he suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "What day is it today?"


    Sean replied awkwardly, "December 28th."


    Alexander suddenly couldn''t catch his breath. Clutching his chest, he started gasping for air.


    Sean quickly handed him the oxygen tank nearby and said, "Mr. Kennedy, please don''t get worked up. The doc said you can''t get emotional, or your altitude sickness will get worse." Alexander grabbed the oxygen tank and took several deep breaths before he felt a bit better.


    Sean muttered, "Mr. Kennedy, we''ve been searching for a year already. What''s another three months? Think of it as a break, a chance to get used to the ce."


    Earlier, Sean had asked Kyle, and now he knew Alexander wasn''t on a vacation; he was looking for Quinn.


    But with this way of searching, they''d be lucky to find her even if they searched for another ten years.


    "We''re wasting three months here," Alexander sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.


    Sean sat down too, trying to cheer him up, "Maybe when the snow stops, you''ll step outside and see Mrs. Kennedy right there?"This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Alexander nced at him, scoffing, "If you can''tfort someone, don''t try."


    Sean scratched his head and awkwardly shut his mouth.


    Alexander looked back at the TV and said lightly, "Do you all disagree with my way of searching?"


    Sean nodded, then quickly shook his head. He hurriedly rified, "No! I totally agree. You haven''t had a proper rest in so many years. This is a good chance to chill and see the world."

 Chapter 1074

    Alexander chuckled and yanked out a beat-up notebook from his pocket.


    It was already falling apart, and after flipping through it a million times over the past year, it looked even worse.


    He gently ran his fingers over the scribbles and muttered to himself, "I messed up big time with her. Just sitting around waiting for someone to bring her back? That''s no different from before. I could never keep her."


    Sean was floored, not knowing what to say. After a long pause, he finally blurted out, "If she knew how much you care, she''d totally forgive you."


    Alexander shook his head and sighed, "I''m not doing this for her forgiveness."


    He closed his eyes and, in a much softer voice, said, "I just feel like if I don''t do something, even if I see her, I won''t be able to face her."


    He added, "As long as she''s alive, that''s enough. At least I know she''s out there somewhere, talking,ughing, doing what she loves."


    Sean nodded seriously, saying, "But what if you''re wrong, and she''s... gone?"


    Alexander shot him a fierce re.


    Sean instinctively covered his mouth and rolled off the couch. "I''ll go feed Buddy and Liberty."


    With that, he bolted.


    Running into the kitchen, he pped himself. He really shouldn''t have said that.


    Kyle had warned him not to speak carelessly, saying that giving Alexander some hope and motivation to live was good, even if it took one year, two years, ten years, or fifty years.


    At least during those years, Alexander would be living with hope. Even if he was disappointed at thest moment of his life, it was better than spending year after year in disappointment.


    Actually, Alexander''s way of searching wasn''t entirely about doing something. Because he wasn''t even a hundred percent sure that Quinn was still alive. If he mobilized everyone to search and the result was disappointing, it would only make him more disheartened.


    However, searching on his own was different. If he didn''t find her, he would justfort himself by thinking he hadn''t searched enough ces. If this ce didn''t have her, he could go to the next ce.


    Alexander turned off the TV and leaned back on the couch with his eyes closed. The heavy snow outside, apanied by the howling wind, was even worse than the day Quinn left him.


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    Since then, he had hated snowy days.


    The third New Year was approaching, and he dreamed of her less and less. Even if he didn''t deliberately think of her, everyone he saw on the street looked like her. However, over the past two years, Quinn rarely thought of Alexander.


    No one mentioned him, there was no news of him, and no one spoke his name. She had left Alexander and was living her own life, just as she had always wanted. On New Year''s Day, Walter gave her a New Year''s gift.


    Quinn took the box and opened it, only to find a cell phone inside.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    She looked at Walter in surprise as she said, "A cell phone?"


    Quinn had almost forgotten about cell phones. She took out the phone and turned it on. It was brand new but had a SIM card inside. Walter said, "This gift is for you. I hope you can truly start a new life."


    Six months ago, Quinn had already gained her freedom. Walter had taught her how to drive, and most importantly, how to ride a horse.


    In this prairie area, horses were everywhere, and it was hard to resist the temptation of riding. She actually preferred riding to driving.


    She had visited many nearby towns but had never taken the opportunity to contact Alexander or anyone from Amber Bay, nor had she actively searched for any news about him. Walter knew all of this. Over the past two years, although Quinn lived with him, they were basically like familiar roommates, with no intimate interactions.


    Because Quinn could never ept the way he had taken her away.


    It wasn''t until this moment that Quinn felt moved.


    "Thank you," she said.


    "You''re wee," Walter said with a smile. "I believe in you. If you could make it for the past two years, you can make it in the future too."

 Chapter 1075

    Quinn gripped her phone tighter and shed a small smile. "Yeah, sure thing."


    She''d kept it together for the past two years, and she could keep doing it. She''d almostpletely moved on from Alexander.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    No way she was going back to him.


    "Alright, don''t stay up toote. Get some rest." Walter handed her the phone and took off.


    He headed to another room, found one of his guys, and asked about Alexander''s whereabouts.


    The dude sent to find the ne had been made. Walter figured Alexander would be flipping out, sending people everywhere, but nope, the guy just went on a trip instead.


    Looked like Alexander hadn''t found the ne himself and was just suspicious, not totally sure Quinn was still kicking.


    As for the trip, Walter still couldn''t figure out what Alexander was up to.


    "Alexander''s in Las Veges," Colin Torres said in a low voice.


    Walter was fiddling with a potted nt. Hearing this, he turned to Colin and asked, "You sure?"


    "Yeah, but he''s stuck in Elmrest Springs," Colin replied.


    Walter went quiet, thinking. He walked to the window, staring out into the dark night.


    After a bit, he calmly said, "Take him out."


    Colin was shocked. "Do we really have to?"


    Walter smirked, "Everyone knows he''s traveling. Isn''t it normal to run into trouble on the road?"


    "Got it. But it''s freezing out there, everything''s iced over, and we don''t have people in that area," Colin reminded.


    "Then let him enjoy hisst year," Walter said coolly, cracking the window. The howling wind rushed in, making his clothes p wildly.


    He thought of something else and added, "Take more people."


    The ce where Alexander was staying was buzzing for the New Year. Early in the morning, he got out of bed, walked to the window, and looked outside.


    The snow had stopped, but the roads were still a mess.


    So he went back to bed.


    On the third day, Sean came running in, all excited. "Great news, it hasn''t snowed for three days. The ice on the roads is mostly gone. If it stays clear for two more days, we can head out." Alexander just nodded and burrowed back under the covers.


    He still couldn''t get used to the high-altitude climate. Even doing nothing every day, he was exhausted and out of breath.


    During this time, both his physical condition and demeanor had visibly weakened.


    Seeing this, Sean just turned off the light and left the room quietly.


    Just a heads up:  is the only ce to read theplete version of this book for free. Don''t miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Late at night, under the streetlights outside, Trevor Bailey walked past.


    The window was pushed open, letting the cold wind rush in. Trevor jumped in and carefully closed the door.


    Then he raised his dagger, the sharp de catching the streemp''s light.


    Holding his breath, he crept towards the bed. Seeing the faint outline of a figure under the covers, he raised his hand and stabbed down.


    A sudden dog bark echoed in the room, startling him and making his hand shake.


    The next second, his wrist was grabbed.


    Before he could react, a sharp pain shot through his wrist, making him drop the knife. At the same time, a kicknded on his gut, sending him flying into the wall. He bounced off and copsed, spitting out blood. He tried to get up, but then the lights flicked on. Instinctively, he raised his hand to shield his eyes.


    After a couple of seconds, he slowly lifted his head, only to see Alexander, who was supposed to be sleeping, now standing in front of him. Dressed in a loose ck shirt, Alexander looked down at him.

 Chapter 1076

    "Who sent you?" Alexander asked, giving Trevor a quick look as hey on the ground. When Trevor didn''t answer, Alexander squatted down, twirling a knife in his hand.


    This wasn''t just any knife-it was a handmade beauty, with a handle carved like a piece of art, a narrow, straight de that looked sharp enough to shave with. A real killer''s tool. "Robbery!" Trevor blurted out, but he didn''t sound too sure of himself.


    Alexander sneered, "Robbery? Really?"


    Just then, Sean burst in, eyes wide at the sight of Trevor on the floor.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you okay?" Sean asked, sounding worried.


    Alexander stood up, tossing the knife to Sean. "He says he came to rob us. Does he look like a robber to you?"


    Sean frowned, squatted down next to Trevor, grabbed his hand, and checked it out. Then he pressed the knife to Trevor''s neck.


    "Robbery, huh? So why are your thumb and index finger so callused? How long you been at this?"


    Trevor''s face twisted, but he stuck to his story. "I got those from farm work."


    "Then why''s your left hand smooth?" Sean shot back.


    Trevor was stumped.


    Seeing Trevor mming up, Sean pressed the knife harder. "Spill it. Who sent you? Or I''ll end you right here."


    Trevor''s eyes darted around, and he stammered, "I''ll talk! Just don''t kill me!"


    "Then talk!" Sean barked.


    Trevor''s eyes shifted, and out of nowhere, he pulled another knife, shing at Sean''s neck.


    Sean jumped back, falling to the ground. By the time he got his bearings, Trevor was already up. Instead of running, Trevor knocked over a flower pot, making a loud crash.


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed as he nced at the door. He could hear footsteps pounding up the stairs.


    Sean caught on quick. He grabbed Trevor, dragged him to the door, opened it, and rushed to the stairway. Sure enough, four or five guys were charging up. Sean threw Trevor down the stairs, sending the whole group tumbling. Sean ran back to the bedroom. "A bunch of guys areing for us!"


    Alexander stayed cool, staring at the bedroom door, thinking about who could''ve sent them.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sean urged, "We don''t know if more areing. We gotta get out of here."


    "Let''s take care of them first," Alexander said coldly.


    No way out until they dealt with these goons. Sean gripped the knife tight, opened the door, and charged out.


    Alexander was right behind him.


    Buddy and Liberty were the first to jump into the fray, chasing after Sean. Seeing Sean fighting, they barked and leaped into the mix.


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    Buddy bit one guy''s calf, making him scream in pain.


    With the dogs helping, Sean had the upper hand and soon had the attackers on the ground.


    "Retreat!" one of them shouted, and the assassins bolted, vanishing in seconds.


    By the time Sean and Buddy chased after them, the group was already on their horses, riding off.


    Alexander squinted, watching them disappear into the night.


    Sean said, "Mr. Kennedy, let''s get outta here. They mighte back with more guys."


    Sean was worried they''d be outnumbered next time.


    "No, we keep heading west. If the assassins are here, Walter can''t be far," Alexander said firmly. Sean''s eyes widened. "Walter? These are Walter''s men?"

 Chapter 1077

    Alexander was like, "Landon''s been outta the country for ages. No way he''s got any pull here. He wouldn''t stick around and train these hitmen. If it ain''t Walter, who else could it be?" Besides those two, no one else would have the guts to try and off him.


    Sean nodded, thinking it made sense. He asked, "Aren''t we in deep trouble now?"


    He thought in his mind, ''There''s a ton of them, and it''s just us two. Plus, Alexander''s still so weak.''


    So he suggested, "Maybe we should head back first?"


    Alexander shot him a look that screamed, "Figure it out yourself."


    With a loud p echoing in the room, Colin''s face puffed up instantly. He dropped to his knees, covering his face, too scared to say a word.


    Walter closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and soon his face was back to normal.


    Smiling, he leaned in a bit and put a hand on Colin''s shoulder. "I told you to get more people, and you only got two more?"


    Colin mumbled, "I didn''t expect it either. Just two of them, and they''re so hard to kill."


    Walter snapped, "What can you do? Last time, you botched stealing the ne and got us suspected. Now, when I asked you to kill him, you basically told him I''m still kicking." With every word, Colin''s head hung lower.


    Walter gave him a solid pat on the shoulder, saying, "Colin, you working for Alexander or what?"


    Colin''s face went pale, and he shook his head like crazy, shouting, "No! It''s a misunderstanding! I''m innocent!" Walter straightened up and walked to the window. Only God knew how he resisted the urge to strangle Colin. Walter demanded coldly, "Get back to Sylvadora."


    Colin looked up in shock and hurriedly pleaded, "Give me one more chance. I''ll definitely kill him this time!" "Get out," Walter stated.


    Colin scrambled up from the ground and retreated in a panic.


    As soon as he left, there was a loud crash in the room, like something had been smashed.


    Quinny on the bed, messing with her phone. It had been so long since she used it that she almost forgot how.


    She tried to log into her old Facebook ount but failed. She wondered how Abigail was doing.


    After trying for a while, she sighed and tossed the phone aside, staring at the ceiling in a daze.


    After a bit, she suddenly had a thought. She picked up her phone again, opened the new Facebook app, and entered Abigail''s phone number in the search bar.


    To her surprise, she actually found Abigail''s ount. She was stoked and clicked to add her as a friend.


    She waited for a long time, almost falling asleep, but Abigail hadn''t epted. She began to wonder if Abigail had also changed her ount.


    The next morning, as she casually picked up her phone, she noticed that Abigail had epted her friend request.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn was over the moon and quickly opened the message from Abigail. It was short: [Who is this?]


    The message made Quinn''s heart skip a beat. She nervously held her phone, unsure of how to respond. She decided not to reply right away and instead checked Abigail''s timeline. There was nothing special, mostly posts saying, "When will that jerk die!"


    Although she didn''t name names, Quinn had a good idea of who she was talking about.


    Reading those angry words, Quinn wasn''t sure whether to feel touched or tough.

 Chapter 1078

    Quinn shut off her phone and strolled over to the window, peering outside. The snow had finally stopped, but everything was still nketed in white, making it tough to figure out which way was which. Meanwhile, Alexander had ditched Elmrest Springs, heading for some more deserted spot. Sean, feeling a bit jittery, snagged some self-defense gear whenever he spotted it for sale along the way. But just two days in, it started snowing again, forcing them to hit pause on their trip.


    This stop-and-go routine dragged on until April.


    It was still snowing in April, but not as much. Most of the snow had melted, leaving just a few random white piles here and there on the road.


    This ce was seriously vast and empty. During their second escape from being hunted, their pursuers seemed to have lost their trail.


    Not much surveince out here, after all.


    Suddenly, their car sputtered to a stop by the roadside. Sean hopped out and popped the hood, revealing smoke billowing out.


    "Mr. Kennedy, looks like the engine''s toast," Sean said after a quick look. "This car''s pretty solid, though. Lasted a few months on these rough roads before giving out," he added with a sigh. Alexander just gave him a nce, then opened the car door and grabbed a coat.


    It was a ck, ultra-thick, long down jacket. Even though it was heavy, Alexander''s tall frame made it look sleek. From a distance, he still looked sharp and imposing.


    But then he pulled the hood over his head, and the soft fur around it fluttered in the wind.


    He crossed his arms and told Sean, "Hurry up and fix it."


    Sean put on his gloves, grabbed the repair tools, and nced back at Alexander, who was bundled up tight. After a moment, Sean said, "Mr. Kennedy, this might take a while. Why don''t you wait in my car? It''s freezing out here." Alexander ignored him and scanned the area. All he could see was the vast grasnd. The grass was mostly yellowed and wilted, with some patches still covered in snow. In the distance, he spotted one or two tents. This ce wasn''t too remote; they asionally saw folks passing by on the road.


    There were people riding motorcycles and some leading horses, giving off a vibe from a different era.


    While he was looking around, Buddy suddenly barked.


    When Buddy barked, Liberty joined in.


    By the time Alexander snapped out of it and turned to look, the two dogs had already bolted far away.


    They were chasing a horse, or more urately, a woman riding a horse.


    The woman on the horse was dressed in ck and white and had two braids.


    Alexander frowned.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Maybe Buddy and Liberty were chasing too close and barking too excitedly, making the woman on the horse instinctively look back.


    Even though they were far apart, that nce changed Alexander''s expressionpletely.


    He stared straight at the figure moving farther away, standing there in a daze. She was already out of sight, but Alexander remained frozen.


    A gust of wind blew, snapping him out of it. He suddenly rushed towards the Land Rover behind him.


    Sean said, "Mr. Kennedy, the engine''s out of oil. In my backup car..."


    Before he could finish, the ck car sped past him, the gust of wind almost knocking him over.


    He stared nkly at the car speeding away, and in the blink of an eye, it was gone.


    ''Did I just get ditched?'' he thought in shock.


    Alexander floored the gas pedal, and the car seemed to fly. The road was slippery, making his car swerve and careen.


    Luckily, there was grasnd beside the road; otherwise, it would''ve flipped countless times.

 Chapter 1079

    When Quinn rolled into town, she paused and nced back.


    She didn''t recognize those two dogs from earlier and had no clue why they were chasing her, but now they were gone. She shrugged it off and led her horse to pick up her packages.


    She hadn''t grabbed her packages for months. With the weather being cleartely, she figured it was a good time to get them.


    There were about a dozen packages, which she tied up with a rope and strapped to the horse''s back.


    Just as she was about to hop on her horse, a loud crash came from behind, making everyone, including her, turn and look.


    They saw a car plow into a clothing store. The store had a canopy outside, and when the car smashed in, the canopy copsed, swallowing the car whole.


    People crowded around to watch as the store owner and his family came out cursing, banging on the car, and yelling at the driver to get out.


    Quinn wanted to check it out too, but it was too packed. She gave up, mounted her horse, and rode off.


    She hadn''t gone far when the car door, buried under clothes, finally opened.


    Alexander stumbled out, scanning the crowd but not seeing any familiar faces. Just as he was about to leave, someone grabbed him.


    Alexander looked back at the person holding him, but he couldn''t understand what they were saying. Frustrated, he fumbled in his pockets.


    His phone and wallet were still in the car.


    The reason he crashed into the store was because he saw Quinn.


    He saw her on the roadside organizing her packages. Just a glimpse of her profile was enough to throw him off.


    At that moment, he panicked.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Combined with the slippery ground, he lost control and crashed into the store.


    The store owner was still jabbering in anguage he couldn''t understand, probably asking forpensation. He shrugged him off and pushed his way through the crowd. But Quinn was nowhere to be seen.


    Suddenly, his face changed. He clutched his cor, gasping for air, looking like he was about to copse.


    People around him, fearing something might happen, backed away.


    The store owner, who had been demandingpensation, came forward and helped him up.


    A few minutester, Alexander was sitting in the store, holding an oxygen tank, his face pale and weak.


    His car was still buried under the canopy outside, and the store owner and his family sat across from him. They all looked at each other.


    Then the store owner took out a phone and ced it next to Alexander, speaking in a dialect, "Didn''t you say you were gonna call someone to bring money? Hurry up and call them." Alexander pressed his lips together, picked up the phone, and entered the first three digits, but he couldn''t remember the rest of the number.


    The store owner urged, "Hurry up and call."


    Alexander threw the phone on the table in frustration, saying, "I don''t remember the number."


    "So what are you gonna do?" the store owner asked.


    "How should I know?" Alexander snapped, anger shing in his eyes.


    "You crashed into my store and still have such a bad temper! If you don''tpensate me, I''ll call the cops!" the store owner threatened. Alexander rubbed his temples, growing more irritated. He impatiently said, "Take the car and let me go."


    The store owner looked back at the car outside, thought for a moment, and went out to inspect it. Unsure of its value, he called a young guy.


    The young guy checked Alexander''s car and whispered to the store owner, "This car is valuable. Even as a used car, it''s worth $160,000."


    "That valuable?" the store owner asked in surprise.


    "It''s a luxury car, but the front bumper is damaged, the windshield is broken, and the engine has issues. Repairs will cost nearly $10,000. Are you nning to sell it?"


    The store owner nodded in agreement. "Yes!" he said excitedly.


    "If you sell it, I''ll buy it for $100,000," the young guy said.


    The store owner thought it over. The damages to his store were worth about $10,000, and $100,000 was a lot of money to him.


    He went back to ask Alexander''s opinion. Alexander made an excuse to go back and get his documents, then drove off with the motorcycle parked in the shop owner''s yard, leaving the Land Rover in the shop.

 Chapter 1080

    Alexander backtracked. Sean had already fixed the car and was chilling by the roadside, waiting for him. Buddy and Liberty had alsoe back earlier.


    Seeing Alexander hop off the motorcycle, Sean thought, ''What the heck? He went out for a bit, the car''s gone, and now he''s back on a motorcycle. What did he do in those few hours?'' "Mr. Kennedy, where''s the car?" Sean asked.


    "In town," Alexander replied briefly.


    "What about my stuff?" Sean pressed.


    Alexander grabbed his phone and some important items from the bike, stuffed them in his pocket, and looked at Sean. "You go get it yourself."


    With that, he revved up the motorcycle and took off, leaving Sean in the dust.


    The bike roared down the road. The horizon stretched out forever, like the road had no end.


    It was unclear how long he rode before the sky started to darken.


    Alexander finally pulled up at a crossroads.


    The ce was huge, and if he took the wrong turn, who knew where he''d end up or how far he''d go.


    Luckily, there was a supply station nearby, so he decided to crash there for the night.


    Back at home, Quinn sat on her bed, staring at the darkening sky outside, thinking about the car she saw earlier.


    The license te was from Amber Bay.


    At first, she didn''t think much of it. But now, in the quiet, the license te number and those two dogs kept popping into her head, making her uneasy.


    She pulled out her phone, checked Abigail''s Facebook, hesitated, and then shot her a message.


    Quinn: [Are you in Amber Bay?]


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    Ten minutester, Abigail replied, confused: [Who are you?]This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Quinn''s face was a mix of emotions. As she debated whether to spill the beans, a white light shed outside her window.


    She turned to look and saw Walter driving out.


    Thinking fast, Quinn got out of bed, hurried to the window, opened it, and confirmed it was Walter''s car.


    ''Why''s he going out sote?'' Quinn wondered.


    Even though Walter had been living with her for over two years and always seemed chill about fame and fortune, Quinn knew there were plenty of other people besides Colin who visited him. She''d seen a bunch of different folkse to see Walter.


    But whatever he was up to, he shouldn''t be heading out sote.


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    After a bit, Quinn quickly grabbed her coat, left her bedroom, and took her horse, following the path from the door.


    Driving would be too obvious, and the roads were slick at night. She couldn''t handle a car, and a horse was way more convenient.


    Walter''s car was slow, and Quinn took a shortcut across the grass, catching up with him in no time.


    From a distance, Quinn saw his car stop at a crossroads and then turn off the engine.


    Because of the distance, after the car lights went out, she couldn''t see what Walter was up to.


    There was lodging at the supply station, and Alexander crashed at one of the hotels.


    He sat by the window, thinking about the Quinn he saw earlier, unable to sleep.


    The room lights were off, leaving only the deskmp on, casting a dim light just enough to light up his corner.


    He looked out the window. In the darkness, it seemed that a few figures slipped into the hotel.

 Chapter 1081

    Walter was about to step through the door when he suddenly froze.


    The crew behind him halted too, all eyes darting up to the second floor. The room that had been lit just moments ago was now suddenly dark.


    "Boss?" someone whispered, waiting for orders.


    Walter barked, "You guys cover the exits. If he slips away this time, you''re all dead."


    With that, he shoved open the hotel''s main door.


    The lobby was dim, and behind the old counter, a middle-aged dude was snoozing, totally oblivious to Walter''s entrance.


    Walter barely nced at him and headed straight for the stairs.


    The wooden steps creaked under his weight. No biggie, though guests wandering around at night was the norm here, so no one paid attention.


    His fingers brushed the gun at his waist as he crept up to room 218.


    He paused at the door for a couple of seconds, then knocked.


    Before his knuckles even hit the wood, the door cracked open.


    Walter squinted and shoved the door wide. Just as he reached for the light switch, he felt a cold de at his neck.


    "Still the same old tricks, huh?" Alexander''s voice came from behind, and the door clicked shut.


    After a beat of silence, Walter chuckled. "Alexander, is this how you wee your guests?"


    "You really had me going, Walter," Alexander said, ice in his voice.


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    Walterughed again. "Don''t be so dramatic. Someone might think I broke your heart."


    In response, Alexander shoved him against the wall.


    The room light flicked on, and their faces were suddenly clear.


    Alexander''s eyes flicked to Walter''s hand, hovering near his gun.


    "Want to see which is faster, the gun or the knife?" Alexander pressed the de harder, drawing a thin line of blood.


    Walter locked eyes with him, grinning like the knife wasn''t even there. He pulled out his gun.


    "Alexander, if you die here, no one will know. But if I die, you won''t make it out of this prairie," Walter said.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! He raised his hand but didn''t fire. The gun dangled from his fingers, the barrel swaying in front of Alexander.


    Alexander smirked. "So what? We can go down together."


    Walter teased, "You came all this way just to die with me? If I were a chick, I''d be ttered."


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed. "Walter, you really want to kill me just for revenge?"


    "What else?" Walter shot back.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "You know I''m not with The Kennedys anymore," Alexander said, his gaze hard. "But you seem more determined than ever to take me out." Walter''s smile faltered, just a bit.


    Their eyes locked, and the tension in the room cranked up a notch.

 Chapter 1082

    Two secondster, Walter''s face twisted. He threw an elbow into Alexander''s gut with one hand while popping off a shot with the other. Alexander ducked, and the bullet just nicked his cheek, mming into the wall behind him.


    Even with a silencer, the gunshot was still pretty loud in the dead-quiet room.


    Walter missed the first shot and was about to fire again, but Alexander was quicker, shing at him with a knife.


    Up close, the gun was useless. Walter couldn''t get off another shot in time, so he had to sidestep to dodge the de.


    Ditching the gun, Walter whipped out a knife from who-knows-where and went toe-to-toe with Alexander.


    The room wasn''t soundproof, and their brawl had the neighbor banging on the wall.


    The first bang came when they kicked over a chair, and the second when they smashed a wooden table, making an even bigger racket.


    The neighbor got angry and yelled, "What the hell are you doing in there? Some of us are trying to sleep!"


    But it didn''t matter.


    The front desk guy downstairs woke up from the noise and soon was knocking on their door.


    Walternded a punch to Alexander''s gut, making him stumble back until he hit the wall.


    Alexander leaned against the wall, his face going pale. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and his breathing got all ragged.


    Seeing this, Walterughed. "Giving up already? Need an oxygen tank or something?"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    He could tell Alexander was struggling to breathe. So he just stood there, arms crossed, watching Alexander gasp for air.


    The person outside waited for a bit, and after hearing nothing, walked away.


    Hearing the footsteps fade, Walterughed even harder. "Not calling for help? They''re leaving."


    Alexander''s body swayed, barely standing by leaning against the wall, veins popping on the back of his hand.


    In a moment, he couldn''t take it anymore, and the knife in his hand ttered to the ground.


    Walterughed, slowly walking toward Alexander. "Beg me. Maybe I''ll get you an oxygen tank."


    Alexander stared him down, sweat dripping from his temples.


    He gave Walter a mocking grin.


    Walter was caught off guard for a second, and in that second, Alexander kneed him.


    Walter tried to dodge, but as he did, a tablemp crashed onto his head, leaving him dazed.


    Clutching his head in pain, Walter groaned, feeling dizzy and out of it.


    By the time he snapped out of it, Alexander had already opened the window and jumped out.


    Luckily, there was grass below, but the fall still hurt. The hidden assassins saw him fall and rushed out of the shadows. Ignoring the pain, Alexander struggled to his feet, ran into the hotel, closed the door, and slipped out through a side hallway. He hopped on a motorcycle, fired it up, and sped off across the grasnd.


    By the time the assassins caught up, he was long gone.


    Remembering Walter''s words, they couldn''t let Alexander get away and quickly found a vehicle to chase him.


    Alexander was now running on pure instinct. He couldn''t see straight, his vision blurred, and he barely felt like he was driving. The motorcycle tore across the grasnd, heading who-knows-where.


    A few minutester, Alexander hit his limit and tumbled over a steep slope. In an instant, both he and the motorcycle went flying.

 Chapter 1083

    Alexander hit the dirt and rolled a few times beforeing to a stop. He couldn''t feel a thing, and his mind was getting all fuzzy. He felt as if he were drowning, gasping for air.


    He nced up at the sky, where the stars were all twisted and blurry.


    In his daze, a memory from earlier that day popped into his head.


    Quinn, sitting on her horse, had turned back to look at him.


    She seemed to be smiling at him as she rode away, getting smaller and smaller in the distance.


    Her smile was just like when they were kids.


    This was the first time Alexander felt like he was knocking on death''s door. Weirdly enough, it felt kinda peaceful.


    But just as he was about to close his eyes for good, he heard a familiar voice.


    "What''s wrong with you?"


    Alexander''s eyes flickered, but he couldn''t move.


    He forced a bitter smile. He thought, ''So, am I really gonna die? I actually heard Quinn''s voice.''


    It was so dark that Quinn couldn''t see who was lying on the ground. She fumbled around her horse and pulled out an oxygen tank from her pack.


    She had brought the oxygen tank for herself. Even though she''d been here for a while, she still hadn''t fully gotten used to the altitude, so she always carried one with her.


    She ced the oxygen mask on Alexander''s face and said, "Breathe deep."


    Oxygen rushed into his nose, and Alexander''s fingers twitched. Almost instinctively, he took a deep breath.


    Finally, he grabbed the oxygen tank himself, sucking in the air like a starving man at a buffet.


    Quinn frowned and handed him the tank. "Your altitude sickness is so bad. Why''d youe to a ce like this? And you''re running around outside in the middle of the night. Are you trying to get yourself killed?" she asked. Alexander slowly came back to his senses. As he heard her nonstop chatter, his fingers suddenly tightened.


    Just as he was about to speak, he heard Quinn ask, "Where did youe from? Are you lost?"


    The words he was about to say got swallowed back.


    So, she didn''t recognize him.


    He sat up from the ground. Even though he couldn''t see clearly, his gaze still locked onto Quinn''s face, staring at her intently.


    He lifted his fingers, wanting to touch her cheek.


    But afraid it was just a hallucination, he hesitated, not daring to get closer.


    Quinn talked for a while, but seeing he didn''t respond, she got up to leave.


    Suddenly, her wrist tightened as Alexander grabbed her.


    "What are you doing?" Quinn asked, frowning.


    Alexander still didn''t speak, just held onto her like he was afraid she''d disappear.


    Quinn really needed to leave. She had been nning to head back, worried that if she returnedte, Walter would find out and not let her go out again.


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    But she hadn''t expected Alexander to suddenly rush out and copse beside her. If he had fallen a bit off, the horse''s hooves could have trampled him to death.


    Quinn struggled a couple of times, and in the distance, lights flickered. She saw a car approaching.


    Startled, Quinn shook off Alexander and ran towards her horse.


    She thought she had saved someone she shouldn''t have and wanted to avoid trouble by leaving quickly.


    But as soon as she mounted her horse, she felt a weight behind her. Before she could turn around, Alexander''s hands reached over her, grabbing the reins. With a kick to the horse''s belly, the horse instantly bolted. Quinn instinctively grabbed the saddle. She tried to speak several times, but the cold wind filled her mouth, freezing her tongue.


    Seeing they were getting farther away, Quinn became anxious.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    She turned her head to avoid the cold wind and said to Alexander, "Stop right now!"


    She shouted, "Do you hear me? I saved you out of kindness, and you repay me like this?"


    Alexander, behind her, remained silent, controlling the horse as it galloped across the prairie.


    Quinn, frustrated, reached for the reins in his hands. They tugged at the reins, and the horse, unsure of where to go, charged wildly in an unknown direction.

 Chapter 1084

    The car behind was left eating dust, and in a sh, the horse was outta sight.


    Walter hopped outta the car and stared at the still-running motorcycle on the ground, lost in his own head.


    The guys behind him didn''t dare make a peep; they all kept their heads down, feeling the killer vibes and rageing off him.


    When Walter spotted the ditched oxygen tank not far off, he was so mad he actuallyughed.


    He whipped out his phone and called Soren back at the vi, "Go check Quinn''s room. Is she there?"


    Soren, still half-asleep, scrambled outta bed and dashed to Quinn''s room as soon as he heard the order.


    He shoved the door open but found no trace of Quinn.


    "Is she there?" Walter asked again, his voice dripping with barely-contained fury.


    Hearing the anger in Walter''s voice, Soren quickly lied, "Yeah, she''s asleep."


    If


    you are not reading this book from the website:  then you are reading a pirated version with iplete content. Please visit  and search the book title to read the entire book for free He didn''t dare spill the truth. Last time Quinn came backte, Walter pped him twice. He figured Quinn had gone out and would be backte again.


    Since Walter was calling, it meant he couldn''te back right away either.


    "Really?" Walter pressed.


    "Yeah, really in the bedroom. Should I wake her up to take the call?" Soren lowered his voice to sound more convincing, silently praying Quinn would return before Walter.


    "No need, Soren. If Ie back and don''t see her, you''re dead, got it?" Walter threatened.


    Soren shivered and stammered, "Y-yes, I understand."


    Walter hung up, spun around, and got back in the car. He barked, "Keep chasing."


    "Mr. Mellon, the prairie''s huge, how do we chase?" a subordinate asked, looking worried.


    Walter shot him a re, scoffing, "How? So many of you can''t block one person. Why do I even keep you around? A dog would be more useful than all of you."


    The guy wanted to argue but kept quiet, driving the car into the night.


    He thought to himself, ''Who knew Alexander would double back? We couldn''t make too much noise, and by the time we chased after him, he was already gone. What could we do? You''ve got the nerve to call us useless. You couldn''t even kill Alexander yourself in the room, and look at the huge bump on your forehead.''


    Meanwhile, Soren checked the time. It was already two o''clock, and Quinn hadn''te back yet.


    He quickly called Quinn, and the next second, the phone rang in the bedroom.


    Soren''s face went pale, and he plopped down on the ground, thinking, ''I''m done for. I''m really in deep trouble now.''


    Quinn was still galloping on horseback, feeling dizzy from the ride.


    She kept shouting, "We''ve run so far already, stop now, they can''t catch up!"


    "Are you deaf?"


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 05s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! "Are you mute?" Quinn was stunned for a moment after saying this.


    Because she used to be mute herself.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Alexander behind her stayed silent, just holding the reins and taking her farther away.


    At that moment, a thought popped into Quinn''s mind, ''I''ve been kidnapped.''


    She thought, ''Considering the direction the guy came from, it''s likely he was being chased by Walter''s men, but it didn''t make sense. He didn''t even see my face, so why kidnap me?'' Quinn stopped trying to grab the reins from him, fearing the horse would run even more aimlessly and get lost.


    The reason she liked riding horses was that they knew the way back, so she wouldn''t get lost no matter how far she went.


    As dawn began to break, visibility got better, and the horse gradually slowed.


    When the ck horse strolled leisurely on the grass, Quinn finally had a chance to look back at the person behind her.


    She took a deep breath, mentally prepping herself before turning to look.

 Chapter 1085

    Even though it was still dark out, there was just enough light for her to make out the guy''s face.


    The moment their eyes locked, it was like time hit the pause button, and even the air seemed to freeze. The cold wind whipped around, making Quinn feel like her blood had turned to ice. Her body wouldn''t listen, and she tumbled right off the horse.


    Alexander, quick as a cat, grabbed her waist and hoisted her back up.


    Neither of them said a word, maybe because they didn''t know what to say, or maybe because anything they could say would just sound dumb.


    They were so close, but the breeze felt like an invisible wall between them.


    After what felt like forever, Quinn snapped out of it. She yanked the reins and brought the horse to a stop.


    With her back to Alexander, she tightened her grip on the reins and said, "Get off."


    "Quinn," Alexander said softly.


    "I said get off!" Quinn yelled.


    Alexander went quiet. He stared at her back for a few seconds before saying in a rough voice, "I don''t know the way."


    "Not my problem," Quinn shot back coldly.


    There was a faint sigh from behind her, and then the weight on the horse lightened as Alexander got off.


    Quinn didn''t even nce at him. She grabbed the reins and turned the horse around, taking off at a gallop. The horse ran like it was feeding off her panic.


    Alexander just stood there, watching her get smaller and smaller until she disappeared into the dawn.


    He stepped on the dead grass, feeling totally alone.


    As the sky got brighter, the morning light hit him. He was just in a shirt, with mud smeared on his face. He looked like a mess.


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    He took a couple of steps, but the pain in his leg was too much, so he plopped down right there.


    After falling twice, he was pretty sure he had a fracture.


    He looked out at the endless prairie, a self-mocking smile tugging at his lips.


    Quinn kept galloping, her mind a total mess.


    Running into Alexander in a ce like this was something she couldn''t have even dreamed of. She never thought it was him right behind her. Turning around and seeing Alexander''s all-too-familiar face, Quinn felt a shock of disbelief, as if she''d seen a ghost.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    After running for what felt like forever, the horse finally brought Quinn, still in shock, onto the highway. There were already people on the road, and Quinn felt as if she had just woken up from a dream.


    A car followed behind her, and soon it caught up, screeching to a halt in front of her, blocking her path.


    Quinn had to stop. She frowned at the car, thinking it looked kinda familiar.


    nning your weekend reading? Ensure you''re on 00005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively avable on our site. Happy reading! Momentster, the car door opened. Before the person inside could get out, two dogs rushed out. They ran to her feet, wagging their tails and making happy noises. Seeing the two dogs, Quinn''s eyes blurred for a moment.


    She jumped off the horse, and Buddy immediately jumped up, pouncing on her.


    Quinn hugged Buddy, its front legs resting on her shoulders, her thoughts drifting back to old memories. She hadn''t expected them to grow so big.


    Seeing the two dogs, Quinn felt a sense of disorientation, as if a lifetime had passed.


    Before she left, Buddy and Liberty were not even half their current size.


    "Mrs. Kennedy!" Sean called out.


    He was just as excited to see her. In his rush to get out of the car, he fell and scraped his knee on the concrete, wincing in pain.


    But he didn''t care about that. He got up and rushed towards Quinn.

 Chapter 1086

    "It''s really you!" Sean said, giving Quinn the once-over. No way he had the wrong person; Buddy and Liberty wouldn''t screw this up.


    Quinn let go of Buddy, stared at Sean for a sec, then hopped on her horse. "You got the wrong person," she said, ice-cold.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Before she could ride off, Sean grabbed the reins. He was practically begging, "We''ve been looking for you forever. Mr. Kennedy''s been searching for over a year! He''s worn out eight pairs of shoes!" Quinn''s eyes shed with impatience. "I told you, wrong person. Now move!"


    Sean ignored her and kept going, "Have you seen Mr. Kennedy? We can''t reach him. He was heading this way yesterday, and I''ve been searching all night."


    Quinn thought of Alexander, who she''d seen earlier. He''d rushed out of the hotel without his coat, probably left his phone too.


    While Sean was yapping, she snatched the reins and steered her horse towards the field. "Try looking southwest. I don''t know," she said.


    She took off, leaving Sean in the dust. He scratched his head. "Southwest?" he muttered. ''Didn''t she say she didn''t know?''


    Quinn raced back to the vi. Before she even got to the yard, she saw Soren at the door, looking around with a hat on.


    Seeing Quinn, he rushed up like she was a lifeline. "You''re finally back. Where''ve you been all night?"


    Quinn dismounted quickly. "What''s wrong?" she asked.


    "Walter called me in the middle of the night, asking if you were home. Scared the crap outta me," Soren said, relieved. Quinn''s face changed a bit. "What did you say?"


    "I said you were here. Luckily, you''re back now. Get inside. He hasn''t returned yet," Soren said.


    Hearing Walter hadn''te back, Quinn sighed in relief. She handed the horse to Soren and ran inside to shower and change.


    In the bathroom, she still couldn''t calm down. ''How did Alexander find this ce? Coincidence, or did he know and pretend?''


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    Walter must''ve known Alexander was here, which is why he went out in the middle of the night to hunt him down.


    Quinn closed her eyes and turned the shower to full st, the water stinging her cheeks.


    Walter hadn''t returned yet, not because he chased far, but because their car got stuck in the mud.


    He stood on the grass, arms crossed, watching the tow truck crew. His face was stone-cold.


    His guys behind him could tell he was in a foul mood.


    They hadn''t chased far. The tires picked up mud on the uneven grasnd, and the car got stuck in a water pit.


    After a busy night, they had to call a tow truck, which was also struggling.


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    Walter ignored him, eyes still on the cars stuck in the mud. The wind lifted his shoulder-length hair as he spoke, "Are you all useless?"


    His voice was calm, but it felt like a statement.


    His subordinates didn''t dare to speak.


    Walter took a deep breath, turned, and walked to a car parked by the roadside.


    He pinched the bridge of his nose, radiating anger.


    He''d almost killed Alexander, but a moment of carelessness let him escape, making him feel like an idiot.


    Just as stupid as those useless subordinates.

 Chapter 1087

    Walter headed straight upstairs as soon as he got back to the vi.


    He bumped into Quinning out of a room. They locked eyes, and Quinn jumped in first, "Just getting back now?"


    Walter gave her a once-over. "Where were youst night?"


    Quinn frowned a bit. "I was home, sleeping. Haven''t asked you where you were."


    Walter chuckled, letting it slide. "Off to work?"


    "Yeah," Quinn replied.


    "Drive safe ande back early," Walter said, sounding all thoughtful.


    Quinn nodded and took off.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    She had snagged a gig delivering packages out in the boonies. The ce was huge, barely any people, and way out of town, so finding delivery folks was tough.


    When she first learned to ride a horse, she picked up the job while passing through town to get some experience.


    Having a job was way different from just riding for fun. For Quinn, it was more exciting. Plus, it came with a paycheck.


    "Working today?" The delivery station staff greeted her.


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, where are the packages?"


    The guy pointed to a corner and said, "That pile over there. Busy day ahead."


    Quinn smiled, walked over, and loaded the packages onto her horse. Luckily, they were all small, and she could fit half of them. Two trips should do it.


    Then she started delivering them one by one.


    The closest delivery took an hour on horseback, and the more spread-out spots took even longer.


    Riding across the prairie, looking at the vast expanse, Quinn suddenly remembered Alexander saying he didn''t know the way this morning.


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    She nced up at the sky. It had been sunny earlier, but now it was overcast. Looked like it might snow soon.


    She shook her head to clear her thoughts and kept on with her deliveries.


    Meanwhile, Alexander was not only lost but also couldn''t walk.


    He''d been searching the area for ages without finding even a branch. Dragging his injured leg, he''d only managed to cover about 300 feet. Finally, he found a stone b and hobbled over to sit on it.


    The ce was deste, and he was badly hurt. No phone, no wallet, he could only sit there and wait for rescue.


    As time passed, the sky grew darker. Feeling a bit of cold on his forehead, he looked up slightly, and a tiny snowke drifted into his eye. Quinn had really left him behind and hadn''te back. She probably wasn''ting back.


    He sighed in frustration.


    Sean had originally gone to look for him, but his car could only travel along the road, so he hadn''t found Alexander after a long search.


    Alexander''s phone was still unreachable, and Sean began to wonder, ''Is Alexander dead already? Walter''s men have been hunting him down. He might have been found by them. By now, he might wind up cold and dead somewhere.'' The more Sean thought about it, the more freaked out he got. Seeing the snow start to fall heavily, he had to pull over and call Kyle for help.


    When Kyle heard that Sean couldn''t reach Alexander, he sent people to search for Alexander, regardless of whether he was dead or alive.


    Alexander was indeed bold. Knowing he had enemies everywhere, he still dared to go out with just Sean.


    The sky grew darker, though it was still early. The snowy weather made it look like night was falling.


    Quinn finished herst delivery and saw that it was only a little after four. The snow would definitely get heavier, so she decided not to make a second trip. She headed back the way she came, returning to her ce.

 Chapter 1088

    As she strolled along, Quinn couldn''t help but nce southwest. The clouds over there looked even dark.


    The light snow was turning into a full-on blizzard, and the grass was getting a white makeover.


    When Quinn got back to where she left Alexander, she spotted him chilling on the stone b from a distance. Guess Sean hadn''t found him yet. She watched him from afar.


    Alexander had his back to her, so he didn''t see hering.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    His arm was resting on his knee, head hanging low, and he was already covered in a ton of snow. He was totally still.


    Quinn walked up and called out, "Alexander."


    He kept his head down, not even flinching. Quinn''s face twisted a bit.


    She reached out and poked his shoulder. To her shock, he just toppled over onto the stone b.


    Quinn was stunned.


    She trembled as she checked his breath. Feeling the faint breath on her fingers, she finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Quinn propped him up and grabbed an oxygen tank from the horse''s back, sticking it on his nose.


    But it didn''t seem like he passed out fromck of oxygen; more like he was freezing or starving, or maybe both.


    Quinn tried to lift him, but he was heavy as hell. She struggled for ages, almost passing out herself, but still couldn''t get him onto the horse. She even dropped him on the ground twice.


    For a moment, she was out of ideas. She plopped down next to Alexander, wiping snowkes off her face.


    "Why''d you run here? If you wanna die, can''t you do it in Amber Bay?" she snapped.


    Quinn couldn''t tell if she was more pissed or upset.


    Venting her frustration, she kept talking to herself, "You just had to die in front of me. You and Walter are the same. You really do seem like brothers."


    "I must have the worst luck to be stuck with you guys," she grumbled.


    No matter what she said, Alexander stayed unresponsive, lying there quietly. The horse nearby was munching on grass, totally chill.


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    Quinn took off her coat and threw it on him in frustration. "Take care of yourself. It''s not like I asked you toe here."


    She kept muttering to herself. She was about to stand up and leave when suddenly her fingers were gripped.


    Quinn froze and looked down, meeting Alexander''s deep gaze.


    She had no idea when he woke up.


    "You''re awake?" she asked, surprised.


    Alexander didn''t say a word, just stared at her.


    Quinn bit her lip and tried to pull her hand back, but he held on tight. Even though he couldn''t get up, he used all his strength to hold onto her.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered. She turned her head to avoid his gaze and yanked her hand back.


    She stood up, walked quickly to the horse, put one foot in the stirrup, and couldn''t help but look back at him.


    He was still silently watching her, his deep eyes full of unspoken words, but he said nothing.


    Quinn was quiet for a moment before saying, "Alexander, if I save you this time, can you go back to Amber Bay?" She continued, "Don''t look for me anymore. Just pretend I''m really dead, like I don''t exist. Can you do that?"


    After she said this, Alexander closed his eyes and turned his head away, refusing to look at her.


    His actions were like saying, "You might as well let me die here."


    Quinn felt a lump in her throat. She angrily mounted the horse and snapped, "Then just die here!"


    With that, she kicked the horse''s belly and took off without looking back.


    After she left, Alexander turned his face again, staring straight at her fading figure.


    The snow wasing down hard, and her figure got more distant and blurry in the snow.


    He forced his eyes open, and only when Quinnpletely disappeared from his sight did he close his eyes weakly.

 Chapter 1089

    By the time Quinn got home, the snow wasing down hard. She hopped off her horse and stood under the eaves, shaking the snow off her clothes.


    When she walked into the living room, she saw Walter chilling on the sofa with a newspaper.


    Quinn paused for a sec, then walked in.


    Walter looked up and asked, "Snow''s crazy out there. Why are you back sote?"


    "Just finished delivering thest package. It was far, and I didn''t think the snow would get this bad so fast," she said, plopping down across from him. She stretched her hands out to the firece, trying to shake off the cold. Walter gave her a look, like he was trying to figure her out.


    Quinn stayed cool, like she really had just been out delivering a package.


    Noticing his stare, she looked up and asked, "What''s up?"


    "Nothing. Aren''t you tired of delivering packages all day?" he asked with a grin.


    "It snowed for months before, and I didn''t go out. It''s only been a bit over three months since I started again, and I''m still getting used to the routes. How could I be tired of it?" Quinn said.


    Walter shook his head, smiling. "You getting used to living here?"


    Quinn replied, "It''s alright."


    Walter casually said, "If you can''t adapt, we can move somewhere else."


    Quinn paused, catching a glimpse of the probing look in Walter''s eyes.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    She forced a smile and said, "Doesn''t matter where we are. You decide."


    Walter said, "Every ce is different. This ce might not be bustling, but it''s quiet and the pace is slower. It''s good for a break."


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah."


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    "Is there anything you wanna do?" Walter asked again.


    This question stumped Quinn. She stayed silent, unable to answer.


    She used to have a lot of things she wanted to do, but now, it seemed like she had no dreams left. Living idly every day felt kinda nice.


    She didn''t speak for a long time, and Walter watched her for a long time.


    After a while, Walter said, "It''s gonna snow for the next three days. Don''t go out if you don''t have to. It''s not safe."


    Quinn nodded slightly. "Got it."


    She stared at the mes dancing in the firece, the firelight reflecting in her eyes, and she seemed lost in thought.


    Meanwhile, Alexander opened his eyes, staring at the wooden ceiling, his brow furrowed.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! After a moment, he propped himself up on the bed and looked down to see a thick nket covering him.


    He was about to get out of bed when he felt a weight on his leg. It turned out to be a splint.


    Soon, an eighteen or neen-year-old girl walked in with a basin. Seeing him awake, she happily walked over and ced the basin on the floor.


    "You''re awake? I was just about to clean you up," she said cheerfully.


    Alexander''s gaze roamed over her. Due to exposure to the elements, her skin was dark red, with freckles on her nose,rge eyes, and deep-set features. "How did I end up here?" Alexander croaked.


    "Someone..." Amanda Wright remembered something and quickly changed her words, "We saw you passed out on the ground while we were passing by, so we brought you back." In fact, it was Quinn, who often delivered packages to them, who had called. However, Quinn had specifically instructed her not to tell him, so Amanda had to lie.


    Alexander''s eyes flickered, and then a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

 Chapter 1090

    Alexander went quiet for a sec before mumbling, "Thanks."


    Amanda grinned. "No problem. Your leg''s busted, and our medical setup here is pretty basic. The doc did what he could. We''ll get you to a hospital once the snow chills out." "Got a phone?" Alexander asked.


    Amanda nodded and said, "Yeah, need to make a call? Hang on."


    She dashed out and came back in no time. Handing him a phone, she said, "Here you go."


    Alexander took the phone, stared at the buttons, and went silent again.


    Amanda plopped down next to him and blinked. "You don''t remember your family''s numbers?" she asked.


    "I don''t have a family," Alexander said, handing the phone back.


    "Not gonna call anyone?" she asked again.


    "Nope," Alexander replied shortly.


    Amanda took the phone, hesitated, then asked, "You really don''t have a family?"


    Alexander gave her a look that was hard to read.


    "Sorry, I shouldn''t have brought up something that bums you out," Amanda said, looking at him with more sympathy. She added, "I just meant, it''s super risky toe to a ce like this alone and get lost." Alexander was good-looking, but he seemed so fragile and his story so sad.


    "By the way, I''m Amanda Wright. Just call me Amanda. What''s your name?" she asked warmly.


    "Alexander Kennedy," he replied.


    "Alright, you should rest now. Here''s some hot water to wash your face. I''ll be heading out," Amanda said thoughtfully.


    With that, she got up and left, leaving the room quiet again.


    Alexander looked around at the room''s furnishings. The house seemed old. Both the furniture and the walls had an antique vibe, but the intricate patterns on the furniture added a touch of mystery. There was a ss window by the bed. Turning his head, Alexander could see the open yard outside, already nketed in white snow.


    Further away, he could vaguely see the mountains.


    He looked down at his leg and let out a helpless sigh.


    There were eight people in this family. Besides Amanda and her parents, she had two younger brothers and three younger sisters.


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    During dinner, the kids stared at Alexander like he was an alien.


    Among the five kids, the oldest was only ten, and the youngest were twins, just five years old.


    After dinner, when Alexander hobbled back to his room with a crutch, three of the kids peeked at him from the doorway.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    When Alexander looked over, they quickly pulled their heads back. When he looked away, they peeked in again.


    A slightly older boy ran in, stood in front of him, and looked him up and down.


    Alexander looked at the boy expressionlessly, and they silently stared at each other.


    "What are you looking at?" Alexander broke the silence.


    Instead of replying, the boy asked, "Where did youe from?"


    "From a faraway ce," Alexander replied.


    "How far?" the boy asked again.


    Alexander pressed his lips together, not wanting to talk to him.


    The boy asked again, "Why are you so skinny?"


    It was the first time someone had called Alexander skinny, and the tone sounded insulting to him.


    "Can you butcher a cow?" the boy asked.


    "Are you Amanda''s fianc¨¦?" the boy added.


    Alexander nced at him and snapped, "Don''t talk nonsense."


    The boy wasn''t intimidated and instead sighed in relief. He continued, "That''s good. You''re so skinny, and you look weak. We don''t want you to be her husband." Alexander''s mouth twitched.


    The boy ran out after saying that, seemingly just to confirm whether Alexander was Amanda''s fianc¨¦.


    After he ran out, he told his family that Alexander wasn''t Amanda''s fianc¨¦.


    His voice was loud enough that Alexander could hear their cheers from inside the room.


    It was the first time he had been so disliked, and it was by a group of kids.

 Chapter 1091

    The snow had been on and off for three days, and it wasn''t until the afternoon of the third day that the sun finally decided to show up.


    Amanda called a doc to check out Alexander''s busted leg. The doc said it would take at least two months to heal. Lucky for him, Amanda''s family was super chill and invited him to crash at their ce for the whole two months. Even though the house was old, they weren''t hurting for cash and had a ton of cattle and sheep.


    After three days of chowing down onmb, Alexander was pretty much over it. So that night, they switched things up and had beef instead.


    After dinner, Quinn locked herself in her room and called Amanda.


    "How''s he doing?" Quinn asked.


    Amanda smiled and said, "He''s good. Don''t stress. We''re thinking of taking him to the hospital tomorrow."


    Quinn went quiet for a sec before saying, "If it''s not too bad, don''t take him."


    Walter was still hunting for Alexander. If he went to the hospital, Walter would find out in no time, making things way riskier for him.


    "Got it," Amanda replied quickly.


    "Thanks," Quinn said.


    "No problem. I''ll take good care of him," Amanda assured her.


    After a few more words, Quinn hung up, opened Amanda''s Facebook, and sent her $4,000.


    She put down her phone and looked out at the night sky. The moon was peeking through the clouds, hinting that tomorrow would be a clear day.


    She couldn''t help but wonder, ''If he couldn''t see hope, would he leave?''


    Quinny on her bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep all night.


    The next morning, after getting ready, she went downstairs for breakfast. Walter saw her outfit and casually asked, "Heading to work?"


    Quinn replied, "Staying home is too boring."


    "The snow hasn''t melted yet, it''s not safe. Don''t go," Walter said.


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    He had a gentle smile, but his tone was firm. Quinn''s hand paused for a moment.


    "Okay," she agreed.


    Walter calmly said, "If you''re bored, I can walk around with you nearby."


    "No need. I''ll just read a book," Quinn declined.


    She had bought a bunch of books, prepping to apply for college. With no phone orputer, she relied on reading to pass the time. The smile in Walter''s eyes faded a bit.


    He watched Quinn, something flickering in his eyes.


    Since she woke up, her attitude towards him had changed. She had been cold and distant, even though they lived together.


    Walter quietly put down his utensils, his smile unchanged, but his emotions had shifted.


    When Quinn went back to her room to read, Colin came to the dining room and bowed slightly to Walter.


    "Still haven''t found Alexander?" Walter asked coldly.


    "No, still searching. Could he have gone back?" Colin said.


    Walter said indifferently, "His assistant is still here, so he hasn''t left. Besides, he came here for Quinn. So he won''t leave easily."


    "Understood. I''ll keep searching," Colin replied.


    Walter yed with the utensils in his hand, speaking nonchntly, "All his stuff is still at the hotel. He might already be dead somewhere." "Then I''ll find his body as soon as possible," Colin replied.


    Walter threw the utensils on the table and said, "This time, you''d better not screw up."This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "Got it," Colin replied.


    With that, he quietly retreated. However, he didn''t see Quinn standing upstairs, staring straight at him.

 Chapter 1092

    Quinn slipped back into her room and shut the door behind her. She pulled out her phone, ready to call Amanda, but her finger just hovered over the dial button. In the end, she bailed on the call.


    The sun had been zing all day, melting most of the snow.


    Next morning, Quinn headed to work. Walter didn''t stop her this time, but as soon as she left, he made a call.


    "Keep an eye on Quinn," he ordered.


    He stood at the door, watching her fade into the distance, his eyes flickering.


    "You better not be going to see him," he muttered under his breath, his words lost to the wind.


    Quinn went to pick up a package. While sifting through the names, she stumbled upon one for Amanda''s family.


    She tossed the package onto her horse, hopped on, and rode towards the ranch.


    Meanwhile, Alexander was chilling in the yard. The ce was bare, no tiles or flowers, just empty space, but he couldn''t stand being inside any longer.


    He leaned back in his chair, his homemade cane by his side. The sun was a bit too bright, so he closed his eyes.


    Amanda''s parents were off herding sheep at the ranch, and the older kids were at school, leaving three little ones making a ruckus in the yard.


    Amanda was busy with housework inside, and by the time she finished, it was almost noon.


    When she stepped into the yard and saw Alexander soaking up the sun, she paused.


    In the sunlight, his features looked even more refined. Even in a simple robe, his noble vibe was undeniable.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Amanda had seen plenty of tourists, but never a guy as handsome as him.


    "Want toe inside? The sun''s not too strong, but the UV rays are killer. You''ll get sunburned if you stay out too long," she said thoughtfully.


    Alexander opened his eyes and nced at her, saying, "But I don''t want to stay inside."


    Amanda looked him over and stressed, "But you''re still pretty weak."


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    Alexander didn''t respond. He just stared off at the distant mountains, lost in thought.


    Seeing he had no ns to move, Amanda didn''t push it and went back inside.


    Alexander sat outside a bit longer, but the kids'' noise got to him. He grabbed his cane and struggled to stand.


    As he hobbled to the door, he suddenly heard horse hooves.


    Instinctively, he turned to look and was stunned.


    Quinn saw him from a distance too, and their eyes met.


    With just one nce, she looked away. She then grabbed the package from behind her and tossed it into the yard as she passed by.


    "Package delivery!"


    She didn''t even get off her horse, just rode by and left.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alexander dropped his cane and ran to the door as fast as he could, but he still didn''t get a chance to talk to her.


    He stood at the door, staring at her disappearing figure. She didn''t look back once.


    Amanda came out to grab the package. She nced at the cane on the ground, then at Alexander at the gate, and walked over with the package. "What are you looking at?" Amanda asked.


    Alexander pulled his gaze away and said, "Nothing. Do you know the person who just delivered the package?"


    Amanda remembered Quinn''s instructions and quickly shook her head, saying, "No, she always just drops it and leaves."


    Alexander didn''t say anything else and turned to go back inside. He had run so quickly that his calf throbbed with pain, making him almost stumble.


    Luckily, Amanda caught him. "Why''d you ditch your cane?" she asked, handing it back to him.


    "I''m fine," Alexander said, taking the cane and walking back into the house on his own.


    Amanda watched him from behind, noticing a hint of loneliness in his figure.

 Chapter 1093

    Quinn had been riding for what felt like forever before she finally pulled up. She sure as hell didn''t expect to see Alexander chilling outside.


    She just wanted to check if he was okay, not expecting him to be hobbling around the yard like it was no big deal.


    She halted her horse and nced back, but everything was a blur now.


    After standing there like a statue for a bit, she decided to head to the next house.


    Meanwhile, Alexander went back inside and just zoned out, staring out the window.


    Amanda popped in a few times and saw him just standing there, staring off into space, which got her a bit worried.


    She knew Quinn had just been there, and now Alexander was all moody, so it had to be connected.


    Amanda sighed, slipped out quietly, and called her twin sisters over.


    The two little girls peeked in from the doorway, trying to get a look at Alexander. After a bit, one of them tiptoed in.


    When Alexander turned around, he saw two identical little girls standing there, looking all shy and staring at him.


    He looked at them, his face nk for a moment.


    One of the girls pulled out two candies from her pocket and handed them to him.


    Alexander stared at the candies, then looked at the little girl''s face.


    Her big eyes were full of innocence and curiosity.


    When he didn''t take the candies, the girl grabbed his hand and plopped them into his palm.


    Alexander looked at them, making the two girls a bit nervous.


    He suddenly asked, "How old are you?"


    "Five, we''ll be five in two months," the girl replied.


    Alexander didn''t say anything else. He just rubbed the candies in his hand, looking at them with aplicated expression.


    "Why are you looking at us like that?" one of the girls asked.


    "Because you''re beautiful," Alexander replied.


    Hearing thepliment, the two girls giggled shyly. The older one ran out, while the younger girl stayed. She pulled out two more candies and ced them in his hand, saying, "All for you." "Thanks," Alexander said, patting her head.


    He looked at her for a moment, then said, "Thanks for the candies. Go y now."


    The girl nodded and skipped out.


    Alexander watched her figure disappear, his fingers still rubbing the candies, his gaze distant again.


    He thought, ''If the kid Quinn and I had was still alive, would they be this big now?''


    He closed his eyes, trying to hide the storm of emotions inside.


    Amanda''s parents were out on the ranch and wouldn''t be back for a while. Her brother was at school and only came home on weekends.


    So, including Alexander, there were five people in the house.


    In the evening, Amanda came in to call Alexander for dinner, but he refused.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Knowing he was in a funk, Amanda didn''t push it. She ran out to call the three kids back.


    Just as she found them at the door, a few people on horseback came galloping in, stopping abruptly in front of her.


    Colin, the leader, dismounted and walked up to Amanda, saying politely, "Hey, is Alexander here?"


    Amanda sized them up. They were all dressed in suits and looked pretty serious. She asked cautiously, "Who are you?"


    "We''re his friends. We heard he was hurt and came to take him back."


    Amanda gave them another once-over, still suspicious. "How did you know he was here?"


    ''Didn''t he forget his family and friends'' phone numbers?'' she thought.


    "Ms. Mellon told us," Colin replied.


    "Got it." Amanda''s suspicion eased a bit, and she said, "He''s inside. I''ll go get him."


    "No need. We''ll go ourselves," Colin said.


    Without waiting for Amanda''s okay, he headed straight inside.

 Chapter 1094

    Amanda scrunched up her face, thinking, ''These dudes are rude as hell. Are they really Alexander''s buddies?''


    Colin barged in with his crew, tearing through each room. The ce only had four rooms, but after checking them all, they found zilch-no Alexander.


    Amanda trailed behind them. Just a minute ago, Alexander was chilling on the bed, and now he was now nowhere to be seen.


    Colin spun around and barked, "Where is he?"


    Amanda shrugged. "I dunno. I just called him for dinner, and poof, he''s gone."


    Colin mulled it over, then told his men, "Spread out and search the area. He can''t be far."


    "Got it," they echoed.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Listening to them, Amanda got a gut feeling they weren''t Alexander''s pals. They were here to stir up trouble, not to hang out.


    Colin''s crew ransacked the ce, and Amanda kept her mouth shut. These guys looked like bad news, and she didn''t want to risk her family''s safety.


    After tearing through the house and finding nothing, they headed outside to check the surroundings.


    Colin followed. As he passed Amanda, he suddenly stopped.


    Amanda tensed up, watching him closely.


    Colin shed a grin and said, "Don''t worry. We''re not the bad guys."


    Amanda''s hand tightened around her phone, but she didn''t dare dial. She forced a smile, and Colin finally walked away.


    Amanda exhaled, relieved she hadn''t called 911. She''d noticed Colin had a gun tucked in his sleeve as he left.


    Colin and his crew scoured the open ins, but there was nowhere to hide.


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    "What now? We got nothing," one of them said.


    Colin looked grim. He thought, ''Where could he have gone so fast? Maybe Quinn got him outta here. If he left around noon, no wonder we can''t find him.''


    After a long, fruitless search, they had to bail.


    Amanda watched them fade into the horizon and let out a huge sigh of relief. She quickly herded the kids back inside.


    But as soon as they walked in, there was Alexander, chilling in a chair in the living room. Amanda nearly screamed.


    "Where the heck did youe from?" she asked, still freaked out.


    Alexander tapped the wooden wall behind him. "It''s your house. Don''t you know?"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Amanda walked over, knocked on the wall, but didn''t find anything weird.


    "Nothing here," she said.


    Alexander grabbed his cane and headed to the side door. There was no actual door, just a frame.


    He ced his hand on the wooden panel of the door frame and pushed it up with a bit of force.


    Amanda stared in shock at the dark, narrow passage that appeared. It was just wide enough to squeeze through sideways.


    She was both surprised and thrilled. "We never noticed this. How''d you find it?"


    Alexander exined, "I saw this door was wider and hollowpared to the others, so I gave it a shot. There might be other spots like this. Check ''em out when you have time." Amanda gave him a weird look, like, "Dude, you''re a guest. Why are you snooping around my house?"

 Chapter 1095

    Alexander seemed to have read Amanda''s mind, so he added, "Chill out. I didn''t swipe anything from your ce." "What are you talking about? Do you know those people are after you?" Amanda asked.


    Alexander let go of the board, which fell perfectly into ce on the floor,pletely hiding the secret door. "It was bound to happen sooner orter," Alexander replied.


    Amanda remembered something else. She said, "And they said it was Ms. Mellon who told them."


    She thought, ''It''s quite strange. Quinn has been here in the morning. Why didn''t she take him away herself?''


    "It wasn''t her." Alexander, leaning on his cane, walked back and sat down in the chair.


    Seeing his certainty, Amanda nodded in relief. It was good that it wasn''t Quinn.


    Curious, she sat down next to Alexander and asked, "Who are you, really? Why is someone trying to kill you? Are those people your enemies? Did they break your leg?"


    Amanda bombarded him with questions, but he didn''t say a word. Feeling bored, she changed the subject, "So, are you going to eat?"


    Alexander nced at the beef on the table and pondered, asking in frustration, "Is there anything else?"


    Amanda shrugged. "No, I''ll have to go buy some. I''ll go to town tomorrow. For today, you''ll have to make do."


    Outside the vi, Colin stood in the yard, huddled up, watching Walter busy at the grill.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Walter was barbecuing, leisurely brushing sauce on the grill and turning the meat, seemingly unfazed by Colin''s repeated failures.


    He handed a skewer to Colin and said, "Try it."


    Colin looked at the skewer, his face changing color.


    Walter smirked at him. "I want you to see if it''s cooked."


    Colin nervously took the skewer, not caring if it was hot, and took a bite.


    "Is it cooked?" Walter asked, staring at Colin.


    Colin nodded quickly. "Yes, it''s good," he praised.


    Walter then ced a few more skewers on the grill and continued cooking, not mentioning Alexander.


    Compared to Walter''s calm, Colin was very anxious.


    He asked again, "Mr. Mellon, should I keep looking for him?"


    "No need," Walter answered briefly.


    Colin was stunned, looking at him in confusion, unsure of what he meant.


    Walter said indifferently, "They''ve already met. There''s no need."


    Colin had a vague idea of who "they" referred to.


    Before they met, killing Alexander wouldn''t have much impact. But now that they had met, killing Alexander would create a rift between Walter and Quinn. Walter had used this tactic once before and wouldn''t be foolish enough to do it again.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Feeling a bit guilty but also unwilling to give up, Colin asked, "So, that''s it?"


    Ignoring his words, Waltermanded, "Pass me the cumin."


    Colin quickly handed him the cumin.


    As soon as Walter took it, he threw the spice bottle at Colin''s face. He scolded coldly, "You can''t even tell cumin from pepper. What can you do?"


    Colin''s forehead instantly swelled. He looked down at the spice bottle on the ground; it was cumin, not pepper.


    Walter just wanted an excuse to hit him.


    Silently, Colin picked up the spice bottle and handed it back to Walter.


    Walter chuckled, took the cumin, and Colin instinctively covered his head. But this time, Walter didn''t hit him and continued barbecuing.


    "Get lost," Walter said coldly, not sparing him a nce.


    Colin, feeling as if he had been granted amnesty, ran out quickly.


    When the barbecue was almost done, Walter asked Soren to call Quinn down.

 Chapter 1096

    Quinn plopped down at the table loaded with BBQ while Walter was still manning the grill.


    She nced around and sighed. Same old food she was sick of. She nibbled on some oysters and scallops, which were actually pretty decent.


    Walter strolled over with a te of BBQ, sat across from her, and poured her some tea from the kettle nearby.


    "Why the heck are we eating outside? It''s freezing," Quinn asked, confused.


    Walter grinned, "BBQ''s gotta be outside. It''s all about the vibe."


    Quinn just tightened her cor and kept quiet.


    They barely talked, just the usual small talk.


    Walter kept staring at her, but she pretended not to notice and kept munching on the BBQ. She finished up fast.


    "I''m done. Heading back inside," she said.


    "Quinn," he suddenly called out.


    She stopped and looked back. "Yeah?"


    Walter said, "Let''s move somewhere else."


    Quinn met his eyes. He was smiling, but she could never figure him out.


    After a moment, she nodded. "Okay."


    Walter''s smile widened a bit as he said, "Go rest."


    Quinn turned and went inside, back to her room. She sat on her bed, staring at her phone, her eyes dull.


    Truth was, she didn''t want to move, but she didn''t want to stay here either. More than anything, she didn''t want to be around Walter.


    She craved real freedom, no strings attached.


    Walter tried to give her space. In the vi, it was just them and Soren. He didn''t stop her from going out.


    But she still felt an invisible chain around her neck. If she wandered too far, it yanked her back.


    She clutched her phone, staring out at the night, eyes flickering with the urge to escape.


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    After that, Quinn stopped going to Amanda''s. She picked up her packages herself.


    Walter stopped bothering Alexander, and Alexander''s leg was healing up.


    Half a monthter, Alexander went to the hotel. But everything was gone, and Sean was MIA. Alexander was still broke.


    Leaving the hotel, he got into a car Amanda had rented.


    They headed to town, and Alexander sold his watch. A watch worth over $40,000 went for just $4,000.


    "Your watch is worth that much?" Amanda asked, shocked. She''d never seen such an expensive watch before.


    Alexander handed all the cash to Amanda, saying, "Take it."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "Why are you giving it to me?" Amanda realized what he meant and handed the money back. "No need. You don''t have to pay for food at our ce." "Rent," Alexander said tly.


    "The rent''s not that high." Mainly because Quinn had already paid, and she felt bad taking more from him.


    Alexander tossed the money back to her and said, "I don''t like owing people."


    Amanda, unsure how to argue, just took the money and changed the subject, "Let''s go pick up the packages first."


    At the mention of packages, Alexander''s eyes flickered.


    Amanda drove to the package station. She came out with several packages and tossed them in the back of the car.


    "Next stop, the market. Grab whatever you wanna eat," Amanda said.


    But Alexander wasn''t really listening. His eyes were glued to the package station. Too many people around, and he didn''t see Quinn.


    Not far off, Sean and two bodyguards were watching the car. Sean muttered, "Isn''t that Mr. Kennedy?"


    The bodyguard squinted, saying, "Looks like him."


    Kyle''s men had been searching for Alexander for a while, almost thinking he was dead since they hadn''t found him.


    "Damn, hurry up and follow them!" Sean shouted.

 Chapter 1097

    Sean and a couple of other bodyguards hopped into the car, tailing the direction the previous car had gone.


    But by the time they caught up, the car was long gone.


    "Where the heck did it go?" Sean muttered, scanning the area. There were tons of cars around, and he couldn''t tell which one was Alexander''s.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Looks like Mr. Kennedy''s in town. Let''s round up the crew and search here," one of the guys suggested.


    "Got it." Sean pulled out his phone and hit up Matthew and the rest toe over.


    Even though these guys were Kennedy family bodyguards, the Kennedy family was history. They weren''t dumb enough to follow Getty''s orders. Working for Getty was a dragpared to finding a random gig. Teaming up with Alexander was the smart move.


    Meanwhile, Alexander was already at the market with Amanda. The ce was huge, selling all kinds of stuff, but the vibe wasn''t great. As soon as they walked in, a mix of smells hit them.


    Alexander wrinkled his nose. It was clear he wasn''t a fan of the stench.


    Amanda, on the other hand, was used to it. She nced around at the stalls and asked, "What do you wanna eat? They got pretty much everything here."


    "You decide," Alexander said, sounding bored.


    Amanda rolled her eyes and shot him a look. "If I pick, you won''t like it. You choose," she insisted.


    "Anything but meat," Alexander replied. He was so over meattely that just looking at the meat stalls made him queasy.


    "Fine. I''ll just grab whatever. Since you''re off meat, I''ll get more veggies," Amanda said.


    She stopped at a veggie stall and loaded up on greens.


    Alexander, leaning on his cane, wandered over to a nearby bench and plopped down, not bothering to help with the shopping.


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    Amanda nced over and saw him sitting on someone else''s bench. She couldn''t help but smirk.


    From their time together, Amanda had picked up on Alexander''s habits. It was clear he used to live the high life.


    For example, at home, he always showed subtle signs of being picky.


    Like, during meals, he''d wash the utensils multiple times. The ones he used were always kept separate.


    The most obvious thing was that even in old clothes, he''d always smooth out the wrinkles, like he had OCD and couldn''t stand any creases.


    Sometimes Amanda couldn''t help but think he must''vee from a rich family.


    But then she remembered he said he had no family, and she brushed it off, thinking maybe he just had a cleanliness obsession.


    "Alright. Let''s go," Amanda said, lugging a big pile of veggies.


    She couldn''t carry them all, so she handed one bag to Alexander. "Help me out with this."


    Alexander handed his cane to her and said, "Then you hold my cane."


    Amanda, not getting it, asked, "If I hold your cane, how will you walk?"


    "You do realize I can''t walk without it?" Alexander shot back, sarcastically.


    With that, he tossed the bag of veggies back to Amanda and walked off with his cane.


    Amanda watched him go, feeling a bit exasperated. She muttered, "Such a grump!"


    With no other choice, Amanda carried the veggies herself and caught up with him, grumbling, "It''s all for you anyway!"


    She tossed the veggies into the car and plopped down, feeling annoyed.

 Chapter 1098

    On the drive back, they cruised past the delivery station again. Outta nowhere, Alexander blurted, "Stop the car!"


    Amanda mmed on the brakes and pulled over. "What the heck are you doing?" she asked.


    Alexander didn''t bother answering. He hopped out and then turned back, "You go on ahead."


    "How are you gonna get back?" Amanda asked again.


    "Don''t sweat it," Alexander replied.


    Amanda was fuming. The more time she spent with Alexander, the more she found him impossible to deal with. She couldn''t be bothered anymore and sped off.


    Alexander''s eyes were glued to the ck horse tied up at the entrance. He strolled over and noticed the bell hanging on the saddle.


    He reached out, grabbed the bell, and it jingled softly.


    Soon enough, Quinn came out lugging a bunch of packages. She nced over and saw Alexander by the horse, freezing for a moment.


    Their eyes met, and for a second, it felt like time stopped.


    Quinn was the first to look away. She acted like she didn''t see him and started strapping the packages onto the horse.


    The packages were small and scattered, and a couple fell off right away.


    She bent down to pick them up, but before she could, a hand reached out. She quickly pulled back and looked at Alexander beside her.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Alexander picked up the packages and helped her secure them with the rope.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, ignoring him, and stepped around to untie the reins and lead the horse away.


    Alexander trailed behind her. Even with his injured leg, he kept up with Quinn''s pace.


    Once they were out of town, Quinn mounted the horse. The next moment, Alexander grabbed the reins.


    Looking down, she saw Alexander holding the reins, staring straight at her.


    "Let go," Quinn snapped.


    Alexander didn''t let go. He wanted to say something but ended up staying silent.


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    "Alexander, what do you want? Why don''t you go back to being the chairman? Whye here and suffer? Does this make any sense?" Quinn fired off a bunch of questions.


    "Quinn," Alexander finally spoke. He looked at her seriously and said, "I''m not the chairman anymore."


    "What does that have to do with me?" she said, yanking the reins back. "Don''t block the way. If the horse kicks you, don''t me me."


    Alexander held the reins tight and pulled her back. "I''m saying, I have nothing left."


    Quinn was slightly stunned. She looked away into the distance. "I told you, it has nothing to do with me."


    Alexander lowered his eyes and went quiet for a moment.


    This time, Quinn easily took the reins from his hand, but she didn''t expect Alexander to climb up too.


    Before she could say anything, he wrapped his arms around her and grabbed the reins, charging forward. "Alexander!" Quinn yelled.


    As the horse bolted, all the mixed-up feelings in Quinn''s heart vanished, leaving only anger.


    Alexander, behind her, said nothing and just rode the horse wildly across the prairie.


    Quinn couldn''t take it anymore. She reached out to grab the reins, struggling with him.


    The horse got more and more agitated as they fought. After a wild run, it came to an abrupt stop, rearing up and letting out an angry neigh.


    Both of them were thrown off the horse, along with the packages, scattering everywhere.


    Quinn felt dizzy from the fall andy on the ground for a long time before she could gather herself.


    "Quinn," Alexander said, pulling her up and nervously asking, "Are you okay?"


    Quinn shook her head, her vision gradually clearing. When she looked up, the horse was already gone.


    She pushed Alexander away, catching him off guard and causing him to fall to the ground.


    Still not satisfied, Quinn grabbed a package and threw it at him. "Alexander, are you out of your mind?" she shouted angrily.

 Chapter 1099

    Alexander threw up his arm to block the package, not even knowing what was inside. It smacked his arm, making it go numb with pain. Before he could react, another package came flying, nailing him right in the chest.


    "If you''re sick, go see a doctor! Why are you bothering me?" Quinn hollered.


    "Can I never get rid of you, even in death? Why won''t you just leave me alone!" she screamed.


    Alexander plopped down on the ground, staring at her.


    Her hair was a bit of a mess, and the wind blew fine strands around her face. When she cursed, her two braids bounced along.


    She looked the same as before. Her lively eyes red at him, but theycked any real menace, like an angry kitten.


    This was her wild and full of life, with a personality that couldn''t be tamed.


    She was free-spirited and didn''t need anyone. Like the wind, she was impossible to catch.


    If


    f you are not reading this book from the website:  then you are reading a pirated version with iplete content. Please visit  and search the book title to read the entire book for free Watching her lips move non-stop, Alexander chuckled to himself. As for what she was ranting about, he didn''t catch a single word.


    Seeing himugh, Quinn was momentarily stunned and forgot what she was saying. "What are youughing at?" she demanded.


    "At myself," Alexander said, sitting on the ground without a shred of dignity, staring at her. "Do you know what I''ve been most afraid of all these years?" he asked.


    Quinn pressed her lips together and stayed silent.


    Alexander kept talking to himself, "I was scared of letting you go, scared you''d turn out like this. Scared you wouldn''t need me anymore, scared you''d be like the wind-impossible to catch."


    Quinn stared at him, her fingers clenched.


    He said, "I liked it when you depended on me."


    He went on, "Over time, I got used to it. I subconsciously thought you would never leave me. No matter what I did, you wouldn''t leave. I often thought, as long as you didn''t interact with those people and weren''t influenced by outsiders, you would never regain your memory. You would always be the obedient and well-behaved Quinn."


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    He spoke calmly, just narrating, without a hint of remorse.


    Quinn could see the madness he constantly suppressed in his eyes. So even now, he still had these thoughts.


    He kept talking to himself, "So you know, when I realized you had thoughts of leaving, how angry I was."


    As he spoke, he suddenly leaned closer to Quinn.


    Quinn instinctively backed away. These days, he had been so down and out that she almost forgot what kind of person he was.


    He suddenly stopped, his gaze falling on her face, his eyes burning. "For a moment, I really wanted to kill the people around you." "You''re really sick," Quinn concluded after hearing this.


    Alexanderughed self-deprecatingly and sat back down. "Yeah, I think so too," he sighed.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Then he dered, "So Quinn, I won''t give up, not even in death."


    Quinn sneered, looking at him coldly. "So are you nning to capture me again?" she asked coldly.


    Alexander shook his head slightly and remarked, "No, I won''t make that mistake again. You, as you are now, are also very cute. I like you even more."


    Quinn remained silent.


    He continued, "I lost you once. I experienced your loneliness and had enough of aimless waiting. I don''t expect your forgiveness. I just want to tell you, I won''t give up, never. Even if I can only watch you from afar, that''s enough." Quinn didn''t know what he had been through these past two years, but hearing these words from his mouth was enough to shock her.


    "What if I marry someone else?" she asked tentatively.


    "I''ll die at your wedding room door," he said, his voice carrying a hint of madness.


    Quinn was silent for a moment, then cursed, "You''re a real lunatic."

 Chapter 1100

    Quinn picked herself up off the ground, grabbing the packages one by one. She nced back and found the horse had bolted. Probably headed home. Great. Now she had to lug all this stuff back herself.


    She was so done with Alexander, that lunatic. After two years of not seeing him, he was even worse off.


    With her arms full of packages, she trudged toward the highway, hoping to hitch a ride.


    Alexander struggled to his feet too. Without his cane, walking with his limp was a nightmare. But he pushed through the pain, trying to catch up with Quinn. Quinn walked a bit and looked back.


    He was a mess¡ªmuddy, hair all over the ce, limping like crazy.


    "Why are you following me? Don''t you know Walter''s looking for you?" Quinn snapped.


    Alexander had caught up by then. "If I die, will you treat him like you treated me?" he asked, testing the waters.


    Quinn''s face darkened at the mention of the past.


    She remembered being yed like a fool by them, and her anger red up again.


    "No!" she shouted.


    Then she turned and started running. Faster and faster, until Alexander couldn''t keep up.


    She wanted to make sure he couldn''t catch her.


    She ran until she was out of breath and had to stop.


    Clutching her chest, she panted and looked back. No sign of Alexander.


    But she wasn''t doing great either.


    Her body had always been weak, and she hadn''t run like this in ages. She was gasping for air.


    Quinn clutched her chest, her breathing getting faster. The packages slipped from her hands.


    She had to sit down to catch her breath.


    After a moment, a familiar dizziness hit her, and she knew this wasn''t working. The world spun, and she copsed.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a blurry figure running toward her.


    Before the figure got close, her eyelids grew heavy, and she cked out.


    When she woke up, she saw a wooden ceiling above her.


    "You''re awake?" a familiar female voice said excitedly.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    She turned her head and saw Amanda, with Alexander beside her.


    Confused, she asked, "Why am I here?"


    She had copsed miles from Amanda''s house, closer to town. Why wasn''t she in the town hospital?


    "Alexander carried you back. He''s so annoying. I asked him to carry groceries, and he said he couldn''t, but he carried you back so fast," Amanda grumbled.


    Quinn propped herself up, thinking this was a bad joke. She wanted to stay away from him, but here he was.


    Amanda nced between them and then left, saying, "You two talk. I''ll be outside."


    After she left, Quinn tried to get out of bed, but Alexander pushed her back down.


    "You''re not fully recovered. Rest a bit more," he said.


    Quinn eyed him suspiciously. "You carried me back?"


    Alexander nodded, looking unfazed.


    Honestly, Quinn didn''t buy it. If he could carry her that far, why couldn''t he catch up with her?


    "Then why didn''t you take me to town? Why bring me here?" she asked.


    Alexander sat down beside her, looking serious. "I wanted to spend more time with you."


    Quinn was speechless.


    Meanwhile, out on thewn, Sean and Matthew were squatting, trying to figure out what Alexander was up to when they saw a group of people on horseback approaching. Matthew squinted at the group. "Who are they?"


    Sean squinted too. After a moment, he jumped up and shouted, "It''s Walter!"

 Chapter 1101

    Matthew heard it was Walter and got just as freaked out. "What do we do? Should we tell Mr. Kennedy?" he asked.


    Sean frowned, thinking it over. "Didn''t he say not to show up? Let''s get the others here first and see what happens." ''Walter''s only got five guys, including himself, and we''ve got dozens. Can we really not handle them?'' Matthew thought.


    It made sense, so he pulled out his phone to call the others.


    Inside the house, Quinn and Alexander were still having a stare-down. One thing Alexander said had left Quinn speechless for a while.


    Finally, Quinn broke the silence. "I should go back."


    Ignoring Alexander''s attempts to stop her, she threw off the nket and got out of bed. She turned to him again. "And seriously, stop bothering me, okay?" she said. Alexander grabbed her wrist, not giving up. "Who said it''s over? We''re not even divorced yet."


    Quinn remembered the marriage certificate he somehow got hold of. She looked at him, confused. "Didn''t you get it annulled?" she asked.


    "You''re not dead, so why would I annul it?" Alexander replied.


    Quinn''s expression gotplicated.


    She thought to herself, ''If my identity isn''t annulled, can I use my documents? If so, escaping would be way easier!''


    As she was lost in thought, Amanda burst in, looking worried. "There are some people outside. I don''t recognize them. Are they here for you?" she asked nervously.


    Hearing this, Alexander walked to the window, lifted the curtain, and looked outside.


    Quinn followed his gaze and saw Walter and his crew heading towards the yard.


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    Walter pushed open the wooden gate and strutted in. The three kids in the yard stopped what they were doing and stared at him.


    "Prettydy," one kid eximed.


    Hearing this, Walter paused and turned his head, meeting the kids'' amazed gazes.


    With his androgynous looks and long hair, Walter naturally appeared as a beautiful woman to them.


    Quinn heard the kids'' exmations and got nervous.


    Walter was bad news and had nopassion. Peanut was still in the hospital. Back then, Peanut was so small, yet Walter didn''t show him any mercy. He wouldn''t care about these unrted kids either. Thinking of this, Quinn ran out. "What are you doing here?" she asked Walter.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Hearing her voice, Walter finally looked away and turned to Quinn.


    With his signature smile, he walked slowly to Quinn. "Your horse came back on its own. I thought something happened to you, so I came to check. Are you okay?" he asked, looking her up and down. Quinn shook her head. "I''m fine."


    She stepped forward and hugged his arm. "The horse threw a tantrum and left me behind. I didn''t expect it toe back on its own. I just finished delivering thest package and was about to head back. I''m done now, so let''s go." Walter''s eyes flickered. He looked past Quinn towards the house but didn''t see anything, so he refocused on Quinn''s face.


    He noticed the anxiety in her eyes.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Just as he was about to speak, he saw a figureing out of the house from the corner of his eye, and his expression changed.

 Chapter 1102

    "Yo, why you bouncin'' so fast?" a voice called out.


    Quinn whipped around, recognizing that voice. There was Alexander, hobbling out with a cane.


    Her fingers tightened up, and she shot a quick look at Walter.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Walter had this smile, but his eyes were cold. "Well, if it ain''t Mr. Kennedy. Been a minute. What happened to you?" he asked, eyeing Alexander''s bum leg.


    Alexander shrugged. "Pretty embarrassing, really. First time here, got lost, and a dog bit me."


    Then he added, "Seems like you know this ce well, Mr. Smith. Maybe you can look out for me."


    Walter caught the dig and grinned wider. "Tough break. If you know it''s dangerous, better head back. Next time, it might not just be your leg," he said, a hint of threat in his voice. Alexander shot back, "Can''t do that. My wife''s still here. Can''t leave her with all these dogs around, right? What if they bite her?"


    Quinn was just about done with their bickering.


    Amanda, meanwhile, was confused. ''What dogs? The shepherds here don''t bite,'' she thought.


    Walter sneered, "Your leg''s busted, and so''s your brain. Where''s your wife? Or do you think every woman you see is yours?"


    Quinn had enough. "Cut it out. Let''s go," she told Walter.


    Walter smiled, holding her hand. "Alright, Mr. Kennedy, we''re out. Later," he said, turning to leave with Quinn.


    But then, Quinn''s wrist got grabbed.


    She turned to Alexander. "What are you doing?"


    Alexander just stared, holding on like a stubborn kid.


    Walter grabbed Alexander''s wrist, smiling, "Mr. Kennedy, if there''s nothing else, we''re leaving."


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    He pried Alexander''s hand off, using a lot of force and a sneaky angle, pinching his tendons.


    Alexander winced in pain.


    Walter and Alexander were having a silent showdown, and Quinn felt like her wrist was about to snap.


    Finally, Alexander let go, and Walter pulled him away.


    As Walter let go, Alexander stumbled back and hit the ground hard.


    Quinn''s face changed. If Walter hadn''t held her, she''d have rushed over.


    Amanda ran to help Alexander. "You okay?" she asked, worried.


    Alexander winced but shook his head. "I''m fine," he said.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Even though he said he was fine, he looked like he was in serious pain. Amanda was pissed. She red at Walter and asked, "Why''d you push him? Don''t you know he''s hurt? You''re so petty." Walter almostughed in anger. He hadn''t pushed him; Alexander fell on his own.


    Grinding his teeth, Walter forced a smile. "Mr. Kennedy''s acting skills have really improved," he scoffed.


    With Amanda''s help, Alexander got up, weakly looking at Walter and then Quinn.


    He said nothing, grabbed his cane, and limped back inside.


    Watching him, Walter almost lost it but held back.


    He turned to Quinn. "Let''s go."


    Quinn yanked her hand away, walked past him, and left on her own.

 Chapter 1103

    Staring at Quinn''s back, Walter''s grin faded until it was just a scowl.


    Colin shot him a nervous nce, feeling the anger simmering just below the surface, and tried to blend into the background.


    Quinn hopped on a horse like it was no big deal, leaving Walter and his crew in the dust, and vanished into the prairie.


    Walter shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and then turned back to the house. Once he got his poker face back on, he walked out of the yard.


    Amanda helped Alexander into the house, aiming to get him to sit down. But he yanked his hand away, his face going back to its usual cool look. Amanda, puzzled, asked, "You good now?"


    He put on his usual aloof mask and turned away, saying, "Yeah, I''m fine."


    Amanda gave him a once-over. "So you were just faking it?"


    Alexander ignored her and went inside. He stood by the window, watching Walter and the others leave.


    Amanda stood there, stunned for a moment. Suddenly, it felt like she was seeing Alexander in a whole new light.


    Meanwhile, Walter stormed back to the vi and headed straight for Quinn''s room. He knocked before barging in.


    Quinn nced at him and then went back to checking herself out in the mirror.


    He walked up behind her, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror as he asked, "You mad?"


    "No," Quinn shot back.


    His fingers rested on her shoulder as he said softly, "I thought you were sticking up for Alexander. Guess I was wrong." Quinn paused but stayed quiet.


    He went on, "You said you were done with him. I believe you, so don''t let me down."


    "You don''t need to remind me. I know what to do," Quinn replied.


    Walter grinned and said, "Good to know. How about I kill him?"


    Quinn''s eyes snapped up to meet his in the mirror. He was smiling, but the threat in his eyes was real.


    "Didn''t you say letting him live a lonely life was more fun than killing him?" Quinn asked.


    Walter shrugged. "Changed my mind. Besides, he doesn''t look too lonely now. Quinn, if I go to kill him, you won''t stop me likest time, right?" Quinn pressed her lips together, unable to answer.


    If she said no, she''d be a traitor to the Mellon family. But if she said yes, she couldn''t live with herself.


    Walter wasn''t letting it go. He pushed, "Why so quiet? You disagree?"


    Quinn suddenly stood up and faced Walter, saying, "What if I agree? What if I don''t? You never listen to me anyway."


    Walter raised an eyebrow, saying, "For this, I need your opinion. Tell me, dead or alive?"


    Quinn''s fingers gripped the table edge, her knuckles turning white as she asked, "Are you forcing me to choose?"


    Walter smirked, "How could I be? Just asking your opinion. Simple question, hard to answer?"


    "He has nothing left. What good would killing him do?" Quinn replied.


    "Nothing left? Doesn''t he still have his illness?" Walter mocked.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    After a moment, he nodded and said, "I get it. You still can''t let him go, can you?"

 Chapter 1104

    Quinn turned her head, dodging his stare. "I didn''t."


    "So why can''t you make up your mind?" Walter shot back.


    He wanted Quinn to make the call, not ''cause he cared about her opinion, but ''cause he wanted her to say she''d off Alexander. That way, she couldn''t me himter. By saying it out loud, it''d be like she did the deed herself, leaving no one else to point fingers at.


    "What do you really want?" Quinn asked, locking eyes with him, confusion all over her face. "You always use revenge as an excuse to make me kill him. Do you actually want revenge, or just to kill him? You know the Mellon family stuff has nothing to do with him. Landon''s part of the Kennedy family too. Why not kill him? Why do you hate him more than I do?"


    Walter stared at her, his gaze unreadable, making Quinn''s skin crawl. Her voice got softer as she spoke.


    Walter stepped forward, and Quinn instinctively backed up, bumping into the dressing table. She was cornered.


    He looked right at her and said slowly, "Quinn, do you really wanna know what I wanna do?"


    There was a hint of menace in his eyes, and Quinn felt a chill run down her spine.


    Her fingers gripped the edge of the table, her confidence slipping away. "What do you wanna do?" she asked.


    Walter kept closing in, stopping just before they touched. He ced his hands on either side of her, trapping her.


    With a smirk, he enjoyed her panicked look.


    "Let me tell you why he deserves to die ''cause you fell for him," Walter said coldly.


    Quinn froze.


    He went on, "If you had fallen for Landon, he''d deserve to die too. Or if you had fallen for Orion, Oliver, or some random guy on the street, it wouldn''t matter-they''d all deserve to die." Quinn''s eyes widened, nerves kicking in.


    He raised his hand, pinching her chin, his thumb gently stroking it. "Quinn, you don''t really think I stayed in this dump with you just to hide from Alexander, do you?"


    Quinn shoved him away, her face pale, fingers trembling.


    "That''s not what you said before," she said.


    She remembered every word he had said.


    He imed he wasn''t interested in her, especially a woman who''d been with Alexander.


    He hated her for loving the enemy, for betraying the Mellon family.


    He hated her so much he wanted to strangle her.


    "Of course," Walter said, looking away. "Thinking about it now, it still feels gross."


    Quinn pressed her lips together. Turns out Alexander wasn''t the only one who was nuts.


    Walter seemed to be mulling something over, his eyes conflicted. "But I can''t me you. After all, you don''t remember anything. If it weren''t for the Kennedy family, the time you spent with him should''ve been with me." He looked at Quinn again. "What does this feel like? It''s like he took something that was mine and messed it up."


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    Walter thought for a bit. He couldn''t figure out his feelings for Quinn.


    But it definitely wasn''t love.


    "Forget it. Let''s just kill him." Walter sighed, touching Quinn''s cheek. "This time, you won''t get in the way, right?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn pped his hand away. "You''re nuts too."


    Walter smiled, not denying it.


    Quinn said, "Since I gross you out so much, there''s no need for me to stick around and make you ufortable."


    She turned to leave.


    But Walter yanked her back, pinning her against the wall. "You''ve wanted to leave for a while, haven''t you? Aren''t you happy to finally say it out loud?" he said, his voice icy.

 Chapter 1105

    Quinn tried to wriggle free, but his grip was like a vice. Annoyed, she snapped, "Let go of me!"


    Walter stared at her for a beat, trying to keep his cool, then finally let her go.


    Once she was free, Quinn bolted out of there.


    Just as she hit the door, Walter''s voice echoed behind her. "I hope you know what you''re doing."


    Quinn paused for a sec, then walked out of the vi without looking back.


    Even though it was past five, the sun was still zing. It stayed lightte around here, sometimes until nine.


    Quinn wandered into the yard, staring at the empty prairie ahead. A gust of wind hit her, and she suddenly had no clue where to go.


    She grabbed her horse and headed back to town to deliver some packages.


    Before dropping off the packages, she swung by the conste to see if she could rece her documents.


    The staff told her she had to go to where the documents were issued to rece them, but she could also do it online.


    Quinn pulled out her phone and followed the staff''s instructions, but when she opened the app, she closed it again.


    The card she was using and the info linked to her phone were all Walter''s. If she reced the documents online, Walter would definitely find out.


    So, the first thing she needed was her own SIM card. But without documents, she couldn''t get one either.


    Quinn led her horse to the grass and sat down, flipping through her phone, trying to figure out her next move.


    Suddenly, she stumbled upon Abigail''s Facebook. She opened it and saw their conversation still stuck on thest message Abigail had sent, expressing doubt.


    She quickly messaged Abigail: [You there?]


    Seeing the unfamiliar number again, Abigail thought it was some weirdo and tossed her phone aside, going back to her painting.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


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    The next second, her phone buzzed again.


    Annoyed at being interrupted, Abigail angrily put down her brush and picked up her phone, ready to delete Quinn''s contact.


    But when she looked at the screen, the next message read: [It''s Quinn.]


    Abigail was stunned. She stared at the message, feeling like it wasn''t real, but at the same time, her hands shook with excitement.


    She hadn''t seen that name in ages. Seeing it suddenly made her heart skip a beat.


    It felt like a rock was lodged in her chest. She gripped her phone and typed with difficulty: [You must be a scammer, right? How much do you want?]


    Quinn went silent for a moment. She ced her finger on the video call icon and hit send.


    The sudden video call startled Abigail, making her almost jump and nearly drop her phone.


    As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for theplete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! She quickly picked up her phone, her fingers trembling as she pressed ept.


    After a brief ck screen, a familiar face popped up. For a moment, Abigail''s mind went nk, and she sat there, frozen.


    A familiar voice called, "Abigail."


    Quinn''s voice snapped Abigail back to reality. She held her phone close, her face almost touching the screen.


    "Quinn? Is it really you, Quinn?" Abigail asked, her voice full of disbelief.


    Seeing Abigail''s erged face, Quinn felt a bit emotional. "It''s me."


    Abigail stared at the screen for a long time, then frowned and said, "Is this AI-generated? AI face swap! I''ve seen this on the news. Don''t try to scam me. Just tell me how much you want!" It wasn''t that she didn''t believe Quinn, but she was scared of being let down after believing, so she wanted to double-check.

 Chapter 1106

    Quinn sighed, "I''m not lying, Abigail. It''s really me, Quinn. How do you want me to prove it?"


    Abigail squinted at the screen, studying Quinn''s face. "Alright, show me around."


    Quinn flipped the camera to show her surroundings.


    "It''s all green. Is this some kind of green screen?" Abigail asked, skeptical.


    Quinn turned the camera back to herself, looking exasperated. "Okay, what else do you want me to do?"


    Abigail thought for a second. "Wave your hand in front of your face."


    Quinn did as she was told, and the video stayed the same.


    Then Quinn pointed the camera at a horse next to her. "Look, Abigail, this is a horse. No AI face swap here. I''ll ride it to prove it."


    She awkwardly mounted the horse, holding the phone in one hand. "I''ll ride to town and show you."


    Abigail''s eyes widened, and as Quinn kept proving herself, Abigail got more and more excited.


    When Quinn reached the town, she grabbed a random passerby to say hi to Abigail.


    Everything looked so real that it pretty much ruled out any AI trickery.


    Abigail fired off a few more questions, and Quinn answered them all smoothly. Suddenly, Abigail jumped up from her chair. "Quinn, is it really you? Are you really alive?" she asked, shocked.


    Quinn, still on the horse, started heading out of town. "It''s me."


    "Then why didn''t you tell me sooner?" Abigail demanded.


    Quinn''s face got serious. "I''m sorry. I didn''t know how to tell you, and I was scared you''d get dragged into this."


    Abigail red at her. "What happened? I thought you were dead! I was devastated. Tell me where you are so I cane and give you a piece of my mind!"


    "Abigail, I''m really far away. Please don''te looking for me yet. I need a favor," Quinn finally said.


    "What is it?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn hesitated. "Can you help me get a recement for my old phone number and send it to me?"


    Abigail agreed right away. "Sure, but that number hasn''t been used in almost two years. It might be deactivated."


    "Check it out first. I remember the bnce was good," Quinn said.


    As long as there were no outstanding charges, it shouldn''t be deactivated even if it hadn''t been used.


    "Alright, I''ll look into it. But when I get back, you have to tell me everything," Abigail insisted.


    Quinn nodded. "Okay, thank you, Abigail."


    Abigail chuckled. "In critical times, you still need me, huh?"


    Even though Abigail pretended to be annoyed, the smile in her eyes was clear. Quinn could''ve asked Alexander for this favor, which would''ve been easier, but she chose Abigail, showing she valued their friendship the most. Thinking about this, Abigail couldn''t help but feel happy.


    Quinn smiled back. "Yeah, you''re the only one I could think of."


    Abigail had a million questions now, like why Quinn needed her old phone number, what had happened, who she was with, and what she''d been doing for the past two years.


    But the most urgent thing was getting that recement SIM card.


    "Alright, I''ll ask around for you. Don''t worry. Even if it''s deactivated, I''ll get you the card," Abigail promised.


    "Okay."


    Quinn hung up and took a deep breath, feeling the prairie air fresher than ever.


    She figured it would take about a week for Abigail to get the card and send it to her, and about half a month to get her documents reced. In about a month, she''d have her identity back.


    If she had any doubts before, now, after what Walter had said, she had only one thought - run.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    She wanted to get as far away as possible. Staying here would be just like being with Alexander before, still trapped.

 Chapter 1107

    Quinn had been hustling packages all day. By the time night rolled in, she still didn''t want to go back.


    She drifted back into town, just kinda wandering around.


    No ID meant no hotel, and it was way too cold to crash outside without turning into a popsicle.


    After a bit of aimless wandering, she figured she better head back.


    She had at least a month left, so she couldn''t let Walter start sniffing around.


    On her way back, she had to pass that intersection. Lost in her thoughts, she didn''t notice someone chilling by the roadside.


    It wasn''t until her horse stopped that she snapped out of it and looked down.


    There was Alexander, smack dab in the middle of the road, blocking her way. The horse tried to dodge him, but he kept moving to block it. The horse started getting twitchy.


    Quinn quickly patted its head to calm it down. Once it was chill, she hopped off.


    "Can''t you stay put even with a bum leg?" she snapped.


    No shocker, it was Alexander. He was leaning on a cane, and Quinn couldn''t believe he had the guts to stop a horse in his sorry state.


    He hobbled over to her, looking even more awkward than before.


    Quinn frowned, a bit suspicious. Had Walter messed him up even more?


    Or maybe he was just faking it.


    Neither Alexander nor Walter were exactly trustworthy.


    "Just wanted to see you," Alexander said.


    By now, it was dark, and Quinn could barely make out his face, let alone his expression.


    "What''s there to see?" she asked.


    "Everything," Alexander replied.


    Quinn shot him a sideways nce. She used to wait for him every day, and he didn''t give a damn. Now he was pulling the same stunt she used to. It was kinda funny. Leading the horse around him, she said, "Then keep watching."


    Alexander trailed behind silently.


    Quinn acted like he wasn''t there, mounted the horse. Just as she was about to leave, he sneezed behind her.


    She paused and looked back at him.


    She couldn''t see much, just that he looked thin and seemed to be wearing only a shirt.


    "You don''t think that by wearing so little and acting all pitiful, I''ll feel sorry for you, do you?" she mocked.


    Alexander coughed a couple of times and said, "No, it was hot this afternoon."


    He was basically telling Quinn he''d been waiting there since the afternoon and wasn''t trying to milk sympathy by wearing so little.


    "How''d you know I was out?" Quinn asked.


    "I didn''t, but you always pass by here," Alexander replied.


    "If I didn''t show up, would you just keep waiting?" Quinn asked again.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "Yep," Alexander said stubbornly.


    Quinn smirked. "You''re really something else."


    "How''d you know I was sick? I think I have a fever," Alexander said, his voice a bit raspy, and he coughed again.


    Quinn looked away from him, silent for a long time.


    He had no money and no phone. Waiting here was pretty much a death wish.


    After a while, Quinn said, "That''s your own fault."


    With that, she ignored Alexander and rode off.


    If she caved this time, he''d pull the same stunt again next time. Better to nip it in the bud.


    Alexander stood there, watching her leave, her figure getting smaller until it blended with the night.


    He sighed and plopped down on a rock by the roadside.


    At this hour, the streets were dead. The night wind was biting, and he was barely dressed, waiting in the cold.


    Sean, Matthew, and Nathan were all in the hotel, peeking out the window, trying to see if Alexander was still there. Sean said, "Should we go check on him?"


    Matthew hesitated and said, "Didn''t he say to leave him alone?"


    "So we''re really gonna let him wait all night?"


    Nathan and Matthew both took a step back and said in unison, "You go."


    Sean rolled his eyes at them, grabbed a coat, and headed out.

 Chapter 1108

    Sean rolled up to the intersection, and yep, Alexander was still hanging around.


    "Mr. Kennedy, seriously, don''t wait anymore. It''s superte, and freezing out here."


    Alexander just shook his head a bit, saying, "Don''t sweat it. Just stay outta my sight if you can."


    Sean handed him a coat, saying, "At least throw this on."


    When Alexander didn''t take it, Sean just draped it over his shoulders himself. "I''m heading back."


    Sean took a few steps, hesitated, and nced back. Seeing Alexander still not budging, he gritted his teeth and bolted back to the hotel. Meanwhile, Quinn got back to the vi and was surprised Walter wasn''t around.


    If she hadn''t just seen Alexander at the intersection, she''d have thought Walter went to off him.


    She headed to the kitchen and found Soren, asking, "Where''d he go?"


    Soren was making soup, and her sudden question almost made him drop the pot.


    "Jeez, you scared me!" Soren scolded.


    Then he got what she was asking and replied, "You mean Walter? Wrong guy to ask. He never tells me where he''s going."


    Quinn thought about it and realized he was right, so she switched it up, "When did he leave?"Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Been over two hours, I think. Why?" Soren replied.


    "Nothing." Quinn was about to leave but nced at the dark soup in Soren''s pot, "Stop making these gross soups."


    Soren exined, "This isn''t gross. If it weren''t for my soups, you wouldn''t have bounced back so fast these past two years..." But Quinn was already gone before he could finish.


    Back in her room, Quinny on the bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.


    As the night dragged on, it got even colder.


    Alexander really did have a fever. He touched his forehead, and the heat surprised him.


    His vision started to blur, and he vaguely saw a distant light on the road.


    He squinted, trying to focus on the approaching light.


    A few minutester, several ck cars sped towards him and stopped right in front of him.


    Walter got out, the headlights behind him casting his shadow over Alexander.


    Looking down at Alexander in the shadows, Walter sneered, "Mr. Kennedy, what a coincidence."


    Alexander sighed, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff before saying, "Can''t help it. Wherever I go, I attract dogs."


    Hearing Alexander still daring to insult him, Walter chuckled and looked around, threatening, "I hope you can keep that attitude when you''re about to die."


    "So many people?" Alexander looked at the crowd behind him and smirked, "Bringing so many folks to deal with a cripple like me, Mr. Mellon, feeling insecure?"


    Walterughed instead of getting mad. He leaned in slightly and whispered, "If you wanna know why, ask Quinn. If she wasn''t satisfied, why would she live with me for two years?" Alexander''s eyes flickered.


    Walter''s smile grew wider, but the next second, Alexander flicked his cigarette butt at him. Walter dodged it.


    Without missing a beat, Alexander''s cane struck out towards Walter''s groin. Walter''s eyes narrowed, and he swiftly sidestepped, barely dodging the strike.


    Steadying himself, he looked back at Alexander, who was now standing.


    Walter hid the anger in his eyes and said with a smile, "You''re getting mad out of shame."


    Then he said, "Mr. Kennedy, you''ve been here long enough, and I haven''t properly entertained you. Hop in the car, Mr. Kennedy. It''s time I showed you some hospitality."

 Chapter 1109

    Alexander suddenly busted outughing.


    Walter shot him a look and said, "Man, you''re something else,ughing when you''re about to bite the dust." "About to die?" Alexander gave him a sly grin. "You got lucky twice, and now you think you''re hot stuff?" Walter''s brow furrowed. "What are you getting at?"


    Alexander smirked. "What do you think?"


    Walter''s face twisted as he realized something was off. He reached for his gun, but Alexander was quicker. The cold barrel was already pressed against Walter''s forehead.


    Walter''s crew froze, too slow to react. By the time they did, it was game over.


    "Don''t move," Alexander warned. "I can''t promise there''s not a bullet in this thing."


    Walter''s men exchanged nervous nces, not daring to make a move.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter thought for a second. "Your backup''s here, huh?"


    "Take a wild guess," Alexander replied.


    Walter chuckled. "So, you got the guts to kill me?"


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed. "There''s a difference between not wanting to kill you and not daring to. You''ve dodged death because Quinn gave you a pass, not ''cause you''re some big shot." His voice dripped with disdain. "Without Lucas''s name, what are you, really?"


    Walter''s eyes turned icy.


    Alexander kept going, twisting the knife. "You know what you look like? A dog. Without Quinn holding your leash, you think you could stand up to me?"


    He added, "It''s a joke that you think you have any leverage. Walter, what exactly are you so proud of?"


    Alexander''s words cut deep, making Walter look like a fool.


    Walter red at him, anger boiling over, but he forced a smile to hide his shame. "All that talk, and you still won''t pull the trigger." He slowly grabbed Alexander''s gun. "Go on, shoot." Alexander stared him down, not budging.


    Walter sneered. "Scared, huh? You think you''re any better? Look at you, waiting around for her like a lost puppy."


    "Aren''t you just a dog waiting for its owner toe home?" Walter mocked. "Pathetic. You handed her the leash, and she doesn''t even care. Who are you to judge me?" Just then, Buddy and Liberty showed up, squatting next to Alexander. The scene made it hard to tell who looked more like a dog.


    Walter barely finished his taunt when Alexander yanked back his hand and shot Walter in the leg.


    Walter staggered, almost hitting the ground, but one of his guys caught him.


    Walter''s crew wanted to charge, but the gun in Alexander''s hand kept them at bay.


    "Killing you is a hassle," Alexander said coldly. "But making your life hell? That''s easy."


    Walter shut his eyes, took a few deep breaths to push through the pain, then red at Alexander. "Since you won''t shoot, it''s my turn." His men immediately surrounded Alexander.


    But before they could make a move, a motorcycle roared in, its blinding lights cutting through the night, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.

 Chapter 1110

    Walter and the crew instinctively shut their eyes or threw up their hands to shield themselves.


    In that split second, a bunch of motorcycles came roaring in, crashing into the crowd. Walter''s squad got totally wiped out.


    Colin grabbed Walter, both their faces going pale.


    They thought Alexander was flying solo, so they didn''t bring much backup. Now, they were totally screwed.


    "Mr. Mellon, we gotta bail!" Colin yelled.


    But before he could finish, they were surrounded by a mob, and things went south real quick.


    Now Walter was the one cornered.


    Walter squinted, shoved Colin aside, and wobbled to his feet. He locked eyes with Alexander, ignoring his guys sprawled on the ground.


    "Looks like it''s either you or me biting the dust today," Walter said, pulling a gun from his coat. Sean stepped forward, but Walter pressed the gun to his own head. "Alexander, you think I''m giving you this shot?" Walter sneered.


    He knew the kind of hell waiting if Alexander got him, so he had to find another way out.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander stayed chill, sitting on a rock and pulling out his phone to start recording.


    "Go ahead, shoot. I''ll get it all on camera."


    Walter went quiet.


    Alexander panned the phone around, catching all the witnesses, and said, "With all these folks watching, I didn''t kill you."


    Walterughed bitterly, gritting his teeth. "Alexander, you''re getting more shameless by the day."


    Alexander smirked, "You''re trying to frame me with suicide, and you think I''ll just sit here? Is it too much to gather some proof to clear my name?"


    Sean scratched his nose, exchanging looks with Matthew and the others.


    Everyone was pretty much speechless.


    Both sides were stuck, and the underlings had no clue what to do.


    Should they nab Walter or not?


    If he really did off himself, it wouldn''t be Alexander''s fault, but it would still look bad.


    But if they didn''t grab him, he and Alexander could be there all night.


    "Are you gonna shoot or not?" Alexander got up from the rock, sounding impatient, "I''ll give you one minute to decide. If you don''t act, then I''ll have to invite you to my ce." Hearing this, Walter shot back, "Did you forget you''re still recording?"


    Alexander shrugged, "It''s fine. I can edit it."


    Walter suddenlyughed, amused by Alexander. He didn''t even know why he wasughing.


    Seeing Alexander holding up his phone to record, he couldn''t help butugh.


    The tense vibe now felt almost childish, like a yground spat between two kids.


    Just as the standoff dragged on, Sean got a call. His face changed, and he quickly whispered in Alexander''s ear, "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy is on her way here." Alexander''s eyes flickered, and he nced at Walter.


    Walter raised an eyebrow, guessing what was up. He lowered his gun, saying, "Looks like we won''t be catching up tonight."


    Alexander walked forward slowly, shifting his gaze from Walter''s smirking face to his bleeding leg.


    He then pressed on Walter''s wound.


    Walter groaned in pain, swaying, and dropped the gun. He gritted his teeth and looked at Alexander, asking, "What are you doing?"


    "Goodbye and good riddance," Alexander replied coldly.


    Alexander pulled his hand back, now covered in blood.


    Colin quickly helped Walter into the car. The rest of their crew piled into the cars and sped off.

 Chapter 1111

    After Walter''s car took off, Alexander shot a quick nce at Sean.


    Sean got the hint right away, waved everyone off, and he and Matthew hightailed it back to the hotel.


    Sean ran a few steps, then doubled back to grab Alexander''s coat.


    Quinn came barreling down the road on her horse, pulling up hard in front of Alexander, yanking the reins.


    She had her phone out, its light hitting Alexander. When she saw his face, her expression shifted, and she jumped off the horse in a hurry.


    "What happened to you?" she asked, her voice full of worry.


    She held the phone up, checking him out. His face was a bloody mess. She grabbed his hand, and yep, more blood.


    Alexander weakly lifted his head, gave her a little shake of his head, and said, "I''m good."


    "Did someonee after you?" Quinn asked.


    "Nah, just helped a old man who fell off his horse. This blood ain''t mine," Alexander said, barely hanging on.


    Quinn frowned, not buying it.


    She thought, ''Why would an old man be riding a horse at this hour? And to fall off-how bad was it to bleed this much?''


    "Where''s the old man?" she asked.


    "He''s gone," Alexander replied.


    "Alexander!" Quinn snapped, not even sure why she was so mad. "If you''re hurt, go to the hospital. Can''t you find someone? Why are you just sitting here? What good is it to die here?" "I got no money," Alexander said.


    Quinn was speechless.


    Alexander added, "No cars around here."


    Quinn was quiet for a moment, then helped him up, asking, "Can you walk?"


    Alexander raised his hand to his mouth, coughed twice, and smeared more blood on his face. Quinn couldn''t tell if it was from his hand or his mouth.


    He leaned on her and said, "I can''t walk."


    Quinn felt a wave of frustration. She helped him towards the horse, saying, "Get on. I''ll take you to the hospital."


    Alexander grabbed the saddle and got on the horse. Quinn was a bit surprised by how quick he moved.


    But then he clutched his chest and started coughing like crazy. Quinn didn''t waste any time and jumped on the horse, heading for the hospital.


    As they rode, Alexander reached out and hugged her waist, making her stiffen.


    "Get your hand off," Quinn ordered.


    But instead of letting go, he rested his head on her shoulder. "I''m kinda tired. Gonna nap for a bit," he said weakly.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Don''t sleep!" Quinn shouted, more urgent than she realized. She gripped the reins, pushing the horse to go faster. Alexander leaned on her shoulder, and her hair brushed against his nose. He stared at her jaw.


    Without thinking, he tightened his grip around her waist.


    Quinn felt like her waist was about to snap.


    Just as she was about to say something, she heard Alexander''s low murmur in her ear, "It''s been a long time since I held you."


    Quinn didn''t respond, just looked ahead into the dark night, silently urging the horse forward.


    Alexander muttered, "Two years and three months, 823 days, every day I woke up to an empty space beside me. I really missed you."


    The wind was strong, his voice was soft, but in Quinn''s ear, it was crystal clear.


    With the wind blowing, it felt like he hadn''t said anything at all.


    "Shut up!" Quinn cut him off.


    Alexander went quiet, and his hand fell from her waist.


    Quinn''s heart skipped a beat.


    "Alexander?" she called.


    No response.


    The wind seemed to howl louder, making Quinn''s eyes sting. She gripped the reins tighter and stared into the endless darkness ahead, desperately hoping to see some familiar lights.

 Chapter 1112

    Forty minutester, they finally rolled up to the town hospital.


    Quinn helped Alexander off the horse, leaving him there, and sprinted inside to get some help. Soon enough, he was wheeled into the ER.


    Quinn plopped down outside, pulled out her phone, and saw Walter had called her a minute ago.


    She turned off the screen, stared at the red light of the ER, and nced at the blood on her fingers, her face a mix of emotions.


    Walter looked at his phone, saw the call had disconnected, and tossed it aside.


    Soren was cleaning up a mess of bloody gauze on the floor, stuffing it into a bag. He hunched his shoulders and softly said, "Mr. Mellon, your injury''s pretty bad. You need to chill and stop moving around." Walter shot him a look.


    Soren shrank further into his cor, his eyes darting around, not daring to meet Walter''s gaze.


    "You''ve been around Alexander for a while, huh?" Walter suddenly asked.


    "Not really, I spend more time with Ms. Mellon," Soren replied.


    Walter leaned back on the sofa, thinking of Alexander''s face, a cold smile creeping onto his lips. "Is he always this shameless in private?" he asked.


    "I don''t know," Soren replied.


    What the heck happened? What did Alexander do to make Walter say something like that?


    Soren sneaked a nce at Walter, who had that cold smile and a face pale from blood loss.


    Kinda scary, but there was a weird beauty to it.


    Did he try to off Alexander and end up getting hurt instead?


    After a while of silence, Soren quickly packed up and bailed.


    Back at the hospital, Quinn had been waiting for over two hours. It was almost dawn when the light in the OR finally turned green. She jumped up from her chair.


    The doctor came out, and Quinn rushed over, "How is he?"


    "He just passed out from a fever," the doctor said.


    Quinn, confused, asked, "That''s it?"Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The doctor exined, "His fever was really high, like 104 degrees. Plus, he''s got some fibrosis in his lungs, which makes it tough for him to handle this climate. He shouldn''t stay in this high-altitude area, or it''ll get worse." "Fibrosis? What''s that?" Quinn asked.


    The doctor said, "There are lots of causes. He should go to a bigger hospital for a check-up. Anyway, he doesn''t seem like he''s from around here, right? The climate might be a factor, but I can''t say for sure."


    Quinn frowned, nodding absentmindedly, "Does his coughing up blood have anything to do with this?"


    "He coughed up blood?" the doctor asked, surprised.


    "When he was brought in, wasn''t there a lot of blood on him?" Quinn asked.


    The doctor remembered and said, "I don''t know. It shouldn''t be rted."


    He even started doubting his own skills.


    "Alright, I get it. Thanks." The doctor had already mentioned the hospital''s limitations, so she didn''t dwell on it.


    After all, Alexander was broke and disabled, and Walter was always causing trouble.


    Walter might not kill him, but he sure could make his life hell, beating him up whenever, and she couldn''t do anything about it.


    Thinking about those two now just stressed her out.


    She had to get out of there. She didn''t want to be caught up in their constant drama. Once she left, she wouldn''t have to worry about it anymore. Whatever they did would be their problem, not hers. Quinn sat in the ward, texting Abigail on her phone.


    Abigail told her that her phone number hadn''t been canceled and had been reissued. She was mailing it now and asked for her address.


    Alexander slowly woke up and saw Quinn with her head down, ying on her phone.


    His IV bottle was almost empty, but she hadn''t even nced at it.

 Chapter 1113

    He eyeballed Quinn for a bit; she was still yapping away.


    He was about to say something, but Quinn suddenly got up and strolled out with her phone.


    Alexander got up, cranked the IV roller to max speed, and then flopped back down.


    Quinn stepped outside to take the call, "Abigail, what''s up?"


    "Not much. Can''t I just call for no reason?" Abigail sounded kinda miffed.


    Quinn quickly said, "No, I didn''t mean it like that."


    Abigail chuckled, "Just messing with you. I wanted to let you know the package is on its way, so keep an eye out. Also, what''s been going on with you these past two years? Spill the tea." "If I start, it might take a while," Quinn replied.


    "No biggie. I got time. The other day I saw you riding a horse, it was so cool. When are you gonna teach me?" Abigail asked, all excited.


    Quinn said, "No problem. Next time we meet, I''ll teach you."


    Then she suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Abigail, I''ll call you backter. Gotta handle something now."


    "Alright, take care of your stuff. Don''t forget to call me," Abigail said.


    "Got it." Quinn hung up and headed back to the room.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    When she walked in, she saw Alexander was awake and giving her a look that could kill.


    Quinn noticed his IV bottle was empty, and the tube was half-filled with blood. Freaked out, she rushed to hit the call button.


    She nced at Alexander and asked, "Couldn''t you press it yourself?"


    Alexander stared at her, his lips pale. "I don''t have the strength," he muttered.


    Quinn bit her lip, not sure what to say. Seeing the IV tube getting redder, she kept quiet.


    After a bit, a nurse rushed in, saw the blood almost reaching the bottle, and snapped at Quinn, "Why didn''t you call me sooner? How are you taking care of him?" Quinn pressed her lips together; she had totally spaced that he was still on an IV.


    Alexander said, "It''s not her fault. I asked her to step out."


    The nurse red at Alexander, scolding, "Couldn''t you press it yourself?"


    She sighed, took out the needle, and checked his temperature.


    "The fever''s down. Rest up and don''t catch a cold again," she said.


    Then she told Quinn, "Keep an eye on him. He needs another IV in eight hours."


    Quinn nodded in understanding.


    The nurse cleaned up and left, drops of blood from the needle hitting the floor.


    Quinn looked at the blood on the floor and then at Alexander.


    He gave her a pitiful, weak look.


    Quinn pulled up a chair and sat down, asking again, "What was with the blood on you yesterday?"


    "I told you, it was from helping an injured old man," Alexander insisted.


    Quinn shot him a cold look. "Forget it then."


    ''There wasn''t even an old man. Even if there was, he wouldn''t have helped. Is he the type to help an old man?'' she thought. Alexander sighed, looking at her helplessly.


    "There''s nothing to say. Even if I did, what would it change?" His voice was hoarse and weak, like he was on hisst legs.


    Quinn went quiet.


    Alexander reached out and held her hand, continuing, "Some things, once is enough. As long as you''re okay, it doesn''t matter what happens to me."

 Chapter 1114

    Even though Alexander didn''t spill the beans, Quinn totally got the gist. He was probably talking about that mountain incident when Walter took a nosedive right in front of her, which pretty much nuked their rtionship. Alexander was likely trying to say he didn''t want any more drama with her because of Walter. If Walter wanted to mess with him, he''d just suck it up.


    "Can''t you just bounce from here?" Quinn asked, feeling all kinds of helpless.


    Alexander just stared at her, giving her the silent treatment.


    Quinn felt a wave of anger bubbling up again; she almost wanted to deck Alexander.


    "Don''t get all worked up. Even if I bite the dust here, it''s got nothing to do with you. I won''t hold it against you," Alexander said.


    "Wow, how noble of you," Quinn shot back, dripping with sarcasm.


    "As long as I can see you, I''ll die happy," Alexander said, all sincere-like.


    Quinn frowned, staring into Alexander''s eyes, which were oozing with deep affection. A flicker of doubt crossed her mind.


    From all the years she knew Alexander, he never talked like this. Even when she was on death''s door, he neverid his feelings out so inly.


    They both knew what Ulysses did was a massive wall between them, not something a few sweet words or an apology could fix.


    But what was he ying at now?


    They locked eyes for a moment. Suddenly, Quinn pulled her hand back and said, "Don''t try that on me. Just ''cause I took you to the hospital doesn''t mean I''ve forgiven you!"


    She added, "I saved you out of the goodness of my heart. If a stray dog was hurt, I''d take it to the vet too. To me, you''re no different."


    Alexander''s deep gaze stayed on her, hiding a million emotions.


    Quinn felt a bit guilty under his stare. Had she gone too far?


    As she mulled over how to soften her words, Alexander suddenly said, "Alright."


    Confused, Quinn asked, "What do you mean?"


    "Show me where you''ll tie me up. Got a picture?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn was floored, staring at Alexander like her brain just short-circuited.


    Did he even know what he was saying?


    Alexander added, "But I don''t wanna be tied up with Walter."


    Quinn went silent for a moment.


    Suddenly, she stood up, ring at Alexander. She was so mad her face turned red, but she couldn''t find the words to chew him out. Finally, she blurted, "Alexander, you''re really sick. I shouldn''t have brought you to this hospital. I should''ve taken you to a psych ward!" With that, she stormed out in a huff.


    Alexander looked at the door and sighed. Just a moment ago, he was too weak to move, but now he managed to get up on his own. Quinn ran out of the hospital, taking deep breaths to calm down.


    Before seeing Alexander, Quinn had prepped herself to deal with him.


    But now that he was acting all weird, she was caught off guard.


    She shook her head, trying to push thoughts of Alexander out of her mind. Leading her horse out of town, she returned Abigail''s call. As soon as the call connected, Abigail''s voice came through, "Quinn, you done?"


    "Yeah, what are you up to?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail said, "Nothing much, just chilling at home. Thought about going for a walk, but I don''t know where to go. I''lle to you."


    Quinn quickly stopped her, saying, "Don''te yet. Things are kinda messy here."


    "What''s messy?" Abigail asked.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "Alexander''s here," Quinn revealed.


    "What?" Abigail''s voice shot up. "How''d he end up there? Did you tell him?"


    "Nope, I didn''t tell him. He found his way here on his own. But he''s acting kinda strange. Do you know what happened to him in the past two years?" Quinn asked.

 Chapter 1115

    Abigail sneered, "What could he have done? He''s chillin'', handed thepany over to Getty, and went off to have a st. I just didn''t expect him to find you." Quinn, totally floored, asked, "He handed thepany over to Getty?"


    Abigail scoffed, "Yeah, that jerk, always acting all lovey-dovey and desperate. Everyone thought he was head over heels for you, but he just handed the wholepany to Getty. Now the Kennedy Group''s almost bankrupt, and you didn''t even know?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together and stayed quiet.


    She had no clue. She never paid attention to the Kennedy Group or any news about the Kennedy family.


    He actually gave thepany to Getty, still as generous as ever to Getty. So why did hee here?


    There was a long silence on the phone before Abigail spoke again, "Quinn, what''s up? You haven''t forgiven him and gotten back together with him, have you?" "No."


    Hearing this, Abigail let out a sigh of relief. "Good, don''t ever get back with that jerk."


    "I won''t," Quinn replied.


    "Isn''t living solo just fine for you?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn held the phone and smiled. The sunlight on her body felt kinda warm.


    "But you said he was acting weird. How so?" Abigail asked again.


    Quinn thought for a moment before replying, "I can''t really put my finger on it."


    Anyway, he now felt no shame in ying the victim to gain sympathy, far from the proud, arrogant, and self-respecting Alexander of the past.


    "Do you know what he just said?" Quinn added.


    "What?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn roughly recounted the conversation earlier to Abigail. Abigail stayed quiet for a moment before bursting into deafeningughter.


    "He had iting, didn''t he? Did he really say that? It''s too funny," Abigail said,ughing again.


    Then she added, "That''s easy. Next time, get a rope and tie him up at the museum entrance. He''s so fierce, he''d be great at guarding the door." Back at the vi, Quinn saw the door and felt a bit reluctant to go in.


    She stood outside for several minutes before finally walking over.


    Walter was sitting on the sofa, resting his head and pretending to nap. The scattered hair cast a faint shadow on his face.


    Quinn instinctively lightened her steps, trying to sneak upstairs. However, after just a few steps, Walter''s voice came from behind. "You''re back?" he said.


    Quinn paused and turned to look. Walter had opened his eyes and was looking at her.


    He immediately noticed the dried blood on her clothes.


    Seeing the blood on her clothes, Walter understood everything. He was once again amused by Alexander''s antics.


    "Is he badly hurt?" Walter asked.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn was taken aback and looked down at the blood on her waist, which Alexander had gotten on herst night. "Don''t you already know how badly he''s hurt?" Quinn scoffed.


    Walter sneered, "Are you using me?"


    "You asked first," Quinn shot back.


    He suddenly stood up from the sofa, dragging his injured leg, and limped towards Quinn.


    Quinn looked puzzled, asking, "Why are you limping too?"


    "I''m faking it. Do you believe me?" Walter sneered.


    Quinn was stumped by his words.


    Walter said, "Anyway, in your eyes, Alexander is now a helpless, weak, and pitiful person who can only be bullied by me. You feel very sorry for him, right?" His sharp words made Quinn frown.


    But Walter''s words also made her suspicious. She suddenly couldn''t tell who was telling the truth, Walter or Alexander.


    Alexander imed he helped an old man, while Walter used him of faking it. Neither admitted to any harm, but both subtly med each other. So, what really happenedst night before she arrived? However, she didn''t want to think about it anymore. She just said nonchntly, "Why should I feel sorry? You guys can do whatever you want. It has nothing to do with me."


    After saying this, Quinn walked upstairs.


    She concluded that neither of them was telling the truth.

 Chapter 1116

    When Amanda rolled up to the hospital, Alexander was MIA from his ward.


    She wandered around and finally spotted him in the park downstairs, chilling on a bench with a little kid next to him.


    Dude was deep into a video game, and the kid, maybe four or five, was practically glued to him, eyes wide with excitement. "You''re awesome!" the kid shouted, pping as Alexander smashed through a level.


    Alexander kicked off the next level, and the kid leaned in even closer, almost climbing on top of him.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Anyone passing by would think they were father and son, no doubt.


    Amanda just stood there, not wanting to mess up the sweet moment.


    Soon enough, the kid''s mom showed up and said, "You ran off again. Come back here."


    The kid pouted, giving his mom the puppy eyes. "Can I y a little longer?"


    Mom checked out Alexander, decided he wasn''t a creep, and sat down. "Alright, five more minutes," she said.


    The kid''s face lit up. "Thanks, Mom!"


    Right then, Alexander cleared another level, and the kid jumped up, pping. "You''re amazing!"


    The kid''s missing tooth made his grin both cute and hrious. Alexander chuckled and handed the game console back.


    "Time to go," Alexander said.


    The kid took the console and said, "I''lle find you to y again tomorrow."


    Alexander gave a slight nod.


    The kid''s mom shot Alexander an apologetic look and carried the kid away.


    Amanda finally walked over and plopped down next to Alexander, who was still watching the kid leave.


    "You really like kids, huh?" Amanda asked.


    Alexander snapped out of it and looked at her. "What are you doing here?"


    "Quinn said you were in the hospital, so I came to check on you. Are you okay? I told you not to go out, and now look, you''re in the hospital," Amanda said. Alexander ignored her and dug around in his coat pocket, pulling out a pack of smokes.


    "You''re seriously smoking in the hospital?" Amanda asked, shocked.


    He lit up anyway, not even ncing at her.After the kid was gone, his usual icy vibe was back, and he barely acknowledged her.


    Amanda pressed on, "What''s the deal with you and Quinn? You like her or something?"


    He stayed silent.


    "I can tell you like her, but she doesn''t want to talk to you. Did you piss her off?" Amanda asked.


    Alexander stared at the burning cigarette, lost in thought.


    Amanda kept going, "Why aren''t you saying anything? Are you this quiet with her too? No wonder she doesn''t want to talk to you. Even I don''t want to talk to you." "You talk too much," Alexander cut her off, grabbed his cane, and got up to leave.


    Amanda watched him. He was carrying the cane but not using it. He still had a bit of a limp but could walk without it.


    Yet he still carried the cane, which was weird.


    Amanda had a lightbulb moment and quickly caught up. "Alexander, if you can walk fine, why are you still carrying the cane? Waiting for Quinn toe see you?" Alexander stopped, looking annoyed. "Can you shut up?" he asked coldly.


    Amanda was used to his grumpiness, so she just smiled. "Nope."


    Alexander smirked and headed back to the inpatient department.


    He pulled out his phone and sent a text.


    Amanda followed him all the way to the ward, spilling the beans, "Actually, Quinn asked me toe. If she hadn''t paid me, I wouldn''t have bothered." Alexander stepped into the ward, stopped, and looked back at Amanda, nodding his chin. "Isn''t that your dad?"


    Amanda spun around, but no one was there.


    When she turned back, Alexander had already shut and locked the door.


    Only then did Amanda realize she''d been yed!

 Chapter 1117

    Amanda stomped her foot and yelled at the door, "I''m here to help you, and you lock me out? Fine, handle it yourself in the hospital. I''m done!" After a couple of seconds with no response, she sneered and walked away.


    Leaving the hospital, Amanda shot a text to Quinn, spilling the tea on Alexander''s antics and saying she was heading home, done with ying nurse. Quinn read it and replied: [Then don''t bother with him.]


    Quinn wasn''t in the mood to deal with him either. He could do whatever; he still had Getty.


    But then, remembering what Abigail said, she pulled out her phone and hit up Google.


    She just typed ''Kennedy,'' and a bunch of suggestions popped up:


    "When did The Kennedy Group go bankrupt?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Today''s stock market trend of The Kennedy Group"


    "Is the current chairman of The Kennedy Group a woman?"


    "What happened to the Kennedy family in Amber Bay?"


    "Why did Alexander hand over thepany to Getty?"


    "Did Alexander and Getty get married?"


    There were too many. Quinn scrolled through, and all these keywords were her questions.


    She clicked on the one about Alexander and Getty getting married.


    The first result had a big, bold answer: No.


    Clicking on it, she found a long post exining that Getty was once Alexander''s girlfriend, but they never tied the knot.


    This info was from three years ago, back when she hadn''t divorced Alexander yet, so it wasn''t super helpful.


    Next, she searched why he handed thepany to Getty.


    No clear reason, just the date he transferred thepany and some press conference pics.


    There was so much info, it made her head spin.


    In short, Alexander really did hand thepany over to Getty.


    Just as she was about to close the browser, she noticed a message below, asking why Getty still had thest name Morgan and didn''t change it to Kennedy. Curious, she clicked on it, but it led to a dead link.


    Although the drama with Kaitlyn swapping her kid with someone else''s was a big deal back then, over two years had passed, and people had moved on to the next big thing online.


    Few people cared about that anymore; they were more interested in when The Kennedy Group would go bankrupt.


    The Kennedy Group''s stock had been tanking, making bankruptcy inevitable; it was just a matter of time. When Alexander handed thepany to Getty, he not only transferred some assets but also pumped nearly ten billion dors into The Mellon Group. Plus, the shares he gave to Getty were under a profit-sharing deal, with payments based on the amount.


    This setup meant that during his time running The Kennedy Group, ny percent of the returns from all projects had to go to paying Getty for the shares.


    When he transferred the shares, he sold them to Getty at the market price back then. ording to Alexander''s estimate, once those projects wrapped up or stopped, it would be enough to pay him back.


    Now, The Kennedy Group was just an empty shell, drowning in debt, with business halted and unable to file for bankruptcy. Getty was in a tough spot.


    She had nned to bail, but she couldn''t. Her info was on the credit report, and all her devices were monitored. She was stuck.


    As for Alexander''s money, even if he spent 24/7 by the seaside throwing it away for fun, it would take him half a year to burn through it.

 Chapter 1118

    Meanwhile, Kyle hit up Alexander to give him the lowdown on some stuff.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Freya was about to get sprung from the mmer.


    "So soon?" Alexander was kinda taken aback. He nced out the window, thinking about Freya.


    "Yeah, man, it''s been three years," Kyle sighed. A ton of stuff had gone down since Freya got locked up.


    Alexander had been busting his butt for years, going toe-to-toe with Landon, but in the end, the Kennedy Group ended up in Getty''s hands. Ulysses probably never saw thating, and Wayne? Even less so.


    Kyle kept going, "Oh, and one more thing. Abigail swapped out a SIM card. It''s the one Mrs. Kennedy used to use."


    "SIM card?" Alexander asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Yep," Kyle confirmed.


    Alexander squinted and said, "Got it. Don''t sweat it."


    "Okay," Kyle replied.


    Alexander hung up and called Sean to bring the car around.


    Sean was always hanging around the hospital, so he got there in a few minutes.


    Alexander, still in his hospital gown, strolled out and told Sean to pop the trunk.


    The trunk was jam-packed. Originally, there were two cars, but now everything was crammed into one, stuffed to the gills.


    He started pulling out the junk, tossing it on the ground, and finally found a silver suitcase at the bottom.


    Alexander squatted down, opened the suitcase, and found a silver box inside.


    He opened the box, and it was full of stuff-photos of him and Quinn, a white wristband, and a cell phone.


    He picked up the phone, his eyes lingering on the photos. He took them out too.


    These pics were taken by the beach. There used to be more, but Quinn burned them, so he had Kyle print these out.


    He stared at them for a bit, then put them back and grabbed some documents at the bottom, which were Quinn''s.


    Sean was picking up the stuff Alexander had tossed. When he turned back, he saw Alexander looking at the documents. "Mr. Kennedy, you nning to take Mrs. Kennedy away?" Sean asked.


    Alexander shot him a look, stuffed the phone and documents in his pocket, and closed the box. "Put it back," he ordered. "Got it," Sean said, quickly shoving everything back in the trunk.


    Alexander stood up and handed the documents to Sean, "Send these to Quinn by courier, under Abigail''s name." "Why not just give them to her directly?" Sean asked, confused.


    "I said do it, so do it!" Alexander snapped.


    Seeing Alexander was about to blow a fuse, Sean quickly took the documents. "Okay, I''ll do it right now."


    Alexander grabbed his cor, pulling him back, "Write Amber Bay as the sender''s address, don''t forget."


    "I got it!" Sean replied.


    Only then did Alexander let him go.


    Alexander headed back to the hospital, flopped on the bed, and started fiddling with the phone, his face reflected on the dark screen. While he was zoning out, a call came in from an overseas number.


    He frowned, hit decline, and blocked the number.


    The caller didn''t try again.


    He tossed the phone aside and lit a cigarette.


    He sat on the bed smoking, and when he finished, the smoke rm went off, the shrill sound echoing through the room.


    When he was admitted, Quinn had left her number with the hospital.


    So, when he smoked in the ward, the hospital called her, and she was summoned back.

 Chapter 1119

    As soon as Quinn rolled up, she was unsurprisingly scolded by the doctor again.


    "So, you just can''t quit smoking, huh? The patient doesn''t give a damn about his health, and you, as his family, don''t seem to either. What kind of caregiver are you?" the doc snapped. Quinn''s eyelid twitched. She shot a look at Alexander, who was lounging on the bed, giving her that innocent puppy-dog stare.


    Clenching her fists, Quinn snapped at the doc, "I''m not his family."


    The doc looked surprised and then asked, "Then who are you to him?"


    "A stranger," Quinn shot back.


    "Where''s his family then?" The doc, sensing something fishy, turned to Alexander. "Where''s your family?"


    Alexander pulled out a marriage certificate from his pocket and handed it over. "I don''t know where she went. Doc, can you help me find her?"


    The doc took the certificate, nced at it, and then looked at Quinn, whose frown was getting deeper by the second.


    As expected, after reading the certificate, the docid into Quinn again.


    He stressed, "Even if you two are having issues, you can''t just leave him hanging. If it''s really impossible, hire a caregiver."


    Finally, the doc turned to Alexander. "Quit smoking. If you light up again, we''re calling the cops."


    With that, he handed the marriage certificate back to Alexander and walked out.


    Quinn, barely keeping her cool, red at Alexander. "You did this on purpose, didn''t you?"


    Alexander carefully tucked the marriage certificate back into his pocket before looking up at Quinn. "No, I just forgot to open the window." Quinn gave him a skeptical look. It wasn''t the first time she''d caught him smoking in the ward. Maybe he was telling the truth.


    "Aren''t you broke? Where''d you get the cash for smokes?" she asked.


    "Swiped ''em from the park downstairs," Alexander replied.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Then where''d you get the marriage certificate?" Quinn asked again.


    "I always carry it with me. Is that a problem?" Alexander shot back.


    Quinn''s forehead veins throbbed. She couldn''te up with aeback.


    Her eyesnded on the pack of cigarettes on the table. To stop him from pulling this stunt again, she stepped forward to snatch them away. But Alexander was quicker and grabbed them first.


    Quinn grabbed his hand and red at him, demanding, "Give me the cigarettes!"


    "Will youe see me then?" Alexander asked.


    "In your dreams. Let go, or you''ll never see me again!" Quinn dered.


    Alexander said, "Even if I give them to you, you won''te. At worst, I''ll smoke outside next time."


    Quinn was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond. She was fuming inside and tried to grab the cigarettes from his hand again.


    If he smoked again and set off the smoke rm, the hospital would keep calling her. If she didn''t answer, they''d keep at it, and eventually, they''d call the cops, who''d then start calling her.


    She really regretted leaving her phone number, especially since Alexander had that marriage certificate. If he got hauled to the police station, she wouldn''t be able to dodge getting involved. Thinking of this, Quinn tried even harder to pry his fingers open.


    Alexander just wouldn''t let go. In the struggle, the pack of cigarettes got crushed.


    Compared to Quinn''s flushed face, he was way calmer. Quinn used both hands, while he only used one.


    He watched Quinn''s puffed-up cheeks as she struggled, his eyes flickering.


    The next second, Alexander suddenly let go.


    Due to inertia, Quinn fell backward. Her eyes widened, and she braced herself for the fall.


    But Alexander grabbed her hand and pulled her back.


    Caught off guard, Quinn fell straight into his arms, her forehead bumping into his chest, making her feel a bit dizzy.


    After a few seconds, she regained herposure and instinctively tried to get up, but Alexander held her tightly. Each attempt to free herself resulted in her falling back into his arms.

 Chapter 1120

    "Get off me!" Quinn snapped, jerking her head up and meeting Alexander''s deep gaze.


    He leaned in closer, his gaze intense. "Will youe see me?" he asked again.


    "No way! And cut the crap, or I''ll just hate you more!" Quinn yelled, her voice shaking with anger.


    Alexander''s eyes flickered. "Hate?" he muttered.


    Quinn shot back, "Have you forgotten what you did? Why shouldn''t I hate you? This is all a joke to me."


    She red at him, her voice dripping with disgust. "I can''t even stand looking at you."


    Alexander was stunned, his eyes filled with swirling emotions, but he stayed silent. Instead, he tightened his grip on her. Quinn felt like she was suffocating. She struggled, pushing against his chest. "Let go of me! Do you hear me?"


    He still wouldn''t let go, so in a fit of rage, Quinn turned her head and bit down on his arm.


    The next moment, she felt the world spin.


    Alexander pinned her down on the bed, leaning in to kiss her hard.


    Quinn''s eyes widened in shock as she saw the familiar ferocity in his eyes.


    All the emotions he''d been holding back exploded as he kissed her forcefully.


    Quinn snapped out of it and tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrists and pinned them against his chest.


    With no way to escape, she bit his lip again, her anger and resentment fueling her.


    The taste of blood filled her mouth, but he didn''t let go. Instead, he bit back.


    His bite wasn''t as hard as hers, but it hurt enough to bring tears to her eyes.


    It wasn''t until he saw her tears that he stopped the kiss.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    As their eyes met, blood trickled from both their mouths, staining the white sheets.


    As the emotions in Alexander''s eyes faded, he finally let her go.


    The first thing Quinn did was p him in the face.


    The p echoed in the room, and Alexander''s head snapped to the side, five red marks blooming on his pale cheek. Quinn scrambled off the bed and bolted out of the room, not daring to look back.


    Alexander stayed where he was, touching the blood on his lips with his fingers.


    He then held his forehead and closed his eyes in frustration.


    Outside the ward, Quinn wiped her mouth with her sleeve, the bright red stain a reminder of how hard she had bitten him. She ran to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and scrubbed her sleeve under the water, but the stain wouldn''te out.


    After a while, she gave up.


    Alexander''s gaze from earlier shed in her mind, and her expression grewplicated.


    She had thought he had changed, but she was wrong.


    He had just been hiding his true nature, and a little provocation had brought it out. She had almost been fooled by him these past few days. Lost in thought, Quinn turned off the faucet and was about to leave when she heard a faint sound.


    She paused and looked back at the bathroom stall, sure she had heard a baby''s cry.


    But when she listened closely, there was silence.


    Dismissing it as her imagination, she turned to leave.


    Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, a sudden scream pierced the air, and Quinn quickly ran back. She saw a woman standing at the stall door, her hand over her mouth, staring inside in shock.


    Quinn walked over, curious, and was equally stunned.


    Inside, a blood-covered babyy on the floor!


    The umbilical cord was still attached, and the babyy in the corner, barely alive.

 Chapter 1121

    Quinn''s brain just tlined when she saw the baby.


    All those old memories came rushing back, and the baby''s cries felt like they were stabbing right into her soul, messing with her head big time.


    It felt as if her lost kids were pointing fingers at her through this baby.


    She clung to the bathroom door, swaying as if she were about to pass out. All she could hear was the faint cries of the baby, everything else was just a blur. Thedy next to her called the cops, and they took Quinn away too.


    The cops asked a ton of questions, but she was totally out of it, and everyone could see something was seriously off with her.


    Thedy next to her noticed too and blurted out, "When I went in, she was the only one in the bathroom."


    "Is the baby yours?" the cop asked Quinn.


    She looked spaced out, and thedy nudged her arm, "Hey, they''re talking to you."


    Quinn snapped back and stared nkly at the cop, "Huh?"


    The cop repeated, "Is the baby yours?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together and shook her head a bit. "No, it''s not mine."


    "Then whose is it?" thedy muttered, eyeing Quinn, who didn''t look like she just had a baby. "Did you see anyone else?"


    "When I went in, there was no one inside," Quinn said honestly.


    The cops checked the surveince and hospital records and came back, "There''s no surveince in that corridor, and all the pregnant women due today are ounted for. Looks like someone either gave birth and ditched the baby in the bathroom or nned it. Must be a pro at this."


    They guessed the baby''s mom was about to pop, didn''t want the kid, but had no choice but to go to the hospital, ended up giving birth in the bathroom, and bailed.


    One cop said, "People are wild. If they didn''t want the baby, why go through the whole pregnancy? Both the mom and the baby suffer."


    Someone asked, "How''s the baby doing?"


    A voice replied, "Still being resuscitated in the hospital."


    The cops stood up. "Let''s go check it out."


    Quinn quickly asked, "What''ll happen to the baby?"


    A cop replied, "We''ll try to find her parents first. If no one ims her, we''ll look for adoptive parents. If that doesn''t work, she''ll go to a child welfare agency."


    She hesitated for a while before saying, "Her parents ditched her. Will they im her?"


    The cop sighed and looked at Quinn and thedy. "Either of you thinking about adopting?"


    Thedy waved her hands like crazy, refusing, "No way, I already got three kids at home. Can''t handle another one."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn forced a smile but stayed quiet.


    The cop noticed her hesitation and said, "Leave your contact info. Go home and think about it. Raising a kid ain''t easy. If no one adopts the baby, we''ll get in touch." Quinn nodded and gave her contact info to the cops.


    After leaving the station, Quinn didn''t head home. She went to the hospital with the cops.

 Chapter 1122

    The cops tracked down the doc and grilled him about the kid''s condition.


    Doc goes, "We saved the baby, but she''s got an atrial septal defect, amon heart issue. Needs fixing ASAP."


    One of the cops was like, "Alright, let''s get on it then."


    Doc shook his head, "Can''t do it now. She''s too tiny. Surgery''s gotta wait at least three months. Plus, she''s a preemie, super fragile, needs some time in the incubator." "Man, that''s a lotta hassle," one young cop muttered.


    The vibe was clear: no wonder her folks ditched her.


    The cops nced at Quinn again. She was clearly worried about the baby.


    But they kept it zipped, just told the doc, "Take care of her first, we''ll sort the restter."


    Doc sighed, "Yeah, we''ll do what we can."


    They couldn''t just leave her hanging again.


    Then the cop turned to Quinn, "Miss, if you got time, keep an eye on her and hit me up if anything goes down."


    He handed Quinn his card.


    Quinn took it, "Sure thing." "Thanks."


    Quinn shrugged, "No biggie. I ain''t got much going on anyway."


    They had their own agenda. Seeing how Quinn cared for the kid, they hoped she''d stick around. Maybe, just maybe, she''d think about adopting her.


    With the kid''s condition, the surgery and aftercare would cost a bomb, way more than a regr family could handle.


    Even if she ended up in a welfare home, her future looked grim. Best case, someone like Quinn would take her in. Plus, it''d save them a ton of trouble.


    After the cops bailed, the doc chatted with Quinn, breaking down the surgery and care costs, which were pretty steep.


    Quinn asked, "How much we talking?"


    "Since we caught it early, the surgery''s not too bad, just over ten grand. But the aftercare, considering she''s a preemie, could run intoplications." Docid it all out, "To keep her healthy till she''s ten, you''re looking at around $200,000."


    Quinn''s heart skipped a beat at that number.


    Even if she sold herself, she couldn''t scrape together $200,000.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Plus, she was nning to skip town. Once she did, no more ess to Walter''s cash, meaning she''d be broke.


    That''s why she didn''t jump at adopting the kid. The kid''s health was too shaky for constant moving. After a pause, Quinn nodded, "Got it."


    She checked her pockets, realizing she didn''t have her bank card. Otherwise, she''d have paid something upfront. But thinking about it, $200,000 was for ten years. Dropping it all at once at the hospital wasn''t practical. She sighed and walked out, feeling down.


    As soon as Quinn left, Alexander walked into the consultation room.


    The doc looked surprised, "Need something?"


    "Is this pediatrics?" Alexander asked.


    "Isn''t it on the sign outside?" the doc replied, puzzled.


    "What was that woman here for?" Alexander pressed.


    The doc eyed him, "Who are you to her?"


    He pped a marriage certificate on the table. "Her husband."


    The doc picked it up, nced at it, and his tone softened. "Got it. So, what do you think about this kid?" Alexander frowned. "Kid? What kid?"


    "She didn''t tell you?" The doc adjusted his sses, "You should talk about this at home. It''s better if she exins."


    ''Adopting a kid is a big deal. Saying too much might mess up their rtionship. This kid''s situation is special, not everyone would be up for it,'' the doc thought. Alexander''s mind went nk. He stood up, stumbled out, and smacked into the door frame.


    He clutched his forehead, feeling dizzy, and slowly sank to the ground.


    Seeing this, the doc rushed over, "You okay?"

 Chapter 1123

    Alexander was squatting at the doorway, looking like he''d just been hit by a truck.


    People passing by couldn''t help but give him a look, thinking his kid must be seriously sick or something.


    The doc grabbed his arm, trying to help him up, but the dude wouldn''t budge.


    "What''s up with you?" the doc asked, totally confused.


    Seeing Alexander in a hospital gown, the doc figured he might not be in great shape either.


    After what felt like forever, Alexander finally got up on his own. He turned to the doc and croaked out, "How old''s the kid?"


    His face was ghostly pale, freaking the doc out. He looked like he was on death''s door.


    The doc''s face went all weird as he said, "The kid was just born."


    "Just born?" Alexander echoed, stunned. "How many months?"


    "I said just born, like not even a day old!" the doc snapped, getting impatient.


    Alexander was totally floored. He stared at the doc, looking all dazed like a sloth in slow motion.


    "Wait," Alexander said, rubbing his head. After a few seconds of frantic thinking, he suddenly grabbed the doc''s arm and blurted out, "Not even a day old?" "Yeah," the doc replied.


    "The kid''s not hers?" Alexander asked, bewildered.


    The doc just stared at him, speechless. If it wasn''t such a serious moment, he might''ve rolled his eyes.


    "Aren''t you her husband? Don''t you know if you have a kid?"


    In the next second, the doc saw Alexander go from looking like a zombie to someone ready to throw down.


    "Why didn''t you say so earlier?" Alexander demanded.


    The doc was even more confused, asking, "Say what?"


    "Never mind. So what''s the deal with that kid? Why''s she here?" Alexander pressed.


    The doc shot him an irritated look and said, "She found the kid in the bathroom."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    While the doc gave him the lowdown, Alexander''s face kept shifting.


    The doc added, "I see she really likes the kid, but she''s on the fence about adopting, probably ''cause of your rtionship. So I told her you two should talk it out." He sighed, "Actually, it''s not a rare condition. After surgery, the kid can be just like any other."


    Alexander cut him off, "No need to think it over. How do we adopt?"


    The doc''s words came to a screeching halt. After staring at Alexander for a few seconds, he got it and excitedly pulled out his phone to call the cops. The cops, who had just left, came back in a hurry.


    Hearing Alexander was Quinn''s husband, they checked his marriage certificate and ID. After confirming his identity, they quickly led him to handle the paperwork. They were scared if they dyed even a second, he might change his mind.


    With Alexander adopting the kid, they didn''t have to worry about the kid''s future anymore.


    One moment, they were feeling sorry for the kid; the next, they were amazed by the kid''s sudden stroke of luck. Born and immediately adopted by Alexander. Meanwhile, Quinn had no clue about Alexander''s actions and was still stressing over what to do with the kid.


    She wanted to adopt the kid but didn''t have the means. If she decided to adopt out ofpassion, how could she stand to see the kid suffer with her in the future? She tossed and turned in bed. It wasn''t even dark yet, and sleep was out of the question.

 Chapter 1124

    After a bit, she rolled outta bed, slipped on her shoes, and headed downstairs.


    Walter was chillin'' in the living room, nose deep in a newspaper. Dude had beenying low these past few days ''cause of his injury, barely stepping out. "Yo, it''s already five. Where you off to?" Walter suddenly piped up.


    It was like he had eyes in the back of his head. Quinn had tried to sneak past, but he still caught her.


    Quinn stopped, turned around, and said, "I''m going to the hospital."


    "You''re just gonna go see him now?" Walter asked.


    "I''m not going to see him, I''m going to..." She trailed off. Couldn''t spill the beans about the kid.


    Walter put down the paper, tilted his head, and gave her a look. "You going back on your word?"


    Quinn hung her head, couldn''t think of aeback.


    She had promised she was done with Alexander-no visits, no checking up on him.


    But she hadn''t stuck to it.


    Made all her past drama and beef with the Kennedys seem like she deserved it, like she brought it on herself.


    Made her efforts to ditch Alexander look like a joke.


    Breaking her promise made her look shady.


    Walter sighed, "Fine, go if you want. I''ve done all I can. If I try to stop you again, you''ll think I''m up to something, like Alexander, trying to cage you in." Then he suddenly yelled, "Soren!"


    A minuteter, Soren came rushing down. "What''s up?"


    Walter lifted his suit, showing his busted leg. "Isn''t it time to change the dressing?"


    Soren hesitated, then quickly said, "Yeah, sorry, I forgot."


    He grabbed the first aid kit, squatted next to Walter, and started unwrapping the bandage.


    The wound was just above the knee, pretty gnarly. Walter couldn''t sit still and kept moving around, making it bleed more.


    From Quinn''s angle, she could see the blood on the bandage.


    When Soren took it off, the wound looked nasty. Stitched up and medicated, but the flesh was all messed up, swollen and red.


    If she hadn''t seen it, Quinn would''ve thought he was faking.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter looked back and saw her standing there. "Weren''t you leaving? What are you still doing here?" he asked.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, didn''t move.


    After a bit, she walked over to Walter, stared at his leg, and asked softly, "How''d you get this injury?"


    Walter leaned back on the sofa, all casual, saying, "I was bored and shot myself."


    Quinn''s mouth twitched. His excuse was as ridiculous as Alexander''s for helping an old man. Both of them used dumb reasons to keep her from finding out the truth. There was a bit of defiance too, like, "You wouldn''t believe me anyway, so who cares how I got hurt?"


    Quinn had nothing more to say. She sat down next to him and watched Soren change the dressing.


    Walter smirked at her. "Not going out anymore?"


    "No," Quinn replied.


    Walter scoffed, "Then isn''t he pitiful, being alone in the hospital?"


    Quinn frowned. "Can you stop being so sarcastic?"


    Walter said calmly, "I''m just saying what you''re thinking. How''s that sarcastic, unless I hit the nail on the head?"


    Quinn didn''t know how to respond. She looked at his leg and said, "Seems like you really have nothing better to do. Why not shoot the other leg too?"


    "See, now that''s sarcasm." Walter stared at her and chuckled. "You were much cuter when you were quiet."


    Quinn gave him a side-eye, decided not to argue, and went upstairs.


    Just as she reached the bedroom door, her phone rang. It was the cop she had contacted earlier.


    Quinn closed the door before answering the call.

 Chapter 1125

    The cop said, "Hey, Ms. Mellon, the kid situation''s all sorted out. Big thanks to you and your hubby for the good deed. On behalf of the Las Vegas police, much respect." Quinn was like, "Wait, what? What husband?"


    What the heck did she miss?


    "Mr. Kennedy also threw in two hundred million bucks to the welfare org in your name. You two are clearly good folks and seem to have a solid rtionship."


    The cop kept yapping, but Quinn''s brain was on pause. What did Alexander pull this time?


    Wasn''t he broke and split from Sean?


    She was about to storm out but then paused, thinking.


    In the end, she didn''t go looking for Alexander.


    He did all this just to make here to him. After getting yed by him so many times, Quinn knew his game.


    At the hospital, Alexander stood by the incubator, staring at the baby for ages.


    The doc next to him smiled and said, "This kid''s super lucky, not just to be saved but to have a dad like you..."


    "Why''s she so ugly?" Alexander cut in, stopping the doc''s praise.


    The doc was taken aback and nced at the incubator. He coughed and said, "Newborns are like that. She''ll get cuter as she grows."


    Alexander looked at the other incubators. "Then why are the other babies so cute?"


    The doc replied, "I told you, she was just born. Not even a day old. Of course, she doesn''t look as good as the others. Give it time. Once the vernix is gone and she grows a bit, she''ll look better." Alexander frowned, clearly not happy with his surprise daughter.


    After a bit, he turned and left the ward without a second thought.


    The doc also frowned, puzzled. Alexander didn''t seem like a nice guy. Rich folks, man, they''re unpredictable.


    Alexander went back to his ward, waiting for Quinn. But as night fell, she still hadn''t shown up.


    The second day, the third day, even up to the fifth day, Quinn still hadn''t shown up. Alexander finally called the cop.


    Then, Quinn got another call from the police, asking her to hit the hospital.


    "What''s up?" Quinn asked.


    The cop said, "We need to do some registration, take a statement, and snap some pics for the record. Won''t take long."


    Quinn smelled something fishy. "I''ll go to the station then."


    "Isn''t the kid still in the hospital?" the cop asked.


    "Do I need to bring the kid?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, we need a photo for the record, and you both gotta be in it," the cop replied.


    Suspicion shed across Quinn''s face. She didn''t know much about this stuff, but if the cops said so, not cooperating might get her in trouble. She sighed. "Alright."


    Quinn went downstairs and only saw Soren in the living room.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    She walked over and whispered, "Soren, where''s Walter?"


    Soren thought for a sec. "I think he went upstairs. You need him?" Quinn waved her hand. "I''m heading out for a bit. Don''t tell him."


    "Got it, I didn''t see anything," Soren said, ying along.


    Quinn quickly jogged out of the vi. ncing at the stables, she bit her lip and decided against riding a horse, choosing to walk instead.


    The bus stop was three miles away, and there was only one bus at eight in the morning. At this hour, there definitely wouldn''t be another one, so she had to try her luck hitching a ride. She got lucky; just as she hit the road, a car rolled by.

 Chapter 1126

    Quinn hitched a ride to town and made her way to the maternity and child department at the hospital.


    The elevator doors slid open, and there was Alexander, chatting with the cops, still rocking that hospital gown, leaning against the wall like he owned the ce. Quinn acted like she didn''t see him and marched straight up to the police officer. "Hey, officer, what do I need to do?"


    The cop grabbed his notebook and pen, saying, "Just spill the beans about what went down that day."


    Quinn shot a nce at Alexander. He was giving her those puppy-dog eyes, but she couldn''t shake the memory of his look from that day.


    She turned away andid out the whole story for the cop.


    After jotting everything down, she asked the officer to snap a few pics.


    Then she headed into the ward, stood by the baby''s incubator, and took a few more shots.


    The cop asked her to pose, and Quinn awkwardly shed a peace sign. It felt so fake, like she was some wannabe do-gooder.


    In the photos, her face was stiff, like she was about to get busted.


    The cop finished up, smiled, and shook hands with both Quinn and Alexander, then handed them a banner.


    Alexander took the banner, grinned at the cop, and said, "Nice job."


    Realizing he sounded weird, he added, "I mean, the banner."


    The cop chuckled and said, "We''ll head out now. Holler if you need anything."


    As the police left, Quinn was ready to bounce too.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    But Alexander grabbed her wrist and called out, "Quinn."


    She turned, "What?"


    "Aren''t you gonna see our daughter?" Alexander asked.


    "That''s your kid. What''s it got to do with me?" She hadn''t signed up for this adoption; he had. He could deal with it.


    Alexander whipped out an adoption certificate and shoved it in her hand. "Check it out."


    A bad feeling crept over Quinn. Sure enough, the certificate showed that she and Alexander, as a couple, had adopted Quin Mellon.


    She tossed the certificate back at him, yelling, "Are you nuts? It''s bad enough you used myst name, but you gave her such ame name!"


    Alexander caught the certificate and grabbed her hand again, saying, "Don''t talk about yourself like that. It''s a beautiful name."


    "It''s not beautiful at all! Who gave you the right to name her Quin Mellon? You wanted to adopt her. Don''t drag me into this. Go change it yourself!" Quinn snapped, fuming.


    "Okay, I''ll change it. You pick the name. Whatever you want, just don''t be mad," Alexander said, trying to calm her down.


    Quinn shook off his hand, ring at him. "Name her whatever. I never agreed to adopt her. Do you think this will win me over?"


    She continued, "You''re wrong. Seeing her just reminds me of the two kids who never got a chance. You didn''t want them then, and now you''re pretending to care. What''s the point?" Alexander just stared at her, silent.


    Quinn turned away, trying to keep her cool.


    After a bit, she spoke calmly, "Don''t you think this is ridiculous?"


    Alexander was quiet for a long time. He finally nodded. "I didn''t think it through. I''m sorry."


    Quinn shot back coldly, "What''s the point of saying sorry now? If you''re so kind-hearted, raise her yourself. You can afford it, but leave me out of it. If you adopted her just to cling to me, it''s only gonna make me hate you more."

 Chapter 1127

    The sun outside was zing, its hot rays streaming through the window and lighting up the quiet hallway.


    Alexander slouched against the wall, the sunlight making his pale face almost see-through.


    After a beat, he struggled to say, "I get it. I''ll take care of her. Even if you never forgive me, I''ll treat her like..."


    He tried to finish, but Quinn''s words about the two unwanted kids stopped him cold.


    Locking eyes with Quinn, he said, "I''ll make sure she grows up safe and sound, just like any other kid."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    His words made Quinn''s eyes fill with tears.


    She turned away, staring at the bright sunlight outside, which only made her eyes sting more.


    When she first showed him the pregnancy test, she had dreamed of hearing these words from him, imagining a happy family of three.


    But now, hearing these words about a child that wasn''t even theirs, it felt like a cruel joke.


    It was ironic and sad.


    They couldn''t just abandon another innocent kid because of those two.


    So, by adopting this child, every time he yed the role of a father, he''d be haunted by guilt and regret, tortured by his past mistakes. When it came to kids, he always messed up.


    Since he adopted this child, he should carry that weight himself.


    Quinn blinked back her tears and turned to Alexander.


    "Alexander, have you noticed how cold you are?" she asked.


    Alexander''s face was unreadable, and he stayed silent.


    Quinn went on, "Do you even know how to raise a kid? How to make her grow up happy and healthy? Do you know what it takes? Even just now, you were so casual about it."


    She smirked, "You don''t really want to adopt this kid. I don''t see any fatherly kindness in your eyes, just practicality." Alexander stayed quiet.


    After a moment, he reached out and took Quinn''s hand, admitting, "I won''t deny it. You''re right about everything. I''m not into kids, whether it''s this one or our own. To me, anything that can''t keep you with me is pointless." Quinn was stunned, staring at Alexander in shock.


    "I can''t even keep you, and I can''t win you back. Do you think I have any energy left for anyone else?"


    He moved closer to Quinn, his deep eyes filled with a wild intensity as he said, "Quinn, I''m not as kind as you. I admit I''m cold and can''t care for anyone equally."


    He dered, "All I want is you."


    He said each word slowly, "My heart is only for you,pletely taken by you, leaving no room for anyone else. These past two years, you''ve been like a poison in my mind. Every day without you, it just builds up more and more. The moment I saw you again, I had no idea what to do. I wished someone could tell me the right answer, but there was no one. I just kept screwing up. I even thought about dying to make up for my sins."


    When Quinn heard thatst part, her eyes flickered.

 Chapter 1128

    Alexander leaned in, "Look, I ain''t scared of kicking the bucket, but if I gotta go, I need your forgiveness first."


    Quinn''s throat felt like sandpaper. She just stared at Alexander, words stuck somewhere deep inside.


    Finally, she croaked out, "What if I never forgive you?"


    Alexander shrugged, "Then I guess I keep living. Dying''s easy. I bet if I croaked right here, you''d forgive me on the spot. But that''s not what I''m after."


    Quinn yanked her hand away, "You never tell the truth, do you?"


    "Why don''t you trust me?" Alexander''s voice cracked a bit.


    "You said you lost your phone and wallet. So how''d you get your adoption papers? Where''s your passport from? And what about those two hundred million in charity funds?" Quinn shot back. Alexander was ready to argue, but Quinn''s fierce look shut him up.


    "Quinn, what do I gotta do?" Alexander asked, sounding beat.


    "I''ve told you a million times. I don''t wanna see you. Stop popping up and stop with the fantasies. The best thing you can do is stay away," Quinn said, ice-cold.


    Alexander gripped her hand tight, hurt shing in his eyes. "Is that all I can do?" he asked.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "What else do you want? You''ve lied so many times. What other tricks you got? You say you don''t wanna use death for forgiveness, but is tricking me any better?" Quinn snapped. "You already haven''t forgiven me," Alexander pointed out.


    The air was thick, but his words cut through, making Quinn wanna p him.


    She exhaled, trying to yank her hand free, yelling, "Alexander, just go die!"


    When she couldn''t break free, she bit his wrist hard.


    Whether it was the pain or just surprise, he let go.


    He looked at the deep bite marks and said, "Your bite''s still strong, and the shape''s just like before. Impressive."


    Quinn felt like she''d explode if she stayed another second. She turned and stormed off.


    Alexander didn''t follow. He just stood there, staring at her back, rubbing the bite marks.


    Quinn walked out of the hospital, taking deep breaths to calm down.


    Just as she was about to head back, her phone buzzed. The delivery station had a package for her.


    Quinn figured it was the SIM card Abigail sent. She rushed over.


    To her surprise, there were two packages. She tore them open and found a SIM card and her passport.


    She was thrilled, the passport making her forget the earlier drama.


    Quinn called Abigail.


    The call connected, and Abigail''s excited voice came through, "Quinn, did you get it? Can you use it?"


    "I got it, but why''s my passport in there too?" Quinn asked.


    "Passport?" Abigail sounded confused. "I only sent the SIM card."


    Quinn''s gut twisted with suspicion. But then Abigail said, "Maybe my brother sent it?"


    "Oliver?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, I asked him to help with the SIM card. Told him you couldn''t rece your passport without it, so maybe he sorted that out too?" Abigail guessed. Quinn was puzzled. Oliver didn''t seem like the type to meddle.


    "Hold on. I''ll ask him." Abigail hung up to check with Oliver. Quinn stared at the passport, her feelings all jumbled up. Freedom was right there, but she had no clue where to go. The world was huge, but she had no ce to call home.

 Chapter 1129

    Quinn shoved the phone card away and thumbed through the passport. It didn''t look brand new, and the date on the back was still the original one. Quinn was kinda taken aback and gave it another once-over.


    She tracked down the delivery station manager to help trace the package''s route. Weirdly enough, there was no record of this order on the official site. "That''s strange," the manager muttered, thinking he might''ve messed up. He double-checked, but still nada.


    Then he said, "Ask whoever called you. If this order''s not in the system, it means the package didn''te from Amber Bay. It''s just got a shippingbel pped on it." Quinn stared at the passport in her hand and went quiet for a sec. "No need, thanks."


    "No problem. By the way, you haven''t delivered packages for a few days, and they''re stacking up here. When you gonna get to them?" the manager asked. "Tomorrow. I walked here today," Quinn replied.


    "Got it."


    After saying goodbye, Quinn stepped out of the delivery station and pocketed the passport.


    She had a pretty good idea who sent it. The only person who could have her passport and send it within the same city was Alexander.


    Even though he was miles away from Amber Bay, he still had eyes on everything going down there. So, when he said he had nothing left, he was full of it.


    He might''ve lost the Kennedy Group, but that didn''t mean he was broke. Besides losing the chairman gig, he probably had more now than when he was running the Kennedy Group. Turns out, nothing Alexander said was ever true.


    Back at the vi, she only found Soren.


    No sign of Walter in the living room. She asked Soren, "Where''s Walter?"


    "He went out. I told him to stay put, but he just got a bit better and took off again," Soren replied.


    "Out again?" Quinn frowned. Walter didn''t have a job and never talked about any business, yet he was always out and still had plenty of cash.


    Quinn figured it might be money from the Dixon family. Even though he was tight with them, it seemed unlikely they''d bankroll him like that. So what shady stuff was Walter mixed up in?


    She remembered the mercenaries he brought to Amber Bay. If he had no clout, he wouldn''t have been able to hire them.


    Quinn couldn''t piece it together and decided not to stress over it.


    She went back to her room and pulled out the passport again. She needed to figure out her next move.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Abigail called, and Quinn picked up.


    "I asked around, and Oliver said he didn''t know. It wasn''t him," Abigail reported.


    "I know who did it," Quinn said.


    "Who?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn stared at the ceiling, rolled over, and sighed, "It was Alexander."


    Worried Abigail might get the wrong idea, she exined, "He sent it to me in your name. I had no clue."


    "So that''s it. That jerk, why''d he suddenly send you your passport?"


    Quinn thought for a bit and said, "He probably figured out you were helping me swap the phone card and guessed what I was up to."


    After all, if she just wanted to change her number, it wouldn''t be such a hassle, and she wouldn''t need Abigail''s help from Amber Bay. So it was easy to guess she needed the passport to switch the card. "Gotcha. Whenever he heard anything about you, he''d go check it out himself," Abigail said.

 Chapter 1130

    Abigail spilled the beans about everything Alexander had been up to for the past two years. Quinn''s name, whether it sounds like it or not, always seems to set off Alexander''s radar.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    So, it wasn''t a shocker that Alexander knew when Abigail helped Quinn swap out her SIM card.


    Quinn was floored by what Abigail said, struggling to wrap her head around how obsessed he could get. Abigail mentioned he had been pretty chill in front of her during this time.


    But Quinn was even more freaked out. What if one day he just snapped and went back to his old ways?


    Thinking about it, Quinn jumped out of bed. "Abigail, I gotta bounce. I can''t stay here anymore."


    Alexander and Walter are both total nutjobs.


    "Then what are you waiting for? Run! But do you really think you can get away?" Abigail asked.


    That was Quinn''s worry too. As long as she was in the country, with Alexander and Walter''s resources, one of them would eventually track her down. Alexander might be manageable, but who knows what Walter would pull.


    "Well, what if I go abroad?" Quinn asked, testing the waters.


    "Do you have a visa?" Abigail asked.


    "No," Quinn sighed.


    Abigail sighed too. "If you had told me earlier that you wanted to go abroad, I would''ve helped you get one."


    Quinn bit her lip and stayed quiet for a bit before saying, "I don''t even know if I can get a card. I didn''t have time to tell you."


    Abigail just said she''d check, and then she sent it over after asking.


    Abigail thought for a moment and said, "Why don''t you try running to another ce first? If they don''t react, then you can find the right time to go abroad." "Anyway, if you run openly, it might make them lower their guard," Abigail reminded.


    Quinn nodded. "You''re right. I''ll scope it out first."


    "Okay, let me know when you''re sure. I can''t stay in this ce for another day," Abigail grumbled.


    Abigailined over the phone that her dad was constantly bugging her to get married, which was driving her nuts.


    A few months ago, she brought a woman home and said she was a lesbian, which shut her dad up for two months.


    Of course, she didn''t tell Quinn this, fearing it would freak her out.


    "Are youing with me?" Quinn asked.


    "Of course. Did you forget our deal? You''ve already bailed on me a few times. If you do it again this time, I''m really cutting ties with you!" Abigail dered. Quinn pressed her lips together, feeling a warmth in her heart.


    Meeting Abigail probably used up all her luck, which is why she ended up tangled with crazies like Alexander and Walter.


    "Okay, I''ll let you know once I''ve decided," Quinn said.


    "Alright, it''s a deal," Abigail replied.


    "Okay."


    They chatted a bit longer before Quinn hung up and opened the airline''s website.


    The first ce she wanted to go was definitely Sylvadora.


    That was her real home. She hadn''t been there since getting her memory back.


    But she didn''t buy a ticket, just checked the flights.


    She needed to prep first. During the day, she''d use the time while delivering packages to buy the nearest flight and leave without Walter noticing. Thinking about her escape n made Quinn a bit jittery.


    Walter came back superte that night, and the next morning, Quinn left early before he woke up. She went to town, withdrew some cash, and bought a new phone. She didn''t use the SIM card Abigail sent because too many people knew about it. Instead, she got a new one.

 Chapter 1131

    After wrapping up those tasks, Quinn headed over to the hospital to check on the kid.


    But when she got there, the kid was gone from the incubator. She frowned and rushed to find the doc.


    The doc said, "Mr. Kennedy said the medical conditions here suck, so he had the kid moved to a better hospital."


    "Which hospital did they take the kid to?" Quinn asked, all nervous.


    "I dunno, but I heard him on the phone saying he sent a helicopter, so it''s gotta be somewhere far," the doc said, looking kinda jealous.


    "I sent her to Amber Bay," Alexander''s voice suddenly came from behind, making Quinn jump.


    She spun around and asked suspiciously, "Did you put a tracker on me?"


    It made sense for Quinn to be suspicious; his ward was far from the maternity ward, yet he showed up at the same time as she did.


    Alexander looked at her helplessly and said, "I wouldn''t dare. You just didn''t see me."


    "What do you mean?" Quinn asked.


    "I was right at the hospital entrance. You would''ve seen me if you looked. But it seems your eyes were only on that kid," Alexander exined, giving her a resentful look. Quinn was speechless.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    She really hadn''t noticed him. She just wanted to take a quick look and leave. After all, she felt guilty about nning to bail and wasn''t paying much attention.


    "Stop acting so pitiful. Why should I focus on you?" Quinn snapped irritably.


    Quinn ignored him and turned to leave the consultation room.


    Alexander watched her go and then nced back at the doc.


    The doc had a curious, gossipy look, but when he met Alexander''s gaze, he immediately coughed and looked down to type on the keyboard.


    Alexander, with his hands in the pockets of his hospital gown, casually walked out and strolled in the park.


    The doc had told him long ago that he could be discharged, but he insisted on staying. In just a few days, the enthusiastic elderly in the park had introduced him to at least twenty potential dates. After Quinn came out, she found a spot to sit and started looking at flight tickets. There happened to be a flight in three hours.


    From here, it would take exactly two hours to get to the airport, just in time to catch the flight.


    She bought the ticket with her new phone, then hailed a taxi by the roadside and headed straight to the airport with nothing but herself.


    She wanted to leave unexpectedly.


    While Alexander was still in the park listening to the elderly introduce potential dates, he got a call from Kyle.


    Kyle reported, "Mr. Kennedy, you were right. Mrs. Kennedy bought a ticket to Sylvadora. I also got you a ticket for that flight. Did you get the info?"


    Knowing that Abigail had helped Quinn get a new SIM card, Alexander had Kyle monitor the flight status. As soon as Quinn booked the ticket, Kyle got a call from the airline.


    As Kyle finished talking, Alexander''s phone beeped. He nced at it and said, "Got it."


    Kyle reminded, "Good. The flight leaves in three hours. You need to go now."


    "I know."


    Alexander calmly hung up the phone and left the hospital without even changing his clothes.


    In the car, Quinn watched the scenery fly by, her anxiety growing. Leaving in such a hurry made everything feel kinda unreal.


    She couldn''t believe she was actually leaving.


    The time was tight to get from the town to the airport. As soon as she got to the airport, she started running, quickly got her boarding pass, and rushed to security. After passing security, she had to run a bit more to the gate. Luckily, the airport wasn''t big, or she might have missed the flight.


    When she reached the gate, there was no one left.


    Seeing the still-open gate, Quinn finally couldn''t help but stop to catch her breath, almost out of oxygen.


    As she was catching her breath, she suddenly heard her name over the loudspeaker.


    "Attention passengers Quinn Mellon and Alexander Kennedy on flight 158 to Sylvadora, your flight is about to depart. Please proceed to gate 22 immediately."

 Chapter 1132

    Quinn was totally floored for a sec.


    Did she just hear Alexander''s name?


    She tuned in as the broadcast repeated, and yup, Alexander''s name was definitely mentioned!


    In disbelief, Quinn whipped her head around to check.


    In the distance, she spotted Alexander chillin'' on an airport shuttle. Not long ago, he was rockin'' a in hospital gown, but now he was all suited up, looking like the business hotshot he used to be. He had his legs crossed, sitting all cocky and leaning back against the shuttle, like he hadn''t even heard the broadcast.


    The shuttle rolled to a stop right in front of Quinn.


    Quinn stared at him, like she''d seen a ghost.


    The driver unloaded his luggage, plopped it in front of Alexander, and reminded him, "Mr. Kennedy, you gotta board now. The ne''s about to take off." Alexander grabbed his suitcase, holding a cane in one hand, and looked down at Quinn.


    While he was all calm and collected, Quinn was a hot mess. She''d sprinted all the way here and was now bent over, hands on her knees, hair all over the ce, and sweat glistening on her forehead. From the moment she saw Alexander, she hadn''t moved because everything she''d just done was pointless.


    "What are you standing there for? The ne''s about to take off," Alexander said, reaching out to pull her. Quinn snapped out of it, pped his hand away, and red at him. "Why the hell did you follow me here?" "Quinn, chill. Can''t a guy catch a flight too?" Alexander shot back, looking all innocent.


    "You were just in the hospital, and now you''re here. You''re totally following me!" Quinn used.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "You can''t just say I''m following you ''cause I got here first. You were in the hospital too, so why are you at the airport? If I got here first, does that mean you''re following me?" Alexander countered. Quinn was stumped, couldn''t think of aeback.


    The airport staff was still urging them as the boarding gate was about to close.


    Alexander said, "Alright, whatever you gotta say, say it on the ne."


    He reached out to touch Quinn''s shoulder, but she stepped back. Now that he had suddenly shown up, she didn''t know whether to leave or stay.


    If she got on the ne, Walter would totally think she left with Alexander.


    But if she didn''t get on the ne, she really didn''t wanna stay here any longer, nor did she wanna see Alexander or Walter.


    "I suddenly don''t wanna go. You go by yourself," Quinn said, turning and walking towards the airport exit. After a few steps, she turned back to Alexander and said, "Since you im you''re not following me, don''t follow me now." Alexander stared at her for a couple of seconds before suddenly walking towards her.


    Quinn watched him coldly, curious to see what excuse he had this time.


    He approached her, suddenly put his arm around her shoulder, and before she could pull away, she heard the click of a camera shutter.


    Quinn looked up and saw that he had somehow managed to take out his phone and snap a photo of them.


    "What the hell are you doing?" Quinn demanded, pushing him away.


    Alexander was fiddling with his phone, doing something she couldn''t see. "Thanks for seeing me off. Took a photo as a keepsake."


    Quinn looked at him suspiciously, sensing that things weren''t that simple.


    Then she saw him send the photo to someone.


    "Who''d you send that to?" she asked.


    "Walter." Alexander finished sending the message and looked up at Quinn. "To thank him too."


    Quinn''s mind went nk. This wasn''t gratitude; it was a straight-up provocation.


    Great, now even if she went back, she couldn''t exin it. Going back would make it look like she came to see Alexander off, and the misunderstanding would be no different from leaving with him.


    She didn''t know how to face Walter anymore, and if Walter went nuts when she got back, it wouldn''t be so easy to leave next time.


    "Quinn, I''m outta here. Catch youter," Alexander said, smiling at her. Then he grabbed his luggage and walked towards the boarding gate.


    Since his leg hadn''t fully healed, he walked with a limp, making his departing figure look super pitiful.

 Chapter 1133

    Quinn was stuck, the staff pushing her, "Miss, if you don''t get on now, we''re shutting the gate."


    She bit her lip, and after a quick internal battle, she bolted.


    Alexander''s stunt left her no choice. And with Walter acting all creepytely, he seemed even scarier than Alexander.


    She hopped on the ne, checked her boarding pass, and found her seat-front row, first ss.


    Of course, the seat next to hers was taken by none other than Alexander.


    He smirked, "Couldn''t stay away, huh? Miss me already?"


    Quinn ignored him and plopped down beside him.


    She knew she didn''t buy a first-ss ticket, but here she was. Someone had definitely upgraded her.


    Once the ne was in the air, Quinn reclined her seat, turned her back to him, grabbed a nket, and cocooned herself to sleep.


    Alexander nced at her, his earlier grin fading, and stared at her intently.


    He reached out, his hand hovering above her head for a second, then pulled back.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Meanwhile, Walter was looking at a photo on his phone, a cold smile ying on his lips.


    Soren, standing nearby, tried to blend into the background, seeing Walter''s dark expression.


    Walter closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them, he looked calm again.


    "Two years is too short. Alexander''s been around for less than two months, and Quinn''s already wavering," he muttered, fiddling with his phone. It wasn''t clear if he was talking to himself or to Soren. Soren didn''t know if he should respond.


    Two years felt like forever to him.


    Walter didn''t seem mad; it was like he expected this. He looked at the quiet doorway, thewn outside barely visible.


    He''d seen that ce a million times, but today it felt emptier than usual.


    After a bumpy two-hour and forty-minute flight, the roughnding woke Quinn up.


    She rubbed her eyes, looked out the window, and found herself staring into a pair of deep eyes.


    She froze, frowned, and turned away.


    She pulled out her phone, turned it on, and saw no messages or missed calls.


    Oh right, it was a new phone.


    She grabbed another phone, turned it on, and still no messages, except for a transfer notification. Walter had sent her $40,000.


    She couldn''t figure out Walter''s game.


    Not only wasn''t he mad, but he also sent her money?


    Seeing the transfer, Quinn felt conflicted, wondering if getting on the ne was a mistake.


    Alexander peeked at her messages, a cold smirk on his face.


    Walter was picking up Alexander''s tricks fast.


    Quinn debated calling him back when Alexander said, "Time to get off."


    She looked at him and said, "You go first."


    There was plenty of space for him to leave, but he just sat there, staring at her.

 Chapter 1134

    Getting eyeballed by Alexander made it impossible for Quinn to shoot off a text.


    After a bit, Quinn stashed her phone, got up, and strolled out.


    With no bags, she walked straight out of the airport and gged down a cab.


    Sitting in the back, she nced back and saw she''d left Alexander behind. He was still standing there with his crutch, waiting for a ride. She turned away, not wanting to think about him, and pulled out her phone, unsure how to text Walter.


    She had nned to sneak away, but now everyone knew where she was headed.


    As she hesitated, Walter suddenly called, making her jump and almost drop her phone.


    Quinn stared at the caller ID, took a few deep breaths, and then slowly swiped to answer.


    "Did you get there?" Walter asked.


    His voice was calm, but that didn''t mean he wasn''t pissed.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Quinn stayed quiet for a moment before answering.


    "Are youing back?" Walter asked.


    She suddenly didn''t know what to say, her fingers gripping the phone so hard they turned white.


    If Walter had yelled at her, she wouldn''t be so torn.


    "So, you''re really going back to Alexander?" Walter asked again.


    "No," Quinn denied immediately, instinctively exining, "I nned toe alone. He followed on his own."


    Walter chuckled lightly on the other end, saying, "No need to exin. I believe you. Have fun, ande back whenever you''re done." Quinn fell silent.


    Walter had already hung up and tossed his phone onto the couch.


    Quinn sat in the car, lost in thought for a long time until the driver spoke up, "We''re here, Miss."


    She snapped back to reality, took out her phone to pay, and pushed open the car door to get out.


    The weather in Sylvadora was awesome-sunny and bright.


    She looked at the abandoned vi ahead. The tall wild grass around it was lush and green, with colorful flowers blooming among them. If you ignored the vi, it looked pretty nice. Quinn parted the weeds, and various bugs crawled through the soil, including centipedes with many legs, which freaked her out and made her step back.


    She swallowed hard, moved to another spot, and parted the weeds again. There were still bugs, some of them writhing and squirming in clusters, making her feel sick. Quinn looked up at the vi, which was so close yet separated by this patch of grass.


    She tried to recall old memories, hoping to use sadness to drive away her fear.


    But honestly, memories from before she was five were too distant. She couldn''t remember most of them, even the fragments that remained were super vague. She couldn''t even remember her family''s faces.


    Quinn closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and mustered the courage to part the weeds again. She steeled herself and stepped forward, trying to cross over the bugs. However, as soon as her toe touched the soil, something unknown scurried across her foot, causing her to scream and step back several paces, nearly falling onto the road. She patted her chest, trying to calm herself down.


    Thest time she came, she hadn''t encountered any of this. It seemed she hade at the wrong time; this season was when nts were growing, and all sorts of bugs were emerging. There might even be snakes deeper in. She spent a long time building up her courage but still couldn''t bring herself to go in.


    After hesitating for a while, she decided to visit the cemetery to pay her respects to her parents first.


    Just as she took out her phone to call a car, she heard the sound of a car approaching from a distance. She looked up and saw a taxi speeding towards her.


    She put down her phone and watched as the car came to a steady stop in front of her.


    She had almost no doubt about who would get out of the car.

 Chapter 1135

    The car door swung open, and the first thing to pop out was a cane.


    Next came Alexander''s shiny leather shoes, ck pants, and finally, the man himself. Quinn squinted, her brows knitting together. Something about this scene just felt off. Standing in the sunlight, Alexander''s cane looked more like a king''s scepter.


    He strolled up to Quinn and nced back at the distant vi. "Why aren''t you going in?"


    Quinn looked away from his face and muttered, "There are bugs."


    Alexander blinked, probably not expecting that to be her reason for staying outside.


    "Bugs? Seriously? Since when are you scared of bugs?" Alexander said, using his cane to poke at the grass. When he saw the swarm of bugs, he calmly pulled his cane back.


    Quinn shot him a look. "You scared?"


    "Not scared, just grossed out," he said, trying to keep his cool but failing to hide the disgust on his face.


    He turned to Quinn and asked, "You really wanna go in?"


    "Why else would I be here?" Quinn snapped.


    Alexander nodded, pulled out his phone, and made a call.


    Quinn watched him, puzzled.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    The call connected, and Alexander said, "Get some folks to clear the grass, $20 per stem."


    Quinn''s jaw dropped. She started counting the grass stems in her head. Suddenly, the bugs didn''t seem so bad.


    After he hung up, Quinn couldn''t help but ask, "You got money to burn or something?"


    "How''d you guess?" Alexander smirked.


    Quinn pursed her lips. The old Alexander was annoying, but this new Alexander was downright infuriating. A few words from him and she was speechless. Half an hourter, a bunch of cars pulled up.


    A chubby guy was the first to hop out. He jogged over to Alexander, his belly jiggling. "Mr. Kennedy, why didn''t you tell me you wereing? I could''ve picked you up at the airport." Alexander ignored the ttery. "Did you bring the people?"


    "Of course. I didn''t know how much grass needed clearing, so I only brought half the crew. Didn''t expect there to be this much. I''ll call the rest over and get it done ASAP," the chubby guy said with a fawning smile. More than thirty people got out of the cars. They eyed the wild grass, rubbing their hands together, already counting the money in their heads.


    "$20 per stem? That''s easy cash!" they thought.


    Pulling one stem per second, a thousand stems would take just 16 minutes. Earning $20,000 in 16 minutes-where else could you make money that fast?


    The vi and its grounds covered at least 50,000 square feet. With the grass density, even a lowball estimate of 100 stems per 10 square feet meant the potential earnings were mind-blowing.


    They could hardly believe it.


    The chubby guy pulled out his phone to call more people but then turned back to Alexander and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, did you really say $20 per stem on the phone?"


    Alexander looked at him calmly. "Clear it all before dark. I don''t want to see anything but dirt."


    "Alright, I''ll call more people." The chubby guy told the initial crew to start working and then made more calls to bring in extra help.

 Chapter 1136

    The workers were all about that cash, hustling harder than ever. Even when they ran into those nasty bugs on the ground, the $20 per stem reward kept them grinding. There were so many of them that as they scrambled for the weeds, the bugs had nowhere to run and got squished into the mud.


    Quinn watched them pulling weeds and couldn''t help but smirk.


    "Money really does talk," she thought.


    After rounding up the crew, the chubby dude brought chairs for Alexander and Quinn before jumping into the weeding action himself.


    Making that money was a breeze, like bending down to pick up a $20 bill off the ground. Plus, when yanking weeds, you could grab a bunch at once.


    Alexander leaned back in his chair, a cigarette dangling from his fingers, watching the hustle with a grin.


    In less than half an hour, a huge chunk of weeds was gone.


    The bugs in the grass freaked out, many of them scurrying onto the road, making Quinn lift her feet onto the chair. "Alexander, how do you pay them? Do you count each weed?" Quinn asked.


    "Nah, just weigh ''em," Alexander replied.


    The chubby guy had already brought a scale, but to keep folks honest, he hadn''t mentioned the weighing part yet.


    The more Quinn watched, the crazier it seemed. She hade back for a memorial, but with all these people around, it felt more like a Christmas party.


    With over 200 people, the 50,000 square feet of weeds were cleared in no time.


    To make more cash, they didn''t even spare the baby grass.


    Then it was time to line up for weighing. A skinny weed weighed about 0.35 ounces, while thicker ones weighed between 1.4 and 2.8 ounces. Based on this weight, the payment was calcted ording to the proportion of thick and thin weeds.


    The calcted price was $800 to $1,000 per 17.5 ounces, and there were about 140,000 ounces of weeds here.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    When the chubby guy did the math, he couldn''t help but wipe the sweat off his forehead. "Mr. Kennedy, are you serious? That''s over $8 million!"


    He found it hard to believe. Who would drop over $8 million to pull weeds?


    The rich really do think differently.


    Alexander pulled out a card from his pocket and tossed it to him, saying, "You hand out the cash, and make sure to take these weeds away."


    After that, he grabbed his cane, stood up, and turned to Quinn, asking, "Hungry? Wanna grab a bite?"


    "You go ahead," Quinn said.


    Then she stood up and walked straight into the vi.


    The area around the vi was bare after the weeds were gone, showing the vi''s original look. With each step she took inside, her heart felt heavier as she nced back at the front door. Alexander followed her inside too.


    The chubby guy watched them go, then looked at the card in his hand, once again shaking his head at the rich folks'' ways.


    It was getting dark, and when Quinn entered the house, it was even dimmer, making the ce feel more oppressive.


    She took out her phone shlight, scanning every corner of the house.


    But there was no sense of familiarity. Everything seemed strange to her, and she couldn''t remember anything that had happened in this house.


    "How about we call them in to clean up?" Alexander''s voice came from behind.


    Quinn paused and turned to look at him, asking, "Can you stop following me?"


    "You''re stepping on a bug," Alexander pointed out.


    Quinn instinctively looked down and saw that she had indeed stepped on a bug, squashing it, with its guts sttering on the surrounding debris. She fought the urge to puke and moved a few steps to the side, only to hear another crunch under her foot.


    Quinn''s expression started to crack.

 Chapter 1137

    With a grim look on her face, Quinn shut her eyes, took a deep breath, and marched straight ahead without even ncing at the ground. Strolling through the hallway, she popped out into the backyard, where the Mellon family did their prayers.


    She stared at the prayer ground in the twilight, feeling a bit jittery.


    It was getting dark, the sun had already dipped, and the creepy clouds cast a weird, spooky glow over the buildings around.


    It was dead quiet, like even the air was holding its breath.


    This ce had been poked around before, and its creepiness was easy to imagine.


    Quinn kept moving, with Alexander trailing not too far behind. His eyes stuck on her slender figure, his thoughts getting all tangled up.


    She reached the prayer ground, shoved open the old door, and was hit with a damp, musty smell. Holding her breath, she stepped inside. The stuff inside was mostly intact but covered in cobwebs.


    Quinn used her phone to light up the room, memories of her childhood flooding back.


    She was too young back then to remember her family''s names, only knowing how to call them.


    She gripped her phone tight, slowly walking to the left, her eyes sweeping over every corner, like she could almost see her family''s faces in her mind. It was at this moment that she truly felt the sting of being all alone.


    She reached out, picked up the Bible in the center, put down her phone, and used her sleeve to wipe it.


    In a daze, she remembered how Sophia had once wiped her face the same way.


    "How''d you get yourself so dirty?" Sophia said, wiping the dirt off her face with her sleeve, her eyes and brows filled with a loving smile. But Quinn only remembered that smile, unable to recall Sophia''s face.


    As she wiped, her nose began to sting, and a tear sshed onto the Bible in her hand.


    Alexander walked up to her, turned his head to look at her, tightly pursed his lips, and stood silently by her side.


    Quinn carefully cleaned the Bible and put it back, then picked up the cross and started wiping it.


    After a while, Alexander also picked up other items and started wiping them with her.


    Quinn turned to look at him and suddenly snatched the item from his hand.


    Alexander nced at his now empty hand, then turned to meet her gaze. In the ring light of the phone, her eyes shimmered with tears. "Alexander, get out," Quinn said coldly.


    "Quinn, I..."


    Before he could finish, Quinn cut him off, "I told you to get out! What right do you have to stand here?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    As she spoke, she reached out and shoved him with almost all her strength. Alexander stumbled back a couple of steps.


    He grabbed Quinn''s wrist and said, "Calm down and listen to me."


    "I don''t want to hear anything. Get out!" She pushed Alexander forcefully. "I don''t want to see you, and I don''t want you in this sacred ce." "Quinn!" Alexander shouted.


    Quinn paused slightly, looked up and stared intently at Alexander. Even with the light behind her, the sadness on her face was still visible.


    She said, "Alexander, do you really want me to be aplete sinner in such a sacred ce? If you really want to do something, please leave. I''m begging you, just leave." Tears apanied her final words, sliding down her face. Her eyes were once again filled with that familiar plea.


    Alexander was speechless. He instinctively reached out to wipe her tears, but stopped before his hand could touch her.

 Chapter 1138

    Alexander''s hand hung in the air for a sec before he yanked it back. "Alright, I''m outta here. Just stop with the waterworks."


    With that, he spun around and walked out.


    Quinn mmed the door shut and leaned against it, tears streaming down her face. She slowly slid down, pressing against the shaky door.


    Alexander stood just outside, separated by the door. He stared at it and let out a silent sigh.


    He plopped down on the steps, gazing at the darkening sky, and lit up a cigarette.


    After a couple of drags, he started hacking, probably ''cause he smoked too fast. The coughing got worse, and he had to crush the cigarette on the ground. It took him a bit to stop coughing. He shut his eyes and took a while to catch his breath.


    Quinn stayed inside, not budging. He waited outside for over three hours before finally knocking on the door.


    As soon as he knocked, the door swung open before he could say a word.


    Quinn nced at him, then stepped out and shut the door behind her.


    She walked past Alexander towards the building ahead, and he trailed behind her.


    Using her phone''s light, she climbed two flights of stairs to the third floor, where there was an open-air balcony.


    They walked to the edge and looked out at the distant lights of homes.


    Those lights seemed to scream life, a stark contrast to the silence here.


    Quinn murmured, "I remember when I was a kid, it wasn''t so bright over there. Just a few scattered lights."


    Alexander said, "It''s been twenty years. The city''s blown up into a bustling metropolis."


    Quinn turned to look at Alexander beside her.


    The phone light was off, and under the night sky, they could only see each other''s vague outlines.


    "Alexander, can you just let me go?" Quinn asked.


    What followed was a long silence.


    She continued, "You keep hanging on, thinking your deep affection is noble, but it''s just selfish. You always do what you want, never thinking about what I want." Her voice was soft, but it cut deep.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    After a moment, Alexander''s voice came from the darkness, "Quinn, if I told you I have nothing to do with the Kennedy family, would you give me another shot?" "Do you still think it''s just about your identity?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander said thoughtfully, "I know I''ve hurt you in many ways, but my identity is the biggest wall between us. If we tear that down, maybe I can make things right."


    This wouldn''t weigh her down with guilt; it was just between them. All she had to do was say the word, and it wasn''t hard.


    The night was dark, but Quinn could feel his gaze on her, almost piercing through her.


    Quinn turned her back and said, "What''s the point, Alexander? I''m exhausted. I don''t want to be tangled up anymore. If you really want my forgiveness, respect my wishes and stop clinging to me." After she said this, the air fell silent again.


    For a long time, only the wind moved between them.


    After a while, Alexander spoke softly, "Quinn, is this really what you want? Do you really not want to see me again?"

 Chapter 1139

    Alexander was having a hard time spitting out those two questions, looking all kinds of conflicted. Quinn bit her lip and clenched her fingers where he couldn''t see.


    "Yeah."


    Quinn shut her eyes and blurted out, "I''ve told you a million times, but you always think I''m lying."


    Her firm stance shot down Alexander''s request once again.


    He stepped forward and hugged Quinn from behind.


    Quinn stiffened up, trying to break free, but he held her tight.


    He pressed his cheek against hers, whispering like they were lovers, "Alright, if that''s what you want, I''ll give it to you."


    His voice was soft, but his words hit Quinn hard.


    So much so that Quinn tensed up and forgot to move.


    She stared off into the distance, unable to describe how she felt.


    It was like a thorn had been yanked out of her heart, leaving an empty hole.


    She couldn''t tell if it was relief or emptiness.


    A lowugh came from beside her ear, and he said, "Seems like you really hate me. After clinging to you for so long, it''s only now you let me hold you like this."


    Quinn stayed silent, her eyes stinging with tears. She was scared that if she spoke, her choked voice would give her away.


    The atmosphere was so calm, yet it felt more like a goodbye than any previous fight.


    A real breakup feels more genuine the calmer it is.


    Because only in calmness can a decision be made after thorough thought.


    After a moment, Alexander let her go.


    Alexander said softly, "Quinn, I''ll give you what you want and disappear from your life. From now on, I won''t bother you anymore. I hope leaving me will truly make you happy and let you live the life you''ve always wanted." Quinn kept her back to him. Luckily, it was dark, and neither could see the other''s pain.


    She held onto the balcony railing, barely keeping herself standing.


    Alexander stared at her for a long time, but in the end, he didn''t get a response.


    He paused, then turned and walked downstairs, reminding, "Be careful in a ce like this."Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    As his footsteps faded away, Quinn turned to look.


    Alexander''s figure grew darker in her sight, eventually blending into the night.


    Quinn stood in the wind for a long time before slowly squatting down, hugging her knees, and curling up on the balcony.


    His identity was like a thorn, and the things he did pricked at her the same way.


    Every time she thought about what had happened before, about the two miscarried children, that thorn would prick her heart, making it impossible for her to face Alexander. She couldn''t interact with him without any resentment.


    Maybe aplete separation was the best choice.


    Alexander sat in the car, watching the scenery pass by. These were the lights they had just seen.


    The driver, the chubby man from earlier, asionally nced at the rearview mirror.


    It had been years since theyst met, but the chubby man still remembered his cold demeanor, his every move exuding an invisible intimidation.


    But now, it seemed absent from his expression, reced by loneliness and despair.


    In just a short while, who knows what kind of blow he had suffered. The chubby man didn''t dare to ask.


    "Mr. Kennedy, where are we going?" he asked cautiously.


    "Go wherever you want," Alexander said, leaning back in the seat and closing his eyes in exhaustion.


    The chubby man wanted to take him to a hotel, but sensing his current mood, he felt that going to a hotel would only make him feel worse.


    He thought for a moment before suggesting, "Let''s go for a drink. I haven''t properly entertained you since you got here."


    Alexander didn''t respond.


    The chubby man took it as consent and drove to the most luxurious club.


    He ordered a bunch of drinks for Alexander but didn''t dare to order any hostesses.


    Alexander had been with Quinn in the afternoon, and now he was out alone in the middle of the night. Clearly, they had a fight. Ordering hostesses would only make him feel worse. Alexander didn''t drink much. He yed with the ss on the table, his eyes downcast, seemingly deep in thought.


    Before long, his phone rang.

 Chapter 1140

    Alexander whipped out his phone and gave it a quick nce. An international number shed on the screen. This time, he decided not to ghost it and put the phone to his ear.


    Quinn got jolted awake by her phone ring. She rubbed her eyes, fumbled for the phone on the floor, and saw it was a call from Abigail.


    She was still on the balcony, having crashed there all night. Lucky for her, no nasty bugs were around, and the asional cockroach didn''t faze her. Quinn dragged herself up and answered Abigail''s call.


    The signal was trash, and Abigail''s voice kept cutting out. Quinn could barely make out what she was saying.


    Quinn grabbed her phone and bolted downstairs to the street, hoping for a better signal.


    Once she found a spot with a decent signal, she called Abigail back.


    "Quinn, why''d you hang up on me?" Abigail asked, sounding annoyed.


    "Bad signal. What''s up?" Quinn replied.


    "I''ming to find you. Where are you? Drop me your location," Abigail said.


    "Got it."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Quinn hung up and sent her location to Abigail.


    Forty minutester, a taxi screeched to a halt in front of her, just like yesterday. Quinn jumped up from the ground, eyes glued to the taxi.


    The car stopped, and Abigail leaped out.


    Seeing Quinn, she sprinted over and hugged her tight.


    "Thank God! I finally found you, Quinn! I can''t believe you''re really alive. I''ve been freaking out these past few days, thinking it might be a scam. Now I can finally chill," Abigail said, squeezing Quinn so hard she could barely breathe.


    After a bit, Abigail let go and started pinching Quinn''s face, like she was making sure she was real.


    Just as Quinn was about to say something, an excited voice called out, "Quinn!"


    Quinn turned and was shocked to see Orion. What was he doing here?


    Abigail rolled her eyes. "He insisted oning. I couldn''t shake him. If you don''t wanna see him, just pretend he''s not here."


    Orion had been bickering with her the whole way, but now that he saw Quinn, he couldn''t argue anymore.


    He walked up to Quinn, looking both nervous and excited, and smiled. "It''s been a while."


    Quinn stared at him for a couple of seconds, remembering they used to be married. Seeing him now felt kinda weird.


    She smiled back. "Why are you here?"


    Orion scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish. "I had to see for myself. Everyone said you were dead, but I didn''t buy it. Looks like they were just talking crap."


    Quinn bit her lip, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. "Sorry for making you all worry."


    Abigail threw an arm around Quinn''s shoulder. "No need for that. What are you doing in a ce like this?"


    "It''s a long story. Let''s get outta here first," Quinn suggested.


    "Yeah, this ce is a dump. It''s giving me the creeps." Abigail held her close as they walked to the taxi. With Abigail''s tall frame and Quinn in her arms, they looked like a perfect pair. Once in the car, Abigail suddenly remembered something. She looked around, surprised. "Where''s Alexander? Isn''t he with you?"


    Quinn had filled Abigail in on most of what went down in Las Vegas, so to Abigail, Alexander was just some guy who couldn''t leave Quinn alone.

 Chapter 1141

    Quinn mulled over what Alexander had saidst night and dropped her gaze. "I dunno."


    Abigail shot her a suspicious look. "He didn''t tag along to Sylvadora with you?"


    "Nope," Quinn answered.


    "Sweet!" Abigail cheered, clearly relieved. She might''ve hated Alexander, but she couldn''t deny he freaked her out a bit too.


    She wrapped Quinn in a hug. "Since he''s not here, we can totally let loose. Go wherever we want."


    Up ahead, Orion spun around and asked, "So, where to first?"


    Abigail chimed in, "Duh, we gotta check out Sylvadora first. Once we''ve seen it all, we can figure out the next move."


    "Never been here before," Orion noted.


    The two of them started hashing out ns, while Quinn stayed quiet, not really into the convo.


    She had no real destination; it didn''t matter where they went.


    After a long back-and-forth, Abigail told Orion to handle the ns and turned to Quinn.


    "Quinn, you seem kinda off," Abigail observed.


    Quinn snapped out of her daze and forced a smile. "Nah, just thinking about what fun stuff we can do."


    "Let him handle it. Spill the tea on what you''ve been up to these past two years. I''ve always wondered how you faked your death and even tricked Alexander," Abigail said, eyes gleaming with curiosity. Quinn pressed her lips together. She really didn''t wanna go there.


    She and Walter had paid a steep price to fool Alexander for just two years. It was a crappy and failed n.


    Abigail''s curious stare left Quinn no choice but to give a rough rundown of events.


    But when she mentioned Walter, Abigail''s curiosity spiked even more. "Hold up. What''s the deal with you and Walter? Isn''t he your sister''s hubby? How many secrets are you hiding?" Orion was all ears too, not wanting to miss a thing.


    Quinn suddenly felt tongue-tied. Exining meant diving into a lot of old drama, but staying silent made them look at her even weirder.


    Finally, Quinn decided to switch gears. "I''ll fill you inter. What''s been happening in Amber Bay?"


    Abigail perked up again, shifting her position to face Quinn with one leg crossed.


    "Girl, so much has gone down. Bet you haven''t seen Kaitlyn''s news, right? And you definitely don''t know that Getty''s actually part of the Kennedy n."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Abigail animatedly spilled thetest gossip.


    The more Quinn listened, the wider her eyes got. So, Alexander wasn''t lyingst night. He really had no ties to the Kennedy family?


    Handing thepany over to Getty was just giving it back to its rightful owner.


    But that didn''t seem like his style. He''d worked so hard to snag the Kennedy Group, only to hand it over in the end.


    "So, what''s up with Kaitlyn now?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail shrugged. "No clue. She kinda brought it on herself. I kept tabs on her when she first got booted, but now no one cares. She might be dead in a ditch somewhere." She added, "Gotta admit, Getty''s cold as ice. Once she kicked Kaitlyn out, she never looked back."


    Orion chimed in, "Getty''s barely keeping her own head above water. No way she has time for Kaitlyn."


    Abigail nodded. "True that. She''s in court every day, can''t even handle her own mess."


    As they chatted, they reached the hotel. Abigail and Orion went up to stash their stuff, then came back down for a meal and to rent a car for the afternoon.

 Chapter 1142

    In another house, Ruby brought over some cut-up fruit and plopped it down next to Alexander. She slid into the chair beside him, poured him some tea, and said, "My grandpa''s gonna be here soon. Have some tea first." As she talked, she kept sneaking peeks at Alexander.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He was lounging around, not all buttoned-up like before. His suit jacket was hanging open, and his shirt cor was undone. She could even see a bit of his corbone peeking out. He looked way more chill, not like some guest in someone else''s crib.


    Alexander nced at her, all casual-like, and said, "So, should I call you Ruby Anderson, Ruby Kennedy, or Ruby Dixon now?"


    Ruby was a bit thrown off but then smiled, "Anything but Ruby Kennedy. Anderson''s my mom''sst name, so Ruby Anderson works too."


    She handed him the tea.


    Alexander took the cup but didn''t drink. He just rubbed it with his thumb, staring at Ruby. "Yeah, the Kennedys are pretty much done for. The Dixon family seems like the better pick." Ruby rified, "That''s not the whole story. I don''t have any ties or feelings for the Kennedys. I''ve been with the Dixons for thirty years. Makes sense, right?"


    Alexander put the cup back on the table and leaned back in his chair, his eyes roaming the living room. "Yeah, blood ties are kinda overrated."


    Ruby frowned a bit, not really getting what he meant.


    Not wanting to guess, she switched topics, "Mr. Kennedy, got any ce to go now?"


    "Feeling sorry for me and wanna take me in?" Alexander asked, all casual.


    Ruby felt a bit awkward, like he saw right through her. "Don''t joke. How could you be pitiful? I meant, is there anywhere you wanna go?"


    He was alone now. To put it nicely, he was free. To put it bluntly, he was a loner with no family ties.


    He had money and could buy a house anywhere, but no matter where he went, he couldn''t escape being lonely.


    So Ruby thought of keeping him around. The Dixon family had plenty of space.


    "Somewhere I wanna go?" Alexander asked, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He didn''t answer Ruby''s question.


    Ruby was about to say more, but Larry Dixon walked in. Ruby quickly stood up, "Grandpa."


    Larry nodded and said, "You can go out now."


    After Ruby left, Larry walked over to Alexander with a cane. "Sorry, got held up."


    Alexander stayed put, not even changing his posture. Larry didn''t mind and sat down beside him.


    "Why''d you call me here?" Alexander asked.


    Larry smiled kindly, "I''ve always wanted to invite you over but never got the chance. When I heard you were in Sylvadora, I jumped at the chance to chat." "You got good sources. I just got here, and you already knew," Alexander remarked.


    Larry, unfazed, kept smiling, "Seems like you got some beef with the Dixon family."


    Alexander chuckled. "Be confident. Drop the ''some"."


    Larryughed.


    Alexander said, getting impatient, "If you got something to say, just spit it out. Stop beating around the bush."

 Chapter 1143

    Larry let out a heavy sigh, turned to Alexander, and his smile faded. He sighed again, "Man, you two really look alike."


    Alexander''s brows knitted together. The resemnce was obvious.


    "You didn''t drag me here just to say that, did you?" Alexander shot back.


    Larry said, "They''ve reached out to you, haven''t they?"


    "So what?" Alexander replied, cool as a cucumber.


    Larry sighed again, "It''s all those idiots'' doing; otherwise, we wouldn''t be in this mess. But don''t jump the gun. Whether you''re into it or not, just hear me out. I know you''re pissed at your parents for ditching you, but that was all your mom''s call. Even your dad was in the dark."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Larry continued, "Your folks had a business marriage and didn''t get along. Plus, your grandpa always wanted a grandson. Your mom wasn''t too thrilled, so she yed dirty."


    Larry had been Harold Ethereal''s right-hand man, so he knew all the dirt, including this mess, which he had handled himself.


    Feeling a bit awkward, he said, "Long story short, your mom held a grudge, so when Kaitlyn swapped you, she kept it hush-hush to spite your grandpa. She imed she had a baby girl, and Harold was bummed out. She handed the baby girl to Cynthia, and no one really cared after that."


    "So what?" Alexander stayed indifferent.


    Larry shook his head and sighed, "So she got hereuppance. Your mom got seriously ill a few yearster and was bedridden for nearly a decade. She passed when you were about fifteen. After she died, only Cynthia knew the secret." Alexander''s lips twisted into a sneer, "No wonder she kept her mouth shut."


    Larry sneered back, "They were in on it together, so of course, they kept quiet. If it hadn''t hit the news, even I wouldn''t have known."


    He only found out the truth after the news broke and he forced Cynthia to spill the beans.


    When Ruby was brought back, he thought she was the Ethereal family''s kid and raised her with love. Who would''ve thought she was actually from the Kennedy family?


    Larry went on, "Alexander, this is the real deal, not the crap Cynthia fed you. Your grandpa wanted you more than anyone. Except for your mom, no one wanted to ditch you or use you to grab the Kennedy family''s assets. With their power, why would they need the Kennedy family''s stuff? Now he''s on his deathbed. Think about whether you want to see him onest time."


    Alexander stared at the ground, silent for a moment.


    Quinn and Abigail had been running around all afternoon. There wasn''t much to do in Sylvadora, and she had already hit the famous spots with Alexanderst time.


    Seeing those familiar scenes, she couldn''t get excited and kept thinking about him.


    "Quinn, cheer up. Why the long face when we''re out having fun?" Abigail said, handing her a cup of coffee.


    Quinn took the coffee and apologized, "There''s really nothing fun here. How about we hit another city?"


    Abigail nodded, "Honestly, it''s the same everywhere. You really want to go until you get there, and then it''s just meh. The main point is to chill out."


    Quinn agreed, "True that."


    Abigail offered, "If you''re tired, we can head back and rest now ande back tomorrow."


    She was also feeling beat. After such a long flight and car ride, she didn''t have much energy left.


    Quinn was more than happy to agree and nodded right away.

 Chapter 1144

    Quinn, Orion, and Abigail hit up a dinner spot and then headed back to the hotel. But it was only seven, and they were wide awake. Orion whipped out a deck of cards and dragged them to the balcony for a game. Quinn couldn''t help but ask, "Orion, how long are we gonna y?"


    "Who knows? When I get home, I gotta listen to my folks bicker non-stop. It''s a total drag," Orion said, shuffling the cards like a pro.


    Before, when Quinn was in trouble, his parents had stopped fighting and teamed up to me him. Now that Quinn was okay, they were back to their old ways.


    Orion had told them to get a divorce more than once, but they wouldn''t budge. It drove him nuts.


    "Is it ''cause they love each other too much?" Quinn asked.


    Orion rolled his eyes. "You call that love?"


    "Then what is it? They''ve been at it for years and haven''t split. If it''s not love, what is it?" Quinn pressed.


    Orion didn''t bother to argue. He couldn''t see any love. When his parents fought, it was always a full-blown war.


    Quinn sucked at cards. Abigail and Orion loved sticking notes on her face, and after an hour, she was covered in them.


    Fed up, she tossed the cards on the table and started peeling the notes off her face, but Abigail stopped her.


    "Hold up, let me get a pic," Abigail said,ughing. She grabbed her camera and snapped a bunch of shots of Quinn. Then she squeezed in for some selfies. Orion joined the fun, and they ended up with a whole photo session.


    Abigail grinned, edited the pics, and posted them on her feed.


    She had the fewest notes on her face, making it clear who sucked at cards.


    "Alright, bedtime," Abigail said with a smile. "I''m crashing with you."


    She raised her eyebrows at Orion as she said it.


    Orion rolled his eyes, not sure what she was trying to prove.


    Abigail dragged Quinn to the next room. While she showered, Quinn sat on the sofa, scrolling through her phone.


    She didn''t have many contacts, so her feed was clean, just the pics Abigail posted and some of Orion''sndscape shots. Walter didn''t even have a Facebook ount.


    Alexander used to have one, even though he rarely posted. At least he had one and changed his profile pic now and then. Thinking about his profile pic, Quinn pulled out her new phone and logged into her old Facebook ount to check his profile. Same old photo.


    Realizing what she was doing, she quickly logged out and put her phone down.


    Two secondster, she picked it up again, found Alexander''s profile, opened his info, and deleted him.


    After that, she put her phone down for good.


    Alexander leaned against the car window, fiddling with his phone. For the fifteenth time today, he opened his chat with Quinn, but when his fingers hovered over the keyboard, he backed out again. He pinched the bridge of his nose, grabbed a cigarette from the console, and lit it.


    Seeing the red dot on his feed, he clicked it out of habit, intending to clear the notification, but saw Abigail''s profile pic.


    He clicked in and saw the series of photos she just posted.


    They were all smiles, especially when he saw Orion''s face almost touching Quinn''s. He nearly crushed his phone.


    He tossed the cigarette out the window and opened Quinn''s chat again. He typed a sentence, then deleted it, over and over. Finally, he sent: [I''m leaving.]This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    But all he got back was a bright red exmation mark.

 Chapter 1145

    Alexander stared at the screen for what felt like forever, then suddenly burst outughing.


    But as theughter died down, his face twisted into pure anger and coldness.


    He chucked the phone onto the passenger seat.


    Abigail came out of the shower and practically dove onto the bed. "Time to crash. We''re hitting the beach tomorrow for some swimming." Quinn killed the lights and flopped onto the bed too.


    In a prison in Amber Bay, Freya was still in the same thin clothes she had on when she got locked up, now all faded and worn out.


    The sunlight hit her gaunt face just right. Compared to three years ago, she was almost a different person.


    No one had visited her in ages, and she had no clue what was going on in the outside world.


    She had hoped someone would be there to pick her up when she got out if not Alexander, then at least Kaitlyn. But when the gate opened, there was no one waiting for her. Freya stood there, stunned, thinking she might have missed someone. She looked around carefully but saw no familiar faces.


    She felt lost and a bit pissed off.


    She had no money and no idea how to get home.


    She stood there for a bit before heading towards the pedestrian path. She walked for what seemed like forever, but all she saw was emptiness.


    Just as she was about to lose it, a ck car sped towards her and stopped right in front of her.


    Freya looked over, her heart lifting, staring hard at the person getting out of the car.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    But when she saw it was a stranger, her joy vanished instantly.


    "Ms. Kennedy, please get in the car," the man said.


    Freya eyed him suspiciously and asked, "Who are you?"


    "Don''t worry. I''m here to help you," the man replied.


    She scrutinized him; he looked pretty average, giving nothing away.


    After a moment, she gritted her teeth and got into the car.


    The first thing she asked after getting in was, "Did Alexander send you to pick me up?"


    The man didn''t answer her. Instead, he handed her a file folder, "Take a look. This will answer all your questions."


    Freya took the file, feeling its weight. A lot must have gone down in the past two years.


    She opened the file and pulled out the thick stack of documents. Just the first page made her face change.


    An hourter, Freya arrived at the orphanage, staring in disbelief at Peanut, who was giggling on a wooden horse.


    Peanut was in faded clothes, and his face and neck had marks that looked like birthmarks, darker than his skin.


    It seemed he had been hurt when he was really young. The scars had faded as he grew, but they had also spread, looking like birthmarks.


    Plus, something was off. Peanut''s eyes were vacant, and he kept staring at one spot, giggling, with drool running down his chin that he didn''t bother to wipe away. This was not normal for a four-year-old. Freya shook her head in disbelief. "This is not my son."


    "He is indeed your son. If you don''t believe it, you can have a paternity test done," the man stated, leaving her utterly devastated. Her legs gave way, and she almost copsed to the ground.


    How had her adorable son ended up like this?


    Freya stared at Peanut for a long time, but in the end, she couldn''t bring herself to leave. She took slow, painful steps towards Peanut.


    As she got closer, Peanut didn''t seem to notice her. He kept rocking on the wooden horse, lost in his own world and giggling.


    Freya couldn''t hold back her tears any longer, letting them stream down her face.


    Before her release, she had imagined a hundred different ways Peanut might have grown up. Despite the strong possibility that he wasn''t Walter''s child, she had carried him for ten months and thought about him every single day. But she had never imagined he would end up like this.

 Chapter 1146

    Freya crouched down in front of Peanut, tears blurring her vision. She gently ced her hand on his head and whispered, "Peanut."


    Peanut heard his name and turned to her, shing a goofy grin.


    Freya bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears, and smiled at him. "I''m your mom, remember?"


    Peanut just kept grinning, not really getting what she meant.


    Seeing him like that, Freya crumpled to the ground, tears streaming down her face.


    The guy next to her exined, "After Getty took over the Kennedy family, she cut off Peanut''s treatment funds and dumped him here. Because he''s got intellectual disabilities, the other kids bully him, and now he''s like this." When Freya walked in earlier, she saw groups of kids ying together, while Peanut was hiding in a corner, all alone.


    He was shunned by everyone, and it was hard to tell if he even understood the sadness of being left out.


    He just kept smiling that goofy smile at everyone. He smiled when they cursed at him, smiled when they hit him, and only cried when it really hurt.


    Freya held Peanut''s hand, a sh of hatred in her eyes.


    For a moment, she didn''t know who to hate more-Walter, Getty, or Alexander.


    And then she thought of Quinn.


    When she was a kid, she had bullied Quinn just like these kids bullied Peanut. Was this karmaing back to bite her?Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Freya had called Quinn a mute, an unwanted mute.


    Her mind raced with memories, emotions all over the ce.


    She couldn''t hold back anymore and hugged Peanut, sobbing.


    Some kids saw them from a distance, watching.


    They hated Peanut, the fool, and now that his mom was here, they hated him even more, mixed with a bit of envy or jealousy.


    "The fool''s mom is here to take him away!" a boy shouted.


    "Why does the fool have a mom who wants him?" someone else asked.


    The kids started jeering, shouting that the fool''s mom hade.


    Freya turned to them, eyes cold, and snapped, "Shut up, all of you!"


    Her shout startled the kids, who scattered but kept shouting that the fool''s mom hade.


    Freya was fuming. Normally, she would''ve given them a piece of her mind.


    But now, she held back.


    Three years in prison had worn her down, and her current situation left her with no confidence. All she could do was endure.


    Freya looked at Peanut, who didn''t understand what "fool" meant andughed along with them.


    Seeing this, Freya''s heart ached.


    She hugged Peanut, choking up. "How about I take you home?"


    Peanuty in her arms, eyes full of confusion. Smelling Freya''s scent, he blinked and stopped smiling.


    He stared nkly at the sky, as if it took a long time for his mind to catch up.


    He reached out his scarred hands and wrapped them around Freya''s neck.


    His movements were cautious, not really understanding what it meant, just copying the other kids who had been taken away, hugging Freya. Peanut stammered out a childish syble.


    "Okay."

 Chapter 1147

    Freya rolled up to the Kennedy Residence with Peanut in tow, only to get stopped at the door.


    She shot a re at the security guard and snapped, "What''s the deal? Don''t you know who I am?"


    She didn''t recognize these guards either. I mean, who remembers security guards, right? Naturally, they didn''t remember her either.


    The two guards exchanged a confused look, clearly not recognizing her.


    Freya got it now this ce had changed big time.


    Clutching Peanut, she said in a low voice, "Get Getty for me."


    "Who are you?" one of the guards asked.


    After three years in the mmer, Freya''s name had pretty much vanished, especially after the Kennedy family''s fall. No one remembered her as a Kennedy.


    "My name''s Freya Kennedy. Ring any bells now?" she asked.


    The guard, who was obviously new, still looked puzzled.


    Just then, a BMW rolled up and stopped beside Freya.


    A voice yelled, "Who''s blocking the door? Get them outta here!"


    Getty stepped out of the car. Despite the Kennedy family''s downfall, they still had some assets. She was all dolled up, wearing sunsses. With all the stic surgery, Freya almost didn''t recognize her.


    It wasn''t until Getty took off her sunsses that Freya saw the familiar marks on her face.


    "Getty?" Freya blurted out.


    Getty was also stunned when she saw Freya.


    Getty let Freya into the house. As soon as they sat down, Getty was ready to vent, but Freya cut her off.


    "Even though I was locked up for three years, I know what went down. Getty, what gave you the right to dump Peanut in an orphanage?"


    Getty''s face tightened for a moment but quickly went back to normal. She''d been working on her poker face, and now her smile didn''t look as fake.


    Getty said, "Freya, then you should know the Kennedy Group''s in deep trouble, right? We''re bleeding money. How could I afford to treat Peanut? Besides, isn''t he doing fine in the orphanage? Better than being lonely, right?" Freya clenched her fists and said angrily, "No matter how bad things are, we should be able to support one kid. The doctor said with treatment, he had a shot at getting better, but you let him miss the best time for it!" Getty felt a wave of panic. How did Freya know all this after three years in prison?


    Getty argued, "Who told you that? That''s BS. If he could get better, would I not treat him? Someone''s messing with you, making you think you know everything."


    Freya suddenly stood up and yelled, "Getty! Do you think I don''t know what you''ve done? Not just Peanut, you kicked our mom out too. Now you''re hogging the Kennedy Group and Dad''s inheritance, and you still y the victim?" Getty heard this and reacted like she''d heard the biggest joke ever.


    She looked at Freya in disbelief and said, "Freya, what happened to you in prison? You''re saying this crap? Looks like you really had time to think in there."


    "Don''t forget why you went to prison. You call me evil? What I''ve done is nothingpared to you. How did Valerie die? How did her kids die? You haven''t forgotten, have you?"This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "Look, Peanut''s still alive and kicking, which proves I''m way kinder than you. Besides, he''s your kid, not mine. I don''t have to support him, do I? What right do you have to judge me?"

 Chapter 1148

    Now, the tables have totally turned. Three years ago, would Getty have even dared to talk to Freya like this?


    Freya was left speechless by Getty''s words.


    She stared hard at Getty, never imagining she could be such a pain.


    Back then, Getty was always tiptoeing around, trying to please her. Freya had always been the queen bee, keeping it polite but with a side of disdain.


    Getty remembered all of it. Seeing Freya like this now? Oh, it was sweet revenge.


    Freya clenched her fists. After a moment, she took a deep breath and said, "Alright, let''s not dig up the past. We''re both Kennedys. The estate includes my share. Hand it over."


    Getty rolled her eyes and said, "Freya, what are you even talking about? If you know everything, then you should know all of Dad''s inheritance is with Alexander. Why aren''t you bugging him instead of me? Are you nuts?" Freya replied, "Sure, he took a big chunk, but there''s still some with Mom. ording to Dad''s will, even if it''s just five percent left, we should split it."


    Getty was losing her patience, a sh of anger in her eyes as she snapped, "I already told you there''s nothing. If you don''t believe me, go get awyer and sue. But I can give you a share of the Kennedy Group." What she was really offering was the Kennedy Group''s debts.


    Freya wasn''t falling for that. "When there''s something good, you forget about me. But when it''s about debts, you throw it my way."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Getty scoffed, "Listen to yourself. Just now, you were all about being a Kennedy. But when ites to debts, you back off. Freya, why should I share the inheritance with you?"


    Freya was at a loss for words, just ring at Getty, fuming.


    After a while, she backed down. "Fine, I don''t need the inheritance from you. Just tell me, where''s Mom?"


    "How would I know? It''s been years. Who cares where she went?" Getty said, ncing at her freshly done nails.


    Freya was so mad she could barely hold back from pping her.


    "She''s your mother!" Freya shouted.


    Getty replied indifferently, "She''s not my mother. She''s yours. If you care so much, go find her yourself. Maybe she''s under some bridge, at a recycling station, or in an abandoned building." Hearing those ces, Freya frowned.


    "Getty, you''re truly heartless!" Freya didn''t want to argue anymore, fearing Getty would use the past against her.


    She hugged Peanut and walked out. No point staying at Kennedy Residence any longer. Seeing Getty''s face made her fear she''d lose it.


    Freya went outside, and the ck car was still parked at the corner.


    She led Peanut over, knocked on the car door, and got in after it was unlocked.


    "Who exactly are you?" Freya asked.


    With everything changing so much, everyone she knew was gone. Who would stille to help her?


    She had thought about Walter, but...

 Chapter 1149

    Freya thought to herself, like, seriously? Would a cold-hearted dude like Walter really give her a hand?


    If he was all about helping, then why the heck had he ignored Peanut all these years?


    Freya just couldn''t buy the idea that Walter would be her knight in shining armor. Alexander seemed like a way better bet.


    Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the guy suddenly said, "Mr. Kennedy sent me."


    Freya was caught off guard and blurted out, "Wait, really him?"


    She was kinda shocked, but it also made some sense. Her face got allplicated for a sec.


    "Why would he wanna help me?"


    The guy didn''t bother answering and instead said, "Oh, and Mr. Kennedy wanted me to tell you that your hubby is now in Las Vegas."


    The word "hubby" hit her like a ton of bricks.


    She instinctively nced at Peanut sitting next to her. He was leaning against the window, eyes wide with curiosity. The bruises on his arm, peeking out from his slipped sleeve, were hard to miss. She had thought she had it all, but in the end, she had zilch. It was all just a fantasy she had cooked up for herself.


    Freya lowered her eyes, her fingers clenching tight.


    To be real, that paternity test had been haunting her for years. She often wondered if Alexander had faked the results to mess with her.


    Now, she was dying to know the truth.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    The guy handed Freya an envelope and then told her to get out of the car.


    Freya stood at the intersection. Inside the envelope were her passport and a bank card.


    Was this Alexander''s doing?


    Did he want her to track down Walter?


    After Freya left, Getty went on a rampage and trashed the house again.


    She had nowhere to go now, spending every day tangled up in court battles. Everyone thought she was living the high life, but only she knew what a mess her days really were. Quinn and Abigail had been hanging out in Sylvadora for a few days. They''d hit up almost all the tourist spots and were now in some remote area, close to the border. Standing on this hillside, they could barely make out the neighboring country.


    "This ce gives me the creeps. How about we head back?" Orion said softly. The ce looked deserted, with nothing but rocks and trees, and hardly any people around. Plus, they''d heard it was kinda sketchy here.


    Abigail shot him a disdainful look and scoffed, "You''re a grown man, how can you be such a wuss?"


    Orion felt a bit embarrassed and defended himself, "I''m just looking out for you guys, okay? If we get snatched and taken somewhere, I might just lose a kidney, but for you two, who knows what could happen..." Before he could finish, Abigail kicked him and shouted, "Shut up!"


    Orion was used to it and skillfully dodged Abigail''s kick. "I''m just being real. Don''t you guys watch the news? And here we go again!"


    After a bit of yful banter, they both stopped and turned to look at Quinn.


    She was sitting alone on a rock, staring off into the distance, lost in thought.


    Abigail frowned and pushed Orion aside but didn''t move any closer. She just stood there, watching Quinn.


    She had been like this for days. Even though she always came out to hang with them, she spent a lot of time daydreaming.


    Orion noticed too and sighed, "What''s she thinking about?"


    Abigail didn''t say anything, but her face was serious. No one knew what was on Quinn''s mind.


    Abigail hadn''t seen Alexander in the past few days, and his behavior was totally different from what Quinn had described on the phone, like he had just vanished into thin air.

 Chapter 1150

    After mulling it over for a sec, Abigail strolled over to Quinn, plopped down next to her, and threw an arm around her shoulder. "What''s on your mind?"


    Quinn snapped out of her daze and grinned. "Just thinking about where I should head next."


    Abigail shrugged. "Why overthink it? Just go wherever the wind takes you. When you''re done having a st and don''t wanna leave, you can crash at my ce, or we can find some cool spot to settle down. As long as we got cash, the world''s our oyster."


    Quinn looked at Abigail''s beaming face, feeling a little flutter in her chest, and her own smile grew wider.


    "What if you fall for someone?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail scoffed. "Love? Nah, not my thing. Why would I need a guy to mess up my vibe?"Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Quinn went quiet for a bit; she couldn''t really argue with that.


    After a moment, she said, "That''s ''cause you haven''t met someone who makes your heart race. When you do, you''ll change your tune."


    Abigail waved it off. "Nah, not gonna happen. And even if it does, I ain''t falling for anyone, got it?"


    Abigail hugged Quinn''s shoulder, staring off into the distance. "Actually, if we ever get super lonely, we could open a retirement home. That way, we won''t be alone."


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, sounds good."


    Abigail turned and shed a grin at Quinn. As the sun dipped below the horizon, her cheerful smile, paired with her short hair and tomboyish clothes, made her look pretty striking.


    She and Walter were like night and day. She had short hair, while Walter, a dude, had long hair. Both had that androgynous vibe going on.


    Abigail said, "So, stop thinking about that jerk Alexander."


    Quinn''s smile faltered for a couple of seconds, and she forced herself to argue, "I''m not."


    Abigail rolled her eyes. "Sure, if you say so. We''re out here to have fun, so let''s enjoy it. When we''re done here, we''ll hit up another spot. Where do you wanna go the most?" Quinn thought for a moment and shook her head. "No clue."


    "Then keep thinking. We got all the time in the world," Abigail said.


    "Okay."


    As they chatted, they noticed the sun had already set, and the wind on the hillside was getting chilly.


    Orion piped up, "It''s getting dark. Aren''t we leaving? Soon we won''t see squat."


    "Let''s bounce." Abigail was already annoyed by his voice. She pulled Quinn up, and they headed down the hill to the car.


    Orion drove up front. The light at the bottom of the hill wasn''t as bright as on top; the sunset was blocked by distant mountains, and without the car lights, they couldn''t see a thing. Quinn sat in the car, staring at the empty ins outside, feeling kinda lost.


    Despite all the future ns Abigail had just talked about, she still felt a bit adrift, like a piece of driftwood floating on the water, unable to find a sense of belonging. Suddenly, the car jolted, and her head almost smacked into the seat in front of her.


    "Orion, what the hell!" Abigail''s forehead hit the car window. She looked up and cursed at Orion, "Can''t you drive straight?"


    Orion quickly exined, "No, it looks like the tire blew out."


    He got out to check.


    Abigail and Quinn also got out to take a look. They turned on their phone lights and immediately saw a bunch of nails on the road ahead. "Who did this?" Abigail picked up a nail and examined it. "These weren''t here this afternoon."


    After she said this, the three of them exchanged nces.


    In an instant, it felt like the wind around them got colder.


    Orion swallowed hard and asked, "What''s going on?"


    Abigail quickly pulled out her phone to make a call, but there was no signal.


    Orion and Quinn also checked their phones; none of them had a signal, which made them even more anxious.


    "See, I told you we should''ve left earlier. Now look what happened!" Orion said as he moved closer to them, his eyes darting around nervously.

 Chapter 1151

    Abigail shot Orion a death re and snapped, "What''s the point of saying that now? Can you quit with the sarcasm and think of a way to get us back?"


    Orion mmed up, not daring to say another word. The wind whipping down the road made all three of them shiver.


    "How about we hoof it back?" Orion suggested.


    Abigail scoffed, "Sure, go ahead. I''d love to see you walk all 31 miles."


    Yeah, walking back was a joke. It was way too far.


    After a long back-and-forth, they decided to crash in the car for the night. Both walking and staying put seemed sketchy. When they got there, the road was clear, but now there were nails everywhere. Someone was definitely messing with them. Just as they were freaking out, a few headlights appeared in the distance, heading their way.


    "What do we do?"


    "Run, duh!" Abigail grabbed Quinn''s hand and bolted to the left, where the terrain was too rough for cars.


    Orion hesitated for a second and fell behind. Realizing he wasgging, he sprinted after them, yelling, "Wait up!"


    They ran like crazy, but the car behind them was gaining, its headlights already on them.


    Quinn saw the lights casting shadows and her heart pounded.


    The area was too rocky for cars, but it was wide open, leaving them nowhere to hide.


    After about five minutes, Quinn was done. She let go of Abigail''s hand and slumped against a rock, gasping for air.


    "I can''t... I can''t run anymore. You guys go," she panted.


    Abigail stopped, went back, and yanked her up. "No way. Even if you can''t run, you have to. These people put nails on the road; they''re bad news. If they catch us, who knows what they''ll do." Quinn, her mind nk and vision blurry, was practically dragged along by Abigail. Her feet hurt from the rocks.


    Abigail turned to Orion, "Run ahead. If Quinn and I can''t make it, get help."


    "What? You want me to go alone?"


    Abigail red at him, "Just run when I tell you to. Stop whining. Do you want us all to get caught?" Orion was still hesitating when Abigail kicked him in the butt, sending him stumbling forward.


    "Move it!" Abigail yelled.


    Orion looked back. Quinn was about to copse, clearly out of steam.


    He gritted his teeth and took off running.


    Quinn sat down, using herst bit of strength to push Abigail away, "You go too. Don''t worry about me." Abigail shook her head, "No way. I brought you here, and I''m taking you back. Otherwise, we go down together." Abigail sighed, "Besides, looks like we can''t escape."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Just then, several blinding lights hit them.


    Quinn looked up and saw at least seven or eight masked people surrounding them, looking creepy in the night.


    "Who are you?" Abigail demanded, but no one answered.


    The group moved in sync, surrounding them, tying them up, and putting ck hoods over their heads.


    Abigail struggled a bit.


    Quinn didn''t even have the strength to fight back. The hood had a weird smell, and after a couple of breaths, she felt drowsy and passed out.


    Meanwhile, Alexander got a call from Sean.


    On the phone, Sean sounded frantic, "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy and the others haven''te out yet. We just checked and found their car in the middle of the road with the tires shed by nails. They''re missing." The area was too open, and if Sean and his team followed, they''d be spotted right away, so they had to wait outside the road.


    They waited until 3 a.m., and when Quinn still hadn''te out, they went in to check and realized something was seriously wrong.

 Chapter 1152

    Alexander shot up from the couch, eyes wide. "What did you just say?"


    Sean, looking like a deer in headlights, stuttered, "Quinn... she''s missing."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Alexander''s face darkened. He got up, walked over to the big window, and stared out at the city lights, deep in thought.


    When he got to the scene, it was just Sean, a few others, an empty car, and some nails scattered on the ground.


    Sean stood off to the side, not daring to make a peep.


    Alexander scanned the area, then stopped by the car door.


    Sean stepped up, "No cameras around here. Closest one is like, 6.2 miles away."


    Great, just great. This made things a nightmare. The only camera caught cars from all over, making it a pain to figure out who took her.


    Alexander stayed quiet.


    Sean, clueless about what was going on in Alexander''s head, spilled all the details and then just waited.


    After what felt like forever, Alexander finally said, "Get all the footage that caught Quinn today."


    With that, Sean had a mission and rushed off to get the tapes. Quinn had been all over the ce today. Alexander''s crew could handle the small stuff, but for the big areas, they needed the Dixon family''s help. Larry didn''t even blink. When Sean asked, he got his people on it right away.


    They spent the whole night glued to the surveince screens.


    Quinn slowly came to in pitch ckness; she couldn''t see squat. Her body kept jolting around.


    Her hands and feet were tied up, and something was gagging her, so she couldn''t make a sound.


    She had no clue how long she''d been out or how long they''d been moving. Her hands and feet were numb, and every little move sent sharp pains through her.


    After what felt like ages, the numbness started to fade.


    But the smell from the hood made her dizzy, and she drifted back into a foggy sleep.


    She woke up again when someone dumped a bucket of ice-cold water on her.


    The freezing shock hit her, and she struggled to open her eyes. Her vision was blurry, but she could make out a bunch of people standing around in the dim light. Quinn shook her head, and her vision slowly cleared.


    She realized the people around her were all masked, wearing hats and bulletproof vests. Even worse, they were armed to the teeth.


    Quinn''s eyes widened as she looked around. No familiar faces.


    Instinctively, she remembered what Orion had said about organ trafficking. Could they really be human traffickers?


    After a bit, a guy stepped forward and ripped the tape off her mouth.


    Quinn red at them and asked in a low voice, "Who are you?"


    No one answered. Footsteps echoed from outside, and the crowd parted to let someone through.


    Following the sound, Quinn saw a tall figure walk in through the wooden door.


    The guy was dressed in white casual clothes, totally different from the armed crew around her.


    He said, "Long time no see, Ms. Mellon."

 Chapter 1153

    Quinn''s eyes went wide as she gawked at the dude in front of her. It was Landon, the guy who''d been MIA for over two years!


    He strolled over to Quinn, and one of hisckeys pulled up a chair for him. He plopped down and gave her the once-over.


    Quinn just stared, her brain totally nk. The only thing she could think was that Landon had this whole kidnapping thing nned out ages ago. "Where am I?" she blurted out.


    "Where? Take a wild guess," Landon smirked, lifting her chin with his finger. "Chill out. Behave, and you won''t get hurt."


    Quinn''s eyes darted around.


    The whole Landon and Walter thing was superplicated. Was Landon sparing her because of Walter? Or was there something else going on?


    Her mind raced with possibilities, and she stammered, "Did you grab me to mess with Alexander?"


    Landon''s face was unreadable as he said, "Bingo."


    "What about Abigail? Where is she?" Quinn asked, her voice shaky.


    Landon let go of her chin, stood up, and walked out, telling someone to take her away without answering.


    Two guys grabbed her and dragged her outside. The heat hit her like a wall, way hotter than back home.


    She was tossed into another wooden shack and locked in.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    They untied her ropes, but aside from the door, there was no way out.


    She slumped onto a stool, her mind a mess. Was it just Landon after Alexander, or were both Landon and Walter in on it?


    The ce was a circle of wooden shacks, with Landon chilling in the middle, messing with his phone.


    After a bit, he nced at Quinn''s shack, then pocketed his phone.


    Meanwhile, after two days and nights of checking surveince, Sean and the crew finally tracked down the guys tailing Quinn. These dudes were slick, switching cars a bunch of times, which is why it took forever to ID the right one.


    Once they nailed the car, finding the bad guys was a piece of cake.


    Turned out, these kidnappers had rap sheets and had done time, but they were out of the country now.


    Sean reported, "They took Mrs. Kennedy out of the country. Tracking them might be a bit tricky." Alexander leaned back on the sofa, staring at a spot. "Not tricky. They''ll slip up."


    Sean was puzzled. "You know who it is?"


    "Is it that hard to guess?" Alexander sneered.


    Sean scratched his head, feeling dumb. This ce was a mess, and people went missing all the time.


    Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose and ordered, "Go find them."


    Sean nodded and left.


    After he was gone, Alexander called Walter.


    The call connected quickly, and Walter''s voice came through. "Well, well, why are you calling me? Miss me?"


    "Walter, you''ve done something nice again," Alexander said sarcastically.


    "I''ve done lots of good deeds. Which one?" Walter asked, ying innocent.


    Alexander hung up without another word.


    Walter stared at the phone, his eyes narrowing. It wasn''t hard to guess; Alexander wouldn''t call unless it was about Quinn. He then dialed Landon''s number.


    When the call connected, Walter spoke first, "What the hell is this about?"


    They''d been in touch for the past two years and were even partners. He hadn''t expected Landon to suddenly blow up their deal.


    "What do I mean? The timing''s perfect. Haven''t you always wanted to take him out? I''m doing you a solid. Aren''t you happy?" Landon said casually.

 Chapter 1154

    Walter smirked, "So, this is the guy you wanna off? Looks like you''re aiming high, trying to take me down too, huh?"


    "Come on, man. You really think Quinn''s that big of a deal to me?" Landon drawled, sounding bored.


    "Guess I did something good for once," Walter mocked.


    He hung up, his grin turning icy. Alexander''s earlier words hinted that he had saved Landon before and teamed up with him. Their rtionship was always a tightrope walk; one minute they were partners, the next, they were ready to rip each other apart.


    One second they''re at each other''s throats, the next, they''re shaking hands.


    Walter shot a text to Alexander: [He''s in Municity.]


    Sean was the first to freak out when he got the address. "Mr. Kennedy, you can''t go there; it''s a death trap!" Municity was a total mess, with all sorts of shady characters running the show. Landon was baiting him, hoping to take him out. Alexander stared out the window, looking all serious and stuff, not saying a word.


    Sean couldn''t hold back, "Walter''s a real snake. He''s in cahoots with Landon, trying to lure you in and take you down. You can''t fall for it."


    Staring at Alexander''s back, he kept pushing, "Look, he cares about Mrs. Kennedy too. Even if you don''t go, she''ll be fine."


    Alexander shot him a nce, "He wants me there, but this isn''t about Quinn''s safety."


    "Then what''s his game?" Sean asked, confused.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "If he wanted to pull this off, he''d have done it in Vegas. Why wait till now?"


    Sean felt like his brain was fried.


    Alexander added, "Plus, Quinn being under Landon''s thumb doesn''t help him. If he really wanted this, he wouldn''t let Landon be the one to snatch Quinn."


    That''d mean Landon could control him too. Now it''s a waiting game; whoever blinks first loses.


    Walter and Landon weren''t exactly best buds either; they were always ready to stab each other in the back. Since Landon had Quinn, he wasn''t gonna let this chance slip. Sean was still puzzled. "So what''s Walter''s angle?"


    Alexander exined, "He wants me to go save her. If I pull it off, great. If I don''t, at least Landon takes a hit, making it easier for him to rescue Quinnter." Sean asked, "So what do we do? Not go?"


    Before he could finish, Alexander was already out the door, not even listening to the rest of his plea.


    Sean gritted his teeth and followed.


    As soon as Alexander stepped out, he bumped into Larry.


    Larry offered, "Alexander, if you need backup, I got you."


    "No need." Alexander brushed past him towards the parking lot, saying, "Going to a ce like that, more people just means more problems."


    Larry, leaning on his cane, caught up and said, "But you can''t go solo. Take a few guys with you, just keep it low-key."


    Alexander paused, turned to look at him.


    Larry''s face was all concern.


    Alexander thought for a moment, then opened the car door and got in. He didn''t say yes or no.


    Sean quickly hopped in the driver''s seat, and they headed straight for the airport.

 Chapter 1155

    Later, the cabin door creaked open, and someone tossed in some grub and a person. The person stumbled and fell right into Quinn''s arms. Quinn held on tight and, in the dim light, saw it was Abigail. Quinn, super relieved, blurted out, "Abigail!"


    Abigail shook her head, and when she saw Quinn, her face lit up. She grabbed Quinn''s shoulders, checking her out, "You okay?"


    "I''m good. What about you?" Quinn asked.


    "Don''t sweat it. I''m fine too," Abigail said, pulling her down to sit. "I thought they were gonna take my kidneys, but they just locked me up for a day."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Thank God you''re okay." Quinn felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    Feeling guilty, Quinn looked at Abigail and said, "I''m sorry, Abigail."


    "Why are you saying sorry?" Abigail was starving. She grabbed the food off the ground, took a couple of bites, and handed the rest to Quinn. "You gotta eat too. Let''s chow down and talkter." Quinn held the food but wasn''t feeling it.


    Watching Abigail scarf down her meal, she couldn''t help but say, "It was Landon who nabbed us."


    Abigail froze, looking surprised, "Landon? Why does that name ring a bell?"


    After a moment, she remembered, "The new CEO of the Kennedy Group?"


    Quinn nodded, "Yep."


    Abigail had heard Oliver mention him. The beef between him and Alexander was no joke.


    So, she got why he kidnapped them, or rather, Quinn.


    She lost her appetite too, put the food down, grabbed Quinn''s hand, and said, "Then we got nothing to worry about. No one''s selling us or taking our kidneys." "But he''s definitely up to no good," Quinn said, looking worried.


    "What''s that got to do with you? That''s between Alexander and him. It''s Alexander who dragged us into this!" Abigail said.


    Quinn went quiet. What Abigail said made her even less hungry.


    Abigail sighed and muttered, "He probably wants to use you to bait Alexander, right? Are you worried about Alexander?"


    Even though Quinn wanted to argue, she couldn''t deny she was worried about Alexander. If Alexander died trying to save her, how could she live with herself? Abigail said, "Even though I can''t stand Alexander, he doesn''t deserve to die, especially not for saving us. I can''t ept that kind of favor."


    She lowered her voice, "Let''s figure out a way to escape ourselves. Don''t worry. I''ll get you out."


    Quinn was stunned and quickly grabbed Abigail''s hand, warning, "Abigail, don''t do anything crazy. There are mercenaries outside, and they have guns." Landon wanted to use her to threaten Alexander, so she might not be in mortal danger.


    But for Abigail, who knows?


    Abigail gave her a reassuring look, "Alright, chill. I won''t do anything stupid. Trust me."


    Quinn felt a bit more rxed and reminded, "But don''t take any risks. These guys are killers."


    "I know, now eat." She lifted Quinn''s hand and brought the food to her mouth. "Eat first. You''ll need the strength to think of a n."


    Quinn had no choice but to take a few bites.


    The food was meh-not great, but not terrible. It just didn''t hit like the food back home.


    Thinking of the times Walter forced her to eat, she took a few more bites. Landon wouldn''t let her die, so starving herself would only make things worse. Seeing her finish the food, Abigail smiled, satisfied.


    "That''s right, nothing''s more important than eating."

 Chapter 1156

    As night rolled in, Abigail was sneaking around the doorway, peeking out like a cat on the prowl. Quinn was sitting on the ground, eyes glued to her, nervous as hell, thinking she might just bolt. Abigail let out a big sigh, paced back, and flopped down next to Quinn. "Man, these guys are something else. They''re taking shifts guarding us. How scared are they that we''ll make a run for it?" Quinn bit her lip, anxiety written all over her face. Their chances of busting out were slim to none. If they waited any longer, Alexander would probably show up, right?


    The thought hit her like a ton of bricks.


    She didn''t even know when she started believing he''de.


    Maybe it was ''cause he trekked all the way to Vegas solo, dodging Walter''s hitmen left and right. Or maybe it was ''cause he''d jumped off cliffs with her more times than she could count, always putting his life on the line for her. So, deep down, she just knew he''d show up when things got dicey.


    Yeah, he''d hurt her, no doubt, but he''d also saved her butt more times than she could remember.


    She stared at the grimy floor, wishing he wouldn''t be so damn reckless this time.


    The past could be forgiven, but this time, what could she use to make it right?Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Abigail nced at her, probably sensing the storm brewing inside her, and gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. "Hey, stop overthinking. As long as we''re breathing, there''s always a shot at getting out."


    "Abigail," Quinn called, her eyes nk. "What if Alexander really shows up?"


    Abigail was caught off guard, not sure what to say.


    She could only offer somefort, "Why are you stressing? If it weren''t for him, we wouldn''t be in this mess. Worry about yourself, not him."


    Quinn went quiet. If they had to point fingers, it really did start with Alexander.


    Thinking like that, she felt a bit less guilty.


    Feeling restless, Abigail got up and peeked outside through the crack in the door.


    She could barely make out lights outside, with mercenaries patrolling every few steps, all on high alert.


    Not even a fly could get in or out.


    Meanwhile, Alexander had justnded at the airport. He and Sean were on the same flight, while Matthew and the others wereing in on different ones. This airport was brand new and eerily quietpared to others, with just a few people scattered around.


    As soon as they got off the ne, Sean nervously sidled up to Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, you think someone''s watching us here?"


    "Not inside, but outside, who knows." Alexander took a few steps, then suddenly veered towards the restroom.


    Sean quickly followed, genuinely on edge. They didn''t seem to have any pull in this ce.


    As soon as they got off the ne, he felt like eyes were on them, making him feel super uneasy.


    When they reached the restroom, he thought Alexander had a n. But nope, Alexander just grabbed a lighter and lit up a cigarette. Sean''s mouth twitched. "Mr. Kennedy, what''s the n now?"


    "Wait," Alexander said, short and sweet.


    "Wait for what?"


    Alexander ignored him, puffing on the cigarette like he''d been dying for it on the ne.


    But after just a couple of drags, he started coughing. Hard to tell if he was choked or if it was his health acting up.


    Sean hesitated and suggested, "Mr. Kennedy, maybe you shouldy off the smokes."


    Alexander ignored him, taking onest puff before flicking the cigarette butt into the ashtray.


    Just then, Walter called.

 Chapter 1157

    Alexander whipped out his phone and pped it to his ear to take the call.


    The fact that the call went through meant Alexander had arrived. Walter didn''t waste time with small talk and jumped right in, "Landon''s been tight with Alistair for thest two years. After Alistair and Hetastian bailed on the Vide Group, they''ve beenying low and finally skipped town to Municity, all thanks to Landon''s help."


    He added, "These two have a decent crew backing them. They''ve been setting up shop in Municity. No clue how big they''ve gotten, but they''re definitely not small fry." Alexander listened without a peep. When Walter finished, he shot back, "You''ve been in the game with him for ages. Howe you don''t know how big they''ve gotten?" "You always think the worst of me. You know what kind of deal I have with him. You think he''d spill everything to me?" Walter snapped.


    Alexander sneered, "What else can you do besides spout this crap?"


    He mocked, "Sounds like you can''t save Quinn on your own. Want me to do it? Just chill at home and get your head checked. You can''t keep having these crazy ideas." With that, Alexander didn''t give him a chance to reply and hung up.


    He leaned against the bathroom wall, fiddling with his phone, not in any rush to leave.


    Sean stood nearby, all jittery. But then he thought, ''If Alexander''s not in a hurry, why should I be? Am I in a rush to get myself killed?''Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    With that, Sean felt way more rxed and stuck by Alexander''s side, waiting.


    After a bit, Alexander picked a number and dialed it.


    With one hand in his pocket and the other holding the phone, he stared at the unfamiliar view outside the ss.


    Soon, the call connected. He asked straight up, "You know the yers in Municity? Send me the deets. Especially anyone named Alistair or Hetastian. They might''ve switched names." Sean watched Alexander, clueless about what the person on the other end was saying, but Alexander''s face got more serious by the second.


    After a moment, Alexander thought it over and said, "Alright."


    Then he hung up.


    He turned to look at Sean, who stared back with wide, innocent eyes. They just looked at each other in silence.


    "Are you hungry?" Alexander asked out of nowhere.


    Sean shook his head, confused. "Not hungry. Are you?"


    "Then why are you standing here? Waiting for food?" Alexander scoffed.


    Sean was speechless, feeling a bit hurt as he looked at Alexander. He then grabbed the bag on the floor and turned to leave.


    Alexander yanked him back by the cor, took the bag from his hand, and headed into the bathroom.


    Sean stood outside, baffled, staring at the bathroom door, finding Alexander''s behavior more and more puzzling.


    Not long after, Alexander came out of the bathroom, now rocking casual clothes: a ck and white striped shirt, white casual pants, sunsses, and a white sun hat.


    At first nce, Sean didn''t recognize him, but those broad shoulders and long legs caught his eye. A closer look at his face confirmed it was him.


    "Mr. Kennedy, why the change of clothes?" Sean asked.


    Alexander tossed the bag to him and strolled outside.


    Sean was stunned for a moment, then quickly found a simr set of travel clothes and changed into them.

 Chapter 1158

    When Sean bolted outside, he scoped out the entrance but didn''t spot Alexander anywhere. What he did see was a bunch of young folks in a tour group, with a guide up front yammering about safety and telling everyone not to wander off. "Man, these people have gutsing here for a tour," he thought. After eavesdropping for a bit, he figured they were just passing through and wanted to check out the sights.


    Sean couldn''t care less where they were headed. He was freaking out ''cause he couldn''t find Alexander, so he whipped out his phone to give him a call.


    Before he could even dial, someone yanked his cor.


    Instinctively, he looked up and saw a pair of pitch-ck sunsses. Even with the shades, he could feel Alexander''s disdain and contempt from his tight-lipped expression. Alexander let go, and Sean stood there quietly with him among the tourists.


    There were over twenty people in the group. Alexander and Sean blended in pretty well.


    The guide droned on for what felt like forever before raising a g and leading everyone to a bus outside.


    Alexander and Sean hopped on too, snagging seats in the back row. After the guide counted heads three times and still found two extras, he knew something was off.


    He took off his sunsses and scanned each row. After all, they''d been together for five or six days and were kinda familiar with each other.


    When he got to the back, his eyes locked onto Alexander and Sean. "Sir, are you sure you''re with the right group?" The guide''s tone was polite, considering the ce was chaotic, and he was worried they might be trouble. Alexander, in his ck and white striped shirt, sat there all cocky, leaning back and looking pretty intimidating.


    After the guide asked, Alexander reached into his pocket, making the guide almost bolt but his legs wouldn''t move.


    Expecting a gun, the guide was shocked when Alexander pulled out a wad of cash. He grabbed the guide''s hand and pped the money into his palm. "We''re here for a tour but don''t know the area and are kinda scared. We bumped into you guys, so can we tag along?"? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Even though he talked about being scared, his face didn''t show it, even with the sunsses on.


    The guide squeezed the money, his fear melting into a grin. He discreetly pocketed the cash and said, "But we''re only here for a day and leaving tomorrow afternoon."


    "That''s cool. We don''t wanna go anywhere else. We''ll just stick with you," Alexander said.


    The guide was stoked. "Alright, you can stay. Plenty of seats. Need us to book your hotel?"


    "That''d be awesome," Alexander said cheerfully.


    "No problem." The guide turned around discreetly and walked to the front. "Alright, folks, we''re heading to the hotel first to drop off our stuff."


    Sean let out a sigh of relief, thinking, "Yep, money talks."


    The good thing about this tour group was they didn''t book big hotels. To save cash, they picked smaller, less formal ones, and their travel agency had deals with these hotels, so no registration was needed. The bus slowly started and rolled out of the airport.


    Even though it was an airport, the surroundings were still pretty barren once the bus left. Just two asphalt roads with some greenery, but mostly yellow dirt and sparse vegetation.


    It looked like a vige, with dirt roads and a few scattered low houses besides the two asphalt roads.


    If it was like this near the airport, who knew what the rest of the ce looked like.


    Sean leaned closer to Alexander and whispered in his ear, "Mr. Kennedy, are we really gonna tour with them?"


    "Keep it down," Alexander said coldly.


    Sean pouted and shut his mouth, keeping a close eye on the surroundings.

 Chapter 1159

    Alexander was glued to his phone, scrolling through a wall of text, while more updates kept flooding in.


    The airport crew had been on stakeout for two days straight but still hadn''t spotted Alexander.


    Landon, chilling in the vige, was getting jittery. He''d called a bunch of times, but the word was still the same no sign of Alexander.


    All they had was a photo and zero direct contact with Alexander, so spotting him was like finding a needle in a haystack.


    Plus, he was in disguise, blending in with a tour group. How were they supposed to pick him out without getting up close and personal?


    Landon was pacing the yard, throwing nervous nces at the room where Quinn was locked up.


    Without knowing where Alexander was, he couldn''t rx. They''d crossed paths before, and he''d alwayse out on the losing end.


    Now, with Alexander MIA, who knew when he''d pop up and catch him off guard?


    The longer he waited, the more on edge he got.


    As night fell, he suddenly made a beeline for the cabin.


    He burst through the door, startling Quinn, who was chatting with Abigail.


    Quinn shot Landon a wary look, her fingers tightening around Abigail''s hand.


    Abigail squeezed back and turned to Landon, asking, "How long are you gonna keep us locked up?"


    Landon''s eyes flicked over their faces. He adjusted his gold-rimmed sses, the reflection hiding his thoughts.


    He walked up, grabbed Quinn''s arm, and yanked her to her feet.


    "What are you doing?" Abigail yelled, panicking.


    She jumped up, but before she could move, a gun was pressed to her forehead, freezing her in ce.


    Quinn''s eyes widened as she grabbed Landon''s arm. "No, tell me what you want. I''ll do it!"


    Abigail shouted, "Quinn, no!"


    Landon didn''t have time for Abigail. He lowered the gun and said, "Stay put. I won''t hurt her ''cause she''s useful, but you? You''re just coteral. I got plenty of ways to make you suffer, got it?" With that, he dragged Quinn out.


    Quinn stumbled after him, giving Abigail a reassuring look over her shoulder.


    Abigail frowned but didn''t follow. Not ''cause she was scared, but ''cause of what Landon had said he wouldn''t hurt Quinn.


    Quinn was shoved into a car, and a familiar ck bag was thrown over her head again.


    As the car bumped along, she lost track of time. When the hood finally came off, she saw some slightly fancier buildings.


    Inside the extended business car, it wasn''t just her and Landon; there were a few other people too.


    Landon pulled out a phone and handed it to Quinn. "Call Alexander."


    Quinn stared at the familiar phone it was hers.


    She clenched her fist, hesitating.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Landon didn''t get mad. He said calmly, "You got one minute. If you don''t call, I''ll break one of Abigail''s legs."


    He pulled out his own phone and set a timer. The weak light from the screen lit up her pale face.


    Quinn watched the numbers tick down, cold sweat forming on her forehead and palms, her heartbeat syncing with the countdown.


    Landon threatened, "When the second countdown starts, I''ll break her other leg, then her hands, eyes, teeth, nose, internal organs, and so on, until she''s dead."

 Chapter 1160

    Quinn''s eyes went wide as she nced at Landon, who was lurking in the shadows. She could barely make out the glint off his sses, but his face was a mystery.


    Before she could say a word, Landon chimed in, "If you wanna die, I ain''t stopping you. Alexander''s already here. That friend you dragged into this mess, you don''t care what happens to her, right?" His words smashed Quinn''s naive hopes to pieces. She nced at the screen; the timer had already hit 40 seconds.


    "Sometimes, you gotta be a little selfish," Landon said, almost like he was sighing. He turned slightly to look at the guy next to him.


    The guy got the hint, pulled out a phone, and was about to make a call.


    Seeing this, Quinn grabbed Landon''s sleeve and blurted out, "I''ll call. I''ll call him right now!"


    The guy stopped dialing, and everyone zeroed in on her.


    She shut her eyes, took a deep breath, then let go of Landon''s sleeve and turned on her phone.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Sweat dripped from her forehead onto the screen, making it glitch. She had to tap a few times before she could punch in Alexander''s number. When the call connected, there wasn''t even a contact name.


    Landon''s face had a weird look as he said, "You remember his number pretty well."


    Quinn paused, pretending she didn''t hear him. She stared at the number on the screen, sweat pooling on her forehead.


    All she could do now was silently pray Alexander wouldn''t pick up.


    The phone rang forever without an answer, and Quinn started to rx.


    But just as it was about to go to voicemail, someone picked up.


    "Quinn," Alexander''s voice came through.


    The phone was on speaker, and hearing his voice made Quinn''s heart sink. She let her hand drop and looked up at Landon.


    Landon''s phone screen had one message: Tell him you escaped.


    "Quinn, where are you? Why aren''t you saying anything?" Alexander asked, sounding worried.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, staying quiet for a couple of seconds before saying, "I was captured by Landon. Where are you?"


    As she spoke, someone plugged a data cable into her phone. Out of the corner of her eye, Quinn saw it was connected to aptop, and they were using her phone to track Alexander.


    "I''m in Municity. Don''t worry, I''lle get you," Alexander said, calm as ever, like they were just chatting. Quinn wanted to warn him about the tracking, but Landon''s threatening look shut her up. If she did, not only would Alexander be in danger, but Abigail too.


    "I don''t need you to rescue me. I already escaped," Quinn said.


    Alexander chuckled, a bit sarcastically, "That impressive?"


    "How else would I be calling you?" Quinn shot back.


    "Then where are you?" Alexander asked.


    "I don''t know," Quinn replied.


    There was a few seconds of silence before he said, "Then send me your location, and I''lle find you."


    Hearing this, Quinn instinctively nced at Landon. He nodded, signaling her to send the location.


    Quinn went quiet.


    Alexander said, "Even if you don''t wanna see me, now''s not the time to be stubborn. Do you know how to get back?" Quinn gripped the phone tight, her face a mix of emotions.


    Before she could say anything, Landon snatched her phone and hung up.

 Chapter 1161

    Quinn shot Landon a puzzled look.


    But Landon? He didn''t even nce her way. Instead, he turned to the dude next to him and asked, "You find him yet?"


    "Yeah, we got him. He''s here," the guy replied.


    "Called it." Landon pocketed Quinn''s phone and mused, "He knows."


    "Knows what?" the sidekick asked.


    Landon gave Quinn a loaded look. "Knows she''s with me."


    "Let''s head back. We got his location," Landon ordered.


    The driver up front heard him, spun the car around, and headed back the way they came.


    But the crew tracking Alexander kept on it. They watched the red dot on the screen, zeroing in on his spot.


    His location kept shifting, and fast.


    They had no choice but to keep tailing him. After almost 62 miles, they finally caught up to the phone''s signal on a crowded street.


    The street was a mess. Barely three feet wide, packed with people, making it a nightmare to navigate.


    "Here we are." One of them checked the tablet; they were right on top of the red dot.


    But looking around, no sign of Alexander.


    Another guy pulled out a phone and dialed Alexander''s number. The phone rang nearby, and they grabbed the man in front of them. The guy turned around, clearly a local, and red at them. "What do you want?"


    The group exchanged looks and snatched the ringing phone from the guy''s pocket. The number on the screen was theirs.


    So, the phone was Alexander''s, but the dude holding it wasn''t.


    This guy had carried the phone for nearly 62 miles, and who knows where Alexander had gone in the meantime.


    They lost Alexander''s trail again.


    When Landon got the news, he didn''t even flinch. Alexander had figured out Quinn''s call and left himself an escape route.


    Now both of them were in the dark, neither knowing the other''s location, stuck in a stalemate.


    To break it, one of them had to make a move.


    Landon looked at Quinn and suddenly lifted her face. "Looks like we need a new n."


    Quinn''s eyes flickered. "What are you gonna do?"


    "Remember Alistair?" Landon asked.


    Thinking she might not, he added, "The bearded guy from the cruise. He''s always had a thing for you."


    Quinn''s body tensed as bad memories rushed back, her face paling.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "But he only likes the silent version of you. Should I cut out your tongue or sew your mouth shut?" Landon said casually, like he was discussing dinner ns. Quinn sat on the ground, trembling. "Don''t me me. It''s Alexander who''s hiding. I gotta draw him out," Landon said.


    He leaned his chin on one hand, tapping his jaw, while his other hand gently stroked Quinn''s chin. "I didn''t want to hurt you," he said regretfully.


    Furious, Quinn pped his hand away and red at him. "Is this all you got? Using women as pawns?" she snapped.


    Landon didn''t get mad. Instead, he smirked and said, "Any pawn that works is good. Capturing you saves me trouble. Why waste effort on anything else?"

 Chapter 1162

    Quinn was totally floored by thatment.


    Landon didn''t waste a second. He called someone to drag Quinn off, making her take a bath and change clothes.


    They locked Quinn in a room that was seriously run-down. She had to use a bucket to bathe.


    Landon was still cautious about Walter, so he didn''t go for any nastier tricks. He let her handle the bathing and changing herself.


    Quinn scoped out the room. No way out. No windows, just one door. Unless she could somehow climb out through the skylight, which was a no-go.


    All she could do was stall for an hour.


    When Landon knocked on the door, she knew she couldn''t dy any longer. She sat on a chair, stripped down, and quickly washed herself with the bucket water. The clothes he gave her weren''t too revealing, just a super short dress that was way too tight.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Ten minutester, Landon didn''t even bother knocking. He just barged in.


    Quinn was so freaked out she screamed, covering her chest. Then she tried to cover her legs.


    But it was useless. The dress was so tight it felt like she was wearing nothing.


    Landon stood at the door, checking her out from head to toe.


    The red dress looked good on her, with white fur trimming the sleeves and cor. Her hair, still damp from the bath, hung messily around her face.


    The outfit showed off her curves, making her look both vulnerable and seductive a perfect mix of allure and innocence, with every part screaming temptation. Landon walked slowly towards her, and Quinn instinctively backed away.


    He stared at her, casually ying with a few strands of her wet hair. "No wonder Alexander and Walter are so into you," he said calmly, like he was different from them, his gaze totally chill. It was clear Quinn''s looks could make most guys go wild.


    His calmness made Quinn feel a bit relieved.


    Landon let go of her hair, turned, and walked out. Two more guys came in and dragged her out.


    Quinn wasn''t wearing shoes, and the stones on the ground hurt her feet.


    They shoved her into a car again, put a hood over her head, and her world went dark once more.


    Near a river basin, Sean and Alexander crouched on a hillside in the jungle, eyeing the buildings across the river.


    "Mr. Kennedy, how''d you know Alistair and his crew are here?" Sean asked, ncing at Alexander, who was scoping out the scene across the river with binocrs.


    After Sean spoke, Alexander handed the binocrs to him. "Take a look."


    Sean quickly raised the binocrs to his eyes. Through them, he saw a bigke connected to a long river at both ends. The buildings along the riverbank had a mountain behind them. To get to the other side, they had to cross a stone bridge over the river.


    After a few minutes, Sean said, "The entrance is guarded by mercenaries. The situation inside is kinda tricky, hidden by trees, but I can see a bunch of people guarding it."


    The houses over there were wooden structures, looking super fancy, with lots of winding pavilions filled with mercenaries.


    Sean said, "Just the two of us, we''d probably get shot before we even crossed the bridge."


    He put away the binocrs, looking worriedly at Alexander, afraid he might impulsively charge over.


    "They seem to have guests today," Alexander said slowly.

 Chapter 1163

    Hearing Alexander''s words, Sean grabbed the binocrs again and, sure enough, saw a bunch of cars parked under the trees on the other side.


    "We sneakin'' in again?" Sean scoped out the scene, noticing more cars rolling in, crossing the bridge like it was no big deal.


    "Man, this feels sketchy..." He turned to finish his thought but realized Alexander had already dipped.


    Sean freaked out and scrambled to catch up with Alexander.


    He only mentioned Alistair was here, not sure if Quinn was around. If they snuck in and couldn''t find Quinn but got busted instead, that''d be a total mess. Alistair and his crew had seen Alexander before!


    Sean scratched his head. He wanted to talk him out of it but had no clue how and no better n.


    The car cruised to the other side and parked under the trees.


    They yanked the hood off Quinn''s head. She brushed her messy hair out of her face and looked up, spotting another unfamiliar building.


    The ce looked pretty deserted; no other buildings in sight.


    Landon hopped out of the car, and they dragged Quinn out too.


    Standing next to her, Landon whispered, "If you don''t wanna lose your tongue, keep ying the mute."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn bit her lip. ying mute was way better than losing her tongue. She just had no idea what wasing next.


    He had someone take Quinn away while he hung back for a bit.


    Ackey stepped up and asked, "You sure Alexander''s gonna find out this way?"


    "Who knows? Either way, it doesn''t hurt us," Landon said, straightening his suit that got wrinkled in the car, and strolled towards the pavilion. He didn''t take Quinn straight to Alistair but headed to the hall first. There were guests today. Actually, guests showed up here every few days.


    Hetastian and his crew were talking business with yton Schneider. Seeing Landone in, Alistair immediately weed him warmly. "We''re all buddies here, no need for intros, right?" Alistair said.


    Landon nodded at yton across the table. They were old business partners. "Mr. Schneider, long time no see."


    yton smiled back and said, "Long time no see."


    "All done talking?" Landon asked.


    Alistairughed, "Of course, we''re done. You''rete. How''s your stuff?"


    Landon found a seat and answered, "Almost wrapped up. Didn''t you always want Alexander''s wife? I brought her for you."


    Alistair''s eyes lit up. He had just sat down but jumped up again, asking, "For real? Why didn''t you bring her over?"


    Landon said, "There are guests. Why the rush?"


    Alistair waved his hand, "What guests? yton''s our friend. Good things should be shared. Bring her up, just in time for yton to unwind." "She might not be down for it," Landon said.


    Alistair got the hint and said, "I got my ways. Just bring her up. I got something cool to show you."


    Landon raised an eyebrow.


    yton asked, intrigued, "What are you talking about?"


    Alistair grinned mysteriously, "You know Alexander, right? His wife."


    "The same Alexander from the Kennedys who caused all that drama in Amber Bay?" yton remembered.


    "Yep. He blew up my ship to save his wife back then. Otherwise, why would we be here now?" Landon sneered.

 Chapter 1164

    The more this dude talked, the more yton''s eyes lit up with interest. If they had just said she was some regr hot chick, he might''ve shrugged it off. But finding out she was Alexander''s wife? Now that was a game-changer. It wasn''t just about messing with her; it was about sticking it to Alexander. And what could be more exciting than taking a shot at someone as badass as Alexander?


    Landon chimed in, "Isn''t it a bit early for this?"


    Alistair nced outside, feeling a bit less pumped, but he couldn''t hold back. "I''ll go check it out first," he said, jumping up. "I''ll make sure she knows her ce, so she doesn''t end up hurting yton."


    Landon shook his head, still thinking about Alexander. He had already dragged Quinn to a ce like this; no way Alexander didn''t know. In his mind, Alexander wouldn''te alone. If Alexander brought a crew to find Quinn and his guys spotted them, they''d definitely give him a heads-up.


    As long as Alexander showed up, they''d make sure he never left.


    Quinn was locked in a separate room. She opened the window and saw mercenaries everywhere. She carefully closed it again. It was daytime, and even if she wanted to escape, it would have to be at night.


    Just as she closed the window, the door suddenly swung open, startling her. She turned around and saw Alistair''s hulking figure. She pressed herself against the wall, watching him warily. Alistair''s eyes lit up when he saw her, and he grinned. "Haven''t seen you in years, and you''re even prettier."


    With a creepy smile, he strode towards Quinn, who had nowhere to go. As he lunged at her, she sidestepped, trying to get away, but he grabbed her hair and yanked her back.


    He threw Quinn against the wall. The force wasn''t great, but it still made her dizzy. She propped herself against the wall, trying to shake off the dizziness, but Alistair grabbed her cheeks. "Why are you running? Scared?" he sneered.


    Quinn opened her eyes and saw Alistair''s face up close. He was burly, with rough features that made him look menacing. Anyone would be scared.


    He pinched her cheeks, making her face scrunch up. Quinn tried to push him away, but even with all her strength, she couldn''t budge him.


    "Come on, let me give you a kiss," Alistair said, grinning wickedly and puckering his lips, moving closer to Quinn. She kept dodging, but under his grip, she couldn''t escape. Seeing his face getting closer, she could even see the pores and chapped skin on his lips, making her feel nauseous. In desperation, she raised her hand and pped his face.


    Alistair easily blocked her attack with one hand. Quinn''s hand froze in mid-air, unable to move forward, leaving her feeling a bit desperate.


    "With such little strength, don''t bother resisting," Alistair said, pinching her cheeks like they were soft candy, fueling his need to dominate.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing his lecherous smile and smelling his foul breath, Quinn couldn''t hold back any longer and vomited. Because he was so close, half of the vomitnded on Alistair''s face, dripping down his chin. He looked even more disgusting now. Quinn quickly covered her mouth, not daring to vomit any more.


    Alistair was stunned for a couple of seconds before he flew into a rage and threw her to the ground.


    "Fuck!" he cursed, lifting his sleeve to wipe his face. However, the more he wiped, the more disgusting it felt. He ended up taking off his clothes and grabbing some tissues to clean himself. After wiping for what felt like forever, he finally felt a bit cleaner and turned to look at Quinn.

 Chapter 1165

    Quinn was t on the ground, eyes wide with terror as she stared at Alistair. She probably had a good idea of what wasing next.


    Alistair''s interest dropped like a rock. He spat at Quinn, took a big step forward, and grabbed her jaw again, yanking a bottle of pills from his pocket. Quinn mped her lips shut, eyes locked on the bottle, knowing whatever was inside was bad news.


    "Open your mouth!" Alistair bellowed, squeezing her jaw so hard her cheeks turned bright red.


    She tried to keep her teeth clenched and red at him, but eventually, she had to give in and open her mouth.


    Alistair dumped the bottle''s contents into her mouth.


    The bottle had some powder with a strong medicinal stink. Quinn had no clue what it was, but the smell made her want to puke.


    He emptied the whole bottle into her mouth, then pped his hand over her mouth and pinned her to the ground.


    She fought back, scratching bloody marks on his arm.


    Alistair, in his rage, didn''t even feel the pain. He covered her mouth and nose, feeling the urge to smother her.


    Seeing the tears in her eyes and her weak struggles only made him more brutal.


    Over the years, he''d killed more women than he could count. But because Quinn was special, he''d held back a bit.


    Even so, Quinn''s struggles didn''tst two minutes before she started to lose strength fromck of oxygen.


    Her hands went limp, and her vision started to blur.


    Seeing this, Alistair pulled his hand back just in time. He patted her face, made sure she was still alive, and left her alone. He stood up, dusted off his hands, and said, "I''ll deal with youter."


    With that, he walked out quickly, called two guys to guard the door, and went to take a shower.


    Hot water hit his arm, making him wince in pain. He turned to look and saw the scratches on his arm.


    He cursed under his breath.


    A few minutes after Alistair left, Quinn finally caught her breath. She curled up suddenly, clutching her cor and taking deep breaths.


    The bitter powder still lingered in her mouth. She tried to scrape out the ingested powder, but it didn''t help much.


    After puking once, she couldn''t throw up anymore and could only spit out the residue in her mouth.


    She propped herself up on the ground, shakily stood up, and pushed open the window behind her. Without caring whether it was dark or not, she climbed out. She fell to the ground with a dull thud.


    The mercenaries nearby heard the sound and looked over, spotting her immediately. Before she could even get up, two men were already in front of her. Quinn looked up at the two men, her gaze slowly shifting to the guns in their hands.


    Suddenly, she lunged forward and grabbed one of the guns.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    The man''s expression changed, and he raised his hand to shoot her, but the other man stopped him and said something Quinn couldn''t understand. Quinn''s eyes flickered, realizing her n had failed.


    She thought, ''If one of their men identally killed me, Landon wouldn''t me Abigail.''


    The two men exchanged a few words. One of them grabbed her arm and pulled her away, pointing the gun at the window, signaling for her to climb back in.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1166

    Quinn was just sitting there, glued to the sight of those guns.


    When she made a move for the gun again, the dude dodged and yanked her up by the arm, practically tossing her into the room.


    She hit the floor hard and couldn''t get back up this time.


    Lying there, her breathing got all messed up. She felt like she was burning up, her throat dry and scratchy.


    She tried to catch her breath and stand, but kept copsing.


    She remembered that drug Alistair had shoved down her throat earlier; it must be kicking in now.


    Meanwhile, Alistair finished his shower. He came out in just pants, a towel around his neck, looking all fresh.


    He was drying his hair when he noticed Landon at the door.


    Landon saw the cut on his arm and just shook his head.


    Alistair caught the look and dropped his hand. "Haven''t seen her in years, and that mute''s got even more attitude. Gonna have to set her straightter!" "Watch it. Don''t kill her, or I can''t exin it," Landon warned.


    "Exin to who? Alexander?" Alistair shot him a look, already suspecting some shady deal with Alexander.


    Landon gave him a side-eye and denied it, "Nah, not him."


    "Then it''s gotta be Walter," Alistair said, touching his arm. They were working with Walter now.


    Walter had all the client hookups, so they had to keep him happy.


    Alistair was all about the money. If you had it, he respected you. Walter could make him rich, so he respected Walter.


    But then he thought of something and asked, "Wait, what''s Walter''s deal with Quinn?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Landon said, "Don''t sweat it. Quinn''s useful to me alive. Once Alexander''s out of the picture, we can trade her for info from Walter. Good deal, right?" Alistair was a bit taken aback. Landon was this slick?


    "Can we pull it off?" Alistair asked.


    "Depends on how much she matters to Walter," Landon said coolly.


    Alistair rubbed his forehead, not quite believing Quinn was that valuable.


    "Then we got a problem," he said.


    Landon frowned. "What did you do?"


    Alistair looked sheepish, "I gave her a bottle of aphrodisiac. She won''t die, right?"


    This wasn''t the over-the-counter stuff; he got it from the ck market. Just a sniff could make someone lose it, and a tiny bit could wear out a bull.


    It worked on both guys and girls. He gave Quinn the whole bottle. What would she turn into?


    Landon''s face changed. He knew about this stuff; Alistair had used it to assault women before, and it was no joke.


    He wanted to curse Alistair out but was at a loss for words.


    Landon sighed, turned, and headed to the room where Quinn was locked up. He opened the door and saw her curled up on the floor, looking a mess. She was clutching her cor, cold sweat dripping, her eyes unfocused. She was clearly in serious pain.


    "I''ll go help her out," Alistair said, stepping forward, wondering if he alone could help her recover.


    Landon didn''t stop him, just watched Alistair go in.


    Alistair took a few steps, then turned and asked, "You wanna join?"


    "You handle it. But if she dies, you''re in deep trouble," Landon warned.


    "She won''t die. Besides me, there are plenty of guys here. If I''m not enough, we can bring in ten more. Just men, plenty to go around," Alistair said casually. He asked again, "You sure you don''t wanna go first?"


    Landon forced a smile and shut the door on him.

 Chapter 1167

    Alistair sneered and straight-up ignored Landon. He strolled over to Quinn, scooped her up off the floor, and tossed her onto the bed like she was nothing.


    Quinn had a sliver of sanity left, but it was hanging by a thread. She curled up into a ball, staring nkly at Alistair.


    Alistair grinned and pounced on her, his hands all over her.


    "Don''t worry, babe. I''ll take care of you," he said with a sleazy smile.


    Every touch made Quinn tremble, and herst bit of sanity was slipping away fast.


    She even reached out to hug Alistair, pressing her cheek against his chest.


    Alistair''s breathing got heavy. He shoved her away, grabbed her cor, and yanked, popping the buttons on her dress.


    The dress was a pain, with buttons only going down to just below the armpit. He yanked twice but couldn''t get it off, and it was too tight to pull off easily, which pissed him off. "Damn it!" he cursed, using all his strength. The sound of fabric tearing filled the room as the dress ripped apart.


    He tried to take off his own pants, but Quinn clung to him, holding him tight.


    "Get off!" Alistair pushed her away with one hand, jumped off the bed, and took off his pants.


    He climbed back onto the bed, but before he could touch her, amotion erupted outside.


    Alistair paused, not wanting to care, but the noise got louder. He gritted his teeth, shoved Quinn aside, put on his pants, and went out to check.


    "What''s going on?" Alistair asked, annoyed.


    Someone rushed over, looking panicked. "Alistair, there''s a fire! The warehouse is on fire."


    When Alistair heard the warehouse was on fire, he grabbed the person and asked, "How did the warehouse catch fire? Is it out?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The person replied, panicking, "No, it''s burning like crazy, and it started from the inside."


    Alistair cursed, let go of his subordinate, and without a second thought for Quinn, bolted towards the warehouse.


    There were nearly $500 million worth of goods in there. The money was one thing; failing to deliver the goods would be a disaster!


    The fire was raging, and as soon as Alistair stepped outside, he saw thick smoke billowing from the warehouse. His eyes widened in anger as he ran towards it with the others. Most people had gone to fight the fire, leaving few to guard the building. Those who stayed were busy with the fire, and the scene was chaotic with people running around. No one noticed two mercenaries blending in with the crowd fighting the fire, quietly breaking away and heading towards the main building.


    Quinn fell off the bed, hitting her head on the bedside table. The pain brought her a moment of rity.


    She grabbed a vase from the corner and smashed it on the ground. Picking up a shard, she shakily shed her leg, and blood began to ooze from the wound.


    The intense pain made her shake her head, clearing her mind a bit more. She looked at her disheveled state and pulled the bedsheet to wrap around herself. She then struggled to stand up and staggered towards the door.


    Grabbing the doorknob, she pulled the door open and ran out, only to bump into someone. The other person was fine, but she stumbled back a few steps and fell to the ground. Quinn''s eyes fell on the boots and camouge pants in front of her, a sense of hopelessness washing over her.


    She slowly looked up, following the legs to a tall, fully armed figure with a covered face, only the eyes visible.


    When she saw those eyes, her heart skipped a beat.


    She thought she might be overthinking it, but those eyes gave her a glimmer of hope.


    She grabbed the person''s pant leg and weakly said, "Save me, or kill me."


    Her voice was choked with sobs as she looked at the man pleadingly.

 Chapter 1168

    Alexander dropped to one knee in front of her, their eyes locking. Quinn stared back, her heart doing somersaults. After a couple of seconds, Alexander yanked down his mask.


    "It''s me," he murmured.


    Quinn''s eyes went wide, thinking she was seeing things.


    "You..." she started, but Alexander put a finger to her lips. "Shh. Let''s bounce."


    He yanked her up and they bolted.


    Quinn stumbled after him, still wondering if she was dreaming or if it was really Alexander.


    Just as they hit the door, a mercenary blocked their way. He said something in anguage Quinn didn''t get.


    Alexander didn''t waste a second. He snatched the guy''s gun and knocked him out cold.


    The dude hit the ground with a thud, eyes wide in shock.


    Alexander dragged Quinn over the body and they kept moving. Most folks were busy with the fire, but there were still guards around.


    As they ran, Sean had already cleared a path and was sprinting towards them.


    Seeing his getup, Quinn instinctively ducked behind Alexander.


    But then she heard his voice and recognized him.


    "Mr. Kennedy, we gotta move. There''s a bunch of them ahead. We''ll have to fight our way out. Landon and his crew will be on us soon," Sean said. "Let''s roll." Alexander turned to Quinn. "Stick close and don''t let go."


    Quinn nodded, her mind a mess and her leg screaming in pain. She clung to his clothes like a lifeline.


    Sean took point, hiding behind a pir. He spotted a dozen guys ahead, all with walkie-talkies.


    If they didn''t take them out fast, they''d alert the others, and they''d be toast.


    Sean turned to Alexander, and they decided to charge.


    Alexander pried Quinn''s hand off and had her hide behind a pir. He grabbed his gun and moved out with Sean.


    Quinn clung to the pir, watching them with bated breath, then nced back.


    The corridor was littered with bodies. More people hadn''t shown up yet, and smoke was billowing in the distance. She could smell it faintly. Dressed the same, Alexander and Sean approached. The guys ahead even greeted them.


    But Alexander raised his gun and fired.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Panic erupted. The others scrambled for their guns, but they were too slow. Bullets tore through them before they could react.


    One guy grabbed his walkie-talkie and started shouting. Before he could finish, a gun was at his head.


    Quinn watched the carnage, her vision blurring. She clung to the pir, barely able to stand.


    Alexander ran back, pulled her up, and said, "Let''s go."

 Chapter 1169

    Quinn had barely taken two steps when she tripped on the bedsheet, her legs buckling as she hit the floor hard. The sheet slipped off, showing her messy state and the nasty cut on her leg. Alexander''s face went pale.


    He yanked her up, flicked the sheet with his toes, wrapped it around her, and bolted out of there.


    Instead of running off the bridge, they found a car in the lot, swiped the keys from the driver, and sped off. Meanwhile, Landon and Alistair were still at the warehouse.


    The door was wide open, and thick smoke poured out, making everyone cough like crazy.


    Landon waved the smoke away, covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve, and squinted to see inside. He couldn''t tell if the fire or the smoke was worse. He frowned, feeling something was off.


    The fire started out of nowhere, and it smelled fishy. He couldn''t picture Alexander sneaking in. If Alexander wanted to set the fire, he would''ve had to get there earlier. No way Alexander knew he was bringing Quinn here, right?


    He was lost in thought when Alistair cursed loudly. He rushed over to Landon and said, "Someone snuck in and took Quinn!"


    Landon''s face darkened, and he sprinted back.


    In the corridor, he saw people lying on the ground and pieced together what had happened.


    They reached the exit quickly, where everyone was hurt. Landon''s face was grim.


    "Damn it, we''ve been yed!" Alistair cursed, his face red with rage.


    Not only were the goods destroyed, but Quinn was also rescued.


    He grabbed a gun from the ground and roared, "I''m gonna kill them!"


    Alistair snatched the gun with one hand and picked up the walkie-talkie with the other, ordering his men to follow. He jumped into a car and made a call.


    On Alexander''s side, they drove into a forest, ditched the car halfway, and started walking.


    "Sean," Alexander suddenly called out.


    Sean paused, looking back. "What''s up?"


    Alexander stopped. "Don''t go any further. Their guys are ahead."


    "What do you mean?" Sean asked, confused.


    "This whole area is their turf. Find a ce to hide and call Matthew," Alexander instructed.


    Sean was stunned. "How do you know?"


    "Call now, there won''t be any signal soon." Alexander didn''t waste time exining. He nced at Quinn in his arms, looked around, and headed southeast. The trees were thick and the terrain was tricky, perfect for hiding.


    Sean quickly followed, pulling out his phone to call Matthew.


    The terrain was soplex they had to pass through a canyon to get in. If they got caught there, they were toast and would have to wait for Matthew to pick them up. Alistair sent most of his men to hunt for Alexander and the others. He also used drones for recon and soon found the car they had ditched.


    Landon showed up, saw the car, and checked out the area.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He told Alistair, "Have people guard the exit. They haven''t escaped yet. Search this way."


    Alistair looked in the direction he pointed and asked, confused, "Their car''s here, why search over there?"

 Chapter 1170

    "Yo, would you tell folks which way you ran when you''re on the run?" Landon quipped.


    Alistair suddenly had a lightbulb moment, smacking his forehead. "Damn, I was so pissed I wasn''t thinking straight!"


    He grabbed his gun again and barked his crew, "Get everyone back and start searching southwest!"


    With the direction locked in, the drones kept up their recon.


    Seeing the drones buzzing overhead, Sean and Alexander hunkered down in the bushes, barely breathing.


    Lucky for them, their camo gear and the thick grass kept them hidden from the drones.


    But those drones kept circling, making their legs go numb from squatting. Mosquitoes were having a feast on Sean''s neck, but he was too tense to even scratch. Quinn was totally hidden in Alexander''s arms, half-covered by the grass.


    After a bit, Alexander felt something off. He looked down to see her hands wandering all over him, and she started squirming.


    He grabbed her hands and pinned them to his chest.


    Quinn''s cheek was pressed against his chest, rubbing against him. Her nose trailed up his chest, and her breath was hot on his neck, making him even more tense. Even with her hands restrained, she was using her face to find a way.


    Sean noticed too. He rolled his eyes and shot Alexander aplicated look.


    "Mr. Kennedy, the drones are gone," Sean whispered.


    Alexander nodded, picked Quinn up, and after a few steps, she wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing her face against his and moving towards his lips.


    But he had a face mask on, and Quinn couldn''t find his familiar features despite all the rubbing. At such close range, he could hear her rapid breathing and faint moans clearly.


    "What did they give Mrs. Kennedy?" Sean asked, worried.


    Any other time, Alexander would be thrilled by her moves, but right now, it could blow their cover.


    Alexander stayed quiet, turned his head to dodge her face, and strode deeper into the jungle.


    Quinn was out cold, her actions driven by pure instinct. She had no clue what she was doing, just desperately trying to release the desire in her body.


    She explored Alexander''s upper body for a while with no luck, then moved downward. Alexander, caught off guard, tripped over a vine and fell to the ground with Quinn in his arms. The sheet covering her body slipped off, and Alexander''s expression changed as he nced at her.


    "Mr. Kennedy!" Sean called out instinctively and took a big step forward, making Alexander immediately grab the sheet to cover her.


    As Alexander was about to get up, Quinn wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, pulling him back down. Sean stood there, dumbfounded, not sure if he should help or not.


    Alexander shouted, "Help me!"


    Sean hesitated for a moment, then quickly went to pry Quinn''s legs off, while Alexander freed her arms, finally getting up from the ground. But just then, the drones circled back. They looked up to see the drone''s camera pointed right at them.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The camera rotated mechanically, like a curious head. At the same time, several other drones flew over, forming a circle above them. "Shit! We''ve been spotted!" Sean eximed.


    Alexander frowned, grabbed Quinn, and bolted deeper into the jungle.

 Chapter 1171

    The drones were all over them, no way to shake ''em off.


    Landon and Alistair watched the drone footage, faces getting all serious.


    Alistair shot a look at Landon. "Didn''t you say they were headed this way?" he asked, almost like he was ming Landon for being too smart for his own good. Landon kept quiet, face dark as a storm cloud. He turned and started walking southeast; they''d been chasing in the wrong direction, miles away from Alexander now. Lucky for them, the drones had spotted the targets. Once they were found, shaking off the pursuit was gonna be a nightmare.


    "Shoot ''em down," Alexander muttered.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Sean didn''t waste a second, raising his gun and taking aim at the drones buzzing above. The drones tried to dodge, but Sean''s aim was too good.


    A few shotster, the drones were smoking wrecks on the ground.


    Landon''s face got even darker.


    Alexander only brought one guy with him?


    How the hell did they think they could waltz in here with just two people?


    He wasn''t pissed that Alexander had only brought one person, but that just two people had caused such a mess, making him look like a fool.


    With the drones down, Landon lost their exact position, only knowing the general direction. In this huge area, finding them was gonna be a pain. Plus, with the distance, by the time they caught up, Alexander could be long gone.


    Landon''s anger boiled over, eyes filled with murderous rage. If Alexander were in front of him, he''d have killed him on the spot.


    The jungle was getting darker, and it was hard to see the path as time went on.


    Bird calls filled the air. Vines were everywhere, some wrapped tight around tree trunks, with tendrils hanging down like branches.


    If it weren''t for the snakes, bugs, and rodents in the grass, the waterfall-like vines would actually be kinda pretty.


    Sean suddenly said, "Mr. Kennedy, we can''t go any further. It might be dangerous in there."


    He pushed aside the hanging vines and analyzed, "This ce looks like it hasn''t been touched in years. There could be big predators." Alexander stopped too, having faintly heard wolves howling.


    He stepped on the weeds, propping Quinn against a tree trunk.


    Sean said, "I''ll scout ahead. You and Mrs. Kennedy rest here. They shouldn''t find this spot anytime soon."


    Without the drones, Landon and his crew would get lost in here too, making it hard to track them.


    Sean finished talking and headed deeper with his gun..


    Alexander pulled out a lighter, lighting up Quinn''s flushed face.


    Her eyes were shut tight, brows furrowed, clearly in a lot of pain.


    "Quinn," Alexander called, patting her cheek.


    Quinn barely opened her eyes, looking dazed. She scratched her neck, leaving bloody marks on her skin.


    Her breathing got faster, mouth slightly open, muttering something Alexander couldn''t catch, but he saw blood at the corner of her mouth.


    Alexander''s face was a mix of emotions as he wiped the blood away. Then she grabbed his hand.


    Her eyes were half-closed, looking at him through her messy hair with a dazed look.


    She pressed her cheek against his hand, rubbing it in his palm.


    Alexander''s eyes widened; this action brought back a memory.


    Even in her delirium, she remembered this gesture, once meant to please him.


    Now, she was begging him.


    Not really him, but driven by her desire. Even if it wasn''t him in front of her, she''d do the same. Consumed by desire, she used their old intimate gesture to show it.

 Chapter 1172

    Alexander yanked his hand back and got up off the ground.


    Quinn stared at him, totally lost. The lighter''s me had died, and now they were surrounded by pitch-ck darkness. The only sound was the wind rustling through the trees.


    Quinn felt a wave of heat surge through her body, so intense she couldn''t stand it. She suddenly crumpled to the ground, blood pouring from her throat and dribbling from the corner of her mouth. The wind carried the sharp scent of blood to Alexander''s nose.


    He stood there for a moment, then crouched down again.


    He flicked the lighter back on, casting a glow over her curled-up form.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    He reached out and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.


    Quinn weakly lifted her head, trying to get up, and crawled towards him, following his hand. She crawled into Alexander''s arms, hugging his waist and nuzzling against his neck. Alexander was quiet for a moment. He raised his hand and pulled down the mask from his face. Quinn finally found her way. Her fingers traced his cheek, and she pressed her lips against his.


    Everything she did was what Alexander had taught her before; kissing was the first step.


    So even though she was feeling super ufortable, she stuck to the n. If he hadn''t taken off his mask, in her current state, she might have been tormented to death by desire without knowing what to do. Alexander slowly raised his hand, cing his palm on the back of her head, and with his other hand, he closed the lighter''s lid.


    The shadows of the trees swayed in the night breeze.


    Meanwhile, Landon was still searching everywhere. Two screw-ups had left him in a tight spot. If he didn''t find Alexander soon, he''d probably be too embarrassed to go back.


    He held a shlight, scanning the surrounding bushes. In the pitch-ck night, finding three people in such a huge forest was a nightmare.


    As he walked, he also heard the sound of wolves howling, which was way too close forfort.


    He suddenly stopped, not daring to move forward recklessly. He nced at the gun in his hand; if there were too many wolves, he might not be able to handle them.


    Alistair''s voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, "Found them yet? If not, don''t keep going. Wait until daylight. They can''t get away."


    Landon turned off the walkie-talkie, ignoring Alistair''s words.


    He found a sturdy tree and climbed up, sitting on the trunk, nning to wait there until dawn.


    But as he waited, he suddenly heard a gunshot. He quickly looked in the direction of the sound.


    In the darkness, he vaguely saw someone running. Landon''s eyes lit up, and he immediately jumped down from the tree and chased after that figure.


    But by the time he got there, the person who had been running was gone. Instead, he saw a dozen pairs of eyes.


    Landon''s expression changed dramatically. He reacted quickly, grabbing a branch above his head and flipping himself up the tree before the pack of wolves could reach him.


    Because he had a shlight, all the wolves gathered under the tree, staring at him menacingly.


    He didn''t fire his gun, fearing it would attract more wild animals. He waited in the tree for the wolves to leave on their own.


    These wolves had originally been chasing Sean. After running for a long time, Sean realized there was no noise behind him. He stopped and looked back, only to find that he had somehow shaken off the wolves. He patted himself on the back for being so awesome, but his joy was short-lived as he realized he was lost and couldn''t find his way back.


    He pped his forehead in frustration, praying silently that Alexander and Quinn were safe.

 Chapter 1173

    This night felt like it was dragging on forever, and this forest had a knack for trapping folks.


    Quinn was still out of it from whatever drug they gave her. It was almost dawn, and she was clinging to Alexander like a lifeline, not ready to let go. She was soaked in sweat, like she''d just taken a dip in ake. The morning dew made her hair all drippy.


    Alexander had been by her side all night and was dead tired. He gently pried her off and grabbed his clothes to get dressed.


    Quinn waspletely spent. Shey there, weak, with her messy hair covering her face.


    Halfway through getting dressed, she grabbed his clothes. Alexander turned, frowning.


    He pried her hand off again. He didn''t survive Landon''s murder attempts just to be taken down by Quinn''s endless need.


    If Landon found him dead like this, it''d be better to go down with Quinn. He nced at the gun beside him, thinking.


    He quickly got dressed, armed himself, and picked Quinn up from the ground.


    She couldn''t move, but her dazed eyes still locked onto him.


    Alexander thought for a moment, then brushed the wet hair from her face. When his fingers touched her cheek, she shivered in his arms. "What did they give you?" he asked.


    Quinn couldn''t answer. She just reached out and hugged his waist tightly.


    Alexander sighed, annoyed, and looked at his hand. "Would it help if I used my hand?" he asked.


    She didn''t answer.


    He didn''t care anymore and picked her up, walking further in. Finding a hiding spot here was tough.


    He didn''t know how long he walked, but he finally found a cave. He carried her inside,id a dirty sheet on the ground, and ced her down.


    Just as he was about to get up, Quinn hugged him again.


    Alexander never imagined she''d rely on him the most in a situation like this.


    Given her state, Alexander gently removed her hands and got up to leave.


    Outside the cave, there was a pit with water. He filled his water bag, washed his hands, and returned.


    He couldn''t worry about the water being clean. He held Quinn and poured water into her mouth.


    She was really thirsty, hugging the water bag and gulping it down. She drank so fast, water trickled down her mouth.


    Though it was tempting, Alexander stayed indifferent.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    After drinking enough, she choked on some water and started coughing. Alexander patted her shoulder. "Feeling better?" he asked. Quinn looked up at him nkly. After a few seconds, she slowly reached out, touched his face, pulled down his mask, and kissed him. Alexander sighed helplessly.


    He put down the water bag and pulled her into his arms. Whether it''d work or not, he had to try.


    In that small cave, they were almost cut off from the world, forgetting that many people were still out there looking for them, including a lost Sean who couldn''t find his way back. The sound of drones buzzed outside.


    Alexander nced sideways. The cave entrance was covered with vines, so they probably wouldn''t be found for a while, as long as they stayed quiet.


    So, he had to cover Quinn''s mouth.


    This time, Alistair had sent out more drones, and the sound of their wings filled the air above the entire forest.

 Chapter 1174

    "Man, this is nuts. Where the heck did they vanish to?" Alistair fumed, chucking the remote control across the room. "Over a hundred drones, and they still can''t track down three people!" Landon was off the grid, but he did pop up in some drone footage.


    Alistair grabbed the remote again and started rying danger zones to Landon so he could steer clear.


    Sean, spotting a drone, scrambled up a thick tree and stayed put, barely breathing.


    He had no clue what was up with Alexander, Quinn, or Matthew; he was totally cut off.


    Alistair and his crew werebing through the jungle. By the afternoon, one of his guys reported that a bunch of helicopters were heading towards their base from outside the canyon. Hearing this, Alistair ditched the search for Alexander and hauled most of his men back.


    As soon as they broke out of the jungle, they saw helicopters buzzing in the sky, making a beeline for their base.


    They could hear explosions in the distance, and thick smoke was billowing up from the base.


    Alistair''s eyes went wide, his legs turned to jelly, and he plopped down on the ground.


    "What the hell?" Alistair blurted out.


    Hetastian was just as stunned. "Where did those chopperse from?"


    Alexander and his crew had just shown up; no way they had the pull to get that many helicopters. And they were bombing the ce like they owned it! "Check out the markings on those birds," Hetastian suddenly said.


    Alistair squinted, rubbing his eyes, and saw a big ck skull on the wing.


    Now his legs weren''t just weak; he couldn''t even stand.


    He stammered, "How the hell is Alexander tied to the Obsidian Circle?"


    The Obsidian Circle was the top dog around here, the biggest yer. Everyone had to y by their rules.


    But they usually stayed out of these turf wars, let alone start one.


    Sending a fleet of helicopters to bomb his base was next-level crazy.


    It showed just how bold and ruthless they were. If they had you in their sights, getting out alive was a long shot.


    Alistair turned to Hetastian, panicking. "What do we do now?"


    Hetastian frowned, looking grim. He was just as clueless.


    All the mercenaries behind them lost their nerve after seeing the skull markings.


    Hetastian pulled out his phone. "Let''s check in with our other spots."


    To survive around here, you needed more than one base.


    If they only hit this ce, it meant they had a deal with Alexander but weren''t tight with him. But if other spots were hit too, it meant the Obsidian Circle was out to wipe them out, and their connection with Alexander was deep. After making a few calls and getting the lowdown, Hetastian finally exhaled.


    "The other ces are good," Hetastian reported.


    Alistair also breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God."


    Hetastian added, "But, they might just not have gotten there yet."Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing that, Alistair deted again.


    "Let''s just wait and see," he said.


    Honestly, they didn''t have the same beef with Alexander that Landon did. Losing one base was better than losing everything.


    They didn''t even dare to go over, just stood there helplessly as the helicopters bombed their base and then flew off into the distance.

 Chapter 1175

    They hung around till it got dark.


    No bad news from anywhere else. Alistair and Hetastian chewed it over and decided to pull their crew outta the canyon, ditching the whole Landon vs. Alexander drama. When they made the call, turns out their people had already bailed-and not just bailed, but took off with the Obsidian Circle.


    As soon as Obsidian Circle gave ''em the nod, those mercs bolted, scared they''d miss the boat if they dragged their feet.


    Alistair was so pissed he smashed his phone and yelled, "Those bastards!"


    "Forget it. Let''s bounce. It''s too sketchy to hang around." Hetastian hopped into the car by the curb and took off first.


    Alistair thought about giving Landon a heads-up, but then remembered how Landon had stirred the pot with Alexander, costing them big time, and figured it wasn''t worth the hassle. They didn''t need Landon''s backup like they did a couple years ago anyway.


    Meanwhile, Landon was clueless. He saw the choppers pulling out of the jungle and knew something was up, so he grabbed the walkie-talkie to get the lowdown.


    When he heard the scoop, his face turned stormy. He ditched the search for Alexander and had Alistair guide him outta the jungle with a drone.


    He''d gone in too deep, and even without any detours, it was already past midnight when he got out.


    Hunting for Alexander was pointless now. He still had a trump card-Abigail.


    Since she was still in his grip, he had to make sure she was safe first.


    Abigail might not mean squat to Alexander, but Quinn would definitely give a damn about her, which would indirectly make Alexander care too.


    After a day and two nights in the jungle, Quinn felt like she was in some weird dream, just drifting through time.


    When she opened her eyes, she found herself in Alexander''s arms. They were both still on the ground, and she couldn''t move a muscle, except for her eyes.


    She still felt like crap, but the physical pain was worse than the emotional stuff.


    Some fuzzy memories shed through her mind, and she shut her eyes weakly. She didn''t wanna think about what had happened, ''cause the shame would make her wanna die.


    The light outside was still dim. She stared at the vines at the cave entrance and soon zoned out again, or maybe passed out.


    Who knows if it was from exhaustion or hunger.


    When she woke up again, it was already bright outside, and Alexander was nowhere in sight. She was lying on the ground alone, wrapped tight in Alexander''s clothes. Already weak, the clothes felt like a ton of bricks, making it impossible to


    move.


    After lying there for what felt like forever, Alexander''s figure suddenly popped into view. Her half-closed eyes snapped open, staring at him as he came in from outside.


    Alexander walked in carrying a bloody rabbit in one hand and a bunch of some kinda fruit in the other, with a gun slung over his shoulder.


    He came over to her and met her gaze, pausing for a moment.


    Then he asked, kinda unsure, "Feelin'' any better?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together as those awful images flooded back. She lowered her eyes, not knowing how to deal with him.


    He sat down next to her, still in the same ck and white striped shirt, put down his stuff, and helped her up from the ground. "Still need my help?" he asked.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1176

    Hearing his words, Quinn just wanted to disappear into the ground. Her head was already halfway buried in her cor, looking like a turtle. After staring at her for a bit and getting no response, he grabbed the rabbit and headed outside.


    The puddle out there was kinda magical, probably an underground spring or something. Even if you emptied it, it''d fill right back up.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Alexander squatted by the puddle, dealt with the rabbit, then started a fire and began roasting it.


    As the fire crackled, smoke drifted up through the jungle. Matthew and the crew, who were out searching, spotted the smoke and sent a drone to check it out. Sure enough, they found him. "Mr. Kennedy!" Sean''s excited voice came through the drone. "So d you''re okay."


    Hearing his voice, Alexander frowned and put a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.


    Sean instinctively lowered his voice and had Matthew bring the drone down tond beside Alexander.


    He whispered, "We''re here to find you."


    "Don''te," Alexander said in a low voice.


    "What do you mean?" Sean asked.


    Alexander turned to the camera. "I said don''te. Got it?"


    "Okay, when should wee?" Sean asked again.


    "Wait for my signal." Alexander kept turning the rabbit over the fire and added, "Go find Abigail, Alistair, and the others. Let me know if you get any updates."


    "Alright. Need anything? I can bring you some supplies," Sean offered.


    If Alexander ran into any wild animals in this dangerous jungle, he might run out of bullets.


    "Bring some salt," Alexander said.


    "nning to stay here long-term?" Sean guessed.


    Alexander''s finger paused, and he resisted the urge to smash the drone, saying, "Get lost!"


    Sean, confused about what he said wrong, quickly signaled Matthew to fly the drone away.


    Alexander finished roasting the rabbit and brought it back into the cave. Quinn''s head was still buried in her clothes.


    He sat down next to her and patted her shoulder, "Quinn, get up and eat something."


    Quinn didn''t respond. Thinking she had fainted, he reached out to pull her clothes away. Quinn, who had been pretending to be unconscious, suddenly pped his hand away and pulled her cor back up,pletely hiding her head this time. Alexander stared at her with aplex expression.


    After a moment, he sighed and ced the roasted rabbit on some leaves. "I''ll leave this here. Eat when you''re ready. I''ll go check outside again."


    With that, he got up and left.


    After about ten minutes, Quinn couldn''t hear any noise from outside and slowly poked her head out.


    Confirming he was gone, she used all her strength to prop herself up. She had been surviving on water for so long that it was a miracle she hadsted this long.


    She took a bite of the rabbit, which was simply prepared and didn''t taste great.


    But she couldn''t taste much now; anything would taste good at this point.


    She had never had such an appetite before. She almost finished the entire rabbit and still felt hungry, but she was starting to feel better.


    The pain in her body became more pronounced. She lifted her clothes to check; the wound on her leg had been treated, but the most painful part wasn''t the leg wound.


    It was the bone pain, as if her bones were being torn apart.


    She originally wanted to leave, but after several failed attempts to get up, she gave up.


    Alexander had been gone for quite a while and only returned when it was almost dark, bringing back a lot of stuff.


    He returned so suddenly that Quinn didn''t even have time to react, and their eyes met.

 Chapter 1177

    Quinn froze up, couldn''t even look at him anymore.


    Alexander''s face rxed a bit when he saw she was done with the rabbit. He then got a fire going.


    It wasn''t cold here; the fire was just for some light.


    Quinn stared at the flickering mes and suddenly said, "Put out the fire."Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Her voice was raspy, almost drowned out by the crackling wood. Alexander looked at her, puzzled, "What did you say?"


    Quinn took a breath, trying to speak louder, "I said put out the fire."


    Alexander thought for a second, then got up and stomped out the fire with his foot. The cave went pitch ck.


    "Alright."


    Quinn turned her back to him again, curling up.


    Alexander walked over and sat down next to her, staring. Even though her face was buried in her clothes, she could feel his eyes on her. After a bit, he put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Quinn."


    She didn''t respond.


    "Feeling any better?" he asked, concerned.


    That question just brought back all the stuff she was trying to forget.


    She squeezed her eyes shut, fingers digging into her clothes. She regretted eating that rabbit; starving would''ve been better.


    "Are you just gonna keep ignoring me?" Alexander asked again.


    Quinn still didn''t answer.


    Her mind was a mess. What were they now?


    She felt super embarrassed thinking about how she had clung to him, how he couldn''t even push her away, and then remembering how she had vowed not to get involved with him.


    "If you don''t talk, I''ll start the fire again," Alexander threatened.


    As soon as he said that, Quinn suddenly poked her head out and looked at him.


    Their eyes met, and she saw a slight smile on his face.


    She pressed her lips together, thinking for a bit before saying, "This was just an ident. Let''s pretend it never happened."


    Alexander looked at her intently and said, "You used me and now you wanna toss me aside?"


    Her expression changed, and she couldn''t find words to argue.


    "Am I that worthless? Even if I were a gigolo, I''d get paid. You think you can just brush me off like it never happened?" Alexander continued.


    Quinn''s face got hotter, and she asked, "How much do you want?"


    "Two hundred million dors," Alexander said.


    Quinn choked on her own spit, staring at Alexander in disbelief, "What kind of gigolo is worth that much?"


    Alexander leaned in closer and whispered, "Do you really think I''m a gigolo?"


    He moved closer and closer until their faces were almost touching. He whispered, "I saved your life. Besides, don''t you think my performance is worth two hundred million dors?" His hot breath hit her face, making her expression change again. Alexander''s breath spread across her skin.


    The desire that had been fading came rushing back.


    Her face got darker, and she slowly curled up her body. Her cheeks burned red, and her breathing got faster.


    Her gaze at Alexander changed. She tried hard to suppress something, but it still showed in her eyes.


    Alexander stared at her for a moment, his expression changing slightly. He discreetly sat back down, moving a bit further away from her.


    He didn''t dare provoke her any further, as he had seen the power of that drug.


    Quinn closed her eyes, turned away with difficulty, raised her hand, and bit down hard on the back of it, using the pain to clear her mind and suppress those strange feelings.

 Chapter 1178

    For a while after, the cave was creepily quiet.


    It was already dark outside, and the cave was pitch ck. In the silence, Quinn was starting to nod off.


    Later, Alexander got up and headed out.


    The stuff Sean sent had arrived, including smokes and table salt. Since they weren''t sure what he needed, they just bought everything.


    The drop-off spot was a bit far, and it took Alexander a few minutes to get there.


    "Mr. Kennedy, everything you asked for is here. If you need anything else, just holler. Want me to bring you a nket or something?" Sean asked. Alexander grabbed the items and suddenly asked, "Did you find out what drug Alistair gave Quinn?"


    Sean replied, "Yeah, it''s a drug that cranks up sexual desire, only found on the ck market. It''s super pricey. One pill costs over $50,000, and it''s rare. Without connections, you''d have to fight to get it, and sometimes the price can shoot up to nearly $200,000." "Anything else?" Alexander asked.


    "This drug is mostly taken by men. It''s said to boost a man''s sexual performance, with effectssting up to a month. I''m not saying it causes an erection for a month, but its effects can stay in the body for a month, ready to be triggered anytime," Sean exined.


    Alexander frowned. "What kind of weird stuff is this?"


    "I don''t know either. You good?" Sean teased.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander shot him a cold look.


    Even through the camera, Sean felt a chill down his spine. "My bad. Is Mrs. Kennedy okay?"


    He added, "Some people use this to train women to satisfy men''s sexual desires and then sell them."


    He''d watched a few recorded videos, which broadened his understanding. ''Man, the world is full of weird stuff,'' he thought.


    "Is there an antidote?" Alexander asked.


    "I didn''t find that out. But since it''s hard to buy in the first ce, how could there be an antidote? Besides, the effects onlyst a month. Some people even think that''s too short," Sean remarked.


    Alexander fell silent.


    After a long pause, he finally spoke, "A month?"


    "Yeah, a month. But I don''t think it''s that long. At most, seven or eight days, and then the effects start to fade," Sean said with some disdain, thinking it wasn''t worth the price. Alexander said nothing more and took the items back.


    He didn''t go inside. Instead, he smoked outside the cave all night and only went in when it was daylight.


    Quinn was still asleep, curled up in a ball. Alexander immediately noticed the bloody bite marks on her hand.


    Maybe because Alexander had been staring at her for too long, she woke up under his gaze.


    As soon as she opened her eyes, she met his intense gaze.


    She looked away and stared at the moss on the wall, a wave of indescribable embarrassment washing over her.


    She didn''t know what Alistair had given her, but the thought of continuing in her current state filled her with despair.


    She couldn''t ept bing like this.


    Alexander took her hand, making her tremble slightly. Sensing her reaction, he softened his movements and used the water from his canteen to clean her wound. "Don''t worry. The effects of the drug won''tst long," he said.


    His words somewhat reassured Quinn, but the vagueness of "won''tst long" made her ask, "How long?"


    "About half a month," he answered.


    Half a month.


    Quinn closed her eyes weakly, suddenly feeling that time had be unbearably long.


    "Don''t bite yourself anymore. If you need anything, you cane to me, no extra charge," Alexander said.

 Chapter 1179

    Quinn jerked her hand back, eyes wide. "Back off."


    "You hungry?" Alexander asked, cool as ever.


    Quinn just curled up tighter, ignoring him.


    "Want some water?" he tried again.


    His deep voice sent shivers down her spine. She pped her hands over her ears, trying to drown him out.


    "Feelin'' any better?" Alexander kept on.


    "Looks like rain''sin''. If you can''t leave, better stock up. Anything you wanna eat?" he added.


    He just wouldn''t shut up, and it was driving her nuts. By the end, his words were just noise.


    She couldn''t take it anymore. She pushed herself up, ready to bolt.


    Her legs were jelly. She wobbled, and as soon as she tried to step, it was like her legs weren''t even there. She went down hard. Before she hit the ground, Alexander snagged her hand and yanked her back.


    She ended up crashing into his arms.


    His scent wrapped around her, and Quinn froze, not daring to move.


    His voice rumbled above her, "Where you think you''re going?"


    Quinn clutched his shirt, her knuckles white, almost ripping it.


    Alexander pried her fingers off. "This is my only shirt. Tear it, and I''ll have to wear yours."


    Quinn slowly looked up at him, her eyes red and watery, her gaze all mixed up.


    Alexander could see the battle in her eyes-reason vs. desire.


    He went quiet, just staring at her, his brows knitting before rxing.


    He reached out and touched her face.


    Next thing she knew, Quinn was climbing up his chest, putting all her weight on him, almost knocking him over.


    He caught himself on his elbows, keeping them from falling.


    Just as their lips were about to meet, a thunderp boomed outside, like it was right next to them. Quinn''s eyes flew open, and she shoved him away, rolling off and hitting the ground hard. She was wide awake now. She squeezed her eyes shut, too scared to look at Alexander. Alexander didn''t react much, just turned his head to look at her.


    He wasn''t too interested in her freak-out. After a moment, he walked out without a word. The thunder kept rolling. A few minutester, the rain came down hard, pounding outside. And Alexander never came back.


    After a long while, Quinn finally looked toward the cave entrance. It was empty.


    The rain went on for almost two hours. She couldn''t move and fell asleep to the sound of it. When she woke up, Alexander was still MIA, but there was more food next to her.


    There was fruit and some roasted meat, cut up so she couldn''t tell what it was.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    She''d thought about starving herself, but with Alexander gone all night, she ditched that n.


    The next day, she felt a bit better and could barely walk out of the cave. The forest was soaked, but no sign of Alexander. She didn''t care about that now; she just needed to find a ce to pee.


    By the fourth day, he still hadn''t shown up, and the food kept appearing while she was asleep.


    Without him around, Quinn felt way better. By the fifth day, she was almost back to normal and could move around.


    Quinn stepped out of the cave. No sunlight, the forest was dark and creepy, making it hard to find her way.


    She wandered around a bit, but the thick grass and weird bird calls freaked her out, so she didn''t go far. After a while, she went back to the cave.


    Bored, she picked through the fruit pile. It was the only thing to do.


    The sky outside darkened again, and Quinn ate so much fruit she was stuffed.


    Just as she was about to head out to pee, she heard footstepsing from outside.

 Chapter 1180

    She backed up again, eyeing the entrance like it might bite her. It had been a few days since shest saw Alexander, and she had no clue what he was up to outside. In less than two minutes, Alexander strolled in from outside.


    Even though it had been a few days and she had forgotten most of what she had done, the moment she saw him, she still wanted to find a hole to crawl into.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    But the ce was too tiny, leaving her nowhere to hide, not even a spot to rest her eyes.


    She could only sit there stiffly, forcing herself to look at him as he came in.


    Seeing her awake, Alexander stayed chill, walked in like it was no big deal, and squatted down beside her.


    He asked, "How you been feeling these past few days?"


    Quinn was caught off guard, unsure if he was messing with her, and turned to look at him.


    He looked at her calmly, like he was just asking a simple question.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, stayed quiet for a moment, and then said, "I''m fine now. Do you know how to get out of here?"


    "I''ve been looking for a way out these past few days. This ce is huge, and there are fierce beasts. You''d better not wander around. Once I find the exit, I''ll take you out," he said sincerely, his eyes dead serious, showing no signs of lying. Quinn felt a bit anxious, but there didn''t seem to be any other options at the moment.


    She looked down at the ground, not saying a word.


    Alexander handed her a roasted chicken leg. She stared at the chicken leg in his hand, a bit surprised, "Where''d you get so much meat?"


    "They''re everywhere outside," Alexander said casually.


    Quinn was puzzled again. She had been outside before, and apart from the snakes, insects, rats, and ants in the grass, she hadn''t seen other animals.


    "Just eat," Alexandermanded.


    Quinn wasn''t very hungry, having eaten fruit all day, and her stomach was quite full.


    But she still took it, thinking she might get hungry after going to the bathroomter.


    She then said to Alexander, "I wanna take a bath."


    She hadn''t bathed in days, and her body was covered in sweat. She could smell the sour odor even when sitting still. She suddenly thought, ''Is Alexander avoiding me these past few days because he couldn''t stand my smell?'' At this thought, she felt even more embarrassed.


    Alexander looked a bit troubled. "There''s no ce to bathe here."


    Quinn sighed. She couldn''t stand her own smell anymore, but then she thought of something and suddenly leaned close to Alexander, sniffing him.


    Even though he was still wearing that shirt, he didn''t have any odor, not even a hint of sweat. Instead, his clothes had a sun-dried scent.


    He had no ce to bathe, his physical activity was no less than hers, and he was outside every day. How could he be so clean?


    She frowned, feeling as if she had missed something.


    Before she could figure it out, Alexander suddenly stood up from the ground and said, "There''s a spring outside. You can use it to wash up a bit."


    Upon hearing the word "spring," Quinn couldn''t think of anything else and asked, "Where is it?"


    "Follow me," Alexander said, walking towards outside.


    Quinn quickly got up from the ground and followed him outside. Just to the left of the cave, hidden beneath some grass, was a water pit about the size of a washbasin.


    "This is it," Alexander said.


    Quinn had never seen a spring before. She squatted down and scooped out the water with her hand. Sure enough, as soon as it was emptied, water seeped back in, filling it up in no time.


    She found it fascinating and yed by the water pit for a long time.


    After she had enough, she looked up at him, "Is this where you wash?" Alexander nodded slightly.


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 Chapter 1181

    Quinn''s face went all awkward again. She mumbled, "You go in first."


    Alexander gave her azy look, as if to say, "Really? What haven''t I seen already?"


    They stood there for a sec, but then Alexander shrugged and walked into the cave.


    He came back with a bedsheet, ripped off a piece, and handed it to her like a makeshift towel.


    Quinn took it and muttered, "Thanks."


    No matter what, he did help her out. It was just the two of them, so she figured she''d try to keep things chill to avoid any drama.


    "No problem," Alexander said, heading back into the cave. After a few steps, he turned around and added, "If you need anything, just holler."


    He probably said that a million times, but this time he actually meant normal help. Still, Quinn''s mind went straight to the gutter.


    Her face went stiff, and she pretended not to hear him, focusing on washing the cloth strip.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    She didn''t rush. She waited until it got dark, then stripped down and gave herself a quick wash.


    The spring was super handy. After washing, she could just clean the pit a few times, and it was good to go.


    Afterward, she felt way better, like a weight had been lifted.


    She walked back to the cave wearing Alexander''s jacket. He''d already started a fire, and the warm light made him look softer.


    He nced up at her. The jacket was way too big, reaching her knees, making her look like a kid in their parent''s clothes.


    Quinn sat down, not too close but not too far, making things kinda awkward.


    This distance pretty much summed up their rtionship-familiar strangers.


    Neither of them said a word. The cave was dead quiet, except for some bird calls outside, reminding them they were deep in the mountains. Alexander dropped the twig he was fiddling with, got up, and sat next to her.


    Quinn scooted over politely, and the awkward vibe just grew.


    Alexander turned to look at her, her face half-hidden by wet hair.


    "Quinn," he suddenly said, breaking the silence.


    "What?" Quinn replied.


    Alexander looked like he had something to say, but after a moment, he just said, "Nothing."


    He leaned back against the stone wall and closed his eyes.


    Quinn nced at him. The firelight flickered on his face, showing a hint of tiredness.


    After a bit, she looked away, staring at the dark sky outside the cave.


    Suddenly, she felt something tighten around her waist, making her jump.


    Alexander''s breath was right behind her, making her tense up.


    The effects of the drug were still there, but not as bad as before. She could handle it for now.


    "What are you doing?" she asked, trying to stay calm.


    Alexander rested his head on her shoulder, his voice in her ear, "When we get out of here, will you still talk to me?"


    Quinn went silent at his question.


    It was a dumb question. She wasn''t really talking to him now, so why would sheter?


    "Do you still not want to see me?" he asked again.


    Quinn bit her lip. The words were right there, but she couldn''t say them, knowing they''de out wrong no matter what.

 Chapter 1182

    After a bit, she shoved Alexander away. "We''ll talk about it when we get outta here." Alexander gave her a long, hard look, stayed quiet for a sec, then finally let her go.


    The cave went dead silent again, and he didn''t say another word.


    As the night dragged on, Quinn dozed off. When she woke up, Alexander was already gone.


    She got up, wandered outside, and looked around, but he was nowhere in sight.


    This time, she tried to venture a bit farther but didn''t dare go too far. All the trees looked the same, and if she wandered too far, she''d get lost for sure.


    She thought for a moment, yanked some vines off the trees, and tied them as markers. After walking for a few more minutes, she found the vine she had tied earlier. So, she had walked in a big circle?


    Plus, she saw a bunch of markers on the surrounding trees, proving this method was a bust.


    With no other choice, she had to follow the markers back, and even then, it took her forever to return.


    She finally realized she couldn''t get outta this ce on her own.


    Meanwhile, when Alexander and Sean''s crew rolled up to one of the viges, Alistair had vanished again.


    Sean looked at the empty house and groaned, "He slipped away again. That guy''s slick."


    Nathan said, "This is his turf. He''s got a lot of pull and gets info fast. He must''ve known we wereing and bailed early."


    To their surprise, Alistair and Hetastian didn''t n to face them head-on. Every time they got wind of their approach, they bolted.


    Before, only their base got blown up, not their whole crew. No matter what, Alistair had more people than they did. Why were they hiding like this? "Why have these two suddenly turned into such chickens?" Matthew asked, puzzled.


    Everyone shook their heads and looked at Alexander, who was leaning against the car door, smoking. He seemed lost in thought and didn''t react much. Sean walked over to Alexander and said, "Mr. Kennedy, he slipped away again."


    "Keep looking," he replied tly.


    Sean nodded.


    "Still no sign of Abigail?" Alexander asked.


    Sean replied, "No, Landon moves her every few days. We don''t know where they are now. Our resources here are limited, otherwise..."


    He was about to suggest Alexander contact the Obsidian Circle for help, but before he could finish, Alexander shot him a cold look.


    He instinctively shut his mouth and awkwardly said, "We''ll keep searching."Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander flicked his cigarette butt on the ground, opened the car door, and got in. Inside was a shirt identical to the one he was wearing. He quickly changed clothes and headed towards the jungle. The jungle was a maze, and even he needed a drone to guide him.


    Without taking any detours, it would take three hours to walk back to the cave. Without the drone, he might never find it again in his lifetime.


    There was no safer ce to keep Quinn. She couldn''t escape and had no choice but to stay put.


    How he wished the cave could be a bit bigger. It couldn''t even fit a bed now.

 Chapter 1183

    Quinn was bored out of her mind, so she decided to wash the grimy bed sheet and hung it up at the cave entrance to dry, using a branch.


    That white sheet stuck out like a sore thumb; Alexander spotted it from a mile away.


    He lifted the raggedy sheet and saw Quinn messing around with some dry grass.


    "What are you up to?" he asked.


    Quinn looked up at him, then down at her hands. "Trying to make some shoes."


    But she had no clue what she was doing.


    She was still barefoot, and her feet hurt like hell when she walked outside. Sometimes she stepped on bugs, and it freaked her out.


    Alexander picked up the bundle of grass next to her. It didn''t look like shoes at all; more like a pile of kindling.


    He couldn''t help but crack up.


    Hearing himugh, Quinn tossed the grass aside. "Did you find a way out?"


    Without thinking, he said, "Nope, I''m lost."


    "If you''re lost, how''d you get back?" she asked.


    He looked at Quinn. "When you follow your heart, finding your way back is a piece of cake."


    Quinn fell silent and didn''t feel like talking to him anymore.


    He plopped down next to her and pulled out something wrapped in a banana leaf from his pocket. "Hungry? Got some grub." Quinn took it and peeked inside. It was another roasted chicken leg. She was so over eating roasted chicken legs every day.


    If it was the first time he offered her food, she might''ve hesitated. But now, after so many times, she didn''t care.


    She just took it and started munching.


    Alexander watched her eat. Her hair was tied back with a cloth strip, with some loose strands falling around her ears, giving her a messy but cute look. After finishing the chicken leg, Quinn said, "I''m sick of chicken legs."


    Alexander was a bit surprised. It was rare for her to ask for something. He said with a smile, "Alright, I''ll see if I can find something else tomorrow."


    Quinn looked him over again. "You run around outside every day. Howe you''re still so clean?"


    The past few days, he could''ve washed his clothes in puddles, but she remembered he hadn''t washed at all since yesterday.


    "I like to stay clean," he lied.


    Quinn looked at her own clothes, which were his old camo uniform. The tough fabric was already dirty from her wearing it.


    His white clothes were still spotless, which seemed fishy.


    Quinn said, "Are you saying I don''t like to stay clean?"


    "Doesn''t matter. I like you no matter what," Alexander said sweetly.


    Quinn couldn''t keep the convo going, so she got up and went outside.


    It was getting dark. She touched the bed sheet; it was still a bit damp. The night dew was heavy, so she had to bring it in, or the washing would be for nothing.


    Alexander came out to help her gather the sheet, taking it inside and propping it up with a branch.


    As he arranged the sheet, he said, "This cave is too cramped. How about we build a house next door?"


    "You''re not nning to leave?" Quinn asked, confused.


    Alexander turned to look at her. "There''s nowhere to go even if we leave. What do you think?"


    He reminded Quinn that even if she left, she had nowhere to go.


    But Abigail was still under Landon''s control; she had to leave to rescue Abigail.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Are you worried about Abigail?" Alexander asked. "Landon still needs Abigail to catch you. She''ll be fine. On the other hand, if you go out and get caught by him, I''ll have toe rescue you again."

 Chapter 1184

    Quinn was floored for a sec and had to admit, Alexander was making a lot of sense.


    Abigail was totally under Landon''s thumb, and even if she busted out, she couldn''t save her. But just hanging around this forest with him every day? No way. "She''s safe for now, so chill. I''ll figure a way out soon," Alexander said.


    Hearing that, even though she didn''t wanna get too chummy with him, Quinn couldn''t help but check out his face.


    She stared at him for a while, not sure what to say, then turned and walked out of the cave.


    The forest was getting dark, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves and grass.


    Unable to sleep and feeling cramped in the cave, she found a rtively clean spot to sit down. Alexander followed her out and used a branch to start a fire. The firelight lit up their faces.


    "Bored?" he asked.


    Quinn looked at him and shot back, "Aren''t you?"


    "Not even a little," he said, staring at her. Quinn knew what wasing next and quickly cut him off, "There''s nothing here, nothing to do. When can we get out?" "How about I show you a talent?" Alexander suddenly said.


    "What talent?" Quinn asked, confused. She knew Alexander was skilled, but talents? Nah.


    Alexander smirked, "How about a striptease? Interested?"


    Quinn went silent.


    In the firelight, her face clearly showed she was speechless.


    But then again, she didn''t think he''d actually do it.


    "Go ahead then," she said.


    "Really?" Alexander asked, looking serious.


    "You said it," she shot back.


    Then Alexander stood up and started unbuttoning his shirt.


    Quinn''s expression changed; she didn''t think he was serious.


    In a daze, she remembered that the current Alexander was not what he used to be; he could do anything shameless.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She quickly stopped him, "I don''t wanna see it!"


    "Toote. I''m already halfway," he said, undoing the second button.


    Quinn felt a bit annoyed and turned her head away from him. "I was joking. Stop it, or I won''t talk to you anymore!"


    It wasn''t that she was shy; she was afraid she''d lose control due to the effects of the drug in her body and end up doing something she''d regret.


    He said the drug''s effects wouldst half a month, and it had only been six or seven days.


    Alexander paused, his eyebrows slightly raised. Looking at her flushed cheeks, he suddenly smiled after a moment.


    "I was joking too," he said.


    Quinn was stunned for a moment and was about to get mad when he walked towards a tree.


    He raised his hand, checked out the tree for a moment, and picked a leaf.


    He asked Quinn, "Know how to y this?"


    Quinn shook her head. Seeing the leaf, she suddenly realized he was gonna y a tune with it.


    She was super surprised that Alexander could do this.


    She started imagining what kind of sound he''d make, but to her surprise, he took out a dagger, ced the leaf on the ground, and started carving on it with the tip of the knife. Quinn got even more curious.


    After about ten minutes, she couldn''t help but ask, "Is it done yet?"


    "Almost," he said without looking up, focused on his task.


    After another five minutes, he finally put down the dagger and said, "It''s done."

 Chapter 1185

    Quinn stared intently at him.


    Alexander got up, leaf in hand, and plopped down next to her.


    Quinn, still waiting for him to do something with the leaf, asked, "You ready?"


    "Ready for what?" he asked.


    Quinn''s brow furrowed. "Aren''t you gonna blow the leaf or something?"


    Alexander looked confused and asked, "When did I say I was gonna blow the leaf?"


    "So, what are you gonna do?" Quinn asked, getting impatient.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Check this out," Alexander said, holding the leaf up.


    She squinted at it under the firelight. The scratches on the leaf had tiny gaps that the firelight filled, making a picture.


    "What is this supposed to be?" she asked.


    "It''s you," Alexander said. "Pretty cool, right?"


    Quinn took the leaf and examined it again. It looked like a kid''s doodle from kindergarten-hair, a face, eyes, and a mouth, all super abstract. After a long pause, she turned to him stiffly. "This is your big talent?"


    "Doesn''t it count?" he replied.


    Quinn felt like she had wasted twenty minutes waiting for this, especially since it was supposed to be her.


    She tossed the leaf back at him. "Enjoy it yourself!"


    As she stood up, Alexander grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down.


    Quinn lost her bnce and fell back into her seat. "Let go!" she snapped.


    Alexander held her arm, a smirk on his face. "Don''t be mad. I was just messing with you."


    He pulled out another leaf and held it up. Quinn looked at it and was stunned.


    This one wasn''t a joke. It really looked like her, a profile view. The firelight made it almost like a photograph.


    She looked at Alexander, her anger fading a bit.


    "For you," he said sincerely.


    Quinn awkwardly turned away. "I don''t want it."


    "Really?" he asked.


    "Really!" she said, louder this time.


    Alexander sighed and put the leaf back in his pocket. "Guess I''ll keep it for myself then."


    Quinn quickly nced back at him.


    But Alexander seemed serious about keeping it, and Quinn felt too embarrassed to ask for it back.


    Alexander then said, "Maybe I should carve a picture of myself for you. That''d be more memorable." Quinn smirked. "No, thanks."


    "I know. When a woman says no, she means yes," Alexander said with a knowing look.


    Quinn repeated, "I really don''t want it!"


    Alexander nodded, serious. "A few days ago, when you were on top of me, you also said no."


    Quinn''s mind went nk as those embarrassing memories flooded back, making her feel super awkward.


    But she couldn''t remember doing the things Alexander mentioned.


    Though, given her blurry memories, it wasn''t impossible.


    She felt the fire burning hotter, her cheeks turning redder than the mes.


    She pushed Alexander away and bolted into the cave.


    Hearing his chuckle behind her, she ran even faster.


    She had one thought: get out of here and never see him again!


    Thanks to Alexander''s nonsense, Quinn curled up in her coat and didn''t speak to him for the rest of the day.


    The next day, Alexander went out for a bit and came back with some food.


    She was still in the same spot, wrapped in her coat from head to toe. You''d barely notice there was a person inside.


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 Chapter 1186

    Alexander let out a heavy sigh, strolled over to her, and gave her shoulder a light pat.


    "Quinn, get up and eat," he called out.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Quinn stayed put, so he gave her another shake. When she couldn''t take it anymore, she yanked her clothes down and shot him a re.


    "I''m not eating!" she yelled.


    Alexander acted like he didn''t even notice her anger and asked, "Aren''t you hungry?"


    "No," she snapped back.


    Seeing him act all chill, Quinn suddenly felt like she might''ve overreacted a bit.


    He always messed with her like this ''cause he loved seeing her get all flustered. If she didn''t make a big deal out of it, he''d probably get bored after a couple of tries. Thinking about this, she suddenly sat up from the ground. "What are we eating?"


    Her quick mood swing left Alexander a bit taken aback.


    He stared at her for a sec, trying to figure out what was up, then handed her what he was holding.


    Quinn opened it and saw some segmented pieces, thinking it was duck neck. She picked one up and sniffed, only catching the scent of meat.


    "What is this? Duck neck?" she asked.


    "Snake meat," Alexander answered coolly.


    Quinn screamed and tossed the meat away. The pieces of snake meat scattered all over the ground.


    She red at Alexander, but before she could say anything, he cut her off. "Didn''t you say you were sick of chicken legs?"


    "But you can''t just make snake meat!" she shot back.


    "Then what do you wanna eat?" he asked.


    This question stumped Quinn. She wanted porridge, but in this ce, porridge was way too fancy for them.


    She stayed quiet for a bit, then suddenly grabbed Alexander. "Take me with you when you go outter. I can''t stay here anymore."


    "It''s dangerous out there. Aren''t you scared of wild animals?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he stared at her.


    Quinn bit her lip, hesitating. She was really losing it staying here.


    "If you''re not scared, why should I be?" she said.


    Alexander thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright, let''s go now."


    Quinn had no shoes, making it tough to walk outside. Alexander tore the bedsheet in half and wrapped it around her feet, making a simple pair of socks. Quinn took a few steps. It was okay, thicker than socks but not as good as shoes, still better than being barefoot.


    Alexander grabbed his gun and led the way.


    Quinn followed closely behind him. Her clothes were too thick andrge, making it hard to walk. His steps were quick, and she stumbled behind him. "Slow down!" she demanded.


    Alexander stopped, looked back at her, who was about 13 feet behind him, and patiently waited for her to catch up.


    "Want me to carry you?" he offered.


    "No." As soon as Quinn finished speaking, she suddenly saw the grass not far away shake violently, and a gray figure shed by.


    She pointed in that direction and shouted, "There''s a rabbit!"


    Alexander turned to look and saw the shaking grass. But after she shouted, the grass quieted down, only swaying slightly.


    He took the gun off his shoulder, aimed at that spot, and softly said to Quinn, "Pick up something and throw it over there."


    Quinn nodded, bent down to pick up a stone, and threw it in the direction he was pointing.


    As soon as the stonended in the grass, a startled rabbit immediately jumped up and ran quickly through the grass.

 Chapter 1187

    Alexander had his gun aimed and ready, so the second that gray rabbit popped out, he squeezed the trigger. The gunshot rang out, sending birds in the trees scattering.


    Quinn wasn''t sure if he nailed it, so she gathered up her bulky clothes and jogged over. She pushed aside the grass and saw the rabbit on the ground, a nasty wound on its hind leg. When the rabbit saw Quinn, it freaked out, dragging its hurt leg a few steps before copsing again, totally unable to escape.


    Quinn picked up the rabbit and ran back to Alexander.


    "Let''s keep moving," she said.


    Alexander, still holding his gun, scanned the area and picked a direction to head.


    He knew this ce pretty well, and most of the dangerous critters had been cleared out. But if they wandered too far, they could still get lost.


    So he led Quinn around the area.


    Since all the trees looked the same, he led Quinn in circles a few times without her catching on. She even thought they had covered a lot of ground.


    It wasn''t until she noticed the bloodstains on the weeds that she felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    After a few seconds, it hit her that this was where they had shot the rabbit earlier!


    "Are we lost? Did we just circle back?" she asked.


    Alexander nodded seriously. "Looks like it."


    "I remember we went this way earlier. Let''s try this way," Quinn said, pointing to the forest on the right.


    "Alright."


    Alexander led the way in the direction she pointed, going a bit farther this time but still within hisfort zone.


    Suddenly, he stopped and yanked Quinn behind him.


    Quinn, caught off guard, stumbled as he pulled her.


    She looked up just in time to see a big spider, about the size of a walnut, drop down right where she had been standing.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Even scarier, there were tons of spider webs between the trees above, all filled with these spiders.


    Seeing those ck spiders, Quinn covered her mouth in fear.


    "These spiders are poisonous. Let''s move," Alexander said, pulling her in another direction, where spider webs could be seen on the trees every now and then. As they ran, a ck spider dropped down, making Quinn scream and instinctively jump onto Alexander''s back.


    Her sudden jump made Alexander stumble, almost falling.


    He steadied himself and, seeing the spider on the grass, stomped on it.


    "Alright, don''t be scared," he said gently.


    Just moments ago, Quinn had insisted she didn''t need to be carried. But now, she was clinging tightly to his neck, trembling on his back. "Hurry, let''s go!" Alexander grabbed her legs and started walking quickly. "I told you to let me carry you earlier."


    She bit her lip and said nothing. She hadn''t expected it to be this terrifying.


    After staying in the cave for so long, she almost thought the outside world was the same.


    "Loosen up a bit. You''re choking me," Alexander said.


    Quinn quickly loosened her grip a little but still held onto his neck tightly. Influenced by the spiders, she now instinctively looked up at the trees.


    What she saw scared her even more.


    The trees were crawling with all kinds of insects. The most numerous were small green things the size of wheat grains, almost every tree had them, looking like patches of moss from a distance. But up close, she realized they were moving.


    There were also various colored caterpirs, scorpions, snakes hidden in the leaves, or coiled on the branches.


    Compared to these, the insects on the ground seemed less terrifying.


    The more they walked, the more freaked out she became. "Let''s go back. No more walking," she said, her voice filled with fear.

 Chapter 1188

    Alexander stopped dead in his tracks and let out a heavy sigh, "Looks like we''re totally lost." Hearing that, Quinn felt a wave of panic wash over her, losing any sense of safety she had left.


    "It''s okay. I''m here. I won''t let anything happen to you," Alexander reassured her, trudging a bit further.


    The forest was already pretty dim, even when the sun was out. But now, it looked downright creepy. It was only afternoon, but it felt like it was closer to evening. If you weren''t careful, getting lost was a piece of cake.


    Alexander had been carrying her for what felt like forever. Quinn finally asked him to put her down, thinking this spot wasn''t as freaky as thest one.


    She was worried that if Alexander got too tired and they ran into trouble, they''d both be toast.


    He set her down. Even though she was still scared, she clung to the rabbit in her hands.


    "Feeling hungry? Let''s roast this rabbit," Alexander said, pulling out a lighter, not really asking for her input.


    Quinn looked at the poor, dying rabbit and handed it over.


    Right in front of her, he gutted the rabbit on the ground, making her stomach turn.


    She had to look away and focus on gathering some dry branches instead.


    There was no water to clean it, so the roasted rabbit was bound to taste awful. While it was cooking, the nasty smell hung around Quinn''s nose. Alexander handed her a rabbit leg and said, "Give it a try."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Quinn took it. The leg still had some blood on it, just dried from the roasting. She forced herself to take a bite, but the taste almost made her puke. She covered her mouth and struggled to swallow it. Suddenly, she missed the taste of chicken legs; they were so much better.


    Alexander nced at her. "If you can''t eat it, don''t push yourself."


    Quinn shook her head, held her breath, and quickly finished the leg in her hand.


    They were lost and had no clue if they''d find a cave. If they didn''t have foodter, they''d be starving.


    They needed to save their energy in case they had to run from danger.


    A gust of wind blew through the forest, making the leaves rustle. A few caterpirs fell, making Quinn jump and brush them off with her sleeve. Honestly, after seeing those terrifying creatures, caterpirs didn''t seem so bad anymore.


    Alexander suddenly grabbed her wrist, signaling her to stay still.


    Quinn froze, seeing the serious look on Alexander''s face, she got nervous too. "What''s up?" she whispered.


    "Don''t you feel it''s gotten quieter?" Alexander whispered back.


    Quinn listened carefully. The forest did seem a lot quieter, even the bird calls were distant. The nearby silence was kinda spooky.


    She instinctively moved closer to Alexander, keeping a close eye on their surroundings.


    Then she noticed arge patch of grass moving. Judging by the swaying grass, whatever was in there wasn''t small.


    Alexander saw it too. He already had his gun in hand.


    He took her hand and started to back away, making small movements, not wanting to spook whatever was in there.


    But it seemed like the thing wasing towards them. As it got closer, Quinn could vaguely see some brownish-yellow fur. Alexander saw it too, his expression changed slightly. He said to Quinn, "Run."

 Chapter 1189

    "What the heck is that?" Quinn asked.


    "A coyote," Alexander muttered, flipping open the mag to check. Four bullets left.


    There were three of ''em in the grass, but who knew if there were more lurking around? If he fired and drew more in, they''d be toast with just four bullets.


    While they were talking, the coyotes in the grass bolted out, making a beeline for the half-eaten rabbit on the ground.


    The three coyotes started scrapping over the rabbit, and Alexander grabbed Quinn''s arm. "Let''s bounce!"


    They scarfed down the rabbit in no time and then snapped their heads up, eyes locked on Alexander and Quinn.


    Next thing you know, one of ''em charged, the other two hot on its tail.


    Quinn nced back, eyes wide. "They''re on our tail!"


    Alexander shoved her forward and whipped out his gun, firing at the coyotes.


    With several gunshots, the coyotes yelped and hit the dirt, twitching.


    Alexander scowled, grabbing her wrist. "There might be more."


    Quinn''s face went pale. "What now?"Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    "Up the tree, quick! As high as you can go," Alexander barked.


    Coyotes could jump pretty high, like 9 feet, so the tree wasn''t exactly a safe bet. But before Quinn could move, the grass started rustling all around them. With no other option, Alexander yanked her along, running like mad.


    Two legs against four? No chance, especially not against these nimble coyotes. After a bit, Alexander let go of Quinn. "You go first!"


    "But-"


    She hesitated, and a coyote sprang from the grass, lunging at them. Alexander swung his gun like a bat, smacking the coyote mid-air. It yelped in pain. That just ticked them off more. Four or five more coyotes leapt out, teeth bared. Quinn''s eyes went wide, and sweat trickled down her back.


    Those wolves looked cute but were vicious as hell.


    Alexander stood his ground, using his gun like a club, swatting the coyotes away. But his arms got shed up, his clothes shredded, revealing bloody gashes.


    Quinn panicked, grabbing a rock and chucking it at the coyotes. No luck, she missed. She then grabbed a thick branch, swinging it wildly. But those coyotes were too quick. Alexander pulled a knife from his boot, yelling, "What are you doing? Run!"


    Quinn opened her mouth to argue, but he was already back to fighting the coyotes.


    These critters were crafty and could jump high. Alexander managed to injure two more, but that just made ''em angrier. Meanwhile, the coyotes seemed to ignore Quinn.


    Quinn didn''t bolt. She swung the branch like a maniac, and miraculously, she hit one.


    In return, she got scratched, but her thick clothes took most of the damage.


    Seeing she hadn''t run, Alexander frowned.


    Just as he was about to shout, a coyote leapt from behind Quinn, aiming for her neck.

 Chapter 1190

    Without a second thought, Alexander yanked her into his arms and chucked the dagger behind him.


    The de nailed the coyote right in the throat. It let out a pitiful yelp mid-air before crashing to the ground.


    Quinn saw the coyote at her feet, cold sweat trickling down her back, and her grip on the stick was shaky.


    Just then, another one leaped from behind. Hearing the rush of wind, Alexander swung his gun backward, smacking the coyote on the head with the butt, knocking it out cold.


    The other coyotes went for their legs. Quinn''s were half-exposed, while Alexander''s pants were thicker, so naturally, they targeted Quinn first.


    Seeing this, Alexander shoved Quinn aside, yanked the dagger from the coyote''s neck, and started taking on the rest.


    Quinn stumbled back a few steps and hit the ground.


    By now, it was dark, and the forest was a murky mess, but the coyotes had killer night vision, making it prime hunting time for them.


    Even after losing a few buddies, they didn''t back down, each one charging like it had nothing to lose.


    No one knew how long it had been when the forest finally went quiet.


    Quinn squinted, couldn''t hear the coyotes, and couldn''t see Alexander. Everything was pitch ck.


    She slowly got up, the eerie bird calls still echoing through the trees.


    "Alexander?" she called out, her voice shaky.


    "Over here," Alexander answered weakly.


    Hearing his voice, Quinn finally let out a breath and stumbled her way toward him.


    Unable to see clearly, she tripped over something and went down with a yelp.


    A pained grunt came from beneath her. Quinn reached out, felt Alexander''s chest, and quickly got up.


    She fumbled around, grabbed his arm, and pulled him up. "You okay? Are you hurt bad?"


    "Not too bad," he said.


    Quinn paused, then heard him add, "But if you squeeze any harder, I might not make it."


    Realizing her hand was sticky and slick, Quinn immediately let go of his arm.


    Alexander fished a lighter out of his pocket. With a flick, the me lit up their faces.


    Quinn saw blood on his face, his clothes in tatters, and his skin covered in nasty wounds, some with the flesh turned out, bloody and raw.


    Quinn''s face twisted with worry as she spoke, "How''d you get so messed up?"


    Alexander shifted, bending one leg, a smirk ying on his lips. "Worried I''ll kick the bucket?"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    The firelight danced on his bloodied face, and with his weak smile, he looked kinda spooky.


    Quinn had wanted to show some concern, but hisment made her switch gears. "You haven''t gotten me outta here yet. What am I supposed to do if you croak?"


    "Guess I''m a pretty handy bodyguard," he said weakly.


    Quinn didn''t get what he meant, but with him talking like that despite his injuries, she didn''t bother arguing. She looked around and saw several coyote corpses on the ground, with two still barely alive, their bellies rising and falling weakly.


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 Chapter 1191

    Quinn got up, carefully stepping over the bodies, and grabbed some branches.


    Alexander lit the fire and stashed the lighter. Quinn told him to strip so she could check his wounds.


    His arms and back were a mess, with one gnarly cut running from his shoulder to his waist, still bleeding like crazy.


    If they didn''t do something, he''d bleed out for sure.


    "How am I supposed to treat you with nothing here?" Quinn asked, all flustered.


    "Then don''t. Just let me die," Alexander said casually, propping himself up and looking at her. "You don''t want me around anyway."


    Quinn was speechless. She wanted to argue but couldn''t find the words.


    She sat down next to him. With what they had, she could only use his torn clothes to stop the bleeding and figure out the rest tomorrow. She ripped his clothes into strips and made a makeshift bandage.


    She wrapped up the deep wounds, but the shallow ones had to stay open.


    When she tied the knot, Alexander yelped. "Take it easy."


    Quinn paused, then lightened her touch, but if she didn''t tie it tight, the bleeding wouldn''t stop.


    "Deal with it," she said.


    "It really hurts," he said, looking at her all pitiful, as if he was about to die.


    "What do you want me to do?" Quinn asked, out of ideas.


    Alexander leaned in and said, "Kiss me. Maybe it''ll help."


    Quinn was stunned, then red at him and got up to leave.


    But before she could, Alexander grabbed her arm and pulled her in for a kiss.


    Quinn''s eyes went wide, her mind nk for a second.


    He kissed her lightly and then let go.


    Quinn instinctively raised her hand to p him, but Alexander clutched his arm, wincing, "It hurts. I can''t take it. I''m gonna die." Quinn''s hand froze mid-air. Seeing his expression, she couldn''t bring herself to p him.


    She knew he was partly faking it, but the pain was real.


    She sighed, lowered her hand, and threw some firewood into the fire.


    "Won''t this fire attract other wild animals?" she asked.


    Alexander paused, his expression changing.


    Quinn noticed and was taken aback. "What''s wrong?"


    Alexander was still looking at her, or more precisely, behind her.


    "Quinn, why are your words always so spot-on?" he said.


    Hearing this, Quinn turned to look. What she saw made her hair stand on end.


    Not far behind her, in the bushes, were several pairs of glowing eyes. She swallowed hard and looked at Alexander. "What are those?"Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Another pack of wolves," Alexander said.


    Quinn instantly tensed up. "What do we do?"


    Alexander grabbed the gun from the ground and pulled her up. "Climb the tree."


    In his state, he couldn''t handle even one wolf, let alone a pack.


    Climbing the tree was scary, but they had no choice. Quinn grabbed a sturdy branch and climbed up. She wasn''t great at climbing and needed Alexander to push her from below. But when Alexander looked up, his view went straight up her legs. She was only wearing a coat, no pants.


    It was dark, so he couldn''t see much.


    Quinn sat on the tree and looked down at him. "Climb up! What are you doing down there?"

 Chapter 1192

    Alexander awkwardly looked away, grabbed her hand, and scrambled up the tree.


    But they still weren''t high enough; they needed to go higher. He climbed a bit more and then reached down to pull Quinn up. They stopped about halfway up, squeezing onto a branch as thick as an arm, and peered down to check out the scene below. The wolves showed up, about ten of them, making a beeline for the dead wolves.


    They chowed down on the bodies, taking their sweet time. It took them a good half hour to finish, leaving just a pile of bones.


    Quinn clung to the tree trunk. Seeing these beasts up close made her really feel the danger of being deep in the forest.


    Running into these wild animals showed her just how brutal this ce was. She knew she couldn''t get out of here alone.


    Once the wolves were full, they sniffed around a bit but didn''t stick around long before slinking off.


    The forest went quiet again, with only the birds chirping. Except for the bloody bones on the ground, it was like the wolves had never been there.


    Out of the corner of her eye, Quinn saw green bugs on the tree trunk spreading out, crawling all over the branches.


    She tucked her hands into her sleeves and used the fabric to squash the bugs around her.


    She was scared the bugs would crawl on her, and if they were poisonous, that''d be a whole new problem. So, it was better to just deal with the grossness and crush them.


    On top of that, mosquitoes were buzzing in her ears. These mosquitoes were poisonous too, and their bites were both painful and itchy.


    Quinn couldn''t take it anymore and said to Alexander, "Can we go down?"


    Alexander kept an eye on the ground and shook his head, "Too dangerous down there. Let''s just crash in the tree for the night."


    Quinn scratched her mosquito-bitten neck and grumbled, "There are so many mosquitoes."


    "There are mosquitoes down there too," Alexander said calmly.


    Quinn couldn''t argue with that.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander reached out and held her, letting her lean against him. "You sleep first. I won''t let you fall."


    Quinn looked at his injuries and hesitated. "You sleep. I''m not tired."


    Who could sleep in a ce like this?


    Alexander didn''t even bother with pleasantries. He just leaned on Quinn''s shoulder. "Then don''t let me fall."


    Quinn rolled her eyes but didn''t respond.


    She checked out the tree. Apart from the bugs, there wasn''t much danger. In this ce, even caterpirs didn''t seem so scary-except for the colorful ones, of course.


    Quinn saw one on the tree next to Alexander. She quietly broke off a branch and used it to flick the caterpir to the ground.


    Alexander seemed to have fallen asleep on her shoulder, his warm breath constantly brushing against her neck, making her nerves tingle.


    Quinn took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to calm down. She carefully moved his head to the side.


    In this situation, feeling aroused made her despise herself.


    She pinched her thigh and endured the night in the tree.

 Chapter 1193

    At the crack of dawn in the forest, Alexander woke up. He blinked his eyes open and saw Quinn.


    She was wide awake, her eyes clear, but her cheeks were a bit flushed.


    Alexander reached out and touched her forehead. "You feelin'' hot. Got a fever or somethin''?" Quinn didn''t look at him, just swatted his hand away and looked elsewhere, mumbling, "Maybe." "Let''s get down first," Alexander said.


    He grabbed the tree trunk, made a few jumps, and finally caught a branch, then hopped down to the ground.


    Quinn wasn''t as nimble as him and had to climb down slowly. There were two branches that were far apart, and she wobbled her foot for a long time but couldn''t reach them. Alexander stood below, sneaking a peek up her clothes.


    What he couldn''t see clearlyst night, he could see clearly now.


    It was ck.


    Quinn struggled a lot; her toes finally touched the trunk. But as soon as she let go, her toes slipped, and she fell from the tree.


    Alexander, quick-eyed and deft, took a big step forward and caught her, and then they both tumbled to the ground together.


    Quinnnded on him, heard his groan, and quickly scrambled up.


    Her fall made Alexander, who was already hurt, feel even worse.


    "Sorry, did I press on your wound?" she asked nervously.


    Alexandery on the ground for a moment, then slowly sat up. "It''s okay."


    "Let''s head back to the cave," Quinn suggested.


    The light in the forest was short, only five or six hours of daylight. When it was dawn inside, it was at least nine o''clock outside, and when it was five o''clock outside, it might already be dark inside. So they had to find the cave quickly.


    Now they didn''t know where they were, and whether they could find the cave depended entirely on luck.


    He leaned on his gun and walked slowly with Quinn in the forest.


    They didn''t know how long they had walked, but they found a stream.


    Quinn was a bit delighted, she pointed at the stream, eximing, "There''s water. Let''s clean your wound first."


    Alexander grabbed her and reminded, "Be careful."


    Quinn nodded, cautiously approached the stream. The water was green, not sure if it was the reflection of the trees on both sides or the color of the water itself.


    The stream''s water wasn''t flowing, like a pool of stagnant water. There were many branches hanging in the water, whose surface was covered with many leaves and some misceneous things. She approached the stream, her foot slipped, and she quickly pulled back in fright.


    The soil on both sides was very soft, and she almost sank in.


    She returned to Alexander''s side, warily looking at the stream, "Do you think there are alligators in there?"


    "I don''t know, but there are definitely snakes," Alexander said.


    "How do you know?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander pointed with his gun and said, "See that?"


    Quinn followed the direction of his gun, looked carefully for a long time, and finally saw what he was pointing at. There was a snake, lighter in color than the branch, hanging on a branch in the water, and it was moving. Quinn instantly got scared, goosebumps all over her body.


    This ce was really full of scary and disgusting creatures.


    "How is your eyesight so good?" she couldn''t help but ask.


    She had looked for a long time and didn''t see it. The ce she had just stood might have had one too, so now she didn''t dare to get close to the water source at all.


    He moved closer to her, despite his dirty face, it didn''t affect his deep and defined features. "You are by my side. How can I protect you without staying alert?" Quinn pulled at the corner of her mouth, rendered speechless by his words.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    She pushed Alexander and demanded, "Go. Get some water."


    Alexander nced at her resentfully. "I''m injured."


    "Just go get some water. I''ll clean your wound," she said.


    Alexander chuckled and said leisurely, "You dare to use this water to clean my wound? If you don''t like me, wouldn''t it be quicker to stab me with a knife?"

 Chapter 1194

    Quinn was totally speechless after hearing what Alexander had to say.


    She gave him another once-over. Dude was seriously messed up, with cuts and bruises all over his bare chest, but he was acting like it was no big deal.


    Made it tough for Quinn to figure out if he was really in bad shape or just ying it cool.


    "So, what now?" she asked.


    Alexander let out a sigh and plopped down on the ground. "Wait to die," he said, like it was nothing.


    Quinn rolled her eyes, nced at the nearby ditch, and wondered if it was safe to drink some water since they couldn''t clean the wounds.


    But then she saw a snake swimming in the water and noped out of that idea real quick. After a moment of hesitation, she walked over and sat down next to Alexander.


    Just as she sat down, Alexander suddenly handed her a water bag.


    Quinn blinked, took it, and felt its weight. There was still half the water left inside.


    "Let me clean your wounds first," Quinn said, putting down the water bag and reaching out to untie the cloth strips on his body. But before she could touch them, he grabbed her hand. "It''s for you to drink. Don''t waste it," Alexander said.


    Quinn paused and instinctively said, "How is it a waste to use it to treat your wounds?"


    Seeing the amusement in his eyes, she regretted it. She pulled her hand back and turned her head away, ignoring him.


    Alexander said, "This little water isn''t enough. If we can''t clean all the wounds, wouldn''t it be a waste?"


    He picked up the water bag, opened it, and handed it to her again. "Drink first. I''ll think of another way."


    Quinn nced back at him, seeing the calmness on his face, unsure if it was genuine or not. She still asked, "What way are you thinking of?"


    Alexander raised his chin. "Boil the water from the river."


    "But we don''t have a pot," Quinn reminded.


    "Use banana leaves," Alexander said.


    In this forest, banana trees were everywhere.


    Quinn looked at him skeptically. "Won''t the banana leaves get burned?"


    "Go pick some. I have a way." He pointed to the left behind Quinn and said, "See, there''s one over there."


    Alexander handed her the dagger from his boot.


    Quinn hesitated for a moment. Although it seemed unreliable, there didn''t seem to be any other options. She took the dagger and walked in that direction.


    The banana tree wasn''t far, only about 150 feet away.


    But Quinn started to get nervous before she was halfway there. Being a bit farther from him gave her the creeps, like a wild animal could jump out and attack her any second. Gripping the dagger, she quickened her pace, finally running and reaching the banana tree as fast as she could.


    She hastily grabbed the leaves and cut five banana leaves with the dagger, thinking that should be enough.


    As she dragged the banana leaves back, she saw a blue snake on a tree, fighting with another snake. The two entwined bodies rolled and fell to the ground. And they were only 3 feet away from her.


    Quinn''s mind went nk for two seconds. The next second, she screamed, bypassed the two snakes, and ran back with the banana leaves as fast as she could.


    Last time she was stranded on a deserted ind, she hadn''t seen these strange creatures. But this time, in just one day, she had already encountered many animals that challenged her understanding.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    It was probably her loud scream that alerted Alexander. She had only run halfway when she collided with him.

 Chapter 1195

    "What''s up?" Alexander''s voice came from above, and Quinn''s heart, which was pounding like crazy, finally started to chill out a bit.


    She pointed over there, tears in her eyes. "Two freakin'' snakes fell from that tree, almost nailed me. They were huge, as thick as my arm." Seeing her dirty face, panicked eyes, and still clutching a banana leaf, Alexander couldn''t help butugh.


    He cleared his throat, trying to hide his grin, and put on a serious face. "You okay?"


    Quinn quickly shook her head and handed him the banana leaf. "Here, take this."


    Alexander took the leaf and used the chance to touch her face, fixing her messy hair. "Alright, it''s okay now. We''re far enough away. They ain''ting over." Still shaking, she sniffled and leaned closer to him.


    Alexander wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her back to the riverbank. Quinn, still freaked out the snakes might follow, asked to move a bit further away. Alexander nodded and walked about 100 feet before stopping.


    Quinn immediately cleared a spot on the ground. The trees weren''t as thick here, letting a lot of light through. Seeing the open space, she felt a bit more rxed.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    After she was done, she looked over at Alexander and saw him shaping two round pots out of y. He lined the pots with banana leaves and set them on branches to dry. When they were almost dry, he added anotheryer inside and then took the makeshift pots to the river to fill them with water.


    He ced the pots on two stones and lit a fire. The y cracked as it dried, but thanks to the leaves inside, the water didn''t leak.


    Quinn squatted in front of the pots, staring at the water, waiting until bubbles started forming at the bottom.


    She looked at Alexander, excited. "It actually works!"


    Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Impressed, huh?"


    Quinn''s smile faltered for a moment. She knew Alexander was impressive, but she didn''t want to boost his ego.


    She felt that if she praised him, he''d get even more cocky.


    Alexander sighed, a bit bummed, and picked up a stick to add to the fire.


    Quinn nced at him again.


    He was focused on the fire, his hair a messy mop over his forehead, and his face dirty.


    His upper body was covered in bloodstains, but despite his rough look, he didn''t seem pitiful at all. Maybe it was his calm andposed vibe, or his naturally sharp eyes, that gave him a wild edge. "The water''s boiling," Alexander said, snapping her out of her thoughts.


    Quinn quickly looked at the pot. The water was indeed boiling.


    She put out the fire and then sat down next to him, untying the cloth on his body.


    The bleeding had stopped, but the area around the wound was red and swollen, and it felt hot to the touch.


    Quinn put the cloth in the boiling water to sterilize it, using the other pot of clean water to clean his wound.


    She started with the worst wound on his back. Seeing the nasty gash, she hesitated.


    This must have been from when he pulled her earlier.


    "Hang in there," she said.


    "How can I hang in there when it hurts this bad?" he said casually. "I might not make it and die from the pain. What''ll you do alone here then?"


    Quinn''s fingers trembled, and she softened her touch. "I''ll be gentler then."


    "Good idea. A kiss might boost my adrenaline, and I might just survive," he said. Quinn was so focused on his wound that she didn''t catch his meaning right away. When she did, she grabbed the cloth and pressed it hard against his wound.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1196

    Alexander sucked in a breath, almost getting knocked t by the force behind him. He quickly steadied himself to avoid face-nting.


    He spun around to re at Quinn, looking pale as a ghost. "You trying to kill me or what?"


    "You still got the energy to whine. I think you can handle a few more cuts," Quinn shot back with a smirk.


    "But you don''t have to kill me, right? I did save you," Alexander snapped.


    "Yelling like that, you ain''t dying," Quinn said, ice-cold.


    Alexander quit messing around, realizing he was the one in pain here. Those deep cuts were no joke.


    Quinn pressed down once, then got all gentle. She cleaned the gash on his back, then moved to his arm.


    It took nearly an hour to go from the worst wound to the least bad one.


    Then she used the leftover water to wipe the blood off him.


    When she finally cleaned his face, she saw he was even paler than she thought.


    Quinn was ticked. When Alexander was really hurt, he joked around, and when he wasn''t as bad, he got all serious. She could never tell how bad it really was. She picked up the rag, which was filthy and useless now.


    She had to boil some water to disinfect it and let it dry before bandaging him up.


    "You need to disinfect this. What herbs should we use?" she asked.


    "Mugwort. It''s right behind your butt," Alexander said.


    Quinn red at him. "Couldn''t you just say it''s behind me?"


    He said with a grin, "Alright, it''s behind you."


    Quinn rolled her eyes. She turned, grabbed some mugwort leaves, washed them, crushed them, and pped them on his wound.


    After applying the herbs, his body was covered in green streaks, looking kinda funny.


    Quinn boiled the torn cloth strips and hung them to dry. There was still some sunlight, so she hoped they''d dry before night.


    After a long morning, she finally had a moment to herself, and her stomach growled.


    She pressed her stomach, looking a bit embarrassed.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Alexander stared at her and asked, "Hungry?"


    "Not really," she lied.


    Alexander looked around, dug in his pocket, and pulled out a rubber band. He picked up a stone from the ground.


    Quinn watched in shock as he stretched the rubber band, ced the stone on it, aimed, and let it fly.


    She didn''t see where it went, but she heard the stone whizz through the trees, scaring a bunch of birds, and one fell to the ground.


    Itnded in the grass, still pping its wings.


    Quinn looked at Alexander, eyes wide with surprise.


    Alexander put away the rubber band, met her gaze, and raised an eyebrow. "Why so shocked? Didn''t you see me do this when we were kids?" Quinn''s expression softened. Hearing him mention their childhood brought back a wave of nostalgia.


    It was ages ago.

 Chapter 1197

    When Alex was a kid, he had this game he loved. Every time he yed, he''d swipe the rubber band from her hair and put it back when he was done. But man, his hair-tying skills sucked back then. He''d take it off, and her hair would be all neat, but when he put it back, it was always a hot mess. Twice, it even happened on the way to school, and she gotughed at by the other kids for having messy hair in ss. While Quinn was still zoning out, Alex had already picked up the bird from the grass and gutted it right in front of her. Quinn snapped out of it and saw that the bird''s feathers were plucked clean. She couldn''t even tell what kind of bird it was. "What kind of bird is this?" she blurted out.


    "No clue, as long as it''s got meat." He quickly cleaned the bird, skewered it with a stick, and ced it over the fire to roast.


    He then pulled out a small can of salt from his pocket and sprinkled it on the bird.


    Quinn had a sh of doubt in her mind. She looked at Alex''s pocket weirdly. It was pretty big. Having a rubber band was one thing, but salt too? "What else you got in your pocket?" she asked.


    "A lot. Wanna feel around?" Alex teased.


    Quinn instinctively shut her mouth. No matter how curious she was, she was too embarrassed to dig into his pocket.


    After roasting for a bit, Alex tore open the meat to check and found it was almost done. He handed the bird to Quinn and said, "Eat."


    "What about you?" she asked.


    "If you''re full, I''m full," he said.


    Quinn frowned and was about to tell him not to be stubborn when he added, "After all, just looking at your face makes me feel satisfied and full."


    For some reason, whenever Quinn heard him talk now, she always had the urge to throw whatever she was holding at his face.


    She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, split the bird in half, and handed it to him, whether he wanted it or not. Alex said, "Looks like you still care about me."


    Quinn ignored him and continued eating the bird. The meat was super tough, not very tasty, and had a fishy smell.


    After going out, she realized that the chicken legs she used to turn her nose up at were actually the best.


    She forced herself to finish half of the bird.


    Alex hadn''t eaten his half and handed it to her. "Here."


    Quinn pushed it back, saying, "I don''t want it. I''m full."


    "Are you really full or just worried about me and want me to eat?" Alex teased.


    Quinn red at him. "Really!"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    It tasted so bad that half of it was enough to fill her up. Any more and she might throw up.


    Seeing that she wasn''t lying, Alex put a piece in his mouth and then spat it out.


    "Really bad," he remarked.


    Quinn pulled at the corners of her mouth and looked at him coldly.


    Alex ced the half bird on a leaf and stopped eating.


    "Aren''t you hungry?" Quinn asked.


    He hadn''t eaten anything either, and he had fought with those coyotes and was seriously injured. Yet, he was still picky.


    Alex stood up, grabbed the knife and half of the bird, and walked towards the river.


    She saw him tear the bird meat into small pieces and scatter them in the river, then quietly waited.


    Quinn was suspicious. The water didn''t look great. Even if there were fish in it, could they be eaten?


    Alex squatted by the water for about ten minutes without any movement. Quinn thought there probably weren''t any fish in there. Unexpectedly, the next second, he suddenly stabbed the knife into the water.


    Quinn''s eyes widened again.


    Momentster, he came back with a fish. Now, Quinn waspletely speechless.


    He cleaned the fish, skewered it on a stick, and roasted it. "Looks like the water quality here is pretty good," he sighed.


    His chill manner made Quinn feel like they were on a wilderness vacation rather than surviving in the wild. That is, if they hadn''t seen those wild beasts yesterday and the two snakes just now. "Want some?" Alex asked, handing her the fish.

 Chapter 1198

    Quinn wasn''t really feeling the whole eating thing, but the smell was just too good to pass up, so she took a bite.


    It wasn''t amazing, but hey, it beat that bird from earlier. Still, she couldn''t eat anymore.


    "Done with this," she said, shoving the fish away. The forest was getting darker, and she just wanted to get out of there, even if it meant heading back to the cave.


    She turned to Alexander and asked, "Can we still get outta here?"


    Alexander paused, looked up at Quinn, and said, "Yeah, we can."


    Quinn pressed her lips together, thinking about all the dangers. She wasn''t doubting his words because she thought they couldn''t get out, but because she was scared they might not make it. She stood up and touched the drying cloth strips, which were still kinda damp. Using them for bandages would probably just make things worse.


    "We crashing here tonight?" she asked.


    Alexander nced at the sky. "Looks like it. This spot seems pretty safe for now."


    Quinn thought about the two snakes. Safe? Really?


    "There''s gotta be a ton of snakes here, right?" she asked.


    Tigers and wolves couldn''t climb trees, but snakes could. And nighttime snakes? Way scarier than wolves.


    "Snakes? Most of ''em won''t mess with us. Don''t worry. I got this," Alexander said.


    For him, snakes were a piece of cakepared to wolves.


    Quinn gave a half-hearted smile and didn''t say anything else. It was getting dark, and who knew what kind of trouble they''d run into if they kept moving.


    She noticed a bunch of grass around, which probably meant there were some edible wild veggies. She was so over meat.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "Look over there. Those wild veggies should be good to eat, right?" Quinn said, pointing to the dense patch near the river.


    Alexander nodded. "Yeah, they should be."


    Quinn got up and headed to the river to pick the wild veggies. There were some bugs in the grass, but after all the craziness of the past two days, bugs were no big deal. She brushed the bugs away and kept picking. In no time, she had a big bundle.


    She then washed them in the river, hoping no creepy creatures would pop out this time.


    She brought the cleaned veggies back andid them out on banana leaves. This was dinner.


    The sky was getting darker, and soon it was pitch ck.


    Quinn put away the almost-dry cloth strips and bandaged Alexander up, using some mugwort juice first.


    The mugwort also kept mosquitoes away, so she put some on herself too.


    As it got dark, she sat next to Alexander, tossing the wild veggies into a pot to cook. Using these makeshift pots felt like ying a childhood game, kinda fun in a way. She cooked the wild veggies, sprinkled some salt, and tasted them. To her surprise, they were pretty good.


    "Try this. It''s not bad," Quinn said, giving him a big portion in a mud bowl with leaves underneath to keep it clean.


    Alexander took the bowl and couldn''t help but look at her a few more times.


    Quinn was totally into her cooking. After a day of running around, her hair was a mess, looking kinda funny.


    Noticing his gaze, Quinn nced back at him, asking, "What are you staring at?"


    "You. You''re beautiful," he said.


    Quinn was taken aback. She knew what she looked like without a mirror, so she didn''t really buy it.


    But she couldn''t think of anything to say back.

 Chapter 1199

    Quinn looked away and scooped up thest of the wild veggies from the pot, munching quietly.


    Her vibe had totally changed, but only ''cause it was just the two of them out here. The forest was huge, like cut off from the world, making her ditch all her old habits. No outside noise, no one judging; whatever they did, no one would know.


    But once they left, who knew what would happen.


    Alexander looked away too and grabbed some wild veggies, chewing on them.


    In the quiet, Quinn suddenly heard a buzzing and looked up instinctively.


    It was far off, not like bees or mosquitoes, more like a drone.


    "What''s that noise?" Quinn asked, all excited.


    Alexander nced at the sky. It was super dark, and he couldn''t see a thing.


    He shrugged. "Maybe it''s a drone from Landon."


    Quinn freaked out, remembering the meds Alistair gave her, and got all anxious. "Quick, put out the fire. If they see us, we''re screwed!" "Okay," Quinn said with a nod.


    Alexander grabbed the pot and doused the fire, plunging them into darkness.


    Quinn huddled close to Alexander, eyeing the sky warily.


    Luckily, the sound stayed distant, not getting any closer. After about ten minutes, it faded away.


    They waited another ten minutes, making sure the drone was gone before Quinn let out a long breath.


    "Finally gone," she said.


    Alexander stayed quiet.


    She fumbled around, grabbing branches to get the fire going again. Without it, she felt like something might crawl on her any second. Quinn got busy, and soon the fire was back.


    She snuggled up to Alexander again and asked, "Alright, you wanna sleep for a while?"


    Alexander shook his head. "You sleep. You didn''t sleep at allst night, right?"


    Quinn hadn''t slept a winkst night, and she was on edge all day. It wasn''t until Alexander mentioned it that she felt any tiredness. But after he spoke, her eyelids got heavy.


    Alexander pulled her into his arms, saying softly, "Sleep tight. I''ll keep watch and make sure nothing happens."


    Quinn hesitated, not wanting to sleep in his arms, but she was too scared to lie on the ground, worried about snakes dropping from the trees. After a bit of hesitation, she gave up, leaned into his arms, and closed her eyes.


    She was really tired and soon fell into a deep sleep.


    Alexander looked down at her and brushed the hair from her face.


    Actually, the drone hadn''t left but had stopped on a tree.


    Their images were being sent through the drone''s camera to aptop.


    "Are they getting along now?" Matthew asked.


    Sean frowned, shaking his head. "How would I know? Mr. Kennedy hasn''t given us any signal. We better not do anything stupid."


    Matthew said, "I''m just worried he ns to stay in the forest forever."


    Sean paused, looking at Matthew in surprise. "Now that you mention it, it''s not impossible."


    "What do we do then?" Matthew asked.


    Sean looked back at the yard. They were at an old base of Alistair''s, which was also a vige with only five or six houses, the rest being their people. Those few houses were all old folks and posed no threat, but they couldn''t stay here forever.


    Apart from them, there were also people sent by the Dixon family, about thirty in total, all hanging out here for now.


    "Just wait. What else can we do? Unless you wanna go in and find him?" Sean said.


    Matthew shrank back. "Forget it then."


    As they were talking, a car horn suddenly red outside. They grabbed their guns and walked out cautiously.


    Their people wouldn''t be honking outside in the middle of the night, so it had to be outsiders.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1200

    Sean and Matthew bolted outside. It was a Jeep with local tes, and a crowd had already gathered around it.


    When the car door swung open and the guy inside stepped out, the Dixon family recognized him and immediately lowered their weapons. "What the hell are you doing here?" Sean asked, eyeing him suspiciously.


    The neer was none other than Walter. He had swapped his usual attire for a ck suit and tied up his hair, but that trademark smirk was still there. He strolled toward Sean, his gaze drifting past him and into the house.


    "Where''s Alexander?" he asked.


    "None of your damn business," Sean snapped.


    Walter waltzed into the house like he owned the ce. Just as Sean was about to stop him, Walter suddenly said, "I know where Alistair is."


    Sean was momentarily stunned, and by that time, Walter had already made his way inside.


    He went straight to theptop, opened it, and the screen lit up.


    Sean was shocked and immediately rushed over to close theptop. "Why do you start messing with things as soon as you get here!" he roared. Walter didn''t respond directly. Instead, he muttered to himself, "No wonder I couldn''t reach him."


    Sean frowned.


    Walter nced at him. "Without Alexander, you can''t even find Alistair. Sean, you''re really useless."


    His tone was calm, but his words cut deep. Sean had noeback and asked, "What exactly do you want?"


    Walter smirked. "I''m here to help you find him, of course."


    Sean rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. There''s no way you''re that kind-hearted."


    He didn''t buy Walter''s act for a second. In Vegas, Walter had almost killed Alexander multiple times, and now he was pretending to help them.


    If he really wanted to help, he wouldn''t have shown up only after Alistair had escaped and gone into hiding.


    Walter raised an eyebrow. "If that''s what you think, I have nothing to say."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    The Dixon family members outside all knew him, and Sean wasn''t confident he could drive him away. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Are you really here to find Alistair?"


    Walter casually plopped down in a chair. "Of course."


    "Then where is he now?" Sean asked.


    Walter dodged the question and said, "I''m a bit thirsty."


    Sean ground his teeth, grabbed a bottle of water from the table, and mmed it in front of him.


    Walter nced at it but didn''t take it. He rubbed his temples and said, "This room is nice. It''s toote today. Let me crash here, and we''ll talk tomorrow. You all can leave now." Sean was about to hit him, but Matthew held him back.


    Matthew grabbed theptop and pulled Sean out. "We''lle back to see you tomorrow."


    After leaving, Matthew closed the door and pulled Sean onto the road outside. "Chill out. Let''s see what he wants to do." "He''s so devious. What could he possibly do? As long as he doesn''t harm us, that''s good enough," Sean said, annoyed. "Didn''t he say he wanted to help find Alistair?" Matthew reminded.


    "You believe him? He''s in cahoots with Alistair. How could he possibly help us find him!" Sean didn''t trust Walter at all. "Well, you never know," Matthew shot back.


    They muttered and debated for a long time but couldn''te to a conclusion, so they decided to drop it.


    After all, Walter didn''t seem to have brought many people, just Colin.


    They looked over at Colin, who was also staring at them. Their eyes met, and neither side looked friendly.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1201

    The next morning, Quinn woke up with a start when a drop of dew sshed on her face. She shot up, touched her face, and sighed in relief when she realized it was just dew. This forest had her on edge, always feeling like bugs were crawling all over her.


    She looked around and noticed Alexander was nowhere to be seen. She was lying on a pile of grass.


    After a moment of confusion, she started looking for him.


    A few minutester, she spotted himing from a distance, and she felt relieved again.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Alexander was lugging some banana leaves, fruits, and a rabbit.


    He walked into the clearing, dropped his haul, and said, "You up?"


    Quinn nodded and nced at the stuff on the ground. "Aren''t we leaving today?"


    Alexander replied, "I just scouted the way and found the direction of the cave. Let''s eat first before we head out."


    Hearing he found the cave, Quinn felt a bit more at ease. Being in the cave was better than being out in the wild; at least it was safer there.


    Alexander roasted the rabbit. A rabbit washed with water tasted way better than a bloody one. They had cooked a lot of wild veggies yesterday, but they weren''t filling at all. He handed Quinn a rabbit leg, which was enough to fill her up.


    After a quick cleanup, they packed the leftover meat and headed back.


    As they trekked through the forest, they ran into a bunch of unfamiliar creatures, and even with Alexander by her side, Quinn was jumpy.


    They had walked quite a distance without realizing it. When the forest darkened, Quinn finally saw the familiar cave, which felt like home. She finally rxed.


    She plopped down on the ground, exhausted. After two days away, the cave was still the same as before.


    It was getting dark outside again. Alexander lit a fire inside the cave. Quinn looked at the sky outside, unsure of how long they had been stuck in this forest. She also wondered how Abigail was doing.


    Then she couldn''t help but ask Alexander, "Can we really get out of here?"


    Alexander paused in adding firewood, turned to look at Quinn, and said, "After we get out, will you still talk to me?"


    Quinn said helplessly, "Why are you asking this again?"


    "Then let me ask another question. After we get out, can I see you again?" he asked.


    Quinn fell silent.


    Although it made her seem ungrateful, she couldn''t bring herself to agree.


    "Then we won''t get out," Alexander said.


    Quinn was stunned. "What do you mean?"


    Alexander threw down the firewood andy down on the ground casually, resting his head on his arms as if giving up. "Since you don''t n to see me after we get out, why should I risk my life to scout the way out?" He added, "You''ve seen how dangerous it is out there. Why should I do something so thankless?"


    Quinn fell silent again. She had indeed seen how dangerous it was; his injuries were still not healed.


    She bit her lip, thought for a moment, but still didn''t know what to say.


    Because she was also very conflicted.


    After a tiring day, she leaned against the wall, feeling drowsy.


    After nightfall, she was suddenly awakened by a bout of coughing. Quinn opened her eyes and saw Alexander sitting by the fire, adding wood while coughing with his head down.


    She suddenly became alert and sat up straight. "What''s wrong with you?"


    "Just a bit cold," he said casually, adding a lot of branches to the fire. The zing fire lit up the cave, and even from a distance, Quinn could feel the heat. Yet he said he was cold, which was clearly not normal. She quickly got up, came to his side, and reached out to touch his forehead.


    "Do you have a fever?" she asked, all worried.

 Chapter 1202

    By the flickering firelight, Quinn finally noticed how pale Alexander looked-way paler than he had been earlier.


    Alexander grabbed her hand and pulled it away from his forehead. "I''m good. Just gotta sweat it out."


    His voice was weak, and even his coughs sounded feeble.


    Quinn squatted down to check his wound.


    In this weather, it probably wasn''t a cold; more likely, his wound was infected and causing a fever. If that was the case, they were in deep trouble.


    She untied the cloth strips on his body. The wound on his arm looked the same, but there was a swollen area on his back, the deepest part of the wound, showing signs of pus. "Your wound''s infected," Quinn said, worried, ncing at him. "What do we do? Got any disinfectant in your pocket?"


    Alexander shook his head, a bit amused. "Nope, you really think I carry everything in my pockets, huh?"


    "So, what now?" Quinn asked.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "I won''t die," he said, looking at her again. "Are you worried about me, or worried you won''t get out?"


    Quinn opened her mouth, ready to say thetter, but when she saw the serious look in his deep eyes, she held back.


    Unlike his usual teasing, this time he was dead serious.


    So she swallowed her words.


    Alexander stared at her for a long time, and when he didn''t get an answer, he looked away and tossed some firewood into the fire.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t die that easily. Even if I do, I''ll make sure you get out first," he said calmly.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered. She lowered her head and was silent for a moment before suddenly getting up and heading out.


    Before she could leave, Alexander grabbed her wrist. "Where you going?"


    "I''m going to get some water to boil. You got salt, right? We can use saltwater to clean your wound." She added, "I''ll be right outside, not going far." It waste, and she didn''t dare go far.


    Alexander let go of her.


    Quinn went outside, dug some soil near the spring, and made a makeshift pot. There were a few banana leaves in the cave, almost dry but still usable. After cleaning them, she lined the pot with the leaves, filled it with spring water, and brought it back to boil over the fire.


    She tore a piece of the bedsheet, washed it in the water, and then poured the remaining half bottle of salt into the boiling water.


    "You used it all up. What are we gonna eat?" Alexander asked.


    "Who cares about eating when your life''s on the line?" Quinn soaked the cloth in the water for two minutes, then took it out to clean his wound. He seemed really weak now, sitting quietly without his usual teasing.


    Quinn cleaned his wound over and over until the water waspletely cool, then she put down the cloth.


    She asked Alexander, "Feeling any better?"


    Alexander smirked. "It''s not that quick."


    Quinn pressed her lips together and draped the remaining piece of the bedsheet over him. "Then rest for a while. I''ll tend the fire."


    Alexander leaned against the cave wall, watching her with lowered eyes.


    "And you say you don''t care about me," he said.


    Quinn threw more wood into the fire, not wanting to talk to him, silently tending the fire.


    Soon, the firewood was almost gone. She nced back at Alexander, who had closed his eyes, his forehead covered in sweat.


    Was it because of the fever or the heat from the fire?


    But sweating should make him feel better, right?


    Quinn gritted her teeth, got up, and went outside. It was pitch dark, and she couldn''t see anything. She started to get nervous as soon as she stepped out. But the fire was almost out. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, grabbed a match, and ran out of the cave.

 Chapter 1203

    After a short walk, the fire in her hand fizzled out, leaving just some glowing embers. It was still tough to see, but hey, better than pitch ck.


    She crouched down, using the faint light to scrounge up some dry branches. While gathering firewood, she identally brushed against a few bugs, which totally freaked her out. She patted her chest, taking deep breaths. Even though she was scared, she kept searching for firewood under the trees. There wasn''t much else around, but there were plenty of dry branches. She quickly bundled them up and hurried back. Once inside the cave, she felt a bit more at ease.


    She let out a long breath, dropped the firewood on the ground, and noticed a few centipedes and some other creepy crawlies in the pile. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed a stone and smashed the centipedes that crawled out, then tossed the other bugs straight into the fire. While burning them, she kept ncing over, worried her noise would wake Alexander.


    But honestly, she wasn''t being quiet, and Alexander didn''t wake up.


    Usually, he''d wake up at the slightest noise, but now he was out cold.


    Quinn hesitated for a sec, then carefully walked over to him, squatting down and reaching out a finger to check his breath. He was still alive.


    She let out a sigh of relief, but before she could pull her hand back, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.


    Looking up, she saw Alexander still had his eyes closed, just holding her hand.


    A force pulled her wrist, and she fell into his arms, where he held her tight.


    "Cold, let me hold you for a while," he croaked.


    Quinn stayed still, pressing against his chest and listening to his steady heartbeat.


    The fire beside them crackled, and she could smell the bugs burning.


    The fire was about to die out again, so Quinn had to break free and toss in more firewood.


    She nced back at Alexander, his brows furrowed, and his forehead still sweaty.


    Quinn walked back, reached out to touch his forehead, and found it still burning hot.


    But he said he was cold.


    She gritted her teeth and took off her clothes to cover him. She still had a dress underneath, though it was pretty torn up.


    Since there was no one else around, she took off one sleeve and tied the torn dress into a few knots, barely covering her chest.


    The firewood she had collected burned out, and it started to get light outside, making it barely possible to see.


    Quinn grabbed a dagger and headed out again.


    Finding food was a no-go; she was on the hunt for herbs. Besides mugwort, she didn''t recognize much else. She pulled up a lot of mugwort and found a cluster of peri on her way back. Quinn was kinda excited; peri seemed useful and maybe better than mugwort.


    She dropped the mugwort and ran over, cutting a big bunch of peri with her dagger. She even thought about taking the whole cluster back.


    But as she pulled aside the vines, a ck-and-white snake coiled in the grass, making her face go pale. She dropped the vines and stumbled back.


    She tripped over something and fell to the ground.


    She watched the snake slither out of the grass, her limbs weak. The peri she had picked fell, and she didn''t dare move, instinctively gripping the dagger.


    Quinn was ready for a life-and-death showdown with the snake, but to her surprise, the snake ignored her and slithered away.


    She let out a sigh of relief, trembling as she got up from the ground. She then picked up the fallen peri and, not daring to take more, hurried back with what she had.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

 Chapter 1204

    When Quinn got back, Alexander was already up, sitting by the fire and staring hard at the cave entrance. "Where''d you go?" he asked.


    Quinn nced at the peri in her arms and plopped down in front of him. "Feelin'' any better?"


    "Still kickin''," he said, his eyes roaming over her bare shoulders, checking her out from top to bottom.


    Quinn caught his look and grabbed a coat from him to cover up, blocking his view.


    Alexander chuckled. "You think I can do anything to you in this state?"


    Quinn paused for a sec, ignored hisment, and started crushing the peri to p it on his wound.


    He was still a bit feverish, and after she applied the stuff, sweat beaded on his forehead.


    Quinn said, "You need to rest up. We''ll talk when you''re better."


    Alexander suddenly hugged her. "You goin'' out to hunt to feed me?"


    Quinn was a bit taken aback. She could barely hunt; she was more likely to end up as some wild animal''s dinner. "I''ll figure something out. Just let go of me first," she said.


    "I''m cold," Alexander said, tightening his grip.


    Quinn tried to take off the coat she was wearing, but he stopped her. "Don''t take it off, or I''ll get turned on."


    "Things are so messed up right now, and you can still get turned on?" Quinn said, feeling a bit speechless.


    "If you keep your clothes on, I won''t get turned on," Alexander remarked.


    In the end, Quinn didn''t take it off. She was afraid that before Alexander did anything, she wouldn''t be able to handle it herself, especially since the medicine''s effects hadn''t worn off yet. After a while, she pushed Alexander away, stood up, and said, "I''ll go collect some firewood. Rest up."


    She walked out of the cave and started gathering firewood nearby to avoid running out like the previous night. She piled several stacks at the cave entrance.


    Meanwhile, Walter had been in the vige for two whole days without making any moves.


    Sean had gone out and returned to find him still sitting at the entrance, sipping tea like he had all the time in the world. Sean couldn''t help but step forward and ask, "Didn''t you say you were gonna find Alistair? Why are you still sittin'' here?"


    Walter nced at him and smiled faintly. "What''s the rush? Alexander ain''ting out anytime soon. Why are you all so antsy?"


    Sean sneered. Of course, he was anxious. He wanted to find Alistair ASAP, partly to stop him from escaping and partly ''cause he feared Alexander might not wannae out after staying in the forest too long. "It''s none of your business. If you''re not gonna find him, then don''t stay here," Sean said irritably.


    "In that case, I won''t stay here," Walter said slowly.


    Then he patted the wrinkles on his pants, stood up leisurely, walked past Sean, and got into his car without looking back.


    Sean stared nkly at the car. Did he really leave?


    The others exchanged puzzled looks, not quite getting what Walter was up to.


    After a moment, Sean realized what was happening and quickly ran to his car. "Follow him."


    The car drove on the bumpy road, followed by several other cars. Walter turned his head slightly and looked through the rearview mirror.


    He chuckled.


    Sean kept following him, from the dirt road to the paved road, and then along the paved road for a long time.


    As they approached the bustling area, Sean got a message on his phone.


    He opened it and saw it was from an unknown number: [You bringing so many people ''cause you''re afraid Alistair won''t notice you?]


    Sean was stunned and instinctively looked at the car in front of him.


    He had been bringing a lot of people these days, but they never managed to catch Alistair, partly because of this reason. However, if he didn''t bring enough people, he was worried they wouldn''t be able to handle Alistair and his crew.


    So it was a bit of a dilemma. Bringing people could easily alert Alistair, but not bringing enough people could mean they couldn''t win a fight.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    He thought for a while and finally decided to send everyone back. But before he could give the order, another message from Walter arrived.


    Walter: [Have them split up and act separately. Don''t stay together.]

 Chapter 1205

    Sean was floored and immediately dialed the number.


    When the call connected, he snapped, "What the hell, man? Get outta the car and say it to my face. Why you sending messages outta nowhere?" Walter''s voice came through, "How did Alexander end up dragging you out?"


    "What do you mean?" Sean asked.


    "I mean, you''re an idiot. Can''t even get that? Seriously, you''re dumb," Walter sneered.


    "You..."


    Before Sean could finish, Walter cut him off, "You guys are hanging out in Alistair''s turf. Didn''t you check for any cameras around?"


    That shut Sean up real quick.


    Sean suddenly got why Alistair always managed to slip away. Dude must''ve known their every move!


    This time, Sean didn''t argue but asked for advice, swallowing his pride. "What if I split them up, and when they find Alistair, they can''t take him down?" Walter hung up on him, clearly done with the convo.


    Sean cursed at his phone but still had everyone split up.


    This ce was divided into territories, with different crews running different areas. The town they hit up wasn''t Alistair''s turf anymore.


    Alistair had already bounced to someone else''s turf for protection. Alexander had given Sean a detailed dossier on the major yers in Municity. Sean didn''t know where Alexander got it from, but it was super handy. The crew in this area was called the D.E Group. Their boss started with tel scams butter blew up his operations. He teamed up with another big shot and got into the live streaming game. But their streams were far from PG; they were all about porn.


    A lot of the female streamers were either tricked or bought, then trained and forced to perform.


    Some streams looked legit but were actually selling the streamers. Rich viewers could buy the ones they liked.


    These girls rarely made it out alive. After being used for a while, they were further exploited, with their organs sold off.


    Of course, that was just one of their gigs. They had other shady businesses too. ording to the dossier, none of these crews were good people. Good people couldn''t survive here.


    To be honest, Sean was kinda freaked out, especially since there were only three of them, plus Walter and Colin, making five in total.


    They didn''t just want women; they wanted men too.


    Matthew looked at the small town ahead and nervously said, "Do we really trust him? What if he sells us out?"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Sean scratched his head and said in frustration, "How would I know? Should we just bail?"


    "I think we should," Matthew said.


    After a long back-and-forth, they couldn''t decide. They couldn''t reach Alexander either, so they were stuck. "Why don''t we ask Kyle?" Sean suddenly suggested.


    "Yeah, good call," Matthew agreed.


    Nathan slowed down the car and pulled out his phone to call Kyle, who was far away in Amber Bay.


    Kyle picked up, listened to their story, and thought they were idiots too.


    "How could you trust him?" Kyle scolded.


    Sean blushed and defended himself, "Then what should we do?"


    Kyle instructed, "Didn''t Alexander take a bunch of Dixon family guys with him? Have them tail Walter. To be safe, you guys stay put. Let them report back. Walter wouldn''t dare sell them out unless he wants beef with the Dixon family."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1206

    Sean''s eyes lit up, and he was all in on the idea. He pulled the car over and called up a few Dixon family members to tail Walter. He and Matthew then did a U-turn and headed back.


    Matthew said, "Man, we''vee a long way. Wonder how Alexander and Quinn are holding up."


    Earlier, they were near the forest, but now they were so far out that if anything went down, it''d take a while to get back.


    "We''ll find out soon," Sean said, whipping out hisptop and firing up the drone''s feed. But the footage was all fuzzy, couldn''t see squat. "What''s the deal?" Sean muttered, tapping theptop, but it stayed the same. Was the drone busted?


    "Can you still control it?" Matthew asked.


    Sean checked the controls. He could still steer it, and the GPS was spot on, but the camera was toast.


    "How do we fly it blind?" Sean asked.


    "Send another one in. This one''s toast," Matthew suggested.


    No other choice. Sean spun the car around andunched another drone into the forest.


    By now, it was pitch ck, but the night-vision cam showed the forest clear as day.


    Sean didn''t dare get too close to the cave, so he hovered at a distance. The feed showed a tiger heading for the cave.


    "Is that a tiger?" Matthew blurted, eyes wide.


    Sean zoomed in, and sure enough, it was a full-grown tiger.


    Matthew freaked out. "Oh crap, that''s a big tiger, and Alexander''s out of bullets, right? Plus, he''s hurt. What do we do? We gotta get there, now!" Sean''s face was all serious. They couldn''t mess around anymore; they had to make sure Alexander was safe.


    "Let''s roll!" Sean ordered.


    The crew grabbed their gear and bolted into the mountain.


    Inside the cave, Quinn was checking Alexander''s wound. The firelight lit up the cave, making his wound stand out.


    His face was pale, and sweat was dripping down his forehead. Quinn couldn''t tell his exact temp, but he felt like a furnace.


    "Your fever''s back, and you''re burning up again," Quinn said, looking worried, feeling helpless ''cause there was nothing she could do.


    Alexander turned to her, his voice weak, "I won''t die. Don''t worry."


    Quinn handed him some hot water. "Drink more water."


    "No more, I''m about to burst from all this water," Alexander said, pushing her hand away. "You should get some sleep."


    "I..."


    Before she could finish, there was a slight noise outside, like a branch snapping.


    Alexander''s head snapped towards the entrance, his eyes sharp.


    "Is someoneing?" Quinn whispered.


    Alexander shook his head. "Doesn''t seem like it."


    As he spoke, he grabbed the gun beside him and got up.


    Before he could step out, a massive tiger squeezed into the cave. Quinn was momentarily frozen.


    At first, she thought it was a stuffed animal, but when she saw its eyes move and its mouth open, she realized it was real. She jumped back, pressing against the wall with nowhere to go. Alexander''s face went pale.


    The tiger stood at the cave entrance, eyes locked on Alexander, nostrils ring. They were in a standoff.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    Quinn''s fingers clenched tight, and she nced at Alexander. He was still standing, gun in hand, staring down the tiger.

 Chapter 1207

    After a beat, the tiger sauntered in from the cave entrance. The already tight cave felt even more cramped with it there, like it could barely fit the three of them.


    Quinn had never seen a tiger this massive before; standing up, it was probably taller than she was.


    "Alexander," Quinn called out, her voice shaky.


    Alexander didn''t nce her way, his eyes locked on the tiger. "Get behind me."


    No sooner had he spoken than the tiger lunged at him. Alexander sidestepped the attack, moving towards the fire. Before the tiger could turn, he used the gunstock to fling the fire at it. The burning firewood flew at the tiger, sending sparks everywhere.


    Some branchesnded on the tiger, setting its fur aze, but the beast didn''t seem to care and immediately turned to pounce at Alexander again.


    Even though Quinn was closer, the tiger seemed fixated on Alexander.


    Quinn had a gut feeling the tiger was gunning for Alexander specifically.


    If she could sense it, Alexander definitely could too. He shouted to Quinn, "Get outta here!"


    "What about you?" Quinn asked, her voice full of worry.


    "Don''t worry ''bout me. Just go. I can''t move right with you here," Alexander said, dodging another swipe from the tiger, too busy to look at her.


    Hearing that, Quinn bolted out of the cave, not wanting to be a burden.


    The mes on the tiger''s body probably burned its flesh. As soon as Quinn ran out, she heard the tiger''s roar echoing from inside. The sound was so loud it made her ears ring, and she even felt the trees around her shake. She nced back at the cave. The firelight inside had dimmed a lot, flickering like it was about to go out.


    The poor visibility was bad news for Alexander. Seeing the firewood at the cave entrance, Quinn quickly gathered it and started another fire outside.


    The burning tiger got even more pissed, and its attacks became more wild.


    After dodging a few times, the tiger got smarter and went for close-range attacks.


    With one swipe, Alexander blocked with his gun, but the tiger''s paw snapped the gun in half and left deep, bone-revealing gashes on his arm.


    Alexander stumbled back a few steps, and the tiger immediately pounced again. Alexander ducked and rolled on the ground, the tiger''s ws just grazing his shoulder.


    He chucked the broken gun at the tiger, which dodged it. Taking the chance, Alexander bolted out of the cave.


    Outside, Quinn saw him rush out with the tiger hot on his heels. Seeing the tiger leap, Quinn tensed up and yelled, "Watch out!"


    Alexander ran to a tree, grabbed a thick vine, and swung up, hugging the trunk and climbing up.


    The tiger missed again, jumped a couple of times below, and then started climbing the tree.


    Quinn stared in shock. How could a tiger climb a tree?


    The tiger climbed fast, and in a few blinks, it was on the branches, jumping from one to another as if it was nothing.


    Alexander''s eyes shed. Without stopping, he ran to the treetop and jumped to another tree.


    The tiger followed, but the branch couldn''t hold its weight. As soon as itnded, the branch snapped, and the tiger fell along with it.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The tiger rolled a few times on the ground, letting out an angry roar that sent nearby birds flying.


    It got up and started climbing the tree where Alexander was, hell-bent on getting him.


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 Chapter 1208

    Quinn was at her wit''s end, totally baffled why this tiger was so hell-bent on chasing Alexander.


    "Did Alexander mess with its mate or cub when he was out earlier? Is that why this tiger''s out for blood?" Quinn mumbled to herself.


    Alexander was already banged up, and the tiger wasn''t letting up. He perched on a treetop, watching the tiger charge, sighed, and grabbed a vine to swing to another tree. The tiger was pissed, missing him over and over, even falling from the tree. Its furious roar was so loud Quinn had to cover her ears.


    Then it stopped climbing and started whacking the tree trunk with its powerful paws. The whole tree shook with each hit.


    The tree wasn''t gonna break, but Alexander was struggling to keep his bnce.


    His fingers clutched the trunk so hard they turned white, veins popping on the back of his hand. The wound on his arm was still bleeding, staining his whole arm red. Blood trickled down to his palm, smearing the tree trunk.


    With the next hit, his hand slipped, and he fell straight from the tree.


    Quinn''s eyes widened, and her heart sank with him.


    She stood there, frozen, her limbs like jelly.


    Alexander hit the ground, feeling dizzy. Before he could even think about the pain, the tiger was already pouncing at him.


    He rolled away in a panic, barely dodging its attack.


    Maybe it was luck; there was a slope, and he rolled down, putting some distance between him and the tiger.


    The next second, the tiger pounced again, not caring about the slope, leaping down like a maniac.


    Quinn could barely see, just him and the tiger tumbling down the slope, the tiger letting out another roar before everything went silent.


    Her legs finally worked, and she stumbled towards them, falling a bunch of times in her rush.


    Each time she fell, she got up and ran towards the slope, terrified that if she was a second toote, she wouldn''t even see Alexander''s body.


    At this point, she couldn''t tell if she was worried about him or about not being able to get out herself.


    Tears streamed down her face, making her already blurry vision worse.


    She wiped her tears as she ran towards the slope.


    Stopping at the top, she shakily held the lighter, her fingers trembling, scared to press the switch.


    There was no sound below; the forest was eerily quiet, no birds, no insects.


    Even the air seemed silent.


    She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, but after several tries, she still couldn''t press the lighter.


    It wasn''t until a gust of wind rustled the leaves, making her think it was Alexander''s footsteps, that she suddenly opened her eyes and lit the lighter.


    By the faint light, she saw a dark figure lying motionless below, about the size of a tiger.


    "Is the tiger eating Alexander?" Quinn muttered.


    Her fingers trembled, almost dropping the lighter. She gripped it tightly, found a stone on the ground, and cautiously slid down the slope.


    There were too many leaves, and the slope was too steep. She fell again while descending.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Ignoring the pain, she got up, holding the lighter in one hand and the stone in the other, slowly approaching the tiger.


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 Chapter 1209

    As she got closer to the tiger, Quinn gritted her teeth, grabbed a rock, and smashed it down on the tiger''s head.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    She hit it with everything she had, ready to piss off the tiger, but nothing happened when the rocknded.


    Quinn froze for a sec, realizing something was off.


    She dropped the rock and brought the lighter closer to the tiger. It justy there, eyes wide open, mouth hanging, blood dripping out.


    Quinn looked down the tiger''s body and saw someone underneath. It was Alexander, with only his head sticking out.


    His face was covered in blood, and from the neck down, blood was flowing like crazy, pooling on the ground.


    Seeing this, Quinn couldn''t hold back her tears anymore. She tried to push the tiger but couldn''t budge it. "Alexander," she called, patting his cheek. But he kept his eyes shut and didn''t respond.


    "Alexander, wake up," Quinn said, her voice breaking. "Alexander, don''t scare me. Wake up!"


    She was overwhelmed by emotion, tears streaming down her face and falling onto Alexander''s.


    She choked out, "Don''t die. Didn''t you say you''d get me out of here? You liar. Why do you always lie to me?"


    In the quiet forest, only her cries echoed, carried by the wind, making the woods even creepier.


    "Open your eyes, okay?"


    "When we get out, I''ll forgive you. We can start over, okay?"


    After saying this, she went silent, sat on the ground in a daze, staring nkly, the lighter in her hand going out.


    The forest went quiet, with only the asional rustle of leaves in the wind.


    She didn''t know how much time had passed when suddenly, she felt a touch on her finger.


    She jumped.


    The next second, her hand was held, warmth spreading from her palm.


    Quinn''s whole body shook. She grabbed the lighter and lit it again, quickly looking at Alexander. She met a pair of smiling eyes.


    She stared, her mind going nk again. She looked into his eyes, forgetting to move.


    "You promised to start over, no backing out," Alexander said.


    Quinn was still in a daze, not remembering what she had said, nor clearly hearing what he had said.


    Her mind was a mess, overwhelmed by a mix of chaotic andplex emotions.


    Alexander coughed painfully twice, snapping her back to reality.


    She snapped out of it and hurriedly asked, "Are you okay? Is your body still intact?"


    After all, she could only see Alexander''s head now. Below his neck was unclear, and she couldn''t be sure if he was missing an arm or a leg, or if he had lost half his body and was just having a final burst of energy? Hearing this, Alexander weakly smiled. He had barely startedughing when he began coughing again, as if choking on his own spit.


    Quinn couldn''t help him now, only watching him suffer in frustration.


    After a while, Alexander caught his breath.


    He looked at Quinn and hoarsely asked, "If my body isn''t intact, would you still start over with me?"


    "What organs are you missing?" Quinn asked nervously.


    "Well, my sexual organs are definitely still there," Alexander said with a cheeky look.


    Quinn, who had been drowning in sadness, blushed instantly upon hearing this, both angry and annoyed. "You''re still saying stuff like that now!"


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 Chapter 1210

    Quinn shot Alexander a look and asked again, "Are you missing an arm or a leg or what?"


    "I dunno. Can''t feel a thing," Alexander mumbled, barely audible.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Then how do you even..." Quinn''s voice trailed off, switching gears, "What now? I can''t shove this tiger off you."


    The tiger had to be at least 450 pounds, and she could barely budge its paw.


    Alexander shut his eyes and muttered, "Just leave it. It''s kinda warm."


    "Alexander..." Quinn called out.


    Her earlier sadness morphed into pure frustration.


    "Let me chill for a sec," Alexander said weakly. If the forest wasn''t dead silent, Quinn might''ve missed it.


    Quinn went quiet, giving him a moment.


    After a bit, she dashed back to the cave, grabbed some water, and carefully fed it to him.


    "Feeling any better?" Quinn asked again.


    Alexander had just closed his eyes for a moment. Hearing her, he opened them and said, "Nope."


    Quinn pressed her lips together, saying, "Then keep resting."


    Alexander shut his eyes again, but not even two minutester, she piped up, "Why didn''t you answer when I called you earlier?"


    Alexander sighed, "Chill. I''m all in one piece, no missing limbs. Not dying yet. Can I rest now?"


    Feeling a bit exposed, Quinn turned her head away, staying silent.


    She was genuinely worried Alexander might kick the bucket. She couldn''t see his injuries and feared he might just drift off and never wake up. But his words calmed her down a bit. She let him be and stayed by his side quietly.


    An hour ticked by before she spoke again, "Alexander, you good now?"


    No response from Alexander.


    Quinn freaked out, patting his cheeks and checking his breath. It was so faint she could barely feel it.


    "Alexander, Alexander," she called, shaking his face. "Wake up. Don''t sleep!"


    Alexander didn''t open his eyes but groaned, "Stop. You''re gonna give me a concussion."


    Hearing his weak voice, Quinn quickly pulled her hands back and asked cautiously, "You okay?"


    "Not really," Alexander replied.


    "What do we do?" Quinn asked, worried.


    "Just don''t move me," Alexander said.


    Quinn awkwardly pulled her hands back, found some firewood nearby, and added it to the fire to make it bigger.


    She kept a close eye on Alexander, asionally checking his breath. When she couldn''t feel it with her fingers, she leaned in to listen.


    Suddenly, Alexander''s eyes snapped open, startling her.


    "Even now, you still wanna mess with me," he teased.


    "No, I was just checking if you were dead," Quinn shot back.


    Alexander sighed. The next second, the tiger on top of him shifted, and Quinn jumped, falling to the ground.


    She pointed at the tiger, but before she could say anything, Alexander pulled his hand out from under the beast. He grabbed the tiger''s head and turned to Quinn, "Come help." Quinn was stunned, but quickly got the hint. She rushed over to hold the tiger''s head, and together, they managed to lift half of its body.


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 Chapter 1211

    At that moment, Quinn finally caught a glimpse of what was going down under the tiger''s massive body.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander''s other hand was still clutching a dagger, and that bad boy was jammed right into the tiger''s throat. The nearly 6-inch de was almostpletely buried in there.


    And all that blood on Alexander? Yeah, it was from the tiger.


    But now wasn''t the time to get lost in thought. Quinn used every ounce of her strength to shove the tiger off, finally freeing Alexander.


    The blood on him was a horror show, like he''d taken a dip in a blood pool. His upper body was drenched, and the bandages wrapped around him were soaked red. The stench of blood filled her nose, making her feel a bit queasy. Alexander propped himself up and sat on the ground, looking up at Quinn. "Feeling better now?" he asked.


    Quinn pursed her lips. "You lied to me!"


    "What did I lie about?" Alexander shot back.


    "If you were okay, why didn''t you say so?" Quinn used.


    "Who said I was okay?" Alexander replied, panting, as he reached out towards her.


    Quinn immediately stepped back, hugging herself tightly. "What are you doing?" she demanded.


    "My smokes are in your pocket," Alexander said.


    Quinn felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing she had misunderstood him. But with his hand reaching directly into her clothes, how could she not?


    For a moment, she thought Alexander wanted to get frisky onest time before he kicked the bucket.


    Alexander found her reaction kinda funny and teased, "You didn''t think I was gonna feel you up, did you?"


    "It''s not like you haven''t done that before," Quinn shot back.


    Alexander smirked, "Alright, quit messing around. Hand over the smokes."


    "You still wanna smoke?" Quinn said, frowning.


    "Do you want me to die that badly?" He sighed, looking up at the sky, and said as if talking to himself, "Just now, I don''t know who was so scared I''d die, crying and saying they forgave me, and that once we got out of here..." Before he could finish, a pack of cigarettes hit him. "Smoke all you want. Die from it for all I care!" Quinn snapped.


    Alexander picked up the smokes from the ground, looked at her flushed cheeks, and chuckled. He took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it.


    After a few puffs, he suddenly called out to her, "Quinn."


    Quinn nced back at him. "What''s up?"


    He said seriously in a deep voice, "Did you mean what you said just now?"


    Quinn was taken aback, awkwardly looking away. She didn''t even know how she had said those words earlier; now she couldn''t bring herself to say them again.


    "You lied to me again," Alexander sighed softly.


    Quinn instinctively wanted to argue, but suddenly there was a loud, urgent noise from above, making her tense up again.


    Could it be another tiger?


    Quinn immediately stood up from the ground and looked up. As the noise got closer, she saw several figures.


    Those people rushed down the slope, stumbling and stopping beside Quinn and Alexander.


    "Mr. Kennedy, are you alright? Where''s the tiger?" Sean asked nervously.


    As he finished speaking, he saw the massive tiger carcass nearby and also noticed the murderous look in Alexander''s eyes. Matthew, behind him, tugged at his sleeve, and Sean turned mechanically to look at Quinn.


    Quinn stood there, her expression shifting rapidly from confusion to puzzlement, then anger, and finally disappointment.


    "I..." Sean was extremely flustered at this point. How was he supposed to exin this?


    Quinn suppressed her emotions and asked, "How did you know there was a tiger?"

 Chapter 1212

    Sean''s brain totally fried, and he shot a desperate look at Alexander.


    Quinn turned to Alexander too, asking, "Alex, how the heck did he know there was a tiger?"


    Alexander stayed chill, still sitting on the ground like nothing happened. "It''s a forest. Tigers are kinda expected," he shot back.


    Quinn''s fists clenched, her chest heaving as she red at Alexander.


    "There are wolves and snakes too. Why''d he go straight for the tiger?" she pressed.


    "How should I know?" Alexander snapped, giving Sean a cold stare. "You tell her."


    Sean bit his lip, his fingers twitching nervously. He stuttered for ages but couldn''t get a word out.


    Alexander sighed, gritting his teeth. "Maybe he spotted the tiger with a drone while looking for us and rushed over?"


    Sean jumped in, "Yeah, that''s it!"


    "I was using a drone to search the whole forest when I saw Mr. Kennedy fighting a tiger on the screen. So I grabbed Matthew and the others and came running!" Sean said, waving his hands around for emphasis. "Then why didn''t you show up when we were attacked by wolves?" Quinn asked.


    "That time..."


    Sean was about to exin when Alexander started coughing like he was about to keel over.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy looks really bad. Should we get him out of here?" Sean asked quickly.


    Alexander clutched his chest, coughing so hard he could barely breathe, but still managed to say, "I''m fine. Just a busted rib." Quinn''s eye twitched.


    Sean got all flustered and rushed to help Alexander up. "A broken rib is serious. We need to get out of here now!" he said, panicking.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    He turned to Quinn, "Mrs. Kennedy, let''s get out first. I''ll exin everythingter."


    Quinn eyed Alexander suspiciously. "Exin what?" she asked.


    Alexander swayed and copsed, and Sean caught him just in time. "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy''s in bad shape. Please, stop with the questions." Ignoring Quinn, Sean and Matthew started carrying Alexander out.


    Quinn nced back at the dead tiger, then at the barely-standing Alexander, her face full of doubt.


    Sean was all about getting Alexander out. They found a motorcycle nearby, and Sean helped Alexander onto it, hopping in front to drive. Just as they were about to leave, Alexander''s voice came from behind, "Sean, if you say one more word, I''ll cut your tongue out." Sean felt a chill run down his spine and nodded stiffly.


    Quinn sat on Matthew''s motorcycle, staring at the drone leading the way, lost in thought.


    The motorcycle''s engine roared, mixing with the drone''s buzz, but she could still pick out the drone''s sound, which was eerily familiar. She suddenly asked Matthew, "How long have you been searching?"


    Matthew replied instinctively, "Since the day you went missing."


    "No one''s given you trouble?" Quinn asked.


    "No." Matthew bit his tongue, realizing he might''ve said too much.


    He thought to himself, ''I''ll just pin it all on Seanter. I didn''t say anything.''

 Chapter 1213

    No one said a word on the road, and the silence was kinda creepy.


    Once they left the forest, it was full-on daylight outside, making it feel like a whole different worldpared to the dark woods.


    They took a different path this time. Sure, it was a bit longer in the forest, but it was closer to home. The wild animals had been cleared out, so the trip was smooth sailing. There wasn''t a doctor in their vige; they had to hit up a nearby town. It wasn''t really a town, more like a busy vige. There were more people there, and it had a decent clinic.


    Anyway, this was Alistair''s turf. Now that Alistair wasying low, his crew was nowhere to be seen, so Sean and the gang could do whatever they wanted here.


    When a bunch of motorcycles roared down the street, people got out of the way fast, especially when they saw the blood on Alexander and the guns on Sean and the others. No one wanted to mess with them. The bikes screeched to a halt in front of the clinic. The folks waiting in line scattered like scared rabbits; some bolted while others huddled together, shaking.


    After Alexander plopped down on a chair, Sean waved over a doctor. The doc forced a smile and reluctantly grabbed his medical gear and walked over.


    After checking out Alexander''s wounds and blood, the doc rattled off something they couldn''t understand.


    Sean and Matthew exchanged confused looks.


    "What did he say?" Sean asked.


    "No clue," Matthew replied.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    A voice piped up, "He said you need to clean the body before putting on any medicine."


    Everyone turned to see Casey, a dark-skinned girl who looked about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in rags and barefoot.


    When Sean and the others looked at her, she shrank back into the crowd, scared.


    Sean said to her, "Come here."


    Casey hesitated but timidly stepped forward and walked up to them.


    Sean asked, "You understand English?"


    She nodded.


    Sean nced at Alexander, like he was looking for his opinion. But Alexander didn''t say anything.


    Then Sean said, "Stick with us and help trante. We''ll pay you."


    Casey''s eyes lit up, and she quickly nodded again.


    Sean pulled out some cash from his pocket and handed it to her. Casey happily took it and got to work right away.


    "He also said there''s a restroom in the back. Take him there to wash up and thene back," Casey said.


    "Alright, how do we get there?" Sean asked.


    Casey said, "The doc wants you to follow him. He''ll show you the way."


    Sean then helped Alexander up and followed the doc to the back. After rounding a corner, Alexander shoved him away.


    Sean, a bit confused, called, "Mr. Kennedy."


    "Get lost," Alexander said coldly.


    Sean shrank his neck and stood guard in the hallway. He knew Alexander was definitely pissed at him now.


    Outside, Casey sat on a chair counting the money. After carefully stashing the cash in her pocket, she looked up and saw Quinn watching her.


    She covered the pocket where she had put the money and avoided Quinn''s gaze. "You already gave me the money. You''re not gonna take it back, are you?" she asked, feeling a bit nervous. "I don''t want your money. Are you from around here?" Quinn asked.


    Casey''s eyes darted around, and after thinking for a moment, she said, "Yeah, I''m local."


    "Then how do you know English?" Quinn asked again.


    Casey was stunned for a moment before replying, "There are people from your country everywhere here. It''s normal for me to know English."

 Chapter 1214

    Quinn eyeballed her for what felt like forever and then blurted out, "If you wanna make more cash, just spill the beans. No point in hiring you as a trantor otherwise."


    Casey looked like a deer in headlights. She clutched her pocket, hesitated, and finally said, "Alright, I''ll spill. I''m from around here, but my mom''s not. She got tricked intoing here. I''ve been here since I was a kid. My mom used to grow poppies for Emilio, but she quit when she got sick. We live in this vige."


    "And who''s Emilio?" Quinn asked.


    Casey exined, "He used to run the show here, but someone else took over a few years back. Leadership changes all the time here; we''re used to it."


    Casey made it sound like no big deal, but Quinn caught on that her mom had been duped intoing here.


    Before growing poppies, she must''ve been through a lot.


    "What about your dad?" Quinn asked.


    "I don''t have a dad. Mom said he died ages ago," Casey answered.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Quinn didn''t push it. After waiting a while and not seeing Alexander and the others, she got up and headed in the direction they went.


    Casey tagged along. Turns out there was a sickroom in the back, and the doc was in there patching up Alexander.


    Hearing the doc talk, Casey ran in to trante.


    The doc said Alexander''s wound was infected and needed an IV. The injury was bad, and his skills were limited; he could only check for external injuries, not internal ones. Alexander''s rib was definitely busted, but it was unclear how many were cracked. The doc also asked if that area had been broken before.


    Quinn stood at the door, not going in.


    The doc told Alexander to stay put for the IV. After cleaning up and changing into fresh clothes, Alexander looked like his usual dignified self, no sign of the mess he was in the forest. He leaned against the wall and asked Casey to step out to ask Sean some questions.


    After Casey came out, the door closed, but the soundproofing sucked, and Quinn could kinda hear the convo inside.


    Sean talked about Walter showing up.


    Alexander lit a cigarette and said thoughtfully, "Then it''s not surprising."


    "What''s not surprising?" Sean asked, confused.


    "The tiger," Alexander said briefly.


    "Are you saying it was his doing?" Sean asked.


    Alexander didn''t answer, just smoked quietly, his expression getting colder in the swirling smoke.


    Walter had stayed in that vige for two days. It seemed like he did nothing, but who knew what he was up to behind the scenes.


    Tigers could be trained, just like dogs, to remember scents and track targets.


    And where Sean lived, there happened to be clothes he had changed out of.


    Messing with theputer was to dy Sean and the others from rescuing, while notpletely cutting off theirmunication, ensuring that when Sean arrived, Quinn would still be alive. Even though tigers could be trained, there were too many uncertainties. Even the trainer couldn''t guarantee that after killing Alexander, the tiger wouldn''t turn on Quinn.


    Sean, a bit pissed, said, "He still hasn''t let go of wanting to kill you!"


    Alexander sneered, his eyes flickering.


    "Didn''t he initially say he was here to help you find someone, but changed his mind after seeing the notebook?" Alexander reminded.


    Sean thought about it and realized it was true. At the time, Walter didn''t react much to the notebook, just casually mentioned that he couldn''t get in touch, making Sean think he didn''t care. In the end, he leisurely stayed for two days, only leaving when Sean drove him away.

 Chapter 1215

    Walter cooked up a sneaky n with two angles. If Alexander was still kicking, he''d bait Sean and the crew over to off them and keep things hush-hush. If Alexander was toast, then no worries, no one would know about this. But his n ultimately failed. Alexander was alive and kicking, and Sean didn''t take the bait to the D.E Group''s turf.


    Moreover, he hadn''t expected Quinn to overhear the whole scheme.


    Quinn turned on her heel and walked out. Looked like Alexander knew the jig was up and wasn''t gonna hide it anymore. He''d trapped her in the woods, lied about not finding a way out, and yed the pity card to win her over. As for Walter, she still wasn''t sure if Landon kidnapping her was his doing, but the tiger stunt had his fingerprints all over it.


    Walter and Alexander had been at each other''s throats since Las Veges, and the tension was still high.


    Meanwhile, Walter had already rolled up to the D.E Group''s HQ. He was sipping tea in the office with Alton Thornton, the big cheese of the D.E Group.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Walter leaned in, "So, you in or what?"


    Alton mulled it over, then asked, "Can you really promise I''ll take over all of Alistair''s biz?"


    Walter said with a grin, "Didn''t I show you enough to prove it?"


    Alton was hungry for power. He''d always wanted to move product but didn''t have the hookup. The resources were locked down by others, and he wouldn''t have taken in Alistair otherwise.


    What Walter dangled in front of him was the golden ticket-info on buyers and clients. When Alton first saw it, he almost whipped out his phone to snap pics.


    But Walter was no fool; he only showed a teaser. The other, more important part, he kept hidden.


    Alton hesitated, still on the fence.


    Even though Alistair wasying low, there was no sign of a major shake-up, and his crew was still around.


    Walter picked up on his doubt and said, "Worried about his crew?"


    "Worried? Nah. Just weighing if your offer''s worth the gamble," Alton replied.


    "You''ve been around long enough. Do you really trust his crew''s loyalty? It''s all about the Benjamins. sh enough cash, and they''ll jump ship," Walter said, all casual-like. Alton''s eyebrow shot up.


    Walter didn''t feel like dragging it out. He stood up and said, "Think it over. If you''re in, we''re partners. If not, forget I was ever here. Later."


    Alton jumped up and called out, "Hold up."


    Walter paused, turned back with a grin. "Something else?"


    Alton was quiet for a sec, then said, "I''m in, but I can only hand over these two guys. I don''t want a big mess; I hate drama."


    Walter''s grin widened. "Looks like we''re on the same page," he said. "I hate drama too."


    "So, we good? I''ll set up a meet with those two, and the rest is on you," Alton said.


    "Deal," Walter said, extending his hand. Just as Alton was about to shake it, Walter pulled back.


    Alton''s hand grabbed air, his face went stiff, but before he could blow up, Walter smiled, extended his hand again, and said, "Happy partnership."


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 Chapter 1216

    Quinn stood outside the hospital, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. It was the first time she''d seen the outside world since she''d been stuck here for what felt like forever. The buildings and the whole vibe of the ce made her feel kinda down and a bit scared.


    She didn''t dare to wander too far and just stayed put. There was a convenience store across the street, and she really wanted to grab a bottle of water but was too chicken to go. "What are you doing just standing there?" Alexander''s voice came from behind, and Quinn turned around instinctively.


    Alexander had just finished his IV treatment. He looked mostly okay, but his face showed he was still feeling weak.


    Quinn stared at him nkly, not saying a word.


    It wasn''t that she was trying to be cold; she just didn''t know how to react. Alexander had tricked her, leaving her stranded in the forest for ages. She was pissed.


    But she couldn''t leave or save Abigail on her own.


    Even if she gave him the silent treatment, Alexander would still help her, making her look like an idiot.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Why did you lie to me?" Quinn suddenly asked.


    Alexander thought for a moment, leaning tiredly against the wall. "If you had told me earlier that you wanted to start over with me, wouldn''t I have brought you out?" he said casually. "Liar!" Quinn snapped, turning away, not wanting to talk to him. She couldn''t shake off her anger just yet.


    "My bad. You see, I''m not getting away unpunished either," Alexander said, grabbing her wrist and trying to pull her closer. "Can you not be mad?"


    Quinn shook off his hand and stayed silent.


    Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at the door. Sean, catching his gaze, quickly pulled back.


    After a moment, Matthew came out, reluctantly calling, "Mr. Kennedy."


    He reported, "Walter went to find the head of the D.E Group. They talked in the room for hours. No clue what they discussed."


    Hearing Walter''s name, Quinn nced at Matthew.


    Alexander sneered, "What else could they be talking about?"


    His words were vague, leaving both Matthew and Quinn puzzled.


    But he didn''t exin further.


    "What did they talk about?" Quinn asked, trying to sound casual.


    Alexander gave her a teasing look, and she immediately turned her head, pretending not to care.


    "Come inside with me, and I''ll tell you in private," Alexander said with a grin.


    Quinn hesitated for a bit before saying, "I''m not interested."


    "Really?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn proved her point by walking past Matthew to the other end of the corridor.


    Seeing Alexander frustrated, Matthew reluctantly asked, "What do we do now?"


    "Bring Alistair back to me," Alexander ordered.


    "Didn''t Walter go to find him? Won''t he bring him back?" Matthew asked.


    Alexander gave him a sidelong nce and said, "Are you waiting for him to bring back a corpse?"


    "Is he really going to kill Alistair?" Matthew asked, shocked.


    "Walter''s got a new partner. Alistair and his crew know all the trade routes. If Walter doesn''t kill Alistair, is he expecting us to force the info out of him?" Alexander exined. Matthew suddenly got it and nodded quickly. "Got it. We''ll go get him now."


    "Don''t be reckless. Think before you act," Alexander reminded.


    Matthew nodded and turned to leave. Sean, not daring to stick around, left Nathan to protect Alexander and Quinn while he and Matthew took the others and left. Seeing that it was already past noon, Casey came over with two lunch boxes and handed them to Alexander and Quinn.

 Chapter 1217

    Seeing Alexander wasn''t biting, Casey piped up, "Hey, my mom whipped this up herself. It''s super clean."


    Quinn grabbed it, popped it open, and peeked inside. Looked pretty good. She hadn''t had a decent meal in days and was starving, so she dug in with a spoon. Casey handed the other portion to Alexander.


    He hesitated but finally took it. Pulled out a couple of bucks from his pocket and tossed them her way.


    Casey''s eyes lit up, and she snatched the cash, stuffing it into her pocket. She squatted down next to him and said, "Tell me what you wanna eat. My mom can cook anything." "Ask her," Alexander said, nodding towards Quinn.


    Casey nodded like crazy and ran over to squat next to Quinn. "Tell me what you wanna eat. I''ll handle all your meals."


    Quinn paused and forced a smile.


    Casey then whispered, "Are you guys the new bosses around here?"


    Before Quinn could answer, she blurted out, "Can I work for you? I can do more than just trante. I know all the roads, how to grow poppies. I''m tough. I can fight, even kill." Quinn looked at her, surprised. "Is that what you used to do?"


    "Yeah, the folks here got no other way to make money. They just help grow poppies," Casey said casually.


    She clearly thought they were the new bosses, so she was eager to get in good with them. If she could join their crew, it would be a big break for her.


    The old bosses were locals who didn''t do squat. They just watched others work, raked in the cash, bossed people around, and even beat them if they felt like it.


    Quinn said, "We''re not the bosses here. We''re leaving soon."


    Casey, dejected, asked, "Then who are the new bosses?"


    "No clue," Quinn replied.


    She didn''t think she could change everyone''s fate here or fix the ce.


    Even though they weren''t the new bosses, Casey was still happy. Alexander was generous, and pleasing them could still score her some cash.


    Having not eaten proper food for days, Quinn finished the whole bowl.


    Casey eagerly packed up the lunchbox. The afternoon was still long, and Quinn turned to look at Alexander.


    "Do you need to be hospitalized?" she asked.


    Alexander shot back, "You got somewhere to go?"


    Quinn had nowhere to go. Wherever Alexander was, she''d be there.


    "I wanna go for a walk," Quinn said.


    Alexander pulled a gun from Nathan''s pocket and slowly loaded it. Quinn was stunned. Did he really need to kill her just to stop her from going out? He asked Casey, "You know how to use this?"


    Casey nodded like crazy, so Alexander tossed the gun to her. "Just stay in the vige. Don''t wander off," he reminded.


    Casey nodded and grinned at Quinn, saying, "Let''s go. I''ll show you around."


    Quinn nced back at Alexander, who said nothing. So, she turned and left with Casey.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Nathan asked, "Should I follow them?"


    "No need. Any news on Landon?" Alexander asked.


    "Not yet. He''s hiding, and we don''t know where he is right now," Nathan said seriously. "He''s lost his power now. I don''t know if he''ll leave this ce."


    "This time, he and Walter are done. No way they''re teaming up again. Alistair and Hetastian are useless now. If he leaves, he''ll have to start from scratch. If I were him, I''d make onest desperate move," Alexander analyzed. "Desperate move for what?" Nathan asked.


    Alexander squinted and said, "To kill me."

 Chapter 1218

    Nathan, all freaked out, blurted, "You gonna be in danger?"


    "Who knows." Alexander shrugged, leaning back against the headboard like he couldn''t care less.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nathan mulled it over for a sec and then said, "I''ll track him down ASAP."


    Abigail stared at the food in front of her, totally speechless. "Wild veggies again, Landon? You broke or something? Need a loan?"


    Landon sat right across from her. Abigail''s hands and feet were shackled, making a racket every time she moved.


    He shot her a cold look and said, "Don''t wanna eat? Then starve."


    Abigail sighed, "I''m your hostage now. If I croak, how you gonna lure Alexander here?"


    Landon used to roll with a big crew, but after hopping from ce to ce, he was down to just three men.


    No clue if he ditched them or stashed them somewhere.


    But with how fast they were moving, Abigail figured Landon was on the run.


    They were holed up in a mountain valley, surrounded by peaks on three sides with just a tiny path in and out. Looking up, the peaks formed a well-like trap. There was a nearly dried-up pond nearby. Abigail guessed it used to be deep, but now it was almost dry, just a small pool of water surrounded by pebbles. She had to admit that Landon picked a pretty good hideout.


    Landon put his bowl down, turned, and went to sit by the pool, ignoring her.


    Abigail muttered a few curses under her breath and picked up the bowl. No matter how much she hated it, she had to eat.


    Starving to death wasn''t on her agenda.


    She scarfed down the food, put the bowl back, and nced at Landon.


    She couldn''t tell if he was asleep as he sat there motionless.


    Abigail eyed the exit. She knew someone was guarding it, so no way she could escape.


    She stood up, grabbed a chair, and quietly walked towards Landon, trying to keep the noise from her shackles to a minimum. But making no noise was impossible.


    Luckily, she got behind Landon without him reacting. She raised the chair, aiming for his head.


    Next second, the chair froze mid-air.


    Abigail looked down and saw Landon had grabbed it. She forced a smile, saying, "Not asleep, huh?"


    Before she could blink, Landon yanked the chair from her hand and threw it hard. The impact sent Abigail flying, and she screamed.


    The chair shattered into pieces on the ground. Abigail, though,nded in the pool.


    The pool didn''t look big, but it used to be deep, and she sank right to the bottom.


    With her hands and feet bound, she couldn''t swim and kept sinking.


    Landon watched the bubbles for a moment. When the water went still, he stood up, took off his jacket, and jumped in.


    By the time he pulled Abigail out, she was out cold. Landon pressed on her chest, doing CPR with a nk face.


    Abigail coughed up water and slowly opened her eyes, seeing Landon''s face close to hers in the dim light.


    Fully awake now, her eyes snapped open and she turned her head to dodge his mouth.


    She stared nkly at the distant mountain, her face a mix of shock and confusion.

 Chapter 1219

    Two secondster, she felt something was off. She turned her head and saw Landon''s hand still on her chest.


    Her mind went nk again. Somehow, she found the strength and shot up from the ground.


    Landon pulled his hand back, acting like he didn''t notice her expression. He said coolly, "You better behave, or I can''t promise I won''t break you..." Before he could finish, a sharp p echoed, cutting him off.


    Landon tilted his head, his wet hair still dripping. He looked stunned, squatting there like a statue.


    After what felt like forever, he slowly turned his head to meet Abigail''s gaze, anger ring in his eyes.


    Abigail had acted on instinct. The numbness in her palm snapped her back to reality when she saw the anger in his eyes.


    "Would you believe me if I said my hand cramped?" Abigail forced a smile.


    What was she doing?!


    She was a hostage, and she pped Landon. What if he killed her in a rage?


    Suddenly, Landon grabbed her neck with such force she couldn''t breathe.


    Abigail closed her eyes in regret and despair. This was really the end.


    The next moment, Landon flung her by the neck, and Abigail fell back into the pool. The water she had just spat out filled her mouth again.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Her lungs once again bore the unbearable pressure, a burning sensation spreading through them.


    The chains on her hands and feet dragged her down. The pool wasn''t deep, only about 6.5 feet, but it was enough to drown her.


    She wasn''t afraid of death, but that didn''t mean she wanted to die. Who in their right mind would want to die?


    Besides, although Landon had kept her tied up these days, he hadn''t done anything too excessive to her. She wasn''t desperate enough to want to die. She started to struggle in the water.


    But it was useless. The more she struggled, the faster she sank. Soon, she hit the bottom.


    As she began to hallucinate, she suddenly felt her body lighten. Landon was pulling her up. Landon fished Abigail out and repeated the process, only this time without performing CPR. Abigaily on the ground, coughing up a lot of water.


    She looked weakly at Landon, who was staring at her silently.


    "You..."


    Just as Abigail was about to speak, he threw her back into the pool.


    Her mind went nk. As she was submerged, she realized that Landon was using this method to get back at her.


    Abigail was thrown in and pulled out nearly six times, leaving her barely alive.


    This torment was more painful than being beaten to a pulp. Each time, she was on the brink of death. The burning sensation in her organs was not just physical torture but also mental agony. By the sixth time, she thought that if this pain continued, she might as well die.


    Shey on the ground, waiting for Landon to throw her in for the seventh time, but after a long wait, he didn''t move.


    Abigail opened her mouth. After vomiting so many times, her throat hurt terribly, as if it were being cut by a knife every time she spoke.


    "You''re really petty," she said with difficulty.


    Landon ignored her, took off his shirt, wrung out the water, and threw it on the ground. He went to his backpack and took out new clothes to change into.


    Seeing him change clothes in front of her, even though it was dark and she couldn''t see clearly, Abigail had to admit she was wrong.


    He wasn''t petty; he was quite generous, not treating her as an outsider at all.


    Or maybe he didn''t see her as a woman.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1221

    Abigail froze for a sec, then remembered the hellish feeling of almost drowningst night. Her fire dimmed a bit. "You cussed me out first. You can cuss, but I can''t?" she snapped. Landon stared her down, like he was deciding whether to off her or just mess her up.


    Abigail felt a shiver run down her spine under his re. She suddenly grabbed her T-shirt and started to pull it off.


    Landon finally looked away.


    Abigail noticed and her expression got kinda weird. She wondered if Landon might actually be gay.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Otherwise, why would he not be interested in women?


    And he kept saying he wasn''t wasn''t interested in men either. Kinda fishy, right?


    It made sense if he wasn''t interested in her, but what about other girls? Even his guys talked about women with big butts and boobs when they were bored at night. There were no women around him, not even one to take care of his basic needs.


    Thinking about this, Abigail got curious about Landon. Her view of him shifted, and she got really interested in what role he yed in the gay scene. After changing her clothes, she had to take another look at Landon.


    He did look pretty refined, tall and skinny, with those gold-rimmed sses. From Abigail''s experience, he was probably the one getting it.


    With a knowing look, Abigail already saw Landon as a woman. She was always more chill with women, so she wasn''t as mad at him anymore. After a bit, a subordinate brought breakfast, still that wild veggie porridge.


    Landon noticed Abigail wasn''t being picky about the food and was staring at him with a weird smile.


    Landon frowned. "Keep staring, and I''ll gouge your eyes out," he growled.


    "Chill out. I''m looking ''cause you''re good-looking. I wouldn''t stare at someone ugly," Abigail said casually.


    Landon was a bit taken aback and looked her over suspiciously. "You better behave and don''t think about running. My patience is thin."


    Abigail downed the wild veggie porridge in one gulp, wiped her mouth, and put the bowl on the ground. "Got it. I won''t run. Can''t escape anyway. Can you at least ditch the handcuffs?" Landon ignored her.


    Abigail scooted closer, sat next to him, and suggested, "We''re bored here. Let''s chat."


    "Chat about what?" Landon asked.


    "Like, what kind of person do you like?" Abigail asked.


    Landon gave her a side-eye.


    Abigail asked again, "Why do you always wanna kill Alexander? Got some deep beef with him? I actually hate him too, but Quinn likes him. I don''t remember you two having any grudges. Why do you gotta fight to the death?" Abigail rambled on, but Landon didn''t say a word.


    After a while, Abigail felt like she was talking to a wall. She asked the first question again, "So, what kind of person do you like?"


    Could it be Landon liked Alexander?


    She didn''t dare to ask that out loud.


    Landon suddenly pressed the gun in his hand against Abigail''s forehead,manding, "Shut up."


    Abigail was stunned for a moment. She immediately shut her mouth and nodded.


    Only then did Landon put the gun away, nced at her casually, and said, "Definitely not someone like you."


    Abigail was stunned for a couple of seconds before realizing he was answering her question. She opened her mouth, about to speak, but seeing Landon''s warning look, she closed it again.

 Chapter 1223

    Alexander was banged up pretty bad, stumbling around like a drunk, and Quinn was worried he might facent any second. "Yo, you should crash on the bed," Quinn said.


    The bed was basic as hell, just dirt and bricks. Alexander shuffled over, plopped down, and held his knees, giving Quinn a weak look. "What about you?" he asked.


    "I''m not sleeping," she said, heading to a janky stool made from a tree stump.


    Alexander sighed, "Still pissed?"


    Quinn turned her back. "I don''t wanna talk to a liar."


    "When you gonna talk to me then?" Alexander asked.


    "Leave me alone," Quinn snapped.


    Alexander chuckled, kinda helpless. Clutching his chest, he muttered, "Why''s it hurt so much?"


    Quinn nced at him.


    In the dim light, he looked pale as a ghost, and the pain seemed real.


    Quinn didn''t n to give him any attention, but seeing his furrowed brows, she couldn''t help but get up and walk over.


    "Where''s it hurt? Should we head back to the hospital? It''s not far," she said.


    "I dunno, it all hurts here," Alexander said, pointing to his chest, looking at her with puppy eyes.


    Quinn ced her finger on his left rib. "Here?"


    Alexander shook his head.


    "Here?" she asked again, moving her finger to another rib.


    Alexander grabbed her hand, cing it on his chest and looking deeply at her. "It hurts here."


    Her hand was on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. "Chest pain?" she asked.


    "No, it''s heartache," Alexander said, dead serious.


    Quinn was stunned for a sec, then heard him say, "It hurts ''cause you''re ignoring me."N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Quinn''s face tightened, her worry flipping to anger. She tried to pull her hand back, but he held it down.


    "Are you done yet?" Quinn said, her face showing anger.


    "It really hurts. I''m not lying." He held her hand, looking all pitiful.


    Quinn didn''t wanna hear his crap and yanked her hand back.


    Next thing she knew, Alexander grabbed her wrist, yanked her, and she fell into his arms.


    Before she could fight back, the world spun. When she came to, Alexander was on top of her.


    Quinn red at him, asking, "What are you doing?"


    "See, you ignore me as soon as you get out," Alexander said, looking all hurt.


    "Who told you to lie to me?" Quinn snapped, struggling and trying to push him away. But he pinned her wrists down.


    He stared at her, speaking softly, "If I didn''t lie, would you talk to me when you got out?"


    Quinn was speechless, couldn''t respond.


    After a moment, she turned her head away, avoiding his gaze. "Let go of me," she murmured.


    "You''re a liar too," he said, his tone angry as he leaned down and bit her lip, not quite a kiss.


    Quinn winced, brows furrowing, anger rising. She didn''t know where the strength came from, but she suddenly pulled her hand back and pushed him away.


    Alexander was shoved to the side, and Quinn didn''t expect him to go down so easy. She paused, got up, and bolted out without looking back.


    Alexander propped himself up on the bed, staring at the door with aplex expression. Blood trickled from his sleeve, down his arm, to his fingers, and finally dripped onto the bed.

 Chapter 1224

    Outside, it was dark as hell. Folks around here hit the sack early, so there wasn''t a soul in sight, not even a stray cat.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn just hovered by the doorway. She was wearing the new outfit she bought in town today a thin ck floral dress that wasn''t doing much against the evening chill. She rubbed her arms, feeling the cold. There was this old tree stump stool by the door, so she plopped down on it for a bit.


    After about half an hour, she figured Alexander must be out cold by now, so she got up and headed back inside.


    But the second she stepped in, the ce was empty. She looked around, but there was no sign of Alexander.


    The old window was wide open, letting in a breeze.


    He bailed!


    Quinn realized she''d been yed again. She knew his injuries well enough to know he couldn''t just walk out without her noticing. For a moment, she was fuming.


    She kicked the bed in frustration.


    "Go ahead and die out there for all I care!" Quinn muttered angrily.


    Sitting in the car, Alexander sneezed.


    Nathan nced at the rearview mirror, looking worried. "Mr. Kennedy, you good?"


    "I''m fine," Alexander said, leaning against the car window with a cigarette dangling from his lips.


    Nathan didn''t push it. He nced again at the blurry shadows in the rearview mirror and kept driving.


    "Is it cool leaving Quinn there alone?" Nathan asked.


    "Nope," Alexander replied.


    "Then why''d we bail?" Nathan pressed.


    "If we didn''t, how would Landon show up?" Alexander said.


    Nathan nodded, getting the picture.


    It waste, but the bar was still hopping, and the dance floor was packed with people who didn''t know the meaning of tired. Sean and Matthew were squatting in a corner, nursing their drinks, eyes glued to the entrance of the private room.


    The loud music was both deafening and oddly soothing; after a while, it started to make them drowsy.


    Just as they were about to nod off, Matthew jabbed Sean hard.


    Sean''s eyes snapped open, and he saw Walter and the othersing out.


    Walter was leading the pack, with Alistair and Hetastian looking stered and needing help to walk.


    Sean and Matthew jumped up to follow them out.


    Once outside, Alistair looked up, grinning at Walter and Alton. "Thanks for the good time. Let''s split here."


    Alton said, "You guys are wasted. Can you even drive? Let me call someone to get you home. Safety first, you know."


    Alistair waved him off. "Safety? My guys areing to get me. No need to bother."


    Alton and Walter exchanged a look. Alton smiled and said, "You brought backup?"


    "You said it yourself. It''s not safe out here. Of course, I brought some muscle," Alistair said,ughing. He raised his hand, and a bunch of people, like thirty or forty, piled out of several cars by the curb. Walter''s eyes flickered when he saw them.


    He shot a nce at Alton, who looked just as puzzled.


    When Alistair first showed up, he didn''t have this many people. In no time, he had gathered a small army, clearly ready for something.


    Did he figure out what they were up to?

 Chapter 1225

    Walter leaned back and said, "Alright, I''m chill now. You guys should head home and catch some Z''s."


    "Yeah, let''s do this again soon. I didn''t get you guys hammered this time, but next time, you''re all getting trashed!" Alistairughed. His clueless look didn''t match his genuine smile. Walter gave a slight nod.


    With some help from his crew, Alistair got into his ride, and a bunch of cars slowly rolled away from the curb.


    As the cars disappeared, Walter''s smile faded too.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Alton piped up, "Walter, they''re way too paranoid. I did everything I could, but with so many eyes on us, we couldn''t make a move. What''s the n now?"


    Walter smirked, "It''s not paranoia. Someone tipped them off."


    "Who?" Alton''s face went pale as he quickly added, "It wasn''t me!"


    Walter shot Alton a knowing look and said, "I know it wasn''t you, but..."


    Alton blinked, confused. "But what?"


    "Watch your back. I''m outta here," Walter said.


    He turned and hopped into his car. Before Alton could even process it, Walter''s car was already gone.


    Alton stood there, still trying to figure out Walter''s cryptic message when suddenly, gunshots echoed through the quiet night.


    Alton''s face twisted with dread. He barked at his men, "Go check it out!"


    The cars that had just pulled over had their tires shredded by nails scattered on the road.


    Alistair was about to get out and curse when a loud bang went off. Hetastian yanked him down, dodging a bullet.


    Still rattled, Alistair saw the car windows were shattered.


    "Get down!" Hetastian yelled, and Alistair instinctively ducked under the seat.


    Gunfire pounded the car, and they could smell gas leaking.


    They knew they couldn''t stay put. They popped the left-side door and rolled into the roadside grass.


    Their crew followed suit, diving into the grass.


    Alistair''s face was red with rage. "Alton tried to take me out! And I trusted that guy!"


    Hetastian frowned beside him.


    Fuming, Alistair pulled a gun from his coat and shouted, "Everyone, charge! If we don''t take him out today, he''s gonna get us. If you wanna live, follow me!" He was the first to rush out, firing shots into the grass on the right.


    But there was no response from that side.


    Meanwhile, Alton''s guys showed up to check the scene. As soon as Alton saw Alistair and Hetastian getting out of the car, he fired two shots without hesitation. The others quickly drew their weapons, but Alistair''s crew was ready. Alton''s men were hit by stray bullets before they could react.


    Seeing this from a distance, Alton was livid. Alistair had the nerve to kill his men on his turf!


    "This is insane! Get everyone here. I want them dead!" Alton shouted furiously.


    The driver, too scared to go forward, turned the car around and called for backup.


    Alistair saw the car turning and immediately ordered his men to follow. They jumped into the car left by Alton''s crew and chased after Alton. The situation had blown up. If they didn''t catch Alton, they were dead meat!


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 Chapter 1226

    "Yo, those two groups are going at it," Colin said, eyeing the cars chasing each other outside, then turning back to Walter.


    Walter, chillin'' with his head propped on his hand, watched the chaos and said, "What a bummer. Guess we gotta find new partners again." Colin got the chills hearing Walter''s nonchntment.


    "Alistair wouldn''t actually off Alton, right?" Colin asked.


    "Who knows, maybe Alton will take out Alistair instead?" Walter replied.


    Honestly, Walter didn''t care who bit the dust, but Alistair had to go. If Alistair got nabbed by Alexander, all his channels would be toast.


    And if his channels got wrecked, his client list would be worthless.


    "So, what''s the n now?" Colin asked.


    "Let''s go back up Alton," Walter said, cool as a cucumber.


    Colin was taken aback for a sec, then asked, "Just the two of us?"


    "That''s all we need," Walter said.


    Colin nodded, fired up the car, and sped off in the direction the others had vanished.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Alton was definitely heading to his base; there was only one way to go. Even if they lost sight of the car, they knew the route.


    Sure, this was Alton''s turf, but it was also a minefield. He usually rolled with a crew when he went out.


    But he wouldn''t have as many guys as Alistair, who had like forty dudes. Alton might have ten tops, and Alistair had already taken out four. The rest didn''t stand a chance against Alistair. Alton had to book it and wait for backup. Once they showed up, Alistair and Hetastian were toast.


    Alton underestimated Alistair''s fury. Alistair was tailing them like a madman, and the tires of the car behind them got shot out. At that speed, the car spun out and crashed.


    The car flipped, mming into the one in front, which swerved and almost went off the road.


    Alton nced back, saw the car flip, and knew Alistair was closing in. His heart pounded. Wiping sweat from his forehead, Alton asked anxiously, "How much longer till they get here?" "Should be soon," the driver said.


    "Step on it! Faster!" Alton urged.


    The driver gritted his teeth and floored it, hitting 90 miles per hour. The road was twisty and rough, making it super risky. They worried they''d crash before Alistair even caught up. Alistair could see Alton''s car now. He leaned out the window and started shooting.


    He had one goal: catch Alton and get the hell outta there.


    Otherwise, it was game over.


    In the end, Alton''s car flipped. Alistair had shot the gas tank, causing a fuel leak, and the sparks from the tires ignited it. The driver had to stop, and Alton bailed, running for it.


    Up ahead, there were flickering lights. Alton saw the headlights and felt a wave of relief; reinforcements were finally here! Without wasting a second, he jumped out and kept running.


    But after a few steps, pain shot through his leg, and he hit the ground hard.


    A group of people rushed up and surrounded him.


    They grabbed Alton and hauled him up. He red at Alistair, his face twisted in pain and anger.


    "Alistair, what the hell? I was trying to help you, and this is how you repay me?" Alton snarled.


    Alistair spat on the ground and pointed a gun at his head. "If I hadn''t been ready today, you and Walter would''ve taken me out, right?" Alton''s face went pale.

 Chapter 1227

    Seeing Alton''s face, Alistair knew he hit the nail on the head. Lucky for him, he had a backup n and his crew nearby.


    "This is total BS. You''ve been crashing here for days. When did I ever do you dirty? If I wanted you dead, why wait till now?" Alton shot back.


    Alistair smirked, "Cut the crap. Walter came to you for a team-up, right? He''s scared I''ll spill the beans on his stash. You two plotted to off me to shut me up. You think I''m clueless?"


    Alton''s eyes went wide, almost blurting out, "How did you know?"


    He instantly regretted it. He''d just blown his cover.


    So he switched gears, "Alistair, this is my turf. My guys are here. You can''t run. Let''s make a deal. Let me go, and I''ll act like tonight never happened. We can talk business again. We''re all in it for the cash. Why go all out? What do you say?" Alistair sneered, "Get lost. You think I''m new here? Whether we team up or not is another story. Right now, I just want out. Tell your guys if they move, I''ll pop you first. We''ll all go down together!"


    Freaked out, Alton threw his hands up. "Alright, Alistair, chill. Let''s talk. You guys, stay put!"


    His crew, hearing that, froze in ce, not daring to make a move.


    Alistair told them, "Rx. Once I''m out, I''ll let Alton go."R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    He spoke while backing away.


    With a gun to his head, Alton was sweating bullets, cursing in his mind. This was all Walter''s idea. Why was Alistair gunning for him?


    Both sides were in a standoff, and Alistair thought he was home free. But suddenly, a shot rang out, and Alton''s body went stiff in his grip.


    Alistair was stunned, looking down to see a big, bloody hole in Alton''s chest, blood pouring out.


    Alton''s eyes widened, staring at Alistair with a mix of disbelief, anger, and despair. In front of everyone, he dropped like a rock.


    As soon as Alton hit the ground, his crew lost it. They didn''t care about anything anymore and started sting at Alistair. Gunfire erupted.


    Colin gulped and nced at Walter behind him. Walter calmly blew the smoke from his gun.


    So this was his way of "helping" Alton?


    "Walter sure knows how to stir the pot," Alexander sneered.


    Nathan nodded, but he also had to give it to Walter. With just Colin, he managed to mess up both sides big time.


    "So what''s the n? If Alistair bites it, all our work''s down the drain," Nathan asked.


    "Head right," Alexander said coolly.


    Nathan immediately took the small road to the right.


    After a bit, the gunfire started to die down but was still popping off here and there.


    Alexander told Nathan to stop the car. He mmed the brakes, parked by the roadside, killed the lights, and they hid in the dark.


    Through the car window, they saw shes of gunfire and a bunch of people chasing through the bushes.

 Chapter 1228

    Alistair''s crew got totally wrecked. He stumbled away, bleeding from both his arm and leg.


    But dude''s survival instinct kicked in hard, and he managed to drag his busted leg and haul ass for a good distance.


    The guys chasing him were ruthless. They had one goal: take him out.


    Hetastian was right behind him but got nailed by bullets in some pretty bad spots.


    When Alistair nced back, he saw Hetastian hit the ground.


    His face twisted in shock, but he couldn''t stop. He turned and kept running.


    It was so dark he couldn''t see squat and ran smack into something solid, tripping and eating dirt.


    That fall did him in. He just sat there, almost giving up, waiting for the end.


    "Shit!" he cursed, pounding the ground weakly but with all the anger he had left.


    Out of nowhere, he heard a noise close by. Alistair froze, and then a hand grabbed his shoulder.


    A voice said, "Get in the car."


    Hearing that voice when he was about to lose hope lit a fire in him.


    He scrambled up and, with some help, got into the car.


    The car took off before he even shut the door. He fell off the seat, crying out in pain.


    He clutched his injured leg, howling in agony for what felt like forever before he could breathe again. He heard the flick of a lighter and looked over, despite the pain.


    The car was pitch ck. The lighter''s me lit up a face with sharp features that seemed familiar, but he couldn''t ce it. Just as he was about to get a better look, the me went out, leaving only the glow of a cigarette. The voice ordered, "Close the door."


    Alistair snapped back to reality, awkwardly reached out, and shut the car door, blocking out the noise from outside.


    After a bit, he asked, "Who are you?"


    He thought it was a buddy, but now, judging by the guy''s tone and attitude, he was almost sure it wasn''t one of his own. Who the hell would help him?


    He recognized Landon''s voice, and this wasn''t Landon. Maybe a friend of Landon''s?


    But the guy didn''t answer, leaving the car in an eerie silence.


    Alistair started feeling uneasy. This guy was probably an enemy, not a friend, likely after his trade channels.


    But he had some leverage, so he wasn''t scared. He forced himself to chill, thinking about how to negotiateter.


    The rest of the ride was dead silent.


    Meanwhile, the fight had died down. Alton''s guys came to check the bodies but didn''t find Alistair.


    Even though Alton was dead, there were other leaders. Someone would naturally try to take over, but they couldn''t report back without Alistair''s body, so they had to keep looking. When they found Hetastian''s body, they decided to take it back first.


    After they dealt with the bodies and left, Walter got out of the car, looking at the mess on the ground with a serious expression.


    Colin came over and asked, "Alistair''s gotta be dead, right?"


    Walter replied, "They were chasing someone. Who do you think it was?"R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Colin was stunned. "So he''s not dead?"


    Walter closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then sighed.


    "Alexander," he said through gritted teeth, then turned and got back into the car.


    Nathan looked in the rearview mirror. Seeing the pursuers had stopped halfway and weren''t following anymore, he slowed down and reported, "Sir, looks like they stopped chasing us." "Keep driving," Alexander said tly.


    Nathan nodded and sped up, driving out of Alton''s territory. With Alton dead, the D.E Group was probably in chaos and had no energy left to deal with Alistair.

 Chapter 1229

    Nathan rolled up from a side road and linked up with Sean.


    Sean hopped out of another car, eyes glued to Alexander''s ride.


    When the door swung open, Alexander stepped out. Sean craned his neck, trying to peek inside but couldn''t see anything.


    He awkwardly asked, "Mr. Kennedy, did you nab Alistair?"


    Alexander shot him a frosty look, making Sean shrink back.


    Even though Sean had ditched the wig, his makeup was still caked on. With his beefy frame squeezed into a tight dress, he looked pretty ridiculous.


    Seeing his getup, Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated. "Change your clothes before you talk to me," he said coldly.


    Sean exchanged a look with Matthew, then scrambled back into the car. He changed in record time and tried to wipe off the makeup with tissues, but it wouldn''t budge, so they gave up. Back in his camo uniform, the messy makeup on his face didn''t look as out of ce.


    Sean grinned. "All set, Mr. Kennedy."


    Alexander raised his chin, saying, "Take him away first. If he croaks, you''re next."


    "Got it!" Sean snapped to attention. Then, Alexander got back in his car and started heading out.


    In the vige, Quinn sat by the window, staring out into the dark night. It was almost dawn, and Alexander still hadn''t shown up.


    She wasn''t sleepy at all, watching the horizon lighten and sighing again.


    Suddenly, a light flickered in the distance.


    Quinn''s eyes widened. She thought she was seeing things, but the light flickered again.


    She jumped up, staring hard at the distant road, almost hearing the sound of a car.


    But a few minutester, nothing.


    Quinn waited another ten minutes and finally saw a group of peopleing closer.


    She frowned, unsure if it was Alexander.


    Before the group got any closer, the area suddenly lit up, and beams of light shone on them.


    Now Quinn could see clearly-it wasn''t Alexander, but Landon!


    She was so shocked she squatted down, clutching her cor, face pale, not daring to make a sound.


    Outside, Landon was lit up by the beams. He instinctively raised his hand to block it and turned to ask the guy next to him, "Didn''t you say they all bailed?" "Yeah, we saw him take all his men, not leaving a single one," the guy reported.


    Landon frowned, fingers brushing the gun at his waist.


    Hearing the sound of heavy footsteps, he turned to see a bunch of people rushing out, but they weren''t Alexander''s men; they were the vigers. Realizing something was off, Landon turned and bolted.


    The vigers were hyped and chased after him like crazy. Some had guns, others were swinging benches and brooms.


    "Are these people nuts?" Landon muttered.


    The armed vigers didn''t hesitate to shoot, and two of Landon''s guys at the back were immediately taken down.


    Landon''s men fired back, but they were outnumbered and couldn''t handle the heat.


    Landon reached his car, popped the trunk, grabbed a box, and chucked it out.


    As the box burst open mid-air, money scattered everywhere.


    Seeing the cash, the vigers stopped attacking and scrambled to grab as much as they could.


    Landon''s men were stunned, but he had already slipped past the money-grabbing vigers and was sprinting towards the house where Quinn was.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

 Chapter 1230

    Quinn crouched under the window, her fingers twitching nervously. After what felt like forever, she peeked outside.


    She figured all that racket meant Landon either got into a brawl or got chased off. But nope, there he was, heading straight for her. Her face went pale. Crap, he knew where she was and wasing for her. Without a second thought, she bolted out the door. The second she stepped out, Landon spotted her. Their eyes locked, and Quinn''s face turned ghostly white.


    She froze for a split second. Seeing Landon charging at her, she darted to the right.


    She didn''t dare look back, running with everything she had. The wind howled in her ears, and her heart pounded like crazy.


    She could hear footsteps getting closer. Thinking about her nightmare with Alistair, she gritted her teeth and found a burst of energy she didn''t know she had. She managed to put some distance between them.


    She had no clue how long she''d been running, but she was out of breath and dizzy.


    She was running on pure instinct.


    The footsteps behind her meant Landon was still on her tail. She shut her eyes, feeling a wave of despair.


    She tripped on something and went down hard, crying out as her palms and knees hit the ground with a jolt of pain.


    She couldn''t move. She looked back, fighting the pain, and saw Landon was less than 30 feet away.


    She gave up struggling.


    Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm. "Come with me," Casey said.


    Quinn was stunned. She let Casey pull her up, and they ran into the nearby woods.


    She couldn''t talk, her vision was blurry, and she had no idea where they were going.


    Casey stopped and pushed her to the side. "Stay here and don''t move," Casey said before running off.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Quinn sat on the ground, clutching her chest and gasping for air. After Casey ran out, a gunshot rang out. Quinn looked up sharply and saw Casey running in the opposite direction, firing a shot at Landon. The shot missed, but it made Landon chase after Casey.


    Quinn was still in a daze. Her mind was nk, not letting her think too much.


    Landon chased for a few minutes, then suddenly stopped. He frowned, watching Casey''s agile figure, and then turned back. Quinn had just caught her breath, her limbs still weak. But when she looked up, she saw a figureing towards her. The sky was getting brighter, and she could see but not clearly make out faces. Everything was just ck silhouettes. The tall figure wasn''t Casey; it was a man. It was definitely Landoning back.


    Quinn bit her lip as she slowly got up from the ground, transitioning from sitting to squatting to make it easier to run.


    The grass here wasn''t very dense, but the clump she was hiding in was rtively tall. There were simr clumps around, making it not so easy to find her unless searched one by one. Landon''s gaze swept over the grass, like a wolf hunting its prey.


    Quinn clenched her palms, not daring to breathe loudly.


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 Chapter 1231

    Quinn kept her eyes glued to Landon but kept sneaking peeks at the sky. If it got any brighter, she was toast.


    Casey, after running for a bit and not seeing Landon catch up, spun around and yelled, "Don''t move!"


    Landon whipped his head around. Casey grabbed her gun and fired, but her aim was so bad she couldn''t hit the broad side of a barn.


    Landon''s eyes shed with a mix of murder and annoyance. He reached for his own gun and pointed it at Casey.


    Quinn''s eyes went wide. Landon''s aim was no joke. Just as he raised his hand, Quinn jumped up and shouted, "Watch out!" Hearing her, Landon paused and turned to look at her.


    Quinn freaked and bolted.


    Landon didn''t chase her. Instead, he aimed at Quinn''s leg.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    He pulled the trigger.


    The gunshot made Quinn cover her ears and crouch down, totally freaked out.


    She stared at the ground, still in shock, not sure if the shot was meant for her or Casey.


    She didn''t even know if she was hit.


    Then a beam of light shone from the left, and Quinn slowly lowered her hands and looked over.


    Landon was clutching his arm, blood oozing through his fingers. He was staring at the light too.


    A motorcycle was speeding towards them.


    Realizing it was probably Alexander, Landon didn''t waste a second and started to run.


    But he couldn''t outrun the bike. In no time, the motorcycle overtook him and skidded to a stop, blocking his way.


    A ck gun was pointed at his forehead, and Alexander said coldly, "Why run now?"


    Landon froze, his eyes scanning Alexander. Alexander looked a bit rough, his shirt wrinkled, hair a mess.


    "You look pretty beat up," Landon said.


    Alexander smirked, "Enough to take you down."


    Landon sneered, "Don''t be so sure."


    Alexander''s eyes flicked to Landon''s arm. His gun was on the ground, and his arm was still bleeding.


    Landon had almost no chance to fight back.


    Alexander looked back at him and said, "Then there''s nothing left to say."


    Just then, Landon swung his hand. A sh of light, and a knife appeared, shing at Alexander''s wrist.


    Alexander dodged, his arm dropping to avoid the sh, and he pulled the trigger.


    The shot hit Landon in the gut, making him freeze for a second before reacting.


    Ignoring the wound, he lunged at Alexander before he could fire again.


    They both hit the ground, rolling around, with Landon aiming the knife at Alexander''s eyes.


    Alexander grabbed Landon''s wrist with his free hand. Both of them were using all their strength, and blood from Landon''s arm was soaking his sleeve. Alexander pulled a knife from his boot and shed at Landon''s neck. Landon rolled to the side to dodge, putting some space between them. Landon tried to get up but fell back down from the pain.


    Alexander was in the same boat.


    Both of them focused on the gun on the ground, reaching for it at the same time, each grabbing one end.


    As they struggled, Landon''s backup had already caught up.


    Seeing this, Landon sneered, "Looks like you''re done for."


    "Think again," Alexander shot back.

 Chapter 1232

    Landon''s eyes lit up, and the next second, a horn red from the other side. A bunch of ck cars came zooming in, and his crew didn''t stand a chance they got knocked down like bowling pins. Landon shot a deadly re at Alexander, even though he was beat up pretty bad, he managed to get back on his feet.


    Alexander looked a bit shocked but got up too. They both still had their guns, but out of nowhere, Landon just dropped his.


    Alexander stumbled back a couple of steps from the momentum.


    In that split second, Landon hopped on a motorcycle, cranked the throttle, and charged straight at Alexander.


    They were too close, so Alexander had to jump out of the way.


    Landon sped past him, throttle maxed out. In no time, he was already over 60 feet away.


    The whole fight was over in minutes. Quinn just stood there, stunned, watching Landon disappear into the woods.


    Nathan came running with his guys, out of breath, and asked, "Mr. Kennedy, you good?"


    Alexander looked away, and the gun slipped from his hand as he started to sway.


    Nathan grabbed him just in time to keep him from falling.


    Quinn ran over too. Just then, it was like the dark sky split open, letting in some golden light. She saw blood dripping from Alexander''s fingers. "You''re hurt!" she blurted out.


    Alexander barely lifted his eyelids to look at her, his face covered in blood. "I''m fine," he muttered weakly.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, not knowing what to say.


    A bitter, Alexander was back at that clinic.


    Because of the morning''s chaos, the vige was like a ghost town, everyone hiding inside.


    Quinn and Casey stood in the outside corridor. The clinic was super basic; the corridor led straight to a small path, easy for anyone to climb over.


    Casey looked away from the ward door and turned to Quinn, "Quinn, who are you guys, really?"


    Quinn had no clue how to answer.


    Casey went on, "Did I do okay?"


    Quinn suddenly remembered something important. "What was up with those vigersst night?" she asked.


    Casey replied, "Earlier, Alexander''s guys asked me to take him to find the vige mayor. They said some outsiders were gonna attack at night and told everyone to get ready." "And then?" Quinn asked.


    Casey scratched her head, "And then they said killing just one of them would get you a million bucks. Everyone wanted the money."


    Quinn finally got why the vigers went nuts.


    Feeling proud, Casey patted her chest. "But my job was different from theirs."


    Casey''s actionsst night had shown her job was to keep Quinn safe. She knew the area well and could help Quinn hide.


    Casey wondered if she could finally be an insider this time.


    "Thanks," Quinn said.


    "No problem. Can I help you guys in the future? I''m really good at stuff," Casey said with hopeful eyes.


    Quinn looked at her, feeling a bit conflicted. She seemed so young, and there weren''t many girls her age around here.


    Quinn suddenly asked, "Have you ever been to school?"


    Casey was taken aback for a moment and quickly said, "I haven''t been to school, but I can read and do math. Don''t underestimate me."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    She had obviously misunderstood. Quinn said, "I didn''t mean it like that. I was just asking."


    Hearing this, Casey''s worry turned into joy. "So, can I stick with you guys?" she asked again.

 Chapter 1233

    "I''ve already told you, we''re not the bosses here. Tagging along with us ain''t gonna help," Quinn repeated.


    "Don''t care. As long as I can get some work, it''s cool!" Casey shot back, stubborn as ever.


    Quinn didn''t jump to agree. She was barely keeping it together herself and couldn''t drag Casey along.


    Switching gears, she asked, "What did your mom do before she ended up here?"


    "She was a teacher. Said she got tricked intoing here as a volunteer," Casey spilled.


    "Bet she really wants to go back, huh?" Quinn probed.


    Casey''s eyes got all sad, and she nodded. "Yeah, I see her sitting at the door, staring east, saying home is that way." Quinn pressed her lips together, staying quiet.


    Just then, the door swung open, and the clinic docs filed out.


    Quinn jumped in, "How is he?"


    The doc looked serious, and Casey tranted.


    "He said the medical setup here sucks. Mr. Kennedy needs a big hospital. If we wait, it''ll get worse," Casey ryed.


    "Is it that bad?" Quinn asked.


    "It''s not that it''s bad; we just can''t check for internal injuries here. If we wait, a small problem could turn deadly," Casey exined. Quinn let out a quiet sigh. "Got it."


    The docs left, and the hallway went quiet again.


    Quinn walked into the ward. Six beds, but only Alexander was there, lying by the window, shirtless and wrapped in bandages. Earlier, he had clothes on, so Quinn hadn''t seen his state. Now she got why he couldn''t get up after a few hits from Landon. As soon as Quinn walked in, Alexander''s eyes locked on her.


    Quinn moved closer, and Nathan wisely stepped out, leaving them alone.


    Quinn stared at Alexander for a bit, neither saying a word.


    Finally, she broke the silence. "Why''d you run outst night?"


    He leaned back, all casual. "Weren''t you the one who ran out first?"


    Quinn was caught off guard and snapped back, "Wasn''t it because of you..."


    She cut herself off, swallowing the rest.


    "Because of me?" Alexander pressed.


    Quinn switched topics, "The doc said you need a bigger hospital."


    He smirked, eyes twinkling. "Do you care about me?"


    "If I don''t care, you won''t go?" Quinn shot back.


    "Nope," Alexander said, cool as ever.


    Quinn''s face showed her frustration. "Go if you want! It''s not me who''s hurt." "Exactly, it''s not you who''s hurt. Why are you mad?" Alexander countered.


    Quinn was stumped. She couldn''t argue back and just bottled up her anger.


    The more pissed she got, the more it showed she cared, giving him more ammo to mess with her. "Quinn," Alexander suddenly called her name.


    Quinn looked up, meeting his gaze. The sunlight hit his shoulders, making his eyes sparkle like gems.


    "If I took on all your pain, would you open your heart again?" he asked, dead serious.


    Quinn''s expression shifted as she looked into his sincere eyes, her breath catching.


    His words hit her right in the feels.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 Chapter 1234

    The ward was dead quiet for a sec, but those birds outside just wouldn''t shut up, which was driving me nuts.


    After a bit, Alexander goes, "Forget it. No need for a big hospital. I know what''s up with me."


    Quinn snapped back to reality, giving him a look. "So, ''knowing your own condition'' means you ain''t dying yet, right?" Alexander leaned back allzy-like. "You got it."


    "And what if Landon shows up?" Quinn asked.


    "He''s more banged up than me. No way he''sing," Alexander said, all confident.


    Quinn frowned. She hadn''t seen how bad Landon was hurt, but she couldn''t get why Alexander wouldn''t hit up a hospital. "If he can''te, why are you still here?" Quinn pressed.


    "Don''t we still gotta save Abigail?" Alexander shot back.


    Quinn went quiet, staring at him, torn. His face was pale, and you could see the veins on his forehead.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    After a bit, she said, "You should take care of yourself first."


    Alexander chuckled. "You still care about me."


    Quinn ignored him and turned to leave. Nathan was at the door, straightening up when he saw her.


    Quinn noticed the guilt in his eyes and paused. "He won''t run off again, will he?"


    "What?" Nathan looked like he''d just woken up.


    Quinn repeated, "Is he gonna run off again?"


    "I dunno. But he''s so messed up, he probably won''t," Nathan said.


    "Then why won''t he go to the hospital?" Quinn asked, staring him down.


    Nathan dodged her gaze and stammered, "Isn''t he always like this? No matter how bad it is, if he can walk, he thinks he''s fine." Nathan was right. Alexander was always like this. And now, he was even more stubborn.


    Quinn nced back into the ward and saw Alexander lighting up a cigarette.


    She turned away, face stern, and walked out of the hospital.


    The ce was pretty empty today, the corridor deserted. She plopped down on a chair, with Casey next to her.


    Casey stared at her for a while and then asked, "Quinn, you look pissed. Did you and Alexander fight?"


    "No," Quinn said.


    "No? Then why you mad? Oh, he didn''t give you money?" Casey asked.


    Quinn shot her a look. "Is money all you think about?"


    Casey grinned, all honest. "Can''t think of anything else."


    Around here, money was everything. They worked for the local big shots to get by. To Casey, nothing caused more drama than money. Quinn looked at her, feeling something.


    When she was Casey''s age, she was with the Kennedy family. Even though she was living under someone else''s roof, at least she wasn''t struggling for food like Casey. And she had an education.


    Thinking about it, she realized she had it way better than Casey.


    In the ward, Nathan saw Alexander putting on clothes and hesitated about stopping him.


    But he didn''t have the guts like Sean.


    Alexander finished dressing, buttoning up while asking, "Did all the people Landon brought die?"


    "No, two ran off. One was still alive but too messed up to save. But our guys are after them," Nathan reported.


    Alexander frowned and sighed. "He knows this ce better than you. You won''t catch them."


    "So, what do we do?" Nathan asked.


    "Call them back. No need for pointless sacrifices," Alexander said.


    "Okay," Nathan replied.


    Alexander walked past him and out of the ward. There was a back door in the corridor that led straight out of the hospital. Nathan quickly caught up and drove the car parked across the hospital over.


    Nathan knew Alexander was heading to find Alistair.

 Chapter 1235

    Landon''s crew all bit the dust in that vige, and the other two dudes got split up from him. After ditching the vige and shaking off the chasers, he was totally out of gas. He pulled over and checked out his gut, which was still gushing blood. He was shaking like a leaf from losing so much blood.


    He barely managed to get off the bike and plopped down on a rock, yanking the cloth on his wound as tight as he could. He gritted his teeth, his face all twisted up from the pain. Once he tied the knot, his hands just dropped, his face pale and drenched in sweat. His lips were all cracked and white, and even the tiniest move made them split open. He shut his eyes, trying to catch his breath and save some energy.


    By noon, his guys tracked him down. Seeing him all messed up, they freaked and quickly got him into the car, heading back to the valley.


    Abigail, with her hands cuffed to a tree, was squatting on the ground, bored out of her mind. When she turned and saw them helping Landon back, her eyes went wide with surprise. She jumped up and craned her neck to get a better look.


    Landon''s crew sat him by the pool, boiled a big pot of water nearby, and took off his coat, showing the nasty bullet hole in his left side.


    Seeing this, Abigail yanked at her cuffs, but it was no use.


    Now that Landon was hurt, this was her shot.


    Landon left Abigail behind to keep a backup n. If he had taken herst night, he might''ve been toast.


    Alexander didn''t off him right away because Abigail was still in his grip. If Landon croaked, Abigail would definitely get whacked by his men.


    One of his guys said, "Mr. Kennedy, I gotta take out the bullets, but there''s no anesthesia. You''ll have to tough it out."


    Landon weakly replied, "Forget it. Just do it."


    The guy nodded, grabbed the toolbox. After a quick wipe with alcohol, he started digging out the bullets.


    There were two bullets, one in the arm and one in the gut.


    Landon bit down on a piece of cloth. Seeing his face all twisted and the veins popping on his forehead, Abigail winced.


    Just watching made her feel the pain.


    Suddenly, she had an idea and yelled, "You''re doing it wrong! If you screw up, he''ll die. Let me do it!"


    The guy paused and looked back at her, then at Landon.


    Landon struggled to lift his eyelids to look at her. Abigail blinked, trying to look as sincere as possible.


    "What game are you ying now?" Landon asked.


    His voice was so weak it was almost a whisper. Abigail quickly exined, "I really can do it. I studied art, right? My knife skills and steady hands are better than his." Seeing he wasn''t convinced, she added, "Trust me. Let me go. I can''t run away anyway."


    With her cuffed, she had no options. She needed to free her hands first to find a chance. This was a good shot to gain trust.


    Landon signaled to his guy.


    The guy nodded, took out the key, and went over to unlock her cuffs.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail stretched her sore wrists, jogged over to Landon, and checked out the tools. Even though she didn''t get them, she put on a confident face.


    A gun was pressed against her head.


    Landon stared at her and slowly said, "If you try any tricks, you''ll die before me."


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 Chapter 1236

    Abigail let out a heavy sigh, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "Seriously? You''re still trying to threaten me in this state?" she snapped. Landon was too weak to even argue back, so he just stayed silent.


    Abigail nced at the tools and grabbed a scalpel. Landon''s guys had tried using tweezers to get the bullet out, but that was a joke. She had to cut the flesh open first to see where the bullet was before she could yank it out.


    No anesthesia meant Landon was in for a world of hurt.


    He bit down on a towel, shooting Abigail a death re.


    He even thought she might be doing this on purpose.


    Abigail''s forehead was slick with sweat. She wasn''t a doctor, and the blood on her fingers made it tough to hold the tools steady.


    She was also scared Landon might lose it and kill her, so she looked up to calm him down, "Almost there. I can see the bullet now. Hang tight."


    Landon almost cked out a few times but the pain kept snapping him back. Eventually, he got so numb he took the towel out of his mouth because he couldn''t feel anything anymore. Abigail carefully pulled the bullet out with the tweezers and tossed it aside.


    She let out a long breath and looked at Landon.


    He was barely conscious, swaying. If it weren''t for the rock behind him, he would''ve hit the ground.


    "It''s out. You good?" Abigail asked, a bit nervous. Landon barely opened his eyes to look at her but didn''t have the energy to talk.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Seeing he was still alive, Abigail felt a bit better. She grabbed a needle and thread to stitch him up. Her stitching was messy, but it worked-no major bleeding or guts spilling out. She couldn''t help but think, ''Landon is one tough dude.''


    After bandaging him up, she moved on to the bullet in his arm.


    The arm was easier. She cut around the wound and popped the bullet out.


    When she was done, she slumped down next to him, exhausted. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and turned to Landon.


    "I just saved your life. Can you not tie me up again?" she asked.


    Landon closed his eyes, ignoring her. It was hard to tell if he passed out or just fell asleep.


    Two of his guys were standing nearby, watching her closely.


    Abigail grinned and said, "What are you staring at? I just saved him. I''m starving. I want some meat."


    The two guys exchanged looks, and one of them said harshly, "Don''t try anything funny. You can''t escape."


    Then they both walked out.


    There was only one way out. As long as they guarded it, Abigail had no way to escape.


    Despite their tough talk, they soon brought her some meat¡ªa live rabbit.


    They gutted the rabbit by the pool and tossed it into a pot to boil. That was her lunch.


    Abigail took a deep breath as she brought the food over. It tasted worse than wild veggie porridge.


    But since she saved Landon, the two guys didn''t tie her up again. They even took off her handcuffs, and the leg cuffs were next. She felt like she might be able to escape soon.


    Meanwhile, Casey brought lunch, and Quinn took it to the ward. As expected, Alexander was gone again.


    No surprise there, so she didn''t react much. She turned and handed the lunch to Casey. "You can have this." Casey noticed the empty ward and blinked, asking, "What if hees backter?"


    "It''s fine. Just eat," Quinn said.


    Hearing that, Casey didn''t hesitate and started chowing down.

 Chapter 1237

    This was all set up just for Quinn and Alexander. At home, she only munched on sds, always super careful not to blow through Alexander''s cash.


    She knew if he ever asked her to exin the expenses and she couldn''t, it wouldn''t be worth the drama.


    Quinn plopped down in the chair, staring at the food in her hand with zero interest.


    Meanwhile, Alexander had already rolled into the old vige. Quiet as a mouse, except for the random dog barking.


    Alistair''s wound was patched up, and he was lying on the bed, groaning.


    There were guards outside, but no one gave a damn about him.


    He yelled for food, water, or a bathroom break, but no matter how loud he got, nobody cared.


    Just as he was about to give up, the door creaked open, making him sit up straight in a panic.


    When he saw who it was, his mind went nk, and his face turned ghostly pale.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    He had imagined a lot of peopleing to help him, but never in a million years did he think it would be Alexander.


    He was just d Alexander didn''te to finish him off; help was thest thing he expected.


    Seeing Alexander felt like the Grim Reaper was paying him a visit.


    He gulped hard, staring at Alexander''s approaching figure, his fingers shaking like crazy.


    "Why you?" he stammered.


    Alexander stood over him, looking down as he asked, "Surprised?"


    Alistair quickly pulled himself together. He stared at Alexander and said, "You saved me, so you must want something, right?"


    Alexander smirked, looking at him as he said, "So, what do you have that''s worth your life?"


    Without missing a beat, Alistair blurted out, "I''ve been moving goods for Landon and his crew. I know all their shipping routes. Is that what you''re after?"


    Just knowing the routes wasn''t enough. How to transport, how to connect with those people those were the real secrets. Otherwise, even if someone knew the routes, it would be useless if they couldn''t make the connections. Alexander rolled up his sleeves, and Sean brought a chair for him from behind. He casually sat down and said, "Looks like you know what''s up. Spill it."


    Alistair eyed him warily, asking, "If I tell you, will you really let me go?"


    "Of course," Alexander said tly.


    His straightforward answer left Alistair speechless.


    Since Alistair didn''t know Alexander well, he didn''t quite trust him. Alistair hesitated for a long time, unsure of what to do.


    "How can I trust you?" he asked.


    "You don''t have a choice but to trust me," Alexander said confidently.


    Originally, he wanted to negotiate, but Alexander shut that down real quick. His superior look made it seem like he was staring at a dead man. For a moment, Alistair was pissed. He said in a desperate tone, "Then why talk? Just kill me!"


    Alexander chuckled. "Got some guts, huh? I like people with guts."


    Alistair was stunned.


    Then he heard Alexander say, "People without guts can''t handle my methods."


    Alistair''s mouth twitched, and he had a bad feeling.


    Then he asked, "Why do you want those routes?"


    "To make money, duh. Why else would I bother with you?" Alexander retorted.


    That made sense. Who in this world would turn down money?


    "If I tell you, will you really let me go?"

 Chapter 1238

    Alexander shed a smile, but it had a creepy vibe that made Sean''s skin crawl.


    Alexander added, "Not only am I letting you go, but from now on, you''re rolling with me. I''ll cut you in bigger than Landon ever did." Alistair shot Alexander a weird look. Was Alexander broke or something?


    But then he thought about it. Alexander had ditched the Kennedy Group. Without them, he didn''t have many ways to make bank. So, it kinda made sense.


    "But can you even reach those clients?" Alistair asked.


    "Don''t sweat it. I got you out, didn''t I? Just focus on raking in the cash," Alexander said, all chill.


    Alistair felt a bit tempted. He was still uneasy about what he did to Quinn, but he wasn''t dumb enough to bring it up.


    "Let me think about it," he said.


    "Alright, you got two minutes," Alexander replied.


    Alistair went quiet, feeling a lump in his throat. Just as he was about to snap back, Alexander said, "If I hadn''t botched things with Walter, I wouldn''t be here." "If you keep hesitating, I''ll just go to Walter. Worst case, I take a hit," Alexander said, like he didn''t care.


    Alistair finally got why Alexander came to him. He couldn''t cut a deal with Walter. Walter was greedy as hell, taking half the profits for doing squat.


    The rest had to be split among a bunch of people, so no wonder Alexander couldn''t make it work.


    Alistair thought for a sec, then pped the bed and said, "Alright, I''m in!"


    Alexander raised an eyebrow, tilted his head, and gave Sean a look.


    Sean got the hint, grabbed a notebook, and sat next to Alistair. "Alright, spill."


    Alistair started listing his demands. He hadn''t eaten sincest night and wanted some grub.


    Sean called someone to bring him food.


    Alexander handed him over to Sean and bounced.


    Standing outside in the yard, Alexander looked around with a mysterious expression.


    Nathan whispered, "Mr. Kennedy, won''t Mrs. Kennedy be pissed you snuck out?"


    "If she''s mad, it means she cares, right?" Alexander said, a hint of a smile and a bit of pride in his eyes.


    Nathan just tugged at the corner of his mouth, not sure what to say.


    Alexander was only wearing a ck shirt. From his look, you couldn''t tell his real condition, except for his ghostly pale face.


    Nathan didn''t get Alexander''s way of seeking attention, but he respected it.


    Alistair needed some time. Those channels weren''t easy to exin all at once, and he didn''t dare let Alexander check hisputer directly. He still wanted to keep some cards close to his chest. Quinn had been at the hospital all day. But by nightfall, Alexander still hadn''t shown up.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Pissed off, she went back to Casey''s house.


    Casey''s mom was outside in the yard, picking veggies. She was only in her thirties but looked like she was in her fifties or sixties. With a face full of wrinkles and gray hair, you couldn''t tell her real age. Seeing Quinne back, she put down the veggies, stood up with a hunched back, and smiled at Quinn.


    "You''re back," she said warmly.


    Casey quickly ran over to help her sit down. "Mom, I told you not to do this stuff. Let me handle it."


    "I got nothing else to do. Keeps me from getting bored," she said.


    Quinn pulled up a stool and sat down. Looking at Casey''s mom''s aged face, she asked, "What''s wrong with you?"

 Chapter 1239

    Casey''s mom said, "It''s just some minor stuff."


    Casey shot back, "Minor? Seriously? Diabetes, stomach issues, high blood pressure, and cerebral arteriosclerosis? That''s a lot more than minor." She rattled off the list, leaving Quinn totally floored. Quinn had never seen someone with so many health problems at once.


    Indeed, they weren''t deadly, but dealing with all that had to be rough.


    Suddenly, it clicked why Casey was so desperate for cash. Those meds must cost a fortune.


    Casey''s mom chuckled awkwardly. "They''re not that serious. They won''t kill me. Don''t make a big deal out of it."


    Casey felt a bit down. What really got to her was that some of these illnesses couldn''t be cured, no matter how much money she made.


    But if she could make her mom''s life a bit easier, that''d be something.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, not sure how tofort her. She picked up the veggies on the ground and started sorting them.


    Casey asked if Alexander wasing back for dinner. Quinn shook her head. She didn''t even have a phone now, so how would she know?


    She sat at the door, chatting with Casey. Even though she hadn''t known Casey long and everything was new, having someone to talk to made her feel less alone.


    Her only worry was Abigail. She had no idea how Abigail was doing, or if she was even still alive.


    Landon was out cold for a whole day. It wasn''t until evening that he slowly woke up, staring nkly at the gray sky.


    Suddenly, a head popped into view, blocking the thin moonlight.


    "You''re awake?" Abigail asked.


    She stood with her back to the light, so Landon couldn''t see her face, but he could hear the smug tone in her voice. He tried to smirk and said weakly, "Go away."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    Abigail clicked her tongue and stepped back. She grabbed a bowl and scooped some wild veggie porridge from the pot.


    "I''ve been watching over you all afternoon, keeping the porridge warm so it wouldn''t get cold. See how nice I am?" Abigail said proudly. Landon stayed silent.


    Abigail handed him the porridge. "You gonna drink this or what?"


    He turned his face away. He was so weak he didn''t want to say a word, let alone move.


    Even breathing made his wounds hurt like hell, let alone getting up to eat.


    Abigail sighed, scooped a spoonful of porridge, and brought it to his mouth. "Just have a bit. Don''t starve to death and have your guys kill me out of anger. That''d be so unfair." "You''re the first person I''ve ever fed like this. I haven''t even fed my own dad. See how lucky you are."


    "But don''t thank me too much. Just take off the shackles."


    Abigail kept yapping beside him. Landon''s forehead veins throbbed, and he finally couldn''t take it anymore. He raised his hand with difficulty and grabbed her wrist.


    "Shut up!" he snapped weakly.


    Abigail was stunned. Seeing the murderous look in his eyes, she immediately shut her mouth.


    He didn''t use much force, so Abigail was fine, but he pulled at his wound, causing him to curl up in pain.


    Abigail blinked, quietly watching him. She gently ced the bowl on the ground and touched her nose.


    Even though she couldn''t feel Landon''s pain, she knew the cuts she made were deep. She could still remember the feeling of the knife cutting through flesh, and it made her shudder just thinking about it. Landon was tough. Despite the pain, he hadn''t made a sound.


    Abigail sat beside him for a while and noticed he was still in the same position, but his whole body was trembling.


    She leaned over, moved his arm aside, and saw blood flowing out, soaking the entire bandage around his abdomen in red.


    The red was shocking to see.

 Chapter 1240

    Abigail''s eyes went wide, and she shot a quick look at the exit. Lucky for her, Landon''s men hadn''t barged in yet.


    She grabbed the toolbox nearby and gave Landon a light tap on the shoulder. "Chill out. I''ll fix your bandages," she murmured.


    Landon was totally spent, barely able to move. Even if Abigail wanted to off him right now, he wouldn''t have the juice to fight back.


    With the bandage in hand, Abigail nced at Landon. His hair was a mess, sweat dripped down his face, and he had his eyes shut like he was on death''s doorstep. Her fingers clenched, and a wild thought popped into her head.


    What if she took Landon hostage? Could she make a break for it?


    Once that idea hit, it wouldn''t go away.


    She shoved the thought down and got to work, unwrapping the bandages on Landon''s body. The wound had split open again.


    The stitching was crap. The thread hadn''t snapped, but it had dug into his skin, making the wound bleed non-stop.


    Abigail stopped the bleeding, yanked out the stitches, and re-stitched the wound. By the time she cleaned up the blood, Landon had already passed out.


    She let out a long breath. After all this mess, Landon definitely wouldn''t let her off easy once he bounced back.


    No way she was gonna sit around and wait for doom.


    She slipped her hand into the toolbox, grabbed a scalpel, and hid it up her sleeve.


    The night dragged on without any drama.


    At dawn, Alistair finally wrapped up his exnations.


    Sean came out with a notebook and handed it to Alexander, who skimmed through the notes. Alistair had spilled a lot, but not everything.


    Sean tried to read Alexander''s face but got nothing. So he asked, "Mr. Kennedy, should we squeeze more out of him?"


    "Nah, this''ll do," Alexander said, handing the notebook back and giving Sean a look. "You really wanna cash in on this?"


    Sean quickly shook his head, took the notebook, and asked, "So, what''s next?"


    Alexander''s lips curled into a grin.


    Sean felt a shiver run down his spine for no good reason.


    Alistair hadn''t slept all night. Just as he was about to crash, Sean barged in with some guys.


    Alistair''s eyes snapped open.


    "Already hitting the sack? Have some grub first," Sean said.


    Seeing the food Sean brought, Alistair''s stomach growled. But something about the fancy meal made him think it might be hisst.


    Nervous, he asked, "If I eat this, am I a goner?"


    "Of course not. You''ve had it rough these past few days. After you eat, we''ll take you to chill out a bit. From now on, we''re partners," Sean said, sounding so sincere it was hard to doubt him. Alistair thought it over. If Alexander wanted him dead, he''d just do it. Why the song and dance?


    Figuring it out, Alistair grabbed the tray, snatched the big drumstick, and started chowing down.


    Sean stood there, grinning wider as Alistair cleaned the te.


    After wiping his mouth, Alistair said, "I''m stuffed. Can I crash now?"


    "What''s the rush? Let me take you somewhere nice," Sean said.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Where to?" Alistair asked.


    "You''ll see," Sean said, all mysterious-like.


    Before Alistair could respond, Sean had someone haul him up and drag him outside.


    Alistair looked confused, not sure what Alexander was up to. But he was beat and alone, so he had no choice but to go along.


    They shoved him into a car, and Sean drove him out of the vige.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1241

    Half an hourter, Alistair finally figured out where the so-called "good ce" was.


    It was a club, but it was so rundown it couldn''t even pretend to be fancy.


    The women were all over forty, and anyone with a bit of cash wouldn''t be caught dead here.


    Alistair instantly got why Sean dragged him here. He looked super annoyed and said, "Sean, can we bounce? I know way better spots. Why this dump?" Sean shot him a look. "Be d there''s even a ce. Quit being so picky."


    Alistair was already in such bad shape, yet he still had the nerve to think about finding a woman in a ce like this. Dude was seriously hopeless. Sean cursed Alistair in his head and had someone drag him inside.


    Alistair struggled but couldn''t break free and got hauled in. He wasn''t into it at first, but then he started feeling kinda feverish for no reason. When they shoved open a room door and tossed him in, he stumbled a few steps and hit the floor.


    He red at Sean. "What the hell are you doing?"


    Before Sean could answer, Alexander walked in. He still had that smile, but in this dim light, it looked creepy as hell.


    Alistair tried to get up, but his busted leg made him fail.


    As Alexander slowly walked towards him, Alistair''s sense of doom got stronger.


    "Alexander, what do you want?" he asked through gritted teeth.


    Alexander stopped in front of him and squatted down. "What do I want? Why don''t you take a wild guess?"


    Alistair looked around. He didn''t want to admit it, but it seemed like he couldn''t escape.


    "Is this still about Quinn?" Alistair asked.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "You''re pretty sharp to guess that quick," Alexander said leisurely.


    Alistair looked frustrated. This wasn''t smart; it was more like dumb luck.


    He''d always felt something was off but couldn''t put his finger on it. Now he got it.


    Alexander hade all this way to save Quinn; he even blew up his base for her. After what he did to Quinn, how could Alexander let him off easy?


    No way Alexander was gonna team up with him. He hadn''t thought of this yesterday and got suckered by Alexander''s "sincerity," spilling all those secrets like an idiot!


    He now wished he could p himself.


    Alistair hurriedly said, "It''s just a woman. I can find you a hundred like her, Alexander. Let''s make a deal. I still have some important connections. Let me go, and I''ll tell you everything." He still clung to ast shred of hope, trying to use money to sway Alexander.


    Alexander said indifferently, "No need."


    Alistair''s face went pale, and he panicked. He then said, "This has nothing to do with me. It was all Landon''s doing. Go after Landon. Whye after me?" "Don''t worry. None of you are getting away," Alexander said casually.


    Without wasting any more words, he slowly stood up and looked down at Alistair.


    His smile was gone, reced by a coldness, like a judge delivering Alistair''s final death sentence.


    "Enjoy yourself," he said, then turned and left the room.


    "Alexander!" Alistair shouted, totally panicked. He tried to get up, and when he failed, he dragged his injured leg and frantically crawled towards Alexander. He pleaded, "Don''t go. I have other secrets. Let''s make a deal. I was wrong. I''ll apologize to Quinn. Please, let me go!"


    No matter what he said, Alexander didn''t even turn his head.


    Alistair finally managed to crawl to the door, but it suddenly mmed shut, cutting off hisst shred of hope.

 Chapter 1242

    Alistair banged on that old iron door like a madman, making a racket that had Sean ncing back nervously. Alexander, however, acted as if he didn''t hear a thing and just strolled out.


    Sean had to stick around to make sure nothing went sideways. If Alistair got loose, they''d be in deep trouble. Alistair kept pounding and cursing Alexander, but it was like yelling at a brick wall.


    Eventually, he ran out of steam, his body burning up like a furnace.


    He grabbed his cor and ripped it to shreds, rolling on the ground and making noises that sounded like a dying cow. Sean heard themotion and felt all kinds of ufortable. He checked his watch; only ten minutes had passed. Matthew chimed in, "He ain''t gonna die, right?"


    "Not that quick. The drug''s just kicking in. Are the girls here?" Sean asked.


    "They''ve been here, just waiting for the go-ahead," Matthew replied.


    "Go check," Sean suggested.


    Curiosity got the best of him. He went to another room, pushed the door open, and saw seven or eight women inside. They jumped up and stared at him when he walked in. Sean swallowed hard and quietly closed the door, giving Matthew a thumbs-up.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    These women were a mess.


    Each one was skin and bones, like they were one step away from being skeletons. And these were the "better" ones.


    The others? Covered in sores and pus, enough to make you lose your lunch.


    Matthew said, "They''re all sick. That''s why."


    Sean''s face twisted in disgust. Yeah, it was gross, but Alistair had iting.


    He''d taken a dose of his own drug that was three times what Quinn had. These women probably wouldn''t be enough to save him.


    He might not even make it through the day. And even if he did, the diseases these women carried would make him wish he hadn''t.


    If Alistair hadn''t been such a sleazeball, he wouldn''t be in this mess.


    After another half hour, Sean finally let the women in.


    They rushed into the room like their lives depended on it, scared they''d get kicked out if they were too slow.


    In their condition, they had no future. Using their bodies to make some cash was the best they could hope for.


    Alexander didn''t stick around. After leaving the shop, he headed back to Casey''s ce.


    Before he even got out of the car, he spotted someone unexpected-Walter.


    Quinn was just as surprised. What was Walter doing here?


    Without an invite, Walter walked over to a bench, sat down, and smirked, "Looks like you''re doing alright since you got out." Quinn just stared at him, not saying a word.


    "What''s the matter? Not happy to see me?" Walter asked.


    Quinn was definitely not happy. Seeing him here was like seeing a ghost that wouldn''t go away.


    Casey was eyeing him closely. Walter looked more approachable than Alexander, almost like a woman.


    But Quinn didn''t seem thrilled to see him.


    "What are you doing here?" Quinn asked.


    "I''m here to take you back. Gotten sofy here you don''t wanna leave?" Walter asked.


    Quinn pressed her lips together and stayed quiet for a moment. "Did you have anything to do with me getting captured by Landon?" she asked. Walter couldn''t help butugh at that.

 Chapter 1243

    Quinn scrunched up her face.


    Walter shot back, "If I had anything to do with it, you think I''d let you bounce outta Las Veges?"


    It made sense. Quinn had been mulling it over, but with his ties to Landon, it was hard not to be suspicious.


    "So, since you''re tight with him, can you get him to let Abigail go?" Quinn asked.


    "Tight with him? Who fed you that line, Alexander?" Walter sneered.


    "No, I saw you with him before..."


    Before she could finish, Walter cut her off, "I was tight with Alexander too, why don''t you bring that up?" Quinn was stumped.


    Walter didn''t seem close to anyone, yet he could vibe with everyone.


    Quinn stared at him for a bit and then said, "If you get Abigail out, I''ll go back with you."


    Walter raised an eyebrow, "Alexander didn''t help you get her out?"


    "Stop bringing him up. If you won''t do it, then forget it," Quinn said, frowning.


    Walter chuckled. "You''re quick to defend him. Guess it doesn''t matter if I''m here or not."


    Quinn stayed quiet, not arguing back.


    "These years in Las Veges have really held you back," Walter said.


    Quinn clenched her fists. Every time she heard that, it sparked an annoying, restless frustration.


    "Looks like you know it too, finally starting to self-reflect?" This wasn''t Quinn but Alexander.


    Quinn and Walter turned to see Alexander strolling over, hands in his pockets.


    It was hard to tell if he had lost weight or if his shirt was just loose, but the ck shirt looked kinda baggy on him.


    "Mr. Kennedy, still kicking, huh?" Walter asked.


    "Thanks to someone, I almost bit it. Someone must be pissed," Alexander said, sitting down on a tree stump opposite Walter. They sat facing each other, calm but with tension simmering underneath.


    Nothing good ever came from them being together. Not wanting to hear their bickering, Quinn turned and walked into the house.


    Casey followed her in but peeked out the door to watch.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Outside, Walter and Alexander stared each other down, neither backing off.


    Walterughed. "Mr. Kennedy, why you looking at me like that? Someone might think you got a crush."


    "When you''re being narcissistic, at least use your brain a little. Don''t make a fool of yourself," Alexander mocked.


    Walter wasn''t annoyed; he just shook his head with a smile.


    Alexander said, "You only show up now to join the fun. Although you''re a jerk, at least you''re not a coward. Looks like I misjudged you." Walter said, "It''s cool. I forgive you."


    He admitted it so easily that it made Alexanderugh.


    "Where''s Landon?" Alexander asked.


    "How should I know?" Walter shrugged.


    "Then what good are you?" Alexander sneered.


    "Whether I''m useful or not, I don''t need to prove it to you," Walter shot back.


    Casey scratched her head, listening for a bit but not getting what they were talking about. She then went back inside to find Quinn.


    Quinn sat in the house, feeling frustrated. Abigail was missing, which already had her on edge. Now that those two had met, her headache only got worse. "Quinn, who''s that long-haired dude? Is he your friend too?" Casey asked.


    She initially thought Walter might be Quinn''s friend, but something felt off, leaving her unsure of how to approach him.


    This question stumped Quinn.


    What was the rtionship between the three of them?


    But one thing was certain-they were not friends.

 Chapter 1244

    Walter was dead set on sticking around, and no one could budge him.


    Casey''s crib only had two rooms, so cramming everyone in was a no-go.


    She thought about asking the neighbor if they could crash there for a bit, but Alexander and Walter weren''t having it. Alexander imed he was hurt and needed someone to look after him.


    Walter said if Landon attacked, they''d be sitting ducks without him.


    Casey and Quinn stood at the door, watching them hog the room, both looking super annoyed.


    Quinn pulled Casey aside and said, "I''ll go stay at that neighbor''s ce you mentioned. Cool?"


    "Sure, there''s only one person living next door," Casey agreed.


    Quinn nodded. "Alright, thanks."


    "No problem. I''ll go tell her in a bit," Casey said.


    "Okay," Quinn replied.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Inside, Alexander and Walter were still beefing, and Alexander was giving Walter the death stare.


    But Walter didn''t seem to care and kept checking out the room.


    After ap, he turned to Alexander and said, "Living here is a joke. How about I get you a nice hotel room?" "No, thanks. You go," Alexander snapped.


    He was too tired to argue with Walter anymore.


    "If you''re so bored, go find Landon. Hanging here is pointless," he said.


    "Good point. So when do you n to go find Landon?" Walter shot back.


    A vein popped on Alexander''s forehead as he grabbed the bedsidemp and chucked it at Walter.


    Walter dodged andughed. "Even hurt, you''re still a hothead. Don''t croak in front of me."


    Alexander ignored him, done with the back-and-forth.


    Walter, bored, left the room. Quinn had already gone next door with Casey, missing the near-fight.


    The neighbor was around fifty and way healthier than Casey''s mom.


    Everyone in the vige knew Casey''s ce was hosting two rich guys, so the neighbor was more than happy to take Quinn in.


    For the next few days, it was a standoff. Alexander finally started to chill and heal, not running around anymore.


    Walter often went out during the day, though no one knew what he was up to, he always came back before dark.


    Three dayster, Landon''s condition had slightly improved. During these three days, Abigail had behaved and hadn''t stirred the pot, so they coexisted peacefully.


    She approached Landon and asked eagerly, "How you feeling today?"


    Landon nced at her.


    "Looks like I''m not gonna die," he said, eyeing her, sensing something fishy in her cunning eyes.


    Sure enough, the next second, he felt something cold on his neck.


    Landon was slightly startled when he saw the surgical knife in Abigail''s hand out of the corner of his eye.


    Abigail grabbed his cor, showing her true colors.


    "You jerk, you dared to kidnap me. Now I''ve got you, don''t I?" Abigail sneered.


    Landon looked at her without saying a word, showing no fear or panic. His calm demeanor made Abigail uneasy.


    She grabbed Landon''s cor and yanked him up from the ground. "Get up!"


    The movement tugged at his wound, making him frown slightly, but he still stood up.


    Abigail hadn''t expected him to be so cooperative. She dragged him to the valley''s exit. The guards outside widened their eyes in surprise. After realizing what was happening, they hurriedly aimed their weapons at Abigail.

 Chapter 1245

    "Landon''s in my hands. Move, or I''ll end him!" Abigail snarled.


    Everyone exchanged nces, then all eyes locked on Landon.


    Landon hadn''t said a peep the whole time. Just as they were debating whether to let her pass, he suddenly spoke up, "Don''t let her through."


    Abigail was floored. She stared at Landon, shocked. "Landon, you scared I won''t kill you?"


    Landon''s face was stone-cold, like he hadn''t even heard her threat.


    For a moment, it was a standoff. Landon had given the order, so no one dared let Abigail go, and Abigail couldn''t really kill him, ''cause that''d mess up her own escape.


    She gritted her teeth. "Fine, you won''t let me through? Then we''ll die together!"


    As she spoke, the knife in her hand pressed closer to Landon, and blood started to trickle from his neck.


    His crew freaked out. One of them blurted, "Don''t do anything stupid, or you''ll regret it!"


    "If I let him go now, you won''t spare me. I''m screwed either way. Either get out of my way, or I''ll kill him and then myself!" Abigail shouted, desperate. She''d seen thising, so she''d hesitated until now to make a final gamble. Now she was really out of options.


    Landon said, "Then do it."


    His voice was weak, but his demeanor was rock solid. He stood there calmly, like he wasn''t the one being held hostage.


    It was hard to tell if he was really unafraid of death or just betting that Abigail wouldn''t dare kill him.


    Abigail''s hand, gripping the scalpel, started to sweat, making it hard to hold on. Her breathing quickened, and she felt like she was on a hot seat, unable to move forward or back. "You really think I won''t kill you?" Abigail said.


    She was truly at her limit. She pressed harder, and a line of blood instantly appeared on Landon''s neck.


    Landon''s eyes flickered, and he looked even weaker.


    "Don''t move. We''ll let you go." The leader made a quick call, putting away his gun and signaling the others to lower their weapons.


    Landon''s eyes turned icy, and he shouted, "Who dares let her go!"


    Everyone lowered their heads. He looked like he was on the brink of death, and a bit more injury might really do him in.


    Abigail secretly sighed in relief. She pushed Landon and urged, "Move."


    Landon didn''t budge, standing his ground stubbornly.


    Abigail was livid. She red at the group in front of her and snapped, "All of you, back away!"


    She wasn''t about to expose her back to them. Otherwise, she''d be shot before she even got out.


    They had no better option and had to retreat.


    Abigail dragged Landon out. Despite his reluctance, his physical state didn''t allow him to resist.


    Suddenly, he grabbed Abigail''s wrist. Caught off guard, Abigail felt a sharp pain, nearly losing her grip on the knife.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    In a life-or-death moment, she held on. The next second, she was lifted off the ground and thrown hard by Landon.


    Abigail hit the ground, her head spinning, nearly cking out.


    Her hand was still in Landon''s grip, and he knelt on her arm, taking the knife from her.


    Abigail finally came to, only to find the knife at her throat.


    She opened her eyes and met Landon''s deep, unreadable gaze.


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 Chapter 1246

    Abigail blinked and let out a heavy sigh, her hand dropping to the ground like a dead weight.


    She was screwed. Totally screwed. She didn''t even have the energy to fight anymore. Who would''ve thought Landon could still resist her, even all banged up?


    She looked at Landon and said, "Do whatever you want. But since I saved you, can you at least make it quick?"


    All she could do now was hope Landon wouldn''t drag out her suffering.


    As she spoke, she suddenly felt a weight on her body, almost suffocating her again.


    A bit stunned, she turned her head and saw that Landon had passed out cold.


    After a moment of silence, she shoved him off and sat up. She nced towards the valley. Luckily, a big rock was blocking them, so his goons probably hadn''t seen anything.


    She quickly got up, squatted beside Landon, and pped his face. "You dead or what?"


    Abigail checked his breath with her finger. Still alive.


    She squatted there, thinking for a bit, and finally decided to haul him up, slinging his arm over her shoulder. She tried to take a few steps, but Landon was out cold, and his full weight almost knocked her back down. After a moment, Abigail suddenly yelled, "Bring the car over here!"


    A few secondster, one of Landon''s guys walked over. Seeing Landon''s head hanging low, he pointed his gun at Abigail again. "What did you do to him?" he demanded.


    Abigail cleared her throat and snapped, "What could I do? He didn''t listen, so I gave him a little lesson. Chill out. He won''t die." "Hurry up and bring the car, or I really will kill him," she threatened.


    Even though Abigail seemed tough, the guy had spent enough time with her to get a read on her.


    If she wanted Landon dead, she wouldn''t have saved him. Landon had been too weak to walk these past few days, and she had plenty of chances to off him, but she hadn''t. That meant she didn''t want him dead. Even if she got out, Landon wouldn''t be in any real danger. Who knew what was going on between them now?


    After thinking it over, the guy suddenly said, "I''ll let you out. But after you leave, can you take him to a hospital?" Abigail frowned, confused.


    "Are you talking to me?" she asked.


    The guy nodded vigorously. "Yeah, you. If you agree, I''ll let you go."


    They had wanted to take him to a hospital before, but Landon had refused, scared Alexander''s people would find him. Now that Walter was around too, he didn''t dare go to any public ces.


    But he was too messed up, and they didn''t have anyone good with medicine. They didn''t dare take Landon to a hospital themselves, but if Abigail took him, it was different.


    Without thinking, Abigail nodded. As long as she could get out, she didn''t care where she went.


    "Sure, I''ll take him to a hospital. Now let me out!" she said.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    The guy was silent for a moment, then went out. Within two minutes, a car drove in.


    Abigail watched him warily, afraid he might shoot her when she wasn''t looking. She kept an eye on him while helping Landon into the car. Then she got into the driver''s seat and nced back. Landon was bleeding again.


    He had bled so many times, yet he still hadn''t run out of blood. How crazy!


    She started the car and drove out of the canyon. The group didn''t fully trust Abigail with Landon, so two of them followed her in another car.

 Chapter 1247

    Abigail was all set to ditch the car and make a run for it, but that n went out the window. She kept driving, pushing forward on the winding road. The ce was all mountains and crossroads, a real maze. After an hour of driving and still no end in sight, Abigail was losing her cool.


    "Why the hell aren''t we outta here yet?!" she yelled, mming the steering wheel, making the horn re through the mountains.


    Landon, half-asleep in the passenger seat, cracked an eye open and nced outside.


    "Turn left," he mumbled.


    Abigail jumped at the sound of his voice. "You''re awake?" she asked, turning her head.


    Landon just closed his eyes again, too drained to chat.


    Abigail pouted but turned the car left. Ten minutester, they hit three more intersections. "Which way now?" she asked.


    "The middle one," Landon said weakly.


    "And after that?" she pressed.


    "Right," he replied.


    Following his directions, the mountains started to shrink, and it looked like they were finally getting out.


    Abigail shot him a smirk. "Not so tough now, huh?"


    Landon ignored her, as usual.


    She kept driving, and though there were a lot of twists and turns, no more intersections popped up. Finally, they broke free through a weed-covered road.


    She checked the rearview mirror. From this angle, it looked like a forest with no road in sight.


    No wonder it was so hidden. Without Landon, she would''ve been stuck for sure.


    Abigail couldn''t help but pat herself on the back for not trying to escape solo.


    As she nced in the mirror, she noticed Landon''s crew hadn''t followed. Was she free now?


    With Landon all banged up, she could totally ditch him.


    She pulled over to a hidden spot by the roadside, got out, and walked around to the passenger side. She opened the door and leaned in to check on Landon. Landon''s eyes snapped open.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "Still kicking. Think you''ll croak if I leave you here?" Abigail teased.


    Landon stared at her, not saying a word or showing any emotion. He didn''t seem scared at all.


    Abigail reached out and touched him, and finally, his expression changed.


    His eyes turned murderous.


    She rummaged through his pockets but found zilch.


    No phone, no cash, no weapons-nada.


    "Why didn''t you bring anything?" she asked.


    Landon gave her a look that screamed, "Are you serious?"


    Abigail then checked the trunk, finding only two cases of water and some first aid supplies-still no money, no phone!


    She grabbed a bottle of water, took a swig, and handed one to Landon. He turned his head away, so she ced it in the storage bin. "Abigail," Landon suddenly called out.


    She turned, surprised. It was the first time he used her name.


    "What?" she replied.


    With cracked lips, Landon said, "Give me the bandages."


    Abigail paused, her eyesnding on his blood-stained abdomen.


    "Scared of dying? Thought you weren''t afraid of death," she scoffed.


    "To die at your hands would be pathetic," Landon shot back.


    Abigail was ticked off. "Do you even get the situation? You''re my hostage now! And why would it be pathetic to die at my hands?" Landon, exhausted by her rant, closed his eyes again.

 Chapter 1248

    Abigail was fuming for what felt like forever, but Landon just straight-up ignored her, making her so mad she almost chucked the water in her hand right at his face.


    "Then just die here," she snapped, all irritated.


    She got into the car, yanked him out, and dumped him by the roadside like he was yesterday''s trash.


    She was done with him.


    Just then, Landon piped up, "You can''t get out."


    "None of your business," Abigail shot back, mming the car door hard and stomping around to the driver''s side.


    As she opened the door, she heard Landon''s voice again, "You don''t have a penny on you, and there are human traffickers everywhere here. If you get caught, your fate will be terrible." Abigail paused, instinctively looking around.


    All she saw was a deste wilderness, almost uninhabited, with even some bird calls she had never heard before.


    No money, no phone, and no food. If she kept wandering around for a few more hours like she did just now, she might really die here.


    She hesitated for a while, then finally closed the car door and went to the trunk.


    She opened the trunk, took out the medical kit inside, and silently walked over to Landon.


    She unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the bandage on the wound on his stomach. Just likest time, it had already turned red, and when she touched it, there was blood.


    Abigail untied the bandage, and the stitches on the wound hade apart again, though not as severely asst time. The wound showed signs of scabbing, but all the rest from the past few days had been in vain because of this ordeal. Seeing his wound, Abigail felt a bit guilty. She looked up at Landon.


    In the sunlight, his face was as pale as a corpse,pletely devoid of color.


    His sses were long gone, and without them, Abigail noticed for the first time how beautiful his eyes were.


    "Are you really nearsighted?" she asked.


    Landon ignored her.


    Abigail held up one finger and asked, "How many fingers?"


    Landon''s mouth twitched.


    She then held up two fingers and asked, "How many now?"


    Landon, unable to bear it any longer, raised his hand to swat her away. "Even if I''m nearsighted, I''m not blind."


    Abigail finally quieted down and said with a grin, "True."


    "This is the third time I''ve saved you. Can you stop capturing me in the future?" she asked.


    "Who do you think caused me to be like this now?" Landon shot back.


    "Didn''t you throw me into the water before? Let''s call it even, okay?" Abigai asked.


    Landon turned his head away, ignoring her again.


    Abigail pouted and patiently bandaged him up. There was still a bit of bleeding, but it wasn''t too serious; he shouldn''t die from it.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Abigail helped him up and walked him back to the car. "We agreed, you can''t capture me again in the future."


    Although he was in a miserable state now, Abigail still remembered how arrogant he was when she was first captured, threatening and scaring her in all sorts of ways.


    She just didn''t know if he was like Alexander, who liked to go back on his word.


    Now she had no better option. Without Landon to guide her, she would either be kidnapped by human traffickers or starve to death on the road.


    At least now, Landon posed no threat to her. As long as she could escape before he recovered, that would be fine.


    She drove for a few more hours, and it was already 4 PM.


    Abigail still hadn''t seen anyone on the road, not even a building.


    She suddenly felt something was wrong, stopped the car, and turned to ask Landon, "Are you doing this on purpose? Where are we going?" "Just keep driving," Landon simply said.


    Abigail looked at him suspiciously but continued driving. After all, he was injured and he wouldn''t let himself die.


    With that thought, Abigail continued driving with confidence.

 Chapter 1249

    The sun was dipping low, and Abigail still hadn''t seen a single soul; just endless wastnd and mountains.


    After driving all day, she finally pulled over, her hands and feet screaming from the fatigue. Slumping against the seat, she turned to Landon and asked, "You hungry or what?" She didn''t really expect an answer. She got out and started digging through the trunk, hoping to find something to munch on.


    No luck, just those two cases of water, and she''d already downed three bottles.


    There was a little creek nearby, so she went over to wash her face. That''s when she spotted some crabs in the water.


    Her eyes lit up, and she kicked off her shoes, jumped into the creek, and started flipping rocks to catch the crabs.


    Landon leaned against the car window, watching her ssh around.


    As the sun set, the river sparkled, making Abigail''s figure look all hazy and glowing.


    "Aw, hell no!" Abigail yelled, shattering the peaceful scene. She limped out of the water, plopped down on the ground, and saw a crabtched onto her toe.


    She tried to yank it off with two fingers, but the more she pulled, the tighter it mped, making her yelp in pain.


    Landon looked away, unable to watch her struggle.


    Abigail wrestled with the crab for what felt like forever, her toe bleeding and tears welling up in her eyes.


    She hobbled back to the car, grabbed a pair of scissors from the medical kit, and got ready to snip off the crab''s w.


    Landon watched her for a moment. Just as she was about to cut, the crab mped down even harder, digging into her flesh and making her eyes roll back in pain. The scissors fell to the ground, and she clutched the steering wheel, gritting her teeth.


    Landon frowned. After a bit, when she was about to try again, he finally spoke up, "Hand me the scalpel."


    Abigail looked at him, tears in her eyes, and asked, "What?"


    Landon didn''t repeat himself, just held out his hand.


    She handed him the scalpel. He grabbed a lighter from the shelf and heated the scalpel until it was almost red-hot. "Foot," he said.


    Abigail had no clue what he was up to but instinctively stuck out her foot.


    Landon put down the lighter and ced the hot scalpel at the crab''s w, holding the crab''s shell with his other hand.


    After a moment, the w loosened a bit. He quickly inserted the scalpel and twisted it.


    Abigail yelped and pulled her foot back.


    Just as she was about to say something, she saw the crab in Landon''s hand. She stared at the struggling crab, blinked, and then looked at her foot. Overjoyed, she eximed, "You''re a freaking genius!"


    Landon''s mouth twitched slightly, and he tossed the crab away.


    Abigail jumped out of the car to chase it. "Why''d you throw it away? Stupid crab, I''m gonna tear you apart!"


    Ignoring her injured foot, she ran after the crab and eventually grabbed it from the grass.


    She went back to the riverbank, yanked off all the crab''s ws, and tossed it into the pile of crabs with a satisfied grin.


    She gathered some dry wood and ced the crabs on a thin stone b to roast.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Tonight''s dinner is sorted," Abigail thought happily.

 Chapter 1250

    Abigail finished up cooking the crabs and decided to try one herself. These river crabs didn''t have much meat, but hey, there were plenty to go around.


    She offered one to Landon, but he just turned his nose up at it. Meanwhile, Abigail plopped down next to him, munching away happily.


    As she was chowing down, she suddenly heard a faint noise.


    Abigail paused and nced over at Landon.


    Landon was trying to be all sneaky, cing his hand on his stomach, but his belly had other ns and let out a loud growl.


    His face went through a whole range of emotions, and a blush crept up his pale cheeks. He shot Abigail a fierce look and snapped, "Keep staring and I''ll gouge your eyes out!" Abigail just stared at him, dumbfounded. Two secondster, she couldn''t hold it in and burst outughing.


    "Didn''t you say you weren''t hungry?" she said, stillughing.


    Landon couldn''t keep his cool anymore. He turned his head to look out the window, ignoring her.


    Suddenly, a crab was shoved in his face.


    He nced at it and then swatted Abigail''s hand away. "Take it away!" he barked.


    "If you''re hungry, just eat. Stop acting all tough. Don''t wait until your wound''s not fatal, but you starve to death first," Abigail said, trying to persuade him. He didn''t budge.


    Abigail shook her head and sighed. ''So stubborn,'' she thought.


    She took back the crab and kept eating. Halfway through, she asked him again.


    But Landon would rather starve than eat anything she offered.


    Abigail ignored him, looked at the sky, and realized they couldn''t keep driving. She decided to crash here for the night.


    While there was still some light, she took a stroll around the area and picked some weird-looking fruits. She handed a few to Landon.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    "I forgot you don''t eat," she said.


    She was about to take them back when he suddenly grabbed the fruits from her hand.


    She raised an eyebrow and couldn''t help but take another look at Landon.


    Landon didn''t look at her. He just took a tissue and started wiping the fruits. Abigail rolled her eyes and muttered to herself about how picky he was. They slept in the car that night and hit the road again the next day.


    Landon hadn''t moved much in the car, so his wound was holding up for now.


    After driving for another whole day, Abigail finally spotted some buildings. It looked like a vige, but it was different from other viges she''d seen. The houses weren''t packed together like before. Here, the houses were all spread out without any apparent pattern. You''d only see a house every now and then.


    As the car rolled into the vige, every household had their doors locked. Even when they saw people, they quickly ran inside and shut their doors, like the car was some kind of monster. "Where the heck is this ce?" Abigail murmured, feeling strange.


    She slowly parked the car by the roadside. These vigers were not friendly at all.


    Landon didn''t answer her, he just said, "Keep driving."


    "Okay," Abigail agreed and kept driving for about ten more minutes before Landon told her to stop.


    Before she could say anything, Landon opened the car door and got out. He clutched his abdomen, walking unsteadily, and headed straight to a house.


    He raised his hand and knocked on the door. Momentster, a middle-aged man opened the door from inside. His expression changed when he saw Landon. "Landon?" The man noticed something was off and asked, "Are you hurt?"


    Landon nodded and stepped into the house.


    Abigail was a bit surprised. He actually knew someone here?


    She got out of the car and quickly followed, only to find Landon standing in the middle of the room, not moving.


    "What are you doing..." Abigail hadn''t finished her sentence when she saw someone sitting in a chair ahead.


    It was none other than Walter!


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 Chapter 1251

    Walter kicked back in the chair, grinning as he watched Abigail and Landon.


    "Knew you''d show up," Walter said.


    Landon just stared, not saying a word.


    Walter gave him a once-over and smirked. "Man, you look like you got run over by a truck."


    "What are you doing here?" Landon finally asked.


    "Here to settle the score, obviously. Been waiting for you for days." Walter set down his water ss and got up, strolling over.


    Abigail''s eyes darted between them, and she quietly slipped behind Landon. She didn''t know Walter well, but he gave off major creep vibes.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Even though she tried to avoid his gaze, Walter still noticed her.


    His eyes lingered on Abigail''s face for a few seconds before he looked back at Landon. "If I were you, I''d have offed her in front of Alexander and Quinn. Look at you now, all messed up, and Alexander''s just chillin''." Abigail was horrified. She red at Walter and snapped, "Quit trying to stir the pot! It won''t help him, and you''re the one who''d gain!"


    She turned to Landon. "Landon, don''t listen to him. He''s just using you!"


    Abigail was clearly talking out of her ass, but somehow, she hit the nail on the head.


    Walter''s smile faded a bit as he looked at her.


    "I''m here to save you. And you''re actually sticking up for Landon?" Walter sneered.


    "Does what you just said sound like you''re here to save me?" Abigail shot back.


    She figured being Walter''s hostage would be way worse than being Landon''s. So she took another step back behind Landon and grabbed his arm.


    "You can''t let me go with him, or you''ll have no leverage!" she said to Landon.


    "Such an idiot." Walter sighed, plopped back down in the chair, and pulled out his phone. "Since you don''t believe me, I''ll call Alexander toe and save you."


    Abigail suddenly doubted his words. Could he really be here to save her?


    Landon sat down in the chair opposite him. "What are you really here for?" he asked.


    Walter put down his phone and looked at Landon with a faint smile. "I told you, I''m here to settle the score."


    Landon pressed his lips together and stared straight at him.


    "Kidnapping Quinn and trying to use her to get my resources-don''t you think you owe me an exnation?" Walter said with a cold smile.


    "No exnation needed. Winner takes all. Now that you''ve caught me, do whatever you want," Landon said nonchntly.


    Walter''s smile didn''t fade, not surprised at all by his response.


    "You''re really useless. You keep losing but never give up. Why not consider my earlier proposal?" Walter said.


    His proposal was for Landon to kill Abigail in front of Alexander and Quinn, which was more like a threat.


    In Landon''s current state, Walter could easily kill him.


    Landon said, "You might as well kill me."


    He had no interest in such a thankless task and didn''t want to be used by Walter.


    Abigail nodded in agreement. "Right, do you think Landon is as spineless as you? Do you think he would take orders from you?"


    Landon nced at her, and Abigail immediately shut her mouth, giving him an eager smile.


    Walter wasn''t annoyed. His gaze shifted back and forth between the two.


    "In just a few days, your rtionship has already be so deep?" Walter asked.


    Abigail said, "More than deep. We''ve been through life and death together. We''re good friends!"

 Chapter 1252

    Walter couldn''t help but crack up, giving Landon a look. "For real?"


    Landon just rolled his eyes, not ''cause he didn''t wanna p back, but he was toozy to deal with her. Walter wasn''t dumb enough to buy her crap either. Walter traced the rim of his cup, looking all deep in thought.


    He said, "So, looks like neither of you is of any use."


    Abigail''s face went pale. "What are you gonna do? You jerk, you said you came to save me!"


    Walter shot her a nce. "Didn''t you say you didn''t trust me?"


    "Is it toote to trust you now?" Abigail asked.


    "Way toote," Walter replied, deadpan.


    Abigail''s mouth twitched, feeling stuck.


    Walter somehow whipped out a gun, pointing it back and forth between Abigail and Landon. "Who should I off first?" he said, all casual.


    Landon stayed chill, and it was hard to tell if he''d given up or just wasn''t scared of dying.


    Abigail''s eyes locked on the gun, feeling a bit freaked out. She tried to hide behind Landon, but it was no use.


    Just then, a car pulled up outside, and Walter sneered.


    He put the gun away, sighed, and walked out without a word.


    Landon''s eyes lit up. He suddenly stood, grabbed Abigail''s hand, and before she knew it, he dragged her into the inner room.


    "Where are you taking me?" Abigail asked, feeling strange.


    Landon didn''t answer. Once inside, he stopped and said, "Move this board."


    Abigail gave him a confused look.


    "If you don''t wanna die, hurry up!" Landon snapped.


    Abigail hesitated, then squatted down. She pulled a scalpel from her pocket, unwrapped the gauze, stuck the tip into the gap between the boards, and pried it up. Below was a cer with adder on the side.


    "Get down," Landon urged.


    Abigail jumped down, grabbed thedder, and quickly climbed into the cer.


    Landon followed close behind. He somehow had a shlight, and when he turned it on, Abigail saw a bunch of supplies and a tunnel leading deeper in. Landon led the way, and she nced back at the entrance, now sealed by the board.


    She had no choice but to follow him.


    Meanwhile, Sean barged in with his crew, searched the ce, but found nada.


    He turned to Walter.


    Walter stood there all calm, hands in his sleeves, grinning at Sean.


    "Where''d he go?" Sean asked.


    Walter looked puzzled. "Who you talkin'' about?"


    "I just saw that car outside," Sean said.


    "So you were tailing me," Walter sneered.


    Sean''s face tightened, and he denied it, "Who was tailing you?"


    "Then why are you here?" Walter asked.


    "I should be asking you that, why are you here?" Sean shot back.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Walter shrugged. "I don''t owe you an exnation."


    Sean, not ready to give up, searched the ce again but still didn''t find Landon.


    He frowned, starting to doubt if he''d seen right earlier. Even if he was wrong, Landon couldn''t just vanish, right?


    He had to be hiding!


    A voice chimed in, "More guests, huh."


    A middle-aged guy walked in with a kettle, warmly inviting Sean to sit.


    Sean red at Walter and stormed out, pissed.


    Outside, Matthew and his crew circled the house. After regrouping, they all shook their heads, disappointed. They had no choice but to bail.


    After tailing Walter for so long, they thought they had Landon this time, but nope, came up empty again.


    This ce was a trek from Alexander''s home; it took them a whole day and night to drive there.


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 Chapter 1253

    When Sean and the crew rolled back, it was already the next evening.


    Sean and Matthew were chilling at the door, while Alexander was half-sprawled in a rocking chair. He had someone snag it yesterday ''cause he couldn''t stand the tree stumps at Casey''s ce. Right then, Alexander was whittling away at a piece of wood. It was already looking kinda human-shaped.


    After thest cut, he nced over at Sean and Matthew.


    "Did you check the house?" he asked.


    "Yeah, we did," Sean replied.


    "The secret passage, the basement, you check those too?" Alexander pressed.


    Both of them went silent.


    Sean scratched his neck, eyes darting everywhere but at Alexander.


    Their silence said it all.


    Alexander went back to his carving. "Figures, you guys can''t do anything right." "Sorry," Sean mumbled.


    "Don''t bother. The fact you made it back alive is a miracle," Alexander scoffed.


    Sean could tell Alexander was mocking him. From his tone, it was clear he didn''t expect Sean to catch Landon.


    Sean tried to defend himself, "We got a rough idea of where he is. Abigail''s still alive and kicking. It''s just a matter of time."


    Quinn happened to walk out and overheard. She rushed over, "Abigail''s still alive?"


    "Yeah, she''s with Landon, but..." Sean trailed off.


    Quinn stared at him, nervous, "But what?"


    "But it''s just the two of them, which is kinda weird. Maybe all his goons bailed?" Sean guessed.


    Hearing Abigail was alive, Quinn felt a bit relieved. "Is she okay? Is she hurt?" she asked.


    "She''s fine, even healthier than Landon," Sean answered.


    "That''s good," Quinn said, then suddenly realized something, "But you didn''t bring her back?"


    "We almost did, but Walter let them... no, he let Landon escape," Sean said, hanging his head in shame.


    Quinn was stunned and instinctively nced at Alexander. She couldn''t understand why Walter would do that. Alexander raised his hand, signaling Sean and Matthew to leave. Sean nodded and left with Matthew.


    "Alexander." Quinn squatted in front of him, staring intently, unsure where to start.


    "What''s up?" Alexander asked, looking down with a sly smile.


    "Is what Sean said true?" Quinn asked.


    "I didn''t go with them, so I don''t know," Alexander said.


    Quinn was silent for a moment. It should be true; Sean wasn''t as sneaky as Alexander.


    "Then why did Walter let Landon go?" Quinn asked.


    "Why don''t you ask him? I don''t know what he was thinking," Alexander sneered.


    Catching Walter''s mistake, his tone was firm when speaking to Quinn.


    Quinn lowered her eyes, feeling let down by Walter.


    Knowing how much she wanted to rescue Abigail, not only did he fail to bring her back, but he also let Landon take her away.


    Alexander held her hand and said softly, "Don''t worry. I''ll bring Abigail back for you."


    Quinn was taken aback.


    "Even if it costs me my life, I won''t let you down." He looked into Quinn''s eyes, speaking earnestly and firmly, "I won''t let you down again." Quinn''s eyes flickered, and her expression grewplex.


    Alexander suddenly frowned, touched his chest, and took a deep breath.


    "What''s wrong?" Quinn hurriedly asked.


    "It hurts a bit," Alexander said, frowning.


    "What should we do?" Quinn asked, standing up to pull him. "Let''s go to the hospital."


    "No need. Just rub it for me," Alexander said shamelessly.


    Quinn stayed silent.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1254

    She stared at Alexander, totally speechless for a sec. Now she got his game. When he asked her to rub or kiss him, he was just ying the pity card.


    When he looked kinda sick, even a bit pale, but said he was fine, it meant he was really not doing well.


    "Then just stay in pain," Quinn snapped, walking inside without even ncing at him.


    Alexander smirked, got up from the chair, and followed her in.


    Quinn had nothing to do these days, so she started cooking. Casey only made a few dishes every day, and she was really sick of them.


    Plus, there were tons of wild veggies around. Casey thought wild veggies were a pain and not good for guests, but Quinn found them tasty, healthy, and clean.


    She squatted on the ground washing veggies, with strands of hair falling around her ears, covering half her face.


    The scene had a simple, beautiful vibe.


    Alexander stood beside her, watching her closely. Quinn looked up at him and asked, "Doesn''t it hurt anymore?"


    He casually pulled a chair over to sit, picked up the wild veggies on the ground. While washing them, he said in a moody tone, "What''s the point of hurting? No one cares." Quinn paused, looking at him weirdly. "Didn''t I tell you to go to the hospital?"


    "Not going," Alexander said stubbornly.


    Quinn gave him a speechless look, then decided to ignore him and kept washing the veggies.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Walter didn''te back today, and it seemed he didn''te back yesterday either. She didn''t know if he wasn''t nning toe back.


    These days, Quinn had been crashing at the neighbor''s house next door. She didn''t know how Walter and Alexander divided the house, but they hadn''t fought, which she found amazing. After dinner, she went next door to sleep by herself.


    She didn''t have a phone now, and there was no TV here. Aside from sleeping, there was nothing else to do, so she went to bed early every day.


    She tossed and turned in bed, her mind filled with what Sean had said before.


    Abigail and Landon were together, but she didn''t know how they were doing or what was going on between them.


    She sighed and suddenly heard the window beside her making noise. She instinctively turned her head and saw a figure jumping in through the window.


    She sat up abruptly, fumbling around for something to defend herself with. Just as she touched the knife under her pillow, her arm was grabbed.


    When she smelt the familiar scent, her fingers loosened from the knife.


    "What are you doing here?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander sat down beside her, holding her hand and whispering, "I was afraid you were in danger."


    "You climbing in through the window in the middle of the night, who could be more dangerous than you?" Quinn said irritably.


    "The door was locked, so I had to climb through the window," Alexander defended himself.


    Quinn felt annoyed. If she had known, she would have locked the window too. But seeing his agile figure just now, she couldn''t help but say, "Weren''t you in pain just now? Now you''re climbing through windows, and you''re fine so quickly?" "No, I''m worried about your safety. This little pain is nothing," Alexander said earnestly.


    Quinn knew he was just talking nonsense, pulled her hand back, andy down with her back to him.


    Alexander''s hand wrapped around her from behind. She stiffened slightly and grabbed his hand. "Get down!" she snapped.


    "I''m protecting you," Alexander said shamelessly.


    "Not needed!" Quinn shouted angrily.


    Probably sensing the anger in her tone, Alexander sighed and finally let go of her, silently sitting by the bed.


    Quinn pursed her lips, wanting to say something but swallowing the words.


    She closed her eyes, trying to ignore Alexander beside her.


    She knew he hadn''t left, but he was so quiet it was as if no one was there.


    As the standoff continued, sleepiness overcame her, and she fell asleep unknowingly.


    "Quinn," Alexander called.


    "Are you asleep?" he asked.


    Alexander''s deep voice softly echoed in the room, but no one responded.

 Chapter 1255

    The next day, Quinn woke up and immediately nced to the side. Alexander was already gone.


    She rubbed her eyes, got out of bed, and wandered outside. There he was, lounging on that familiar wicker chair, with Sean yammering beside him. Sean was giving the lowdown on Alistair.


    Alistair was still hanging in there. He''d made it this far, but he was barely clinging to life now, ready to kick the bucket any second.


    Alexander, cool as a cucumber, said, "Don''t let him die. Dying like this ain''t enough payback."


    "I got it. Already got a doc to patch him up," Sean replied.


    "Make sure he gets his monthly dose of supplements," Alexander reminded.


    Sean wiped the sweat off his forehead. He remembered seeing Alistairst night. In just ten days, the guy had wasted away. If he kept taking that medicine every month, Sean doubted he''d make it to the second month. "Understood," Sean said.


    "Still no sign of Landon?" Alexander asked.


    "Nope, we lost himst time, and now he''s MIA. Walter knows we''re on his tail, so he''s just wandering around," Sean responded.


    The folks tracking Walter had no clue if Landon was tagging along.


    Sean, scratching his head, asked, "Didn''t you say he and Landon had a falling out? Why''s he still helping Landon run?"


    "When have you ever seen them get along?" Alexander shot back.


    "True," Sean said with a nod.


    "They''re not buddies anymore, but they can still use each other, right?" Alexander said, still carving the wood in his hand. "Walter''s a real piece of work," Sean said through gritted teeth.


    Alexander just smirked without saying a word.


    Quinn walked up to them. Sean saw her and greeted, "Mrs. Kennedy."


    Quinn looked annoyed. "I told you not to call me that."


    "Okay, Mrs. Kennedy," Sean said, not missing a beat.


    Quinn was about to blow a fuse.


    Sensing the tension, Sean quickly said his goodbyes to Alexander and skedaddled.


    Quinn''s eyesnded on Alexander, giving him a once-over. He looked better, not as pale as before.


    "Feeling better?" she asked.


    Alexander nced at her. "You worried about me or Abigail?"


    Just as Quinn was about to answer, Alexander cut her off, "Alright, no need to say it. Let''s just say you''re worried about me."


    He shut down whatever Quinn was gonna say.


    "Can I get a new phone card here?" Quinn changed the subject.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "What do you think?" Alexander shot back.


    Quinn sighed, realizing it was a no-go.


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then he suddenly smiled and said, "Bored?"


    "No," Quinn said.


    Boredom was part of it; she was more worried about Abigail and wanted to get out of there ASAP. Alexander stood up, grabbed her hand, and started walking. "Let''s go."


    Quinn was stunned. "Where to?"


    "Taking you out for a walk," Alexander said.


    Quinn frowned, confused. What was there to see here?


    She''d been here forever and hadn''t seen a single interesting spot. Everything was just bleak.


    Because of her bad vibes about the ce, she hadn''t dared to go out alone. She didn''t even leave the vige, scared she might run into trouble. Alexander drove for a long time.


    Only then did Quinn realize not all ces here were deste. There were bustling areas, tall buildings, and some pretty fancy spots.


    Initially uninterested, she immediately perked up and widened her eyes when she saw those buildings.


    Quinn thought of something else. "There should be a proper hospital here, right?" she asked.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1256

    Alexander slowed the car and nced at Quinn. "So, what''s the n?"


    "The doc said you need a proper check-up, right? Since we''re here, let''s do it," Quinn replied, her tone light but her eyes dead serious, like she''d ice him out if he said no.


    Alexander pulled over, fingers drumming on the steering wheel, a helpless grin on his face.


    "You care about me that much?" he teased.


    Quinn ignored him, cutting straight to the point. "Which way to the hospital?"


    "Thought I was taking you shopping?" Alexander countered.


    "Hospital first, then shopping," Quinn insisted.


    "Quinn," Alexander called, trying to reason. "I''m fine now. Trust me, no need for the hospital."


    "If you don''t go, let me out right here," Quinn shot back, stubborn as ever.


    Alexander''s smile faded a bit. "What are you doing?"


    "None of your business," Quinn snapped, opening the car door and heading towards downtown.


    Alexander quickly followed, catching up and grabbing her arm. "Alright, stop it."


    Quinn paused, turning to face him. "What do you mean? I''m not the one hurt. Do whatever you want."


    "Why are you so set on me going to the hospital?" Alexander asked.


    Silence fell between them. Quinn''s eyes reddened as she stared at him.


    Alexander''s grin disappearedpletely.


    "Alexander, I don''t want you to prove how much you care about me by getting hurt. I don''t want your sympathy. This won''t make me forgive you. All you''ll get is my guilt. Didn''t you say you wouldn''t use death to get my forgiveness? So don''t use hurting yourself either, okay?"


    Alexander stared at her, speechless.


    They locked eyes, and it felt like even the air had stilled.


    After a long pause, Alexander reached out and touched her cheek. "Alright, I''ll go. Is that enough?" he said softly.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered as she turned away.


    She could ignore his fate, but not if he got hurt because of her.


    She couldn''t convince herself otherwise.


    Alexander took her hand. "Alright, get in the car. We''re going to the hospital."


    He pulled Quinn, and she didn''t resist, getting back into the car.


    Neither spoke, the atmosphere heavier and more serious than before.


    Alexander drove to the downtown area, where there was a proper hospital. It was crowded with tourists, a stark contrast to the impoverished vige.


    Quinn followed Alexander inside. Luckily, the medical staff spoke anguage she understood, so she could follow along.


    The medical equipment was top-notch. Not knowing the procedures, she stuck close to Alexander, making sure all the necessary tests were done.


    They spent the whole day at the hospital, going through various tests.


    It seemed like Alexander was challenging her, doing almost a full-body check-up, resulting in a thick stack of printed results.


    But seeing him go through such aprehensive check-up meant he probably wasn''t in serious trouble.


    Quinn waited patiently.


    It wasn''t until after 4 PM that he finished thest test.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "Now you can rx," Alexander said, showing her the thick stack of results.


    Quinn took the papers, flipping through them. After seeing all the items checked off, she finally nodded in relief.


    When she flipped to a certain page, her eyes nced oddly at Alexander. "You even checked your sexual function?"


    "Of course, how else would you be reassured?" Alexander said naturally.


    Quinn''s cheeks flushed, and she pped the papers back at him. "What''s that got to do with me?"


    "Didn''t you ask me toe?" Alexander asked, looking innocent.


    "Stop talking nonsense and go submit them," Quinnmanded.


    She didn''t want to hear any more, pushing him to submit the papers.


    Seeing him hand the test results to the doctor, she asked, "When will the results be out?"


    "Around a week," Alexander said, showing her the receipt with the date.


    Quinn took the receipt and pocketed it.


    Her action made Alexanderugh.


    "It''s already dark. Not safe to go back now. Let''s not go back," he suggested.


    Quinn nodded. As long as he did the check-up, she didn''t care what they did next.


    She was sure Alexander''s injury hadn''t healed, so she didn''t want to rush him about rescuing Abigail.

 Chapter 1257

    After ditching the hospital, they snagged a room at a nearby hotel.


    Standing by the hotel window, you could totally see the whole city. It wasn''t huge; you could spot its edges in a blink, with all the action happening right here. Further out, the lights got pretty sparse. Quinn hadn''t had a decent bath in ages. First thing she did when she got in the room was hit the shower. At Casey''s ce, she either wiped down with hot water or used a bucket, which didn''t really cut it. She spent over half an hour in the shower before finally stepping out.


    Quinn came out wrapped in a bathrobe and immediately saw Alexander chilling on the sofa with a magazine. "Why are you still here?" she asked.


    Alexander looked up from the magazine. "Where else would I go?"


    "To your room," Quinn said.


    "There was only one room left," Alexander said, like it was no big deal.


    Quinn eyed him suspiciously. "We definitely booked two rooms just now!"


    "The front desk called me and said the guest in that room hadn''t checked out yet. They couldn''t reach them before, but now they''re back," Alexander exined. "Can they really do that?" Quinn asked, still not buying it.


    Alexander nodded seriously. "Yeah, this isn''t like back home. It''s pretty normal. Since it''s just us, it''s better not to stir up trouble."


    Seeing her expression, Alexander added, "What are you worried about?"


    This reminded Quinn she had nothing to worry about. Given his current state, even if he wasn''t injured, could he really force her?


    Thinking of this, she imed the bed for herself. Lying on the bed, she said to Alexander, "Do whatever. I don''t care."


    Then she turned off the room lights, leaving just a night light by the window.


    Alexander stayed on the sofa, staring at the lump under the nket, and chuckled.


    He really didn''t do anything, just sat on the sofa, not even getting on the bed.


    Quinn had been on guard for a long time. When she peeked out from under the nket, she found him sleeping on the sofa with his head propped up. Realizing she had overthought it, she felt a bit embarrassed and buried her head back under the nket.


    Meanwhile, Abigail had been wandering with Landon for two days and finally stopped in a small grove.


    She sat weakly on a rock, looking at Landon, who was in even worse shape than she was, and felt increasingly irritated.


    She had thought she could escape, but who would''ve thought that life outside was even worse than in the canyon?


    At least in the canyon, there was food. Now, with him, she was often hungry and had to run for her life.


    If she had known, she wouldn''t have run.


    Luckily, when they were escaping through the tunnel, she had grabbed some supplies, so she wouldn''t starve to death.


    After chilling for a bit, she walked over to Landon with her coat, plopped down beside him, and opened it up, showing the food inside.


    "Landon, where the hell are you taking me? If we keep this up, we''re both gonna die. Just let me go already. Do you really have to find Alexander?" she asked. Landon paused, staring at the fire without saying a word.


    Abigail shifted, sitting cross-legged on the ground. "Landon, what kind of beef do you have with him?"


    "Say something! I can''t take your silence anymore!" Abigail shouted, on the verge of losing temper. She grabbed her hair and let out a low growl. "You''ve already escaped," Landon finally spoke.


    Abigail snapped back, "Look around, do I look like I''ve escaped?"


    "Is it my fault you''re an idiot?" Landon mocked.


    Abigail was fuming. "Fine, if that''s how you feel, don''te crying to me when your wound starts bleeding again."


    She had thought Landon could really get her out. As long as they found a ce to make a call, she''d be safe. But what happened?


    He dragged her through all these deste ces, and they couldn''t even find a single soul.


    Abigail angrily grabbed a piece of bread from the ground, tore open the packaging, and took a fierce bite.


    Landon leaned against a tree and closed his eyes.


    He had lost contact with his crew and didn''t dare to go back to the canyon. If Alexander''s men found him, he''d be toast.


    Walter''s intentions were a mystery. Thinking about all this crap, Landon frowned even more.


    Abigail pushed him.


    Landon opened his eyes and stared at her, clearly annoyed.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "What will it take for you to let me go?" Abigail asked.


    "Forget it. As long as Alexander''s alive, I won''t let you go," Landon said.


    Abigailughed in anger. "Landon, if you wanna kill him, go do it yourself. Face him head-on. Why''d you kidnap me? Are you using a hostage to threaten him ''cause you''re not strong enough?" Landon''s expression darkened.


    "What? Did I hit a nerve? Are you pissed ''cause it''s true?" Abigail kept pushing. "If you can''t beat him, just admit it. Taking a hostage is no skill. Even if you win, it''s not honorable, right?" "You''re ring at me? Think I''m scared of you?" she sneered.


    She kept talking, and the more she said, the darker Landon''s face got. Suddenly, Landon reached out and grabbed her neck.


    Abigail was stunned for a moment. When she looked up, she saw his eyes filled with murderous intent.


    Landon said coldly, "If I don''t need you as a hostage, then you''re useless."


    His fingers tightened around her neck, making it hard for her to breathe. Anger surged within her, and she suddenly reached out and poked his wound. Landon''s face twisted in pain. He let go and clutched his stomach, ring at her fiercely.

 Chapter 1258

    "You think we''re still stuck in the valley? You think I''m scared of you? Look at you, all weak and sickly. I could take you out easy, and you still got the nerve to choke me," she snapped, giving Landon a smack on the head. The pnded right on top of Landon''s head, and he just froze, forgetting the pain for a second.


    He stared at Abigail, his face going from shock to confusion, then to anger, and finally to pure rage. You could see every emotion in his eyes, clear as day.


    Abigail was pissed too. To her, Landon was like a toothless tiger-scary to look at, but not really dangerous.


    She''d been with him these past few days, so she knew his condition better than anyone.


    Abigail had pushed his buttons just right. In that moment, thoughts of Alexander and revenge flew out of his mind. He had one thing on his mind: kill Abigail!


    In the next second, he exploded with a strength she didn''t expect, grabbing her by the cor and mming her to the ground.


    Abigail was shocked by his sudden burst of power as his fingers wrapped around her neck again. She tried to pull her usual trick, but before she could move, he had her pinned down.


    She reached out with her left hand, but he caught it mid-air, pinning both her hands above her head and freeing one hand to choke her.


    He used all his strength, nearly crushing her neck.


    The mes from the nearby fire flickered, reflecting in Landon''s murderous eyes, which were cold and terrifying.


    The feeling of suffocation hit her hard, and Abigail instinctively struggled.


    She never thought Landon would be so desperate to kill her.


    She tried to speak, but only broken sounds came out.


    This time, Abigail was closer to death than ever before. She stared into Landon''s cold eyes, realizing just how heartless he was. He was a demon.


    Her vision started to blur, and she stopped struggling, her empty eyes fixed on his face.


    Images of her parents shed through her mind. She regretted not having the chance to say anyst words.


    She wondered if, when her body was found and reported in the news, they would pixte her face.


    Her mind was filled with random thoughts. Eventually, she couldn''t think at all, her mind going nk.


    But then, the pressure on her neck suddenly eased.


    Landon finally let her go.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    He weakly fell back, sitting on the ground, staring at the flickering mes, and closed his eyes in exhaustion.


    Abigail''s eyes snapped open, and she gasped for air, coughing uncontrobly from the rapid breaths.


    She curled up into a ball, coughing for a long time before she could barely catch her breath.


    It took a while for her to recover somewhat. Though still very tired, she reached for a stone beside her and gripped it tightly.


    She stared intently at Landon, her chest filled with a burning desire to kill.


    She forced herself to stand up, her eyes catching sight of the blood-stained clothes he wore, knowing he hadpletely lost his ability to fight. This time, she didn''t hold back. She raised the stone in her hand, ready to strike.


    "Just go," Landon said, his voice barely a whisper.


    Abigail paused, her hand frozen in mid-air, unsure whether to lower it or bring it down.


    "What did you say?" she asked, surprised.

 Chapter 1259

    Landon slumped against the tree, eyes barely open. "You should bounce. Just keep walking down this road. When you hit a fork, go straight. At the third fork, hang a left, and you''ll find a vige." Abigail gave him a weird look.


    He looked like he was ready to be taken out. He''d just tried to off her, but now he seemed totally done. The sudden switch-up left Abigail kinda shook.


    "Weren''t you just trying to kill me? And now you''re letting me go?" Abigail asked, eyeing him suspiciously. "You don''t have some other trick up your sleeve, do you?"


    Landon cracked his eyes open, turned his head to look at her, and with effort, touched the wound on his side.


    He stared at the blood on his fingers. "Suddenly, I''m feeling kinda wiped."


    "Is this what it feels like when you''re about to kick the bucket?" he muttered, almost to himself. Abigail slowly lowered the rock in her hand. He''d been bleeding out for a while, and it was a miracle he was still standing. He''d just made a big move, using up thest of his strength. He had to be at his limit.


    "Who told you to make a move just now?" Abigail said.


    Landon let out a bitterugh. "You''re right. I''m not as good as him. I can''t beat him, and Walter''s yed me over and over."


    "I''m such a screw-up," he said with a self-deprecating grin.


    Abigail was quiet for a moment, not sure what to say.


    Even though Landon was a total jerk, seeing him like this made her feel a bit sorry for him.


    "Save your breath," Abigail said, reaching out to unbutton his shirt and remove the blood-soaked bandage.


    There was no first aid kit around, and even if there was, the wound had split open so many times that stitching it up wouldn''t help.


    She could only do a quick fix, using the clean side of the bandage to wrap it.


    Landon said, "At first, I just wanted to understand why Wayne thought he was so great."


    Abigail paused and looked up at him.


    He went on, "Later, I found out he wasn''t Wayne''s real son, and I hated him even more. He wasn''t even blood, yet he took everything that should''ve been mine. Wayne treated someone else''s kid like his own, gave him everything, while I got nothing and had to hide out abroad. I wanted to take back what was mine."Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on Abigail''s face, and said weakly, "I''m not a good guy, and neither is he. He''s even worse. He already has everything from the Kennedy family and even killed Wayne. He repaid kindness with betrayal. Don''t you think he deserves to die?"


    Abigail thought about it, not saying a word.


    She knew Alexander wasn''t a good guy. If it weren''t for Quinn, she wouldn''t have had any dealings with Alexander.


    But she couldn''t judge the beef between Landon and Alexander.


    She sighed, tied a knot in the bandage, and tightened it around the wound, hoping to stop the bleeding.


    "So, are you giving up on killing him now?" she asked.


    Landon closed his eyes again, his voice barely a whisper. "I can barely protect myself. How can I take him out?"


    "You know you can barely protect yourself, yet you were so impulsive. You deserve it," Abigail said.


    He let out a bitter smile.


    "Maybe," he said.


    "Looks like you''re really gonna die. Otherwise, you wouldn''t admit it. Got anyst words?" Abigail asked. Landon shook his head.

 Chapter 1260

    "You seriously got no one you wanna leave a message for?" Abigail kept pushing.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Nope," Landon replied.


    "Not even your mom or your buddies? No one?" Abigail pressed.


    "I let her down. She always wanted me to live a simple, boring life, not chasing after big dreams. I thought if Alexander could do it, so could I. I was always trying to show her I wasn''t just average," Landon said, his voice heavy with regret. Abigail nced at the sky, then the dark road ahead. She gritted her teeth, hoisted Landon onto her back, and started walking. "And then?" she asked.


    "And then I ended up like this. Isn''t it a joke?" Landon said, suddenly realizing he was on Abigail''s back. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Taking you to feed the wolves! Can''t let you die here for nothing," Abigail said.


    "Then you''re going the wrong way," Landon pointed out.


    "Alright, zip it. Keep talking. Since you let your mom down, don''t you wanna leave her somest words?" Abigail asked.


    Landony on her back and closed his eyes again. "She doesn''t even know I''m alive. Why make her sad again?" he said with a bitter smile.


    "Didn''t think you''d be so mushy. Seriously, do you wanna kill Alexander to avenge Wayne?" Abigail asked.


    "No," Landon shot back immediately.


    "That was quick," Abigail noted.


    "Put me down," Landon demanded.


    "You really wanna die that bad?" Abigail asked.


    Landon didn''t have the energy to argue. He sighed. "Aren''t you scared I''ll kill you again?"


    "Still talking tough?" Abigail said, feeling a bit helpless.


    If he really wanted to kill her, he wouldn''t have let her go earlier.


    Abigail thought, ''Maybe my words really got to him. It''s true he''s not as good as Alexander, but hearing it from someone else hits different. After breaking down and calming down, being able to say these things probably means he''se to terms with it. Of course, this is considering he''s on the brink of death. If he survives, who knows what''ll happen.''


    Abigail trudged through the forest with him on her back. The branches on either side of the path looked chaotic and creepy in the night.


    She followed the direction Landon pointed. By dawn, she realized he hadn''t lied to her; they had really made it out.


    It seemed he truly intended to let her go.


    The vige was pretty big, with noticeably more houses, including several two-story buildings.


    In the distance, a building stood tall. In the morning light, she could barely make out that it was a pharmaceutical factory.


    Abigail, seeing a glimmer of hope, carried Landon towards it.


    Most of the vigers worked at the factory. At this hour, they were starting to head to work. Abigail grabbed a viger to ask about a hospital, but thenguage barrier mademunication impossible. Finally, Abigail gave up and headed towards the factory with Landon on her back.


    There were many guards at the factory entrance. Before she could get close, they stopped her. She tried tomunicate. "Where''s the hospital?"


    The guard sternly drove her away, raising his gun as if to shoot.


    Abigail smirked and had no choice but to walk in another direction with Landon.


    A man approached, seeing their condition. He asked, "You looking for a hospital?"


    Abigail was surprised. Although he wasn''t speaking English, it was anguage she understood. She nodded eagerly.


    "Go that way," the man said, pointing.


    Abigail looked in that direction, gave him a grateful look, and hurried off.


    After half an hour, she finally saw the hospital sign. She let out a long sigh of relief and mustered the energy to enter the hospital.


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 Chapter 1261

    Quinn''s eyes flew open, and she stared at the ceiling, gasping for air.


    "Bad dream?"


    Alexander''s voice came from above. Quinn turned her head to see him sitting beside her, looking all concerned. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and sat up in bed.


    "I dreamed that Landon killed Abigail," she said, still freaked out.


    She let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God it was just a dream."


    Alexander reached out and patted her head. "Dreams and reality are like, total opposites."


    Quinn was starting to feel touched when Alexander added, "Or maybe someone else did her in."


    She froze, then red at him. "Alexander!"


    "Just kidding. Chill. She''s fine. No need to stress," Alexander said.


    "How do you know?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander replied, "I dreamed it."


    Quinn shoved him. "You''re so annoying. Can''t you be serious for once?"


    Every time she tried to take him seriously, he''d start talking nonsense. He didn''t used to be like this.


    Alexander clutched his chest, looking all hurt. "Did you have to hit me so hard?"


    Quinn hesitated, unsure if he was faking it this time.


    He rubbed his chest, taking a moment to recover, then looked at Quinn with a wounded expression. "Are you trying to kill me?" he asked.


    Quinn stared at his chest, thinking maybe he wasn''t faking it this time. "I didn''t mean to. It''s your fault for not being serious," she mumbled, looking down.


    "I was just trying to cheer you up," Alexander exined.


    "That''s not how you cheer someone up!" Quinn snapped.


    "Then how do you want me to do it? Tell me, and I''ll do it next time," Alexander said sincerely.


    Quinn was about to speak when she realized something was off. "When did you get into bed?" she asked.


    Alexander paused, then said seriously, "I saw you having a nightmare and came over to check on you."


    Quinn was skeptical. She reached out and felt his side of the bed; it was still warm!


    Before she could get mad, Alexander had already gotten out of bed. He threw the clothes from the sofa onto the bed and changed the subject, "Get up and wash up. I''ll go get you breakfast." "Alexander, you..."


    Quinn was about to scold him when he interrupted her, his gaze falling on her chest. "Watch your image," he said meaningfully.


    Quinn looked down and saw that her robe had somehow slipped off. She quickly grabbed the nket to cover herself and red at him.


    "I''m going to get breakfast," Alexander said, striding out and leaving her with a cold shoulder.


    Quinn sat on the bed, feeling super embarrassed.


    After thinking it over, she was still mad. She grabbed a pillow and threw it at the door, but Alexander was long gone, so it didn''t hit him.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Half an hourter, Alexander returned with breakfast. As soon as he stepped in, he was met with Quinn''s icy stare.


    He pretended not to notice and ced the breakfast on the table. "It''s hot. Eat it while it''s warm," he said.


    Ignoring Quinn''s re, he took out the breakfast and set it on the table.


    "Why are you staring at me? Eat," he said, as if nothing had happened earlier.


    Quinn fell silent for a moment, then grabbed the breakfast and took a bite.


    She couldn''t even understand why she was so mad. It was a weird, inexplicable feeling. More than anger, it felt like helplessness in the face of Alexander''s shameless behavior. She ate her breakfast quietly, not wanting to say a word to him.


    Only by not talking to him could she avoid getting angry.

 Chapter 1262

    After breakfast, Alexander was all about taking Quinn out for a stroll.


    Quinn wasn''t feeling the whole shopping vibe, but she let him drag her around anyway. Alexander ended up buying her a ton of food and clothes.


    When they finally rolled out of the mall, his hands were loaded with bags.


    "Anything else you wanna grab?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn just shook her head. "Nah."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "Alright, let''s bounce," Alexander said, steering her towards the parking lot. Their car was still chilling in the hotel''s underground parking, and Quinn was totally spaced out the whole way. She was itching to get back to her hometown every single day and couldn''t stand being in this weird ce for another second.


    Alexander popped the trunk and started loading their stuff. Suddenly, he frowned and tightened his grip on Quinn''s wrist. Before she could even blink, he yanked her to the ground.


    A split secondter, a muffled bang echoed nearby, followed by the sharp sound of a car getting hit.


    Her eyes went wide with shock, and she turned to Alexander.


    He put a finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet.


    Quinn''s fingers clenched nervously. Was Landon here to take out Alexander?


    They crouched behind the car. Alexander peeked through a convex mirror in the corner and saw a few guys closing in.


    Quinn followed his gaze and saw them too.


    There were five of them, moving in a formation around their car.


    Since there was no movement, they kept a safe distance, with just one guying up to check things out.


    The dude had a gun and was creeping up to the car. Just as he was about to peek behind it, a noise came from the rear of another car, and he instinctively turned to look. In that instant, Alexander grabbed his arm and yanked him down.


    Alexander wrestled the gun from his hand and knocked him out cold with a swift strike to the neck.


    The other guys saw this and rushed forward, but they were too slow. Alexander got up first and took out the two guys in front with quick shots, dropping them instantly. The two guys nking from behind fired at him, but their bullets just hit the car door.


    Turns out, after taking down the first two, Alexander had opened the car door to shield himself from the bullets and then dealt with the guys behind.


    Everything happened in a blur. Quinn was still squatting there, totally dazed and clueless about what just went down.


    By the time she snapped out of it, Alexander had already shoved her into the car.


    Alexander jumped into the driver''s seat and saw more guys rushing in. Without a second thought, they started shooting. With no ce to hide, he ducked behind the car door. "Alexander, they''reing from that side too!" Quinn shouted, panicking. Not just from the front, but from the right as well.


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed, and he dove into the car. As soon as the engine roared to life, he floored it.


    The car barreled through the crowd, and some people couldn''t dodge in time. Quinn saw two guys get hit, flying through the air and crashing down, coughing up blood. She clutched the seatbelt tightly, eyes glued to the rearview mirror as the group chased after them.


    Alexander''s brow was furrowed, and he mmed the gas pedal, speeding out of the parking lot.


    Quinn thought they''d be safe once they got out, but she totally underestimated the assassins. They jumped into cars and chased after them.


    She nced at Alexander, who wasser-focused on driving. She didn''t dare say a word to distract him.


    The car behind them was driving like a maniac, catching up in no time and pulling alongside Alexander''s car.


    Then, the other car swerved and rammed into theirs.

 Chapter 1263

    The car jerked like crazy, swerving left and right before finally chilling out, leaving Quinn feeling all kinds of dizzy and out of it.


    She managed to sit still and turned her head to look. Before she could get a good look at Alexander''s face, there was a loud thud on the car window, leaving a white mark on the ss. Thank God the ss was bulletproof; otherwise, that shot would''ve gone straight through her head.


    Quinn clutched the seatbelt tightly, seeing that the other car was still right next to theirs, trying to ram them again.


    Alexander suddenly floored it, causing the other car to miss and almost veer off the road.


    After a wild chase, they left the city and hit the wider outskirts, where the pursuers got even crazier, with gunshots going off like a freakin'' rainstorm.


    "Are these Landon''s people?" Quinn couldn''t help but ask.


    Alexander nced at the car behind them and then looked forward again. "I don''t know. But it sure looks like it."


    "Is he now openly trying to kill us?" Quinn asked, her voice all shaky.


    She could feel that these people weren''t just after Alexander; they wanted her dead too. Besides Landon, who else would pull this crap?


    Alexander didn''t respond, eyes glued to the road. The car behind kept trying to ram them, but always missed by a hair. Even without major hits, their car jolted violently, making Quinn''s stomach do flips. Quinn kept looking back and saw that the rear window had cracks and signs of damage.


    "Alexander," she called out, her voice full of anxiety.


    Alexander had noticed too. His face was grim, and he said nothing, almost flooring the gas pedal.


    "Get down," he suddenlymanded.


    Quinn instinctively ducked her head.


    The next second, there was a loud noise from behind, and a force hit the back of the seat. It was definitely a bullet hitting the backrest.


    And it kepting; the gunfire was relentless, not just on her side but on Alexander''s side too.


    Quinn looked along his arm and saw blood on the back of his hand, not knowing when he had been hit.


    To shake them off, Alexander turned the steering wheel and veered onto a narrow path.


    The path was too narrow for two cars, preventing side attacks. Shooting from behind was blocked by the trunk, and bullets could only hit the roof. After driving for about half an hour, the pursuers were still on their tail. Alexander suddenly mmed on the brakes and stopped.


    He turned to Quinn. "Get out and run into the woods."


    "What about you?" Quinn asked, her voice full of worry.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "I''ll distract them. You go first. I''ve messaged Sean. They''ll be here soon," Alexander instructed.


    Quinn hesitated about getting out, especially seeing the wound on his hand.


    Alexander urged, "Get out! They''re catching up."


    "Alexander, will you be okay?" she asked, looking all worried.


    Though it was a terrible time, Alexander smiled at her words. "Wait for me," he said.


    With his assurance, Quinn didn''t waste any more time. She pushed open the car door and ran, heading into the thick grass and crouching down.


    Then she saw several cars speeding past, their wind bending the grass and trees on either side.


    She looked further ahead and saw Alexander''s battered car. Sitting inside earlier, she couldn''t see it, but now she had a more direct view.

 Chapter 1264

    The back windshield of Alexander''s ride was totally busted, and the car itself looked like it had been through a war zone, all banged up and ready to fall apart any second. As she watched the cars vanish one by one, she clung to the grass beside her, not even realizing she was grabbing onto thorns that made her palms bleed like crazy. She crouched there, too scared to move, worried there might be assassins lurking behind her.


    Time dragged on, and the forest was creepily quiet, not even a single bird making a peep.


    It felt like she was back in that other forest. The only difference now was she was all alone, with nothing on her-no phone, no cash.


    If she was stuck here by herself, she wouldn''tst three days.


    She kept staring at where the cars had disappeared, her eyes wide at every little sound, scared she''d miss Alexander''s car if it came back. But half an hour went by, and the road stayed dead silent.


    She got up from the grass, looking further down the road, still nothing but emptiness.


    After another twenty minutes, she finally heard a car, but it wasing from behind her.


    She turned and saw through the trees that it was a ck car. She thought for a second and then crouched back down.


    The car pulled over, and Sean and Matthew got out. Sean spotted the mark Alexander had left, an unopened bag of chips. He looked around and shouted, "Mrs. Kennedy, you here?"


    Quinn bolted out when she saw him. She rushed to Sean and grabbed his sleeve. "Sean, why''d you take so long?" she asked.


    "We were far off, so it took a while. Where''s Mr. Kennedy?" Sean asked.


    "They went that way. He''s alone and hurt. Hurry, go after him!" Quinn said, pointing ahead, all nervous.


    Hearing Alexander was hurt, Sean jumped back in the car and sped off.


    Sean exined in the car that Landon was seriously hurt and wasn''t expected to cause trouble. Plus, the city was Obsidian Circle''s turf, and no one would dare mess around there.


    They hadn''t expected these guys to be bold enough to make a move even in the city.


    "Are they Landon''s guys?" Quinn asked.


    "Don''t know. We haven''t found Landon yet, but it''s probably his crew," Sean said.


    Quinn got even more nervous. The longer this dragged on, the more anxious she got.


    After driving for half an hour, they saw a burning car by the roadside. It was a wreck, having burned for a while, with the fire now just smoldering. The grass around it was charred ck, and the tree it crashed into had a half-burnt trunk, the whole thing swaying dangerously.


    Sean nced at it and drove past. "It''s not Mr. Kennedy''s car," he said.


    Quinn let out a sigh of relief and kept staring ahead.


    Since they were seeing cars now, Alexander probably wasn''t too far off.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Not long after, they saw another car lying across the road. This one wasn''t burning, but the driver inside was dead, head tilted back in the seat, eyes wide open, with a bullet hole in his forehead.


    Quinn forced herself to look away. The road was blocked, so they had to get out and walk.


    Sean led the way with his guys, and Quinn followed behind, struggling to keep up. She gritted her teeth and kept going.


    There were more bloodstains on this road, but it was unclear whose they were. asionally, they saw bodies by the roadside, but luckily, none of them were Alexander.


    But after running for a while, Quinn saw a familiar car parked by the roadside.

 Chapter 1265

    It was totally Alexander''s car, looking even more beat-up than when they split. The thing was a wreck-dents everywhere, and the gas tank was leaking all over the ground. She sprinted to the window and peeked inside. No one there. She let out a big sigh of relief.


    But just as she was about to turn away, she spotted blood on the steering wheel. Her heart sank again.


    She got up and kept running. Sean and the crew were nowhere in sight, so Quinn had no choice but to chase after them.


    Meanwhile, Alexander was hiding behind a tree, checking his gun. Out of bullets. Great.


    The nearest dead body was like 20 feet away, and a bunch of people were closing in from behind. If he moved, he was toast.


    He sighed, clutching his bleeding arm, blood dripping onto the grass.


    There were at least twenty guys behind him, all decked out in gear, even wearing goggles. They''d been waiting for him to show up.


    Dressed in ck, they all looked the same, guns ready, eyes locked on the tree Alexander was hiding behind.


    When Sean and his team showed up, they saw the group. Without a second thought, Sean whipped out his gun and started sting. The gunfire got the assassins'' attention, and they fired back instantly.


    Sean ducked behind a tree, bullets hitting the trunk, shaking branches, and leaves falling everywhere.


    From where the bullets hit, Sean knew these guys weren''t amateurs.


    The shots were dead-on, right at head height. These guys had skills, making Sean too scared to peek out.


    His crew ran over, and Sean yelled, "Stay back!"


    But it was toote. The guy in front got hit, and two more behind him were injured.


    Seeing this, the rest quickly found cover.


    Matthew was behind a tree next to him. They exchanged looks, both realizing these weren''t just any mercenaries-they were top-tier assassins. Could they be Landon''s men?


    Matthew wanted to test it. He pulled a tissue from his pocket, stuck it on his gun barrel, and poked it out.


    A secondter, the tissue got shredded by a bullet, making him yank his hand back in fear.


    He looked at Sean, eyes wide. This was gonna be rough.


    Sean crouched, leaned out, and fired a few quick shots before ducking back.


    He fired five times, hitting two of them, but their bulletproof vests took the hits, and they just stumbled back a bit.


    Maybe Sean''s quick reaction made them hesitate, leading to a standoff.


    Quinn hurried over, hearing the gunfire. She stopped, hid in some bushes, and circled around the shots.


    The standoff dragged on for about ten minutes, both sides taking potshots, getting more and more impatient.


    But no one wanted to make the first move. In this game, patience was everything. The first to lose their cool would be the first to die.


    Alexander leaned against the tree, looking worse by the minute. Blood pooled at his feet, his lips pale, and sweat dripping down his face.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1266

    Alexander shut his eyes for a sec, checked the gap between him and Sean''s crew, then chucked his gun.


    A few muffled shots rang out, and the bullets hit the gun he just tossed. Meanwhile, he bolted and ducked behind another tree as fast as he could. The tree behind him shook a bit more as bullets smacked into the trunk.


    But this gave Sean''s crew a shot. When the assassins fired at Alexander, Sean''s crew managed to nail two of them.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    One got hit in the arm, the other in the leg. They weren''t dead, but it sure slowed them down.


    Then they switched up their tactics. One guy ran out to shoot, and when Sean''s crew peeked out, they saw those guns aimed right at them.


    Sean''s eyes narrowed, and he dropped to the ground, rolling to dodge the bullets.


    But the others weren''t so lucky. Anyone who stuck their head out got hit. Two took shots to the head, and the rest, who were a bit quicker, still got injured.


    One of them was Matthew, who got shot in the chest. When Sean looked over, he saw Matthew clutching his chest, crouched in pain.


    Sean frowned, cursing under his breath, but stayed silent.


    They were already outnumbered, and the enemy was fully armed. In terms of both numbers and gear, they were at a big disadvantage. Plus, the enemy''s reaction time and shooting skills were almost as good as Sean''s. Sean signaled that their only shot at breaking through was to drain the enemy''s ammo.


    This n was risky; stepping out meant getting shot.


    Sean decided to take the lead. He aimed at a rock on the left and dashed over, lying down behind it. A few bullets hit the rock.


    As the standoff dragged on, the sky got darker, and the forest dimmed. Sean''s crew was at an even bigger disadvantage.


    The enemy not only wore ck but also had night vision goggles. With such a gap, it was tough to handle them.


    Alexander, in his ck shirt, had a slight edge.


    He seized the moment, ran a couple more steps forward, and switched to another tree.


    At that moment, he spotted Quinn''s sneaky figure ahead. His eyes flickered.


    Luckily, Quinn didn''t keep running his way but crouched on the ground.


    Seeing her actions, Alexander felt both amused and annoyed.


    Even though she couldn''t help at all, she still showed up.


    Quinn didn''t move forward anymore, as the sounds she heard were super close, and going further would be dangerous. So she crouched in a thick bush, not daring to move, closely watching the surroundings through the gaps in the grass. Unfortunately, it was dark, and she couldn''t see a thing.


    After a few minutes, she saw a few figures moving slowly ahead, unsure if it was Alexander, so she didn''t dare move. Sean moved asionally, trying to draw the enemy''s attention and drain their bullets.


    It was during these moments of distraction that Alexander found the chance to move closer to Quinn.


    Now Quinn saw him. Although she couldn''t see his face clearly, she knew his figure and recognized him right away. When she saw that he could still walk, her face lit up. She grabbed the grass beside her, staring intently in his direction. The gap between them was now less than 30 feet.


    So Quinn gritted her teeth, switched from crouching to lying down, and slowly moved toward him.


    Alexander dodged around a few trees, sprinted to her, and pounced on her, rolling on the ground with her in his arms.

 Chapter 1267

    Quinn didn''t even have time to react before everything spun around her. By the time she got her bearings, she was already leaning against a rock.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "What the hell are you doing here?" Alexander asked, his voice low and serious.


    Quinn stared at him, confused. "Where else was I supposed to go?"


    "Didn''t I tell you to wait?" Alexander shot back.


    "Sean brought people, and I''m the only one here," she said, biting her lip. She had followed Sean, and now she was stuck.


    The forest alone was way scarier.


    Alexander sighed, ncing over his shoulder to keep an eye on the shadows moving behind them. It was quiet, but he could see movement out of the corner of his eye. Quinn whispered, "How''s your injury?"


    Alexander was about to answer when suddenly, beams of white light from motorcycles appeared in the distance, and the sound of drones buzzed overhead.


    Quinn instinctively turned to look. There were sounds in the forest, like bullets ripping through leaves.


    The assassins immediately took cover and shot down the drones, and the motorcycles came to a halt.


    Without warning, the two groups started fighting.


    Quinn asked in surprise, "Your guys?"


    Alexander squinted and grabbed her hand. "Let''s go."


    Quinn was super confused but followed him, stumbling as they ran.


    The sound of gunfire faded as they got further away.


    Since Alexander was running so fast, it seemed like the neers weren''t his men either. Quinn was even more puzzled. Who were these people?


    After running for what felt like forever, Alexander finally stopped and sat down against a tree.


    It was too dark for Quinn to see his condition, so she squatted down and reached out to feel him.


    "Are you badly hurt?" she asked.


    Alexander grabbed her wandering hand. "I''m fine. Don''t worry," he said.


    His tone was serious, not his usual teasing. He was genuinely trying tofort her.


    This wasn''t the time to worry about such things. Quinn asked nervously, "You don''t know those people?"


    "No," Alexander denied.


    "Who are they? Why do they want to kill you?" Quinn asked again.


    If the first group was Landon''s people, then who was the second group? If there was no threat, why did Alexander run?


    Alexander chuckled, his hoarse voiceing from the darkness. "There are plenty of people who want to kill me."


    He seemed oddly optimistic.


    But Quinn couldn''t share his optimism. Not knowing who the enemy was made her realize how dangerous this ce was. They could die at any moment. As they spoke, the faint sound of helicopter des came from overhead.


    "Are they following us?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah," Alexander said, standing up and grabbing her hand to keep running.


    This forest wasn''t as dense as the previous one, so the leaves couldn''t hide them from the helicopter''s cameras.


    In the sparse woods, any movement would be clearly visible to the drones above, even if theyy on the ground.


    So whether they stopped or kept running, it didn''t make much difference; they would still be discovered.


    Quinn was gasping for breath as they ran out of the forest and back to the ce where the cars had blocked their way. Several cars were parked haphazardly there. Alexander led her to the middle of the cars and pulled her to the ground. "Get in," Alexandermanded.


    "Get in where?" Quinn asked.


    "Under the car," Alexander said, giving her a push.


    Quinn gritted her teeth and crawled under a car. She was well hidden, but Alexander didn''te in.

 Chapter 1268

    When she nced up, Alexander was nowhere to be seen.


    A car engine roared to life, and Quinn saw the headlights flick on. The car backed up a bit, then drifted and sped off.


    Quinn squinted at the car, her mind racing. Was that Alexander behind the wheel?


    A few drones buzzed overhead, tailing the car.


    After a brief ruckus, everything went quiet again.


    Quinn sighed, lying under the car. Chasing after him felt pointless; he always found her and hid her away again.


    Once she was sure it was all clear, she crawled out from under the car. Turning around, she saw some figures running towards her. They were moving slowly, looking banged up. Quinn leaned against the car, watching them closely.


    As they got closer, she heard Sean''s voice.


    "Let''s get in the car first. Those two groups don''t seem to know each other; they probably both think the other is us."


    "Where did Mr. Kennedy go?" someone asked.


    "Take care of yourself first. If we could get out, he surely did too. Get in the car," Sean said.


    They opened the car doors and piled in. There had been about ten of them when they came, but now only five or six were left. And they were all pretty beat up.


    Quinn hopped into the car too. Sean looked startled, "Mrs. Kennedy?"


    "Stop talking. He went ahead!" Quinn said, anxious.


    Sean was stunned for a moment, then quickly reversed the car and drove back the way they came.


    By the car''s headlights, Quinn scanned the roadside but found nothing.


    The car drove out of the small road and ran into another car head-on. They passed each other, and both saw the people inside.


    The next second, the sound of screeching brakes filled the road.


    Sean unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car, and the other party did the same.


    Quinn was surprised to see Walter getting out of the car.


    "Mr. Smith, where are you going?" Sean asked.


    Walter''s gaze swept over the group and finallynded on Quinn''s face. "You seem to be in trouble?" he asked.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "How do you know?" Quinn asked.


    Walter''s expression was somewhat subtle. When Quinn noticed his intense gaze, her expression changed suddenly. "Are those your people?" she questioned. "What do you mean? Can''t they be Landon''s people?" Walter argued.


    Quinn didn''t buy it and stared directly at him. "Then why are you here? And how do you know we''re in trouble?" she questioned.


    Walter sighed helplessly. "Get in the car first. Let''s find Alexander."


    He looked at Quinn, as if asking if she wanted to get in his car.


    Quinn had a ton of questions, so she didn''t hesitate and got into his car.


    Walter sat down beside her, and Quinn instinctively scooted away from him.


    Noticing her movement, he let out a lightugh. "You''re so distant with me now," he murmured.


    "Walter, are those people really yours?" Quinn asked again.


    "You''ve already decided they are. Do I still need to answer that question?" Walter said with a bitter smile.


    Quinn was silent for a moment, then said, "You''ve found us here, so there''s no need to answer. Do you really want to kill him that badly?"


    "I''ve always wanted to kill him. Don''t you know that?" Walter said casually.


    Quinn was stunned. She almost forgot that in Las Veges, he had tried to kill Alexander several times.


    He wanted to kill Alexander before, so why would he change now?


    Walter said, "Quinn, if I really killed him, what would you do? Would you kill me to avenge him?"

 Chapter 1269

    It all felt like d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Alexander had hit her with a simr question back in the day.


    She found it kinda funny; their mess was still a hot mess.


    "I''m right here. You thinking about offing me to save yourself some trouble?" Walter leaned in close. In the dim car, Quinn couldn''t see squat. It wasn''t until his breath hit her face that she snapped out of it and shoved him away. "Spill it. If you wanna kill him, why are you here now?" Quinn shot back.


    Walter leaned back, his voice dropping, "Didn''t n on things going sideways."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" Quinn pressed.


    "Those guys were Landon''s crew. Landon''s in deep now, hiding out. I was just lending a hand," Walter said, looking kinda bummed. "But the second wave? Not his guys."


    Since he was already outed, he didn''t bother hiding anymore.


    He''d nned to use Landon to take out Alexander, but who knew others would jump in? He rushed over as soon as he got the news.


    "Here for the show?" Quinn sneered.


    "Not really. Just curious about those folks," Walter admitted.


    Quinn finally got it. He was just nosy about who those people were and didn''t give a damn about Alexander.


    "So you didn''t see him when you got here?" Quinn blurted out.


    She realized it was a dumb question. If he had seen him, he wouldn''t be here chatting, and he wouldn''t admit he set up the first wave.


    Walter didn''t answer. He told Colin, who was driving, "Take the lower right path."


    Colin turned the wheel and headed down the small road to the lower right.


    Sean followed. A few cars slowly drove through the night, fading into the darkness.


    The car was dead quiet. Quinn nced at Walter next to her.


    He was staring out the window, his face hidden in the dim light, just a dark outline.


    After a bit, she broke the silence, "Earlier, were you nning to kill me too?"


    Walter turned to meet her eyes. "No way. I don''t want you dead. And Alexander wouldn''t let you die either," he said.


    Quinn gave a bitter smile. "Yeah, no matter what, he wouldn''t let me die. So you drag me into this mess to make it look real. Same at Amber Bay, and now here. The tiger in the forest, that was you too, right? You say it''s for my own good, but do you really care about me?"


    Walter stayed quiet, and Quinn couldn''t see his face, just felt his eyes on her.


    She went on, "I''m not important to you. You just wanna kill Alexander. Even though you knew he wasn''t part of the Kennedy family ages ago, you still went after him, pretending it was revenge, calling me a traitor. Walter, I don''t get it. Why do you hate him so much? More than you hate Landon."


    Walter stayed silent. After Quinn''s rant, the car went quiet again.


    Quinn asked, "Got nothing to say?"


    "Yeah, have you made up?" Walter asked.


    "None of your business. Whether I forgive him or not is my call. I just wanna know why you wanna kill him so bad," Quinn said firmly.


    Walter''s fingers traced the car window, but he didn''t answer.


    Just as she was about to speak again, Walter cut her off. "I think I see him."

 Chapter 1270

    Quinn suddenly nced out the window. The horizon was glowing white, but she had no clue what was causing it. Still, no sign of Alexander. Colin floored it, racing towards the light.


    Quinn kept her eyes glued to the window. As they got closer, she could make out car headlights and figures moving in the light and shadows.


    Two figures were tangled up in the flickering white light, with a bunch of drones buzzing above them.


    Colin had already pulled over, watching the two figures from a distance.


    Quinn tried to jump out of the car, but Walter grabbed her. "Don''t go down there," he ordered.


    "Let go of me!" she snapped, struggling.


    "What are you gonna do down there? Make things worse for him or distract him?" Walter shot back.


    Quinn froze, then stopped fighting. She stared nkly at the two people fighting in the distance. She saw Alexander, but he was getting pushed back, step by step. "He''s so messed up, yet he''s still hanging in there. I underestimated him," Walter muttered.


    Quinn couldn''t hear him. She only saw Sean and the others driving towards them.


    But before they got close, several drones aimed at their car, and bullets started raining down, making a loud racket as they hit the car.


    Sean had to m on the brakes. Fuel leaked from the tank, and the sparks from the bullets set it aze instantly.


    "Get out of the car!" Sean yelled.


    They had to ditch the car and jump out, but as soon as they rolled out, the drones'' bullets strafed them.


    Even though Sean moved fast, he still got hit a few times. He rolled down a slope and disappeared into the roadside grass.


    A voice taunted, "Your subordinates seem dead. Is your wife among them?"


    Alexander froze and turned to look. The burning car exploded with a loud bang, lighting up the night like it was daytime. The mes danced in his eyes.


    At that moment, the man punched him in the chest.


    Alexander staggered back a few steps, swaying, but his eyes never left the burning car.


    Seeing he had no fight left in him, the man stepped back too.


    "I gotta admit, you''re pretty tough, but this ends now," the man said, raising his hand.


    Then the drones aimed their guns at Alexander.


    Quinn struggled to get out of the car but was pinned against the window by Walter. Her eyes were red as she looked at Alexander in the distance. The roaring mes blocked her view, and she couldn''t see Alexander. Only through the gaps in the dancing fire could she catch glimpses of his face. Alexander looked in her direction. It was unclear whether he was looking at the wreckage or their car hidden in the darkness.


    "Walter, let me go! Let me go!" Quinn shouted, struggling. She grabbed Walter''s hand, trying to pull it off the car handle.


    "Are you going down there to die?" Walter snapped.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "It''s none of your business. Let me go!" She scratched Walter''s hand, leaving bloody marks, and then frantically pounded on the car window.


    "Let me go down, Walter. Please, let me go down!" Her desperate voice echoed inside the car, but outside it was silent.


    Quinn turned and hugged Walter''s arm. "Go help him. Go help him, Lucas, please. Go help him, and I''ll do anything you say in the future. I''ll be your servant, I..." Her choked voice got stuck in her throat, making it hard to speak.


    Walter looked at her with aplex expression but didn''t budge. "It''s no use."


    His words made Quinn instantly calm down.


    Quinn slowly turned her head, eyes wide, looking into the distance.


    She watched as Alexander''s figure slowly fell. Though she couldn''t see his injuries, she noticed several red lights from the drones, like shooting stars, sweeping towards him. It felt as if countless sharp swords had pierced her heart.

 Chapter 1271

    Quinn sat there, frozen like a deer in headlights, just staring ahead, totally forgetting to move.


    The drones up in the sky suddenly did a 180, all zeroing in on them.


    The man turned around too, and the blinding light made it impossible for Quinn to see his face. He stared right at them, and for a split second, Quinn felt like she locked eyes with him. "Go," Walter suddenly barked.


    Colin didn''t waste a second, whipped the car around, and floored it, speeding off into the night.


    The drones were right on their tail, bullets pinging off the car with sharp cracks.


    Those drones were relentless, like they were hell-bent on catching them.


    Following Walter''s directions, Colin veered off towards a remote area, diving into a forest. It was the same forest Alexander had been to before, but they took a different fork in the road. After what felt like forever, they finally managed to shake off the drones, the thick trees blocking their view.


    Walter told Colin to stop. He yanked the car door open, dragged Quinn out, mmed the door shut, and told Colin to drive deeper into the woods.


    He pulled Quinn into the underbrush. After a few steps, he pushed her down into the grass.


    Meanwhile, a bunch of drones buzzed overhead, one after another.


    After a couple of minutes, the noise faded, and the forest went back to being eerily quiet.


    Walter sighed, got up from the ground, and pulled her up too.


    Quinn was like a puppet, letting him move her around.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Should we go back and check it out?" Walter asked.


    Quinn slowly lifted her head to look at him.


    Too bad it was so dark she couldn''t see his face.


    "Okay," she croaked. Her voice was so hoarse, if it weren''t for the dead silence of the forest, it would''ve been almost inaudible.


    Walter grabbed her hand and started walking back. The road was long, and it would take them at least two hours to get back. Quinn stumbled behind him, her mind haunted by the image of Alexander falling.


    As they got closer, the road seemed to stretch on forever. She was both desperate to get there and terrified of what they''d find. Her mind was a chaotic mess, filled with a million thoughts.


    They both stayed silent the whole way.


    When they finally got there, it was pitch ck. The lights were gone, and even the burning cars had quieted down, reduced to smoldering ruins.


    Walter pulled out his phone and turned on the shlight to light the way. Quinn noticed the bodies along the roadside-they were Sean''s men. The further they walked, the weaker Quinn''s legs got. Eventually, she just stopped, too scared to go any further.


    Walter turned to ask her, "What''s wrong? Scared to keep going?"


    Quinn closed her eyes and stayed silent.


    Walter let go of her and walked ahead alone to check things out.


    Quinn watched him go, bit her lip, and eventually followed.


    There was a slope here, leading down to a wastnd with sparse grass, barely enough to hide anyone.


    To her surprise, when she followed the light and looked, there was nothing below.

 Chapter 1272

    She widened her eyes, not sure if she should be stoked or freaked out. She bolted downhill, but in her rush, she tripped and tumbled down the slope. After shended, she got up and started rummaging through the grass around her.


    Walter watched her part the ankle-deep grass, looking for Alexander, a helpless look in his eyes.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander was so tall, he should''ve been easy to spot. How could he be hiding in such shallow grass?


    Quinn searched all the grass around but found nada, so she looked further away. She figured Alexander might''ve been hurt bad and crawled off somewhere. She searched a bit further uphill but still came up empty.


    Walter followed her down. When he got halfway down the slope, he stopped and looked down. There were bright red droplets on the grass.


    He bent down and wiped them, ending up with a hand full of blood.


    He frowned and wiped around again, his whole hand covered in blood.


    "Quinn," Walter called out seriously.


    Quinn turned, came to his side, and followed his gaze, first noticing the blood on his hand.


    She held her breath, slowly squatted down, and touched the grass. The wet sensation made her shiver as she opened her palm, revealing a bright red stain. Her eyes flickered as she looked up. The highest point was where she had seen Alexander fall earlier.


    She tried to keep her emotions in check, tried to stand up but weakly fell to the ground again.


    Walter reached out to pull her up, but she shook off his hand and crawled upward. The grass along the way was almost entirely stained with blood.


    Her fingers, arms, and entire sleeves were soaked with blood-mixed dew.


    She got back to the top of the slope and saw a pool of blood on the ground.


    She stared at the blood, her mind automatically picturing Alexander falling and his injuries. Tears streamed down her face uncontrobly.


    The sky started to lighten, and the pre-dawn wind was freezing.


    She squatted there, staring nkly at the pool of blood.


    Walter''s phone was almost dead. He turned off the phone light, and darkness swallowed them.


    "Do we keep looking?" Walter broke the silence.


    Quinn didn''t respond.


    After a long time, she finally croaked out, "He shouldn''t be dead, right?"


    "He might just be hiding, just went farther away," she murmured.


    Walter sat down beside her, thinking. "It''s possible. But there doesn''t seem to be any ce to hide around here," he said calmly. Quinn slowly raised her head, her gaze locking onto him.


    "Walter, are you happy now?" Quinn asked.


    Walter slowly replied, "I don''t know."


    Happy? Not really.


    "Haven''t you always wanted to kill him? Now, you must hope he''s dead, right?" Quinn questioned.


    "You''re wrong. I didn''t kill him. Whether he''s alive or dead, I don''t really care," Walter said nonchntly.


    "Then why didn''t you help him? I begged you so much, why didn''t you let me get out of the car?" Quinn asked.


    Walter chuckled. "You wanted to die with him, but I didn''t."


    Quinn fell silent, withdrew her gaze, and stood up from the ground.


    She kept searching for Alexander.


    As long as she didn''t see his corpse, she firmly believed he was still alive. Since Walter had managed to survive back then, Alexander had to be alive too.

 Chapter 1273

    The sky was already lighting up. The morning was all gray and misty, but you could still see around. Walter was right there with her, helping out with the search.


    He was wondering who those folks could be.


    After what felt like forever, she didn''t find Alexander, but she did find Sean.


    Sean was lying at the bottom of the slope, out cold and bleeding from a bunch of gunshot wounds.


    Quinn nudged his shoulder, but he didn''t budge. She flipped him over and checked if he was breathing.


    He was still hanging on, but just barely.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "He''s still alive!" Quinn shouted.


    Walter nced over. "Lucky him," he snarked.


    Ignoring his sarcasm, Quinn tried to get Sean off the ground. She wanted to patch him up but had no clue where to start. "Walter, can you call an ambnce for him?" Quinn asked..


    Walter pulled out his phone, made the call, and gave their location.


    Then he looked at Quinn. "Aren''t you gonna look for Alexander?"


    Quinn paused, looked down at Sean, then stood up and said, "Then you keep an eye on him."


    She turned to leave, but Walter grabbed her wrist.


    "Don''t waste your time. Given what went down, you really think that guy would let him get away?" he asked.


    Quinn froze, staring at the emptyndscape ahead, her eyes nk.


    She yanked her wrist free and stubbornly said, "He will escape."


    "You can check for bloodstains. If he got away, there''d be bloodstains," Walter pointed out.


    Ignoring Walter, she kept searching further away.


    Walter watched her go, his expression getting moreplicated.


    Quinn searched everywhere she could think of, even the tall grass.


    From sunrise to sunset, she checked every corner but still couldn''t find Alexander.


    She went back to the original spot, following the bloodstains down the slope. The bloodstains stopped at the bottom, no more clues.


    Just like Walter said, if he really got away, there''d be bloodstains along the way. But there weren''t any. There was a big patch of blood here, but nothing ahead. "He was probably taken away," Walter''s voice came from behind.


    Quinn spun around, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Does that mean he''s still alive?" she asked quickly.


    Walter looked at her, the sunset casting a cold light on his face, showing a hint of ruthlessness.


    He crushed her hope. "Then why did that guy shoot him instead of just taking him away?" he said.


    "What do you mean?" Quinn asked.


    "I mean, maybe he was taking his body back to report," Walter said harshly.


    Quinn stood there, her long-suppressed emotions finally breaking down at his words. She staggered back a few steps.


    Shaking her head, she murmured to herself, "No way. It can''t be."


    "You''re lying to me," she said, staring at Walter, her eyes red. "You always lie to me. I don''t believe you. You''re a liar. Why do you lie to me?"


    Walter sighed heavily, a hint of impatience in his eyes. "Then just think I''m lying," he said, not arguing with her.


    Suddenly, Quinn grabbed his clothes. "You set this up, didn''t you?"


    "It wasn''t me," Walter replied.


    "It was you. You always use these tricks. It must be you. Did you have that guy chase you too, to make me believe?" Quinn insisted. Walter stared at her without saying a word.

 Chapter 1274

    Quinn kept shaking Walter. "Spit it out! Was it you? Where''d you take him? Why''d you do it? Why?!"


    Her voice, all raspy and desperate, cut through the quiet wilderness, carried by the wind.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter just stood there, letting her shake him, his face a nk te.


    His silence crushed herst bit of hope.


    She started pounding her fists on his chest, trying to let out all her sorrow. But no matter how hard she hit, it didn''t faze him. Suddenly, she shoved him away.


    "Walter, get lost! I never wanna see you again!" she yelled.


    Walter took a step back and grabbed her wrist. "Done throwing your fit?"


    "Let go of me!" Quinn snapped, struggling hard.


    He held her wrist tight and pulled her into his arms. The more she fought, the tighter he held on.


    "Doesn''t matter if you believe me or not. He''s dead. Dead is dead. Whether you wanna see me or not, he''s still dead," Walter said coldly.


    "Shut up! I don''t wanna hear it!" Quinn screamed, pushing against him, but she couldn''t break free. His grip was so tight it was hard to breathe. Eventually, she ran out of steam.


    She stopped struggling and slumped weakly against Walter''s chest.


    Maybe it was because she hadn''t seen Alexander''s body with her own eyes, or maybe she just couldn''t ept the truth. She always felt he was still out there, not dead. Like usual, he was somewhere out there.


    Maybe he''d pop up in front of her any moment, teasing her with that smile.


    "He said he wouldn''t die. He also said he wouldn''t let me down again," Quinn said, pushing Walter away, her voice calming down. "I haven''t forgiven him yet. He wouldn''t die." Walter looked down at her, a mocking smile on his face. "If you say so."


    Quinn didn''t wanna deal with him anymore and turned to walk up the slope.


    She remembered Alexander''s lookst night. Did he have a lot to say?


    What was he thinking at that moment?


    Even if he had a thousand things to say, he left nothing behind, not a single word.


    He vanished so suddenly, just like when Quinn left back then.


    Quinn''s mind was a foggy mess; she couldn''t think and didn''t want to. All she could see was the image of him falling in front of her.


    She looked up at the sky.


    It was getting dark.


    She felt a wave of dizziness, and Walter, walking behind her, saw her copse to the ground.


    When she woke up again, she was in the hospital.


    She stared at the ceiling, her gaze unfocused. Hearing footsteps, she suddenly sat up, turning her head with hope.


    But when she saw it was Walter, the hope in her eyes instantly faded.


    Walter walked to her side, looking her up and down. "Awake?" he said.


    Quinn stared nkly at him, pulling at the corners of her mouth, then silently looked away.


    She said, "I had a dream."


    Before she could even say what the dream was, Walter cut her off, "It wasn''t a dream. It was real."


    Quinn was stunned again, suddenly looking at Walter.


    Walter sat down beside her, speaking slowly, "Alexander is dead."

 Chapter 1275

    Quinn was floored. She just gawked at Walter, her brain doing somersaults from what he just dropped on her.


    She tried to catch any hint of deceit on his face but came up empty. All she could see were those scenes she thought were just nightmares, ying on repeat in her head. Feeling lost, she looked away, staring nkly at a corner of the room.


    She clutched her chest, like there was a jagged rock stuck there, making it hard to breathe.


    Maybe she never felt this way before; everything hit her like a freight train, no time to even think.


    But now, in the quiet, the sense of loss and helplessness started creeping in.


    She shook her head. "You''re messing with me. I don''t buy it."


    "It''s cool. You might need some time to wrap your head around it," Walter said, all chill.


    Quinn turned to him, seeing that calm look on his face, which only made her more sure he was full of it.


    Last time when Walter took that dive off a cliff, she saw him jump. She couldn''t catch him, and in that split second of grabbing at nothing, she epted he was gone.


    But this time, she didn''t see how Alexander died, didn''t see his body, so deep down, she still thought he was out there somewhere.


    She didn''t dare to feel sad, like being sad would make it real.


    After a beat, she threw off the nket and got out of bed, walking past Walter towards the door.


    "Where you headed?" Walter asked.


    Quinn ignored him and bounced from the hospital. She needed to go back to that spot to see if Walter was feeding her lies.


    Walter watched her leave. Out of nowhere, he knocked the water cup off the table.


    Quinn walked out of the hospital. She''d been here before with Alexander, so she knew the way.


    Walter trailed her, and Colin popped up, looking like he''d been through the wringer. He''d had a rough time shaking off the goons.


    He''d just gotten back and hadn''t even changed his dirty clothes, sticking close to Walter.


    "Mr. Smith, need a ride?" he asked.


    Walter stopped, watching Quinn''s figure. She was still in the hospital gown, way too big for her. The hem hit her knees, and her legs were bare, making her look like she was wrapped in a bedsheet. He looked away and turned in a different direction, not nning to follow her.


    Colin caught up and asked, "Mr. Smith, aren''t you gonna keep an eye on Ms. Mellon?"


    "Why should I?" His eyes had a cold glint, and he sneered, "If she wants to go, let her go."


    Colin scratched his head, confused, but didn''t push it.


    After leaving the hospital, Quinn walked down the path, heading straight ahead.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She got back to that ce. It was still a wastnd, like nothing had gone down.


    But the bloodstains on the ground told her it was all real, not a dream.


    She remembered Alexander''sst look.


    Even though she was far away and couldn''t see it clearly, her mind filled in the nks of his gaze at that moment.


    She slowly squatted down, touching the bloodstains.


    She never denied she remembered him. Sure, she couldn''t be with him without any baggage because of their past, but she never said she didn''t care about him.

 Chapter 1276

    She mumbled, "Alexander, I wasn''t lying. When I said we should start fresh, I meant it. At that moment, I really believed it. As long as you''re alive, I don''t care about anything else, no matter what people say. Even if we got stuck in that forest forever, I''d be okay with it."


    Honestly, those days in the forest with just the two of them, even with all the danger, were the most peaceful times she''d ever had.


    She didn''t have to think about the past or worry about what others thought. She could fool herself into thinking that as long as no one saw, she wasn''t tied down by morality.


    She coulde up with a million reasons to stay with him-the forest was too dangerous to go solo, only he could get her out, and so on.


    If Abigail wasn''t still under Landon''s thumb, she would''ve lived with him just like they did on that deserted ind.


    But people are like that; some things you just can''t say until the very end.


    She was like that, and Alexander was the same back then.


    She squatted down, staring at the bloodstains mixed with the dirt. In a few days, these stains would be gone too.


    She dug up the soil, carefully setting it aside, and then scooped up all the visible bloodstains along the path.


    She tore off a piece of her clothes and wrapped the soil up carefully.


    Holding the bundle close to her chest, she looked down at it. Thinking that this blood belonged to Alexander and that he might nevere back, her heart ached. Even breathing hurt.


    Quinn clutched the bundle of soil and headed back to the hospital.


    It was already dark, and she was broke with nowhere else to go. It seemed like her only option was to find Sean, who was in the hospital.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But she still needed to ask Walter about Sean''s room.


    She went back to her old room, but Walter wasn''t there. She sat on the bed, staring nkly at the door.


    The next day, he still hadn''t shown up.


    Quinn figured Walter was trying to tell her that he was the only one who could help her here.


    Without him, she''d even struggle to find Casey''s ce.


    So Quinn stopped waiting and started searching room by room. Eventually, she''d find Sean.


    From the second floor to the fifth floor, she finally found Sean in an intensive care unit.


    Sean hadn''t woken up yet. Hey on the bed, tubes all over his body, and Quinn almost didn''t recognize him.


    Since the door was locked, she could only watch from outside.


    After standing there for a while, a doctor came to check on Sean. Quinn took the chance to ask him about Sean''s condition. Thanks to her hard work over the past two years, she could understand the doctor, even though he didn''t speak English. The doctor said, "He hasn''t passed the critical stage yet. May I ask who you are to him?"


    Quinn replied, "I''m his friend."


    "Don''t worry. We''ll do everything we can to save him," the doc said.


    Quinn gave him a grateful look. "Thank you, doctor."


    "You''re wee. It seems like I haven''t seen any of his other rtives or friends. Are you the only ones here?" the doc asked. When Quinn heard this, her eyes went nk.


    When Sean came, there were a lot of people with him, but now it was just the two of them.


    Quinn had found the others in the car too, but they weren''t as lucky as Sean. They were all dead.


    "Yes, may I go in and see him?" Quinn asked politely.


    "Of course, but you''ll need to put on a cleanroom suit," the doc reminded her.

 Chapter 1277

    Quinn gave a quick nod and followed the doc inside. There was a room just for changing clothes. She slipped into the room, threw on a cleanroom suit, and headed over to Sean''s bedside.


    The doc checked Sean out. His vitals were still super weak, like he could kick the bucket any second. Quinn stared at Sean, her eyes all sad and stuff.


    She couldn''t do jack except hope he''d pull through.


    She''d asked about Sean''s stuff, but the doc was being all careful and didn''t hand it over.


    Later that night, Quinn went back to her own room, only to find Walter chilling there.


    He was lounging in a chair, azy grin on his face as he looked at her.


    "Did you find him?" he asked, all yful, totally not matching Quinn''s down mood.


    Quinn nced at him, then at the cab, her face shifting a bit.


    "Did you take my stuff?" she asked.


    Walter raised an eyebrow and picked up a package, toying with it. "You mean this pile of junk?" he said, all casual.


    Hearing "junk," Quinn felt a stab in her heart. She suddenly lunged forward to grab the package from him.


    Walter lifted his hand out of her reach. "It''s just a pile of dirt. Why are you freaking out?" he said, all nonchnt.


    To provoke her more, he added cruelly, "You didn''t give a damn about him when he was alive. Now that he''s dead, you treat a pile of dirt like it''s gold. What''s the point?"


    His words cut deep. Quinn couldn''t argue back ''cause she knew he was right.


    She went quiet and stubbornly tried to snatch the package from his hand.


    But with the height difference, she couldn''t reach it no matter how hard she tried. Frustrated, she shoved him back onto the sofa and lunged at him again. But he just tossed the package out the window. Quinn''s eyes widened as she lunged forward, but she missed and hit the ground hard.


    She watched the package scatter in the air, the reddish-brown dirt falling, some of it getting in her eyes, stinging like hell.


    She turned to look at Walter.


    Walter leaned back on the sofa, looking down at her like he just threw out some trash.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered and turned red. She red at Walter with pure hatred.


    This was the first time Walter had seen that look in her eyes.


    "Looking at me like that, you wanna kill me over that pile of dirt?" Walter sneered.


    Quinn shot back instinctively, "That''s not dirt!"


    "Then it''s Alexander. So, you''ve epted he''s dead?" Walter fired back.


    Quinn was stunned and went silent again.


    The dirt didn''t mean anything, but she had nothing else left of Alexander-just the blood-stained dirt that had his traces.


    If he really was dead, it was the only thing Quinn could take back with her.


    She silently stood up and walked out.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Chapter 1278

    Walter stood by the window, peering down. Under the dim streetlight, Quinn was crouched on the ground, carefully scooping up the soil. She ced it back on the cloth, tied it up tight, and cradled it in her arms, just like Alexander used to hold her.


    When she came back, she clung to the bundle and didn''t say a word to Walter. She just sat on the bed, lost in her thoughts. Walter watched her for a bit, then suddenly broke the silence, "Quinn, you know who that person is?"


    Quinn''s eyshes fluttered, and she looked up at him.


    Walter sneered, "So what if you know? Gonna get revenge?"


    Quinn ignored his taunt and asked, "Who is it?"


    "Someone you can''t mess with," Walter replied.


    Quinn stared at him, her voice rough, "What will it take for you to tell me?"


    "Depends on my mood," Walter said, all casual-like.


    Quinn locked eyes with him for a moment, knowing she wouldn''t get any answers. She turned away, ignoring him.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Walter got up, strolled over to her, and reached out to touch her face, but she turned away.


    His fingers hung in the air for a second before he pulled them back.


    "I''ll take you somewhere," he suggested.


    "I''m not going," Quinn shot back immediately.


    "Really? Don''t regret itter," Walter pressed.


    Quinn hesitated, still not trusting him.


    Seeing through her thoughts, Walter added, "Guess Abigail isn''t that important to you. If you don''t wanna go, forget it."


    He turned to leave.


    Before he reached the door, Quinn chased after him and grabbed his sleeve.


    Walter stopped, a faint smile on his face as he looked back at her. "Changed your mind?"


    Quinn stared at him intensely. "If I don''t see Abigail, this is thest time I believe you."


    Walter didn''t react. Pointing to the bundle in her arms, he demanded, "Don''t bring that." Quinn frowned and held the bundle tighter.


    Walter remarked, "You keep saying he''s not dead. Now, when asked to choose between Abigail and the dirt, you''d rather choose it. Is Abigail less important than the dirt, or is what you''re holding..." She suddenly raised her voice, cutting him off. "Walter, this is not dirt!"


    "Then what is it?" Walter shot back.


    Quinn looked at him, her gazeplex, and said with difficulty, "This is his blood."


    Walter kept pushing her to admit Alexander was dead, using the most casual tone to say hurtful things.


    Maybe it was because her gaze was so broken, with a hint of pleading, Walter didn''t respond. He just watched her for a moment, then sighed and walked out without saying anything more about putting it down. Quinn held the bundle tightly and followed closely behind him.


    She hated this feeling. She was powerless and could only be manipted.


    Even though she didn''t want to talk to Walter, he had her vulnerabilities, leaving her no choice but topromise.


    Even if he held a knife, she would have to brace herself and face the de.


    They stayed silent the whole way, with Walter driving her to see Abigail.


    The drive felt endless. Whether it was truly a long distance or time had just slowed down, it felt like Quinn had spent a century in that silent car.


    Even with Walter sitting next to her, she felt an unprecedented loneliness, like she was the only person left in the world.


    "We''re here. Get out," Walter said.


    His voice snapped her back to reality, and she looked into the distance.


    She didn''t even know when the time had changed from night to the next evening.

 Chapter 1279

    Abigail was in the ward with Landon. She''d already hit up Oliver, who was on his way to scoop her up, so she wasn''t nning on wandering around. She didn''t know this ce well, and it was sketchy outside. Last thing she wanted was to dive headfirst into another mess right after dodging one. Landon had made it, barely. Doc said if they''d been anyter, not even a miracle could''ve saved him once he bled out.


    This hospital was out in the boonies and tiny, but it had a bunch of brainy folks working on meds. Luckily, they had a pharmapany backing them, so they were loaded with medical supplies. With enough cash, they could probably save someone on theirst breath.


    Landon was still out cold, been in aa for days. He was so weak, you could count the times he woke up on one hand.


    Abigail was just sitting there, chin in hand, watching the tenth bird fly by the window.


    When the door creaked open, she turned and saw Quinn and Walter stroll in. She was first like, "Whoa," then jumped up.


    "Quinn!" she hollered, all excited.


    Quinn was just as surprised. She thought Walter brought her to the hospital ''cause Abigail was hurt, but nope, Abigail was fine. It was Landon who wasid up in the bed.


    She suddenly remembered Alexander saying Abigail didn''t need her worry. Guess he was right; Abigail really didn''t need her fussing.


    When Abigail saw Quinn''s eyesnd on the hospital bed, her smile faded, and her face got allplicated and awkward.


    She quickly stepped forward to grab Quinn''s hand, but Quinn instinctively stepped back.


    Abigail was a bit taken aback, staring at Quinn in surprise. She opened her mouth but didn''t say anything.


    Walter was watching them, a yful grin on his face.


    He chimed in, "Abigail, Quinn''s been stressing about you every day. If it weren''t for you, she and Alexander would''ve been back home ages ago. Alexander wouldn''t have..." Before he could finish, Quinn shot him a look. Walter chuckled and left it hanging.


    Frowning, Abigail asked, "What happened to him?"N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "Ask her," Walter said, then strolled past Abigail towards the hospital bed.


    Abigail looked at Quinn intently. Walter''s words gave her a bad vibe. With Quinn''s attitude, her gut told her Alexander might be in trouble.


    Quinn was at a loss for words. She was just having a hard time dealing with it, but she had no right to me Abigail.


    She remembered Abigail''s kindness. Abigail got kidnapped because of her.


    Maybe Abigail had her reasons.


    Maybe she was broke, without a phone, and had no way to escape.


    They stared at each other for a moment. Then Quinn looked up and asked, "You okay?"


    Abigail hesitated and took her hand. This time, Quinn didn''t pull away, making Abigail feel a bit better.


    "Let''s talk outside," Abigail suggested, leading Quinn downstairs and out of the hospital.


    The hospital was small, so they reached the entrance in just a few steps. There weren''t many people around.


    Abigail asked urgently, "Quinn, what happened to Alexander?"


    "I don''t know," Quinn replied, looking down. Every time she heard Alexander''s name now, her heart ached.


    "What did Walter mean by what he said just now?" Abigail asked again.


    Quinn looked at her with aplicated expression, her lips twitching. Those scenes reyed in her mind again, and she couldn''t say a word.

 Chapter 1280

    Abigail was on pins and needles waiting for Quinn to spill the beans. She was dying to know what went down while she was MIA. If something bad happened to Alexander because of her, she''d be totally lost on how to face Quinn. Quinn bit her lip, thinking hard, and finally gave Abigail the lowdown.


    Abigail''s eyes got wider and wider as she listened.


    She grabbed Quinn''s hand, staring at her without saying a word.


    After a beat, she said, "Then he''s gotta be alive. Rememberst time? You went through all that, and he saw it all. You''re still kicking, right? So if he''s missing, it just means he''s still out there, right?" Quinn''s gloomy eyes started to light up, a flicker of hope sparking.


    The past couple of days, she''d heard nothing but harsh words from Walter. No one backed her belief that Alexander was still alive.


    She was scared that if she heard it enough, she''d start to buy into it herself.


    But Abigail''s words gave her a boost. She just needed a little nudge to keep her faith strong.


    Abigail''s eyes were super sincere. She wasn''t just trying to make Quinn feel better; she really believed it.


    She might not be Alexander''s biggest fan, but she didn''t want him in trouble because of her.


    So she was dead set on him being alive.


    They locked eyes, seeing the determination in each other, making Quinn feel like she wasn''t alone in the world.


    She didn''t feel as lonely as before.


    "I''m sorry, Quinn. This is all on me," Abigail said, genuinely.


    Quinn shook her head. "Nah, it''s not your fault. If it wasn''t for me, you wouldn''t be in this mess."


    "That''s a whole different thing. Actually, I..." Abigail''s words trailed off, unsure how to exin. She''d never been so desperate to clear things up, scared Quinn might get the wrong idea.


    "I did think about bailing, but I couldn''t get out of that ce at all," she exined, then described the terrain to Quinn without sugarcoating it. If Landon hadn''t guided her, she''d still be lost in those mountains. "The reason I stayed wasn''t to look after Landon. I was waiting for Oliver," Abigail exined.


    "Maybe I messed up. Maybe I shouldn''t have taken him to the hospital. Letting him die on the way might''ve been the right call. Quinn, knowing he had beef with Alexander, I still took him to the hospital. I''m sorry," she said, sincerely. Quinn shook her head. "Alexander had beef with him. I can''t make you carry that grudge. Whatever choice you made was from your own heart. You''ve got a kind heart and didn''t want to see him die in front of you. I get it."


    "I don''t know what I was thinking then. I''m really sorry," Abigail said, looking all guilty.


    "It''s not on you. Even if you''d ignored him, Alexander wouldn''t have dodged this bullet just because he died," Quinn said calmly.


    If what Walter said was true, the people who took Alexander weren''t Walter''s or Landon''s.


    So no matter what happened to Landon, they''d have found a way to get him.


    So, in this, Abigail wasn''t to me.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Who are those people?" Abigail asked.


    "I don''t know either," Quinn replied, shaking her head.


    Walter wasn''t nning to tell her. Whether he wanted to use it to threaten her or just didn''t want her to take risks, Quinn couldn''t tell.


    Abigail squeezed Quinn''s hand and asked again. "Quinn, do you really not me me? You can say whatever you want. You know me. I don''t like to hide stuff, and I don''t want to guess what others are thinking. So if you don''t want any walls between us, even if you do me me, I can handle it," she said, earnestly.

 Chapter 1281

    Abigail''s blunt talk kinda left Quinn a bit at a loss.


    But she got what Abigail was saying about not wanting any beef between them. After thinking it over for a sec, she was like, "Nah. Seeing you with Landon was tough, but now that you''ve exined, it''s cool." Abigail blinked, "For real? You better not be lying to me."


    Quinn nodded, "Yeah, for real."


    "Alright, I trust you, Quinn. Just don''t hate me," Abigail said, pulling her into a tight hug.


    Quinn was a bit thrown off, feeling the squeeze. She hesitated before patting Abigail''s shoulder.


    If the hit on Alexander was Landon''s doing, and she saw Abigail cozying up to Landon, she probably wouldn''t be this chill with Abigail.


    Abigail should count her blessings that Landon didn''t pull any stunts this time.


    After a bit, Abigail let go. "I hit up Oliver. He should be here in a couple of days. Let''s bounce together, cool?" she asked.


    Quinn hesitated.


    Abigail noticed and asked, "You still wanna find Alexander, huh?"


    Quinn did, but she had no clue where to start. She''d lost all leads on him.


    Abigail sighed, "You know how stubborn he was. If he could, he''d be back by now. If he hasn''t shown up, things must be bad. You got no power here. Staying won''t help and might even mess things up more for him." Quinn''s mind shed back to Las Veges. He couldn''t handle the altitude, but he never bailed, no matter what she said.


    He wouldn''t just vanish without a reason.


    Quinn refused to believe he was dead. It had to be like Abigail said he was in a bad spot and couldn''t show up yet. Abigail gave her shoulder a firm pat. "Let''s head back. He''ll find you once he knows you''re home."


    Quinn''s fingers clenched in her sleeve, and after a long pause, she slowly let go.


    "Okay," she said.


    Abigail was right; she needed to be smart and not make things worse for him.


    Abigail secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    When they got back to the ward, Walter was still there, staring out the window at the dark sky, lost in thought. Hearing them, he turned around, not surprised to see them patched up.


    Abigail, remembering his earlier threats, immediately pulled Quinn over. "Quinn, this guy''s a real piece of work." Quinn nced at Walter. He had a faint smile, looking all gentle and harmless.


    But Quinn knew better.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Abigail ranted, "He found me before. One minute he''s saving me, the next he''s threatening to kill me. How am I supposed to trust him? And then he tries to get Landon to off me in front of you. Seriously, who does that?" If he hadn''t said that, Abigail might''ve gone with him. But after that, no way she was risking it.


    She was scared he''d kill her halfway and pin it on Landon, and she''d be dead for nothing.


    Given the situation, sticking with Landon was actually a bit safer.

 Chapter 1282

    Quinn was totally clueless about all this stuff. She shot a puzzled look at Walter. "For real?"


    Walter said with a smile, "Does it even matter if it''s true or not?"


    After the whole Alexander fiasco, Quinn had zero trust left in him, so whatever Abigail said was just noise.


    Before, he tried every trick in the book to off Alexander and dodge any me, just so Quinn wouldn''t point fingers at him.


    But now, those random assassins showing up had trashed all his ns, so when Quinn asked if he was happy, well...


    Honestly, he was anything but happy.


    This whole mess did him no favors.


    His words were like a silent confession, making Quinn feel a mix of hate and anger towards him. Everything seemed to link back to him, yet he wasn''t the direct cause. Abigail wasn''t dead, and Alexander''s vanishing act was someone else''s doing.


    As for his part in all this, he probably didn''t even know himself.


    Quinn thought it over and decided to head back to Amber Bay. Once there, she wouldn''t have to deal with Walter anymore.


    Right now, she couldn''t even talk to him without losing it.


    She turned and walked out, not wanting to be in the same room as him.


    Abigail followed her out, and they crashed in the lobby downstairs. They hadn''t seen each other in ages, so they chatted all night.


    Abigail did her best tofort her, trying to prove Alexander was still alive, hoping Quinn could pull herself together in the days ahead. At dawn, Quinn dozed off on Abigail''s shoulder.


    Abigail draped her coat over Quinn. When she looked down and saw the tears still glistening at the corners of Quinn''s eyes, it broke her heart.


    Back in Amber Bay, Abigail had hoped Quinn could move on from Alexander and not be so torn up.


    Abigail had thought Quinn would forget Alexander and start fresh, but she hadn''t expected Quinn to still be heartbroken over Alexander after two years.


    Abigail realized Quinn had truly fallen for Alexander.


    Quinn had a long, weird dream, filled with all sorts of crazy scenes. She dreamed of her days with the Kennedy family, her time in Las Veges, and her moments in the forest with Alexander.


    All her experiences from childhood to now were tied to Alexander; he was in every part of her life.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    During her time in Las Veges, she tried hard to ignore him and draw a clear line.


    But that was because she knew Alexander was alive and kicking somewhere. When she thought of him, his vibrant image would pop into her mind. And if she wanted, she could just turn on a financial channel and see him. Now it was different. When she thought of him, she felt empty, her mind filled with the image of him lying in a pool of blood.


    Alexander might not even be in this world anymore.


    No matter where she went, she couldn''t find him.


    Even in her dreams, she believed Alexander was dead, and she felt incredibly sad when she was with him.


    That sadness was even more intense than in real life.


    Quinn opened her eyes, the light above stinging her eyes, and hot tears rolled down her cheeks. Sadness hit her like a tidal wave. She couldn''t help but hug the nket and cry her heart out.

 Chapter 1283

    Hearing the cries, Abigail snapped awake. She turned her head and saw Quinn all curled up with a nket, her shoulders shaking, and soft sobs escaping. She let out a helpless sigh but kept quiet.


    After a bit, Oliver called her.


    She''d borrowed the phone from a doc earlier. Who knows how much Oliver slipped that doc, but the guy hadn''t asked for it back in days.


    Abigail nced at Quinn, grabbed the phone, and stepped outside.


    Answering the call, she whispered, "Oliver, you here?"


    "Yeah, I''m here. This ce is a maze. Where you at? I''lle find you," Oliver said.


    Abigail looked around, clueless about her exact location. "Just ask someone. I''m at the hospital; everyone knows where it is," she instructed. "Got it."


    Oliver hung up, spotted a viger, and asked for directions.


    The viger eyed him suspiciously.


    So, Oliver had to sh some cash.


    Finally, he found the hospital.


    When he got there, he saw Abigail scanning the entrance. His face softened, and he hurried over, his nerves and excitement clear as day. Abigail''s eyes welled up when she saw him, and she bolted towards Oliver.


    She threw herself into his arms. "Oliver!"


    Oliver had been fuming before he came, but hearing her choked-up voice, all his anger melted away.


    Abigail had always been tough, rarely crying in front of anyone, even her parents. Only with him did she show this side.


    He gently patted her head and whispered, "It''s okay. I''m here now."


    Abigail clung to him, scared he''d vanish if she let go.


    She''d dreamed of this moment so many times, only to wake up disappointed.


    "You''ve been through a lot," Oliver said softly.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail shook her head, wiped her tears on his chest, and looked up, her eyes red.


    "It''s not suffering if you''re here," she said.


    Oliver poked her forehead. "Let''s see if you dare to run off again."


    Abigail protested, "I wasn''t running off. I went to find Quinn. Who knew I''d end up here."


    Mentioning Quinn, Oliver paused. "Is Alexander really...?"


    Abigail quickly grabbed his hand, stopping him. "Don''t talk about it, especially in front of Quinn," she warned.


    Oliver nodded. "Got it."


    "Tell her Alexander''s alive. Don''t say anything that hints he''s not," Abigail reminded him again.


    "Do I need you to teach me?" Oliver said, looking at her helplessly.


    He''d been friends with Alexander for years. Honestly, when he first heard the news, he didn''t buy it.


    Even now, he still thought it was bogus, but the sadness in his eyes was undeniable.


    "Where''s Quinn?" he asked.


    "Upstairs in the ward," Abigail replied.


    "Let''s go see," Oliver suggested, walking ahead. Abigail watched his back. His suit was wrinkled, and his shoes were caked in mud.


    It was clear Oliver had been through a lot to find this ce.

 Chapter 1284

    When Abigail and Oliver rolled up to the hospital room, Quinn was already up, sitting on the bed looking all spaced out, totally missing their entrance.


    They shared a look.


    After a beat, Oliver stepped up and called her name, "Quinn."


    Quinn snapped her head around. When she saw it was Oliver, the spark in her eyes fizzled out.


    She tried to y it cool, but Oliver caught that quick sh of disappointment.


    He paused for a sec before asking, "You good?"


    Quinn gave a slight nod.


    Oliver said, "Let''s bounce back to the States together. I got everything set up. Orion''s waiting for you at the airport."


    Abigail, surprised, asked, "He came too?"


    Oliver nodded. "Yeah, when you got snatched, he ran back to tell me. I''ve been digging for info about what''s going on here, but it''s a mess, and I couldn''t get any news about you." He had thought abouting over, but he had nothing to counter any of the forces here, so he didn''te.


    It wasn''t that he was scared; it was that the Vanderbilt family only had him left. If he came here and something happened to him, the entire Vanderbilt family would be finished. Plus, Alexander was here, so Oliver knew any news. After a lot of thinking, he decided not toe.


    Abigail got it; she didn''t want Oliver to risk it either.


    She looked at Quinn. "Let''s go. There''s nothing left here, and it''s crazy dangerous."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Quinn nodded, agreeing to head back with them. "Sean''s still in the hospital, out cold. Can we get him back too?" she asked.


    "We gotta check on him first," Oliver said.


    So, they bounced from the hospital and headed to where Sean was.


    As they left, Landon had already woken up. He stood by the window, so weak he had to hold onto it to stay upright.


    His eyes followed them, calm and steady. The room was empty except for him, and his messy hair added a touch of sadness.


    Abigail seemed to sense something and nced back, locking eyes with him.


    "What are you looking at?" Oliver asked, turning to look. But the window was empty, no one there.


    Abigail pulled her gaze back. "Nothing. Let''s go."


    Oliver didn''t say anything else.


    Quinn pressed her lips tight and turned her head slightly to look at the window.


    Of course, she didn''t see anything either.


    "They''ve left," Walter''s voice suddenly came from the doorway.


    Landon turned his head and saw Walter leaningzily against the door frame, giving him a knowing look.


    "I''m not blind," Landon said, dragging his weak steps to the bed and sitting down.


    Walter said, "I mean, aren''t you going back with them?"


    Landon looked up at him.


    Walter continued, "Now that Alexander''s dead, no one''s stopping you. Don''t you n to go back and take over the Kennedy Group, save what''s left?" "What Kennedy Group? It''s got nothing to do with me," Landon said.


    "Really? Then why were you so hot to kill Alexander? Wasn''t it to fight for all that?" Walter said, suddenly getting it. "Or was it revenge?"


    Landon shot a cold look at Walter. "Instead of throwing shade, you should worry about yourself."


    Walter''s smile faded a bit.


    Landon said, "After all that, it was for nothing. You''re not much better off than me."


    None of the three of them got anything out of this.


    Walter was in a foul mood, but the worse it got, the bigger his smile grew.


    Landon asked, "Who are those people?"


    "People who got nothing to do with us," Walter answered.

 Chapter 1285

    Landon scratched his head, looking all confused. "What are you getting at?" he asked.


    Walter smirked, "You seriously don''t get it?"


    Landon took a beat, then it clicked. That crew was gunning for Alexander, not them. No need to sweat it; they weren''t in the crosshairs.


    That spot was Obsidian Circle''s turf. If Walter''s guys were causing a ruckus, Obsidian Circle should''ve stepped in.


    But they didn''t lift a finger, which meant they were cool with that crew taking a shot at Alexander.


    Obsidian Circle had Alexander''s back against Alistair before, but now they were ying blind. The only reason? That crew had way more clout than Alexander. Obsidian Circle backing them over Alexander showed just how big-time they were.


    Before Quinn went to see Sean, she swung by Casey''s ce.


    Lately, the whole vige was in a funk ''cause there was no work and no way to get paid.


    Quinn found Casey and her mom and asked if they wanted to head back.


    Casey was chill with staying, but her mom was so hyped she started crying.


    "Can I really go back? I don''t have a passport, no cash," she said, her voice shaking.


    Quinn nced at Oliver.


    Oliver nodded. "Yeah, do you remember your old passport number?"


    "Of course, how could I forget?" she said, wiping her tears. She''d tried a million ways to get a passport over the years, but no luck.


    "Alright, give me your name, address, and old info, and I''ll check," Oliver said.


    She rattled off her details. Herst name was Elikin, Maria Elikin, from Sylvadora.


    She remembered clear as day how she got tricked intoing here.


    Oliver took her info, stepped out to make a call, and had someone dig up her records. They found it.


    Oliver came back, and Maria looked at him, hope in her eyes. But when she saw his face, her hope faded.


    "Is it a no-go?" she asked, her shoulders slumping as she almost copsed into the chair.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "It''s fine. I''m used to it here anyway," she said.


    Oliver shook his head. "No, I can get you back. But your family''s situation isn''t great."


    Maria''s face tightened. "What happened?" she asked.


    Oliver sighed, "You''ve been gone for years. Your parents went broke looking for you. Your mom died in a car crash ten years ago, and your dad..." Maria stood up, panic in her eyes. "What about him?"


    Oliver''s voice was heavy. "He couldn''t handle it, had a breakdown, and ended up in a mental hospital. He passed away there two years ago." Maria''s eyes went wide, tears streaming down her face. She stood there, shattered.


    Casey rushed to her side. "Mom."


    Maria leaned on Casey, sobbing.


    "It''s all my fault, all my fault!" she cried, shaking as she dropped to her knees. Casey tried to hold her up but couldn''t.


    She sat on the ground, dignity gone, crying her heart out.

 Chapter 1286

    "Dad, Mom, I totally should''ve listened to you guys," Maria muttered, feeling like the world was crashing down on her.


    She gazed up at the sky, like she could see her parents up there, her eyes all blurry with tears.


    "After I graduated college, I was all about volunteering with some ssmates," she stated.


    Back then, she was young and reckless, clueless about the dangers out there. She wanted to do something big, something meaningful. So, despite her family''s warnings, she took off with her friends to volunteer in some remote area. But the dude who took them there led them to a different mountain area, sneaking through walls and tunnels. She had no idea it was illegal immigration; she thought it was just a shortcut. Little did she know, that tunnel dumped them in another country.


    From that point on, she never made it back home.


    She got kinda lucky, though. Her two other female ssmates? They got beheaded after just three months for trying to escape.


    Maria saw them get tortured by a bunch of guys and then beheaded.


    They got hacked up so many times, and the blood stter haunted Maria for years.


    Another ssmate had it bad too. She didn''t try to escape but caught some STD and got dumped in the wilderness. Maria was too scared to look for her.


    Maria, being pretty and obedient, managed to please some powerful guy. He''d beat her sometimes when he was in a bad mood, butpared to her friends, she was lucky.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    She barely survived under his control until he got bored and handed her off to one of hisckeys.


    She thought she was done for, but their infighting gave her a shot. She escaped with the others.


    Eventually, she ended up here, had Casey, and never left.


    Listening to Maria''s story, Quinn and Abigail felt a mix of sympathy and horror. Especially Abigail, who''d been kidnapped by Landon for so long. She''d been shackled but hadn''t faced the horrors Maria described. For a moment, Abigail didn''t know whether to feel lucky or cursed.


    Quinn grabbed her hand, feeling a wave of fear.


    Luckily, Landon only wanted to kill Alexander; otherwise, things could''ve been way worse.


    While they were out of touch with Abigail, Quinn''s biggest fear was that Abigail might be going through something like Maria did.


    Thank God that didn''t happen.


    Oliver nced at Abigail and asked again, "Abigail, you didn''t go through any of that, right?"


    Abigail shook her head, looking pale. "No."


    "Alright, let''s not waste any more time. Pack up and let''s get outta here," Oliver said. Even as a man, he didn''t want to stick around any longer. Maria''s story was suffocating.


    Casey helped Maria up and went inside to pack.


    Quinn nced at the empty wicker chair in the room. For a second, she thought she saw Alexander sitting there.


    She walked over, but when she got closer, the chair was empty.


    She snapped out of it, touched the wicker chair, thought for a moment, and then went inside.


    Next to the pillow on the bed, she saw something white.


    She walked over and picked it up. It was the piece of wood Alexander had been carving.


    Every time she tried to see what he was carving, he''d hide it and start talking to her.


    Now she saw it. It was a carving of two people.


    One of them was her as a kid.


    The wooden figure of her was squatting, holding a teddy bear, looking up at the person next to her.


    The person next to her wasn''t finished, just a vague outline of a back.

 Chapter 1287

    "Quinn."


    Abigail''s voice came from behind, making Quinn''s hand shake and drop the wood carving. She quickly bent down to grab it. She turned around and forced a smile. "What''s up?" she asked.


    Abigail''s eyesnded on the piece of wood in Quinn''s hand. Without thinking, she snatched it, leaving Quinn no time to react. "This is beautiful. Where''d you get it? But it looks kinda half-done," Abigail murmured.


    Quinn pressed her lips together and stayed silent.


    Abigail seemed to realize something, then looked down at the wood carving in her hand. Could this be something Alexander left behind?


    She nced at Quinn again, awkwardly handed it back, and said, "Casey packed everything. Let''s roll. We still gotta hit the hospital. If we drag our feet, we won''t make it back today."


    It had taken them two days to get back from Landon''s hospital, and it would take some time to get to Sean''s hospital.


    Quinn nodded and walked out with Abigail.


    Maria didn''t want to be a hassle, so she only brought a few clothes.


    Abigail sat next to Quinn, noticing she only had a bundle and the wood carving, with almost nothing else.


    The car was too quiet. Abigail wanted to chat but didn''t know what to say.


    So the ride was silent.


    At Sean''s hospital, Oliver found Sean''s doctor and asked if they could take Sean now.


    But the doc said he hadn''t passed the critical period yet and didn''t rmend moving him.


    Oliver turned to ask Quinn, "Is he safe here?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together; she didn''t know either.


    But Walter and Landon were only after Alexander. Now that Alexander was missing, they probably wouldn''t mess with Sean.


    Oliver added, "He''s in a really bad shape right now. Moving him might make it hard for him to handle the high altitude pressure, making his injuries worse."


    He was being pretty careful with his words. From what he saw, Sean probably wouldn''t survive the flight to Sylvadora.


    Quinn was quiet for a long time before saying, "Then let him stay here."


    She turned to the doc and said, "Please take care of him."


    The doc had no objections; as long as the money was there, everything was cool.


    Quinn contacted Kyle and asked him to send two people to look after Sean. Even though Sean often pissed off Alexander, he was very loyal.


    Despite Alexander''s frequent threats, he was always tolerant of his crew. As long as they didn''t screw up big time, he rarely punished them.


    Quinn put the wood carving in her pocket. When she took her hand out, a piece of paper came out with it. She picked it up and saw it was Alexander''s medical report receipt. She needed this to get the report.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Wait a sec," Quinn suddenly said.


    After saying this, she ran to the front desk to get the medical report. She then went back to the exam room fromst time and found the doc.


    There was no real need to go, but she still wanted to see the doc.


    The doc took the medical report, opened it, and after just one page, frowned and said, "Where''s this patient? I tried calling him before, but no one answered."


    Quinn''s heart skipped a beat. For such an exam, the doc usually wouldn''t call unless there was a problem.


    She nervously said, "He''s not here right now. He went to another country. Is there something wrong with his report?"

 Chapter 1288

    The doc looked dead serious, saying, "You gotta go back and tell him to chill out and take care of himself. He shouldn''t be moving around much and needs to hit up the hospital for treatment. His blood oxygen levels are in the danger zone." "Why''s this happening?" Quinn asked, confused.


    "Has he been to high-altitude ces? Or maybe carbon monoxide poisoning?" the doc threw out there.


    Quinn was kinda out of it; seemed like both those things had happened to him.


    The doc kept flipping through the report, exining, "He''s got some gnarly internal and external injuries. And since they weren''t treated in time, they''re super serious now, a real threat to his life." "Check this out," the doc said, pointing to a page. "These two ribs have been busted twice. This time, the broken bone''s real close to the lungs. One wrong move and it could puncture them." Quinn just stared at him, feeling like she was in a bad dream. Looking at Alexander, you''d never guess anything was wrong.


    He was always goofing around, acting like everything was cool. Even when he mentioned pain, it was like a joke, so Quinn thought he was just messing around.


    She remembered what he said that day.


    "If I go through all the suffering you''ve endured, will it open your heart?"


    So, he had already done it before asking her that.


    That''s why he was so weak when she barely pushed him.


    But he never told Quinn. Why? Was he scared she''d be pissed?


    Quinn couldn''t figure out when he nned to spill the beans. When he was on his deathbed?


    Since she had died once, he had to die too?


    But that night, he said nothing.


    He just vanished without a word.


    Quinn couldn''t wrap her head around how he managed to escape with her in his condition.


    She zoned out, not hearing the doc''s next words or knowing how she walked out.


    All she could think about was everything they''d been through. He had really ditched all his pride and dignity, clinging to her like a lost puppy. He was trying so hard to make things right.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    He said if he couldn''t find the right answer, he''d try every way he could think of.


    Maybe it was Quinn''s cold shoulder that made him feel like nothing was enough, pushing him to this desperate move of feeling all her pain. Abigail saw Quinn walk out, looking totally out of it.


    Quinn didn''t even notice her and just kept walking.


    Abigail grabbed her arm, frowning. "Quinn, you okay?"


    Quinn stopped, like she just snapped back to reality, and looked at Abigail nkly. "I''m fine."


    Abigail gave her a skeptical look; she didn''t look fine at all.


    But Abigail had a hunch it was about Alexander.


    "Alright, let''s head back," Abigail said, pulling her out of the hospital. Quinn followed her like a zombie.


    The car was tiny, so they had to cram in. Casey sat up front, while Abigail and Maria squeezed in the back with Quinn.


    Maria''s passport couldn''t be sent over quickly, so Oliver was taking them to the embassy to sort out a flight back.


    Orion had gotten the news earlier and was waiting there. When he saw Quinn and Abigail return safely, he ran over, all excited. "Quinn, Abigail, I''m so d you''re okay!" he said, moving in for a hug. But Abigail shoved him away. "Back off."


    Orion stumbled back a bit. "Why''d you push me?"


    He looked up and saw Quinn''s exhausted and worn-out face. He swallowed his words and asked worriedly, "Quinn, what''s wrong?"

 Chapter 1289

    Abigail shot Orion a dirty look. "Zip it. Just hearing you talk is driving me nuts."


    "You..."


    Oliver cut in, "Alright, enough bickering. Let''s move."


    Orion red back at Abigail, then nced at Quinn. She hadn''t said a peep since she showed up, which meant she was in a seriously bad mood. So, Orion wisely kept his mouth shut, not wanting to tick her off more.


    They got on the ne without a hitch, with Maria and Quinn both staring out the window.


    As the ne took off, the city below got smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing behind the clouds.


    The past few days felt like a wild dream. If it weren''t for the dirt and wood carvings in her arms, Quinn would''ve thought it was all in her head.


    If only she hadn''t left Las Veges back then.


    But life didn''t have "what ifs."


    They firstnded in Sylvadora because Maria and Casey wanted to check on their old ce. Quinn was supposed to head back to Amber Bay, but Abigail insisted she tag along, so she went with Maria and Casey. The street was old, with run-down houses. Some had been fixed up into buildings, while others were just ruins.


    The mix of old and new buildings was striking. Tall buildings loomed over the old houses, like grown kids looking after their elderly parents.


    The ce was pretty deserted, with only a few old folks shuffling by.


    Maria''s house was an old, leaning two-story mud-brick ce, looking like it could copse any second. The rusty door lock opened with just a gentle pull.


    Maria hadn''t been back in twenty years; the ce was unrecognizable.


    Her eyes scanned every inch of the house, tears welling up as if she was seeing it as it used to be, filled with regret and guilt.


    Her family shouldn''t have ended up like this.


    Orion didn''t know the whole story, but seeing her face, he felt a pang of sadness.


    Quinn stepped outside; she couldn''t watch anymore, it reminded her too much of the Mellon family''s downfall.


    Abigail followed her out, sighing. "Life''s pretty wild, huh?"


    Quinn''s fingers traced the wood carving in her arms, and she murmured, "Yeah."


    "Want to go somewhere else?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn shook her head. "I want to go back to Amber Bay."


    Abigail was quiet for a moment before saying, "Alright, I''ll get Oliver to set it up."


    She went back inside and told Oliver, who nodded and took them to the airport, aiming to get back to Amber Bay before dark.


    Quinn hadn''t seen Amber Bay in ages. It looked the same, yet totally different.


    Abigail went with her to Regal Riverside, where Olivia opened the door.


    The moment Olivia saw Quinn, her eyes went wide.


    "Mrs. Kennedy?" she stammered, looking like she didn''t know what to do.


    Quinn hadn''t expected Olivia to still be there. She nodded.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "You''re alive?" Olivia asked, swallowing nervously and looking at her like she''d seen a ghost.


    Quinn replied, "Yeah. I''m alive."


    Olivia still couldn''t believe it. Someone missing for over two years suddenly showing up alive? If Abigail wasn''t there, she would''ve thought she was seeing things. She quickly opened the door to let Quinn in. "Come on in."

 Chapter 1290

    Quinn strolled into the house; it was like she never left, and neither had Alexander.


    For a sec, it felt like time had frozen.


    Olivia peeked out the door and asked, "Mrs. Kennedy, didn''t Mr. Kennedye back with you?"


    Quinn hesitated.


    Abigail frowned and turned to Olivia. "Why don''t you whip up something to eat? We haven''t eaten all day, and we''re starving."


    Olivia, a bit stunned, nced at Quinn again, realized she might say something wrong, quickly nodded, and headed to the kitchen.


    Abigail led Quinn to the couch, trying tofort her, "Oliver just said he''d send someone to look for Alexander. As soon as there''s any news, we''ll let you know." Quinn looked at her, a bit moved. "Thanks."


    "Don''t mention it. Stay strong, okay? We don''t want to worry," Abigail said softly.


    Quinn forced a smile. "I''m really fine. He''s not dead, so I won''t be sad."


    Abigail didn''t buy it but didn''t push. She just nodded with a smile.


    "You should go back. Your dad must be worried sick. Won''t you feel better if you go back and reassure him?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail hesitated.


    Quinn knew she was worried. "Don''t worry about me. I''m really fine. I won''t do anything drastic."


    Abigail''s face changed slightly. "What nonsense are you talking about? I know you wouldn''t hurt yourself. I''m just worried you''ll feel lonely living alone." "I won''t. Olivia''s here," Quinn replied.


    "Alright then. I''ll go back ande find you tomorrow," Abigail said. She also felt she should go back and see her parents; otherwise, they''d be worried. She gave Quinn a worried look but gritted her teeth and left.


    Oliver was waiting in the car and hadn''t gone inside. When Abigail got in, she suddenly said, "Oliver, why don''t you stay here with her?"


    Oliver frowned and looked at her disapprovingly. "Is that appropriate?"


    Abigail said naturally, "What''s inappropriate about it? It''s just taking care of a friend. Besides, Alexander isn''t..."


    Before she could finish, she saw Oliver''s sharp gaze and swallowed the rest of her words.


    Oliver said, "I''ll take you home first. You cane back to see her tomorrow."


    Abigail lowered her head and said nothing more.


    The car drove off, and after the sound of the car disappeared, everything around becamepletely quiet.


    Olivia brought out a te of pasta and ced it in front of Quinn. "Mrs. Kennedy, eat while it''s hot."


    "Thanks," Quinn said, picking up the te and using the utensils to bring the pasta to her mouth. She ate quickly, like she hadn''t eaten in days.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Her mouth was full, and she swallowed with difficulty, making Olivia feel a pang of inexplicable heartache.


    Before Quinn could finish the bowl of pasta, Kyle rushed in.


    He paused when he saw her. Although he knew she was alive, seeing her in person still shocked him.


    After a moment''s pause, he walked over slowly. "Mrs. Kennedy."


    Quinn turned to look at him; all familiar faces, indeed, nothing had changed here.


    She slowly put down the utensils and stared straight at Kyle, her eyes filled with an inscrutable emotion.


    Kyle was silent for a while before he spoke, "I''ve heard everything. Don''t worry, Mr. Kennedy is so capable. He''ll be fine."


    Quinn responded softly.


    Kyle continued, "But there''s one more thing."


    "What is it?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle took out a document from his pocket and ced it in front of her. "He instructed me before, saying that if anything happened to him, including death or missing, you should sign this document."

 Chapter 1291

    Quinn flipped open the folder and saw the title on the first page, her breath hitching.


    Asset Confirmation Agreement.


    This wasn''t about gifting assets; it meant they were already hers.


    Her hands shook as she turned the pages, revealing a stack of asset sheets-investments, stocks, funds, real estate, antiques,nd-all in her name. There was also a ridiculous amount of cash listed, more than she could even wrap her head around.


    Basically, any one of these assets would set her up for life. Combined, she couldn''t even spend it all if she tried.


    Quinn felt like a boulder was crushing her chest, making it hard to breathe.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    She shut the folder and put it on the table. "I''m not signing."


    Kyle said, "Doesn''t matter if you sign or not. These assets are already yours. You just need to look them over."


    Quinn''s face was a mix of emotions. She didn''t get what Alexander was ying at.


    "When did he set all this up?" she asked.


    "About six months ago," Kyle replied.


    Quinn was floored. "Six months ago?"


    "Yeah, he was worried you wouldn''t take it, so he just transferred them to you. Don''t worry, it''s all legit. You can do whatever you want with them." Quinn stayed quiet. It seemed like he knew she wouldn''t sign.


    Kyle sighed, looking concerned. "He started working on this as soon as he found you. He really cares about you."


    Quinn cut him off, "Stop talking."


    She stared hard at the document, her face unreadable.


    Kyle was caught off guard but stayed silent.


    Quinn suddenly remembered something and asked, "Didn''t he send back a baby before? Where is she?"


    "At the hospital. The girl''s doing well and can have surgery next month," Kyle answered.


    "Can I go see her?" Quinn asked quickly.


    "Let''s go tomorrow. It''s prettyte today," Kyle suggested.


    Quinn didn''t say anything else, her mind racing.


    Kyle stood there for a bit and then said, "Also, since you''re back, would you think about taking over the Mellon Group?" Quinn looked at him nkly, taking a moment to remember the Mellon Group.


    It used to be the Wilson Group, which Alexander had put in her name. Back then, it was on the brink of bankruptcy.


    Butter, Alexander pumped over a billion dors into it through the Kennedy Group, using almost all their liquid assets.


    Now, the Mellon Group wasn''t the strugglingpany it once was. With the cash infusion, it expanded fast. Plus, with the Kennedy Group on the decline,panies that used to work with them turned to the Mellon Group.


    They were all drawn by Alexander''s reputation. Anyone with half a brain knew that Alexander handed the Kennedy Group to Getty but invested over a billion into the Mellon Group. A quick check would show that the Mellon Group''s owner was Quinn.


    And everyone knew Quinn was Alexander''s wife.


    People got the message. As a result, the Mellon Group now far outshined the Kennedy Group, even nearing its peak days.

 Chapter 1292

    The Kennedy Group used to run the show all over the country, no questions asked.


    But then, outta nowhere, the Mellon Group popped up about three years ago. They kept things on the down-low, so only a few folks knew how strong they really were.


    Alexander was the backbone of the Mellon Group these past three years. Sure, Kyle was the face of thepany, handling the day-to-day, but Alexander was the one calling the shots.


    Now, to keep things from blowing up internally, it was best if not too many people know Alexander had gone MIA. If word got out that Quinn was running the show, it could stir up a whole lotta drama. After hearing Kyle''s rundown, Quinn got how serious things were.


    She never really saw the Mellon Group as hers. Three years ago, she thought Alexander handed it to her just to mess with her.


    But, surprise, surprise, he''d been building up the Mellon Group quietly, without even holding any shares.


    If he wanted to make a bigeback, he could''ve put it in his name when Quinn was off the grid for two years, but he didn''t. He even handed over his own assets to her. Now, even if he was not dead, he was broke.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, deep in thought. "Got it."


    She''d protect the Mellon Group just like Alexander did and wait for him toe back.


    Seeing the fire in her eyes, Kyle let out a secret sigh of relief. Like Abigail, he was worried Quinn might do something crazy out of grief.


    No matter whose name was on the Mellon Group, it was Alexander''s blood, sweat, and tears. If both of them went down, Kyle knew he couldn''t handle it.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It wasn''t about skill, but about who he was. Quinn was Alexander''s wife, while he was just an assistant, a nobody in the grand scheme of things.


    Over the years, he''d gotten used to following Alexander''s lead and felt shaky about making calls on his own.


    He didn''t have the guts to take over the Mellon Group. He''d think about the worst-case scenario, and if he couldn''t handle it, he wouldn''t have started in the first ce. Besides, things were pretty chill as they were now.


    "Alright, I''m outta here. Get some rest. I''ll send over the docster. Let me know when you''re ready to take over the Mellon Group," Kyle said, all respectful. Quinn nodded.


    After Kyle left, she stared at the asset confirmation agreement on the table for what felt like forever.


    Olivia stood behind her, looking at Quinn''s lonely figure on the couch, feeling a weird sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    When Quinn had just left, Alexander used to sit there all night.


    That night, Quinn couldn''t catch a wink.


    Every time she closed her eyes, her mind went haywire. She ended up turning on the TV and saw her fave cartoon had a new episode.


    When Abigail showed up, she saw Quinn glued to the TV and asked, all surprised. "Quinn, did you stay up all night?"


    Quinn turned to look at her, the dark circles under her eyes saying it all.


    Abigail frowned and plopped down next to her. "What are you doing? Binging cartoons all night?"


    "I couldn''t sleep," Quinn said.


    "Even if you can''t sleep, you gotta rest. Your body''s gonna give out," Abigail said, worried.


    Quinn seemed to ignore her and muttered, "Abigail,e with me somewhere."


    "Where to?" Abigail asked.


    "The hospital," Quinn replied.


    Abigail''s eyes flickered, but she still went with her to the hospital.


    Pointing to the baby in the crib, Kyle said, "This is the one."


    It was a private room with just one baby. There was a name tag on the crib, so even without Kyle''s words, she could tell.


    The baby had been moved from the incubator to a regr room, with three or four nannies taking turns looking after her, waiting for surgery. Quinn''s eyesnded on the name tag-Quin Mellon.


    The name made her smirk.


    "Sounds awful," she muttered.

 Chapter 1293

    If Alexander were here, he''d totally be arguing with her.


    But now, no one was around to p back. After she finished talking, it was just crickets.


    She stepped up and scooped the baby off the bed. After a while, most of the wrinkles on the kid''s face had smoothed out, and she looked pretty darn cute, drooling with a big ol'' grin. When Quinn firstid eyes on Peanut, she felt the same way she did now seeing this little one. Back then, she had this weird mix of envy.


    Now, holding the baby, she felt this deep, unexinable sadness.


    The kid grabbed her cor and tried to munch on it. In no time, Quinn''s cor was soaked with drool.


    Abigail was kinda stunned, not having a clue where this baby came from. She was even more shocked. When did Quinn sneakily have a baby? Whose baby was this?


    While she was still trying to piece it together, Quinn suddenly asked Kyle, "Can I change the name?"


    "Sure thing. What name you thinking?" Kyle asked.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Quinn stared at the name tag again, looking a bit spaced out.


    She mumbled, "Let''s call her Brandy Kennedy."


    Kyle nodded and said, "Got it. I''ll sort it out tomorrow."


    Quinn gave a slight nod. She reached out and pinched the baby''s finger, her eyes a mix of sadness and tenderness.


    "Brandy Kennedy, you like that name?" Quinn asked, though it wasn''t clear if she was talking to the baby or someone else.


    The baby just smiled back, not understanding a word.


    At first, Quinn hadn''t nned on adopting this kid. Alexander had brought her back on his own. Thest name Kennedy seemed fitting.


    Maybe, in this lifetime, she and Alexander would never have kids of their own.


    It was a pain neither of them could shake off.


    Quinn put the baby back on the bed.


    Brandy was a chill baby; she didn''t cry or fuss, just yed by herself and babbled nonsense.


    The nanny chimed in, "She''s usually super chill. Doesn''t cry no matter who''s taking care of her. Except for eating, drinking, and pooping, she''s quiet. She''ll grow up to be a lively and lovely girl." "Really?" Quinn asked, forcing a smile and looking at the baby. "I hope so."


    ''Can Alexander see this? We couldn''t keep our child back then, and now you''ve adopted Brandy. Are you gonna let her grow up without a dad too? Don''t make the same mistake again,'' Quinn thought. She didn''t want to stick around any longer and turned to leave the room.


    Abigail had been in a daze the whole time. When she stepped outside and felt the wind, she snapped out of it. "Quinn! That kid isn''t yours, right?" she asked loudly, drawing some stares. Quinn thought for a moment and said, "I found her in Las Veges. Alexander adopted her, but from now on, she''s my daughter. Keep it on the down-low, okay?"


    Abigail finally let out a sigh of relief. "I was freaked out. Don''t worry. I won''t tell a soul."


    Quinn gave a small smile, "Thanks, Abigail."


    "It''s nothing. Why thank me? So, where to now?" Abigail asked.


    Just as Quinn was about to answer, her eyes caught sight of two people in the distance. Her expression changed.


    "I''m talking to you. What are you looking at?" Abigail asked, turning to see what Quinn was staring at. She was just as surprised.

 Chapter 1294

    Quinn and Abigail spotted none other than Freya.


    She was holding the hand of a little kid, maybe four or five years old, named Peanut. The kid''s eyes were kinda nk, and he had this gnarly scar running from his face down to his neck, clearly a burn mark. Peanut clung to Freya''s hand like his life depended on it, sticking close to her.


    Maybe they were staring too hard, ''cause Freya looked up and saw them. The second she saw Quinn, her face changed, and she quickly pulled Peanut behind her.


    Freya had done a ton of nasty stuff to Quinn before, so seeing Quinn freaked her out. She was scared Quinn mighte for payback.


    She had gone to Vegas earlier but didn''t find Walter, so she came back.


    The card Alexander gave her didn''t have much cash, just a few hundred thousand bucks, and she blew most of it on the trip. She still needed to get Peanut to a doctor, and now she was almost broke.


    She had no power, no influence, and a criminal record. Finding a job was nearly impossible, so she was stuck doing the crappiest work, like washing dishes or cleaning. The tiny paycheck was nowhere near enough for Peanut''s medical bills. She couldn''t handle Quinn''s revenge now; Quinn could easily make her life even worse.


    After hesitating for a bit and seeing Quinn still staring, Freya had no choice but to suck it up and walk over to Quinn with Peanut.


    For a moment, they just stood there, not knowing what to say.


    Finally, Freya broke the silence, her face a mix of emotions, "Quinn."


    Quinn replied, "When did you get out of prison?"


    "About six months ago," Freya answered.


    "Time flies," Quinn said, feeling a bit nostalgic.


    Freya bit her lip and mustered up the courage to say, "I''m sorry for everything before. It might be toote to say this now. If you still hate me, I''ll do anything. Just please don''t make things hard for Peanut. He''s so young and already so pitiful." Quinn nced at Peanut, struggling to connect this scarred kid with the cute little boy from before.


    But his eyes did look a bit like Walter''s. If they weren''t so vacant, they''d be pretty striking.


    "He looks kinda simr," Quinn mumbled.


    Freya''s face changed, thinking Quinn was mocking her, but then Quinn added, "I mean his eyes."


    Freya instinctively looked at Peanut, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "How is that possible?" she asked. She couldn''t see any resemnce to herself in Peanut.


    "I mean Walter," Quinn rified.


    Freya was stunned again, then her face lit up a bit. "That''s even more impossible," she said.


    Alexander had shown her a paternity test before; Peanut wasn''t Walter''s kid at all.


    Quinn didn''t know about this. She just felt a strong resemnce when she first saw those eyes.


    "He doesn''t seem quite right. What''s wrong with him?" Quinn asked.


    "You noticed too? The doctor said it''s carbon monoxide poisoning, causing mental impairment," Freya replied. "Can it be treated?" Quinn asked again.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Looking down at Peanut, Freya answered, "The doctor gave some options, but none have a 100% cure rate."


    Even if there was only a 10% chance, Freya was willing to try. But the cheapest option the doctor gave was still way out of her budget.


    "As long as there''s a chance," Quinn said.


    To say she didn''t resent Freya would be a lie, but she didn''t have the energy for revenge. Besides, Freya was already in a miserable state and didn''t need her to make it worse. Just surviving with Peanut took all of Freya''s effort.


    So Quinn wouldn''t seek revenge, nor would she offer any help.


    Freya, who used to be all noble and graceful, now dressed inly, her face tired with white strands in her hair, looking way older than her age.


    There was no need for Quinn to seek revenge.

 Chapter 1295

    Quinn and Freya just stood there, not saying a word.


    After a bit, Freya finally broke the silence, "If there''s nothing else, I''m outta here."


    Quinn just nodded.


    Freya scooped up Peanut and vanished from Quinn''s sight in no time.


    Abigail watched her leave and said, "Three years locked up, and she''s really calmed down."


    "Yeah, she can''t afford to be all high and mighty anymore," Quinn added.


    Abigail nodded. "True that."


    Three years in the mmer, and Freya came out to a wrecked family, broke as a joke. Plus, with a kid who''s got some challenges, anyone would be beat down by that. Freya used to live the high life. It''s a miracle she''s still standing.


    "Whatever. As long as she keeps her nose clean, we won''t mess with her," Abigail said, linking her arm with Quinn''s. "Come on, let''s grab some grub."


    Without waiting for Quinn to answer, Abigail dragged her to the parking lot and they headed to a restaurant.


    Quinn leaned against the car window, watching the world go by. The leaves on the trees were turning yellow; Amber Bay was sliding into autumn. Her eyes caught a familiar building.


    Even from a distance, "The Kennedy Group" sign was hard to miss. The building, towering in the city center, looked even lonelier surrounded by shorter ones. Quinn could almost feel the chilling off that ce.


    She thought of Getty and suddenly asked, "Is Getty still at the Kennedy Group?"


    Abigail replied, "Where else would she be? You wouldn''t believe how much debt she''s in."


    "How much?" Quinn asked, curious.


    "Two hundred billion dors," Abigail said.


    Quinn wasn''t shocked; she couldn''t even wrap her head around that kind of money, but she knew it was a ton.


    "Got it," she said.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail sneered, "That witch, just thinking about her pisses me off. Even with all that debt, she still lives like she''s on top of the world."


    Sometimes, the more you owe, the better you live.


    "But she can only strut around Amber Bay; she can''t go anywhere else. Let''s see how long she can keep that up," Abigail mocked. "Why can''t she leave?" Quinn asked.


    "Because she owes too much. As the chairwoman of the Kennedy Group and the main person responsible, what if she skips town?" Abigail exined. Quinn nodded. "Makes sense."


    Abigail sped up, steering clear of the Kennedy Group building, and took Quinn to a restaurant. She turned to Quinn with a grin, "Look familiar?"


    Quinn looked around. The ce had a facelift, but she recognized it right away; it used to be Abigail''s coffee shop, now a restaurant.


    "Did you open this?" Quinn asked.


    "Not really. A couple of years back, Oliver saw I was down, so he reopened it for me. I don''te here much," Abigail said.


    They didn''t reopen the coffee shop to avoid bringing back old memories for Abigail.


    "Come on, let''s get inside," Abigail suggested.


    Quinn followed her out of the car. The staff inside didn''t recognize them, and Abigail came in like any other customer, asking for a private room and taking Quinn inside. Abigail ordered a ton of food. During their time in Municity, Quinn hadn''t been eating well, so Abigail decided they should have a feast.


    Seeing the table loaded with dishes, Quinn looked up at Abigail, shocked. "This is a lot. Can we finish it all?"


    "Don''t sweat it. Just eat. If we can''t finish, we''ll feed the strays," Abigail said, putting a piece of roast meat in Quinn''s bowl.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, looking at the roast meat. She wasn''t really hungry.

 Chapter 1296

    "Why ain''t you eating?" Abigail asked, looking all puzzled.


    Quinn stayed quiet for a sec, then reluctantly shoved the meat in her mouth. The second she bit into it, the greasy BBQ taste made her stomach flip. She dropped her fork, clutched her chest, and gagged into the trash can. But after a few dry heaves, nothing came out.


    Abigail stared at her, wide-eyed. "Is it really that bad?"


    Quinn grabbed the water cup on the table and took a big gulp. "Maybe I''m just used to eating light stuff. This greasy food is too much for me."


    "Really?" Abigail asked, giving her a skeptical look, thendled Quinn a bowl of soup with some chicken floating in it.


    "Try this. The chicken should be pretty light," she suggested.


    Quinn picked up the bowl and cautiously took a sip. This time, no reaction. Her stomach was still a bit queasy from earlier, so she took a few more sips. Seeing this, Abigail let out a sigh of relief. She rearranged the dishes on the table, putting the greasy ones on her side and the lighter ones on Quinn''s side. After eating, she took Quinn to check out some other spots. Seeing that Quinn wasn''t really into it, Abigail took her back.


    "Abigail, thanks for hanging out with me today. I''m kinda beat and wanna crash," Quinn said apologetically.


    "Then go to bed already. You didn''t sleep at allst night, so you must be wiped," Abigail said thoughtfully, nudging her and urging her to head upstairs. Quinn went upstairs, nced towards the master bedroom, hesitated for a moment, and chose the guest room on the left.


    She wasn''t actually sleepy, just tired and wanting some alone time.


    Sitting down on the chair by the window, she pulled out her phone and shot a message to Kyle, asking him to send over the info on the Mellon Group. Kyle was quick. In less than five minutes, all the info was in her email.


    Quinn logged into her email on herputer and downloaded the files, which turned out to be 2 GB in size.


    She wondered how long it would take to go through all this info, not to mention if she could remember it all. Before long, Kyle called her.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Quinn answered the phone and heard Kyle say, "Just skim through it. I''ll swing byter to exin the important stuff."


    Quinn let out a sigh of relief. "Okay, got it."


    She put down her phone and scrolled through the content with her mouse. The room was quiet, and a gentle breeze blew in from the window, lifting the strands of hair by her ear.


    As she read, drowsiness hit her. She hadn''t slept in ages, and her mind was too foggy to absorb the info.


    She didn''t know when she closed her eyes, but once again, those bizarre images popped up. The scene of Alexander falling kept shing before her eyes. In her dream, she kept telling herself that he was dead. She couldn''t fight the thoughts in her dream. She ran towards him countless times, only to grasp at nothing each time.


    She could do nothing but watch him fall before her eyes. His deep eyes looked at her, and she couldn''t understand the meaning in them. She had never seen such a calm look in the face of death. Suddenly, the scene changed, and she saw Alexander alive.


    He was covered in blood, tied to a chair, his head hanging low, and his messy hair obscuring his face, looking barely alive.


    She wanted to approach him, but he slowly lifted his head, his cold gaze piercing through his hair and looking at her.


    As their eyes met, the world behind him shattered, fragmenting like a broken mirror and pulling her into a dark abyss.


    Quinn felt the sensation of falling, stepping into emptiness. The intense weightlessness hit her, and just before shended, she woke up.

 Chapter 1297

    Quinn lifted her head and peered into the pitch-ck night, her eyes zed over, lost between reality and dreams. She turned to herputer; the screen had been dead for ages. She had no clue when she''d dozed off at her desk.


    A quick nce at the bottom right corner of the screen told her it was 4 AM.


    The cold wind blowing in from outside finally yanked her back to reality. She rubbed her sore eyes and kept scrolling through the document.


    No way she was sleeping again; every time she shut her eyes, those freaky images came back.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    For the next few days, she holed up in her room, glued to the document. Abigail popped in a few times, saw she was just reading and not losing it, and left her be. Half a monthter, Quinn finally wrapped up the document.


    She decided to head to thepany, and Kyle showed up early to pick her up. He was shocked when he saw her worn-out face.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, you..." Kyle''s words trailed off.


    "What''s up?" Quinn asked, catching his look.


    Kyle awkwardly opened the car door. "Nothing. Hop in."


    He figured Quinn hadn''t been sleeping welltely; otherwise, why did she look so beat?


    Quinn got to thepany and headed to the office with Kyle. She still wasn''t too familiar with thepany''s biz, so she didn''t make a fuss about it.


    When she opened the office door, someone was already inside. Both Kyle and Quinn were caught off guard.


    Frowning, Kyle asked, "What are you doing here?"


    Walter said with a grin, "I''m here for an interview."


    "What interview?" Kyle asked, confused.


    Walter replied, "For the president''s assistant. HR brought me here, said the president would interview me personally. So, which one of you is the president?" Kyle found it tough to just kick him out since Quinn was the president. He instinctively looked at Quinn.


    Kyle had posted the position. He didn''t trust the current staff and worried Quinn wouldn''t get their respect, so he wanted to bring in a fresh face to help out. But he hadn''t expected Walter to show up. He had no clue what HR was thinking.


    Quinn stepped inside and saw a resume on the desk. She picked it up and skimmed through it. He was still going by Walter, and the resume was thick, several pages long. She turned to Walter, ready to ask what he was up to.


    Before she could speak, Walter said, "Don''t look at me like that. I''m just here for an interview today. Apany this size should at least separate personal and professional matters, right?" Quinn was taken aback by his words and then said, "This position isn''t for just anyone. At the very least, in terms of loyalty to thepany, I don''t think you''re a fit."


    Walter smiled and casually plopped down in a chair. Quinn was still standing, but he sat like he owned the ce.


    "How do you know that? You haven''t even given me a shot. I went through multiple rounds to get here. Not even a trial period? You''re being a bit arbitrary as a president," Walter said leisurely. Quinn took a deep breath and pped his resume on the desk. "Yeah, I am being arbitrary. As you said, I''m the president. Whether to hire you or not is up to me. Get out now!"


    Walter wasn''t mad. Instead, he smiled at her and said, "In that case, I guess I''ll have to look elsewhere. Plenty ofpanies would love to have me."


    He stood up, grabbed his resume, and walked out. As he passed by Quinn, he stopped and nced at her. "But, my top choice is still the Mellon Group. If you change your mind, hit me up anytime."

 Chapter 1298

    Walter let out a chuckle, took a step, and strolled out of the office like he owned the ce.


    Kyle burst in, all jittery, "If he jumps ship to anotherpany and starts messing with us, we''re screwed. Plus, he knows about Alexander''s vanishing act. If he spills the beans, we''re in deep trouble." Quinn''s face was a storm cloud; she got the drift of Walter''s words.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Do we really have to let him work here?" Quinn asked, clearly annoyed.


    Kyle mulled it over and then said, "How about we stick him with some grunt work? Better than him turning into our enemy. Besides, with Alexander MIA, he probably won''t mess with you like he did with him." Thispany was Quinn''s baby; Walter had no beef with her.


    If he really wanted to stir the pot, he wouldn''t havee looking for a job. He''d just waltz over to a rivalpany.


    Quinn didn''t want Walter around, but Kyle had a point. The idea of Walter being her assistant made her skin crawl.


    She looked at Kyle and ordered, "Find him another spot. I don''t want to see his face."


    "I''ll give it a shot," Kyle replied.


    He couldn''t promise Walter would go for it. But if Walter was cool with another gig, why would he show up just when they needed a presidential assistant?


    Quinn was already on edge, and seeing Walter only made it worse.


    Kyle filled her in on some bigpany stuff: the structure, top execs, current projects, and the game n for the next quarter.


    Quinn was new to this whole scene. She listened, took notes, and was dead set on not letting the Mellon Group tank on her watch.


    The Mellon Group had a solid foundation, but she was still freaked out.


    She decided to hit the books and bust her butt to keep things rolling and avoid any future mess-ups.


    Kyle talked her ear off until after 8 PM. Checking the time, he said, "Mrs. Kennedy, it''ste. Let me drive you home. You can''t learn all this overnight. We''ll take it one step at a time."


    Quinn shut herptop, saved her notes, and packed up to leave.


    Honestly, she wasn''t thrilled about going back to Regal Riverside. The cold vibe that hit her when she walked in reminded her of her years with Alexander.


    She went to her room, pulled out the wooden carving from the drawer, and ran her fingers over the marks Alexander had made. She suddenly thought of the leaf picture Alexander had carved in the forest. Did he switch to wood because she didn''t like the leaf one?


    Too bad this one was also half-done. She suddenly stood up, asked Olivia for a carving knife, and sat in her room for half a day without making a move.


    She had no clue how to finish it. The only thing missing was the facial features. She remembered Alexander''s face clearly but still didn''t dare to mess it up. After thinking it over, she decided to practice on a couple of pieces of wood first.


    Another sleepless night.


    Early the next morning, Kyle called Quinn. She opened her eyes and found herself passed out on the desk again.


    Her fingers throbbed from the cuts she got while practicingst night.


    "I called Walter. He doesn''t want another position. What now?" Kyle asked.


    Quinn''s already bad mood took a nosedive because of Kyle''s call.


    "Fine, give him the assistant job!" Quinn snapped.


    ''It''s not like only other positions can do grunt work. Just give him the presidential assistant gig and let him rot in some corner of thepany,'' Quinn thought.

 Chapter 1299

    In a dimly lit room, the door creaked open, and two men strolled in.


    Alexander, chilling in the corner, made his chains rattle.


    His face was lost in the shadows, with just a few beams of sunlight from the skylight hitting his shoulders. His clothes were smeared with dried, dark brown blood. Dust swirled in the light.


    The two guys walked up to him. One of them looked down at him all smug and said, "You''re pretty famous. No wonder he was so desperate to find you." Alexander on the floor slowly lifted his head, his eyes cold. He raised his hand and jangled the chain on his wrist, like he was ying with some fancy bracelet. "So, you scared?" he asked, all casual-like.


    A person''s stare can say a lot. Even in this grimy, dark room, Alexander didn''t look messed up; he seemed like he didn''t belong here.


    "Things are already a mess. If you show up, it''ll just get worse," the man said.


    "We gotta keep you here for now," he added.


    Alexander chuckled. "You don''t have the guts to kill me."


    It was part question, part statement, and a bit of a taunt.


    "Are you always this cocky?" the man asked.


    Alexander leaned against the wall, half his face in the light, looking ghostly pale, which made his eyes seem even deeper.


    He stared into nothing, his gaze intense as he said, "Maybe."


    He murmured, "I used to be too sure of myself, always thinking I had everything under control, ignoring a lot of stuff. Soter, all that stuff I ignored turned into deadly des." When he tried to get close to those des again, he only got hurt.


    The man in front of him clearly didn''t get what he was talking about, at least not about the current situation.


    "I don''t care about your past, but for now, stay put. When this is over, I''ll let you go," the man dered.


    Alexander tilted his head to look at him. Probably because of the light, he couldn''t see the guy''s face clearly.


    "I don''t believe you," Alexander said.


    "Whatever," the man said tly.


    "You shouldn''t say that. You should find a way to convince me. If one day they trace it back to you, how will you make me keep your secret?" Alexander asked.


    The man was stunned for a moment, then said, "If that dayes, I have my ways."


    Alexander nodded knowingly. "Seems like my long-lost dad must miss me a lot."


    "If you''re so smart, you should y dumb now to live longer," the man reminded.


    "You''ve already locked me up here. Do I still need to y dumb?" Alexander shot back.


    The man was at a loss for words. He stared at Alexander for a moment, then flicked his sleeve and left the room.


    After the man left, the smirk on Alexander''s face slowly faded. He turned to look at the only light from the window.


    He was kinda surprised they didn''t kill him but brought him here and even had doctorse to treat him from time to time.


    That man wanted to kill him but had second thoughts.


    It was easy to guess. The man said things were chaotic, meaning his opponent wasn''t just one person.


    Not killing Alexander was to keep his opponents from finding out. If Alexander really died, his opponents could use it against him, putting him in a tough spot. But this didn''t mean he would really let Alexander go.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

 Chapter 1300

    In the office, Quinn eyeballed Walter standing in front of her. He was grinning like a Cheshire cat, waiting for her to dish out some work.


    "Walter, you done yet? What do you want?" Quinn snapped, clearly annoyed.


    Walter let out azy sigh. "I''m working, boss. Just waiting on your orders."


    Quinn tossed a document at him like it was a frisbee. "Go print a thousand copies of this."


    Walter caught it and skimmed through. "This project was decidedst month. With that many copies, are we handing them out for a vote or something?" Quinn blinked, then snatched it back and checked it out. It was an unsigned document.


    "Fine, then go mop the office outside again," she barked.


    Walter calmly picked up the desk phone. After dialing, he said, "Hey, tell the janitor to mop all the offices again."


    Quinn yanked the phone from his hand and red daggers at him.


    Walter, looking all innocent, asked, "Did I do something wrong?"


    Quinn took a deep breath. Whether from anger or something else, her stomach cramped up, making her double over in pain.


    Walter reached out to steady her. "Don''t get worked up. If you stress too much, you might lose this baby."


    "Get away from me!" Quinn shouted, shoving him. She froze and stared at Walter. "What did you just say?"


    Walter''s eyes flicked to her stomach. "You didn''t know?"


    Then he gave a sheepish smile. "Oops, forgot to mention itst time."


    Quinn was floored. She just stood there, gaping at him.


    Her first thought was that Walter was screwing with her, but his words hit her hard, and she couldn''t help but get a little excited. "Are you messing with me again?" Quinn asked, trying to keep her cool.


    "Why would I lie? Just go to the hospital and check," Walter said.


    Quinn was totally thrown off.


    "Then why didn''t you tell me?" she demanded.


    "I told you, I forgot," Walter replied, looking all innocent.


    Quinn didn''t buy it; she knew he just didn''t want to say anything.


    And she was right. When the doc told Walter Quinn was pregnant, he was already scheming how to get rid of the baby without her knowing.


    But the doc said if she aborted this baby, she might never get pregnant again. Plus, it could seriously mess with her health.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Her health had always been shaky, especially after two previous abortions. Even a minor surgery could cause major issues.


    So, the baby stayed.


    Quinn saw the sneaky look in his eyes, shoved him away, and bolted. She took the elevator straight to the parking lot and drove herself to the hospital. She needed to know if this was for real.


    After a bunch of tests, she got the results from the doc.


    "The fetus is still pretty unstable. You gotta avoid sex and keep your emotions in check. No heavy lifting," the doc warned.


    Looking at her results, the doc added, "You might need meds to protect the pregnancy. Given your current health, it''s a miracle you conceived." Quinn heard the doc and her mind went nk.


    She was really pregnant?


    She never thought she''d get pregnant again. Maybe God finally heard her prayers and gave her a baby?


    But thinking about it, this kid didn''te easy. During those days, Alexander had it rough too. Thinking of Alexander, her eyes dimmed a bit. If he found out, she wondered how he''d react.

 Chapter 1301

    Quinn stumbled out of the hospital, her mind all foggy. The cold wind outside made her feel like she could just float away. A voice cut through her haze, "Did I lie to you?"


    She looked up and saw Walter chilling at the corner, arms crossed, leaning against his car with that annoying smirk.


    She tried to say something, but nothing came out.


    The news had hit her like a ton of bricks.


    Walter swung open the car door. "Get in."


    Quinn slid into the car, still spaced out, her eyes nk.


    Walter fired up the engine, "You said you were gonna take over the Mellon Group. Imagine trying to meet clients with a big belly."


    Quinn shot him a re. "None of your damn business."


    "You''re my sister, right? It matters. We used to be close, and now you''re acting like I''m a stranger. Remember when you begged me to get you outta there?" Walter shot back. Quinn was taken aback, speechless.


    She had begged him to help her escape from Alexander. They had amon enemy back then. She''d even tried to off herself when she thought Walter was dead.


    After what felt like forever, Quinn finally said, "You lied to me first."


    "True. Hate me all you want. But don''t push me away because of Alexander," Walter said.


    He went on, "Like you said, what happens between you and Alexander is your deal. What happens between us is separate. If you hate me because of him, it means you''re on his side. So, are you?" Quinn felt cornered by his twisted logic.


    If she said she was on Alexander''s side, then asking Walter for help would seem ridiculous.


    She stayed quiet, not knowing what to say.


    Walter pressed, "Am I making sense?"Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I don''t wanna talk to you," Quinn muttered.


    "Fine, talk when you''re ready," Walter replied.


    Walter drove her back to thepany. She still hadn''t finished reading the documents, didn''t know the senior execs, and was clueless about the business.


    But she couldn''t focus.


    She stared at the same page for half an hour.


    She didn''t even notice when Walter sat next to her with another document and finished reading it.


    He suddenly said, "These two projects don''t add up with the profits."


    Quinn snapped out of her daze, "What are you talking about?"


    Walter stood up and dropped the document in front of her. "Check it out yourself."

 Chapter 1302

    Walter handed Quinnst month''s data report and broke it down, "So, these two projects kicked off the year beforest and went livest year. But the growth rate''s been pretty much stuck. Last quarter was 40%, and this quarter, same deal. Last year, it hovered between 35% and 40%."


    Quinn''s head spun from all the numbers. "Is there a problem?" she asked.


    Walter nodded. "Oh, for sure. Check out the material wastage and cost ounting at the back. They''re creeping up month by month. It might not seem like much each month, but if you look at it fromst year, it''s already 10% higher than the first profitable monthst year."


    "Maybe the project manager was just testing the waters at first. Then he saw no one cared, so he jacked up the costs every month," Walter spected.


    "Isn''t cost growth normal?" Quinn asked, still not getting it.


    Walter rubbed his temples and sighed. "Look, you paid $20,000 to hire me as an assistant. Isn''t that worth it?"


    Quinn suddenly remembered she was discussing the project with him. Snatching the file away, she snapped, "Go mop the floor. I don''t need you here!"


    Ignoring her, Walter continued, "Market fluctuations are normal. Sometimes they''re low, sometimes high. They can spike or drop suddenly. But this kind of steady increase? That''s a first for me."


    Closing the file, Quinn ordered, "Go mop the floor!"


    Unfazed, Walter said, "Why the rush? The floor can wait. But there''s one thing you need to remember: business can''t be run on emotions. You need to learn to use people and recognize their value. Even if you don''t like someone, if they can bring you profit, you use them. Didn''t Alexander teach you that?"


    Quinn''s face darkened, and she didn''t want to talk to him.


    Walter grabbed a broom from the side, really intending to go sweep the floor. Before leaving, he turned back to Quinn and said, "Think about it."


    Quinn didn''t say anything.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter went out with the broom and started sweeping the hallway.


    Quinn pondered his words and found she couldn''t argue with them.


    Walter was indeed very persuasive; otherwise, Alexander wouldn''t have partnered with him before.


    When Kyle arrived, he saw Walter sweeping the floor and was a bit surprised.


    "Mr. Smith, why are you sweeping the floor?" Kyle asked, a hint of mockery in his voice.


    Walter, as if not hearing his sarcastic tone, smiled and said, "Quinn''s orders. Gotta follow ''em."


    Kyle looked him up and down suspiciously. "What are you up to?"


    "Take a guess," Walter said with a knowing look.


    Kyle didn''t bother guessing. Walter was earning $20,000 and came here to be an assistant. He definitely had ulterior motives. "Well, you better sweep it clean," Kyle said.


    After saying that, he deliberately stepped over Walter''s broom and walked towards Quinn''s office.


    Quinn was still studying the data Walter had given her. When she saw Kylee in, she immediately showed him the documents. "Kyle, take a look at this," she said.


    Kyle took the file and flipped through it, then looked up at Quinn. "What''s up?"


    Quinn repeated what Walter had said. Kyle looked through the documents more carefully, his expression bing serious.


    "It''s true. You''re amazing. How did you find out?" Kyle asked, surprised.


    Thepany had too many operations, and he couldn''t look at every piece of data in such detail, let alonepare each quarter. If Quinn hadn''t mentioned it, he wouldn''t have noticed the problem. Quinn was also a bit surprised. So, Walter hadn''t lied. What exactly was he up to?

 Chapter 1303

    "Walter said it. How the heck am I supposed to get any of this?" Quinn groaned. First day on the job and she was already wiped out. Kyle gave a sheepish grin. "Takes a minute to get used to. You''ll figure it out."


    Switching gears, he added, "But hey, looks like Walter''s not totally useless. If you let him show you the ropes, you might catch on quicker."


    Quinn shot him a puzzled look. "Why are you defending him?"


    Kyle shrugged, "Just being real. Think about it, you hired the guy. If you don''t let him do anything, he''s just gonna be lurking around. Might as well put him to work." Quinn stared at him, feeling out of sync. Did they always put business before feelings?


    Seeing her expression, Kyle awkwardly scratched his neck. "Just my two cents. It''s your call."


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, I get it."


    "If that''s all, I''ll bounce," Kyle said.


    "Sure," Quinn replied.


    Kyle headed out. Outside, Walter was still sweeping the floor. He''d shown up in a decent suit, but sweeping in it looked kinda silly.


    The floor wasn''t even dirty. After all that sweeping, he''d only gathered a bit of dust.


    Kyle nced at him but didn''t say anything, just walked past him to the elevator.


    Quinn looked at the mountain of paperwork on her desk, feeling a massive headacheing on. It wasn''t just the documents; it was also the unexpected baby news. She instinctively ced a hand on her lower belly.


    It didn''t feel any different from thest two times. She couldn''t sense the little life inside at all.


    Thest two times, she hadn''t had a chance to feel their presence, and now it was the same. It felt unreal, like the baby was just a dream or her imagination. "Ms. Mellon, the floor''s clean. Anything else?" Walter asked.


    He walked in with a broom, grinning as he approached Quinn. The way he said "Ms. Mellon" had a mocking edge to it.


    Probably because she felt out of her depth, her skills didn''t match her position, making her feel insecure.


    Quinn stared at Walter for a long moment.


    "Walter, be straight with me. Why are you really working here?" Quinn finally asked.


    Before he could answer, she added, "I want the truth."


    She looked at him intently, and Walter''s smile faded a bit.


    He was silent for a moment, casually picking up a document from the desk and flipping through it. After a while, he looked up and met her gaze. "Don''t you already know?" he asked, making her heart skip a beat.


    Quinn avoided his gaze and said, "I saw Freya and Peanut at the hospital a couple of days ago. Have you seen them?"


    Walter''s brow furrowed slightly, and he gave a faint smile. "What''s that got to do with me?"


    "They''re your wife and son," Quinn pointed out.


    "And?" Walter said nonchntly.


    "What do you mean? Shouldn''t you go see them?" Quinn asked.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1304

    Walter leaned back against the desk, clearly dodging the topic. "Ms. Mellon, gotta remind you, it''s work hours. If you wanna chat about my personal stuff, we can do that after work," he said with aid-back grin. Quinn smirked, not really giving a damn about his personal life. She dumped a stack of papers in front of him.


    "Check these out. Once you''re done, we''ll go over them together," Quinn ordered.


    Walter chuckled, grabbed the top document, and started skimming. "Sure thing, Ms. Mellon."


    He dragged out "Ms. Mellon" with a hint of sarcasm.


    Quinn acted like she didn''t notice. Maybe she should take a page from his book and keep things professional.


    While Walter was breezing through the documents, she was slogging through them. She wasn''t as quick as Walter, so by the time she was halfway done, he was already finished.


    Walter then broke down the key points and summarized the document, speeding things up. So, she threw another task his way: make


    summary document.


    It might''ve been a pain for Quinn, but for Walter, it was just another day at the office.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    When quitting time rolled around, Quinn didn''t bolt. She stayedte with Walter, trying to get up to speed with thepany''s business. Another reason was that she wasn''t too keen on heading back to that cold, empty vi.


    Around eight in the evening, Kyle popped into the office and was surprised to see them still grinding away.


    The ce was dead quiet, just the sound of pages flipping. Only when Walter finished a document did he speak to Quinn.


    He was in full-on work mode. His usualid-back, fake smile was gone, reced by a serious look.


    Seeing them working normally, Kyle didn''t interrupt and quietly left.


    Looked like Quinn had taken his advice.


    Kyle sat on the couch, deep in thought. Walter shouldn''t be hurting for cash.


    Was Walter nning to take advantage of Quinn''s inexperience to slowly take over thepany?


    If that was his game, Quinn could be in trouble.


    Kyle scratched his head, frustrated. He needed to find a way to warn Quinn about any potential shadiness.


    "Not heading home yet?" Walter asked, ncing at his watch. It was already 9:30.


    Quinn checked the time too. She hadn''t realized howte it was. Felt like she hadn''t done much, and it was already sote.


    She wanted to keep going, but remembered the doctor''s advice and decided against it.


    She stood up, grabbed her coat, and gave Walter a long look.


    "Walter, can I trust you?" she asked.


    Walter was a bit taken aback, then his usual grin returned. "That''s not for me to answer. You gotta ask yourself."


    Quinn said, "You''ve lied to me too many times. I don''t know if I should trust you."


    What Kyle could think of, she could too.


    Those documents were thepany''s most important files. Handing them over to him was like giving him the keys to the kingdom.


    She was even worried that by the time she came in the next morning, thepany would be gone.


    Walter stared at her for a couple of seconds and said, "You''ve already made your choice, so no need to say that."


    He paused and continued, "Quinn, let me be straight with you. If Alexander doesn''te back, you can totally trust me. But if he does, then you should start worrying." This was his most honest answer to her.


    If Alexander didn''te back, he could be her sharpest weapon. But if Alexander did return, he''d be a ticking time bomb.

 Chapter 1305

    Quinn''s lips moved, but she had no clue what to say.


    For a sec, she didn''t know if she should be relieved that she could hand over the info to him without a hitch or be pissed that he said Alexander wouldn''te back and just kick him out. They locked eyes, and the office''s fluorescent light was kinda harsh, making it tough for Quinn to see Walter''s face clearly.


    After a beat, she said nothing and just walked past him, leaving the office.


    Kyle, who''d been waiting outside, was almost dozing off. Hearing footsteps, he snapped awake from the couch, rubbed his eyes, and ran towards Quinn.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, you done for the day?" he asked.


    Quinn nodded.


    Kyle trailed her downstairs and drove her home.


    He''d been swamped all day, juggling all thepany stuff. He really didn''t have the time to slowly teach Quinn; otherwise, he wouldn''t have gotten her an assistant.


    In the car, he carefully brought up the Walter situation with Quinn. After all, it was partly his idea to use Walter, and he was worried Quinn might me him.


    "I know," Quinn replied coolly, ''cause she had already seen iting. She told Kyle, "Let''s not stress about that for now."


    As for the future, they''d deal with it when it came.


    Just ''cause she didn''t get these things now didn''t mean she never would. Her time was tight, and she needed to get up to speed fast.


    "That''s good," Kyle said, secretly letting out a sigh of relief as he focused on driving.


    As the night wore on, there were barely any people on the road.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Most of the shops on the street were closed, with just a fewte-night snack joints still open.


    The day''s hustle and bustle had faded, leaving only destion and trash everywhere.


    Freya was sweeping the street, holding a broom and sweeping along. Peanut followed behind her, carrying a small nylon bag.


    When Freya saw a bottle on the ground, she''d bend down to pick it up and put it in the bag.


    When there were too many bottles for Peanut to carry, he''d drag the bag on the ground. The bag made scraping sounds as the bottles inside clinked together.


    At first, Freya would wear a mask, but now she seemed to have given up. No matter how dirty the bottles in the trash were, she''d pick them up with her hands. This was something that neither she nor anyone else could have imagined three years ago.


    But she had no choice; she couldn''t find any other job. Whenever she felt like she couldn''t go on, she''d look back at Peanut.


    Peanut was so well-behaved and obedient. No matter how menial her job was, he still followed her closely. He didn''t look down on her, so what right did she have to look down on Peanut? Although Peanut had intellectual disabilities, after watching Freya pick up bottles for a long time, he''d run over to pick up bottles whenever he saw them and clumsily put them in the bag. Freya was afraid he''d get lost, so she''d look back from time to time.


    When she looked back, she saw him lying at the mouth of a storm drain, reaching out to pick up a bottle from the gutter and then carefully putting it in the bag. It seemed less like he was picking up a bottle but more like he had found a treasure.


    At this sight, Freya''s eyes couldn''t help but get a little teary.

 Chapter 1306

    She strolled over to Peanut, yanked him up from the dirt. Seeing his hands all caked in mud, she couldn''t hold back the waterworks anymore. "Peanut, stop picking up those bottles, alright?" she told him.


    Peanut tilted his head, trying to get what she was saying, but his eyes were just nk.


    Next thing you know, he raised his arm and used his sleeve to wipe her tears away.


    He used his sleeve, not his muddy hands.


    This time, Freya cried happy tears. She smiled, but the tears just kepting.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I''m sorry," she said, hugging Peanut tight and sobbing. "Peanut, I''m so sorry. It''s all on me. I let you down."


    If she hadn''t ended up in the mmer, Peanut wouldn''t be in this mess.


    If she hadn''t done those bad things back then, he wouldn''t be paying the price now.


    Now she finally got how Quinn felt losing those two kids.


    It hurt like hell.


    A car was parked not too far away, and someone was watching them.


    Freya had no clue. She wiped her tears, stood up, and used her clothes to clean Peanut''s hands.


    She smiled at Peanut. "Let''s bounce."


    After that, she grabbed the broom from the ground and kept sweeping the street. No time to be sad; she had to finish before dawn, or her boss would dock her pay. Peanut dragged the nylon bag and stuck close behind her.


    Halfway through, three dudes with beer bottles came stumbling towards them. They were clearly wasted, mumbling, andughing like idiots.


    Seeing them, Freya quietly pulled Peanut closer and kept her head down, sweeping.


    The guys blocked her path.


    She moved left, one of them moved right. After a few tries, one of them got pissed, smashed the beer bottle, and shoved Freya. "Get lost!" he yelled.


    Freya stumbled and hit the ground hard, her handnding on broken ss, sending sharp pain through her.


    Her hat fell off, showing her short, ear-length hair.


    The streetlight hit her face, showing off her delicate features.


    The three guys'' eyes lit up, and they grinned like creeps.


    The leader, Elijah Sanders, squatted in front of her and blew air at her. "A janitor this cute? All alone?"


    Peanut stood there, frozen, not getting what was going down.


    Elijah reached out to touch Freya''s face.


    Freya pped his hand away, got up, and clutched the broom tight, staring them down.


    "Don''t mess with me, or you''ll regret it!" Freya snapped.


    The three drunks saw the broom andughed like it was the funniest thing ever. Elijah grabbed her broom and yanked her over.


    Freya let go, making Elijah almost fall on his butt. He got up, pissed.


    The other two grabbed her arms. "Why sweep the street? Come drink with us, we''ll pay you."


    "Let go of me!" Freya yelled, struggling and ncing at Peanut. Luckily, they hadn''t noticed him.


    Elijah pulled out some cash and pped it on her chest. "Thirty bucks, enough for two days of sweeping. Come drink with us. We got plenty of cash!" They started dragging Freya, and she couldn''t break free. She kicked one of the guys in the leg.


    The guy winced, took a sharp breath, and pped her.


    "Damn it, what are you ying at? You think I won''t rape you right here?" the guy snapped.


    Freya''s fingers clenched tight, holding a handful of trash.


    As the guys closed in, a wave of despair hit her.


    Suddenly, a bright light shone on them, making it hard to see.

 Chapter 1307

    The guys were totally blindsided by the headlights. Elijah, buzzed out of his mind, was all set to start some drama. But as soon as he got close and saw it was a Porsche, he freaked out. He rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn''t tripping, then bolted back.


    The other two were still mouthing off, but Elijah yanked them and took off.


    The headlights kept beaming at them, and nobody got out of the car, making it clear this wasn''t just some random driver.


    Watching the three stumble away, Freya scrambled up from the ground and scooped Peanut into her arms.


    "You good, Peanut?" she asked, all worried.


    Peanut just stared at her with those big, round eyes, not getting a word she said.


    Freya plopped back down, checking out the cuts on her hands, still full of ss shards.


    She bit her lip, toughing it out, and started picking out the shards with her fingers. She wiped the blood on her clothes and grabbed the broom from the ground.


    But then she remembered something and looked towards the blinding light. Squinting, she couldn''t see who was in the car because of the re.


    Still, she took Peanut and walked over, knocking on the window to say thanks.


    But after knocking for a bit, the window didn''t budge. She paused, looked at herself, and figured maybe the person thought she''d be a bother.


    So she gave a little bow to show her gratitude, then took Peanut and walked away.


    The light behind them made their shadows stretch out super long.


    After a few steps, the light suddenly went off, making the whole street seem even darker.


    Freya instinctively nced back but still couldn''t see who was in the car, and nobody got out.


    She turned back and kept sweeping where she left off.


    Peanut clutched the bag tight, not letting go. When Freya picked up a bottle, he''d open the bag for her to drop it in.


    Walter sat in the car, fingers drumming on the steering wheel, eyes calm as he watched them through the windshield.


    Freya swept half the street, then took Peanut to sit down. She pulled out a piece of bread from her pocket and went to the nearby convenience store to grab a bottle of water, then sat on the steps with Peanut. She touched the bread, still a bit warm from her pocket, and handed it to Peanut.


    Peanut took it and started munching, taking big bites.


    Freya opened the water bottle and handed it to him. "Take it easy," she said, watching him gently.


    Most of the time, talking to him was like talking to herself.


    But she didn''t care. As long as Peanut was with her, she could keep going.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    It was superte, and Peanut was definitely tired, but she still had half the street to sweep. She couldn''t leave Peanut alone at home because it didn''t feel safe.


    Besides, whenever she left, no matter how deep asleep Peanut was, he''d wake up right away and follow her.


    She had tried locking Peanut in the house before, but he''d bang on the door non-stop. When she opened it, he''d look up at her with those pleading eyes, like, "Don''t leave me."


    So she had no choice but to bring him along to sweep the streets.


    As for dishwashing or other jobs, she couldn''t bring Peanut. Only when sweeping the streets could she have Peanut with her.

 Chapter 1308

    In thest twenty years, Freya never thought just staying alive could be such a pain.


    Barely six months out of the mmer, she was already fed up with the world''s cold shoulder and fake warmth.


    Freya nced at Peanut, and tears started streaming down her face.


    She wiped her tears with her sleeve, then cleaned the oil stains off Peanut''s mouth, muttering to herself, "Don''t worry. I''ll get you better, I promise." Peanut blinked, clueless, and went back to sucking his fingers.


    Freya sighed, got up, and went back to sweeping the street.


    It wasn''t until they were out of sight that Walter turned his car around and drove off.


    The next morning, Quinn walked into the office and nearly jumped out of her skin. She checked her phone; it was eight in the morning.


    Walter was in her chair, buried in a mountain of documents, typing away on theputer.


    Quinn walked over, suspicious, and saw the screen filled with dense text.


    The printer next to him was spitting out paper non-stop, with dozens of sheets already printed.


    Still in a daze, Walter handed her the documents from the printer. "All the materials are here," he said.


    Quinn took the documents, which were neatly annotated with file numbers and key points, just like her school notes.


    "You didn''t leavest night?" Quinn asked, surprised.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Walter leaned back in the chair, grinning. "Had nowhere to go. Considering how hard I''ve been working, Ms. Mellon, how about hooking me up with an apartment?" Quinn rolled her eyes. "Get up. Your seat''s outside."


    "You''re so heartless," Walter said.


    He sighed, stood up with a dramatic ir, and gestured grandly. "Ms. Mellon, your throne awaits."


    Quinn caught the sarcasm in his tone, her eyelids twitching, but she couldn''t argue.


    She sat down, flipping through the materials Walter had summarized. She skimmed through them,paring the numbers, and found them spot on.


    So she only needed to look at Walter''s summary; the pile on the desk was overkill.


    Patting the documents on the desk, Walter exined, "I''vebeled everything with numbers, and they match the summary file. I''ve also categorized them, so you won''t mess up if you follow the order." Quinn nced at thebels, surprised, suddenly realizing these folders didn''t havebels yesterday. So he did this overnight?


    Besides thebels, he had insertedrge sheets in the middle of each pile, indicating the categories, sorted by importance.


    Quinn had to admit, Walter was damn good at his job.


    Later, Kyle barged into the office. He knocked and walked in with a file folder.


    "Mrs. Kennedy," he called..


    "What''s up?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle hesitated and nced at Walter, clearly wanting him to leave.


    Walter raised an eyebrow but yed along, "I''ll go sweep the floor."


    He walked out and closed the door behind him. But if you looked closely, you''d see the door wasn''t fully closed. Quinn asked, "What''s up, Kyle?"


    Handing her the file folder, Kyle said, "This is an invite from Mr. Wright, inviting Mr. Kennedy to a business gathering." "Can''t we blow it off?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle looked a bit troubled.

 Chapter 1309

    there too. If Mr. Kennedy bails, they''re gonna be pissed."


    He exined, "Mr. Wright''s a big deal. He has always wanted to meet Mr. Kennedy, but Mr. Kennedy kept postponing. Two months ago, he invited Kennedy to this gathering, and Mr. Kennedy said yes. A bunch of other clients are gonna be But there was more to it. The Mellon Group wasn''t under Alexander''s name. He was the puppet master, pulling strings from the shadows, never showing his face.


    So, everyone wanted to see if Alexander was really the person behind it all.


    Quinn opened the file bag and pulled out an invite. The address was Amber Bay. Setting it there showed they were serious.


    If she blew them off again, it''d be a bad look.


    They weren''t some small-time operation. If she kept snubbing their invites, why would they still wanna work with her? "So, what now?" Quinn asked.


    Nobody had a clue where Alexander was. How were they supposed to find an Alexander to show up?


    Thinking about Alexander made Quinn''s heart ache.


    She couldn''t help but wonder, ''Is Alexander even alive? It''s been so long. If he was, why hasn''t hee back?''


    Kyle saw she was upset and tried to change the subject. "Mrs. Kennedy, let''s figure out how to handle this first." Quinn snapped back, her fingers fidgeting with the folder, eyes locked on the office door.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Walter, you done eavesdropping?" Quinn suddenly asked.


    Kyle was caught off guard and turned to look.


    Next thing, Walter strolled in, grinning, not even embarrassed. "Ms. Mellon, what can I do for you?" he asked. "You''re going as Alexander," Quinn ordered.


    Walter chuckled. "That might not fly, right?"


    "You were the VP of the Kennedy Group. You''ve met these folks, they know you. Just showing up will exin everything," Quinn said. Walter said seriously, "Good idea, but they wanna see Alexander."


    "You work for me, so you do what I say. I don''t care how, just handle it," Quinn said firmly.


    Worried Walter might screw things up, she added, "Don''t piss them off, and don''t mess up my deals."


    "Ms. Mellon, you sure know how to give a guy a tough job," Walter said, still smiling, clearly confident.


    "If you can''t do it, don''t bothering to work," Quinn snapped.


    Walter looked at her, his smile widening. After a beat, he said, "Alright, but you gottae with me." Quinn frowned. "I have to go too?"


    "If you don''t, how will they believe me?" Walter shot back.


    He had a point. Quinn thought it over and agreed. She''d have to meet these clients eventually.


    The meeting was on the weekend, three days away.


    Quinn needed to get to know these people. She asked Kyle to get the guest list and study their personalities.


    Kyle moved fast and got the list the next day, showing seven or eight partners.


    She''d been swamped these past two days, barely catching a break. She couldn''t even figure out what was eating up her time. How could there be so much work before she even officially took over thepany? She even wondered if when Alexander said he was busy, he really was and not just making excuses to avoiding home.

 Chapter 1310

    Time zipped by.


    Quinn and Walter rolled up to the swanky hotel for the party. She eyeballed the entrance, feeling all nervous.


    Walter tilted his head, giving her a look. "You freaking out?"


    Quinn kept her lips zipped and strutted in.


    Walter snickered and sauntered after her.


    At the venue''s entrance, Walter shed the invite, and the bouncer waved them through.


    The ce was massive, already buzzing with at least forty or fifty folks.


    Quinn''s eyes darted around andnded on a familiar face chilling in the corner.


    It was Getty!


    "What the heck is she doing here?" Quinn blurted out.


    "Beats me. Ask the hosts," Walter shot back, eyeing Getty with a weird look. Quinn caught his expression and felt like he was in on some secret.


    She sighed and let him take the lead. Besides Getty, she didn''t know a soul here.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Walter made a beeline for a group on the left.


    A middle-aged dude leading the pack spotted Walter and ditched his wine ss, heading their way.


    "Well, if it isn''t Mr. Smith! Long time no see," the guy said, grinning and sticking out his hand.


    Walter shook it briefly. "Mr. Wright, it''s been a minute. Digging the new ''do."


    Elton Wright was rocking a shiny bald head with a few stragglers. He instinctively patted his head at Walter''sment.


    Elton pretended to be miffed and shot Walter a mock re. "You really know how to hit a guy where it hurts. Wait till you hit my age; you''ll be even shinier." Walter cracked up and let go of Elton''s hand.


    Elton''s eyes shifted to Quinn. "And this is?"


    Walter jumped in, "Oh, right. This is Ms. Mellon from the Mellon Group, my new boss."


    With that, he spilled the beans that he was now with the Mellon Group.


    Only a few knew about his fallout with Alexander, so most folks still thought he was with him.


    Elton nodded, gave Quinn the once-over, and extended his hand. "Ms. Mellon, a pleasure to finally meet you."


    His gaze was direct because Quinn''s status was clear. Your rank decides how folks treat you.


    If Quinn had shown up as Walter''s date or secretary, she''d get a different vibe.


    Quinn shook his hand briefly. "I''ve heard a lot about you. Looking forward to working together, Mr. Wright."


    "You''re too kind. We''ve heard about you too. What''s Mr. Kennedy up to these days? Didn''t hee with you?" Elton asked.


    Walter jumped in again. "He''s tied up with stuff overseas and won''t be back for a bit. But he sends his regards and promises to visit and apologize in person when he''s back."


    Elton looked a bit taken aback but didn''t push it. He wasn''t here to stir the pot.


    "No need for that. It''s just a party. Businesses first. We can catch up anytime," Elton said, grabbing two sses of wine from a passing waiter and handing them to Walter and Quinn. "Let''s toast to our first meet." Walter snagged Quinn''s ss. "I''ll drink for her. Ms. Mellon is pregnant and can''t drink. Hope you understand."


    Quinn was caught off guard but gave Elton an apologetic smile.


    Elton bought it. If Quinn was pregnant and still showed up, Alexander must really be abroad.


    Walter downed both sses, and Elton grinned, ready to introduce them to some folks.


    But just as they turned, Getty was striding over, her eyes locked on Quinn with a challenging re.

 Chapter 1311

    Quinn eyeballed Getty.


    Getty''s face had bounced back pretty well; it didn''t look as stiff anymore. Sure, you could still tell she''d had work done, but it looked like she dropped some serious cash on it. Elton was just as shocked.


    Getty was a big deal in Amber Bay now, even more than when she used to trail after Alexander.


    The Kennedy Group was circling the drain, but it wasn''t dead yet. And since Getty was the big boss, folks generally didn''t mess with her.


    She strutted right up to Quinn, giving her the once-over like she''d seen a ghost.


    "Didn''t they say you were dead?" Getty blurted out, eyes wide.


    Quinn was taken aback by her bluntness. Was her ''death''mon gossip now?


    Quinn shot back, "So, am I a ghost chatting with you now?"


    Getty was ticked off by theeback, but this wasn''t the ce to lose it. Ignoring the jab, she pressed on, "Where''s Alexander? Where is he?"


    "How should I know?" Quinn snapped.


    "You..."


    Getty was barely holding it together. She forced herself to stay cool and said, "He bailed and dumped the Kennedy Group on me a couple of years ago. Didn''t he go looking for you? Now that you''re back, where is he?" Getty always felt Alexander owed her an exnation. But she couldn''t find him, and she couldn''t leave Amber Bay. She spent her days waiting for him, stewing in frustration.


    But instead of Alexander, Quinn showed up.


    How could she not be pissed?


    Their showdown drew a crowd. Getty was more full of herself than ever. She''d never taken Quinn seriously before, and she sure wasn''t about to start now.


    She wanted to humiliate Quinn in front of everyone, but seeing Quinn''s calm eyes, she had a feeling her n would flop.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Quinn stared her down and said, "So, who are you to ask me that? Even if I knew where he was, why should I tell you?"


    Getty was stumped.


    Who was she?


    She had no ties to Alexander anymore. Was she supposed to dere herself as his girlfriend in public?


    Everyone knew Alexander had a wife named Quinn, and her past with him was a joke to others.


    Today, standing in front of Quinn felt like a scene out of aedy for everyone else.


    And yeah, people were definitelyughing at her.


    The vibe between her and Quinn said it all. Getty was arrogantly provoking Alexander''s legit wife and got clowned in return. Elton tried to y peacemaker, saying, "Ladies, we''re here to have a good time, not to argue. For my sake, let''s chill." Getty shot Quinn a look that said, "I''ll deal with youter."


    Quinn acted like she didn''t notice.


    Elton invited them to sit, and Quinn breezed past Getty to the other side.


    Getty''s outburst had been quite the show, and folks were guessing Alexander''s no-show today might be tied to this drama. Did Alexander not want to get caught between these two?


    Either way, Elton was out of things to say.


    Quinn nced at Walter, who just smiled and kept quiet.


    Getty didn''t follow Elton. She stood there, watching Quinn chat andugh with the clients, her face burning with anger.


    It seemed like in the two or three years they hadn''t seen each other, Quinn had changed.


    Getty turned around to see a few women looking at her with mocking smiles. She couldn''t hear what they were saying, but it was definitely nothing good. Since taking over the Kennedy Group, she hadn''t been humiliated like this in a long time.

 Chapter 1312

    Getty snorted, spun on her heel, and bailed. She didn''t give a damn about anyone trying to stop her. She just grabbed her bag and bounced.


    Quinn caught a glimpse of Getty leaving from the corner of her eye, her gaze flickering. She thought that after all this time, Getty might have changed a bit, but nope, she was still the same old Getty. Getty stormed up to Quinn, acting like it was still the good old days when Alexander was around. Did she really think someone would step in to save her and make Quinn look bad? But Alexander wasn''t here.


    Seeing Getty brought back some old memories for Quinn, ones that had been kinda fuzzy but now were crystal clear.


    And with those memories came a wave of old pain she thought she''d forgotten.


    But Quinn wasn''t as torn up about Alexander''s disappearance as she used to be.


    She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and shoved those messy thoughts aside.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    She and the clients she was working with exchanged introductions. Everyone was pretty polite to her, though she wasn''t sure if it was because of her current status, because of Alexander, or a mix of both.


    It was a far cry from a few years ago when she went looking for Alexander and those people gave her the stink eye.


    They also talked about some projects between thepanies. Quinn had just taken over and wasn''t super familiar with them yet, but Walter had gone through most of the materials in the past few days and could keep up with the conversation.


    Through their discussion, Quinn picked up a lot, which was way easier to remember than sitting in the office reading documents.


    The gathering dragged on from noon until evening, with Walter doing most of the talking. Quinn, tagging along, learned a ton.


    Luckily, they didn''t harp on whether Alexander wasing or not, just saying before they left that they hoped Alexander would definitely show up next time.


    Walter had knocked back quite a few drinks. As he walked out of the hotel, he kept rubbing his temples.


    Quinn nced at him, opened her mouth but said nothing, and looked away.


    Kyle ran over and said, "Mrs. Kennedy, are we heading back?"


    Quinn nodded and got into the car at the entrance, with Walter following her in.


    The car hadn''t even started yet when someone knocked on the window from outside.


    Quinn turned to look and saw Getty standing there.


    After a moment of silence, Quinn rolled down the window and asked, "What do you want?"


    "Get out. I wanna talk to you," Getty demanded.


    "I got nothing to say to you. If you got something to say, spit it out here and make it quick," Quinn said coldly.


    Her attitude ticked Getty off, who snapped, "Quinn, I''ve been real polite to you. Don''t push my buttons."


    Hearing this, Quinn instinctively looked at Getty. "Are you done?"


    Getty''s breath caught in her throat as a wave of powerlessness and anger washed over her. She felt like she was punching a pillow.


    She red at Quinn, unable to ept that the mute girl she used to bully now didn''t even give her the time of day.


    Quinn didn''t bother to listen to her nonsense. She rolled up the window and said to Kyle, "Let''s go."


    "Okay."


    Kyle started the car, leaving Getty in the dust.


    Getty stood there, fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her flesh.


    Since Quinn was back, Alexander had to be back too. She was dead set on finding him!


    In the car, Quinn asked Walter, "Did you set her up toe here?"


    Walter, holding his head, smirked at Quinn, "Why would you think I brought her here?" "To dig up those unbearable memories," Quinn replied.

 Chapter 1313

    "So, you think it''s a nightmare too?" Walter shot back. "No matter what Alexander did, it all went down. You''ve seen it. Even now, Getty''s still strutting around like a peacock. Thanks to Alexander, right? And you? Just ''cause he was nice a few times, you forgot everything. Now you''re here, feeling sorry for him. Isn''t that nuts?"


    Quinn was speechless, totally floored.


    She couldn''t argue with Walter; he always knew how to hit where it hurt.


    She slowly bent down, covering her face, feeling a pounding headache.


    She even had the wild thought that if Alexander were dead, she wouldn''t have to keep suffering.


    Kyle watched them through the rearview mirror, feeling a chill. Walter clearly had his own agenda being Quinn''s assistant; a few words from him and she was already falling apart.


    Kyle had a gut feeling that Walter was sending a message: if he couldn''t have her, no one could.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    What a scary man.


    If he stuck around Quinn any longer, everything Alexander had done would be for nothing. If Alexander died, he wouldn''t rest easy.


    "Walter, you drunk or something? How about I drop you off up ahead to get some air?" Kyle suggested.


    Walter nced at Kyle and asked, "Kyle, do you think I make sense?"


    "What''d you say? I was driving. Didn''t catch that," Kyle shot back.


    "It''s cool. I can say it again," Walter sneered.


    "Enough," Quinn suddenly said, looking up at Walter. "Walter, you don''t need to say this stuff. If you''re that bored, go see Freya more often."


    Walter squinted, his vibe turning icy.


    Quinn went on, "Freya might not be a saint, but she never did you wrong. Your thing with her is no different from mine with Alexander. When you judge others, at least look at yourself first." Walter stared at her, then suddenlyughed.


    "You really care about him. Can''t even stand anyone talking smack about him," he said with a mocking grin.


    The car was dark, and Quinn couldn''t see Walter''s face, but she could tell his tone was off.


    He seemed hurt too.


    Walter suddenly said, "Stop the car."


    Kyle had been waiting for this, and he braked hard, stopping by the roadside, almost throwing Quinn and Walter out.


    Walter opened the door and got out, mming it shut so hard Quinn thought he might break the car.


    As soon as he was out, Kyle started the car and drove off with Quinn.


    After a bit, Kyle finally spoke, "Mrs. Kennedy, don''t listen to his crap. That guy''s got bad intentions."


    "I know," Quinn mumbled.


    Kyle let out a sigh of relief, but only halfway, as he heard Quinn add, "But he''s not wrong."


    "Mrs. Kennedy..."


    "You don''t need to say anything. I know it in my heart. Lots of people know right from wrong, but still do the wrong thing even when they know it''s wrong," Quinn said. She had calmed down.


    She continued, "If life could be sorted out just by what''s right and wrong, no one would be unhappy. Choosing something just ''cause it''s ''right'' might get you praise for being logical and responsible. But if it doesn''t make you happy, then that ''rightness'' means nothing."


    Kyle was stunned, thinking about her words for a long time before he got it.

 Chapter 1314

    "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re spot on! We can''t live by what others expect. Do what makes you happy!" Kyle said.


    Quinn pressed her lips together, didn''t say a word, and turned to stare out the window. The neon lights on both sides of the street flickered, and the bustling crowd moved about.


    She knew deep down that giving up was the right call, the best way to deal with all the crap she''d been through. But knowing what to do and actually doing it were two totally different things. After spending two decades with Alexander, even if their rtionship wasn''t all lovey-dovey but more like friends or family, she couldn''t just cut him off.


    People who hadn''t been through this mess themselves always found it easy to dish out advice, like they could handle it no problem.


    The more she thought about it, the more tangled up she got.


    So she closed her eyes and leaned against the car window, trying not to think about it.


    Kyle dropped her off at the Regal Riverside. She automatically walked to the sofa and plopped down. Olivia walked over awkwardly and asked if Quinn had eaten.


    Quinn shook her head. She had no appetite at the banquet and only nibbled a bit.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    She wasn''t super hungry now, but thinking about the baby in her belly, she told Olivia, "Just whip up something simple."


    "Okay."


    Olivia headed to the kitchen and cooked up a bowl of noodles for her. Quinn forced herself to eat it.


    Then she leaned back on the sofa and suddenly looked at Olivia.


    Olivia shivered under her gaze and asked, "What''s up, Mrs. Kennedy? Noodles not good?"


    Quinn shook her head. "Sit down."


    Olivia hesitated, stole a quick nce at Quinn, and then awkwardly took a seat opposite her, cing her hands on herp, ready for whatever wasing.


    Quinn tugged at the corner of her mouth and asked, "Don''t be nervous. I just wanna know, what foods should be avoided during pregnancy?"


    Olivia was stunned for a moment, then got it. "Mrs. Kennedy, are you pregnant?" she asked cheerfully.


    "Yeah," Quinn answered.


    Olivia got all nervous, not knowing what to do with her hands and feet. "There''s a lot to be careful about. You should hit the sack now. You can''t stay upte when you''re pregnant." "Really?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, you should go to sleep now. I''ll be more careful with the cooking from now on. You don''t need to worry about the food, but you gotta change your sleeping habits. I''ve seen your room light onte at night, and that''s not good," Olivia remarked.


    Quinn replied, "I can''t sleep."


    "Even if you can''t sleep, you gotta try. Maybe listen to some sleep-inducing music?" Olivia suggested.


    Quinn sighed, "I get it. I''ll go to bed now."


    "Alright, take it slow going upstairs," Olivia nervously reminded her.


    Quinn got up and walked upstairs. As she reached thest step, she suddenly paused.


    After a moment of hesitation, she walked towards the master bedroom.


    This was her first time in the master bedroom since she got back. She opened the door, and it was pitch ck inside. She turned on the light, and everything was just like before.


    Even the bed sheets were neatly folded.


    She walked in and sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers stroking the tidy sheets. Suddenly, she noticed a photo frame on the bedside table.


    She picked it up and saw that it was a photo of her and Alexander at the beach.


    In the photo, they stood in the water, bathed in the golden morning light that spilled over the horizon. The water mirrored the golden waves, casting the figures in the photo as mere ck silhouettes. Alexander had turned it into a photo frame.


    Finding nothing interesting, she put it back and scanned the room for other things.


    Suddenly, there was a crisp sound. She turned to see the photo frame had fallen to the ground, shattering with several photos spilling out.


    As she picked them up, she noticed that there were several ovepping photos, each with densely written numbers on the back.


    Her eyes flickered, and she saw that one of the numbers matched the number of days she had been gone.


    So, did each of these numbers represent a day she had been away?

 Chapter 1315

    Quinn''s fingers hit the numbers, her face looking kinda spaced out.


    Outside, it was pitch ck, and her lonely shadow was all you could see in the window.


    Getty, feeling all bummed out after her run-in with Quinn, just drove around with no real n. She ended up in some sketchy part of town, where there were barely any people and the streetlights were all dim and creepy. She spotted two figures on the sidewalk and slowed down, pulling over.


    Rolling down the window, she leaned out, waiting for them to get closer.


    Freya was holding Peanut''s hand, heading to work. She didn''t care about the fancy car parked there, but with Getty''s head sticking out, she couldn''t ignore it.


    Freya looked up and saw Getty giving her a look that was all disdain and mockery.


    "Is this your kid?" Getty asked.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Thest time Getty saw Peanut was at the hospital. He was two then, couldn''t walk, just sat there all dazed. He only ate, drank, and used the bathroom, and when he tried to talk, he stuttered and drooled.


    Seeing Peanut now, Getty had a moment of confusion. Nothing shows time passing like a kid growing up.


    In that instant, Getty realized just how much time had flown by.


    Freya''s face twisted with disgust and anger at Getty''s snarkyment.


    If Getty hadn''t dumped Peanut at the orphanage, he might''ve gotten the treatment he needed and been better by now.


    "What brings you here, Getty Morgan, CEO of the Kennedy Group?" Freya sneered.


    Getty had taken over the Kennedy Group and was recognized as part of the Kennedy family, but she still used her old name.


    And her CEO title was a joke. Alexander had drained the Kennedy Group dry, but everyone med Getty for it.


    Now, Getty had nothing but the CEO title, and no one really respected her.


    Already pissed, Getty got even more riled up by Freya''s taunt. She needed someone to take her anger out on.


    Her eyesnded on Peanut, and she went for the jugr. "Oh, I''m just here to see your kid. Thought you were too broke to take care of this idiot."


    "Didn''t expect him to still be kicking. How''s it feel to have a son who''s an idiot? Embarrassed to walk down the street? The once high and mighty Kennedy daughter, now stuck with an ugly, mentally challenged kid, sweeping streets," Getty said, watching Freya''s face darken, her mockery growing. "If I were you, I''d have taken this idiot and offed myself ages ago. How do you even have the guts to keep living?"


    Freya''s grip on Peanut''s hand tightened, making him wince in pain. He looked at her fingers but didn''t pull away.


    Freya stared Getty down, then calmed herself and shot back, "Peanut might be different, but he''s still my son. No matter how bad things get, he''ll be with me. And you? You''ve been with Alexander for years, howe you haven''t had a kid?" Getty''s smile froze, and she red at Freya, anger shing in her eyes.


    "You seem pretty proud of yourself. You deserve this. I can''t wait to see you old and barely walking, with your idiot son still doing dumb stuff. That''ll be a riot," Getty said,ughing.

 Chapter 1316

    Freya sneered, "At least someone will be around to pick up your sorry corpse!"


    Gettyughed, her anger boiling over. "With a son like yours, who knows who''s picking up whose corpse? Bet he won''tst long!" Freya lost it. She grabbed the broom and swung it at Getty.


    Caught off guard, the broom''s bristles scratched Getty''s face, making her scream as she stumbled back into her car.


    Ignoring the pain, Getty touched her face and realized her nose was a bit crooked.


    She yanked down the mirror and saw it was true. Her rage hit the roof.


    She stormed out of the car, but Freya was already walking away with Peanut, broom in hand.


    "Freya, get back here!" Getty yelled, fuming.


    Freya kept walking, and Getty, in a fit of rage, rushed over and pped her out of nowhere.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Freya stood there, stunned.


    Getty''s chest heaved as she yelled, "How dare you, a mere cleaner, hit me? Do you know how much I''ve spent on this face?"


    Still not satisfied, she raised her freshly manicured nails, aiming to scratch Freya''s face, wanting to mess it up just like hers. Freya snapped out of it, blocked her fingers, and pped her back.


    The p felt like hitting a piece of stiff pigskin.


    Wearing high heels, Getty stumbled and fell to the ground.


    "So what if I hit you? Don''t forget, I''m also part of the Kennedy family. Besides this nearly bankruptpany, what do you have that''s better than me?" Freya said coldly. Getty''s eyes were filled with hatred, or more like murderous intent.


    "You''re part of the Kennedy family?" Getty sneered, slowly getting up, pointing between Freya and Peanut.


    "So what? Even though I only have thispany, it''s not hard for me to kill you. Not just you, but also your idiot bastard. Neither of you will have a good time!" Getty snapped. Something in Getty''s words triggered Freya, and her gaze turned icy. She let go of Peanut''s hand and approached Getty.


    Getty was momentarily stunned. The next second, Freya lunged at her, choking her neck.


    Getty screamed and fell to the ground again, hitting the back of her head, causing her to roll her eyes in pain.


    "If I''m going to die anyway, I''ll kill you first!" Freya eximed.


    She had been holding back her emotions for too long. All her pent-up feelings erupted instantly, twisting her features.


    Getty, regaining her senses, met Freya''s murderous gaze and felt a chill in her heart.


    She opened her mouth to speak, but only broken sybles came out.


    "You''re right. I can''t go on living. I don''t want to live anymore. Getty, let''s go to hell together!" Freya said, her voice eerie and filled with murderous intent and despair. Getty was scared to tears. She frantically pped Freya''s hand, leaving several bloody marks on Freya''s skin.


    Peanut stood nearby, his eyes vacant.


    Even though his mind was slow to react, his human instincts made him scared of this version of Freya.


    Freya hadpletely lost it, determined to die together with Getty, ignoring everything else.


    At that critical moment, a small hand touched her arm, and a stuttering, childish voice came from beside her. "Mom."

 Chapter 1317

    A gust of autumn wind blew, and the leaves by the roadside fluttered down.


    Freya sat on top of Getty,pletely stunned. She stared at the nearly lifeless Getty beneath her, her blurred vision showing a constantly changing expression. In just two seconds, her gaze shifted from madness and ferocity to bewilderment and disbelief.


    She slowly turned her head and met Peanut''s clear eyes.


    Peanut''s fingers tightened, gradually gripping her sleeve. His lips moved, and he said again, "Mom."


    Freya''s fingers, which were gripping Getty''s neck, slowly loosened, and the blood on the back of her hand dripped down her fingertips.


    "What did you call me?" Freya asked, staring at Peanut in disbelief.


    For half a year, the word she taught Peanut the most was "Mom." She used all her strength, wanting to hear him call her mom.


    However, he always gazed at her nkly, his mouth slightly agape, but unable to utter the word, as if he didn''t know how to pronounce it.


    But now, in this scene, she heard the long-awaited call.


    Her vision blurred with tears, which trickled down her cheeks. She tried to hold them back, but under Peanut''s gaze, she failed and cried uncontrobly. Getty regained her strength and used all her might to push her away.


    "You''re crazy, a lunatic. You''re dead!" Getty cursed as she ran towards the car, both angry and scared.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Freya sat on the ground like a rag doll, crying uncontrobly.


    She sobbed, doubled over, sprawled on the ground, tears flowing freely, the sound almost resemblingughter.


    Peanut crouched in front of her, mimicking the way she usuallyforted him, clumsily running his hand through her hair.


    Her cries echoed on the tree-lined path, perhaps because it was too quiet, sounding very clear and somewhat eerie.


    She had clearly wanted to perish together with Getty, had mustered the courage to leave this world, but Peanut''s call pulled her back from the brink of despair. Clearly, if she died, she wouldn''t have to worry about anything.


    However, seeing the innocence in Peanut''s eyes, she softened. As a mother, she couldn''t leave her child to suffer alone in the world or bring herself to die with him. Freya was both broken and desperate, desperate about the unknown and bleak future.


    Getty ran away but came back with the police.


    Freya and Peanut were taken to the police station. The police reviewed the surveince footage. Although Getty had struck first, Freya was suspected of attempted murder. Peanut was innocent. Freya was to be detained, and the police asked her to contact her family.


    When Freya heard the word "family," a bitter, self-mocking smile appeared on her face.


    Did Getty count as her family?


    But she didn''t dare to leave Peanut with Getty.


    She could only say she had no family.


    The police had no choice but to check her records and found Walter. They couldn''t reach Walter by phone, so they contacted Quinn''spany.


    Quinn found out about it the next morning when she arrived at the office.


    She was a bit surprised. How did Getty and Freya end up at the police station?


    The police asked her to notify Walter to pick up Peanut, but Walter hadn''te to work today. It was unclear whether he drank too muchst night or was too angry toe. Quinn asked Kyle to call Walter.


    Walter didn''t answer..


    "Where does he live?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle shook his head, indicating he didn''t know either.


    Suddenly, Quinn thought of something. She turned and walked out of the office, driving herself to find Walter.


    She arrived at the gate of a vi. She had been here before; Walter had brought her here once.


    She pressed the doorbell at the gate.

 Chapter 1318

    She hit the doorbell once, and when no one answered, she just kept on pressing it like a maniac.


    After what felt like a million times, the door finally creaked open.


    Walter showed up in that same old dark red getup, hair all over the ce, looking more like a street artist than some fancy big shot.


    Seeing Quinn, he smirked and leaned against the door frame like he owned the ce. "Couldn''t stay away, huh? Came to beg me toe back to thepany?" he teased.


    Quinn gave him a once-over and said, "Come with me. We gotta go somewhere."


    "Where to?" Walter asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "You''ll find out when we get there," Quinn replied, all mysterious.


    "Sounds like another one of your tricks. I''m not going," Walter scoffed and started to head back inside.


    Quinn watched him walk away, and just as he was about to vanish, she blurted out, "Freya''s at the police station. They want you to pick her up."


    Walter didn''t even flinch. "Not my problem."


    "They want you to pick up Peanut," Quinn added.


    Walter stopped dead in his tracks.


    So, Walter ended up going. When they pulled up to the police station, he shot Quinn a serious look. "You''re not nning to throw me in jail, are you?"


    "If I could''ve done that, you''d be rotting in a cell by now," Quinn said, unbuckling her seatbelt and hopping out of the car. She wasn''t worried about Walter bailing; if he did, it would just prove he had something to hide. Walter had this weird, unreadable smile on his face. He waited until Quinn was inside before finally getting out of the car.


    Freya was slumped in a chair, looking totally wiped out. Quinn noticed a few more gray hairs in her messy locks.


    A shadow fell over Freya, and she slowly looked up to meet Quinn''s cold stare.


    Freya gave a bitter smile. "It''s been ages. Why do I feel like I''m seeing Alexander in you?"


    Quinn paused for a second, then said, "People change after they''ve been through a lot."


    "Yeah," Freya muttered, more to herself, her eyes losing their spark.


    Gone was the timid, innocent look in Quinn''s eyes. Now, they were just calm and indifferent.


    Quinn wasn''t the quiet girl she used to be; she was a full-grown adult now.


    The tables had turned big time. Freya used to be the one looking down on Quinn, but now, it was the other way around.


    Quinn didn''t even need to show any emotion to make Freya feel like nothing.


    Quinn turned her head as Walter strolled in. He walked over to her, his eyesnding on Peanut next to Freya.


    Thest time he saw Peanut, it was dark, and he couldn''t see much. This was his first real look at the kid.


    Peanut clung to Freya, fingers gripping her sleeve, head down just like hers.


    The cop next to them exined the situation, asking Walter to take Peanut away.


    Legally, he and Freya were still married. Her arrest was sudden, and they hadn''t gotten around to divorcing yet. Quinn nced at Walter, who stayed silent.


    He had a smile on his face, but it wasn''t the same as before. Quinn couldn''t figure out what it meant.


    It seemed like he was trying to hide his feelings, but it just made him look weird.


    The cop said, "Take the kid. Freya''s gotta stay here until we sort this out."Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1319

    Walter dropped his gaze, staring at Peanut without saying a word or even twitching a muscle.


    The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. The cop furrowed his brow, about to speak up, when Freya suddenly lifted her head. She nced at Walter, then turned to the officer. "Can we get a minute alone?"


    The cop hesitated, then ushered them and Peanut into a side room.


    "Make it snappy," he said, shutting the door behind them.


    Quinn plopped down on a chair, peering through the ss at Walter and Freya inside.


    Walterzily pulled out a chair and sat. Freya, clutching Peanut''s hand, stood there, not bothering to sit.


    It was the first time Freya hadid eyes on Walter in the four years since she got locked up.


    He looked just the same, even his hair was the same length.


    While she was in the mmer, she found out Peanut wasn''t Walter''s kid and it crushed her.


    Every day, she thought about grilling him for the truth when she got out, asking who Peanut''s real dad was.


    She also thought abouting out swinging at Walter, maybe even taking him down with her. Revenge crossed her mind too, making him hurt like she did.


    But as time went on, those thoughts faded. She started to forget his face, forget their time together. Walter, even his name was a lie. Her so-called husband was just a blurry figure in her memory.


    For someone so vague, how could those tangled emotions stick around?


    And now, four yearster, she saw Walter. His face, his body, filled in that blurry outline in her heart.


    All those buried thoughts and feelings came rushing back.


    They stayed quiet for a long time. Walter leaned back in his chair, giving Freya a faint smile.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Freya was the one who finally broke the silence.


    "So, what do I call you now?" she asked.


    Walter looked away. "Whatever you want."


    Freya held back her emotions, locking eyes with him. "Walter, when I was in prison, when I got out, I reyed our past a million times. Even though I haven''t been a saint, ask yourself, did I ever do you wrong? To help you get a foothold in the Kennedy family, I pushed my dad to bring you into thepany. To cover your so-called financial gaps, I sold my shares without a second thought. But what did you do to me?"


    She paused, then went on, "You all set me up. You personally sent me to prison, and even Peanut... Walter, do you feel any guilt towards me? Even a little bit."


    Walter gently rubbed the edge of the table, like he was deep in thought.


    Freya waited a long time but still got no answer from him.


    Even someone as smooth-talking as him was silent.


    Freyaughed bitterly. "But I''vee to realize something. I can''t me anyone else. It''s all on me. If I hadn''t crossed paths with you, hadn''t fallen for you, the Freya standing here today wouldn''t exist. What''s funny is that even our first meeting seems to have been part of your grand n."


    Rather than saying Freya had figured it out, it was more like she had given up.

 Chapter 1320

    She was barely hanging on right now, so who had time to cry over spilled milk? No matter how pissed or bitter she felt, she was stuck.


    "Walter, I ain''t asking for much. Just, for the love we once had, take care of Peanut. Let him be a normal kid if you can. I know you got beef with my family. If you do this, I''ll give you my life," Freya begged. Walter''s eyesnded on Peanut. The kid was clutching Freya''s hand like a lifeline, staring up at Walter with a nk look.


    After a beat, Walter sighed.


    He motioned to Peanut, saying, "Come here, kid."


    Freya''s eyes lit up, and she quickly nudged Peanut towards him, but the kid wouldn''t let go of her hand.


    She crouched down, gently ruffling his hair. "Peanut, go with this uncle, okay? He won''t let you go hungry and he''ll take good care of you."


    Peanut didn''t seem to get it, still clinging to her.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Freya thought he didn''t understand. She took a deep breath, pried his fingers off, and practically shoved him into Walter''s arms.


    "Walter, Peanut''s just a kid. He''s been through more than enough. Please, don''t send him back to the orphanage. He''ll get bullied there," Freya said, tears streaming down her face.


    Walter grabbed Peanut''s arm and stood up. "Freya, I''m not a saint. I can take him, but that''s it. I might find him a better family, get him new parents. How''s that sound?"


    His voice was soft, almost gentle, but his words hit Freya like a punch to the gut.


    Freya was stunned, staring at Walter in disbelief. She knew he could be cold, but this was next level.


    Walter went on, "Besides, I don''t owe you anything. Dumb choices have consequences. You''re just paying for yours, so don''t pin it on me. I''m taking Peanut. Take care of yourself. If you don''t want him back in the orphanage, figure it out yourself."


    Freya stood there, frozen.


    Every word Walter said felt like a knife to her heart.


    Walter walked past her with Peanut in tow. The kid stumbled along, reaching back for Freya but grabbing at nothing.


    Peanut didn''t cry or throw a fit; he just kept looking back. His eyes reflected the thin figure in the room, like he wanted to burn her image into his soul.


    Quinn had been talking to the cops outside. Freya''s fate was in Getty''s hands.


    If Getty pushed for attempted murder charges, Freya would probably end up back in jail, and a second stint would be way harsher than the first. Plus, Freya didn''t have the cash for awyer.


    Quinn saw Waltering out with Peanut. She nced at Walter''s face but couldn''t read anything.


    She looked back at Freya inside.


    Quinn asked the cops, "Can we go now?"


    "Yeah, you''re free to leave. Thanks for your cooperation," the officer said.


    Quinn nodded politely and turned to leave. Walter was already almost at the door.


    Suddenly, there were shouts behind them. Before Quinn could turn around, someone rushed past her and caught up with Walter.


    It was Freya.


    She blocked Walter''s path, staring at him with intense, swirling emotions in her eyes.

 Chapter 1321

    Walter''s face shifted a bit.


    Everyone behind him was floored, even Quinn.


    Freya clung to Walter''s shirt, eyes begging. "Walter, please, don''t send Peanut back to the orphanage. Don''t give him away. I''m begging you, please."


    It was a desperate plea-no one would''ve thought it came from Freya, who used to be so high and mighty.


    She tossed all her pride aside, begging Walter in front of everyone.


    "I''m begging you. Even if you treat him like crap, just give him food and clothes. Please, don''t hand him over to someone else," Freya said, tears streaming down her face. It was hard to imagine how desperate she must''ve been to say that.


    She was banking on Walter''s tiny bit of conscience and guilt.


    As long as there was a shred of it, Peanut wouldn''t have it too bad with him.


    With no one else to turn to, this was herst shot for Peanut.


    The cops around them jumped in, trying to pull Freya away, but she wouldn''t budge without Walter''s promise.


    Quinn, standing a dozen feet away, saw this and felt Freya''s heart shatter, along with her pride.


    In a daze, Quinn remembered more than three years ago when she begged Kaitlyn not to abort her child.


    Those people just stood by and watched coldly.


    Memories, like steel wires, wrapped around her heart, making it hard to breathe.


    A sharp pain hit her lower abdomen, and she grabbed the wall to steady herself. Her vision blurred, and her mind went nk.


    The scene was chaotic, with cops pulling Freya away and others grilling Walter about what was going on.


    The noise drilled into her ears, but she couldn''t make out a single word.


    A familiar dizziness hit her, and she knew she was about to faint. She protected her lower abdomen, leaned against the wall, and finally cked out, sliding down. A voice shouted, "Someone fainted!"


    Two cops ran towards Quinn; that was thest thing she saw.


    Quinn had no clue how long she floated in the darkness, not even dreaming.


    Just as she was about to wake up, some images shed by, and she heard faint voices.


    "Why hasn''t she woken up yet?"


    "Overexertion, too much stress, and physical weakness. It''s good for her to sleep a bit longer."


    "Is there any serious problem?"


    "Not at the moment, but if this keeps up, who knows."


    She slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to see Abigail by the window, with a doctor next to her. The doctor saw she was awake and immediately said, "She''s awake!"


    Abigail spun around, looking at Quinn with surprise. "Quinn, you''re awake? How do you feel? Hungry?" Quinn shook her head, asking, "What happened to me?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "You fainted. Why''d you go to the police station? And when did you get pregnant?" Abigail fired off.

 Chapter 1322

    Abigail was just as floored finding out about Quinn''s pregnancy as she was when she first saw that baby girl. Quinn was at a loss for words when Abigail grilled her. She tried to sit up, but Abigail pushed her back down.


    "Doc said you''re overdoing it. Just chill and rest. You said you were fine, but look at you now, ending up in the hospital after just a few days," Abigail said, dead serious. Quinn stared at the ceiling, memories flooding back.


    She had passed out at the police station.


    "Where''s Walter?" she asked.


    Abigail''s face twisted with anger. "Why are you even mentioning that jerk? I heard what went down at the station. Walter''s a real piece of work, trying to send his own kid to a foster home!" she spat. Word had spread fast among their circle at the station.


    "And then?" Quinn pressed.


    "And then? The cops gave him an earful. They told him if he ditched Peanut or sent him to a foster home, they''d nail him for abandonment. So, he had to take Peanut back," Abigail exined. "Alright." Quinn sighed, managing to sit up, her body aching from lying down too long.


    Suddenly, she remembered something and instinctively touched her lower abdomen. "Is my baby okay?"


    "Yeah, but it was a close call. The doc warned me to tell you that if you don''t take care of yourself, the baby''s at risk. You could miscarry anytime, so you gotta be careful," Abigail reminded her, all serious. Quinn lowered her eyes, staying silent.


    Abigail asked again, "Whose baby is it?"


    Quinn looked up at Abigail, her eyes saying it all.


    Abigail''s jaw dropped. "Alexander''s?"


    "Yeah," Quinn confirmed.


    Abigail was speechless for a moment.


    She had no clue what she had missed while she was kidnapped by Landon.


    "When can I get out of here?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail poked her forehead. "You''re still thinking about leaving? Just stay put. The doc said you need to rest and stabilize the pregnancy before you can be discharged."


    Hearing it was about her baby, Quinn didn''t push to leave.


    "Are you hungry? I''ll get you something to eat." Abigail hesitated, then decided not to press the matter. "Forget it, you''ll probably say you''re not hungry, but your baby needs food. I''ll go grab something." She left, reminding Quinn not to move around too much.


    After Abigail left, Quinn leaned against the headboard, staring nkly at the TV.


    Not long after, Kyle showed up, still catching his breath.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re finally awake," Kyle said.


    "How long was I out?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle thought for a moment. "Two days and a night."


    "That long..." Quinn murmured.


    "Yeah, you scared us all. Luckily, the doc said you were just exhausted," Kyle said, sighing in relief.


    Quinn''s gaze drifted to the door, but no one was there.


    Kyle noticed and turned to check. After a moment, he realized what she was hoping for.


    He didn''t know how tofort her.


    Alexander had been gone a long time. If he were still alive, why wouldn''t hee?


    If he were still alive, no matter the obstacles, he woulde to find Quinn.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Quinn withdrew her gaze and asked, "Kyle, how''s Freya?"


    Kyle replied, "Getty''s gonna sue her. If Freya doesn''t get awyer, she''ll probably end up in jail again."


    Quinn said nothing more, staring at the floor, lost in thought.


    Kyle hesitated and asked, "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re not thinking of helping Freya, are you?"


    Quinn was silent for a moment before softly saying, "That''s between them. It has nothing to do with me."

 Chapter 1323

    Kyle was totally caught off guard. Quinn, usually a softie, was now digging her heels in.


    Quinn was the same with Alexander. She was a real mixed bag, but from where Kyle stood, it wasn''t his ce to say anything.


    Kyle just grunted and switched gears, "Hey, just chill out in the hospital. Forget about thepany stuff. Come back when you''re good to go." "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Not like I''m much help at thepany anyway," Quinn shot back.


    "Don''t say that! Seriously, cut it out," Kyle blurted out.


    Running out of things to say, he mumbled a few moreforting words before bouncing out of the hospital.


    Not long after, Abigail rolled in with some grub.


    Quinn wasn''t really feeling it, but she forced down a few bites.


    The doc hadn''t given the green light for her to leave yet, so Quinn was stuck there for now. With Abigail dropping by every day, she wasn''t too bored.


    Getty was fuming and dead set on throwing Freya back in the mmer.


    Freya had been cooling her heels in the detention center for three days, and no one hade to see her.


    Just like herst stint in prison, it was like everyone had forgotten she existed.


    She sat in the dingy room, staring at the dim ceiling, eyes nk, like a puppet with its strings cut.


    That day, she had taken a huge gamble, stopping Walter, banking on his guilt, and putting him on the spot in front of all those cops, forcing him to keep Peanut around. She knew Walter probably hated her guts now.


    But whatever. As long as Peanut was okay, nothing else mattered.


    That day, Walter showed up at the hospital out of the blue.


    Quinn was shocked to see him, and even more shocked to see Peanut tagging along.


    "What are you doing here?" Quinn asked.


    Walter marched right up to her, Peanut trailing behind like a shadow. It seemed like Freya had drilled it into Peanut''s head to stick to Walter like glue.


    Peanut kept his eyes glued to Walter, following him closely, scared of being ditched.


    As long as someone let him tag along, he''dtch onto them like they were his lifeline.


    Walter said, "You''re my boss. Gotta check in on you, right?"


    He plopped down next to Quinn without a second thought.


    Good thing Abigail wasn''t around, or she''d have ripped him a new one for being so shameless.


    Quinn ignored Walter''s jab, her eyes drifting past him to Peanut.


    Peanut stood by Walter, eyes on the floor, like he was scared to look around and lose his sense of security.


    Quinn looked away and asked, "What are you gonna do with this kid?"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Walter nced at Peanut, something flickering in his eyes that Quinn couldn''t read. Maybe it was disgust.


    He said, "What do you want me to do with him?"


    Quinn was stunned. "This is your kid. Why should I care? Do whatever you want," she said.


    "Then mind your own business and stop sticking your nose in mine," Walter snapped back.

 Chapter 1324

    Walter sneered.


    Quinn finally blurted out the question that had been bugging her, "Walter, why do you hate Alexander so much?"


    When it was just the two of them, Walter wasn''t exactly a sweetheart to Quinn, but he was definitely nicer to her than most folks.


    But when it came to Alexander, Walter would go out of his way to mess with her. Quinn couldn''t shake the feeling that it wasn''t just about her connection to Alexander. "Why do you care so much?" Walter shot back. "He''s already dead."


    His words could''ve easily set Quinn off, but this time she kept her cool and didn''t snap back.


    "Let''s just say he''s dead. Since he''s already dead, what''s stopping you from telling me?" Quinn pressed.


    Walter stared at her, a faint smile ying on his lips, watching her for what felt like forever.


    Just when Quinn thought he was gonna dodge the question, he suddenly said, "I''ll tell you once I''m sure he''s really dead."


    Quinn was taken aback. He didn''t say much, but now she was sure Walter had another reason for going after Alexander.


    Walter seemed done with the convo. He got up and said, "I''m outta here."


    Quinn didn''t try to stop him.


    Walter walked out without calling for Peanut, who followed him anyway.


    Walter walked fast, and Peanut had to hustle to keep up. As they reached the corner near the door, Peanut took a sharp turn and wiped out.


    Quinn sat up in shock, instinctively wanting to get out of bed, but Peanut quickly picked himself up and kept chasing after Walter.


    Peanut moved like he''d fallen a million times and didn''t feel the pain anymore. Maybe it wasn''t that he didn''t feel pain, but he knew crying wouldn''t get him any attention. To him, there were bigger things to worry about than pain. And that was the fear of being left behind. Peanut was like a vine with nothing to cling to, trying totch onto any tree nearby to grow.


    Walter actually noticed this. He stopped and watched Peanut run towards him.


    As Peanut got closer, he reached out his small hand to grab Walter''s, but just as he was about to make contact, Walter pulled his arm back, leaving Peanut hanging.


    Peanut looked up, meeting Walter''s mocking gaze. He didn''t get it, but he felt Walter''s rejection.


    So, he silently pulled his hand back and stood obediently in front of Walter.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter said, "Your mom schemed against me, leaving you with me. But you need to understand, to survive, you gotta rely on yourself."


    Peanut still didn''t get it, just looked at him.


    "In this world, you can''t rely on anyone," Walter remarked.


    It didn''t sound like he was talking to Peanut, and he didn''t care if Peanut understood. He turned and walked away.


    Peanut hurried to follow, limping from his earlier fall. This time, Walter seemed to walk a bit slower, letting Peanut keep up despite his limp.


    When they reached the parking lot, Walter opened the passenger door for Peanut, who climbed in.


    It wasn''t out of kindness that Walter was concerned Peanut wouldn''t make it to the door. Rather, it stemmed from a past incident when Peanut had crawled in through the driver''s side and squeezed into the same seat with him. At that moment, Walter had the urge to throw Peanut out, but with the cops watching him from the front, he had to patiently point to the passenger seat, indicating for Peanut to sit there.


    To his surprise, Peanut mbered over hisp to reach the designated seat. In that instant, Walter couldn''t decide whether Peanut was genuinely naive or just ying dumb.

 Chapter 1325

    When Peanut hopped in the car, he clicked his seatbelt on.


    The first time he rode in this car, he was scared out of his mind, but he didn''t wanna get left behind, so he sucked it up. Now, he was chill.


    Peanut had been crashing with Walter for three days, and the cops had already knocked on the door six times. Freya must''ve spilled something to them, making the cops all nosy about it. The court hearing was in two weeks, and it looked like there was no way out for Freya and Getty.


    Freya had thrown in the towel. After finding out Walter hadn''t ditched Peanut, she got even more bummed out, just counting down the days till she went back to the mmer. Three days before the hearing, awyer showed up outta nowhere to get the lowdown on what went down.


    Freya stared at thewyer across from her, still kinda dazed. She didn''t think anyone woulde to help her.


    "Hey, Ms. Kennedy. I''m a legal aidwyer,st name Long. I''m taking over your case," thewyer said with a friendly smile.


    Freya looked at him, puzzled. "Who sent you?"


    Martin Long said, "I already told you, it''s legal aid. No one sent me."


    Freya wasn''t buying it. With Getty''s current mess, now firm would help her without someone pulling strings.


    "I got no money," Freya said.


    "I''m free," Martin replied.


    Freya eyed Martin, her gaze full of doubt.


    Martin said, "We don''t have much time. Can you tell me what happened that night?"


    Freya pressed her lips together, feeling super conflicted.


    It felt like the universe was always messing with her. Every time she was about to give up, it threw her a bone. She thought of Peanut.


    She wanted to see Peanut grow up, to see him happy. No matter who sent thewyer, she couldn''t just give up.


    So she spilled everything to Martin.


    Quinn had been sprung from the hospital a few days ago. She was home now, with Abigail watching her like a hawk, not letting her go to work.


    She had no choice but to work from home. She had just gotten a grip on thepany''s business and was scared that if she cked off, all her hard work would go down the drain. Abigail filled her in on Freya''s situation. "Who do you think got her awyer?"


    "I dunno, maybe the court," Quinn answered.


    Abigail scoffed, "This ain''t a death penalty case. Why would the court get her awyer? Besides, isn''t she married? She has a husband. It doesn''t add up."


    Quinn paused her file flipping and looked up at Abigail.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Abigail''s jaw dropped. "Could it be... Walter?"


    "It''s definitely not me," Quinn said.


    Abigail found it interesting. "So what''s Walter''s deal? He feels bad for Freya and still has a thing for her?"


    Quinn nced at her, saying, "You''re overthinking it. Walter doesn''t have a heart. I think he just doesn''t wanna be stuck with Peanut, so he wants Freya out to take the kid back." "Why?" Abigail asked, confused.


    "The cops visit every few days. He''s done so much shady stuff. Who knows when the cops might dig up dirt on his other crimes?" Quinn exined.


    Abigail nodded knowingly and said, "Guilty conscience."


    Quinn couldn''t say if Walter had a guilty conscience. If he did, he wouldn''t be so reckless in his bad deeds.


    Abigail took the file from her hand. "Alright, stop reading and go to sleep."


    Quinn stared at her empty hand for a moment, then reached back to grab the file. "Let me finish this, then I''ll sleep."


    "Stop reading and go to sleep," Abigail said firmly.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1326

    Quinn couldn''t argue with her, so she just tagged along to the bedroom and freshened up real quick. Abigail stuck by her side and crashed in the same bed.


    Her reason? Simple. Quinn was pregnant, and Abigail had once promised to help raise the kid together.


    She hadn''t kept that promise before, but this time she was dead set on it.


    Quinn sighed, turned to look at Abigail who was holding her, and couldn''t help but say, "You should find a boyfriend."


    Abigail was taken aback, then her eyes went wide. "Don''t freak me out. Why would I need a man?"


    Quinn said, "Otherwise, I''ll start thinking you''re into girls."


    Abigail suddenly grinned, leaned closer to Quinn, and said, "Does that scare you?"


    Quinn''s eyes widened, and she looked at Abigail with a wary expression.


    Seeing her reaction, Abigailughed even louder. She cupped Quinn''s cheeks and rubbed them. "Look at you, so scared. Chill out. I''m straight!"


    Quinn sighed in relief and pushed her hand away. "I''m pregnant. Don''t mess with me like that. I almost kicked you off the bed just now."


    "Wow, you''ve got guts now, daring to kick me!" Abigail remarked.


    She initially wanted to tickle Quinn but, remembering Quinn''s condition, she lowered her raised hand. "Alright, I''ll let you off this time. Go to sleep." With that, she turned off the light, leaving the room in darkness.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Quinn stared at the pitch-ck ceiling, still unable to sleep. She wanted to force herself to sleep, but every time she closed her eyes, she couldn''t help but overthink, and she even had nightmares. Many times, she would suffer from insomnia all night long.


    She sighed silently.


    The sound was very light, but Abigail still heard it. "Why do you keep sighing?" she asked Quinn.


    Quinn felt veryplicated.


    She stared into the darkness and spoke after a while, "Abigail, what should I do to make things right?"


    "You should sleep. Why think so much? No matter how much you think, will Alexander just appear?" Abigail persuaded her.


    "That''s not what I meant..." Quinn stated, trying to defend herself.


    Abigail interrupted her, "I know. Don''t overthink it. Just do what makes you happy. Remember that question you asked before? I even went back to consult Oliver about it." "What?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail continued, "He said that if, after making a choice, you can foresee a happy and joyful future, then it''s the right choice. Conversely, if you know that the choice will lead to sadness and regret, then it''s the wrong choice. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes in life. If you don''t move forward, past memories will punish your present self. Why suffer the same pain again? So don''t overthink it. Just consider whether your choice will make you happy in the future." Quinn was momentarily speechless.


    Abigail''s words stirred something in her heart. She had only needed an affirmation, and Abigail''s words settled her wavering heart.


    "I see," Quinn whispered, closed her eyes, turned over, and snuggled into Abigail''s arms.

 Chapter 1327

    Getty thought sending Freya to the mmer was gonna be a piece of cake, but she didn''t count on Freyawyering up. When she saw Martin, she looked like she just swallowed a bug. Who the heck was backing Freya?


    A bunch of names zipped through Getty''s mind, but after mulling it over, it had to be Quinn.


    Was Quinn really helping Freya?


    Getty''s blood was boiling, and when she nced to her left, there was Quinn, in as day.


    Quinn was just there ''cause she was bored at home, and Abigail had dragged her along for the show. Walter, though, was a no-show.


    Martin was no slouch; he dug up dashcam footage from a car on the street that caught the whole spat between Getty and Freya.


    Not only did Getty throw the first punch, but she also made threats. Freya, feeling cornered, fought back but stopped herself once she cooled down.


    So, Freya couldn''t be nailed for premeditated murder; it was self-defense.


    Getty wasn''t buying it and imed Freya was out to kill her, pointing to what Freya said on the dashcam.


    Then Martin asked Getty for a medical report, which she obviously didn''t have. After a heated back-and-forth, the court decided to check out Getty''s injuries first. Anyway, Getty made the threats first, so everything Freya did after that was self-defense. As for the death threats, those were just heat-of-the-moment stuff.


    Plus, Freya was no match for Getty in any way, so there was no real threat.


    Surprisingly, the trial didn''t wrap up, and the next hearing was set for three dayster.


    Quinn felt like she wasted her time. She turned to Abigail and said, "Let''s bounce."


    Abigail nodded and followed her out.


    Freya, on a whim, nced back and caught a glimpse of Quinn leaving, her eyes flickering with curiosity.


    Could Quinn be the one helping her?


    Freya, full of questions, was taken away. Martin''s arrival had given her a glimmer of hope that she might dodge jail time.


    Just as Quinn got into the car, Getty popped up out of nowhere and grabbed the door before it closed. "Quinn, was it you?"


    Quinn frowned and looked back. "What are you yammering about?"


    "Don''t y dumb. Aren''t you the one helping Freya?" Getty spat out, her face twisted with anger. Thanks to her cosmetic surgery, she couldn''t make big expressions, making her look extra creepy.


    She wouldn''t even need makeup for a horror flick.


    Seeing her like that, Quinn thought for a moment and said, "Did you forget Freya has a husband? Why would I be the one helping her? Getty, you clearly don''t know Walter. You better back off before you get yourself in deep trouble." Hearing Walter''s name, Getty was momentarily stunned.


    To her, Walter was still that useless son-inw who grinned at everyone, a guy who was neither useful nor threatening.


    So, she sneered, "You mean Walter? I almost forgot about him. Didn''t he go to a party with youst time? Well, he can''t rely on Freya, so now he''s cozying up to you?"


    Quinn almost burst outughing.


    She nodded and didn''t bother to exin. "As long as you know."


    With that, she rolled up the window. "Abigail, let''s roll."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    After driving away, Abigail finally let out a long breath. "Every time I see Getty, I just wanna deck her. If it weren''t for being in front of the courthouse, I might not have held back." "Don''t do anything stupid," Quinn reminded her.

 Chapter 1328

    Abigail rolled her eyes, "What, you scared or something? You think I''m Freya? Even if I smacked her, you think anyone would care? The court wouldn''t even blink." Quinn smirked, thinking she might have a point.


    "So, should we just turn around?" Quinn joked.


    Abigail suddenly mmed on the brakes and turned to look at her. "You serious, babe?"


    Before Quinn could respond, Abigail was already making a U-turn. Quinn quickly grabbed her hand, "No, I was just messing around. Don''t get involved." Abigail teased, "Still such a chicken."


    "I''m just worried she''ll get desperate. Let them duke it out. If she messes with Walter, he''s got plenty of ways to handle her," Quinn said coolly.


    Abigail thought it over and agreed, dropping the idea of going back to beat up Getty.


    Walter didn''t even see Getty as a threat. He thought it was pointless to waste his time on her.


    But what if Getty decided to poke the bear?


    Getty had gotten a taste of power over the years. Losing a smallwsuit would make her aughingstock.


    So, since Walter was backing Freya, she decided to take them both down!


    She went to see Walter again.


    Walter was a bit surprised to see Getty show up.


    Getty pulled a bank card from her bag and pped it on the table. "Here''s two million bucks," she said, all smug.


    Walter nced at Getty, then at the card. He picked it up, twirling it between his fingers.


    He grinned, "What''s this supposed to mean?"


    Getty thought Walter was interested and started exining, "Thatwyer for Freya, you found him, right? She''s down and out now, why are you still helping her? I''ve got all the assets and shares of the Kennedy Group. Even if you help her, Freya won''t get squat when she gets out."Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "What are you getting at?" Walter asked.


    "I think you look pretty good. Why don''t youe with me?" Getty suggested, trying to reel him in.


    Over the years, she''d found plenty of good-looking guys, but they allcked something. Seeing Walter now, she realized what it was.


    It was charisma.


    Walter''s smile widened. "I heard the Kennedy Group''s almost bankrupt. Didn''t expect you to still have this much cash."


    "What does its bankruptcy have to do with me? Besides, its foundation is still there; it won''t go under that fast. Anyway, if youe with me, you''ll definitely benefit," Getty said.


    "Like what?" Walter asked.


    Getty was momentarily speechless. "Aren''t you holding three hundred thousand dors?"


    "Three hundred thousand to buy me off, Ms. Morgan? Do I look that cheap?" Walter sneered.


    Stunned, Getty said, "Three hundred thousand isn''t enough? If you stick with Freya, you won''t even get thirty bucks! And you''re stillining."


    Walter leaned back, fingers drumming on the sofa. After a moment, he said, "How about this, Ms. Morgan? Give me three million a month, and I''ll pack my stuff and move in with you right now. Deal?"


    Getty suddenly mmed the table. "Are you nuts? Who do you think you are, asking for three million a month? You must be out of your mind. I came to you because I thought you were worth it, but you really think you''re special," Getty


    snapped, giving him a once-over. "Seems even two million was too much. Since you don''t know a good deal when you see one, let me spell it out: if you keep helping Freya, I''ll make sure you end up in prison with her!"

 Chapter 1329

    Walter put on his best "I''m-so-innocent" face and said, "Ms. Morgan, I''m shaking in my boots here. How about you don''t send me in? I can make do with two million instead of three." "Keep dreaming!" Getty shot back, feeling all high and mighty.


    Walter gave her a long look, then suddenly cracked up. "Oh, so you''re really gonna send me in, huh? What should I do?"


    Getty''s face twisted in annoyance. She knew Walter was just faking it, and the mockery wasn''t lost on her.


    She shot daggers at him, then grabbed her bag. "Just wait!"


    With that, she stormed out, her heels clicking furiously.


    Walter watched her leave, his grin slowly fading.


    He turned and saw Peanut squatting on the floor, munching on an apple, with peels scattered everywhere. Walter''s forehead veins pulsed. He snatched the apple from Peanut and chucked it into the trash.


    Peanut just sat there, wide-eyed.


    Under Walter''s re, Peanut shuffled over to the trash can, picked up the apple, and started munching again.


    Walter closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and called for the servant to clear all the fruit off the table.


    Then he pointed to a pile of bottles in the corner. "Get rid of these, and don''t let me see them again," he said, barely holding back his anger.


    The servant froze, breaking into a cold sweat. Those bottles had just been tossed out this morning!


    She quickly gathered the bottles into a trash bag and hurried out to dispose of them.


    Walter got up and walked out, with Peanut scrambling to follow.


    Peanut stumbled after him, grabbing his finger.


    Walter shook him off, causing Peanut to fall. Walter looked down coldly. "Stop following me!"


    Peanut sat there, blinking up at him, then suddenly pulled out two apples from his pocket, offering them up.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The apples were half-eaten, covered in bite marks and brown lines.


    Walter sneered, bent down, and took the apples. "Trying to butter me up?"


    Peanut blinked, not understanding. He just knew Freya always peeled apples for him, and he liked them that way.


    The next moment, Walter let the apples drop, smashing them on the ground.


    Without a backward nce, Walter walked away.


    Peanut still sat there. Seeing Walter leave, he quickly got up and chased after him.


    He''d learned how to open car doors. Before Walter could get in, Peanut tiptoed and climbed inside.


    Walter''s forehead veins throbbed wildly. He mmed the car door shut, walked around, opened the passenger door, and yanked Peanut out by the cor.


    He dragged Peanut to the trunk, pulled out a rope, and was about to tie him up.


    Just then, a ck police car pulled up. A male and a female officer got out, seeing Walter with a kid in one hand and a rope in the other.


    Walterughed in frustration and discreetly tossed the rope aside. "Officers, what brings you here again?"


    The female officer''s eyes narrowed at the kid. "What are you doing?" she demanded.


    Walter shed a perfect smile. "Just taking the kid out for some new clothes. Look at him, he''s all raggedy."


    As he spoke, he let go of Peanut''s cor and picked him up, putting on his best doting dad act.

 Chapter 1330

    "What were you doing with the rope just now?" the female cop asked again.


    Walter picked up the rope. "This? It''s a dog leash. I''m nning to get two dogs to keep Peanutpany. Got a problem with that?"


    The two cops exchanged a look, clearly not buying Walter''s story. Who uses a rope like that for dogs?


    Walter said, "You two got nothing better to do? Coming to my ce every day?"


    "We were just passing by. Since you''re taking the kid to buy clothes, go ahead," the female cop said.


    They stepped aside, watching Walter, waiting to see him leave with the kid.


    Under their watchful eyes, Walter cheerfully put Peanut in the front seat, buckled him up, and drove off. The two cops exchanged another look.


    They weren''t just there to see if Walter was mistreating the kid; that was just an excuse.


    Half a month ago, there was a big operation busting drug dens across the country, nabbing a bunch of leaders.


    But the mastermind was still out there, and Walter was a prime suspect. They''d been working hard to gather evidence.


    Walter was super cautious; they hadn''t caught him doing anything shady or even gotten close. The Freya incident had caught the higher-ups'' attention, so they sent officers to use this as a pretext to get close to Walter. The female cop said, "With using over so often, won''t he get suspicious?"


    "What are you scared of? Even if we don''te, he knows someone''s investigating him. He''ll still be on guard. Let''s just keep it this way for now," the male cop said.


    "True," the female cop nodded.


    Walter rubbed his temples, ncing at Peanut.


    He floored the gas pedal, and the car shot forward like a rocket, scaring Peanut into gripping the seatbelt tightly.


    Walter did take Peanut to the mall to buy clothes. But he just dropped Peanut off at the kids'' clothing store and sat nearby ying on his phone.


    He called Quinn.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Quinn was a bit surprised. Walter calling her out of the blue couldn''t be good.


    She answered, "What do you want?"


    Walter chuckled. "Not bad, you''ve learned to use others to do your dirty work."


    Quinn was taken aback. "What are you talking about?"


    "The Kennedy Group is currently supported by its overseaspanies. Because of the cross-border nature, the overseaspanies haven''t been too affected. If you want topletely destroy Getty, start with the overseaspanies," Walter said.


    Quinn got it now. Getty had approached Walter.


    Walter had figured out what she did, but instead of taking action himself, he gave her a suggestion to handle it herself.


    Walter continued, "I admire your growth, but don''t use these tactics on me next time. I won''t be happy."


    Quinn''s lips twitched. What kind of growth was this? It was useless.


    "I just told her the truth," Quinn said, trying to defend herself.


    Walterughed. "If I were you, I would definitely go to Freya. Her son is her weak spot. As long as you promise to take care of her son and get him treatment, she''ll know what to do." "This is much simpler than having Gettye to me," Walter added.


    Quinn''s expression changed. Walter''s methods were always so ruthless.


    If she told Freya this, Freya would see it as a transaction. Without even needing to exin, she would go all out to kill Getty.

 Chapter 1331

    Quinn hung up on him, just like that.


    Walter knew Quinn wouldn''t actually do that, which is why he yed that card. If Freya really bit the dust, he''d be stuck with Peanut forever.


    So, he handed Quinn the old n.


    Quinn hit up Kyle to get the lowdown on the Kennedy Group''s overseas branch.


    Kyle had all the deets down pat since Alexander had him keeping tabs on the Kennedy Group.


    He spilled, "The overseas branch is feeling the heat too. It''s barely hanging on with a few old-timers, and most of the cash is going to pay off debts back home. Plus, some of the big shots know the main office is run by a moron now, so they''re getting shady. It''s a total dumpster fire over there, with bad management and a bunch of folks jumping ship. It''s not gonnast much longer."Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "How long you think it can hold out?" Quinn asked.


    "Hard to say, maybe a year or two, or just a few months. If we make a move, it could be toast in a month or two," Kyle said, oozing confidence. Quinn went quiet for a sec, then asked, "If the overseas branch goes belly up too, what happens to Getty?"


    "Then her personal stash gets seized, and all her liquid assets go to pay off debts," Kyle replied.


    Quinn shot him a surprised look.


    Kyle caught on and asked, "You thinking of...?"


    Quinn ran her fingers over the papers on the table and said, "She''s been living the high life for too long. Time to pull the plug."


    Kyle nodded. "Got it."


    Three dayster, court was back in session, and Getty''s injury report came out, showing no fatal injuries.


    So, no shocker, Getty lost the case. Knowing she was gonna lose, Getty didn''t even bother showing up that day.


    Freya got off scot-free and was released right then and there.


    Just like when she got out of prison, no one was there to pick her up. She walked out of the courthouse solo and hopped on the bus back to her rented ce.


    She pulled out her key to unlock the door, but before she could stick it in, the door swung open.


    Freya pushed the door open and rushed inside. In the cramped, dim living room, Walter was chilling on the beat-up sofa, with Peanut standing next to him. Her eyes lit up, and she darted to Peanut, hugging him tight.


    "Peanut," Freya said, tears brimming in her eyes.


    Peanut snuggled into her arms, eyes full of joy, and hugged her back.


    After a bit of catching up, Freya looked up at Walter. "Why are you here?"


    "I brought Peanut to you. No need to thank me," Walter said, all casual.


    Freya bit her lip. She really wanted to be with Peanut, but for Peanut''s sake, he should stay with Walter.


    But what excuse could she use?


    Peanut wasn''t Walter''s kid.


    "Aren''t we still married?" Freya suddenly asked.


    "That''s the other reason I''m here," Walter said.


    Freya gave a bitter smile. "So that''s it. But isn''t Walter your fake name? Do we really need a divorce?"


    "It''s just a code name. I''m used to it and not nning to change it," Walter replied.


    Besides, Lucas might not even be his real name.


    Freya said, "Got it. So when do we get divorced?"


    "Now," Walter answered, in and simple.

 Chapter 1332

    Man, it was obvious he was in a rush. Freya had barely left the courthouse and hadn''t even settled into her seat when he blurted out, "I want a divorce." Freya went quiet for a sec, then out of nowhere asked, "Fine, I''ll agree to the divorce, but you gotta tell me, who''s Peanut''s dad?"


    Walter just stared at her, not saying a word.


    Freya locked eyes with him. "I have just one condition. If you don''t spill, no divorce. You can drag me to court, but then you''ll have to split half your stuff with me."


    Walter couldn''t risk going to court. If they started digging into his assets, the cops would definitely sniff around his business.


    Even though he thought he was covered, he couldn''t be sure there weren''t any loose ends.


    "I don''t know. There were so many people that day. How am I supposed to find him for you?" Walter said, acting all casual.


    Thinking back to their wedding day, Freya remembered the chaos and how much she drank. As the night got darker, she couldn''t make out who it was. The memory was all fuzzy now.


    "But without your say-so, who would get into our room? You just don''t wanna tell me, right?" Freya guessed, finding it super weird why Walter wouldn''t spill.


    Telling her wouldn''t hurt him at all.


    "Do you really wanna know?" Walter asked.


    "Yeah," Freya said, dead serious.


    Walter stared at her hard. After a bit, he finally said, "He''s dead."


    Freya''s eyes went wide. "What?"


    Walter leaned in closer. "I said he''s dead. Don''t you get it? You think I''d leave a loose end like that?"


    Freya just stared at him, then crumpled to the ground.


    Herst hope was gone.


    She stared nkly at the floor. After what felt like forever, she slowly looked up, tears in her eyes, and looked at Walter. "Then I''ll change my terms. I want $80,000." Walter chuckled. "$80,000?"


    "You can''t evene up with $80,000?" Freya asked, shocked.


    "You''re right. I really can''t give you $80,000. Freya, know your ce before you start making demands. What right do you have to negotiate with me now?" Walter said coldly.


    Freya smiled, desperate. "I have nothing now, just this worthless life. If you want it, take it."


    "Really? You''re not even gonna keep your son''s life?" Walter threatened.


    Freya said, "Look at him. What future does he have? If I can''t fix his illness, living would be torture for him. If you could help me with this, I''d be really grateful."


    Walter''s eyes turned icy, and he suddenlyughed. "Who said I wanna kill him? Maybe I''ll make his life even more miserable than you can imagine." Freya''s face changed.


    She stared at Walter, shocked. "Walter, he''s just a kid under five. Are you even human?"


    "Don''t try to y the sympathy card with me. I never fall for that. If you wanna negotiate, then negotiate. I hate it when people talk about humanity while negotiating with me," Walter said, his patience clearly running out. He grabbed Freya''s jaw and said in a low voice, "I''ll give you onest chance. Think carefully before you speak."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Freya''s chest heaved with anger.


    Looking at the face she once fell head over heels for, she felt disgust for the first time.


    She realized that "repulsive" wasn''t just about looks but something that came from the soul.


    Walter found her reaction amusing. It was the first time he''d seen her look so disgusted.


    He shoved her aside and stood up. "Fine. Since you have no conditions, see you at City Hall at 9 AM tomorrow."


    Just as Walter was about to leave, she grabbed his coat.

 Chapter 1333

    He nced down and saw it was Freya.


    Freya looked up and said, "Two hundred grand, I''ll be there on time."


    Walter gave her a cold stare, then rolled up his sleeve and walked past her, leaving the ce.


    He didn''t say no, which meant he was in.


    When the door clicked shut, Freya snapped back to reality. She cupped Peanut''s cheeks, tears in her eyes, and smiled. "Peanut, I finally got the money to get you treated. Soon, you''ll be just like the other kids. You can go to school, make tons of friends, and be happy."


    As she spoke, her eyes got all dreamy, like she could already see Peanut all grown up.


    She couldn''t stop the tears from falling.


    But before she could enjoy the moment, her phone rang. It was her boss.


    Freya quickly answered, "Hello?"


    A furious voice yelled from the other end. "Are you still working or not? You haven''t shown up for days. If you don''t want the job, just say so. Don''t waste our time!"


    Freya never wanted this job in the first ce. Back in the day, if someone had told her to sweep streets, she would''ve knocked them out.


    But now, she had no choice. Without this job, she couldn''t survive. Not only could she not knock anyone out, but she also had to suck up and apologize.


    She couldn''t afford to lose this street-sweeping gig.


    "I''m sorry. I''lle to work tonight," Freya said quickly, trying to sound apologetic.


    "You better hurry," the boss snapped.


    After hanging up, Freya covered her face, feeling more exhausted than ever.


    Life was so damn tiring.


    Peanut sat next to her, resting his head on her to show how much he missed her these past few days.


    As night fell, Freya grabbed her tools and headed to the pedestrian street.


    Peanut eagerly held a nylon bag, looking at Freya with excitement.


    He didn''t get what work was or what earning money meant. He just knew he could be with his mom, like going on a nighttime adventure. Every time he picked up a bottle, he felt proud.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Freya took him to the pedestrian street. Since people were still around, she couldn''t sweep the street and had to start by picking up recybles.


    Even though Walter agreed to give her two hundred grand, Peanut''s illness was a money pit. Two hundred grand might not be enough. Even if he got better, Peanut would still need to go to school, study, and live a normal life, which would need more money.


    She used to think love was everything, and for the person she loved, money was just a thing. That''s why she sold her shares without a second thought.


    But now, she got it-this world runs on money.


    Without money, she couldn''t do anything.


    Peanut saw a bottle and ran to pick it up. When Freya turned around and saw Peanut was gone, she panicked. She dropped what she was holding and shouted Peanut''s name.


    Freya was so anxious that tears started to fall. How could Peanut disappear just like that?


    She weaved through the crowd, grabbing people to ask if they had seen her son. Seeing her in a janitor''s uniform, people pushed her away in disgust.


    "Haven''t seen him. Don''t touch me," someone said with disgust.


    Freya stumbled but kept searching through the crowd. Whenever she saw a kid who looked like Peanut, she rushed over and pulled them to check.


    "What are you doing?" The kid''s mom, seeing this, pushed her away and held her child close.


    Freya searched the entire street, from the bustling crowds to the now deserted street. Many shops had already closed. She dragged her exhausted body and searched the street twice more. She felt utterly hopeless, wandering the street in despair, her voice hoarse from calling Peanut''s name.


    Finally, her vision went ck, and she fainted on the street.

 Chapter 1334

    The next day, Walter hung around City Hall from nine to ten, then hopped into his car, looking all icy.


    He tried calling Freya, but she ghosted him.


    He headed to the rental ce, opened the door, and it was a ghost town.


    Walter''s brow furrowed, and he was about to bounce when a shadow zipped by. He dodged just in time, a shiny knife barely missing his face. Walter snatched the attacker''s wrist, making him drop the knife. The guy caught it with his left hand and went for another stab.


    Walter let go and stepped back, catching a slice on his chest from the knife''s tip.


    They both backed off. Walter looked up, saw the guy''s face, and a cold grin spread across his own.


    Freya woke up in the clinic, eyes fluttering open. She sat up suddenly, shouting, "Peanut!"


    The nurse changing her IV fluid said, "Hey, chill out. You''re still hooked up."


    Freya grabbed the nurse''s clothes, panic in her eyes. "Nurse, where''s my son? Have you seen him?"


    "Nope, you were solo when that guy brought you in," the nurse replied.


    Freya threw off the covers, trying to get out of bed, but the nurse held her down. "You''re still on an IV. Where do you think you''re going?"


    "I need to find my son. He''s missing!" Freya said, her voice shaking.


    The nurse was stumped. Losing a kid was serious business. Should she keep the IV going or take it out?


    In the end, she pulled the needle.


    Freya grabbed her phone from the bedside table and bolted out of the hospital. She saw Walter had called her three times.


    She called him back, but he didn''t pick up.


    She kept calling, over a dozen times, until Walter finally answered. "What do you want?" he snapped.


    "Walter, Peanut''s missing. Please help me find him. I don''t want any money, not a dime. Just help me find him, and we''ll get divorced right away!" Freya pleaded, her voice cracking with urgency and tears. There was a two-second pause before Walter asked, "Where are you?"


    Twenty minutester, a ck Porsche pulled up in front of Freya. She was momentarily stunned by the car.


    But all she could think about was Peanut, so she jumped in.


    Grabbing Walter''s arm, she asked frantically, "I''ve been looking all night, I can''t find him. What do I do?"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Walter frowned, shook off her hand impatiently, and drove silently to the pedestrian street.


    Freya was too freaked out to notice anything else. When she wiped her tears, she saw blood on her palm. She froze and then looked at Walter.


    She noticed his clothes had several cuts, including on his arm. His dark red clothes hid the blood at first nce.


    Looking closer, she saw the darker patches didn''t match the design.


    "What happened to you?" she asked.


    Walter kept driving, ignoring her.


    Usually, he had some kind of smirk, all sorts of fake smiles, but now he was stone-faced.


    This made Freya even more nervous.


    The car stopped outside the pedestrian street, and Walter got out first, walking in.


    He finally spoke since they met, "Where''d you lose him?"


    "A little further ahead," Freya said, pointing and jogging to lead the way to the spot under the tree where the trash can was.

 Chapter 1335

    Walter rolled up under the tree, scoped out the scene, and then made a beeline for one of the restaurants. He whipped out his phone and dialed the number stered on the restaurant''s window.


    When someone picked up, he said, "Hey, I wanna rent your shop. Can you swing by and show me around?"


    Freya, looking all confused, blurted out, "What the heck are you doing? Peanut''s missing, and you''re out here renting a shop?"


    "Zip it," Walter snapped, giving her a frosty re. He hung up and strolled over to the coffee shop next door.


    The coffee shop was still open, but it was pretty dead. He rapped on the counter and asked the barista, "I lost my wallet herest night. Had ten grand in it. Seen it?"


    The barista looked shocked and quickly shook their head. "Nope, haven''t seen it. When did you lose it?"


    Walter turned to Freya, "When did we lose it?"


    Freya, a bit slow on the uptake, finally caught on when she saw Walter''s look. "Uh, around ten-thirty."


    "Sorry, we haven''t seen it," the barista said politely.


    Leaning on the counter, Walter said coldly, "So I lose my wallet here, and you just say you haven''t seen it? That''s it?"


    "What do you want us to do?" the barista asked, a bit flustered.


    "Let me check the surveince footage, or cough up ten grand," Walter demanded.


    The barista was speechless, but knewpensation was a no-go. To avoid a scene, they called the manager, who agreed to let him check the surveince.


    They pulled up the footage from ten-thirty. The ce was packed, but the cameras didn''t show Freya or Peanut.


    "Sure you didn''t mix up the time? There are a bunch of coffee shops on this street. Maybe you left it at another one?" the barista suggested.


    Walter scanned the footage, and suddenly Freya shouted, "Peanut!"


    Before she could finish, Walter told the manager, "We must''ve got it wrong. I''ll check the other coffee shops."


    He grabbed Freya and headed out.


    Freya wiped her tears. She had just seen Peanut in the video, but the camera only caught a glimpse of him passing by the entrance.


    The footage showed Peanut heading towards the Mexican restaurant next door.


    Not long after, the restaurant owner rushed over, looking around. Spotting Walter and Freya, he walked over.


    "You the ones looking to rent the shop?" the owner asked.


    Walter nodded. "Yeah."


    "Great, I''ll show you around," the owner said. He was in his fifties and a bit balding. Running a restaurant had clearly taken its toll.


    He opened the door, and Walter followed him inside, listening to his spiel about the shop. The owner mentioned he was heading back to his hometown and that several people had already shown interest. If they wanted to rent it, they needed to decide fast.


    Walter nodded along, pretending to care.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    After about ten minutes, the owner asked, "Anything else you wanna know?"


    "The surveince, is it working?" Walter asked casually.


    "The surveince? Yeah, it''s working, inside and out," the owner said, opening theputer at the cashier''s desk and pulling up the footage.


    Walter walked over, took the mouse from the owner''s hand, and easily found the surveince files.


    "Why are you looking at these?" the owner asked, puzzled.


    Walter ignored him and flipped to the footage from ten-thirtyst night. The outside cameras captured most of the surroundings.


    In the footage, they saw Peanut.


    He had been right next to Freya, but she was lost in thought, head down, and Peanut had let go of her hand without her noticing.

 Chapter 1336

    Peanut saw some dude miss the trash can with a bottle, so he dashed over to pick it up. Just as he grabbed it, another bottle came flying, and he was right there, scooping it up too. Strolling past the coffee shop, he noticed an alley next to it and slipped in. Freya caught sight of him just as he disappeared.


    Seeing this, Freya bolted out, not even bothering to finish watching the surveince footage.


    The shop owner sensed something was off. He walked over, yanked the plug, and eyed Walter suspiciously. "You really here to rent the shop?"


    Walter gave a sly grin. "Nah."


    The owner was taken aback for a sec, then got pissed. "You messing with me? I came all the way here and..."


    Walter cut him off, "I''m a cop, tracking an escaped murderer. He was in your shopst night. Be careful."


    He patted the owner''s shoulder, adding, "A few days ago, he pretended to be a tenant. When the owner showed him around, he robbed the ce. So, if anyone calls to rent the shop, watch out." The owner froze, and by the time he snapped out of it, Walter was gone.


    Freaked out, the owner rushed outside, but the ''cop'' was nowhere to be seen.


    He quickly locked up and tore down the ''For Rent'' sign.


    Freya ran out of the alley into a maze of houses. Looking at the tangled alleys, she felt a wave of despair.


    Hearing footsteps, she turned around, tears in her eyes. "How are we supposed to find him?"


    If she had checked the footagest night, they might have found him by now. It had been a while, and Peanut wasn''t exactly a genius. She couldn''t imagine what might happen to him out there alone. "Can''t you see someone led him away on purpose?" Walter suddenly said.


    Freya was stunned. "Who?"


    Walter looked at her like she was clueless, and Freya got it. "Getty?" she blurted out.


    Leaning against the wall, she muttered, "Yeah, it could only be her."


    Only Getty knew how much Peanut meant to her. Getty had been humiliated and wanted payback, so she went after Peanut.


    Freya didn''t know if Peanut was in danger with Getty. If she went to Getty, she''d definitely use Peanut as leverage. She''d get nothing out of it.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Desperately grabbing Walter''s arm, Freya pleaded, "Help me. I said before, if you help me find Peanut, I''ll divorce you. I don''t want any of the money. I mean it."


    Walter nced at her. "You threatening me?"


    Freya shook her head, tears streaming. "I''m just negotiating. The deal''s changed. Now it''s about finding Peanut."


    Walter sneered and looked at her hand.


    Freya realized and quickly pulled her hand back, unsurprisingly finding it covered in blood again.


    "Want to bandage that first?" Freya asked, feeling a bit guilty.


    Freya found it ironic. She had despised him before, but now he was her only hope.


    Walter stared at her without a word.


    Freya was much thinner than before. Whether it was because she had lost her looks or because they hadn''t seen each other for so long, her appearance no longer had the sharpness it once did. She exuded a timid and weak demeanor from the inside out.


    Three years had worn away all traces of her former self, except for her looks.


    It had to be said, the current Freya was much more pleasing to the eye than the former big-breasted, brainless Freya.

 Chapter 1337

    Freya strolled out of the pharmacy and stuck her hand out towards Walter.


    Walter eyed her fingers, then her face. He was totally clueless about what she wanted this time. Freya said, "Eighty-five bucks, just give me eighty."


    He just stared at her, not saying a word.


    Freya, getting impatient, snapped, "You seriously won''t even give me eighty bucks?"


    That was her day''s pay. Without Walter''s two hundred grand, she had to pinch every penny.


    Her brain was all about money; every thought was about cash.


    She''d do anything to make money, even work at a nightclub. But they didn''t want her.


    She''d tried getting a job at a fancy nightclub before, but she couldn''t even get past the bouncer.


    She could get into the mid to low-end clubs, but they didn''t want her ''cause she had a kid, or ''cause she''d given birth.


    She couldn''t go to the bottom-tier ces ''cause the clients there were old dudes and low-wage workers, and the pay sucked. A hundred bucks a pop, with thirty bucks taken out, was a no-go for her. She''d rather sweep the streets. While she was lost in thought, Walter said, "I transferred it."


    Freya snapped back to reality, grabbed her phone, and saw a notification on Facebook. She tapped it and saw it was exactly eighty bucks, not a cent more.


    Looked like Walter wasn''t doing too hot after leaving the Kennedy Group, being so tight with money.


    They plopped down on the steps outside the pharmacy. Freya rolled up his sleeve and saw a long cut on his arm, with a big ol'' bloodstain.


    The blood had started to clot, but it was still oozing a bit.


    After a quick disinfection and bandaging, Freya suddenly thought, ''Why didn''t I just let the doc inside the pharmacy do this?''


    But since she already bought the supplies, asking now would be dumb.


    After bandaging Walter''s arm, she looked at him again, asking, "Any other injuries?"


    Walter pulled down his sleeve. "Nope."


    Freya stuffed the leftover items in her pocket, saving them forter.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "Can we go find Peanut now?" she asked.


    Standing up from the steps, Walter asked, "If we go straight to Getty, you think she''ll admit it?"


    "What should we do then?" Freya asked.


    "Wait," Walter said calmly.


    "How long? Peanut won''t be in danger, right?" Freya asked, feeling uneasy.


    Walter ignored her and headed straight to the car. Freya quickly followed.


    After getting in the car, Walter drove them to the police station to report the incident.


    Freya didn''t get what he was up to but went in with him anyway.


    They''d made quite an impression at the police station before, so as soon as they arrived, they were recognized.


    A cop came up and asked, "What brings you two here?"


    Walter said, "Our kid''s missing. We need to file a report."


    The cop gave him a weird look, clearly thinking he might''ve lost the kid on purpose and was now pretending to report it.


    "When did it happen?" the cop asked.


    "Last night at ten-thirty," Walter replied.


    "Where?" the cop asked again.


    "On the pedestrian street," Walter answered.


    The cop took his report and told him to wait for news.


    After they left, the cops immediately started looking for the kid. If Walter had indeed lost the kid on purpose, they could arrest him for investigation. After stepping out, Walter paused and looked back at Freya, who was trailing him. "You''re still following me?"

 Chapter 1338

    Freya, hearing that, took another step forward, like she was scared he''d ditch her. "Peanut''s still missing. Where am I supposed to go if I don''t stick with you?"


    "I''ll find the little idiot for you. No need to tag along. Just wait for the divorce," Walter shot back, ice-cold.


    The word "idiot" made Freya''s blood boil. "He''s not an idiot!" she snapped.


    Walter sneered, "Oh yeah? If he''s not an idiot, then what is he? A fool?"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "You..." Freya was so mad she almost pped him, just like she did to Gettyst time.


    But she held back.


    Clenching her fists, she red at Walter. "He wasn''t always like this."


    "Back then, Peanut would smile, grab your finger, and babble. He was just like any other normal kid. Even if he wasn''t yours, you held him, told him stories. How can you call him that?" Freya said, her heart aching. But all she got was a cold, mockingugh from Walter.


    He didn''t bother arguing, just got in the car and left her standing there.


    Freya watched the car drive off, her vision getting blurry with tears.


    Thinking about the good old days, the difference with Walter''s coldness now was like night and day. She never thought such a sweet guy could turn so heartless.


    Every time she saw Walter''s cold face, she regretted it a thousand times over.


    If only she''d been stronger back then and not fallen for him.


    The cops were quicker than Walter. But the area behind the pedestrian street was a maze, with barely any cameras, making it tough to ID the kidnappers. Getty was freaking out because Peanut was right there with her.


    She had him kidnapped just to mess with Freya. She hadn''t figured out the next step yet.


    Sure, she wanted to lure Freya out and kill her, but she didn''t have the guts. She''d worked too hard for what she had now to risk it all.


    ''Besides, killing Freya wouldn''t be satisfying. To really get back at someone, you gotta make them live in constant pain and fear,'' Getty thought.


    But she hadn''t figured out how to make Freya''s life a living hell while keeping herself safe. She wasn''t that smart.


    Before she coulde up with a n, Freya had already called the cops.


    The more Getty thought about it, the angrier she got. She grabbed Peanut, pinching his arm hard. "Bitch! Your mom''s a bitch, and you''re a little bitch too. Why do you have to go against me?!" Her fingers dug into Peanut''s arm, making him cry out in pain.


    Hearing his cries, Getty got even more pissed and shoved him to the ground.


    "Crying. All you do is cry! Why are you crying now? Wait until your mom''s dead, then cry!" Getty yelled angrily.


    Peanut''s forehead hit the ground with a dull thud, a hard fall.


    But Getty didn''t care. She picked him up again and pinched him somewhere else. "Shut up. You hear me?" Peanut kept crying, which made Getty even madder. She pped him. "Bastard! Shut up!"


    Peanut was stunned by the p, his crying paused for a second, then started again.


    Getty, getting more and more irritated, grabbed his cor and mmed him onto the table.

 Chapter 1339

    Far off at the police station, Freya suddenly got hit with this crazy wave of panic. She grabbed her chest as the freak-out spread through her whole body.


    She looked around like a maniac, but Walter had already ditched her and vanished into thin air.


    Not wasting a second, she bolted to the street, gged down a cab, and headed straight back to the Kennedy family.


    At the gate, the security guards stopped her cold. She tried to muscle her way in a bunch of times but got tossed out every single time.


    She picked herself up off the ground and yelled inside, "Getty, get your butt out here! If you want revenge,e at me! I''m right here, ready for you! Come out here!"


    She tried to push her way in again, but, surprise surprise, a guard booted her out. The kick nailed her in the stomach, and she hit the ground, clutching her belly, unable to get up for a while.


    Freya stared hard at the familiar door. She''d gone in and out a million times before, but now, she couldn''t even get through.


    After losing her old status and being all alone, she got a harsh taste of how people really are, feeling totally helpless and desperate.


    Just like now, the door was right there, but she couldn''t get in.


    Tears streamed down her face as shey on the ground, the urge to kill Getty burning inside her.


    Getty heard some chick was looking for her outside and knew exactly who it was.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Meanwhile, Peanut was out cold on the ground, blood oozing from his forehead and spreading across the floor.


    "Don''t let her in," Getty told a servant.


    After saying that, she noticed Peanut wasn''t moving and felt a jolt of fear. She bent down to check his breathing.


    Feeling a faint breath, she sighed in relief and quickly grabbed some tissues to press against his forehead to stop the bleeding. She turned and ordered, "Go get the first aid kit."


    The servant nodded and quickly brought the kit. Getty had her bandage Peanut and then had someone take him to a room.


    After all that, Getty finally walked outside.


    She didn''t see anyone at the door and asked the security guard, "Where is she? Did she bail?"


    The guards all looked to the left in unison. Getty got the hint and walked out the gate, turning to see Freya sitting in the corner, hugging her knees.


    She was wearing a ratty blue sweater, her hair was a mess, and she was covered in dust and dirt. She looked no better than a street beggar.


    Hearing mockingughter, Freya slowly turned her head.


    She suddenly jumped up and rushed at Getty as fast as she could. Startled, Getty instinctively took two steps back, scared Freya would go nuts likest time. "What do you want?" Getty asked.


    Freya stared at her, her eyes red and full of bottled-up hatred. She forced herself to speak calmly, "Getty, I messed upst time. I''m sorry. Can you give Peanut back to me?" "As long as you give him back, I''ll do anything you want," Freya pleaded, swallowing her pride.


    The panic on Getty''s face vanished, reced by a smug look.


    She crossed her arms, raised her head arrogantly, and looked down at Freya. "Are you here to apologize to me?"


    Freya clenched her fists and nodded. "Yeah, I''m here to apologize. What do you want me to do to let Peanut go?"


    Getty pretended to think for a moment before saying, "An apology needs to be sincere. How about you kneel down and beg me?"

 Chapter 1340

    As soon as she finished talking, Freya dropped to her knees, and Getty''s grin froze.


    Freya mmed her head on the ground in front of Getty. "Getty, I''m sorry. I apologize. Please forgive me."


    Her kneeling was so smooth that Getty was momentarily stunned. And the ease with which she knelt made Getty suddenly feel that this act of kneeling wasn''t very satisfying.


    What she wanted wasn''t Freya''s kneeling apology; she wanted to see Freya struggle in humiliation, to see her dignity trampled underfoot.


    But now Freya acted as if she had long discarded her dignity. She didn''t show Getty any expression of humiliation, making Getty displeased.


    Freya was still kneeling on the ground, looking up at Getty. "Can you give Peanut back to me now?"


    Getty was fuming. Not only did she not feel relieved, but she was even angrier.


    She snapped, "What are you talking about?"


    Freya''s face changed. "Didn''t you say if I knelt and apologized, you would give Peanut back to me?"


    "Did I say that? Freya, don''t nder me. How could your son be with me? I thought you came to apologize today, but it turns out you came to nder me?" Getty said, feeling boring and turning to leave. Freya lunged forward and grabbed her leg. "Don''t go! Give me back my child!"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Getty shuddered and looked down at Freya with disgust. "Let go of me!"


    "No! Give me back my child, and I''ll let go. I''ve apologized and knelt. What more do you want?" Freya asked anxiously.


    Getty, barely containing her anger, gritted her teeth and said, "I''ve already told you, your child is not with me. If you don''t let go, don''t me me for being rude."


    Freya, with red eyes, clung to Getty, her eyes filled with determination and stubbornness. "I know it''s you. If you don''t give me back my child, I won''t let go even if I die."


    "You''re a lunatic," Getty cursed, scared by her nearly crazed appearance. After shaking her off twice without sess, Getty said to the security guards nearby, "Pull her off me!"


    Two security guards stepped forward to pull Freya away, but Freya clung to Getty like an octopus. When the guards tried to pry her fingers off, she gritted her teeth and refused to let go.


    Even the security guards were a bit shocked. Her fingers were bent to the point of breaking, yet she still wouldn''t let go.


    Getty was right; Freya seemed to have gone mad.


    "Are you all idiots? Pull her off me now!" Getty snapped, furious as Freya''s nails were digging painfully into her leg.


    The bodyguard, steeling himself, grabbed Freya''s index finger and pulled it back. A crisp sound of breaking bones and a painful scream rang out simultaneously. Freya finally let go.


    Getty, now free, quickly ran into the house.


    Getty pointed at Freya and shouted angrily, "Bitch! Beat her! Beat her to death!"


    Freya still tried to get up and grab Getty. Desperate, she believed that as long as she held onto Getty, she had a chance to get her son back.


    But as soon as she got up, she was kicked back to the ground by the security guards, greeted by punches and kicks.


    She struggled, pathetically crawled on the ground, and stretched out her hand, wishing it could grow ten meters long to grab Getty.


    "Getty... give me back my child..." Freya said with difficulty.


    Getty didn''t bother with Freya and turned to leave.


    Freya stared at her back, struggling even more frantically, using all her strength to crawl towards the door.

 Chapter 1341

    A bunch of cars screeched to a halt at the entrance.


    Seeing this, the security guards stopped wailing on Freya. Noticing she was barely conscious, they didn''t dare to keep going and turned their attention to the folks getting out of the cars. Besides the Porsche, there were a couple of cop cars too.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    The cops jumped out and immediately cuffed the security guards.


    Walter stood in front of Freya, seeing her all bruised and battered, covered in footprints, with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.


    Shey on the ground, half-opening her eyes. When she saw Walter, she slowly reached out and grabbed the hem of his clothes.


    "Idiot," he muttered under his breath. Amid the noisy police sirens, his words were barely audible.


    The cops showed up just in time. Getty had just sat down inside when they came in and hauled her away.


    "What the hell are you doing? On what grounds are you arresting me?" Getty snapped, struggling indignantly.


    The cop coldly replied, "Because you incited others to assault, which is suspected of attempted murder!"


    Getty argued, "She insisted on barging in. What does it have to do with me? Let me go. I was just defending myself. You can''t arrest me!"


    A voice coldly stated, "Ms. Morgan, if you keep resisting, you might also be charged with obstructing justice."


    Getty looked at the person speaking. It was none other than Walter.


    She gritted her teeth in anger but didn''t resist further. She didn''t mind being taken away herself; at worst, she would pay some money for the assault. But if the kid was discovered... Getty''s face turned extremely grim, and she signaled to the previous servant with her eyes. Before she could figure out if the servant understood, she was already being taken away. Walter noticed her subtle actions. After she left, he was about to go upstairs.


    The servant seemed to get Getty''s signal and immediately stepped forward to block Walter. "Sorry, the upstairs is a private area. Please stay here."


    Walter nced at him, raised an eyebrow, and looked back at the cop behind him. "Chief, did you hear a kid crying?"


    The chief furrowed his eyebrows and listened carefully. "Did I?"


    "How could you not? The crying was so loud just now," Walter said, pretending to have a sudden realization and looking at the servant. "Could it be that you gagged the kid?"


    The servant''s face changed. "Nonsense! How could that be possible?"


    "Oh? Why not?" Walter pressed.


    "Because there are no kids here at all!" the servant eximed, panicked.


    Walter pointed to a nearby trash can, which contained several blood-stained tissues. "Where did this bloode from?"


    The servant''s face changed again.


    "Chief, since he says there are no kids here, let''s take this blood back for testing. If my son really had an ident here, what crime would this person stopping us from going upstairs be guilty of?" Walter asked, staring intently at the servant as if trying to see through him.


    The chief also noticed the tissues in the trash can. He walked over, picked up a tissue, and sniffed it.


    The servant''s face had turned as white as a sheet, visibly panicking, almost as if the words "guilty conscience" were written on his face.


    The chief said, "If this is indeed your kid''s blood, everyone here will be charged with kidnapping and intentional harm."


    Looking at the servant, Walter dered, "Did you hear that? If you confess now, you might still have a chance to redeem yourself."


    The servant couldn''t hold it in any longer. He trembled and stammered, "I''ll tell you. Don''t arrest me."


    The servant led them to an old building which had been unupied for years. He opened a door to a storage room, turned on the light, revealing a kid curled up in the corner among the clutter.

 Chapter 1342

    Walter hustled over, scooped up the knocked-out Peanut, and headed back outside.


    The chief took one look at the kid''s bandaged forehead and bruised-up face and arms, and his face got all serious.


    "Get him to the hospital, pronto," the chief ordered.


    Getty hiding the kidnapped kid in the house? Dumbest move ever. With the kid and all the evidence found, everyone in the vi got hauled off.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Over at the office, Quinn was flipping through some papers when it hit her that Walter hadn''t shown up for days.


    Kyle walked in to give an update on the Kennedy Group''s overseas mess, saying things were going smoothly.


    Kyle said, "When those top execs got busted for embezzling, the old-timers who wanted to stick around had a massive blowout. One of them even had a stroke. Plus, their financial and tax dirt got leaked to their partners. It''s just a matter of time before those partners bail. When that happens, the money dries up, and it''s game over."


    Quinn nodded. Kyle had handled all of this. The Kennedy Group was already a dumpster fire at home, and the overseas branch was hanging by a thread. Kyle was just speeding up the inevitable without breaking a sweat.


    "Walter''s been MIA for days. What''s he up to?" Quinn asked, more worried about him pulling some stunt than actually caring if he showed up.


    Kyle replied, "He''s dealing with the divorce from Freya. Peanut went missing yesterday, so he''s probably out looking for him."


    Right then, Abigail called. She was practically shouting, "Getty got caught! Holy crap!"


    Quinn, a bit taken aback, asked, "What happened?"


    Abigail filled her in, cheering so loud that Kyle could hear it even without the speaker on.


    After hanging up, Kyle grinned, "That''s awesome. When the overseaspany goes belly up, Getty''s got nothing left."


    "What do you mean?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle exined, "The Kennedy Group still has a few profitablepanies. Not much, but enough to pay off some debts and keep some cash flowing. So, unless they really screw up, their backers would still give them some cover. But if the Kennedy Group totally tanks and Getty''s caughtmitting a crime, they can go after her personal assets to pay off the debts."


    Quinn got it now. "So, Getty''s toast this time?"


    "Yep, she kidnapped a kid. No one''s saving her now," Kyle said, barely hiding his glee.


    Quinn was stunned. It was moments like these that made her realize just how cutthroat the business world could be.


    Kyle added, "It might''ve taken longer, but she brought this on herself."


    Quinn had a fleeting doubt. Did Getty really bring this on herself?


    As she was mulling it over, Kyle''s phone rang.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, the front desk says Mr. William is here," Kyle reported.


    "Why''s he here?" Quinn asked, feeling weird since she hadn''t seen him in ages.


    "No clue. Should I let him up?" Kyle asked.


    "Yeah, go ahead," Quinn replied.


    A bitter, the front desk brought Orion to the office. He burst in, all excited, "Quinn! You''re the boss now, that''s awesome!"


    But Quinn''s eyes went to the person behind him. "Why are you two together?" she asked.


    Orion nced back and said, "Oh, long story. Casey wanted to see you, so I brought her along."

 Chapter 1343

    Quinn shot Casey a puzzled look. "Yo, you need something from me?"


    Casey looked all torn up, opened her mouth like she was gonna say something, but then mmed up. She nced over at Orion, then at Kyle.


    Kyle got the hint and stepped in, pulling Orion aside. "Hey, Mr. William, let''s hit the conference room. First time here, right? Lemme give you the grand tour." Orion looked a bit lost, scratching his head, trying to figure out what was going on. But the idea of a tour got him curious. After all, this was Quinn''s turf. "Yeah, sure," he said, tagging along with Kyle. "This ce is huge. My dad said thepany''s been killing ittely..."


    As the door clicked shut, cutting off Orion''s chatter, Quinn turned back to Casey.


    "Alright, spill it," she said.


    Casey''s eyes filled up with tears, and before Quinn knew it, Casey was on her knees, hitting the floor with a thud. "Whoa, Casey, what the hell?" Quinn gasped, trying to yank her up.


    But Casey wouldn''t budge, sobbing, "My mom''s gone."


    Quinn was floored. "What happened?"


    Casey looked away, tears streaming down. "If I had known, I... I wouldn''t have let here back."


    She didn''t finish the thought out loud. Her mom had been happy before she passed.


    Turns out, aftering back home, her mom got seriously sick, stuck in bed all day. Within days, she couldn''t even get up.


    Every day, she held Casey''s hand, spilling stories about her past, her own mom, and the good times she had. Then she started rambling, regretting not listening to her parents, feeling guilty, wanting to apologize. She felt like she failed Casey, bringing her into the world but not giving her a good life, and now leaving her alone.


    She said she was happy to die at home, something she never thought she''d get.


    No matter how much Casey begged and cried, her mom still passed.


    That morning, Casey went to call her for breakfast like always, but she never woke up.


    Casey had no family or cash here. Before leaving, Oliver had given her a business card, so she called him for help. But Oliver couldn''t make it, so he sent Orion instead.


    Orion helped with the funeral. Casey didn''t know where to go. She''d been wild before, but her mom was always there waiting. No matter how far she ran, she always came back.


    But now, with her mom gone, she had no home, no clue where to go.


    The only person she knew here was Quinn, so she asked Orion to bring her over.


    After hearing the whole story, Quinn looked at Casey''s young face and saw a bit of herself in her. They were kinda alike.


    "So, you wanna stay with me?" Quinn asked softly.


    Casey nodded like crazy, tears falling. "I''ll work hard, do anything. You can make me a maid or have me clean, whatever!"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, looking at Casey and then around her office.


    She had the money to take someone in, but she wasn''t sure what to have Casey do.


    She couldn''t really have Casey cleaning up the ce.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

 Chapter 1344

    Casey saw Quinn deep in thought and figured she wasn''t down for it. Tugging on Quinn''s pant leg, she begged, "C''mon, let me stay. I''m seriously begging here." Just as Quinn was about to say something, Casey blurted out, "Oh, wait, there''s one more thing."


    "What now?" Quinn asked.


    Casey paused, then said, "It''s about Mr. Kennedy."


    It had been ages since Quinn heard about Alexander. Her face changed a bit, and she looked at Casey, surprised. "What about him? Got any news?" Quinn quickly pulled her up. "Get up and sit down first."


    She dragged Casey to a chair, staring at her, dying to know more.


    Casey thought for a sec and said, "Mr. William told me you were looking for him. I don''t know where he went, but I overheard him on the phone once." "And?" Quinn asked eagerly.


    Casey tilted her head, thinking. "He mentioned Country H. The person he was talking to seemed to be from there, and he was super upset, telling them to butt out and that he wasn''t going." Quinn''s face went nk for a moment, and she mumbled, "Country H?"


    "Yeah, that''s all I got. So, he might be there. Quinn, since I told you this, can I stay? I don''t know anyone else," Casey pleaded with puppy eyes.


    Being young and uneducated, Casey couldn''t find a job, making it tough to get by.


    Luckily, Oliver had seen thising and left her a business card, offering her a ce to stay.


    Quinn nodded slightly, a bit distracted. "Alright, you can stay."


    Casey lit up with joy. She jumped up from the chair and was about to kneel again, but Quinn stopped her just in time. "Enough."


    Casey felt a bit awkward and grinned at Quinn. "Sorry, force of habit."


    Where she came from, kneeling was prettymon.


    Quinn looked at Casey, her brows furrowing again. Casey was only fifteen or sixteen; what could she have her do?


    Casey stared at Quinn, thinking about that day at the hospital, grateful she had the guts to take that step and get out of that ce.


    "You haven''t been to school, have you?" Quinn asked.


    Casey nodded. "Nope, but my mom taught me some stuff. I can read most words."


    "That''s good. Means you don''t have to start from scratch. Since you have a foundation, you should start by going to school. I don''t need you to do anything here," Quinn said.


    Casey was stunned, her mouth hanging open, speechless. She hade here just to find a ce to stay and a job to survive, never thinking she could go to school. She hadn''t dared to dream of it before, and even less so aftering back. She was so moved she was about to kneel again, but Quinn pulled her up.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Quinn nced at the time and realized it was almost six o''clock. "You haven''t eaten yet, have you? Let''s get some dinner."


    Casey''s stomach growled in response. She held her stomach and smiled sheepishly.


    "Quinn, I will definitely repay you," she suddenly said.


    Quinn was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "Let''s eat first."


    The two of them walked out of the office, and she asked Kyle to call Orion over too. When Orion heard they were going to eat together, he was so happy he couldn''t stop grinning.

 Chapter 1345

    Kyle found this chill restaurant, and they snagged a private room. While they were waiting for the grub, Quinn turned to Orion and asked, "So, what''s been going on with youtely?" Orion, looking bored, was fiddling with the utensils. "Eh, not much. Just living that unemployed life."


    Back in the day, his dad had killed a bunch of his dogs, which messed him up pretty bad, so he wasn''t too keen on going home.


    He nced around the private room and then said to Quinn, "Remember when Oliver wanted me to head to Sylvadora? I''m thinking of starting up my old gig there. Being that far away, my dad can''t mess with me." "Running the animal shelter again?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, what do you think?" Orion asked, getting a bit excited at the idea.


    Quinn was all in. "I think it''s a solid n, but it''s gotta cost a ton. Do you... have the cash?"


    Thinking about the money, Orion''s mood tanked. "Nope, gotta keep this on the down-low from my family, so their money''s off-limits."


    Seeing him bummed out, Quinn felt a pang of sympathy.


    After a bit of thinking, she offered, "How about I sponsor you?"


    Orion was shocked, then thrilled. "You''d sponsor me?"


    "I think what you''re doing is awesome, and I''m totally behind you," Quinn said, all serious.


    Orion pped the table in surprise. "Heck yeah! With your money, we could open not just one shelter, but like ten or a hundred!"


    "Exactly, so don''t sweat the money. I got it covered. If you wanna do it, just go for it."


    Orion was over the moon. He jumped up, ran over to Quinn, and grabbed her hand.


    "I knew you were the real deal. Even with money, you haven''t lost your heart. When our shelters are everywhere, you''ll be the biggest hero!" Orion dered, grinning from ear to ear. Quinn hadn''t expected his dreams to be so huge, aiming for shelters worldwide.


    She spaced out for a second, remembering how Charles once said if he could, he''d save all the animals. It seemed like Orion hadn''t forgotten those words.


    But Orion''s excitement was a bit much for her. She awkwardly pulled her hand back. "Alright, it''s a deal. I''ll handle the money, you handle the work. Go for it."


    "Okay!" Orion shouted, looking at the table. Noticing there was no booze, he stood up and said, "For something this awesome, I gotta toast you."


    He was about to head out for some alcohol when Quinn pulled him back. "No booze. Let''s do coffee instead."Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Orion was taken aback for a sec, then smiled and sat back down. "Alright, coffee it is. Here''s to our future as great phnthropists."


    Hearing "great phnthropist," Quinn couldn''t help but smirk a bit.


    Orion was clearly pumped. Securing the investment was a big win, and his goals were huge.


    With a goal in sight, Orion was buzzing with energy. He always seemed cheerful, but now his eyes were practically glowing with happiness. Meanwhile, Quinn was lost in thought, remembering what Casey had said about Country H.


    After all this time, it was the first lead she had on Alexander. She didn''t know if it''d pan out, but right now, it was her only hope.


    Quinn''s fingers drifted to her lower abdomen, and her expression turned distant.

 Chapter 1346

    Orion was sitting across from her, yapping away about his big dreams, but Quinn was zoning out, barely catching a word.


    Freya woke up in the hospital.


    She was banged up pretty bad, wrapped in bandages like a mummy. First thing she did when she came to was look for Peanut. "Peanut, Peanut..." she called out, all freaked out.


    In her panic, a hand grabbed hers. She looked down and saw Peanut standing right there.


    Freya''s pain vanished in an instant, and she hugged Peanut tight. "Thank God. You''re okay."


    Why did she care more about Peanut than herself?


    Besides being a mom, Freya had just gotten out of prison. She had no one, no family, no friends. Her future was a big question mark, but she found a reason to keep going in Peanut. Over time, that obsession took over, turning into this deep, selfless love only a mom could have.


    After she calmed down, she checked Peanut out. "What happened to your forehead?"


    Peanut tilted his head, touched his forehead, and seemed to remember. "Table, hit," he said.


    Just a few words, but Freya got it. The table hit him, and it was Getty who did it!


    Her eyes red with anger. "How could she be so cruel!" she spat.


    After cursing, she noticed something was off and looked sharply at Peanut. "Peanut, you...."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He could talk now?


    Freya was still processing when a doctor walked in, followed by Walter.


    She looked at Walter, her expression all mixed up.


    But she couldn''t think about that now, her head was full of questions. She asked the doctor, "Doctor, is my son''s injury serious?"


    The doctor replied, "It''s affecting him a bit, but it''s not too bad. Actually, this shock seems to have helped his condition a little."


    She was right. She looked at Peanut with joy, holding his hand tight. "Peanut, do you know who I am?"


    Peanut nodded eagerly, though he was still a bit slow.


    "Who am I?" Freya asked again.


    "Mom," Peanut said clearly.


    Freya stared at him, nervously asking, "Do you know what ''mom'' means?"


    Peanut''s eyes went nk for a moment, and he stared at Freya without saying anything.


    Freya felt a bit let down.


    The doctor said, "Don''t push him. His condition has only slightly improved. He can''t handle deep questions yet."


    Freya nodded, still super happy. "I''m too impatient."


    After changing her bandages, the doctor asked, "How about you? Any difort?"


    Freya shook her head. "I''m fine."


    Her excitement was so intense it overshadowed her own pain, her mind fixated on Peanut''s potential recovery. She eagerly anticipated seeing Peanut return to a normal state, wondering if he would be as smart and charming as other kids. The doctor noticed and shook his head. "I''lle backter."


    After the doctor left, Freya cuddled with Peanut for a while, her face glowing with joy.


    It took her a bit to calm down and notice someone else in the room.


    She slowly looked up at the man standing there.


    Walter stood with his back to the light, making it hard to see his face.

 Chapter 1347

    The hospital room went dead quiet for a sec. Once Freya chilled out, the pain in her body started creeping in.


    "How''d you know I was with the Kennedy family?" Freya broke the silence.


    "Not everyone''s as clueless as you," Walter shot back.


    His words were sharp and stung, but they were spot on.


    Walter had ditched her there, and she couldn''t just sit around. She had to do something, and the only thing she could think of was finding Getty. "Anyway, thanks. Now that Peanut''s been found, I''ll divorce you as soon as I''m outta here. Like I said, I don''t want a dime from you," Freya said. Walter nodded and nced at Peanut.


    Peanut stood there quietly, even though he was pretty banged up, he never whined about the pain.


    With nothing left to say, Walter turned and walked out of the room.


    Freya quickly called after him, "Wait."


    "Where''s Getty? Where is she?" Freya asked.


    "The police station," Walter said calmly.


    Freya was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to say something, Walter left.


    She lowered her eyes and looked at Peanut in front of her. Her restless heart calmed down again. She reached out and touched his cheek, "Does it hurt?" Peanut shook his head.


    Freya''s eyes got a bit misty. Peanut was actually hiding his feelings.


    A few dayster, Orion came to say goodbye to Quinn, or more like, to ask for some cash. He felt he had wasted too much time and was itching to chase his big dreams.


    Quinn was at home today, not at the office, because she was figuring out how to sort things for Casey.


    Casey had juste back from abroad, and her ID and stuff weren''t sorted out yet. She needed to get her ID sorted before she could go to school.


    Just as Orion arrived, Quinn''s eyes lit up. "Orion, you''re off to chase your big dreams, right? Need an assistant?"


    Orion nodded. "Yeah, what''s up?"


    Quinn pulled Casey in front of her and said with a grin, "What do you think of Casey?"


    Orion blinked, looking at Quinn and then at Casey. "Isn''t she here to see you?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "Even if she''s here to see me, she needs to do something. I don''t have anything for her to do right now, so she might as well go with you. Besides, her hometown is also Sylvadora. She can help you out and go to school at the same time," Quinn exined.


    Orion scratched his head, saying, "I don''t mind. It''s up to her."


    Casey immediately nodded. "I don''t mind. I''ll go with whoever needs me. Mr. William, I can do anything. Let me go with you!"


    "Alright then, pack your stuff. We''ll leave tomorrow," Orion said.


    "So soon?" Casey asked, a bit surprised.


    "What else do you need to do? Tell me when you want to leave, I''m flexible," Orion said.


    Casey looked at Quinn, who had mentioned getting her an ID.


    Quinn said, "No problem. You can get it done in Sylvadora. Orion can help you with it."


    "Alright, then I''ll go back with Mr. William tomorrow," Casey said.


    Quinn felt a bit guilty. Casey had only been here a few days and hadn''t had a chance to enjoy herself before leaving again. She decided to treat them to a big dinner that night.

 Chapter 1348

    Quinn hit up Olivia to whip up some dinner at home and invited Abigail over. When Abigail heard Orion was getting back into his old gig, she didn''t give him any grief. Instead, she gave him a thumbs up. "Nice work, kid. Keep it up. I got faith in you," Abigail cheered.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "You''ve got a good eye. Too bad you never saw my old setup..." Orion''s face got all gloomy again. He poured himself a drink and said, "Forget it, let''s not go there."


    Orion wasn''t much of a drinker, but with him about to leave and all those memories of the poor animals, he just kept knocking them back.


    He wasn''t a heavy drinker; he was out cold after just a few sses.


    Quinn smirked.


    Abigail hauled him upstairs, found a room, and tossed him on the bed. She was crashing at Quinn''s ce most of the time now, waiting for the baby toe.


    The next day, Orion didn''t roll out of bed until noon, totally missing his morning ns, and had lunch instead.


    Casey had her stuff packed early. She didn''t have much, just the clothes Quinn had bought her recently, all fitting into a small suitcase.


    Orion took Casey and bounced. He still had to sneak back to grab some things and then head to Sylvadora.


    Watching them leave, Quinn felt a bit down.


    Suddenly, an arm draped over her shoulder. "What''s up? Don''t tell me you''re gonna miss them?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn turned to look at her, shaking her head slightly. "No, Casey told me about Alexander."


    Abigail was a bit surprised, her face getting serious. "You''re not thinking about going to Country H, are you?"


    Before Quinn could say anything, Abigail cut her off. "She only overheard a phone call; she didn''t see Alexander with her own eyes. Don''t take the risk. Think about the baby. If something happens to the baby and you don''t even find him, what will you do?"


    Abigail could guess that if Quinn failed to find Alexander and something happened to the baby, nothing could keep Quinn going.


    Abigail made a good point. Quinn was quiet for a long time, her fingers resting on her still-t belly. "I know."


    "Good. Even if you really want to go, wait until the baby is born. Don''t take any more risks," Abigail reminded her again. Quinn nodded slightly. That was her n too.


    If Alexander wasn''t dead, one more year wouldn''t make a difference. If he was in trouble, she wouldn''t be able to help anyway.


    At least she could have the baby in peace before confirming anything.


    The Kennedy Group''s overseaspany had been tanking since Kyle stepped in. In less than a month, word came that it couldn''t keep going.


    They hoped for help from the domestic side, but no luck there either. With the news of Getty''s arrest, the Kennedy Group totally fell apart.


    As for Getty, when the news from the overseaspany came, her sentence was handed down. The trial was just a formality.


    Kidnapping, incitement to assault, attempted murder, and embezzlement of public funds-she got life in prison.


    Getty couldn''t believe it. She always thought her status would get her out, that someone woulde to save her.


    In prison, Getty was brought to the visiting room. When she saw Quinn sitting there, she got super agitated and tried to rush over, but the guards held her back. They shoved her into a chair, and she stared daggers at Quinn across from her. It was almost winter now, and Quinn was bundled up in a brown coat.


    "What are you doing here? Are you here tough at me?" Getty asked, her eyes full of hate.


    Quinn looked at her calmly and thought for a moment. "Seems like the only reason I''d be here is tough at you."

 Chapter 1349

    Getty froze, almost ready to blow a fuse again. She balled up her fists and red at Quinn. "Where''s Alexander? Why didn''t he show up?" Why didn''t hee to save her?


    Getty had been banking on him showing up this whole time, but now she was stuck in prison and still no sign of the guy.


    She kept thinking Alexander would swoop in and save her.


    "Getty, you still think he''s gonna save you?" Quinn sneered.


    Getty''s eyes flickered, her thoughtsid bare. "Where is he?" she snapped.


    "Why would I tell you?" Quinn shot back.


    "You..." Getty tried to stand but got shoved back down. She swallowed her anger and asked, "Then why are you here?"R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    "Oh, I just came to give you the lowdown on the Kennedy Group," Quinn said, pulling out some newspapers from her coat and spreading them on the table.


    Getty nced down and saw headlines about the Kennedy Group. All their subsidiaries had gone belly up in the past two months.


    Now, only the mainpany was barely hanging on.


    Getty''s eyes went wide, disbelief all over her face. "How is this possible? Everything was fine these past two years."


    She red at Quinn. "Don''t think you can fool me with fake news!"


    "Believe it or not, it''s your call. But thinking Alexander''s gonna save you? Dream on," Quinn stressed.


    "What do you mean?" Getty snapped.


    Quinn stood up, and under her open cor, her slightly swollen belly was visible. She said, "If he wanted to save you, he''d have done it ages ago." Getty noticed and stood there, stunned, her eyes glued to Quinn''s belly.


    Quinn had just proven that Alexander wasn''ting to save her.


    If he wanted to, he would''ve done it already. Would he have let Quinn get pregnant?


    Maybe all this time, he was hiding, watching her search for him like a fool.


    And when she got locked up, what was he doing?


    Probably still in bed with Quinn.


    In that moment, all of Getty''s hopes crumbled, and she finally realized she was truly done for.


    She suddenly burst intoughter.


    As sheughed, big tears rolled down her face. With her inability to make facial expressions, she looked particrly grotesque.


    Quinn frowned slightly and turned to leave the visitation room.


    Behind her, Getty''s mixed sounds of crying andughing echoed.


    Quinn walked outside the prison, looking at the falling leaves on both sides. The cold sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, faintly sprinkling on the ground. Abigail opened the car door, got out, and pulled her into the car, urging her to leave this unlucky ce quickly.


    Half a monthter, on a sunny morning, the news of the Kennedy Group''splete bankruptcy came on the TV.


    The Kennedy Group, once a towering giant, had finally fallen, disappearing into history, just like the Ethereal family once did.


    All of Getty''s assets were seized, including the inheritance left to her by Kaitlyn, all used to pay off debts.


    This news didn''t cause much of a stir. After all, the Kennedy Group had been on the brink for over two years, and bankruptcy was just a matter of time. No surprise at all.


    In a trash-filled street, a disheveled woman looked up at the news on a distant mall screen, the half-rotten apple in her hand falling to the ground. Then a lowugh came from her throat.


    "I still saw it..."

 Chapter 1350

    "Finally, I''ve been waiting for this day, Getty. You''re gonna get what''sing to you," the woman muttered,ughing like a maniac. People passing by heard her and sped up, freaked out.


    Quinn came downstairs and saw Abigail glued to the news on the couch. She plopped down next to her.


    "Even though I knew what wasing, hearing it still bums me out," Abigail said, munching on an apple.


    Quinn stared at the TV, staying quiet.


    After a bit, she suddenly said, "Hey, isn''t the Kennedy family''s vi going up for auction soon?"


    "Yeah, it''s the day after tomorrow. You interested?" Abigail shot her a look and scoffed, "Getty lived there for two years. It''s bad luck. Why would you want it?" "I lived there for years too," Quinn sighed.


    Abigail was caught off guard. "Oh, right. I''ll go with you, but you better have the cash ready. That ce ain''t cheap."


    Quinn knew it wasn''t cheap. Decades ago, it cost tens of millions to build. With intion, even at auction, it would be way more.


    Abigail didn''t know how much Quinn had, so she secretly asked Oliver to lend her some money.


    Oliver assured her that no one could outbid Quinn for that house.


    Oliver was right. On auction day, Abigail watched Quinn bid without flinching.


    From one hundred million to three hundred and fifty million, Quinn snagged the house for three hundred and fifty million.


    Abigail''s jaw hit the floor. "Where''d you get all that cash?"


    Quinn just smiled and didn''t say a word.


    After they left, Abigail suddenly said, "Quinn, since you''re loaded, can you lend me two hundred million?"


    Quinn thought she was joking and nodded. "Sure, when do you need it?"


    Hearing how casual she was, Abigail grabbed her hand, dead serious. "I''m not kidding."


    Quinn paused, surprised. "What do you need it for?"


    Abigail''s eyes darted around. She looked up at the sky. "I wanna start a business."


    Quinn eyed her suspiciously, feeling like she wasn''t getting the whole story.


    But since it was Abigail asking, she couldn''t say no. "Alright, send me your ount numberter."


    Abigail''s face lit up, and she hugged Quinn tight, almost in tears. "Thanks, Quinn. I knew you were a real friend. Don''t worry, I''ll pay you back."


    Quinn smiled and gently pushed her away. "Alright, let''s head back."


    "Head back for what? Did you forget about your prenatal checkup today?" Abigail reminded her.


    Quinn was momentarily stunned. She had totally forgotten, being so wrapped up in the auction.


    "Let''s go. I''ll take you. Seriously, how could you forget your own stuff? Good thing you have me," Abigail said proudly, nudging her into the car, and they headed to the hospital.


    After a bunch of tests, the doctor looked at her chart and nodded. "Not bad. You''ve passed the three-month danger period, and the baby is stable. But your situation is unique, so you still need to be extra careful." Before Quinn could speak, Abigail butted in, "Is it a boy or a girl?"R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    The doctor gave her an annoyed look.


    Ignoring Abigail, the doctor continued talking to Quinn, "One more thing, you might have a tough time during delivery. So try to eat more nutritious food, keep up with your supplements, and take walks to help with the birth." Quinn nodded to show she got it.


    The doctor then asked, "Where''s your husband? I haven''t seen him at any of these visits."

 Chapter 1351

    Quinn was totally caught off guard, the doc''s sudden question left her speechless.


    Abigail, standing right next to her, piped up, "Are we done here? Can we bounce now?"


    Seeing they weren''t in the mood to chat, the doc didn''t push it. He gathered up the papers and handed them to Quinn. "No more questions."


    Abigail snatched the papers and dragged Quinn out of the hospital.


    Once outside, she held the ultrasound pic up to the sky, staring at it like it was some alien artifact.


    She turned to Quinn and asked, "Quinn, you think it''s a boy or a girl?"


    Quinn nced at the pic in her hand and shrugged. "No clue."


    Abigail looked at it again, mumbling, "I got a feeling it''s a boy."


    Then she quickly shook her head. "Nah, can''t be a boy. If it''s a little troublemaker like Alexander, that''d be a nightmare. A daughter would be better, a girl like you." She kept rambling, while Quinn just stared at the pic, her eyes nk.


    After a bit, Abigail pulled Quinn into the car. Just as they buckled up, Quinn turned and saw Freya walking into the hospital with Peanut.


    Abigail noticed too. She watched Freya disappear and then said, "Didn''t she split up with Walter?"


    Quinn was taken aback and looked at Abigail, surprised.


    She''d been swamped with work and hadn''t kept up with the gossip. Abigail, on the other hand, always had thetest scoop.


    Walter hadn''t mentioned it either. He was showing up at the office less and less, mainly ''cause Quinn had gotten the hang of things and didn''t need him as much. Time flew when Quinn was busy.


    A few monthster, on a stormy night, Quinn suddenly woke up in pain, clutching her lower abdomen, drenched in sweat.


    Abigail was snoozing beside her.


    Quinn struggled to sit up and reached out to shake Abigail awake.


    Startled, Abigail woke up and saw Quinn in pain, barely able to speak.


    Grabbing Quinn''s hand, she asked anxiously, "What''s wrong? You going intobor?"


    Quinn kept taking deep breaths and said with difficulty, "I, I don''t know."


    Abigail lifted the nket and saw a wet patch on the sheets, her eyes widening in shock. "Oh my God, you''re really going intobor. Howe it''s three days early?"R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Without wasting time, Abigail hurriedly helped Quinn pack her stuff while calling for an ambnce. She couldn''t carry Quinn herself, otherwise, she would''ve just taken her directly. After the call, she ran to the door and shouted for Soren.


    Luckily, two months ago, Walter had mercifully brought Soren back.


    A minuteter, Soren rushed in. Hearing that Quinn was going intobor, he scratched his head anxiously.


    While he was good with health stuff, delivering a baby was way out of his league.


    Seeing him pacing around, Abigail kicked him in the butt. "What are you doing? Carry Quinn downstairs!"


    Soren stumbled forward a few steps, turned back in shock, and red at Abigail. "Abigail, do you really trust me to carry her down with my scrawny frame?"


    If anything went wrong, he''d be toast.


    Abigail thought about it and agreed, Soren did look pretty useless, probably not even as strong as her!


    As they were panicking, a figure rushed in, striding straight towards Quinn.


    Quinn was in so much pain that her vision was blurry.


    Although the doc had said it would be tough, she hadn''t expected it to be this brutal. It had just started, and it was already excruciating.


    Abigail and Soren exchanged a nce, both looking surprised. When did Walter get here?

 Chapter 1352

    Walter yanked the bed sheet and wrapped it around Quinn, scooping her up and bolting outside.


    Abigail snapped out of her daze and shoved Soren, signaling him to hustle after them.


    Before the ambnce even showed up, they were already tearing down the road to the hospital. Abigail chased after them, noticing Walter''s car was flying like it was in a drag race. "Why''s he driving like a maniac?" Abigail muttered, gritting her teeth and flooring it, blowing through a red light to keep up.


    Quinn slumped against the passenger seat, her fingers clutching the seatbelt, sweat dripping from her forehead.


    She turned her head with effort to look at the guy next to her.


    Without ncing at her, Walter said, "Hang tight. We''re almost there."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    To Quinn, his voice was just a muffled buzz, and she couldn''t make out the words.


    In her haze, she thought she saw Alexander talking.


    In a moment of weakness, she closed her eyes, not sure if it was the pain or missing William that made tears slip down her cheeks.


    Ten minutester, they finally screeched to a halt at the hospital.


    Quinn was rushed into the delivery room, and the door mmed shut. By the time Abigail arrived, only Walter was standing outside.


    He had a serious look, staring at the door, lost in thought.


    Abigail ran over, panting, and asked, "How''s it going?"


    Walter ignored her, and Soren chimed in from the side, "It''s not that quick."


    Abigail scratched her head and started pacing back and forth, all jittery.


    Two hours dragged by.


    Abigail ran over to peek through the delivery room door, but she couldn''t see squat. "Why''s it taking forever?" she asked, ncing at Walter, who was sitting there all calm.


    To Abigail''s surprise, even though the kid wasn''t his, Walter was still waiting there, cool as a cucumber.


    Anyone who didn''t know better might think he was the dad.


    After more than an hour, the door finally creaked open, and a doctor stepped out. Abigail quickly ran up and asked, "Is the baby here?"


    "Not yet, the cervix isn''t fully dted. Is anyone here a family member of the patient? Do you want to go for a C-section?"


    Abigail and Soren both turned to Walter, who sat there stone-faced, not saying a word.


    The doctor looked stunned and asked, "Isn''t there anyone who''s family?"


    Abigail whispered, "Can I do it? I''m her friend."


    "Nope, gotta be family," the doc said.


    He nced at them, sighed, and went back inside to ask Quinn herself.


    Quinn was in a fog, on the verge of passing out, but the pain was so intense she couldn''t.


    The doctor beside her asked if she wanted a C-section, but she couldn''t hear clearly.


    She weakly half-closed her eyes, staring at the blinding light, opening her mouth but unable to make a sound.


    By now, she was already numb from the pain.


    Her vision was filled with hallucinations, shing by like a messed-up slideshow.


    Quinn thought she might be dying.


    She also thought that Alexander might really be dead; otherwise, why hadn''t he shown up by now?


    The doctors huddled up and one of them said, "Let''s go for a C-section. We can''t wait any longer."


    A sh of lightning outside lit up the room.


    The person on the bed snapped his eyes open, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. But after a few steps, he copsed, knocking over the bedsidemp, which crashed to the floor with a loud bang.

 Chapter 1353

    Quinn finally woke up the next afternoon.


    The anesthesia had worn off, and she was jolted awake by the pain. She opened her eyes, still feeling a bit out of it.


    Her mind was stuck on those brutal moments, and now shey there, too scared to even twitch.


    Abigail''s voice came from beside her. "Quinn, you''re finally up!"


    Quinn turned her head with effort and saw Abigail with red, puffy eyes, like she''d been crying.


    When Abigail saw Quinn''s pale face, the tears started flowing again.


    This was the first time Quinn had seen Abigail cry. Quinn, who had just gone through childbirth, hadn''t shed a tear, but Abigail did.


    Quinn forced a smile. "Why are you crying?"


    "I feel so bad for you. The doc said you started bleeding heavily while your cervix was still dting, so they had to do a C-section. It makes me so mad!" Abigail choked out.


    She was pissed because giving birth had been so dangerous and painful for Quinn, and she had done it for Alexander, that jerk. She hadn''t seen the first two pregnancies that were terminated, but she had seen this one, which was probably just as bad.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered; she guessed why Abigail was angry.


    She finally remembered the important thing. "Where''s the baby?"


    "In the incubator. The doc said they need to observe for two days. Don''t worry. Everything''s fine. You just need to rest," Abigail replied.


    Quinn observed Abigail''s expression and guessed it was a boy. Abigail didn''t seem happy at all when she mentioned it.


    But she still asked, "Is it a boy?"


    Abigail wiped her tears and said angrily, "Yes! Just like that jerk, making you suffer so much. If it were a girl, she would have been born without any trouble."


    The baby probably didn''t know that on his first day, he was already disliked.


    "That''s just prejudice... He''s so little, what does he know?" Quinn protested.


    "I don''t care. He''s a little jerk! His dad made you suffer, and now he''s making you suffer. Don''t spoil him in the future," Abigail said angrily.


    Seeing her indignant look, Quinn couldn''t help but smile.


    Abigail tucked the nket around her. "Alright, don''t worry about it now. Just rest."


    Quinn grabbed her hand anxiously. "Abigail, please watch over the baby for me."


    "I told you, everything''s fine. What''s there to watch?" Abigail asked, feeling strange.


    Quinn shook her head. "Watch him for me. Don''t let anyone near him, especially Walter."


    Abigail was slightly taken aback, as if she had thought of something. "Alright, I''ll watch him. As for you, I''ll find a nurse to take care of you." With that, she left Quinn and ran out.


    Soren was pacing outside, and Abigail told him to go in and watch over Quinn.


    The baby was in a separate sterile room, all alone. Abigail arrived at the door and saw Walter standing outside, which made her hair stand on end. Walter stood outside, looking through the ss at the naked baby in the incubator. He didn''t even notice Abigail''s arrival.


    "Why are you here instead of seeing your own son?" Abigail broke the silence in the hallway.


    Walter slightly turned his head, a smile on his lips. "Are you afraid I''ll harm him?"


    Abigail looked at him suspiciously. "Then why are you here?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Walter looked away and didn''t answer her question. He said calmly, "Don''t worry. If I wanted to harm him, he would have died at birth."


    Abigail was stunned. His honesty made her feel like she was overthinking it. She didn''t know whether to believe him or not.

 Chapter 1354

    After thinking it over a million times, she figured it was better to y it safe. She decided to stick around, found a chair, and kept an eye on Walter.


    Walter didn''t hang around long either; he bounced after a bit.


    Abigail stayed on edge, worried he mighte back.


    After Walter left, he didn''t show up again and didn''t visit Quinn''s room either.


    Quinn chilled for three days and was feeling a lot better. The wound wasn''t killing her anymore, and she could almost sit up.


    During those days, she spent her time flipping through the photos Abigail had snapped. She hadn''t seen the baby in person yet, but today the nurse finally brought the little guy over. The nurse was all smiles, saying the baby was born healthy and would be a looker someday.


    But Quinn and Abigail looked at the wrinkly baby with faces that said, "What the heck?"


    Abigail even thought the nurse was full of it, probably saying the same thing about every baby.


    "Man, this kid''s ugly," Abigail said, getting more and more grossed out. "So young but already looks ancient."


    Quinn had been pregnant for ten months, waiting eagerly for the baby, thinking she''d love him no matter what.


    But holding the baby now, she had to admit Abigail was right; he did look kinda old.


    It was like holding a tiny old man, and Quinn was struggling to deal with it.


    The baby opened his eyes and rolled them around. Maybe sensing Quinn''s vibe, he opened his mouth and started wailing.


    When he cried, Quinn was clueless and asked the nurse what to do.


    The nurse said, "He''s probably hungry. You should breastfeed him."


    Quinn got even more flustered and looked down at the little old man in her arms, her face full of reluctance.


    Abigail plopped down next to her. "Don''t do it. Give him form."


    She turned to Quinn and added, "Don''t breastfeed him, or your boobs will sag and look gross. I checked online; it''s fine not to breastfeed." Quinn nodded in agreement.


    The nurse said, "It''s cool. Lots of people go with form these days. Good form is just as good."


    Quinn saw a glimmer of hope. "Really?"


    "Yeah, some moms go straight to form to keep their figure," the nurse replied.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Then..." Quinn never thought she''d be talking about this and felt a bit embarrassed. "What about the breast milk?"


    "If you don''t start, it won''te. Breastfeeding needs to get the milk flowing."


    Quinn immediately decided to go with form, asking the nurse for some brand rmendations and then calling Kyle to buy them.


    Feeding a newborn with form is a delicate thing, and the nurse, who dealt with this stuff all the time, knew a lot.


    After the nurse left, Abigail and Quinn looked at the "aged" baby, staring at each other.


    Before, Quinn thought it was just Abigail''s bad photography skills, but now she realized the baby was even uglier in person. Abigail held back for a long time, not daring to ask, but now she couldn''t hold it in any longer. "Is this really Alexander''s kid?"


    If Alexander saw this, wouldn''t he toss this ugly baby straight into the trash?


    Quinn was stunned. If Abigail had asked this while she was pregnant, she would''ve shut it down.


    But now, seeing the baby, she really thought about it.


    After all, Alistair had given her that powder, and she was out of it. Could it be that she really slept with Alistair?

 Chapter 1355

    Quinn shook her head, trying to clear out those wild thoughts. "No way," she muttered.


    Abigail patted her shoulder. "Chill, girl. I was just messing with you."


    Quinn thought about Brandy and said, "When I first found Brandy, she was a total mess. But now, isn''t she a cutie?"


    "Really?" Abigail asked. She''d never seen Brandy as a newborn; by the time she met her, Brandy was already adorable.


    That kid had surgery when she was super young and spent almost a year in the hospital. She came home a few months ago and was already walking.


    Since Brandy was so sweet and cute, Abigail really hoped Quinn would have a girl. But she didn''t expect Quinn to have a little dude.


    Quinn could only hope that as time went on, the boy would get cuter.


    Abigail said, "You better name him quick, or I''ll get used to calling him ''little dude,'' and everyone else will too."


    The baby was still crying when a nurse came in with a bottle, asking Quinn to feed him.


    Quinn held the bottle to the baby''s mouth, and he started sucking right away. He might be a bit funny-looking, but he was kinda cute while drinking milk.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    As for the name, Quinn couldn''t think of one right away, so she turned to Abigail. "Abigail, why don''t you name him?"


    "Me? For real?" Abigail asked, pointing at herself in surprise.


    "Just a nickname for now. I''lle up with a proper nameter," Quinn said.


    Abigail rubbed her chin, looking at the baby with a smirk. "He looks so serious. Let''s call him Sprout."


    "That simple?" Quinn shot back.


    "That''s all I got. Otherwise, it''s ''little dude," Abigail said with a shrug.


    "Sprout it is then," Quinn agreed, thinking he was kinda funny-looking too.


    Abigail panicked. "I was just kidding. Are you really gonna call him Sprout?"


    Quinn blinked and looked down at the baby. "It''s just a nickname. I''ll give him a nice proper nameter."


    "Alright," Abigail said, poking the baby''s wrinkled face. "Sprout, do you like the name your godmother gave you?"


    Sprout was too busy drinking milk to care.


    Abigail pouted and called him a little rascal.


    Even though she was pretending to be annoyed, Quinn could see the smile in her eyes.


    Quinn suddenly asked, "Abigail, are you really not gonna find a boyfriend?"


    Abigail paused, her expression turning a bit awkward. "Nah, no guy''s worth the trouble. Seeing you go through all that pain just made me more sure I wanna stay single." Quinn looked at her closely, feeling like Abigail was hiding something. But since she didn''t say anything, Quinn didn''t push it.


    Seven dayster, Quinn was out of the hospital.


    When she got to Regal Riverside, Olivia was on the couch telling Brandy a story. Seeing Quinne in, Olivia happily put Brandy down and stood up, calling out, "Mrs. Kennedy." Quinn nodded and her eyesnded on Brandy''s face.


    Brandy smiled at Quinn, her eyes turning into little crescents, showing off her two front teeth.


    Abigail adored Brandy. Seeing her, she immediately dropped the baby stroller and ran over.


    "I want a hug. Did you miss me?" She put Brandy on herp, grinning as she pinched Brandy''s cheeks.

 Chapter 1356

    "I... I miss Auntie... and Mommy."


    Brandy''s words were still kinda jumbled. Sometimes, you had to really listen to get what she was saying.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    However, she could say "Auntie" and "Mommy" very fluently.


    Abigail scooped her up and pointed to the stroller. "Hey, your mommy brought you a little brother. Now you got a bro." Brandy blinked and stared at the stroller, all curious. Quinn had already pushed it over and plopped down next to them. "Bee Bee..."


    Abigail chuckled and corrected her, "Not ''Bee Bee,'' it''s ''brother.""


    But Brandy stuck with "Bee Bee."


    Quinn watched them. Even with all the happy vibes in the room, she felt like something was off.


    That emptiness turned into a quiet loneliness, floating around them.


    With Sprout in the mix, Kyle had hired two postpartum caregivers. Including Olivia, they had three helpers now. And with Abigail hanging around every day, the vi was buzzing with life.


    Recovering from a C-section took forever. Quinn had been stuck at home for two months. After that, Abigail signed her up for some postpartum fitness sses and dragged her to workouts every day.


    It was brutal. Quinn even thought Abigail was trying to set her up with someone. Why did Abigail care more about her figure than she did?


    The only silver lining was that after three months, Sprout wasn''t ugly anymore. His wrinkles smoothed out, his skin got fairer, and he turned into a cute little dude.


    They thought about giving him a new nickname, but "Sprout" had stuck, so they rolled with it.


    Abigail was right about one thing: Sprout was a handful. He didn''t cry much, but he loved causing chaos.


    He slept all day and was up all night, trying to crawl out of bed. Even with the caregivers taking turns, they could barely keep up with him.


    When Quinn and Abigail got back in the afternoon, the caregiver was feeding Sprout form. He drank half and spat out the rest, making a mess.


    Brandy squatted next to the stroller, eyes wide, watching Sprout.


    Abigail couldn''t help but gripe, "Look at him. He spits up everywhere after every feeding, treating the bottle like a toy."


    The caregiver nodded, "Yeah, if we don''t give it to him, he cries. But when we do, he just spits it out for fun. It''s fine now that it''s warm, but if it gets cold, he could catch a chill."


    Plus, Sprout wouldn''t make a peep when he wet himself. At first, the caregivers didn''t notice until they found a mess the next day.


    If they hadn''t caught it in time, his bottom would''ve been in bad shape.


    Quinn tried to reassure them, and herself, "He''ll get better when he''s older."


    Right then, Sproutughed from the stroller.


    "Quinn, look at his smile. He looks just like Alexander," Abigail said.


    Quinn was momentarily stunned by his smile. When Brandy grinned, his eyes had a hint of arrogance.


    Abigail was right; he really did look like Alexander.


    Quinn changed her mind. When he got older, she was gonna have toy down thew.


    She didn''t want to spend the rest of her life in fear.


    Quinn took the bottle from the caregiver. "Don''t let him y with it."


    Without his toy, Sprout started babbling and iling in protest.


    Quinn stared him down, not giving in.


    When his protests didn''t work, he started wailing. The caregivers usually didn''t let him cry, but Quinn wasn''t about to spoil him. If he cried, he cried. The two caregivers exchanged looks, not daring to say a word.


    Sprout cried louder and louder, his wails heart-wrenching, like someone had hit him. Even Abigail felt a bit sorry for him.


    "Maybe you should just let him y with it," Abigail suggested.


    Quinn didn''t budge.


    After about ten minutes, Sprout seemed to get the message. He stopped crying, sniffling and sucking on his fingers in frustration.

 Chapter 1357

    It was getting chillier, and the leaves outside were turning yellow.


    Quinn was chilling by the window, watching the leaves dance around. She had this wooden figure in her hand, already carved up. She was just mindlessly stroking it. Next to her, Sprout was trying to get up from his stroller but kept failing. He reached out his tiny hand, trying to grab the thing in Quinn''s hand. When he couldn''t get it, he started tugging at her sleeve.


    Quinn turned and saw him grinning at her, mouth wide open, drooling like crazy.


    She paused for a sec and handed him the wooden figure. His hands were so small that it fell right into the stroller as soon as he grabbed it.


    But he didn''t give up and reached out with both hands to pick it up again.


    Quinn sighed and pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe the drool off his face.


    Looking into Sprout''s eyes, she couldn''t help but think of that familiar face.


    It had been a year since Sprout was born, and she often thought Alexander was dead.


    When that thought popped up now, Quinn wasn''t as freaked out by it as before. But every time she saw Sprout, those old memories woulde rushing back.


    Every time she saw Sprout, she''d think about Alexander''s death and the past, torturing herself over and over.


    After a while, she had the postpartum nurse take Sprout away and headed to the office.


    Kyle brought over a stack of documents. She was pretty familiar with this stuff now and could get the gist of it with a quick nce.


    As she flipped through the papers, she suddenly saw a foreignpany based in Country H.


    Quinn zoned out for a moment.


    Noticing she was staring at that page for a while, Kyle asked, "What''s up, Mrs. Kennedy?"


    Quinn snapped out of it and looked up at him. "Got any news about him?"


    Ever since she heard "Country H" from Casey, she had Kyle looking into it, but he hadn''t given her any updates.


    Kyle was caught off guard and shook his head, "Nope, we don''t have many connections there. It''s tough to dig up info. Last time you mentioned expanding our business there, and it''s just starting to show some progress." "How''s it going?" Quinn asked.


    "We found two partnerpanies and set up a financialpany there, but you know how strong their local forces are. It''s almost impossible for us to grow big," Kyle replied.


    He added, "And we can''t register thepany under the Mellon Group name. Otherwise, given our size, setting up apany there would definitely attract attention."


    Quinn knew this. She had been keeping an eye on Country Htely. Their local forces were strong enough to cause political upheaval and truly controlled the national economy.


    "I know." Quinn sighed. She didn''t care about thepany''s size. Expanding business to Country H wasn''t about making money.


    Kyle guessed her thoughts and hesitantly said, "Just so happens that next month we need to discuss next year''s strategic n with those twopanies. How about you go there for an in-person meeting?" Previously, all meetings were online. It wasn''t impossible for Quinn to attend an in-person meeting.


    "How long will I need to stay?" Quinn asked.


    "The meeting won''t take long. If you want to spend some time there, the duration is uncertain," Kyle answered.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Quinn had wanted to go for a long time, but now Sprout was so young. If Sprout didn''t see her for a long time, he''d cry and need her tofort him personally. But taking him along might lead to unexpected incidents. Kyle noticed her concern and exined, "It''s pretty safe there. After all, it''s a country governed byw. We don''t have enemies there, so even if you take Sprout, nothing should happen."

 Chapter 1358

    Quinn felt a bit better. She had a chip on her shoulder from her time in Municity. That ce was like a war zone, and making it out alive was pure luck. After mulling it over, Quinn decided to roll with Kyle''s idea to hit up the in-person meeting and bring Sprout along.


    Brandy was over a year old, and Olivia could handle her just fine, so leaving her at home was no biggie.


    When Abigail heard about the n, she started packing right away. She''d never had the chance to travel with Quinn before, and now she finally did. Quinn felt kinda helpless; they hadn''t even set a time yet, and Abigail was already packing.


    Even though Abigail griped about Sprout all the time, more than half of her stuff was baby gear.


    Abigail was totally two-faced.


    Kyle was on it too; within three days, he had her passport sorted. Quinn packed up as well, and her bags were stuffed with mom and baby supplies.


    She was torn about bringing Kyle along. He''d been the one dealing with the folks over there, so it made sense to bring him. But she worried that if both she and Kyle left, Walter might stir up trouble at thepany. Quinn called Kyle to check on what Walter was up to.


    Kyle said, "Him? I barely see the guy; no clue what he''s doing."Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Ever since Quinn got the hang of the business, Walter basically did squat at thepany. He''d either binge-watch shows or sip coffee and didn''t touch any work.


    Quinn thought it over and decided to take Kyle with her to Country H.


    Two dayster, they were off.


    Country H was close, just a two-hour flight. They hopped on the ne in the afternoon andnded at nine in the evening.


    The boss of the partnerpany came to pick them up himself. Theirpany wasn''t huge, so teaming up with a big shot like the Mellon Group was a big deal. It made sense for the boss to show up in person. The boss was Bob Jenkins, a middle-aged dude with a bit of a bald spot.


    Kyle had seen him on video before, so they recognized each other right away. Quinn saw Bob waving like a madman from a distance.


    Kyle went over to shake his hand. Bob chatted for a bit, but Quinn didn''t catch a word. Luckily, they had a trantor, so she could follow along.


    Kyle introduced Quinn, "Mrs. Kennedy, this is Mr. Jenkins from IN."


    Kyle then introduced Quinn to Bob. When Bob found out she was the owner of the Mellon Group, he was floored, especially since she was holding a baby.


    Bob quickly reached out to shake Quinn''s hand. Communication wasn''t an issue, but the trantor had to keep up with both sides, which made things a bit choppy.


    Bob kept up the small talk, and Quinn smiled and nodded. She nced up and saw a familiar face in the crowd, and her smile froze.


    "Ms. Mellon?" Bob called.


    Quinn snapped back, handed the baby to Abigail, and bolted after the person, leaving everyone else scratching their heads.

 Chapter 1359

    After chasing out, Quinn looked at the sea of people and couldn''t spot that familiar face anywhere.


    Abigail came over. "Why are you running like a maniac?"


    Quinn stared ahead for a bit, then sighed. "I thought I saw Sean."


    "Isn''t he supposed to be in the hospital?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn turned to Abigail, looking serious. "Yeah, he''s supposed to be in the hospital. How could he be here?"


    She went back to find Kyle. Kyle was still dealing with Bob, who looked a bit miffed that Quinn had just bolted like that.


    When Bob saw her return, he smiled and asked, "Ms. Mellon, did you see someone you know?"


    Quinn forced a smile. "Someone looked familiar. My bad."


    Bob waved it off. "No worries. Since you all came from afar, let me take you to rest first."


    Quinn nodded absentmindedly and followed Bob out of the airport and into his car.


    Bob kept chatting on the way, but she was totally zoned out. Luckily, Kyle was there, trying to keep up with Bob''s chatter.


    Bob wanted to take them to dinner, but Quinn politely declined, saying the kid needed to sleep.


    Bob had no choice but to reschedule for tomorrow.


    They weren''t staying at a hotel; Bob set them up in a neighborhood. It wasn''t in the city center, and the houses were mostly two-story. It was neat, the streets were clean, and it seemed like a nice ce to live. Knowing the conference wouldst more than half a month, Bob arranged for Quinn and the others to stay here, which would be convenient for them to live together.


    After he left, Quinn called Kyle over and asked him to call the hospital in Municity to check on Sean.


    If it weren''t for seeing that familiar face at the airport, she would''ve almost forgotten that Sean had been in the hospital for over a year with no news. The fact that he hadn''t returned was weird. Kyle nodded and went to make the call.


    Quinn watched him closely. Soon the call connected, and Quinn''s heart raced.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    If Sean wasn''t in the hospital, then the person she saw at the airport had to be him.


    Sean wouldn''te to Country H for no reason. The only person who could make him appear here was probably Alexander.


    Based on what she knew, it was likely that Alexander was here and alive.


    While she was lost in thought, Kyle finished the call. He came to Quinn and whispered, "They said Sean was discharged a few months ago."


    Quinn''s eyes widened in shock, then joy. "Then why didn''t hee back to find us?" she asked.


    "I don''t know," Kyle replied.


    Quinn asked thoughtfully, "Can you contact him?"


    Kyle tried calling Sean, but the number was disconnected, and there was no response to messages.


    He sighed and shook his head. "Can''t reach him. His phone''s disconnected."


    "Does the hospital know where he went?" Quinn asked.


    "I asked, they don''t know. He left the hospital secretly. The people I sent to take care of him said they couldn''t find him when they returned," Kyle responded. Moreover, they thought Sean had been kidnapped, so they didn''t dare to tell Kyle.


    Quinn''s heart sank again when she heard that Sean might have been kidnapped.

 Chapter 1360

    "I bet he checked himself outta the hospital. If someone wanted to snatch him, they wouldn''t wait ''til he was all better; they''d have grabbed him ages ago," Quinn said, thinking out loud. Kyle nodded. "Yeah, that''s what I''m thinking too, Mrs. Kennedy. So, are you saying..."


    His face lit up with excitement.


    Abigail, who''d been eavesdropping, finally got it. She stepped up and asked, "Wait, are you saying Alexander''s still alive?"


    Kyle nodded. "He has to be. I just know he''s still out there."


    Quinn didn''t say a word, but her face said it all.


    She nced down at the baby snoozing in her arms. The poor kid still didn''t have a proper name and was stuck being called Sprout. If they kept this up, he might think that was his real name. Quinn had thought of a bunch of names, but none of them felt right.


    She was hoping someone else woulde up with the perfect name.


    Abigail scratched her head, plopped down next to Quinn, and looked at Sprout. "This little dude sleeps like a rock. Doesn''t even care about strangers."N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Exactly. On the ne, other babies were crying their heads off, but Sprout either slept or stared around with his big eyes, totally chill.


    Kyle thought for a sec and said, "Let''s hit up Bob tomorrow."


    "Would he know anything?" Abigail asked, doubtful.


    Bob''spany wasn''t exactly huge, so he probably didn''t rub elbows with the big shots.


    Kyle shrugged. "Maybe not directly. But if he saw Mr. Kennedy, he''d recognize him. Those guys came to Municity to hunt down Mr. Kennedy, so they must have some serious pull."


    If Alexander was still kicking, he''d be in that circle. Even if he hadn''t met Bob face-to-face, Bob might''ve heard of him.


    Quinn thought it was worth a shot and decided to ask Bob the next day.


    She took Sprout back to the room. Sprout slept all day and turned into a night owl.


    As soon as Quinn hit the bed, Sprout woke up, babbling away.


    He yanked at her hair, all excited, drooling and grinning like a little troublemaker.


    It was like he was gearing up to cause some chaos.


    Quinn freed her hair, plopped him on the bed, and pulled out a wooden figure from her pocket.


    Sprout crawled over and grabbed it right away.


    Quinn had no choice but to let him have it.


    She didn''t catch a wink of sleep that night.


    The next morning, Bob showed up, saying he wanted to take them on a tour.


    Quinn agreed and left Sprout with Abigail.


    Abigail wanted to tag along, but lugging a baby around town was a pain. Plus, she was still half-asleep, so she decided to stay home and nap with Sprout. Quinn and Kyle hopped in the car. Bob started pointing out the local sights, but Quinn wasn''t really listening, her eyes glued to the window.


    Once they got out of the residential area, the streets got busier.


    Kyle pulled out his phone, opened a photo, and showed it to Bob. "Hey Bob, you ever seen this guy before?"

 Chapter 1361

    Bob spun around and gave the photo a quick once-over. The dude in the pic was rocking a ck suit, hands shoved in his pockets, and had this smirk like he was saying, "Everyone here is a nobody." Bob had to admit, getting ticked off by a photo was a new low for him.


    But the guy was good-looking, which made Bob instinctively rub his bald head, feeling a bit self-conscious.


    Kyle''s arm was starting to ache, and he asked again, "You know this guy or what?"


    Bob squinted at the photo, frowning and thinking hard. "I swear I''ve seen him somewhere, but it''s just not clicking."


    Kyle and Quinn exchanged a hopeful look. Kyle pushed on, "Come on, think harder."


    Bob asked, "Who is this guy to you anyway?"


    Kyle spun a tale. "He''s one of our employees. Came here for work, but we lost track of him."


    Bob was surprised but bought the story. "Man, what a cker. Should totally get canned."


    "Yeah, but he hasn''t wrapped up his work yet. If we fire him now, we lose a big project. So, please, Bob, think hard," Kyle urged.


    Bob nodded and really tried to dig deep.


    But after a while, he still came up nk.


    By then, they had reached the busiest part of town, and the driver reminded them it was time to get off. Bob apologized, "Sorry, this is all so sudden. I''ll let you know if ites to me, but right now, I''m drawing a nk." Kyle smiled. "No worries. Just hit us up if you remember."


    "Cool. Let''s take a stroll. I''ll show you a killer barbecue joint," Bob suggested.


    They hadn''t eaten sincest night, and Quinn''s stomach was growling.


    It was only day one, and they already had a lead. Finding Alexander was just a matter of time. She had plenty of it.


    Bob took them to a buzzing barbecue spot, ordered a ton of food and some drinks.


    After some chit-chat, they got into business talk.


    Bob mentioned he was looking for some funding from the Mellon Group, hinting he wanted Quinn to invest.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Seeing Quinn was zoning out, Kyle agreed to Bob''s request and also asked him to help track down Alexander. Bob thumped his chest and promised it was no biggie, swearing he''d seen the guy somewhere.


    After the meal, he took Quinn and Kyle around, including a swanky mall with all sorts of high-end stuff.


    He said you could often spot celebs here, like movie stars or rich heirs.


    As he was talking, his eyesnded on a poster, an ad for a bank.


    He suddenly widened his eyes, pped his forehead, and said, "Oh, I remember now."


    Quinn quickly asked, "What do you remember?"


    Bob asked Kyle to show him the photo again.


    Kyle pulled out the photo, and Bob nodded like crazy. "Yep, that''s him."


    "Seriously? Where''d you see him?" Quinn asked eagerly.


    Bob revealed he had seen the guy over a month ago at a presidential election rally, but only on TV.


    This guy was at the event, hanging with the Lynch family. There weren''t many shots of him, but he got caught on camera, so Bob noticed him.


    "You can remember that? Impressive, Bob," Quinn praised.


    Bob grinned sheepishly. "It''s not that I''ve got a great memory. It''s just that I was floored when I saw him. I''ve seen the Lynch family at events before, but this guy, showing up in that setting, must be a big deal in the family, yet I had no clue who he was. So I took a few extra looks. When you asked me earlier, I said he looked familiar."


    Alexander was striking and from such a prominent family, so anyone who had seen him wouldn''t forget.

 Chapter 1362

    Kyle let out a big sigh of relief. "So that''s how it is. Thanks a ton, Bob."


    Bob waved it off with a grin, but then something clicked. "Wait, did you just say he''s one of your employees?"


    Kyle chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, man, I didn''t think he''d be that good."


    Bob''s mind started to drift, and he began to wonder if the guy might be a spy in theirpany.


    Quinn quickly asked, "Bob, do you know where he lives?"


    "Huh? No way, how would I know that?" Bob replied.


    Made sense. He didn''t mix with those kinds of families, so how would he know where Alexander lived? The only silver lining was that Alexander was still kicking. As long as she knew he was around, Quinn could chill a bit. She had time to track him down.


    After that, they tagged along with Bob to other spots and picked up some random stuff.


    In the days that followed, Bob stuck with them. Knowing they were on a manhunt, he took them to ces where they might bump into folks from those big-shot families. Some ces were members-only or needed facial recognition, so they couldn''t get in. They just wandered around outside, being told these were the hot spots.


    Quinn made a mental note of these ces, hoping she''d get lucky. Besides this, there didn''t seem to be a better n.


    "This mall''s owned by the Lynch family, but they probably won''t show up here. If you''re lucky, you might see some of their managers checking the ce out," Bob said. "Got it," Quinn replied.


    Bob then took them to a swanky seven-star hotel, saying, "This ce is theirs too. You''re more likely to see them here since theye to chill."


    Quinn sat in the car, eyeing the fancy building in front of her, nodded, and jotted it down on her phone.


    She then asked, "Can we stay here?"


    "Sure, if you''ve got the cash," Bob answered.


    So Quinn decided to move from the neighborhood to this hotel.


    She went back, threw her stuff together, and moved her bags to the hotel.


    She held Sprout, carrying a bag of baby clothes, while Kyle and Abigail lugged the rest.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    "Got everything?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah. Ugh, if I''d known, I wouldn''t have brought so much junk. We could buy everything here, and we hauled it all this way," Abigail grumbled.


    Quinnughed. "You hold Sprout, and I''ll carry the stuff."


    "With your tiny self? Nah, I''ll carry it," Abigail said, slinging a big bag over her shoulder. "Let''s roll."


    Quinn nodded and walked into the hotel with Sprout.


    But just as they were stepping in, they ran into a group of people, and she froze.


    Abigail and Kyle were stunned too.


    Among the three guys leading the group, one was the man she''d dreamed about countless times over the past year. He was rocking a casual, loose ck shirt, hands in his pockets, no expression, chatting with the two guys next to him. They were nked by bodyguards, and people made way for them.


    While Quinn was in a daze, they walked right past her.


    The guy didn''t even nce her way, treating her like any other random bystander.


    As they were about to leave, Quinn snapped out of it and chased after him.


    But before she could get close, two bodyguards blocked her.


    Quinn stared at the tall, lean figure, emotions all over the ce.


    Seeing him about to walk away, she suddenly shouted, "Alexander!"


    Her voice echoed through the lobby, like all the feelings she''d bottled up burst out with that shout.


    Even the sleeping Sprout woke up, eyes wide in confusion, and then started bawling.

 Chapter 1363

    But the man in front didn''t even bother to turn around; instead, the middle-aged man next to him shot a nce back at Quinn. Following Quinn''s stare, he spotted Alexander.


    "Hey, you know her?" the middle-aged man asked Alexander.


    Alexander hesitated but didn''t turn around. "Nah, I don''t."


    "Yeah, she even got your name wrong. Must''ve mixed you up with someone else," the middle-aged man replied.


    Alexander''s lips curled into a mysterious smile. They kept chatting as they vanished through the doorway.


    Quinn was still blocked by the bodyguards. She wanted to shout and ask why he was acting like he didn''t know her, but the bodyguards, fed up with her antics, shoved her away.


    She stumbled. If Abigail hadn''t rushed up to catch her, she and Sprout in her arms might''ve hit the ground.


    Abigail yelled at the bodyguards, "Why the hell are you pushing her?"N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    The two just ignored them and walked off.


    Abigail, now fuming, wanted to argue more, but Quinn held her back. "Let it go."


    Abigail snapped, "What the hell? Why''s Alexander acting like he doesn''t see you?"


    Kyle came over and said, "Feels like he''s got amnesia or something."


    Quinn lowered her eyes, silent for a moment. Then she turned to Kyle and asked, "Then how do you exin Sean?"


    If he had amnesia, he couldn''t have forgotten everyone but remembered Sean.


    If he had forgotten Sean too, then how did Sean end up here? Even if Sean was smart enough to guess Alexander was in Country H and came looking for him like she did, why didn''t he contact her and Kyle? Did he have his own ns and came here secretly alone?


    It just didn''t add up.


    Abigail said, "Exactly, he must be faking it."


    Kyle nodded. But if he was faking it, he was doing a damn good job since he didn''t show any reaction upon seeing Quinn.


    If they hadn''t seen Sean at the airport, they might''ve believed he had amnesia.


    "We''ll know once we find Sean," Quinn said, patting Sprout''s back. Sprout was still crying, and for now, there was no other option but to head back to the room and calm him down.


    In the car, the middle-aged man looked at the person next to him, who was staring out the window, lost in thought.


    "Lance, you still don''t remember anything?" the middle-aged man asked.


    Lance Lynch was Alexander''s current name, given to him by his father, Zeke Lynch, the day he came back.


    When Zeke found him in an abandoned factory, his tendons were severed, and he was severely injured, including a major head trauma. It was a miracle he survived, barely clinging to life when he was rescued. Unfortunately, he remembered nothing-not the attacker, not even his own identity.


    Hearing Zeke''s words, Alexander paused and shook his head slightly. "Nope."


    Zeke sighed, his tone harsh. "Doesn''t matter. One day, I''ll find the bastard who did this!"


    Alexander''s eyes flickered, but he didn''t say anything.


    Zeke continued, "You''ve been out for a long time today. Go back and rest. The doc said you still can''t exercise for long periods."


    Alexander responded with a hum. The car started, and the wind blowing in made him cough.


    Seeing this, Zeke told the driver to close the window.


    ''Lance''s body is now super frail, like a gust of wind could knock him over. How''s he gonna survive in the Lynch family with such a weak constitution?'' Zeke thought, worried.

 Chapter 1364

    Quinn spent like forever trying to calm Sprout down in the hotel before he finally knocked out. Sheid him on the bed and just stared at his face. Out of nowhere, Alexander''s cold eyes popped into her head again. Was he dealing with some heavy stuff?


    Was that why he ghosted her and acted like she was a stranger?


    She reached out and touched Sprout''s cheek, her mind wandering.


    After that random run-in, she hadn''t seen Alexander for the next couple of weeks, and it really seemed like he had amnesia. He knew she was around but never bothered to reach out. Abigail was busy dressing Sprout. Seeing Quinn zoning out again, she couldn''t help but sigh.


    "Quinn, chill out. Maybe he really did lose his memory. When he remembers, he''ll definitelye find you," Abigail said, trying tofort her.


    Even though she always called Alexander a jerk, she couldn''t deny his feelings for Quinn over the years. He wouldn''t just treat her like a nobody for no reason.


    There had to be something going on. If he wasn''t in some kind of trouble, the only other exnation was amnesia.


    Quinn snapped out of it and looked at Abigail. Once again, she had dressed Sprout like a little snowball. Every time Quinn saw Sprout bundled up like that, she couldn''t help butugh. Abigail was just paranoid about Sprout catching a cold. No matter how much he wore, it never seemed enough to her. This was what happened when you had zero experience with kids. "I''m not overthinking. I''m just trying to figure out how to get in touch with him and see what''s up," Quinn exined.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Kyle''s out there making some connections. Just hang tight," Abigail replied.


    Kyle had been hanging out with Bobtely. Bob had some connections. Even though Bob might not be able to reach the Lynch family directly, his connections might know someone who could.


    To make this happen, the Mellon Group even signed an extra deal with Bob''spany, dropping $100 million to buy 8% of IN''s shares, bing a shareholder.


    Their 8% stake was worth, like, $40 million tops, but the Mellon Group paid three times that.


    With that kind of cash, Bob was all in to help Quinn make connections.


    A few dayster, Kyle came back with some good news.


    He told Quinn, "I got in touch with an exec, Cody Logan, from the Logan Group. He''s not a big shot in thepany, but he''s part of the Logan family. He''s just coasting in thepany, but the Logan family and the Lynch family are tight and often hang out."


    Abigail gave him a surprised look. "Wow, Kyle, how''d you manage that?"


    Kyle said sheepishly. "That guy was hiding his identity to prove himself in thepany. I found out he was in charge of a new product, so I approached him for a cob on behalf of the Mellon Group. I pitched a $16 million deal to him. He wants a long-term partnership, but I said it needed our boss''s approval. We''ve already set a time, Mrs. Kennedy, for you to meet with him."


    Kyle proved that with enough money, anything was possible. If it couldn''t be solved, it just meant there wasn''t enough money.


    With enough cash, signing a deal with Cody would make Quinn a VIP. It would be way easier for her to get things done through him in the future.


    "Alright, I''ll meet him then. What''s he like?" Quinn asked.


    "He''s just a rich kid, one who tries to be low-key but ends up being high-key everywhere," Kyle said, amused.


    Everyone in thepany knew Cody was loaded. So, they all tried to suck up to him. While Cody thought it was his own charm.


    After hearing Kyle''s description, Quinn had a pretty good idea of what kind of person Cody was.

 Chapter 1365

    Quinn shoved the door open, but the private room was empty.


    She nced back at Kyle. "Did we mess up the room number?"


    "Nope, this is the spot," Kyle said, checking his phone. "Maybe they''re just runningte?"


    "Let''s just chill in here," Quinn said, stepping inside. There were fruit tes and drinks on the table, but no sign of anyone.


    Cody was being his usual unreliable self. He set up the meeting and then didn''t show on time.


    Quinn and Kyle hung out for about ten minutes. Just as Kyle was about to text Cody, the door swung open.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Cody and his trantor strolled in.


    Cody had on ck-rimmed sses and a blue suit, looking like your average office drone. But when he reached out to shake hands, a Richard Mille watch worth nine hundred grand peeked out from under his sleeve. He was definitely low-key; Quinn hadn''t even noticed the watch until Kyle whispered the price to her.


    The brand wasn''t mainstream, but anyone who knew it would realize Cody wasn''t just some regr guy.


    No one would buy such a niche fake to flex.


    The trantor said, "Sorry we''rete, traffic was a nightmare. Thanks for waiting."


    Quinn smiled and shook her hand. "No worries. We just got here too."


    "Take a seat. To make up for beingte, dinner''s on me," Cody said.


    He wasn''t exactly a looker, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. His goofy smile made him seem like a hardworking office guy.


    Quinn knew he was trying to keep his rich-kid status under wraps, so she yed along. She treated him like a regr office worker, constantly praising his skills, which made him puff up with pride. Cody sat up straighter, clearly buying into it.


    When they got down to business, Quinn said, "Yourpany''s new product justunched. We''ve got a big demand, but we need to check the quality first beforemitting."


    Cody''s smile dropped, and he assured Quinn there''d be no issues with the new product.


    Quinn stood her ground, and after a lot of back-and-forth, she finally agreed to a two-month trial period. If the product met her standards, they''d sign a long-term deal. Cody thought it over and finally agreed.


    Quinn''s two-month condition wasn''t really about the product; it was to keep Cody in the loop. If they signed right away, Cody might ghost her, and she''d have no reason to reach out. With the two-month trial, Cody would definitely stay in touch to build a good rtionship.


    Connecting with Cody from the Logan family meant meeting Alexander was just a matter of time.


    Cody was all about entertaining Quinn and Kyle, thinking he could handle his booze, and kept toasting them. Kyle drank for both of them and stayed sober, but Cody was the first to pass out. Looking at Cody, knocked out on the sofa, Quinn sighed and asked the trantor to take him home. She and Kyle headed out too.


    ording to Sprout''s schedule, he should be waking up around now.

 Chapter 1366

    Quinn rolled back into the hotel suite, and, no surprise, Sprout was wide awake.


    Abigail was trying to feed him form, but the little dude was drinking and spitting it out at the same time, soaking his clothes. Abigail was about to lose it. "You little troublemaker. Keep spitting, and I''ll give you a smack!" Abigail snapped.


    But let''s be real, she wasn''t serious. Sprout, totally unfazed, puckered up and spat a mouthful of milk right at her face.


    A vein popped on Abigail''s forehead, but she couldn''t actually hit him. She angrily grabbed a tissue to wipe her cheek.


    Abigail wiped her face, turned, and saw Quinning back. She jumped up, ran to Quinn, and shoved the bottle into her hand. "Your kid is driving me nuts. I can''t take it anymore. If I stay any longer, I''ll lose it. He''s all yours." With that, she bolted to the bathroom.


    Quinn looked at the bottle in her hand and then at Sprout, who was iling his arms and legs in the stroller.


    She walked over, sat down, and brought the bottle to his mouth. He grabbed it with both hands and started drinking without spitting any out.


    As he drank, he stared at Quinn with his bright eyes. He seemed to be smiling, like he was saying, "Look at me, I''m an angel."


    If she hadn''t seen it herself, Quinn wouldn''t have believed this little guy had two sides.


    At such a young age, he was already acting like Alexander.


    Quinn suddenly felt wiped out.


    Abigail came out of the bathroom and saw the sweet scene. Sheughed in frustration.


    "Definitely a little rascal!" she muttered. Sprout knew Quinn wouldn''t hesitate to smack him, so he behaved in front of her. But with Abigail and the two postpartum caregivers, who were all talk, he felt free to act out. Quinn didn''t say anything. After Sprout finished the half bottle of milk, she picked him up to change his clothes.


    Abigail sat nearby and asked, "How''d the talk with Cody go?"


    Quinn nodded. "Pretty smooth, but we can''t rush it. I''m worried he''ll get suspicious."


    "No worries. We got time. Worst case, we''ll just hang here for a bit," Abigail said, trying to be supportive.


    Quinn''s fingers paused for a moment, but she didn''t say anything and kept dressing Sprout.


    Sheid Sprout down, and he immediately rolled onto his stomach. He seemed to love lying on his stomach.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She had to go out during the day while Sprout slept, so her schedule was now the opposite of his.


    Abigail would sleep with Sprout during the day and be full of energy with him at night.


    Quinn had tried to change his schedule back, but after several failed attempts, she gave up.


    After ying on the bed for a while, Abigail took him to the inner room to y, letting Quinn crash in the outer room.


    For the past few days, Quinn had been dealing with insomnia, lying awake until midnight and barely getting a few hours of sleep each night.


    Tonight, maybe because of the alcohol, she fell asleep shortly after lying down.


    The next day, Cody came to visit her, bringing a bunch of gifts. Quinn sat in the living room, chatting with him about all sorts of stuff, trying to steer the conversation towards the Lynch family.


    Seeing the transparent floor-to-ceiling windows, she suddenly said, "The Logan Group is into a lot of stuff. This hotel isn''t part of the Logan Group, is it?"


    Cody adjusted his ck-framed sses and smiled. "Nope, this hotel belongs to the Lynch Group."


    Quinn acted surprised and asked, "The Lynch family? Are they a big deal? I''ve never heard of them."


    Cody exined, "It''s normal you haven''t heard of them since you just got here. They''re into a lot of industries, mostlymon ones. Hotels and supermarkets are just the tip of the iceberg; their main gig is in the military."

 Chapter 1367

    Cody realized he''d let something slip and quicklyughed it off. "I don''t really know the details. I''m just a low-level grunt."


    To prove his point, he even pinched his pinky finger, showing just how small-time he was.


    Quinn smirked. "So, you''re saying they''re even bigger than the Logan Group?"


    Cody didn''t like that. He got serious, "Not exactly. The Logan Group''s got their fingers in more pies. They''re pretty much neck and neck; you can''t really say one''s better than the other." "Got it," Quinn said, smiling like she was onto something.


    Cody was really getting into his role as a small fry. If she didn''t call him out, she''d never get close to the Lynch family through him.


    So Quinn switched gears; the long-term deal needed to be cut short.


    This chat had some breakthroughs. Over the next couple of weeks, Cody dropped by every few days, always bringing a bunch of gifts, trying to win her over with his charm.


    Quinn yed dumb about his real identity and chatted him up a lot, but she still couldn''t get any dirt on Alexander.


    She''d been here for a month, and soon Sprout would be sitting up on his own.


    But she still hadn''t seen Alexander. Since that quick glimpse at the hotel, he was MIA.


    Did he really lose his memory?


    If he hadn''t, he''d have found a way to see her by now.


    Quinn never thought his feelings for her had faded. If they had, he wouldn''t have looked for her during the two years she was gone.


    The more she thought about it, the worse her headache got, and she felt totally stuck.


    They were in the same town, yet she couldn''t see him.


    She''d also had a face-to-face with Bob and the crew, but it was just about money, nothing juicy.


    When Cody came by again, Quinn, acting all satisfied with the product, signed a long-term deal with him. For the next five years, the Mellon Group would buy at least sixty million bucks'' worth of electronic materials from the Logan Group every year.


    It was a pretty sweet deal.


    After signing the contract, it was time for Quinn to blow his cover.


    During a meal Cody invited Quinn to, she suddenly said, "Mr. Logan, I think I saw you yesterday."


    Cody didn''t think much of it. "Oh yeah? Where at?"


    "I was bored and watching videos online. I came across a Logan family shindig, and you seemed pretty chummy with them," Quinn said.


    Cody was caught off guard. He quickly grabbed his water ss, drinking and patting his chest at the same time.


    Once he''d calmed down, Quinn asked with concern, "You okay?"


    He blushed, trying to exin. Quinn grabbed his hand and looked at his watch in surprise, "This watch isn''t cheap either."


    Now Cody was really flustered. He looked at Quinn, totally lost for words.


    Quinn continued, "I chose to work with you because you seemed capable and straightforward. But it looks like you''ve been hiding something from me." She put on a disappointed face, and Cody panicked. He quickly said, "I can exin. I didn''t mean to hide it..."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.

 Chapter 1368

    Cody finally spilled the beans about his background, saying he was bored and wanted to carve out his own path. His family wouldn''t let him join anotherpany, so they stuck him in the Logan Group.


    He still thought he was flying under the radar.


    After he finished talking, he begged Quinn, "Can you keep this on the down-low and not tell anyone?"


    Quinn thought for a sec, then nodded. "Alright, I''m working with you for you, not your background. I''ll keep your secret."


    Cody let out a huge sigh of relief and gratefully reached out to shake Quinn''s hand.


    Quinn suddenly said, "But I got a condition."


    Cody pulled his hand back. "What condition?"


    "I saw this hot guy the other day. Can you help me find out who he is?" Quinn asked, batting her eyshes.


    Cody sighed in relief again and naively patted his chest. "No problem. Who is it?"


    Quinn pulled out a photo and handed it over. Cody almost choked on his own spit.


    He then stared at her with wide eyes. "You wanna find him?"


    "What''s wrong? Can''t I?" Quinn shot back.


    Cody sneered, "Well, you might have to get in line. Lots of heiresses are lining up to marry him, and besides..."


    He looked Quinn up and down. Sure, Quinn was pretty, but she already had a kid and still wanted to chase this guy!


    Quinn was taken aback and felt a bit uneasy. "Does he have a fianc¨¦e?"


    Cody shook his head. "No, his health isn''t great, so even though lots of heiresses want to marry him, their families won''t allow it."


    He mentioned that this guy had stolen many young girls'' hearts just by showing up at an event. He''d heard at least five requests like Quinn''s.


    Quinn only heard that his health wasn''t good. Could this be why he wasn''t looking for her?


    However, it couldn''t be the only reason.


    Cody kept trying to talk her out of it, thinking she couldn''t mess around with him. The guy was super mysterious, and even if she knew where he was, it would be hard to talk to him.


    Quinn said, "How will I know if I don''t try? Opportunities are earned. What if he doesn''t like those heiresses and prefers someone like me, divorced with a kid?"


    Codyughed at her words, not sure if it was his low humor threshold or if Quinn was truly funny. Heughed so hard that tears streamed down his face.


    Quinn looked at him speechlessly as heughed for several minutes before stopping.


    "If you don''t agree, I''ll take a loudspeaker tomorrow, paste your photo on a car, and announce your identity everywhere," Quinn threatened.


    Cody panicked and stoppedughing. He quickly said, "I can tell you his identity, but I can''t help you meet him."


    "Then find a way to create an opportunity," Quinn pressed.


    "You..." Cody felt that after his identity was exposed, Quinn seemed to have changed, no longer as friendly as before. But then he had a sudden sh of inspiration. "I just remembered."


    "What?" Quinn asked.


    "The Lynch family patriarch passed away. The funeral is the day after tomorrow. You might see him there," Cody revealed.


    Quinn was a bit surprised. "The patriarch?"


    "Yeah, his grandpa. The Logan family will attend the funeral. I wasn''t nning to go, but I''ve changed my mind. I''ll take you there. With so many people, you shouldn''t be noticed," Cody offered. Quinn was stunned. The Lynch family patriarch was Alexander''s grandpa, so had he found his real family?


    She snapped out of it and forced a smile. "Deal. As long as you take me, I''ll keep your secret."


    "Just to be clear, I''ll only take you there. If he scolds you or throws you out, you can''t sell me out or me me," Cody remarked.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t betray you," Quinn said, reassuring him.


    Cody shook his head and sighed. He felt she was daydreaming. Even if she had money, she was still divorced with a kid. Lance''s status wasn''t low either. How dare she?N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    He could already imagine Quinn being thrown out and couldn''t help but shiver.

 Chapter 1369

    Cody had promised to take her on the third day, and Quinn hit him up early, like before the sun even thought about rising.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He lived solo, not too far from her. To lock down that deal with the Mellon Group, he bought a crib nearby. The house cost way more than the deal was worth, but that''s just how this young boss rolled. Quinn knew his spot, so she and Kyle were chilling downstairs, waiting for him.


    Dude took over half an hour to show up. He looked up at the still-dark sky, half-asleep.


    His trantor wasn''t on the clock yet, so they just stared at each other awkwardly until they all whipped out their trantion apps.


    Cody grumbled, "It''s way too early. Nothing''s started yet."


    "What time does it kick off?" Quinn asked.


    Cody checked his watch and said, "Nine. It''s only five now. We got like four hours to kill."


    Quinn, already up and restless, said, "Let''s just head over and wait. You said it''d be packed, and I don''t wanna get stuck in traffic."


    Cody sighed, "It starts at nine, not ends at nine. If there''s traffic, we''re stuck either way."


    He eyed Quinn, puzzled. Was this guy really that irresistible? She was acting like showing up early would seal the deal.


    Cody couldn''t handle her nagging and finally caved, agreeing to take her there early.


    When they got there, they had to wait outside since they didn''t have an invite. They had to wait for the Logan family to roll up so they could sneak in with them.


    Quinn sat in the car, staring at the pre-dawn city. Thinking about the day''s event made her oddly nervous.


    The Lynch ce was way out in the burbs. Even with no traffic, it took a solid half-hour to get there.


    She spotted a grand building in the distance. As the car snaked through thendscaped roads, the building loomedrger.


    But Cody didn''t get too close and parked about a hundred yards away.


    "There are guards up ahead. No invite, no entry. We wait here," Cody said.


    Quinn stared at the building hidden by leaves for a bit, then looked away. Cody reclined his seat and dozed off.


    Hearing his soft snores, Quinn got out of the car.


    Kyle followed her, a bit hesitant. "Mrs. Kennedy, are we really doing this?"


    Quinn shot him a look. "We came all this way. You wanna bail now?"


    Kyle scratched his head, unsure. "Not really. Just worried..."


    If Alexander didn''t acknowledge Quinn, she''d be crushed again.


    But Kyle kept that to himself, not wanting to hurt her more.


    Quinn guessed what he was thinking and didn''t reply. She turned to the white building. Through the leaves, she could see it was a massive estate with some old-school architecture. Cars were constantly rolling up the road ahead, all clearly from the Lynch family.


    She kept an eye on the time, and as soon as it hit nine, she went back to wake Cody.


    Cody jolted awake from a good dream, almost losing his cool, but seeing Quinn, he bit his tongue.


    "Is it nine already?" he asked.


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah."

 Chapter 1370

    "You''re in such a rush," Cody said, sticking his head out the car window and scoping out the scene. More cars were piling up outside, both on the road and in the parking lot. But he didn''t spot the Logan family''s ride. "Let''s hang tight a bit longer."N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    A minute ago, Quinn was all fired up to go in, but now she was dragging her feet.


    She was scared that once she stepped in, she might not get the answer she was hoping for.


    She dropped her gaze and stopped pushing Cody, giving herself a mental pep talk. No matter what happens, she had to roll with it.


    Lost in her thoughts, Cody suddenly shouted and nudged her arm, then bolted out of the car towards a ck car.


    Soon, a middle-aged man got out. He looked surprised to see Cody, but after a quick chat, he smiled and nodded. Cody waved at Quinn, signaling her toe over.


    Quinn nced at Kyle, and they both got out of the car and walked over to Cody.


    Kyle was rocking a business suit, ying the part of Cody''s assistant.


    Quinn was in a long ck dress and a ck coat, pretending to be his girlfriend.


    While Quinn was chatting with Cody, the middle-aged man stared at her like he was trying to read her mind.


    She endured his gaze and gave a slight bow. Cody wasn''t sure who was showing up today, so Quinn, who didn''t speak thenguage, had no clue who this man was to Cody. The man just nodded, said a few words to Cody, and then headed inside.


    Two bodyguards trailed him, and they walked in. But after handing over the invite, the bodyguards stayed outside. Kyle, not catching on, tried to follow but got stopped by the guards at the door. Kyle red at them, confused, then noticed they were eyeing his outfit.


    Everyone was dressed the same, but they wouldn''t let him in.


    He could only stand outside and watch Quinn go in.


    Quinn followed Cody and the man inside. It took a few minutes to reach the mansion''s front door. The ce was massive, like twice the size of Kennedy Residence.


    It was built like a pce, and inside, there were a bunch of people, all in ck suits, clearly members of the Lynch family.


    Seeing the crowd, Quinn realized the Lynch family was huge.


    They followed the guide towards the mourning hall. Quinn looked around, trying to spot a familiar face.


    But no luck, she didn''t see Alexander.


    Once inside, her ears were buzzing, and she couldn''t understand a word anyone was saying. She just followed Cody''s lead.


    When he chatted with people, she stood by and smiled. When he bowed, she bowed too.


    Quinn looked up at the portrait above. It was an old man with white hair. Despite the wrinkles, he had a serious look, and his eyes, weathered by time, had an invisible authority. So, this was Alexander''s grandpa.


    The photo actually reminded her of Ulysses. Not that they looked alike, but the vibe in the photo was eerily simr.


    Ulysses probably never imagined, even in his wildest dreams, that the Kennedy Group he worked so hard to build would crash so fast, leaving nothing behind.

 Chapter 1371

    Cody yanked her up, dragged her to a quiet spot outside, and said, "Look, you''re on your own now. I ain''t helping you anymore. Watch yourself." Quinn gave a quick nod. "Yeah, got it. Thanks."


    Cody let out a heavy sigh, wanting to tell her to stop wandering around. He was seriously worried hernguage issues would get her into a mess.


    But it was clear he couldn''t change her mind, so he just shot her a look before heading off to find his family.


    Quinn waited until he was out of sight before turning and heading in another direction.


    She''d already scoped out the funeral hall and didn''t spot Alexander, so she had to search somewhere else.


    The ce was huge, with courtyards and crisscrossing paths everywhere. Easy to get lost, and she was no exception.


    Not exactly lost, more like she never knew where she was to begin with.


    She just kept walking and looking around. As she went on, there were fewer people, and the path got quieter. Was she about to stumble into someone''s bedroom or what?


    With fewer folks around, she started feeling jittery and guilty. Empty ces were definitely off-limits, and if she got caught, she''d be in deep trouble.


    Her heart skipped a beat when she saw three peopleing her way, and she quickly ducked behind a tree.


    Even though she thought she was hidden, every move she made was being watched and disyed on aputer screen.


    The guys in the monitoring room were chatting. "This chick''s acting weird. Should we nab her?"


    Another guard chimed in, "I think she''s with the Logan family. If we grab the wrong person, it''s gonna be a mess."


    They exchanged looks, unsure whether to catch her or not. She was almost at the host''s room.


    Letting her keep going wasn''t a great idea, so someone went to report to the Lynch family. The guard rushed to the funeral hall but unexpectedly bumped into someone at a corner. Both of them stumbled back a few steps.


    When the guard looked up and saw who it was, his face went pale, and he stammered, "Mr. Lynch..."


    Everyone knew the newly returned Lance was frail and in bad shape. After the collision, Lance clutched his chest, looking pale as a ghost.


    The guard trembled, reaching out to help but too scared to touch him, afraid a single touch would make him copse. His arm hung awkwardly in mid-air.


    Lance looked up, frowning at the guard. "Why are you running?"


    The guard stammered, "I need to report to the master. There''s a strange woman in the backyard."N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "A strange woman?" Lance asked.


    "Yeah," the guard replied.


    Lance extended his hand. "Show me."


    The guard quickly pulled out his phone, opened the surveince footage, and handed it over. "It''s her."


    On the screen, the woman was looking around, asionally scanning signs with her phone for trantion.


    Lance stared at the screen for a bit, then calmly looked away. "No need to bother my father. Just escort her out." "Just escort her out?" the guard confirmed.


    "Yeah, escort her out without making a scene," Lance replied.


    The guard thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.


    Quinn had no clue she''d been spotted. She hadn''t seen any cameras and kept wandering through the quiet courtyards.


    All the houses and courtyards looked the same. She had no idea if she was getting out or just going in circles.


    She didn''t even know how to get back to the funeral hall.

 Chapter 1372

    She was so freaked out she was practically tearing her hair out. After pacing a bit, she suddenly heard some dude''s voice behind her.


    Jumping, she nced at her phone. The trantion app was still running, and the guy yelled, "Stop."


    She froze. Before she could even turn around, the guy was already up in her face, blocking her way.


    He was this middle-aged dude, probably in his fifties, rocking white mourning clothes, but he had this air about him that screamed he wasn''t just some regr Joe. Quinn stashed her phone and looked up at him.


    The guy started talking, but she had no clue what he was saying.


    She stayed quiet for a sec, then waved her hand around. She saw confusion sh in his eyes.


    He gave her a once-over, looking all suspicious, and then spoke again.


    It wasn''t rocket science to figure out he was asking, "Mute?"


    Quinn quickly nodded and made some random hand gestures, knowing he wouldn''t get it anyway.


    She couldn''t understand him either, so they were just wasting time.


    But when he asked if she was there for the funeral, he saw right through her act and grabbed her wrist. Quinn freaked out.


    Just as he was about to drag her away, two more people came running over and said something to him.


    The guy frowned, handed Quinn over to them, told them to take her away, and then walked off.


    Quinn was held, feeling all kinds of anxious, with a bit of cold sweat on her forehead.


    She had no clue where they were taking her. Were they gonna off her?


    Luckily, they didn''t kill her but locked her in a room.


    The room was empty except for some random junk. She tugged at the door, but it was locked from the outside.


    She tried the windows next, but they were all locked too.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    She sighed, found an empty box, and plopped down on it.


    They probably didn''t have time to deal with her right now, so they just locked her up.


    She looked at the window above her. She lost track of time, watching the sunlight fade as the outside world got darker. It was already night.


    She leaned against the wall. It was so quiet she could hear a pin drop. Slowly, her eyelids started to droop.


    Just as she was about to doze off, the sound of the door opening jolted her awake. She looked sharply at the door.


    Two bodyguards walked in, and she looked away, disappointed.


    The bodyguards took her out, leading her through about four courtyards to a bright and spacious living room.


    As soon as she stepped in, she saw a circle of people sitting inside.


    Several pairs of eyesnded on her, making her feel all kinds of pressure.


    But she still stared back at them, her gaze sweeping over the room. When she saw the person sitting on the right, her breath caught, and her fingers instinctively clenched her sleeve. Alexander was wearing a ck suit, with a mourning ribbon tied around his waist, and the cor of a ck shirt peeking out.


    He had also changed his hairstyle. It was no longer meticulously groomed, and his hair fell messily over his forehead.


    Whether it was because of the hairstyle or something else, his whole vibe seemed different.


    He no longer had that casual indifference, nor did he exude an intimidating presence at first nce.


    Now, he radiated a detached coolness.


    But he didn''t look at her. His eyes were downcast as he casually flipped through a book. He sat there, seemingly inconspicuous, yet impossible to ignore. "Who are you?" a voice asked.


    Quinn heard the familiarnguage and was slightly startled. She withdrew her gaze from Alexander and looked at the person who had spoken.

 Chapter 1373

    He was a middle-aged man, dressed just like the rest, clearly fresh from a funeral.


    This manwas Zeke Lynch, the eldest son and now the big boss of the Lynch family. He was chillin'' in the main seat, showing off his top-dog status. On either side of him were other middle-aged guys, but they were clearly a notch below him.


    While Quinn was still fumbling for the right words, Zeke cut in, "I know you ain''t mute. You came in with Cody, and you two were chatting." Quinn was caught off guard. She''d been scheming on how to hide that Cody brought her in, but turns out they were already in the loop.


    If she denied knowing him now, it could get messy, especially since she wasn''t from around here, and it might even drag Cody into trouble. Thinking fast, she said, "I''m his girlfriend. First time here, just curious and got lost."


    After saying this, she nced at Alexander. He looked up for a sec, their eyes met, but then he looked away like she was invisible. Quinn bit her lip, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.


    The two middle-aged men whispered to each other for a bit and then just ignored her.


    After leaving her hanging for about ten minutes, a servant brought Cody in.


    Cody nced at Quinn, seeing her there, totally unfazed. No shocker she got caught snooping around someone else''s crib.


    He walked over and bowed to the group. Quinn''s eyebrow twitched. Do people here really bow when they meet?


    Cody straightened up, and only then did Zeke start grilling him, "Cody, what''s your deal with this chick?"


    Cody nced at Quinn and cleared his throat. "She''s my girlfriend."


    "If she''s your girlfriend, why''d she get lost while you bailed first?" Zeke pressed.


    "I thought she had left, so I went out to find her. Who knew she got lost? This troublesome woman, did she cause you any hassle?" Cody asked.


    Zeke pondered for a moment, staring at him like he was trying to sniff out a lie.


    The middle-aged manon his left asked, "Why would Cody have a foreign girlfriend? She can''t even understand us. How do you guys talk?"


    Cody grinned and said, "She''s my client. We''ve been chatting online. She admired my dedication and persistence and insisted on pursuing me. I thought she had good taste, so I agreed to give it a shot. This is our first meet-up." Taking advantage of Quinn''s cluelessness, Cody spun tales, getting more into it with each word. He even said she traveled a long way to find him, and he, being a nice guy, couldn''t turn away such a passionate woman. As he spoke, an unexpected chill ran through him.


    He rubbed his arms and awkwardly smiled. "It''s getting cold. I should wear something warmer."Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Everyone present had weird looks hearing his self-absorbed words.


    Zeke said, "Since it''s all a misunderstanding, we''ll let it slide this time. But next time, keep an eye on her."


    Cody nodded. "Alright. If there''s nothing else, we''ll bounce now."


    Zeke nodded slightly.


    He immediately pulled Quinn to leave. Quinn didn''t know what they had said, but since they were letting her go so easily, Cody''s story must have matched hers, and they bought that she was Cody''s girlfriend.

 Chapter 1374

    When she hit the doorway, she couldn''t help but nce back, but the spot was already empty.


    Her eyes darted around as she followed Cody outside. Kyle was still pacing like a madman, with Cody''swyer tagging along. Seeing theme out, Kyle let out a big sigh of relief and rushed over.


    "How''d it go? Did you see him?" Kyle asked.


    Quinn nodded, the image of Alexander shing in her mind. His totally different vibe made her wonder if she even recognized the guy. Kyle, catching her bummed-out look, figured it didn''t go well.


    Cody, standing there, chimed in, "See, told ya it was pointless. You saw him but couldn''t even chat. Just give it up."


    She turned to Cody. "Thanks for today."


    "You''re my client. It''s my job," Cody said, adjusting his ck-framed sses with a goofy smile.


    He wasn''t exactly a looker, but hisforting presence screamed good upbringing.


    Opening the car door, he said, "Alright, let''s bounce. Feels like it''s getting colder."


    Quinn took onest look at the brightly lit building against the dark night, then got in the car.


    The folks who''d been hustling all day at the Lynch Mansion were also heading out, but Alexander got called to the study by Zeke.


    "Take a seat," Zeke said, motioning to a chair, but Alexander didn''t budge. Instead, he walked over to the desk, eyeing the unfinished oil painting on the easel. Zeke didn''t push it. "You seriously don''t remember that chick at all?" Zeke asked.


    When Zeke got the news, he did a deep dive on Alexander. How could he not know about Quinn?


    But since his son couldn''t remember, he didn''t push it.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    If it hadn''t been for that woman, he wouldn''t have gone to New York City, nor would he have been ambushed and gone missing.


    Back then, he called Alexander back, and Alexander told him to butt out of his business. Honestly, Zeke had even thought about offing Quinn.


    But he didn''t, ''cause if he had, Alexander would never havee back.


    Alexander held a paintbrush, standing in front of the easel, sketching and painting without looking up. "No memory."


    "What are we gonna do? You can''t remember squat. You don''t even know who jumped you. Lance, I''m sorry," Zeke said, feeling guilty.


    "No need to apologize. Everyone''s got their fate. You''ve done what you could. All my crap has nothing to do with you, nor is it your fault," Alexander said.


    The distant vibe was crystal clear. Zeke was quiet for a moment, then decided to drop it. "Is your health better? When you nning to hit thepany?"


    Alexander paused his painting, then said, "Our family''s got plenty of talented young folks; they don''t need me. If you really care, let me chill for a few more years." Hearing "talented young folks," Zeke frowned.


    Yeah, there were talented young folks, but none of them were his blood. And among his current kids, not one was promising. The slightly better ones were probably on par with Cody. Just thinking about it ticked him off.


    When Larry told him Alexander was his son, he thought his prayers were answered. But who would''ve thought the son he found would be so checked out?


    If he hadn''t done his homework, he would''ve thought Larry was pulling his leg.


    "If I could, I wouldn''t wanna make things tough for you, but you know..." Zeke started.


    Before he could finish, Alexander suddenly put down the paintbrush. Zeke''s face changed when he saw what was on the paper.

 Chapter 1375

    "What?" Alexander asked.


    Zeke stared at the oil painting for a sec, then looked up at Alexander, totally shocked, his face all kinds of confused.


    He finally said, "You know how your younger sibs are."


    "Maybe they''re just young and need some more guidance. They won''t turn out bad," Alexander replied.


    Zeke sighed and nodded. "Alright, if you don''t wanna talk about it now, just focus on getting better. We''ll deal with this when you''re well." "Thanks, Dad," Alexander said.


    "Go get some rest. It''s getting cold, so bundle up," Zeke reminded him.


    "Okay."


    Alexander nodded slightly and left the study.


    As the door closed, Zeke walked over to the oil painting on the easel and checked it out closely. He hadn''t expected Lance to be so good at painting. After Quinn got back, she bought a ton of study materials and even hired a tutor.


    Thenguage barrier here was a real pain.


    Abigail kept taking care of Sprout, while Kyle was out looking for Sean. Everyone had their roles.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Abigail, holding Sprout, walked over to Quinn and looked at the pile of books on her bed, clicking her tongue. "The power of love is something else."


    Quinn didn''t have time for chit-chat, flipping through the books in her hand. Next to her was a tablet ying a lesson.


    Abigail sat down beside her, trying to convince her, "Quinn, since he''s acting like he doesn''t know you, why are we still here? Let''s go back. Why are you learning a foreignnguage for him? What''s the point?"


    Quinn''s fingers paused in her note-taking. Looking up at Abigail, she said, "Before that, I need to find out why he''s pretending not to know me. If he really wants to cut ties with me, I''ll take Sprout back home without a second thought." Alexander never shared his ns with her, and she was always left guessing. Many times, Quinn felt she never really knew him.


    Abigail nodded. "I get it, you just want to bepletely heartbroken."


    Quinn was just like she always had been.


    Quinn didn''t care about others'' opinions anymore; she just wanted to do what she thought was right.


    She kept studying hard, not letting her mind wander until she knew the truth.


    As it got colder, Abigail took Sprout out to buy winter clothes. Quinn didn''t go out much; the hotel had heating, so she didn''t need many clothes.


    After two months of self-study, she had learned most of the daily expressions and had no problem with everyday conversations.


    Cody invited her out for New Year''s. When Quinn started talking, Cody''s eyes went wide, staring at her like he''d seen a ghost.


    "You..." Cody pointed at her for a long time, unable to find the words to express his shock.


    "What?" Quinn asked, looking at him, puzzled.


    "You learned so fast! Do you have a trantor imnted in you?" Cody finally said.


    Quinn gave him an exasperated look and pushed the stroller forward. "Aren''t we going to celebrate New Year''s? Where to?"


    "Of course, to the New Year''s Square." Cody jogged ahead, wearing a hat and a down jacket, bundled up like a snowball.


    Although his outfit was ordinary, the brand of his clothes still showed he was loaded.


    Quinn was also dressed warmly, in a white down jacket and a white furry hat with two fluffy balls hanging by her ears, which Abigail had bought.

 Chapter 1376

    Abigail still thought she dressed like she did a few years back, when she was just a naive, quiet little girl.


    They rolled up to the square, which was packed. Worried Sprout might get squished, she scooped him up from the stroller. Cody turned around and did a double-take when he saw her.


    Her outfit, with Sprout in her arms, looked totally out of ce. She didn''t look like a mom at all, more like she just graduated college. Abigail caught his dazed look and nudged him. "What are you staring at? Got a crush on Quinn?"


    Cody snapped out of it and rolled his eyes. "Get outta here!"


    No way he''d fall for a divorced woman with a kid, no matter how hot she was!


    If he even thought about it, his family would lose it!


    He led Quinn and Abigail to the center of the square, where there were a bunch of stalls near the mall, selling all kinds of stuff.


    He bought some glowing headbands and tried to get Abigail and Quinn to wear them.


    Abigail pouted and pushed his hand away. "Nah, I''m good."


    Cody felt a bit let down and handed the other bunny ear headband to Quinn.


    Quinn took it but then gave it to Sprout to y with.


    Cody gave up and put thest headband on Sprout''s head. It was too big, so it slipped off and hung around his neck like a ne.


    Seeing the crowd, Quinn felt a bit overwhelmed. "What''s so great about this ce?"


    Cody shrugged. "New Year''s Eve."


    Quinn smirked.


    "Follow me," Cody said, leading them to a building across the square and taking the elevator straight to the top floor. The building had 20 floors, and the rooftop was decked out with flowers and fairy lights. There were swings and tables loaded with food.


    Abigail looked around, surprised. "Did you set this up?"


    Cody nodded, looking proud. "What do you think? Pretty handy, right?"


    Abigail gave him a thumbs up.


    From up there, they had a perfect view of the crowded square and the lit-up building ying a New Year''s promo. When the countdown started, they''d have the best spot.


    Cody poured some red wine and raised his ss. "To the first year of us knowing each other,e on, cheers."


    Quinn put Sprout back in the stroller, grabbed a wine ss, and clinked it with Cody''s.


    "Cody, thanks for all your helptely," she said.


    Cody muttered, "Wasn''t it ''cause you threatened me?"


    It was true. Cody admired Quinn for sticking around for that handsome guy and even learning a newnguage on her own.


    Quinn blinked and leaned in closer. "Cody."


    Hearing her tone, Cody got goosebumps. "What?"


    He had a feeling she was about to ask for another favor.


    "New Year''s is a big deal. Don''t the Logan family and the Lynch family have any joint events?" Quinn asked.


    Eyeing her suspiciously, Cody said, "So you''re still hung up on that guy!"N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "Just answer yes or no," Quinn demanded.


    Cody scratched his head, put down his drink, and said hesitantly, "Maybe..."


    "Really?" Quinn''s eyes lit up.


    "Really." Before Quinn could say anything, Cody raised his hand to stop her. "Don''t even say it. I''ll take you there."

 Chapter 1377

    Cody downed his drink, whipped out his phone, and dialed home to ask if he could crash at the Lynch family''s ce. He got an earful instead.


    He shot Quinn a sheepish grin, making her squirm. "Seriously?" she asked, unsure.


    "My dad''s making mee back..." Cody muttered.


    Quinn rolled her eyes. "Then go."


    Cody looked bummed and nced at the big screen ahead. "I''ll head back after the countdown."


    Quinn checked the time; about ten minutes left.


    Sprout was babbling away in his stroller. Quinn turned to see him pping and cooing at the shing lights.


    No one could make sense of his baby gibberish.


    He wasn''t crying or fussing, so they let him be.


    The rooftop wind was cold and damp, stinging Quinn''s face like needles. She pulled her hat down and picked up Sprout. His hands were freezing.


    Couldn''t he feel the cold?


    Quinn held his hands, but he kept squirming and making little protest noises.


    Abigail and Cody were chatting about the Lynch family. Cody didn''t know much since they weren''t originally from here but had moved from another country years ago.


    Back then, the country was a mess. Somehow, the Lynch family popped up, took down a powerful family, and backed a president into office.


    Since then, they were untouchable.


    Abigail''s jaw dropped. "That badass?"


    Cody nodded. "Yeah, pretty badass."


    "What about you guys? If you went up against them, who''d win?" Abigail asked, curious.


    Cody was taken aback, then frowned. "Why would we go up against them?"


    "I''m just saying. Why so serious?" Abigail said, rolling her eyes.


    Cody scratched his head, stumped.


    Just then, the countdown started. He quickly changed the subject, pointing. "It''s starting!"


    Abigail scoffed and waved Quinn over.


    Quinn, holding Sprout, came to the railing and looked at the colorful big screen. The countdown was at thirty seconds.


    Below, the crowd looked like a dark sea from this angle, kinda intimidating.


    When it hit thest ten seconds, a deafening countdown roared from below. The vibe was electric, and even Quinn felt the New Year''s buzz.


    Even Sprout in her arms was babbling and wriggling to get down.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    A loud bang echoed from the sky, and fireworks lit up the night. The massive fireworks, with colorful lights, filled half the sky, morphing into five different shapes before finally spelling out "Happy New Year." Abigail quickly whipped out her camera, snapped some pics, then set it on a tripod and pulled everyone in for a group shot.


    Cody''s phone kept buzzing. He pulled it out, annoyed; his family was nagging him toe back.


    He regretted calling earlier. If he had known, he wouldn''t have bothered.


    "I gotta bail. Family''s calling," he said, annoyed.


    Abigail waved him off. "Go on, get outta here."

 Chapter 1378

    Cody was kinda dragging his feet about leaving. He said his goodbyes to Quinn and Abigail, bent down, waved at Sprout, and shed a big ol'' grin. "Later, Sprout," he said.


    Sprout gave him a toothless smile and tried to grab his sses. Cody straightened up real quick, dodging Sprout''s little hands, and headed off the rooftop.


    Before he bounced, he told Quinn that this was theirpany, and they had a few days off, so she could chill here without stressing.


    After he dipped, Abigail grabbed the camera to check out the pics she just snapped. She seemed to remember something and looked up at Quinn. "It''s noon. Aren''t we heading back?" Quinn nced at the crowd below. "Let''s hang tight for a bit. Too many people right now. We''ll head down when it clears out."


    "Cool, you chill here. I''ll go scope things out," Abigail said.


    Quinn nodded, giving her the go-ahead.


    Abigail dashed off with her camera, while Quinn sat on the swing, looking down at Sprout in her arms.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    He was super hyped up, making all sorts of noises.


    Staring at his face, she zoned out for a sec. She suddenly wondered if Alexander was like this when he was a kid.


    A cold drop hit her face. Looking up, she saw it was starting to drizzle.


    There weren''t as many people below now, but it was still pretty packed. She had no clue where Abigail had gone. She thought for a sec and decided to take the elevator down with Sprout. She weaved through the crowd while pulling out her phone to call Abigail. It was probably too loud, and Abigail missed the call.


    Quinn sighed and walked with Sprout to a less crowded spot. The streets were still jammed.


    She walked forever without finding a less crowded ce. Even the shops on both sides were packed.


    After about half an hour, the crowd finally thinned out, and there were fewer cars. It looked like a residential area.


    Quinn found a bench on the sidewalk and plopped down. Sprout yanked at her hair, making her scalp sting. She looked down at him in her arms.


    She tried to free her hair, but he grabbed it again. Holding his hand, she said firmly, "No grabbing."


    Sprout made some protesting noises. Even though Quinn couldn''t understand him, she could tell he was being defiant.


    So when he reached out to grab again, she lightly pped his hand. She didn''t hit hard, but he started iling his arms and legs.


    His feet kicked her chest, which hurt a bit. She clutched her chest, feeling totally helpless as she looked at the little rascal in her arms.


    She turned her head and suddenly saw a ck car driving into the residential area. She jumped up immediately.


    Through the car window, she saw the guy sitting inside.


    But she only got a quick look before the trees blocked her view.


    She instinctively chased after the car. By the time she reached the entrance of the residential area, she could only see the car''s tail lights.


    Quinn stood there, kinda dazed, her breath forming little white puffs in the air that quickly disappeared.


    She watched the car vanish and memorized the license te number.


    She saw the name of the residential area and quickly searched it on her phone. It was called "Iris Estates," the swankiest neighborhood in the district, full of two- and three-story vis. As she scrolled through the info, a thought hit her, and she quickly downloaded another app.

 Chapter 1379

    She downloaded this job-hunting app, and a ton of job listings popped up. But seriously, what kind of gigs could be around here? After a quick think, she tapped on housekeeping.


    Sure enough, there were a bunch of housekeeping jobs, and one of them really stood out.


    Some family needed a nanny, someone who could whip up Shepherd''s Pie and speak English. It was like the job was made for her. She dialed the number.


    The call connected pretty fast, and a woman answered, "Hello."


    "Hey, is the nanny position still open?" Quinn asked.


    There was a brief pause since Quinn spoke in English. After a couple of seconds, the woman replied, "Not yet. Are you looking for a job?" "Yeah, when''s a good time for an interview?" Quinn asked.


    "How about tomorrow? I''m not home right now," the woman suggested.


    "Cool." Just as Quinn finished talking, Sprout tried to grab her phone, and she dodged his little hands.


    The woman on the other end heard the baby noises and asked, "Do you have a kid with you?"


    Quinn quickly said, "I cane without him."


    "Let''s talk about it during the interview tomorrow," the woman said.


    "Alright, thanks," Quinn replied.


    She hung up and looked around the neighborhood again. Four big security guards were at the entrance, making it clear sneaking in wasn''t an option.


    She waited another half hour, but the car didn''te out again. Looked like he really lived there.


    Abigail came back from her outing and found Quinn standing at the entrance, staring inside like a statue.


    She waved her hand in front of Quinn''s face. "Snap out of it!"


    Quinn blinked and turned to Abigail. "You''re back."


    "What were you staring at? I thought you were frozen," Abigail asked.


    "I saw him," Quinn said shortly.


    "Him?" Abigail didn''t get it at first, then pointed to the entrance. "He lives in there?"


    Quinn nodded.


    How did Quinn run into Alexander like this? It was like fate or something.


    Quinn added, "I have a housekeeping interview tomorrow. If they don''t allow kids, I''ll need you to watch Sprout for a bit."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Abigail was shocked. "Are you serious? Does he even know what you''ve been doing for him all this time?"


    Quinn ignored her. "Let''s go back."


    Abigail sighed. She couldn''t stop Quinn from going.


    Early the next morning, Quinn went back to Iris Estates. She called the woman ahead of time and went through the main entrance, which had even more security guards. Even after calling, she was still stopped outside.


    After giving the address and name to the security guards, they finally let her in.


    She found the house number the woman mentioned. It was a two-story vi with a yard and a wall covered in roses, with only an iron gate for entry.


    Quinn pressed the doorbell. A few minutester, a woman came out of the vi.


    The woman walked up to the gate and looked at Quinn with some surprise, clearly not expecting her to be so young.


    "Are you Quinn?" she asked.


    "Yep." Quinn nodded.


    The woman opened the gate and let her in. "I didn''t expect you to be so young. Why are you looking for a housekeeping job?"


    Quinn lied, "I''m here for my studies."


    "Yesterday, I heard a baby on the phone?" the woman pressed.

 Chapter 1380

    "Yeah, I got a boyfriend, but he bailed when I got knocked up. So now it''s just me and the kid, and I really need a gig to keep us afloat," Quinn said, looking all sad and stuff. Thedy paused and gave her a once-over.


    Today, Quinn was rocking a white puffer jacket, jeans, and some sneakers, with her hair tied up in a ponytail. She totally looked like the international student she imed to be. Thedy''s face softened a bit. "Alright,e on in."


    Quinn nodded and followed her inside. Thedy started exining the job. Quinn had her ID ready, but thedy didn''t even ask for it.


    Maybe Quinn just seemed harmless or something.


    Thedy told Quinn her main gigs would be cooking three meals a day and keeping the house clean. Plus, she''d have to look after her mom, an olddy with Alzheimer''s. "Do I gotta live here?" Quinn asked.


    "Of course, how else would you take care of my mom? If you''re worried about your kid, you can bring them, but they can''t be too noisy at night," thedy said.


    Quinn thought about it. Sprout was pretty active at night but didn''t cry much, so it should be cool.


    "The pay is what we listed. Any other questions?" thedy asked.


    Quinn shook her head quickly. "Nope."


    Thedy then asked her to whip up some Shepherd''s Pies. Cooking was no biggie for Quinn; she''d been cooking for Alexander for years, and even his picky self couldn''tin. Sure enough, she nailed it. After tasting her food, thedy wanted her to start that afternoon, like she was scared Quinn might change her mind.


    That worked for Quinn. She grabbed the keys and went back to pack her stuff and get Sprout to start the job.


    Abigail saw her off at themunity gate, giving her aplicated look. In the end, she just patted Quinn on the shoulder without saying a word.


    Quinn got to the house. Thedy''s name was Susan Cooper, and she seemed like a big shot at somepany.


    The household was just her and her mom, Anna Cooper, who had bad Alzheimer''s.


    Anna''s condition was pretty advanced. She''d sit on the couch zoned out for hours and then suddenly try to leave.


    Susan told her she could lock the doors from the inside, and there was also a lock outside for when she went grocery shopping.


    Overall, the small vi was pretty secure. As long as the doors were locked, Anna couldn''t get out. Susan was mainly worried about other idents and making sure Anna was fed. Quinn got familiar with the house and, seeing it was gettingte, took the keys and went out to buy groceries.


    Taking advantage of the chance, she wandered around themunity, trying to find the car she saw the night before.


    But the ce was huge, and she couldn''t find it after searching for a while.


    In the end, she had to give up and headed towards the gate.


    Even though the supermarket wasn''t far, carrying Sprout in one arm and groceries in the other was a killer.


    She kept switching hands, stopping a lot, feeling totally wiped out. Sprout was squirming in her arms.


    She put the groceries down, about to scold him, when a bright light shone from behind. She turned to look and saw that familiar license te again.


    She had one thought: she couldn''t miss it this time.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    So her body moved before her brain could catch up, and she rushed to stop the car.


    Her sudden move made the car screech to a halt, stopping just half a step away from her.


    When she snapped back to reality, a wave of fear hit her. She stared at the car, her chest heaving, and her fingers trembling a bit.

 Chapter 1381

    The air got all still, even Sprout in her arms went quiet, eyes glued to the car.


    A driver hopped out and walked up to Quinn, sounding kinda ticked off. "Miss, you looking for trouble?"


    It sounded polite, but it felt like a p in the face. His words and tone were totally off.


    Quinn just stared, like she didn''t hear him, her eyes drifting past the driver and into the car. The blinding headlights made it tough to see, and she couldn''t make out who was inside. "I''m here to find someone," she said, eyes locked on the car''s windshield.


    She couldn''t see squat, but she had this gut feeling Alexander was in there.


    "Who you looking for?" the driver asked.


    Quinn ignored him and started walking towards the car. The driver quickly stepped in her way. "Please leave now!"N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    She stared at the closed car window, her eyes flickering.


    Her grip tightened around Sprout. "I just need an answer. Tell me, and I''ll leave right away and nevere back."


    The driver looked puzzled, wondering if she was talking to him.


    But her eyes were glued to the car window. Could the person inside hear her?


    As they stood there, the car door slowly opened, and a tall figure stepped out.


    He was rocking a ck turtleneck sweater, a fitted gray coat over it, and walked towards her. His familiar face had a weird look.


    "Lance..." The driver started to speak, but the man raised his hand to shut him up. "Drive the car inside first."


    The driver hesitated, looking at them, but eventually got back in the car. Quinn stepped aside to let the driver leave.


    With the blinding headlights gone, only the dim streetlights remained, and a fine rain, like dust, drifted under the lights.


    They stood half a step apart, but it felt like miles.


    Quinn had a million questions, but now that they were face to face, she didn''t know where to start.


    As they stayed silent, Sprout made a noise in her arms, grabbing her hair and tilting his head to look at the man in front of them. "What''s this kid''s name?" he suddenly asked.


    Quinn snapped back to reality, looked down at Sprout, and said, "He doesn''t have a name yet."


    She looked back at the man. "His dad''s missing. At first, I thought he was dead, and I was super sad. Then I thought he wasn''t dead, and I got even sadder." "Really? Why?" the man asked.


    "He once told me he wanted to start over with me. After I found out I was pregnant, I thought about it every day. If he came back, I would start over with him. But he didn''te back. During the ten months of my pregnancy, he didn''te back. When I was giving birth, he didn''t show up. When I was in so much pain I thought I would die, I kept thinking, if I ever saw him again, I would ask him why he never kept his word," Quinn said, staring at him hard, trying to read something from his face or hear him say something.


    But all she got was a long silence.


    He stared back at her, his eyes downcast and cold, as cold as the wind blowing between them, chilling to the bone.


    After a long while, he finally spoke, "Maybe your initial feeling was right. He might really be dead."


    His words hit her like a cold wind, piercing Quinn to her core.

 Chapter 1382

    She just stood there, totally zoned out, that old familiar feeling creeping up, making her eyes sting until everything got all blurry. "So, you''re saying he''s noting back?" she asked, her voice shaky.


    She didn''t even dare to blink, scared the tears would spill. But as soon as she asked, warm tears started sliding down her cheeks. Alexander stared at her for a couple of seconds, then quickly looked away. "It''s cold. Head back early. Don''t want the kid catching a cold." Quinn tried to force a smile, holding back her tears.


    Suddenly, she wondered why she even bothereding all this way. Was it just to hear this crap?


    If she had known all her efforts would end up like this, she might as well have stayed in Amber Bay. At least there, she had some hope. There were no strangers here, no cameras, just the two of them.


    Yet Alexander still wouldn''t admit who he was, wouldn''t acknowledge her, and stayed cold even in front of Sprout. Sprout reached out, trying to grab him, but his little hands just waved around, not even touching his clothes.


    Quinn gently pulled his hand back and whispered, "This isn''t Daddy. We got it wrong. Daddy''s not like this."


    Sprout stared at Quinn with wide eyes, trying hard to understand. He looked unusually serious, just like Alexander.


    Quinn took a deep breath, gave Alexander onest look, then bent down to pick up the veggies on the ground and turned to leave.


    It wasn''t the first time she''d been let down. Whatever.


    At least this time, she could walk away without any regrets. He wasn''t her whole world anymore; she had other things to do.


    Alexander stood under the streetlight, watching her fade into the distance. The light cast his shadow at his feet, and everything around him was dim except for where he stood.


    It wasn''t until Quinn waspletely gone that his brows furrowed, and he clutched his chest, coughing.


    He tried to hold it back but couldn''t stop the sound from escaping. He covered his mouth with his hand. When he finished coughing, he opened his palm to see bright red blood. He stared at the blood, lost in thought for a moment.


    The driver ran over, still looking around for Quinn. When he turned his head, he saw the blood in Alexander''s hand.


    His face changed. "Why are you..."


    Alexander calmly pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the blood from his hand, and his expression went back to normal. "It''s nothing. Let''s go."


    The driver opened his mouth, looking worried, then sighed helplessly.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Quinn got back to Susan''s house, put Sprout in the stroller, and took the veggies to the kitchen to cook.


    When the meal was ready, Susan had just gotten home. She took off her coat, removed her scarf, and smiled. "I smelled the food as soon as I walked in. My mom didn''t wander off today, did she?" Quinn ced thest dish on the table, nced at Anna on the sofa, and said, "Nope."


    "That''s good. Except for the asional episode, she''s usually pretty easy to take care of," Susan said.


    Quinn forced a smile, remembering she once had a simr condition, but she wasn''t as quiet. Sometimes she didn''t even want to think about it.


    Back then, Alexander probably wished he could tie her to himself with a rope.


    And now, could she tie him up with a rope?

 Chapter 1383

    Once the thought popped into her head, she couldn''t shake it.


    She even started daydreaming about tying him up, just like he did before, until he remembered. Susan waved her hand in front of her, snapping Quinn back to reality. "What''s up?"


    Susan eyed her suspiciously. "I should be asking you that. Why are you zoning out?"


    Quinn forced a smile. "It''s nothing. Just thinking about a friend of mine. He has amnesia too."


    "Is he dealing with Alzheimer''s?" Susan asked.


    "I don''t know. He just forgot about me," Quinn said, her fingers tracing the chopsticks on the table. Her voice was soft, almost like she was talking to herself, which made Susan frown.


    She stared at Quinn, who seemed so innocent. But that soft voice made her feel uneasy.


    "Are you okay?" she asked.


    Quinn smiled slightly. "I''m fine. Let''s eat before it gets cold."


    Susan nodded, turned around, and helped Anna over. She asked Quinn to join them, but Quinn declined, saying she needed to go back and feed Sprout form.


    Susan didn''t push it.


    Quinn took Sprout back to the room and made him some form. Sprout suddenly got really quiet. Since they got back, he had been lying quietly in the stroller, not making a sound or ying with his feet. Quinn wondered if he had caught a cold, so she asked Susan for a thermometer and took his temperature, but he wasn''t running a fever.


    He just seemed sleepy. She brought the form to his mouth, and he drank it quietly.


    After he finished drinking, she held him and tried to lull him to sleep. But he had slept all day, so he wouldn''t fall asleep no matter what. He just stared at her with wide eyes. Quinn pinched his cheek. "What are you thinking about?"


    Sprout reached out, grabbed her finger, and tried to put it in his mouth. Quinn quickly pulled it back; she hadn''t washed her hands and was worried about germs.


    She sighed, holding him as she walked to the window and pulled back the curtain to look outside.


    The neighborhood was super quiet, with only the streetlights on. A light drizzle was falling, and everything outside was shrouded in mist.


    It was rare that Sprout wasn''t fussy tonight, and Quinn fell asleep holding him.


    In a daze, Quinn had a dream filled with bizarre images. It seemed like she was back on that deserted ind, or maybe in that forest, with only her and Alexander in the world. Another Alexander appeared in the dream, telling her that Alexander was dead.


    Quinn hurriedly turned to look, and the Alexander who had been herpanion gradually faded away. She lunged at him but grasped nothing but air.


    When she turned back, the other Alexander was gone too.


    The deserted ind was left with only her.


    Quinn snapped her eyes open, her chest feeling heavy, making it hard to breathe.


    Upon closer inspection, she realized Sprout was lying on her chest, no wonder she had a nightmare.


    She ced him on the bed and got up to wash up and go downstairs to make breakfast.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Susan had already left, so Quinn only needed to make breakfast for Anna.


    She brought the breakfast to Anna''s room. Anna was sitting on the bed, gently stroking a photo frame in her hand.


    Quinn walked over and ced the breakfast on the bedside table. "Anna, it''s time for breakfast."


    Startled, Anna turned to look at Quinn, a hint of confusion in her eyes.


    She put down the photo frame and reached out to hold Quinn''s hand. "Susan, are you back from school?"


    Quinn paused. Clearly, Anna had mistaken her for Susan.

 Chapter 1384

    Anna let out a heavy sigh, gripping Quinn''s hand tight. "Look, don''t go searching for your dad. I can hustle and make enough for us. He ditched us, and we don''t need him, got it?" Quinn just stared at her, lips pressed tight, not saying a word.


    Suddenly, Anna seemed to remember something, tossed the nket aside, and started getting out of bed. "Oh shoot, I gotta get to work. When I get paid, I''ll snag you a killer dress." Quinn didn''t try to stop her. The front door was locked anyway, so she wasn''t going anywhere.


    Anna didn''t recognize anyone anymore, but she still remembered her favorite daughter, someone etched into her very soul. Even with amnesia, she would remember Susan. Quinn stayed quiet for a bit, then got up and took the breakfast downstairs.


    Anna was fiddling with the gate in the yard, but no matter what she did, she couldn''t get it open. After a while, she just stopped, like she forgot what she was even doing. Quinn walked out and gently guided her back inside.


    Anna plopped down at the dining table, grabbed an apple, and stuffed it in her pocket, saying she wanted to save it for Susan.


    She handed another apple to Quinn, whispering for her to keep it a secret from the house owner.


    Quinn nodded, promising she wouldn''t spill the beans.


    Afterst night''s chaos, she should''ve bailed, but she didn''t.


    She didn''t know why, but she felt like something was missing.


    After helping Anna finish breakfast, she went back to the room to check on Sprout, who was still snoozing.


    She closed the door, headed downstairs, and decided to take a walk.


    Themunity was buzzing with life. Lots of folks were out and about, mostly old folks and kids.


    It was a holiday, so families were out in full force,ughing and having a good time.


    Quinn walked past those happy families, moving in the opposite direction of their joy.


    She stopped in front of a vi, staring at the house number and the name on it.


    The cool thing about these houses was that they had the owner''s name right at the entrance.


    It clearly read-Lance Lynch.


    So, this was where he lived.


    Quinn looked up. This vi was way bigger than Susan''s ce. It was still two stories, but it was like three times the size. Plus, it took up most of the area, with no other houses around. She stood there for what felt like forever, but the owner didn''t seem to be home.


    Finally, Quinn tore her gaze away, turned around, and headed back to Susan''s house.


    She nced at Anna, who was staring nkly at the sofa, then went to check on Sprout.


    She pulled out her phone, and just as she was about to open it, Kyle''s call popped up.


    Kyle had been searching for Sean forever with no luck. Now he was calling, which meant he must''ve found something.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Quinn swiped to answer and put the phone to her ear. "Hey."


    "Mrs. Kennedy, I found Sean. After all this time, I finally found him," Kyle said, excitement in his voice.


    "Are you sure it''s him?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, I''m positive. I got a good look at him. It''s definitely him. I''m at the ce he''s staying now, trying to decide if I should go in," Kyle reported.


    He had pulled every string, with Cody and Bob''s help, to finally track down Sean.


    "Don''t spook him just yet. If he wanted to see us, he would''ve reached out by now. If you scare him off, it''ll be a nightmare to find him again," Quinn reminded him. Kyle agreed, "Alright, I''ll send you the address. We can go see him together."

 Chapter 1385

    Quinn rolled back to Susan''s crib, her mind buzzing about how to track down Sean. Technically, she''d already found him, so she should probably bounce. She whipped out her phone, mulling over how to drop the resignation bomb on Susan, especially since she''d only been there for a hot minute.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Sure, she could just ghost, but that felt kinda shady. Plus, what if she needed toe back someday?


    She decided to spill the beans to Susan after she met up with Sean.


    With that n in mind, she hit up the supermarket while Sprout was still catching Z''s and stocked up on enough grub for a couple of days. It was cool out, so the food wouldn''t go bad. Later that evening, when Susan rolled in, Quinn asked for some time off.


    "Got something to handle?" Susan asked, curious about how often Quinn would need to dip out. After all, Quinn had said she was here to study, and bailing all the time wouldn''t look good. Quinn had already cooked up an excuse. "I gotta pack up my stuff. My old rental''s about to expire."


    Susan nodded. "Got it. Need a whole day off?"


    "Yeah, if that''s cool?" Quinn asked.


    Susan checked the time on her phone. "Can you take the day off the day after tomorrow? It''s the weekend, and I''ll be around."


    Quinn hesitated, wanting to find Sean ASAP. But seeing the hopeful look in Susan''s eyes, she caved.


    "Sure," she said.


    Susan grinned. "Awesome, it''s a n. I really dig you, and your cooking is on point."


    "Thanks," Quinn replied, smiling.


    Susan gave her a sympathetic look. Quinn was so young but already a single mom with no ce to crash.


    "If you need any help, just holler," Susan added.


    Quinn was taken aback. She''d only known Susan for two days, yet Susan was being super nice. Was she just a good person, or did she have zero defenses? "Thanks, Susan," Quinn said.


    With Susan being so chill, Quinn felt even more guilty about bailing suddenly.


    After dinner, Susan went to work in her room. Quinn took Anna to her room, fed the baby, and got ready to head out.


    But Sprout, chilling in the stroller, was staring at her and babbling, waving his little arms like he wanted to tag along.


    It was freezing outside; Quinn didn''t want to drag him out.


    He kept babbling, and when Quinn ignored him, he cranked up the volume and started wailing.


    Quinn sighed and picked him up. The moment she did, he went quiet, like she''d hit a mute button.


    She bundled him up in a nket and headed out.


    Knowing the way, she made it to the vi. She looked up and saw it was pitch ck inside, like nobody was home.


    She stood there for a sec. Just as she was about to bounce, she heard a door creak open.


    She turned and saw a nannying out to dump the trash. Quinn quickly ducked behind some bushes.


    Sprout made a few cooing sounds. She shushed him, and miraculously, he seemed to get it. He stared at her with big eyes and sucked on his fingers.


    Quinn peeked out and saw the nanny lugging a trash bag. She opened the iron gate and headed for the trash bin across the street.


    Quinn stood up and slipped inside the vi.


    It was dark, with just one room at the far end lit up. Even the living room lights were off.

 Chapter 1386

    She strolled into the lit-up room and realized it was the kitchen.


    Quinn backed out and hustled upstairs.


    Just as she hit the stairs, the nanny came back and shut the living room door. The vi was huge, but there were only three rooms upstairs; the rest was a balcony. Quinn scoped out the ce and found two doors that wouldn''t budge. She tried a third door, and bingo, it opened.


    She stepped into the room, shut the door, and flicked on the light.


    The room''s setup grabbed her attention-it was just a basic bedroom with a bathroom and a walk-in closet. The ce was spotless and looked untouched.


    She headed to the walk-in closet; the see-through wardrobe had some clothes, but that was it.


    This had to be his room, but bummer, she didn''t find anything useful.


    It was as clean as his look, no signs of the past.


    Quinn, holding Sprout, plopped down on a chair by the window.


    Holding Sprout for so long had worn her out.


    Sprout started getting fidgety again; he was a night owl. She nced at the bed across the room and put him on it.


    After all, it was his dad''s bed; what harm could it do if Sprout crawled on it?


    Apparently, Sprout thought the same. He started crawling back and forth on the bed.


    But after a bit, he suddenly froze.


    Quinn was startled. From her experience, there was only one reason he''d sit still like that he had pooped.


    She was quiet for a moment, then walked over,id him down, and pulled off the diaper. She was right; he had pooped.


    She took off the diaper, rolled it into a ball, and dropped it on the floor. She carried him to the bathroom, grabbed a towel, and wiped his butt before putting him back on the bed to air out. Then she took the towel to the bathroom, washed it, and hung it back up.


    But when she came out, she was shocked to see a big wet spot on the bed. He had peed right after pooping.


    Quinn sighed. They couldn''t stay here any longer. She picked up the nket, wrapped him up, and got ready to leave.


    Just as she reached the door, she suddenly heard a noise outside.


    She immediately killed the light.


    Someone knocked on the door; it was the nanny''s voice, "Mr. Lynch, is that you?"


    Quinn held her breath and stayed silent.


    The nanny outside seemed to stand there for a bit before turning to leave. Just as Quinn let out a sigh of relief, she heard voices outside again.


    But this time, she wasn''t talking to Quinn; she was talking to someone else.


    "I thought you were inside, Mr. Lynch," the nanny said.


    "What happened inside?" Alexander asked.


    "I saw the light on and heard what sounded like a child. Maybe I was mistaken," the nanny exined, feeling weird.


    Quinn quickly darted to the walk-in closet and hid behind the wardrobe.


    The next moment, the door opened. She could almost picture Alexander walking in and seeing the mess on the bed. She closed her eyes in frustration.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She hade to find him, but not like this.


    Alexander turned on the light and saw the crumpled bed and the wet spot on it.


    He stared at it for a moment without much reaction, then walked in and saw the diaper under the bed.


    The housekeeper, seeing the obvious signs that someone had been in the room, broke into a cold sweat. She had no idea when someone hade in. If anything valuable was missing, how would she exin it? She thought Lance had a good temper. Seeing these things, he didn''t get angry; he just said calmly, "Change the stuff on the bed."

 Chapter 1387

    "Alright." The nanny hustled to tidy up the bed, her nerves spiking when she spotted the diaper on the floor. Wait, was the intruder wearing a diaper?


    Nah, it had to be a thief with a kid. In all her years, she''d never seen such a whack job.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    She quickly gathered the stuff on the bed and took it out,ing back with fresh sheets and bedding in no time.


    A few minutester, she finished making the bed and turned to Alexander, who was chilling by the window. "Mr. Lynch, the bed''s ready."


    Alexander nodded. "You can go now."


    "Should, uh, should we call the cops?" she asked, all hesitant.


    "No need. Just leave," Alexander said, cool as a cucumber.


    The nanny awkwardly shuffled out and closed the door behind her.


    Quinn was hiding in the closet, her mind racing with all sorts of thoughts about how to face him.


    But he didn''te in.


    A flicker of doubt crossed her mind. She quietly stepped out from behind the wardrobe and saw him sitting in the outer room by the window, casually flipping through a book. He wasn''t looking for anyone, nor did he leave the room to give her a chance to sneak out.


    Quinn couldn''t figure out if he wanted to see her or not.


    Sprout also saw Alexander outside and made cooing sounds, like he was urging her to go to him.


    Despite everything, he could pretend not to know there was someone in the room, seriously reading his book.


    Since he was pretending not to see, Quinn didn''t bother to hide anymore. She carried Sprout and walked out boldly, acting like he didn''t exist, heading towards the door. Just as she reached the door, she heard Alexander''s voice behind her. "You''re being a bit too much."


    Quinn paused and turned to look.


    Alexander closed his book, ced it on the table, and turned to look at her.


    Quinn met his calm gaze, her eyes flickering and anger slowly bubbling up inside her.


    "So why are you pretending not to see? If you don''t know me, why not call the cops or kick me out?" she questioned, staring straight at Alexander.


    Sprout in her arms cooed in sync with her, making it hard to know which voice to listen to.


    Alexander stood up from the sofa and walked towards her. Quinn stood her ground, watching him without backing down.


    He stopped in front of her, his gaze falling on her face. He looked at her for a long time before suddenly letting out augh.


    Seeing the fleeting smile on his face, Quinn was slightly stunned. For a moment, she seemed to see the familiar Alexander.


    His ambition and arrogance were evident in that smile, forming a stark contrast to the calm demeanor she had seen in theirst two encounters.


    But it was only for a moment; he quickly reverted to his indifferent expression.


    He said, "If you don''t leave now, I might really call the cops."


    Quinn was stunned again. She stared at Alexander, wishing she could tear off his mask and see the true face beneath it.


    "Fine, go ahead and call the cops," Quinn said defiantly.


    She was betting that he wouldn''t call the cops.


    But this time, she lost. Alexander took out his phone and started dialing.


    Quinn''s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at him.


    "Alexander, why? Why do you lie to me over and over again? Were all the things you said lies?" Quinn questioned.


    Alexander''s hand paused mid-dial, and he looked up at her.


    Clenching her fingers, Quinn continued, "Was it a lie when you said you wanted to start over with me? In Municity, you risked your life to save me time and again. In Las Vegas, you refused to leave even if it meant dying. Were all those things lies?"


    As she spoke, memories of the past flooded her mind, and her eyes involuntarily reddened.

 Chapter 1388

    He stared at her, and the room went dead quiet.


    After a beat, he shoved his phone back in his pocket. "I''m not Alexander. You got the wrong person."


    Quinn''s lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Yeah, you''re right. The person I''m looking for wouldn''t push me away. You''re definitely not him."


    Her words were soft, but man, they stung.


    She spun around and walked out of the bedroom.


    He watched her go, the door clicking shut behind her. His breath came in short gasps. Clutching his chest, he stumbled to the bed, gripping the headboard to steady himself.


    Saturday morning, Quinn got jolted awake by a call from Kyle.


    She fumbled for her phone and answered.


    Kyle''s voice came through, "Mrs. Kennedy, you ready? I''m outside your ce. Juste on out."


    Quinny there, staring at the ceiling. Sprout was curled up next to her, the room eerily quiet.


    "Mrs. Kennedy?" Kyle called again.


    "Kyle, do you think he ns to never acknowledge me, like, ever?" Quinn blurted out.


    Kyle went silent for a sec, then his voice got all urgent. "No way! You know him better than anyone. Can''t you tell how he feels about you? Would he just ignore you for no reason?" Quinn didn''t say anything for a long time.


    She knew, but dealing with this ice-cold Alexander had her second-guessing everything.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Caught up in the mess, her emotions were all over the ce. Logic and feelings were duking it out, messing with her head. She couldn''t see things as clearly as someone on the outside. Ten minutester, she was outside the apartmentplex, holding Sprout.


    Kyle, Cody, and Abigail were all waiting in the car.


    Kyle hopped out to open the door for her. "Mrs. Kennedy."


    Seeing her troubled face, Kyle figured she must''ve seen Alexander.


    Her hesitation about seeing Sean was because she was scared herst bit of hope would get crushed, just like when she went to find Alexander before.


    All her efforts, met with nothing but cold indifference.


    Quinn got in the car. No matter what, she had to face it.


    As Abigail always said, "It''s better to rip the band-aid off quick."


    Sean''s ce was a bit of a trek, about an hour''s drive.


    The buildings there were pretty run-down, with most residential areas looking crowded and shabby, filled with all sorts of folks.


    Kyle parked by the curb and turned to Quinn. "He''s usually not around during the day. We''ll have to wait here; he probably won''t be back untilte."


    Quinn nodded, still looking spaced out.


    Abigail took Sprout from her. The little guy could sleep through anything, not even waking up during the bumpy ride.


    Quinn stared out the window as the sky got darker. People bustled around on the street. Even though she was with familiar faces in the car, the strangers and the unfamiliar surroundings made her feel like a total outsider. In the evening, a light rain started falling, making everything foggy. It got dark fast.


    The street started to empty out.


    Cody yawned and dozed off a few times.


    Quinn was about to nod off when Kyle suddenly said from the front, "Mrs. Kennedy, Sean!"


    Her eyes snapped open, and she looked towards the sidewalk behind them. Sure enough, there was a guy in a hoodie and cap walking their way.


    Bundled up tight, Quinn didn''t recognize him, but if Kyle said it was him, then it was.


    As he got closer, Kyle suddenly jumped out and tried to grab him.


    But Sean was way quicker. Before Kyle could touch him, Sean kicked him away.


    Kyle hit the ground and couldn''t get up for a bit.


    Cody, who was about to get out, saw this and froze, not daring to move.


    "Sean! You kicked so hard!" Kyle yelled from the ground. Sean''s body stiffened, and he turned to look at Kyle on the ground.


    So, Sean saw Kyle lying there, clutching his butt and howling.

 Chapter 1389

    Sean stood there, totally spaced out for a sec, then bolted like a bat outta hell. But he barely got a few steps in when Quinn''s voice cut through the air, "Sean!"


    He froze, caught between running and staying. He clenched his jaw, hesitating, and then Quinn''s voice came again, "If you leave, I''ll die right here." Sean couldn''t risk it now. He stood there, torn, knowing Quinn wasn''t bluffing. She''d tried to off herself more than once before.


    Half an hourter, Quinn was sitting in this bare-bones house. The ce was basic, just a few pieces of furniture.


    Sean stood there like a scolded puppy, while Kyle was next to him, rubbing his butt and stomach, shooting daggers at Sean every now and then.


    Abigail and Cody were outside, so it was just the three of them in the room.


    Quinn stared at Sean. He hadn''t changed much; his face still gave everything away.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Spill it, what''s going on?" Quinn demanded.


    Sean scratched his head, ying dumb. "What do you mean?"


    Kyle took the chance to smack the back of his head. Sean turned and red at him, and Kyle immediately said, "Don''t y dumb. If we found this ce, we know more than you think. Just answer the question." He then muttered under his breath, "How dare you kick me? I''ll give you a good beating."


    "Who told you to just show up?" Sean shot back.


    "Don''t change the subject," Kyle snapped.


    Sean said, conflicted, "Sorry. I can''t tell you."


    Quinn stared at him hard. She didn''t threaten him this time, but her gaze made him squirm.


    "Stop asking me. I don''t know much either," Sean dered.


    Quinn asked, "Why is he pretending not to know me?"


    Sean was caught off guard. She asked why he was pretending, not why he had amnesia, leaving Sean without an excuse.


    Seeing his hesitation, she added, "If none of you will tell me, I guess I really was just wishful thinking."


    She stood up. "He probably doesn''t care about me, so he wouldn''t care if I died."


    Sean''s face changed, and he quickly reached out to stop her. "No."


    Staring at him, Quinn asked, "If you won''t tell me, why are you stopping me?"


    "I, I..." Sean was on the verge of breaking down. He scratched his head, took a deep breath, and looked at Quinn. "I''ll tell you, but you can''t ask him, okay?"


    Quinn nodded. "I promise, I won''t tell him."


    Sean sighed, "He doesn''t want you involved. He''s pretending not to know you because..."


    His words suddenly trailed off, and Quinn hurriedly asked, "Because of what?"


    "He''s got a listening device on him," Sean continued.


    "What?" Quinn asked, shocked. "Why doesn''t he just take it off?"


    Sean exined, "The device isn''t on the outside of his body; it''s inside."


    After Alexander was captured, Zeke had been searching for him. When it became clear they couldn''t keep it hidden, his captors decided to disable him and make him lose his memory.


    They wanted to force Alexander to pretend to have amnesia. But they still weren''t satisfied and imnted a listening device inside him. It wasn''t an ordinary device; apart from listening, it would explode if forcibly removed. Alexander might not even have time to take it out before being blown to bits.


    Quinn was stunned by Sean''s exnation.


    So what had he gone through this past year?


    He couldn''t even dare to reunite with her.


    She recalled their few meetings, his cold attitude towards her, and her own attitude towards him.


    When she was feeling sad, he might have been feeling just as bad.


    Kyle was also shocked, but he quickly calmed down and asked, "How do you know all this?"


    "When I woke up that day, I saw a text message from an unknown number. It said it was from Alexander, telling me toe to Country H."


    "So you just came?" Kyle asked.


    Sean nodded. "Yeah."


    No wonder he chose to message Sean. This guy didn''t even question it and just came. If he had messaged Kyle, Kyle might have investigated the message, which could have exposed him. "And then?" Kyle asked.


    "Then I went to the ce he mentioned, which is here. There were a few letters in the room, exining the situation and specifically telling me not to tell you guys," Sean answered.

 Chapter 1390

    Kyle scratched his head. "You haven''t seen him around?"


    Sean shook his head. "Nope."


    "So, what the heck have you been up to, sneaking out early anding backte every day?" Kyle pushed.


    Looking a bit sheepish, Sean mumbled, "I''ve been trying to get close to Aron Lynch, the second-inmand of the Lynch family."


    Despite all his efforts, he hadn''t found a way to approach him. He had thought about seeking help several times, but Alexander had instructed him not to, so he gave up.


    Plus, he had secretly contacted his old crew, thinking about just taking Aron out.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    "So, you didn''t take him out?" Kyle asked.


    "No, I still need to find a way to remove that bug. Only he knows how. If he dies, the people around him will definitely suspect Mr. Kennedy. What if they blow up Mr. Kennedy then?" Sean exined.


    Quinn finally snapped out of her shock and asked, "Did you find any other info? About Aron, his background, and his rtionships?"


    Sean nodded, ran to a drawer, and pulled out a file folder, handing it to Quinn.


    Quinn took out the documents inside. Sean hadn''te up empty-handed; there were photos of Aron in there.


    When she saw the photo, her eyes flickered. She recognized this guy; he was the one who had captured her when she was in the Lynch family.


    The documents said he was fifty-seven, but the photo made him look only about forty.


    He had only one son, and his wife was from another prominent family. His son was aplished, currently the most outstanding young member of the Lynch family, and often showed up in the news. Unfortunately, he didn''t resemble his father but looked like his mother, making him look rather ordinary.


    It seemed Aron had investigated Alexander''s past and was worried that his return would affect his son''s position, which is why he was targeting Alexander.


    Quinn flipped through the documents. Aron was indeed very capable. He was the previous head of the Lynch family and had five sons and two daughters.


    To consolidate the Lynch family''s position, he had invested almost all his efforts in grooming them, arranging marriages everywhere to expand the family''s influence.


    Sean could only find information that was easily searchable online. After reading, Quinn handed the documents back to him.


    "Didn''t you say he left you a letter? Let me see it," she demanded.


    "I burned it. Mr. Kennedy said not to keep it," Sean replied.


    Quinn paused and then asked, "How do you twomunicate?"


    Sean said, "We''ve only contacted each other twice. The first time was a text message, and the second time wasst month when a kid gave me a note."


    "What did it say?" Quinn pressed.


    "He didn''t say much, just told me to buy a stock, to buy as much as I could afford, but not to buy it myself. He told me to go through a brokerage firm. I just followed his instructions," Sean answered. "That''s all?" Quinn asked.


    "Yes," Sean replied, nervously watching Quinn. "I''ve told you everything, so please don''t tell Mr. Kennedy."


    "Which stock did he tell you to buy?" Quinn asked again.


    Sean quickly pulled out his phone and checked thepany. "I think it''s called the Vitex Group, a subsidiary of the Lynch family."


    "Got it." Quinn seemed a bit distracted and nced at Sean. "I won''t tell him. Don''t worry. If you need anything,e to us."


    Sean''s face lit up. "That''s great. I can''t do this alone. With your help, it will be much better."


    Quinn didn''t stay long. She turned and left the room, opened the door, and saw Cody eavesdropping at the door. When she opened the door, he almost stumbled in.


    Cody awkwardly smiled. "I didn''t hear anything."


    He really hadn''t heard much; their voices were low, and it was raining outside.


    Quinn didn''t mind, knowing that he wouldn''t understand even if he had heard.


    Quinn spoke, "Thanks for your hard work today."


    She had brought him along in case Kyle couldn''t handle Sean, but it turned out Sean was so timid that she needn''t have bothered.


    Cody said, "Then sign another contract with me."


    Quinn smirked, "Next time, for sure."


    She walked out of theplex. The rain outside had gotten heavier, making it impossible to walk.


    She suddenly thought of something and turned to ask Kyle, "Is Walter still in Amber Bay? What''s he doing?"


    "He should be at thepany," Kyle replied.


    "Did he have any reaction to meing to Country H?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle shook his head. "Nope."


    That was strange. Quinn remembered him saying that if he confirmed Alexander was still alive, he might do something to thepany.


    But now Walter knew very well why she was here, yet he remained silent, contentedly working at thepany, earning a modest sry, and working diligently. This didn''t fit his character.

 Chapter 1391

    Kyle was like, "Forget that dude. We gotta focus on Mr. Kennedy. The fact that he won''t even face Sean means he''s having a rough time with the Lynch fam. It''s not just Aron who''s got it out for him."


    "Totally," Quinn nodded, staring at the raindrops hanging off the eaves.


    Everyone was just chillin'', waiting to get their piece of the estate, but then someone way more capable showed up. Now, not only would they have to share the inheritance, but it might also mess with their lives. No wonder they were freaked


    out.


    But with Aron leading the charge, the rest were just waiting to cash in.


    Quinn thought about how alone he felt in this ce, still unsure because of his attitude.


    "Kyle, go check out that stock Sean mentioned," Quinn ordered.


    "Got it," Kyle replied.


    When the rain eased up a bit, Quinn finally hopped in the car and took off. It was toote to hit up Susan''s ce, so she headed to a hotel instead.


    Quinn had no clue how long she''d be stuck here. She nced at Abigail feeding Sprout, and they started another tug-of-war.


    She plopped down next to Abigail and asked, "Abigail, you bored here?"


    Abigail paused, looking puzzled. "Why you askin''?"


    "I''m worried you''ll get too bored. I went to Iris Estates again and left you here alone," Quinn said, feeling guilty.


    Abigail rolled her eyes. "It''s no biggie. You think I got nowhere to go?"Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn was momentarily speechless.


    Abigail shoved the bottle into her hand. "Chill out. I''m not a kid. I can handle myself. If I get bored, I''ll go out. I even hit the beach a few days ago." "Okay. I might not be able to take care of you," Quinn admitted.


    Abigail couldn''t help butugh. It was funny hearing Quinn say she''d take care of her. To Abigail, it should be the other way around.


    She patted Quinn on the shoulder. "Take care of yourself first. Feed your kid; look how wet he is. He can drive me nuts."


    As Abigail spoke, Sprout was still making noises nearby, like he was arguing with her.


    Quinn fed him with the bottle. He was always chill when she fed him, not spitting out the milk or getting distracted.


    After feeding, she changed his clothes and gave him a bunch of toys to mess with on the bed.


    Quinn took his clothes to the bathroom to wash. As soon as she went in, the little guy picked up a stuffed animal from the bed and chucked it at Abigail.


    But he didn''t have enough strength to throw it far. Abigail, arms crossed, watched him throw it, pick it up, and throw it at her again.


    He was only a few months old and already so mischievous. She couldn''t imagine what he''d be like when he got older.


    The next day, Quinn headed back to Iris Estates. She nced behind her, paused for a sec, then pulled out the key to open Susan''s door.


    Besides the key lock, the door also needed a password to keep Anna from wandering off.


    It was the weekend, but Susan wasn''t home, and Anna wasn''t there either. Susan had probably taken Anna out for a walk.


    Quinn put Sprout in the stroller and checked the kitchen. No groceries left. She tossed the clothes from the bathroom into the washing machine and went out to buy some groceries.

 Chapter 1392

    She had this whole routine down pat. Back when she was hitched to Alexander, this was her daily grind, and now she was back at it.


    When she got back, Susan was already home.


    "Wondered where you disappeared to. Grocery run, huh?" Susan said to Quinn. She''d noticed the washing machine going earlier, so she knew Quinn was back.


    Quinn walked in with the groceries and scoped out the ce. Anna wasn''t in the living room. "You guys eaten yet?"


    "Yeah, we already ate. Just do your thing. You get everything done?" Susan asked.


    "Almost. Just gotta stash these groceries first," Quinn replied.


    "Cool."


    Quinn took the groceries to the kitchen and shoved them in the fridge. When she came back out, Susan was on the phone.


    Sounded like some drama at work. Quinn didn''t bother eavesdropping and headed straight upstairs.


    Sprout was still snoozing. She pulled out the book she brought and plopped down by the window to read. The foreignnguages she picked up were for everyday chit-chat, but sometimes she hit a word she didn''t get. So, she had to keep at it. That evening, she swung by Alexander''s ce again, but no luck this time. The nanny didn''te out to dump the trash.


    And Alexander wasn''t home either.


    Looked like he didn''t crash there much. Quinn staked out for days and never caught himing back.


    A weekter, she got a call from Kyle.


    Quinn rolled up to themunity entrance and spotted a white car. She bent down to peek inside but hadn''t seen anyone when Kyle popped out of the car.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, hop in," he said.


    Quinn blinked and looked up at him. "This your ride?"Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Nah, borrowed it from Cody. It''s his old beater he doesn''t use anymore, so he let me drive it. You want it? It''s yours," Kyle offered.


    "Nah, I''m good. Don''t really need a car right now," Quinn said, opening the door and sliding in.


    Kyle grabbed a file from the back and handed it to her. "Did some digging on Vitex Group. It''s a phonepany. Was doing alright a few years back, but their phones had some issues that never got fixed, so they got overshadowed by other brands. Their stock''s been tanking the past couple of years. Especiallyst month, when another brand dropped a killer phone, boosting their rep big time. Plus, with the head of the Lynch family kicking the bucket, Vitex Group''s stock nosedived, and there are whispers of bankruptcy."


    Quinn flipped through the docs. The legal rep for Vitex Group was Hugo Lynch. The info matched what Kyle had said.


    "If they''re going under, why would he want Sean to buy their stock?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle shrugged. "No clue. Maybe he''s nning a takeover?"


    "Apany like this wouldn''t be much use even if he did take it over, unless he''s got a way to turn it around," Quinn mused.


    "Yeah, and even if he takes it over, he''s still part of the Lynch family. It wouldn''t do him any personal favors..."


    Kyle trailed off, suddenly looking at Quinn like he had an epiphany.


    Quinn seemed to have pieced it together too.


    He nned to snag it not under his own name but through anotherpany. If thispany tanked under Hugo''s watch but got revived after being acquired by someone else, you could imagine the heat Hugo would face within the family. The best y would be to stir up some family drama within the Lynch n, creating chaos so Alexander could swoop in.


    So this nearly bankruptpany was his golden ticket.

 Chapter 1393

    Kyle and Quinn were on the same wavelength, but hey, it was just a hunch. Only Alexander knew what was really going on in his head.


    Quinn ordered, "Go find Sean. If he needs cash, give it to him. With Vitex Group''s stock tanking, now''s the perfect time to scoop up those loose shares." "Got it," Kyle replied.


    They shot the breeze for a bit longer, then Quinn took off.


    Later that afternoon, Susan dragged herself back home, looking beat. She tossed her bag onto the couch and flopped down, not giving a damn about her appearance. Quinn strolled over and asked, "Susan, you''re back early today?"


    Susan rubbed her nose bridge and nodded. "Thepany''s been having some issues and might have toy off people. Quinn, if I get the boot, I might not be able to keep you around." Quinn was stunned. "What''s going on?"


    "Even if I exined, you wouldn''t get it," Susan said, getting up. "I''m heading to my room. Don''t bother calling me for dinner."


    Watching her walk away, Quinn couldn''t help but think about thatpany. Could it be that she works at Vitex Group?


    She headed upstairs too, and when Sprout woke up, she took him out for a stroll.


    Iris Estates had some sweet scenery, and today was sunny, though the sun was about to dip.


    She pushed the stroller along the path, almost on autopilot, heading towards the back gate where cars usually rolled in.


    Even though she''d been waiting for days without seeing Alexander, she still came here, hoping to get lucky.


    She found a bench, sat down, and yed with Sprout using a toy. Sprout reached out his tiny hand to grab the toy and, once he got it, tried to shove it in his mouth.


    Quinn moved the toy a bit farther away. He stretched his hand to grab it but couldn''t reach it after several tries. Frustrated, he started making those cute little protesting sounds.


    "All you do is y. Do you even know where your dad went?" Quinn teased him.


    Of course, Sprout didn''t get her words. He just stared at her with wide eyes, thought for a moment, and then, still confused, reached for the toy again.


    A ck car slowly rolled in. The driver saw Quinn and muttered, "It''s her again."


    Alexander in the back seat looked up and saw Quinn sitting there.


    She was rocking a white down jacket, her hair casually tied back, and a pair of white fluffy earmuffs. In front of her was a stroller, and she was ying with the baby.


    The setting sun cast a golden glow on them, making the scene look all peaceful and serene.


    As the car got closer, she looked up at it.


    She couldn''t see who was inside, and the car was different, so she didn''t recognize it. She just nced at it and then went back to shaking the toy. The white car brushed past her, the passing wind lifting the strands of hair around her ears. The driver was relieved. They''d switched cars these past few days, so she hadn''t recognized them.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    They''de back yesterday too, but with a different car, so Quinn didn''t recognize them and didn''t try to stop the car likest time.


    Quinn sat there until it got dark. The temperature dropped, so she took Sprout back home.


    She was actually suspicious that Alexander hadn''t been gone but had just switched cars and parked somewhere else, so she couldn''t see the car from the house.


    With this suspicion in mind, she went back, cooked dinner, and then snuck out againte at night.


    It was close to midnight, and most people were already asleep. Iris Estates was eerily quiet.


    She made her way to Alexander''s vi, just like before. It was pitch ck inside; she couldn''t tell if they were asleep or not home.


    She looked at the door and then nced at the doorbell beside it.


    She reached out and pressed the doorbell.


    The sound of the doorbell echoed in the night, sounding particrly abrupt and kinda eerie.

 Chapter 1394

    Who would ring a doorbell in the dead of night?


    Quinn hit the bell three times before the door finally creaked open. Same nanny as before, still pulling on her clothes as she shuffled to the gate. "Who are you?" the nanny asked, squinting.


    Quinn winged it. "I''m the neighbor next door."


    The nanny''s eyes narrowed, like she was trying to remember who lived next door. She''d only been here two months and hadn''t seen any neighbors. So, she kinda half-bought Quinn''s story.


    Quinn''s innocent look and the kid in her arms helped her case a bit.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    But it was sote, the nanny was still skeptical. Who knocks on a neighbor''s door at this hour?


    She didn''t open the gate and asked, "What do you need?"


    Quinn said, "Power''s out at my ce. Wanted to see if you guys have power."


    The nanny nced back at the lit-up living room, the answer obvious.


    Quinn saw it too and quickly added, "Oh, looks like it''s just a tripped breaker. Sorry to bother you sote."


    Seeing Quinn wasn''t trying toe in, the nanny rxed. "It''s okay. Call property management to fix it."


    "I know. Just moved in, not familiar with the ce yet. Do you live here? We''ll be neighbors," Quinn said warmly.


    "No, I work here as a housekeeper. Not the owner," the nanny replied.


    Quinn nodded. "Is Mr. Lynch home?" she asked, ncing at the namete.


    Remembering Alexander''s instructions, the nanny shook her head and smiled. "He''s not here and rarelyes back."


    "That''s a bummer. Wanted to visit him tomorrow," Quinn said, looking disappointed.


    The nanny gave an awkward smile. "Sorry about that. You should go back and call property management. It''s cold out, don''t catch a chill." Quinn nodded, said goodbye, and turned to leave.


    As she passed the neighboring vi, she stopped and peeked inside.


    After a moment, she had a sudden idea and rang the doorbell.


    No response.


    She rang it twice more, still nothing. Maybe no one lived here?


    Then, she rang it several more times.


    On the tenth ring, she heard movement inside and bolted with Sprout.


    The person who came out saw nothing and, thinking they''d seen a ghost, quickly went back inside.


    Quinn ran back to Susan''s house. She put Sprout on the bed and pulled out her phone to search for properties in the neighborhood. Some were for sale, but not the house next door. Just then, an agent messaged her, and she replied right away.


    She said she wanted to buy a house, but it was currently upied.


    The agent said he could negotiate, but buying a house here needed proof of funds and a deposit to start negotiations.


    Quinn set up a meeting with him for 9 AM the next morning.


    They swapped numbers, and Quinn stopped looking at properties.


    She stared into the dark night outside, lost in thought.


    Alexander hadn''t been particrly cold to her before. From their chats, it was clear those after Alexander didn''t pay her much mind.

 Chapter 1395

    They might''ve snooped around her while digging into Alexander. She was just a mute with no power, and they probably had no clue she owned the Mellon Group.


    So, she wasn''t a threat to them. Actually, with her getting close to Alexander, it''d be easier for them to figure out if he really had amnesia.


    Plus, like Sean said, folks from the Lynch family usually marry within their circle. They were also worried about Alexander marrying some heiress, so her being around was a win for them. Next morning at nine, the agent showed up in person.


    He was a guy in his thirties. Standing outside, he said, "Ms. Mellon? Is this the right ce? Hope I didn''t mess up the address."


    Quinn opened the door and let him in. "Yeah, it''s me. You got the right spot."R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    "You mentioned you wanted to buy the vi from the Choi family?" the agent asked.


    "Yep, can you make that happen?" Quinn shot back.


    The agent put down his bag and shed a professional smile. "I can start by talking to them. If you''re serious about buying, I can figure something out. But like I saidst night, we need to verify your funds..." "I get it." Quinn pulled out her phone, opened her banking app, and showed him the bnce. "Is this enough?"


    The agent nced at it casually, then his eyes popped wide open.


    He leaned in closer to the phone, thinking he saw it wrong. He counted with his finger while mumbling, "Ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, ten million, billion, two billion dors..."


    He messed up in the middle and had to start over. By the third time, he realized he had a rich client! His face lit up immediately.


    Even with some exchange rate differences, it wasn''t a big deal. Buying a house was totally doable.


    "Ms. Mellon, there''s absolutely no problem. If you want that house, I''ll make sure you get it!" the agent said with a fawning smile.


    Quinn nodded. "Then I''ll leave it to you. How do I pay the deposit you mentioned?"


    The agent pulled out a POS machine. "You can swipe your card here. The deposit is eight thousand dors."


    "Alright."


    After swiping the card, the agent asked, "Do you have any specific requirements regarding the price?"


    "As long as it doesn''t go over twice the market price, it''s cool. Just make sure to get the house for me. I''ll pay twice the market price, and whatever''s left, I''ll give you a twenty percentmission based on the final sale price," Quinn said generously.


    The agent swallowed hard, his mind racing to calcte the market price of the house and the twenty percentmission.


    The current market price of the house was about twenty million dors. Twice that would be forty million dors. If he managed to buy it for thirty million dors, he''d get twenty percent of ten million dors, which was two million dors! After this deal, he could retirefortably for the rest of his life.


    He immediately stood up. "I''ll go talk to them right now. I promise, I''ll get you that house."


    Yep, having money makes things a whole lot easier. With enough cash, you can solve any problem.


    The agent was confident and determined. If he couldn''t handle it alone, he might even bring in his colleagues. No way they wouldn''t get the house.


    Quinn waited for his news with peace of mind. After all, with so much money, she didn''t know where else to spend it.


    Compared to Alexander blowing a few million dors on weeding, her spending was still pretty modest.


    At noon, after making lunch for Anna and waiting for her to nap, she headed to Alexander''s vi again.


    She rang the doorbell, and the same nanny answered. The nanny was surprised to see her again.


    Quinn waved the fruit in her hand. "I bothered youst night, so I came today to apologize."


    The nanny looked a bit troubled. "It''s really okay. In the future, if you need anything, just contact the property management. Just take the fruit back."

 Chapter 1396

    Quinn eyed the nanny and figured getting past this door was gonna be a hassle. She grinned and said, "Guess it''s a pain for me toe in, huh? Got it." "Sorry, Mr. Lynch said no visitors," the nanny shot back.


    Quinn nodded and shoved the fruit through the iron gate. "I get it. Just take the fruit. I brought it, and it''d be awkward to take it back."


    The nanny, eager to get rid of her, grabbed it. "Alright then, thanks."


    "No problem," Quinn replied.


    From the nanny''s reaction, it was clear Alexander was home; otherwise, she wouldn''t be so quick to shoo her away.


    But that didn''t mean she couldn''t get in.


    She picked the easiest route climbing the wall.


    Since she didn''t have Sprout with her during the day, she could scale the wall.


    She went back to Susan''s ce, grabbed a foldingdder, set it up outside the backyard wall, and climbed up. Thedder was still about a foot and a half short, but no biggie. She grabbed the edge of the wall and hoisted herself up. Sitting on the 6-foot wall and looking down, she felt a bit of vertigo.


    She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves, theny on the wall and picked up thedder, ready to ce it inside.


    Just as she picked up thedder, she saw a group of property management staff storming over, led by a middle-aged woman.


    The woman pointed at Quinn on the wall and yelled, "There she is! Trying to climb over and steal stuff!"


    The nanny had seen Quinn lugging adder around earlier. Quinn thought being so obvious, no one would think she was gonna climb the wall. But she didn''t expect people with nothing better to do than follow her.


    A bunch of burly security guards rushed at Quinn with tools in hand.


    Panicking, Quinn quickly moved thedder inside and started climbing down.


    But thedder was wobbly. After just two steps, it tilted. With a loud crash, both she and thedder fell, and she let out an uncontroble scream.


    The world spun around her, and when she hit the ground, her vision went ck. It felt like her insides were rattling.


    Shey there, unable to move for a while.


    After a bit, she heard footstepsing closer.


    A shadow loomed over her, and she turned her head with difficulty to see the nanny running over. When she saw it was Quinn, her face was priceless. Behind the nanny, a figure in a ck sweater walked over.


    Alexander stopped in front of her and looked down at Quinn, who was still on the ground, too pained to get up.


    Just a moment ago, she was delivering fruit, and now she was sprawled in the yard with adder beside her.


    Even with her usual thick skin, she felt a bit embarrassed.


    She turned her head and raised her hand to cover her face.


    Meanwhile, the security guards outside were ringing the doorbell.


    Alexander turned to the nanny and said, "Go deal with it."


    "What should I say?" the nanny asked.


    "Just say it''s nothing," Alexander replied calmly.


    The nanny nodded and jogged to open the door.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    After she left, the air got all awkward and quiet again.


    "You okay?" Alexander asked.


    Hearing his voice from above, Quinn slowly lowered her hand, only to see a slender hand in front of her.


    She followed the hand upward and saw a faint smile on Alexander''s face.


    After a moment of silence, she raised her arm and grabbed the hand, and then a force pulled her up from the ground.

 Chapter 1397

    Quinn was in serious pain and could barely stand. The vibe got real awkward real quick.


    Alexander blurted out, "Why do you always haunt me like a ghost?"


    Quinn was caught off guard. Normally, those words would sting, but now, looking at Alexander, even with his icy stare, she felt like she saw something else behind that tough exterior. She took a beat and then said softly, "You look a lot like someone I''m searching for."


    Alexander paused and gave her a scrutinizing look.


    "So you climbed over the wall?" he asked.


    Quinn''s face shed with embarrassment. She braced herself and said, "The nanny wouldn''t let me in. What else was I supposed to do?"


    "So, do you now believe you mistook me for someone else?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn stared at him for a bit. A breeze swept through the yard, like a soft touch on her cheek.


    After a moment, she finally said, "I don''t know."


    If she insisted she had mistaken him, it would seem like they had some secret deal. Only by constantly testing him would he believe they hadn''t recognized each other and that he hadn''t regained his memory. Alexander didn''t push the topic. He noticed Quinn rubbing her arm and asked, "Are you hurt?"


    "You try falling from that height and see how you feel," Quinn shot back.


    Alexander went quiet. Then he said, "I heard you live next door?"


    Quinn nodded, keeping her cool. "Yep, we''re neighbors now. Don''t you want to get along with me?"


    Alexander couldn''t help butugh. He then turned and walked into the house. "Come in, my neighbor."


    Quinn was momentarily stunned and suddenly admired his acting skills, perfectly portraying that polite yet distant attitude.


    She rubbed her arm and limped after him.


    This was the first time she had openlye to his house after being here for so long. It looked much the same asst time, but her feelings were different.


    She sat down on the sofa, and Alexander asked Molly to get the first aid kit to treat her injuries. Only then did Quinn learn that the nanny''s name was Molly Mitchell.


    He sat across from her, staring at her as if he really didn''t know her.


    Quinn couldn''t help but ask, "Do you usually keep to yourself?"


    Alexander replied tly, "Pretty much."


    "Well, not anymore. I''ll be visiting you often," Quinn announced.


    "Are you going to climb over the wall again?" Alexander asked.


    "If you don''t let me in, I''ll have no choice but to climb over," Quinn said with a cheeky grin.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    As they talked, Molly was puzzled. Many women had visited Lance, but this one was different. She actually dared to climb over the wall.


    Molly had to admit, this method was effective. At least it caught Lance''s attention. It seemed that whether a man was pursuing a woman or vice versa, as long as one was bold and thick-skinned enough, there was no one they couldn''t win over. "Next time, don''t climb over the wall. I''m afraid you''ll fall to your death in my yard," Alexander remarked.


    Quinn frowned. His words annoyed her a bit, but she decided not to expose him. If she did, she worried that one of them wouldn''t be able to keep up the act.


    "If I fall to my death, you won''t be responsible. Not only will I fall to my death in your yard, but I''ll also bring my son with me. Even as a ghost, I won''t let you off," Quinn dered, her words sounding threatening but not entirely serious. Alexander didn''t react, but Molly burst outughing. She was the only oneughing, which was quite awkward. She cleared her throat, packed up the first aid kit, and stood up.

 Chapter 1398

    "Hey, miss, I already put the medicine on," Molly said.


    Quinn gave her a nod of thanks, and Molly took off with the medicine box, leaving Quinn and Alexander alone. Once she was gone, things got real quiet.


    Quinn was at a loss for words. She checked the time and got up, saying, "I should head back."


    If she stuck around any longer, Susan would be off work soon, and Sprout would probably wake up.


    She hesitated for a sec, but since Alexander didn''t ask her to stay, she just left.


    When she got back, she saw Susan hade home early again, and they both arrived at the same time.


    They were both a bit surprised. Quinn broke the silence, "Susan, you''re home early today."


    Susan nodded, clearly in a bad mood and not in the mood to chat. She went straight to her room.


    Quinn headed to her room to check on Sprout. As expected, he was awake, sitting in his stroller ying with his feet.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing the noise, he looked up at Quinn, then grinned and waved his arms and legs like crazy.


    Quinn walked over, picked him up, and checked his diaper. Luckily, it was just wet, not dirty.


    After changing his diaper, she pushed him downstairs to the kitchen to make dinner.


    As they passed the living room, Anna was pacing around. When she saw the baby in the stroller, she ran over excitedly, looking at the baby with delight. Anna called out, "Susan..."


    She reached out, wanting to touch the baby but hesitated, like she couldn''t believe her daughter had be so small.


    Sprout babbled something and pped his hands, looking super happy.


    Anna looked at him gently, bent down, and carefully picked him up.


    Quinn wanted to stop her but saw that she was holding him properly, so she bit her tongue.


    If she didn''t have that illness, Anna might have been great at taking care of the baby.


    Sprout didn''t fuss in Anna''s arms. He stared at her, trying to recognize her face, and grabbed his foot, trying to offer it to Anna to eat.


    Quinn couldn''t take it anymore. "Better give him to me."


    Quinn reached out to take him back, but Anna turned away. "You young folks don''t know how to take care of babies. Dressed so lightly, he''ll catch a cold." Anna muttered to herself, carrying the baby to the couch.


    Quinn followed her. Anna ced Sprout on the bed, looked around, and then stood up to go upstairs.


    Quinn took the chance to put the baby back in the stroller and pushed him to the kitchen.


    When Anna came back down and didn''t see them, she stood in the room for a couple of seconds, then started rummaging through the cabs, calling out, "Susan." Quinn heard a loud crash and immediately ran out to see what had happened.


    Anna had knocked over jars and bottles from the shelf, smashing them all over the floor.


    Susan also rushed out. Seeing the mess, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.


    "What happened?" she asked Quinn.


    Quinn replied, "I don''t know. I was in the kitchen cooking and came out when I heard the noise."


    Susan quickly walked over to Anna. Anna, maybe realizing she had messed up, was crouching down to pick up the pieces.


    Susan pulled her up. "Don''t pick them up."


    But Anna still bent down to pick them up, which made Susan lose her temper. She kicked the pieces away and shouted angrily, "I told you not to pick them up! Can you just stay still and not make me worry so much?" Her voice was loud, and after she yelled, the room fellpletely silent.

 Chapter 1399

    Anna nced up, her eyes kinda nk.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    After a beat, she reached out and grabbed Susan''s hand. "Susan, chill. I''ll clean it up right now." Susan stared at her, cooling off after her outburst.


    She bent down to help Anna up, her voice softening, "Alright, stop picking it up. I''m not mad."


    Quinn grabbed a dustpan and broom from the side. "I got this."


    She quickly swept the pieces into the trash and headed back to the kitchen, where the food in the pot was on the verge of burning. Dinner was awkward. Susan didn''t say a word.


    Anna didn''t either. She kept sneaking nces at Susan, took a few bites, then stood up, said she was full, and went upstairs.


    Susan hesitated for a sec, then went back to eating, but it was more like she was eating out of spite, shoving food into her mouth. Quinn sighed next to her.


    Yeah, dealing with this illness was rough on everyone around.


    Hearing Quinn''s sigh, Susan stopped eating too. She put down her fork and muttered, "Maybe I shouldn''t have brought her here." Quinn looked at her, confused.


    Susan went on, "She''s lost here. She doesn''t get thenguage, can''t read anything. I just keep her cooped up in the house, and I barely have time to be with her." Quinn tried tofort her, "Youe home every day and see her, and she sees you. At least you''re together, that''s something."


    "What''s the point? She doesn''t even remember me," Susan said. She got up, grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge, twisted off the cap, and took a swig. "Back home, even though we couldn''t see each other, she wasn''t this bad. She had a nanny. Except for not seeing me, everything was fine," Susan said, feeling guilty. She brought Anna overst month ''cause the doctor said her condition was getting worse. Every time Anna called, she kept asking when Susan woulde back. Susan thought, while Anna still remembered her, she''d bring her over to spend more time together.


    But as soon as she did, work got crazy. She was alwaysing homete. She''d already hired two nannies before one stole stuff, and the other mistreated Anna. But she had to keep hiring ''cause she didn''t have time to take care of Anna herself.


    Quinn listened quietly. When Susan finished, Quinn asked, "You can afford to rent a house here, so you must have some money. Why keep working so hard?"


    Susan could quit her job, go back home, sell the house here, and the leftover money would be enough for her and Anna to livefortably.


    Susan went quiet.


    After a while, she nodded and said, "You''re right, but not entirely. I actually don''t have money."


    "This house is rented," Susan admitted.


    "What?" Quinn asked, shocked.


    Susan drank a bit more and spilled her current situation.


    Back then, her dad climbed the socialdder, ditched her and her mom, and married into a rich family. Anna scrimped and saved to support Susan''s education. So, she vowed early on to make her dad regret abandoning them. After studying abroad, she stayed here to work.


    The people at herpany were superpetitive and alwaysparing. She was looked down on as a kid and didn''t want to be looked down on as an adult, so she rented this house.

 Chapter 1400

    Susan''s gig was finally starting to pay off, and she was on the brink of a sweet promotion. But now, thepany was hitting some rough patches, and she caught wind of rumors about it going belly up, which only cranked up her anxiety. Over the past few days, she''d been shooting her resume out to a bunch of ces, but none of them were hitting the mark. Either the pay sucked, or the job just wasn''t her vibe.


    She even thought about bailing and heading back to her hometown, but the thought of everyoneughing at her for her measly savings held her back.


    After all, she''d been bragging to them about being some big-shot exec with a million-dor sry.


    The fact that Susan was spilling all this meant she was seriously hammered.


    Quinn seized the moment and asked, "So, what''s the name of thepany you''re at now?"


    "The Vitex Group," Susan slurred.


    Quinn was a bit taken aback but not totally shocked; she had kinda guessed it already.


    "Yeah, I know thatpany," she said.


    Susan nodded, not too fazed. It was a big-namepany, after all.


    "Mind if I ask what your role is there?" Quinn probed.


    "I think it''s Vice President of Sales?" Susan replied, a bit unsure.


    Quinn mused, "Oh, do you get much face time with the boss?"


    "Yeah, I see him a lot. Why do you ask?" Susan wondered.


    Quinn grinned. "Oh, nothing. Just heard he''s from the Lynch family. If a subsidiary''s in trouble, the parentpany should step in, right? It shouldn''t go under."


    Susan sighed, "If they were gonna help, they would''ve done it by now. The subsidiary runs on its own. How could the parentpany cover its debts? And I heard the Lynch family''s businesses are all managed separately, adjusting shares based on eachpany''s financials every year."


    "Of course, that''s just the word on the street. No one really knows the deal," Susan added.


    Quinn said, "That can''t be right. If that''s true, they''d be sabotaging each other for profit, and the whole thing would copse."


    Susan shrugged. "Who knows? Like I said, it''s just what I heard. I don''t know for sure."


    "Alright." Quinn didn''t push further. She asked, "Got any ns now?"


    Susan shook her head. "Nope, just gonna y it by ear. If thepany tanks and I can''t find a new gig, I might think about heading back."


    Quinn smiled, cleaned up the table, and headed to the kitchen.


    She kept mulling over how to steer Vitex Group''s mess towards Aron. Maybe Susan was the key.


    After tidying up, Quinn took Sprout back to her room and pulled out her phone to call Kyle. When he picked up, Quinn got straight to the point, "Kyle, did you dig up anything on Aron?" "Yeah, but it''s mostly surface stuff from the inte. What''s up?"


    Quinn said, "Can you check whatpanies he owns right now?"


    "Got it. I''ll shoot the info to your email in a bit," Kyle replied.


    "Cool, send it over," Quinn said.


    Within two minutes of hanging up, Kyle sent the info.


    Quinn scanned through it. Aron had his hands in a bunch of pies-cars, real estate, jewelry.


    But onepany caught her eye, sparking an idea.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    She put down herptop, grabbed her phone, and thought about calling Walter. She hesitated, unsure if he''d do her this favor. Taking a deep breath, she finally dialed the number.

 Chapter 1401

    After what felt like forever, the phone finally picked up, and Walter''s upbeat voice came through, "Hey, Ms. Mellon, found your hubby yet?"


    Quinn was caught off guard. She hadn''t spilled the beans about why she was there, but it made sense he''d figure it out.


    Ignoring his snark, Quinn asked, "What''re you up to right now?"


    "Obviously, pulling an all-nighter at work. You ditched thepany and left me hanging. Do you trust me that much, or just don''t give a damn?" Walter shot back. Quinn smirked. Honestly, it was more thetter.


    But she needed his help now, so she couldn''t say that. "Of course, I trust you. Aren''t you always saying you''re like my brother?"


    Walter chuckled. "Oh, now I''m your brother. What do you need?"


    He knew Quinn too well. She wouldn''t say stuff like that unless she really needed something.


    Quinn paused, then asked, "Got any tech rted to cell phones, like chips or whatever?"


    "Nope," Walter shot down immediately, but Quinn wasn''t buying it.


    "You totally do," Quinn insisted.


    "And how do you know that?" Walter asked.


    "Those funky gadgets you showed me before, never seen ''em on the market. You gotta have something," Quinn replied. Walterughed. "You remember that, huh? I''m kinda touched."R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    "So, you really have it?" Quinn pressed.


    "Why should I? Alexander''s in trouble, right? Why would I help him?" Walter sneered.


    "It''s got nothing to do with him. It''s my call. Are you gonna help or not?" Quinn pushed.


    "Name your price or conditions, as long as I can do it," she added.


    Walter clicked his tongue. "Then call me Lucas."


    Sensing her hesitation, he added, "Can''t say it? You just said I was like your brother. Quinn, you''re getting good at this." Quinn bit her lip. Honestly, saying that word was tough.


    Walter waited but didn''t hear anything. He sighed, "Forget it. I''m hanging up."


    "Wait!" Quinn shouted, gripping the phone.


    She tried to say it but still struggled.


    Walterughed. "Is it that hard? Don''t force it."


    Just as he was about to hang up, Quinn, panicking, gritted her teeth and blurted out, "Lucas!"


    Walter went silent on the other end.


    Quinn thought he hung up. She checked her phone and saw the call was still on. She said again, "Help me."


    A few secondster, Walter''s voice came through, "You''d really do anything for Alexander, huh?"


    Quinn stayed silent.


    "There''s a ton of cell phone tech. Be specific. If it''s too high-tech, I might not have it," Walter said.


    Quinn exined about thepany she saw. It was under Aron Lynch''s name, rted to electronics, but mainlyputers, not cell phones. And she only needed the cell phone tech.


    After listening, Walter thought for a moment. "So you wanna use tech to infiltrate theirpany?"


    Quinn didn''t deny it. That was exactly her n.

 Chapter 1402

    "Just spill the beans on what tech can help me," Quinn demanded.


    "XR virtual tech," Walter said, cool as a cucumber.


    Quinn raised an eyebrow. "Heard of it. Isn''t it already out there?"


    "Not the kind you can buy at Best Buy. This is a phone that syncs with AR sses. And I ain''t talking about those clunky ones. Think more like sleek sunsses. You know, like in those sci-fi flicks? sses that merge phone andputer into one slick virtual gadget," Walter exined.


    Quinn''s jaw hit the floor. She hadn''t heard of it before, but Walter made it sound like the next big thing.


    "You got this tech?" Quinn asked.


    "Nah," Walter said, shrugging.


    Quinn went quiet. She thought he had the goods and was even wondering if it was worth giving it to the Lynch family.


    But Walter kept going, "But I can get it for you. It''s still in testing, but it''s pretty much ready to roll. It''s new tech. Even if it''s not perfect, people will buy it just ''cause it''s cool."


    "How you gonna get it? You ain''t nning on swiping it, are you?" Quinn guessed.


    "What else?" Walter shot back.


    Quinn was speechless for a sec. Walter was talking about breaking thew like it was no big deal.


    "Will you be in danger?" Quinn asked.


    Walterughed. "You worried about me?"


    "Don''t tter yourself. I''m worried you''ll drag me down with you," Quinn snapped.


    Walter shrugged again. "Isn''t this perfect? The stuff ain''t ours, so we won''t feel bad giving it away. If thepany you mentioned uses it, they''ll be the ones in hot water."


    His words made everything click for Quinn. No wonder he was so slick; he''d done enough shady stuff toe up with these tricks.


    "Alright, I''ll wait for your news. I need two versions: one perfect and one with some bugs," Quinn stated.


    "Oh? So you''re not just looking to sneak in, huh?" Walter asked.


    "You''ll find out soon enough," Quinn dered.


    "Good. Can''t wait," Walter said with a hint of excitement.


    Over the past year since Quinn took over thepany, he''d noticed her changes.


    It was a shame she''d been wasted by Alexander during those years with the Kennedy family.


    Quinn hung up, her heart pounding with what she had to do next.


    After getting the tech, the key yer was Susan. If she didn''t y ball, Quinn would need a n B.


    Quinn put down her phone and looked outside. It waste.


    Sprout was crawling around on the bed.


    Quinn picked him up, wrapped him in a nket, and headed to Alexander''s vi.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    With the kid, she couldn''t climb the wall, so she had to use the front door. Just as she was about to ring the bell, she noticed the door was unlocked. Quinn reached out and gently pushed, and the door swung open.


    Her heart skipped a beat as she stepped inside. The front door was also ajar.


    Was the door left open for her?


    With that thought, she walked right in. The living room lights were on, but it was empty.


    She headed upstairs.


    She''d been here plenty of times, but it was the first time the ce was so lit up. Every other time, it had been pitch dark.


    She noticed the previously locked room was now open. She thought for a moment and walked towards it.


    Before she could get close, someone suddenly stepped out.

 Chapter 1403

    They shot each other a look, both kinda taken aback.


    There stood a middle-aged man, probably in his forties. Even though he was rocking a suit, he had a medical kit with him.


    The man looked surprised to see Quinn, like he''d never seen a woman in this vi before, especially one with a kid.


    They eyeballed each other for a sec before the man gave Quinn a nod and strolled past her.


    Quinn hustled into the room.


    The door was wide open, and Alexander had his back to her, buttoning up his shirt.


    Probably hearing her footsteps, Alexander turned to the door. "How''d you get in?" he asked.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn wasn''t sure if Alexander was ying dumb or really didn''t know the door was open. She ignored his question and walked in with Sprout, her eyes scanning him.


    "I just saw a doctor leave this room," she said, staring at Alexander, trying to figure him out.


    But Alexander just turned back around and kept buttoning his shirt.


    Quinn walked up to him, giving him the once-over again. "What''s wrong with you?"


    Alexander paused, gave her a look, then headed to the sofa. "Do you always barge into people''s homes in the middle of the night?"


    Quinn was momentarily speechless. Alexander always used lines like that to push her away, and she was used to it. Looking unfazed, she said, "Then call the cops and have me arrested." Alexander wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. "I''ve told you a million times, you got the wrong guy."


    Quinn stood right in front of him, staring him down without saying a word or leaving.


    They locked eyes.


    Sprout started making noises. When no one paid attention, he began to squirm in Quinn''s arms, wanting to get down.


    Quinn put him on the ground, and Sprout started crawling around happily.


    Alexander''s eyelid twitched.


    Sprout crawled under a chair, explored for a bit, then crawled back towards Alexander.


    Sprout made his way to Alexander''s feet, grabbed his pant leg, and tried to stand up, wobbling halfway before plopping back down.


    When Sprout tried to put Alexander''s pant leg in his mouth, Alexander finally spoke, "Is this how you usually take care of your kid?"


    As he spoke, he pulled his foot back and moved to the side, lifting Sprout onto the sofa with one hand.


    "Yep," Quinn said, nodding without changing her expression. "Got a problem with that?"


    "No," Alexander denied.


    Quinn walked to the other side of him and sat down. "He doesn''t have a name yet. Why don''t you name him?"


    Alexander looked a bit taken aback. "That''s kinda inappropriate."


    "So what? It must be fate that we met. Plus, you look so much like his dad. If you name him, I''ll make you his godfather."


    Alexander stared at her for a long time without saying anything.


    Finally, he said, "Thanks, but no."


    "Then just give him a name," Quinn insisted.


    Alexander sighed, his usually nk face showing a bit of helplessness.


    Quinn looked at him with hopeful eyes.


    After a while, Alexander gave in. "What''s hisst name?"


    "Whatever you want it to be," Quinn replied, her eyes locked on him.


    Alexander was taken aback, nced at the little boy sitting close to him, and said quietly, "If you dislike him so much, why not just throw him out?"

 Chapter 1404

    Quinn tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Can you do me this favor?"


    When Quinn pulled out his old shameless tricks, he had no way to counter.


    Quinn didn''t know whatst name to use since Alexander didn''t originally have thest name Kennedy.


    Alexander was quiet for a sec, then suddenly said, "How about using yourst name?"


    Quinn was a bit taken aback.


    She stared deeply at Alexander, unsure of his meaning. Maybe it was inconvenient for him to acknowledge her now, so using thest name Lynch wasn''t cool. Thinking of this, she nodded. "Okay."


    Alexander stared at Sprout, who was gnawing on his foot, his sock soaked with drool.


    Quinn stared at him, wondering what good name he coulde up with. After a long pause, he said, "I can''t think of one."


    Quinn looked at him, confused, furrowing her brows.


    Alexander added, "I''ll let you know when Ie up with one."


    Quinn had nothing to say.


    After a while, she said, "Do you have any diapers here? It seems like he pooped."


    Alexander looked at Quinn, deadpan. "Are you serious? How could I possibly have diapers here?"


    Quinn didn''t want to keep talking with Alexander.


    So, she stood up and said, "Goodbye."


    It was just a conversation going nowhere. If she hadn''t met Sean, she would never havee to find Alexander again. Quinn got up and left, leaving Sprout behind.


    Just as she reached the door, Alexander''s voice came from behind, "Did you forget something?"


    Quinn paused, looked back at Alexander, and said, "I''lle back to get him once you''ve decided on a name."


    With that, she ran off quickly.


    Inside, Alexander and Sprout looked at each other.


    Sprout had no idea he had been left behind by his mom, happily pping his legs and drooling as he smiled at Alexander.


    Alexander looked at Sprout for a long time, then reached for a tissue on the table to wipe his drool.


    He was about to call Molly, but then remembered she had taken the day off.


    He then used two fingers to pull open the diaper and take a look. Sure enough, Sprout had pooped.


    Frowning deeply, Alexander picked up Sprout and went down to the parking lot.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    He ced Sprout in the passenger seat and secured him with the seatbelt, but it didn''t seem to work as he could wriggle out.


    After struggling for a while, he had no choice but to hold Sprout in hisp, secure him with the seatbelt, and drive off.


    As the car disappeared into the darkness, Quinn emerged from the shadows, looking in the direction the car had gone, her eyes flickering.


    Alexander drove to a baby store. There were no customers inside, just a young girl sleeping at the counter.


    Alexander walked up and tapped his fingers on the counter.


    The clerk woke up with a start and instinctively shouted, "Wee!"


    Then, she looked closely and saw a tall, handsome man leaning on the counter, holding a baby, and was instantly stunned.


    It was the first time she had seen such a young and handsome dad.


    "Diapers," Alexander said simply.


    It wasn''t until Alexander spoke that the clerk snapped out of it. "Which brand do you want?" she asked.


    "Any," Alexander replied.


    "Alright then."


    She walked over to one of the shelves, took down a pack of diapers, and asked, "Is this okay? It''s a best-seller." Alexander nodded.


    The clerk sighed inwardly, ''So cold.''


    After getting the diapers, Alexander changed them right in the store. The clerk watched him and noticed he seemed a bit clumsy. "Sir, that''s not how you do it. Do you need help?" she offered.


    "Yes."


    Their voices came from a litputer screen, echoing clearly in the dark room.


    The light from the screen shone on a chair, illuminating a man''s face.

 Chapter 1405

    After changing the diaper, the clerk started pitching more baby stuff to Alexander. He nced at the items, hesitated for a sec, then told her to bag ''em up. Alexander took Sprout back and parked the car. Seeing the open iron gate and the house door ajar, he paused for a moment.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    After standing there for a few seconds, he walked in with Sprout.


    As soon as he stepped in, he spotted a dude in a white suit, lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed, fiddling with an orange.


    The guy looked up and shed a slight smile when he saw Alexander.


    "Alexander, where''d you go sote?" the guy asked, getting up and strolling towards the door, his eyes locked on Sprout. "Cute kid," he said, grinning at Alexander. "Yours?" They locked eyes, both smiling, but the tension was thick.


    Alexander nced down at Sprout in his arms. "You know, this kid kinda looks like me."


    "Maybe he really is yours," the guy said, reaching out to pinch Sprout''s cheek.


    "Why do you say that, Luke? Got some clues about my past?" Alexander asked.


    Luke Lynch, son of Aron Lynch, was even more unpredictable than his old man.


    Despite his in looks, his confidence and cocky belief that he could control everything were obvious.


    Luke grinned, looking pretty pleased. "Nah, I''m waiting to get some from you. Alexander, you really don''t remember anything?"


    Alexander smiled faintly. "I do hope to remember something. I feel a real connection to this kid. Maybe, like you said, he really is my son."


    Luke nodded seriously, stepping back to put some space between them.


    He rubbed his chin and paced back and forth.


    After a bit, he suddenly looked at Alexander. Still smiling, showing his neat white teeth, but there was a hint of anger.


    He pointed at Alexander and said, "You better be telling the truth."


    Luke was clearly starting to lose his cool.


    Alexander, on the other hand, stayed calm, watching him like he was a clown.


    "What''s wrong, Luke? You mad?" Alexander asked.


    Luke''s smile widened, and he patted Alexander on the shoulder, saying earnestly, "Nah, just worried about you."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll do my best to remember," Alexander said.


    "Then you need to think hard. Remember the past, old friends, and family. Maybe they''re still waiting for you toe back," Luke said. "You''re joking, Luke. My home is right here. Where else would I go?" Alexander shot back.


    Luke''s grin was wide, but his anger was clear.


    He didn''t say anything more to Alexander and turned to leave.


    The driver was outside waiting. When he saw Lukeing, he went to open the door, but Luke knocked him to the ground with a punch. The driver got up, holding his bleeding mouth, while Luke had already gotten inside the car.


    The driver awkwardly got back into his seat and drove out of the neighborhood.


    Aron had justin down when frantic knocking on the door woke him. Annoyed, he got up to open it.

 Chapter 1406

    Luke jabbed his thumb towards the door, making it clear who he was talking about.


    Aron stepped up and gave his arm a nudge, signaling him to keep it down. "Are you nuts? Showing up in the dead of night to talk about this!"


    Luke grumbled, "I swear, Alexander''s got it all figured out and he''s just messing with us."


    "So what? You gonna off him?" Aron shot back.


    They couldn''t just take out Alexander, even if he did remember. They were stuck. Zeke was so into Alexander that if anything happened to him, Zeke would lose it ande after them, no questions asked. Whatever was inside Alexander might scare him a bit, but it wasn''t a real threat.


    If they killed Alexander just ''cause he remembered, it would be game over for everyone. So, unless they had no choice, they couldn''t go there.


    The more Luke thought about it, the more pissed he got. He kicked over the stool in front of him. "Alexander''s ying us."


    He was dropping just enough hints to make them think he remembered, but not enough to be sure, keeping them on edge. Wasn''t this all just to mess with Luke?


    Aron sighed, looking worried. Back then, he had hesitated. If he had known, he would''ve taken out Alexander.


    But now it was toote for regrets.


    Aron said, "Chill out, at least we can still keep tabs on him. As long as he doesn''t make a move, he can''t touch us. Plus, we still have Quinn, right?"


    "So what? If Alexander hasn''t remembered, even if we take her out, he wouldn''t care," Luke snapped.


    Aron turned to look at Luke. They exchanged a nce and had the same thought.


    "The main thing now is to figure out if Alexander''s got his memory back," Aron said.


    Luke took a deep breath, nodded, and said, "You''re right. Let''s watch how they interact and see if we can pick up any clues."


    To them, Quinn was only useful if Alexander got his memory back; otherwise, she was just dead weight.


    By then, they''d have two ways to control Alexander and wouldn''t believe they couldn''t get him to do what they wanted. Maybe they could even get him to work for them. Quinn had a rough night. She tossed and turned in bed. Usually, Sprout would be fussing beside her, but tonight the room was eerily quiet.


    She wondered how things were going with Alexander. No way he''d know how to take care of a baby, right?R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    She was right; Alexander had no clue about taking care of a baby.


    He''d never seen a baby so active at night.


    He sat on the couch, watching Sprout y on the bed. It was already 2 AM, and Sprout was still bouncing around.


    At 3 AM, Sprout found the bottle himself, waved it at Alexander, and babbled something, clearly wanting milk.


    Luckily, the store clerk had suggested a can of form to Alexander, and he had bought it.


    Alexander took the bottle to prepare the form, following the instructions on the back and mixing it up.


    The little guy behind him was still urging him on.


    After getting it ready, Alexander handed the bottle over, letting Sprout drink it himself.


    But after a few sips, Sprout started spitting it out.


    He didn''t just spit it out all at once; he puffed out his cheeks and squeezed it out bit by bit.


    In no time, the bed was a total mess.

 Chapter 1407

    Alexander eyeballed the bed, thinking he''d give Sprout a wash after he finished his drink.


    But man, Alexander was way overthinking it. Sprout barely touched the milk; he just messed around with it until it was all gone. With no one watching, he even flipped the bottle upside down, spilling milk everywhere. When he got bored, he chucked the bottle and crawled all over the bed, smearing milk all over himself.


    When Alexander reached out to grab Sprout, his hand felt like it was dipped in glue.


    Sprout wasn''t done ying and squirmed when Alexander picked him up.


    Alexander sighed and put him back down.


    As Alexander stood there, watching Sprout make a mess, another hour ticked by. The milk in the bottle had already gone cold, and Sprout picked it up to drink again. Alexander took it away, and Sprout started bawling.


    Staying pretty chill, Alexander went back to whip up more form. When he handed it to Sprout, the crying stopped.


    But Sprout didn''t drink it; he just yed with it. Alexander''s forehead veins were about to pop as he watched the milk drip from the bottle.


    After a few sips, the rest of the milk went cold again.


    Alexander figured Sprout might be full, so he took him to the bathroom for a bath. He found a basin, filled it with warm water, and plopped Sprout in.


    Sprouty in the basin, sshing water everywhere, soaking Alexander.


    Before this, Alexander thought talking to a baby with an undeveloped brain was pointless.


    But now, he grabbed Sprout''s hand and snapped, "You better chill out!"


    As soon as he said it, a big ssh of water hit him right in the face.


    Water droplets slid down his cheeks.


    Seeing Alexander''s wet face, Sprout grinned and kept pping the water. In no time, Alexander was drenched.


    Even in front of Zeke, Alexander could keep his cool, but now his face was dark with frustration. Holding Sprout with one hand, he scrubbed him with the other, not letting go no matter how much Sprout squirmed. When his protests didn''t work, Sprout started wailing. Anyone who didn''t know better might think Alexander was hurting him.


    Feeding and bathing Sprout felt like a full-on battle.


    Alexander''s shirt was soaked, and his hair was wet too.


    He pulled Sprout out of the water, wrapped him in a towel, and carried him to another clean room.


    As soon as he put Sprout down, Sprout peed on the bed.


    Alexander was livid; both rooms they could sleep in were now trashed.


    He leaned against the headboard, clutching his chest, and started coughing uncontrobly.


    Sprout, totally clueless about Alexander''s distress, rolled around naked in his own pee.


    Alexander felt a surge of blood in his chest. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and swallowed the blood back down.


    It took a long time for him to calm down.


    Sprout crawled over to Alexander, babbling. He then put his finger in his mouth, signaling he wanted milk.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander stared at him for a long time.


    Sprout looked at him with wide eyes, babbling something.


    Alexander took a deep breath, got up helplessly, and went to get the bottle.

 Chapter 1408

    Alexander thought to himself, ''Does Quinn deal with this kind of chaos every single day?''


    But he was off the mark. When Sprout was with Quinn, he was usually a little angel, only causing trouble now and then.


    With everyone else, though, Sprout was a total handful.


    Quinn felt uneasy about leaving Sprout with Alexander, so she got up early the next morning, fried a few eggs in a hurry, and headed over to Alexander''s ce. She pushed open the door. It was so quiet inside, she figured Alexander and Sprout must''ve had a peaceful night.


    She went upstairs, opened the bedroom door, and found a mess but no one around.


    She checked another room, which was also unlocked, but it was empty too, just a messy bed showing signs ofst night''s chaos.


    Feeling puzzled, she moved to another room.


    This was Alexander''s study, where she had been the night before.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Pushing open the door, she finally found them.


    Alexander was sprawled on the sofa, with Sprout lying on his chest, both covered with a thin nket.


    Quinn pursed her lips and tiptoed over, lifting the nket to take a peek. Sprout wasn''t wearing any clothes, his little butt still bare.


    She turned her head and suddenly locked eyes with Alexander.


    She quickly covered them back up with the nket. "Why are you sleeping here?"


    Alexander sat up from the sofa, wrapping the sleeping kid in the nket. Before he could speak, he coughed twice.


    "What''s up with you?" Quinn asked.


    Waving his hand, Alexander replied, "Nothing, Sprout was just too fussy and finally fell asleep."


    Quinn forced a smile and said awkwardly, "I forgot to tell you, he''s a night owl and sleeps during the day."


    "Yeah, I figured that out," Alexander said, rubbing his forehead and taking a moment to calm down. "Since you''re here, could you please clean up your son''s mess fromst night?" ''What do you mean? Isn''t he your son too?'' Quinn thought to herself.


    Of course, she didn''t say it out loud. She noticed Alexander looked a bit worn out, not sure if it was fromck of sleep or something else.


    She agreed and went out to help tidy up the bed.


    In the small bedroom, Quinn rummaged through the cab for a nket. As she was pulling it out, something fell.


    It was a familiar velvet box.


    She paused, picked it up, and opened it to find a ring.


    Quinn stared at the ring, momentarily lost in thought, feeling like she had seen it somewhere before but couldn''t ce it.


    The box was a bit old, with worn edges.


    When she closed the box and put it back in the cab, she saw a photo inside.


    Picking it up, she saw it was a photo of them together.


    If there was any doubt before about whether Alexander had lost his memory, this photo was proof that he hadn''t.


    Alexander had been carrying it with him all along.


    "Are you done?"


    Alexander''s voice came from behind, and Quinn instinctively turned to look.


    When Alexander saw the photo in her hand, his eyes flickered.


    The atmosphere in the room got awkward for a moment.


    Quinn snapped out of it, put the photo back, and said, "Almost done."


    Alexander didn''t say anything more.


    Quinn lowered her head, took off the bed sheets, and reced them with new ones.


    "There''s another room," Quinn said.


    With that, she hurriedly walked past Alexander, went to the master bedroom, found new sheets, reced them, and took the old ones downstairs to the washing machine. Just as she got downstairs, she saw Alexander sitting in the living room, his back to her, with a cigarette between his fingers.


    Since their reunion, Quinn had never seen him smoke until now.

 Chapter 1409

    Quinn shot Alexander a quick nce before grabbing the sheets and heading to find the washing machine. The vi might look huge, but it didn''t actually have that many rooms. After tossing the sheets in the washer, she made her way back to the living room.


    Alexander was still parked on the couch. Quinn hesitated for a sec, then plopped down across from him.


    Alexander coughed a couple of times, covering his mouth with his fingers, then snuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray.


    Quinn eyed him with concern. "You good?"


    "What do you think of the name Leopold?" Alexander blurted out.


    "Huh?" Quinn was totally confused.


    Alexander rified, "For the kid."


    He stared at her nkly for what felt like forever.


    Dipping his finger in his water ss, he scribbled ''Leopold'' on the table.


    Quinn asked, "Does it mean something special?"


    "Nope," Alexander replied, keeping it short.


    "So, how''d youe up with it?" Quinn pressed.


    Alexander paused, then shrugged, "Saw it in a magazine. Looked decent."


    "Alright. Sounds good to me. Let''s roll with it," Quinn agreed easily.


    She''d brainstormed a ton of names over the past year, but none of them fit Sprout''s vibe. This one nailed it.


    "Cool. When you head outter, make sure to take Leopold with you," Alexander insisted.


    Quinn was floored. "Did you just pick a name so I''d take him off your hands faster?"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "You wanna leave him here forever?" Alexander shot back.


    Quinn was speechless.


    She locked eyes with Alexander, the tension in the room thickening.


    Alexander knew she''d found the photo. No point in pretending anymore. Even if there were bugs, they had other ways to talk.


    Quinn couldn''t keep up the act. She raised her hand and signed, "Why? Why are you so eager to ditch me?"


    Alexander watched her fingers, his eyes flickering, but he stayed silent.


    When Quinn used signnguage, Alexander should''ve known she was onto everything.


    But he didn''t say a word.


    Quinn stared at him, waiting for an exnation. Whether he had his reasons or just didn''t want her involved, she needed to hear it.


    But after what felt like ages, Alexander acted clueless and said nothing.


    Quinn suddenly stood up, ring at him.


    "I don''t want him anymore!" she yelled.


    Alexander was stunned. "What did you say?"


    "I don''t want him anymore. If his dad doesn''t want him, why should I? You deal with it. Whether you toss him or sell him, he''s yours now," Quinn snapped, storming out without a backward nce. She was partly being spiteful, but she also knew Alexander would never abandon the kid.

 Chapter 1410

    ''Other than the listener, what else am I missing?'' Quinn thought, getting more and more ticked off. She headed back to Susan''s ce. Susan was already at work, and Anna was just sitting on the couch, staring into space. Quinn plopped down next to Anna, both of them zoning out together.


    Quinn was convinced there had to be a way to ditch the listener. The key was Aron. He had to have some kind of control over it; otherwise, how could it be set to blow up if someone tried to yank it out? If only she could figure it out.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Once the listener was gone, Alexander would be out of excuses, right?


    Quinn called up Walter again to check on the tech she asked for.


    Walter said, "You think this is like grabbing groceries? It takes time."


    "How much longer?" Quinn pressed.


    "No clue. I''ll let you know," Walter shot back.


    Quinn frowned. Walter was acting all chill, even though he knew Alexander was alive. What was up with that?


    "Something else bugging you?" Walter asked.


    "You''re acting weird," Quinn said.


    "Weird how?" Walterughed.


    "Before, you were all about taking down Alexander. Now you''re all calm, helping me out. What''s your angle?" Quinn questioned. Walter couldn''t help butugh. "So if I help you, I must have a scheme? Do you still want this thing or not?"


    "Of course I do. Just send it over. And if you y any tricks..." Quinn trailed off.


    Walter pushed, "What are you gonna do?"


    "I''ll kill you," Quinn said.


    Her threat didn''t sound too scary; it just made Walterugh more. "You''re getting gutsy."


    Quinn didn''t want to waste more time with him and hung up, waiting for his update.


    Soon after, her agent called. Quinn felt a bit of relief.


    The agent wanted toe over and showed up at the vi''s entrance half an hourter.


    He rang the bell, and Quinn opened the door.


    Seeing his big smile, Quinn knew things were looking up. "Got it done already?" she asked.


    The agent nodded. "Yeah, let''s chat inside."


    Quinn led him in. The agent didn''t say much, just that it was done and she could sign the contract anytime.


    Quinn didn''t want to wait. "How about today? That work for you?" she asked.


    "Sure, I can take you there. Do you have local residency?" the agent asked.


    Quinn paused. "Nope."


    The agent was stunned. "How long you been here?"


    "Less than six months," Quinn replied.


    The agent was floored. No residency and a short stay. He hesitated, "How long''s your visa?"


    "One year," Quinn answered.


    The agent chuckled awkwardly. "Well, that''s a bit of a snag."


    "Do I need to meet those conditions to buy it?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, if you meet any one of those, I can make it happen. But..." the agent looked troubled.


    Quinn thought for a moment. "I have a son. Can he get a residency permit here?"


    "How old is he?" the agent asked.


    "Eight months," Quinn responded.


    "That''s possible, but the dad has to be a local, and it can only be under his name."


    Quinn was stumped again. Should she go find Alexander?


    Alexander definitely wouldn''t go for it.


    Should she just find some random guy? With enough cash, getting a residency permit wasn''t hard, but it could cause issuester.


    The agent suggested the same. He said that after buying the house, they could transfer the residency permit.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1411

    Quinn rubbed her forehead and let out a wistful sigh.


    "Is that man''s house up for rent?" she asked.


    The agent looked confused.


    Quinn rified, "How about I rent his ce for fifty years, but pay like I''m buying it?"


    The agent''s eyes lit up, and he pped his hands. "Sure thing, that works."


    He thought to himself, ''Rich folks really don''t care about money.''


    "Alright, let''s get this done. Let''s go find him now," Quinn pushed.


    "Okay."


    The agent took Quinn to meet the man renting out the house, a middle-aged man in his fifties. After the agent exined the deal, the man agreed.


    Seeing his age, Quinn figured he probably wouldn''t live another fifty years.


    She added a few more conditions to the agreement: during the rental period, thendlord and his friends or kids couldn''t enter the house; if thendlord took back the house before the lease ended, he''d pay three times the rent as a penalty; and finally, after thendlord''s death, the house would automatically belong to Quinn.


    It was basically the same as buying the house. Thendlord had nned to sell it anyway; this was just another way to do it.


    The agent quickly drafted a new contract, and both parties signed it. Thendlord promised he''d start moving out right away and bepletely gone within three days, leaving nothing behind.


    Quinn left the rest of the procedures to the agent, as she had given him full authority. She just needed to move in.


    After signing the contract, she double-checked it, found no issues, and went out to buy groceries.


    With Alexander taking care of Sprout, Quinn felt relieved and didn''t have to worry about Sprout waking up and crying while she was out shopping.


    She was chill, but Alexander was in agony.


    Alexander, who had never taken care of a kid before, was now stuck with a mischievous little one he couldn''t hit or scold, driving him nuts.


    Even though Quinn had left Sprout in a fit of anger, no one understood better than Alexander what Sprout meant to Quinn.


    Given the current tense and unstable situation, Alexander couldn''t afford to let anything happen to Sprout.


    While Sprout was asleep, Alexander went out to buy a bunch of baby clothes. Sprout had been naked sincest night, and Alexander didn''t have a single piece of clothing for him. When Alexander got back, Molly also returned and offered to help him with the stuff.


    She took a look and found something a bit off. She pulled out an item and asked, "What''s this?"


    Alexander asked Molly, "Do you know how to take care of a baby?"


    "I do. I raised my daughter, son, and grandkids. I have plenty of experience. But Mr. Lynch, why are you asking this?" Molly asked, puzzled.


    "Go check the room," Alexander said without exining anything to her.


    Molly responded, carried the items upstairs, and opened the door to see Sprout sleeping on the bed.


    The stuff in her hands fell to the floor.


    Had it reallye to this?


    Had that woman already won over Mr. Lynch? She even sent her baby over. Molly was momentarily shocked. So, Mr. Lynch, with his status and position, had been won over by a woman with a kid.


    She found it unbelievable.


    Alexander followed her up and said from behind, "You''ll take care of him from now on."


    Molly snapped out of it, hurriedly picked up the items from the floor, and forced a smile, saying, "Got it."Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Molly was patient. No matter how fussy Sprout was, she could still smile and y with him, always talking to him even though he couldn''t understand.


    When feeding Sprout, she put a bib on him so that no matter how much milk he spit up, it wouldn''t get on his clothes.


    Bath time was even more impressive. She wore a raincoat and yed in the water with Sprout.


    No wonder she had raised five kids; she really knew what she was doing.

 Chapter 1412

    Molly got the hang of taking care of Sprout in just one day.


    Quinn hadn''t checked out Alexander''s vi yet. Three days after moving into the house next door, she finally decided to take a peek. But the door was locked.


    She gave it a good push, but nope, still locked.


    Just as she was about to ring the doorbell, she remembered what she had said before and pulled her hand back, deciding to bounce.


    Quinn headed back to her new ce. It wasn''t huge, kinda like Susan''s house, with one floor and a basement, making up just four rooms. But the yard was big enough to grow some flowers, nts, and veggies. The ce was super clean, almost like no one had ever lived there. But there were some signs of life, so it was cool.


    After checking out the house, Quinn went back to Susan''s to pack up. She had made up her mind to quit.


    She sat with Anna, lost in thought. In the afternoon, Walter called her.


    He said, "Give me your address. I''ll mail it to you."


    "Isn''t it just data? Can''t you send it online?" Quinn asked.


    "Online? You want someone to hack us? I''ll mail it on a USB drive. Just give me your address," Walter insisted.


    Quinn hesitated but eventually sent him the address.


    Ten minutester, Walter sent her the tracking number.


    Quinn was checking it when Susan came back. Susan still looked pretty down.


    Before Quinn could say anything, Susan said, "Quinn, I''ve decided to go back to my hometown."


    Quinn was a bit taken aback. "So suddenly?"


    Susan slumped on the sofa. "There''s no point in staying at thispany anymore. Better to quit early and go back. Maybe I can find a decent job." "Have you found apany yet?" Quinn asked.


    Susan shook her head and sighed.


    Quinn looked at her for a moment and then said, "How about I hook you up with apany back home?"


    "Whatpany?" Susan asked.


    "The Mellon Group," Quinn replied.


    Susan was stunned. She hadn''t heard of thispany, but since it was a group, it probably wasn''t too shabby.


    She hesitantly asked, "What does thispany do?"


    "Everything. They''ve got investments in a bunch of industries and quite a few subsidiaries. It shouldn''t be much worse than your currentpany." "Such a bigpany, can I get in? You mean one of their subsidiaries, right?" Susan asked again.


    Quinn shook her head. "No, the headquarters."


    Susan gave a tired smile. "Stop messing with me."


    Quinn looked at her seriously. "I''m not joking. I''m dead serious. I can guarantee you can get into the headquarters."


    Susan stared at her serious expression and couldn''t help but sit up straight. "Who... who are you?"


    Quinn pulled a business card out of her pocket and handed it to her.


    Susan took the card suspiciously, looked at it, then looked at Quinn, her face full of disbelief.


    Then, Susan took out her phone and searched for the Mellon Group.


    The results surprised Susan a lot, but the legal representative listed wasn''t Quinn; it was Kyle.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "This legal representative isn''t you either," Susan remarked.


    "I know it''s Kyle. If you don''t believe me, send your resume to their email tomorrow. You''ll get a call from thepany, and you can verify the number," Quinn replied.


    This was the simplest and most straightforward way to prove it.


    Hearing this, Susan got even more excited, but she kept her cool and calmly asked, "I''ll believe you''re the president of the Mellon Group for now, but you wouldn''t help me for nothing. Why did youe here to work as a housekeeper? What''s your real deal?"

 Chapter 1413

    Susan shot Quinn a suspicious look, remembering the day Quinn had grilled her about the Vitex Group. She started to think Quinn might be gunning for thepany. But why would Quinn go after apany that''s about to go belly up?


    Quinn stayed quiet for a bit before breaking the silence. "I''m after the Lynch family."


    Susan''s jaw dropped. She couldn''t believe it. She had no way of getting close to the Lynch family, yet here was Quinn, aiming straight for them.


    "Are you for real?" Susan asked, still in shock.


    Quinn nodded. "Yep."


    Susan felt a wave of unease wash over her. Her mind was racing, knowing that whatever Quinn wanted her to do wouldn''t be a walk in the park; otherwise, she wouldn''t be sent to the Mellon Group. After taking a moment to steady herself, Susan asked, "So, what do you need me to do?"


    Quinn looked at her, like she was calcting the odds of sess.


    "It''s not hard. I''ll keep you safe, and once it''s done, I''ll get you back, set you up with the Mellon Group, and give you everything you want," Quinn promised.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Susan was hooked, especially by thatst part.


    "So, what''s the n?" she asked.


    "I''ll fill you in a few days. For now, just keep doing your job and don''t quit," Quinn instructed.


    Susan suddenly felt a surge of energy, but looking at Quinn, the nanny she had hired, she felt all sorts of mixed emotions. How did Quinn suddenly be the boss?


    To see if Quinn was bluffing, she stayed upte to whip up a resume and sent it to the Mellon Group''s official email.


    That email was pretty much a ck hole, rarely checked and cleaned out every few months.


    If Quinn was legit, she could tell her people to look for Susan''s resume.


    The next morning, Susan saw Quinn busy in the kitchen, feeling even more conflicted.


    She wondered if she should stop Quinn from doing housework.


    After some thought, Susan went to the kitchen. "Quinn."


    Quinn turned around. "What''s up?"


    "Maybe you should stop doing this stuff. Watching you cook makes me feel weird," Susan said.


    Quinn smiled and kept frying eggs. "It''s cool. I''m just killing time. Oh, by the way, I bought a vi in this neighborhood too. If you''re worried about your mom, she can stay there, and I can help look after her." Susan was floored. She actually bought a house here!


    "Did you check me out beforehand?" Susan asked, feeling uneasy.


    Otherwise, how would Quinn end up working as a nanny in her home and even buy a house in this neighborhood?


    Quinn couldn''t mention Alexander, so she just nodded along with Susan''s guess. "Yeah, I looked into people at yourpany, and you were the perfect fit."


    "I see," Susan said, helping with the tes. "Let me handle this."


    Quinn didn''t argue and kept making the sandwiches.


    Afterst night''s reveal, Susan felt a bit on edge sitting at the same table with Quinn.


    She was also grateful that work had kept her so busy she hadn''t had time to deal with household stuff or nitpick.


    Otherwise, she''d be in deep trouble.


    After breakfast, Susan headed to work. Anna was still asleep, and Quinn was bored out of her mind, with her son not around.


    Quinn sat around for a bit before heading to the other vi.


    From the second-floor balcony, she could see Alexander''s balcony, but it was too far to see anything clearly.

 Chapter 1414

    Through the telescope, Quinn noticed the balcony door was open, but the ce was empty.


    She nced at the yard and saw Mollying out to toss the trash.


    Quinn put down the telescope, hurried downstairs, and headed next door.


    When Molly returned from the trash run, she bumped into Quinn at the door and greeted her with a smile. "Ms. Mellon, you''re here?"


    Quinn shoved her hands into her down jacket pockets and said casually, "Just taking a walk, passing by."


    As she spoke, she sneaked a peek inside the house.


    Molly caught her nce. "Mr. Lynch is home. Want toe in and sit for a bit?"


    "Wouldn''t I be bothering him?" Quinn asked.


    "Not at all. He hasn''t gone out these past few days. He''d be happy to see you," Molly said warmly.


    Quinn forced a smile. More like he''d be eager to kick her out.


    Molly had already opened the door. "Come on in."


    Quinn hesitated for a moment but followed Molly inside.


    Before Molly even stepped in, she called out, "Mr. Lynch, Ms. Mellon is here."


    Quinn walked in and saw Alexander in the living room. He was wearing a thin white sweater, lounging on the sofa, and looking at Quinn at the door.


    Last time, Quinn had stormed out, and now she was back, feeling a bit awkward.


    She exined, "I just ran into Molly outside, and she insisted Ie in."


    "You''re up early," Alexander said casually, calling out her lie.


    No one takes a walk in front of someone else''s house early in the morning. And Quinn just happened to run into Molly while she was taking out the trash. What a coincidence. Quinn walked straight over and sat down next to Alexander. "It''s none of your business. Can''t I take a morning walk?"


    Alexander nodded without saying anything.


    Quinn nced upstairs. "Is Sprout asleep?"


    "Just fell asleep," Alexander replied.


    "And you didn''t sleep?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander raised his chin, signaling Quinn to look at Molly. "Molly didn''t sleep."


    Quinn was stunned for a moment before realizing that Molly was taking care of Sprout. So, Alexander wouldn''t be bothered. "Molly said you haven''t gone out these past few days?" Quinn asked.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    After asking, she saw him smirking at her, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Just asking."


    Alexander suddenly stood up. "Good question. I was just about to go out."


    He left this remark and went straight upstairs, ignoring her reaction.


    Quinn sat on the sofa, bewildered, seemingly used to Alexander''s cold demeanor. She didn''t have much of an emotional response. She wouldn''t jump to conclusions easily without figuring things out.


    Maybe apart from the bug, Alexander had hidden other things from her.


    A few minutester, Alexander came downstairs, wearing a heavy ck coat that made his tall and slender figure even more striking. As he passed by Quinn, he paused and turned to look at her.


    "Ms. Mellon, make yourself at home," he dered.


    With that, he left without looking back.


    Quinn stared at his back, twitching her mouth.


    She got up and went upstairs to check on Sprout. Sprout was sleeping soundly on the bed, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth. Quinn sat down next to him, took out a handkerchief from her pocket, and wiped the drool from his mouth.

 Chapter 1415

    Earlier, Molly mentioned that Alexander hadn''t left the house for days. But right after Quinn showed up, Alexander took off and didn''te back for several days. Quinn felt like Alexander was straight-up avoiding her.


    She didn''t feel right leaving Sprout alone there. Sure, Molly was good with kids, but Quinn didn''t really know her.


    So, Quinn decided to take Sprout back with her.


    Susan hadn''t seen Sprout in a while and thought Quinn had sent him away.


    When Quinn brought him back out of the blue, Susan remembered Quinn mentioning that Sprout''s dad was missing and she was raising him on her own. Now, Susan was curious about Sprout''s dad.


    "Why are you staring at me like that?" Quinn asked, looking up.


    Susan snapped out of it and forced a smile. "I just think Sprout is really cute. Oh, by the way, someone from the Mellon Group called me. It was yourpany''s number." The number was on the official website, so after checking it out, Susan believed Quinn.


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, I know. You applied for the operations position."


    Susan never showed Quinn her resume, so the fact that Quinn knew her position was surprising.


    "Yeah, I studied business operations," Susan said.


    "That''s awesome. I heard the VP of the operations department is getting transferred. When you get back, you should go for that position," Quinn suggested.


    Susan''s eyes lit up. "Really?"


    "Why not? I believe in you," Quinn said.


    "Thank you so much," Susan said.


    Quinn smiled and decided not to push the topic further. After all, it was just a VP position, a second-inmand role that didn''t require much effort or ountability - perfect for an easy ride. She wasn''t sure about Susan''s skills yet, so she figured she''d let her give it a shot first.


    A weekter, Quinn got a USB drive in the mail from Walter.


    Quinn had bought a newputer and called Kyle to help check out the contents of the USB drive.


    They looked at it for a long time, but Kyle couldn''t make heads or tails of it either.


    He scratched his head. "Maybe we should get a pro to look at this?"


    Quinn hesitated. "No, we can''t let this get out. If we find someone, it has to be someone we trust."


    Kyle suggested, "Someone we know? What about Cody? He might get this stuff."


    Quinn thought of Cody''s honest face and exchanged a nce with Kyle.


    Then, she called Cody over.


    Cody looked around the vi in amazement. "Quinn, are you nning to settle here? You even bought a house." Quinn looked at the folders on theputer and didn''t dare to touch them. "Come and take a look at this."


    "What is it?" Cody asked, jogging over.


    Tilting his head, he looked at theputer screen for a while, his expression gradually bing serious.


    He then plopped down, pushing Kyle aside, and pulled theputer in front of him, clicking on the folders with the mouse.


    When he opened one of the programs, theputer screen suddenly went ck.


    Quinn and Kyle stared at him. "What did you do?"


    Cody scratched his head, embarrassed. "Overloaded, the motherboard burned out."


    He exined, "The stuff is tooplex. It needs a professional-gradeputer to run. Yours can''t handle it."


    Quinn was puzzled. Wasn''t this supposed to bepressed to fit on sses? The files should be small, so how could theputer not handle it?


    "Hold on a sec," Quinn said, dialing Walter''s number.


    As soon as he picked up, she blurted out, "Why can''t myputer handle the stuff you gave me? The motherboard burned out."


    "Are you using a defective version?" Walter asked.


    Quinn was taken aback and looked at the blue USB drive plugged into theputer. "It''s blue."


    "That''s it. The blue one is an upressed data package. Any program in there can fry yourputer."


    "What about the ck one?" Quinn asked tentatively.


    "Don''t even try. You won''t get anything from it on a regrputer. It''s a chip that needs special handling to run. Give it to the pros, and they''ll know what to do," Walter instructed. "Are you messing with me?" Quinn asked suspiciously.


    Walter chuckled. "Then don''t use it."


    He hung up before Quinn could respond.


    Quinn stared at the phone in her hand. Was Walter mad just now?


    After thinking for a moment, Quinn decided not to stress about it. There was no better option now. Even if there was a problem, it wasn''t her using it. At worst, the n would fail. Quinn pulled out the USB drive and shut down theputer. "Forget it, let''s not mess with it."


    Cody looked at her eagerly, his eyes full of curiosity. "Quinn, what is this? Where did you get it?"


    Quinn nced at him. "Stolen."


    "What?" Cody eximed, jumping up from the sofa, then sat back down with a grin. "Can you share it with me? I''ll help you figure it out."Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    "It''s a chip. How can I share it with you?" Quinn retorted.


    Cody pouted. "Then what are you gonna do with it?"


    "Something big," Quinn said, patting his shoulder. "Keep it to yourself. If everything goes well, I''ll give you a copy."


    "Really?" Cody''s eyes lit up.


    "Of course. We''re friends. Why would I lie to you? This thing is stolen. Let someone else try it first. If it''s safe, I''ll give it to you. At least you won''t lose anything, right?" Quinn coaxed. Cody tilted his head, thinking it made sense, and nodded.


    "Alright, you should head back. I''ll let you know when the timees," Quinn dered.


    "Deal, no backing out," Cody said cheerfully.


    Quinn nodded helplessly and urged him to leave.


    Quinn was targeting the Lynch family. Even if someone came after her, Cody wouldn''t betray her. After all, the Logan Group and the Lynch family werepetitors.


    If the Lynch family had bad luck, Cody would probably be thrilled.


    After Cody left, Quinn handed the blue USB drive to Kyle. "Find a way to get this to the Vitex Group. Make it look legit so they don''t get suspicious."


    "No problem. Leave it to me," Kyle replied confidently.


    He took the USB drive and hurried away, leaving Quinn alone in the vi again.


    Quinn took out the ck USB drive, gently rubbing it with her fingers.


    She couldn''t let Alexander know about this. If Alexander found out, he''d probably think she was meddling.


    Alexander wouldn''t let her help him, no matter how down and out he was.


    Quinn sighed, figuring Susan should be back soon. She got up to leave.


    Before leaving, she nced at the vi next door. It was quiet, not like anyone was there.


    She closed the door and turned to leave when she suddenly heard the sound of a car.


    She turned around abruptly and saw a white car stopping in front of the vi.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1416

    Alexander finally decided toe back.


    He stepped out of the car, and almost like magic, his eyes found Quinn''s.


    Their gazes locked for a split second, but then he quickly looked away, pretending he hadn''t seen her, and headed straight for the vi.


    Quinn watched him until he was out of sight before she turned away.


    She had more pressing matters to deal with and didn''t have time to chase after Alexander.


    Quinn went back to Susan''s ce, waiting for her to get home from work.


    Ever since Quinn promised her a job at the Mellon Group, Susan had been in a much better mood these past couple of days and even started buying groceries on her way back. Quinn was about to start cooking when Susan stopped her, "Let me take care of it. You go rx."


    Quinn felt a bit weird, considering she was supposed to be the nanny, but now her employer was serving her.


    She didn''t argue and let Susan handle it.


    Susan went into the kitchen and whipped up a meal in about half an hour.


    After dinner, Quinn pulled out a USB drive and handed it to Susan.


    Susan looked a bit surprised, taking the USB and eyeing Quinn with suspicion.


    Quinn exined the task she needed Susan to do. It wasn''t hard, just a bit risky.


    But since Quinn had promised to send Susan back after the job was done, there was nothing to worry about.


    Susan agreed to the task.


    A couple of dayster, Kyle told Quinn the job was done.


    Kyle had someone pose as a programmer to sell research data to the Vitex Group, apany on the brink of bankruptcy, desperate to sell their valuable work.


    Vitex Group was frantic, like ants on a hot pan, looking for any chance to turn things around.


    They paid for the data, and Kyle made a killing, selling it for over a million bucks.


    Kyle came to Quinn with the bank card, asking what to do with the money.


    Quinn looked at the card. They had to be careful now and couldn''t leave any traces, so the money in this card was off-limits.


    Quinn thought for a moment before saying, "Find a courier and send it anonymously to a charity."


    "Will that work?" Kyle asked.


    "Why not? Just clean up all the evidence and make sure they can''t trace it back to us," Quinn said.


    Kyle nodded. "Alright, I''ll handle it."


    The data Vitex Group got was enough to keep them busy for a while.


    Sure enough, a few days after getting the data, Vitex Group, trying to bounce back in the stock market, announced a new productunch for next year and even put out a pre-sale poster overnight. The announcement quickly went viral.


    The main reason was the image they released, which looked just like the sses from a sci-fi movie-a sleek pair of sses capable of producing a holographic effect.


    It was pretty enticing.


    With this announcement, they had tounch the product next year, or it would be false advertising, and theirpany might really go under.


    So everyone believed they were about tounch this product.


    After the announcement, Vitex Group''s stock price shot up, increasing by hundreds of billions of dors in just two days.


    Quinn watched the promotional video online and thought it was pretty sensational. It seemed like they had already started working on it and believed they could soon crack the contents of the USB drive. Quinn suddenly remembered something and called Sean.


    "Sean, sell all the Vitex Group''s stock now. Don''t keep any," she said, straight to the point.


    Sean was taken aback by her order. He double-checked his phone, making sure he hadn''t misdialed and that it was really Quinn''s voice.


    But since when did Quinn start trading stocks?


    "Mrs. Kennedy, did you say to sell all the Vitex Group''s stock?" Sean asked again, just to be sure.


    "Yes, is there a problem?" Quinn replied.


    "Is this Mr. Kennedy''s order?" Sean questioned.


    Quinn sighed, knowing it was hard to exin. Sean couldn''t reach Alexander right now, but if he could, Alexander would definitely tell him to sell. With the Vitex Group''s stock price skyrocketing, selling now would yield at least four times the previous price, making it the perfect time to cash out.


    Quinn knew the Vitex Group''s stock surge was temporary and would crash even harderter. The stocks Sean sold now might even give them the leverage to acquire the Vitex Group in the future.


    "Yes, I''m living next door to Alexander now. Just do as I say," Quinn insisted.


    Sean trusted her.


    After hanging up, Quinn grabbed her binocrs and looked across.


    As usual, she couldn''t see anyone.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    She then took out the drone Kyle had brought, studied the manual for a bit.


    An hourter, the drone sessfully took off under her control. At first, she had trouble steering it. But after ying with it for two hours, she got the hang of it.


    She attached a note to it and flew it over to the building opposite.


    The balcony ss was closed, and the drone crashed into it with a loud bang before falling to the ground.


    Alexander was upstairs. Hearing the noise, he got up and went out to check. He saw the drone lying on the ground.


    Alexander didn''t pick it up but looked up at the opposite side. They were quite far apart and could only make out each other''s shapes, not their faces.


    Alexander could see someone seated on a chair on the opposite balcony.


    Quinn noticed Alexander''s gaze and waved at him.


    Alexander smirked, then bent down to pick up the drone and took off the note. It read, "Good evening."


    Alexander looked up again, and Quinn was leaning on the railing, waiting for his reply.


    Alexander sighed, took out a pen from his pocket, and scribbled a few lines on the note.


    He then ced it back on the drone and went inside, but this time he didn''t close the door.


    Quinn flew the drone back, took off the note. It read, "Stop fooling around. Go back."


    Even though his words were simple, they said a lot.


    Alexander acknowledged his identity and showed a bit of coldness.


    A gust of wind almost blew the note out of her hand. Quinn snapped back to reality and grabbed the note before it flew away.


    Quinn rubbed the familiar handwriting.


    After a while, she tore the note into pieces, took a new one, wrote on it, and sent it back with the drone.


    With the door open, the drone easily flew inside. However, the room was small, making it tricky for Quinn to control.


    After some bumps, she finally found the room where Alexander was.


    Alexander was staring at hisputer, seemingly unaware of the drone. Quinn maneuvered the drone to fly behind him, trying to see what he was looking at. The camera transmitted the image back, and it was a stock market chart.

 Chapter 1417

    The drone buzzed right behind Alexander, its des whipping his hair and sending a chill down his neck.


    Alexander spun around to face the drone, and in the footage Quinn saw, it felt like he was staring straight at her.


    Quinn had seen Alexander up close plenty of times, but this was the first time she saw his face so clearly, every eysh in high-def.


    While she was lost in thought, Alexander had already grabbed the note from the drone.


    Quinn: [What''s your deal? What else are you hiding from me? Spill it, or I''m not leaving. And stop giving me the cold shoulder; it doesn''t work on me anymore. Learned that from you.] Thatst line seemed to predict what Alexander would say, like she was ready for his response.


    Quinn had definitely picked up this stubborn streak from Alexander.


    Back in the day, Alexander was even more shameless than Quinn is now.


    Alexander looked at the note, feeling both exasperated and amused.


    He typed directly into a document: [Stop messing around. Can you pleasee back first?]Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    And as if he knew what Quinn would say next, he added another line: [I don''t need your help. I can handle it myself.]


    After he finished typing, the drone flew away.


    But it wasn''t long before it came back, with another note attached.


    Quinn: [Then don''t worry about me either.]


    Alexander: [The Vitex Group is your doing, right? You shouldn''t have had ess to the tech for their new product. You got Walter to help, didn''t you?]


    Quinn was stunned, and the drone almost crashed.


    Seeing this, Alexander kept typing: [I don''t need your help, and I definitely don''t need his. If you go to Walter again, I might just go find Aron and settle things once and for all.] Quinn stared at the screen, not expecting Alexander to figure it out so quickly.


    But it made sense. Since Alexander guessed she had gone to Sean, he could guess Sean had told Quinn everything.


    And with the Vitex Group''s stock soaring at such a convenient time, it was easy to connect the dots.


    Quinn flew the drone back and forth a few times, getting pretty good at it.


    Quinn: [Do you really mind others helping you?]


    Alexander: [I mind you asking Walter for help.]


    Quinn was momentarily speechless.


    Quinn: [As long as Walter doesn''t cause trouble, why not use him?]


    Alexander: [I won''t let him feel any sense of aplishment from me.]


    Quinn smirked, suddenly unsure how to respond. Even in this situation, he was still so prideful.


    She thought for a moment and wrote again: [He hasn''t been around. He can''t see your situation. What sense of aplishment could he get?]


    Alexander: [Do you know why he hasn''te? If he dared to leave the country, a bunch of people would be waiting to kill him. You probably don''t know how many people''s interests he has harmed. He''s only safe within the country.] Quinn indeed didn''t know, after all, she hadn''t seen the list Alexander got from Alistair, nor did she know how many people Walter had pissed off.


    Now she knew why Walter didn''t leave the country. Quinn had thought he had turned over a new leaf and wanted to start fresh.


    Turns out, he was just hiding from trouble within the country.


    So, his situation now seemed not much better than Alexander''s, and yet he still dared to steal others'' research results.


    While Quinn was still lost in thought, Alexander typed thest message: [It''ste. Get some sleep.]


    Quinn nced at the clock, surprised to see it was already midnight.


    She''d been tinkering with the drone since the afternoon. Just a few exchanges with him had eaten up seven hours.


    Quinn flew the drone back and decided to leave Alexander alone for now.


    She had nned to tell Alexander everything once it was done, but she hadn''t expected him to catch on so quickly. Even though he said he didn''t need help, the n was already in motion, and she couldn''t just stop now. The drone was a handy way tomunicate, as long as Aron couldn''t hear it.


    Quinn had bought the quietest drone she could find, but it still made some noise.


    It was inaudible from half a meter away, but she needed it to be silent up close.


    Aron definitely couldn''t hear it because Luke was keeping tabs on him.


    But Luke wasn''t paying much attention these days, only checking in every few days and ignoring anything minor.


    He heard the drone''s faint buzz but couldn''t be sure if it was a drone or something else.


    The next day, Quinn had Kyle get a new one, the quieter the better, even if it meant custom-ordering at a high price.


    With enough money, you could buy anything. Kyle contacted the manufacturer and ordered one with noise levels below 40 decibels.


    For the next week, the Vitex Group''s stock kept climbing, then leveled off, asionally dipping.


    Sean was getting nervous. He had sold all his stock, but at the current price, how could he buy it backter?


    He called Quinn, who just told him to be patient.


    By this time, Susan had taken another USB drive to apany under Aron''s name.


    The president of thatpany didn''t think too much about it. Since Susan had stolenpany secrets to defect, he was naturally pleased.


    Who said the Vitex Group was the only one capable of developing this technology?


    As long as there was no evidence, it was their own development.


    Susan imed that her sry was low at the Vitex Group and wanted to trade the USB drive for a high position and sry.


    After having professional staff check the contents of the USB drive, the president immediately made a deal with Susan, giving her a better position than she had at the Vitex Group.


    Susan sessfully got the job and felt relieved.


    By now, her task was basicallyplete. She went home and told Quinn the news.


    Quinn nodded, indicating they just needed to wait.


    Susan asked, "I''m a bit scared now. When can we go back?"


    Quinn, holding Sprout and feeding him, said, "Don''t worry. As soon as the Vitex Group releases their product, I''ll send you back immediately."


    Then she added, "If you''re really worried, you can send your mom back first."


    Susan looked back at Anna, thought for a moment, and nodded. "Okay, I''ll send her back first."


    Susan had no idea when the Vitex Group would release their product. Their development process was super secretive, and the release would be sudden, so sending Anna back first was the safest bet. After feeding Sprout, Quinn got up to leave. She now spent her nights in a newly acquired vi.


    Quinn returned to the vi, turned on the lights, and was startled to see someone sitting on the sofa.


    Alexander, dressed in ck, was lounging casually on the sofa, his eyes fixed on Quinn, clearly waiting for her toe back.

 Chapter 1418

    Quinn was about to say something but remembered the bug and shut her mouth.


    She walked over with Sprout in her arms, giving Alexander a look that said, "Why are you here?"


    Alexander suddenly stood up, staring her down. "Didn''t I tell you to go back? Why are you still messing with the Vitex Group?"


    Quinn''s eyes went wide, and she froze for a couple of seconds. Sprout squirmed in her arms, almost slipping out.


    "What are you doing?" she asked, confused.


    Had Alexander lost it?


    He raised his hand, holding a small square device that looked like a walkie-talkie.


    "What''s that?" Quinn asked.


    "A signal jammer," Alexander replied.


    Quinn let out a breath she didn''t know she was holding.


    "Won''t they notice?" she asked, worried.


    Alexander sighed. "It''s fine for a short while. They won''t check too closely at night."


    Quinn nodded, carried Sprout to the sofa, and put him in the stroller.


    Then she turned back to Alexander. "Did youe here just to talk about this?"


    "What else?" Alexander shot back.


    "Then tell me, what else are you hiding from me?" Quinn retorted.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    She didn''t break eye contact. They stared at each other, like they were having a silent showdown.


    After a moment, Alexander closed his eyes, looking a bit defeated.


    He looked away and sat down on the sofa. "Don''t ask. There''s nothing else."


    Quinn didn''t know if she should believe him. Whether he told her or not, pushing him wouldn''t help. She asked again, "Then what happened to you this past year? Can you at least tell me that?" "It''s a long story. I''ll tell you when I can," Alexander said, cing the jammer beside him and looking up at her. "Go back and wait for me, okay?"


    Hearing "wait for me," Quinn was taken aback.


    So, Alexander didn''t n toe back to the family?


    "What about your family?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander looked at her with intense eyes and said, "My family is only you."


    But then he nced at Sprout in the stroller. His expression said it all, even though he didn''t speak.


    Quinn''s expression softened for a moment. His words showed he hadn''t changed; he was still the same Alexander.


    Sprout grabbed the stroller and smiled up at Alexander, his eyes squinting with joy.


    Alexander watched for a bit before getting back to the main point. "So, take Leopold back, okay?"


    Quinn bit her lip. She couldn''t say no, but she couldn''t say yes either.


    "How long do I have to wait?" Quinn asked.


    It was a question Alexander couldn''t answer. He stayed silent for a long time.


    The longer he stayed quiet, the heavier Quinn''s heart felt.


    Alexander reached out and touched Sprout''s cheek. Sprout keptughing, grabbing his finger and putting it in his mouth.


    But Alexander bent his finger, using his knuckle to wipe the drool from Sprout''s mouth.


    Sprout pouted and made little protesting noises.


    Alexander pulled his hand back and stood up. Quinn stared at him, still waiting for an answer.


    "I can''t give you an answer right now. Go back as soon as you can," he said.


    Then he took the jammer and left the vi. The whole time, he didn''t touch Quinn once.


    Quinn thought they should''ve at least hugged when they met properly.


    Though it was a subtle change, Quinn sensed something was off.


    Alexander wasn''t being straight with her; he was hiding something that made him unsure if he coulde back to her. So, he kept his distance.


    What was it?


    Quinn turned to look at Alexander at the door, his silhouette fading into the darkness.


    She suddenly ran out, but he was already gone.


    Sprout called out from behind, like he was urging Quinn toe back and hold him.


    Quinn looked away, went back inside, and picked up Sprout.


    Staring at his innocent face, she asked, "Should we go back or stay?"


    Of course, Sprout didn''t understand. Quinn was just talking to herself.


    But she still wouldn''t give up. "Call out once if you want to go back, twice if you want to stay."


    Then Sprout called out three times.


    "Try again," Quinn muttered.


    Sprout grabbed her hair.


    Quinn couldn''t make sense of his babbling. He used to call softly, but now he often called loudly. If she didn''t listen carefully, she''d think Sprout was calling for his dad. "Are we going back or not?" Quinn asked.


    She tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Alright, we''ll stay for now, as you wish."


    Sprout tilted his head, looking confused.


    Quinn put him back in the stroller, propped her chin on her hand, and looked out at the dark night, letting out a long sigh.


    She wondered, ''If I go back, will I see you again?''


    So, she chose to stay.


    The next couple of weeks were peaceful. The Vitex Group had no big news, and their stock stabilized, only asionally dipping.


    Abigail called Quinn, and she almost forgot Abigail was still around.


    Quinn put down the clothes she was holding and picked up the phone.


    "How''s it going, Quinn? Any progress?" Abigail asked.


    "No, did you go back?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail said with a grin, "No, I''m still having fun. It''s a shame you didn''te with me. You''ve been there so long, just staying in that ce, doingundry and cooking, and still no progress. You might as welle have fun with me. It''s almost New Year''s. Consider it a break."


    "New Year''s? Christmas already passed," Quinn murmured.


    "I''m talking about January. They say it''s even more lively here in January than Christmas," Abigail rified.


    Quinn wasn''t in the mood for fun. She declined, "No, take care of yourself out there. If you get bored, you cane to Iris Estates. I bought the house next door."


    Abigail was silent for a while, then said, "Impressive."


    Then she asked, "So, any progress? Have you reconciled with Alexander? When are you nning for a second child?"


    Quinn tugged at the corner of her mouth and fell silent.


    "I told you, no progress. Stop making things up. If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up," Quinn said.


    "I''lle find you in a couple of days. Make sure toe out and meet me," Abigail demanded.


    "Okay."


    Quinn hung up and continued sorting Sprout''s clothes. He grew fast; clothes from two months ago no longer fit him.


    She hadn''t folded two pieces when her phone rang again.


    Thinking it was Abigail, she was surprised to see an unknown number.


    Quinn picked up the phone. "Hello."


    "Quinn? This is Luke. We''d like to invite you to the Lynch mansion for Christmas. Would you do us the honor?" Luke said.

 Chapter 1419

    Quinn picked up her phone and saw Luke''s number pop up. She was a bit taken aback. Why would Luke be calling her?


    For the past couple of weeks, she hadn''t really talked to Alexander. He was clearly dodging her, barelying home, so she couldn''t catch him to chat. Quinn had no clue what Luke wanted, but it couldn''t be anything good.


    So she turned him down, "Sorry, I''ve already got ns with Cody that day. Gonna have to pass on your offer."


    "Cody, huh? I heard he just got a new girlfriend. Thought you two were done. Guess you didn''t know?"


    Quinn was floored. Cody got a girlfriend?


    How did she not know about this?


    Was Luke just messing with her to get her to ditch Cody and go with him?


    Quinn couldn''t figure out his angle, so she yed along, "No way, Cody said he only loves me. Mr. Lynch, please don''t joke like that. It''s not funny."


    Lukeughed on the other end. "Alright, alright. You''re such a naive girl. But it''s still early. Take your time to think about it and let me know when you decide." "I''ll think about it," Quinn replied.


    After a bit more small talk, Quinn found an excuse to hang up.


    She immediately called Cody to see if he really had a girlfriend.


    Cody grumbled on the phone. He did have a girlfriend, but it wasn''t his choice. His family pushed him into it, and he didn''t want to go against them, so he had to get to know the girl first.


    So, he''d been spending a lot of time with her, and rumors started flying that he had a girlfriend. Some tabloids even said Cody''s wedding wasing up. "Alright, I got it," Quinn said.


    Cody asked, "Why''d you suddenly ask me that? Got a crush on me?"


    "Don''t be so full of yourself; it''s bad for your brain," Quinn shot back, rolling her eyes.


    Cody, acting like he didn''t hear her, went on, "Even though I don''t really like this girl, I don''t like you either. You''ve already got a kid."


    Quinn hung up before Cody could finish.


    Cody realized she hung up and thought, ''Oh no. Is Quinn mad? What about the tech she promised me?''


    The new productunch by Vitex Group was a big deal, and Cody wanted in.


    He tried calling Quinn back to smooth things over, but she wouldn''t pick up.


    Quinn tossed her phone aside in frustration and nced at Sprout, who was sleeping soundly next to her.


    Luke definitely didn''t invite her to the Lynch mansion out of the goodness of his heart. He was probably up to something. She decided she couldn''t go.


    So, she called Abigail to see where she was. Quinn decided toy low for a bit ande back after Christmas.


    She packed her stuff overnight and bought a ticket to go see Abigail.


    Abigail was confused by Quinn''s sudden change of ns. She had said she wasn''ting, so why the switch?


    But if Quinn wasing, Abigail wouldn''t need to buy a ticket to go over.


    Lost in thought, Abigail opened her hotel room door. She turned her head and was startled to see someone standing against the wall.


    "You..."


    Before Abigail could finish, someone covered her mouth, pushed her into the room, and shut the door behind them.


    Abigail pried his hand away and took a couple of steps back.


    "How did you find me here?" Abigail asked, eyes wide in shock. The man standing before her wore a long white down coat, a scarf, and gold-rimmed sses. Landon stared at Abigail without a word.


    Abigail nced around. Landon was blocking the door, and they were on the tenth floor, so there was no way out.


    She hugged herself and took a couple of steps back. "Are you here to kidnap me again?"


    She figured Landon knew Alexander was still alive, so he wanted to snatch her up again.


    "I can''t believe it. Can''t you kidnap someone else? Kyle is here, Sean is here. Kidnapping them would have the same effect as kidnapping me, wouldn''t it?" Abigail rambled, but Landon just ignored her. Landon pulled a card from his pocket.


    Abigail froze when she saw the card, and her words got stuck in her throat. Feeling a bit guilty, she asked, "What''s this?"


    Landon stepped forward.


    Abigail stepped back.


    "Shouldn''t you be the one to tell me what this is?" Landon asked.


    "Are you nuts? You pulled it out of your pocket. How would I know?" Abigail snapped.


    Landon looked at her calmly, ying with the card between his fingers. "The director of that hospital told me someone sent this card and instructed him to cover all my treatment costs and not let me die." Abigail''s eyes darted around. She nced at the card and then looked away. "Then why are you looking for me? Go find the person who sent you the card."


    Landon stared at the card in his hand, lost in thought for a long time. "True."


    He put the card back in his pocket but then pulled out a gun.


    Abigail''s face instantly fell.


    "So, are you going to walk out on your own, or do I have to help you?" Landon sneered.


    Abigail was so exasperated by him that sheughed, feeling a bit helpless. "You really are crazy."


    Landon raised his chin, signaling her to go out.


    Abigail helplessly spread her hands and started walking. Landon put the gun away and followed her out.


    Outside the hotel, Abigail turned back and asked, "Where to?"


    "To eat," Landon replied simply.


    Abigail stared at him, feeling speechless.


    "Don''t look at me. Lead the way," Landon urged.


    Abigail''s mouth twitched slightly. "Aren''t you afraid I''ll call for help?"


    "Depends on whether you''re faster with your mouth or I am with my bullets," Landon threatened.


    "Fine, you''re the boss. What do you want to eat?" Abigail asked.


    "Anything," Landon replied.


    Abigail put her hands in her down coat pockets, looked around, and pointed to the barbecue ce across the street. "How about that, kidnapper?" Landon stared at her, and Abigail felt like he might shoot her at any moment.


    She had experienced his methods before, so she decided not to say anything reckless.


    She crossed the street and led Landon to the barbecue ce. They sat down and ordered food.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Looking at Landon sitting across from her, Abigail felt the atmosphere was a bit strange. Was Landon too arrogant or too carefree to have a meal before kidnapping? She picked up the menu and ordered a bunch of barbecue.


    While waiting for the food, she said to Landon, "I''m going to the restroom."


    "Are you trying to run?" Landon asked.


    "Why would I run? You know where I live. Can I escape?" Abigail retorted.


    Landon said nothing more and picked up the tongs to ce the meat on the grill.


    Abigail exhaled lightly and turned to head to the restroom.


    But instead of going to the restroom, she went to the counter and showed the receptionist her phone.


    It read, "The man over there has a gun. He''s going to rob the barbecue ce."


    The receptionist was terrified.


    She told Abigail not to joke.


    Abigail typed again: [Trust me. If you don''t believe me, I''ll find a way to make him show you the gun as proof.]

 Chapter 1420

    Abigail wrapped up her chat with the receptionist and strolled back to her seat. Landon was already busy grilling a bunch of meat, piling it up on a te next to him. But he wasn''t eating any of it; he just kept grilling like it was some kind of game.


    Abigail watched him for a bit and then leaned in, whispering, "How''d you sneak that gun in?"


    Landon paused, gave her a quick look, and then went back to grilling.


    Abigail sighed, "Can I see it?"


    Landon ignored her.


    "Just a peek, okay?" she asked again.


    Still no response from Landon, who seemed totally absorbed in his grilling. Abigail gave up, grabbed her chopsticks, and started munching on the meat he''d cooked. After a few bites, Landon suddenly pulled the gun out of his pocket and plopped it on the table.


    Abigail almost choked on her food. She patted her chest, coughed, and gulped down some water, finally catching her breath.


    Landon just casually put the gun out there. How bold was that?


    "Want a closer look?" Landon asked.


    "No, no, I''m good. Let''s just eat," Abigail replied quickly.


    She thought Landon must be nuts. Better not to mess with him.


    Abigail kept her head down, eating in silence, afraid that if she ticked Landon off, he might actually use the gun.


    While she ate, Landon kept grilling. When the grill pan was full, he moved the meat to a te.


    About ten minutester, a few uniformed officers walked in and made a beeline for their table.


    Abigail''s heart jumped into her throat.


    As soon as the officers got to their table, they drew their guns and aimed at Landon.


    "We got a report you''re carrying a gun and nning to rob this ce. Cooperate with us!" one officer barked.


    Abigail nced at Landon. He was super calm, put down the meat he was grilling, and slipped his hands into his pockets.


    This made the officers even more tense, and Abigail was ready to dive under the table.


    Landon pulled the gun out of his pocket, and the officers immediately shouted, "Don''t move! Put the gun down! Or we''ll shoot!"


    Landon looked at Abigail and ced the gun on the table. "This gun?"


    "It''s fake," he added.


    The officers exchanged looks, and Abigail was stunned.


    One officer picked up the gun to check it out.


    It was a realistic toy gun.


    The officers'' faces darkened. They turned to the receptionist who had called the police. The receptionist waved her hands frantically and pointed at Abigail. Landon asked, "Who reported this?"


    The receptionist walked up, nodding and apologizing.


    The officers said, "Sorry, this was a misunderstanding. Please don''t bring such toys out to avoid further confusion."


    Landon nodded slightly. "You should verify before calling the cops to avoid wasting everyone''s time. We came here to eat, and now this mess has ruined our meal and stressed us out." The officers said it was a dispute between Landon and the restaurant and left.


    The manager came out, apologized to Landon, waived their bill, and told him to order whatever he wanted.


    Landon went ahead and ordered a ton of dishes, making sure to pick the priciest ones on the menu.


    With the restaurant packed, the manager had to y it cool to avoid any bigger mess.


    The whole thing seemed to blow over, but Abigail was still on edge.


    Landon had to know she was behind it, and he''d probably deal with herter.


    She sighed and managed to eat two more tes.


    Landon didn''t eat much; just a few bites here and there. Abigail ended up finishing everything.


    She let out a burp and frowned at Landon. "Alright, let''s get out of here."


    Landon wiped his fingers with a napkin, stood up, and motioned for them to leave.


    As they walked out of the barbecue joint, Abigail turned to him. "Where to now?"


    Landon looked down the street, thought for a moment, then fixed his gaze on her.


    "Did you want me to get arrested back there?" he asked, his voice icy.


    Abigail shook her head like crazy. "No way. It wasn''t me. The receptionist called the cops on her own." Landon stared her down.


    Abigail raised three fingers. "I swear, if I told her to call the cops, let me be single forever."


    Landon''s mouth twitched a bit.


    Abigail pressed on, "So where are we going now? He''s not here."


    "What''s his deal?" Landon shot back.


    "Alexander?" Abigail asked.


    Landon didn''t answer, but it was clear he meant Alexander.


    Abigail said, "I don''t know, maybe he lost his memory and got taken back by the Lynch family. Now he''s one of them. That''s all I know."


    She added, "Are you still gonna mess with him? This isn''t Municity. He''s got the Lynch family backing him. How are you gonna take him on?" "That''s not your problem. Just be a good hostage," Landon replied.


    Abigail was a bit stunned. She almost forgot she was still a hostage.


    But then she remembered Quinn wasing to find her. With Landon around, she couldn''t let Quinne.


    So as they walked to the hotel, she secretly pulled out her phone to message Quinn.


    Abigail: [Quinn, don''te find me yet. I''m not avable right now.]


    Quinn was about to head to the station when she got the message and paused. She immediately called Abigail. But the call was declined.


    Quinn had to text: [What''s wrong? Are you in trouble?]N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Abigail thought for a moment and made up a story.


    Abigail: [No, just dealing with a persistent suitor.]


    Did Abigail not want her toe and be a third wheel?


    But didn''t Abigail say she wouldn''t date?


    Quinn, full of doubts, texted: [Really? Are you interested in him?]


    Abigail was taken aback. She nced at Landon beside her and wanted to roll her eyes.


    But she couldn''t think of a better reason to stop Quinn froming, so she texted: [Yeah, I''m giving it a try. I''ll break up when I get back.]


    Quinn was even more puzzled. She understood each word, but together they made no sense.


    Before she could respond, Abigail sent another message: [Just don''te now. Otherwise, I''ll have to babysit your son while trying to date him.] Quinn was silent for a while. Since Abigail could still message her, she should be safe.


    Quinn: [Alright.]


    Abigail finally let out a sigh of relief. She put away her phone and looked up to find they were at a room door.


    But it wasn''t her room.


    Abigail looked up at Landon, her eyes full of caution, and instinctively hugged herself. "Is this your room? What do you want to do to me? I won''t give in to you!"

 Chapter 1421

    Landon''s eyelid twitched, barely noticeable. He ignored her, pulled out a card from his pocket to unlock the door, then turned and motioned for her toe in.


    Abigail gave him a once-over. He probably wouldn''t pull anything; if he was going to, he would''ve done it back in Municity.


    With that thought, she walked in confidently.


    Landon followed her inside, shut the door, plopped down on the sofa, and opened theptop on the table.


    Abigail nced around; it was actually a suite. She saw Landon focused on theputer and walked over to see what he was up to. But before she got close, Landon said, "Go inside." She paused, eyeing him suspiciously. "What''s up? Got something you don''t want me to see?"


    Landon nced at her.


    She shrugged, showing she wasn''t interested. She turned around, went into the room, and closed the door behind her.


    Abigail pulled out her phone and called Quinn.


    The call connected quickly, and she asked, "Quinn, you didn''te, did you?"


    "No, I just finished packing. Are you really dating?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail touched her nose, feeling a bit guilty. "Not yet. He keeps chasing me every day. It''s so annoying."


    Quinn blinked. She said she was annoyed, but her tone didn''t sound very annoyed.


    "Alright, have fun then," Quinn said.


    "Do you have anywhere else to go?" Abigail asked.


    "I''ll see," Quinn replied.


    They chatted a bit more before Quinn hung up. She sat on the bed, looking at Sprout, who had thrown toys everywhere, unsure of where to go.


    She took out her phone to check some guides, but none of the ces interested her, mainly because going alone seemed pointless.


    After thinking for a while, she messaged Kyle to see if he was free.


    Kyle was swamped with work, so he definitely wasn''t free.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    She didn''t know many people here, and Cody had a girlfriend now, so she couldn''t go to him.


    Quinn finally decided to lie down and take a nap.


    Sprout was so noisy during the day that she couldn''t sleep. As soon as she closed her eyes, something hit her face, waking her up. She opened her eyes to see a fish, though it was just a toy fish.


    She tossed and turned on the bed, not wanting to ask Alexander. She knew if she did, he''d tell her to go back.


    Quinn suddenly noticed the drone in the corner and sat up abruptly.


    Luke had reached out to her, so it was the best chance to get close to him. Why hide?


    Though he had ulterior motives, high reward often came with high risk.


    Quinn took out her phone and messaged Luke.


    Half an hourter, she pushed a stroller out the door and took a cab to a coffee shop.


    Quinn went to one of the private rooms, knocked, and entered, finding Luke already inside.


    Luke was dressed in a suit, and though his looks were average, his status and demeanor added a lot to his charm.


    He smiled at Quinn. "Ms. Mellon, you''re here."


    Quinn pushed the stroller over and apologized, "Sorry, the baby was fussy on the way."


    Luke gestured for her to sit. "I just got here too."


    Quinn sat down across from him.


    Luke then spoke, "Ms. Mellon, it must be hard taking care of a child alone, right?"


    Quinn yed along, "It''s alright. He''s pretty well-behaved."


    "Did you ask me out for something specific, Ms. Mellon?" Luke asked.


    Quinn hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Well, I wanted to ask you about something."


    Luke looked a bit surprised.


    Quinn continued, "You see the child, Mr. Lynch. I''ve been looking for his father. I saw someone at the Lynch family who looks a lot like his father, but he didn''t recognize me." Luke wasn''t too shocked by her question. He listened seriously and nodded.


    "Aren''t you Cody''s girlfriend? I thought the child was Cody''s," he remarked.


    Quinn gave an awkward smile. "Sorry, that was just a temporary thing. We''re not actually a couple. He was just helping me out."


    There wasn''t much to hide now. They had already figured out the rtionship between Quinn and Cody, so there was no point in pretending.


    "Is that so? So, you''re looking for your husband?" Luke asked.


    "You could say that. I wanted to ask you about Lance. Has he always gone by that name, or did he lose his memory?" Quinn inquired.


    Luke stared at her intently, as if trying to see through her. He wasn''t foolish enough to believe everything she said.


    "Haven''t you met him a few times? Do you think he''s the one you''re looking for?" Luke threw the question back at her.


    Quinn frowned slightly and shook her head hesitantly. "Honestly, I''m not sure. Sometimes he seems very simr, but other times he doesn''t, so I wanted to ask someone who knows him well. Mr. Lynch, are you close with Lance?" Luke smiled. "Of course, he''s my cousin. Naturally, we''re close."


    "Has he always lived with the Lynch family?" Quinn asked.


    "Of course not. He only returned to the Lynch familyst year. Before that," Luke said, staring at Quinn and enunciating each word clearly, "he was called Alexander."


    Quinn''s eyes widened, a mix of acting and genuine surprise.


    After all, she hadn''t expected Luke to be so straightforward. For a moment, she forgot what to say.


    Luke observed her reaction, his smile growing wider. "So, is he the one you''re looking for, Ms. Mellon?"


    Quinn nodded nkly. "Yes, but why doesn''t he recognize me?"


    "He lost his memory when he returned. Don''t be sad, Ms. Mellon. When he remembers who he is, he won''t be so cold to you," Luke exined.


    "How can he remember?" Quinn asked.


    "I don''t know. It depends on how deep his feelings for you are. Maybe one day, when he sees your face, he''ll suddenly remember. So don''t lose hope, Ms. Mellon," Luke stated. Quinn forced a smile. "I see."


    Luke changed the subject, "Earlier, I invited you to visit, but you refused. Why did you reach out to me now?"


    Quinn said, "I''m sorry. We had never met before, and you suddenly called me. I thought it was a scam."


    "I see," Luke said.


    Quinn continued, "I thought about it for a while and decided to take a chance by asking you out. I didn''t expect it to really be you."


    "So, does that mean you agree to visit the Lynch mansion?" Luke asked.


    Quinn replied, "You personally invited me, so of course, I''ll go. But why did you suddenly invite me? We seem to have never met before."

 Chapter 1422

    Luke leaned back and said, "I know you''re looking for Alexander. I wanted to help him out. Hopefully, he gets his memory back soon. That''s all." Quinn gave a small smile. "Got it. Thanks, Mr. Lynch."


    "No need for formalities. Alexander''s been crashing at the Lynch cetely. Wanna stay over for a few days?" Luke offered.


    "Sure thing," Quinn agreed with a grin, and Luke mirrored her smile.


    Luke had a n. He needed Quinn to be around Alexander to test him. The more time they spent together, the more likely Alexander would slip up.


    If Alexander hadn''t been dodging Quinn, Luke wouldn''t have had to reach out to her like this.


    For now, Luke figured Quinn and Alexander hadn''t recognized each other. Whether Alexander had his memory back or not, only he knew.


    Since Luke couldn''t get to Alexander directly, he had to work through the people around him.


    After they made their decision, Luke personally took Quinn back to pack her stuff, inviting her to stay at the Lynch mansion that night.


    Quinn agreed. Her top priority was finding and removing the bug on Alexander.


    So, with their own hidden motives, they headed to the Lynch mansion.


    Standing in front of the mansion, Quinn felt a bit overwhelmed.


    Luke teased, "Ms. Mellon,st time you were here, you couldn''t read a thing. Looks like you''ve picked up a bit now, huh?"


    Quinn snapped out of it and smiled. "Yeah, after hanging around here for a while, you learn a few things."


    Luke just smiled and gestured for her to go in.


    Quinn followed Luke inside. On the way, Luke exined that the Lynch family had a lot of members, but except for big events, only the elders lived in the mansion. The younger ones stayed elsewhere. There were tons of rules and constant supervision, so no one really wanted toe back.


    "Got it," Quinn said.


    Luke led her to a guest room, which was super close to Alexander''s room. Before they even got there, they bumped into Alexandering out. "Look, here hees," Luke said.


    Quinn looked over and saw Alexander walking towards them. He noticed Quinn too but didn''t stop, just kept walking.


    Luke called out, "Lance, what a coincidence. We were just talking about you, and here you are."


    Alexander stopped, nced at them, and then focused on Luke.


    "Did you bring her?" Alexander asked.


    Luke nodded with a smile. "Yep."


    Alexander gave a slight nod, said nothing more, and walked past them.


    Quinn watched him until he was out of sight, then looked away.


    Luke said, "Don''t get discouraged. He''ll remember."


    Quinn replied sadly, "I hope so."


    Luke continued walking, taking her to her room. It was a courtyard with several rooms.


    He showed Quinn into one of the rooms. "You can stay here for now. My parents aren''t back yet, but I''ll let them know."


    Honestly, even if he didn''t, Quinn might not run into them even if she stayed here for ten days or half a month.


    Quinn thanked him and took Sprout out of the stroller.


    Luke stared at Sprout for a bit, then reached out to pinch his cheek. "So cute. He looks just like Lance."


    Quinn paused and forced a smile. "Really? I see him every day, so I can''t tell."


    "Of course, ask anyone else, and they''ll say the same," Luke remarked.


    Sprout stared at him with big, curious eyes.


    Luke pulled his hand back and smiled. "Ms. Mellon, get some rest. I''m heading out."


    Quinn nodded. "Thanks, Mr. Lynch."


    Luke turned and left the room. Once he was gone, Quinn let out a long sigh.


    Her real reason for being here wasn''t to find Alexander. She knew Luke''s game, but if she did nothing, he''d get suspicious.


    Since she was here, she had a shot at getting closer to him.


    Quinn put Sprout down, took out some form and a bottle, and made him some milk.


    Sprout could drink on his own now, so Quinn handed him the bottle.


    She sat nearby, thinking about Luke and how to find the bug''s receiver or switch.


    Luke wouldn''t keep it here; it had to be at his ce or somewhere more hidden.


    Otherwise, Alexander would have found it by now.


    Luke only wanted her to get close to Alexander, not him, so she had to figure something out.


    After bringing Quinn here, Luke never contacted her again.


    With Christmas just days away, everyone in the mansion was busy. Zeke and the others didn''t ask about Quinn, and she lived like a ghost.


    Apart from meals being delivered, Quinn rarely saw anyone.


    Feeling restless, Quinn called Luke.


    When the call connected, Quinn expressed her frustration. "Mr. Lynch, I''ve been here for a while and haven''t seen him. It feels like staying here is pointless." Luke reassured her, "Don''t worry. Everyone''s busy now. You''ll see him once things settle down."


    "What''s he busy with?" Quinn asked.


    "Probably Christmas preparations. If you can''t wait, you can go find Alexander. He''s in the courtyard behind you," Luke suggested.


    Quinn was taken aback. "Alright, I see."


    She thought for a moment and took Sprout out.


    Even though Sprout slept during the day, she didn''t dare leave him alone here.


    She walked to the courtyard behind.


    There were a lot of people, mostly servants, decorating the ce.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    It was clear they took Christmas seriously.


    Quinn entered the courtyard, and the people there didn''t recognize her, so they ignored her.


    Quinn asked one of them, "Is Lance in his room?"


    The servant shook his head. "Not sure."


    "Which room is his?" Quinn asked again.


    The servant pointed, and Quinn nodded, heading that way with Sprout.


    She knocked on the door.


    No answer.


    She knocked again, still no answer. He must not be in.


    She sighed in disappointment, but when she turned around, she almost bumped into someone.


    Looking up, she saw it was Alexander, and his gaze was not friendly.

 Chapter 1423

    Quinn was just here to make an appearance; she hadn''t expected him to actually show up.


    She forced a smile, feeling awkward. "Hey, good afternoon."


    Alexander stared at her, making Quinn feel a bit guilty. "You think it''s good?"


    "Yeah, pretty good. Have you eaten?" Quinn replied, still awkward.


    "Move," Alexander said coldly.


    Quinn could hear the anger in his voice. She stepped aside without a word.


    Alexander pushed the door open and shut it behind him.


    Quinn stood there, dumbfounded. After a while, realizing he wasn''ting back out, she turned and left.


    Alexander came here to avoid Quinn, but she followed him here. Quinn figured he''d be pissed.


    She went back to the guest room and stayed for another two days.


    The vi got lively with the Lynch family members returning. Quinn stood by the window, watching people pass by in small groups.


    She didn''t know any of them. Alexander closed the window and went back to bed.


    The stuff Kyle bought had arrived, so she went back to Iris Estates to pick them up.


    Later, someone knocked on the door. Quinn got up to open it, and it was Luke.


    Luke smiled at her. "Ms. Mellon, you''ve been here for a few days. Isn''t it boring?"


    "Yeah," Quinn said, stepping aside to let him in. "I''ve tried to see him several times but haven''t met him once."


    Luke clicked his tongue. "What should we do then?"


    Quinn put her hand in her pocket and felt something. She sighed, looking troubled. "I also want to know, Mr. Lynch. Didn''t you say you would help me?" Luke paused, then suddenly turned his head and looked at her meaningfully.


    Quinn''s expression changed.


    Luke took a step closer. Quinn resisted the urge to step back and looked at him, puzzled.


    Luke said, "I do have an idea."


    "What idea?" Quinn asked.


    Luke replied, "Later, we''ll go to the main dining room for dinner. I need your cooperation." Quinn nodded. "Sure, how do I cooperate?"


    Luke put his arm around her waist, and she stiffened slightly. "What are you doing?"


    Luke leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words. Quinn''s eyes flickered.


    Quinn agreed, and Luke''s smile grew even brighter.


    Luke didn''t leave; he stayed with Quinn, waiting to go to the dining room.


    Quinn was also looking for an opportunity to ce the tracker on him. The thing she picked up from Iris Estates in the morning was a tracker.


    She needed to find a way to ce it where he wouldn''t notice.


    Seeing him ying with Sprout, Quinn suddenly had an idea. She walked over to Luke and called, "Mr. Lynch."


    Luke nced back at her. "What''s up?"


    Quinn asked, "Will everyone in the Lynch family be at dinnerter?"


    "Of course," Luke answered.


    Quinn requested, "It''s still early. Can you take me to buy a dress? I''m not familiar with this ce, and it''s my first formal meeting with them. I want to dress appropriately." Luke looked her up and down.


    Quinn indeed didn''t have any formal dresses. She was still wearing a down jacket with a sweater underneath, looking very in.


    After thinking for a moment, Luke agreed. "No problem, but we don''t have much time. Let''s go, quickly."


    Quinn nodded eagerly and followed him out.


    She held Sprout in the back seat. Luke had called a driver and sat in the back with her.


    They were sitting pretty close. Luke casually put his arm around her waist, saying, "You can''t be this nervouster. Get used to it now."


    "I''ll try." Quinn ignored his hand, took out the tracker from her pocket, and started chatting with Luke. "Are you usually very busy?"


    "Yeah, super busy. My grandfather just passed away, and there''s a lot to handle," Luke replied.


    "That must be tough?" Quinn asked, testing the waters.


    "It''s okay. In the Lynch family, we don''t shy away from hard work; what we fear is idleness," Luke responded.


    Quinn turned to look at him and slipped the tracker into the seat crevice. It was a safe spot; unless someone took the seat apart, it wouldn''t be found.


    Since she couldn''t get close enough to him, she decided to ce the tracker in his car. As long as Luke went out, he''d drive. She didn''t know how many cars he had, so she bought several trackers to ce in all his cars. She was determined to find the location of the listening device.


    After cing the tracker, Quinn smiled at him.


    Luke had no idea what Quinn had done. To him, she was just a woman who couldn''t live without Alexander and wasn''t very smart.


    He thought Quinn''s mind was full of thoughts about finding Alexander and reuniting with him. Women, he thought, only had such things on their minds.


    They arrived at a high-end mall, and Quinn randomly picked a dress rmended by the staff and bought it.


    On the way back, she asked if there were any fun ces to visit, hoping Luke would take her out. Luke said he would find someone to take her.


    Quinn sighed and gave up for now. What if this car was the one Luke often drove?


    When they returned to the Lynch mansion, it was already dark. The dinner in the dining room was almost set up, and many people were sitting in the living room. Seeing Lukee in, many people greeted him with smiles, but their attention was on Quinn.


    Quinn had been here before, so some people remembered her.


    A man asked, "Luke, why did you bring Cody''s girlfriend?"


    Luke looked at the speaker and then put his arm around Quinn. "She''s not Cody''s girlfriend anymore; she''s my girlfriend."


    The man was stunned.


    Others were also surprised. Whose child was Quinn holding?


    "Luke, when did you have a child?" the man asked again.


    "This is Quinn''s brother, not her child," Luke replied.


    Quinn nced at him oddly, thinking he would admit to being the father.


    Luke was just acting with Quinn, not ready to take on such a bigbel. Otherwise, people wouldugh at him.


    Quinn pretended not to understand their conversation and stood aside as if she were invisible.


    Seeing more and more people arriving, Quinn couldn''t stay here. She couldn''t let Alexander see her.


    She had agreed to Luke to ce the tracker.


    So, she whispered to Luke, "The baby seems to have pooped. I need to change his diaper."


    Luke frowned. "Dinner is about to start. Can you wait?"


    "No, if he criester and disturbs you guys, it will leave a bad impression," Quinn replied.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Luke nced at Sprout. Sprout had been awake for a while, lying quietly in Quinn''s arms without making a sound.


    "How do you know he pooped?" Luke asked.


    "He slept for a long time. If he''s not moving now, he''s pooping," Quinn said, lifting the swaddle and showing him the diaper.

 Chapter 1424

    Luke''s face twisted in disgust as he covered his nose and took a step back. "Go handle it."


    "Alright," Quinn said, making a quick exit with Sprout in her arms. Instead of heading back to the house, she wandered around the vi. If Luke askedter, she could just say she got lost. After about ten minutes of aimless wandering, she finally made her way back to the courtyard where they were staying.


    As she walked down a path, she suddenly bumped into Alexandering from the opposite direction. She froze for a moment.


    Gathering her courage, she walked up to him. "Headed to the dining room?"


    Alexander stared at her nkly. "What are you doing here?"


    "I was going back to change the baby''s diaper, but I got lost. Don''t worry about me. Go ahead to the dining room," Quinn said, then hurried past him with Sprout.


    Alexander nced back at her, furrowed his brows, stood there for a moment, and then looked away.


    Quinn jogged back to the room, found a diaper to change, and then prepared a bottle of form, feeding Sprout methodically.


    Dinner had already started, but since not everyone had arrived, only one table was set.


    Luke sat there alone, with an empty seat next to him.


    Zeke, sitting at the head of the table, nced at the empty seat beside Luke and asked, "Who''s missing?"


    Everyone turned to look at Luke.


    Someone said, "It''s Luke''s girlfriend."


    Aron looked surprised and turned to Luke. "When did you get a girlfriend?"


    Luke smiled and said, "A few days ago. I haven''t had a chance to tell you."


    Zeke asked, "Then why isn''t she here yet?"


    Luke replied, "She had something to do and went back to the room. She might have gotten lost. No need to wait for her. Let''s start." Someone chimed in, "How can that be? Luke brought his girlfriend back. We should wait for her. It would be too rude not to."


    Another person said, "Isn''t it rude of her to make us all wait? Who is she anyway?"


    Luke nced at Alexander diagonally across from him and said slowly, "She''s nobody special. Her name is Quinn, just an ordinary girl." Luke watched for Alexander''s reaction, but there was none.


    Without Quinn''s cooperation, this tactic had no effect.


    Luke kept smiling, but inside he had cursed Quinn a hundred times. Zeke''s expression changed slightly, and he nced at Alexander out of the corner of his eye. Those who didn''t know continued to speak, "How dare she make us wait?"


    Luke said, "I''ve already said, no need to wait."


    Zeke said, "Alright, let''s not wait then. Let''s eat."


    Luke looked at the empty seat next to him, his face turning even more sour. How dare Quinn stand him up.


    The meal was very frustrating for Luke.


    After feeding Sprout, Quinn stayed in the room for another twenty minutes before heading to the main hall with the baby.


    She wandered around the vi again and really got lost.


    She didn''t know where she had ended up. It looked like a backyard with a pond and some rock formations.


    As she was looking for a way out, Luke called to inquire.


    "Quinn, are you messing with me on purpose?" Luke said angrily.


    "Sorry, I''m lost. I don''t know how to get back. Can youe get me?" Quinn said, looking apologetic.


    "Are you really lost, or are you pretending?" Luke questioned.


    Quinn''s voice took on a tearful tone. "I''m really lost. There''s no one here. It''s scary. Pleasee get me!"


    Luke''s forehead veins were about to pop. "Where are you?"


    "I don''t know. There''s a pond and a bunch of rocks. It''s super creepy. What is this ce?" Quinn asked, sounding flustered.


    It was creepy. Other ces had lights, but this spot was pitch dark.


    "Why did you go to the memorial hall?" Luke asked.


    Quinn was taken aback. "This is the memorial hall?!"


    "Stay put and don''t move," Luke ordered, then hung up and made a beeline for the memorial hall.


    Quinn looked around. She didn''t see any memorial hall. Maybe it was the building in front? She must have ended up behind it.


    After a few minutes, Luke finally showed up, looking furious.


    Quinn instinctively took a step back. "What''s wrong? I just got lost. I didn''t skip dinner on purpose. I''m hungry too."


    Luke red at her, almost gritting his teeth. "You better be."


    With that, he turned and walked away, and Quinn quickly followed.


    Luke was in a foul mood, radiating a terrifying aura. He thought he had everything nned perfectly, but he ended up looking like a fool.


    He led Quinn back to the guest room, suddenly stopped, and turned to look at her.


    "This time, I''ll let it slide. If it happens again, be ready to face the consequences," Luke said fiercely.


    Quinn shrank her neck and whispered, "Got it, sorry."


    Luke snorted and left.


    All that friendliness before was just an act. Such a small thing made Luke show his true colors.


    Quinn put away her expression, took Sprout back to the room, locked the door, took out her phone, and opened the tracker map.


    She could see the red dot still in the parking lot outside the old house.


    By standing Luke up and making him look bad in front of everyone, Luke would definitely be suspicious and check the bug.


    So she messaged Kyle, asking him to bring Sean and follow Luke.


    Luke left veryte, not until midnight. Quinn had been waiting until now to see the red dot move.


    Quinn finally sighed in relief. It looked like Luke was about to leave. If he wasn''t up to something shady, he wouldn''t be leaving sote.


    Kyle and Sean could also see the tracker and drove to follow.


    With the tracker, they didn''t need to follow too closely, or they might be discovered.


    Quinn was on the phone with Kyle, asking, "Where is Luke going?"


    "No idea, but it''s getting more remote. I think he''s definitely going to check the bug," Kyle replied.


    Quinn thought for a moment, then immediately put Sprout in the stroller and pushed him to Alexander''s room.


    She knocked on the door. Although no one answered, the light was on inside, so she knew Alexander was in there.


    "Alexander,e out!" Quinn shouted urgently and knocked harder.


    Alexander finally opened the door. Before he could speak, Quinn pushed Sprout inside. "I found it. Get someone to take care of Sprout ande with me." Alexander frowned. "What are you doing?"


    Quinn grabbed his arm and showed him her phone. "This."


    Alexander nced at it, his expression changed, and he looked sharply at her.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Quinn nodded. She was afraid Kyle and Sean would mess up, so it was more reliable for Alexander to go himself.


    Quinn also nned to go with him, but Alexander snatched her phone and pushed her into the room. "Stay inside." He didn''t give her a chance to speak and closed the door.

 Chapter 1425

    When Quinn stepped out, Alexander was already gone.


    He''d taken her phone, leaving her clueless about where to go. With Sprout by her side, she was stuck.


    Quinn sighed, holding Sprout, and nced around Alexander''s room. It was spotless, with nothing extra lying around.


    Made sense; Alexander wouldn''t leave anything important here, so there wasn''t much to see.


    After Alexander left, he tracked the signal and called Kyle.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, we''re almost there," Kyle reported, thinking it was Quinn on the line.


    "Hold up. Don''t follow them," Alexander ordered.


    Kyle was stunned for a moment, then eximed, "Mr. Kennedy!"


    "Yeah," Alexander replied coolly.


    Kyle almost cried with joy.


    Following Alexander''s instructions, Kyle held back. The ce was too remote, hardly any cars around. If they followed too closely, they might get spotted. Sean asked excitedly, "Is Mr. Kennedying?"


    "Yeah, he''s here," Kyle replied.


    Sean was thrilled. "That''s awesome."


    "Don''t get too excited yet. We don''t know if this is the right ce. If it''s wrong, all our efforts are wasted."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Sean said, "Since Luke came personally, it can''t be wrong."


    Kyle was still a bit skeptical. Alexander had been here for so long, how could he not know this ce?


    Quinn found this ce with a simple tracker, so how could Alexander not find it?


    Full of doubts, Kyle decided to wait for Alexander before making any move.


    They watched the tracker, and the red dot was already far from them, but luckily, it was moving slower and seemed to have stopped.


    After ten minutes, Alexander arrived, and the red dot still hadn''t moved, confirming that Luke had arrived.


    Kyle and Sean got out of the car and walked towards Alexander''s car.


    Alexander also got out.


    "Mr. Kennedy," Kyle and Sean called out.


    "What are you doing here? Who told you toe?" Alexander questioned, looking grim.


    Faced with his questioning, Kyle and Sean exchanged nces, sensing things might not be as they thought.


    Kyle awkwardly said, "Well, we''ve found the ce. Shouldn''t we go in?"


    "What''s the point? All you''ve found is one device. Do you know how many devices there are?" Alexander questioned. Kyle scratched his head. "Well..."


    That made sense. He hesitated and looked at Alexander. "Do you know this ce?"


    "Of course I do. If breaking in and destroying the device was useful, do I need to wait for you?" Alexander pressed. "So what do we do now?" Kyle asked.


    Alexander turned to look at the dark road in the distance, his gaze deepening. "Since we''re here, get in the car."


    Alexander had already gotten into the car, leaving Kyle no choice but to get in and lead the way.


    The two cars drove through the pitch-ck night. The rain fell, making the road harder to see.


    After about ten minutes, they finally arrived at the ce where Luke''s car was parked.


    It was a small vige with only about a dozen houses, and Luke''s car was parked under one of them.


    Luke was checking today''s recordings, and there was no sound at all, probably because Alexander was already asleep. He didn''t think much of it.


    He opened the folder and started listening to the recordings fromst night to today.


    Wearing headphones, he found that many of the recordings were silent. Alexander spoke very little and didn''t chat with anyone.


    Most of what he heard was Alexandermunicating with the servants, with no useful information.


    However, he caught a few lines of conversation between Alexander and Quinn during dinner, where Quinn mentioned she was lost.


    Just as he was about to continue listening, there was a knock on the door.


    Luke was stunned, thinking it was an illusion. No one should be knocking at this hour.


    But the next second, the knocking came again, very urgent.


    Luke became alert, took off his headphones, went to the door, and asked, "Who is it?"


    Kyle said from outside, "Hello, we''re the police. There''s been a murder in the building, and we need your cooperation for an investigation." Frowning, Luke hesitated for a moment and opened the door.


    Before he could see who was at the door, a hand grabbed his neck, pushed him inside, and pinned him against the wall, pressing a knife to his throat. His head hit the wall, making his mind buzz.


    Hearing the door close, he opened his eyes and saw who was standing in front of him. His pupils shrank sharply.


    "It''s you!" he eximed.


    Alexander walked up to him, looking at him indifferently. "Surprised?"


    Luke''s expression said it all; his eyes were full of shock. How could he not be surprised?


    Apart from the bug, he kept an eye on Alexander. If Alexander did anything suspicious or contacted anyone, he would know.


    So why was Alexander suddenly here?


    Luke quickly thought of something. "Did you regain your memory?"


    "Is it possible that I never lost it?" Alexander sneered.


    Luke''s eyes widened in shock and fear. Why did Alexander dare say such words to him? Did it mean something would happen to him tonight?


    Thinking of this, Luke hurriedly said, "You still have something in your body. Even if you destroy this ce, there are other ces. Aren''t you afraid of dying?"


    Alexander''s lips curled into a smile, a stark contrast to his usual calm demeanor.


    He finally showed his true self, making Luke even more uneasy.


    When he was Lance, he seemed harmless and easy to bully, but now he was Alexander, a ruthless man.


    Alexander took the knife from Sean and patted Luke''s cheek with the cold de.


    "So what? I''ve been ying along with you for a year, and you actually believed it. How ridiculous," Alexander sneered.


    Luke was stunned. "What do you mean?"


    "I''ve been waiting for you all to finish fighting. Don''t you get it? Who said you''re an outstanding youth in the Lynch family?" Alexander sneered, suddenly remembering something. "Oh, you said you got a new girlfriend today?" Luke was stunned, thenughed. "So you came for that?"


    "If you want to think that, it''s not wrong." Alexander yed with the knife, the de shing under the light, making Luke''s heart race.


    "What do you want?" Luke asked.


    As soon as Luke said this, Sean grabbed his hand and pinned it to the wall. Luke''s pupils shrank, and he struggled frantically.


    Alexander pressed the knife tip to his palm and said softly, "You already know so much. Guess what will happen to you?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1426

    Luke''s face went ghostly white, and his voice was all shaky. "Don''t do anything stupid. If my dad finds out I''m gone, you''ll be the first one he mes!" "Try me," Alexander said, pressing the knife into Luke''s palm. The room filled with gut-wrenching screams.


    Kyle grabbed a pillow and shoved it over Luke''s face, muffling the noisepletely.


    As the knife cut through Luke''s palm, blood poured down his hand and into his sleeve. His whole body twisted in pain; the more he fought, the worse it got. With the pillow smothering him, he couldn''t scream or even breathe.


    After a few minutes of struggling, his body went limp, and Kyle finally pulled the pillow away.


    Luke was totally drained and almost suffocated.


    Alexander yanked the knife out, and Luke slid down the wall, copsing on the floor.


    Alexander pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off the knife, giving Kyle a knowing look.


    Kyle got the hint and checked the files on theputer. There were three shared devices, meaning two more were out there.


    He yanked out the storage device and then smashed theputer.


    "Mr. Kennedy, this storage device is shared. If I take it back and check, I should be able to find the addresses of the other two devices," Kyle reported. Alexander nodded slightly and nced down at Luke on the floor.


    Sean picked Luke up and dumped him in a swivel chair, tying him up with a rope. He then pped his hands. "What''s next?"


    Luke''s face was pale, either from fear or blood loss, and he was shaking all over. His hand was soaked in blood, which was dripping onto the floor. Alexander pulled up a chair and sat across from him, lighting a cigarette first.


    He stared at Luke for a long time before saying, "Luke, what do you think I should do with you?"


    Luke struggled to lift his head to look at him, then let it drop weakly. "If you dare to kill me, you won''t get away with it either."


    "Kill you? That''s too easy," Alexander sneered, crossing his legs and looking at Luke with cold eyes. "How about I let you feel what you did to me?" Luke''s eyes widened in fear. He looked at Alexander in terror and shook his head frantically. "No, name your terms. I''ll agree to anything. Just let me go!" "Anything?" Alexander asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Yes, anything. Just don''t hurt me," Luke hurriedly said, his face full of fear.


    It was clear he was terrified of the torture he had put Alexander through and had lost all his usual arrogance.


    Alexander thought for a moment and said, "Then tell me where the other two devices are."


    "Okay, I''ll tell you!" Luke immediately agreed.


    Honestly, the other two devices were pretty useless now. Even if Alexander had lost his memory, Luke wouldn''t dare to kill him easily.


    At most, he could go after the people close to Alexander, which didn''t need any listening devices. So he quickly spilled the locations of the other two devices. Alexander sent Sean to deal with them.


    After Sean left, Alexander, feeling bored, stabbed the knife into Luke''s other hand.


    This time, the pain was so intense that Luke couldn''t even scream; he just passed out.


    Kyle winced at the sight of Luke''s bleeding hand. It looked brutal.


    Just as Kyle was about to say something, Alexander''s face twisted, and he clutched his chest, coughing hard.


    "Mr. Kennedy, you okay?" Kyle asked, worried.


    Alexander was coughing violently, gripping the armrest so tight the veins on his hand popped out. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    Kyle, shocked, rushed forward to help, but Alexander raised a hand to stop him.


    After spitting out the blood, Alexander gradually calmed down, closing his eyes and trying to steady his breathing.


    Kyle could only stand by, anxious.


    After a while, Alexander wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and nced at Kyle.


    Kyle was full of worry, but under Alexander''s gaze, he didn''t dare to ask anything.


    Alexander said, "Don''t tell Quinn."


    Kyle hesitated before speaking, "What''s wrong with you?"


    "Just a minor issue," Alexander said, clearly not wanting to exin further.


    Kyle didn''t buy it. Who coughs up blood from a minor issue?


    "Mr. Kennedy, now that we''ve got Luke, there''s no turning back. If we let him go, it''ll be endless trouble. But if we keep him, Aron wille after us," Kyle analyzed nervously. "If we can''t avoid it, we''ll face it head-on," Alexander said calmly.


    Kyle now realized that Alexander hadn''t dealt with the listener in his body, probably because of his health issues.


    Now that they had Luke, they had no choice but to face whatever came next.


    "Then why did you contact Sean in the first ce?" Kyle asked.


    "If I hadn''t, our people would have scattered," Alexander replied.


    "I see. So you had Sean buy Vitex Group''s stock because...?" Kyle inquired.


    Alexander gave him a sidelong nce.


    Kyle rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Is it to pay our guys?"


    "What else?" Alexander retorted.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "We thought you were secretly nning something," Kyle said.


    Alexander had given all his assets to Quinn. Now he had to support a group of people and couldn''t use the Lynch family ounts.


    So he targeted Vitex Group, apany on the verge of bankruptcy. He nned to acquire it under Kyle''s name and use it as a shellpany to funnel money, given its registered capital. Alexander sneered, "If you had looked into the Lynch family''s internal issues, you wouldn''t ask such questions."


    "Sorry," Kyle said, feeling guilty.


    "Forget it," Alexander said, leaning back in his chair and staring thoughtfully at Luke.


    "The Lynch family''s businesses are just a front. Their real core is arms dealing. These businesses are just for moneyundering, so don''t waste your time on theirpany," Alexander instructed. Kyle was a bit shocked. "That impressive?"


    He then thought of something. "Has Luke had ess to the core business?"


    Alexander nced at Luke and sneered.


    Kyle could tell that Alexander was disdainful.


    It seemed Luke hadn''t essed the core business either, which exined why he was so wary of Alexander and Zeke.


    So, the real assets of the Lynch family were in Zeke''s hands.


    The Lynch family had only one person in charge, Zeke. Before Zeke died, no one else could ess the core.


    No wonder Alexander wasn''t in a hurry; he was ying along with Luke.


    And he didn''t reunite with Quinn mainly because of his health issues.

 Chapter 1427

    Now that Luke''s been snatched, things are getting dicey, just like when they grabbed Alexander.


    Should they off Luke to fix the mess, or keep him around as leverage?


    It wouldn''t be long before Aron noticed Luke was gone. They could stall for a bit, but not forever. They had to make Luke, Aron''s only son, vanish ASAP. Alexander turned to Kyle and said, "He''s all yours."


    Kyle nodded. "Got it."


    Alexander handed him an address, told him to take Luke there, and took off.


    Kyle whisked Luke away that night, set up some decoy gear, and cleaned the ce spotless.


    The area was a slum, full of all sorts of people, so it was pretty chaotic.


    Kyle dragged Luke into a room, tied him up, and sshed a basin of water to wake him.


    Luke came to, looked around, and started struggling like crazy.


    A knife pressed against his neck. "Don''t move," Kyle ordered.


    Luke froze and looked at Kyle, fear flickering in his eyes.


    He''d lived the high life for years and was only thirty; of course, he was scared of dying.


    "If you make a sound, I''ll cut your tongue out," Kyle warned, then ripped the tape off Luke''s mouth, grabbed his phone, and found Aron''s number.


    "Call Aron and tell him you''re going on a business trip," Kyle demanded.


    Luke eyed Kyle warily. The water was freezing, and his lips were turning purple. When he spoke, his voice shook.


    "Let me go, I''ll give you money, as much as you want," Luke begged.


    Kyle pped him. "Don''t you get why I''m the one watching you? Say that again, and I''ll start with your teeth!"


    Despair washed over Luke. If Alexander trusted Kyle to guard him, Kyle had to be solid. No way a bit of cash would sway him.


    Kyle was sharp, knowing traitors never ended well.


    If he bought Luke''s story, he might not get the money and could end up dead. He''d been with Alexander too long to fall for that.


    Kyle spoke again, "If you don''t make this call and your dad finds out you''re missing, we''re screwed. Then you''re worthless, and we''ll have to kill you. But if you do make the call, it means it''s not game over yet. At least you won''t be in immediate danger. You get that, right?"


    Luke''s eyes flickered. He had no choice. Making the call meant buying time; not making it meant dying now.


    After a moment, he nodded. "Alright, I''ll call."


    "Good," Kyle said, dialing the number.


    It was early morning, and Aron had just woken up when he got Luke''s call.


    "What''s up so early?" Aron asked.


    "Dad, there''s a problem with a project at thepany. I need to handle it. Just letting you know," Luke replied.


    "So urgent? Isn''t it almost Christmas?" Aron asked, puzzled.


    "Well, Christmas doesn''t need me. You guys enjoy it," Luke responded.


    Then, Kyle hung up.


    Luke nced at him. "Is that enough?"


    Kyle thought it was, then re-taped Luke''s mouth. Luke red at him, fuming.


    Quinn had been up all night, waiting in the room. At dawn, she went to check Alexander''s yard again; he still wasn''t back.


    Quinn was getting worried. Did something happen?


    Just as she was thinking that, the door suddenly swung open. She turned quickly and saw Alexander walk in.


    He shut the door and rushed over to her.


    "You..."


    Before Quinn could say anything, Alexander grabbed her wrist. "You can''t stay here. Come with me."


    Quinn, confused, stumbled behind him, clutching Sprout. Alexander led her out of the Lynch mansion to the parking lot and shoved her into the car. Alexander drove away from the Lynch mansion, heading straight for Iris Estates.


    "Why are we going back here?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander turned and looked at her seriously. "Quinn, I''m telling you again, go back to Amber Bay, okay?"


    Quinn stared at him, then asked, "Did you fix the bug?"


    "No," Alexander replied.


    Quinn was stunned. "Why not?"


    "Don''t ask so many questions. Anyway, Luke already knows what you did. You''re not safe here, and you might even get me in trouble. Go back, okay?" Alexander said. Quinn bit her lip and whispered, "If he knows what I did, does that mean he knows you didn''t lose your memory?"


    Alexander nodded slightly.


    Quinn lowered her eyes. She didn''t expect to fail. She had really messed things up.


    "I see," Quinn murmured, looking up at Alexander. "What about you?"


    "Don''t worry about me. Don''t you know who I am?" Alexander replied.


    Quinn didn''t speak. She knew he was capable, but wasn''t he being restrained now? With no one useful around him, could he handle it alone? Alexander reached out and gently caressed her cheek.


    Quinn hadn''t seen Alexander show such a tender look in a long time.


    Alexander stared at her for a long time, as if he hadn''t seen her in ages, or as if he wanted to etch her appearance in his mind.


    After a while, he withdrew his hand and looked down at the sleeping Sprout in Quinn''s arms.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alright, get out of the car and pack up to go back," Alexander urged.


    Quinn nced at Alexander suspiciously. She was leaving. Wasn''t he even going to give her a hug?


    She hesitated for a while, confirmed he had no intention of hugging her, then opened the door and got out.


    Alexander watched her through the windshield, seeing her look back every few steps, walking farther until a tree blocked her figure.


    He looked away and backed the car out.


    Quinn returned to the vi and started packing. The more she thought about it, the more something felt off.


    But she couldn''t pinpoint it.


    Susan was still working at thatpany as nned. Was it okay for Quinn to leave directly?


    She put her things down and waited for Susan toe back.


    Around five in the afternoon, Susan came home on time. Anna had already been sent back, so Susan was now living with Quinn.


    As soon as Susan entered, she asked Quinn, "The holidays areing up. Do I still have to stay here? I''m a bit worried."


    Quinn sighed, seeing her worried face, and thought it shouldn''t matter if she left now.


    So she told Susan, "Then pack up and go back. Spend Christmas with your mother."


    Susan''s face lit up. "Really? I can really go back?"


    Quinn nodded slightly. "Yes, I''ll arrange it for you."

 Chapter 1428

    Quinn hit up Kyle to chat about Susaning back. She''d promised Susan a gig at the Mellon Group, so it had to happen.


    Kyle was like, "No worries, I''ll let thepany know. Susan can start after Christmas."


    Susan felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders when she got the news.


    She couldn''t figure out why Quinn was hanging around. Quinn''spany was miles away from the Lynch family, so why bothering all this way?


    Even if it was about businesspetition, showing up in person seemed over the top. But here Quinn was, sticking around.


    Susan hesitated and asked, "Aren''t you heading back?"


    Quinn shook her head. "I''ll see how things y out first."


    "Alright," Susan said, not pushing it further. She went to pack her stuff. What she''d done was basically corporate spying, or worse, betrayal. She couldn''t stay here anymore and knew she wouldn''t be back. There was a ton to pack.


    Quinn sat on the couch for ages, mulling over Alexander''s attitude and what might''ve gone downst night.


    After a bit, she pulled out her phone and called Kyle.


    A few momentster, Kyle picked up, and she got straight to the point, "Kyle, what happenedst night?"


    "Last night?" Kyle echoed, ncing at Luke next to him. "Well, before we got close, Luke spotted us and led us on a wild goose chase. We lost him."


    "Lost him?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, what''s up?" Kyle replied.


    Quinn felt a bit suspicious. "Wasn''t Alexander with you?"


    "Yeah, we all lost him. Luke''s too slick," Kyle said.


    Luke, half-asleep beside him, looked up at Kyle''s BS and then dropped his head again. Who was the slick one here?


    "Alright, where are you now?" Quinn asked.


    "I have no clue. I''m looking for Luke. That guy took off somewhere, and now I''m lost," Kyle answered.


    Quinn was quiet for a moment. She wasn''t sure if Kyle was being straight with her, but she had no proof otherwise and had to take his word for now. "I see, Kyle. You better not be teaming up with him to mess with me." They both knew who "him" was. Kyleughed awkwardly. "I get it, Mrs. Kennedy. Trust me, I''m really lost."


    Quinn didn''t bother arguing. She hung up after he finished talking. Staring at her phone, she felt a wave of irritation.


    Quinn had promised Alexander she''d go back, so staying here wasn''t an option. But she didn''t n on heading back to Amber Bay; she decided to go somewhere else instead.


    Abigail was on a date and had no time for her, so Quinn had to look up some guides herself to find a quiet spot.


    Abigail, on her date, suddenly sneezed.


    She''d been cooped up in the hotel for days. Landon was keeping watch outside. Except for eating together, they mostly stayed apart, one inside, one outside. Abigail was bored out of her mind.


    She opened the door and saw Landon still in the same spot, scribbling in a notebook.


    After a while, she opened the door again and pretended to walk out casually.


    Surprisingly, Landon didn''t stop her. When she got to the main entrance, she looked back, and Landon was still lost in his own world.


    She quickly slipped out the door and closed it behind her.


    She dashed to her room, threw her stuff together, grabbed her luggage, and bolted out of there.


    She ran with her luggage to the bus stop. Not having a clue where to go, she just hopped on the first bus that came by, figuring she''d lose Landon first.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    After switching buses a few times, she ended up at the train station and bought a ticket to the farthest ce she could find-Silver Moon Mountain. She''d heard it was snowing there and you could see the Northern Lights. Abigail boarded the train with her luggage, checking her ticket and the carriage.


    She found her seat, stowed her luggage, and sat down.


    Suddenly, she heard a baby and felt a little foot kicking her.


    She turned her head and her eyes went wide. "Quinn?"


    Yep, it was Quinn sitting right next to her.


    Quinn looked just as shocked. She hadn''t expected to run into Abigail after a three-hour train ride, and Abigail had even snagged the seat next to hers.


    They stared at each other for a bit, thinking they were seeing things.


    After a moment, Abigail grabbed Quinn''s arm excitedly. "It''s really you!"


    Quinn nodded slightly. "Yeah, what a coincidence."


    Abigail was over the moon. She hugged Quinn, almost crying with joy. "This is such a crazy coincidence. It''s like we''re meant to be together."


    The words sounded a bit off, and Quinn gave an awkward smile.


    They hugged so tightly that Sprout, caught in the middle, started fussing.


    Abigail quickly let go of Quinn and pinched Sprout''s cheek. "Sprout, didn''t you miss me?"


    Sprouty in Quinn''s arms, staring at Abigail with wide eyes, drooling.


    "Ignoring me?" Abigail teased.


    Sprout wriggled, and his little feet popped out of the nket,nding on Abigail''s arm.


    Abigail grabbed his feet. He seemed even naughtier after being away for over two weeks.


    Quinn looked around and asked, confused, "Abigail, weren''t you on a date? Why are you alone on the train?"


    Abigail froze, her face instantly turning guilty. She pretended to y with Sprout''s feet and said lightly, "He was too clingy. I didn''t like him, so we broke up." "That fast?" Quinn asked, surprised.


    Thinking of being cooped up in the room for days, Abigail spoke through gritted teeth, "Yeah, he was always around me. It was driving me nuts."


    It didn''t seem like she was lying, but Quinn couldn''t wrap her head around why her rtionship ended so quickly.


    "So you''re going to Silver Moon Mountain alone?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail finally realized something and asked, "Yeah, wait, why are you going there?"


    Quinn sighed, "I don''t know where else to go."


    "Then let''s go together. It''s snowing there, we can ski," Abigail said excitedly.


    Quinn nodded absentmindedly. She wasn''t looking for fun; she just wanted to get away from Alexander''s watchful eyes to figure out what he was hiding from her. Otherwise, if she stayed, Alexander would be on guard, and she''d never find out.


    Abigail put her arm around Quinn''s shoulder. "You don''t seem to be in a good mood. What''s up?"


    Quinn turned to look at her, not sure where to begin.


    With three hours left on the journey, she decided to start from when she moved into Iris Estates, just to pass the time with Abigail.

 Chapter 1429

    Abigail was at a loss for words after hearing that.


    After a bit, she finally asked, "So, Alexander didn''t lose his memory?"


    Quinn nodded.


    "Forget about him. He doesn''t want you around anyway. Let''s go have some fun."


    "Yeah," Quinn agreed, but she still felt uneasy about what she did to Luke. She wasn''t sure if she had really messed things up. If she had, it might have implicated Alexander. A couple of dayster, Aron started feeling something was off. He called Luke, and Luke answered, insisting everything was fine.


    When Aron asked where Luke was, Luke said he was abroad.


    Going abroad during the holidays was very strange.


    Aron decided to check the surveince equipment. There were three sets in total. Instead of going to the ce Luke frequented, Aron went to another location.


    He opened the door and entered a small room, seeing the equipment still neatly ced on the table. Aron let out a slight sigh of relief.


    He approached the equipment and opened the files, only to find them empty!


    His expression turned serious. He checked all the files on theputer, but they were all empty.


    He suddenly stood up and inspected the equipment again. He finally confirmed that the equipment had been swapped; this wasn''t his set at all!


    Hepletely lost hisposure. He swept everything off the table in a rage, and theputer crashed to the floor with a loud noise.


    After a moment, he got up and walked out.


    Inside the vi, the doctor ced the removed listening device on a tray, still stained with blood. It was a very small device, about the size of a bullet, encased in stic that covered the actual listening device inside. Alexander buttoned up his shirt, looking even paler after the removal.


    The doctor examined the blood-stained device and said, "I''ll go study what''s inside this."


    "Go ahead," Alexander replied.


    The doctor packed up the device and carried the tray downstairs.


    Alexander finished buttoning his shirt and suddenly heard the sound of a car outside. He stood up and walked to the balcony to look down.


    A white car parked at the entrance, and Aron got out, rushing to the door and frantically pressing the doorbell.


    Molly ran to open the door, but before she could say anything, Aron stormed in angrily.


    As soon as Aron entered, he saw Alexandering down the stairs.


    "Aron, why are you in such a hurry? Are you here to see me?" Alexander said, descending the stairs slowly, his tone calm but with a clear hint of provocation.


    Aron red at him, suppressing his anger. "Where is Luke?"


    Raising an eyebrow, Alexander asked, "Youe to the wrong ce."


    Aron was momentarily stunned.


    Alexander slowly walked downstairs and sat on the sofa, inviting Aron to sit as well. "If you have something to say, sit down and talk. At your age, getting angry can lead to a stroke." Aron became even angrier.


    Alexander''s tone made it clear he had regained his memory.


    After a brief silence, Aron walked over and sat down. "You remember everything now?" he asked.


    "What?" Alexander feigned ignorance.


    Aron said, "Don''t y dumb. I''ve checked; you destroyed the surveince, didn''t you?"


    "What surveince? Be clearer, Aron. I don''t quite understand," Alexander remarked.


    Aron instinctively wanted to say more but stopped himself, realizing he couldn''t leave any evidence.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Whether it was true or not, he couldn''t risk leaving any incriminating evidence.


    He had nted the listening device on Alexander, so he had to be cautious. If it had recorded anything, it would be self-incriminating.


    Realizing this, Aron decided to change the subject. "I came to ask about Luke. Do you know where he is?"


    "How would I know that? Aren''t you the closest person to him? If he didn''t tell you, why would he tell me?" Alexander shot back.


    Aron was momentarily speechless.


    Now he was certain that Alexander had regained his memory. Maybe Alexander never lost it in the first ce.


    The equipment had been destroyed by Alexander, but Aron couldn''t do anything about it.


    Aron and Luke were still in contact, so it hadn''t reached a breaking point.


    After a while, Aron calmed down and looked at Alexander, suddenly saying, "Alexander, you don''t look well. You should take care of yourself." "Thanks for your concern, Aron," Alexander said, smiling.


    Aron smiled back, a smile with hidden meaning.


    He then stood up and said, "Since you don''t know, I won''t bother you anymore. Take care."


    With that, he turned and left the vi. As soon as he stepped outside, his face darkened.


    He thought arrogantly, ''So what if he has removed it? Let''s see how long he can hold on.''


    Not long after, the doctor returned.


    He brought back the listening device.


    "Is there really a bomb inside?" Alexander asked.


    The doctor shook his head. "No."


    Alexander wasn''t surprised. He sneered, as if he had expected it.


    He had fallen into a trap.


    He thought Aron had ess to high-tech gadgets and might have actually put a bomb inside. But once he realized Aron hadn''t even reached the core of the Lynch family, he knew there was no bomb. "But," the doctor said, "this device contains strong radiation. Given your existing injuries, the radiation has caused irreversible damage to your body."


    Alexander nced at the small device. "Really?"


    "Yes, it''s now clear that your worsening condition is due to this device," the doc replied firmly.


    Alexander didn''t say anything; he lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth.


    The doctor hesitated as he watched Alexander smoke.


    Alexander had quit before, but now he had started again. When had he picked it up again?


    After a while, Alexander asked the doctor, "How long do I have left?"


    The doctor hesitated, looking troubled.


    "Tell me," Alexander pressed.


    "I don''t know. Rest well and don''t think about anything or do anything. That should extend your life by three to five years," the doc finally said. Alexander chuckled. "That''s a conservative estimate?"


    "Yes, that''s if you rest well," the doc answered.


    Alexander nodded, extinguishing the cigarette in the ashtray. "Got it."


    The doctor looked at his calm demeanor and couldn''t help but sigh. "Don''t you have anyone you care about?"


    Alexander''s smile was tinged with bitterness.


    "Let''s just say it''s all God''s will," Alexander remarked.


    "What do you mean?" the doc asked, puzzled.


    "When I came here, I had no attachments, so I didn''t care what they put in my body," Alexander stated.


    He just wanted to send Aron and Luke to hell before he died.


    But one day, Quinn showed up.


    She brought their child and said she wanted to start over with him.


    But it was toote.


    Fate didn''t give them a chance to start over.

 Chapter 1430

    Alexander spoke in riddles, leaving the doctor scratching his head.


    "I''ve said all I can. Take care of yourself. I''ll take this with me," the doctor said, grabbing the tray and heading out.


    Alexander slouched back on the sofa, his eyes following the doctor out, lost in his own thoughts.


    Meanwhile, Quinn had made it to Silver Moon Mountain by noon. She and Abigail first hit up their hotel to drop off their bags and then grabbed some lunch downstairs. Outside, it was a total winter wondend. Quinn''s clothes weren''t cutting it, so they went shopping for some warmer gear and bundled up.


    Abigail nudged Quinn. "We''re here! Why the long face?"


    Quinn forced a smile, but it was clear she wasn''t feeling it.


    "Whatever," Abigail sighed, dragging Quinn back to the hotel to rest. Sprout still couldn''t kick the habit of napping during the day.


    The ce was packed with tourists, all drawn by the mountain''s fame. They almost didn''t snag a room at the hotel.


    They ended up sharing a king-sized bed. Quinn stood by the big window, staring out at the snowy scene until her eyes blurred.


    Abigail, who hadn''t slept well for days, crashed next to Sprout almost instantly.


    Quinn stayed by the window, lost in thought for a long time.


    The next morning, they headed to the Ice and Snow World. Quinn had to look after Sprout, so she couldn''t join Abigail on the slopes and waited outside instead. Abigail, decked out in her ski gear, hit the slopes solo.


    She loved exploring new ces and trying new things. Her goal was always to chase freedom. Even alone, she had a st.


    Quinn watched her disappear into the distance, then noticed someone sitting across from her.


    Her eyes widened when she saw who it was.


    "What are you doing here?" she asked.


    It was Landon, still rocking his gold-rimmed sses and a white down jacket. The puffy coat looked odd with his sses. "Why can''t I be here?" Landon shot back.


    Quinn nced at the ski resort, then back at Landon. She seemed to piece something together.


    "You''re the clingy suitor Abigail mentioned?" Quinn asked.


    Landon''s face twitched. "Clingy suitor?"


    "Looks like it. You''ve even followed her here," Quinn chuckled. No wonder Abigail didn''t want her tagging along.


    Landon didn''t respond to Quinn''s jab.


    Quinn pressed on, "What are you here for? Not nning to take me hostage again, are you?"


    "No need. Alexander''s not doing well with the Lynch family. I don''t need to lift a finger," Landon sneered.


    "How do you know?" Quinn asked.


    Landon stared at her before saying, "I know more than you think."


    Quinn didn''t doubt it. Landon had always wanted Alexander gone. He''d jump at any chance to dig up dirt on him. "What do you know?" Quinn pushed.


    "Why should I tell you?" Landon shot back.


    Quinn smirked. He was sitting here for a reason. He wanted her to ask for info, knowing he had the upper hand. After a pause, she asked, "What do you want?"


    Landon looked at her intently. After a moment, he finally said, "I want the Mellon Group."


    Quinn, unfazed, figured Landon wouldn''te all this way just to ask for money or Alexander''s life.


    "Just for a bit of info from you? I could dig it up myself if I had the time. You think the Mellon Group is worth that much? Is there really such a sweet deal in this world?" Quinn shot back. Landon pulled a file folder from his coat and handed it over. "Consider this a gift."


    Quinn eyed the folder suspiciously, then opened it. Her expression shifted as she read the first page, and she quickly skimmed through the rest.


    "Is this real?" she asked, stunned.


    "Believe it or not," Landon replied coolly.


    Quinn went over the documents again, still in disbelief. "How did you find this out?"


    "I have my ways. Even I was surprised when I stumbled upon it," Landon sneered.


    "Have you shown this to Walter?" Quinn pressed.


    "Of course not. But if I found it, he probably will too, sooner orter. Honestly, I never understood him. He''s like a ticking time bomb. Unlike me, my goals have always been clear," Landon remarked. Quinn nced at him. His goal was simple: he wanted Alexander dead and everything he had.


    The Mellon Group had been revived with resources from the Kennedy Group, so in a way, it had Kennedy family blood. It made sense for Landon to want it back.


    People could be strange and iprehensible. They could give up everything, even their lives, for their obsessions.


    Landon didn''tck money and could earn more than he could spend in a lifetime. But he insisted on taking everything from Alexander, even if it meant risking his life multiple times. Quinn couldn''t understand Landon, and maybe Landon couldn''t understand her either.


    He might think she was love-struck, only wanting her family to be together, not caring about money.


    They stared at each other, silently sizing each other up.


    After a long pause, Quinn finally said, "I can agree, but the info you gave isn''t enough. I have a condition."


    "Go ahead," Landon said.


    "I haven''t thought of it yet. I want you to do three things for me. When I ask, you mustply. Don''t worry, I won''t ask you to die," Quinn dered.


    Landon looked at her thoughtfully, weighing her condition.


    "If you don''t agree, that''s fine. Let''s pretend this conversation never happened," Quinn stated.


    Landon nodded. "Alright, I agree."


    "Good. I''ll give you the Mellon Group. I''ll add a use to the transfer agreement stating that it will only fully belong to you after youplete the three tasks." Landon said, "It can''t take more than a year."


    "Deal," Quinn replied.


    She thought for a moment and said, "The first thing is, under no circumstances are you allowed to harm Alexander."


    Landon looked at her indifferently but stayed silent for a long time.


    Quinn frowned. "You don''t agree?"


    "What about the other two?" Landon asked.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn was taken aback, realizing he had agreed. She thought for a while but couldn''te up with anything. "I haven''t thought of them yet."


    "Then tell me when you do," Landon said.


    "What info do you have for me?" Quinn asked.


    Landon nced at the ski resort, seeing Abigail returning from a distance.


    He stood up and said, "We''ll talk when your transfer agreement is ready. I won''t tell you now."


    With that, he turned and melted into the crowd.


    Abigail ran back. "It''s freezing! That guy looked familiar. Who was it?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1431

    "Who are you talking about?" Quinn asked, slipping the number Landon gave her into her pocket without making a fuss. Abigail pointed to the crowd. "That guy in white. Isn''t he here for you?"


    "Nope, don''t know him," Quinn replied.


    They were too far away for Abigail to see clearly, so she didn''t bother trying to figure it out.


    She plopped down next to Quinn. "Go have fun. I''ll watch Sprout for you."


    Quinn shook her head. "Nah, look at you, you''re freezing. If you''re not gonna y, let''s go somewhere else."


    Abigail shrugged. "Alright, how about we check out the ice sculptures next door?"


    "Sure," Quinn agreed.


    Abigail warmed up in the lobby for a bit. Once she felt better, she dragged Quinn to the ice sculpture exhibit.


    With a camera slung over her shoulder, she started snapping pictures as soon as they walked in. She aimed the camera at Quinn. "Give me a smile." Quinn forced a grin.


    Abigail pouted. "Why are you smiling like that? It looks worse than crying."


    She put down the camera and pulled Quinn over to one of the ice sculptures, showing her the camera. "You look just like this."


    Quinn nced up. It was a sculpture of a monkey, grinning just like her.


    She couldn''t help butugh.


    "That''s better. Keep it up." Abigail ran a short distance away and took more pictures of Quinn.


    Abigail was having a st, but Quinn, holding Sprout and bundled up in thick clothes, was getting tired.


    In the afternoon, they went to a spot to watch the Northern Lights. But the Northern Lights don''t show up every day; sometimes you have to wait a week, a month, or even three months. They show up more often in winter. Abigail had asked around and found out they might appear tonight.


    So, they got there early to grab a good spot, not knowing how long they''d have to wait.


    Quinn felt cold, so she booked a hotel room nearby. The hotels here were super expensive. The cheapest single rooms were over ten thousand dors, and they were all fully booked.


    There were a few suites left, so Quinn booked one, using thepany''s money. Since thepany would belong to Landon anyway, she figured she might as well spend it while she could. She booked the most expensive one, at $150,000 a night.


    If the Northern Lights showed up, they could see them from the room.


    When they got to the room, Sprout woke up, hungry.


    Quinn took out a bottle and form from her backpack, made the form, and fed him while thinking about thepany''s transfer.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    She wasn''t in Amber Bay and had no idea who to ask to draft the contract.


    She decided to ask Landon to do it.


    So, she took out her phone, found Landon''s number, and added him on Facebook.


    Two minutester, he epted her friend request. Quinn sent him a message, asking him to draft a transfer contract and bring it to her.


    Landon didn''t reply, so Quinn assumed he agreed.


    Unfortunately, they didn''t see the Northern Lights that night. Abigaily on the bed like a deted balloon.


    Sprout started causing trouble on the bed again. After a diaper change, he was crawling around naked.


    Abigail saw Quinn ying on her phone and asked, "Quinn, what are you doing?"


    Quinn looked up, a bit lost. "Nothing, just thinking about video calling Olivia. But it''s toote now." "Call her tomorrow," Abigail suggested.


    "Okay," Quinn agreed.


    She hadn''t called Brandy since they left, which made her feel like a neglectful mom.


    Brandy was less mischievous than Sprout and so well-behaved that she sometimes got overlooked.


    Abigail said, "This little guy just woke up and won''t sleep for a while. You''ve been carrying him around all day; you must be tired. Go get some rest. I''ll take care of him."


    "Alright, I''ll leave him to you," Quinn agreed, heading to another room. She wasn''t sleepy, so she called Kyle.


    The call connected quickly, and Kyle''s groggy voice came through. "Mrs. Kennedy, what''s up?" "Were you asleep?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle instantly became alert, his voice much clearer. "No, just dozed off. What''s up, Mrs. Kennedy?" "I''m back in Amber Bay. When are youing back?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle was first shocked, then troubled. "I might not be back soon. Why did you suddenly return?" "Didn''t Alexander ask me toe back?" Quinn retorted.


    "Oh, I see. Well, take care of yourself," Kyle replied.


    Quinn frowned. "What do you mean?"


    "I mean, if we''re not around and you run into trouble, you could ask Oliver for help," Kyle exined.


    "So, you think I can''t do anything on my own and always need help?" Quinn pressed.


    "No, that''s not what I meant," Kyle remarked, feeling frustrated.


    Why had Quinn suddenly be so aggressive?


    "What are you and Alexander plotting?" Quinn questioned.


    "Nothing," Kyle denied.


    Quinn didn''t want to talk to him anymore and hung up. After all, Kyle was Alexander''s subordinate. Before finding Alexander, he listened to her, but now that Alexander was found, he naturally followed Alexander''s lead. Given his evasion, he definitely knew more than her.


    In the next room, Abigaily on the bed with her head propped up, letting Sprout y with her hair or p her face with his little hands.


    It didn''t hurt, so Abigail didn''t bother to stop him. The more she scolded him, the more excited he got. If she ignored him, he''d lose interest soon enough.


    Sprout was babbling something.


    As Abigail was dozing off, she vaguely heard Sprout say "Dada."


    She snapped her eyes open, staring intently at him.


    She listened carefully for a while; Sprout was indeed saying "Dada."


    Her sleepiness vanished. She picked up Sprout and rushed to Quinn''s room.


    Startled by her sudden arrival, Quinn dropped her phone. Seeing it was Abigail, Quinn sighed in relief. "Are you trying to scare me to death?" she scolded. Abigail hurried over to her, holding Sprout up. "I just heard him say ''Dada.""


    Quinn, who was about to pick up her phone, froze and looked up at the babbling Sprout.


    However, all she heard was indistinct sounds.


    "No, I didn''t hear it," she remarked.


    Abigail put Sprout on the bed. "Sprout, say what you just said again."


    Sprout stared with big eyes,pletely clueless about what she was saying.


    Abigail pouted. "I really heard it."


    Quinn looked deeply at Sprout. "You probably misheard."


    She had taken care of him for so long. If his first word was "Dada," she would be upset.


    Sprout crawled to her, grabbing her leg and trying to climb up.


    Quinn picked him up and stared intently at him. "Baby, say ''mama.""

 Chapter 1432

    Sprout grabbed onto her sleeve, trying to say something that sounded like "Dada" or "Mama." Quinn couldn''t quite figure it out. Quinn decided to go with "Mama."


    "Good boy," she said, giving his cheek a little pinch. "Say it again."


    "Dada," Sprout mumbled.


    Quinn handed him back to Abigail. "I''m going to bed. You take him."


    Abigail burst outughing. "What a little rascal. See, you made your Mama sad."


    Sprout didn''t get it and pouted, trying to climb back onto Quinn.


    "You take him. Maybe he''ll call you ''Mama'' soon," Abigail said, patting Sprout''s bottom and getting up. "I''m off to bed."


    Abigail headed to her room, leaving Sprout and Quinn staring at each other.


    Quinn red at Sprout, who had no clue what he''d done and kept trying to snuggle into her arms.


    Quinn picked him up again, staring at his face. "I''ll give you one more chance. Say ''Mama.""


    Sprout opened his mouth, drooling. "Dada."


    Quinn put him back on the bed. "Go find your Dada!"


    Sprout pouted, not sure if he understood or sensed that Quinn was mad, and started crying.


    The crying was so loud it probably reached the next room.


    Quinn rubbed her forehead in frustration and had to pick him up to calm him down.


    Shey on the bed, patting his back, and soon fell asleep herself.


    Not long after, she was woken up by Sprout pulling her hair. Feeling helpless, she got up to change his diaper and feed him form.


    Taking care of Sprout at night meant never getting a full night''s sleep. It had been this way for a long time.


    Only when dawn was approaching and Sprout fell asleep could Quinn finally get some rest.


    When Quinn woke up, it was almost noon. She got up, washed up, and took out her phone to video call Olivia.


    Brandy must be almost two years old by now.


    Olivia answered the video call. "Mrs. Kennedy, are youing back?"


    Quinn hesitated, not knowing how to answer. She said, "We''ll see. Where''s Brandy?"


    "Watching TV," Olivia replied, switching the video to the rear camera and showing the living room. Brandy was quietly sitting on the couch watching cartoons. "I''ll give her the phone," Olivia said, handing the phone to Brandy, telling her it was a call from Quinn.


    Brandy immediately turned her head, showing a bright smile.


    "Mama," Brandy called sweetly.


    Quinn smiled slightly. "What are you doing?"


    "Watching TV." Brandy''s speech was still a bit unclear, but she could express herself well. She didn''t ask when Quinn woulde back, only about her brother.


    Quinn turned the video to the sleeping Sprout. "He''s sleeping."


    Brandy stared at Sprout for a while. "He''s drooling."


    "Yes, Brandy, do you miss me?" Quinn asked.


    Brandy was silent for a moment and then nodded honestly.


    Quinn felt a bit guilty. Since returning from Las Vegas, she had been in the hospital. After being discharged, Olivia had been taking care of Brandy. Only during thest six months of her pregnancy had Brandy been with her. Brandy never asked for anything or made any demands. She stayed so quietly by Quinn''s side every day that she was easily overlooked.


    Quinn asked her, "Christmas ising. Is there any gift you want?"


    Brandy shook her head again.


    "How about I bring you a gift when Ie back?" Quinn offered.


    "Okay," Brandy replied.


    "Good girl. I''m not out here for fun. I''m trying to find Dada. When Ie back, he''ll be with me, and we''ll all be together, okay?" Quinn said. Brandy''s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "I''ll be good."


    Quinn forced a smile.


    They chatted for a while. Even though Brandy didn''t ask for anything, Quinn decided to send her some gifts.


    Brandy had only seen Alexander in photos and knew he was very handsome. She often wondered what it would be like to meet him in person.


    With Quinn''s promise, Brandy''s hopes grew even more. She looked forward to the day her parents woulde back, and they could be together as a family.


    Quinn ended the call and asked Abigail to help pick out gifts for Brandy.


    Little girls like pretty clothes, jewelry, and dolls. Quinn wasn''t sure what Brandy liked, so she bought everything she saw for kids.


    Abigail, loaded down with bags, sighed in exasperation, "Isn''t this enough? We have these things back home too. Think about me for a change, not just your daughter!"


    Quinn paused. "How about you carry Sprout then?"


    "Fine, forget it. What else do we need to buy? Hurry up," Abigail urged.


    Quinn grinned at her. "Thanks for your hard work."


    Abigail rolled her eyes. "Hurry up!"


    They scoured all the nearby specialty stores until they couldn''t carry any more.


    With two days left until Christmas, the ce was getting busier and more crowded. But sending things was convenient, as most tourists weren''t locals, so there were many international shipping options.


    While filling out the shipping forms, Abigail said, "No matter how many gifts you send, it won''t be as good as getting Alexander on a video call. Brandy is two years old and hasn''t seen him. If you video call on Christmas, Brandy would be over the moon."


    Quinn paused and looked at Abigail. "You have a point, but I''ve told Alexander I went back."


    "Do you think Alexander doesn''t know it? You''re really underestimating him," Abigail remarked. Quinn fell silent, unable to argue with that.


    Maybe Alexander''s situation gave her the impression that he was out of touch.


    "You''re right. Let''s go back tomorrow," Quinn suggested.


    "No cars avable!" Abigail eximed, frustrated.


    Quinn sighed. It was okay. With money, they could always find a way.


    She asked Kyle for Alexander''s phone number.


    After all this time, she didn''t even have Alexander''s number.


    Kyle told Quinn he didn''t have it either.


    Furious, Quinn questioned, "Kyle, if you don''t have his number, what are you doing there?"


    "Mrs. Kennedy, I¡ª" Kyle stammered.


    Before he could finish, Quinn cut him off. "If you don''t give me the number, don''t call me anymore. Delete my contact and don''t reach out again."


    "Fine. I''ll give it to you," Kyle replied helplessly.


    He had no choice. How he wished he knew nothing.


    Soon, he sent Quinn Alexander''s number.


    Looking at the unfamiliar number, Quinn held back her desire to call and decided to add him on Facebook first.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    However, when she searched, there was no result. Did he not register?

 Chapter 1433

    Quinn waited until the evening to make a call.


    When Alexander saw the number pop up on his screen, he knew exactly who it was.


    He just stared at it, not picking up.


    The call eventually ended on its own. Quinn didn''t try again. Instead, she shot him a text: [I''ming back to find you.]


    Alexander sighed, rubbing his temples, feeling worn out.


    After a moment, more messages starteding in.


    He picked up his phone and saw Quinn had sent a bunch of photos, some of Brandy and some of Sprout.


    There was even a video of Sprout.


    In the video, Sprout was sitting on the bed, waving his arms and babbling at the camera. In thest couple of seconds, he reached out to grab the phone. As the screen went ck, you could hear one word. "Dada."


    Alexander''s eyes flickered, and his breath hitched. He gripped his phone so hard his knuckles turned white.


    After a long while, he reyed the video.


    Sprout could call him Dada now.


    Hearing that word made it real-he had a kid with Quinn.


    He owed her so much. He never thought he''d have kids. With all the wrongs he''d done, he figured dying to atone was the best punishment.


    But Sprout''s arrival changed that.


    ''The worst punishment is dying in despair while still clinging to hope. Dying when you want to die isn''t punishment, but dying when you want to live is. God doesn''t forgive any sinner,'' Alexander thought, closing his eyes. The phone slipped from his fingers, hitting the ground with a sharp sound.


    Quinn didn''t get a reply for a long time, and her messages seemed to vanish into thin air. So, she stopped sending more.


    Just then, Landon texted her, asking to meet.


    Quinn left Sprout with Abigail and went out alone to meet Landon.


    It was dark outside, and snow was falling heavily, but the streets were still busy. Quinn made her way through the crowd to a caf¨¦.


    Landon was sitting by the window.


    She walked straight over and sat down across from him. "Is the contract ready?" she asked.


    Landon pulled out a file folder and handed it over. Quinn took out the thick contract and carefully looked it over.


    Everything was in order, and Landon had listed the three agreed-upon tasks in the additional agreement.


    Whether the tasks werepleted or not, the contract would take effect in a year.


    Quinn signed her name without a second thought, like she was signing away something trivial, not apany.


    Landon took the contract and couldn''t help but tease her, "There''s a reason why women haven''t been allowed to rule throughout history." "Say whatever you want. Can you tell me now?" Quinn asked.


    Landon put the contract away and looked at her calmly. "Do you know why I agreed to your first request?"N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "Why?" Quinn asked.


    "Because even if I don''t mess with him, he doesn''t have long to live," Landon replied.


    His words hit Quinn like a ton of bricks, leaving her stunned.


    Countless images shed through her mind, backing up his words. But she didn''t want to believe him.


    So she said, "I just signed the contract. Now you''re making up this story to deceive me."


    "Hard to ept, isn''t it?" Landon said, seeing right through her. "It''s understandable. If you can''t ept it, just think I''m lying."


    He pulled out another file folder and handed it to her. "This has everything on the Lynch family. You can go through itter."


    The folder was even thicker than the contract. Quinn took a quick peek and saw it detailed every member of the Lynch family and their activities.


    Feeling overwhelmed, she decided to take it back to the hotel.


    Back at the hotel, she started going through the documents one by one.


    Landon had shared everything he knew. She even found info about her brother.


    Of course, she wasn''t sure if it was all true.


    Turns out, her surviving brother was none other than Obsidian Circle, the guy who had helped them in Municity.


    The Lynch family used to be the Ethereal family. When they left, they took Quinn''s badly injured brother with them. After he recovered, he started working for them in secret. No one had known where Obsidian Circle''s power came from or what he was up to. Now Quinn knew.


    He was helping the Lynch family sell arms.


    The flood of information was too much for Quinn to handle all at once. She put the documents away and sat in the bathroom to calm down.


    Fireworks were going off outside, but the hotel''s soundproofing was top-notch. Only the colorful lights filtered through the windows.


    Quinn turned her head to look at the fireworks. Amidst the dazzling disy, she saw a purple light. Was that the Northern Lights Abigail had mentioned?


    But she wasn''t in the mood to appreciate it. Her mind was a mess, still grappling with Landon''s words.


    Suddenly, she stood up and went to Abigail''s room.


    Abigail was startled when Quinn burst in. "What are you doing?"


    Quinn stood at the door, silent.


    Abigail frowned. "What''s wrong with you?"


    "I need to go back," Quinn said.


    "Where?" Abigail asked.


    "To find Alexander," Quinn replied firmly.


    Abigail looked outside and then at Quinn''s determined face. "Now?"


    Quinn nodded seriously.


    Abigail sighed, at a loss for words.


    They tried to hail a cab, but no one wanted to drive in the heavy snow with the roads closed, especially sote at night. Even offering more money didn''t help.


    Abigail tried to reason with her. "Calm down. It''s not safe to travel now. Think about Sprout. You can''t just disregard your safety and his."


    Quinn hesitated, looking at Sprout on the bed.


    After a long silence, she finally calmed down and gave up the idea of leaving immediately.


    She sat by the window, watching the fireworks outside all night.


    Abigail watched her and couldn''t help but shake her head and sigh.


    They hade to have fun, but Quinn hadn''t enjoyed herself, not even for a moment.


    The next day, the snow stopped, and Abigail contacted several cars. Only one was willing to go.


    Quinn didn''t hesitate and immediately packed up to leave. The weather was still rough, and they wouldn''t arrive until evening.


    The timing was perfect; they''d get back just in time for Christmas the next day.


    Around 5 PM, Quinn returned to Iris Estates. Susan had gone back to the country, leaving the vi quiet. While other ces were bustling, Quinn''s and Alexander''s houses were cold and deste. Abigail had never been inside. She pointed to the cold house. "Is that Alexander''s vi?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah."


    "Is Alexander not home?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn stared at the vi for a moment, then suddenly turned and walked towards it.

 Chapter 1434

    Quinn got to the door and rang the bell, but no one answered.


    After waiting a bit, she tried again. Still no answer.


    Abigail walked over. "They must be out. It''s Christmas. Shouldn''t Alexander be with his family?"


    Quinn thought about it and nodded. They always had family gatherings during the holidays.


    However, the word "family" hit her hard, bringing her a pang of pain in heart. She turned and left the door.


    Back at the vi, Abigail patted her on the shoulder. "Hey, I''m here to spend the holidays with you, right? We still have time; let''s see what takeout we can get." Abigail flopped on the couch and checked for takeout. No luck.


    Frustrated, she put down her phone. "I''ll go see what you have to eat at home."


    She went to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and found it empty except for two packs of instant noodles in the pantry.


    Looked like they were stuck with instant noodles for the night.


    Quinn had no appetite; her mind was filled with Landon''s words, especially the news about Alexander and her brother.


    It was a lot to take in, and she hadn''t confirmed any of it yet.


    She held the instant noodles, took a bite, and sighed, putting them back on the table.


    "What''s wrong? Doesn''t it taste good? There''s nothing else to eat here, so just make do," Abigail said.


    Quinn shook her head. "I''m not hungry."


    Abigail knew Quinn had something on her mind and looked at her worriedly for a while. But there wasn''t much she could do.


    She stopped eating and moved to sit next to Quinn. "What''s really going on?"


    "Nothing, I just don''t feel like eating. Don''t worry about me. I''m fine," Quinn replied, forcing a smile at Abigail.


    "Really?" Abigail asked, not convinced.


    "Of course," Quinn replied.


    Abigail looked at her skeptically. After a while, seeing nothing unusual, she picked up her instant noodles again. "Alright then."


    Quinn sat for a while, then went upstairs with Sprout. "I''m going to make him some form."


    Upstairs, Quinn gave the prepared form to Sprout to drink by himself. She sat nearby, flipping through her messages.


    Alexander hadn''t replied. Thest messages were all from her. She didn''t know if Alexander had left her on read or if Kyle had given her the wrong number.


    She sat for a while, then opened the camera and recorded a video.


    She said, "Look, Sprout can drink his form by himself now. When you were taking care of him, didn''t he always spit it out? Now he''s so well-behaved, and he''s noticed I''m filming him." Sprout saw the phone, threw the bottle aside, and crawled over to grab it. Quinn raised her hand, keeping it out of his reach.


    "Say ''mama,'' and I''ll give you the phone," she coaxed.


    Sprout stretched out his hands but couldn''t reach the phone. He even tried to stand up but failed, sitting back down halfway. He looked up, calling out continuously.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "You can''t say it, so no phone for you."


    "Dada, dada."


    Quinn sighed. "This ungrateful little one, only knows ''dada,'' never calls ''mama.'' Your dad doesn''t even care about you." Whether it was because of Quinn''s words or not getting the phone, Sprout looked at Quinn, pouted, and started crying. Quinn was stunned for a moment and quickly handed him the phone. "Alright, here you go."


    Sprout grabbed the phone and angrily tossed it aside, still crying.


    It seemed like he understood her words.


    Quinn picked up the phone, ended the recording, and sent the video. She held Sprout, trying tofort him.


    As sheforted him, she couldn''t help but tear up, her tears falling uncontrobly.


    Meanwhile, the Lynch mansion was bustling.


    People were everywhere, both inside and outside the house. Some who hadn''t seen each other in ages sat together chatting, and the entire mansion was brightly lit. After the dinner party, Alexander returned to the courtyard alone, not joining the others in their conversations.


    He took out his phone and saw the video. His finger hovered over the screen but didn''t open it.


    After a moment, he turned off the phone screen and tossed the phone aside.


    Someone knocked on the door outside, and Alexander got up to open it.


    It was Zeke.


    "Why are you hiding in here alone?" Zeke asked as he walked in.


    "Not familiar with them. I can''t join in," Alexander replied.


    Zeke paused, looked back at him with aplex expression, and sighed worriedly.


    "It''s my fault," he said, feeling guilty.


    Alexander remained silent.


    Zeke found a chair and sat down. He asked casually, "Aron came to see me this morning. He said Luke is missing. Do you know about this?"


    Alexander frowned slightly. "Missing?"


    Zeke was a bit surprised by his reaction but quickly returned to normal. "I don''t know either. That''s what Aron said. I''m having people look into it. Aron only has one son. If he can''t reach Luke, he will get anxious. I understand him. Who knows where Luke has gone? If Aron can''t reach him soon, he might report it to the police."


    Zeke was subtly reminding Alexander not to make a big deal out of it.


    Aron''s influence was not to be underestimated. After so many years, he had connections in both the military and political circles. Moreover, he also had connections with forces abroad.


    So if it really blew up, Zeke might not be able to suppress it.


    The more famous one was, the more he needed evidence to act. If Aron got hold of evidence, even Zeke would be implicated.


    Of course, all of this was based on the premise that Luke was alive.


    If Luke was dead, evidence wouldn''t matter as much.


    When they caught Alexander back then, Zeke never found any evidence. Alexander''s own confession couldn''t be used to charge him.


    Alexander said, "Well, I have something I want to show you."


    "What is it?" Zeke asked.


    Alexander took out a USB drive and handed it to him.


    Zeke took the USB drive and looked around the room. Alexander casually handed him aptop.


    He plugged in the USB drive and opened the file. A video popped up.


    It was the video of Alexander visiting Luke that day. Luke opened the door, and the equipment in the room was all there.


    The folders in the equipment contained the files of Luke monitoring him.


    Zeke''s face grew darker as he watched.


    After a while, he looked at Alexander. "So, the thing in your body has been removed?"


    "Yes," Alexander replied.


    Zeke was silent for a long time.


    Alexander watched him coldly, seeing his hesitation.


    He had already guessed it, so there was nothing to be disappointed about.


    Zeke, his father who usually talked about avenging him chose to remain silent after seeing the evidence.

 Chapter 1435

    Zeke snapped the notebook shut and asked again, "Is Luke with you?"


    Alexander smirked, staying silent.


    Zeke was torn. He pulled out a USB drive, stood up, and said, "I need to think. Go rest."


    With that, he left the room, almost like he was scared of what Alexander might demand next.


    Zeke had nailed the fatherly image; even Aron and the others bought it.


    But how much love could he really have for a son he barely knew?


    There were too many yers and interests involved. Would Zeke really go against Aron just out of anger?


    Even Zeke probably didn''t know, and his earlier silence said it all.


    If Alexander were dead, Zeke would have enough ammo to go after Aron.


    But Alexander was alive. He could help Zeke fight those people and keep Zeke''s power intact.


    The USB drive was a ticking time bomb; it had proof of Alexander kidnapping Luke, which could backfire. Unless Luke was safely back, they couldn''t use it.


    But would Zeke act then?


    No, he wouldn''t. Neither would Aron. They''d weigh the pros and cons and downy the whole thing. Alexander fiddled with theputer and opened a document. It was a file.


    Name: Calvin Lynch.


    Code Name: Obsidian Circle.


    The photo showed a masked face, hiding his identity.


    He was a lead, but he was also Quinn''s brother.


    Alexander closed the document and deleted it.


    The day after Christmas, the weather cleared up, but the sky was still gloomy.


    Abigail knocked on Quinn''s door and asked if she wanted to grab a bite.


    There was nothing to eat at home, so they had to go out and see if anything was open.


    Quinn opened the door, dark circles under her eyes.


    Abigail''s jaw dropped. "You didn''t sleep again? Must be that little rascal!"


    Sprout was part of it, but Quinn also had stuff on her mind, keeping her up.


    "Are we going out?" she asked weakly.


    Abigail hesitated. "How about I go and bring something back for you?"


    Quinn nodded but then grabbed Abigail. "Wait, I''ll go with you."


    "Are you sure?" Abigail asked.


    "No problem. I''ll carry Sprout," Quinn said firmly.


    She didn''t want to stay home alone, overthinking everything.


    She bundled up Sprout and took him out.


    Abigail drove around, but all the shops were closed. It was even quieter after Christmas.


    After driving for over an hour, they finally found some small shops open in a remote area, and there were quite a few people.


    Abigail parked the car and eximed, "Finally, some food!"


    She had eaten two cups of instant noodlesst night, but they didn''t fill her up, and she was starving now.


    She ran quickly, like she hadn''t eaten in ages. When Quinn got out of the car with Sprout and a bunch of stuff, Abigail was already far ahead.


    Quinn sighed and had just taken a few steps when a hand suddenly covered her mouth and nose.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Startled, Quinn didn''t have time to react before a ck bag was thrown over her head, and she was shoved into a car.


    She clutched Sprout tightly, her mind racing, suspecting Aron and Luke were behind this.


    She tried to stay calm, worried Sprout might wake up and make things worse.


    She regretted bringing Sprout along.


    But if they were targeting both her and Sprout, it wouldn''t have been safe either way.


    The car bumped along, and the kidnappers seemed surprised at how cooperative Quinn was.


    From past experiences, she knew struggling only made things worse and wouldn''t get her released.


    It was better to think about how to save herself.


    Since they chose to kidnap rather than kill, her life wasn''t in immediate danger.


    She couldn''t see where they were taking her, but it felt like they had driven a long way.


    Abigail came back to find Quinn gone, her face going pale.


    She didn''t even take the food the shopkeeper handed her and quickly ran back to the car, finding it empty.


    She pulled out her phone and called three times, but no one answered.


    Sweating with anxiety, she searched around for any sign of Quinn, asking people but getting no answers.


    Turning around, she suddenly saw a familiar figure and angrily rushed over.


    "Landon!" she shouted.


    Landon had just picked up a shoe from the ground when he was shoved. He stumbled and looked at her. "What are you doing?"


    Abigail noticed the shoe in Landon''s hand-it was Sprout''s!


    She grabbed Landon''s cor. "Did you kidnap them?"


    Landon frowned. "Why would I kidnap them?"


    Abigail stared at him, her fingers turning white from gripping his cor. "Landon, I thought you had changed, but you''re still the same. If anything happens to them, I won''t let you off." Landon''s lips curled slightly. "And what do you n to do about it?"


    Abigail was momentarily stunned.


    She pushed him away forcefully, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Was it really you?"


    Landon ced the shoe in Abigail''s hand. "Use your brain."


    With that, he turned and left.


    Abigail watched his back, filled with doubts. Could it really not be Landon?


    If it were Landon, he wouldn''t have shown up in front of her.


    Abigail couldn''t think of anyone else and quickly got in the car, driving straight to Iris Estates, hoping to find Alexander.


    As the car stopped, Quinn was taken out. Apart from leaving Sprout''s shoe, she hadn''t thought of any other way.


    She heard someone say, "Sir, we''ve brought her."


    Still confused, Quinn heard a strange voice, "I told you to invite her. This is how you do it?"


    "That''s how we usually..." The person didn''t finish before being pped to the ground. "Get out," the strange voice ordered.


    The bag was suddenly removed from Quinn''s head, and the sudden light made her squint. After a moment, she opened her eyes.


    The sight of arge mask startled her, and she instinctively took two steps back.


    She then saw it was a person wearing a silver mask. "Who are you?"


    The person raised his hand slightly, and the surrounding subordinates retreated.


    Once they were alone, he reached for his mask and slowly removed it.


    Quinn stared at his well-defined fingers, her pupils gradually dting.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1436

    A momentter, the man showed his whole face.


    Quinn''s eyes went wide, and she stumbled back, totally shocked.


    Under his left eye was a red mark, more like a burn scar than a birthmark.


    His features were sharp, and his eyes looked just like Quinn''s. With those big, innocent eyes, who''d guess he was Obsidian Circle? Quinn had a hunch that this was why he wore a mask.


    No words were needed; their eyes said it all.


    Quinn tried to speak, but her voice got stuck, and a whirlwind of emotions hit her.


    Calvin stared at her for a couple of seconds, then suddenly asked, "Do you know who I am?"


    Quinn nodded dumbly, then quickly shook her head.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    He was her brother, but which one?


    Calvin sighed deeply and nced at Sprout in Quinn''s arms. Sprout had woken up and was looking around with wide eyes. "Is this my nephew?" Calvin asked.


    Quinn nodded. She kept her eyes on him, memories of their childhood shing in her mind.


    She couldn''t piece them together.


    That''s when she felt the weight of time.


    "Let me see," Calvin said, reaching out to take Sprout from her.


    Quinn didn''t stop him.


    Sprout didn''t cry or fuss. He even reached out to tug at Calvin''s cor.


    "I actually have a nephew," Calvin murmured, amazed.


    Quinn finally blurted out, "Which brother are you?"


    Calvin looked at her, not answering directly. "Take a good look."


    More than twenty years had passed, and Quinn couldn''t tell.


    "Are you Calvin?" she asked hesitantly.


    Calvin smiled, handed Sprout back to her, and pointed to a chair. "You must be freaked out. Sit down, let''s talk."


    Quinn took Sprout, walked to the chair, and sat down, her eyes never leaving Calvin. They hadn''t seen each other in years, and she couldn''t recognize him. She couldn''t even remember what Calvin looked like as a kid.


    Calvin put the mask back on, the cold silver and patterns making him look even more distant.


    Quinn had a million questions but didn''t know where to start.


    "How did you find me?" she asked.


    Calvin said, "A man named Landon said he knew about you and wanted info on the Lynch family in exchange."


    Quinn was stunned. So, Landon used the info he got from her brother to get to her.


    She felt yed.


    "Did you give him that info?" she asked.


    "It''s not a secret. If he wanted it, he could have it. I never got involved in the Lynch family''s stuff," Calvin replied casually.


    "Didn''t you look for me?" Quinn asked.


    "Grandpa said you were all dead," Calvin answered.


    Then he thought of something else. "Is that Walter Lucas?"


    Quinn nodded.


    They talked for a long time. Quinn learned that Calvin had secretly helped Walter. But he wasn''t sure how real Walter''s revenge on the Kennedy family was, so he didn''t reveal himself to Walter. He just helped out when Walter needed it. This was also why Walter could thrive in Municity. Without Calvin''s backing, could some new yers like Alistair and Hetastian hold their ground?


    Calvin said, "Honestly, I think our family''s downfall might have something to do with the Lynch family."


    Quinn was taken aback. "What?"


    "It''s just a hunch. Otherwise, why would Grandpa tell me you were all dead and keep me out of the Kennedy family''s business?" Calvin exined. "What exactly did he say?" Quinn asked.


    Calvin paused, thinking. "He said our family had a beef with the Kennedy family, which led to a bloodbath. He imed Ulysses went nuts, and he didn''t want to fight him anymore, so he cut ties and moved abroad in grief. That was his side of the story. At the time, I was seriously injured and out cold. When I woke up, it was already six monthster."


    Calvin, only thirteen, had no family, power, or influence. He had no choice but to believe Grandpa.


    Quinn was even more confused. She thought the Kennedy family drama ended with their disappearance. But now, Calvin was saying it had ties to the Lynch family.


    "Is this where you live?" Quinn asked.


    "Sort of. But I don''te back often. Landon said you were nearby, and it was Christmas, so I came back to check it out," Calvin replied.


    Quinn looked at him with mixed feelings. So she still had family alive.


    "Don''t you doubt if I''m really your sister?" Quinn questioned.


    "Since I called you here, I checked it out. Even if it''s fake, I choose to believe it''s real," Calvin answered.


    Quinn couldn''t argue; they were on the same page.


    Even if the Calvin in front of her was fake, she''d rather believe he was real.


    Calvin stared at her for a long time, then sighed. "You''ve grown up so much. You''re already a mom."


    Those words made Quinn''s eyes well up. If those things hadn''t happened, they''d be happy together instead of meeting like this. The Lynch family was reunited and celebrating, while she and Calvin were so lonely here. "Calvin."


    Calvin reached out and touched the corner of her eye. "It''s Christmas. Don''t cry."


    Quinn held back her tears and nodded.


    Sprout in her arms also made a little noise.


    Calvin''s gaze fell on his small face. "I forgot to ask, what''s his name?"


    "His nickname is Sprout, and his full name is Leopold," Quinn replied.


    "Sprout? Who named him? My nephew is so cute!" Calvin grumbled. "It was me," Quinn said.


    Calvin was silent for a couple of seconds. "This little man is round and chubby."


    His voice was serious, and with his mask, it was hard to tell what he was thinking.


    It was also hard to link him to Obsidian Circle.


    In Municity, Obsidian Circle was a terrifying presence. Was he like this in private?


    "Calvin, why did you go by the name ''Obsidian Circle?""


    "Because I''m not that creative. It''s the best I coulde up with," Calvin replied, feeling a bit awkward.


    Quinn burst intoughter.


    She then suggested, "You could have called it Phoenix Crest League. It sounds way cooler."


    Calvin suddenly stopped talking, staring at Quinn for a long time.


    It made Quinn''s scalp tingle.


    Then she heard him make a frustrated sound.


    He suddenly pped the chair. "You''re really smart!"


    Finally, his true nature was revealed.

 Chapter 1437

    Quinn had a hazy memory of those days. He wasn''t into studying and ditched school every day with his brother. Walter was the one who did all their homework.


    Quinn was just a kid back then and had forgotten a lot. There were so many good times, but they all seemed to slip away.


    She grabbed Calvin''s hand. "Calvin, do you know about Lance?"


    "Lance, Alexander, it''s all the same guy, right?" Calvin replied.


    Quinn nodded. He seemed to know everything.


    "Good thing someone told me who he really was, or he wouldn''t have made it out of Municity alive that time. You don''t hold it against me, do you? If I''d known you were my sister, I would''ve brought you back," Calvin said, sounding regretful. Quinn shook her head. "It''s not toote for us to reconnect now."


    Calvin sighed, looking thoughtful. "Seems like Alexander wasn''t too nice to you before. Want me to take care of him?"


    Quinn quickly shook her head.


    Calvin nced at Sprout. "Is this Alexander''s kid?"


    Quinn pressed her lips together, silently confirming.


    Calvin pped the table and stood up.


    "Calvin, don''t get mad. It''s a long story," Quinn said.


    "What''s so long about it?" Calvin snapped.


    Quinn held his hand and looked up at him, unsure how to exin. Calvin seemed to have a short fuse.


    Seeing her sad expression, Calvin was quiet for a bit before sitting back down. "Alright, for your sake, I won''t go after Alexander."


    Quinn forced a smile. "Landon told me Alexander doesn''t have much time left. Is that true?"


    Calvin shrugged. "I don''t know. I don''t keep tabs on the Lynch family. They''re always plotting against each other. Wouldn''t be surprised if he doesn''tst long." Quinn''s heart sank. Could Landon be right?


    "Don''t worry. I''ll look into it for you. And next time Landon shows up, let me know. I''ll deal with him," Calvin said.


    "You know who he is?" Quinn asked.


    "Isn''t he Wayne''s son? He''s still useful for now, so I''ll let him be. But if you want him gone, I''ll take care of it," Calvin said.


    Quinn thought of Abigail and paused. "Don''t kill him yet."


    "Alright, your call," Calvin replied.


    A warm feeling spread through Quinn, and she smiled at Calvin. "Thanks, Calvin."


    "Am I awesome or what?" Calvin asked.


    "Of course," Quinn answered.


    "Forget about Alexander. From now on, I''m your favorite, got it?" Calvin demanded.


    "Got it," Quinn replied sweetly.


    "Good," Calvin said, checking his watch. "Alright, I need to get back to the Lynch family. I''ll take you home first."


    Quinn thought of Abigail, who hadn''t been able to reach her, and quickly took out her phone to call her.


    The call was answered immediately, and Abigail''s anxious voice came through, "Quinn, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine. I''ll be back soon," Quinn replied calmly.


    "Where did you go? You scared me to death. Just stay put, and I''lle get you," Abigail said.


    "No need, I''m..."


    "Alexander''s here too," Abigail added.


    Quinn''s voice cut off, and she listened to the sounds on the phone. It was quiet, except for Abigail''s voice; she couldn''t hear anything else. "Never mind. I''ll be there soon," Abigail continued.


    Alexander knew where Quinn was and was already on his way.


    Before Quinn could react, Abigail had hung up. She turned to look at Calvin.


    "Who''sing?" Calvin asked.


    "My friend and Alexander," Quinn replied.


    Calvin tapped the table, deep in thought. After a moment, he said, "I''ll wait for him toe."


    "Calvin, you won''t make things difficult for him, will you?" Quinn asked cautiously.


    "What did you say? Aren''t I the one you like the most?" Calvin asked, sounding hurt.


    "Then am I the one you like the most?" Quinn shot back.


    "Of course!" Calvin replied instantly.


    Quinn asked, "Then will you do something that makes me sad?"


    This question stumped Calvin. If he made things hard for Alexander, Quinn would be upset.


    Normally, he wouldn''t think twice. If he didn''t like someone, he''d just deal with them.


    But now that he''d found his sister, he had to think more carefully. The more he thought about it, the more his head hurt.


    After about ten minutes, Alexander and Abigail finally arrived.


    Calvin had cleared the people outside the vi, so when Abigail and Alexander arrived, they didn''t see anyone.


    Abigail looked at the open door and hesitated. Looking at Alexander, she asked, "Do you think they''re inside?"


    Alexander didn''t answer and got out of the car, walking straight into the vi.


    Hearing footsteps, Quinn turned her head.


    A tall figure stood at the door. As she turned her head, their eyes met.


    Calvin was watching them from the side, wearing a mask, making it hard to read his expression. He just gave off a mysterious vibe.


    Alexander paused, then walked over.


    "Quinn, go out and hang with your friend," Calvin ordered.


    Quinn hesitated. She turned to look at Calvin, her eyes pleading.


    Calvin said, "Don''t worry. You''re my favorite sister."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    This was his answer to her earlier question. Only then did Quinn feel relieved and stood up to walk out. As she passed Alexander, she paused for a moment.


    She looked up, and they silently stared at each other for a couple of seconds. Quinn, holding Sprout, brushed past Alexander.


    Outside the vi, Abigail caught up and grabbed her shoulders, looking her up and down. "Thank goodness you''re okay. Who took you?"


    Quinn nced back at the vi door, "It was my brother."


    "What?" Abigail asked, shocked.


    Quinn said, "It was Calvin, my brother. I haven''t seen him in years."


    "Then why did he take you? Doesn''t he know how to make a phone call? He scared me to death, and Alexander too," Abigail scolded.


    "You went to find Alexander?" Quinn asked.


    "Yes. When he knew you were kidnapped, he immediately came with me to find you. He didn''t even hide his identity and used a lot of connections to find you," Abigail replied. Quinn sighed. So, was Alexanderpletely exposed now?

 Chapter 1438

    In the vi, Calvin and Alexander locked eyes, neither saying a word, like they were sizing each other up.


    After a bit, Calvin suddenly stood up, grabbed his phone, and made a call. "Get over here."


    Alexander frowned slightly, unsure of what Calvin was up to or what kind of person he really was.


    Within minutes, two men walked in from outside.


    They headed straight for Alexander, one grabbing his arm and shoving him into a chair.


    Alexander looked at Calvin, confused. Calvin, with his chin resting on his hand and elbow on the table, just stared at him silently. The mask he wore made it impossible to read his expression. While Alexander was still trying to figure out what was going on, the two men started patting him down and examining his face closely.


    Alexander''s frown deepened, and he was on the verge of losing his cool. His fingers clenched into a fist as he tried to stay patient.


    After a thorough search, one of the men grabbed his wrist, like he was diagnosing him.


    "Chill out," the man said, ncing at him.


    Even though Alexander didn''t show it, the man could sense the tension in him.


    After a while, they finally let Alexander go.


    One of them walked over to Calvin and whispered something in his ear.


    Calvin''s eyes flickered beneath the mask, and he waved the two men away.


    Soon, it was just him and Alexander left in the living room.


    Calvin suddenly asked, "Do you know who I am?"


    Alexander stared at his mask for a moment. "Take off the mask and let me see."


    Calvin mmed the table, stood up, and pointed at him. "If it weren''t for Quinn, you''d already be dead!"


    Alexander suddenly smirked, his eyes seemingly piercing through Calvin''s mask.


    "How dare youugh now?" Calvin said angrily.


    "You''re different from what I expected," Alexander remarked, his smile deepening, like he was looking at an irritable child.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "What did you expect?" Calvin asked.


    Alexander didn''t respond.


    Calvin walked up to him, bent down, and scrutinized him closely. "Alexander."


    Alexander raised an eyebrow slightly.


    "You treated my sister poorly before, and now you let her live alone," Calvin stated, grabbing Alexander''s cor. "How about I kill you right now?"


    Alexander stared at him for a long time before reaching out, grabbing his hand, and pulling it off his cor.


    "It''s okay," Alexander said casually.


    Calvin was momentarily stunned, then grabbed his cor again. "You don''t think I''m afraid, do you?"


    Alexander looked somewhat helpless, spreading his hands as if surrendering.


    Calvin clenched his fingers until they cracked.


    In a fit of rage, he punched Alexander in the jaw with considerable force, causing the chair to make a loud noise.


    "You''re asking for trouble!" Calvin said fiercely.


    Alexander tilted his head, slowly raised his hand to touch the corner of his mouth, and blood oozed out.


    He suddenly coughed, arge mouthful of blood uncontrobly spilling out, staining his entire palm red.


    Calvin was stunned. He knew Alexander was weak but didn''t expect him to be so frail that a single punch could do this.


    "You''re not faking it, are you?" Calvin asked, a bit panicked, ncing at the door.


    Alexander took a long time to recover, then raised his sleeve to wipe the blood from his mouth and turned to look at Calvin.


    His face was even paler than before.


    He chuckled softly.


    Then he said, "Calvin, I''ve done a lot of bad things to Quinn. If you want to hit me or kill me, go ahead. I won''tin. You two just reunited. Don''t let this mess things up. I''m dying anyway, so it doesn''t really matter." Calvin stared at him, speechless for a long time.


    He couldn''t do anything to Alexander, who wasn''t afraid of death and was already half-dead. Another punch could finish him off, and scolding him was pointless since he didn''t care.


    Feeling helpless, Calvin sat back down and said to Alexander, "If you make my sister a widow, I''ll make sure you never rest in peace."


    "You already know everything. Why say this?" Alexander remarked.


    Calvin wagged a finger. "No, I have my ways."


    "Really?" Alexander asked tly.


    Calvin snorted lightly. "Of course. Tell me, do you want to live?"


    Alexander stared intently at Calvin but didn''t speak for a long time.


    "Well, you don''t want to live?" Calvin asked.


    "Being in a vegetative state is also living. If it''s that, I refuse," Alexander said.


    "Of course not. To me, a vegetative state is no different from being dead. The side effects are just too great; you''d live a life worse than death," Calvin said, leaning in closer. He enunciated, "I should ask you, do you dare to live?"


    They locked eyes, a brief tension hanging in the air.


    After waiting outside for a long time, Quinn couldn''t help but run in with Sprout in her arms.


    "Are you two still not done talking?" she asked.


    Calvin withdrew his gaze, sat back, and looked at Alexander.


    Alexander nced back at Quinn at the door. She was holding Sprout, her figure somewhat thin against the light.


    After a moment, Alexander looked back at Calvin. "Thank you, Calvin."


    That was his answer.


    Calvin sneered, "It''s too early to thank me now. Wait until you can actually do it."


    Alexander smiled slightly and stood up from the chair. "Then we''ll take our leave."


    Alexander turned and walked over to Quinn, taking her hand. "Let''s go."


    Quinn was momentarily stunned. She had been here for so long, and this was the first time Alexander had taken her hand voluntarily.


    She couldn''t help but smile, and then looked back at Calvin. "Calvin, we''ll be going now."


    Calvin waved his hand, signaling her to leave.


    Abigail, seeing Quinn and Alexander holding hands, got into the driver''s seat. "I''ll drive."


    Once in the car, Quinn stole a nce at Alexander beside her.


    Alexander took Sprout from her. "Let me hold him."


    His change from his usual cold demeanor was a bit abrupt, and Quinn wasn''t quite used to it. She didn''t know what he and Calvin had talked about.


    "Is it okay for us to talk?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander smiled. "It''s fine now."


    "Really?" Quinn asked again.


    "Yeah."


    Quinn finally let out a sigh of relief, holding Alexander''s hand. "So what did you two talk about?"


    Alexander stared at her for a while, then held her hand in return. "Calvin said if I bullied you, he''d kill me."


    "What?" Quinn was stunned.


    "For the sake of my life, I had to agree," Alexander replied.


    Quinn looked puzzled. This didn''t sound like something Alexander would say. He was rebellious; the more people demanded of him, the more he did the opposite.


    It was also possible that Alexander was just going along with Calvin for her.


    "So, are we..." Quinn nced at Abigail in front, feeling too embarrassed to finish her words, and swallowed them back down.

 Chapter 1439

    Abigail was always against Quinn and Alexander being a thing. If they got all lovey-dovey in front of her, she''d probably roll her eyes so hard they''d get stuck.


    Quinn always thought there was something going on between Abigail and Landon, but Abigail would never admit it. Quinn had a hunch it might be because of her.


    Abigail could keep her distance from Landon for Quinn''s sake, but Quinn couldn''t do the same with Alexander for Abigail. In that sense, Quinn knew she couldn''t measure up to Abigail.


    Abigail dropped them off at the gate of Iris Estates and said, "Alright, you two, out. I need to find something to eat. I''m starving thanks to you!" "Sorry, go ahead," Quinn said.


    "Want me to bring you anything?" Abigail asked.


    "Sure, thanks," Quinn replied.


    As soon as Quinn and Alexander got out of the car, Abigail sped off.


    Quinn turned to Alexander. "Have you eaten?"


    "Nope, let''s get inside. It''s freezing out here," Alexander suggested.


    "Okay," Quinn agreed.


    Sprout had been awake at Calvin''s ce and hadn''t slept, probably because he was passed around too much. He was quietly babbling to himself. They went to Alexander''s house. Molly had gone home and wouldn''t be back for a few days.


    The house was empty, with nothing to eat except for Sprout''s form.


    "Did you watch the video I sent you?" Quinn suddenly asked.


    "What video?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn took out her phone but then thought better of it. It was just as well Alexander hadn''t seen it; those words seemed too sentimental in retrospect. Quinn said, "Sprout can say ''Dada'' now."


    "Really?" Alexander nced at Sprout on the couch. He was sitting there, his big round eyes fixed on them.


    It was a familiar look.


    Quinn realized it and quickly picked up Sprout. "Do you have any diapers here?"


    "Yeah, I''ll grab one," Alexander replied.


    He went upstairs and came back down with a pack of diapers. He handed one to Quinn.


    Quinn skillfully changed Sprout''s diaper, rolling up the used one and tossing it in the trash.


    "I don''t know who he got it from, but every time he poops, he just stares silently," Quinn said, suddenly looking back at Alexander. "Feels like he got it from you?" Alexander chuckled. "You never saw me as a kid. How would you know that?"


    Quinn thought about it and agreed. She had never seen such a peculiar trait before.


    Alexander looked at Sprout for a while and suddenly asked, "Was it that time in Municity?"


    Quinn was taken aback. "What?"


    Seeing Alexander staring at Sprout, she suddenly blushed. "What else?"


    That was the only time they had together.


    "I was just asking. What about that girl? How is she?"


    Alexander still remembered the girl. Quinn pulled out a photo of Brandy to show him. "Look, she''s like this now."


    Alexander took the phone, momentarily dazed by the well-behaved little girl on the screen.


    "She''s grown so much," he murmured.


    "Yeah, time flies without us realizing it," Quinn sighed.


    In the blink of an eye, many years had gone by.


    Yet, they had never truly spent time together.


    "I just video-called Brandy a few days ago. I promised her I''d bring her dad to see her. You adopted her back then, and she''s been waiting for you toe see her every day. You can''t just leave her hanging, can you?" Quinn spoke. Alexander reached out to touch her hair. "No, once things are settled here, we''ll go see her."


    Quinn suddenly remembered something and grabbed his arm, looking at him anxiously. "Are you okay?"


    Alexander was a bit taken aback. "Why do you ask?"


    Quinn revealed, "Landon came to see me that day."


    "How dare hee to you?" Alexander''s eyes grew colder.


    As Quinn recounted what had happened, she couldn''t shake the feeling that Landon had yed her.


    Alexander nodded. "Yeah, you were definitely tricked by him."


    Quinn sighed, "No wonder he agreed to my conditions so easily."


    "He knows your connection with Obsidian Circle. He wouldn''t mess with you lightly. Three small conditions for apany-what a deal for him," Alexander analyzed.


    "But we signed the contract. I''m sorry, I lost thepany you gave me," Quinn said, feeling regretful.


    Alexander wasn''t angry. He said calmly, "It''s okay. Most of the funds are in your ount. It''s just apany. If Landon wants it, let him have it."


    "Do you really think that way?" Quinn asked.


    "If it were a few years ago, I might have tried to get it back. But now," Alexander shook his head, "there''s no point. Just changing diapers for our son is exhausting enough." Quinn smirked, "How many times have you changed him?"


    "From now on, I''ll do it," Alexander promised.


    "You said it. I''m not doing it anymore," Quinn replied.


    Alexander pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "You''ve had a tough year. From now on, I''ll take care of the baby, and you take care of us."


    Quinn heard his heartbeat again, confirming he was alive and well in front of her.


    The emptiness in her heart was finally filled by his presence. She hadn''t felt such a sense of security in a long time.


    Listening to his heartbeat, Quinn hugged him back. "Are you really okay?"


    "Don''t listen to Landon''s nonsense. You know what kind of person he is," Alexander said.


    "Then why were you so cold to me before?" Quinn asked.


    "I was afraid Aron would harm you," Alexander replied.


    "Really?" Quinn pressed.


    "Of course," Alexander said.


    They cuddled together, while Sprout sat on the couch, looking at them in confusion.


    He babbled, clumsily crawled over, and tugged at their clothes. He couldn''t squeeze in but didn''t give up. He kept calling "Dada" as he tried to wedge himself in. After several calls, Quinn suddenly pushed Alexander away. "Did you hear that?"


    Alexander clutched his chest, coughed twice, and looked at Sprout with aplicated expression. "Yeah."


    Quinn picked up Sprout and ced him on Alexander. "He only calls for Dada. I''ve never heard him call for Mama."


    "Maybe ''Dada'' is easier to say?"


    Quinn pondered for a while. "Aren''t they simr?"


    Alexander was silent for a moment, unable to find a reasonable exnation. He tentatively asked, "Could it be that you often talk to him about Dada?"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Quinn stiffened, her expression a bit unnatural, and she denied it, "Of course not!"


    Alexander saw through her expression and couldn''t help butugh. "Then maybe Sprout senses that his Mama misses Dada every day, so he learned to say ''Dada."" This time, Quinn didn''t refute him. Because of her stubbornness back then, things had turned out this way.


    So, she swallowed her words.


    Alexander said, "It''s okay. I''ll teach him to say ''Mama'' every day from now on. It won''t be long before he learns."

 Chapter 1440

    Quinn eyed Alexander with suspicion. He''d just seen Calvin, and now he was acting all different.


    She was sure it wasn''t because of any threats; there had to be some other deal between them.


    It was clear Alexander didn''t want to talk, and pushing him was useless. If he didn''t want to spill, she couldn''t make him; asking wouldn''t change a thing.


    As long as Alexander was safe, she wouldn''t press him.


    After feeding Sprout, Alexander said, "You must be starving. Let''s grab some food."


    "But Abigail and I looked around all morning and didn''t see any open restaurants," Quinn replied.


    Holding Sprout in one arm and pulling Quinn with the other, Alexander said, "You just didn''t find the right spot. Let''s go."


    Quinn was indeed hungry. She hadn''t eaten dinnerst night, and when she went out to find something to eat, Calvin had kidnapped her. Calvin didn''t even offer her a meal before letting her go. Alexander drove Quinn out. Without navigation, Quinn wouldn''t recognize any of these roads.


    At a traffic light, Quinn turned her head and saw Abigail outside. She was crossing the street in front of their car but didn''t notice them.


    Abigail seemed not to recognize Alexander''s car.


    "That''s Abigail," Quinn said.


    Alexander responded, "Ignore her."


    Abigail had already crossed the street. Wasn''t she supposed to be getting food? What was she doing wandering around here?


    Quinn thought about texting Abigail but then saw Landon''s shadow. She put her phone down.


    Abigail had asked Landon out to apologize for what happened in the morning.


    "Did you find Quinn?" Landon asked.


    "Yeah, I did. I misunderstood you this morning. I''m sorry," Abigail said sincerely. Landon looked at her indifferently. "And then?"


    "What do you mean?" Abigail asked.


    "You came to see me like this. Aren''t you afraid I''ll kidnap you?" Landon retorted.


    Abigail wanted to roll her eyes. Previously, when Landon said he would kidnap her, he took her out to eat and locked her in a room. However, when she left, Landon didn''t stop her. So, Landon never really intended to kidnap her.


    "It won''t do you any good, right? Let''s just go eat instead," Abigail suggested.


    "What do you want to eat?" Landon asked.


    Abigail spoke, "What do you want to eat? Pick a ce, and we''ll go."


    She couldn''t find a ce to eat and was very hungry. Treating Landon to a meal was just an excuse. She needed to fill her stomach first.


    Landon stared at her for a moment and then mercilessly exposed her. "You can''t find a ce to eat, can you?"


    Abigail felt a bit embarrassed and coughed unnaturally. "How could that be? I''m giving you the chance to choose."


    "I''m not picky. Anything will do," Landon said casually.


    Abigail couldn''t keep up the pretense. "Do you want to eat or not? If you do, lead the way. This is your only chance!"


    Landon sighed and turned to walk to the left. "Follow me."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Abigail followed him confidently. After the fake gun incidentst time, she was no longer afraid of him.


    Now, he didn''t seem to pose any threat to her.


    Landon headed to a parking lot; they were going to drive.


    Abigail sat in the car as Landon drove, clueless about their destination.


    After about twenty minutes, they pulled up to a bustling street filled with shops and eateries. There was even a Mexican restaurant.


    "Where is this? I didn''t find this ce in my research," Abigail asked.


    "This is a local event. It''s only open during holidays," Landon replied.


    "I see," Abigail said.


    As soon as Landon parked, she jumped out and bought a pack of sweets from the nearest shop. After wolfing down two pieces, she felt alive again. "Want some?" Abigail offered the box to Landon.


    Landon turned his head away, refusing her sweets.


    Abigail pouted and stuffed another sweet into her mouth.


    The street was long and crowded, buzzing with activity.


    Abigail bought some grilled meat and two cups of coffee, picking up things as she walked. Eventually, her hands were full.


    "Hold this for me," she said, shoving her purchases into Landon''s arms. He instinctively raised his hands to catch them.


    Abigail bought anything that looked good or fun, muttering, "This hat looks nice; I''ll get one for Sprout. This burger is delicious; I''ll pack one for Quinn." Landon watched her coldly, his arms full of her purchases.


    She even bought something for Alexander butpletely ignored Landon, who was helping her carry everything.


    Landon couldn''t help but ask, "How much more are you going to buy?"


    Abigail took a bite of a candy, found it too sweet, and put it back in the bag, cing it in his arms. "Let''s see." "Aren''t you supposed to be treating me to a meal?" Landon asked.


    Abigail was stunned. Looking back, she realized she had bought so much stuff, and Landon''s face was livid.


    Sheughed awkwardly and said, "So, what do you want to eat?"


    Landon didn''t say anything and just stared at her.


    Abigail couldn''t stand his gaze and randomly pointed to a shop across the street. "How about Mexican food?" Landon still didn''t speak.


    Abigail made the decision for him. "Alright, let''s go with that."


    She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the restaurant. She was already full and was quite dismissive of Landon.


    After sitting down, she handed the menu to Landon to choose.


    She then sorted through the pile of things in front of her, discarding what she had eaten and organizing the rest into separate bags for food and toys. After finishing, she looked up at Landon. "Have you chosen?"


    Landon gazed at her quietly.


    Clearly, he hadn''t.


    Abigail scratched her forehead with one finger, took the menu, called the owner, and randomly pointed to a few items.


    "Alright, these will do," Abigail said to the waiter.


    The waiter asked, "Did you order two of the same dish?"


    Abigail paused for a moment. "Yes! Just bring what I ordered!"


    She then smiled at Landon. "Don''t worry. I won''t make you pay."


    As she spoke, she saw something outside from the corner of her eye. Her expression changed slightly, and she slid under the table. Landon frowned and looked back, only to see Quinn and Alexander outside.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1441

    But they just walked by withouting in.


    Landon stared at the empty chair across from him, his eyes flickering a bit.


    Two minutester, Abigail''s voice came from under the table, "Did theye in or leave?"


    "They left," Landon said calmly.


    Abigail let out a long sigh of relief and crawled out from under the table. She patted her chest, looking both guilty and panicked. "Are you really that scared of them?" Landon asked.


    "You don''t get it." Abigail suddenly got a bit irritable. She picked up some food and put it in her bowl, but she wasn''t in the mood to eat anymore. Landon and Alexander had beef, and if Quinn found out she had any ties with Landon, she couldn''t imagine how messy things would get for her. So, it was better to keep her distance from the start.


    Abigail was lost in thought, stirring her fork in the bowl, shredding the greens into pieces.


    Quinn and Alexander were also wandering around this street. There was a ton of food, and it was the first time Quinn had strolled around so leisurely since she got here. Alexander was holding Sprout. The street was so lively that Sprout couldn''t fall asleep. He waved his little hands, trying to grab everything.


    They ate their way down the street, and halfway through, Quinn was already stuffed.


    She handed Alexander a piece of dessert. He took a bite, finding it so sweet it hurt his teeth.


    "Is it good? Want another piece?" Quinn asked.


    "No, you have it," Alexander declined.


    Quinn tugged at the corner of her mouth and put the dessert in her mouth, even though she was already too full.


    They strolled down the street for over forty minutes before reaching the end, where there was a performance.


    Quinn immediately pulled Alexander over. There were alreadyyers of people surrounding the area. After squeezing in for a while, they realized it was an acrobatics show. It was Quinn''s first time seeing such a performance; she had only seen it on TV before.


    They could really breathe fire, break stones on their chests, and perform magic tricks. Quinn watched in amazement.


    "Is that a real stone?" Quinn asked curiously.


    "It should be," Alexander replied.


    The audience''s apuse rose and fell, and Sprout pped along, his eyes squinting withughter, drooling all over his cor.


    After watching, they went to a small supermarket to buy some groceries since there was nothing to eat at home.


    Alexander put the groceries in the trunk, filling it to the brim, and then took Quinn and Sprout back.


    He hadn''t nned to stay at Iris Estates initially, but now he had no choice but to stay.


    After an afternoon of shopping, Quinn was still energetic, while Alexander was sprawled on the couch, leaning back and letting Sprout crawl all over his chest. Seeing Alexander''s state, Quinn felt like she was looking at a retired old man. Had he already given up?


    She couldn''t see any fighting spirit in Alexander.


    She sighed, walked over, and picked up Sprout. "Sprout didn''t nap today. Let''s see if we can adjust his schedule this time."


    This little guy''s schedule was the opposite of theirs, which was quite torturous.


    Alexander nced at her. "Where are you sleeping tonight?"


    Quinn was caught off guard. Should she go back or stay here?This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Given Alexander''s indifferent demeanor, it seemed like it didn''t matter where she slept.


    "I''m fine with anything," Quinn said.


    Alexander was silent for a moment, then stood up from the couch. "Let''s go upstairs then."


    Quinn followed him to the bedroom. It wasn''t her first time here, so she smoothly put Sprout on the bed, made some form, and changed his diaper.


    Alexander sat down, took the bottle, and said to Quinn, "Go take a shower."


    Quinn thought for a moment, then grabbed one of Alexander''s shirts and headed to the bathroom.


    As soon as she left, Sprout started acting up. He spit out a mouthful of milk, dirtying Alexander''s clothes and the bed sheets.


    Alexander handed the bottle to Sprout to drink by himself. Sprout grabbed the bottle, shaking it around, spilling milk all over the bed.


    But Alexander was now calm and indifferent, letting him y however he wanted.


    Sprout yed for a while, then started drinking from the bottle again.


    He was so tired that he fell asleep while drinking.


    When Quinn came out of the shower, she saw Alexander changing the bed sheets. He had already put on new ones and casually threw the dirty ones in the corner. He found a set of baby clothes and changed Sprout.


    "Was Sprout being naughty again?"


    "Seems like only you can keep him in check," Alexander remarked.


    He finished changing Sprout''s clothes, picked him up from the couch, and put him back on the bed, covering him with a nket.


    When Alexander turned around, Quinn was standing behind him, wearing his shirt, her legs bare. He was momentarily stunned. Quinn looked a bit uneasy. "Do you want to take a shower?"


    Alexander stared at her for a moment before looking away. "Yeah."


    He went to the bathroom, and Quinn got into bed, lying next to Sprout, looking at his sleeping face, feeling a bit dazed.


    She touched Sprout''s cheek, still feeling a bit unreal at Alexander''s sudden change.


    It seemed like they had reconciled, and everything was back to normal as if nothing had happened.


    She still didn''t know what Calvin had said to Alexander to make him change his mind so suddenly. As she was lost in thought, her eyelids grew heavy.


    Alexander had been in the bathroom for a long time. Before he came out, Quinn was already asleep.


    In a daze, Quinn felt the bed sink beside her and a hand fall on her waist.


    But she was too tired, and the scent was familiar. She lifted her eyelids slightly and fell back into sleep.


    She had a dream. They went back to their previous state. Finding Calvin was fake, and going shopping was fake too. She snapped her eyes open, and it was already daylight outside.


    She instinctively turned her head to look, but the bed was empty, and Sprout was gone too.


    The scenes from her dream shed before her eyes. She hurriedly threw off the nket and ran out of the bedroom. There was no one downstairs, so she ran to the study.


    Both Alexander and Sprout were in the study. Alexander was typing on theputer, and Sprout was sitting on his desk.


    Sprout was ying with a notebook, tearing out pages as he yed, and Alexander didn''t stop him.


    Quinn walked in, picked up Sprout, and put him in the nearby stroller. "Why did you let him sit on the desk? What if he falls?" she asked.


    Alexander looked up at her. She hadn''t changed her clothes.


    Quinn paused, instinctively looking down and slightly bending her back.


    "He was fussing in the stroller, so I put him on the desk," Alexander exined. As if to prove his point, Sprout started fussing in the stroller, pping it and yelling. Quinn was silent for a moment. "I''ll go change clothes first. You haven''t had breakfast yet, right?"


    Then, she ran out of the study. There were no clothes for her here, so she picked up the ones she wore yesterday and put them on.

 Chapter 1442

    Quinn headed to the kitchen to whip up breakfast and then went upstairs to call Alexander down to eat.


    When she walked in, she found him with Sprout on hisp. She knocked on the door and said, "Breakfast''s ready." Alexander picked up Sprout and came over.


    At the dining table, Quinn couldn''t help but ask, "You''re not going to work today. What are you doing in the study?"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander looked at her and asked, "The tech you gave to the Vitex Group, where''d ite from?"


    "Walter gave it to me, but he probably swiped it from someone else. Why do you ask?" Quinn replied.


    "Future Era is suing the Vitex Group," Alexander said.


    "Who''s Future Era?" Quinn asked, puzzled.


    "Apany in Vesperia. If I''m right, Walter stole their chip," Alexander guessed.


    "Do they have proof?" Quinn inquired.


    "Probably, or they wouldn''t be suing. Vitex Group''s stock tanked today," Alexander revealed.


    Quinn sighed. She didn''t expect the original owner toe knocking so soon. So, Vanguard Enterprises Group might not be diving into this tech for now, and her n to pit these two against each other was a bust. But it didn''t really bother her.


    "So, the Vitex Group can''t be bought out now, right?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander nodded slightly. "You had Sean sell all the stocks, so no loss there. It depends on whether this issue blows up. If it does, the Lynch family could get dragged in too." "What?" Quinn was shocked.


    "When you attack a country or start a rebellion, all you need is an excuse. This could be the perfect excuse for their attack," Alexander exined.


    Quinn was stunned. "Is it that serious?"


    "If it gets serious, yeah. If it goes through normal channels, they''ll just find a scapegoat and pay some money to settle it," Alexander said.


    Quinn naturally hoped for thetter. If it got serious, the fallout would be unimaginable. In wars, it''s always the civilians who suffer, and she didn''t want that. Alexander rubbed the cup in his hand, deep in thought.


    "So, do you think this will escte?" Quinn asked.


    "Probably not. The Lynch family''s actions aren''t exactly a secret. They''ll be careful, unless..." Alexander trailed off.


    "Unless what?" Quinn asked eagerly.


    Alexander ced an egg in her bowl. "This isn''t something you need to worry about. Eat your breakfast."


    Quinn looked at him resentfully, annoyed that he always left things half-said.


    She picked up the egg and took an angry bite.


    Alexander took a sip from his milk cup when his phone suddenly rang. It was Zeke calling.


    He answered, and as expected, Zeke was calling him back.


    "Quinn, I need to go to the Lynch mansion," Alexander said.


    Quinn paused. "Is it about the Vitex Group?"


    "Most likely. I''ll be back soon," Alexander replied.


    Quinn nodded. "Go ahead. I''ll wait for you."


    Alexander went upstairs to change and then drove off. Quinn turned to look at the baby stroller beside her, where Sprout was quietly drinking milk.


    It was a relief that Sprout didn''t sleep during the day.


    After breakfast, Quinn took Sprout back to the house next door where her clothes were.


    Thinking about what Alexander said, she called Kyle to confirm.


    "Kyle, when you gave the Vitex Group the stuff, you didn''t leave any evidence, right?" Quinn asked.


    "No, I already arranged for that person to go abroad to a faraway ce. I also anonymously donated the card they gave me, so they shouldn''t be able to trace it back to us," Kyle replied. "Only we know about this, and Susan''s back in the country. But Mrs. Kennedy, you should give her a call to remind her," Kyle suggested.


    Quinn nodded. "Got it."


    She hung up and called Susan, filling her in on the situation and reminding her to keep it under wraps. Otherwise, Susan would be the first one behind bars.


    Susan got the message loud and clear and promised to keep quiet.


    The only one left was Cody. He probably wouldn''t spill the beans. If anyone wanted the Lynch family to fall, it would be the Logan family.


    Helping the Lynch family didn''t benefit them at all. The Mellon Group getting into trouble wasn''t good for them either. As long as they didn''t stir the pot, Quinn didn''t care.


    As soon as Alexander got to the Lynch mansion, Zeke asked, "You heard about the Vitex Group?"


    "Just found out. What''s the deal?" Alexander asked.


    Zeke stared at him for a long moment. "Are you sure you had nothing to do with this?"


    Alexander shot back, "What do you think I could''ve done?"


    Zeke''s face darkened. He said angrily, "Aron''s people are useless. They just take things from others without checking the source! Do they really think there''s such a thing as a free lunch?" "Isn''t this a good thing?" Alexander sneered.


    Zeke gave him a sharp look. "What do you mean?"


    Alexander walked over to a chair and sat down. "The Vitex Group is Aron''spany. For such a big issue, shouldn''t Aron step up and handle it?"


    "We''re just worried others will use this to make a fuss, dragging the whole family down," Zeke said.


    "Then let Aron handle it himself. If he does a good job, great. If not, cut him loose," Alexander said calmly.


    Zeke looked at him in surprise.


    Alexander was suggesting that if Aron couldn''t handle this, they should kick him out of the family. If Aron was no longer part of the Lynch family, he couldn''t cause trouble for them.


    Zeke said hesitantly, "At most, Aron can be med for poor management. Kicking him out won''t make everyone happy, and he won''t agree. If we push him too hard, he might do something drastic, making things even messier." "Make him leave voluntarily," Alexander said tly.


    Zeke found this amusing. If he could convince Aron to leave voluntarily, he wouldn''t be here listening to this nonsense.


    "Then tell me, how do we make him leave voluntarily?" he asked.


    "Aron has a son, and besides," Alexander said, pulling a folded paper from his pocket and handing it over. "Take a look."


    Zeke took it, and his face changed dramatically.


    "Is this information urate?" he asked.


    "You can ask Obsidian Circle," Alexander replied.


    Calvin''s business was illegal, and he colluded with Aron to secretly build a munitions factory, producing some substandard arms and selling them mixed with the good ones. The extra money was pocketed by them.


    If this got out, Aron''s reputation would be trashed, and his so-called connections probably wouldn''t trust him anymore.


    "Talk to Aron. If he leaves voluntarily, people will think he did it for the family. But if he''s kicked out because of this, he''s done for," Alexander stated.


    "Do you have other evidence?" Zeke asked.


    "Of course, otherwise why would I tell you this?" Alexander replied.


    Zeke''s fingers trembled slightly. He was shocked because Alexander was under his watch every day, and Aron was even monitoring him. Despite this, he managed to find out all this information.


    Zeke wasn''t aware of this because he had just taken over, and all the important secrets were held by the family head.

 Chapter 1443

    Zeke thought it over. For now, he and Alexander were on the same team, so Alexander wasn''t a threat.


    "Hand over all the evidence you got, and I''ll go have a chat with him," Zeke said.


    "Alright," Alexander replied.


    Zeke gave him aplicated look. Man, how different things would be if Alexander had been around since they were kids. They wouldn''t be so distant now.


    "Where''s Luke at?" Zeke asked.


    "Somewhere really safe," Alexander said, standing up. "If that''s all, I''m heading out."


    "Hold up," Zeke called after him.


    Alexander stopped and turned back. "What now?"


    "Is Quinn''s kid yours?" Zeke asked.


    "Do you want him to be mine?" Alexander shot back.


    Zeke thought for a moment. "Of course, I''d like you to keep the family line going, but she..."


    Seeing Alexander''s face change, Zeke switched gears. "Never mind. We''ll talkter."


    Now wasn''t the time for this. The kid was a boy, and Zeke liked him, but Quinn? Not so much.


    If it were up to him, he''d pick a different mom for the kid.


    But with how things were between him and Alexander, convincing him was a no-go.


    People in power always want to control everything; Zeke was no different.


    Alexander turned and left the study.


    He headed straight to Iris Estates.


    What Quinn did was a lucky break; at least it let Zeke and Aron show their cards.


    As long as Aron got kicked out of the Lynch family, it would shake things up. And if Aron wanted back inter, it wouldn''t be too hard.


    Besides Zeke, a few others were watching closely.


    Alexander drove back to the vi just in time for lunch. Abigail was in the living room ying with Sprout. She looked up when she heard hime in. "Back already?" she asked.


    Alexander nodded. "Where''s Quinn?"


    "In the kitchen," Abigail said.


    Alexander walked in and found Quinn cooking. She heard footsteps and thought it was Abigail.


    "Almost done. Hang tight," she said without turning around.


    Abigail had shown up early, asking for food. Quinn made her breakfast, and by noon, she was hungry again.


    So, Quinn had to cook again.


    Alexander stood behind her, just watching silently.


    When she didn''t hear anything, Quinn turned around. "Oh, it''s you. Why are you just standing there?"


    "Just checking out what you''re making," Alexander said.


    "Just the stuff we bought yesterday. Get out. It''ll be ready soon," Quinn ordered.


    Alexander was quiet for a moment but then left.


    About ten minutester, Quinn finished cooking and called Alexander and Abigail to eat.


    The three of them sat at the table, and it was a bit awkward.


    This was probably the first time Abigail and Alexander had eaten together. Their past issues couldn''t be summed up in a few words. Abigail had cursed Alexander many times, and he''d scolded her a few times too. If it weren''t for Quinn, they''d never be at the same table.


    Quinn''s eyes darted between them. She didn''t know what to say and just ate awkwardly.


    Abigail put down her fork. "I''m full. Take your time. I got stuff to do, so I''m out."


    What could a jobless person have to do? It was just an excuse to leave.


    Quinn sighed but didn''t try to stop her.


    After Abigail left, Alexander suddenly said, "She seems to be getting close to Landon." Quinn''s hand froze for a second, and she forced a smile. "Really? I had no idea." Alexander nced at her. "Why are you so jumpy? I haven''t even said anything yet." "I''m not jumpy," Quinn denied.


    "Rx. As long as Landon doesn''t stir up trouble, I won''t go after him," Alexander said.


    "I''m not worried," Quinn insisted.


    How could she worry about Landon? She was only worried about Abigail.


    Alexander didn''t say anything more and continued eating in silence.


    In the afternoon, with nothing else to do, Alexander stayed home with Quinn and Sprout, watching TV. It had been ages since they just sat together like this. It felt like the old days.


    Quinn instinctively turned to look at Alexander. He was staring at the TV, but his eyes were unfocused. She had no idea what he was thinking.


    After a while, he suddenly said, "Calvin is leaving in a couple of days. Do you want to visit him?"


    "Leaving so soon?" Quinn remarked.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    "He rarely stays here," Alexander exined.


    Quinn nodded. "Okay, we''ll go tomorrow."


    She hadn''t had a proper conversation with Calvin. Yesterday''s meeting wasn''t normal; she had been taken there.


    "Should we let him know? So he doesn''t go out when we visit?" Quinn asked.


    But then she remembered. "I don''t even have his number."


    While she was talking, Alexander had already taken out his phone to message Calvin.


    Quinn was surprised. He actually had Calvin''s number.


    "Done. He''ll be waiting for us at home tomorrow," Alexander said casually.


    "When did you get his number?" Quinn asked, surprised.


    "Yesterday," Alexander replied.


    Quinn nodded. She had forgotten about it yesterday. Luckily, Alexander had gotten it; otherwise, they would have to go to Municity to contact Calvin. They sat on the couch for the rest of the afternoon.


    As it got dark, Quinn nced at Alexander, who was feeding Sprout. Because Quinn was there, Sprout was quite well-behaved.


    After finishing the milk, Sprout yed in the stroller with a bunch of toys.


    Later in the evening, after dinner, they sat on the couch watching TV again.


    Quinn stared at Alexander, who still had that indifferent look. It wasn''t that Quinn had any inappropriate thoughts, but Alexander seemed different from the Alexander she used to know. A thought crossed Quinn''s mind.


    Could it be that Alexander had erectile dysfunction?


    Her gaze was too obvious, and Alexander finally turned to look at her. "Why are you staring at me?"


    Quinn''s expression was a bit strange.


    Alexander frowned slightly.


    Quinn silently looked away. "It''s nothing."


    Alexander suddenly chuckled, then turned his gaze back to the TV without saying anything.


    Hisugh made Quinn blush. She nced at the stroller; Sprout was already asleep.


    She got up and picked up Sprout, "It''ste. I''ll take him to bed."


    Suddenly, her arm was grabbed, and she stumbled back onto the couch.


    She turned to Alexander. "What are you doing?"


    Alexander took Sprout from her and ced him aside, then leaned in close to her.


    Alexander whispered, "Are you in the mood for some fun?"


    Quinn''s eyes widened, and a rush of heat climbed up her cheeks. She pushed Alexander. "What nonsense are you talking about!"


    Alexander ced his hand on her waist and pulled her closer. "Then why did you look at me like that?"

 Chapter 1444

    "What kind of look am I giving?" Quinn asked.


    "No clue," Alexander said, his eyes drifting over her cheek. They were super close, and his breath was warm against her face. "But I feel like you are doubting my ability," he added.


    Quinn blinked, surprised. Was it that obvious?


    She looked away. "You''re overthinking it."


    "It''s been a while. You need to check me up," Alexander said with a smirk.


    "A check-up for what..." Quinn began.


    Before she could finish, Alexander''s lips were on hers, cutting her offpletely.


    His familiar scent set her heart racing. She gripped the sofa, her pulse quickening.


    Alexander hit some switch, and suddenly the room was dark except for the flickering TV. Their faces were just shadows now. The kiss went on forever, full of all the feelings they''d been holding back-missing each other,te-night thoughts, deep love. When Quinn was about to run out of air, Alexander finally pulled back. She was already down to just a few pieces of clothing. "Wait!" Quinn gasped.


    Alexander paused. "What''s up?"


    "I haven''t showered yet," she said, embarrassed.


    Alexander stared at her for a couple of seconds, then kissed her again. "We''ll showerter."


    He kissed his way down her neck, and she pushed at his shoulder. "No, I have to meet Calvin tomorrow."


    Alexander hesitated for a moment, then kept going.


    He showed her exactly what happens when you mess with a guy''s pride.


    When Quinn opened her eyes again, it was morning. She had no idea how she fell asleepst night.


    Staring at the ceiling, memories from the night before shed through her mind. She covered her face, feeling shy.


    She heard Sprout''s voice outside and saw that Alexander was already gone.


    She struggled to get up, her body feeling like it had been through a lot. Alexander had left clothes for her, neatly ced by the bed. She put them on and walked out of the bedroom.


    Downstairs, Alexander was feeding Sprout. Sprout tried to grab the bottle, but Alexander wouldn''t let him, only letting him drink. Unable to grab the bottle, Sprout started to fuss, which was what she had heard from the room.


    Alexander looked up at the stairs. "You''re awake?"


    Quinn nodded awkwardly.


    "There''s breakfast on the table. Eat up, then we''ll head out," Alexander said.


    Quinn nodded, feeling quieter than usual.


    She went to the dining room and saw the breakfast. Surprised, she turned to Alexander. "Did you make this?"


    "I had it delivered," Alexander said bluntly.


    So, she had overthought it. She sat down and took a few bites.


    After breakfast, they set off.


    Halfway through the drive, Alexander broke the silence. "Did I do wellst night?"


    Quinn had just managed to forget about it, and Alexander brought it up again, making her blush. "Sprout is here. Why are you talking about this?" "He doesn''t understand," Alexander said casually.


    "How do you know that?" Quinn shot back.


    Alexander chuckled.


    When they arrived, Calvin had already sent everyone away, so the vi looked deserted inside and out.


    Quinn pressed the doorbell but found it broken. She pushed the door, and it wasn''t locked, so she walked right in.


    She knocked on the inner door, which was slightly open. With a smirk, she pushed it wider.


    "Calvin?"


    She called out twice, but no one answered.


    "Up here." A sigh came from above. Quinn looked up to see Calvin leaning on the railing, staring down at her.


    After a moment of eye contact, she said, "Why didn''t youe down?"


    "We agreed on nine o''clock. Why are you here now?" Calvin mocked.


    Quinn checked her phone; it was already eleven-thirty. No wonder Calvin was annoyed.


    She couldn''t exactly say she overslept.


    "Sprout was fussy this morning, so we got dyed," Quinn said.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    Calvin snorted and came down the stairs, still wearing his mask. Quinn had to admit, the mask added to his mysterious vibe.


    Calvin approached them, looking at Quinn and then at Alexander.


    He casually extended his hand to them.


    Quinn was puzzled. "What?"


    "Where''s your gift?" Calvin asked.


    "What gift?" Quinn was even more puzzled.


    Calvin took a deep breath and yelled, "You came to visit me and didn''t bring anything!!"


    Quinn instinctively took a step back, awkwardly smiling. "Do we have to bring something?"


    "I knew it. You weren''t sincere about visiting me. Quinn, you said I was your favorite person, and you brought nothing!" Calvin scolded.


    "I didn''t know what to buy. Calvin, you probably don''tck anything, right?" Quinn said, feeling a bit guilty.


    Alexander pulled something from his pocket. "She was joking. We wouldn''te to see you empty-handed. This is a gift she prepared for you."


    Calvin suspiciously eyed the small box in his hand. What good coulde from something so small?


    Calvin snatched it and opened it, freezing instantly.


    Even with the mask, Quinn could sense his shock.


    Quinn nced at Alexander, silently asking what it was and when he had prepared it.


    After a while, Calvin took out the gift from the box. It was a group photo.


    Quinn caught a glimpse and was even more shocked than Calvin.


    Years ago, the Mellon mansion had burned to the ground, leaving nothing behind. Yet, Alexander actually had this photo. Perhaps something had been left behind, but with the Mellon family gone, and both she and Calvin taken away, anything that remained was lost in the ruins.


    After all this time, even if it hadn''t been taken, it would have been washed away by the sands of time.


    Where did Alexander get it?


    "Where did you get this?" Calvin asked, holding up the photo.


    Quinn saw the people in the photo clearly. It was a family portrait. She was about two years old, held by her mother, with her brothers standing in front, grandparents in the middle, and parents and uncles behind. But the faces in the photo were strangers to her.


    Time had erased all her memories of these people, who used to be closest to her.


    She stared at the photo, feeling a deep sadness. Alexander exined, "She''s always kept it with her."


    Calvin put the photo back in the box and handed it to Quinn. "Keep it yourself. It''s the only proof of our family''s existence." Quinn took the box, dazed, and looked up. "We can make copies."


    Calvin snatched it back. "I''ll keep this gift. You''re forgiven this time, but don''t do it again."


    Quinn smirked. Luckily, Calvin was wearing a mask; otherwise, she couldn''t imagine how ridiculous his expression would be.

 Chapter 1445

    They plopped down in the living room. Calvin shot Quinn a look and asked what shed been up to and why she was here. Quinn spilled everything, including that she was here to find Alexander.


    When she mentioned that, Calvin''s mood soured again. He let out a cold snort but kept his mouth shut.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He still held a grudge against Alexander for how he treated Quinn. But seeing Quinn''s loyalty, all he could do was fume.


    He should''ve taken Alexander out back in Municity.


    After chatting for a bit, Calvin suddenly stood up and said to Alexander, "Come with me."


    Then he nced at Quinn, "We need to talk business."


    Quinn had no choice but to agree.


    Alexander followed Calvin to the study. The room was bare, with empty shelves where Calvin stashed random stuff. Clearly, he wasn''t into books. Calvin pointed to a chair and barked, "Sit."


    Once Alexander sat, Calvin asked, "Did you give all that stuff to Zeke?"


    "Not yet," Alexander replied.


    The so-called evidence he had was all from Calvin.


    If Calvin hadn''t handed it over, Zeke would''ve dug up his dirt ages ago, leaving Alexander no chance to investigate.


    "Why haven''t you handed it over?" Calvin pressed.


    Alexander said, "It''s not the right time yet."


    Calvin snorted again.


    Even if the evidence was handed over, it wouldn''t shake his current power. At most, Zeke would have a chat with him, and he might lose a factory. Alexander asked, "Why did you team up with Aron in the first ce? And now you''re just giving it up?"


    Calvin crossed his legs and said casually, "Because I was broke. Now I''m not. Plus, I''m not part of the Lynch family. How you all fight doesn''t concern me. Helping you is just for Quinn."


    It was a simple reason but true. Even though Calvin had a lot of clout in Municity, he didn''t control the money.


    Every item he sold was tracked, and not a penny could go missing.


    Aron had it better; he had shares and a sry and could skim some money from thepanies. Calvin, on the other hand, only had his sry, no shares, and was just a high-risk employee.


    If he didn''t stash some money away, he''d be screwed if things went south.


    In this world, looks and money mattered.


    Even though Calvin had many clients and connections, money still talked when it counted.


    Alexander nodded. Seeing how easily Calvin handed over the evidence, it was clear he wasn''t hurting for cash now, maybe even richer than Quinn.


    "To be honest, I haven''t liked Aron for a long time," Calvin said.


    Aron had dirt on Calvin, and his demands kept growing. From a ten percent adulteration rate, it had now reached fifty percent inferior products. Their profit-sharing had also changed from a 70-30 split to 50-50, causing much dissatisfaction, including from Calvin.


    If something went wrong, Calvin would take the fall, while Aron could wash his hands of it because he wasn''t directly involved. Calvin was the one in charge.


    "I see," Alexander replied.


    He then thought of something else. "So when I was getting chased on your turf, you didn''t help because Aron told you not to?"


    "Pretty much. I didn''t know you back then," Calvin said.


    "Did you know about my connection with Zeke at the time?" Alexander asked.


    "How would I know? If Zeke asked me to help, I would. If Aron told me not to, I wouldn''t. Not my problem," Calvin said honestly.


    Alexander pondered, staying silent.


    Calvin stood up, went to a cab, and pulled out a small box, handing it to Alexander.


    "I''m leaving soon. Last time, Ralph Cook told me your health might notst two years. This medicine is still experimental and has serious side effects. Take it and use it as you see fit," Calvin said. Alexander took the box, opened it, and found five vials of medicine and a syringe, along with a business card and instructions.


    "This is his business card. Contact him directly when you need more. He''ll get you the medicine," Calvin added.


    Alexander nced through the instructions, showing little reaction.


    There was no miracle cure that could heal everything and grant immortality, at most, it could extend life.


    "Got any questions or anything else to say? Speak now," Calvin said.


    Alexander put the instructions back in the box. "Nope."


    Calvin was a bit surprised.


    The medicine wasn''t as miraculous as it seemed. It could indeed grow and rece human cells, but overuse would create antibodies.


    At most, it could extend his life by ten years.


    Calvin feared he wouldn''t withstand the side effects and might end his life prematurely.


    "Are you sure there''s nothing else?" Calvin asked again.


    Alexander nodded slightly and sighed softly, "Ten years should be enough."


    Ten years was a long time.


    Alexander could see Brandy and Sprout grow up, at least see them go to school, ensuring they wouldn''t grow up in an iplete family or without ever seeing their father. Calvin was at a loss for words.


    He patted Alexander on the shoulder. "Use it, and we''ll see."


    Calvin had warned him about the side effects before, indicating they might be worse than expected.


    Alexander closed the box. "Thanks, Calvin."


    "Don''te to me for your family matters anymore. Handle it yourself. I have one condition: don''t let Quinn get into danger, or I won''t forgive you," Calvin warned. "Don''t worry," Alexander said firmly.


    Hearing his promise, Calvin said, "Alright, you two can go now. I don''t have anyone to cook here, so I can''t keep you for dinner."


    Alexander walked out. Outside, he put the business card in his pocket and tossed the instructions in the trash, leaving only a few nameless vials in the box. Alexander took the box downstairs.


    Quinn came up to him. "What took you so long?"


    "Nothing, just reminding me not to let you get hurt again," Alexander said casually.


    Quinn didn''t buy it. Her eyes fell on the box in his hand. "What''s this?"


    "A gift from Calvin," Alexander replied.


    "Let me see." Quinn opened the box and saw the vials, frowning suspiciously.


    Who gives medicine as a gift?


    "Is this medicine?" she asked.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1446

    "No, let''s head back," Alexander said, shutting the lid and tugging Quinn along.


    Quinn was puzzled. She''d just gotten there half an hour ago, and now they were leaving?


    Usually, she''d have a meal and get a couple of gifts. What was up with this?


    They hopped in the car, and Alexander drove away from the vi.


    Quinn thought about the photo. "Where''d that photoe from?"


    Alexander replied casually, "It''s always been in Ulysses'' room."


    He''d found it in an old house, tucked inside a book with a few other photos. Two of them were group shots of Ulysses, and he''d just given one to Calvin. "So, you''ve had the photo all along?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander nodded slightly.


    "I thought about giving it to you, but I was worried it might bring back bad memories," Alexander said gently.


    Another reason he didn''t mention was that he feared the photo would reignite Quinn''s hatred for the Kennedy family.


    So, he kept it hidden. But after meeting Calvin, he decided to give it away.


    Quinn asked, "Do you have a copy? Can you give me one when we get back?"


    "Yeah, I''ll give it to you when we get back," Alexander replied.


    Quinn sighed in relief. She wanted the photo but felt awkward asking Calvin for it.


    They soon returned to Iris Estates. Alexander went to the study, grabbed the photo, and handed it to Quinn.


    Quinn caressed the photo, her eyes showing a hint of nostalgia.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Most of the people in the photo were strangers, with a few familiar faces mixed in. Seeing them, she vaguely recalled some childhood memories.


    Memory is a crucial part of a person''s life. Without it, you''d be like a soulless walking corpse.


    Alexander sat beside her, holding her in his arms, and whispered, "Quinn, I''m sorry."


    Quinn was slightly startled and turned to look at him. "Why are you apologizing out of the blue?"


    Alexander lowered his eyes to gaze at her, looking at her face as if seeing further into his memories.


    He said sincerely, "I did a lot of things that hurt you in the past. I can''t even exin myself. When you chose to leave, I knew you werepletely disappointed in me. When I saw you would rather choose death than stay with me, I realized that we might really be impossible. I had never felt so helpless and powerless."


    It hit him like a thunderbolt, shattering the confidence he once had. It turned out there were so many things in this world that he couldn''t control.


    Finally, Cynthia''s appearance revealed Alexander''s true identity.


    Alexander, who had lived nearly thirty years, became aplete joke.


    With one blow after another, he suddenly felt that the world was like an illusion, everything was unreal, as if he had been dreaming, and when he woke up, he had nothing. Everything seemed insignificant.


    He even thought it would be better to die. However, Quinn forced him to live on.


    He could only struggle in pain, deceiving himself that Quinn was still alive, embarking on a journey to find her.


    He had nned to spend his entire life searching for her.


    To his surprise, he met her again in Las Veges. She was still alive.


    So, his once lifeless heart started beating again, filled with joy and excitement, but also a bit lost.


    Her appearance threw all his ns out the window.


    He didn''t have time toe up with new ones and just stuck close to her. He couldn''t afford to lose her again.


    He tried everything he could, but in the end, he was at his wit''s end, still unable to open her heart.


    When Aron ambushed him, he actually felt a weird sense of relief.


    At that moment, he thought, ''It''s not me seeking death. It''s an act of God.''


    He wondered if, without him, Quinn would really live a better life like she said.


    He could finally fulfill her wish. Only by dying would he stop clinging to her. But fate had other ns; he survived once again.


    It wasn''t a blessing; it was a punishment.


    Quinn listened quietly. It had been a long time since she heard him talk so much.


    By now, she couldn''t tell right from wrong anymore. If she had figured it out two years ago, the events in Municity might not have happened, and things might not have turned out this way. Listening to his heartbeat, she felt a sense of unreality.


    "Let''s not think about the past anymore. We still have a long time ahead of us. Let''s not dwell on the past," Quinn said.


    Alexander raised his hand to ce it on her head, "Okay, I''ll listen to you."


    After the New Year, thewsuit over the Vitex Group''s technology theft blew up. Aron had been searching for the person who sold the technology, but they had fled to another country, and he couldn''t find them. Luckily, the Vitex Group hadn''t announced the technology yet. Hugo decisively fired everyone involved in the project.


    Future Era demanded $800 billion inpensation. The Vitex Group was on the verge of bankruptcy; where would they get $800 billion to pay?


    Even if they sold everything, they couldn''te up with $800 billion.


    The rest of the Lynch family didn''t want to get involved, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire. Zeke also imed that this was Aron''s mess, and he had to solve it himself without dragging the entire family down. Aron was swamped with work, leaving him no time to look for his son.


    Luke was still locked in that small room, beaten daily, barely hanging on.


    Kyle kept watch over him, just making sure he didn''t die.


    During thewsuit, Future Era''s chief engineer was killed.


    When the police investigated the scene, they found the murder weapon. Through screening, they caught the culprit, who confessed that Aron had sent him to assassinate the engineer.


    He even provided evidence a text message. Tracing the IP address, they found it was sent from the Lynch family and eventually linked it to Aron.


    This clumsy frame-up was believed by everyone.


    Aron was furious, especially since he didn''t know who was framing him by sending the text from his room.


    When the police found the phone in his room, he couldn''t argue his way out.


    It had escted to a criminal case, and Aron would be sent to the international court. He sought help from Zeke, begging him for help.


    Zeke mercilessly refused him and even hoped he would voluntarily sever ties with the Lynch family.

 Chapter 1447

    Aron lost it, throwing stuff around and yelling, "Hugo, you all just stand there watching, expecting me to handle this mess alone? No way! If you guys are heartless, get ready for the fallout. Worst case, we all go down together!" Hugo banged the table and shot back, "This is all on you. You can''t fix it, and now you want to drag the whole family down with you."


    Someone else piped up, "If this isn''t sorted out and ites to a fight, Aron can go to the battlefield himself!"


    "Cut the sarcasm. I don''t believe that thing just magically appeared in mypany. Don''t any of you have any suspicions?" Aron snapped. "What are you implying? That we set you up on purpose?"


    Aron fired back, "Who knows? Seeing how quick you all are to throw me under the bus, you know who it is."


    "That''s ridiculous. If it were us, would we have waited until now? And we wouldn''t use a method that risks the whole family. Don''t shift the me. This is your mess! Think about it. Have you pissed off too many people, dragging the whole family into your mess?"


    The argument went on and on, but something clicked for Aron.


    Even with their internal squabbles, they wouldn''t do something this reckless. If it backfired, it could be an international issue. The whole country could be in trouble. Who could it be?


    A name popped into Aron''s head. The Lynch family had its share of internal fights, but nothing this big. But after Alexander came back, things went south pretty quickly. It was easy to suspect him.


    Aron suddenly turned to Zeke, "Zeke, got anything to say?"


    Zeke, who had been quiet, looked up. "What do you want me to say?"


    Aron, looking serious, said, "The son you brought back, are you sure he really wants to be part of the family?"


    Zeke frowned. "Aron, what are you getting at? Are you ming me now?"


    "No, that''s not it. Just a friendly reminder, if Alexander did this, do you really think he''d willingly be under your control?" Aron asked.


    Zeke was taken aback but didn''t show it. "Don''t jump to conclusions. Alexander''s been back for a while. You know what he''s been up to better than I do. If he had that kind of power, we''d all be dead by now!" Aron went quiet.


    Under his watch, Alexander hadn''t made any moves for over a year and hadn''t contacted anyone.


    The technology was top secret. No way Alexander could get it under surveince. Even Aron probably couldn''t pull it off.


    The room went silent.


    Zeke said, "Aron, stay. Everyone else, leave."


    The others left, leaving just the two of them.


    Aron thought Zeke wanted to talk about Alexander, so he quickly sat next to Zeke and whispered, "Zeke, Alexander is really a problem."


    Zeke shot him a look. "I think you''re the real problem here. Need me to remind you of your own mess?"


    Aron was taken aback, then said, "Alexander captured Luke. If he was as indifferent as he seems, without any tricks up his sleeve, would he dare to openly capture Luke?"


    Zeke didn''t mince words. "You know why he captured Luke, right?"


    "I get it. Zeke, you''re protecting him, aren''t you?"


    "Aron, he''s my son. I haven''t even held you ountable for what you did to him. Should I be on your side?" Zeke shot back.


    Aron threw up his hands. "Fine, let''s put that aside for now. What about the Future Era issue? It could''ve been settled with $800 billion. But now, the chief engineer is dead. Who has the power to kill him? Who wants to harm the whole family? We wouldn''t do this, obviously. So, who has such a big grudge against me and doesn''t care about the family''s fate? Who could it be?"


    Zeke frowned deeply. Everything pointed to Alexander.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    But Zeke couldn''t figure out why Alexander would do this.


    If the Lynch family fell, what would he gain?


    Zeke rubbed his temples. "Aron, save your breath. You have to take responsibility for this. Don''t worry, as long as you take the me, I''ll find a way to help you." Aron''s face twisted, and he stared at Zeke. "Zeke, are you really this heartless?"


    Zeke didn''t budge.


    Aron suddenlyughed. "Fine, Zeke. I won''t admit to this. If I have to go down, I''ll take you all with me. I might as well make a bigger scene and start a war."


    Zeke sneered, "Aron, do you really think you can make a scene?"


    "What do you mean?" Aron asked.


    Zeke casually tossed a stack of documents. "See for yourself."


    A sense of dread washed over Aron. He grabbed the documents, opened them, and his face went pale.


    "Where did you get this?" he asked.


    Zeke said, "Doesn''t matter. If I leak this, what storm can you stir up? Then, it won''t just be Future Eraing after you. Every buyer who bought our products will want your head." Aron, pale-faced, slumped into his chair.


    In an instant, he realized this wasn''t a conspiracy against the Lynch family. It was a conspiracy against him alone.


    No wonder Zeke was protecting Alexander. Maybe they conspired to bring him down.


    Even if Aron didn''t take the me, Zeke would push him out. Then, this document would conveniently "leak," and Zeke could im to be setting things straight. People might even apud. Aron''s so-called connections were maintained with his resources. Now, if the buyers knew the defective products were his doing, what would they do to him?


    Aron didn''t dare to think.


    He stared nkly at Zeke, murmuring, "Zeke, if I step up and take the me, will you really save me?"

 Chapter 1448

    Zeke stared at him, his eyes flickering with all sorts of emotions. Aron was his brother, after all.


    Man, that was a tough question.


    They weren''t hot-headed teenagers anymore; both of them were over fifty, and their personalities had changed a lot. The brotherly bond had been worn down by years of fighting. After a moment, Zeke nodded slightly, his voice sounding tired. "Yeah, I''ll save you."


    Aron finally let out a sigh of relief. He stayed quiet for a long time, still not ready to make a decision.


    "I''ll go back and think about it. But first, let Luke go."


    Zeke agreed. "You better decide fast; we''re running out of time."


    Aron walked out silently, looking worn out.


    Zeke pinched the bridge of his nose and sat in the conference room for a long time before heading back to his study.


    Alexander was already waiting for him inside.


    Seeing him, Zeke was a bit surprised. "What are you doing here?"


    "I figured you''de looking for me, so I came here early to save time."


    Zeke chuckled and sat down. "You know me too well."


    Alexander sneered, "As an outsider who came back to the family halfway through, I''m always on someone''s mind."


    Hearing the word "outsider," Zeke frowned. "You''re my son. Who says you''re an outsider?"This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander replied, "Yeah, but some people don''t think so. If I stay here, they''ll think I have ulterior motives and that I''ll harm the family. Dad, I think it''s better if I leave the family. I don''t want to stay here anyway." His preemptive strike sessfully blocked Zeke''s questions.


    Zeke said, "You''re my son. Where do you want to go? Back to the Kennedy family?"


    Alexander stated, "I''m just saying. Don''t get mad."


    Aron had just been badmouthing Alexander, and now Alexander was saying stuff like this. How could Zeke not be mad?


    "You were born a Lynch, and you''ll die a Lynch. Don''t even think about leaving!" Zeke announced firmly.


    Alexander thought for a moment and sighed, "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"


    Zeke replied, "Nothing much. Aron''se around and will probably agree to our terms. Also, let Luke go."


    Alexander smiled slightly. "Okay."


    Zeke was stunned, not expecting him to agree so easily. He looked at him and asked hesitantly, "You''re not going to cause trouble, are you?"


    Alexander said, "No way! I have to listen to you, right?"


    Zeke felt something was off but couldn''t figure it out. He waved his hand irritably, signaling him to leave.


    Alexander stood up, nodded slightly in farewell, and turned to leave the study.


    The next day, Kyle released Luke.


    He even had someone give Luke a bath and a change of clothes.


    When Luke woke up in bed, he thought he was dreaming. After a while, he sat up and looked at his arm.


    The scars were still there, and the pain in his body still came in waves.


    Suddenly, a voice said, "Awake?"


    Luke turned his head in terror, instinctively shrinking his neck. He had been beaten so much these days that he was scared.


    Kyle was amused by his reaction. "Look at you. You were so arrogant before. Howe you''re so scared now?"


    Luke hesitated, ncing at Kyle and then at his clothes. "What''s the deal with this?"


    "We''re sending you back. What, you don''t want to go?" Kyle teased.


    Luke''s eyes widened, not quite believing what he was hearing. Could he really go back?


    "Are you serious?" he asked.


    "Of course. Why else would we change your clothes?" Kyle replied.


    Luke''s hands trembled with excitement. He could finally go back. It seemed his father had put the pressure on, and Alexander had no choice but to let him go.


    He started plotting in his mind. Once he got back, he''d definitely get revenge for the past few days. If he couldn''t kill Alexander, he''d make sure to torture him, his wife, and his son.


    He was determined to make Alexander wish he were dead.


    Kyle patted his cheek. "Stop daydreaming. Pack up and get out."


    Luke immediately suppressed his pain and jumped out of bed. Before he could celebrate, he heard Kyle say, "Oh, I forgot to remind you."


    Luke paused and looked at him suspiciously.


    Holding a small remote control, Kyle said, "When you get back, don''t say anything you shouldn''t. Otherwise, with the press of this button, you''ll experience some high-tech stuff you didn''t get to use before." Luke froze again. He pulled open his shirt and saw a new wound on his chest, already stitched up.


    It was a remote-controlled explosive that would detonate if tampered with.


    They hadn''t used it because they couldn''t find it.


    But that didn''t mean Kyle couldn''t find it.


    With this thing inside his body, Luke wouldn''t dare to gamble with his life.


    After hesitating for a while, he gritted his teeth and left.


    Luke returned to the Lynch mansion and saw Aron. Aron had locked himself in his room for a day and a night, wrestling with a tough decision.


    He wondered where Zeke got that evidence and how likely Zeke was to help him.


    He also considered whether the leaked information would have a greater impact on him or the Lynch family.


    He couldn''t figure it out. He was too passive now.


    A delighted voice rang out, "Dad!"


    Aron looked up, joyfully standing and grabbing Luke''s arm. "You''re back?"


    Luke nodded. "Yeah."


    "Good." Aron nodded with relief and checked Luke over. "What happened during this time? Are you okay?"


    Luke was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "I''m fine. Don''t worry."


    Aron was a bit suspicious, but Luke''s expression didn''t seem like he was lying.


    "Good to have you back," Aron said, sighing deeply.


    Luke noticed something was off and asked worriedly, "Dad, what''s wrong? Did something happen?"


    Aron shook his head, not wanting to talk about it. "Go rest first."


    Luke had no choice but to leave.


    In his room, Luke pulled open his cor to look at the scar, unsure if it was the same as what Alexander had in his body. Did it have a listening device and a bomb? Whether it did or not, he didn''t dare to gamble.


    After staring for a long time, he let go of his cor and sat on the bed, feeling powerless.


    He angrily smashed everything in the room, then pulled at his wounds, writhing in pain on the bed.

 Chapter 1449

    Quinn was pretty bored those days. Alexander was always out, and she was stuck at home alone. Abigail didn''t want toe over either since she and Alexander didn''t get along. Quinn had no clue what Abigail was up to. It seemed like she didn''t know anyone around here, yet she was out every day.


    Quinn''s mind drifted to Landon, but she quickly snapped out of it.


    She was pushing Sprout around the neighborhood when Walter called out of the blue. It had been a while since shest heard from him.


    She plopped down on a bench and answered the call.


    "Why are you calling me?" Quinn asked.


    Walter chuckled. "Such a big event, of course, I want the inside scoop."


    "How would I know?" Quinn replied, guessing he was talking about the chief engineer''s assassination.


    Quinn really had no idea about that.


    "Then what''s the deal with you selling thepany to Landon?" Walter pressed.


    Quinn was caught off guard. "There''s no story."


    "Do you think I believe that? I''ve been busting my butt at thepany, and you just handed it over to Landon. Quinn, you really let me down," Walter said.


    Quinn shot back, "Instead of worrying every day that you might mess things up, it''s better to just give it away."


    Walterughed. "Fine, you''re so suspicious of me. I helped you so much, and yet in your heart, I''m not as good as Landon."


    Quinn went silent, not sure what to say.


    Walter said, "Forget it. Do what you want. By the way, Alexander is really dragging his feet. Can he hurry up and take down the Lynch family? If he can''t, let me do it." "You know about that?" Quinn asked, surprised.


    Walterughed in a way that made her uneasy.


    Before Quinn could say anything else, he hung up.


    The rtionship between Walter and Alexander was really weird. One moment they were fighting, the next they were on the same side.


    Butpared to Walter, Alexander didn''t have as much beef with the Lynch family. Alexander just had a personal grudge against Aron.


    If Walter wanted to go after the Lynch family, Alexander probably wouldn''t stop him.


    Just as she was lost in thought, Alexander drove up.


    He parked next to Quinn and rolled down the window. "What are you doing here?"


    Quinn looked up at him. "Just taking a walk."


    Alexander parked the car and got out to help her push the stroller.


    Alexander had said he''d help with diapers in the future. But now, he was nowhere to be seen every day. Quinn couldn''t help butin, "Have you been super busytely?" Alexander touched her hair. "Are you mad?"


    Quinn mumbled, "No."


    Alexander remarked, "Still so stubborn."


    Quinn turned her head away, not wanting to talk to him.


    After they got back to the vi, Alexander suddenly asked her, "Can you get in touch with Landon?"


    Quinn paused.


    Alexander said, "Don''t worry, he still has some use."


    That meant he wouldn''t harm Landon.


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah."


    Alexander said, "Call him. I need to talk to him."


    Quinn took out her phone, found Landon''s number, and dialed it, then handed the phone to Alexander.


    Alexander took the phone and walked out. Quinn watched his back, unsure of what conversation he was going to have.


    But she didn''t follow him.


    She pushed Sprout to the kitchen; it was time to cook.


    Alexander was on the phone outside for a few minutes, then came back and handed the phone back to Quinn. He hugged her from behind. "What are you cooking?" "Whatever we have. Take Sprout out first," Quinn ordered.


    Alexander let go of her and pushed Sprout out.


    A few dayster, Aron caved to Zeke''s demands; he agreed to go to court and take the fall for the incident.


    giarism, murder, and killing a foreign elite-these were heavy charges. Taking it to the international court meant the Lynch family couldn''t control the oue.


    Thepensation would be astronomical, and the Lynch family couldn''t afford it even if they sold everything.


    In the next few days, the Lynch family had to use their power to sever all ties with Aron''s assets and himself, making him an independent individual.


    His fate would either be the death penalty or life imprisonment.


    All these actions required Aron''s cooperation; otherwise, it would be impossible to clear the rtionship in such a short time.


    With Aron''s agreement, everything went smoothly.


    Once everything was settled, Aron went to the international court.


    Luke also went along. He didn''t even know that such a big thing had happened while he was detained.


    He had never thought that someone would use such a cunning method. They didn''t have time to pay attention to apany on the verge of bankruptcy and didn''t care about it.


    The small oversight allowed someone to exploit the opportunity. The people in thepany, eager to turn things around, epted a mysterious USB drive, which ultimately took down Aron, such a big yer. This wasn''t something Alexander could do alone.


    Luke was right.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The coboration between Walter and Alexander, along with Quinn''s idental involvement, led to the current situation.


    These days, Alexander had some free time.


    He spent every day with Quinn, fulfilling his promise to change diapers and feed Sprout daily.


    Quinn held a fruit tter, eating fruit with a toothpick, while Alexander fed Sprout. The TV in front of them was showing Aron''s trial.


    Quinn didn''t know where Alexander found the channel.


    "Is Aron done for this time?" Quinn asked.


    "Hard to say," Alexander replied, taking out a handkerchief to wipe Sprout''s mouth. This little guy always spilled milk.


    Sprout didn''t like being wiped. He shook his head and mumbled, "Dada. Dada."


    He called "Dada" so smoothly now but still wouldn''t say "Mama."


    Alexander cleared his throat, took the bottle away from Sprout, and said to him, "Say Mama."


    "Dada."


    Alexander nced at Quinn, who was looking at him with a resentful expression.


    He forced a smile. "I''m trying my best to teach him."


    Quinn took a bite of an apple and turned to watch the TV.


    She really hoped that Aron wouldpletely fall this time so they could go home.


    The evidence was conclusive, and Aron confessed. He knew that apart from the people who framed him, Future Era also harbored a deep hatred for him. Their hatred was so intense that they had lost their minds. Just an announcement from the Vitex Group was enough to make Future Era want to tear him apart, especially since their chief engineer died because of this.


    "Say Mama, and I''ll give you the bottle."


    Alexander patiently taught Sprout, but Sprout wouldn''t listen. He cried loudly, trying to grab the bottle.


    "Dada, Dada." Sprout was anxious and cried loudly.


    Quinn''s eyelid twitched. "What are you doing?"


    Alexander silently handed the bottle back to Sprout.


    Sprout held the bottle, sniffling.


    A childish voice suddenly rang out, "Mama."


    Quinn was slightly stunned and looked at Sprout.


    At the same time, the live broadcast on TV suddenly changed.

 Chapter 1450

    With a loud bang, the TV screen shook and went all static.


    Then, the signal cut out, and the screen went ck.


    Just before it did, Quinn saw something explode in the jury box.


    Blood sprayed everywhere like a mist.


    People near the explosion got hit too. The broadcast cut off instantly; no way they could keep it going after that.


    It wasn''t just any object that exploded it was a person.


    And not just any person; it was Luke.


    Luke blew up right in front of Aron.


    Aron lost it. Luke''s body was torn apart right in front of him, blood and gore everywhere.


    Aron fainted on the spot.


    The ce went nuts, people screaming and trying to run, but they were stopped.


    The culprit had to be among them. The whole hall was a mess, with people covered in blood and bits of who-knows-what. Even through the screen, Quinn felt the shock.


    She turned her head. Alexander was next to her, holding Sprout andforting him like nothing happened.


    Quinn stared at him, pale as a ghost.


    Alexander noticed her staring and smiled. "Look, Leopold can say ''Mama'' now."


    Quinn''s eyes burned as she looked at Alexander''s smile and the tenderness in his eyes. It reminded her of when Valerie died. He had the same look then.


    Alexander never seemed to change.


    "What''s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered, and she looked away. "Nothing."


    Alexander''s smile faded. After a moment, he went back to ying with Sprout.


    Naturally, this incident was hushed up, not a word leaked.


    But the trial was interrupted, and Aron was temporarily detained.


    Aron had truly lost it. The stress and frustration of the past few days,bined with Luke''s death, had driven him insane.


    In his room, he alternated between crying andughing, shouting and screaming. Sometimes he would try to rush out, yelling, "I''ll kill you!"


    The Lynch family was tense. Everyone was gathered, but no one spoke.


    An indescribable tension filled the air.


    Finally, Zeke spoke, "Who did it?"


    The room was silent; no one admitted to it.


    Hugo said, "Let''s wait for the investigation results."


    Zeke pinched the bridge of his nose, looking tired.


    He had only taken over the Lynch family recently, but so much had happened. He even began to suspect it was his fault.


    He waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave.


    Alexander wasn''t there; he had been at Iris Estates for the past few days.


    Zeke thought about calling Alexander back but decided against it. Even if Alexander came back, he wouldn''t get any answers. Without evidence, asking Alexander would only create a rift between them. Landon returned to the hotel, turned on the faucet, and slowly washed his hands over and over.


    His expression was indifferent as he stared at his fingers, washing them for a long time.


    It wasn''t until someone knocked on the door that he turned off the faucet, dried his hands with a towel, and went to open the door.


    Abigail stood outside, giving Landon a once-over. "What kind of trouble have you been causingtely?"


    Landon stared at her nkly. After a moment, he finally spoke, "What makes you think I''ve been causing trouble?"


    Abigail was taken aback for a second.


    Landon turned and walked back into the room. "You really think that, huh?"


    "You''re not exactly a saint; it''s normal for you to get into bad stuff, right?" Abigail shot back.


    Landon smirked. "And what, in your eyes, makes someone a good person?"


    Abigail struggled to answer and just followed him inside.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Landon nced at her. "Do you think Alexander is a good person?"


    Abigail snorted.


    Landon wasn''t a good guy, and Alexander was even worse. They were pretty much the same.


    "If you know I''m not a good person, why don''t you stay away from me?" Landon asked.


    Abigail sighed. "I''m here to tell you I''m nning to go back."


    Landon paused for a moment.


    Abigail continued, "I''ve been out too long. If I don''t go back, my dad wille looking for me, so I''m leaving."


    Landon didn''t say anything. "I won''t see you off."


    Abigail rolled her eyes and left without hesitation.


    She still needed to say goodbye to Quinn. She hoped Quinn would go back with her.


    Abigail arrived at the vi, peeked in through the door, and looked around. Seeing that Alexander wasn''t home, she boldly walked in.


    "Quinn. Quinn, are you here?" she called out.


    After a while, Quinn came out of the room. "Abigail, what are you doing here?"


    "Where''s Alexander?" Abigail asked.


    "He went out. Are you looking for him?" Quinn replied.


    "Why would I look for him?" Abigail quickly walked over, pulling Quinn towards the sofa. "I just wanted to tell you that my dad is asking me to go home. Are youing?" Quinn hesitated and stayed silent.


    Abigail knew her answer. "Alright then, I''ll go back first and wait for you in Amber Bay."


    Quinn nodded. "Be careful on the way."


    Abigail said, "Don''t worry. You too, stay safe here."


    "Okay."


    Abigail gave Quinn a hug. When she turned around, she saw Alexandering in with Sprout.


    She forced a smile and quickly slipped away.


    Alexander ced Sprout on the sofa and skillfully found a diaper to change him.


    Sprout was only quiet when Alexander changed his diaper.


    Maybe he was afraid of getting poop on himself. Even at such a young age, he was already so cautious.


    Quinn watched his skilled movements and suddenly said, "Abigail said she''s going back."


    "What about Aron''s situation?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander replied, "I heard he''s gone mad, but it still needs to be confirmed."


    If it was confirmed that he was truly mad, he wouldn''t be trialed and would be sent to a mental hospital for treatment.


    Alexander added, "We can''t rule out the possibility that he''s faking it."


    "Does this mean the matter is resolved?" Quinn asked.


    If Quinn were in Aron''s position and Sprout had exploded in front of her, she would probably be even crazier than Aron.


    So she believed that Aron was truly mad.


    "Pretty much." Alexander had already changed the diaper and let Sprout y on the sofa.


    "When are we going back?" Quinn asked.


    She didn''t want to know too much about Aron; she just wanted to know when it would end.


    She understood that Alexander had suffered a lot at Aron''s hands, so no matter how Alexander retaliated, it was understandable. But his methods were too brutal, and she didn''t want to know too much.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1451

    Alexander paused for a moment. "Not just yet."


    Quinn, looking confused, asked, "Is there something else we need to sort out, or..."


    Maybe Alexander just wanted to stay here. It seemed like there was nowhere else to go.


    Amber Bay wasn''t really their home. Besides the vi at Regal Riverside, they had nothing else to their name.


    Whether Alexander admitted it or not, this ce was his real home.


    Alexander walked over to Quinn and took her hand. "If we want to leave safely, we still need to deal with Zeke. If he doesn''t agree, you could be in danger. So, give me a bit more time." Quinn was surprised. "So that''s what it is."


    Hearing Alexander call her father by his name, she couldn''t help but ask, "He''s your father. Don''t you have any feelings for him?"


    "Feelings?" Alexander almostughed and looked deeply at Quinn. "Besides that pitiful blood rtion, what feelings do we have?" Quinn insisted, "There''s still the blood rtion."All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "And what else? Feelings between people aren''t just about blood," Alexander said, sighing lightly. He let go of Quinn and looked away.


    He continued, "When a rtionship brings me trouble, I won''t hesitate to cut it off."


    He had always been like this. Over time, the so-called family ties and friendships had been worn down by various events.


    He found himself bing more and more indifferent.


    Despite having everything, he sometimes felt a deep, indescribable loneliness. In his darker moments, Alexander even wanted to destroy the world. Quinn didn''t know what Alexander was thinking. She reached out and held his hand.


    Before she could speak, Alexander added, "Of course, you''re different."


    Quinn was taken aback again. "How am I different?"


    "Just different." Alexander squeezed her hand, feeling it was a bit cold, and put her hand in his pocket. "You''re my bottom line." Quinn was at a loss for words.


    After a moment of silence, she pulled her hand back. "I''m going to cook."


    With that, she hurried into the kitchen.


    Alexander quietly watched her.


    "Dada."


    Alexander heard Sprout calling and turned to see him climbing to the edge of the sofa, about to fall.


    Alexander walked over, picked Sprout up, and sat down on the sofa.


    Feeling something ufortable, he reached behind and pulled out a parenting book.


    He casually flipped it open and started reading.


    Aron was confirmed to be insane, and the Lynch family clearly stated that they had no rtionship with him and no business dealings.


    The case was temporarily put aside, and there was peace for the time being.


    Since Aron was insane, he couldn''t stir up any trouble.


    However, things weren''t that simple. Future Era wouldn''t give up on pursuing this matter.


    Within a month, they made a new discovery.


    It was about Vanguard Enterprises Group. Although they hadn''t released the technology, they directly used it.


    So, the Lynch family was sued as they had gone too far.


    Hugo was livid. He thought the whole mess was behind them and nned toy low until the storm blew over, then dive into studying the tech.


    Once they cracked it, they could develop it themselves, dodging any infringement or giarism issues.


    But he didn''t see Future Era moving so fast and actually finding evidence.


    When Zeke got the news, he was so mad he nearly blew a gasket. They all gathered to figure out who was behind this.


    Hugo got an earful. If it weren''t for his greed, they wouldn''t be in this mess.


    Aron just shrank back, not daring to say a word.


    With Future Era catching them red-handed, there was no way to cut ties.


    So, Future Era went straight to suing the Lynch family, specifically targeting Zeke, not Hugo.


    Zeke couldn''t keep his cool and called Alexander back that night.


    Alexander walked into the study and saw Zeke still fuming. He sighed and asked, "Dad, what''s up this time?"


    Zeke red at him, his expression unreadable. "Honestly, thest person I want to suspect is you. But how do you exin this?"


    "Do you have any proof?" Alexander asked.


    Zeke was momentarily speechless.


    Then he snapped, "Then tell me, who should I suspect? You''re my son. When you went after Aron, I backed you. I never thought your target was the whole family. Do you have some beef with me? Let''s sit down and talk, okay?" Alexander calmly watched him, seeing him teeter on the edge of losing it.


    After a while, Alexander said, "It really wasn''t me this time."


    "Then who was it?" Zeke asked.


    Alexander said, "Dad, have you forgotten? I''m not your only son."


    Zeke was stunned again. He thought about his other kids, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t imagine any of them pulling this off, nor could he think of a reason they would.


    If it really was one of them, he''d be thrilled in his dreams that they were so capable.


    Alexander said, "Think about it carefully."


    He added, "When you figure it out, you''ll know what''s going on. I''m outta here."


    While Zeke was still in a daze, Alexander turned and left the study.


    Zeke sat down on the sofa, thinking for a long time but couldn''t figure out who it could be.


    Meanwhile, Quinn looked at Walter in front of her, utterly confused.


    "Why are you here?" she asked.


    Walter sat down across from her. "I told you, if Alexander can''t handle it, I will."


    As they spoke, Alexander happened toe back. Walter sneered, "Getting more and more hesitant, like a woman."


    This was meant for Alexander to hear.


    Alexander wasn''t surprised by his arrival. He casually walked over and sat next to Quinn before speaking. "If I tell them where you are, a whole bunch of assassins will be here to kill you in under ten minutes." Walter nonchntly slouched on the sofa. "Then go ahead."


    Quinn''s eyelid twitched wildly. Why were they together again?

 Chapter 1452

    Walter snuck in because there were things he couldn''t handle at home, and it was just easier to do them here, even if it was riskier. "If I hadn''t shown up, you two wouldn''t be living so peacefully. Alexander, how are you gonna pay me back?" Walter asked. Alexander shot back, "You can leave. We don''t need you here."


    Walter justughed.


    Since he was already here, there was no way he was leaving.


    ''He and Alexander don''t really sh and they want the same thing. Maybe this time they won''t backstab each other?'' Quinn thought. But she wasn''t totally sure.


    Walter hung around for a bit, then grabbed his bags. "I''m beat. I''m gonna crash."


    He headed upstairs like he owned the ce.


    Alexander didn''t stop him. After Walter disappeared upstairs, he turned to Quinn and said, "We should find a time to head back to Amber Bay. I haven''t seen Brandy in months. Wonder if she''s grown any." "When are we going back?" Quinn asked, a bit taken aback. Weren''t they supposed to deal with Zeke first? Could they just leave now?


    "Whenever," Alexander shrugged.


    "What about Zeke?" Quinn pressed.


    "He''s got his own mess to deal with. Besides..." Alexander nced upstairs. "Isn''t he here? Zeke''s probably too busy to bother with us." Quinn looked upstairs too and nodded.


    Finally, they could go back. By the time Zeke remembered them, things would either be settled or he''d need something from Alexander.


    If he couldn''t find them, tough luck. He didn''t have time for them now.


    "Then let''s leave tomorrow," Quinn suggested.


    "Sure," Alexander agreed easily.


    They nned to leave at dawn. Walter seemed to like it here, so they''d let him stay.


    Quinn packed a few things. There wasn''t much, just some of Sprout''s stuff. They could buy the restter.


    The next morning, when Walter woke up, they were already gone.


    He stared at the empty living room, momentarily stunned.


    After a bit, he couldn''t help butugh angrily.


    As soon as he showed up, Alexander bailed, with no intention of teaming up. "So impressive!" he muttered. Alexander had tricked him intoing.


    He remembered Alexander''s words clearly.


    Alexander had said he was too weak to take on the Lynch family alone and needed Walter''s help.


    He''d even said he respected Walter and couldn''t do it without him.


    Walter had never heard Alexander talk like that or seen him so humble.


    So, he thought Alexander was really in trouble and needed him. That''s why he came.


    But Alexander had just run off.


    Alexander''s shamelessness was beyond anything Walter could''ve imagined, even worse than two years ago. To trick him intoing, he''d said all those humble words. It was all lies!


    While Walter was still fuming, he heard a car horn outside. He went downstairs, and Zeke walked in.


    "Lance, the guy you mentioned..."


    Zeke stopped mid-sentence when he saw Walter standing there, looking stunned.


    Zeke stared at Walter, his eyes wide with shock, his whole body shaking.


    "You are..." Zeke''s voice trembled.


    He''d never met Walter, but that face was unforgettable.


    Walter gave a small smile. "What a coincidence. Since you''re here, have a seat."


    He gestured for Zeke to sit, his usual gentle and harmless smile in ce.


    Zeke moved towards the sofa, his eyes glued to Walter''s face. He almost tripped over a table on the way.


    It was the first time he''d lost his cool like this.


    Even when he found Alexander, he hadn''t been this rattled.


    Walter chuckled, "Take it easy. Don''t trip. I can''t be held responsible for that."


    Zeke copsed onto the sofa, staring at Walter, speechless.


    Suddenly, he remembered Alexander''s words. "Is it you? The Vanguard Enterprises Group incident, was that you?"


    Walter raised an eyebrow. "Sir, what are you talking about?"


    Zeke snapped out of it and quickly asked, "What''s your mother''s name?"


    Walterughed. "We''ve never met, and you ask about my mom right away? Is that polite?"


    Zeke was silent for a moment, staring at Walter like he was seeing a ghost.


    Then, he pulled out a pocket watch from his coat, opened it, and handed it to Walter. "Do you recognize this?"


    Walter looked at the photo inside, his smile fading. He nced at Zeke. "How do you have a photo of my mother?" The woman in the photo looked a lot like Walter, especially with his medium-length hair.


    If Walter hadn''t spoken, Zeke might''ve thought she was back.


    Zeke took back the watch, staring at the photo in a daze.


    "Sir, what''s our rtionship?" Walter asked.


    Zeke looked up at him, his expressionplicated. "I might be your father."


    Walter didn''t seem too surprised. He stared at Zeke for a moment, then smiled. "My father died a long time ago." Zeke fell silent.


    "I wronged you both. What''s your name?" Zeke asked.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Walter Smith," he replied.


    "Why Smith? Did your mother remarry?" Zeke asked.


    "No, she didn''t. This name was unwanted, so I picked it up," Walter answered.


    Zeke was silent again. "And her?"


    "She died many years ago," Walter said tly.


    Zeke''s voice was full of emotion, but Walter''s tone waspletely indifferent.


    Zeke closed his eyes and sighed deeply. After a while, heposed himself.


    He opened his eyes again and said, "When we separated back then, she didn''t tell me she was pregnant."


    Walter nodded. "Maybe she was pregnant with someone else''s child."


    "Didn''t you say she didn''t remarry?" Zeke asked.


    "Can''t she get pregnant without remarrying?" Walter shot back.


    Zeke was stumped again. Walter''s words were even more frustrating than Alexander''s.


    He tried to exin, "I know you hate me. There were reasons back then. I didn''t want to abandon her."


    He sighed deeply, looking like he was about tounch into a long story.


    Walter cut him off, "If the story''s too long, no need to tell it."

 Chapter 1453

    Zeke shook off the memories and got right to it, "Your mom was my first love, and I was probably hers too."


    They were high school sweethearts, totally head over heels, but their social sses were worlds apart.


    Zeke tried to stand up to his family and convince his dad. Back then, he was young and reckless. Being a rich kid, he had everything except love.


    Once people have their basic needs covered, they start looking for emotional fulfillment.


    Zeke was a young guy who believed love was everything.


    Their rtionship faced a ton of pushback. The more obstacles, the stronger their love grew.


    In the end, Zeke''s dad hid his girlfriend, and no matter how hard he looked, he couldn''t find her.


    Zeke had no choice but to go along with his dad''s arranged marriage, which was to Alexander''s mom.


    A loveless marriage was doomed from the start.


    Zeke''s dad promised that if he got married, he''d let the girl go. So Zeke gave in, but his dad didn''t keep his word. After Zeke got married, the girl vanished from his life.


    To make things worse, Zeke''s dad used some drug to force Zeke and his wife to stay together.


    Later, Zeke heard the girl had been found, but she was dead.


    Zeke''s heart died with her, turning him into a shell of a man.


    He never knew he had a son out there.


    Zeke spoke with deep emotion, and as he recalled his passionate past, a hint of regret crossed his face.


    Walter listened, clearly annoyed. He wasn''t moved; he just thought Zeke was rambling, full of self-pity.


    Maybe sensing Walter''s impatience, Zeke stopped and asked, "So, what''s been going on with you all these years?"


    Walter replied, "She died when I was two, probably murdered. I ended up in an orphanage, but the other kids were too annoying, so I ran away andter met people from the Mellon family." Zeke looked at him nkly and suddenly remembered seeing him at the Mellon family.


    But back then, Henry said he was his son. Zeke had so many sons that he didn''t think much of it, though he did wonder if Henry had been involved with his first love.


    He eventually forgot about it, having only seen him once or twice. At that time, Zeke was constantly fighting with his wife, and his dad was pushing them to have another kid.


    He hadn''t realized that the familiar-looking kid was actually his son.


    They fell silent.


    Zeke opened the pocket watch again, staring at the old photo, lost in thought.


    The woman in the photo had a ponytail and a radiant smile.


    She was really beautiful.


    If she weren''t beautiful, she wouldn''t have caught his eye. Walter inherited his mom''s looks, which once captivated Freya.


    Back then, Zeke described her as stunningly beautiful.


    On the first day of school, Zeke noticed her. With ten percent talent and ny percent wealth, he beat out all her suitors and stood by her side.


    To put it simply, it was love at first sight.


    Their feelings deepened, partly because of Zeke''s dad''s interference, which made him even more convinced she was his true love. But there was no "then."


    Zeke sighed again, handed the pocket watch to Walter, and looked at him intently. "From now on, you''ll be called Walter Lynch." Walter shot him a sideways nce, like he was looking at an idiot.


    Zeke felt the sting and his face darkened, slipping back into his usual authoritative mode. "You don''t want to?" Walter shrugged, "I heard the Lynch family is in some deep trouble. I don''t want to go down with the ship."


    "I almost forgot to ask, was it your doing?" Zeke asked.


    Walter smirked, "I get it now. No wonder Alexander would rather run away than acknowledge you. Did you grill him like this too?"


    Zeke replied, "That''s not what I meant."


    "We haven''t even acknowledged each other yet, and you''re already pointing fingers. If I really did acknowledge you and changed my name to Walter Lynch, wouldn''t you just use me as a scapegoat like you did with Aron?" Walter shot back, shutting Zeke up.


    After a long pause, Zeke spoke weakly, "Fine, I was wrong. If you don''t want to, think it over. When you change your mind, we''ll talk about it."


    He wasn''t really an idiot. Without clearing his suspicions about Walter, he was afraid of bringing a wolf into the fold.


    He had said so much just to y the emotional card.


    He didn''t know Walter, his abilities, or his intentions.


    Everything was to keep Walter in check.


    If Walter was indeed behind the Vanguard Enterprises Group incident, and if he did something else, the Lynch family would be doomed.


    Walter suddenlyughed. "I''ve changed my mind. I''ll go by Walter Lynch."


    Zeke was stunned.


    He stammered, "It needs careful consideration. You know your mother. Wait for my message. I''ll go back and prepare, then find a suitable time to bring you back."


    Walter said casually, "Whatever."


    Zeke nodded and stood up. "By the way, you said Alexander ran away?"


    Walter asked, "You didn''t know? He left today. You can try contacting him to see where he is."


    He was on a ne now, with his phone off. Zeke called twice but couldn''t get through.


    His face turned very grim.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Walter smirked. Trying to run? No way.


    Alexander said, "I don''t know what he told you to make you question me like this. But I was only called herest night and don''t know what''s going on. Mr. Lynch, can you briefly exin what happened?" His words sessfully cleared his own suspicion and left Zeke unsure who was lying.


    Was it really Walter, or was Alexander using him as a scapegoat?


    The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. He decided to stop thinking and walked out.


    Zeke said, "Since you just arrived, get some rest. I have some matters to attend to. See youter."


    Walter responded with a hum and didn''t try to stop him.


    Meanwhile, Alexander and Quinn had arrived at the airport, not heading to Amber Bay but to Sylvadora, Quinn''s hometown.


    After being away for so long, Quinn felt a surge of emotions returning to thisnd.


    She turned to Alexander beside her, a smile on her face. "Why are we here?"

 Chapter 1454

    Alexander said, "Hey, let''s visit your parents'' graves first. Their grandson should see them. And honestly, I don''t think we need to go to Amber Bay right now. Let''s settle here for a bit and then bring Brandy over. We''ll stay for a while." Quinn nodded. She didn''t see any reason to go back either. Thepany wasn''t hers anymore, and besides Brandy, she had no ties to Amber Bay.


    They headed to the cemetery and arrived at Quinn''s parents'' tombstone.


    Quinn couldn''t remember thest time she had been there. It seemed like it was when she had amnesia, and Walter had brought her. She hadn''t been back since.


    The photos on the tombstone still showed them looking so young, just like in the family photo Quinn had. Quinn touched her mother''s photo, unsure of what to say.


    She had once thought Alexander was their enemy and felt too ashamed to stand there, unable to face them. Now she could finally be there with Alexander and tell them that this was her husband and that was her child.


    Quinn slowly squatted down. Alexander followed suit, squatting beside her.


    Quinn said softly, "Dad, Mom, I''m here to see you. I''m sorry I haven''te to pay my respects all these years. You must be angry with me, right?" The cold tombstone gave her no response, and she lowered her eyes.


    She turned her head, pinched Sprout''s cheek, and held his face towards the tombstone. "Sprout, this is Grandpa and Grandma. Say hello to them." Sprout blinked his eyes and mumbled something unintelligible.


    Quinn took it as him saying hello.


    Then she looked at Alexander.


    Alexander, following her cue, handed Sprout to her.


    Alexander said, "Dad, Mom, I''m here to see you."


    Quinn''s mind went nk for a moment before she realized Alexander was addressing her parents.


    Before she could say anything, Alexander continued, "I think I don''t have the right to speak to you here. Just look at Calvin''s attitude. I can''t defend my past actions; I was indeed wrong. I believe I will receive the punishment I deserve to atone for my sins."


    Quinn frowned and tugged at his sleeve. "What are you talking about?"


    Alexander replied, "You told me to say something."


    "When did I tell you to say that?" Quinn asked, frowning.


    "You spoke so sincerely just now, so I should say something sincere too," Alexander answered, hesitating for a moment. "Should I bow to them?"


    Quinn''s mouth twitched as she stood up with Sprout in her arms. "Go ahead."


    Alexander had never bowed to anyone, not even when Luke tried to trample on his dignity.


    Now, Alexander stared at the photos on the tombstone for a long time.


    Quinn thought Alexander couldn''t do it. After all, he was a man who would rather die than bow his head. How could he possibly kneel and kowtow? But she was wrong.


    After a few seconds of silence, Alexander slowly bent down.


    Quinn''s face changed, and she looked at him in shock.


    She watched him, and the hair on his forehead fell down.


    She waspletely stunned, unable to say a word.


    After a while, she called, "Alexander."


    After bowing, Alexander straightened up, his expressionplex as he looked at the tombstone.


    It was unclear how long it took before he stood up and met Quinn''s shocked gaze. "It''s done."


    Quinn tugged at the corner of her mouth but couldn''t say a word.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn snapped out of it and shook her head. "I just didn''t expect..."Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Didn''t expect what? Your parents are my parents too. It''s only right to bow to them. What''s so surprising about that?" Alexander replied.


    He had never said such things before. Even when he was with the Kennedy family, he never showed that he thought it was right.


    Quinn couldn''t help but be moved.


    It wasn''t the bowing to her parents that moved her, but the fact that Alexander was willing to give up his principles and pride for her.


    She reached out and held Alexander''s hand. "Thank you."


    Alexander chuckled and took Sprout from her. "I''ll hold him. Let''s go."


    They left the cemetery and headed back to the old Mellon mansion.


    The grass that had been cleared before had sprouted again, creating a green carpet-likewn.


    It no longer had the eerie feeling of overgrown weeds but instead felt more pleasant. There were even a few people picking on the grass not far away. They walked into the vi and went to the memorial hall in the backyard.


    Quinn started cleaning the memorial hall.


    Alexander said, "Why don''t we renovate this ce and live here from now on?"


    Quinn had the same idea, but he said it first. "Good idea. Let''s renovate it."


    This ce was perfect for living. It was warm in spring and cool in summer. While other ces were still snowing, people here were already having spring outings. Alexander immediately called Quentin for help. Quinn hadn''t seen Quentin in a long time, but he was still as robust as ever.


    Since Quentin was in the construction business, handing this project to him was a no-brainer.


    Quentin confidently patted his chest and promised that the vi would be rebuilt in no more than six months.


    Quinn believed him.


    After signing the contract, Quinn and Alexander returned to Amber Bay, where Brandy was still waiting for them at home.


    Quinn walked into the living room first. Olivia and Brandy were on the couch reading a storybook. Brandy couldn''t read yet, so Olivia was reading to her.


    Brandy nestled in Olivia''s arms, listening intently, her eyes wandering as if imagining the beautiful scenes from the fairy tale.


    Quinn didn''t want to disturb them and stood quietly behind, listening to Olivia finish the story.


    Alexander stood beside her, looking at the little girl he had brought home, surprised at how much she had grown.


    Brandy was listening intently when Sprout suddenly made a noise.


    Brandy and Olivia turned around simultaneously. When Brandy saw Quinn, her eyes lit up. Then she saw Alexander beside her and froze for a moment.


    Olivia quickly stood up. "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, you''re back."


    Olivia was also happy they had returned. Brandy asked her several times a day, and she always said soon. If they hadn''te back, Brandy would no longer believe her. Quinn nodded slightly.


    "Great, I''ll go buy some groceries," Olivia said excitedly, hurrying out.


    Quinn sat down next to Brandy and noticed she was staring intently at Alexander. Brandy should recognize him from the photos.


    "Brandy, this is Daddy. He''s back. Aren''t you happy?" Quinn asked.

 Chapter 1455

    "Daddy," Brandy said again, her face lighting up with a big smile.


    "Dada!" Sprout chimed in.


    Alexander grinned and ruffled her hair. "Good girl. It''s been a while since you''ve seen me. Are you mad at me?" Brandy shook her head. "Olivia said you were busy."


    Her words were a bit jumbled, but her sweet, childlike voice made everything she said sound adorable. Seeing Alexander in person for the first time, she felt both happy and nervous.


    She only dared to look at Alexander.


    To Brandy, Alexander seemed as tall as a mountain, even more handsome and different from the photos. Photos didn''t move, but the Alexander in front of her could move and talk to her.


    Alexander sat down next to her and ced Sprout on the couch. He patted his leg and said, "Come here." Brandy walked over, and he lifted her onto hisp. Up close, she could finally see Alexander''s face clearly.


    He was a mix of the unfamiliar and the familiar, but mostly he felt kind and made her happy.


    She sat nervously on Alexander''sp, not daring to move. She kept staring at him, afraid that if she blinked, he would disappear. Sprout, feeling left out, started to climb onto Alexander.


    Alexander had a soft spot for his daughter over his son. Daughters were more obedient and didn''t spit up everywhere.


    Brandy sat quietly in Alexander''s arms, not moving around.


    She looked at Alexander as if he were a dream and couldn''t help but reach out to touch his face.


    She quickly pulled her hand back after touching his skin.


    "What''s wrong? Are you scared, Brandy?" Alexander asked.


    Brandy shook her head. She gathered her courage, leaned into his chest, and hugged him.


    "I have a daddy now," she said softly.


    Alexander was a bit surprised. He looked down at Brandy in his arms and, after a moment, stroked her hair. "You''ve always had one." "Will I always have one?" Brandy asked.


    Alexander replied, "Yes."


    Brandy happily snuggled into his arms. Sprout, feeling ignored, started crying on the couch.


    Quinn picked up Sprout and gave Alexander a look.


    It made sense that Alexander and Brandy were bonding for the first time.


    But Alexander''s favoritism was too obvious. He was never this gentle with Sprout.


    Olivia came back from grocery shopping and saw the family so happy together, a contented smile forming on her face.


    Quinn took Sprout upstairs. The room was just as it was when she left.


    She ced Sprout on the bed and sent a message to Abigail, telling her she was back.


    Abigail was thrilled and wanted toe over, but when she heard Alexander was also back, she changed her mind and said she''de next time. Quinn told Abigail, "I''lle to see you. I don''t have much to do right now anyway."


    Abigail asked eagerly, "That would be great. When will youe?"


    Quinn thought for a moment. "Tomorrow."


    Abigail replied, "Okay, I''ll wait for you at the usual ce."


    The usual ce was a caf¨¦, and Quinn agreed. Just then, Olivia called them for dinner. She changed Sprout''s diaper and went downstairs. Alexander was still holding Brandy as they chatted andughed.


    Brandy was cute, obedient, and super likable; even Alexander found her irresistible.


    Quinn pushed Sprout over and ced him in front of Alexander. "It''s time to eat. Feed Sprout."


    Alexander nced at her, and Olivia quickly stepped in. "I''ll do it."


    But Alexander pulled Sprout over and put Brandy down. "No, I''ll do it."


    Then he told Brandy, "Go eat first."


    Brandy nodded, climbed down from the couch, and walked over to Quinn with a smile, taking her hand. Quinn held her hand and smiled. "Let''s go."


    She led Brandy to the dining room, leaving Alexander to feed Sprout.


    Alexander didn''tin and went to prepare the form. While feeding Sprout, he turned on his phone. There were five missed calls, all from Zeke, and a text message from Walter.


    He ignored them and focused on feeding Sprout.


    Soon, the phone rang again, and it was Zeke. Alexander hesitated but answered the call.


    Zeke asked, "Alexander, where did you go?"


    Alexander nced at Sprout, who was drinking milk, and said calmly, "I went home to see the kids."


    "Home to see the kids?" Zeke paused. He didn''t remember Alexander having any kids.


    When he investigated before, Alexander didn''t have any kids, but now suddenly there were two.


    "What''s going on?" Zeke asked.


    "If you miss them, you can bring them over. Why did you go back alone? Don''t forget, this is your home. Why did you go back?" Zeke asked in one breath.


    He had always opposed Alexander returning to Amber Bay. He felt that as long as Alexander stayed with the Lynch family, he was his son. Once Alexander returned, he became someone else''s son. Alexander chuckled. "Don''t you have another son? Take care of your own business first."


    "I almost forgot. Did you call him over?" Zeke asked.


    "When you investigated me, you should have found out about Walter. We''re old friends. Life is full of surprises," Alexander remarked.


    Zeke was at a loss for words. He had found out that Walter and Alexander had always been at odds. Walter was one of the people who attacked Alexander in Municity.


    Zeke vaguely sensed that Alexander was asking him to choose.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Alexander, when are youing back?" Zeke asked.


    Alexander replied casually, "Depends. I''ve been gone for two years. My daughter doesn''t recognize me. Compared to a sickly person like me, Walter is much more useful. If you need anything done, just tell him." Zeke sighed and was silent for a long time.


    Both were his sons, one legitimate and one beloved, making it hard for him to choose.


    After meeting Walter, he had looked into him. Walter was capable and skilled, but Zeke could see that Walter harbored resentment toward him. Zeke didn''t dare to trust him easily, even though he was his son. Often, blood ties weren''t as strong as they seemed and could be the root of all hatred.


    Zeke stated, "Let me think about it. Since you''re already back, stay there for a few days."


    Then he sighed and hung up the phone, worried.


    Alexander casually tossed his phone on the couch, a cold smile ying on his face.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1456

    "Hurry up ande eat," Quinn called out.


    Alexander got up and nudged Sprout towards the dining room. Quinn was waiting for him to join her for dinner.


    Brandy, always the considerate one, hadn''t eaten yet either and was sitting there patiently.


    She was so tiny she needed a special chair just to reach the table.


    Luckily, she could feed herself now, even if it was a bit messy. She clumsily shoveled food into her mouth with a spoon.


    Quinn looked at Brandy and felt a rush of emotions. Olivia had mostly taken care of Brandy, teaching her to walk and eat on her own.


    Quinn pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the food from the corner of Brandy''s mouth. Brandy looked up and gave her a big smile. Quinn smiled back. Thankfully, it wasn''t toote. Brandy was still young, and there was plenty of time to make sure she grew up right.


    Sprout adored Brandy too. After eating, they yed together. Brandy leaned on the stroller, holding Sprout''s hand, and they chatted about who knows what. It was hard to tell if they understood each other, but the scene was heartwarming.


    Alexander put his arm around Quinn''s shoulder, watching them y.


    "They seem to get along well," he said.


    "Yeah," Quinn replied. "I wonder what they''ll be like when they grow up."


    Alexander''s gaze drifted as he watched the kids, lost in thought.


    Quinn called his name twice before he snapped out of it. "What?"


    "It''s gettingte. Let''s go to bed," she said.


    "You go ahead. I''ll stay here and watch them," Alexander smiled, gently nudging her to go upstairs.


    Quinn looked at him, then at the two little ones. "Alright, but don''t let them wear you out."


    Since Alexander had juste back and it was Brandy''s first time meeting him, Quinn wanted to give them some time to bond.


    After Quinn went upstairs, Alexander sat down on the sofa. He watched Brandy and Sprout, deep in thought.


    Brandy would asionally look up and smile at him, but seeing him distracted, she took the chance to stare at him a bit longer.


    Alexander looked better than in the photos and felt safer, but he also made her a little nervous.


    Probably because of Alexander''s return, Brandy didn''t sleep well that night.


    Sprout, on the other hand, fell asleep quickly. Brandy watched Sprout for a while before mustering the courage to approach Alexander and shake his leg. "Sprout is asleep," she murmured.


    Alexander snapped out of his thoughts, looked at the sleeping Sprout in the stroller, smiled slightly, and patted her head. "You should go to sleep too." Brandy nodded. She looked at Alexander, hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked away.


    She wanted to sleep with Alexander and Quinn but was too shy to ask, so she quietly went back to her room to sleep with Olivia.


    Quinn tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. She had this nagging feeling she had missed something, but she couldn''t figure out what.


    She sighed and nced at the bedroom door.


    She wasn''t sure how much time had passed, but she was nearly asleep when she noticed Alexander hadn''t returned. She assumed he had gone to another room. She got up, went to check, and found Alexander still sitting in the living room, the stroller at his feet with Sprout sleeping inside.


    He was deep in thought.


    Quinn sighed and went back to the bedroom, even more restless.


    The next morning, she woke up to find the bed still empty beside her.


    She got up, quickly washed up, and headed downstairs. Only Olivia was in the kitchen, but Brandy and Sprout were nowhere to be seen.


    "Olivia, where are they?" Quinn asked.


    Olivia quickly replied, "Mr. Kennedy took them out for a walk. There''s food on the table, Mrs. Kennedy. Help yourself."


    Quinn nodded. "Got it."


    She went to the dining room, grabbed her phone, and saw a message from Abigail sent half an hour ago, asking if she had left yet.


    Quinn replied and immediately set off for the coffee shop they had agreed on.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    When she arrived, Abigail was already inside.


    Abigail waved excitedly. "Quinn, over here."


    Quinn quickly walked over. Abigail stood up and looked around. "Didn''t you bring Sprout?"


    "No, Alexander took him out. What''s up?" Quinn replied.


    Abigail sighed and sat back down. "I wanted to borrow Sprout for a bit."


    Quinn looked at her suspiciously.


    Abigail exined that her father had started pressuring her to get married again, and this time he was serious. He hadn''t eaten for a day to force her to go on a blind date. Quinn''s jaw dropped. "That serious?"


    "Yeah, I''m already thirty. They''d marry me off to anyone, as long as it''s a man. I can''t stand it," Abigail replied.


    "Well, that''s tricky. Do you have someone you like?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail paused and vehemently denied, "Of course not. If I did, would I be sitting here chatting with you? I''ve told you, I''m never getting married."


    Quinn looked at her and was silent for a while.


    Abigail scratched her head in frustration. Her hair had grown a bit to shoulder length, but now that she was back in Amber Bay, she had cut it short again, looking like a boy. She suddenly stood up, grabbed Quinn, and said, "Come on, you''reing with me to the blind date."


    Quinn saw the mischievous glint in her eye and had a bad feeling. However, Abigail was her good friend, and she couldn''t refuse.


    Abigail dragged Quinn out, got on her motorcycle, and took Quinn to the blind date location.


    It was another coffee shop.


    After getting off the bike, Abigail took off her helmet and shook her bangs.


    She grabbed Quinn''s hand and put it on her wrist, winking at Quinn. "Follow my lead."


    Quinn was confused but followed her into the coffee shop.


    The man Abigail was meeting was young, about thirty, and had an average appearance. His demeanor suggested he came from a good family.


    "Mr. Kingsley, right?" Abigail greeted the man at the table.


    The man looked at her, quickly stood up, and extended his hand. "Hello, Ms. Vanderbilt. I''m Yosef Kingsley."


    Abigail casually shook his hand, then put her arm around Quinn''s shoulder and sat down across from him.


    Yosef looked at their intimate gesture, his face a bit awkward.


    Abigail smiled and exined, "This is my good friend. You don''t mind her sitting here, do you?"


    Yosef forced a smile and shook his head, ncing at Quinn. "Is your friend married?"

 Chapter 1457

    Quinn''s mouth twitched a bit.


    Abigail yanked Quinn closer, almost smushing Quinn''s head against her chest.


    "Of course she''s married. Mr. Kingsley, aren''t you here for a date with me? Why are you asking about her?" Abigail shot back.


    Yosef let out an awkward chuckle. "Your friends are my friends too. It''s good to get to know each other."


    Abigail raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you here for a blind date?"


    Yosef sighed. "My family''s been on my case, and I bet yours is too. So, what are you looking for in a partner?"


    They''d both done their homework before meeting. Mr. Kingsley''s family wasn''t super rich or anything, just middle of the road. He was the middle kid with two married brothers, and he was still single. The reason? His profile said he just hadn''t found the right one.


    Abigail, on the other hand, was a looker and in great shape. Rumor had it she liked women, which was why she wasn''t hitched.


    Yosef hadn''t bought into the gossip, but seeing them hug made him think twice.


    Abigail said, "My terms are simple. We can get married, but we won''t live together, and you stay out of my business. We''ll just get the marriage certificate and go our separate ways. Can you deal with that, Mr. Kingsley?" Before she even finished, Yosef''s face darkened.


    He was quiet for a bit before saying, "Ms. Vanderbilt, I can''t agree to that. We''re not getting any younger. If we don''t settle down soon, life will pass us by."


    Abigail shrugged. "Those are my terms. Think it over, Mr. Kingsley, and hit me up if you change your mind."


    Yosef forced a smile, clearly over the whole date. He stood up and said, "I don''t think we''re a match. Sorry, Ms. Vanderbilt, I''m out."


    Abigail waved him off.


    Once Yosef left, Quinn finally wriggled free. "You almost suffocated me."N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Abigailughed and cupped her cheeks. "Looks like my reputation is really spreading. Let''s see how many more brave souls dare to date me." Quinn sighed, giving Abigail a helpless look.


    She knew Abigail''s deal; Abigail wasn''t into women.


    The real reason Abigail didn''t want to get married? Either she had someone in mind or just hadn''t found the right one.


    Abigail loved her freedom, both in life and rtionships. She wanted control and wouldn''t settle for less.


    If she didn''t find the right person, she''d stay single.


    But this time, she had no choice. Her parents were getting older and worried about her future. She couldn''t let them down.


    Quinn asked, "How many is this so far?"


    Abigail counted on her fingers. "The eighth one. More toe. I don''t know where they find all these guys."


    Quinn said, "Yosef isn''t that old, only thirty."


    Back then, a thirty-year-old guy wasn''t considered old. It was an age when many were sessful and mature, which many women found attractive. But that was only if they were sessful.


    If a guy hit thirty without much to show for it, finding the perfect partnerter on was a long shot.


    For women, the older they got, the tougher it was to find someone.


    Even in Abigail''s circle, most of the good guys were already taken. She''d either have to aim higher or settle for less.


    Yosef''s family wasn''t as well-off as the Vanderbilts, which is why he was here for a blind date with Abigail.


    "Whatever, I''m here today. I''ll just tell them he rejected me, not the other way around, right?" Abigail said, winking at Quinn.


    Abigail added, "Let''s go. Lunch is on me. You guys are back for a while, right?"


    Quinn hesitated and then nodded.


    The house in Sylvadora still had six months left, so they wouldn''t be leaving soon unless Zeke pushed Alexander to return.


    Abigail took her shopping, nning to grab lunch afterward.


    Quinn wanted to shop for Brandy and Sprout. They were growing fast and needed new clothes all the time.


    Abigail didn''t get why she kept buying clothes.


    Abigail couldn''t help but ask, "Why do you buy so much? They outgrow them so fast, it''s a waste."


    Quinn replied, "They grow so quickly. Clothes only fit for a couple of months. It''s fine; most of them are new. When you have kids, they can wear them." Abigail paused and red at her. "What are you talking about? I''m never having kids. Don''t jinx me."


    Quinn blinked and didn''t argue. "Alright."


    For some reason, she had a feeling Abigail wouldn''t stay single forever. She''d get married and have kids, maybe not now, but eventually. Abigail noticed her confident look and felt uneasy. "Stop your wild guessing. I''m not getting married."


    Quinn nodded in agreement. "I see."


    Abigail sighed in frustration and walked into another children''s clothing store.


    Quinn followed. Inside, a few women were shopping, and one was watching a video on her phone, the sound loud enough for them to hear. "The Mellon Group''s CEO makes his first appearance. Recently, the CEO of the Mellon Group, Landon, attended..."


    Abigail paused and looked at the woman.


    Noticing her gaze, the woman nced at Abigail and turned down the volume.


    Abigail grabbed Quinn and pulled her outside to a quieter spot. She lowered her voice. "What''s going on?"


    "What do you mean?" Quinn retorted.


    "That news just now. How did Landon be the CEO of the Mellon Group?" Abigail asked, taking out her phone to check.


    She found tons of recent news about the Mellon Group, all mentioning Landon as the CEO, with photos of him. He had indeed be the CEO.


    No one knew better than Abigail who the CEO of the Mellon Group was.


    She looked at Quinn withplex emotions. "Quinn, how much are you hiding from me? What''s going on with the Mellon Group? Did you make some deal, or did he take it over?" Quinn held her hand. "Calm down. It''s a long story. I didn''t hide it from you, but..."


    Quinn felt Landon was a touchy subject between them. Their differing attitudes toward Landon could strain their rtionship.

 Chapter 1458

    "What''s up?" Abigail asked, her eyes locked on Quinn, clearly worried.


    She had her own reasons to be anxious, thinking this might involve her somehow.


    Quinn stayed quiet for a bit, noticing the stress in her eyes. "I made a deal with Landon. It''s got nothing to do with you. I didn''t want to drag you into it, so I kept it to myself." Abigail stared at him for what felt like forever. "Really?"


    "Yeah, really. Why are you so worked up?" Quinn shot back.


    Abigail snapped out of it, looking away awkwardly. "I care about you, that''s all."


    "Don''t sweat it, I''ve got this. But you..." Quinn hesitated. "Don''t overthink it. If there''s something you want to do, focus on that. Don''t worry about me."


    Abigail was quiet for a moment, then looked at Quinn, unsure. "What are you getting at?"


    "Nothing, just looking out for you," Quinn replied.


    Abigail didn''t say anything else, feeling a bit lost. "It''ste. Let''s head back."


    "Sure."


    They left the mall, and Abigail hopped on her motorcycle to give Quinn a ride home. She took off as soon as she dropped him off.


    On her way back, Abigail kept reying Quinn''s words in her head, feeling like there was something deeper she was missing.


    Lost in thought, she was jolted back to reality by a loud horn next to her, causing her to swerve and almost crash into the car behind. Luckily, she reacted fast, speeding up and braking hard, nearly flying off her bike. The car stopped too, and as the door opened, she saw Landon.


    They locked eyes, and there was a moment of silence.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Landon spoke first, "Riding a motorcycle while distracted? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"


    Annoyed, Abigail red at him. "None of your business!"


    She flipped down her helmet visor, restarted her bike, and sped off, leaving Landon behind.


    Landon watched her go, then rolled up his window after a while.


    When Abigail got home, Alvin was waiting for her. "How did it go? Did you like him?"


    Abigail snapped, "Why don''t you ask him? Does it even matter if I like him?"


    "Watch your tone! When your mom was your age, you were already two. You''re still single. People who know you think you don''t want to get married. Those who don''t might think there''s something wrong with you!" Alvin scolded. Abigail got even more irritated. "Then why ask me? You go on the dates. Tell me who you like, and I''ll marry them directly."


    Seeing this, Oliver stepped in. "Dad, give Abigail some time. She went on the date like you asked. Choosing a partner is important. Let her take her time."


    Alvin snapped, "You always defend her. She turned out this way because of you and your mom. Look at her hair, what kind of cut is that? Neither man nor woman, I swear."


    As he ranted, he got more upset, almost wanting to shave Abigail''s head bald.


    Oliver signaled Abigail to go upstairs quickly.


    Abigail didn''t want to argue with Alvin, so she hurried upstairs and ran into Oliver''s wife at the corner.


    Abigail paused, then nodded in greeting before heading to her room.


    Abigail wasn''t close with her sister-inw. She and Oliver met through a blind date, or rather an arranged marriage, and got married when Abigail was visiting Quinn in Sylvadora. Abigail and Oliver had always been tight. He''d doted on her since they were kids, so his sudden marriage threw her off.


    It felt like someone had snatched Oliver away. But Abigail knew he couldn''t stay single just for her. So, even though it bugged her, she kept it to herself.


    They''d just exchange hellos when they crossed paths, never really chatting.


    And to make things weirder, her sister-inw was five years younger than her.


    Downstairs, Oliver was still trying to calm Alvin down. It took a bit, but Alvin finally cooled off.


    Alvin plopped down on the couch, exhausted, and sighed. "What are we gonna do with Abigail?"


    Oliver hadn''t wanted to get married either, but he wasn''t as rebellious as Abigail. When the family arranged the marriage, he just went with it.


    Oliver nced upstairs at his wife, feeling conflicted.


    He hoped Abigail could find someone she actually liked, unlike him. She didn''t have the same family pressures he did. She didn''t have to marry just anyone. After calming Alvin down, Oliver headed to Abigail''s room and knocked before entering.


    Abigail was sitting by the window, staring outside.


    She didn''t turn around when she heard Olivere in.


    Oliver sat across from her and asked, "Something go wrong today?"


    Abigail turned to look at him. "How''d you know?"


    "I can see it on your face. Was it Yosef?" Oliver asked.


    "No," Abigail replied.


    "Then it must be something else. Wanna talk about it?" Oliver asked gently.


    Abigail nced at him. "What''s there to say? Go hang out with your wife."


    Oliver smiled helplessly. "Still got an issue with her, huh?"


    Abigail shot back, "Don''t put words in my mouth. When did I ever have an issue with her? I''m just in a bad mood. Leave me alone; I need some space." Oliver didn''t leave, just stared at her for a while.


    He knew she had a problem with his wife since he agreed to the marriage, even if she never said it.


    After a bit, he stood up and patted her shoulder. "Get some rest. You''ve got a lot of people waiting for you to deal with."


    Hearing that, Abigail felt even worse. She scratched her head in frustration. "Do I really have to get married?"


    Oliver smiled but didn''t say anything. His silence was the answer.


    He turned and left, leaving Abigail alone in her room, feeling frustrated.


    Abigail wanted to run away again, but this time Alvin was dead set on marrying her off. If she dared to leave, Alvin might do something drastic. He''d almost ended up in the hospital from a hunger strike to force her to go on dates. If she left now, he might really do something extreme. The more Abigail thought about it, the more annoyed she got. She let out a long sigh.


    She had two more dates tomorrow, and the thought of it was terrifying.


    She called Quinn to join her on the dates again.


    Quinn was forced to be her buffer, sitting between them, feeling super ufortable.


    This time, the date was with an older man, at least fifty. Abigail couldn''t help but grit her teeth when she saw him.


    Abigail mumbled angrily to Quinn, "My dad must be nuts, setting me up with someone this old."


    Quinn nudged her arm, signaling her to lower her voice. The guy was still sitting right across from them.

 Chapter 1459

    Maximus Tate caught on and his face dropped. With a dryugh, he said, "Guess you''re not too thrilled with me, huh?" Abigail forced a smile. "Mind if I ask how old you are?"


    Maximus touched his thinning hair and said, "I''m thirty-five."


    Abigail smirked, "Really? Didn''t shave off a couple of decades, did you?"


    She pulled out her phone and checked the photo. The guy in the picture and the guy in front of her? Totally different.


    Maximus quickly exined, "Seriously, I''m thirty-five. Work''s just been rough, so I look older. If you don''t believe me, I can show you my ID." Abigail waved her hand and showed him the photo. "Is this you?"


    Maximus nodded, "Yeah, but that''s from ten years ago."


    He used to be a handsome young guy, but now he looked like a different person entirely.


    "Isn''t this kinda like fraud?" Abigail asked, rolling her eyes.


    Maximus said, "How is it fraud? That''s me in the photo. I didn''t lie. Ms. Vanderbilt, I don''t think we''re a good match. Let''s just call it off."


    The photo Maximus got was of a long-haired woman, but the person in front of him looked like a boy.


    Before Abigail could bring Quinn out, Maximus had already rejected her. She didn''t know whether tough or be mad.


    Maximus continued, "I prefer a gentle and kind woman. Ms. Vanderbilt, you''re not the one for me. Sorry."


    He got up and left the caf¨¦, paying the bill on his way out.


    The people Alvin found weren''t too weird, but to Abigail, they seemed pretty strange.


    After Maximus left, Abigail and Quinn exchanged looks.


    Abigail asked, "Did I just get rejected?"


    Quinnforted her, "He has no taste. He probably knows he doesn''t deserve you and said that on purpose." Abigail nodded. "You''re right. He''s just giving himself an out."


    "Yeah, so what''s next?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail replied, "Let''s wait. There''s still one more to go."


    She was toozy to set up another meeting, so she decided to meet both at once and get it over with.


    Quinn stayed with her in the caf¨¦. With Alexander taking care of the kids, she could finally rx a bit. But she worried he might lose them. Lately, Alexander had been taking the kids for a walk every day. He''d head to a park always packed with families to pick up some parenting tips. It was a sunny day.


    Alexander was in a pavilion in the park with the two kids. Several other parents were around, discussing parenting tips. Alexander had been mingling with them for two days. One of them looked at him suspiciously and said, "You look familiar." Alexander turned to the woman and smiled lightly. "Really? Maybe I just have one of those faces."


    The woman shook her head, and the other men wanted to roll their eyes. If that was the case, then they might as well not exist. The woman remarked, "Definitely not. I feel like I''ve seen you somewhere before."


    Another person chimed in, "Now that you mention it, I feel the same way. Were you a celebrity before?"


    Alexander insisted, "No, I''m just an ordinary guy."


    The woman replied, "I really feel like I''ve seen you before. The impression is strong, but I can''t remember where."


    Alexander used to be on TV often, but not in entertainment news. Not many people watched financial news, but his face was memorable to those who did.


    That''s why so many people felt like they''d seen him somewhere but couldn''t ce it.


    "Why are you the one taking care of the kids? I haven''t seen your wife these past two days. Is she at work?" a stay-at-home dad asked.


    "Yeah, she''s at work," Alexander replied.


    "Working''s better. If I''d known, I wouldn''t have quit my job. You have no idea how exhausting it is to take care of kids," the stay-at-home dad said, clearly frustrated. He then started venting about how tough it was to look after kids. He''d thought staying home with the kids would be easy and fun, but it turned out to be more tiring than working.


    "Your kids seem well-behaved and easy to take care of. Unlike mine, who cries at the drop of a hat-wakes up crying, cries when sleepy, cries when full, and cries when they need a diaper change," he grumbled. Alexander listened quietly to hisints. Even though the guy said he hated it, his eyes couldn''t hide the tenderness when he held his son.


    These past two days, Alexander had mostly heard trivial stuff, and it felt like time had slowed down.


    When Quinn found Alexander, he was sitting with the group, blending in perfectly.


    Alexander had already be a qualified stay-at-home dad.


    However, Sprout''s stroller was pretty far from him, with only Brandy watching over it.


    If someone had taken it, he wouldn''t have known.


    Quinn walked into the pavilion and called out, "Alexander."


    As soon as she spoke, everyone in the pavilion looked at her. The name sounded even more familiar.


    Alexander turned to look at her. "Why are you here?"


    "If I didn''te, the kids would be lost. Where''s Sprout?" Quinn asked angrily.


    Alexander seemed to realize it only then. He looked around and saw Sprout in the distance. Without changing his expression, he shifted the me. "Why did Brandy push him so far away?" Quinn stared at him coldly.


    Alexander touched his nose, got up, and brought Sprout back.


    "You''ve got a lot of nerve. What if someone took him?" Quinn pressed.


    "Who would dare?" Alexander retorted.


    "You!" Quinn said angrily.


    Alexander pulled her into his arms. "Alright, my bad. I''ll be more careful next time. Don''t be mad."


    Quinn red at him. "Let''s go home. It''s getting dark."


    "Okay. Did you go with Abigail to her blind date? Did she find someone?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn replied, "It''s not that fast. Even if she did, she can''t get married right away."


    "Did she find someone she liked?" Alexander asked.


    "No," Quinn replied and suddenly looked at Alexander. "Why are you so concerned about her all of a sudden?" "Am I?" Alexander retorted.


    Quinn scrutinized him suspiciously. "Are you hiding something from me?"


    "No," Alexander replied with a straight face.


    "Really?" Quinn asked, staring at him.


    Alexander nodded seriously. "Really."


    Quinn didn''t quite believe him. He never used to ask about Abigail, let alone care about her love life.


    He must be hiding something.


    What could make Alexander suddenly care about Abigail?


    Quinn thought about thest time Alexander used her phone to call Landon. Could he and Landon have made some deal in private?


    Since Alexander wouldn''t say, Quinn knew she wouldn''t get anything out of him, so she didn''t press further.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Abigail was being pressured by Alvin, who was eager to marry her off as soon as possible.


    After meeting so many people, Quinn felt suffocated for Abigail and wondered what Abigail really thought.

 Chapter 1460

    Back at the Regal Riverside, Quinn took Sprout upstairs, fed him, and got him ready for bed.


    Sprouty there quietly, just staring at Quinn with those big eyes of his.


    He was easier to handle than most babies. Sure, he cried sometimes, but mostly he was pretty chill. As long as he wasn''t crying, everything was good.


    Once Quinn got him to sleep, she headed downstairs. Alexander and Brandy were ying some game with a piece of string, making cat''s cradle patterns. It was a pretty sweet scene. Quinn sat down next to Alexander, watching them for a bit.


    Alexander noticed her and asked, "Why are you staring at us?"


    Quinn shrugged, "Just watching you guys y."


    Alexander handed her the string. "Wanna join?"


    Quinn pushed it back. "Nah, you go ahead. Brandy seems to really like hanging out with you, so spend more time with her."


    Alexander put the string away. "Let''s eat first."


    Brandy didn''t mind. She stood next to Alexander, ready to head to the dining room.


    After dinner, Brandy looked at Quinn and Alexander with those big, hopeful eyes.


    Quinn asked, "Do you want to sleep with us tonight?"


    Brandy looked at her, then at Alexander, and finally nodded.


    Quinn turned to Alexander, "What do you think?"


    Alexander shrugged, "I''m cool with it. If Brandy wants to, let''s do it."


    Quinn picked Brandy up. "Alright, let''s go."


    Brandy hugged her neck, all happy.


    Quinn took her to the bathroom for a bath. Olivia usually did this, so it was Quinn''s first time.


    Seeing Brandy in the tub, Quinn couldn''t help but think about how fast time flies. Brandy had grown so much already.


    Quinn felt a pang of guilt for not spending more time with her. She knew what it was like to feel lonely in a big house.


    After washing Brandy, Quinn wrapped her in a towel and dried her hair.


    Brandy looked up at her with a big smile. She didn''t say anything, but Quinn could tell she was happier.


    Quinn dressed her and patted her head. "Alright, let''s go."


    Brandy hummed and ran out.


    Alexander was reading a newspaper. Brandy ran over and jumped into hisp, smiling up at him. Alexander smiled back and rubbed her head. "Not sleepy yet?"


    Brandy shook her head.


    Alexander nced at the bathroom where Quinn was showering, then went back to his newspaper.


    His phone rang a few times, but seeing it was Walter, he just hung up and blocked the number.


    Walter, realizing his calls weren''t going through, tossed his phone onto the couch and looked around the vi where Alexander used to live. Molly was tidying up the table. Molly kept ncing back at Walter, feeling a bit uneasy. The vi had a new owner since she came home for Christmas, and she wasn''t sure what to make of it.


    Walter seemed friendly enough, but something about him made her nervous.


    Suddenly, he waved her over.


    Molly hesitated, then pointed to herself, silently asking if he meant her.


    Walter nodded. "Yeah, you. Come here."


    She quickly put down what she was holding and walked over. Walter tapped his fingers on the couch, looking thoughtful. "Tell me what you know about Alexander." "About what?" Molly asked, a bit confused.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    "Anything. When did he live here? What does he usually do? Who does he hang out with? Spill it," Walter said.


    Molly thought for a moment, then frowned. "He mostly stays in the study. Doesn''t do much else. He rarelyes back, but when he does, he''s in the study." "And?" Walter pressed.


    Molly continued, "There''s a doctor who used toe by a lot, but I haven''t seen himtely."


    "Really?" Walter looked intrigued at the mention of a doctor.


    "Yeah, and there''s Ms. Mellon. She takes care of the kid. She used toe looking for Alexander every day, and then they... well, you know," Molly trailed off, feeling a bit awkward. She still didn''t get how they ended up together or what Quinn did to catch Alexander''s eye.


    Walter was silent for a moment, then waved her off.


    The next day, Walter called Zeke, asking for a job. He couldn''t just sit around the vi all day.


    Zeke asked what kind of job he wanted and said he''d arrange it.


    Thewsuit between the Lynch family and Future Era was still dragging on, and Future Era kept causing trouble, hitting the Lynch family''s electronic industries hard.


    Plus, Zeke had to deal with the Obsidian Circle. The weapons factory he and Zeke had secretly built was a big issue.


    Even though their factories didn''t involve any core secrets, they still affected the Lynch family''s reputation and interests.


    Zeke decided to handle it personally.


    Walter, not sure what job he wanted, suggested tagging along with Zeke to learn the ropes. Zeke, still wary, gave a vague answer.


    Walter sneered and hung up, a calcting look in his eyes.


    When Zeke left for Municity, Walter followed.


    They bumped into each other at the airport. Zeke eyed Walter, suspecting he was being tailed.


    Walter grinned. "What a coincidence. You''re here too?"


    Zeke asked, "Why are you here?"


    Walter shrugged. "I''m here to see my son."


    Zeke was taken aback, looking around, not sure what he meant.


    Did Walter really have a son? Who would leave their son here?


    Turns out, Walter''s son was indeed here. A few days ago, Walter had someone bring Freya and Peanut to Municity. Freya didn''t want toe, but she couldn''t resist Walter''s persuasion. He told her Peanut''s illness could be treated here.


    Walter said, "Why don''t we go see him together?"


    Zeke hesitated but eventually agreed. Walter''s son was his grandson, after all, and he was curious.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1461

    Zeke waved Walter over to hop in the car. Being in Calvin''s turf, Zeke felt right at home, not a care in the world.


    Calvin had already sent some folks to keep an eye on Zeke, making sure he was safe.


    Walter and Zeke sat in the car, which crawled along, and the silence between them got pretty awkward.


    Zeke nced at Walter, especially that familiar face, and couldn''t help but get a bit emotional.


    Zeke had secretly done a DNA test a while back and found out Walter was his son. When he got the news, he was hit with a whirlwind of feelings.


    On one hand, he felt guilty towards Walter, and on the other, he worried Walter might hold a grudge.


    He''d done some digging on Walter and knew a bit about his past. Walter, like Alexander, was no ordinary guy.


    After thinking for a bit, Zeke finally spoke up, "Walter, I''ve been thinking about that situation. It''s my fault. While I can''t bring you back to the Lynch family, I can take you in as my godson." He looked straight at Walter, watching for his reaction.


    "What do you think?" Zeke asked.


    Walter frowned, clearly annoyed. "I came all this way just to be a godson? Seems like I''m not that important to you."


    Zeke replied, "It''s not that simple. The Lynch family is big and powerful. Your grandpa set a rule to avoid trouble: only pure blood can join the family. If I just bring you in, others might not agree." Walter chuckled. "What era are we in? Pure blood? I thought only cats and dogs cared about that."


    Zeke''s face turned red. "Rules are rules. If I break them, the family would be in chaos."


    Walter snorted, turned to look out the window, and ignored Zeke.


    Zeke let out a sigh of relief. Walter''s attitude showed he was determined to join the Lynch family, not just after something else.


    If Walter joined the family, anything that happened to them would affect him too.


    Zeke wanted Walter toe back, but it wasn''t easy. When Lance returned, Zeke faced many hurdles, let alone Walter, who was an illegitimate child.


    Plus, given the previous talk with Alexander, Walter and Alexander didn''t get along. No matter who Zeke sided with, he''d hurt the other.


    Zeke used to wish for more capable sons, but now that he had them, they were giving him a headache.


    "How long till we get there?" Zeke asked, changing the subject.


    Walter looked at the scenery ahead. "About an hour."


    Zeke sighed, feeling more and more frustrated.


    The car swayed slowly for another hour before finally arriving at a secluded hospital. It was tucked away in the mountains, making it hard for most people to find. Walter got out and headed towards the hospital.


    Zeke brought a few people with him, and they all went inside. The guards at the entrance seemed to recognize Walter, so they didn''t stop them.


    Even though the hospital was in the mountains, the ce was pretty nice, with clear mountain views and waters, almost like a vacation spot.


    In the room on the left, Peanut and Freya were chilling, watching TV. Freya was peeling an orange for him.


    Over the past year, Peanut had gotten a lot better. He wasn''t drooling or grinning like a fool anymore.


    Now, he just seemed a bit slow.


    When Walter and Zeke showed up at the door, they saw Peanut sitting on the couch, staring nkly at the TV. Every now and then, something funny would make him grin. The room''s light dimmed a bit, and Freya looked up to see Walter standing there.


    Freya was a bit surprised and quickly got up.


    Peanut noticed Freya moving and looked towards the door, but he stayed put. He only stood up when Walter and Zeke got closer.


    Zeke checked out Peanut. Peanut had some stic surgery, and the burned areas were fixed up. He didn''t look as scary as before, now looking clean with clear eyes. Zeke couldn''t see any signs of intelligence in his eyes, which bummed him out a bit.


    Freya spoke softly, "Walter, who''s this?"


    Walter nced at Zeke but didn''t introduce him. Zeke took the lead, "Myst name''s Lynch. Walter and I are here on some business and just came to see the kid. Don''t mind me." Freya nodded, and Walter asked her, "Have you seen the doctor?"


    Freya replied, "Yeah, the doctor said Peanut''s condition could be cured in at most two years. Thanks."


    Zeke asked, "What''s his condition?"


    Freya answered, "It''s brain damage caused by poisoning."


    Zeke looked at Peanut with some regret. "What a pity. If it can be cured, it''s not a big problem."


    Freya''s heart filled with hope, and she looked at Walter with a bit more gratitude.


    Even though she didn''t know why Walter suddenly brought them here for treatment, she was still grateful to him for giving Peanut a chance to be normal again. After their divorce, Walter hadn''t cared about them, and his sudden concern surprised Freya.


    She didn''t know what Walter''s intentions were.


    She thought that as long as Peanut could get better, she wouldn''t mind whatever Walter did to her.


    Walter and Zeke didn''t stay in the room for long, chatting briefly before leaving.


    After they left, Zeke asked about the situation. Walter briefly told him about the fire ident, with a few tweaks. Zeke couldn''t dig too deep, so he believed Walter''s story. He didn''t expect Walter to have suffered for so many years, and his grandson had also gone through so much. He felt a bit more guilty.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "Are you going to stay here with Peanut for a while?" Zeke asked.


    Walter nodded slightly and made a gesture. "I''ll see you out first."


    "Let''s go," Zeke replied.


    They got in the car together, and Walter nned to take him out of the mountains.


    The car drove out of the mountains and stopped at the entrance. Walter said goodbye.


    Zeke said, "Think about my proposal. Even though you can''te back to the family, I''ll try to make it up to you in other ways."


    Walter stared at him for a long time without saying anything.


    Just as Zeke was about to speak, several cars suddenly sped towards them, heading straight for their car.

 Chapter 1462

    Zeke was floored. These guys clearly had bad intentions. He''d been to Municity loads of times, but this was the first time he''d ever been attacked.


    Walter was watching him from the corner of his eye. The attackers wereing in hot, but Zeke just sat there in the car, totally unfazed, like he didn''t even care.


    Zeke had every reason to be confident; the Lynch family wasn''t just for show.


    Sure enough, before the cars could get close, a bunch of drones swooped down from the sky, slipped under the cars, and boom!


    The lead car exploded with a thunderous bang. The shockwave shattered the windows of the cars behind it, sending ss flying and injuring the passengers. Some of them were even bleeding from the pressure. In just a few seconds, the cars were flipped over and turned into scrap metal.


    Walter''s eyes flickered, but he didn''t look surprised.


    The driver got out to check the wreckage and found some stuff on the attackers, which he brought over to Zeke.


    Zeke looked through the items, frowning. "These guys don''t seem to be from Municity."


    Walter nced over. He knew exactly who they were.


    Zeke handed the items back to the driver. "Take these and find out who chased us here."


    "Yes," the driver replied.


    Walter said, "Sorry, these guys were here to kill me."


    Zeke was taken aback and turned to look at him. "You know them?"


    Walter replied, "No, I don''t, but they were probably after me. Otherwise, they would''ve recognized you."


    "How did you get mixed up with them?" Zeke asked.


    Walter sighed, looking worried. "In ces like this, it''s hard not to make enemies."


    Before Zeke could say anything, Walter added, "If you dig into it, you''ll know why I''m involved with them. Thanks to Alexander."


    Zeke was silent for a moment. He had a rough idea why but couldn''t me Alexander. He patted Walter''s shoulder. "Leave them to me. I''ll handle it and make sure no one bothers you again." Walter raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Thanks a lot."


    Zeke rubbed his aching temples, not wanting to talk anymore.


    Walter opened the car door. "I''ll be going now. Take care on your way."


    "You too. Don''t wander around until this is sorted out," Zeke reminded.


    Walter replied, "Got it."


    Zeke signaled the driver to start the car.


    Walter stood there, watching Zeke leave, then nced at the smoldering wreckage on the ground.


    These guys had tracked him here because Walter had leaked the info.


    It seemed he hadn''t gambled wrong; the Lynch family''s power was greater than he had imagined. He''d have to be more cautious from now on.


    Once Zeke was out of sight, Walter turned and walked into the hospital.


    Peanut was undergoing a medical exam, with Freya standing by his side, discussing treatment options with the doctor.


    Every option the doctorid out blew Freya''s mind. The costs were insane.


    The cheapest treatment n? Five million bucks.


    Caught in her dilemma, she noticed Walter standing outside the door.


    Walter was rocking a light gray suit that fit his tall frame perfectly. With his ear-length wavy hair, he looked like an artist. Every time Freya saw his face, it stirred something deep inside her.


    The doctor had to call her name twice before she snapped back to reality. "What?"This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Have you decided?" the doctor asked again.


    Freya hesitated, ncing outside, but Walter was gone. She turned back to the doctor. "Sorry, I don''t have the money."


    The doctor chuckled. "Mr. Smith has already paid. You can stop worrying about that and pick a treatment n based on what you know about the child and your schedule." Freya was stunned.


    But it made sense. Without money, this hospital probably wouldn''t have even let them in.


    Since Walter had paid, Freya had no more worries and chose the most expensive n. It would take longer, but it would ensure Peanut''s full recovery.


    After finalizing things with the doctor, Freya took Peanut back to the ward.


    Walter was sitting on the sofa, idly flipping through a notebook.


    Peanut saw him and instinctively tightened his grip on Freya''s hand. Despite his current sluggishness, he could still think.


    He often saw Walter.


    In the drawer of the room where he and Freya slept, there was a wedding photo with Walter in it.


    Freya led Peanut over and looked at the notebook in Walter''s hand. "Peanut drew this. He''s not great at studying, but he loves to draw."


    Walter nodded and quickly flipped through the drawings. The pictures were eerie. Despite Peanut''s innocent face, the drawings had a dark tone.


    They were more like doodles, abstract and oppressive at first nce.


    He tossed the notebook on the table and looked at Peanut with appreciation. "Not bad."


    Freya was taken aback. Honestly, she couldn''t understand the drawings and didn''t know what Walter saw in them.


    Peanut, hearing the praise, looked up at Freya, as if seeking confirmation that Walter was sincere.


    Freya patted his head and smiled. "Say thank you to Walter."


    Peanut was dazed for a few seconds before he managed to say, "Thank you, Walter."


    Walter stood up from the sofa, ignoring Peanut, and said to Freya, "Focus on the treatment. Don''t wander around."


    Freya nodded, feeling ttered by Walter''s concern.


    Walter didn''t say more and left the ward.


    Freya quickly followed. "Walter."


    He paused and looked back at her. "Anything else?"


    Freya stared at him, wanting to ask why he was suddenly helping her and Peanut. But his gaze made her swallow her words.


    In the end, she just said, "Thank you."


    Walter smiled meaningfully at her, making her feel uneasy.


    He turned and left.


    Freya watched his back, bit her lip, and lowered her head.

 Chapter 1463

    Walter tricked those enemies into running straight into Zeke, who was more than happy to take them on. Now, Walter was free as a bird, no more hiding. He could even use Zeke''s clout to rebuild his own crew.


    With Zeke backing him, folks would think twice before messing with him or even working with him.


    Infiltrating the Lynch family wasn''t happening anytime soon, so he decided to take his time and n it out.


    Alexander knew all this but didn''t lift a finger.


    He had Walter around to keep Zeke in check. With Walter stirring the pot, Alexander could chill with Quinn.


    With those headaches gone, Alexander''s health got a lot better.


    Quinn had been tagging along with Abigail on blind datestely. Each one was a bust. Abigail seemed fine, but Quinn was worn out.


    After leaving the caf¨¦, Quinn nced at Abigail, who was grinning ear to ear.


    Quinn said, "Abigail, since you''re not into getting married, why don''t you..."


    "What?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn continued, "Find someone who''s into the same stuff as you, get hitched, and be done with it."


    Abigail thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up. "That''s a good idea, but where do I find someone like that?"


    Finding women who didn''t want to get married was easy, but guys? That was a different story.


    This guy had to not only be uninterested in marriage but also be a decent person and reliable; otherwise, he wouldn''t pass Alvin''s test. Quinn remarked, "You know tons of people. Take your time, you''ll find someone."


    "I''ll think about it." Abigail put her arm around Quinn''s shoulder, her gaze drifting off as she started mentally scrolling through her contacts. Seeing Abigail take her suggestion seriously, Quinn wanted to kick herself.


    She just wanted to test Abigail''s feelings. If Abigail was dodging these dates because she liked someone, she wouldn''t have agreed to this idea.


    But Abigail agreed, which meant she really didn''t want to get married and didn''t have anyone in mind.


    Abigail suddenly thought of something and looked at Quinn. "I just thought of someone. Your idea really hit home. Head back first. I''ve got somewhere to be." Abigail let go of Quinn, hopped on her motorcycle, grabbed her helmet, and waved. "I''m out."


    "Abigail..." Before Quinn could finish, Abigail revved the engine and took off.


    Watching Abigail disappear, Quinn sighed in frustration.


    She took a cab home, feeling down. Sprout and Brandy were at home, with Olivia looking after them, but Alexander was MIA. "Olivia, where''s Alexander?" Quinn asked.


    Olivia''s eyes darted around, and she gave an awkward smile. "I don''t know. Maybe he went out."


    Quinn stared at her for a couple of seconds. It was obvious Olivia knew but wasn''t spilling.


    "Where did he go?" Quinn pressed.


    Olivia replied, "Mrs. Kennedy, I really don''t know. When he left, he handed Sprout and Brandy to me and didn''t say anything." "Really?" Quinn asked.


    Olivia nodded quickly. "Really."


    Quinn''s eyes lingered on Olivia for a moment. It seemed like she really didn''t know, so Quinn let it go.


    She picked up Sprout and asked, "Have you fed him yet?"


    Olivia replied, "I was just about to."


    Quinn said, "I''ll handle it."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    She took Sprout upstairs, made some form, and sat by the bed to feed him.


    Her gaze drifted outside the window. It was already getting dark. What was Alexander up to at this hour?


    He didn''t need to work anymore, and he had no social ns. Lately, he''d been home almost every day or taking the kids to the park.


    But today, he didn''t even take the kids. He couldn''t have gone to the park alone, could he?


    After feeding Sprout, Quinn couldn''t shake the uneasy feeling, especially thinking about Olivia''s earlier reaction. If Alexander hadn''t told Olivia something, she wouldn''t lie to Quinn. Quinn couldn''t stand being kept in the dark.


    She put Sprout in the crib and started searching the bedroom.


    She found nothing, so she moved to the study. She hadn''t been in Alexander''s study since she came back.


    Opening the door, it was pitch ck inside.


    She turned on the light. The room was spotless, almost too clean.


    Quinn walked to the bookshelf and started searching. She didn''t know what she was looking for, but she figured she''d know when she found it.


    There was nothing on the bookshelf, so she checked the cabs.


    One cab was locked, and she couldn''t find the key. Another had a safe, but it was fingerprint-locked, so she couldn''t open it.


    She sighed and gave up.


    It seemed Alexander was definitely hiding something. Otherwise, why lock those cabs?


    She left the study, turned off the light, and went downstairs to the living room.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, would you like to eat?" Olivia asked.


    Quinn nced outside. "Alexander isn''t back yet. Let''s wait for him."


    Olivia forced a smile. "Alright."


    After waiting another two hours, Quinn still hadn''t eaten, and Brandy sat beside her.


    Quinn heard Brandy''s stomach growl, looked over, and saw her blushing, trying to cover her stomach and act like it wasn''t her.


    The next second, her stomach growled again.


    Quinn couldn''t help butugh. "If you''re hungry, go ahead and eat."


    Brandy shook her head quickly. She wanted to wait with Quinn.


    Quinn patted her head. "Be good. Go eat first, and I''ll join you soon."


    Brandy pouted and said seriously, "Daddy''s not back."


    "Daddy might be busy," Quinn said, picking her up. "Let''s eat first, okay?"


    Brandy blinked and nodded.


    Quinn took Brandy to the dining room, and they ate together. Then she asked Olivia to take Brandy upstairs to sleep.


    Quinn sat alone on the living room sofa, still waiting.


    The night outside grew quieter, and only the faint ticking of the clock could be heard in the living room.


    Quinn looked at the clock on the wall. It was already midnight.


    She pulled out her phone to send Alexander a message but then worried she mighte off as too controlling. He had only gone out once in a long time, and she was already questioning him. So, she deleted the draft, tossed her phone aside, hugged her knees, and stared at the dark TV screen.

 Chapter 1464

    Quinn had no clue when she dozed off, but when she woke up, she was already in bed.


    She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before sitting up and ncing around. Last she remembered, she was on the couch.


    She hopped out of bed and headed downstairs. There was Alexander, feeding Sprout. Everything seemed normal, likest night was just a dream. Quinn rushed downstairs and stood in front of Alexander, staring at him.


    Alexander noticed and looked up. "You''re up?"


    Quinn frowned, wondering if she was still dreaming. "When did you get back?"


    "Last night? I dunno, maybe around one or two. Why?" Alexander replied.


    Quinn let out a sigh of relief. "What were you doing out sote?"


    "I was with Oliver. We ended up talkingte. What''s up?" Alexander asked.


    "Nothing," Quinn said with a forced smile. She didn''t want to seem too nosy.


    But then she remembered something else. Did Abigail really go looking for someone for a fake marriagest night?


    She quickly went upstairs to call Abigail.


    She called twice, but no answer. She started to worry, fearing something might have happened to Abigail, which would make her feel super guilty. Finally, the call went through, and Abigail''s sleepy voice came from the other end. "Quinn, why are you calling me so early?"


    "I was just worried about you. Where did you gost night?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail replied, "I went to a gay bar."


    "A what?"


    Abigail exined, "It''s a bar for gay people. Best ce to find someone to cooperate with."


    "Is that really okay?" Quinn asked, concerned.


    Abigail replied casually, "Don''t worry. I''ve already found a few. I''ll take you to meet themter, and you can help me decide." Quinn sighed helplessly. Abigail was really serious about this, but Quinn felt it was unreliable.


    After breakfast, she told Alexander she was going to see Abigail.


    Abigail hadn''t gone homest night and stayed at a hotel.


    Quinn arrived at the hotel and rang the doorbell. Abigail soon opened the door.


    Abigail reeked of alcohol, probably having drunk a lotst night. She scratched her messy hair. "Why are you here so early?"


    Quinn followed Abigail inside and looked around. There was no one else in the room. "Didn''t you go homest night? Why are you sleeping at a hotel?"


    "I drank too muchst night. I don''t even know how I got here," Abigail replied, yawning. She picked up a coat from the floor and sniffed it with a look of disgust. "Quinn, can you buy me some clothes? I don''t seem to have any clean ones." Quinn opened her mouth, but seeing Abigail''s confused state, she swallowed her words. "Alright, wait for me."


    She turned and left the hotel, heading to a nearby mall.


    Lost in thought about how to persuade Abigail toe back, Quinn crossed the street without noticing the traffic light. Suddenly, she heard the screech of brakes. Startled, she froze and dropped what she was holding.


    A familiar voice said, "Not paying attention while crossing the street? Heartbroken?"


    Hearing the voice, Quinn looked up abruptly. It was Landon in the car.


    Landon still had his serious expression, his eyes calm behind his sses. He casually leaned his arm on the car window, looking at her indifferently.


    Quinn quickly picked up the clothes from the ground and suddenly said, "Abigail is getting married."


    Landon just stared at her, not saying a word.


    After a bit, he finally spoke up, "What''s that got to do with me?"


    "I''m just letting you know. Whether it matters to you or not is your call," Quinn replied, organizing the clothes. She took a couple of steps, then turned back to look at Landon. "You still owe me two favors, right?" "So?" Landon asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Quinn didn''t answer. After giving Landon a look for a couple of seconds, she walked away with her things.


    When she got back to the hotel, Abigail had fallen asleep again, leaving the door open.


    Quinn ced the clothes by her bed and sat beside her, lost in thought.


    An hourter, Abigail woke up. "What time is it?"


    Quinn snapped out of her thoughts. "It''s eleven-thirty."


    "Still early. Where are my clothes?" Abigail said, spotting the clothes by the bed and quickly grabbing them. "I''ll take a shower first. Wait for me."


    She hurried to the bathroom with the clothes, and soon the sound of running water filled the room.


    After her shower, she was fully awake. She dried her hair and sat next to Quinn. "Let me tell you, the ce I wentst night had so many handsome guys. I even saw a few familiar faces. No wonder there are fewer single handsome guys around; they''re all taken," Abigail said with a regretful expression.


    Quinn said with a stern face, "Abigail, I think you should reconsider."This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Abigail put her arm around Quinn''s shoulder andughed. "No need. I know them. They''re just like me, pressured by their families but too scared toe out. They''re perfect partners!"


    Those guys had both family background and looks. Their cooperation would satisfy both sides, making it a perfect arrangement.


    "What if you meet someone you like?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail said casually, "That''s impossible. And even if I do, we can just get divorced. It''s not like it costs anything."


    Her reasoning was so sound that Quinn couldn''t argue. It was indeed a mutually beneficial arrangement, and Quinn couldn''t find a reason to persuade Abigail to give it up. Abigail spoke, "Stop thinking about it. Come on, I have a lunch date today. I''ll take you to meet him."


    Before Quinn could respond, Abigail dragged her out.


    They hailed a cab and headed straight to a restaurant.


    It was lunchtime, and when they entered the private room, a guy was already waiting.


    He was wearing a white sweater and a white coat, with curly chestnut hair. He was undeniably good-looking.


    Seeing them enter, he immediately stood up with a smile. "You''re here."


    He had dimples when he smiled, looking quite cute. If Abigail hadn''t told her, Quinn wouldn''t have guessed that he was gay.


    Abigail pulled Quinn over to sit down. "Quinn, this is Elliot Sullivan. We''ve met before. Elliot, this is my good friend Quinn. You don''t mind me bringing her, do you?" Elliot replied, "Not at all. The more, the merrier."


    Quinn felt a bit awkward sitting there. If she wasn''t mistaken, Elliot was theirpetitor, both aiming to attract men.


    "What do you want to eat?" Elliot asked, holding the menu.


    Quinn smiled. "I''m fine with anything."


    Elliot replied, "Then I''ll just order."


    His manners were refined. It was clear he was well-educated.


    Abigail gave Quinn a look. "What do you think? Isn''t Elliot great?"


    Quinn nced at the guy across from her. Hearing Abigail''s praise, Elliot looked a bit embarrassed.


    Quinn remarked, "Yes, he is quite nice."

 Chapter 1465

    Quinn blurted out, "But don''t you think there''s a big age gap between you two? Elliot looks like he''s barely twenty."


    Abigail, clearly annoyed, shot back, "What are you trying to say? Do I look old to you?"


    Quinn quickly shook her head. "No, no, that''s not what I meant. You don''t look old at all, but, you know, your actual age is a thing."


    Abigail rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "You''re right. Elliot is kinda young. He''s only twenty-three."


    So, Elliot was a solid seven years younger than Abigail.


    Abigail turned to Elliot and asked, "Do you think your parents will be cool with the age difference?"


    Elliot hesitated, nced at Abigail, and said uncertainly, "I can go back and talk to them."


    Abigail sighed, suddenly feeling unsure. She advised, "Think it over carefully. This isn''t a game, and you''re still pretty young. Your parents probably aren''t putting that much pressure on you, right?" Elliot paused, looking conflicted. "But it needs to be sorted out."


    "I hope you don''t mind me asking, but do you think you naturally like guys, or was it influenced by something?" Abigail asked.


    Elliot, not offended, responded directly, "I think I was just born this way."


    Since he was a kid, he didn''t like ying with girls. As he grew up, this feeling only got stronger. When he was with guys, he could have fun. If he met someone who was his type, he''d get nervous. Abigail felt relieved. "That''s good."


    She had been worried that Elliot was too young and might be influenced by external factors, making his orientation unclear. If his orientation changed after they got married, it would be a disaster. Since Elliot said he was born this way, she had nothing to worry about.


    Elliot ordered some light dishes, and soon the food arrived. Abigail kept chatting with him while Quinn ate quietly.


    She remembered how Landon and Abigail behaved and started to wonder if she was overthinking things. Maybe there were no feelings between them at all.


    After the meal, Elliot paid the bill. They walked out of the restaurant, and Elliot mentioned he had to go back to school in the afternoon.


    The mention of "school" left Quinn feeling a bit disoriented. Abigail had a knack for finding people.


    Noticing Quinn lost in thought, Abigail said, "Do you think it''s not okay? No worries, I have another date in the afternoon."


    Quinn was speechless.


    The afternoon date was at a caf¨¦. They arrived on time. This guy was named Jonah rke. He looked older and wasn''t as good-looking as Elliot.


    As soon as they sat down, he got straight to the point. "We know each other, so let''s not beat around the bush. When are we getting married?"


    Abigail looked at him suspiciously. "Are you in a hurry?"


    Jonah crossed his legs and lit a cigarette, saying irritably, "It''s just a formality anyway. I don''t want to deal with my family anymore. As long as we get married, you can set the conditions." Abigail hesitantly asked, "When do you want to get the marriage certificate?"


    As soon as she said that, Jonah took out some documents and pped them on the table. "Right now."This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Abigail remarked, "That''s too fast."


    "Tomorrow or the day after, anytime within a month. That''s the deadline they gave me. Otherwise, they''ll just find some woman for me to marry. You know, for people like us, marrying just any woman isn''t fair to her. Why drag someone else into this?" Jonah dered.


    Abigail nodded in agreement.


    She was quiet for a bit before saying, "I''ll think about it and give you an answer in three days."


    Jonah seemed like a decent guy because he actually cared about his partner''s happiness. But Abigail had two more dates lined up, so she needed to be careful with her choice.


    The third date was in the evening. The guy was about Abigail''s age and seemed pretty steady, but he was a bit too stable for her taste.


    The fourth date was a total disaster. He brought his partner along, and they were all lovey-dovey right in front of Abigail. She couldn''t stand it and bailed halfway through.


    It seemed like her choices were down to Jonah and Elliot.


    It waste, and Quinn had been with Abigail all day. Abigail tossed Quinn a helmet. "Hop on, I''ll take you home. Thanks for today."


    Holding the helmet, Quinn wanted to give Abigail some advice but didn''t know where to start. She put on the helmet and got on Abigail''s motorcycle.


    On the way back, Abigail asked, "Who do you think is better, Elliot or Jonah?"


    "I don''t know." Quinn didn''t dare to give an opinion. She had a feeling that if she said who was better, Abigail would marry that person immediately. Abigail sighed, "It''s really hard to choose. If Elliot were a bit older, I''d pick him right away."


    Jonah wasn''t as good-looking, but his family background and personality matched Abigail''s preferences, which meant they hadmon ground. "Never mind, I''ll wait for Elliot''s feedback. If he can convince his family, I''ll choose him. If not, I''ll go with Jonah," Abigail continued. Quinn stayed silent.


    Abigail dropped Quinn off at the Regal Riverside and left. She had to report the matchmaking results to Alvin to stop him from worrying. Quinn walked in, exhausted.


    Only Brandy was in the living room. Olivia, Alexander, and Sprout were nowhere to be seen.


    She asked Brandy, "Where''s your Dad?"


    Brandy, sucking on a lollipop, pointed to the kitchen.


    Quinn was surprised. She quickly walked to the kitchen and found Alexander and Olivia there.


    Alexander was cooking, and Olivia was teaching him.


    "Now add some soy sauce for color," Olivia said, handing him the soy sauce and guiding him. "Stir quickly, or it''ll burn."


    Alexander, holding the spat, kept stirring the pork in the pan.


    It was clear this was his first time cooking. His movements were awkward, and he looked a bit flustered. He identally added too much soy sauce. Alexander frowned. "I poured too much. Is that okay?"


    Olivia forced a smile. "It''s fine."


    Alexander had already added too much seasoning several times. She couldn''t imagine what his dish would taste like.


    As the dish was about to be served, Olivia saw Quinn return and eximed with relief, "Mrs. Kennedy is back!"


    Quinn walked over, looked at the dish, and asked, "What are you guys doing?"


    Olivia replied, "Mr. Kennedy said he was bored and wanted to try cooking. Look, isn''t it pretty good?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1466

    Quinn eyed the dish Alexander had whipped up. It looked alright, but she had no clue how it tasted. Alexander brought it over to her. "Give it a try."


    Quinn took a bite, her face shifting. "Should I be honest or sugarcoat it?"


    Alexander''s lips twitched. He took the te back. "Never mind. Olivia, can you make another one?"


    "Sure," Olivia said with an awkward smile.


    Alexander nudged Sprout out of the way, and Quinn kept staring at his face. Noticing a smudge on his cheek, she burst outughing. "What''s so funny?" Alexander asked, clearly annoyed.


    Quinn pointed at his cheek. "Go wash your face."


    Realizing something was off, Alexander handed Sprout to Quinn. "I''ll be right back."


    He dashed upstairs, washed his face, and decided to take a quick shower too.


    By the time he came back down, Olivia had just finished making a new dinner.


    Quinn and Alexander sat at the dining table. Alexander had changed into gray loungewear, his hair a mess.


    Thinking about Abigail, Quinn lost her appetite. She picked at her food and finally told Alexander what was on her mind.


    Alexander paused and looked up. "Is Abigail really nning to go through with it?"


    Quinn nodded, looking worried. "Yeah, do you think it''ll work? I feel like I''ve caused trouble, and I can''t talk her out of it." Alexander thought for a moment. "She''s an adult. Let her make her own decisions."


    "Are you serious?" Quinn asked.


    "What else can you do? Go find Alvin and have him stop her? Got any better ideas?" Alexander replied.


    Finding Alvin was definitely not a good idea. If Alvin found out, Abigail would hate Quinn.


    Quinn put down her fork. "I''m done eating. I''ll go feed Sprout."


    She got up, took Sprout upstairs, made some form, fed him, and then took him to the bathroom for a bath.


    Sprout sat in the tub, squeezing a toy duck that quacked, grinning up at Quinn.


    Seeing Sprout so happy, Quinn couldn''t help but smile.


    It was weird. She hadn''t seen Brandy in ages, and seeing her again made it feel like time had flown by. But with Sprout looking the same every day, it felt like time was dragging, like he''d never grow up. She patted Sprout''s head. "Hurry up and grow so you can bathe yourself."


    Sprout grinned, and Quinn was surprised to see he seemed to be teething, with two tiny teeth just barely visible.


    Quinn checked Sprout''s mouth again and again, confirming he was indeed teething, a delighted smile spreading across her face.


    After quickly bathing Sprout, she wrapped him in a towel, ced him on the bed, and ran out.


    "Alexander,e up here quick!" she called.


    Her tone was urgent, and Alexander, thinking something was wrong, rushed upstairs with Brandy. "What''s up?"


    Quinn pulled Alexander to the bedside and pointed at Sprout. "Look, he''s teething."


    Alexander looked at her nkly.


    "Why are you looking at me like that? Aren''t you happy?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander sighed. "You just noticed?"


    Quinn''s jaw dropped in surprise, then she looked a bit embarrassed. "I just saw it while bathing him. When did you notice?"


    Alexander teased, "A few days ago. You''re the mom, and you didn''t even know when he started teething. No wonder Sprout only calls for Dada." Quinn shot him a re. "I don''t stare at him all day, you know."


    Alexander smirked. "Yeah, you''re too busy ying matchmaker for Abigail."


    Quinn was momentarily stunned. She blinked a few times, then looked at Alexander. "Are you jealous?"


    Alexander raised an eyebrow, not giving anything away. He walked past her to the bed, picked up Sprout, and checked his mouth.


    Quinn sat down next to him. "I won''t go tomorrow. I''ll stay home with you guys."


    Alexander replied tly, "Do what you want."


    Quinn was quiet for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Isn''t it boring staying home every day?"


    Alexander used to be busy from dawn till dusk, but now he had nothing to do. She wondered how long he could keep this up.


    Alexander said calmly, "How could it be boring?"


    Quinn insisted, "You don''t have anything to do now."


    Alexander shot back, "That''s not true. I''m taking care of the kids."


    "That''s true," Quinn murmured, smiling. He had been pretty good at taking care of the kidstely, though sometimes he forgot he was supposed to be doing it. Last time, he was chatting with someone and left Sprout and Brandy unattended. He probably wouldn''t have noticed if someone had taken them. "Alright, it''ste. Let''s sleep," Alexander said, putting Sprout on the bed.


    Quinn nodded and went to the bathroom to take a shower.


    Now the four of them slept in one bed, with Sprout and Brandy in the middle. Quinn and Alexander were so far apart that they couldn''t do anything but sleep. After her shower, Quinn leaned against the bed, patting Sprout''s back to lull him to sleep.


    Alexander was next to her, looking at his phone, with Brandy in his arms, also watching. The space between them felt awkwardly empty.


    Brandy couldn''t understand what was on Alexander''s phone and soon fell asleep.


    Quinn, trying to soothe Sprout, started to feel sleepy herself, while Sprout was still wide awake, babbling to himself.


    Quinn turned and whispered to Alexander, "Did Sprout nap during the day? Why is he still so energetic?"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Alexander nced at Sprout, who was ying with his feet, and thought for a moment. "He did, maybe. I forgot." "How can you forget that?" Quinn scolded.


    Alexander replied, "Maybe I''m getting old."


    Quinn was at a loss for words. Alexander wasn''t even thirty-five yet.


    She sighed, ced Sprout next to him, and said, "You seem energetic too. Take over; I can''t keep up."


    She had spent the whole day with Abigail and was exhausted.


    Handing Sprout to Alexander, Quinny down, turned off her side of the light, and soon fell asleep.


    In the dim light, the room was quiet.


    Alexander looked at the three people sleeping beside him, his expressionplicated.


    He put down his phone, gently patted Sprout, and stared into space, his thoughts drifting.


    Suddenly, his face changed. He quickly got out of bed and rushed to the bathroom.


    In the bathroom, he clutched his chest, coughed twice, and spat a mouthful of bright red blood into the sink. The red was stark against the white sink. Taking a deep breath, he turned on the faucet to wash the blood away.


    He opened the drawer under the sink and took out an unmarked box.


    His eyes flickered as he stared at the box. After a moment of hesitation, he opened it and took out the medication inside.

 Chapter 1467

    In the morning, Quinn woke up and noticed Alexander was missing. Sprout was next to her, ying with his feet and babbling, and Brandy was nowhere in sight.


    Quinn rubbed her eyes. Alexander hadn''t taken Sprout downstairs for breakfast today.


    She got out of bed, changed her clothes, picked up Sprout, changed his diaper, and made him some form before getting herself ready.


    Then she carried Sprout downstairs. Olivia was in the kitchen, and Brandy was under the sofa, fiddling with a Rubik''s Cube.


    "Brandy, where''s your Dad?" Quinn asked.


    Brandy looked up and shook her head, looking clueless.


    Quinn felt a bit suspicious. Where did Alexander go so early?


    She put Sprout in the stroller and went to the kitchen to ask Olivia, who was making soup. Olivia looked puzzled and shook her head, saying, "I don''t know. I thought he was still in bed." Seeing Olivia wasn''t lying, Quinn turned to leave the kitchen.


    She picked up her phone and saw a message.


    Alexander: [Something came up. I''ll be out for two days. Wait for me toe back.]


    Quinn frowned slightly. What was he up to now?


    Could Alexander have gone to Arcturus?


    He didn''t tell Quinn, and she decided not to press him. If he didn''t want to share, questioning him wouldn''t change that.


    So, Quinn replied simply: [Okay.]


    With Alexander gone, she had to stay home with the kids and couldn''t go out with Abigail for her blind date.


    Luckily, Abigail already had someone in mind and wasn''t nning on any more dates. When she found out Alexander was out, she showed up at Quinn''s house not long after. She was peeking around the door when Quinn saw her. "Abigail, what are you looking at? Alexander isn''t here."


    Abigail grinned. "Good."


    She quickly walked in and patted Brandy''s head. "I haven''t seen you in a while. You''ve grown taller. Do you still remember me?"


    Brandy stared at her for a moment, then nodded and grinned. "Abigail."


    Abigail pinched her cheek. "Good. Did you miss me?"


    Kids don''t hide much, and Brandy honestly said, "A little bit."


    Abigail pouted. "I bet it''s because your dad is back, and you''ve been sticking to him and forgot about me, right?"


    Brandy shook her head quickly. "No."


    "Just kidding," Abigail said, sitting on the sofa with Brandy in her arms. "Where did your dad go?"


    "No idea," Brandy replied.


    Abigail looked at Quinn. "You don''t know either?"


    Quinn shook her head.


    Abigail said happily, "That guy is always so mysterious. But it''s good he''s gone. I''ll stay here for two days, so I don''t have to go back and be nagged by Alvin."


    When Alvin called to check on her, Abigail could send him a video showing she was staying at Quinn''s ce.


    "Did Elliot message you?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail pouted. "No, I guess his parents probably won''t agree."


    Then she added, "No worries. There''s still Jonah. It''s not a big deal."


    She had clearly made up her mind. Quinn couldn''t think of a good reason to persuade her otherwise, especially since Landon was so unpredictable, and she didn''t want to interfere. If Abigail really didn''t like him, it would be a relief.


    After all, Landon and Alexander had a serious grudge and had nearly killed each other before.


    Abigail yed with Brandy for a bit, but soon got bored and wanted to drag Quinn out shopping.


    Brandy loved going out. As soon as Abigail mentioned shopping, Brandy was all in, and Quinn had to bring Sprout along too.


    Abigail sighed, "Not working and just having fun gets old fast. I need to find something to do."


    Quinn nodded. "So, are you thinking about going back to work?"


    Abigail shrugged. "Maybe. I''ve been on so many blind datestely, I''m about ready to puke. I''d rather work than go on another one."


    She suddenly spotted an art gallery and walked in. Looking at the paintings, she sighed, "It''s been ages since Ist painted."


    Quinn nced at her, remembering how Abigail once dreamed of bing a great artist. But since leaving Amber Bay, she hadn''t seen Abigail pick up a brush.


    Abigail suddenly remembered something. "Hey, where''s that big box of paintings I gave you?"


    Quinn fell silent.


    She hadn''t even had a chance to look at those paintings before Alexander burned them.


    Those memories had been buried deep in Quinn''s heart, but Abigail''s words brought them back, stirring up a wave of emotions.


    Seeing her expression, Abigail guessed most of it. She sighed, patted Quinn''s shoulder, and said, "When I get the tools, you can be my model again. And your kids too. Great, now I have three models." Abigail said this with a smile, but Quinn felt a mix of emotions watching her.


    Abigail took Brandy to another part of the gallery and pointed to a painting. "I know the artist of this one. She''s my ssmate. Her paintings are actually disyed here."


    Quinn also went over to take a look. She didn''t understand art, but it didn''t stop her from being impressed.


    "Abigail, isn''t your birthdaying up?" Quinn suddenly asked.


    Abigail''s smile froze, and she looked at Quinn with mock resentment. "Quinn, can you not bring that up? Don''t you know women hate birthdays after thirty?"


    Quinn was taken aback. "Really? Sorry."


    Abigail waved her hand. "Forget it, I''ll forgive you this time. But don''t mention it again."


    Quinn nodded and continued to follow Abigail around the gallery. It was quiterge, with many paintings on disy on the first floor and more on the second floor, but it wasn''t open to the public. They spent over an hour there, and the biggest takeaway was that it reignited Abigail''s interest in painting.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Abigail handed Brandy to Quinn. "I have a set of tools at home. I''ll go get them. Seeing all this has made me eager to paint."


    Abigail was always so energetic. She left the two kids with Quinn and rode off on her motorcycle.


    Quinn had no choice but to hold Sprout in one arm and lead Brandy with the other to catch a cab.


    In the car, the driver nced at them through the rearview mirror and joked, "Such a youngdy with two kids already?"


    Quinn looked at Brandy beside her and then at Sprout in her arms, suddenly realizing she was a mother of two. Quinn smiled. "Yep."


    The driver remarked, "Taking kids out alone is tough."


    The driver was quite chatty, and Quinn found herself talking with him off and on.


    Quinn took out her phone and nced at it. Alexander still hadn''t replied. Where on earth did he go?

 Chapter 1468

    Abigail went back to grab the tools but got busted by Oliver.


    "Where are you taking those?" Oliver asked.


    Abigail paused, the dusty toolbox in her hand. She had wiped it down, but it still looked pretty grimy.


    "I''m off to find Quinn. Why?" Abigail replied.


    "I''m heading to a party. Wannae?" Oliver asked.


    "Nope, what''s the point?" Abigail shot back.


    Oliver grinned. "Come on, you always say you''re bored. It''ll be fun, and you might make some friends."


    Abigail suddenly got it, ring at him. "Oh, I see. This is Dad''s idea, isn''t it? You''re trying to set me up on a blind date!"


    "What? No way! I''m just inviting you to chill. This has nothing to do with Dad," Oliver exined.


    "Really?" Abigail said, eyeing him suspiciously.


    Oliver nodded seriously. "Yeah, really."


    Abigail hesitated and nced upstairs. "Just the two of us?"


    Oliver''s smile turned a bit exasperated. "Yes."


    Abigail hugged her toolbox. "Fine, I''ll go, but I''m bringing this. After the party, I''m finding Quinn, and I won''t be back tonight."


    Oliver replied indulgently, "Whatever you want."


    Abigail hooked her arm around his and was about to leave when he stopped her again. "Change your clothes. If you show up like that, people will think you''re there to start trouble." Abigail looked down at her outfit: a ck and white oversized hoodie with a giant middle finger on the chest, and baggy ck cargo pants with more pockets than she could count. "What''s wrong with this? You guys just don''t get it," Abigail said.


    "Come on. Just change," Oliver insisted.


    "Into what?" Abigail asked.


    Thinking of his mission, Oliver said, "Wait here. I''ll borrow something from Natalia."


    Abigail''s face fell instantly. "I''m not going. Go by yourself."


    Oliver grabbed her arm, his expression turning serious. "Abigail."


    His intense look made Abigail feel a bit annoyed.


    "Stop messing around. Do you have to make this hard for me?" Oliver said, sounding a bit desperate.


    Abigail stayed silent, hearing the helplessness in his voice.


    After a moment, she shook off his hand and grumbled, "Fine, just no fancy dresses."


    Oliver''s expression softened. He smiled a bit and took her hand. "Come on, let''s go upstairs."


    Abigail had no choice but to follow him.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    She never thought Oliver would get married. Now that he was, it felt like someone else was taking his attention.


    She knew it was wrong to feel this way, but she couldn''t help it and couldn''t warm up to Natalia.


    Oliver knocked on the door. "Natalia, I''ming in."


    He pushed the door open, leaving Abigail outside for a moment while he talked to Natalia.


    Soon, Oliver came out with a set of clothes.


    Abigail picked them up and looked: a white sweater, jeans, and a long brown coat. Not bad, at least it wasn''t a dress.


    She went back to change and came out. Oliver nodded approvingly. "You look much better."


    At about 5''7", Abigail found that the coat that reached Natalia''s calves only reached her knees, and what was loose on Natalia fit her snugly.


    She couldn''t wear the jeans, so she grabbed a pair of her own.


    "Is this okay now?" Abigail asked.


    "Hold up," Oliver said, pulling her into the bedroom and plopping her down in front of the vanity.


    Realizing what he was about to do, Abigail tried to stand up, but he pushed her back down.


    Furious, Abigail shouted, "You said this wasn''t a blind date!"


    Oliver sighed, "It''s just a little makeup. You won''t even notice it. Rx."


    "No way! If you insist, I''m not going!" Abigail snapped.


    "Just this once. I''ve never seen you with makeup. Let me see, okay?" Oliver pleaded.


    "You just want to set me up on a blind date. I''m not going!" Abigail fumed.


    Oliver yed his trump card. "If you don''t go, there will be more blind dates in theing days."


    Then he turned to Natalia. "Alright, stop wasting time. Natalia, do her makeup. If you behave this time, I promise Alvin won''t set you up for at least half a month."


    Abigail took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. She closed her eyes in resignation. "Make it quick. Nothing fancy."


    "Okay, it will be quick," Natalia said softly.


    Natalia was a pro at makeup. Even for light makeup, it took a full forty minutes, and Abigail was getting restless.


    "It''s done," Natalia said, putting down the brush.


    Abigail stood up and walked away, not daring to look at herself in the mirror. After a few steps, she heard a metallic sound from her ear. She touched it and found earrings! She fell silent.


    Natalia said, "These are clip-ons. If you''re ufortable, you can take them off. But I have to say, they look great on you."


    Oliver stepped forward and grabbed Abigail''s hand, stopping her from removing the earrings. "Alright, let''s go. We''re going to bete."


    Abigail touched her cheek and said hesitantly, "I feel so awkward. Do I really look good like this?"


    Oliver replied, "Yes. You look great. If you don''t believe me, look in the mirror."


    Abigail raised her hand to refuse. "No need, thanks."


    Oliver couldn''t help butugh and opened the car door. "Get in."


    The party was at the Savoy mansion, celebrating Andre Savoy''s 80th birthday.


    Andre was a retired big shot. He never had big birthday celebrations before, but for his 80th, his kids threw a grand party, inviting many prominent families.


    After driving for over an hour, Oliver and Abigail arrived at the Savoy mansion, surrounded by luxury cars.


    Oliver handed over the invitation and took Abigail inside. There were many familiar faces as well as some new ones.


    Oliver greeted a few people, and some recognized Abigail. Many were surprised by her new look.


    Two young men approached, looking Abigail up and down. "Are you Abigail? What happened to you?"


    Abigail was taken aback, suspiciously staring at them. "What do you mean?"


    "You look prettier. Did you get married?" one of them asked.


    "Are you crazy? What''s that got to do with marriage?" Abigail replied.


    The other guy said, "You look more feminine, like you''ve gone from a bad girl to a ssydy. I almost didn''t recognize you." Abigail didn''t like either of those terms. She rolled her eyes at them and walked away.


    After the car ident, she had cut ties with many people and lost contact with them.


    Now that it was in the past, those people seemed to have forgotten everything and greeted Abigail as if nothing had happened.


    A woman in a dress walked over, smiling. "Abigail, long time no see. So you were in Amber Bay. Why didn''t you contact me?"

 Chapter 1469

    Abigail sized up the woman standing in front of her. She couldn''t quite ce her, but she was pretty sure she''d blocked her before. And anyone she blocked wasn''t worth her time. So, she just brushed past her.


    The woman looked pissed as Abigail ignored her. With everyone watching, she muttered, "A thirty-year-old woman still single, what''s there to be proud of? She probably won''t ever get married." Abigail hadn''t gone far when she heard that. She stopped, frowned, and turned back.


    "Are you talking about me?" she asked.


    The woman looked caught off guard, a bit embarrassed. She forced a smile. "What are you talking about? I didn''t say anything. Did you mishear?" Abigail sneered, "I might be thirty, but I''m not deaf. Miss, judging by those wrinkles, you must be over thirty, right? How dare you talk about me?"


    The woman, hearing about her wrinkles, quickly touched her face in a panic. "What nonsense are you talking about!"


    "Am I? If you''re not over thirty, then why do you look so old? Is it because you can''t afford skincare, or have you had too many kids?" Abigail mocked.


    The woman''s face twisted in anger, and she red at Abigail. "Abigail, don''t go too far!"


    The angrier she got, the wider Abigail''s smile became. "Too much for you? I haven''t even started!"


    "You..." The woman was about to speak when Abigail cut her off, "Have you just met me? Shouldn''t you know better than to insult me? Can you even back up your words?"


    "What do you mean ''you''? Is this your first day knowing me? Don''t you know me well enough to think before you insult me? Can your mouth even handle it?"


    Abigail smiled provocatively. "Or do you want to fight? You definitely can''t win."


    People around started to notice and turned to look, seeing Abigail''s aggressive stance.


    Many shook their heads, thinking Abigail was too spoiled.


    Oliver had just finished talking to someone when he saw Abigail arguing with someone.


    Someone next to him nudged him. "Isn''t that your sister? Still as sharp-tongued as ever."


    Oliver frowned, apologized, and quickly walked over to Abigail. He grabbed her arm and whispered, "What are you doing?"


    Abigail shrugged indifferently. "I was walking, and a chicken got in my way, making noise. It annoyed me, so I scolded it."


    The woman was on the verge of tears, shouting, "Abigail, you''re too much!"


    "I wasn''t talking about you. Why are you crying? Are you a chicken?" Abigail shot back.


    The woman opened her mouth but didn''t know how to retort, ring at Abigail with teary eyes.


    Abigail added, "Stop crying. Your makeup ising off."


    With that, she turned and walked away. Oliver had brought her here for a blind date, but she didn''t want toe.


    Now that they knew what she was like, at least half of them would be scared off.


    Oliver pulled her aside to a quiet spot and whispered, "Why did you cause trouble as soon as you arrived?"


    Abigail retorted, "Did I? She provoked me first. It''s her bad luck that I''m in a bad mood today."


    "You..." Oliver sighed, shaking his head. "Fine, just don''t cause any more trouble. Don''t embarrass the family just because you''re in a bad mood."


    Abigail, clearly annoyed, shot back, "If you think I''m such an embarrassment, why did you even bring me here?"


    Oliver was momentarily speechless, then quickly conceded. "Okay, my bad. You''re right. That woman was out of line. So, can you just chill for the rest of the time?" Abigail snorted and turned her head away.


    Ever since these blind dates started, Abigail had been getting more irritable by the day, feeling like she wanted to snap at everyone she saw.


    She even wondered if she was going through menopause.


    If that were the case, it would be terrifying. She didn''t want to stay here any longer, fearing she might start another argument.


    So, she walked towards a less crowded area.


    After a few steps, she bumped into someone. The other person was fine, but she stumbled back a step.


    "Are you blind..."


    The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she stopped when she saw who it was.


    She stared in shock at the man, eximing, "Landon?"


    Landon looked indifferently at Abigail through his sses. "Who are you?"


    Abigail looked at him suspiciously. "What do you mean? Are you pretending not to know me?"


    Landon looked her up and down, finally stopping at her ears, where she wore a pair of dark green earrings.


    Abigail instinctively covered her ears, then thought better of it and put her hand down. "What are you looking at? Never seen earrings before?" Landon made a faint sound and walked past her.


    Abigail felt ignored. She turned angrily, but Landon had already vanished into the crowd.


    She pouted. "Jerk."


    Then, she continued walking towards the less crowded area.


    Most guests were gathered in the front hall, so the back was rtively empty. Abigail felt the air was much fresher outside.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She took a deep breath and walked to a flower bed. She picked a flower bud, sniffed it, and found it quite fragrant.


    She wandered aimlessly in the yard, noticing a couple being affectionate in a gazebo. She rolled her eyes and changed direction. After wandering around the back, she got bored and returned to the front hall.


    In the yard, Andre''s eldest son was speaking into a microphone.


    Abigail found a chair, sat down, and grabbed some snacks to eat.


    Suddenly, someone tugged at her sleeve. She turned and was surprised to see Elliot.


    "Elliot, you came too?" Abigail asked.


    Elliot nodded slightly. "I didn''t really want toe."


    "You don''t like these ces either, huh?" Abigail said.


    Elliot replied helplessly, "Yeah, but I had no choice. My dad insisted Ie. Looks like we both don''t like these ces." Abigail patted his shoulder. "Seems like we have a lot inmon. So, did you talk to your parents? Can we be together?" Elliot''s expression turned a bit troubled. Abigail could tell right away that he had talked to them, but they didn''t agree. Seeing her disappointment, Elliot quickly said, "But I''ll definitely convince them. Just give me a little more time." Abigail, munching on snacks, asked nonchntly, "How long?"

 Chapter 1470

    Abigail shot him a look. "Think two weeks is enough?"


    Elliot bit his lip, still looking worried. Abigail sighed, grabbed his hand, and dropped some snacks into it. "Hey, don''t sweat it. If it doesn''t work out, it doesn''t work out. We just won''t get hitched," she said, trying to sound nonchnt. But, of course, the nosy woman from earlier overheard.


    "So, you got yourself a boyfriend now?" she chimed in.


    Hearing that grating voice, Abigail clenched her fists, trying to keep her cool as she turned around. "Why are you always lurking around? Are you some kind of pest?"


    The woman didn''t take the bait, just gave them a smug look, sizing them up.


    She''d been sulking after Abigail''s earlier jab and was hiding out, plotting her revenge. She didn''t expect to stumble on something this juicy.


    Abigail with a young boyfriend, and his family not even on board? Too funny.


    The woman sneered, "Abigail, I thought you''d be single forever. But look at you, a cougar now. Dating a kid? If I were his parents, I''d be against it too." Abigail stood up, grabbing a wine bottle. "Shut up! I''ve had enough of you!"


    The woman instinctively stepped back, eyeing her warily. "Abigail, your boyfriend''s parents are probably here too. Start a fight, and you two are done for." Abigail snapped, "None of your business. Got nothing better to do? Go unclog a sewer or something."


    The woman ignored her and turned to Elliot. "Hey, kid, seriously? How can you like such a rude, old woman? If you marry her, can she even have kids?" Elliot frowned, clearly fed up. "That''s none of your business!"


    The woman''s face fell.


    Elliot said, "Abigail, let''s get out of here."


    Seeing the woman dete, Abigail felt a rush of satisfaction. She put down the wine bottle, remembering her promise to Oliver not to cause trouble. She was just trying to scare her.


    To rub it in, Abigail slung her arm around Elliot''s shoulder. "Let''s go."


    The woman watched them leave, seething. She wanted to smash the cup in her hand.


    Was that guy blind?


    How could he like someone like Abigail?


    She seemed even more envious.


    Meanwhile, Landon, who was chatting with someone, caught a glimpse of Abigail and Elliot arm in arm and got momentarily distracted.


    "Mr. Kennedy?" someone called him.


    Landon snapped back. "What?"


    The person teased, "See a beauty? You were staring."


    Landon didn''t respond, just took a sip from his ss.


    Abigail and Elliot found an empty table. Abigail, feeling a bit hungry, grabbed something to eat.


    Elliot followed her. "Abigail, trust me, I''ll convince them."


    Abigail seemed to ignore him, shoving a small cake into her mouth.


    Elliot was about to say more, but Abigail suddenly turned to him. "Elliot, do you have a boyfriend?"


    Elliot blinked, confused. "No."


    "If you don''t even have a boyfriend, why are we talking about marriage? What if you get er and he doesn''t agree? What if he wants to marry you abroad?" Abigail pulled him closer. "You''re still young. Don''t stress about this now." "But..." Elliot started.


    Abigail cut him off, "No buts. Get your degree first, then we''ll talk."


    She realized Elliot was too young, and she couldn''t go through with it. Plus, he didn''t even have a boyfriend yet.


    Elliot hesitated, ncing at her. He still had a good impression of her because Abigail looked like a handsome man.


    Elliot took a deep breath. "I don''t need a boyfriend. So, would you marry me?"? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Abigail spat out her cake, hurriedly wiping her mouth with a napkin, leaving some cream on her nose and face. "What are you talking about?"


    Her eyes looked a bit dazed, and with the cream on her nose, she looked kind of cute.


    Elliot''s expression was a bit awkward. He avoided her gaze, his cheeks slightly red.


    Abigail''s expression becameplicated. "Elliot, I have to remind you, I''m a woman." "I know," Elliot replied.


    Abigail pointed at herself. "You know what that means?"


    Elliot nodded slightly.


    Abigail was shocked. "Then what do you mean by what you just said?"


    Elliot looked up at her, blinking. "I meant it. If you marry me, I won''t have a boyfriend."


    Abigail raised her hand to stop him. "Let me calm down for a moment."


    Elliot looked at her eagerly. "Did I scare you?"


    "You terrified me! Aren''t you..." She looked around and lowered her voice. "Aren''t you into men? How can you change so quickly?"


    Elliot was silent for a moment. "But I haven''t found a guy I like yet, and I''m more interested in you."


    It had been a long time since Abigail was this quiet.


    She grabbed another cake and stuffed it into her mouth. After chewing a couple of times, she said with difficulty, "You might be too young and confused. Go home and think it over."


    If Elliot kept this up, there was no way she would marry him.


    Her original goal wasn''t to get married; it was to deal with her parents. She wanted freedom, not a husband!


    If she married Elliot, she might end up with a wife instead.


    The thought made her hair stand on end, and she instinctively distanced herself from Elliot.


    Elliot noticed her pulling away and lowered his eyes silently. "I''m sorry."


    "It''s okay. Don''t be like that," Abigail said, forcing a smile. She tried to stay calm, but Elliot''s words just now made it difficult.


    Elliot said, "I must have scared you. I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have said those things."


    Abigail waved her hands repeatedly. "No, it''s just... I don''t know what to say!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1471

    Elliot said, "It''s cool. I get how you feel, Abigail. No pressure."


    Abigail shot back, "I''m not feeling pressured."


    Elliot chuckled, "Just pretend I was joking."


    "How am I supposed to do that?" Abigail asked, clearly frustrated.


    Her words totally killed the vibe. The thing was, she couldn''t just walk away, or it would look like she was avoiding Elliot. Elliot suggested, "Let''s head over there. You seem really ufortable."


    "Don''t say that out loud!" Abigail''s face turned red.


    Elliot couldn''t help butugh. "Abigail, you were so fierce arguing with someone earlier, but now you''re just adorable." Hearing that, Abigail felt even more awkward.


    She forced a smile. "Let''s just go over there. They''re all waiting."


    "Yeah, let''s go," Elliot agreed.


    Abigail secretly sighed in relief and followed Elliot back to the crowd, thinking about how to make her escape.


    She spotted Landon nearby and pretended to wave at him. Then she said to Elliot, "Someone''s calling me. I''ll be right back."


    Without waiting for Elliot''s response, she quickly walked over to Landon.


    Landon was with three other people. Abigail''s sudden appearance caught their attention. "Who''s this?"


    A voice chimed in, "Don''t you remember? The one who was arguing at the door."


    The person suddenly got it. "Oh, right. The straightforward youngdy. Are you here to see Mr. Kennedy?"


    Abigail turned to Landon and picked up a ss with a smile. "Yeah, we''re good friends. Let me toast to you all."


    She raised her ss, and the others, not wanting to be rude, smiled and raised theirs too.


    Abigail downed her drink in one go.


    The two people wisely said, "Since you''re here to see Mr. Kennedy, we''ll leave you two alone."


    Abigail nodded with a smile.


    Landon hadn''t said a word the whole time. Once the others left, he finally looked at Abigail. "What are you up to now?"


    Abigail raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Didn''t you just pretend not to know me?"


    Landon scrutinized her for a moment. "Why are you dressed like that?"


    "Don''t I look good?" Abigail asked.


    "Ugly," Landon remarked.


    Abigail''s smile froze. She hadn''t checked herself out since she left the house. She''d gotten used to the makeup on her face, but Landon''sment made her feel self-conscious all over again. She gave Landon a thumbs up. "You have a good eye. I knew this didn''t look good. It''s so annoying."


    But then she thought, ''Maybe it''s a good thing. If I look ugly, no one will be interested in me.''


    "I was talking about the stuff on your nose," Landon said.


    Abigail was stunned. She touched her nose and felt some cream. She instantly felt embarrassed, and her ears turned red.


    Landon handed her a pack of wet wipes. Abigail quickly took it, tore open the package, and started wiping.


    As she wiped, something felt off. Why was it so greasy?


    Abigail looked at it and realized it was a makeup remover wipe.


    It was now covered in yellow foundation and lipstick.


    Now she was convinced her makeup looked terrible.


    "Landon! Are you crazy?" Abigail angrily said, throwing the makeup remover wipe on the ground.


    Landon asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "Why do you carry makeup remover wipes?" Abigail questioned.


    "They''re not mine," Landon said.


    "Then whose are they?" Abigail pressed.


    Landon nodded towards the bag on the table. Abigail looked at him in disbelief. "You took it from there?"


    Landon nodded slightly. "Isn''t it a wet wipe?"


    She pointed to her face angrily. "Does this look like a wet wipe to you?"


    Landon stared at her for a couple of seconds and then asked, "What is it then?"


    Abigail felt like she was going to faint from anger. She took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "It''s a makeup remover wipe!"


    "What''s the difference? I don''t get it," Landon said, looking genuinely confused.


    Abigail had no way to vent her anger because Landon might have just been trying to help. Plus, she couldn''t confront him and was scared of provoking him, fearing he might kidnap her. In the end, she stormed off to the restroom.


    Landon nced at the bag on the table, took something else from it, and then casually tossed the bag into a nearby trash can.


    Not long after, the woman who had argued with Abigail earlier looked around and found the table, but no one was there. "Strange, where did I put it?" she murmured.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    She turned and saw her bag in the trash can, instantly bing furious.


    "Who threw my bag in the trash can!" she snapped angrily.


    Her voice was loud, drawing the attention of those around her.


    Another woman said, "There''s no one here."


    "Then how did my bag end up in the trash can? I clearly put it by my side. How did it get here?" the woman questioned.


    She couldn''t remember when she put the bag there. She quickly opened it and her face changed. Something was missing!


    She angrily found the Savoy family''s representative, Andre''s daughter-inw, Saskia Fuller, who was also the event organizer. She grabbed Saskia''s hand and said, "Mrs. Savoy, someone stole my stuff!"


    Saskia didn''t know her but still asked, "What did you lose?"


    "A diamond ne. My husband gave it to me. You have to help me find it," the woman said.


    The first person she thought of was Abigail. It must have been her, taking revenge by stealing the ne. How could she let this go?


    "Ma''am, I don''t think anyone here would do such a thing, right?" Saskia replied politely.


    "Who knows? Anyway, my stuff is missing. What are you going to do about it?" the woman said angrily.


    Saskia felt a bit troubled. "There are so many people here, and we can''t find out who stole it. Plus, we don''t have cameras in the yard. How about Ipensate you with a ne after the event?" The woman was not convinced. "I know who did it," she dered.


    "Who?" Saskia asked.


    "It was Abigail, the one who argued with me earlier. She must have stolen it and thrown my bag in the trash can!" the woman asserted.


    Saskia said sternly, "Don''t make usations without evidence."


    Just then, Abigail came out. The woman immediately grabbed her arm. "Thief!"


    Abigail was stunned by the sudden usation. "Are you crazy? Who''s a thief? If you''re not well, go see a doctor."


    The woman said, "I''m talking about you. Did you steal my bag?"


    Abigail nced at the bag in her hand, feeling it looked familiar.


    Abigail suddenly realized something and her expression changed, which was caught by the woman. She dragged Abigail to Saskia. "It''s her. I''m sure!"


    Saskia felt troubled and annoyed by the woman causing a scene. She was responsible for organizing the event, and this woman kept making trouble.

 Chapter 1472

    The ruckus caught everyone''s eye, including Saskia''s husband, York Savoy, who walked over. "What''s happening?" he asked.


    Saskia nced at the woman with a mix of emotions. "Thisdy ims someone swiped her bag."


    The woman seemed ready to pick a fight. Seriously, who here would need her stuff?


    York didn''t miss a beat. "That''s not possible, miss. Are you sure you didn''t just misce it?"


    "You don''t believe me? My ne was in that bag, and now it''s gone!" the woman insisted.


    York turned to Abigail, who looked genuinely surprised. "Why are you looking at me? I wasn''t even here. Who''d want your ne anyway? Is it even worth anything?" Abigail shot back. The woman was livid. Even though Abigail had a point, she couldn''t get over losing her stuff.


    Abigail added, "Oh, I see. You''re using me on purpose, huh?"


    "Stop bickering. Do you dare let me search you?" the woman demanded.


    "Are you nuts? Why should I let you search me? If something''s missing, call the cops. It''s hrious how you think you can just use people. At your age, you should be growing wisdom, not wrinkles." Oliver joined the scene. "Miss, my sister would never do something like that. She might have a temper, but she''s no thief."


    The womanughed bitterly. "You''re all just backing her up, aren''t you?"


    She pulled her husband over. "Honey, tell them, would I make this up for no reason?"


    Abigail rolled her eyes.


    The man looked around, realizing he had to back his wife or lose face.


    He then asked Abigail, "Ms. Vanderbilt, you had a spat earlier. I get it if you''re upset, but that ne means a lot to us. If you have it, please return it."


    Abigail took a deep breath and sneered. "I thought you''d be different, but you''re just like her. No wonder you two are together."


    The man''s brow furrowed. "What are you implying?"


    Abigail crossed her arms. "Exactly what I said. You''re using me without proof. For all I know, the ne could still be in her bag or maybe it never existed." "Bullshit!" the woman snapped, stepping forward. "I know my own stuff!"


    "How do we know you have it? Do you dare let us check your bag? What if it''s in there?" Abigail challenged.


    The woman was clearly anxious, having lost her stuff and now being used. She dumped her bag''s contents on the table. "See for yourself!"


    Abigail was taken aback. She didn''t expect the woman to dump everything out.


    This move made her seem genuine. Maybe she really did lose something.


    Saskia chimed in, "Maybe it fell on the ground. I''ll call someone to look. I believe no one would take your stuff."


    But York stopped her. "Hold up a sec."


    "What''s wrong?" Saskia asked.


    York noticed a white paper packet among the scattered items, with some white powder spilling out.


    "What''s this?" He picked up the packet and opened it in front of everyone, revealing a flour-like substance.


    The woman in the dress was also stunned, her voice weakening. "That''s not mine."


    York gave her a meaningful look.


    Everyone started murmuring about the stuff, making the woman panic.


    She waved her hands desperately. "It''s not mine. I don''t know who put it in my bag!"


    Abigail recognized the bag and felt a chill. It had to be Landon''s doing.


    She looked around for Landon but didn''t see him.


    Oliver said, "You''re really something. First, you say you lost something, and now you say this isn''t yours. Which is it?"


    The woman said, "I really lost something, and this isn''t mine."


    York said, "I''ve called the police. Let''s stop guessing to avoid wronging her."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    The woman waspletely panicked, and she red at Abigail. "You set me up!"


    Abigail frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about? How did I set you up? Do you even know what this is? You just said it wasn''t yours, and now you''re saying I set you up." The woman stiffened, her face turning red.


    She didn''t know whose stuff it was, but someone might have put it in her bag.


    She could only pray that Abigail just wanted to embarrass her and that the stuff wasn''t real. If it was, she was done for. And her husband would be implicated. Abigail was also frustrated. What was Landon up to?


    Was he trying to mess with her? Or harm her? If so, why not put it on her directly? Why put it in this woman''s bag?


    Could it be that he had a grudge against this woman?


    The more Abigail thought, the more confused she became. She thought Landon was crazy. If it was real, and he carried it around, did he have a death wish? While she was lost in thought, the police arrived.


    "Who called the police?" an officer asked.


    York quickly stepped forward. "I did. Can you check what this is?"


    The leading officer took a look, his face changing slightly. "Whose is this?"


    Everyone looked at the woman, whose face turned pale.


    The officer ced the powder near a drug-sniffing dog. Two secondster, the dogy down in front of everyone.


    Everyone fell silent. The woman''s legs gave out, and she copsed into her husband''s arms.


    She had been pampered all her life and had never encountered such a thing. She feltpletely overwhelmed.


    Her husband said anxiously, "There''s a misunderstanding here."


    The officer said sternly, "We''ll figure it outter. But for now, thisdy needs toe with us."

 Chapter 1473

    The party was pretty much over after that huge mess.


    The woman got taken away, and her husband was told to leave. The guests slowly started to head out.


    Oliver was looking for Abigail, who was scanning the room for any sign of Landon. But Landon was nowhere to be seen. She followed the crowd outside, figuring he must''ve left a while ago. "Abigail, who are you looking for?" Oliver asked.


    He suddenly popped up next to her, watching her look around the street.


    Abigail snapped out of it, turned to Oliver, and forced a smile. "No one. I was just thinking with all these cars, maybe we should wait a bit before heading out."


    Oliver shoved his hands in his coat pockets, giving her a thoughtful look.


    Abigail felt a chill from his stare. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Oliver replied, "Nothing, just feels like you''re hiding something from me."


    Abigail''s face got a bit tense. She looked away and said, "How could that be? Don''t overthink it."


    The driver pulled up with the car, and Oliver opened the door for her. "Alright, hop in."


    Abigail climbed in, her heart heavy and her mind racing about the bag. She couldn''t figure out Landon''s deal. Why would he steal a bag?


    Did he have a grudge against that woman?


    Abigail leaned her chin on her hand, staring out the window. Oliver called her name a few times, but she didn''t respond.


    Oliver tapped her shoulder. "Abigail, what''s up?"


    Abigail jolted and quickly turned her head. "What?"


    "Where do you want to get off? Weren''t you heading to Quinn''s ce tonight? I got stuff to doter, so I can''t take you there. You''ve been out of it since we left the Savoy''s. Is it because of that woman?" Oliver asked. Abigail replied, "No, I was just thinking about my artwork, wondering where it would look best in the gallery."


    Oliver didn''t buy it. He asked again, "Is it because of that woman?"


    Given the woman''s reaction, the stuff in the bag probably wasn''t hers. She''d beenpeting with Abigail at the party, which puzzled Oliver.


    Abigail frowned. "Yeah, I was trying to remember who she is, but I just can''t."


    Oliver shook his head. "She even came to our house looking for you before. Don''t you remember?"


    "I don''t remember. There are so many people; how could I remember all of them?" Abigail shot back.


    "Forget it. It''s in the past. Let''s not talk about her anymore. No matter what your rtionship was before, she has nothing to do with us now," Oliver said. Getting mixed up with that woman could be a real headache. As long as Abigail didn''t have the stuff in the bag, it was fine. He was sure she didn''t have it and couldn''t have gotten it.


    Abigail said, "Just drop me off at the next intersection."


    "Alright, be careful," Oliver reminded her.


    The car slowly stopped by the curb. Abigail got out and watched Oliver''s car drive away.


    She looked up at the building across the street. It was the Mellon Group.


    Thepany would officially be Landon''s in a year, but for now, it was still called the Mellon Group.


    But today was Saturday, so Landon probably wasn''t there.


    Abigail paced back and forth outside thepany, debating whether to go in. Finally, she took a deep breath and walked in.


    The ce was almost empty today, no receptionist, and no one to open the ess control for her.


    Abigail hesitated for a second, then decided to hop over the turnstile. The rm red instantly.


    She quickly darted into the elevator before the security guard could catch up.


    She''d been here before to see Quinn, so she knew exactly which floor to go to.


    The elevator dinged on the 18th floor. Abigail stepped out and made a beeline for the CEO''s office. But just as she was about to reach the door, the security guard emerged from another elevator. "Stop right there!" the guard yelled.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Abigail nced back, saw the guard, and bolted towards the CEO''s office. She shoved the door open and dashed inside.


    Landon was there, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out.


    Hearing the door m, he turned around. Abigail raised a hand in a half-hearted wave.


    The security guard burst in, saw Landon, and went pale. "Mr. Kennedy, this woman broke through the ess control, I..." Landon cut him off, "Leave us."


    The guard was stunned for a moment. He nced at Abigail, then quietly closed the door and left.


    The room fell silent.


    Abigail and Landon locked eyes, neither saying a word. Abigail almost forgot why she was there.


    Landon moved from the window to the sofa. "What do you want?"


    Abigail snapped back to reality and walked over. "What do you think?"


    Landon repliedzily, "I''m not into guessing games."


    Abigail stepped closer, standing right in front of him. "I came to ask about the Savoy family incident. Why did you have that bag? Did you put the stuff in it?"


    She paused. "Don''t y dumb with me. I know everything. Aren''t you afraid I''ll expose you?"


    Landon looked at her indifferently. "Do you have any evidence?"


    That question stumped Abigail.


    She didn''t have any proof. If only she hadn''t tossed that makeup remover wipe. It could''ve been something. Now, she had nothing.


    She rolled her eyes. "I still have the packaging of the makeup remover wipe you gave me. Could that prove you took her bag? It might have your fingerprints on it." Landon ignored her, calmly putting coffee beans into the grinder and slowly grinding them.


    After the coffee was ground, Landon finally spoke. "Then go ahead."


    Abigail fell silent again.


    She stood there, feeling both angry and helpless.


    After a while, Landon said, "Why are you still standing there? Go ahead and expose me."


    Abigail felt a wave of anger but didn''t know how to let it out.


    After a brief silence, she moved to sit across from Landon. "Never mind. I just want to understand why you did it."


    She scratched her nose awkwardly and asked tentatively, "Were you helping me vent my anger?"


    Landon paused, then looked at her expressionlessly.


    Abigail''s face grew more uneasy.


    Landon said, "Do you need me to make an appointment with a neurologist for you?"


    "What do you mean?" Abigail asked.


    Landon mocked, "If you don''t treat your narcissism, it''ll be toote."


    Abigail stood up, ring at Landon angrily. "I''ll go find the makeup remover wipe packaging and expose you right now!"


    Landon said nonchntly, "Go ahead."


    It felt like punching a pillow. Abigail was so mad she gritted her teeth, even wanting to fight Landon.


    She looked around, grabbed a pillow from the sofa, and threw it at him.


    Landon had just picked up his coffee cup when the pillow hit his arm, causing the hot coffee to spill on his hand. He instinctively let go. The cup fell on the carpet.

 Chapter 1474

    After chucking the pillow, Abigail turned to bolt.


    But she barely got two steps before someone grabbed her arm. Next thing she knew, she was tossed onto the couch, leaving her head spinning. She caught a glimpse of Landon''s eyes and quickly scrambled up, grabbing a pillow to shield herself.


    "What are you doing?" Abigail demanded.


    Landon looked down at her, took a step forward, yanked the pillow from her hands, and pinched her cheeks.


    Abigail grabbed his hand, trying to pull it away, but his grip was like a vise, squeezing her cheeks hard.


    "Let go!" Abigail shouted, ring at Landon.


    With her cheeks pinched, her face was all squished, and she spoke with a bit of a lisp.


    Landon stared at her for a moment before saying, "Wanna know why?"


    "Not anymore!" Abigail yelled.


    Landon suddenly said, "I can tell you."


    Stunned, Abigail stared at him, feeling that whatever he was about to say was definitely not something she wanted to hear.


    Landon said in a low voice, "This is just the beginning. Thosepanies that kicked the Kennedy Group when it was down will all go bankrupt within two years."


    He sneered, "As for that dumb woman, she was just unlucky."


    Abigail''s eyes flickered. "Is that why you went to the party?"


    "What else?" Landon shot back.


    Abigail seemed to get it. She looked at him with aplicated expression, feeling an inexplicable sense of frustration.


    "So, you took her bag and the ne inside it just because she had a beef with me, thinking she''d cause trouble for me and expose what was in her bag?" Abigail asked. Landon scoffed, "I didn''t think she''d be that stupid."


    It was so dumb of her to dump everything out of her bag herself. The police dogs would definitely find the stuff on her, leaving her no way out.


    Her stupidity saved Landon a lot of hassle, even skipping the next step of his n.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail got even angrier. She pulled his hand away and climbed up from the couch.


    "Landon, why are you still doing this stuff? Aren''t you scared it''ll catch up with you one day?" Abigail asked.


    Landon straightened up, took out a handkerchief to wipe his fingers, and said indifferently, "Mind your own business."


    Abigail was at a loss for words for a moment. She sat there silently, feeling like she should persuade Landon to stop.


    But given their rtionship, she had no right to do that.


    Landon made two cups of coffee.


    Abigail suddenly asked him, "Landon, can I ask you something?"


    Landon refused bluntly, "No. I don''t want to answer."


    Abigail shot back, "I haven''t even asked yet."


    Landon stated, "Whatever you ask, I won''t answer."


    But Abigail still voiced the question. "Have you ever been in love before?"


    Landon frowned slightly, looking at her with displeasure. "Abigail, what makes you think I''d talk to you about such boring topics?"


    Abigail pouted. "It was just a casual question. If you don''t want to answer, fine. If one day you fall in love with someone, how will you be with her, considering the things you''ve done?" Landon said, "If she can''t ept that, it means we''re not a match. I won''t fall in love with someone like that."


    Abigail remarked, "That''s selfish."


    Landon dered, "Everyone is selfish."


    "I just don''t get it. You can make money doing legit stuff. Why do you have to do these things?" Abigail asked.


    Landon said, "If you don''t leave now, security wille in and escort you out."


    Abigail was choked up and stood up angrily. "Go ahead and ruin yourself!"


    With that, she stormed out.


    But after walking out, Abigail thought, ''What does that have to do with me? Am I being nosy? What''s our rtionship anyway? Why should I care about him?'' Landon sat on the couch, his fingers rubbing the coffee cup, lost in thought.


    Abigail stormed out of the elevator. The security guard at the entrance saw her and came up with a smile to open the door for her.


    The security guard said, "Miss, next time youe, just let me know. Don''t break through the entrance."


    Abigail ignored him and walked out.


    She hailed a cab by the roadside and headed straight to Quinn''s house.


    Alexander hadn''t returned yet. Only Quinn was home. Abigail walked in, feeling down, while Quinn was feeding Sprout.


    Seeing Abigail''s upset face, Quinn asked with concern, "Abigail, what''s wrong?"


    Abigail walked weakly over to Quinn and sat down, pinching Sprout''s cheek with her fingers.


    She nced at Quinn, but the words stuck in her throat. She forced a smile. "It''s nothing."


    "Did your dad push you to go on another blind date?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail shook her head, sighed, andy down on the couch, staring at the ceiling. "I think maybe I should try dating someone." "Why the sudden change?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail picked up a pillow and covered her face, shouting in frustration, "I don''t know." She then threw the pillow aside and sat up. Staring at Quinn, she mumbled, "I feel a bit tired."


    Quinn looked at her in confusion. "What''s wrong with you?"


    Abigail replied, "I''ve told you, I''m just tired."


    Quinn said, "Then go upstairs and sleep."


    Abigail said hesitantly, "I don''t mean that. I mean, I feel like life is meaningless."


    Quinn wondered what had happened to Abigail while she was out. Why was she suddenly so down?


    Quinn said, "Abigail, stop overthinking. Maybe you''ve been on too many blind dates. Stay here for a few more days. I''ll talk to your dad."


    Abigail slumped her shoulders, not saying anything, and sank into her gloom.


    Sprout grinned at Abigail.


    Abigail suddenly said, "Quinn, Alexander, I might say something unpleasant again. Just consider it me rambling."


    "You''re already rambling. What do you want to say?"


    Abigail scratched her cheek, feeling uneasy. "Well, Alexander is not exactly a good person. He''s done so many bad things. What do you see in him?"


    Quinn was stunned. Abigail had asked this question many times before.


    But this time was different. Instead of disappointment, Abigail''s tone carried a hint of curiosity.


    Quinn shook her head. "I don''t know. I''ve asked myself this question too, but I never get an answer. Maybe it doesn''t have an answer."


    Abigail asked again, "Do you think what Alexander did was right or wrong?"


    Quinn fell silent. It was indeed not a pleasant topic.


    After a moment of thought, Quinn replied, "He''s done so many things. I don''t know which ones you''re asking about. If it''s between us, from my perspective, some were right, some were wrong. But if you''re talking about other things, I can''t judge." Abigail was confused. "What if he goes to jail one day? What if he gets executed?"

 Chapter 1475

    "Abigail, what''s up with you?" Quinn asked, her eyebrows furrowing.


    Abigail''s questions were getting more and more out there, each one harder to answer than thest.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Abigail realized she might''ve crossed a line.


    "Sorry, I just... maybe my brain''s fried. Just ignore me," Abigail said, covering her face, feeling super awkward.


    Quinn had a hunch but didn''t want to push it.


    She patted Abigail''s shoulder. "Go upstairs and get some sleep. You must be exhausted. Rest up, and you''ll feel better."


    Abigail nodded. "Alright, I''ll crash first. You should hit the sack early too. Look, Sprout''s already out cold."


    "Okay."


    Abigail got up and trudged upstairs.


    Quinn watched her go, her mind racing back to those weird questions. It seemed like Abigail was asking about Alexander, but really, she was talking about someone else. What Landon did was way worse than Alexander.


    Now it made sense why Abigail never brought up Landon.


    She sighed, picked up Sprout, and headed upstairs.


    Shey down next to Sprout. Then, she heard some noise from the bathroom, jumped out of bed, and ran to check.


    Brandy was standing on a stool, holding a cup,pletely drenched, her hair soaking wet.


    "Brandy, what are you doing?" Quinn asked.


    Brandy couldn''t even reach the sink on the stool. She was trying to wash up by herself.


    Quinn quickly picked her up. "I was wondering where you went. So you were here trying to wash up."


    Looking at the soaked Brandy, Quinn couldn''t tell if she was taking a bath or washing her face.


    Brandy looked at her seriously. "I''m brushing my teeth."


    Quinn sighed. "Where''s Olivia? Why didn''t you go to her?"


    Brandy puffed her cheeks but stayed quiet. She wanted to wash up by herself but didn''t know how to say it. Quinn took off Brandy''s clothes, put her in the bathtub, and used shampoo and body wash to clean her up.


    Then she handed Brandy a toothbrush. "Here, brush your teeth."


    Brandy took the toothbrush and started brushing with both hands.


    Quinn squatted beside her, feeling a bit relieved seeing her so focused.


    After brushing her teeth, Brandy put the toothbrush in the cup next to her. She turned her head, looked up at Quinn, and asked, "Where did Daddy go?"


    Quinn paused, then forced a smile. "He went out. He''ll be back in a couple of days."


    Brandy tilted her head. She wanted to ask if Daddy left because he didn''t love her, but she couldn''t find the words.


    Quinn couldn''t guess what Brandy was thinking. "He just left for a day, and you already miss him?"


    Brandy nodded.


    Quinn didn''t know how to answer. Even though Alexander said he''d be back in a couple of days, she wasn''t sure when he''d actually return. So, she changed the subject, "Alright, stand up." Brandy obediently stood up, letting Quinn bathe her.


    Quinn quickly cleaned her up, dried her with a towel, and wrapped her in a nket, carrying her to the bed outside.


    She went to the next room to find a set of pajamas for Brandy to change into.


    She had Brandy lie next to Sprout. "Alright, sleep with Sprout."


    Brandy nodded, reached out her tiny hand to hug Sprout. Quinn looked at them, feeling all warm and fuzzy, and couldn''t resist snapping a photo with her phone.


    The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, lighting up the gray floor.


    A persony on the ground, the sunlight highlighting the dust particles floating in the air.


    His fingers twitched.


    Suddenly, he opened his eyes, clutching his chest and coughing violently.


    Alexander stared at the distant corner of the wall, closed his eyes, and took a moment to steady himself.


    A few minutester, he propped himself up and sat up, his head hanging weakly. As if remembering something, he looked around at his surroundings.


    He picked up the phone on the bed, checked it, and saw a few calls from Kyle and several messages from Quinn.


    He lowered his head and went through them one by one.


    He then found Kyle''s number and called back.


    The call connected quickly, and Kyle''s voice came through the phone, "Mr. Kennedy. You finally answered. I thought you went missing and almost called Mrs. Kennedy."


    If Alexander hadn''t instructed him not to contact Quinn no matter what, he would have called her long ago.


    "What is it?" Alexander''s voice was so weak that Kyle could barely hear it.


    Kyle paused, then asked worriedly, "Mr. Kennedy, what''s wrong with you?"


    "Cut the crap. Why did you call me?" Alexander asked.


    Kyle replied, "Nothing much, just reporting on the Lynch family."


    Alexander ordered, "Alright, go ahead."


    Alexander sat on the cold floor of the quiet room, sunlight streaming in behind him.


    Quinn was already up. She hadn''t slept wellst night, falling asleep around four and waking up around six.


    She sat on the bed for a while, and around seven, Sprout woke up.


    He opened his eyes but didn''t move because he had pooped. Only after changing his diaper would he start moving again.


    Quinn sighed, got a diaper, and changed him. Then he started rolling around on the bed like a robot that had been switched on, waking Brandy up.


    Quinn took Sprout and Brandy to the bathroom to wash up and then took them downstairs.


    Abigail had gotten up early. With her chin resting on her hand, she stared nkly at the sofa, not noticing Quinn''s arrival.


    Quinn sat beside her for a while and couldn''t help but ask, "Abigail, how long have you been up?"


    Abigail snapped out of it and looked at her nkly, "What did you say?"


    "When did you get up?" Quinn repeated.


    "I''ve been up for a while." Abigail sighed. After a night''s sleep, her mood hadn''t improved much; it had only gotten worse. Quinn sighed, not knowing what to say.


    Abigail was straightforward. She saw things in ck and white.


    Changing her personality and views for someone would be incredibly painful for her.


    Abigail never discussed it with Quinn, and Quinn didn''t know how to ask.


    "Let''s go eat first," Quinn said.


    "You go ahead. I''m not hungry." Abigail suddenly stood up. "I almost forgot. My tools are still in Oliver''s car. I''ll go get them." Before Quinn could say anything, she had already walked out.


    Abigail went home and found out that Oliver had gone to the office, so she went to the office.


    She went straight to Oliver''s office, pushed the door open, and saw a familiar face inside.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1476

    She was floored, totally not expecting to see Landon here.


    Oliver looked up. "What are you doing here?"


    Abigail frowned and stormed in. "What are you two up to?"


    Oliver shrugged. "Just talking about work."


    Landon got up. "I''ll head out. We''ll catch upter."


    Oliver gave a slight nod.


    Landon walked past Abigail like she was invisible.


    Once Landon was gone, Abigail turned to Oliver. "What were you guys talking about?"


    "I already told you, work stuff. Why are you so freaked out?" Oliver asked.


    Abigail, clearly anxious, said, "You should steer clear of him. Do you even know what Landon did before?" Oliver sighed, got up from his chair, and led Abigail to the sofa. "Abigail, chill. Sit down and let''s talk."


    Abigail plopped down on the sofa, still holding his hand. "Oliver, no matter what, don''t work with him, okay?" Oliver replied, "Abigail, don''t be ridiculous. I know what he did, but we were just talking about legit work, alright?" "Oliver!" Abigail said, clearly agitated.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Oliver stated, "Look, I''m not stupid. I know what to do and what not to do. Do you think I''d risk our whole family?" Abigail frowned. She knew Oliver was smart, but she was still scared he might get caught up in Landon''s schemes. But she couldn''t find a good reason to convince him otherwise.


    "Did youe to see me for something?" Oliver asked.


    Abigail replied, "I left something in your car yesterday. I came to get it."


    Oliver instructed, "Then go find the driver. He was driving yesterday. I don''t know which car it''s in."


    "Alright." Abigail sighed, stood up, and asked again, "You really didn''t talk about anything shady with Landon?"


    Amused, Oliver retorted, "If I really wanted to do something shady, would I have waited until now?"


    That made sense. Abigail agreed, "Just be careful and don''t fall into his trap."


    Oliver replied, "Got it."


    Only then did Abigail feel a bit relieved and walked out. She called the driver and then headed to the parking lot to get her stuff. After grabbing her things, she was about to go find Quinn when Elliot suddenly called.


    Abigail answered the phone, clearly annoyed. "What''s up?"


    "Abigail, are you free today?" Elliot asked cheerfully.


    "Tell me what it is first, then I''ll know if I''m free," Abigail replied.


    Elliot chuckled. "Aren''t you a painter? I''m going to an art exhibition. Wannae with me?"


    Abigail was taken aback and asked in surprise, "You into art too?"


    "Yeah, you never asked me," Elliot replied.


    Abigail realized she never did ask Elliot. She was only thinking about getting married to deal with Alvin and had no interest in his major. Abigail hesitated. "An art exhibition?"


    Elliot replied, "Yeah, and my paintings are also on disy."


    Abigail was shocked. "No way! Who''s hosting it?"


    Elliot replied, "It''s organized by our school in coboration with Ster Gallery. Youing?"


    "Sure, when?" Abigail agreed, curious to see what kind of paintings Elliot had that could be exhibited.


    "Today. I''m still at school. Youing to find me?" Elliot asked.


    Abigail replied, "Alright. Send me your school''s address."


    She hung up the phone and soon got a message from Elliot. She drove a car from thepany to find him.


    What a small world! Turns out, Elliot went to the same university as Abigail, making her his senior.


    Abigail parked at the school gate and called Elliot.


    A few minutester, Elliot strolled out with a bag, still rocking his white turtleneck sweater and jeans, looking all clean-cut. He bent down to peek inside Abigail''s car.


    Abigail rolled down the window. "What are you staring at? Get in."


    Elliot chuckled. "You usually ride a motorcycle, but today you''re in a luxury car. Just making sure it''s really you."


    Abigail urged, "Get in already."


    "Okay, okay."


    Elliot walked around to the passenger seat, opened the door, and hopped in. Abigail rubbed her chin, giving him a once-over.


    Out of nowhere, she asked, "How tall are you?"


    Elliot was caught off guard, then smiled. "I''m 6''1" with shoes, 6'' without."


    Abigail went quiet. Maybe because of their gender, she always thought they were about the same height. She didn''t expect him to be 6 feet tall.


    She scratched her ear and asked softly, "When you have a boyfriend, are you more dominant or submissive?"


    Elliot was stunned and blushed a bit, feeling awkward. "I haven''t dated anyone, so I don''t know."


    "Really?" Abigail asked, surprised.


    Elliot looked at her with puppy eyes. "Really."


    "Then how do you know you''re gay?" Abigail asked.


    Blushing, Elliot replied, "I just know."


    "Then why haven''t you dated a boyfriend?" Abigail pressed.


    Elliot was silent for a moment. "There are many reasons. I''m afraid my family will find out. I''m also afraid my friends will find out. If they knew, I wouldn''t have any friends left." Abigail nodded. "That makes sense."


    Elliot added, "And the biggest reason is I haven''t found someone I like."


    "What kind of person do you like?" Abigail regretted asking and pped herself on the mouth.


    Sure enough, Elliot said, "Someone like you."


    Abigail was furious. "Elliot! I''m a woman! Do you want me to strip to show you?"


    "I know. No need," Elliot replied calmly.


    Abigail ran her hand through her hair, frustrated. "You''re driving me nuts."


    Lowering his head, Elliot said, "Sorry."


    Abigail waved her hand. "Forget it, let''s drop this. Ster Gallery, right?"


    "Yeah."


    Abigail started the car and headed straight to Ster Gallery.


    When they arrived, the ce was buzzing with people.


    Abigail found a spot to park and followed Elliot to the entrance. Usually, it was closed, and she had never been here before.


    They registered their names and got visitor passes to go in.


    Someone called out from behind. "Hey, Elliot?"


    Elliot stopped and turned around. It was his ssmate.


    He smiled and greeted them.


    A girl eyed Abigail with a bit of hostility.


    "Is this your girlfriend?" the girl asked, her tone unfriendly and questioning.


    Abigail raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I''m not his girlfriend."


    Before the girl could respond, she added, "I''m his fianc¨¦e."


    The girl''s face changed, and she turned to Elliot. "Really?"


    Elliot nodded slightly. "Yes, I forgot to introduce you. This is Abigail, my fianc¨¦e."

 Chapter 1477

    The girl''s face dropped like a stone, and she looked like she was about to burst into tears.


    She shot aplicated look at Abigail and Elliot, then stormed off in a huff.


    A few of her friends nced at Abigail before running after her.


    Abigail clicked her tongue, thinking, "Wow, that girl got upset real quick. Now she''s all heartbroken."


    Elliot grinned at Abigail. "You scared off my admirer, Abigail."


    Elliot''s voice was smooth, and when he talked to Abigail, there was a yful tone to it.


    Abigail pretended not to care, digging at her ear. "Isn''t that a good thing? I just saved a young girl."


    Elliot yed along, "Well, thanks, Abigail."


    "Where''s your painting?" Abigail asked.


    "Over there, I''ll show you." Elliot grabbed her hand and headed for the stairs. Abigail''s heart skipped a beat, wondering if his painting was on the second floor. But she was wrong.


    "Your painting''s on the third floor?" Abigail asked.


    Elliot turned and gave her a sly smile, confirming her guess.


    This left Abigail, a senior who had been studying for years, feeling a bit defeated.


    "This is my painting!" Elliot said, pointing to a piece on the wall. "Abigail, what do you think?"


    Abigail looked at the painting and read the intro below. It had won first ce in a national artpetition.


    Is Elliot really that good?


    She had entered thosepetitions a few times, but her best was only fifth ce. Elliot, on the other hand, had snagged first.


    She moved closer to his painting, trying to spot any ws.


    But no matter how hard she looked, whether it was the colors, structure, or lighting, she couldn''t find a single w. Beyond its technical brilliance, Elliot''s "Sky in a Dream" was bursting with creativity.


    It was so captivating that anyone who saw it felt like they had experienced such a surreal dream. Even though the subject of the painting was ambiguous, Elliot had an uncanny ability to capture the essence of everyone''s dreams. A few people nearby were also admiring the painting, talking about how amazing it was. The first thing they said when they saw the painting was:


    "I feel like I''ve dreamed of this scene."


    "Yeah, me too, it''s so surreal."


    Hearing theirments, Abigail felt a surge of jealousy.


    After those people left, Elliot smiled and asked Abigail, "Abigail, any advice?"


    Abigail kept a straight face, "It''s okay, you have about a tenth of the skill I had back in the day. If I hadn''t stopped painting years ago, you wouldn''t even be in the running."


    Elliot nodded seriously. "Yeah, you''re right. So I need to learn more from you, Abigail. What do you usually like to paint?"


    Abigail replied, "I like to paint people. I don''t really dondscapes like you, so I might not be the best guide."


    Abigail''sndscapes and other artwork couldn''tpare to Elliot''s.


    Elliot lit up. "That''s awesome. My biggest struggle is painting people. Abigail, you gotta teach me more."


    Abigail nced at him. His sincere look made it hard to say no.


    She thought for a moment before replying, "Alright, when I have time, I''ll help you out. But be honest, are you really gay?"


    Elliot stared at her for a bit, like he was thinking it over.


    After a moment, he shed a bright smile. "Yep."


    "So, you like me because I dress kinda androgynous, right?" Abigail asked.


    Elliot nodded. "Yeah."


    Abigail let out a sigh of relief. "Good, then I''m relieved."


    Elliot kept smiling, looking all gentle and soft. If it weren''t for his height, Abigail would totally think he was the passive one in a gay rtionship.


    She threw an arm around him, just like she did with Quinn, and asked softly, "Based on your self-understanding, are you the active or passive one? I''m really curious." Elliot thought for a moment and then said uncertainly, "Probably passive?"


    Abigail grinned and gave his shoulder a hard pat. "Great! I ept you as a friend. If you have any questions in the future, just ask me."


    "Really? Thanks, Abigail," Elliot said happily.


    "You''re wee, Elliot!" Abigail replied.


    "Let''s keep looking around. Do you have any other works here?" she asked.


    "No, just this one got selected," Elliot replied.


    Abigailforted him. "That''s still awesome. You''re so young, you''ll definitely have more amazing works in the future." "Yeah."


    "Now that you''ve graduated, what kind of job are you nning to do?" Abigail asked.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Elliot replied, "I haven''t decided yet. I''ll keep painting for now. If you have nothing to do, we can go out and sketch together."


    Abigail''s heart was moved, and she patted his shoulder again. "Great idea. Call me when you go out next time. I need to get a new set of tools." "Sure," Elliot said happily.


    They chatted as they looked around, their friendship growing deeper. Abigail hadpletely started seeing him as a good friend.


    To be honest, she didn''t have any male friends, and this feeling was pretty nice.


    When they came out, it was already dark outside. Abigail looked at the sky and opened the car door. "Come on. I''ll take you home." "Thanks," Elliot said and got in.


    Abigail stepped on the gas, and the car drifted beautifully out of the parking lot and into the night.


    Elliot watched her driving speed and grabbed the seatbelt in fear.


    Halfway through the drive, Abigail suddenly remembered something. "Wait, we haven''t had dinner yet, have we?"


    Elliot replied, "No, we haven''t."


    "Sorry, I forgot such an important thing. Let''s go, I''ll treat you to dinner." Abigail took on the demeanor of a senior and, regardless of Elliot''s opinion, turned the car around and drove to a restaurant. As soon as they got out of the car, someone called out to her.


    Abigail turned her head and saw it was Oliver.


    He spoke briefly to the people around him. They nodded and then dispersed. He then walked over to her.

 Chapter 1478

    "Abigail, just getting here to eat?" Oliver asked, ncing over at Elliot. "This guy looks familiar."


    "Yeah, we just came from an art show and decided to grab a bite. What about you? Meeting a client?" Abigail replied.


    Oliver nodded, still eyeing Elliot. Suddenly, it clicked. "Is he the one who was with you at the Savoy family thingst time?"


    Last time at the Savoy family, Oliver had kept an eye on Abigail, worried she might stir up trouble, and he remembered who she was with. Abigail pulled Elliot closer, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. Elliot, being a bit taller, made the whole thing look a bit awkward. "Yeah, it''s him," Abigail said, pointing at Elliot.


    Oliver''s smile widened at their closeness. "Boyfriend?" he asked.


    Abigail was about to deny it but then changed her mind. "Yeah, isn''t it obvious?"


    Oliver nodded. "I can see that. You two seem to get along. How old are you?"


    "24," Elliot answered.


    Abigail turned to him. "Didn''t you say 23st time?"


    Elliot chuckled. "In two months, I''ll be 24."


    Abigail looked back at Oliver. "So, what do you think of him?"


    Oliver had already sized up Elliot a few times. "He''s good, but there''s quite an age gap between you two."


    "Seriously? Isn''t the gap between you and Natalia even bigger?" Abigail shot back.


    Oliver sighed. "Alright, I won''t bug you. Since you have a boyfriend now, bring him home sometime to meet Alvin, so he stops nagging me."


    Since Oliver and Abigail had been close since they were kids, Alvin thought Oliver could convince Abigail to settle down.


    "No problem, I''ll bring him home tomorrow. Just have the food ready!" Abigail said.


    "Fine. I''ll let Dad know," Oliver replied.


    Abigail nodded. "Yeah, tell him. We''ll definitelye tomorrow."


    "Alright, I''m off then," Oliver said, heading back to his car.


    Once Oliver''s car drove away, Abigail finally let go of Elliot. "Elliot, I need your help tomorrow."


    "Okay," Elliot agreed without hesitation.


    Abigail grinned. "Great, I''ll treat you to dinner tonight as a thank you in advance."


    She had to deal with her family first. As long as Alvin knew she had a boyfriend, he wouldn''t push her to go on blind dates, at least for a while. And since Elliot was young, she could use the excuse of waiting until he was older to get married. Perfect n!


    That evening, Alexander came back.


    Quinn was on the bed, trying to get Sprout to sleep, her mind elsewhere. She didn''t notice Alexandering in.


    Brandy sat up on the bed, excitedly calling out, "Daddy," snapping Quinn back to reality.


    Alexander, dressed in a ck suit, walked in, very noticeable.


    "You''re back," Quinn said.


    Alexander nodded. "Yeah, why aren''t you asleep yet?"


    He sat down next to her. Sprout was about to fall asleep, but Brandy''s excitement made his eyes pop open again.


    He stared at Alexander, calling out, "Dada."


    Alexander smiled slightly and reached out to touch his cheek.


    Quinn looked Alexander over. His face was pale, like he had lost a lot of blood, and she could faintly see the veins under his forehead.


    She frowned and reached out to touch his cheek. "What''s wrong with you? You look terrible."


    "Didn''t sleep well. Go to bed. I''ll take a shower," Alexander replied.


    Before Quinn could say anything, he was already on his feet. "I''ll go to the next room."


    Quinn wanted to say something but held back, continuing to coax Sprout to sleep.


    Brandy had already climbed up, seemingly waiting for Alexander toe back.


    "Brandy, go to sleep. It''ste. Daddy''s sleeping in the next room tonight. Let him rest, and we won''t disturb him," Quinn said.


    Brandy tilted her head, processing her words, then obediently nodded and slid under the covers.


    Quinn patted Sprout''s back, trying to get him to sleep.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Sprout''s earlier sleepiness was gone, and she had to start over, taking about half an hour to get him to sleep.


    After both kids were finally asleep, Quinn turned off the light and left the bedroom.


    As expected, Alexander didn''te back after his shower; he went to the study.


    Quinn went to the study door, knocked, and then pushed it open.


    Alexander was inside, organizing some documents. Quinn hesitated before walking over. "What are you doing?"


    Alexander was busy with the documents and didn''t look at Quinn. "Just some old papers."


    "Need my help?" Quinn offered.


    Alexander refused directly, "No. Go to sleep."


    Quinn wanted to ask Alexander what was going on, but seeing him so busy, she gave up. She stood by, watching him organize.


    These documents seemed to be from otherpanies. Why was Alexander organizing them?


    He wasn''t working anymore and didn''t have apany. These should be useless. "Are you giving these to someone?" Quinn suddenly asked. "To Landon."


    Quinn was stunned and fell silent.


    Alexander paused, looking up at her. "Didn''t I tell you to go to sleep? Why are you still standing here?"


    Quinn stared at him for a while before saying, "What are you two nning?"


    Alexander chuckled. "What could I be nning with him? He needs these things, and I''m just giving them to him. What he does with them is none of my business."


    It was part of a deal they had discussed over the phone. Giving these things to him wouldplete the transaction.


    Quinn remembered what Abigail had said before and couldn''t help but worry.


    She grabbed Alexander''s arm, looking at him seriously. "Alexander, since we''re back here, let''s leave the past behind and start fresh. We don''t need to earn more money; we have enough now. Don''t do anything else. Let''s just live a good life as a family of four, okay?"


    Alexander looked at her intently for a long time before holding her hand.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t do anything. Trust me," Alexander promised.

 Chapter 1479

    Quinn was doubtful. Could Alexander really chill out?


    But she didn''t have much of a choice. "Alright, just don''t stay up toote. Brandy''s still waiting for you."


    Alexander nodded, "Okay."


    Quinn added, "I''ll head back now, or else Sprout might roll off the bed while sleeping."


    She was basically reminding him that he wasn''t alone anymore; he had two kids who needed him. He couldn''t afford to mess up; otherwise, he''d let her and the kids down. Alexander''s eyes flickered. He patted Quinn''s hand. "Go back."


    Quinn turned and left the study.


    Alexander had been dragging his feet on those documents; there were just too many, and organizing them was a real pain.


    He spent the whole night sorting through everything, packing it all into a big box, and leaving it in the living room.


    Before dawn the next day, Landon showed up at Regal Riverside right on time.


    It was the first time he and Alexander had met since they got back.


    Landon looked Alexander over and casually remarked, "You look like you''re about to drop dead."


    Alexander shot him a re. "If you can''t say anything nice, then zip it. Grab the stuff and get out."


    Landon snorted, walked past him, and went to the box. He opened it and casually flipped through the documents inside.


    After ncing at a few, he tossed them back in. He picked up the box, which was pretty heavy.


    At the door, he turned to look at Alexander. "We''re even now."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Not really. I just didn''t want to fight," Alexander said, leaning against the door frame with a faint smile. "Seeing someone follow in my footsteps is kindaforting." "I''m not you; I won''t be held back by a woman," Landon said, walking out of the vi.


    Landon wasn''t wrong. If not for his hesitation because of Quinn, Alexander wouldn''t have ended up in his current mess.


    If he had cut off all emotions from the start and not been so tangled up because of Quinn, Landon wouldn''t have had a way to deal with him.


    Quinn was Alexander''s weak spot. To take him down, you had to start with Quinn; in other areas, he was almost untouchable.


    Alexander smiled without saying anything. He watched Landon get into the car and drive away.


    Only then did he turn back to the living room and plop down on the couch, lost in thought.


    Before leaving, Landon had asked Alexander, "Do you regret it?"


    Alexander didn''t answer him.


    There were plenty of things to regret, but which one was Landon talking about? Regret was the most annoying question ever. Even if he had regrets, there was nothing he could do about it.


    Elliot arrived at the Vanderbilt mansion early in the morning. He stood at the door waiting for Abigail toe out.


    It was early, and Abigail was still dreaming in bed. Oliver knocked a few times without getting a response and came out himself.


    His parents came out with him, walking even faster than he did, afraid that if they werete, Elliot would leave.


    Alvin looked at the young man in front of him, beaming. "You must be Elliot?"


    Elliot smiled and nodded. "Yes, Mr. Vanderbilt. It''s my first time here, and I didn''t know what you like, so I just bought some random gifts. I hope you don''t mind."


    As he spoke, he bent down to pick up the stuff on the ground. Nancy happily stepped forward to take them herself. "You didn''t have to bring anything; you''re not a guest." Oliver quickly stepped in to help. "Let''s chat inside."


    Alvin realized and cheerfully made a weing gesture. "Elliot,e on in; it''s cold out here."


    Elliot followed them inside and plopped down on the couch confidently.


    After a few words with him, Alvin thought Elliot was handsome and polite. He gave Oliver a knowing look. Yep, taking Abigail to that partyst time was the right move; she brought a boyfriend back immediately. Oliver cleared his throat, ignoring Alvin''s look, and said to Elliot, "Abigail isn''t up yet. Hang tight; I''ll go wake her."


    Elliot said considerately, "It''s okay. Let her sleep a bit longer."


    Alvinughed. "No way. We can''t keep you waiting. Go get Abigail for me."


    Oliver nodded and headed upstairs.


    Alvin sized up Elliot and exchanged a satisfied nce with Nancy. Elliot was indeed a good young man.


    He was way better than those weirdos introduced to Abigail before.


    But Nancy noticed he seemed quite young, so she asked, "Elliot, how old are you?"


    Elliot smiled politely. "Mrs. Vanderbilt, I''m 24."


    Nancy and Alvin''s smiles faltered, and they exchanged an awkward nce.


    He was too young, a whole six years younger than Abigail.


    Nancy awkwardly said, "Do you know how old our Abigail is?"


    Elliot replied, "Yes."


    "Don''t you think she''s a bit older?" Nancy asked.


    Elliot kept his smile. "I think as long as we like each other, age doesn''t matter much."


    Alvin immediately agreed. "Well said! As long as the rtionship is good, age isn''t an issue. Look at Natalia and Oliver; they have quite an age gap, and their rtionship is great." Nancy''s smile was a bit forced.


    "Elliot, do your family members have any objections?" she asked.


    Elliot pondered. "I''ll handle it."


    So, his family had objections. This made Alvin hesitate. If Elliot''s family didn''t like Abigail, she would suffer if she married him.


    "Elliot, what do your parents think?" Alvin asked.


    Elliot said, "They don''t really have any objections. They just want me to think it through."


    "That''s right, you should think it through," Alvin said, nodding in agreement. "Although they say older women make for a happier family, the age gap between you two is quiterge. Abigail is our precious daughter, and I don''t want you two to have problems in the future when the initial sweetness fades. I can''t bear that."


    Elliot replied, "I understand, Mr. Vanderbilt."


    In fact, his family didn''t just have objections; they were strongly opposed.


    When he first mentioned Abigail''s age, they were furious and scolded him for a long time.


    They said, "You are young. You can easily find a wife. Why would you marry someone so much older? You are marrying a wife, not a mother."


    The words were harsh. If Elliot dared to repeat them, Alvin would definitely be furious.


    Alvin was satisfied with Elliot and even felt that Abigail wasn''t good enough for him.


    Elliot was a good young man, but Abigail was always unruly. She dressed unlike a girl, had a bad temper, and was much older than Elliot.


    The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Abigail was the one who was reaching too high.

 Chapter 1480

    In Regal Riverside, Quinn sat at the dining table, sneaking nces at Alexander. He looked okay, but his face was way too pale. "Alexander, are you sure you''re alright?" Quinn asked, her eyes full of worry.


    He didn''t just look tired; he was definitely hiding something.


    Alexander paused, put down his fork, and looked up at her.


    "Do you want something to be wrong with me?" he shot back.


    Quinn was taken aback. "Of course not. You look awful."


    "I told you, I just didn''t sleep well," Alexander insisted.


    Quinn eyed him suspiciously, clearly not buying it.


    Alexander peeled an egg and dropped it into her bowl. "Stop overthinking. Eat up. After breakfast, I''ll take you all to the movies." Quinn sighed. She wasn''t getting any answers and didn''t feel like eating, let alone watching a movie.


    She took a few bites while Alexander cleaned up. After being home for so long, he suddenly wanted to take them out shopping. Quinn watched him pack up, noticing he was holding a camera.


    "Why are you bringing a camera?" she asked.


    Alexander looked at it and smiled mysteriously. "Don''t underestimate it."


    Quinn took the camera, puzzled. "Does it do something special?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "It takes pictures," Alexander replied.


    "And?" Quinn pressed.


    "That''s it," he said.


    Quinn rolled her eyes. "You''re so boring!"


    Alexanderughed and picked up Sprout from the stroller. "Let''s go."


    Quinn held Brandy''s hand, and they headed out. Alexander put Sprout in the back seat and went to the front to drive.


    Brandy wanted to sit in the front, so Quinn held Sprout in the back.


    As they drove out of the vi, Alexander asked, "Quinn, is there anything you want to do?"


    "I want Sprout to grow up quickly," Quinn said.


    "Why?" Alexander asked.


    "So I don''t have to hold him every day," Quinn said, switching arms. Sprout was getting heavier, and her arms were getting sore. Alexander sighed. "Anything else?"


    "You''re asking out of the blue. I can''t think of anything. Are you bored because you''re not working?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander nodded. "Yeah, it''s hard to get used to."


    "What about you? Anything you want to do?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander was quiet for a moment. Then he opened the glovepartment and pulled out a notebook.


    Quinn''s heart skipped a beat when she saw it. It looked familiar.


    He handed it to her. "Take a look."


    Quinn opened it and saw a list of things she had wanted to do. Alexander had copied them down.


    Seeing the note about getting a dog, Quinn suddenly thought of Buddy. "Where are Buddy and Liberty?"


    "You''ll have to ask Sean," Alexander said.


    When they left Las Veges in a hurry and went to Sylvadora, Buddy and Liberty stayed with Sean.


    "I''ll call and ask," Quinn said, pulling out her phone to call Sean.


    Sean was still in Arcturus. He was happy to hear from Quinn, but when she asked about Buddy and Liberty, his heart sank.


    He stammered, "They''re still in Las Vegas, at that ce... I forgot the name. Where Mr. Kennedy was staying."


    Sean had left the dogs there because it was a hassle to bring them along, and then he just forgot about them.


    Quinn knew who he meant-Amanda.


    She still had Amanda''s number, so she called her to ask about Buddy and Liberty.


    Amanda answered, "Wow, you still remember them. I thought you didn''t want them anymore. Don''t worry, they''re doing great, but they''re so fat now, almost like pigs. When are youing to get them? And don''t forget to settle the food bill." Quinn replied, "Got it. I''ll find some time toe over. If you could help ship them, that would be even better."


    Amanda said, "I''ll see. Shipping two big dogs isn''t easy."


    Quinn stated, "Fine, I''ll cover the shipping costs."


    Amanda replied, "Alright."


    Quinn hung up and continued flipping through the notebook. Many ces she wanted to visit were checked off. She looked up at Alexander. "Have you been to all these ces?"


    Alexander replied, "Yes."


    "How was it? Fun?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander chuckled. "I wasn''t there for fun."


    Quinn fell silent, guessing what Alexander had been doing. It was a sad topic, so she chose to move on.


    "Let''s go fly a kite!" Quinn suggested.


    "Sure," Alexander agreed readily.


    Quinn looked through the list. Flying a kite was something they could do right away, and it was spring, a perfect time. There was even a ce where people flew kites every day and held kite-flyingpetitions.


    Quinn wanted to keep reading, but Alexander suddenly stopped the car. He turned around and said, "We''re here. Let''s get out."


    Quinn nodded, put away the notebook, and got out with Sprout.


    They arrived at a mall with a movie theater inside.


    Alexander had already bought the tickets and handed two to Quinn.


    Quinn took a look. They had only been to the movies a few times, and it was always animated films. This time was no different.


    "Can''t we watch something else?" Quinnined quietly. When she was little, Alexander took her to see animated films. When she was in school, he did the same. Now she was a mother of two, and Alexander still took her to see animated films.


    Alexanderughed. "We can''t just think about ourselves. We have two kids, remember? We''ll watch the animated film first, and then we can see something else."


    Quinn looked at Sprout in her arms and Brandy standing on the ground. She thought for a moment. "Alright."


    Brandy was over two years old and had never been to a movie theater.


    Alexander asked Quinn to take the kids to their seats and then took out the camera. "Let''s take a picture first."


    Quinn looked around. "We''re just watching a movie. Why take a picture?"


    "It''s about capturing memories, not the setting," Alexander replied, adjusting the camera before asking a passerby to snap the photo.


    Alexander sat next to Quinn, lifting Brandy onto hisp.


    Quinn found Alexander''s behavior odd. He wasn''t someone who liked taking pictures.


    In all the time they had known each other, Alexander had very few photos. But now, he specifically bought a camera to take pictures.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1481

    The girl who snapped the photo looked like she was still in college. After taking a few shots, she walked over to Alexander. "How''s this?" she asked.


    Alexander flipped through the photos and thanked her.


    A bit embarrassed, the girl went back to her boyfriend, who had juste back from the restroom. She told him about taking photos for someone.


    "I just took a picture for this family of four. The guy was super handsome, the woman was gorgeous, and their kids were adorable. Do you think our kids will be that cute someday?" she asked. "Really?" Her boyfriend nced over at them and nodded. "For sure."


    Quinn stopped watching the couple and moved closer to Alexander to check out the photos.


    "Using a camera in a theater is kinda weird. We could''ve just used our phones," Quinn said.


    Alexander put the camera away and smiled. "Same difference."


    Quinn pulled out her phone, got close to Alexander, and snapped a few shots. "See, this works just fine."


    Alexander gave her an appreciative look. "You''re so smart."


    He meant topliment her, but it came off a bit awkward.


    Just then, the movie started, and Alexander stood up. "Let''s go in."


    Quinn nodded, pulling Brandy along as they walked into the theater. She used to watch other families go to the movies, and now it was her turn.


    ''Time really flies,'' Quinn thought.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    They found seats in the middle of the theater, surrounded by kids and their parents, making the ce pretty noisy.


    In the chaos, Sprout squirmed and tried to break free from Alexander''s arms.


    Alexander held Sprout tightly, but the more he tried to restrain him, the more Sprout struggled, using both his hands and feet.


    Quinn nced at them and whispered, "Let me hold Sprout."


    Alexander replied, "It''s okay. He''ll settle down soon."


    Quinn fell silent and looked at Brandy, who was quietly and intently watching the movie.


    Quinn tried to focus on the animated film too, but she couldn''t keep her attention on it. They were all getting older.


    She sighed and managed to stay awake for about an hour before drifting off to sleep.


    When she woke up, it was Alexander who woke her.


    She opened her eyes in confusion and turned to look at Alexander, seeing aplex expression on his face.


    "What''s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Quinn assumed she might have drooled and touched the corner of her mouth, but it was dry.


    Alexander asked her, "Do you not like watching animated films anymore?"


    Quinn''s heart skipped a beat. She wanted to nod, but with Alexander asking so seriously, she couldn''t bring herself to answer truthfully.


    After a moment of hesitation, she said, "No, I just didn''t sleep wellst night and might be a bit tired."


    Alexander stared at her for two seconds, then looked away, standing up with Sprout in his arms. "Let''s go. There''s another show."


    "You really bought tickets for two shows?" Quinn asked.


    "Yep."


    Was Alexander nning to spend the whole day at the cinema?


    The second movie Alexander chose was a horror film.


    Quinn wanted to sleep through it, and Alexander remained expressionless. Sprout couldn''t understand it and just kept yelling, while Brandy seemed to understand a bit but not enough to be scared. Even though the movie wasn''t that scary, the people around them screamed, and girls clung to their boyfriends.


    The four of them sitting there really made them stand out.


    Seriously, who brings little kids to a horror movie?


    So, Quinn dozed off again.


    When they came out, it was already dark. Quinn asked Brandy, "Was the movie scary?"


    Brandy shook her head. "I didn''t get it."


    Even though Brandy didn''t understand, the ghosts and monsters should''ve been scary. Quinn couldn''t figure out how she was so brave.


    After leaving the cinema, they were about to head home. But as they passed the arcade, Brandy tugged on Quinn''s hand and pointed. "You wanna go in?" Quinn asked.


    Brandy jumped up and down excitedly, clearly wanting to y. She was so small she couldn''t even reach the arcade machines. What could she y?


    Alexander said, "If Brandy wants to go, let''s go."


    "Alright," Quinn agreed, following them into the arcade.


    The group looked pretty out of ce there.


    Anyone who didn''t know them might think they were arcade game addicts, dragging two kids along.


    Brandy didn''t want to y the games; she wanted to ride the kiddie rides. Quinn exchanged a hundred bucks for game tokens and ced them in front of her, letting her ride to her heart''s content. Sprout wanted to ride too, so Alexander put him in with Brandy.


    Brandy held Sprout as they rocked in the kiddie ride, and she even knew how to insert the tokens herself.


    Quinn brought over two small stools and sat nearby, watching them y.


    After a while, Alexander went to buy a drink and handed it to Quinn. "Anything you wanna y?"


    Quinn looked around and didn''t see anything that caught her eye. "We''re too old for this."


    "Who says adults can''t y?" Alexander retorted.


    Quinn replied, "If you wanna y, go ahead. I''ll watch them."


    Alexander didn''t go and sat next to Quinn. "You''re right. Some things should be done at a certain age. Doing themter loses the meaning."


    Quinn was taken aback and turned to look at Alexander. "What''s up with you?"


    Alexander smiled. "Nothing, just feeling a bit sentimental."


    Quinn remarked, "You''ve been acting weirdtely."


    "Have I?" Alexander retorted.


    "You haven''t noticed," Quinn replied, looking at him deeply. "First, you bought a camera, then you started learning to cook, and now you''re taking us to see animated films." Alexander was silent for a moment.


    He looked at the two kids having a st and sighed. "I need to find something to do. I can''t stand just sitting at home doing nothing."


    Quinn suggested, "Then get a job. If you don''t wanna use your brain, you can work in a factory."


    Hearing the word "factory," Alexander couldn''t help butugh. "That''s not a bad idea."


    Quinn said, "I was just joking."


    She was worried that Alexander might actually go work in a factory.


    Alexander held her hand, looking at her intently. "But I''d rather spend more time with you all."


    Quinn was slightly stunned and held his hand in return.


    His hand felt cold, like a piece of cool jade.


    Quinn said, "Then let''s go fly a kite tomorrow."


    Alexander readily agreed, "Sure, what kind of kite do you like? I''ll make it."


    Quinn said, "Really? Then make a Buddy kite."


    Alexander replied, "No problem."


    Quinn was a bit skeptical that Alexander could actually make a kite.


    Over there, Brandy had ridden all the kiddie rides and didn''t want to y anymore. She was calling for Alexander. Alexander got up to take the two little ones down.

 Chapter 1482

    When they got back to Regal Riverside, Olivia whipped out the meal she had prepped. After dinner, Alexander holed up in the study. Quinn had to feed Sprout. Brandy was wiped out from ying all day, so Olivia helped her wash up, and she crashed on the bed. Sprout had been cranky all day and was also beat, falling asleep halfway through feeding.


    Quinn put Sprout next to Brandy, then headed to the study. She grabbed the doorknob and pushed, but it was locked. She frowned. What was Alexander up to in there?


    She raised her hand to knock but then thought better of it and went back to the bedroom.


    In the study, Alexander found the medicine in the drawer, poured it into his shaking hand without counting, and swallowed it all. These strong painkillers did the trick during the day, but at night, even a whole bottle couldn''t kill the pain that tore through him.


    Calvin had mentioned that very few people could handle the side effects of that drug.


    The side effects included constant pain, especially at night, with every cell in the body hurting, a pain that felt like it was cutting through bone and marrow.


    There was only so much pain a person could take. If the pain came in waves, there were moments to catch a breath, but if it was constant, year after year, no one could bear it. The kind of pain that made you want to die wasn''t just a saying.


    Thinking about enduring this pain forever, death seemed like a relief.


    Alexander swallowed the handful of pills, leaned on the desk, and staggered. He gasped for air, cold sweat beading on his forehead and dripping down his chin.


    The pain spread throughout his body, and he didn''t even know which part to clutch.


    Eventually, he passed out on the floor.


    Quinn tossed and turned in bed, nced at her phone, and saw it was already 3 AM. Alexander still hadn''te back.


    Had he fallen asleep in the study?


    She couldn''t think of any reason why he would still be in there.


    At 4 AM, she got out of bed again and went to the study door, knocking.


    "Alexander?" she called.


    No response. She knocked again. "Are you asleep?"


    Still no response from Alexander.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn looked at the doorknob, thinking about breaking the door down but hesitated, worried he might be asleep.


    Alexander''s weird behaviortely made Quinn uneasy.


    In the end, she didn''t break in and absentmindedly went back to the bedroom. She picked up her phone and scrolled through it. She thought of Landon.


    Landon once told her that Alexander wouldn''t live long. After they reconciled, she hadn''t thought about it much.


    But tonight, Alexander''s odd behavior brought Landon''s words back to her mind.


    She shot Landon a message.


    Knowing he was probably asleep, she didn''t wait for a reply, put down her phone, and walked to the window, staring out into the dark night until dawn.


    At dawn, Landon called her.


    Quinn quickly answered, "Hello."


    "Is Alexander with you?" Landon asked.


    "No. When can we meet?" Quinn asked.


    Landon replied, "I don''t have time. Just say it over the phone."


    Quinn opened her mouth, unsure if she should discuss this with Landon. The rtionship between him and Alexander was so bad that they wished each other dead.


    If she asked Landon, even if Alexander was fine, Landon would likely say otherwise.


    Landon said, "If you don''t want to talk, I''m hanging up."


    "Wait!" Quinn stopped him. "Can I ask you something? Will you tell me the truth?"


    Landon said bluntly, "Ask first, then I''ll decide if I''ll tell the truth."


    His bluntness left Quinn unsure if she should ask.


    But she didn''t know who else to ask. Alexander wouldn''t say anything, and Kyle was on his side. So, Landon seemed more willing to tell her the truth.


    Quinn asked, "Didn''t you sayst time that Alexander..."


    She couldn''t finish the sentence, as if saying it would make it true.


    Landon understood her hesitation. "You want to ask about what I saidst time, that Alexander wouldn''t live long, right?"


    "Yes."


    Landon chuckled. "Didn''t I already tell you?"


    "You did, but wasn''t the device in Alexander''s body removed? So he should be fine, right?" Quinn asked.


    "If he were fine, you wouldn''t be calling me. Don''t ask me about things you don''t even know. How could I possibly know?" Landon retorted and immediately hung up, leaving Quinn no chance to speak. Quinn stared at the phone for a while.


    Unable to figure it out, she called Landon again.


    Landon asked impatiently, "What else do you want to ask?"


    "What deal did you two makest time?" Quinn asked.


    Landon replied, "Quinn, you shouldn''t be asking me this. Alexander is your husband."


    With that, he hung up again. This time, when Quinn called back, he didn''t answer.


    Quinn fell into deep thought.


    While Sprout and the others were still asleep, Quinn went to the study again.


    She knocked on the door twice.


    There was no response.


    She gritted her teeth, turned to the utility room, and found an axe. She raised it, ready to break the lock.


    Just as she swung the axe, the door suddenly opened from the inside. Startled, she couldn''t stop her motion, and the axe headed straight for Alexander.


    Alexander was surprised but reacted quickly, catching the axe.


    Quinn lost her bnce and fell into his arms. The impact caused Alexander to stagger back a few steps, and they both fell to the ground.


    Shended on top of Alexander, hearing his muffled groan.

 Chapter 1483

    Quinn scrambled off Alexander. "You okay?"


    Alexander sat there for a bit, and Quinn squatted down next to him, looking all worried.


    After a moment, Alexander looked up and said weakly, "Were you trying to chop me with an axe or something?"


    Quinn nced at the axe in her hand, freaked out, and tossed it aside. "No way! I knocked on the door forever, and when you didn''t answer, I thought something bad happened." "Were you gonna bust down the door?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn bit her lip, looking guilty. "Maybe..."


    Alexander got up and helped her up too. "Rx, I just dozed off and didn''t hear you."


    Quinn eyed him suspiciously. "Really?"


    "Would you believe me if I said no?" Alexander shot back.


    Quinn just stood there, speechless, and followed him out of the room.


    Alexander took a few steps and coughed.


    "What''s up with you?" Quinn asked, concerned.


    "Just a little cold," Alexander replied.


    Quinn touched his forehead; it felt cool, not hot.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Why were you hiding in the study when you have a bedroom? Up to something again?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander smiled helplessly. "What could I possibly be up to?"


    Quinn shrugged. "Who knows."


    "Alright, let''s head downstairs." Alexander wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they walked back to the bedroom.


    Brandy was still asleep, but Sprout was awake, staring at the ceiling.


    Alexander, used to this routine, picked up Sprout, ced him on the bed, and changed his diaper.


    Quinn watched, noticing how good Alexander was getting at diaper duty.


    After the change, Sprout was full of energy, crawling all over the bed and slobbering on Brandy''s face.


    Brandy woke up, saw Sprout, and smiled, touching his head.


    Quinn picked up Sprout. "It''s still early. Want to sleep a bit more?"


    Brandy shook her head and climbed out of bed, her legs dangling as she got down.


    Alexander took Sprout from Quinn. "Get Brandy washed up. I''ll take Sprout downstairs for breakfast."


    Quinn nodded, helping Brandy to the bathroom.


    After breakfast, Alexander packed up their stuff. They were going kite flying today.


    Brandy was excited, running and stumbling towards the door.


    Quinn shook her head, carrying Sprout to the car.


    It was a perfect day¡ªsunny and breezy, just right for flying kites.


    Alexander drove to the store for kite-making materials, filled a big bag, and tossed it in the trunk. Then, he drove the family to the countryside.


    They arrived at a grassy field, once a farm but now a popr kite-flying spot.


    Alexander spread the materials on the ground.


    Brandy followed, wanting to help but not sure what to do.


    Quinn popped Sprout into the stroller and, on a whim, grabbed a camera from the trunk. After fiddling with it for a bit, she snapped a pic of Alexander and Brandy squatting on the ground. But, she wasn''t exactly a pro with the camera, and the shot came out kinda dark.


    Alexander was on the ground, pulling out glue to start on the kite frame, while Brandy was right next to him, trying to help with the wooden sticks.


    Sprout, in the stroller, was iling his arms and legs, trying to stand up and make a break for it, but he wasn''t having much luck.


    Quinn handed him a piece of paper to keep him busy, but he immediately tried to eat it, making her snatch it back. He clung to the remaining half like it was a treasure.


    Quinn pried his little fingers open, sternly saying, "Open your hand!"


    Sprout puffed up his cheeks, trying to wriggle free, but Quinn was too strong and took the rest of the paper away.


    Frustrated, Sprout pped the stroller and started crying.


    Quinn felt a headacheing on. She dug through a nearby box and found a toy. "Here, y with this. Be good."


    Sprout took the toy without even looking and chucked it, hitting Brandy on the head.


    Brandy sat down, holding her forehead, tears welling up in her eyes.


    Quinn, annoyed, red at Sprout. "You little rascal, you''re asking for a spanking!"


    Sprout looked at Quinn with teary eyes, pouting and sniffling. His cries quieted down, but tears still streamed down his face.


    Alexander put down his stuff and held Brandy''s head. "Did it hurt?"


    Brandy shook her head, touched her forehead, and got up to keep working on her kite.


    She was always so well-behaved, making Quinn feel a pang of guilt.


    Maybe Brandy thought that being good was the only way her parents wouldn''t leave her. Olivia had told Brandy the same thing when they weren''t around. Quinn had also told Brandy to be good at home when they left.


    And when they came back to Brandy, it reinforced her belief that her good behavior had brought them back.


    Quinn and Alexander exchanged a knowing look but didn''t say anything.


    Alexander turned back to Brandy, patting her back. "Brandy, can you help me with something?"


    Brandy looked at him and then nodded happily.


    Alexander asked her to hold down the wooden sticks, and she did so with all her might, afraid she wasn''t using enough strength.


    Quinn sighed wistfully and looked back at Sprout.


    He was such a little troublemaker, already knowing how to sulk. Sprout bent over, sticking his head into the stroller.


    With no other choice, Quinn picked him up and put him on the ground, thinking she could give him an extra bathter.


    Sprout was immediately happy on the ground, crawling towards Alexander.


    But Sprout wasn''t going to help; he was going to cause trouble.


    As soon as he reached the kite, he grabbed a wooden stick and pulled hard, undoing Alexander''s work.


    Alexander''s forehead vein twitched, and he picked Sprout up and put him aside.


    Sprout crawled back again, and Alexander moved him again.


    Though Alexander was clearly frustrated, Quinn found it oddly heartwarming. She raised the camera and took another picture. Sprout was so mischievous; she would definitely use these photos to tease him when he grew up.


    With a click, the moment was captured forever.

 Chapter 1484

    In the photo, the background was all lush grass and bustling people. Alexander was holding Sprout, who was iling around like crazy, while Brandy watched with a big smile. Sprout was so tiny that Alexander could lift him with one hand, like a little rabbit. It looked pretty funny.


    After snapping the photo, Quinn ran over and scooped Sprout into her arms.


    "Alright, if you keep causing trouble, your Daddy''s gonna give you a smack," Quinn said, pinching Sprout''s cheek.


    It was Quinn and Alexander''s first time taking care of a kid. Even though it was sometimes maddening, they didn''t dare to hit Sprout.


    He was so small that hitting him could cause problems.


    Alexander had been busy all day. Quinn nced at the sky; the sun had already set, and most of the kite flyers had left. But Alexander was still at it.


    Quinn went from being excited to feeling pretty helpless.


    She couldn''t help but ask, "You two have been working on that kite all day. Is it done yet?"


    Alexander had been serious all day, making Quinn think he was crafting something amazing.


    He stood up from the ground, looked at his day''s work, and nodded proudly. "It''s done."


    Quinn walked over to check it out. It was huge, about as long as she and Alexander put together. "What is this?" she asked.


    Alexander said, "Buddy, can''t you tell?"


    "Well..."


    Before Quinn could finish, Alexander cut her off, "Alright, don''t say it. I think it''s fine. You''ll see once it flies."


    He then picked up the big kite from the ground and handed her the string. "Here, give it a try."


    Quinn rubbed her nose, holding the string, doubting whether the kite could fly.


    But since Alexander had worked on it all day, she couldn''t waste his effort. So, she took the string, took a deep breath, and said, "Alright, I''m gonna run." "Okay."


    She walked a few steps away, then ran towards the open field, pulling the string. After running for a bit, Alexander let go.


    The big kite slowly rose into the air. Alexander and Brandy stared at it, hoping it would fly higher.


    But the next second, it fell to the ground, being dragged by Quinn for quite a distance.


    Both Alexander and Quinn fell silent.


    Alexander picked up Sprout from the ground, held Brandy''s hand, and walked over. He picked up the kite and said, "It was a mistake. Run in a different direction." Quinn said, "Alright, let''s give it another shot."


    She changed direction and looked back at Alexander. "Ready?"


    Alexander nodded seriously.


    Quinn grabbed the kite string and started running again.


    This time the kite flew, but not very high. Quinn pulled the string, looking at the ugly kite in the sky. Honestly, it didn''t look like a dog at all.


    It didn''t resemble anything. Other people''s animal kites were three-dimensional, but this kite was t. The dog''s legs were paper strips glued on, and its head was drawn. When it flew, the four legs iled in the air and got tangled together. The big kite flew for less than a minute before crashing to the ground again.


    Seeing this, Brandy giggled.


    Sproutughed too.


    If Alexander hadn''t spent a whole day making this kite, Quinn would haveughed as well.


    She looked back at Alexander and teased, "Alexander, it isn''t working."


    The sun had just set, and the afterglow poured from behind Alexander, casting his silhouette as a dark shadow against the sunset. Quinn faced the light, her messy hair fluttering in the breeze. Alexander stared at her, captivated by the bright smile on her face. He hadn''t seen Quinn smile like that in years.


    Alexander stood against the light, and Quinn couldn''t see his face. But as she smiled, something pricked her heart.


    Even though they weren''t far apart, it felt like there was a world between them, like Alexander could disappear at any moment. Quinn''s smile gradually faded. She lowered her hand and walked towards Alexander.


    She picked up the kite from the ground and stood very close to him, trying to read his expression.


    "It''s okay. If we fail, we''ll make it again tomorrow," she said, looking at Alexander''s face, which showed no expression.


    Alexander smiled slightly. "No problem. It''s getting dark. Let''s go home."


    Quinn nodded, holding the kite. Even though it was a failure, it was a nice keepsake since Alexander made it himself. She put the kite in the trunk and got back in the car.


    The car became quiet. Alexander drove slowly on the road.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Brandy fell asleep in the swaying car, and Sprout, who had been causing trouble all day, also fell asleep in Quinn''s arms. Quinn ced Sprout on the seat next to her, holding him with her hand.


    The sky outside gradually darkened. She felt the car slowing down, being overtaken by several cars.


    Quinn opened her mouth, thought for a moment, and then closed it. Driving slowly was safer.


    Alexander held the steering wheel, his fingers trembling slightly, but his face showed no other signs of distress.


    Due to the slow speed, Quinn couldn''t help but fall asleep.


    When she woke up, they still hadn''t reached home.


    She rubbed her eyes and asked, "How much longer?"


    Alexander replied, "Almost there."


    "Alright."


    Quinn changed her sitting position and checked on Sprout, who was sleeping soundly.


    After a few more minutes, they finally arrived at Regal Riverside. Alexander got out of the car and carried Brandy from the front seat.


    It was already ten o''clock. Olivia, who had been waiting for them, had fallen asleep on the couch.


    Hearing the door open, she woke up in surprise. Seeing it was them, she sighed in relief. "Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy, you''re back. I''ll heat up the food."


    After putting the two kids down, Quinn rubbed her sore shoulders and looked up at Alexander. "Let''s go downstairs to eat."


    Alexander sat by the bed, looking at Brandy and Sprout, not saying a word. Quinn sat down beside him and tugged at his sleeve. "Aren''t you hungry?" Alexander seemed toe back to his senses and turned to look at Quinn.


    The next moment, he suddenly pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. Quinn was stunned. "What''s wrong with you?"


    "Don''t move. Let me hold you for a while." Alexander held her tightly, his chin nuzzling her neck, his breath warm against her skin, making her instinctively clutch his clothes. "What''s wrong with you?" Quinn asked softly.


    Alexander said softly, "I''m sorry. I failed to make the kite."


    "It''s just a kite. We can always make another one." Quinn was baffled by how someone so strong could be so upset over a failed kite.

 Chapter 1485

    Alexander didn''t say a word, just held her tight.


    They sat there in silence, like time had hit the pause button.


    "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy..." Olivia called out.


    She saw them hugging at the door, turned red, and quietly backed out.


    Quinn gently pushed Alexander away and grabbed his hand. "Let''s go eat first."


    Alexander shook his head. "You go ahead. I''m not hungry."


    "You haven''t eaten much today. Are you feeling okay?" Quinn asked, worry etched on her face. He''d been looking pale for days, but she couldn''t figure out what was wrong.


    Just as Alexander was about to answer, his phone rang. He nced at it and saw Calvin''s name.


    "It''s nothing. Go eat. I''ll take this call," Alexander said, patting Quinn''s arm before stepping out with his phone.


    Quinn noticed it was Calvin calling. Had they been in touch all this time?


    She got up to follow, but Alexander had already headed to the study.


    Olivia asked, "Mrs. Kennedy, are you still going to eat?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, let''s go."


    In the study, Calvin''s voice came through the phone. "Still alive?"


    Alexander smirked. "Thanks, Calvin. Still kicking. What''s up?"


    "Not much. Just thought I''d check in. Did you take the meds? How you feeling?" Calvin asked.


    It was obvious Calvin knew something was up. Alexander''s voice gave away his weakness.


    Alexander didn''t feel like chatting. He slumped on the sofa, rubbing his temples, looking exhausted.


    Calvin kept talking. "Just wanted to see if you''re handling it like you said you would. This stuff''s rough, huh? But it''s not the end of the world. The first two months are the worst. After that, it gets easier."


    The medicine was for treatment, not torture. Once Alexander got through the first two months, the rest of the year should be manageable.


    Plus, it was still in development, so it would get better over time. The problem was, no matter how much they improved it, the effect stayed the same. It could only reduce side effects, not increase resistance. Eventually, the body would get used to it, making it useless.


    Unless they found another medicine to rece it.


    Alexander sighed. "So, if I make it through two months, I can die in peace?"


    "Don''t talk like that! Even if you want to die, I won''t let you. You better stick around. If you make Quinn a widow, I''ll dig you up myself!" Calvin snapped.


    Alexander couldn''t help butugh at Calvin''s angry tone.


    Calvin continued, "Enough with the jokes. I''lle see you in two months. The Lynch family is in chaos over that tech, and Walter''s stirring up trouble. I need a way out, and you''ll help me then."


    Calvin was backed by the Lynch family. If they fell, everyone would turn on him. No matter how powerful he was in Municity, he couldn''t fight off enemies from all sides.


    Last time, Zeke personally came to Municity to check out the factory he and Aron had set up. He took everyone from the factory back to Arcturus, leaving Calvin''s ce a ghost town.


    Calvin had no ns to stick around. He wanted out ASAP. If he didn''t bail before the Lynch family crumbled, he''d be toast.


    Selling firearms meant he couldn''t just run to any country and hide.


    "Walter''s probably reached out to you, right?" Alexander asked.


    "How''d you know?" Calvin said, surprised.


    "I know Walter well enough to see his movesing," Alexander replied.


    Calvin went quiet.


    After a moment, he nodded. "Yeah, he contacted me, but I don''t trust him. Between him and you, I''d pick you. At least I know where we stand."


    Alexander stayed silent.


    Calvin exined that Walter wanted to team up. The best way to break free from the Lynch family was to build their own power.


    If they could create a force stronger than the Lynch family, both their enemies would think twice before messing with them.


    Walter couldn''t do it alone. Teaming up with Calvin would make it easier.


    Calvin had money, manpower, and weapons, but that wasn''t enough. They needed a strong ally in the beginning.


    Alexander could guess Walter''s n.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "So, Walter wants you to join Vesperia?" Alexander asked.


    Calvin was impressed. "You''re sharp! That''s exactly it. He said he''d make contact. With Future Era, they could take down the Lynch family. I thought he was trying to trick me."


    "You''re right," Alexander said. "If you join Vesperia, you have to prove your loyalty. Once you hand over the Lynch family''s secrets, there''s no turning back. If they tell you to destroy the Lynch family, you have to do it. You know what happens if you don''t, right?"


    Calvin was stunned.


    Once he handed over the secrets, he''d be forced to destroy the Lynch family. If he didn''t, Vesperia would spill the beans to the Lynch family, and they''de after him.


    After the Lynch family was gone, he''d be useless. He''d be a traitor, and everything he had would go to Walter.


    Calvin broke out in a cold sweat. "I knew it. Walter''s got big ambitions."


    Alexander sneered.


    Calvin had been beating around the bush just to bring this up. He didn''t want to look like an idiot.


    Alexander asked, "So, did the Lynch family develop a secret weapon?"


    Calvin replied, "How would I know? And even if I did, I wouldn''t tell you."


    He knew how serious this was. Trust no one. Not Walter, not Alexander.


    Alexander shrugged. "Alright, I''m hanging up."


    "Wait!" Calvin called out.


    "What now?" Alexander asked.


    Calvin coughed. "It''s nothing major. Given the situation, got any better ideas? Should I do something?"


    He hated all the sneaky stuff. When Walter came to him before, he almost fell for it.


    But now, after talking to Alexander, he realized the Lynch family couldn''t fall yet, or he''d be out on the streets.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1486

    Alexander rubbed his temples and let out a heavy sigh. "My head''s killing me. I can''t think straight."


    He wasn''t just talking about a regr headache; it felt like someone was drilling into his brain. It was all he could focus on. "You little punk," Calvin said, clicking his tongue. "I''ll check back in a couple of months then."


    "Alright," Alexander replied.


    Calvin added, "I''ll just hang tight for now. The Lynch family won''t be done for in two months." Alexander shot back, "As long as you don''t stir the pot, they won''t be done for in two years." Calvin clicked his tongue again. "Fine. I''m hanging up."


    He quickly ended the call. Alexander nced at his phone, tossed it onto the sofa, and grabbed the painkillers from the table.


    Calvin had initially thought about getting back at Alexander, telling him the side effects of the meds wouldst forever. If Alexander hadn''t needed Calvin''s help tonight, he wouldn''t have found out the side effects onlysted for the first two months.


    Calvin wasn''t dumb; he just didn''t like overthinking things. He knew how to weigh his options, otherwise, he would''ve teamed up with Walter long ago.


    When Alexander said he couldn''t think, it was a jab at the situation. He could think about it but chose not to tell Calvin.


    Quinn was waiting for Alexander downstairs. She had no appetite and asked Olivia to clear the table after just a few bites. Alexander spent the night in the study again.


    Quinn tossed and turned all night. At dawn, she went to the study, wanting to have a serious talk with Alexander.


    His odd behaviorst night had her puzzled, making her feel like something was definitely off.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    She hesitated at the door for a moment, and suddenly the study door swung open.


    Alexander walked out, saw Quinn, and paused. He checked his watch. "Up early. What''s up?"


    Quinn replied, "I couldn''t sleep. We need to talk."


    Alexander stared at her for a moment and then said, "Calvin called mest night."


    Quinn''s attention shifted immediately. "What happened with him?"


    Alexander replied, "Something came up on his end. I need to go to Municity. We''ll talk when I get back."


    Quinn frowned. "What happened? Is it serious?"


    Alexander ced his hands on her shoulders and said seriously, "Don''t worry. As long as I''m there, it won''t be serious."


    Quinn looked at him suspiciously. His eyes were sincere, and he didn''t seem to be lying.


    Alexander said, "Take good care of Sprout and Brandy at home. I''ll be back soon."


    "How long will you be gone?" Quinn asked.


    "Not long, a month or two," Alexander replied.


    Quinn pressed her lips tightly. This separation wasn''t as long as their previous ones, but they had only just reunited. Plus, Alexander had once gone missing in Municity for over a year without a word, leaving her deeply scarred. She wasn''t keen on Alexander going away again.


    But since it involved Calvin, she was torn. She didn''t know whether to stop Alexander or not. Alexander was about to pack his things when Quinn grabbed him. "Will youe back safely?" Alexander paused, looked back at her, and held her hand,forting her. "I will, I promise."


    Quinn opened her mouth but didn''t know what to say, so she silently let go of him.


    It seemed Alexander couldn''t stay idle at home. He had been gloomyst night, but now that he was going to Municity, he seemed normal again.


    Alexander left in a hurry, not even having breakfast. Quinn, worried, decided to follow him to the airport. She instructed Olivia to look after the two kids and went to the airport with Alexander, watching him enter the security checkpoint. Alexander had mulled it over before deciding to track down Calvin. At first, he didn''t leave because he figured there was no point in hiding. He couldn''t spend his life dodging Quinn; she''d find out eventually. Might as well dy it as long as possible.


    But Calvin''s callst night almost made him lose his cool. He decided to find Calvin, not to help him, but to settle the score.


    Calvin was pretty stoked knowing Alexander wasing. He was even a bit touched that Alexander wasing to help him despite being sick. After all, apart from their connection through Quinn, they didn''t have much of a rtionship. Calvin personally went to the airport to pick up Alexander, pacing back and forth at the arrival gate. He suddenly asked his subordinate, "Why does my left eye keep twitching?"


    "Boss, you''re gonna get rich!" his subordinate replied.


    Although Calvin didn''t believe in such superstitions, he liked hearing it. He patted the subordinate''s shoulder appreciatively. "Well said!"


    As they were chatting, the subordinate pointed excitedly at the airport. "Boss, Alexander''s here."


    Calvin turned to look. There weren''t many people at the airport, and he spotted Alexander right away. Alexander was wearing a dark shirt, pulling a ck suitcase, walking towards them.


    Calvin, wearing sunsses, pulled them down to get a better look. Alexander walked steadily, not showing any signs of weakness. But as he got closer, his pale, sicklyplexion became obvious.


    Calvin quickly pushed his sunsses back up. After all, he couldn''t wear a mask to pick Alexander up, so he had to use sunsses to cover his charming eyes.


    Alexander walked up to him and smiled. "Calvin."


    Then he sized up Calvin. He had only seen photos of Calvin and had never met him in person. Now, Calvin was wearing sunsses, revealing only his high nose bridge, thin lips, and well-defined features, indicating he was a handsome man. Calvin said, "Didn''t expect you toe so quickly. I thought I''d have to wait two months."


    As he spoke, he put his arm around Alexander''s shoulder. "Come on. The car''s outside."


    Alexander followed him and asked, "Is Walter still here?"


    "He left long ago. He''s now at the Lynch family''spany. Zeke arranged for him to join thepany, which caused dissatisfaction among others. Now the Lynch family is very lively, with all sorts of hidden figures appearing," Calvin revealed. Alexander was already aware of the situation. Following Zeke''s lead, some people had introduced their illegitimate children into the Lynch family. The family, alreadyrge, now had even more members with the addition of these children. The ongoingwsuits only added to the chaos. No wonder Calvin was feeling insecure and looking for a way out.


    After getting in the car, Calvin crossed his legs and asked Alexander, "Did youe here to avoid Quinn or to help me?"


    Alexander smiled faintly. "Of course, I''m here to help you. If I wanted to hide, I wouldn''t need toe here."


    "That''s true. So, what do you have in mind?" Calvin asked.


    Alexander said, "I thought carefully about what you saidst night. If you want topletely break free without relying on anyone, the best way is..."


    Calvin stared at him intently. "What is it?"


    Alexander replied, "Change your identity and abandon everything you have now."


    Calvin was slightly stunned. "You want me to hide?"


    Alexander analyzed, "Of course not. Just change your identity. You''ve been wearing a mask for years, and not many people know what you look like. With a new identity, you can start over."

 Chapter 1487

    Calvin still wasn''t totally sold on Alexander''s idea. Starting fresh with a new identity meant ditching everything he had now.


    ''I''ve got so many people counting on me. How can you expect me to just leave them behind? If I lose everything, I''ll still be at the mercy of others,'' Calvin thought. Alexander chimed in, "I found this deserted ind once."


    "And?" Calvin asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Alexander went on, "I think it''s perfect. It''s outside any country''s control andpletely empty. You could move your people there."N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Calvin eyed him skeptically. "You mean, just leave them to survive on their own?"


    "Of course not. Wouldn''t you develop it?" Alexander countered. "Your people are all ouws. No country will take them in. The best way is to find a ce to settle them. Once you develop that ind, it bes a small country. Their families can live there too, and it will be easier to control them."


    Calvin squinted, rubbing his chin. Suddenly, the idea didn''t seem so bad.


    He thought, ''Settling them there, along with their families, would make it easier for me to control them. This bond would be stronger than any mary interests. A deserted ind is called deserted because no one lives there. But once it bes popted and forms a society, it''s no longer deserted; it''s my empire! I could change my identity outside and do whatever I wanted, with a group of people under me as my weapon. This way, I wouldn''t need to rely on anyone!'' So, he nodded appreciatively. "Your method is feasible. When do we start?"


    Alexander said, "This is a big project. While developing the ind, we should also have a backup n. Develop several inds and spread the people out. If anything unexpected happens, we can ensure we won''t lose everything." "That makes sense. How much do you estimate it will cost?" Calvin asked.


    Alexander replied, "One or two hundred billion dors."


    Calvin''s eyelid twitched. He suspected Alexander was after his money. If his ounts weren''t so secretive, he would have suspected Alexander had checked his assets.


    "Isn''t that a bit much?" Calvin asked.


    If he invested all his money into those inds, what if anything happened? By then, what should he do?


    Alexander chuckled. "Are you not nning to make money in the future? This is called future investment, also a backup n for you. Think it over. If you find it unfeasible, you can coborate with Walter." Calvin definitely wouldn''t coborate with Walter. If he did, he feared he''d lost everything.


    Inparison, Alexander''s proposal seemed more reliable.


    Calvin pondered for a long time. Finally, he pped his thigh. "Alright, let''s do it. But this must be done secretly. I can''t be involved. Who will handle it?"


    Alexander turned to him, giving him a sincere look.


    Calvin understood his look. "You?"


    Alexander said, "If you trust me, I happen to have nothing else to do right now."


    Calvin thought, ''Alexander is definitely more reliable than Walter, especially since we have Quinn as a mutual connection.''


    Unless he didn''t want to be with Quinn anymore, Alexander wouldn''t dare to mess with Calvin.


    Based on the information Calvin had, Alexander was unlikely to do such a thing. Entrusting the task to Alexander would definitely be better than anyone else he could find.


    Calvin sighed, "Alright, I''ll trust you this time."


    Alexander grinned, "You have no reason to doubt me. Even if I mess up, it won''t ruin your life, just cost you some money."


    Calvin thought, ''Just some money? Two hundred billion dors is no small amount!''


    If Alexander screwed up, all his hard work over the years would go down the drain.


    So, Calvin said, "I''ll give you one hundred billion dors first. Start with that, and I''ll give you the restter."


    Alexander shook his head. "It''s best to give it all at once. After that, you shouldn''t interfere. Just pretend you don''t know. Such arge transaction is troublesome and easily attracts attention. To avoid any future idents, the best way is to transfer the money before the project starts."


    Calvin snapped, "Can''t youe up with one hundred billion dors?"


    Alexander replied calmly, "No, I can''t. I can''t evene up with a thousand dors right now. Quinn bought my ne ticket."


    Calvin looked at him, puzzled. "How did you end up like this?"


    Alexander sighed, staring out the window. "Because I made a mistake."


    Calvin snorted. "When we get there, I''ll give you the ount. You figure out a way to transfer the money discreetly, without attracting anyone''s attention."


    Alexander smiled warmly, "Okay, Calvin."


    But Calvin felt a shiver run down his spine at Alexander''s tone.


    After returning, Calvin handed Alexander two USB drives.


    Alexander checked them.


    The im of two hundred billion dors was an exaggeration. The total amount in all the ounts was just over one hundred eighty billion dors, still ten billion short. It was just the two of them in the room, but Calvin was still wearing sunsses.


    After checking the ounts, Alexander looked at Calvin.


    Calvin felt a bit uneasy under Alexander''s gaze, unsure why. It was as if Alexander''s eyes were silently using him of being a pauper.


    Calvin said, "That''s all there is. There''s no more."


    Alexander logged out of the ounts and closed theputer. "Alright, I''ll figure out the rest."


    Calvin felt something was off. "What basis do you have for saying it will definitely cost this much? Two hundred billion dors, not a penny less?"


    Alexander said indifferently, "This is just my initial estimate. It might cost even moreter."


    Calvin demanded, "This is all the money. Not a penny more. I''ve given it all to you. You figure it out. I want to see results in a year."


    Alexander didn''t say much, showing a slightly troubled expression. "I''ll do my best."


    Calvin stood up. "You just got here. Take a good rest. I have other things to do."


    With that, he left the room.


    After Calvin left, Alexander rubbed the two USB drives in his hand. He took out his phone and called Sean.


    Sean answered excitedly. "Mr. Kennedy! What can I do for you?"


    Alexander asked, "How many of our people are left?"


    "Most of them are still here. What''s up?" Sean asked.


    Alexander replied, "Find something for them to do."


    "What kind of thing?" Sean asked.


    Alexander said, "Clearingnd."


    Sean was a bit troubled. "Mr. Kennedy, are you asking us to farm?"


    Alexander said, "I''ll tell you moreter."

 Chapter 1488

    The cash was still sitting in Calvin''s ount, and Alexander needed to move it out first.


    Alexander had quoted a whopping two hundred billion dors, making a cool hundred billion in pure profit. He could even snag an ind for his crew with that kind of dough.


    Calvin had thought about the chance that Alexander might pull a fast one on him, but he never imagined Alexander would actually make bank from this. In Calvin''s mind, Alexander wasn''t exactly hurting for cash. Quinn checked the time and gave Alexander a ring.


    "You there?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah," Alexander replied.


    "Did you meet Calvin?" Quinn pressed on.


    "Yep," Alexander confirmed.


    Quinn let out a sigh of relief. As long as Alexander had met Calvin, there shouldn''t be any curveballs likest time.


    She asked again, "Did something happen to Calvin?"


    "Not really, he just wants to give us a gift. It''s just too big for him to handle alone," Alexander exined.


    "What kind of gift is that hard to handle?" Quinn naturally thought of something massive, like a ne or a ship. Alexander said, "He gave us a hundred billion dors."


    Quinn went silent. Calvin was reallyying it on thick, just handing over a hundred billion like it was nothing. No wonder Alexander had to go in person to get it.


    Alexander reminded Quinn, "Don''t bring this up with him for now. He wants to surprise you. Don''t spoil it." His words snuffed out Quinn''s curiosity. She responded, "Alright, got it."


    Alexander ended the call, tossed his phone aside, stood up, and walked to the window to take in the view.


    From his spot in the skyscraper, he could see the bustling cityscape nearby, but beyond that, it was pretty barren.


    The contrast made the prosperity here seem out of ce, like an isted ind in the ocean.


    Transferring this money without drawing attention would take some finesse.


    Meanwhile, Walter got a call and then chuckled.


    "Alexander went to see Calvin," Walter murmured.


    It seemed Calvin had ditched the idea of working with Walter and turned to Alexander. But that was expected; Calvin wasn''t easy to fool. "Keep tabs on Alexander. Let me know right away if he makes any moves," Walter instructed over the phone.


    Then, he hung up and tossed the phone on the table.


    Walter looked around the vi, which Alexander had previously left for him.


    He suddenly stood up and walked out. "Molly, help me pack my stuff."


    "Going on a trip?" Molly asked.


    "I''m moving," Walter replied.


    Quinn went back to her routine of taking care of the kids. Abigail had been MIAtely, and Quinn had no clue what she was up to.


    Quinn was swamped with the two kids and didn''t have time to track down Abigail.


    When she finally had a moment, Quinn called Abigail, who told her she was out on a field trip.


    "A field trip? By yourself?" Quinn asked.


    "Of course not, Elliot is with me. You''ve met him," Abigail replied.


    Abigail filled Quinn in on her and Elliot. Last time, Abigail had invited Elliot over to deal with Alvin and Nancy. After meeting Elliot, they were pretty happy with him and temporarily stopped pushing for marriage. But Alvin couldn''t sit still and started to approach Elliot''s parents.


    He tried every trick in the book to see them. At first, they were polite, butter they straight-up kicked him out, and eventually, they refused to see him at all.


    But Alvin wasn''t the type to throw in the towel easily. He always found a way to meet them.


    When Atticus Sullivan, Elliot''s dad, was out socializing, Alvin would pop up.


    Alvin would also show up at Atticus''spany or even block him at his house. When Atticus traveled, Alvin would book the same flight. The guy was relentless. The Sullivan family never expected Alvin from the Vanderbilt family to be so persistent, sticking to them like glue.


    Abigail felt embarrassed and decided to go on a field trip.


    After hearing the whole story, Quinn couldn''t help but admire Alvin''s persistence.


    She asked worriedly, "What about Elliot? What''s his take on all this?"


    "What can he say? We''ve built a solid friendship now, and he''s naturally on my side," Abigail replied.


    "Alright," Quinn said.


    After chatting a bit more, Quinn hung up and went to feed Sprout.


    Sprout was starting to eat solid food, and Quinn had to personally pick out the ingredients.


    While cooking with Olivia in the kitchen, Quinn turned around and saw Sprout shakily standing up from the stroller.


    Quinn was stunned and immediately dropped what she was holding. But Sprout sat back down after standing for just a couple of seconds.


    Seeing Sprout stand up touched Quinn deeply.


    She carried Sprout to the sofa, keeping a close eye on him, and took out her phone to record his first time standing up.


    But on the sofa, Sprout didn''t want to stand up; he preferred crawling.


    He crawled onto Quinn, grabbing her clothes for a hug.


    Quinn sighed, put away her phone, and realized she couldn''t record it.


    Since Sprout could stand up, it meant he was close to walking, as he was almost a year old.


    Quinn did the math and realized that by the time Alexander got back, Sprout would be one year old.


    She touched Sprout''s head and suddenly remembered attending Peanut''s hundred-day celebration. Peanut was just a baby then, and now he must be seven years old. She hadn''t seen Peanut in a long time and wondered what he looked like now.


    If her first child were still around, they would be in school by now.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Reflecting on the past filled Quinn with an inexplicable sadness.


    Although Alexander was gone, Quinn didn''t feel as lonely as before. She could still video call Alexander at night.


    When they video called, Sprout was in her arms, Brandy was beside her, and they barely fit on the small screen.


    Alexander looked at them on the screen, smiling gently.


    Quinn told him, "Sprout can stand up now."


    "Really? That''s amazing," Alexander said.


    "You''re too perfunctory," Quinn replied.


    Alexanderughed. "I didn''t see it, so I can''t feel your excitement. Next time, send me a video."


    "Just wait until youe back and see for yourself," Quinn said.


    "Alright," Alexander agreed.


    Quinn ended the video call and took the two kids to bed.


    The next morning, Quinn noticed Olivia hadn''t prepared breakfast. She paused and then went to Olivia''s room and knocked on the door.


    After a while, Olivia opened the door, looking a bit pale.


    "Sorry, Ms. Kennedy, I caught a cold yesterday and couldn''t get up today," Olivia exined.


    "It''s okay. I just noticed you didn''t get up today, so I came to check. Since you''re sick, take a good rest," Quinn said.


    Olivia said, "I''m getting old, Ms. Kennedy. There''s something I want to tell you."


    Seeing her hesitant look, Quinn already knew what she was going to say.

 Chapter 1489

    They headed to the living room and started chatting about Olivia quitting her job.


    "I''m really sorry, Ms. Kennedy. I didn''t want to leave, but my family''s been pushing me toe back. I''ve thought it over. I''m getting older, and I barely see my family all year. Plus, I''m worried I won''t be able to take care of you all properly," Olivia exined.


    Quinn nodded, understanding. Olivia was in her fifties, almost sixty. It made sense for her to step down.


    "I get it," Quinn said.


    "I can stick around until you find a new nanny," Olivia offered.


    "It''s fine. If you need to go, just let me know," Quinn reassured her.


    Olivia sighed. Going back meant looking after kids and family without getting paid. It wasn''t much different from here.


    But money isn''t everything; Olivia missed her family.


    Over the years at Regal Riverside, she''d saved up quite a bit, enough for retirement.


    When she first started, she made $50,000 a month. After Alexander left and she was asked to house-sit, her sry bumped up to $70,000. With no expenses for food and lodging, she had saved up millions. Even though Quinn hadn''t decided on hiring another nanny, she let Olivia go first.


    Before Olivia came, Quinn managed all the housework herself.


    Plus, taking care of the kids personally gave her a sense of involvement and peace of mind. She didn''t have much else to do now, so she could stay home and look after the kids. Brandy was easy to handle, but Sprout was a bit of a handful.


    Olivia stayed for two more days before packing up and leaving. Her daughter-inw came to pick her up and brought some local goodies for Quinn.


    Watching them leave, Quinn felt a bit emotional.


    After Olivia left, Quinn took care of the two kids on her own. Half a monthter, she realized she had overestimated herself.


    Early in the morning, before she finished cooking, Sprout woke up upstairs. Brandy, not finding Quinn, went to the bathroom to wash up and got water all over herself.


    After dealing with them, Quinn had to clean the house. She put Sprout in the baby carriage, but he kept trying to climb out.


    Brandy tried to stop him, but Sprout and the baby carriage toppled over, and Sprout tumbled out. Both of themy on the floor, crying loudly.


    Quinn was on the verge of breaking down.


    Whenever she put Sprout on the floor, he''d stand up and then fall, crying loudly.


    In the end, Quinn decided to hire a nanny.


    She contacted a housekeeping agency and asked them to rmend the two best nannies.


    The next day, two nannies showed up, both older and experienced with kids.


    Quinn looked at them. One was named Yasmin, and the other Briar. They both seemed friendly.


    "I only need one. What are your strengths?" Quinn asked.


    Yasmin said, "I''ve been a nanny since I was 25, so that''s fifteen years now. I''ve worked for many wealthy families. I''m in good health. And I have certificates in advanced nutrition and maternal and child care." Quinn looked at Briar.


    "I don''t have as many certificates, but I''m healthy and experienced with kids. I raised my three children and four grandkids. Thepany rated me as an excellent housekeeper because of high client evaluations," Briar exined. Quinn was a bit torn, her gaze shifting between them.


    Yasmin looked professionally trained, standing straight with confidence radiating from her.


    Briar, on the other hand, seemed less confident, standing there cautiously. She hadn''t expected to be rmended here, as she hadn''t worked long-term for wealthy families.


    Wealthy people often valued certificates and credentials, and she was usually dismissed.


    Quinn looked at Yasmin. "Since you''ve worked for so many wealthy families, why are you here?"


    Yasmin was taken aback and chuckled awkwardly. "Because thest family moved away."


    "And the one before that?" Quinn pressed.


    "Well..." Yasmin hesitated.


    Before she could think of a response, Quinn said, "Alright, you can go. Briar stays."


    Yasmin was stunned, finding it hard to believe that Quinn had chosen the one without any certificates.


    "What''s wrong? Do you have something to say?" Quinn asked.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, please reconsider. I''m a professional," Yasmin said.


    Quinn shook her head slightly. "Sorry, I feel a connection with Briar. I''ll cover your cab fare."


    Yasmin gritted her teeth in frustration but didn''t insist, not wanting to upset Quinn.


    She took her things and left.


    Briar, surprised to be chosen, looked at Quinn, too excited to speak.


    Quinn exined the tasks: cooking, cleaning, and asionally helping with the kids. Nothing special.


    Briar agreed and said she could move in the next day.


    Brandy, used to Olivia, felt awkward around Briar and clung to Quinn, avoiding Briar.


    They needed time to get used to each other. Quinn didn''t force it, as long as Briar could handle Sprout.


    Most of the time, it was Sprout who gave Quinn headaches.


    Alexander had been in Municity for a month. Probably because she was too busy, Quinn felt the month had flown by.


    She counted the days and figured Alexander should be back in another month.


    The Lynch family was in chaos. The Future Era issue was unresolved, and Walter''s arrival had made things worse.


    However, since Walter was already there, there was no reason to send him away. Besides, he was doing well at thepany, which was Zeke''s reason to keep him.


    Zeke had been troubled by the Future Era issue, but Walter came up with an idea.


    He suggested not opposing people bringing others into the Lynch family, but only if they were useful. Everyone brought in would be given tasks. Those whopleted them could stay and officially be part of the Lynch family. It was all about ability, not connections.


    If they couldn''tplete the tasks, they would be sent away. This way, the Lynch family could grow and recruit talent. The tasks could be done by any means, and sess meant bing part of the family.


    Zeke gave Walter a thumbs up. This way, they could filter out the freeloaders and bring Walter back into the family, killing two birds with one stone.


    After a meeting with his brothers, the decision was unanimously approved, and the Lynch family''s internal strife calmed down a bit.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    After learning Alexander was in Municity, Zeke started thinking about him again. He wished both sons would help him. With their help, the Lynch family would surely thrive!

 Chapter 1490

    Zeke called Alexander every single day until, finally, Alexander had enough and blocked him. When Zeke found out he was blocked, he was livid.


    "This is ridiculous!" Zeke shouted, his face turning beet red as he stormed around the room. Walter popped in and, seeing Zeke''s rage, asked, "What''s up?"


    Zeke snapped, "What do you think?"


    Walter got it right away; only Alexander could get Zeke this worked up.


    Zeke ranted to Walter, "Can you believe it? He actually blocked me. I''m his dad, for crying out loud. How could he do this?"


    Walter smirked and said casually, "Alexander''s been hanging with Calvin for a month now. Is he nning to stay in Municity?"


    Zeke suddenly felt something was off. Alexander and Calvin had no history. Even though Calvin was Quinn''s brother, they weren''t exactly tight.


    "You''ve got a point. They''re always together. Are they up to something?" Zeke wondered out loud.


    Walter shrugged, "I have no idea. I''ve never met Calvin. He grew up with the Lynch family. You should know him better. If you don''t know what he''s up to, I sure don''t." Zeke didn''t know Calvin at all. The only person close to Calvin was his dad, Kieran Lynch. After Kieran died, Calvin was pretty much on his own.


    So, Calvin might not be tied down by the Lynch family. He was a wild card and could go rogue anytime.


    Thinking about Calvin''s arms factory and Alexander''s refusal to return to the Lynch family, Zeke realized their partnership was probably bad news. He took a deep breath, sat down, and started thinking hard.


    Walter kept stirring the pot. "Don''t stress too much. Alexander''s your son. Blood''s thicker than water, unlike Wayne."


    The mention of Wayne made Zeke feel even worse.


    He knew how Wayne had died.


    Even though Alexander didn''t directly kill him, he was involved. Walter brought up Alexander''s so-called sister and brother-inw, along with all that old drama. Alexander''s hidden side started toe into focus for Zeke.


    For the first time in a long while, Zeke felt a pang of panic.


    He looked at Walter and asked, "Is there really no chance for you two to make up?"


    Zeke could see Walter was trying to stir things up, but he was also speaking the truth.


    So Zeke wasn''t mad. He just regretted that Walter and Alexander couldn''t team up against amon enemy.


    Walter grinned. "Mr. Lynch, what are you talking about? We''ve always been on good terms."


    Zeke said, "Don''t give me that. I know exactly what your rtionship is."


    Walter just smiled and stayed quiet.


    He had nned to work with Calvin, but since Calvin wasn''t cooperating, there was no reason to hold back. Now that Calvin had nted a seed of doubt in Zeke''s mind, it was only a matter of time before it grew.


    If Alexander couldn''t protect Calvin, how would he exin it to Quinn?


    Thinking about it that way, it was kind of funny.


    The next day, Calvin got a call from Zeke, telling him toe back to Arcturus. At such a crucial time, it couldn''t be anything good.


    Calvin immediately called Alexander to fill him in.


    "Deal with this fast. Zeke''s getting suspicious of me. I knew this day woulde!" Calvin said, mming the table in frustration.


    Even from faraway Municity, Calvin had a lot of power, with people and weapons at his disposal. He could go rogue at any moment. With Kieran gone, the Lynch family would definitely be wary of him. Alexander frowned. "Sounds like someone tipped Zeke off."


    "You think it was Walter?" Calvin asked.


    "You''ve got Zeke''s people mixed in with yours. Zeke knows everything you do. You haven''t done anything out of the ordinary, so he wouldn''t call you back for no reason," Alexander pointed out. Calvin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He knew Zeke had his spies among Calvin''s crew. It wasn''t just Zeke; the Lynch family had their own moles too.


    So he usually only trusted a few close confidants and kept important stuff on the down-low. After all these years, he''d learned to be cautious.


    The fact that Zeke only found out about the factory Calvin and Aron secretly built now showed that his trusted subordinates weren''t traitors. So, as Alexander said, someone must have been stirring the pot; otherwise, Zeke wouldn''t be suspicious.


    "I didn''t y ball with him, so now he''s turning on me?" Calvin spected.


    Alexander nodded. "Yep."


    Calvin was momentarily speechless at his bluntness.


    Alexander continued, "Once you go back, it might be hard to return. They might rece you."


    Calvin snorted, "Looks like I was right to prepare. The Lynch family is all about bloodlines, so I rarely bother going back. Now they want to cut me out."


    Alexander reasoned, "I guess Kieran had you manage things to keep his brothers from fighting over them. He trusted you, someone outside the family. He probably knew you well and had faith in you. Now that he''s gone, your credibility in the Lynch family is zero, and the resources you control are like a ticking time bomb. They want to take it for themselves, but they haven''t picked your recement yet. You can go back and watch the drama unfold."


    Calvin thought his analysis made sense. "Alright, but we need to speed up the n. At this rate, we might not have two years left."


    Alexander nodded slightly.


    He also advised Calvin not to argue with them once he got there. If they wanted to rece him, he shouldn''t fight it; otherwise, his life would be in danger.


    Calvin said, "Got it."


    Alexander added, "Keep an eye on Walter."


    Calvin paused, looked back at him, said nothing, and then walked away.


    No matter how this yed out, Walter wouldn''t get Calvin''s position. So, Walter''s only move in calling Calvin back was to find a way to eliminate him, removing an enemy and causing trouble for Alexander. Since Calvin wouldn''t cooperate with him, he wouldn''t let Calvin and Alexander team up either.


    Walter was always determined to mess with Alexander, even if it meant going against someone he once lived with.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1491

    Calvin packed his stuff and left Municity after a couple of days.


    Before he took off, he borrowed two million bucks from Alexander. Trusting Alexander, he handed over his entire ount, leaving himself with zilch. Alexander was managing Calvin''s ount but couldn''t touch the funds directly. The employees'' paychecks came from a separate Lynch family ount.


    Feeling a bit guilty, Alexander slipped Calvin an extra twenty grand.


    Truth be told, Alexander wasn''t rolling in dough either. After a few transactions, Calvin''s money ended up in Quinn''s ount.


    Quinn never bothered to check her ount. With so much cash just sitting there, she was toozy to count it and had no clue about the exact amount.


    Knowing Alexander couldn''t even afford a ne ticket, Calvin was really touched when he got that extra twenty grand.


    The day after Calvin left, a medical scientist showed up to see Alexander.


    This guy was the professor in charge of researching a special drug. He came to see Alexander in person.


    Alexander was kinda surprised.


    The professor got straight to the point. "Calvin sent me to help you."


    Alexander eyed him suspiciously. "You trying to make me a guinea pig?"


    The professor shook his head seriously. "Nope, he asked me to see if we could whip up a special drug to keep you alive longer."


    Calvin''s exact instructions were to see if Alexander could be saved or if a special drug could be made just for him.


    The drug Alexander was on would stop working once antibodies developed, with a conservative estimate of ten years. But, depending on the person, it could be as short as five to eight years. After thinking it over, Alexander decided to go with the professor.


    He figured he had nothing to lose; every extra day was a win.


    They headed to a remote ce in the mountains, with zero signal. Before going in, he sent a message to Quinn and then went off the grid.


    Quinn couldn''t reach him by phone; all she had was his message saying he was heading to the mountains and might not have a signal.


    Alexander didn''t say how long he''d be gone.


    Quinn tried calling every three days for half a month but couldn''t get through to Alexander.


    Finally, she gave in and called Calvin.


    Calvin was back with the Lynch family. They wanted him to stick around because their business was tanking after the Future Era incident, and they needed his help.


    But Calvin was pretty useless in the office; he couldn''t even make a PowerPoint presentation. So, it was just ame excuse they came up with.


    What really bugged Calvin was that they put him in the samepany as Walter.


    On his first day at work, Calvin rocked up in sunsses and got into it with the department head for refusing to take them off. That little spat cost him half a month''s sry.


    When Quinn called, Calvin was goofing off in the office, still stuck on a PowerPoint presentation he''d been working on for a week. The department head came by to hassle him again, and they almost threw down. Quinn''s call saved the department head''s skin.


    Calvin answered, still fuming. "What do you want?"


    Quinn, sensing his mood, asked gently, "Calvin, is everything okay?"


    Calvin snapped, "I''m fine, just dealing with some morons!"


    The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Even though he promised Alexander he''d stick it out, dealing with these idiots every day was pushing his limits.


    He took a deep breath to calm down. "What do you need?"


    Quinn asked, "Aren''t you with Alexander? He told me half a month ago he was heading to the mountains, and then I lost contact. Didn''t you go with him?"


    Calvin was stunned, and his anger red up again. "You haven''t called me in ages, and now you call to ask about Alexander? Didn''t you say I''m your favorite person?" Quinn exined, "I thought you might be busy."


    Calvin retorted, "You''re worried about me being busy, but not when you call Alexander."


    Quinn went quiet for a moment before saying, "I''m sorry, Calvin."


    Calvin sighed, "Forget it. He''s with me, so don''t worry. Just because you can''t reach him doesn''t mean it''s the end of the world. Do you really think Alexander would run off with another woman? If he did, I''d be the first to break his legs!" Quinn rified, "That''s not what I meant."


    It had been half a month, not just a day.


    But saying that would only rile Calvin up more, so Quinn kept it to herself.


    Calvin said, "Alexander''s fine; I''m the one with problems. Bye!"


    The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. If Alexander hadn''t warned him in advance, he would''ve gone to settle the score with Zeke.


    Walter knew all about Calvin''s situation in the department.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    He couldn''t help but find it amusing. "Calvin''s surprisingly patient. I underestimated him."


    The department head stood in front of him with swollen eyes. Calvin might have been patient, but he was the one getting beat up.


    Despite knowing Calvin''s ruthless background in Municity, the department head had to act ignorant and provoke him every few days, which nearly scared him to death.


    Walter twirled a pen between his fingers and said calmly, "Don''t worry. This isn''t Municity. Keep pushing him. As long as he doesn''t kill you, you''re making progress." The department head fell silent.


    Walter smiled thoughtfully, looking into the distance.


    Calvin had returned, but Walter couldn''t act directly. He had to keep stirring the pot between Calvin and the Lynch family. Once they turned on each other, Walter''s goal would be in the bag.

 Chapter 1492

    After the call ended, Quinn got another one from Abigail.


    Abigail was back in Amber Bay and practically bursting with excitement. "Quinn, my dad is amazing!"


    Quinn was confused. "What are you talking about?"


    Abigail filled her in. "Remember how I told you he kept bugging Elliot''s parents? Well, guess what happened?"


    "What?" Quinn asked, curious.


    "They agreed! I can''t believe it. It''s awesome. My marriage situation is finally sorted out," Abigail said, her voice brimming with excitement.


    Quinn could tell Abigail was relieved to be free from the pressure to get married. With a fake husband who was on the same page, how could she not be happy?


    ''As long as Elliot doesn''t get a boyfriend, Abigail can live happily ever after, with a buddy to paint with,'' Quinn thought.


    "Congrats!" Quinn said. "So, when''s the big day?"


    "We''re not rushing, but Alvin is. He wants us to get the paperwork done tomorrow. But Elliot''s parents want to pick a good day, have the wedding first, and then sign the marriage agreement," Abigail exined. Quinn couldn''t help but frown, feeling like Abigail was treating marriage like a game. Maybe Abigail didn''t think marriage was important, so she didn''t take it to heart. Quinn sighed, not knowing what to say. "Let me know when you get married," Quinn finally said.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t forget you. You have toe," Abigail replied.


    "Okay," Quinn agreed.


    Abigail hung up and happily rode her motorcycle home.


    Alvin was also busy with Abigail''s wedding. Elderly folks always needed something to keep them upied.


    He had already sent Abigail''s birthdate to the Sullivan family. After nudging them, he pulled Abigail aside to remind her.


    "You''re getting married soon, yet you still run around all day. You don''t even care about your own marriage. I''ve called someone to pick a good day, so don''t run offter. Stay with me," Alvin said. Abigail flopped onto the sofa. "Alright, I know. It''s just a wedding. Why are you so excited? People might think it''s you getting married."


    Alvin was taken aback for a moment, then yfully pped her on the forehead. "You brat, watch your mouth!"


    Abigail covered her head and red at Alvin. "I''m an adult now, and you still hit me!"


    "You''re growing in age but not in wisdom. No matter how old you get, you''re still my daughter. If you don''t behave, I''ll give you a spanking," Alvin retorted.


    Abigail rolled her eyes, hugged a pillow, and turned away in a huff.


    Alvin looked at the date, the 6th of next month. He thought it was good, but it had to be approved by the Sullivan family.


    During this time, Abigail was stuck at home. Alvin said she needed to calm down.


    Meanwhile, Quinn felt much more rxed after hiring Briar. She patiently waited for Alexander to return.


    After discussions between the two families, Abigail''s wedding date was finally set for the 20th of next month, giving them a whole month to prepare. Quinn wasn''t sure whether to congratte Abigail, knowing she was the only one who truly understood the situation between Abigail and Elliot. Alexander returned after more than half a month, almost three months instead of the promised two.


    When he came back, Quinn was teaching Sprout how to walk.


    Alexander stood at the door, watching Sprout wobble and fall into Quinn''s arms after a few steps.


    Quinn patted Sprout''s head. "Good job, buddy. Come this way."


    She turned Sprout around and then noticed Alexander standing at the door. Her face lit up with joy.


    Alexander put down his suitcase, and Briar, with perfect timing, went to help him with his luggage.


    As Briar headed to the inner room, Alexander walked up to Quinn. "Where''s Olivia?"


    Quinn replied, "She resigned. Said she was getting old and her health wasn''t great. This is Briar, the new nanny I hired."


    Alexander nodded, not saying much. He sat down beside her and picked up Sprout. "Sprout can walk now?"


    "Yeah, but he''s still a bit wobbly," Quinn said.


    Alexander lifted Sprout above his head, looking at him and sighing. "He''s growing up so fast."


    Quinn watched Alexander. Sprout could walk now, but Alexander didn''t seem as thrilled as she had imagined. Instead, he seemed to have mixed feelings. "Are you not happy?" she asked.


    Alexander put Sprout down and gave a faint smile. "Of course I''m happy."


    "Then why do you look so worried?" Quinn pressed.


    "He''s already this mischievous. I''m worried you won''t be able to handle him when he gets older," Alexander exined.


    "Isn''t that what you''re here for? You can discipline him," Quinn said.


    Alexander chuckled. "He''s so little, and you''re already thinking about disciplining him."


    Quinn blinked. In her memory, her brothers got spanked a lot when they were young. If they misbehaved, they definitely got punished.


    She didn''t dwell on the topic, as Sprout was still young.


    "Did you resolve everything with Calvin?" she asked.


    Alexander''s smile faded, and he shook his head slightly. "No. It''s not easy."


    "What happened?" Quinn asked.


    "He was called back by Zeke and is now working at a mediapany," Alexander exined.


    Quinn didn''t think it was a big deal. Municity was even more dangerous. "If he can live a peaceful life, that''s good."


    "That''s unlikely. Calvin has made too many enemies. Without power, he''ll be devoured," Alexander said seriously.


    "What should we do then?" Quinn asked, worried.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll figure something out. You don''t need to stress about it." Alexander ced Sprout in her arms and asked, "Where''s Brandy?" "She''s napping in her room," Quinn replied.


    "Have you eaten?" Alexander asked.


    "Yeah, a while ago," Quinn said.


    Alexander got up to take a shower. Quinn continued teaching Sprout to walk. Despite many attempts, he still couldn''t walk steadily and needed support. Briar said he was too young and would need at least another six months to walk on his own.


    Quinn felt deted, realizing she would have to carry him every day. Sprout always tried to stand up when she was alone.


    Quinn took him upstairs, nning to put him down for a nap.


    However, with Alexander back, she decided not to sleep herself. After putting Sprout to sleep, she left the bedroom.


    She instructed Briar to keep an eye on him and let her know when he woke up.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Briar agreed readily.


    Quinn went to the study, where the door was open. Alexander, in a bathrobe, was sitting at theputer, looking serious.


    She hesitated for a moment, then knocked and walked in.


    Alexander looked up at her. "What''s up?"


    Quinn walked to the desk and stared at him. "What are you working on?"


    "Handling Calvin''s situation," Alexander said, typing on the keyboard. Two billion dors was no small amount, and it would take time to transfer all the funds.

 Chapter 1493

    So, it was just Calvin''s private ount. No biggie how much Alexander transferred, as long as he didn''t go overboard with it.


    If the Lynch family could track Calvin''s ounts, they''d figure it out even if Alexander was sneaky about it.


    But tracing Calvin''s private ount shouldn''t be a walk in the park. So, for now, as long as they y it cool, the Lynch family won''t be snooping around Calvin''s ount. Without knowing the exact amount, even if they found an empty ountter, they wouldn''t guess Calvin was nning to bail. Seeing Alexander was swamped, Quinn decided not to bug him and left.


    She had wanted to ask if Alexander had been up to this when he was hiding out in the study a couple of months ago. Now it seemed pretty likely.


    Calvin got called back, and the Lynch family wanted to strip him of his power, which got Quinn worried about him.


    Calvin had been in Municity for years, and the power he built up shouldn''t be that easy to take away.


    Quinn thought about this as she headed back to the bedroom to nap with the kids.


    Since Alexander came back, he spent most of his time in the study, only asionally hanging out with them.


    He used to take the kids for a walk every day, but now he was so busy he didn''t even do that.


    However, he seemed to be in a better mental state.


    Quinn turned on the TV and while flipping through channels, she stumbled upon a news story about apany''s chairman jumping off a building.


    She didn''t pay much attention to it, as there were plenty of people whomitted suicide due to bankruptcy.


    Back then, Abigail didn''t tell Quinn about her chat with Landon, so Quinn had no clue this might be Landon''s doing.


    Abigail saw the news and started feeling uneasy.


    She knew more than just this one suicide incident. There had been car idents caused by mechanical failures and people getting arrested and jailed. In just one month, three business owners in Amber Bay had incidents, making it hard for her not to think of Landon.


    Abigail turned off the TV and called Landon.


    After a bit, the call connected.


    Abigail asked Landon, "I just saw the news about apany''s chairman jumping off a building. Was that you?"


    Landon replied, "I thought you were calling to invite me to the wedding, but it turns out you''re here to use me."


    Abigail frowned. "Was it really you?"


    Landon shot back, "Who are you to ask me?"


    This question stumped Abigail. She felt she shouldn''t have made this call. She really had no right to question Landon about this, and even if she did, Landon might not tell her. Even if she found out, what could she do?


    Could she stop Landon?


    Abigail said, "I don''t care what you''re doing. But if you involve the Vanderbilt family, I won''t let you off."


    Abigail hadn''t forgotten seeing Landon and Oliver together at thepanyst time. They were definitely plotting something, and the incidents in the news might involve Oliver. Landon''s words dripped with sarcasm, "How do you n to do that?"Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    His words infuriated Abigail. What could she do to him? She couldn''t overpower him or outsmart him. What could she do?


    In a fit of anger, she hung up the phone.


    She then went to find Oliver, who also didn''t give her a straight answer.


    Oliver said, "Abigail, your wedding is in a few days. Focus on getting ready for it and don''t overthink."


    Abigail looked at him with a mix of emotions. She couldn''t get through to Landon, and Oliver wasn''t any easier.


    Frustrated, she left the study and locked herself in her room, ignoring Elliot''s messages.


    Time flew by, and there were only two days left until Abigail''s wedding.


    Quinn was thinking about heading over a day early and went to find Alexander.


    Alexander was holed up in the study all day. Quinn walked in and nced at hisputer.


    Alexander didn''t hide anything from her. If she wanted to look, he let her. But whether she could make sense of it was another story.


    Quinn couldn''t make heads or tails of it. The screen was filled with red and green numbers and lines, and all sorts of messy pages. Alexander''sputer desktop was even messier than Quinn''s hair. Quinn smirked and looked away. Alexander then asked, "Need something?"


    Quinn nced at him. "Do I need a reason toe see you?"


    Alexander was taken aback, then chuckled. He pulled her onto hisp. "Sorry, my bad."


    Quinn felt a bit awkward. She tried to stand up, but Alexander held her waist. "Did youe just to check on me?"


    "Let go of me first," Quinn said, pushing him away awkwardly. Despite being married for so many years, she suddenly felt unustomed to such closeness.


    Alexander didn''t let go.


    Quinn freed herself from him and stood up. "Actually, I have something to ask you."


    "Go ahead," Alexander said.


    Quinn said, "Abigail is getting married, and I wanted to ask if you''re going."


    Alexander paused and looked at Quinn in surprise, clearly unaware of this.


    He had been in the study for so long that he was out of touch with the outside world, not even knowing that Abigail was getting married.


    After a moment of contemtion, he said, "She probably doesn''t want me to go."


    "Are you going?" Quinn asked.


    "If you want me to go, I''ll go. It''s up to you," Alexander replied.


    Quinn thought for a moment. "Then you better not go. Stay home and watch the kids."


    "Okay," Alexander agreed.


    Quinn felt uneasy. She nced at hisputer, doubting if he could really watch the kids at home.


    Sensing her concern, Alexander quickly closed the pages on his desktop. "Don''t worry. I won''te to the study when you''re not here." "Really?" Quinn asked.


    "Do I need to lie about this?" Alexander replied.


    Quinn thought about it and agreed. She decided to go a day early. "Alright, then I''ll leave Sprout and Brandy to you."


    Alexander once again pulled her onto hisp, holding her tightly. "When did we be so distant?"


    Quinn stiffened and turned her head away from his breath. "We didn''t. It''s just that you stay in the study all day and ignore us, and now you say I''m distant." "My bad," Alexander said, leaning closer. "I''ve been neglecting you."


    Quinn cupped his chin and pushed his head away. "Stay away from me."


    Alexander chuckled and let go of her. "Alright, I''ll stay away. I''m going out tonight."


    Quinn suddenly turned to stare at him, clearly unhappy.


    Quinn said, "Then go. Don''te back."


    "Are you serious?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn almost blurted out "yes," but held back in time. She suspected that if she said it, Alexander might really note back. After a long pause, Quinn said irritably, "No."


    Alexanderughed. "Are you mad?"


    "No," Quinn said. She didn''t know what to say to him. When Alexander was depressed all day, she was worried about him. Now that he was back to normal, Quinn found him annoying.

 Chapter 1494

    The next day, Quinn went to find Abigail. Even though they''d known each other forever, this was her first time visiting the Vanderbilt family.


    Abigail was waiting at the door. As soon as Quinn stepped out of the car, Abigail rushed over and linked arms with her.


    "Why are you sote? I''ve been waiting forever," Abigail said.


    Quinn nced at her watch. "Isn''t it still early?" she replied.


    Abigail smiled at Quinn. It was a content smile, not the over-the-moon joy of a bride-to-be. She wasn''t marrying someone she loved, but she didn''t dislike him either, and the arrangement saved her a lot of hassle. Naturally, she felt pleased. She told Quinn, "Once I get married, I can move out and do whatever I want."


    Quinn could only congratte her.


    The wedding was set for a hotel, and they had to be there early the next morning. So, they were staying here tonight.


    Even though the Sullivan family wasn''t thrilled about the marriage, a wedding was all about status and appearances, so it couldn''t be too shabby. Plus, Alvin wanted to give Abigail a grand wedding, so it was definitely going to be a big deal. Quinn followed Abigail into the vi, which was almost empty. Alvin and Oliver had gone to the hotel, leaving Abigail alone at home. They didn''t even bother with greetings.


    After sitting down, Quinn asked, "Where''s your bridesmaid?"


    "Bridesmaid?" Abigail pped her forehead. "Ipletely forgot about that."


    She had been out and about for the past few years and hadn''t kept in touch with people from Amber Bay. Besides, most people her age were already married. Where was she supposed to find a bridesmaid? "This is tricky. Maybe I should just ask the weddingpany to find a few for me," Abigail suggested.


    Quinn smirked. "Isn''t that a bit hasty?"


    "So what? They may be strangers, but they''re professionals," Abigail replied.


    Then she took out her phone and started contacting the weddingpany. Finding bridesmaids was easy if the price was right.


    The weddingpany dly agreed to her request, promising that the bridesmaids would be there by the evening.


    Abigail casually tossed her phone aside. "Done."


    Quinn chuckled awkwardly. "Alright then."


    Seeing Abigail so carefree, Quinn couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    The Sullivan family had initially been so opposed to the marriage but suddenly agreed. It couldn''t just be because Alvin pestered them; the Vanderbilt family must have offered other benefits. Alvin had gone to great lengths for Abigail. If he knew that Abigail and Elliot were just making a deal, he would be heartbroken.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    On the way there, Quinn had a bad feeling. She hoped the wedding would go smoothly.


    She casually picked up a wedding dress catalog from the table and flipped through it. The dresses were beautiful, but Quinn had never worn one.


    Even Abigail''s fake wedding was so grand, while she and Alexander didn''t even have a banquet.


    Abigail was doing her nails nearby. When she looked up and saw Quinn''s disappointed expression, she snatched the catalog away.


    "You and Alexander have been back for a while now. Has he mentioned having a proper wedding?" Abigail asked.


    "What''s the point? We already have a child," Quinn said, pretending not to care.


    Abigail disagreed. "Marriage is a major life event, a significant milestone. No matter what, you should have a ceremony to create some beautiful memories." "Let''s talk about itter. Isn''t it your wedding now?" Quinn replied.


    Abigail sighed, looking at her with a disappointed expression.


    Quinn seemed to remember something. "I used to think you liked Landon."


    Abigail was taken aback and instinctively refuted, "That''s a dangerous thought. Don''t think that again."


    Quinn replied, "I know. I was just saying."


    If Abigail really liked Landon, Quinn wouldn''t have dared to bring it up.


    Abigail opened her mouth but then looked down at the catalog in her hands, flipping through it absentmindedly with aplicated expression.


    "We''re not the same kind of people," Abigail said.


    Quinn was a bit stunned and turned to look at her.


    After a moment, Abigail looked up at Quinn, her expression more serious. "Don''tugh at me for this. I might have had some feelings for him before, but when I thought about the things he did, I immediately squashed those feelings." Abigail had never mentioned this to anyone, not even Quinn.


    After all, she had always said she was determined not to fall in love. Admitting this would go against her own words. Now that she was about to get married, she felt the need to say it. Keeping it bottled up would only make her feel worse. Quinn couldn''t judge whether Abigail was right or wrong. Emotionally, love was selfish and could override everything. Rationally, Landon''s behavior didn''t match Abigail''s values. They were fundamentally different individuals. Abigail was clearly rational. Maybe it was her personality that made her feel that love wasn''t that important.


    Quinn nodded. "I get it."


    Abigail sighed. "I''m d you understand. It''s all in the past anyway. Why bring him up?"


    "Alright, let''s drop it," Quinn agreed.


    Abigail copsed on the sofa, feeling exhausted. "Just thinking about tomorrow''s wedding makes me feel tired."


    "Didn''t you say that marriage is a major life event? It''s normal to feel a bit tired," Quinn said.


    "I said that for people who are in love. What is this between me and Elliot?" Abigail retorted. Just as they were talking about him, Elliot called on video.


    Abigail answered the call. "What''s up?" she asked.


    "Nothing, just checking on you and seeing how the preparations are going," Elliot replied.


    Abigail replied irritably, "What do I need to prepare? They''ll handle everything. I just need to show up tomorrow."


    "Alright then. You seem bored," Elliot said.


    "Of course, aren''t you bored?" Abigail shot back.


    "I''m not bored. I''m too excited to sleep," Elliot said with a grin.


    "Here we go again. Get lost," Abigail said, rolling her eyes.


    Listening to their conversation, Quinn quietly got up and walked out. If she didn''t know they were getting married by agreement, she would have thought they were in love. Bored, Quinn wandered around the Vanderbilt family''s garden.


    Spring had arrived, and the garden was in full bloom, filling the air with a fragrant floral aroma.


    She suddenly felt that the yard at Regal Riverside was too small and didn''t have many flowers.


    When the house in Sylvadora was finished, there would definitely be a big garden.


    Inside, Abigail and Elliot chatted for over half an hour. After the call, Abigail came out to find Quinn.


    They had nothing to do and stayed at home all day, bored.


    By eight in the evening, the six bridesmaids found by the weddingpany had arrived. They were all young college students, looking around in amazement at the luxurious vi. The butler led them to the living room and introduced them to the bride, Abigail.


    Abigail told the butler to arrange their amodations and reminded them that they had to get up at five in the morning to go to the hotel.


    Elliot was supposed toe and pick her up, but Abigail didn''t want the hassle and specifically told him not toe. She would just go to the hotel and get married.


    That night, Quinn stayed in the room next to Abigail''s. She took out her phone and made a video call to Alexander, wanting to see if he was really taking care of the child as he had said.


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 Chapter 1495

    The video call rang for a bit before Alexander finally picked up, and then he set the phone down somewhere.


    Looked like he was in the bathroom.


    He was giving Sprout a bath, chatting with Quinn at the same time.


    "Still awake?" Alexander asked.


    "Nope. Are you giving Sprout a bath?" Quinn replied.


    Alexander''s hands were all soapy as he scrubbed Sprout''s head. "Isn''t it obvious? This little guy always gets me drenched."


    His white shirt was soaked, his face was wet, and his hair was dripping in strands.


    Just as Alexander finished talking, Sprout squeezed a water-filled rubber duck, spraying water right into Alexander''s face, which trickled down his forehead.


    A vein throbbed on Alexander''s forehead as he turned to look at Quinn. "Can I hit him?"


    Quinn tried not tough. "You''re his dad. Do what you want."


    Alexander thought about it but decided against it. He wasn''t sure he could control his strength and didn''t want to hurt Sprout.


    Holding Sprout felt like holding an eggshell; he was always worried that even the slightest mishap could break him.


    He picked up the showerhead and rinsed the suds off Sprout''s head. Sprout squinted against the water, raising his little hands to wipe his face, protesting. After rinsing Sprout clean, Alexander lifted him out of the tub and wrapped him in a towel.


    Then he picked up the phone and left the bathroom. "I can''t talk now," he said.


    Quinn responded and hung up the phone.


    She put down her phone,y on the bed, and fell asleep groggily.


    Before dawn, Abigail came to wake her up.


    Quinn rubbed her eyes, looking at her in confusion. "What''s up?"


    "It''s time to go. When did you go to sleepst night?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn suddenly remembered that Abigail was getting married. She immediately woke up, quickly getting out of bed. "What do I need to do?" Abigail found her reaction amusing. "Nothing, juste with me."


    Quinn responded, got up, quickly washed up, and left with Abigail, yawning.


    They were supposed to leave at five, but it was not even four-thirty yet, and Quinn was still very sleepy.


    She nced at Abigail and noticed she was wearing a white dress underneath a long coat, making it hard to see.


    Abigail kept adjusting the neckline of her dress as if something was poking her.


    "Abigail, is your dress ufortable?" Quinn asked.


    "No, it''s just awkward to wear. Look." Abigail opened her coat, revealing a white strapless dress that left her upper chest exposed.


    Quinn had never seen Abigail dressed like this before. She instinctively said, "You actually have a chest."


    Abigail froze for two seconds before pping Quinn on the back. "What are you saying?"


    Quinn touched her nose, ncing at Abigail''s chest.


    Abigail quickly closed her coat, gritting her teeth. "Who picked this dress? Oh, it was me. Never mind."


    "Is this your wedding dress?" Quinn asked.


    "Half of it. There''s a jacket and a skirt to addter at the hotel. I wore this part first to save time," Abigail exined. "I chose it because it was the least revealing."


    "Then just put on the outer partter," Quinn suggested.


    They walked to the yard where several cars were parked. They got into the lead car, and others got into the cars behind.


    Quinn was still sleepy and dozed off in her seat.


    The car slowly rolled out of the vi, heading towards the hotel.


    It moved at a snail''s pace, and Abigail started feeling sleepy, closing her eyes for a quick nap.


    When she woke up again, it was already bright outside. The morning sun was ring through the window. But they still hadn''t arrived. Abigail looked outside and noticed the road seemed pretty remote. She turned around and saw that the cars behind them were gone.


    A bad feeling crept up on her. She tapped the driver''s seat. "Hey, did you take the wrong road?"


    The driver didn''t respond, just kept driving silently.


    Quinn woke up from Abigail''s voice. She looked around and noticed something was off. "Where are we going?"


    Abigail frowned and spoke again, "Stop the car!"


    The driver still ignored her.


    She pulled out her phone to call Oliver. The driver didn''t stop her, like he wasn''t even worried about her calling the cops. Quinn, having been kidnapped before, felt a wave of anxiety.


    She sent her location to Alexander.


    Then she tried to call the police, but as soon as she dialed, the driver spoke up.


    He said, "Call everyone over. The more, the better!"


    Abigail''s eyelid twitched. "Who are you?"


    She looked at the rearview mirror and saw the driver was wearing a mask.


    The driver said, "Someone who wants you dead."


    Abigail''s pupils contracted. She tried to open the car door but found it locked. The door next to Quinn was the same.


    Abigail and Quinn exchanged nces, trying to figure out who was behind this.


    It couldn''t be Landon. He was too busy with hispanies to bother with kidnapping, and he had no reason to.


    Soon, the car turned onto a remote path, with slopes on both sides and a muddy road, making the car shake violently.


    In a panic, Abigail stood up to grab the steering wheel. "Stop the car!"


    The driver didn''t stop but sped up, like he was nning to crash with them.


    The driver said fiercely, "If you want to die sooner, go on. I don''t care about my life. Killing you two is worth it."


    Abigail pulled off his mask but didn''t recognize him. She couldn''t remember ever having a grudge with him.


    Quinn didn''t know him either. It was clear he was targeting Abigail.


    "Who are you? Why do you want to die with us? Isn''t living better?" Quinn asked.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    He sneered. "The Vanderbilt family and the Mellon Group forced my dad to jump off a building. We owe billions of dors, my mom went insane, and my wife and son left. Tell me, what''s good about living?" Abigail was stunned.


    She slumped back into her seat, realizing this was the result of Oliver and Landon''s coboration.


    Quinn understood, too. It was another mess caused by Landon, and this time he dragged the Vanderbilt family into it.


    No wonder someone would kidnap Abigail.


    At the hotel, arge group of people was waiting. It was almost noon, and the bride still hadn''t arrived.


    The bridesmaids, who had been in the cars behind, didn''t know what happened. They had followed the lead car, but it took a wrong turn.


    They arrived first and had been waiting ever since.


    Elliot''s mother, visibly angry, said, "So many people are waiting for her. Does she think she''s that important? Is this wedding happening or not?" Elliot said, "Could something have happened?"


    Alvin looked serious, thinking Abigail might have run away.


    Just as everyone was specting, Oliver''s phone rang.


    "It''s a call from Abigail," Oliver said.


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 Chapter 1496

    Oliver picked up the phone, but before he could say anything, a man''s voice cut in.


    "Oliver, if you want to save Abigail, bring Landon here. Just the two of you. Call the cops, and she''s dead," the man warned. Oliver''s face tightened. "Who are you?" he demanded.


    "You''ll find out when you get here," the man replied.


    "I''ve sent the location to your phone," he added before hanging up.


    Oliver checked his phone and saw a location sent by Abigail.


    Alvin asked, "What''s going on? What happened?"


    Oliver nced around the room. "Abigail''s in trouble. Postpone the wedding. I''m going to find her. You all stay here," he ordered. Elliot quickly stepped forward. "I''ming too!"


    Oliver stopped and turned to him. "Stay here and wait for my call," he said firmly.


    Elliot looked like he wanted to argue, but his mom pulled him back. "Why are you getting involved?" she whispered.


    Oliver left the hotel and rushed to find Landon.


    On the way, he called Landon. "Landon, where are you?" he asked.


    "At the office, as usual. What''s up?" Landon replied.


    Oliver had sent Landon an invite earlier, but he didn''t show. Now, Oliver had to go to his office to find him.


    The man was clearly after both Oliver and Landon, so a little dy wouldn''t hurt.


    When he got to Landon''spany, Landon was already outside. Oliver motioned for him to get in the car. "Abigail''s been kidnapped?" Landon asked.


    Oliver nodded, looking serious. "Yeah, I think it''s one of thosepanies. They specifically want us."


    Landon fiddled with his wristwatch. "What''s this got to do with me?"


    "How can it not? If something happens to Abigail, our deal''s off," Oliver said.


    Landon sighed and muttered, "That stupid woman."


    Oliver frowned, annoyed. "I''m here to make a n, not listen to you insult her," he snapped.


    Landon asked, "How many people are there?"


    "Not sure yet," Oliver replied.


    "Drive," Landon ordered.


    Oliver was taken aback. "Just the two of us?" he asked.


    "What else? You think bringing more people will help?" Landon shot back.


    Oliver sighed. "I don''t think it matters if we go alone. If it''s really thosepanies, they might be ready for a fight."


    "Let''s check it out first. Guessing won''t help," Landon said.


    Oliver was momentarily speechless, then angrily hit the gas, and they headed to the address alone.


    The ce was super remote, almost outside Amber Bay, near the neighboring city''s border, in a vige just off the highway.


    The vige was abandoned, with crooked old houses and overgrown roads.


    Quinn and Abigail had no cell signal after being brought here, unable to make calls or send messages.


    They were still locked in the car, with the doors locked and only a small gap left open.


    Abigail tried all four doors but couldn''t open any. She sat back, frustrated.


    She angrily pounded the ss. "Why is it always us? Why doesn''t he just go after Landon directly!" she eximed.


    Quinn tried to calm her down. "Stay calm," she said.


    He didn''t go after Landon because he didn''t have the chance. Landon was cautious and always had people with him in potentially dangerous ces. But Abigail and Quinn were different. They weren''t mixed up in all that shady stuff and didn''t have Landon''s level of caution, making them easy targets. The guy came back, peered into the car, then wandered off to smoke nearby.


    Quinn whispered, "Looks like he''s alone."


    "When he gets back in the car, let''s find a way to take him down," Abigail suggested.


    Quinn nodded.


    But the guy smoked forever, showing no signs of getting back in the car.


    It was past midnight, and he was getting antsy.


    He walked to a spot with signal and called Oliver, telling him to hurry up.


    Quinn started searching the car for something to break the window.


    "Is this car from the Vanderbilt family?" she asked Abigail.


    "Yeah, why?" Abigail replied.


    "Do you know if there are any emergency tools in here?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail was stumped. She''d been in the car plenty of times but never needed to know about that stuff.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "There should be, but I have no idea where," Abigail admitted.


    "If it''s an emergency tool, it has to be in the car. Let''s look," Quinn said.


    Quinn rummaged around the seats, then climbed to the front, checking the glovepartment and sides.


    After a long search, she finally found a window-breaking hammer in the glovepartment. She grinned and pocketed it, then climbed back to the back seat. "Look," Quinn said, showing the hammer to Abigail.


    Abigail was thrilled and grabbed it to break the window.


    Quinn quickly stopped her. "Wait!" she whispered.


    "What''s wrong?" Abigail asked.


    "He''s still here. If we break the window now, he''ll hear it ande over before we can get out," Quinn exined.


    Abigail thought for a moment and nced at the guy not far away. "Let''s wait a bit longer," she agreed.


    Quinn nodded.


    The guy checked the time, getting more impatient by the minute.


    He opened Oliver''s Facebook and sent him voice messages full of threats, saying he''d kill Abigail if Oliver didn''t show up soon.


    Hearing these threats, Oliver grew anxious. He was already driving as fast as he could, but the mountain road was tricky.


    He could only try to calm the guy down.


    The guy ran out of cigarettes and angrily tossed his phone, lighting his lighter as he walked back to the car.


    He opened the gas tank cover, nning to throw the lighter inter.


    Thinking about the car catching fire and Oliver and Landon trying to save it made him happy. Today, none of them would escape; they would all die here.


    With these thoughts, the guy became less impatient. He walked to a high point to look down, where he could see if Oliver and Landon wereing.


    Seeing the guy move away, Abigail immediately took out the hammer and smashed the car window. After two hits, the ss shattered.


    As the ss broke, the guy suddenly looked over.


    Quinn urgently said, "Run! We''ll split up. He can''t catch both of us!"


    Abigail, sitting on this side, had to go first. She hesitated briefly, then climbed out the window.


    The guy was after Abigail, so it didn''t matter if Quinn ran. He wouldn''t care about Quinn and would chase Abigail.


    So Abigail climbed out, fell to the ground, and despite the pain, got up and ran.


    The guy reached the car, looked inside, and made eye contact with Quinn.


    Quinn clenched her fists, unsure if he would stay to deal with her or chase after Abigail.

 Chapter 1497

    To Quinn''s shock, the guy wasn''t about to give up on chasing Abigail or letting her go. He tossed the lighter into the gas tank. mes shot out instantly, almost burning him.


    The fire quickly spread inside the car, and a loud explosion rocked the gas tank. The front of the car blew apart, and mes engulfed it from all sides. Quinn, sitting in the car, was jolted by the st.


    She stared nkly at the mes outside, then at herself. The car hadn''tpletely exploded; just the front was blown up.


    But the fire spread fast, already surrounding her.


    After throwing the lighter, the guy ignored Quinn and went after Abigail.


    Abigail heard the explosion and turned back, eyes wide in shock.


    She gritted her teeth and ran back, with the guy hot on her heels.


    In her anger, she kicked him, making him stumble back a few steps.


    Abigail shook him off and ran towards the burning car. Through the mes, Quinn saw her rushing over and got anxious.


    Abigail gritted her teeth, ignoring the mes, and reached for the car door. The scorching heat burned her skin, making her pull back in pain. The guy grabbed Abigail from behind and pinned her to the ground.


    Abigail flipped over, grabbed his cor, and headbutted him hard. Both were left dizzy from the impact.


    The guy, enraged, pped her.


    Abigail kicked him in the groin, making him grimace in pain.


    Now furious, he pulled out a knife and aimed it at her neck. Abigail''s eyes widened as she grabbed his wrist just in time.


    Her strength was no match for his, and the knife''s tip slowly approached her neck.


    Meanwhile, the car waspletely engulfed in mes. Quinn heard noises from inside, feeling like it could explode any second.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    She couldn''t care about the mes and the scorching car door anymore. She pulled down her sleeve to cover her hand and climbed out.


    The mes singed her hair, filling the air with a burnt smell. Her hair caught fire, and so did her clothes.


    She fell to the ground, parts of her body on fire. The mes burned her skin.


    Rolling on the ground didn''t help; the mes kept burning her clothes and hair, refusing to go out.


    The thought of being burned alive filled her with immense despair. She took off her jacket, but there was fire inside too.


    "Quinn!" a voice shouted.


    In her pain, Quinn saw out of the corner of her eye a car stopping in front of her, and it looked like Alexander got out.


    Alexander rushed to her side without hesitation, taking off his own clothes and covering her with them.


    Quinn''s eyes widened, and tears fell uncontrobly.


    "Alexander, what are you doing?" Quinn shouted, trying to push him away despite the pain.


    But he held her tightly, smothering the mes on her body with his own, using his other hand to put out the fire in her hair.


    After a few seconds, things started to calm down. The car kept burning, but it didn''t explode as expected.


    Alexander held Quinn, with wisps of ck smoke rising between them.


    After a while, he looked down at Quinn.


    "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern.


    Quinn looked a mess; her hair was burnt into a frizzy mess, and her face and neck were smeared with soot.


    Quinn shook her head. "I''m fine, but you..." Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about how Alexander had just risked his life without hesitation, reminding her of the times he had followed her off cliffs without a second thought. Alexander let go of her, his chest red from burns, his hands also messed up.


    Quinn wasn''t much better off. Her clothes were in tatters, and her exposed skin was red from the mes.


    Luckily, Alexander showed up just in time, so the fire didn''tst long enough to cause severe burns, though her hair was pretty much toast.


    "Why did you do that? Are you nuts?" Quinn scolded, both angry and worried.


    Alexander reached out to fix her hair. "I didn''t think much. You''re my only reason to live in this world."


    Quinn was taken aback.


    The burned areas started to hurt, and the wind made it even worse.


    Quinn suddenly remembered Abigail and looked around, but she was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where''s Abigail?" Quinn asked urgently.


    Alexander looked around. "I don''t know," he replied.


    He had been focused on Quinn and hadn''t had time to worry about Abigail. There was no sign of her or the guy, so they either ran away or fell down somewhere.


    Quinn struggled to stand up. "I need to find her."


    Alexander draped his shirt over her. "I''ll take you to the hospital first."


    "What about Abigail?" Quinn asked, still worried.


    "Oliver''s here," Alexander reassured her.


    Quinn instinctively looked back but saw no one. "Where is he?"


    "Behind us," Alexander replied.


    "Did youe together?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander shook his head. "I came as soon as I got your message; otherwise, I wouldn''t have made it in time."


    His voice trembled as he spoke, and he pulled Quinn into his arms. "Take me with you next time."


    Quinn leaned against his chest, feeling his skin burning hot, possibly from the burns.


    She could hear his heartbeat.


    She slowly reached out and touched his back. "I see. I didn''t expect this."


    Alexander held her for a moment before letting go. "Let''s go. I''ll take you to the hospital."


    "But..." Quinn hesitated.


    "Don''t worry about Abigail. Oliver will find her, and you can''t do much to help," Alexander insisted.


    Quinn was at a loss for words. With Alexander insisting, she had no choice but to let him push her into the car. Once inside, Alexander grabbed a gray hoodie from the back seat. After zipping it up, it was hard to tell he wasn''t wearing anything underneath.


    Alexander drove out of the vige, and on the way down, they encountered Oliver.


    There was no time for greetings. Alexander was busy taking Quinn to the hospital, and Oliver was busy rescuing Abigail. The two cars passed each other.


    At the nearest hospital, the doctor cleaned Quinn''s wounds and checked her injuries.


    "Most of the injuries are burns. Use some ointment, and they should heal. Your hands and neck have minor burns; try to avoid water for a month," the doctor said.


    Alexander also got treatment for his burns on his chest and hands.


    After leaving the hospital, Quinn asked Alexander, "Where are we going now?"


    Alexander stared at her for a few seconds and said, "To get a haircut."


    Quinn instinctively touched her hair, feeling its frizziness. She walked to a car and looked at the rearview mirror.


    It was like a bird''s nest!


    She pressed down on her hair. "How did it be like this?"


    Alexander sighed, holding her hand. "As long as you''re okay."


    Although Quinn''s appearance wasical, Alexander didn''t feel likeughing. He was just relieved she was safe.


    Quinn stayed quiet and went with Alexander to a nearby barbershop.


    Her long hair was all gone, reced with a short haircut like Abigail''s.


    However, her features weren''t as sharp as Abigail''s, so the short hair didn''t make her look like a tomboy. Instead, it made her look younger and cuter.

 Chapter 1498

    Alexander gave Quinn''s short hair a yful ruffle. "Hey, it looks pretty good."


    Quinn eyed herself in the mirror, then nced at Alexander. "Really? It feels so weird."


    Alexander chuckled. "That''s just ''cause you''re not used to it yet. Give it some time, you''ll get there."


    Quinn nodded, trusting him. "Alright. I wonder how Abigail''s doing and if Oliver''s found her."


    Alexander opened the car door, letting Quinn hop in first. "Let''s head back. They''ll call if there''s any news. Hanging around here won''t help."


    Quinn couldn''t do much but worry.


    Alexander drove her back to Regal Riverside. Sprout and Brandy were still up, and Briar was in the living room, trying to calm Sprout, who was refusing to sleep. Brandy was waiting for them to return.


    When Brandy saw them, she was stunned and almost didn''t recognize Quinn.


    Brandy tilted her head, staring at Quinn for a long moment to make sure it was really her.


    Quinn found it funny. She walked up to Brandy and ruffled her hair. "What''s up? Don''t recognize me?"


    Hearing Quinn''s familiar voice, Brandy smiled and hugged her leg.


    Quinn was about to bend down to pick her up, but Alexander beat her to it, lifting Brandy. "You''re hurt. Let me handle this. Go upstairs and rest."


    Quinn wanted to argue, but Alexander was already carrying Brandy upstairs.


    She asked Briar to help carry Sprout upstairs. She hadn''t felt the pain earlier, but now the burns and scalds were starting to hurt.


    She was too dirty for a shower, so she just wiped herself down with wet wipes.


    Sprouty beside her, clinging to her. Unlike Brandy, who didn''t recognize her, Sprout stuck to her. Quinn sighed and held Sprout close. "Why are you still up sote? Were you worried about me?" "Mama," Sprout mumbled, reaching for her shoulder-length hair, but his hand came up empty.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn ced him on the bed and gently patted his back. "Alright, go to sleep now."


    Meanwhile, Abigail was still stumbling through the bushes. Earlier, she had fought with the man and rolled down a slope.


    Enraged, the man wanted to kill Abigail, driving her to run in terror. He chased her relentlessly, and Abigail had no idea where she was.


    She managed to lose him in the darkness, but the area was full of rundown houses and tall weeds, and she got lost.


    The bushes were alive with the sound of insects, and the night wind was chilly. Abigail, dressed lightly, shivered in the grass.


    The dark night and the creepy old houses made even the brave Abigail feel a bit scared.


    She crouched in the grass, alert to any movement, fearing the man would catch up.


    She didn''t know how long she had been crouching, and her legs were numb. She wanted to stand up and stretch but suddenly saw a light in the distance, making her crouch down again in fear.


    She was so focused on that light that she didn''t even notice a snake slithering out of the grass and onto her foot.


    Startled by the cold touch, Abigail jumped up, screamed, and shook off whatever was on her leg.


    The sudden movement made the snake bite her. She cried out in pain, almost guessing what it was.


    Luckily, it slithered away after biting her, but she was terrified.


    She dragged her injured leg, limping forward. The light behind her grew closer, casting white beams on the grass and the overgrown houses, making them even more terrifying. Abigail didn''t get far before someone caught up with her and grabbed her arm.


    She instinctively turned and kicked at the person behind her. However, her injured leg gave way, causing her to fall and pull the person down with her,nding heavily on top of her.


    Her back hit a rock, and her vision went ck. She closed her eyes in pain, her face contorted.


    Fear and anger surged within her. Abigail grabbed a rock and swung it at the person on top of her. "You bastard! If you have the guts, go after Landon. He ruined your family, not me! Why are you chasing me?" Before the rock couldnd, her wrist was caught.


    "I thought you weren''t afraid of anything. How could a man scare you this much?" a familiar voice said.


    Hearing the voice, Abigail opened her eyes wide, staring at the man above her.


    Her phone had fallen to the ground, and the light shone through the grass, illuminating Landon''s face. His gold-rimmed sses obscured his eyes.


    "It''s you?" Abigail eximed.


    Abigail quickly sat up, looking around. "Why are you alone?"


    Before she could finish, she noticed Landon''s gaze seemed to be on her chest.


    She froze and looked down. Her jacket had been pulled off during the chase, and she had taken it off to escape.


    Now she was only wearing a strapless dress.


    Abigail quickly covered her chest with her arms. "What are you looking at? Haven''t you seen a woman before?!" Landon shifted his gaze to her face, which was dirty and disheveled.


    "Today, I finally realized you''re a woman," he remarked.


    Abigail blushed at his words. "You''re crazy. I''ve always been a woman. Where''s Oliver?"


    "I don''t know," Landon replied.


    Pain shot through Abigail''s ankle, and she cried out, quickly checking her foot. There were two bloody puncture marks.


    "You''ve been bitten by a snake," Landon said, noticing her wound.


    He used his phone''s light to examine the wound. The skin around it was already turning purple. "It looks like a venomous snake. Do you know what it looked like?" Abigail shook her head, cold sweat forming on her forehead, not from fear but from the effects of the venom. She felt dizzy.


    Landon tore off his tie and lifted her skirt.


    Abigail instinctively pressed down her skirt, her voice weak. "I''ve been bitten by a snake, and you''re taking advantage of me. How shameless."


    "It seems the venom has reached your brain. Stop your nonsense," Landon retorted.


    Landon pulled her hand away and tied the tie tightly around her thigh, securing it with a knot.


    Abigail sat on the ground, watching Landon bandage her. She couldn''t help but say, "Are you sure you''re bandaging the right ce? Are you trying to take advantage of me?"

 Chapter 1499

    Landon nced at her, shrugged, and pulled out his phone to check the time. Then he opened his memo app and started typing something.


    "You got bit three minutes ago," Landon said. "Your blood''s pumping faster now ''cause of all the running around. The poison''s spreading quick. If you''re lucky, you might make it to the hospital by dawn and save yourself." Abigail was stunned.


    She looked around, seeing nothing but grass and mountains. It seemed toote to reach a hospital.


    "Looks like I''m gonna die here," Abigail said.


    "Yeah," Landon replied.


    "Aren''t you supposed to, like, encourage me or something?" Abigail protested.


    "Not really my thing," Landon said, his face nk.


    Abigail gritted her teeth. Maybe it was just in her head, but she felt her breathing get harder after hearing his words.


    "Then do what they do on TV and suck the poison out for me," Abigail demanded.


    Landon looked at her like she was an idiot.


    Abigail blinked and sighed, "Forget it, I wouldn''t dare trouble you with that."


    "If you wanna die sooner, I can help with that," Landon said.


    "What do you mean?" Abigail asked.


    "I mean you should go back and read more books on basic knowledge," Landon retorted.


    Abigail was furious, but before she could curse him, Landon said, "If you don''t wanna die, stay calm. Getting angry will just speed up your blood cirction." Abigail held back her anger.


    In all her years, only two men had bested her: one was Alexander, and the other was Landon.


    With Alexander, she could still curse him out when she was mad.


    But Landon always left her speechless with rage, unable to find words to retort.


    Just like now, she couldn''t even get angry.


    "All you Kennedy men are no good," she concluded.


    "Oh really? How many Kennedys do you actually know?" Landon replied.


    "I don''t wanna talk to you anymore," Abigail said. She felt dizzy and struggled to breathe. Nausea hit her, and her head spun. She copsed, weakly saying, "Am I gonna die?" "Yes," Landon confirmed.


    "You... Help me pass a message to Oliver," Abigail sighed.


    "Go ahead," Landon said.


    Abigail thought for a moment, hugging her arms, and said shakily, "Tell him not to work with you anymore."Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Landon took off his jacket and covered her with it. "Don''t worry, I''ll have the doctor check your brain."


    "I still prefer the old, aloof you," Abigail said.


    Landon paused, then said nothing more.


    "So cold," Abigail shivered. She wrapped herself in his jacket, her whole body trembling.


    Landon picked her up and started walking back the way they came. Abigail groggily opened her eyes, then closed them again, weak.


    Her cheek against his chest, she felt the rhythm of his steps. She felt drunk, swaying in his arms.


    "Where are you taking me?" Abigail asked. She clung to herself tightly, feeling as if winter had suddenly arrived, the cold seeping from inside out.


    "Down the mountain," Landon replied.


    "You''re lying," Abigail used.


    Landon knew the way down. He had just been scaring her, saying she was going to die. Abigail was frightened, thinking she was really going to die. She often imed not to fear death, but when confronted with it, she was terrified. Anyone with a good life would fear death.


    In that moment, Abigail thought of a million things her future, unfinished tasks, and the faces of family and friends, all shing through her mind.


    Landon ignored her, trudging through the grass towards the mountain''s base.


    Abigail started rambling. "Landon, why do you do those things? Why can''t you just be a good person?" she asked.


    "Turn back. It''s not toote," she added, her voice soft but piercing in the silent night.


    Landon looked into the distance, offering no reply.


    She mumbled to herself for a long time before finally passing out from exhaustion.


    Only then did Landon''s voice, like a murmur, break the silence. "There''s no turning back."


    His figure receded into the night, the light from his phone illuminating the path ahead, while he remained cloaked in darkness.


    The man had already been found by Oliver. When found, he was delirious, nearly insane. It took Oliver a lot of effort to subdue him.


    But the crazed man couldn''t reveal Abigail''s whereabouts. Oliver paced anxiously by the car for a long time, cing his hopes on Landon.


    Soon, Landon appeared, carrying Abigail. Oliver rushed to meet him. "What happened to Abigail?"


    "Snake bite," Landon replied.


    Oliver was shocked, quickly opening the car door to let Landon ce Abigail inside. Without dy, he sped down the muddy mountain road to the nearest hospital. Unsure of the snake that bit her, they relied on the doctor''s expertise to diagnose.


    Oliver waited anxiously outside the emergency room, feeling a pang of regret.


    When Landon approached him about teaming up to take over thosepanies in Amber Bay, he agreed, wanting to take a chance.


    He had anticipated such a situation, which was why he had agreed with his father''s decision to marry Abigail off.


    He believed that once Abigail was married and stayed away from Amber Bay, she would be safe. But he hadn''t expected it to happen so soon.


    Looking at Landon leaning against the wall, Oliver said, "Landon, are you going to keep going?"


    Landon looked up at him. "Are you scared?"


    Oliver replied, "If I were alone like you, my ambition might be even greater. But as you can see, I have my family. This time it was Abigail, what about next time?" Landon pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Got it."


    Oliver sighed and said, "I think you should stop too. If something big happens, you won''t be able to handle it."


    Landon didn''t answer his question but instead asked, "Then what?"


    Oliver asked, "What do you mean?"


    Landon rified, "Then what do I do?"


    This question stumped Oliver. He pondered for a while before replying, "You could spend more time with your mother."


    Landon fell silent, looking down the hallway, saying nothing.


    Oliver continued, "I think you should try dating someone." Oliver suspected that Landon''s restlessness came from having too much free time. With nothing to upy him, Landon fell into self-doubt, questioning his worth and constantly seeking validation.


    Was Landon short of money? No.


    As for power, if he wanted it, it was within his grasp. So what was he missing?


    Was he out for revenge against thosepanies who kicked the Kennedy Group when it was down? However, Oliver didn''t see much hatred in him. Everything was just an excuse.

 Chapter 1500

    Neither of them said a word after that. Oliver was lost in thoughts about Abigail. He hadn''t spilled the whole story to his parents yet, just that Abigail had been found. Landon hung around for a bit before taking off. The guy they caught still needed dealing with, so Landon went to handle it.


    As dawn broke, Elliot showed up.


    Abigail had been moved to a ward. Elliot was about to walk in when Oliver stopped him.


    Elliot, looking worried, asked, "What happened to her?"


    Oliver tried to calm him down, "She got bit by a snake, but she''s okay now. Don''t stress."


    He could see the worry on Elliot''s face. There was always something off about Elliot and Abigail''s rtionship. They seemed close, but there was no spark.


    But now, seeing Elliot so concerned, with that deeper affection in his eyes, Oliver felt a bit more at ease.


    He gave Elliot a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "She''s fine. Don''t worry too much. But your wedding''s gonna have to wait."


    Elliot''s face showed a flicker of regret but it quickly vanished. "It''s alright. We''ve got time. We''ll wait till she''s better."


    Oliver nodded. "Yeah."


    Even though Oliver didn''t want to dive into the details of Abigail''s kidnapping, he knew they had to exin her absence to the Sullivan family.


    After thinking for a moment, he told Elliot, "Your family wasn''t too thrilled about this marriage from the start. You might need to exin things to them." Elliot replied, "I know. I''ll handle it."


    Oliver gave a small smile.


    They stood at the door for a bit. Once Elliot was sure Abigail was out of danger, he left the hospital to go calm his family down.


    Quinn got the news from Oliver in the morning. She wanted to rush to the hospital to see Abigail but Alexander stopped her.


    Alexander reasoned, "It''s too far and not safe, and you''re still hurt. Oliver said she''s not in any life-threatening danger. Wait till shees back to visit."


    Seeing the worry in his eyes and remembering how Alexander had risked himself to save her yesterday, Quinn agreed.


    She sent Abigail a message, asking her to call when she woke up.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigaily in the hospital all day before waking up. She stared nkly at the ceiling. If it weren''t for the pain in her ankle, she would''ve thought she was dreaming.


    Oliver had been watching her for a while, worried she might have some aftereffects from her injury, staring at the ceiling like that. He quickly called the doctor to check on her. After the check-up, the doctor said everything was fine. The toxins in her body weren''tpletely cleared yet, and she needed a few more days of IV treatment. Oliver said, "Got it. Thanks, doc."


    After the doctor left, Oliver sat by Abigail''s bed. "Abigail, you okay? Feeling ufortable anywhere?"


    Abigail blinked and turned to look at him. She croaked out, "Oliver, am I still alive?"


    Oliver replied, "What kind of question is that? How could you be talking to me if you were dead?"


    Abigail was silent for a bit, wanting to ask about Landon but held back.


    Oliver asked, "What''s wrong? Got something to tell me?"


    Abigail said, "No."


    Oliver looked at her with guilt. "Abigail, I''m sorry. This is all my fault."


    Abigail pleaded, "Can you stop working with Landon? That guy''s got nothing to lose, but we have a family. I''m really worried."


    Oliver held her hand gently and said, "I know. Don''t worry. I won''t work with him anymore."


    Abigail asked, "Really?"


    Oliver reassured her, "Of course. When have I ever lied to you? Just focus on getting better." Abigail thought of something else and said, "Will he agree? Will he retaliate against us?" Oliver said, "No, stop overthinking. It''s just a business decision. Why would he retaliate?"


    Abigail pressed her lips together and sighed in frustration.


    Calling Landon a lunatic was reasonable. He showed no mercy when dealing withpanies, pushing them to the brink.


    Those people would definitely retaliate against him. When they have nothing left, they can do anything.


    The man who kidnapped her this time was just an example.


    Abigail closed her eyes, feeling very tired.


    Seeing Abigail''s worried look, Oliver thought she was concerned about their family''s safety. Heforted her for a while and then went out to call Alvin. Elliot, having reassured his family, also came to the ward.


    He ced a bouquet of carnations on the bedside table and turned to ask Abigail, "Are you feeling better?"


    Abigail looked up at him and sighed. "I''m fine. Don''t worry."


    Elliot said, "But it was a venomous snake. How could it be nothing? You''re lucky you got to the hospital in time."


    Abigail suddenly rememberedst night.


    She could never guess what Landon was thinking.


    Elliot asked, "Abigail, are you thinking about another man?"


    Abigail was stunned, then snapped back to reality, ring at him in anger and embarrassment. "You should be the one thinking about another man!" she used.


    Elliot smiled but said nothing. "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I''ll get it for you."


    Abigail replied, "I''m not hungry. I have no appetite."


    Elliot said, "Alright then."


    He stayed with her and talked about the wedding. "Although the wedding didn''t happen, we went through all the necessary steps. All the guests came; we just didn''tplete the ceremony. I discussed it with my parents, and we decided to consider it as if the wedding had already taken ce. Once you''re discharged, we''ll go sign the marriage certificate."


    Abigail listened to him talk for a long time but only caught the part about the marriage certificate.


    She looked at him in confusion. "Are you in such a hurry?"


    Elliot replied, "Isn''t this what you wanted? The sooner we get married, the sooner we''re free."


    Abigail said hesitantly, "We''vee this far. I don''t think my dad will rush me to get married anymore. Why don''t you think it over?"


    Elliot''s smile faded a bit but still maintained its upward curve. "What''s wrong? Did something happenst night?"


    Abigail felt a bit annoyed. "It has nothing to do withst night. I''m thinking about you. You''re still young. Think it over."


    Elliot was silent for a while and then sighed. "Alright, it seems like you need more time to think. It''s okay. I''ll wait for you." Abigail opened her mouth but didn''t know what to say.


    Indeed, she suddenly felt resistant to marriage. She couldn''t exin why, but she couldn''t be as decisive as before. Abigail said, "I''m tired. You should go. I need to sleep."


    She turned her back to Elliot.


    Elliot looked at her for a moment before standing up and leaving. Oliver had just finished his call at the door. He smiled and greeted Elliot. Oliver asked, "Why are you leaving so soon?"


    Elliot said, "Abigail said she wanted to sleep, so I won''t disturb her. By the way, Oliver, can you tell me what happenedst night in detail?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1501

    Oliver didn''t n on keeping anything from Elliot, so he gave him a quick rundown and said, "She probably got spooked. Don''t worry, she''ll be alright in a few days."


    Elliot was quiet for a bit, then out of nowhere asked, "Who''s Landon?"


    Oliver didn''t see thating. He paused before saying, "Honestly, I don''t really know. Why do you ask?"


    "Just curious. It''s weird that he''d go out of his way to save Abigail," Elliot replied.


    Oliver sighed, "It''s a long story. Just stick with Abigail. Your wedding''s not even over yet."


    "Yeah, I know," Elliot said.


    "If you don''t have anything else going on, just stay here with her. I gotta take care of some stuff," Oliver said.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Elliot nodded in agreement.


    Oliver hesitated for a moment before leaving. He needed to get home and talk things over. Alvin and the others were probably freaking out. Oliver didn''t want them running around like headless chickens, so he hadn''t told them which hospital Abigail was in.


    After Oliver left, Elliot stood by the door. He knew Abigail wasn''t asleep, but he didn''t want to bother her.


    Abigail was tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep, feeling all kinds of restless. She grabbed her phone and saw a bunch of messages from Quinn.


    She decided to call Quinn.


    Quinn was in her bedroom, with Alexander helping her put some ointment on her back. She couldn''t reach the spot herself. Even though it was a bit awkward, Alexander insisted on helping. They''d been married for years, so it wasn''t a big deal.


    Abigail''s call was a lifesaver for Quinn.


    Quinn quickly answered, "Abigail, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine. What about you? Yesterday, I saw you stuck in the car with the fire, and I was scared out of my mind," Abigail said.


    She still remembered trying to save Quinn, but some guy kept getting in her way. They ended up fighting, and she identally rolled down a slope.


    She had no idea what happened after that. If it weren''t for Quinn''s messages, she would''ve thought Quinn had burned to death and wouldn''t have dared to check her phone.


    Quinn said, "I''m fine, don''t worry. I heard you got bitten by a snake. What happened?"


    Abigail suddenly got all hesitant and stammered, "It''s nothing. I''m fine. Just wanted to check on you. I''ll hang up now."


    Before Quinn could say anything, Abigail quickly hung up. It seemed like she was scared Quinn would keep asking questions.


    A cool sensation from the ointment on Quinn''s back gave her goosebumps. She quickly pushed Alexander''s hand away and pulled her shirt down. "That''s enough. No need for more."


    Alexander paused, looked at her, but didn''t push it. He screwed the cap back on the burn ointment and put it on the bedside table.


    Then he said to Quinn, "You should avoid Abigail for a while."


    Quinn was shocked and turned to stare at him. Alexander hadn''t said something like that in a long time, so it caught her off guard. Alexander said, "I don''t mean anything bad. It''s just that she''s too dangerous right now."


    "What?" Quinn asked.


    "You saw it yourself. She almost got herself killed in the fire. If you keep hanging out with her, who knows what might happen next. You''re not alone now; think about Sprout and Brandy," Alexander exined. Quinn fell silent, not knowing what to say.


    Alexander pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her hair. "Don''t make me worry."


    Quinn stayed quiet.


    Alexander wasn''t asking her topletely cut off contact with Abigail, just to limit it for her own safety. She couldn''t really argue with that.


    He was right. Now that Quinn had kids, she had to think about their safety. If she went to see Abigail and something simr happened, she wouldn''t be able to help.


    After a bit, she reached out, wrapped her arms around Alexander''s waist, and hugged him. "I get it."


    "Good," Alexander replied.


    Sprout, sitting nearby, stared at them nkly for a while, then stood up from the bed.


    Quinn noticed him out of the corner of her eye and quickly pushed Alexander away to pick up the little guy.


    Alexander smirked, giving Sprout a yful re.


    Now, in Quinn''s heart, the two kids came first, followed by Calvin. Alexander''s status had risen slightly, cing him just ahead of Abigail.


    Quinn held Sprout andined, "He''s the most dangerous one now, always standing up and scaring everyone."


    Sprout couldn''t stand steadily yet, but he kept trying, only to fall over each time. Despite several falls, he never learned his lesson.


    If she neglected Sprout for a while, he''d stand up and fall again, leading to his heart-wrenching cries.


    Alexander said, "It''ll be better when he gets a bit older and can stand steadily."


    Quinn sighed, "It feels like it''ll take forever. When will he grow up?"


    Alexander smiled, looking at Sprout with aplex expression. "Soon."


    Quinn nced at him again. Every time they talked about hoping the kids would grow up quickly, Alexander always showed this inexplicable mncholy. Could it be that he thought the kids wouldn''t be cute once they grew up?


    Sheforted Alexander, "It''ll be easier when they grow up. We won''t have to watch them all the time. It''s a good thing."


    "Kids be rebellious when they grow up, especially in their teenage years. I''m afraid you won''t be able to handle Sprout," Alexander said. "Why do you always say that? Aren''t you here?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander''s expression became a bit dazed, and he smiled faintly. "I''ll train him well."


    Quinn still found his words strange. It sounded as if he was preparing a product to hand over to her.


    Quinn didn''t want to talk about this anymore. She put Sprout on the bed. "Don''t you have anything to do today?"


    "I don''t feel like doing anything. Let''s go out for a walk," Alexander suggested.


    "Okay," Quinn agreed.


    Although the burn was painful, Quinn didn''t want to stay at home any longer. Going out for a walk might help distract her from the pain.


    She packed up, put Sprout in the stroller, and headed out. Now, whenever they took Sprout out, they had to prepare a lot of stuff, which was quite a hassle.


    The weather was warming up, and it was a beautiful day today. The trees along the road had sprouted new leaves, and the sidewalks were lush and green.


    Alexander pushed the stroller, while Quinn held Brandy''s hand. They walked along the road, with dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, creating a scene like an ink painting. Two adorable kids and their young, attractive parents always drew the attention of passersby.


    Breathing in the fresh air, Quinn felt her mood improve significantly.


    Not far away, a car was parked by the roadside. The person inside was watching them, taking in the warm scene of the family.

 Chapter 1502

    Alexander felt a weird vibe, turned his head, but the car had already rolled up its window and was driving off.


    Quinn noticed and asked, "What are you looking at?"


    Alexander shook his head. "Nothing, let''s go."Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Okay," Quinn said.


    She suddenly grabbed his arm. Alexander looked down, and Quinn gave him a smile.


    He smiled back, pushing the stroller with one hand and holding her with the other.


    They strolled down the tree-lined path.


    A weekter, Abigail got out of the hospital. She didn''t want to go home. Knowing Alexander was with Quinn, she didn''t dare to find Quinn either. With nowhere else to go, she checked into a hotel.


    Elliot tried to reach her a few times, but Abigail ignored him. Eventually, he gave up.


    One day, he showed up at Landon''spany.


    Landon saw him as he was leaving and stopped.


    Elliot walked up and said, "We need to talk."


    Landon didn''t object. They found a caf¨¦ and sat down, not saying a word for a while.


    Landon leaned back, his eyes on Elliot. "What do you want?"


    Elliot was quiet for a bit. "I just want to know, what''s your deal with Abigail?"


    Landon said, "We have no deal."


    "But after she got kidnapped, she hid and wouldn''t see anyone. Isn''t that on you?" Elliot pushed.


    "Ask her, not me," Landon replied coolly.


    Elliot eyed him suspiciously. Landon looked calm, like he really had nothing to do with it, and it seemed he and Abigail weren''t close.


    Elliot sighed, looking bummed out.


    Landon suddenly said, "You''re not gay."


    Elliot was shocked. "What did you say?"


    Then it hit him. "You checked me out?"


    Landon looked away, took a sip of coffee. "Maybe Abigail found out you were lying. Maybe that''s why she doesn''t want to see you."


    Elliot ignored that. "You say you have nothing to do with Abigail, but you checked me out."


    "Kid, did Abigail teach you that logic? Just because I looked into you doesn''t mean it''s about her," Landon shot back.


    Elliot was stumped, especially by the "kid" part, which ticked him off.


    But it was true; Landon was probably over ten years older than him.


    He snapped back, "Then why did you check me out, old man? Are you gay?"


    The "old man" bit didn''t faze Landon. He calmly put down his coffee and looked at Elliot. "If you want to talk like this, then we''re done." "Seems like we have no reason to keep talking," Elliot said.


    Landon said, "As expected, a kid."


    "What do you really want to say?" Elliot asked, frustrated.


    Landon said, "Liese out eventually. Before you get married, tell her the truth. If you don''t, you won''t just lose her as a partner; you might lose her as a friend too." Elliot started thinking.


    Landon got up and left, leaving Elliot sitting there for a long time.


    Landon was right. Elliot was still young and scared to face the fallout of his actions.


    Confessing now was something Elliot couldn''t bring himself to do.


    So, he didn''t go to find Abigail. He was stuck in his own head.


    Oliver found Abigail at the hotel. When she opened the door and saw Oliver standing there, she wasn''t surprised. It was easy for Oliver to find her. She let Oliver in.


    Oliver walked in, ncing around. "You''ve been staying here the whole time?"


    Abigail sat on the sofa, hugging a pillow. "Where else would I go?"


    "What''s going on with you? If something''s up, you can talk to me," Oliver said.


    "Nothing''s wrong. I just need some quiet time alone," Abigail replied.


    Oliver sighed. "You''ve really grown up. Now you don''t even tell me when something''s bothering you."


    Abigail rolled her eyes. "Oliver, I''m thirty years old."


    Oliver smiled. "Alright, you have grown up."


    "Why did youe to find me?" Abigail asked.


    "I''m worried about you. You''re hiding out here, not going home, not contacting us. If I hadn''t stopped him, Dad would be here today," Oliver exined. Abigail sighed in frustration. "You all worry too much. I''m an adult; can''t I have some freedom?"


    "No one''s restricting your freedom. We''re just worried about you. At least let us know where you are," Oliver said.


    "You all know I''m here now, don''t you?" Abigail replied.


    Then, there was a silence between them. After a while, Oliver asked, "Are you really okay?"


    Abigail covered her head, slumping on the sofa. "I''m fine. How many times do I have to say it? Do I have to have something wrong?"


    Her tone was a bit impatient, and Oliver could see it, so he didn''t push further. He said, "Landon seems to have calmed down a lot recently."


    When Landon was mentioned, Abigail suddenly looked over. Realizing her reaction was too obvious, she pretended to be indifferent and turned her head. "What does that have to do with me?"


    Oliver noticed her unusual reaction and continued to probe. "I''m just telling you. After you came down from the mountain that day, the n we had made was put on hold by Landon. So, don''t worry. No one wille to bother you. Don''t keep everything to yourself; it''s easy to get sick."


    Abigail lowered her head, her fingers ying with the corner of the pillow, lost in thought. She replied perfunctorily, "I know."


    Oliver looked at her deeply for a long time, suddenly feeling a bit helpless.


    Although he had a partnership with Landon, he didn''t think Landon was a good person, so he seemed to understand Abigail''s frustration.


    Abigail had grown up under his watch, so he naturally knew her personality.


    Abigail was clear about her likes and dislikes. Even if Landon had truly reformed, it would be hard for Abigail to ept what he had done in the past.


    Oliver stood up. "Take your time to calm down. If you need anything, call me. I''ll talk to Mom and Dad."


    Abigail nodded.


    Oliver looked at her worriedly one more time before turning and leaving the room.


    Abigail hugged the pillow and turned to stare out the window.


    She had been sitting there for days, sometimes for an entire day.


    Being alone for too long made her prone to overthinking. She felt like she was on the verge of a mental breakdown.


    Three dayster, as night fell, the doorbell rang again.


    Abigail weakly went to open the door, but when she did, she saw an unexpected person standing outside.


    It was Landon.


    "What are you doing here?" Abigail asked, surprised.


    Landon said, "Oliver has practically worn out my office door."


    The implication was that Oliver had sent him.


    Abigail pulled a wry smile and turned back into the room. "It''s rare for you to listen to him."


    "With nothing else to do, I came to see if it''s true, as he said, that you''re about tomit suicide because of me," Landon replied. Abigail''s steps suddenly halted.

 Chapter 1503

    Abigail spun around to face Landon, her eyes wide with shock.


    They''d known each other for ages, but he''d never been this blunt before.


    She just stood there, her mind going totally nk.


    After a bit, her thoughts started toe back. She watched Landon walk into the room, look around, and then stand by the window.


    "What are you talking about?" Abigail finally asked.


    Landon turned, his face hidden in the shadow from the window light. He looked at her and said, "Aren''t you mad that I went after thosepanies and dragged your family into it? And you can''t stop me." Abigail was at a loss for words.


    She forced a smile and awkwardly said, "Is that what you mean?"


    Landon replied, "What else could it be?"


    Abigail sighed. "Yeah, it''s because of that."Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    An awkward silence hung between them. After a while, Landon plopped down on the sofa and said, "It''s funny. Oliver came to see me, and so did your fianc¨¦ Elliot. Are we that close?"


    He nced at Abigail as he said thest part.


    Abigail stared back. It was getting dark, and with no lights on, she couldn''t see his expression clearly by the window.


    After a moment, she said, "Not really. You can just ignore them."


    Landon shrugged, "Okay."


    Then he asked, "So, are you nning to stay here and not go out?"


    Abigail walked over, but there was only one chair, so she sat on the windowsill.


    "Of course not. I''ll go out, but not right now," she replied.


    Landon looked at her indifferently and said nothing more.


    After a bit, he stood up. "If that''s the case, I''ll be leaving."


    Abigail didn''t stop him. She sat on the windowsill and watched him leave.


    Once the door closed, she turned to look out the window.


    After leaving the hotel, Landon headed home. He rarely visited because he didn''t want to drag his mom into his mess.


    Aurora lived in a regr neighborhood, mostly filled with everyday folks, but the security was good.


    Landon stood at the door for a while, reached out to open it, but hesitated just before touching the fingerprint lock.


    He stared at the lock for a moment, then curled his fingers and turned to leave.


    After a few steps, the door suddenly opened. A tired voice called from behind, "Landon."


    Landon stopped in his tracks.


    Aurora stared at his back and said, "You''re back?"


    Her voice trembled with restrained emotion, cautious as if afraid of scaring him. She tried to sound as gentle and kind as possible, pouring all her motherly love into calling him back. A few secondster, Landon turned around, a smile on his face. "Yeah, I''m back, Mom."


    Aurora''s face lit up with excitement. She quickly stepped out and came over to him, holding his hand. "Why didn''t youe in? Come on in."


    She pulled him inside, and Landon didn''t resist, silently following her.


    It was just like when he was a kid. Every time he hid, Aurora always found him and brought him home like this.


    As time went on, Aurora wasn''t as spry as she used to be. Her steps were shaky, her hair had more gray, and her face was lined with wrinkles. Back home, Aurora went to get Landon some water, but he stopped her. "No need, I''m not thirsty."


    Aurora paused, then smiled and asked, "Are you hungry? I''ll cook for you."


    Seeing the hope in her eyes, Landon said, "Yeah, I''m hungry. Let me cook."


    "No, you rarelye back. Let me do it," Aurora insisted..


    "Mom, let me cook for you," Landon said, his voice calm but firm. Aurora hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.


    "Alright then," she agreed.


    Landon took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and headed to the kitchen.


    This was the first time Landon cooked for her. Aurora didn''t even know he could cook.


    Turns out, Landon was pretty good at it.


    When the dishes were served, Aurora was surprised. "When did you learn to cook?"


    Landon handed her the utensils. "It''s not hard."


    "You''ve always been smart. Cooking is just a small thing; it wouldn''t be difficult for you," Aurora praised.


    Landon picked at his food, then said casually, "Mom, why don''t you go abroad?"


    Aurora''s smile froze, and the food in her mouth lost its vor. She put down her utensils and looked at him worriedly. "What''s wrong? Are you in trouble again?" "No, it''s just not safe for you here," Landon replied.


    Aurora said, "But I want to be close to you. Even if I can''t see you every day, just knowing we''re in the same ce makes me feel like I see you every day." Landon said nothing.


    "Landon, you''re all I have. Let me stay with you. Even if we don''t meet, it''s okay. I won''t interfere with your affairs. Please don''t make me leave, okay?" Aurora pleaded. Agitated, Aurora covered her mouth and coughed.


    Landon looked up at her. "Are you feeling unwell?"


    Aurora took two tissues to wipe her mouth and forced a smile. "It''s nothing. I''m getting old. Small ailments here and there. Nothing serious."


    When she first heard the news of Landon''s ''death,'' she fell seriously ill and her health took a nosedive. During that time, she almost gave up, thinking it would be better to die soon so she could be with her son.


    It wasn''t until Landon contacted Aurora that she regained her will to live, but her health never fully bounced back.


    Landon said, "Take some time to see a doctor."


    "I did. The doctor said it''s nothing serious," Aurora replied.


    Landon said nothing more, silently finishing dinner with her.


    In this modest little room, the two of them, like any ordinary mother and son, had dinner together.


    Landon didn''t leave that night. He stayed with Aurora, watching TV and chatting on the sofa.


    Aurora talked a lot about his childhood.


    Landon had always been a quiet kid, keeping everything to himself and never sharing his thoughts with anyone, not even Aurora.


    Because of their family situation, Landon was bullied a lot at school, but he never told her.


    Even now, Aurora didn''t know what Landon wanted or what he was nning.


    She couldn''t guess.

 Chapter 1504

    Aurora looked at Landon and said, "You''re not getting any younger. Shouldn''t you start thinking about your future?"


    Landon kept his eyes on the TV and shrugged, "What''s there to think about?"


    Aurora pressed on, "I''m still here now. You cane back and have a ce to call home. But what happens when I''m not around anymore?" Landon turned his head slightly, gave her a quick nce, then looked away. "Don''t talk like that."


    Aurora sighed, "It''s gonna happen eventually."


    Landon said, "It''ste. You should get some sleep."


    Seeing his attitude, Aurora knew she couldn''t push the conversation further. She sighed, "Alright, just think about it."


    She got up and slowly walked back to her room.


    Landon kept staring at the TV, not really watching, and stayed on the couch all night.


    At dawn, he left and headed back to his ce.


    He sat in his car, nced back at the neighborhood, then started the engine and drove off.


    He didn''t notice someone in a distant car watching him intently.


    After a few more days at the hotel, Abigail finally pulled herself together, checked out, and left.


    But she didn''t want to go home. She rode her motorcycle without a helmet, the wind lifting her short hair. Her carefree vibe always caught people''s attention.


    As she rode, she had no idea where she was going. It got crowded, so she had to slow down.


    At an intersection, she turned a corner and almost hit someone stepping off the curb. She swerved and braked hard to avoid them but still knocked them down. The person''s stuff scattered everywhere, fruits and veggies rolling all over the ce.


    Abigail quickly got off her bike and ran over. "Are you okay?" she asked.


    Aurora propped herself up and replied, "I''m fine."


    Abigail hurried to help her. "I''m so sorry, I didn''t see you."


    "It''s okay. I''m fine," Aurora said, picking up the scattered items.


    Abigail squatted down to help gather the fruits and veggies and put them back in the bag.


    Noticing a scrape on Aurora''s hand, Abigail felt guilty. "You''re hurt. Do you need to go to the hospital?"


    Aurora shook her head. "It''s just a scratch, no big deal."


    Abigail said, "Where do you live? I''ll take you home."


    Aurora replied, "I live nearby, just a few steps away."


    Abigail took the bag from her. "I''m not busy. Let''s go. I won''t feel right until I know you''re home safe." Unable to refuse her kindness, Aurora smiled and got on Abigail''s motorcycle.


    Abigail took her to the entrance of the neighborhood and even bought some medicine for her at a nearby pharmacy. Aurora tried to decline, but Abigail insisted and put the medicine in her shopping bag, making herugh helplessly. She noticed the luggage box on Abigail''s motorcycle and asked, "Are you moving or just visiting Amber Bay?" Abigail scratched her head. "Just wandering around."


    Aurora looked at her, sensing a kind-hearted spirit, and felt a bit moved. "Wannae to my ce for a bit?" Abigail thought for a moment, having nowhere else to go, and epted the invite. "Sure, why not?"


    Aurora waved it off, "Don''t worry about it. I''m alone."


    Abigail joked, "Aren''t you scared I might be some kind of bad person?"


    Aurora chuckled, "I have a knack for reading people. You don''t seem like a bad person."N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Abigail grinned, "Guess you do have a good eye."


    Aurora led Abigail into the residential area and suggested she bring her luggage inside for safety.


    They chatted andughed as they arrived at Aurora''s ce, and Aurora invited Abigail in.


    Abigail looked around the room, a simple but cozy three-bedroom apartment.


    Aurora said, "Make yourself at home."


    Abigail replied, "Alright."


    She plopped down on the couch, and Aurora poured her a ss of water and sat down to chat.


    Aurora asked, "What''s your name?"


    Abigail replied, "I''m Abigail Vanderbilt."


    Aurora paused for a moment, recognizing the umon surname but didn''t dig into it. She continued, "How old are you?" Abigail said, "Thirty. What''s up?"


    Aurora asked, "Thirty? Are you married?"


    Abigail looked at Aurora, feeling like she was about to be set up. "Nope."


    Sure enough, Aurora''s next sentence was, "What a coincidence. My son is also in his thirties and still single."


    Abigail forced a smile, regrettinging here. Even away from home, someone was trying to set her up. What had she done to deserve this?


    Aurora said, "Don''t be nervous. I''m just saying. He hasn''t married because he doesn''t want to. I don''t know what''s wrong with him, hating marriage so much." Abigail sighed in relief and said, "It''s normal. Marriage is a lifelongmitment. If you haven''t met the right person, you naturally don''t want to get married." Aurora asked, "How do you know who the right person is?"


    Abigail was stumped. She awkwardly said, "I don''t know. Maybe I''ll know when I meet them."


    Aurora said, "Alright, I''m old and can''t understand you young folks."


    Abigail scratched her head. "It''s hard to exin."


    Aurora agreed, "True. Why don''t you stay for dinner? I just bought some groceries."


    Abigail agreed without hesitation. "Sure."


    Seeing her straightforwardness, Aurora smiled.


    Aurora went to the kitchen to cook, and Abigail wandered around the house. A photo on the liquor cab suddenly caught her eye.


    Abigail''s expression changed. She quickly walked over and picked up the photo.


    The photo showed a woman with a child. The woman was a younger Aurora, and the child, about seven or eight years old, looked remarkably like Landon.


    The child in the photo wasn''t wearing sses, but his expression was identical to Landon''s. Abigail was astonished by the simrity.


    She stared at the photo for a long time, the resemnce growing stronger.


    Aurora came out of the kitchen and saw her staring at the photo. She walked over and said, "That''s my son."


    Startled by her voice, Abigail quickly put the photo back. "Sorry, I just thought the person looked familiar, so I took a closer look."


    Aurora smiled. "It''s okay. You can look if you want. It''s the only photo I have. He doesn''t like taking pictures."


    Abigail said, "Really? He must be quite special." Then she casually asked, "What''s his name?"

 Chapter 1505

    "Landon''s his name. What''s up? You don''t know him, do you?" Aurora asked.


    Abigail was taken aback for a second. What a small world! She stared at Aurora, wide-eyed.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "Landon?" Abigail echoed.


    "Yeah, you really know him?" Aurora pressed.


    "Nope, I don''t. Just remembered I got something to do. Gonna skip dinner this time, maybe next," Abigail blurted out.


    She grabbed her luggage and bolted for the door without a second nce, bursting through it.


    Aurora tried to chase her but couldn''t keep up. "This kid," she muttered under her breath.


    Aurora was about to shut the door when she saw Abigailing back. She gave Abigail a suspicious look and peeked outside, spotting two men walking towards them. "Who are these guys?" Aurora asked.


    Before she could finish, Abigail dropped her luggage, spun around, and shoved Aurora inside, trying to m the door shut.


    The next second, a hand grabbed the door, and no matter how hard Abigail pushed, she couldn''t close it.


    One of the men wedged himself halfway in, ring at Abigail and Aurora. With a sneer, he tightened his grip and forced the door wide open.


    Abigail stumbled back a few steps, almost hitting the floor.


    The two men barged in. Abigail kept pulling Aurora back.


    "Who the hell are you?" Abigail demanded.


    The man shut the door behind him and locked it. A hidden dagger slipped from his sleeve. "You two are together. Looks like we found the right ce," he said. Aurora was terrified. "Who are you looking for?"


    "Obviously, you. If it weren''t for seeing this woman, I would''ve thought we had the wrong ce. Didn''t expect Landon to hide you here, and you too," the man said, pointing the dagger at Abigail, "You''re Landon''s girlfriend, right? Perfect, both of you are gonna die today!"


    The man didn''t waste any time, lunging with the dagger. This time, they weren''t here to kidnap but to kill.


    Abigail shoved Aurora, causing the dagger to miss but slicing Abigail''s arm, tearing her clothes and drawing blood.


    Aurora hit the ground.


    The other man moved towards Aurora, and Abigail grabbed a chair and hurled it at him, shouting, "Aurora, get inside and call Landon!"


    Aurora shakily got up, ncing at her.


    Abigail swung the chair wildly. Even though the men had knives, they couldn''t get close for a moment.


    "You cowards, only know how to pick on the weak. If you have the guts, go find Landon!" Abigail yelled.


    The man seized the moment, grabbed the chair from her, and yanked her over.


    Abigail was startled and kicked towards the man''s groin.


    The man stumbled back a step, and Abigail turned to Aurora. "Hurry!"


    Aurora gritted her teeth, knowing she couldn''t do much. She quickly ran into the room and mmed the door. The other man grabbed Abigail by her hair and dragged her to the ground.


    Abigail fell, her elbow throbbing with pain.


    Before she could get up, the other man kicked her in the chin, making her vision go ck, almost knocking her out. That kick left her powerless.


    The man grabbed her hair again, holding a knife to her neck, but the other man stopped him.


    "Hold up," the man in purple said.


    The man in ck turned to him. "What now?"


    "Isn''t she Landon''s girl? Just killing her won''t cut it."


    They exchanged a look and seemed toe to an understanding.


    They grabbed Abigail and tossed her onto the sofa.


    Abigail clutched her head, ring at them with clenched fists. Their eyes said it all.


    They wanted to kill her, but not before making her suffer.


    "I''m not his girlfriend! Landon will be back soon. If you don''t kill me now, you won''t get another chance!" she warned.


    The man in ck smirked. "You think we came here without knowing he''s out? Rx, he won''t be back anytime soon." Abigail''s heart raced. She''d rather die than be vited by these two.


    "I''m really not his girlfriend. Even if you do this, he won''t care. Stop dreaming!" she continued.


    A heartless man like Landon would probably just think she dirtied the sofa.


    The man in ck grinned. "If you''re not his girl, why are you here? When we kidnapped you before, he went nuts looking for you."


    Abigail was stunned, remembering the time on the mountain. She didn''t see Landon going crazy; he was making sarcastic remarks while she was bitten by a snake.


    "Maybe you got it wrong?" she suggested.


    "It''s you who''s wrong. Landon even hid his mom here, and he can resist noting. Although you two seem unrted, who knows if Landon is doing this on purpose?" the man said, patting Abigail''s face. "Whether it''s true or not doesn''t matter. Sleeping with you doesn''t cost us anything, right?"


    As he spoke, his fingers grabbed Abigail''s cor.


    Abigail grabbed his hand and said quickly, "Wait! I have an idea."


    "What idea?" the man asked.


    Abigail replied, "You can wait here for Landon toe and ambush him when he enters."


    "Do you take us for fools? Even if we kill you, we can still ambush him," he retorted.


    He grabbed her cor, about to tear it, but Abigail clung to him. "Wait! Since I can''t escape, can you be gentle?" she pleaded.


    Both men found it amusing. "Don''t waste your energy. We''re here to kill you," the man in ck said.


    Abigail was desperate, but she wouldn''t let them torture her, even if it meant dying.


    Suddenly, she found a surge of strength and shoved the man away. He stumbled and fell to the ground.


    Abigail rolled off the sofa, hit the floor, and grabbed a vase from the table, smashing it at the man in purple.


    The vase hit him and shattered with a crisp sound.


    But it was useless. The man charged at her and grabbed her.


    Abigail bit his arm hard, and as he winced in pain, she kicked him.


    The two men werepletely enraged.


    The man in purple suddenly stabbed Abigail with the knife. She froze, slowly looking down at the dagger embedded in her abdomen.


    Her expression shifted from pain to despair, then to anger and defiance.


    The man pulled out the knife, and Abigail clutched her abdomen. She staggered and then copsed onto the sofa, cold sweat dotting her forehead. The man in ck stood up. "Quite a temper! Now you can''t resist anymore."


    He stepped forward, grabbed Abigail''s cor, and tore it, ripping her thin T-shirt in half.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1506

    Abigail watched the two men, feeling totally helpless, the pain in her stomach keeping her from moving.


    Thinking she was too hurt to fight back, they got cocky and started doing whatever they wanted.


    Out of nowhere, Aurora showed up with a vase in her hands. She snuck up behind them and smashed it over the head of the man in ck.


    The vase shattered with a loud crash, and blood started pouring from his head.


    The man stumbled, instinctively covering the back of his head, and turned to re at Aurora with a fierce look.


    Right then, Abigail grabbed the knife they''d left on the coffee table and stabbed it hard into the neck of the man in purple.


    Blood spurted out, sttering on Abigail''s face and slowly trickling down.


    The man''s eyes went wide, clutching his neck in disbelief as he looked at Abigail. Blood flowed uncontrobly through his fingers, staining his hand bright red and running down into his sleeve and cor.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    He desperately tried to cover the wound. His first reaction was despair, quickly followed by a frantic attempt to stop the bleeding and stay alive.


    Abigail, holding the still-bleeding knife, trembled as she looked at him. His agony and desperation were mirrored in her eyes. He slowly sank to the ground.


    The man in ck was also shocked. Blood was still flowing from the back of his head, and seeing his buddy fall triggered his own fear of death. He instinctively shoved Aurora away and bolted outside.


    Aurora didn''t dare to stop him. She jogged over to Abigail, seeing her disheveled clothes and the blood continuously seeping from her abdomen. Abigail was still holding the blood-stained knife, in a state of shock.


    Aurora grabbed a nket from the sofa and covered her with it, then pressed a bunch of tissues against her wound.


    "Abigail, are you okay?" Aurora asked, her voice trembling.


    Hearing her voice, Abigail slowly came back to her senses, and the knife fell from her hand.


    She turned her head away from the corpse on the floor, her face pale and visibly weak. She shook her head slightly. "I''m just a bit tired."


    Aurora, panicking, said, "Don''t scare me. Don''t fall asleep. I''ve already called the police, and Landon is on his way back!"


    Abigail''s lips had be pale. She looked at Aurora nkly and forced a smile, regrettinging here.


    But it seemed those two guys were after Aurora. If she hadn''te, Aurora might have been in danger.


    Aurora, almost crying, tried her best to stop Abigail''s bleeding and said, "I''m so sorry. If I had known, I wouldn''t have brought you back."


    Abigail was too weak to speak. Her body was cold and trembling. Shey on the sofa, eyes closed, unable to move.


    Just as Aurora was about to call an ambnce, Landon rushed in from outside.


    "Landon, you''re back!" Aurora eximed with a mix of surprise and joy. She patted Abigail''s cheek, "Abigail, don''t sleep. Wake up!"


    Abigail struggled to open her eyes and looked towards the door.


    Landon stood at the entrance, his breathing heavy, clearly having rushed back.


    He strode over, nced at Abigail''s abdominal wound. Aurora anxiously said, "You''re just in time. Call an ambnce. Abigail is bleeding heavily." "No time for that," Landon said, stepping forward.


    He told Aurora to grab the first aid kit and quickly patched up the wound. Then he scooped Abigail up and headed out in a hurry.


    Aurora wanted to go with them, but the cops showed up, and she had to stay behind to deal with the aftermath.


    Landon rushed Abigail to the nearest hospital, which luckily wasn''t far, getting there in just a few minutes.


    Less than two weeks after getting out, Abigail was back in the ER.


    Landon sat outside waiting, his shirt stained with blood, the white fabric starkly contrasting with the red.


    During this time, the police came to investigate but couldn''t talk to Abigail, so they took Landon''s statement. Three hourster, the doctor came out, and Landon jumped up.


    "How is she?" he asked urgently.


    "She lost a lot of blood but didn''t hit any vital organs. She needs a blood transfusion," the doctor replied. Landon nodded slightly. "That''s good."


    "Are you her family? There are some forms that need signing," the doctor continued.


    Landon took the forms, pressed them against the wall, and signed his name. Then he asked, "When will she wake up?"


    "It''s hard to say. She might wake up when the anesthesia wears off, or it could be tomorrow," the doctor exined. "Got it," Landon said.


    Abigail was moved to a VIP room.


    She opened her eyes, staring at the white ceiling, thinking she was dreaming.


    The pain in her body reminded her that she wasn''t dreaming; she was really alive. She didn''t dare move, as any movement caused intense pain. Taking a deep breath, she turned her head and was surprised to see Landon sitting beside her. His white shirt was now patterned with dried blood stains. He seemed to be asleep, his head resting on his arm. His gold-rimmed sses were on the nearby cab.


    Without his sses, his features looked gentle, though a bit less mature.


    She stared at Landon for a while, then suddenly met his eyes. Startled, Abigail moved, causing herself pain, and her expression turned pained. Landon immediately called the doctor, who came and examined Abigail.


    "The wound didn''t hit any vital organs, but it''s deep. She needs to rest and avoid emotional stress," the doctor advised.


    Landon said, "She looks like she''s in a lot of pain."


    "The anesthesia has worn off. Pain is normal. I''ve prescribed painkillers. If the pain is too severe, give her two pills," the doctor exined. "Okay," Landon replied.


    After the doctor left, Landon searched the cab, found the painkillers, and poured out two pills, cing them in Abigail''s hand. "Take these if it hurts," he said.


    Abigail, enduring the pain, looked at the pills in her hand, then at Landon, and croaked, "Water?"


    Landon paused, then got up to get her some water.


    Abigail, unable to move much, struggled to take the pills. In her awkward position, she identally spilled the water all over her face, making her close her eyes uncontrobly. The pills dissolved in her mouth, spreading a bitter taste. She felt like her wound hurt even more.


    Landon had no choice but to call the doctor back.


    This time, the doctor couldn''t help but scold him, "Aren''t you her family? Don''t you know how to take care of her?"


    Hearing the word "family," Abigail, who was quietly wiping her face, paused and looked up at Landon.

 Chapter 1507

    Landon kept his mouth shut, taking the doctor''s lecture like a champ before finally muttering, "Got it."


    The doc gave him a few more pointers and then took off.


    "It was just a quick fix," Landon exined.


    Abigail squinted, "What did you say?"


    "Nothing." Landon hesitated, then asked, "Do we need to tell Oliver or anyone else?"


    Abigail waved it off. "Nah. If Alvin finds out, he''ll lock me up again. And I don''t want Oliver stressing out; he''s just as bad as Alvin." Landon gave a slight nod and didn''t push it. He stood up, "You should get some rest. I''m heading out for a bit."


    Abigail shrugged, "Do what you gotta do."


    Once he left the room, Landon had ns to track down the guy who slipped away. But first, he headed home.


    Aurora was still cleaning up the ce. She spun around, startled, when she heard footsteps. Seeing it was Landon, she rxed.


    "Why are you back? How''s Abigail? Is she okay?" she asked.


    Landon walked in, scanning the room. The body was gone, and the bloodstains were cleaned up, but the metallic smell still hung in the air.


    "Why was Abigail here?" Landon asked.


    Aurora put down the cloth, looking a bit guilty. "We bumped into each other on the way. It''s my fault. If I''d known this would happen, I wouldn''t have called her over and dragged her into this mess." Aurora knew these people were after Landon. They were causing trouble because of him.


    But she kept that to herself. She didn''t want to show any sign of being caught up in Landon''s problems. She didn''t want to leave him, even if it meant danger.


    Landon stayed quiet.


    Aurora asked, "Do you know Abigail well?"


    "Not really," Landon replied.


    Aurora gave him a skeptical look. "Seriously?"


    She had been hiding in the house earlier but heard everything. When the guy said Abigail was kidnapped, Landon rushed to save her.


    If they weren''t close, would he have done that?


    No one knew Landon better than she did. Even if it was someone he knew well, he might not have gone to save them.


    "Believe it or not. I have other things to do. Lock the door and don''t open it for anyone. I''m out," Landon said.


    Aurora followed him to the door, watching him leave with a worried sigh.


    She wondered when he''d finally get the peaceful life she wished for him.


    After cleaning up the house, she went to the hospital to check on Abigail.


    Knowing Aurora was Landon''s mom, Abigail got a bit more reserved around her.


    Aurora brought her food, and Abigail was touched. When Aurora poured her water, Abigail wished she could get up and do it herself.


    "Aurora, I''m fine now. You don''t have to stay with me," Abigail said.


    Aurora opened the thermos and served her a bowl of soup. "The doctor said you lost a lot of blood. You need to replenish it. This is milk pumpkin soup I made for you. It''s good for you. Try it." Abigail leaned against the headboard, reluctantly reaching out, but Aurora dodged her hand.


    "You''re still hurt. Let me feed you. Open up," Aurora insisted.


    Abigail protested, "Seriously, I can handle it."


    Aurora insisted, "Come on, be good. Open up. You saved my life and almost lost yours. Let me do something to repay you."


    Abigail replied, "It wasn''t about you. I just happened to be there. Anyone else would have done the same."


    Aurora shook her head, "Not necessarily. You''re the bravest girl I''ve ever met. I really like you."


    Feeling awkward, Abigail forced a smile.


    Aurora handed the spoon over again. "Come on, drink up."


    With no other option, Abigail reluctantly opened her mouth.


    She felt incredibly conflicted. She had just wanted to go out and rx, but she ended up in this mess.


    It felt like some invisible force was pushing her towards Landon.


    Aurora practically moved into the hospital, only going home to change clothes and cook. Most of the time, she stayed with Abigail, and they gradually got to know each other better.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Abigail realized Aurora was very kind and considerate, taking care of her with great care.


    How did Landon turn out the way he did?


    What puzzled her more was how someone like Aurora could have a child with Wayne.


    Abigail wanted to ask several times but couldn''t bring herself to. It would be too offensive to Aurora.


    Abigail stayed in the hospital for a week. Her injuries healed well, and she could get out of bed, but the doctor suggested she stay a few more days. Her wound was deep, and if it reopened at home, it would be more troublesome. During those days, Landon never showed up, as if he had vanished.


    Aurora took her for a walk in the hospital park. The sun was shining warmly.


    Aurora helped her sit on a bench. Abigail asked, "What has Landon been up to these days?"


    Aurora shook her head. "I don''t know. He never tells me what he''s doing."


    Abigail said, "You two are so different. If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn''t believe you''re his mother."


    Aurora gave a bitter smile. "Yeah, it''s my fault for not guiding him well when he was young."


    Abigail asked, "Do you know what he''s done?"


    Aurora looked a bit dazed, staring at the distant flowerbed, murmuring, "How could I not know? The police havee to me many times."


    Abigail was surprised. "You know?"


    Aurora said, "It''s a good thing he doesn''t tell me anything. Otherwise, I wouldn''t know what to do when facing the police. Should I stand by him as his mother or hope he can turn over a new leaf and report him?" Abigail opened her mouth but didn''t know what to say.


    She thought this was probably why Landon didn''t tell Aurora anything. If Aurora knew nothing, she wouldn''t be torn.


    They sat quietly on the bench, soaking up the sunlight.


    In Regal Riverside, Alexander was teaching Sprout to walk when Landon suddenly showed up.


    Seeing Landon at the door, Alexander wasn''t surprised. He nced at Landon, then looked away, raising his hand to steady Sprout. "Walk slowly."


    Sprout wobbled a few steps and fell into his arms.


    Alexander picked him up and turned to Landon, saying, "Look, here''s someone who doesn''t keep his word."

 Chapter 1508

    Landon stood there for a second, fighting the urge to bail, and finally stepped inside.


    First thing he said was, "Where''s Quinn?"


    Alexander shot him a look. "You here to see her?"


    Landon shook his head. "Nah, not really."


    Alexander, holding Sprout, headed to the couch. "Make yourself at home."


    Landon hesitated, then walked over and sat down.


    Alexander was busy with Sprout and didn''t bother with Landon. Given their history, he didn''t need to.


    Landon said, "I came to see you. You''re not even surprised. Guess you''re not as out of touch as you seem." Alexander smirked. "That''s what makes me different from you."


    Landon raised an eyebrow. "How so?"


    Alexander replied, "In every way."


    He leaned back with Sprout in his arms and said calmly, "You ever notice you''re kinda uptight?"


    Landon stayed quiet.


    Alexander went on, "So, what do you want from me?"


    Landon still didn''t speak, like asking for help was the hardest thing ever.


    He stayed silent, and Alexander wasn''t rushing him.


    Sprout, getting stronger, almost wriggled out of his arms a few times.


    Alexander was counting the days, wondering when he could start disciplining Sprout.


    Sprout''s kicks were starting to hurt.


    Alexander snapped, "Settle down!"


    Sprout stared at him with wide eyes, pouting. After a few seconds, he started struggling even more. Alexander''s forehead veins twitched. He turned Sprout over and gave him a firm pat on the bottom. Sprout was stunned, then immediately started bawling.


    Landon frowned at the noise.


    Quinn heard themotion and came running down. "What happened? Did he fall again?"


    She stopped when she saw Landon.


    Alexander said, "No, I spanked him."


    Quinn was surprised. She looked at the crying Sprout, feeling a bit heartbroken, but she knew Alexander wouldn''t hit him unless he was really pushed. She sighed, walked over, and took Sprout from him. "Give him to me."


    Alexander didn''t argue and handed Sprout over. Quinn, holding Sprout, went upstairs without sticking around.


    Landon''s expression wasplicated and a bit lost.


    As they bickered, Alexander''s kid had grown so much. Time really flew.


    Alexander asked him again, "What do you want from me? If it''s nothing, you can leave."


    Landon hesitated, struggling internally for a moment before saying, "Help me find someone. They''re hiding now, and I want to bring them out."


    Alexander propped his head up, looking at him with interest. "Is that tough for you?"


    Landon replied, "It wasn''t before, but now the cops are watching me, and I can''t make a move."


    Alexander asked, "Only now they''re watching you?"


    Landon responded, "Of course not. They weren''t watching so closely before. Something happened a few days ago, and now they''re on me all the time." Alexander said, "That''s why I said you''re uptight."


    Landon frowned. "I''m not here for your sarcasm."


    Alexanderughed. "Then you can leave. Do you even get your situation? You came back with a bang, became the president of the Mellon Group, and openly targeted thosepanies. I always thought you had a death wish." Landon stayed quiet for a bit before finally saying, "Death doesn''t scare me. Living, on the other hand, doesn''t interest me much."


    Alexander asked, "So, what are you offering in return?"Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Landon replied, "Besides the Mellon Group, what else do you care about?"


    Alexander raised an eyebrow slightly.


    Landon suddenlyughed at himself. "I knew it. You didn''t react when I took over the Mellon Group because you saw thising."


    The Mellon Group was something Alexander had built for Quinn, putting his heart and soul into it.


    But after Landon inherited the Mellon Group, Alexander not only didn''t try to take it back but also fed him info about thosepanies.


    To make it legit, Alexander even made a deal with him.


    From start to finish, Landon was yed. First, he took the risk to deal with Luke. Now, as he went after thosepanies, he was also boosting the Mellon Group, which he''d eventually hand back to Alexander. Landon had be a total pawn.


    Alexander sneered, "Is it working well?"


    Landon''s lips twitched. Zeke, who had thoroughly investigated Alexander, knew all about their grudges. Even Zeke couldn''t figure out how Alexander had convinced Landon to work for him.


    Even if Landon''s involvement was exposed, no one would believe Alexander had anything to do with it.


    Now, Landon had to admit he had lost, or maybe he never stood a chance.


    He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself. "Seems like I''m not as good as you."


    Alexander said, "I told you, you''re a bit uptight. Take some time to think about that."


    Landon''s lips twitched, and he said, "My agreement with Quinn kicks in automatically in a year. So, if you help me with this, I''ll tear up the agreement, and thepany will still be Quinn''s." Alexander replied, "Alright, Landon, do you remember what you said? Howe you go back on your word faster than I expected? Is it because of Abigail?"


    Landon''s expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "You''re overthinking it."


    Alexander said, "I ept your terms. Wait for my news."


    Landon stood up and left.


    Alexander watched him go. When he turned around, he saw Quinn holding Sprout behind him.


    Alexander was slightly startled. "When did youe down?"


    Quinn replied, "Just now." She sat down beside him. "What were you talking about? I heard Abigail''s name."


    Alexander said, "Nothing much. Landon just came to return thepany."


    Quinn looked puzzled. "Return thepany? How could he return it so easily?"


    Alexander exined, "Of course, it''s not that easy. He wants me to find someone for him. Don''t worry. I''m not getting involved in his mess."


    Quinn nodded, feeling a bit relieved. She was always worried that Alexander would get dragged into those conflicts again.


    She quickly thought of something else and looked at Alexander with sudden realization. "Now I get why you were so concerned about Abigail getting married. Is it rted to Landon?" Alexander smiled. "Your reaction is a bit slow. If Abigail got married, how could Landon return thepany to you?"

 Chapter 1509

    Hearing his words, Quinn''s mind started racing. "Wait, was Abigail''s kidnapping at her wedding because of you?" she blurted out.


    Alexander shook his head, looking dead serious. "No way. That had nothing to do with me. Even if I had to do something, I''d never put you in danger." Quinn''s eyes flickered; this wasn''t what she wanted to hear.


    Alexander went on, "I promised you a fresh start. I won''t let us get into trouble again. I definitely won''t hurt the people you care about and put you in a tough spot." Quinn''s expression softened a bit, and she reached out to hold Alexander''s hand. "I believe you," she said.


    Alexander smiled and pulled her into his arms.


    But Sprout was squished between them. He squirmed in Quinn''s arms, grabbing Alexander''s sleeve like he was getting back at him for an earlier p. Quinn couldn''t hold onto Sprout, so she handed him over to Alexander. "Here, you take him. He always wants to move around now," she said.


    Sprout couldn''t walk steadily, falling every few steps. There was really no way to handle him.


    Alexander held Sprout tightly and suddenly asked, "Isn''t his first birthdaying up soon?" "Yeah, why? You nning something?" Quinn asked.


    "Of course, but let''s keep it low-key. Too many people, too much hassle," Alexander replied.


    Quinn nodded. "So, like with Brandy, just us?"


    "Sure." Alexander nced at Sprout, thinking that at his age, he probably didn''t have any specific wishes. "I''ll think about what to get Sprout as a gift."


    "He already has all the toys he could want. His biggest wish now is probably to stand up and run around," Quinn said.


    Alexander chuckled. "Then let''s make that happen."


    Quinn looked at him in surprise. Could he really make it?


    But there was still more than half a month until Sprout''s birthday, so there was no rush.


    Alexander had agreed to Landon''s terms and needed to help him track down some people. These included not only the enemies he had made sinceing back but also old adversaries.


    After all, he had previously worked with Walter. If Walter couldn''t escape, neither could he. There would always be some potential enemies lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.


    Landon wanted to find those who posed a significant threat to him or had the potential to do so. Although it was impossible to eliminate all of them, dealing with some would reduce the number of threats. Moreover, Landon was also being watched by the police.


    In addition to the things Landon had done before, his current actions against thosepanies were bound to attract attention.


    Abigail stayed in the hospital for a few more days, almost half a month in total. Her injuries healed quite well, and it was only when she was discharged that she saw Landon.


    Aurora said, "You haven''t shown up for half a month. It''s good that you''re here today. Help Abigail with her things."


    Landon nodded and took the initiative to carry Abigail''s belongings.


    Abigail was a bit stunned but didn''t say anything. She silently followed Aurora.


    Once in the car, Landon asked, "Back to the Vanderbilt family?"


    Abigail quickly shook her head. "Not yet. I don''t want them to know about this. Just take me back to the hotel I was staying at before."


    Aurora jumped in, "Why a hotel? Did you forget what the doctor said? You need to rest and recover from the blood loss. Your injury is like giving birth; you need proper care." Abigail felt a bit awkward at Aurora''s analogy. "It''s fine. I can take care of myself."


    "How are you gonna take care of yourself in a hotel? Eating takeout every day? Come to my ce. I live alone anyway, and Landon rarelyes home," Aurora insisted. "No. I can handle it," Abigail said.


    Aurora sighed but didn''t give up. "Are you still mad at me because of those two peoplest time?"


    "No, I just..." Abigail trailed off, ncing at Landon driving in front. She sighed and chose to stay quiet.


    Landon hadn''t said a word. After listening to their back-and-forth without any conclusion, he asked again, "Where to?"


    Abigail finally said, "Take me back to the Vanderbilt family."


    Even if she didn''t want to go back, it was better than going to Landon''s ce. No matter how much Oliver and the others nagged, they were still her family. Going to Aurora''s ce made her feel ufortable.


    Seeing her insistence, Aurora didn''t push further.


    So, Landon drove her back to the Vanderbilt family. He didn''t drive all the way to the house but stopped near the mansion''s gate.


    Abigail probably didn''t want her family to see them together.


    After getting out of the car, she went to the trunk to get her luggage. Aurora urged Landon to help her. "Abigail is still injured. Go help her with her things," she said. Landon was silent for a couple of seconds but eventually got out, took the suitcase from the trunk, and ced it on the ground.


    "Thanks," Abigail said.


    "You''re wee," Landon replied.


    Abigail opened her mouth but couldn''t find anything to say. She pulled her luggage and walked across the street.


    Landon didn''t say a word until she disappeared around the corner.


    Back in the car, Aurora looked at him intently and asked, "Landon, do you have feelings for Abigail?"


    "No," Landon replied quickly.


    Aurora smiled. "You''re my son. You might fool others, but you can''t fool me. I think she has feelings for you too. If you like her, why not be more bold?" Landon looked up, his gaze meeting Aurora''s in the rearview mirror. "We''re not on the same path."


    Aurora was taken aback, her expression bing moreplex. "What do you mean? If Abigail doesn''te to you, can''t you go to her?"


    "Isn''t this lesson enough?" Landon asked.


    Aurora fell silent, realizing his meaning.


    Just like how he never came to see her, their rtionship was something that couldn''t be severed. If he could, Landon would probably cut all ties with her. Aurora sighed helplessly, and the car fell into silence.


    After a while, Landon started the car and drove away.


    When Abigail returned, Oliver wasn''t home. Only Alvin and Natalia were there. Seeing Abigail, Alvin said grumpily, "You still remember toe back? Elliot has been looking for you many times. You left without contacting him. Have you forgotten he''s your fianc¨¦?"


    Hearing the word "fianc¨¦," Abigail felt a headacheing on again.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 1510

    "I''ll hit him up," Abigail said.


    She left her suitcase downstairs and asked a servant to lug it up for her.


    Inside, she found Elliot''s number and gave him a ring. It didn''t take long for him to pick up, and his cheerful voice came through. "Abigail, you finally called!" Elliot said.


    "Yeah, were you looking for me?" Abigail asked.


    Elliot paused for a moment before speaking in a softer tone, "I was just worried about you. Now that you''re back, I''m relieved."


    "Did you talk to your parents about what I mentionedst time?" Abigail asked.


    "Not yet," Elliot admitted.


    Before Abigail could say anything, he continued, "I get how you feel, but we already talked about this. I asked them for this marriage. If I go back now and tell them to forget it, I don''t know how to exin it." Abigail went quiet. This whole thing started with her. She was the one who approached Elliot for this arrangement, and now she wanted out. It wasn''t fair to him.


    It was tough for both of them.


    The wedding had already happened, and so many people had shown up. Calling it off now would be embarrassing for both families.


    "I''m sorry. I didn''t think it through before," Abigail said. "If there''s really no other way, we can go ahead and sign the marriage agreement."


    "It''s okay. Take your time to think it over. I''m not in a rush," Elliot replied.


    "Alright, I''ll get in touch then," Abigail said.


    She hung up and flopped onto the bed, pulling the nket over herself.


    Since she got back, she hadn''t had a moment of peace. Not long after, Alvin came to talk about getting married soon. He was worried the Sullivan family might back out, and the sooner they got married, the better. After dealing with Alvin, Nancy came over, showing her some jewelry and asionally bringing up Elliot. Unlike Alvin, she didn''t push Abigail to get married soon but kept praising Elliot.


    Later, Oliver also came to see her, nagging so much that Abigail couldn''t stand it. She even regretted her earlier decision.


    So, early the next morning, she bolted. She took a cab to Aurora''s neighborhood, not to see Aurora but to get her car, which was still parked there.


    When she got to the entrance, she realized she couldn''t get in and had to call Aurora to let her in.


    Soon, Aurora came out, thrilled to see her, and pulled her inside.


    On the way, Aurora said, "Since that incidentst time, the neighborhood has been super strict about checking everyone whoes in and out. Next time youe, call me in advance so I cane out to get you." Abigail nodded, thinking she definitely wouldn''te again. "This is good, at least it''s safer," she said.


    "Those bad people will always find a way in; it''s just rtively safer," Aurora replied. Then she asked, "Are you here to see me?"


    "I''m here to get my car and check on you. Has anyone been bothering you?" Abigail asked.


    Aurora''s expression changed slightly, and she hesitated before saying, "No one hase. But being alone at home makes me anxious. It would be nice if you coulde and keep mepany more often." "Doesn''t Landone back?" Abigail asked.


    "Landon? He dropped me off at the door yesterday and took off. I''ve told you, he doesn''te back easily," Aurora sighed, a hint of sadness in her eyes.


    Abigail suddenly felt a bit sorry for her but didn''t know how tofort her. She couldn''t really judge Landon''s character, but she knew he wasn''t a good person.


    Since he wasn''t a good person, it wasn''t surprising that he didn''t visit his mother.


    Aurora said, "Last time, I wanted to treat you to a meal, but then that incident happened. Let''s make up for it this time. Do you have time for a meal?"


    Abigail couldn''t refuse. She was silent for a moment and then nodded. "Yeah, I have time."


    Aurora told her to wait at home while she went out to buy groceries. Abigail wanted to go with her, but Aurora insisted that Abigail''s injury hadn''t healed and told her to stay home and rest. Abigail had no choice but to wait for Aurora to return.


    She sat in the house for a while and then remembered Landon''s photo. She walked to the liquor cab and took down the photo.


    In the photo, Landon looked very young, but there was already a mature air, a kind of precociousness.


    Abigail''s understanding of Landon had always been shallow. She knew nothing about his past. To her, Landon seemed both familiar and strange, almost unreal.


    However, this photo made her feel like she was glimpsing a bit of his real existence, making her realize that Landon was a real person, just like most ordinary people. This photo suddenly put Landon on an equal footing with her.


    She sighed and put the photo back.


    Then she walked to the sofa, sat down, and turned on the TV, watching it idly.


    The TV was boring, and she inexplicably fell asleep on the sofa.


    She didn''t know how long she had slept when she was suddenly awakened by the sound of the door closing. She looked dazedly at the door.


    It was Landon, who Aurora said rarely came back.


    Landon was clearly surprised to see her, then remembered why Aurora had called him back, and a look of helplessness shed across his face. He walked over. "What are you doing here?"


    Abigail quickly sat up and looked behind him. "Why are you alone?"


    "Aurora is still at the supermarket," Landon replied.


    "So you came back alone?" Abigail pressed.


    "She said the stove was left on, so I came back to turn it off." Landon casually sat down not far from Abigail, took off his sses, and rubbed his temples. Abigail realized that Aurora had deliberately called him back.


    It seemed Abigail was right; Aurora wanted to set them up.


    The atmosphere became awkward. Fortunately, after thest incident, Landon no longer mocked her, which was the only thing to be thankful for.


    But Landon was the kind of person who wouldn''t even say thank you, let alone mention what happenedst time, as if nothing had happened.


    The room was quiet, with only the sound of the TV echoing. The sunlight outside was beautiful, the window was open, and the light blue curtains fluttered slightly in the breeze.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Abigail kept ncing at the door. Aurora still hadn''t returned, and she felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.


    She kept hesitating between leaving and staying.


    Leaving felt like an admission of guilt, but staying made her feel ufortable.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1511

    Luckily, Aurora didn''t take long toe back. When she walked in and saw Landon and Abigail chilling, she smiled.


    Abigail saw her chance, got up, and said, "Aurora, something came up. I can''t stay for dinner. Gotta go."


    Aurora quickly put down the dishes. "Why are you leaving so suddenly?"


    "It''s urgent," Abigail replied.


    "What could be so urgent that you can''t even stay for dinner?" Aurora pressed.


    Abigail didn''t expect Aurora to push. Her mind went nk for a second, and she quickly made up an excuse. "My wound hurts. I need to go to the hospital for a check-up!" Aurora was surprised. "That''s serious. Landon, take Abigail to the hospital."


    "No. No need," Abigail said, waving her hands. If Landon took her, what was the point of leaving?


    "Why not? What if your wound is infected? It''s not safe to go alone. Better to have someone with you," Aurora insisted.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail looked helpless. She nced at Landon, giving him a look. Why wasn''t he saying anything?


    Shouldn''t Landon be the one to refuse and let her leave quickly?


    Landon stayed silent, neither urging Abigail to leave nor agreeing with Aurora. He just sat there, cleaning his sses like it had nothing to do with him.


    Abigail thought for a moment and then awkwardly said, "Suddenly, I feel better. Aurora, let me help you carry these inside."


    Staying with Aurora and Landon was better than being alone with Landon. Three''spany, right?


    Aurora declined Abigail''s offer, but Abigail still grabbed something and followed her into the kitchen.


    She helped sort through the groceries and watched Aurora busy herself. She felt like talking several times but held back each time.


    Aurora noticed and turned to her. "What''s wrong, Abigail? Got something to say?"


    Abigail was silent for a moment, looking a bit awkward. "No, nothing."


    Aurora saw her reaction but didn''t push, just smiled.


    If Abigail really had no feelings for Landon, she wouldn''t have wanted to leave as soon as he came back. So, they had thoughts of being together, but for some reason, neither wanted to face the other. Aurora had no other expectations. She just hoped that if they were together, Abigail could bring some change to her son.


    She didn''t want to live in constant worry anymore.


    "I can handle this. You can go out. Dinner will be ready soon," Aurora said.


    Abigail shook her head. "It''s okay. I''ll help you. I can cook."


    "Is your wound okay?" Aurora asked.


    "It''s fine. It''s not a big deal anymore," Abigail assured her.


    "Alright then," Aurora agreed.


    Actually, Abigail didn''t know how to cook. She just didn''t want to go out and face Landon. She stayed inside, helping to chop vegetables, though they were uneven in size, showing she wasn''t skilled in the kitchen. Abigail and Aurora chatted casually, and soon dinner was ready. Aurora carried the dishes out. "Let''s go, time to eat," she called.


    Abigail nodded and helped carry the dishes out.


    Landon was still sitting there like a noble. He only moved when Aurora called him to eat.


    Aurora had made a lot of dishes, filling the table. The three of them couldn''t possibly finish it all.


    The dinner table was very quiet, with only the sound of utensils clinking. Aurora''s gaze shifted between Abigail and Landon, and she suddenly asked, "Landon, have you been very busytely?" Landon nodded. "Yeah."


    His short reply killed the conversation. Aurora stayed quiet for a bit and then didn''t say anything more.


    After a while, Landon put down his utensils. "I''m full. Got work to do at thepany. I''m heading out," he announced.


    "You''re eating so little?" Aurora asked.


    "I''m already full," Landon replied.


    Without lingering, he left the room.


    Watching the door close, Aurora looked disappointed. She sighed and lost her appetite, cing her utensils on the table.


    Neither of them was eating anymore. Abigail, who was only halfway through her meal, felt awkward continuing to eat and also put down her utensils.


    Aurora said, "You should keep eating. No need to be so reserved."


    Abigail waved her hands. "I''m already full."


    Aurora nced at the half-full bowl in front of Abigail. She hesitated for a moment and then said, "Abigail, you don''t me me for inviting you over, do you?"


    Abigail shook her head. "If I med you, I wouldn''t be sitting here eating."


    "That''s good. You and Landon..." Aurora trailed off, unsure of what to say. It wasn''t her ce to break the ice between them.


    Hearing Aurora''s words, Abigail immediately became nervous. Fortunately, Aurora didn''t continue.


    Aurora said, "Never mind. It''s not my ce to interfere in your affairs. But Abigail, even if we don''t talk about Landon, we know each other now. If you have time,e chat with me." Abigail was moved. She was silent for a moment and then nodded. "Okay, I wille if I have time."


    Aurora smiled and held her hand, showing a kind smile. "You''re such a good kid. Do you really not have a boyfriend?"


    "Not exactly. I have a fianc¨¦," Abigail replied.


    Aurora was stunned. How did she suddenly have a fianc¨¦? She wasn''t sure if Abigail was telling the truth.


    However, Abigail''s refusal was clear.


    Aurora smiled bitterly. "Alright then. Are you two doing well?"


    "Yes, very well," Abigail said.


    "Then it seems we aren''t destined to be family," Aurora sighed.


    Abigail lowered her eyes and chose to remain silent.


    They chatted for a while longer before Abigail stood up to say goodbye. She drove away in her car.


    Abigail didn''t want to go back to the Vanderbilt family. She drove around the city and suddenly realized she had nowhere to go. She ended up at Regal Riverside.


    She couldn''t see if anyone was inside from the outside. Sitting in her car, she took out her phone and messaged Quinn.


    Every time she came to see Quinn, she only had one question: [Is Alexander there?]


    Quinn hadn''t seen her in a while. Upon receiving the message, she immediately replied: [He''s not here. He took Sprout and Brandy for a walk.]


    Only then did Abigail get out of the car and quickly walked to the door, shouting, "Quinn, open the door!"


    Soon, Quinn came out of the house, jogged to the door, opened it, and pulled Abigail in with a smile.


    "Abigail, why are youing now? Is your wound healed?" Quinn asked.


    "Wound?" Abigail repeated, stunned. She looked at Quinn warily. How did Quinn know she was injured? Was Alexander monitoring her?


    Quinn found her reaction strange. "Weren''t you bitten by a snake?" she asked.


    Abigail then realized Quinn was referring to that incident. She had almost forgotten about it. She touched her nose. "It''s healed. Otherwise, how could Ie to see you?" She then noticed Quinn''s hair. "Why did you cut your hair?" she asked.


    Quinn instinctively touched her short hair. To avoid making Abigail feel guilty, she lied, "It''s easier to manage and more convenient for taking care of the kids."

 Chapter 1512

    Abigail shot Quinn a skeptical look.


    Quinn tugged her inside, saying, "Don''t just stand there. Come on in."


    Abigail trailed behind, her eyes darting around curiously. "Why didn''t you go out with them?" she asked. "Didn''t feel like it. Decided to stay home and sort through their clothes," Quinn replied.


    Even though Briar was a great help, Quinn felt better handling the kids'' stuff herself.


    "Kids grow so fast. Their clothes get small in no time. I''ve saved all the outgrown ones for you," Quinn added. Abigail''s face tightened, and she snapped, "Why are you saving them? Are you jinxing me to have kids?" Quinn paused, then turned back with a grin. "Well, if you don''t want them, someone else can use them." "Someone else? Who else are you saving them for?" Abigail asked, confused.


    "I don''t know," Quinn shrugged.


    "It''s just a few clothes. It''s not like others can''t afford them," Abigail said, brushing it off.


    Quinn sighed and pulled her to sit on the couch. She stared at Abigail for a moment. "Abigail, you seem a bit bored. Why don''t you find a job?" she suggested.


    Abigail was taken aback, then her eyes lit up. "You''re right. I''ve felt like something was missing, and now I realize it''s because I don''t have a job."


    "What do you want to do?" Quinn asked.


    "I don''t know," Abigail admitted.


    She had never worked before and was used to her freedom. The thought of suddenly working in apany felt unbearable.


    She propped her chin on her hand and sighed. "I''ll think about it."


    "Since you''re not doing it for the money, why not talk to Orion? He''s doing pretty well now," Quinn suggested.


    "I almost forgot about him. He''s in Sylvadora, right?" Abigail asked.


    "Yeah," Quinn confirmed.


    Abigail nodded in agreement. "Not a bad idea. If I can''t find a job, I''ll go to him."


    Quinn stared at Abigail for a while. She could tell that Abigail seemed lost and directionless, agreeing with whatever she said.


    ''Probably just bored,'' Quinn thought.


    Quinn was busy with the kids and didn''t have time for such thoughts.


    "Alright, don''t overthink it. There''s always a solution to problems. Life is short, just a few decades. Do what you want and don''t waste your youth on trivial things," Quinn advised. Abigail rested her chin on her hands, still looking confused. "What do you mean by trivial things?" she asked.


    "Like now, wasting time doing nothing and not knowing what you want. It''s just wasting time," Quinn exined.


    Abigail frowned and didn''t speak.


    After a while, she said gloomily, "You''re right, but I don''t know what I want to do."


    "It''s because you have unresolved issues or unfinished business," Quinn suggested. Abigail waved her hand. "Alright, stop. The more you talk, the more confused I get."


    "Okay, let''s go for a walk," Quinn proposed.


    "Sure," Abigail agreed.


    Quinn stood up and went out with Abigail.


    It was a beautiful day. The trees along the road had sprouted new leaves, creating a green canopy.


    Abigail soonined of being tired. She was both mentally and physically exhausted. The stab wound fromst time had taken a toll on her.


    She saw a bench by the road and quickly sat down. "I can''t walk anymore," she said.


    Quinn gave her a strange look.


    Abigail looked genuinely worn out, but they''d only been walking for like ten minutes. When did her stamina get so bad?This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Quinn asked, worried, "You okay?"


    Abigail pressed the spot where she was previously injured, her face pale. "I''m fine, just tired. Guess I''m really getting old," she said. Quinn smirked, clearly not buying it.


    She sat down next to Abigail. "Is it because the snake bite hasn''t healed?"


    "Yeah," Abigail replied.


    Though she answered every question, Quinn could tell her responses were mostly half-hearted, making Quinn feel a bit drained.


    After sitting for a while, Quinn suddenly saw Alexandering back with Sprout and Brandy.


    Alexander was carrying Sprout, with Brandy walking beside him, bathed in the sunset, creating a picturesque scene.


    Alexander approached them and asked, "Why are you sitting here?"


    Quinn stood up. "Oh, we went for a walk. You''re back already?" she said.


    Alexander nodded and nced at Abigail.


    Abigail sighed. "You guys go back. I''m heading out."


    She got up and walked away without giving Quinn a chance to speak. Quinn watched her leave, opened her mouth, and finally sighed helplessly. "What''s up with you two?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn shook her head. "I''m fine. She seems to have something on her mind."


    Alexander nced at Abigail, then quickly looked away. "Let''s go back."


    Quinn nodded. "Let me carry Sprout."


    "I''ll do it. Sprout''s heavy," Alexander insisted.


    Sprout was over 20 pounds now. Quinn couldn''t carry him for long anymore.


    ''Men are definitely stronger,'' Quinn thought. Alexander had carried Sprout for a walk and still looked unfazed.


    So, she turned to hold Brandy''s hand.


    They headed back home.


    Abigail had left early. Thinking about Abigail''s earlier state, Quinn couldn''t help but worry.


    She could vaguely guess what might be bothering Abigail, but she couldn''t help her.


    Two dayster was Sprout''s birthday.


    They didn''t invite anyone over, but many people sent gifts, including Abigail and Walter.


    When the package first arrived, Quinn didn''t know who sent it because there was no name. But seeing the sender''s address, it could only be Walter.


    In Arcturus, the only person who knew Sprout''s birthday was Walter.


    She opened the package and found quite a few things inside: a set of gold jewelry, gold earrings, a gold bracelet, and a gold anklet, along with a set of building blocks. Alexander watched from the side, his face not looking pleased. "Who can''t afford these things?" he muttered.


    Quinn silently put the gifts back in the box, awkwardly exining, "These are from Calvin."


    "Isn''t that package from Calvin?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn then noticed another box. She quickly grabbed scissors to open it.


    Inside were six or seven different toy guns, along with toy cars, nes, cannons, and various military toys, totaling over fifty items.


    When she took them out, they formed a small mountain.


    This was definitely Calvin''s style. Quinn suddenly found Walter''s gold jewelry more eptable.


    "Calvin is so enthusiastic. Did he send every weapon he knows?" Quinn remarked.


    Alexander picked up a gun, studied it for a moment, and nodded in approval. "Well-made. With different materials, they could be real guns."

 Chapter 1513

    Quinn shot Alexander a look that said it all. "This is for Sprout, not for you to mess around with. These toys are way too dangerous for him. Put them away," she said. As she spoke, she quickly grabbed the toys, stuffed them into a box, and snatched the toy gun from Alexander''s hand, tossing it in as well.


    Alexander shot back, "A toy gun is way cooler than a gold chain. Wearing gold just makes you look like you''re trying too hard."


    Quinn didn''t call him out. She knew his issue wasn''t with the gift itself but with who gave it.


    "I also got him a bracelet," Quinn said.


    Alexander shrugged. "Your bracelet means something different."


    "How so?" Quinn asked.


    "It just does," Alexander insisted.


    Quinn didn''t want to argue. "Where''s your gift?" she asked.


    Alexander nced at his watch. "Should be here any minute."


    Right on cue, someone in a delivery uniform called from outside.


    Quinn dashed out and saw a big truck parked at the door. The delivery guy spotted her and said, "Your pets are here. Can you sign for them?" "What?" Quinn asked, puzzled.


    "Two Golden Retrievers, pretty big ones," the delivery guy exined.


    Quinn suddenly remembered-Buddy and Liberty. Amanda must''ve sent them over after theirst call.


    The delivery guy hopped into the truck and asked, "Should I let them out? They don''t bite, right?"


    "Go ahead. They''re friendly," Quinn confirmed.


    The delivery guy opened the cages, and two golden blurs shot out. Before Quinn could even react, they were all over her, almost knocking her over.


    They circled her a few times before bolting into the house. Quinn signed the receipt and handed it back. "Thanks."


    "No problem," the delivery guy replied.


    Quinn went back inside. Buddy and Liberty were tearing around the house, up and down the stairs, like they were checking out their old stomping grounds. "Is this your gift for Sprout?" Quinn asked Alexander.


    "Sort of. Amanda couldn''t find a shippingpany, so I sent a car to get them," Alexander said, calling Buddy over. Buddy ran to him, and Alexander petted his head. Quinn felt a bit touched, realizing he had remembered this all along.


    She squatted down with Sprout in front of Buddy. "Baby, do you like the big doggies?" she asked.


    Sprout stared at Buddy with wide eyes, then broke into a big smile and reached out to grab Buddy''s ears.


    Buddy nuzzled Sprout, almost knocking him over each time, but Quinn held him steady.


    She looked worriedly at Alexander. "I feel like Sprout''s even more at risk now with these two around."


    "No, they''re just excited to be home. They''ll calm down soon," Alexander reassured her.


    "Really?" Quinn asked, still concerned.


    "Yeah," Alexander confirmed, then walked out again.


    A little whileter, he came back with something that looked like a baby stroller.


    He started putting it together while Quinn continued unpacking other stuff. Abigail had also sent a gift, which was much simpler: $18,000 in cash and a heavy gold bar. Abigail''s gift was really thoughtful.


    Then there was Orion''s gift. When Quinn opened it, she was left scratching her head.


    Three bags of dog food.


    "Is this for Sprout or Buddy?" she wondered.


    After unwrapping all the gifts, Quinn realized that Calvin and Orion''s gifts were the most unusual.


    Meanwhile, Alexander had finished putting together the stroller. He ced Sprout in it. "Give it a spin," he said.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    It was a high-tech walker.


    "Is this your gift for Sprout?" Quinn asked.


    "Yep," Alexander replied.


    Quinn pped her forehead. Why hadn''t she thought of this earlier? It would''ve saved her so much hassle.


    Alexander said, "I had this custom-made for Sprout. It''s got a ton of features."


    "Like what?" Quinn asked, curious.


    "Automatic slope brake," Alexander demonstrated. When the ground was inclined, the stroller would lock, making it impossible to push.


    It also had an anti-fall feature. There was a cover that could shield from sun and rain, and when closed, it turned into a ball that wouldn''t get damaged even if it rolled down the stairs.


    To test it, Alexander even threw the stroller down the stairs. The cover immediately closed, turning it into a big egg that rolled down without a scratch.


    Quinn ran over to check it out and found it undamaged.


    She looked up at Alexander, impressed. "This is so advanced."


    Alexander put Sprout in it. "I told you it was custom-made. It''s not 100% foolproof, but it''s way safer for him."


    Quinn nodded. Especially with a two-story house, it was a lifesaver.


    Once Sprout was inside, he started toddling around the house, even chasing Buddy and Liberty.


    "Looks like Sprout really likes your gift," Quinn remarked.


    Alexander raised an eyebrow. "It''s a hundred times better than a gold bracelet."


    Quinn smirked, stood up, and dusted herself off. "Can you clean up here? I''ll go help Briar with the cooking. We bought a ton of groceries today, and she might need a hand." "No problem," Alexander agreed.


    The living room was a mess, especially with Buddy and Liberty back.


    Alexander squatted down to clean up the boxes while Sprout and Brandy yed with Buddy and Liberty. Brandy also loved the dogs, hugging their necks and kissing them. Luckily, the dogs were good-natured and yed with the kids.


    Now, with Sprout safely in the stroller, Alexander could move around freely. He focused on tidying up, creating a harmonious scene.


    After Alexander finished cleaning, Quinn and Briar had almost finished cooking.


    The family gathered at the dining table, and Quinn brought out a bottle of wine.


    Alexander looked at the red wine and smirked. "You''re going to drink?"


    "It''s fine. Sprout can''t drink it, so we''ll drink for him," Quinn said with a smile.


    Alexander shook his head, smiling. He helped decant the wine and poured a ss for each of them.


    He raised his ss, looked at Sprout sitting next to Quinn, and toasted. "Leopold, happy birthday."


    Sprout held a spoon in his hand and looked at him. "Dada," he said.


    Quinn was amused by his gesture.

 Chapter 1514

    Brandy held her juice and mumbled, "Happy birthday, Sprout." Sprout didn''t get it and just kept munching on his baby food.


    Quinn sighed, "Forget it, Sprout doesn''t understand. Let''s just enjoy the meal." She raised her ss and clinked it with Alexander''s. "Happy birthday, Sprout." Alexander smiled. "Yeah, Sprout''s pretty happy."


    Quinn took a sip. She wasn''t much of a drinker and didn''t really like wine, but she took a small sip for the asion.


    Even though it was just the four of them, the birthday felt great, and Quinn was really happy.


    It was Sprout''s first birthday, and Alexander was there. She hoped they could celebrate every birthday together as a family in the future.


    Since Sprout couldn''t eat cake, Quinn helped him out and shared some with Brandy.


    Alexander grabbed the camera and asked Brandy to take some pictures, calling it a birthday keepsake.


    Quinn didn''t mind. She hugged Brandy and Sprout and smiled at the camera.


    After dinner, they moved to the sofa and took a few family photos.


    Alexander put his arm around Quinn''s shoulder. He used to hate taking photos, but now he loved it and always initiated it. He smiled at the camera. Brandy captured the family of four, freezing the moment in a photo.


    Quinn turned to look at Alexander and smiled.


    Alexander said, "Alright, today''s birthday celebration is a wrap. Let''s hit the sack."


    Quinn nodded and took Sprout and Brandy upstairs.


    Early the next morning, Quinn was jolted awake by a phone call. She groggily reached for the phone and answered it.


    "Hello," she mumbled, still half-asleep.


    "Quinn, it''s me. Something''s up at our house," Abigail''s voice came through.


    Quinn''s eyes snapped open, and she checked her phone to make sure she wasn''t dreaming. It was definitely Abigail calling.


    "What happened?" Quinn asked, worried.


    Abigail whispered, "The police came to our house this morning. Oliver went with them, and they were looking for me too. Oliver told them I wasn''t home, so I didn''t go with them."


    "So you don''t know what happened?" Quinn asked.


    "No, but something''s definitely up. I knew nothing good woulde from getting involved with Landon," Abigail said, her voice a mix of anxiety and anger.


    She wasn''t sure if it was because she had gotten too close to Landon, but she was scared her family would get dragged into it.


    Quinn tried tofort her, "Don''t panic. We don''t know what it is yet. Calm down and wait for Oliver toe back and ask him. Maybe it''s nothing serious."


    "Hopefully. I just feel uneasy and didn''t know who to talk to. Alright, that''s it. I''m hanging up," Abigail said quickly. She had called Quinn for somefort, but it didn''t help. The more she thought about it, the more she worried. Quinn frowned and sat up in bed.


    Next to her, Alexander woke up and sat up. "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    "Abigail just called me. Do you have any way to find out why Oliver was taken away?" Quinn asked.


    "I''ll ask around," Alexander said, picking up his phone and walking out.


    Quinn saw the two kids were still sleeping, so she got up, went to the bathroom to change, and then headed to Alexander''s study.


    Alexander was still on the phone. Quinn didn''t want to interrupt, so she just watched him, feeling a bit worried.


    Alexander, in his gray loungewear, stood by the window, talking quietly. Quinn couldn''t catch what he was saying. After a bit, he hung up and walked over to her. "Something did happen, but it shouldn''t be a big deal," he said. "What happened?" Quinn asked.


    "Two people broke into Landon''s house earlier, and Abigail was there. She ended up killing one of them in self-defense, and the other one ran off," Alexander exined.


    Quinn was stunned. Abigail hadn''t mentioned any of this to her.


    "Is it because of that?" Quinn asked.


    "Sort of, but not entirely," Alexander said, sitting down next to her. "The guy who ran away turned himself in to the police."


    "What?" Quinn eximed.


    "He turned himself in and told the police why he wanted to get back at Landon. He imed that Landon and the Vanderbilt family had used shady tactics to crush theirpany and even provided evidence of his uncle''s suspicious death," Alexander exined.


    "So they''re investigating this?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah," Alexander confirmed.


    Quinn found it odd. "If they have evidence, why not just sue? Why make such a big scene?"


    "It''splicated. Sometimes suing isn''t enough. They want to make a big fuss to draw more attention when it can''t be swept under the rug," Alexander exined.


    "The guy who kidnapped Abigail at the wedding had the same idea, but he failed and was secretly dealt with by Landon, which led to theter break-in," Alexander continued.


    Quinn sighed, "So that''s how it is. You said it''s not a big problem. Is that true?"


    "It depends on how Landon handles it," Alexander said.


    "What do you mean?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander sighed softly, and Quinn could hear a hint of regret in his sigh.


    "Landon can''t escape what he''s done. This incident is just a trigger. They''re investigating more than just his shady business practices. Look at how smart Walter is; he fled abroad and found the Lynch family for protection. But Landon doesn''t have anyone backing him up," Alexander exined.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Wasn''t it you who told Walter to go?" Quinn asked.


    "Do you think he didn''t want to go and I could make him? I just gave him an excuse," Alexander replied.


    Quinn felt a bit helpless. There were so many twists and turns between them.


    She could guess that if Alexander hadn''t told Walter to go, they wouldn''t have left so easily.


    Given Walter''s hostility toward Zeke, if he had stayed and caused trouble, Zeke wouldn''t have had time to worry about Alexander returning.


    "Then why did Landone back?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander smirked, "Who knows."


    Quinn couldn''t figure out what he was up to. If he wanted the Mellon Group''s money, he could have just negotiated for money when he made the deal with her, but he insisted on the Mellon Group. Was he doing all this because he was bored?


    "You just said it depends on how Landon handles it. What do you mean?" Quinn asked.


    "It means if Landon takes responsibility for everything, the Vanderbilt family will be fine. If he doesn''t, the Vanderbilt family will be the first to be targeted," Alexander exined.


    Quinn shook her head. "He definitely won''t take responsibility."


    "You never know," Alexander replied.

 Chapter 1515

    Quinn eyed him skeptically. "So, you know Landon pretty well, huh?"


    Alexander shrugged. "We''ve been butting heads forever. He never beat me, but yeah, I know a bit about him."


    Quinn wasn''t buying it, but she didn''t really know Landon either.


    Alexander went on, "Ever since he came back to Amber Bay, it''s like he''s got a death wish."


    "Why''s that?" Quinn asked.


    "Maybe he''s been single too long and got bored," Alexander said with a smirk.


    Quinn frowned. "Can you be serious? This is important."


    "I am serious. Why don''t you believe me?" Alexander said, still grinning.


    Quinn rolled her eyes. "Being single too long? That''s a dumb reason."


    "You don''t get it," Alexander said, shaking his head.


    Quinn snapped back, "Fine! You know everything."


    Alexander chuckled, pulled her close, and said, "Calm down. I mean, when someone''s been single forever, falling in love can be terrifying." "How terrifying?" Quinn asked, despite herself.


    "He''ll regret his past. The more mistakes he''s made, the harder it is to turn back. He can''t face his feelings, gets stuck, tortures himself, and eventually goes nuts, doing even worse things until he destroys himself just to find some relief," Alexander exined.


    Quinn felt a chill run through her.


    Alexander didn''t mention one thing: when Landon came to him and admitted defeat, it was the final straw.


    With hisst reason to keep going gone, Landon, despite the immense pressure, sought Alexander''s help to find those people.


    Quinn said hesitantly, "But I didn''t see that Landon cared that much about Abigail."


    "If even you could see it, wouldn''t that be embarrassing for him?" Alexander asked.


    "What do you mean?" Quinn got a little angry, pushed Alexander away, stood up, and said, "I''m not talking to you anymore."


    She ran out, found her phone, and scrolled to Abigail''s number, but she couldn''t bring herself to dial.


    Since she couldn''t see it, Abigail might not see it either.


    If Quinn told Abigail the truth, would Abigail ept Landon''s feelings if he expressed them?


    Abigail didn''t know anything now and didn''t have high hopes for Landon. So, even if Landon ended up in jail or with some other fate, Abigail would be better off.


    But when Abigail knew the truth in the future, would she regret not expressing her feelings? Would she be more miserable?


    Quinn scratched her head in frustration, torn between telling Abigail the truth and staying silent. She even put herself in Abigail''s shoes, wondering what she would want. Before she could figure it out, a slender hand took her phone away.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Don''t meddle in other people''s rtionships," Alexander said.


    Quinn was slightly stunned. She turned around and asked, "What about Abigail?"


    "Don''t think about it. You know that just the incident on the cruise ship years ago is enough to ruin Landon, let alone other things he did," Alexander said.


    Quinn''s hands dropped weakly. "Yeah, he can''t turn back. What he did was unforgivable."


    There were survivors from the cruise ship who knew the truth. Since Landon wasn''t in jail, and they feared retaliation, they kept quiet all these years.


    They wouldn''t fare much better if they testified falsely. They''ve lived peacefully all these years, and no one wants more trouble.


    However, once Landon is caught, they will definitely speak the truth and kick him while he''s down, ensuring he never has a chance for revenge.


    That one incident alone could get him the death penalty. The other things wouldn''t matter.


    Abigail was pacing around at home, nerves on edge. When Oliver finally walked in, she rushed over. "Oliver, are you okay? What did they ask you?" Oliver frowned. "Why didn''t you tell me?"


    Abigail froze, guilt washing over her. "Tell you what?"


    "That you almost got killed at Landon''s ce? Abigail, I had no idea you were that close to him," Oliver said, his tone sharp.


    Panicking, Abigail grabbed his hand. "It was an ident. I didn''t know it was his house. Please, don''t tell Dad."


    "Do you really think you can keep this a secret?" Oliver sighed, clearly frustrated. He opened his mouth to say more but then stopped. "Forget it, it''s over now." "That''s it?" Abigail asked, confused.


    "We sorted it out. From now on..." Oliver trailed off.


    Abigail rarely saw him so hesitant and had no clue what was going on in his head.


    Without another word, Oliver headed upstairs.


    Abigail thought for a moment, then quietly followed him. She pressed her ear to the door of Alvin''s study and could barely make out the conversation inside. Oliver said, "Anyway, we pinned everything on Landon. We won''t be affected."


    "Is that reliable? Won''t he turn on us?" Alvin asked, clearly worried.


    "He won''t," Oliver assured him.


    Alvin''s voice rose in anger. "You trust Landon and don''t discuss anything with me anymore, putting Abigail in danger several times. If I had known, I would have risked my life to stop you from working with him!" "Dad, it''s toote to change anything now. We haven''t lost anything, so let''s leave it at that. It''s enough," Oliver said, trying to calm him down.


    "I can''t control you anymore. I just want our family to be safe. I don''t need great wealth. Things are good as they are now. Don''t take any more risks," Alvin said, his voice softening.


    "Okay, I understand," Oliver replied.


    "Alright, you can go now. Keep a low profile for a while," Alvin instructed.


    "Okay," Oliver said.


    Oliver turned and left the office. When he opened the door, he found Abigail standing outside. He didn''t say a word, just walked past her.


    Abigail caught up to him. "Oliver, did you pin everything on Landon?"


    Oliver paused, turned to look at her. "So? What do you want me to do? Should our whole family take the me for him? Should Dad and I go to jail, our family go bankrupt, and you end up homeless? Is that what you want?"


    Abigail opened her mouth, but the words wouldn''te out. She didn''t want that, but Oliver''s actions made her ufortable. The Oliver she remembered was supposed to be straightforward, not someone who would pass the me, even if it was the smartest decision.


    Abigail lowered her head. She had lived a carefree life all these years, protected by her family, without a worry or responsibility.


    For the first time, she faced a real dilemma.


    For the first time, she understood that right and wrong were not always clear-cut. The idea of absolute right and wrong now seemed naive and almostughable.


    She couldn''t distinguish between right and wrong anymore.


    Could she say Oliver was wrong? Clearly, from the Vanderbilt family''s perspective, Oliver was right.


    Oliver looked at her confused expression, sighed, walked up to her, and ced a hand on her shoulder. "Abigail, it was Landon who told me to do this."


    Abigail suddenly looked up. "What did you say?"


    Oliver said, "When we first started working together, he told me that if anything went wrong, to pin it on him. That''s why I agreed. Do you think I would really risk our family?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1516

    Abigail stood there, totally out of it, staring at Oliver. She just couldn''t wrap her head around what he was saying.


    Landon''s cold face popped into her mind. Would he really say something like that?


    Abigail opened her mouth and said bitterly, "Could he be lying to you just to get you to cooperate?"


    Oliver shook his head. "No, Landon might not always do the right thing, but he keeps his word. Plus, we don''t have any beef with him. Why would he lie to me about this? There are tons ofpanies in Amber Bay; why pick on us? Even if he is lying, we don''t have any other options right now."


    What Abigail really wanted to hear was that Landon was lying, so she could feel a bit better.


    But she also didn''t want Landon to be lying to Oliver, because that would probably drag the Vanderbilt family into it. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed wrong and pointless. This was the toughest choice Abigail had ever faced.


    Oliver patted her shoulder. "Just rest at home. Don''t stress about this anymore."


    Abigail stayed quiet, her throat feeling like it was blocked by a rock, making it hard to speak.


    Oliver left, and she stood there for a long time.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Finally, she went back to her room and locked herself in, noting out for days.


    Quinn called Abigail, but she didn''t pick up, and her phone stayed off.


    Quinn was super worried and wanted to go to her house, but Alexander wouldn''t let her, especially after what happenedst time and with the Vanderbilt family now in the spotlight. Quinn could only worry at home.


    She asked Alexander, "Alexander, what''s Landon been up to these days?"


    Alexander casually flipped through a book on the sofa, turned a page, and said, "I don''t know."


    Quinn frowned. Oliver and Landon were probably up to something shady, and Alexander knew but didn''t want to tell her.


    Quinn sighed and looked back at Sprout.


    Sprout was happy with his walker, running around until he got tired and then sitting in it to sleep. He had two dogs to y with, and they knew nothing, living carefree every day.


    A few dayster, Abigail finally turned on her phone, which had been off for a long time.


    After turning it on, there were several missed calls, all from Quinn.


    Abigail was silent for a while, found Quinn''s number, but seeing it was already eleven or twelve at night, she didn''t call back.


    She opened the curtains and looked at the dark night outside. It was pitch ck, with only the lights around the vi shining, making it seem particrly deste.


    She sighed, turned, and walked out of the room.


    Most people in the vi were asleep, but a few maids were still tidying up. They greeted her as she came down.


    One maid asked, "Ms. Vanderbilt, going out sote?"


    "Yeah, just going for a walk nearby," Abigail said, not paying any more attention to them, and walked out on her own.


    The wind outside was a bit strong, and the night was a bit chilly for this season. She shrank her neck and strolled along the path outside the vi, the streetlights casting long shadows of her figure. She hadn''t walked far when suddenly something pressed against her waist from behind.


    She paused, sighed helplessly, and suddenly turned around. "You guys..."


    Seeing the person behind her, Abigail was stunned. "It''s you?"


    It was none other than Landon.


    With the light behind him, Landon stood there, his face obscured by the backlight.


    Abigail''s gaze shifted down to the gun in his hand, and she couldn''t help butugh. "Is it another toy gun?"


    Landon stared at her for a moment. "Take a guess."


    Abigail didn''t want to guess. After experiencing two kidnappings, she was used to such things. Seeing it was Landon, she felt a subtle sense of relief.


    If Landon could still show up here to kidnap her, it meant he was temporarily safe.


    Abigail didn''t think he had any reason to kidnap her now.


    "So, what do you want to do by kidnapping me this time?" Abigail asked.


    "Get in the car," Landon instructed.


    Abigail saw the car not far away, remained silent for a moment, then walked past him and got in the car on her own.


    After she got in, Landon also got in and drove away.


    The car was very quiet. Abigail sat in the back, asionally looking up at the rearview mirror, only able to see Landon''s sses, or rather, just the gold-rimmed frames. Abigail asked, "Where are you taking me?"


    "Where do you want to go?" Landon asked her.


    Abigail was taken aback, her mind going nk for a moment. "What do you mean? Are you nning to elope with me?"


    She thought Landon would refute her, maybe call her narcissistic, but Landon remained silent.


    Abigail''s expression suddenly became serious. She sat up straight, staring at him. "Are you really nning to elope with me?" "Would you be willing?" Landon asked.


    His response left her speechless and her mind in chaos, unable to say a word for a long time.


    "Stop joking. What new trick are you nning to y on me?" Abigail asked.


    Landon remained silent.


    The longer he stayed silent, the faster Abigail''s heart beat. She instinctively grabbed her pants with her fingers.


    After a while, she cautiously said, "Then, at least let me pack my things."


    Before she finished speaking, she closed her eyes in frustration, even wanting to p herself.


    ''What nonsense am I talking about!'' she roared inwardly.


    The next moment, she suddenly heard Landon say, "Do you really think I want to elope with you?"


    Abigail was stunned again. "What?"


    "Your narcissism is getting worse," Landon said.


    "I knew it." Abigailughed in exasperation, alsoughing at her own foolishness. "How could I think that? I was just messing with you."


    After she finished speaking, the car fell silent again, and Landon ignored her.


    Abigail angrily turned to look out the window, her mood extremelyplicated.


    The car drove on a remote road, and for a while, no one spoke. Abigail watched as the road became more and more secluded. It was a familiar experience, but she no longer felt the fear of being kidnapped. She had never been on this road, but Quinn used to frequent this ce. It was a veryplex mountain road, and at the top, there was a countryside estate.


    By the time they reached this ce, it was already daylight, almost noon.


    Landon parked the car in the yard and got out.


    Abigail looked around. There were green mountains and clear waters everywhere. Looking up, she could see the mountains. It was a beautiful ce.


    She opened the car door and got out, looking at the surrounding yard. She turned to Landon. "What is this ce?"

 Chapter 1517

    Landon was checking out the area too. "I don''t know, but it looks safe for now," he said.


    Abigail shot back, "Then why''d you kidnap me and drag me here?"


    Landon nced at her. "Just y the part and don''t ask too many questions."


    Abigail smirked, pulling out a chair in the yard and plopping down. "Fine. I''m starving."


    Landon nodded towards a building. "Kitchen''s over there."


    Abigail raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to cook?"


    Landon shrugged. "Then stay hungry."


    Abigail red. "If I starve, how am I supposed to be your hostage?"


    Landon stared at her for a moment. "I don''t know how to use it."


    Abigailughed. "Seriously? There''s something you can''t do?"


    She got up and headed to the kitchen, still chuckling. But when she saw the old stoves, her confidence wavered.


    She turned to Landon, both of them standing there awkwardly.


    "Isn''t there a gas stove?" she asked.


    Landon shook his head. "You think that''s likely out here?"


    Abigail looked around. They were surrounded by mountains, and this yard was the only thing around. Gas was a long shot.


    She smirked. "So, we''re both gonna starve?"


    Landon didn''t answer, just stared at the old stove. After a bit, he asked, "You really that hungry?"


    Abigail sighed. "Yeah, I haven''t eaten sincest night. Aren''t you hungry?"


    She hadn''t eaten muchtely, no appetite. Skipped dinner, spent the night in the car, no breakfast. Now it was almost afternoon, and she was definitely feeling it. Landon said, "Wait here."


    He walked out, and Abigail quickly followed. In this remote ce, if he left, she''d be lost and probably starve.


    They walked out of the yard and down a small path into the woods behind it.


    Landon was gathering firewood?


    Abigail watched, confused. What was he up to?This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Why bring her here? Was there nowhere else to go? Did they have to starve in this deste ce?


    Landon piled up some firewood and tossed it on the ground. Abigail picked it up. No one else around, plenty of dead branches. They quickly gathered a big pile.


    As they walked, Abigail spotted something gray in the grass. "Landon, a rabbit!" she shouted.


    Landon turned, but the rabbit bolted at her voice.


    Abigail dropped the firewood and chased after it, but after searching the grass, she came up empty.


    Frustrated, she picked up the firewood. "Why were you so slow? Now it''s gone. Are we eating wild veggies?"


    Landon said, "There are more out here. Don''t worry."


    Abigail pouted, following him with the firewood. But after a long search, no more rabbits. Just that one, and it was gone.


    They gathered so much firewood they couldn''t carry any more. With no rabbits in sight, they headed back to the yard.


    Behind the yard, there was a vegetable garden, but it was a mess, overrun with weeds. There were some veggies in there, but you had to dig through the jungle to find them. Abigail had never done anything like this before, so she found it kind of fun to hunt for veggies in the garden.


    She squatted down, pushed aside the weeds, and yanked out whatever looked edible.


    Some of the weeds looked a lot like the veggies, and Abigail couldn''t tell them apart. She just grabbed a bunch of random stuff and brought it back for Landon to sort out. Luckily, Landon knew his veggies. He sat in the yard, slowly picking through the pile and setting the good ones aside.


    Abigail plopped down next to him, resting her chin on her hand, watching him work.


    Landon was wearing a white suit, but after all the firewood gathering and veggie sorting, it was pretty dirty.


    He looked out of ce, like an olddy, which Abigail found hrious.


    Hearing herugh, Landon looked up. "What''s so funny?"


    Abigail grinned. "You look like a housewife."


    Landon paused, stared at her for a couple of seconds, then went back to sorting the veggies.


    Since they were up in the mountains, the sun sette. It was already dark at the base, but up here, the sunset was still hanging on.


    The golden light bathed the whole yard, and Landon''s face glowed softly.


    Landon cleaned the veggies and took them to a nearby faucet to wash.


    Abigail followed him, marveling at the bamboo water pipe. "Did you make this? It''s awesome. Where''s the watere from? Does it keep flowing even when no one''s here? Won''t it run dry?" She kept babbling, but Landon didn''t say a word. He just kept washing the veggies.


    Feeling a bit awkward, Abigail squatted beside him, watching his fingers move in the water. Watching a good-looking guy wash veggies was surprisingly entertaining.


    It was just the two of them here, and Abigail could momentarily forget about Landon''s identity and his past actions, just seeing him as Landon.


    If Oliver were here, he''d notice that Abigail was way more lively in this cepared to when she was at home.


    To be precise, it was when she was with Landon.


    Abigail herself hadn''t realized that her gloom and depression at home had lifted since she came here.


    It was like she was back to her carefree days, as long as she didn''t think about what would happen after they left this ce.


    Landon squatted by the yard washing veggies, and Abigail watched him. After he finished, she followed him to the kitchen.


    It was already dark outside. He found a candle in the house and lit it. The dim candlelight barely lit up the small kitchen.


    Landon took off his jacket, leaving just a white shirt. He rolled up his sleeves and started a fire with the firewood.


    Abigail watched eagerly. Seeing him seriously starting the fire, she thought he might actually figure out how to use the old stove. But ten minutester, they both stumbled out of the smoke-filled kitchen.


    Abigail covered her mouth, wiping away the tears from the smoke while coughing.


    After a bit, she looked back at the kitchen. It was just a cloud of smoke in there.


    Abigail asked, "Is this your new way of killing? By suffocating me?"


    Then she turned to look at Landon and saw his face covered in soot. She couldn''t help but burst outughing again.

 Chapter 1518

    Landon looked pretty rough, but it was too dark to see his face clearly.


    "I can''t do it. We''ll just have to wait and see," he muttered.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Abigail was caught off guard and didn''t dare tough. "Come on, let''s figure it out together. Look, it''s already smoking. It''s only a matter of time before it catches fire." "Do it yourself," Landon shot back.


    Abigail sighed, watching the smoke slowly clear out of the house. "I''ve never seen a hostage as miserable as me."


    Landon had already gone to the water pipe to wash his face.


    Abigail waited until most of the smoke had cleared before heading back into the kitchen.


    She squatted where Landon had been, took out the firewood, examined it, and decided to lift the pot first, then start the fire before putting the pot back on.


    She stuffed all the firewood into the stove, took out a lighter, and lit it from the hole above, just like starting a campfire.


    To her surprise, it worked. She waited until the fire was strong enough before putting the pot back on and then squatted down to add more firewood. "Landon! I got the fire going. What do I do next?" she called out.


    After a while, Landon came in, poured water into the pot, waited for it to boil, and then threw in the vegetables.


    They cooked a big pot of veggies.


    There were utensils, but most of the seasonings were expired, so they could only eat in vegetables.


    Abigail held the unseasoned veggies in her hands, looking nkly at Landon. "Is this all we''re having for dinner?"


    Landon nced at her. Abigail''s face wasn''t much better, covered in ck soot.


    "What else?" he asked.


    Abigail forced a smile. "You''re abusing the hostage."


    "Don''t eat if you don''t want to," Landon replied.


    Abigail didn''t say anything else. She picked up the utensils and took a few bites. It was really bad, tasteless. Even a little salt would have made it better.


    However, she finished several big bowls because she was indeed hungry.


    After eating, she wanted to take a bath but realized there was no water heater. She could only boil some water to wash her face.


    She boiled a big pot of water, filled a basin, and asked Landon, "Do you want to wash?"


    "Wash yourself. I''ll go outside," Landon said.


    He walked out to wash with cold water at the water pipe.


    After washing, they sat in the yard. There were no lights, only the faint glow of candles from inside the house. The full moon shone brightly, lighting up the yard and the distant mountains. Listening to the dense chirping of insects around, Abigail closed her eyes and took a deep breath.


    She turned to Landon. "Can you tell me now why you brought me here?"


    "Wait," Landon replied.


    "Wait for what?" Abigail asked.


    Landon leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, head slightly tilted up, moonlight on his face. "You''ll know when the timees."


    Abigail looked at him suspiciously. "Wait for my family to notice I''m missing ande looking, or for the police to arrive? Or wait for the situation to calm down?" Landon didn''t answer.


    Abigail didn''t know what he was waiting for, but she thought of Oliver''s words. If Landon stayed here, what would happen to her family?


    Although some things were done by both Landon and Oliver, pushing everything onto him wasn''t right, but it was the simplest way to protect the Vanderbilt family. She didn''t know whether to make Landon take responsibility or let him keep hiding out here.


    She didn''t dare to think about it. She even hoped for a miracle, a way to have the best of both worlds.


    After a long silence, she suddenly called out, "Landon."


    Her voice was soft but serious.


    Landon opened his eyes and looked at Abigail. He had taken off his sses, and she wasn''t used to seeing him without them. "What?" he asked.


    "If you get caught, what will happen?" Abigail asked.


    Landon looked away, closed his eyes again, and said calmly, "Probably die."


    He said it lightly, as if it had nothing to do with him.


    Abigail didn''t know if he wasn''t afraid of death or had a way to avoid it.


    She continued, "Probably? So there''s a chance you won''t die, right? Like getting ten or eight years in prison or something." "Does it matter?" Landon replied.


    "Of course it does. At least you''d be alive. Getty is still in prison, isn''t she? She''ll be out in a few years," Abigail insisted. "Don''tpare me to her," Landon said.


    Abigail opened her mouth. What Landon did was indeed iparable to Getty. His situation would probably be more severe. "Are


    you scared?" Abigail asked.


    Landon opened his eyes again, staring intently at her. "Why would you ask that?"


    "Just asking," Abigail replied.


    Landon ignored her.


    Abigail wanted to persuade him, but she had neither the standing nor the qualifications.


    She didn''t even know if turning himself in would reduce his sentence.


    She knew nothing, so how could she persuade him?


    She sighed and stood up. "Where do I sleep?"


    "Wherever you want," Landon replied.


    Abigail felt she had asked a pointless question. She randomly chose a room, pushed the door open, and found a bed inside.


    Shey down and quickly fell asleep. After two days and a night without sleep, she was indeed tired.


    While Abigail sleptfortably here, Oliver and the others were going crazy looking for her down the mountain.


    They searched everywhere, even going to Quinn''s house, but found no sign of her. Eventually, they learned that Abigail had left the city in Landon''s car.


    Oliver rubbed his temples in frustration. He had taken his eyes off her for a moment, and she had run off with Landon.


    Furious, Alvin told Oliver, "Go get Abigail back. At a time like this, she still runs off with Landon. She really doesn''t care about our family!"


    "Dad, calm down. Abigail isn''t like that," Oliver said.


    "Then how do you exin that?" Alvin replied.


    "I checked the surveince. Landon had a gun. Abigail must have been coerced," Oliver exined. Actually, he wasn''t even confident in his own words.


    Landon had deliberately exposed the gun to the surveince, essentially telling everyone he had kidnapped Abigail.


    He wouldn''t do something so stupid.


    If he wanted to elope with Abigail, he wouldn''t do it this way.


    Just thinking about the rtionship between them gave Oliver a headache.


    He knew Abigail''s character well. She wouldn''t betray her family for love.


    Since Landon didn''t n to run away, Oliver thought it might be best to let them spend a few days alone.


    But Alvin was hard to persuade.


    "So what if he had a gun? Didn''t you see how willing Abigail looked? Go get her back. We shouldn''t have indulged her. Bring her back and give her a good scolding!" Alvin said.

 Chapter 1519

    Oliver felt kinda stuck and just stayed quiet for a bit.


    Alvin snapped, "Are you going or not? If you don''t, I''ll go myself!"


    Oliver jumped up. "I''m going. Chill out. I''ll bring Abigail back, I promise."


    Alvin, getting more impatient, said, "Hurry up! Go now! If we''re even a secondte, Abigail might take off with him."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    If Landon bolted, the Vanderbilt family would be in deep trouble, and that was the scariest part.


    As they wrapped up, Alvin added, "I told you Landon can''t be trusted!"


    Oliver frowned but kept his mouth shut. He turned and headed out. "I''ll go find Abigail."


    They''d only seen Landon take Abigail out of town, but had no clue where they went. Tracking them down would take a while.


    After they talked to Quinn, she found out Abigail had been taken.


    She grabbed Alexander''s arm, worried. "Is Abigail in danger? Why don''t you help look for her?"


    Alexander held her hand, trying to calm her down. "Abigail will be fine. Don''t stress."


    Quinn pressed, "How do you know? What if Landon loses it and decides to take Abigail down with him?"


    Alexander chuckled. "Then Abigail would probably be okay with it."


    He looked at Quinn deeply and suddenly asked, "Quinn, if I were dying and asked you to go with me, would you?"


    Quinn was taken aback. She stared at him, speechless for a moment.


    She almost said yes, but then thought of their kids.


    So, she asked, "What about Sprout and the others?"


    "Exactly," Alexander said, patting her head and pulling her close. "You can''t leave them, so don''t think like that."


    Quinn sighed. "You''re talking nonsense again."


    Alexanderughed softly. "Getting older makes me sentimental."


    Quinn gave him a look. "Here we go again."


    Alexander chuckled. "Alright, don''t worry about them. Abigail will be fine, and Landon won''t hurt her."


    Quinn asked, "How do you know?"


    Alexander replied, "If he was gonna do something crazy, he would''ve done it when Abigail got married. He wouldn''t have kept quiet. Landon just wants to be alone with Abigail, but he''s pretending he kidnapped her because he''s too scared." It was the first time Quinn heard someone call Landon scared. The stuff he''d done was anything but timid; he was pretty bold.


    Quinn sighed and leaned on Alexander''s shoulder. "Alright, I hope you''re right."


    Alexander assured her. "I am. Trust me."


    Quinn had no choice but to trust Alexander. She couldn''t just fly to Abigail and confront Landon.


    Abigail slept till noon, waking up to birds chirping outside. She rubbed her eyes and saw sunlight streaming in.


    Suddenly remembering something, she jumped out of bed and ran to open the door.


    The yard outside was quiet, no sign of Landon.


    Abigail panicked and ran to the yard, shouting Landon''s name towards the house.


    But all she got back was bird chirps and the ring sunlight.


    Abigail muttered, "Did he leave me and run off?"


    She turned and saw the car still parked in the yard, feeling relieved.


    It seemed Landon hadn''t run off. Maybe he went to the backyard to pick veggies.


    She went to the backyard garden, but it was lush and green with no sign of Landon. Could he have gone to gather firewood?


    But there was still plenty of firewood in the kitchen.


    Feeling kinda down, Abigail plopped onto a nearby chair. She leaned back, staring at the yard entrance, soaking in the sun, and started to feel sleepy.


    She had no idea how much time had passed when she suddenly heard footsteps. She opened her eyes to see Landoning in from outside.


    Her drowsiness vanished instantly. She stared at Landon and noticed he was carrying two rabbits.


    She blinked at him. "You went to catch rabbits?"


    Landon casually tossed the rabbits on the ground. Both were alive but had injured legs and couldn''t run.


    "Found them on the way," he said.


    Abigail gave him a skeptical look. "Do you think I''m a three-year-old? Those rabbits'' legs were clearly shot!"


    Landon went to wash his hands. "Maybe someone else shot them."


    Seeing Landon brought back two rabbits, she decided to cut him some ck and not call him out.


    Abigail ran over to pick up the rabbits. One was severely injured and looked like it wouldn''t make it, while the other had a leg wound but the leg wasn''t broken. The bullet must have just grazed it, so this one could be saved. "Great, we can have meat today, but we don''t seem to have any seasoning," Abigail said.


    Landon finished washing his hands, grabbed the car keys, and opened the car door. "Wait here for me."


    Abigail looked at him in surprise. "You''re going down the mountain?"


    "Yeah, got something to do," Landon replied.


    "Are you going to buy seasoning?" she asked.


    "You''re overthinking it," Landon said.


    Abigail was used to his stubbornness, but maybe he really had something to do, so she nodded. "Alright, you go ahead."


    She turned and walked back into the house with the rabbits, not mentioning going down with him.


    As a hostage, Abigail had no intention of escaping.


    Listening to the sound of the car leaving, she looked back, bit her lip, and then looked down at the rabbits in her arms.


    She thought, ''Just treat it as a dream. When the dream ends, I''ll go back to my original life, and everything will be normal again.''


    Before the dream ended, Abigail didn''t want to go down the mountain or face everything below. Hiding here seemed like a way to deceive herself.


    Abigail petted the rabbits and searched the house, surprisingly finding a first aid kit. She took out some gauze and bandaged the rabbit''s wounds.


    As she bandaged, she talked to herself. "If I heal your leg, you won''t run away, right?"


    Then she answered herself. "Of course, you''ll run."


    The rabbit curled up, not just out of fear but also because it was too injured to move.


    Abigail carefully bandaged its leg, ced it on the ground, and went to the field to pick some leaves to feed it.


    This time, the rabbit wasn''t scared. It quickly ate the leaves Abigail handed over.


    Abigail smiled and reached out to pet it. The rabbit, dragging its injured leg, tried to hop away, but Abigail easily caught it.


    "You''re an ungrateful rabbit. I feed you and bandage you, and you just want to run after eating?" she said, pouting and cing the rabbit on the bed to make sure it couldn''t escape.


    The other rabbit was dying, and she couldn''t save it, so she could only watch it die.


    Landon didn''te back until it was dark. Abigail, hungry from not eating all day, went to the kitchen to cook.


    There were only vegetables to eat. She followed Landon''s method from yesterday, throwing the leaves into a pot to cook.


    The pot of vegetables seemed enough tost until tomorrow night.


    If Landon didn''t return by then, she would go down the mountain herself.


    After going down the mountain, Landon parked the car in an inconspicuous vige and then went to an old house.


    He opened the door, and two people inside stood up to greet him as soon as they saw him. "Boss."

 Chapter 1520

    Landon nodded, strolled over, and plopped down on a chair. "Everything sorted?" he asked. "Yeah, Mrs. Wells has got it all covered. She should bending soon," one of the guys replied.


    Another chimed in, "And those lists you gave us, we''ve almost finished dealing with them. We''ve pretty much cleared out everyone hiding in Amber Bay."


    "Good," Landon said. "Then there''s nothing left to do."


    "Boss, if you leave Amber Bay with us, those people will definitely follow. It''s easier to handle them outside; making a move here isn''t smart," one of the men suggested.


    Landon shrugged. "It''s already done, so what''s the point of saying this now?" He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to them. "There''s a billion dors in this ount. Withdraw it abroad and don''te back." The two exchanged confused looks, staring at him.


    "Boss, what do you mean? Aren''t youing with us?" one of them asked.


    Landon shook his head slightly. "I''m not going. You guys go."


    "Boss, you..." one of the men started to protest.


    "Just go. Go wherever you want. Just don''te back to Amber Bay. It''s best if you leave the country. This money is enough for you to live on," Landon insisted.


    The two men looked at him with mixed emotions.


    They wanted to convince Landon toe with them. But it was clear Landon had made up his mind. No amount of persuasion would work.


    They never really understood why Landon, who was doing well abroad, wanted toe back to Amber Bay.


    Landon said, "Do you think I''m safe abroad?"


    They stayed silent. After all, they could still be hunted abroad, living in constant fear of their enemies.


    "You could go somewhere farther," one of the men suggested.


    Landon sighed softly, leaning back in his chair. "I''m tired," he said. "I''m sorry for dragging you along with me."


    Back in Municity, he had quite a few subordinates. But after he got injured and hospitalized, and with Alistair and the others'' deaths, most people scattered or joined other forces. Now, only a few still followed him.


    But those who chose to stay with him were the smartest.


    If they joined others, they wouldn''t be trusted and could never be promoted. In that business, it wasn''t only about the money; it was also about staying alive.


    But to survive, they needed money.


    So those who continued to follow Landon didn''t have to do dangerous work anymore. With the money Landon gave them, they could livefortably for the rest of their lives. "Boss, don''t say that. We follow you willingly. Even without money, we''d still follow you. Why don''t youe with us?" one of the men pleaded.


    Landon still shook his head, sat silently for a while, and then stood up.


    He turned to leave, but at the door, he suddenly asked, "Is there a supermarket or convenience store nearby?"This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "There''s a convenience store on the next street," one of the men answered.


    "Okay," Landon said, stepping out the door.


    The two looked at each other again inside the room. "At a time like this, what''s he going to the store for?" one of them wondered. "Forget it. He has his ns. We should leave too, or we won''t be able to," the other replied.


    Abigail was watching over the pot of greens, which had already gone cold.


    The rabbit was already dead. She sighed and added more firewood to reheat the vegetables.


    If Landon didn''te back soon, she''d eat by herself. Landon must have gone down the mountain to eat something good.


    With this thought, Abigail angrily tossed the firewood on the ground.


    Suddenly, she heard a car pull up outside. She quickly walked out and red at it.


    After a bit, Landon stepped out, lugging a big bag of stuff. He casually dropped it on the table in the yard and went back to the trunk. He pulled out a bag of groceries from the trunk.


    Abigail''s anger started to fade.


    She hurried over, grabbed the bag, and peeked inside. It was packed with seasonings.


    "You came back sote. Did you eat beforeing back?" Abigail asked.


    Landon shot her a look. "Your imagination is something else," he replied.


    "Stop talking. The rabbit''s already dead. Hurry up and deal with it. I want meat, not just boiled greens!" Abigail demanded.


    "You sure have a lot of demands for a hostage," Landon remarked.


    But he picked up the rabbit and went to the water pipe to handle it.


    The greens weren''t filling at all, and Abigail was starving.


    Seeing the rabbit in Landon''s hands made her even hungrier, like she hadn''t had meat in years. She was dying to take a bite. After dealing with the rabbit, Landon took it to the kitchen. "Come light the fire," he instructed.


    "On it," Abigail responded.


    She jogged into the kitchen. Landon used the seasonings he bought to marinate the rabbit.


    He brought the groceries inside. Not knowing how to cook with this kind of stove, he could only use boiling.


    Abigail looked at the groceries. There wasn''t much, probably less than 10 pounds, enough for two or three days at most.


    She silently looked away, guessing that this was how long they would stay here.


    After a busy half-night, with Abigail tending the fire, the rabbit was perfectly roasted.


    Abigail only wanted to eat meat and didn''t touch the rice. She gnawed all four legs of the rabbit.


    Abigail couldn''t help but give Landon a thumbs up. "Didn''t expect you to be a good cook. You even know how to make rabbit," sheplimented. Landon nced at her.


    Abigail wiped her fingers and looked at the remaining rabbit on the table, then nced at him awkwardly. "You don''t like rabbit?" she asked. Landon casually pushed the rabbit towards her.


    "So you did eat outside, didn''t you? If you had told me, I wouldn''t have waited for you!" Abigail used.


    "I didn''t ask you to wait for me," Landon replied.


    "I was just wishful thinking," Abigail said, rolling her eyes at him.


    Landon didn''t respond and sat there quietly, watching Abigail gnaw on the rabbit.


    The flickering candlelight made everything in the room seem dreamlike. If one ignored Abigail''s eating manner, it would be a very cozy scene. Abigail used her hands to eat the rabbit, devouring it ravenously, as if she hadn''t eaten in years, with no regard for her image.


    The whole rabbit was a bit too much. She patted her stomach, with some left uneaten.


    "I''m full. Aren''t you going to eat?" Abigail asked.


    "Didn''t you say I ate outside?" Landon replied.


    "Did you really eat?" Abigail asked again.


    "Yeah," Landon confirmed.


    Abigail gave him a sidelong nce. "Fine, since I''m a hostage, having rabbit is already good enough," she said. Landon didn''t say anything.


    Abigail burped, rubbed her stomach, and went outside to the yard. "I ate too much. I need to go out and digest," she said. After she went out, Landon stood up and started cleaning the dishes on the table.


    Abigail nced back at his figure inside. Landon moved around the room, making him seem quite adept at housework.


    If one ignored Landon''s criminal record, he was quite a catch¡ªhandsome, good at housework, and able to earn money.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1521

    When Landon got back, he didn''t head down the mountain. They just chilled up there for three days.


    During those days, he figured out how to use the earthen stove and got pretty good at it, so Abigail barely had to step into the kitchen. Landon had stocked up on a ton of daily stuff, so they were set, except for the asional firewood run.


    Abigail had always been curious about the forest critters. Today, they ran out of firewood, so she and Landon headed into the woods. The ce had been deserted for ages. The ground was covered in thick, soft, rotting leaves, crawling with bugs.


    Abigail wasn''t freaked out by the bugs. Sometimes, she''d spot a big snail on a tree and take it down, asking Landon, "Can we eat this big guy?" Landon nced back, saw the snail in her hand, which was as big as a spoon, and frowned. "Eat it if you don''t mind the bacteria." Abigail pouted and tossed the snail back.


    She kept looking for other critters. "Can we eat grasshoppers?"


    "Look, a cicada pupa!" she eximed.


    Landon kept gathering firewood, ignoring her. After a while of no response, Abigail got bored and stopped asking.


    Every now and then, they''d see colorful butterflies in the forest. Abigail caught a couple and yed with them for a bit before letting them go. After a bit, Landon came back with an armful of firewood and handed it to her.


    "Let''s head back," he said.


    Abigail casually took the bundle and looked him over. "Why aren''t you carrying it?" she asked.


    "I gathered it," Landon replied.


    "Ever seen a hostage doing chores?" Abigail shot back.


    Landon gave her a look. He didn''t say anything, but it was clear: she had to do chores.


    Abigail smirked and carried the firewood back.


    Landon followed her, and they walked back to the yard at a rxed pace. Just as they were about to get there, Landon grabbed Abigail''s arm. "Hold up," he said.


    Abigail stopped and looked back at him. "What''s up?" she asked.


    "There''s someone inside," Landon replied.


    Abigail''s face changed, and she instinctively stepped back, standing next to Landon.


    They hid behind a tree, and from there, they could vaguely see figures moving in the yard. Judging by their uniforms, they looked like cops.


    Abigail instinctively nced at Landon beside her. He stood there calmly, quietly watching the yard.


    She gently put the firewood down and leaned closer to the tree. After watching for a bit, she saw Alvin.


    Landon said, "Your dad''s here. Aren''t you going over?"


    Abigail was silent for a moment, looking at Alvin, who was talking to the cops in the yard, with aplicated expression. She whispered, "If I go out now, he''ll think I ran off with you." Landon turned to look at her.


    Abigail lowered her head, staying silent along with Landon.


    "We''ve already searched. There''s no one inside, but the car''s still here, so they must''ve gone out," one of the officers said.


    Alvin said anxiously, "Then go look outside. My daughter wouldn''t have been killed by Landon, right?"


    "Alvin, chill out. The supplies here are for two people, so Abigail should be fine. But are you sure she was kidnapped?" one of the officers asked.


    Alvin snapped, "Didn''t you see the surveince footage? If she wasn''t kidnapped, then what was it?"


    "Alright, let''s check outside," the officer suggested.


    Alvin nodded and led the way. The mountain was huge, making it tough to search everywhere.


    Alvin came to the tree and spotted the bundle of firewood. "Look here!" he shouted.


    The cops came over and saw the neatly ced firewood, clearly put there by someone.


    Alvin said, "Looks like they just got back and haven''t gone far. Please, help me find Abigail. Landon must have threatened her!"


    As he was talking, Oliver showed up with more people.


    Seeing Alvin, he felt a headacheing on.


    He walked over reluctantly, pulled Alvin''s sleeve, and whispered, "Dad, why are you here?"


    Alvin red at him. "If I didn''te, when would you find Abigail? You''ve been searching for days without finding her, and now you finally show up. Oliver, you better not be hiding anything from me." Oliver was silent for a moment and sighed, "How could I? I''ve been looking for them all along and just found this ce. Have you found them?"


    "They ran off long ago. But they don''t have a car, so they can''t be far. Go find them now. No matter what, bring Abigail back today, or don''te back at all!" Alvin demanded.


    He then followed the group of police officers.


    Without noticing that Abigail and Landon were crouching in the bushes opposite, they went in the direction where the firewood was left.


    Abigail peeked through the bushes and saw that there was no one in the yard.


    She whispered, "There''s no one inside. Let''s go in and drive away."


    Landon grabbed her and pulled her back down. "Don''t rush. There''s someone waiting for us inside."


    Abigail frowned. She hadn''t seen anyone.


    "How do you know that?" she asked.


    "Our car is still in there. To prevent us from leaving, someone must be hiding inside to ambush us. Besides, there were fifteen people in the yard just now, but only ten left," Landon exined. Abigail was slightly shocked. In her panic, she hadn''t noticed how many people were inside, but Landon had already counted them.


    So, there must be someone hiding inside, waiting to catch them as soon as they entered.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Landon said, "Are you really not going out?"


    "If I go out, what about you?" Abigail asked, turning to look at him, the worry clear on her face. She could im she was kidnapped by Landon and escaped, but that would add to his list of crimes. "Are you concerned about me?" Landon asked.


    Abigail opened her mouth, wanting to retort. However, she had no mood to argue with him and stared straight at him.


    For the first time, when Landon asked such a vague question, she met his gaze openly.


    The appearance of these people made her realize that Landon was in immediate peril and could be killed at any moment. After a moment of intense eye contact, Landon looked away, turning his attention to the yard.


    He said, "You have onest choice: go out and leave with them, or..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence.


    Abigail didn''t care what he wanted to say and asked, "If I go out, can you still get away?" Landon didn''t answer.

 Chapter 1522

    Abigail already knew what Landon was gonna say; he was stuck.


    She stared at him hard, her eyes getting allplicated, like she was wrestling with some big decision.


    After a bit, she suddenly reached out and started patting him down.


    Landon was a bit shocked and grabbed her hand. "What are you doing?" he asked.


    "Where''s your gun?" Abigail demanded.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    "It''s not on me," Landon replied.


    Abigail didn''t buy it. She pulled her hand back and reached into his pants pocket, feeling something there.


    She pulled out the gun.


    Landon, worried it might go off, didn''t try to take it from her.


    Abigail looked at the gun in her hand, then back at Landon, dead serious. "Since you can''t get away, you might as well go all in." Landon looked at her, his eyes peering through his sses.


    A breeze blew by, rustling the weeds around them and lifting the strands of hair on Abigail''s forehead. Her gaze was firm and determined.


    She said, "Oliver told me that when you two worked together before, you said if anything went wrong, he should me it all on you."


    Landon''s lips twitched, and he looked away. "I said it offhand. Who knew he''d actually do it?"


    "Whether you meant it or not, you didn''t run, did you?" Abigail pressed.


    Landon stayed quiet.


    "Landon, after all this time, I still can''t figure out what''s true and what''s a lie with you. You always seem to say one thing and mean another," Abigail said. "Don''t act like you know me so well," Landon shot back.


    Abigail nodded. "You''re right. Let me ask you onest time, do you want to leave here? Do you want to go down the mountain?" Landon stayed silent.


    Abigail didn''t care. She took his hand and ced the gun in his palm. "Let''s have onest meal together, down the mountain." Landon''s fingers curled slightly, gripping the gun.


    They headed back to the yard. As soon as they stepped in and before they could get to the car, the cops hiding inside came out. And there were not just five, but seven of them.


    They all raised their guns, slowly surrounding the two.


    "Landon, let go of the hostage. Don''t make things worse!" one officer shouted.


    Landon held Abigail by the shoulder, the gun pressed against her temple, and walked towards the car door like no one else was there.


    Even though Abigail was the hostage, she walked faster than him, making it look like she was dragging him along. If it weren''t for the gun against her, you wouldn''t even know who the hostage was. Landon reached the car door and looked at the surrounding officers. "Everyone, go back inside," hemanded.


    The officers exchanged nces, unsure whether to retreat. One of them said, "You better not resist. You can''t escape. We have people at the foot of the mountain too."


    Landon repeated, "Everyone, go back inside."


    Both sides were at a standoff, neither willing to back down. It was clear something was off between Landon and Abigail.


    After a moment, Alvin and the others got the news and rushed back.


    Seeing Abigail being held hostage, Alvin almost fainted from fear. He shouted, "Landon, let go of Abigail!"


    Abigail''s fingers were gripping his arm so tight her knuckles were turning white. Whether it was out of fear or to keep him from letting go, it was hard to tell.


    Looking around at the scene, Abigail started to regret her decision.


    By doing this, Landon was now really guilty of kidnapping her, leaving him no way out.


    From their earlier conversation, Abigail could tell Landon didn''t want to fight anymore.


    She thought about the bag of groceries Landon had bought, which they had just finished eating, proving her suspicions right.


    If she hadn''t done this and just ran out, Landon probably wouldn''t have run either. She felt like she had no choice, knowing it was wrong but still going through with it. Even knowing Landon was doomed, she still wanted to dy his fate, even if only for a day, half a day, or even an hour.


    With no other options, she chose the least bad oue she could ept.


    Landon''s voice came from above her, "Everyone, go back inside, or I''ll shoot."


    His voice was as calm as ever, like he was talking about something trivial, showing no panic of a surrounded kidnapper.


    The strong mountain wind made Abigail''s eyes sting. Eventually, her vision started to blur.


    Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes, Alvin felt heartbroken, thinking she was scared.


    He tried tofort her, "Abigail, don''t be afraid. I won''t let anything happen to you."


    Then he turned to Landon. "Landon, let Abigail go and I''ll give you whatever you want. Money, anything, even my life. Just let her go!"


    Landon closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and said again, "Everyone, go inside. This is thest time. If you don''t want Abigail to get hurt, do as I say."


    As he spoke, he even disengaged the safety.


    Alvin''s face changed.


    Oliver rushed over, grabbing Alvin and stopping him from speaking. He panted and said, "Alright! We''ll go inside. Don''t do anything rash!"


    He pulled Alvin towards the house. "Let''s go. Everyone, go inside. We need to ensure Abigail''s safety first."


    Alvin, desperate to do something, found himself unable to act in the current situation and could only let Oliver drag him towards the house. The others also retreated into the house.


    Once they were all inside, Landon opened the car door, pushed Abigail in, and got into the driver''s seat with her.


    Abigail obediently climbed from the driver''s seat to the passenger seat, making room for him.


    Landon nced at her actions, pursed his lips, and said nothing. He started the car once Abigail was seated.


    The car slowly turned around and drove out of the yard.


    A sniper on the upper floor aimed at the driver''s seat, ready to pull the trigger as the car started. Oliver rushed over and pressed down on the sniper''s hand.


    "Wait, what if Abigail is in the driver''s seat too? Don''t shoot yet. Let me negotiate with Landon first," Oliver said.


    The sniper nced at Oliver. When he looked back through the scope, the car had already left the yard and was out of range.


    Oliver forced a smile, worried about Abigail.


    Meanwhile, Landon was driving down the mountain. The mountain road had many bends and more than one path, with some routes unexplored and uncertain if they led down the mountain. Landon chose a route he had never explored before.


    He nced at the rearview mirror and vaguely saw a car following them.

 Chapter 1523

    Abigail nced over, nervously gripping her seatbelt. She turned to Landon, who had already ditched his sses and wasser-focused on driving. "They''re still on our tail. Can we lose them?" she asked.


    "Wait till it gets dark," Landon replied.


    Abigail nodded, trying to ignore the cars behind them and turned her gaze to the window.


    The mountain road was a mess of weeds, green stretching out on both sides. Flowers dotted the grass on the cliffs. It was beautiful, but she wasn''t in the mood to enjoy it.


    As they drove further, her feelings got more tangled.


    Abigail had no clue what she was doing, ditching her long-held beliefs to team up with Landon. She''d been rebellious before, but this was next level-causing a scene and making her family worry. Suddenly, Quinn''s words popped into her head.


    She wasn''t a judge. Thew would deal with Landon. It wasn''t her ce to say anything. She could only do what felt right.


    Abigail sighed, giving herself a mental pep talk, which made her feel a bit better.


    Hearing her sigh, Landon suddenly spoke, "If you regret it, just tell me. I''ll let you out anytime."


    Abigail shook her head. "Regret? Not in my vocabry."


    Then she joked, "Looks like you''re all alone now. Consider it an act of kindness; I''ll stick around to pick up the pieces." "Well, thank you very much," Landon said.


    "You''re wee. I''m very kind," Abigail replied.


    "If I die, don''t put up a tombstone for me. Just scatter my ashes in that vegetable garden," Landon said.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail opened her mouth, her throat feeling tight, and she suddenly couldn''t speak.


    "Bad guys have asting impact. Do you think you can die that easily?" Abigail asked.


    "Everyone dies, but I saw an interesting quote earlier," Landon said.


    "What is it?" Abigail asked.


    Landon thought for a moment and started chatting with her. "People shouldn''t eat too much, or they''ll get bored."


    "What do you mean?" Abigail inquired.


    "People without money are busy making money. When they get rich, they look for something more meaningful. Now, I understand Alexander," Landon exined. Abigail was confused, not knowing if he was trying to say something deep or just griping about Alexander.


    "What do you understand about him?" she asked.


    "Why he''s so into Quinn," Landon replied.


    "Because he''s full?" Abigail asked.


    Landon chuckled. "Exactly."


    Abigail was quiet for a moment. Even though they were talking about Alexander, his words made her feel a bit weird.


    She hesitated for a moment and suddenly asked Landon, "Are you full?"


    Landon got what she meant, so he didn''t speak and went back to his usual silence.


    Abigail stared at him for a long time, not getting a response, and then looked away.


    She wasn''t disappointed. Sometimes silence was an answer.


    It was getting dark outside.


    The cars behind them became more obvious, their headlights asionally shing past their car, the reflection in the rearview mirror hurting Abigail''s eyes. They kept following persistently, with no end in sight.


    The road became more unfamiliar and harder to navigate, the car shaking ufortably. They didn''t know where they were, maybe even out of Amber Bay.


    This mountain range was right on the border between Amber Bay and the neighboring area, stretching on forever. It might take three days and nights to get through. Abigail asked, "Can''t we shake them off?"


    Landon nced at the rearview mirror and suddenly floored it. The car shook violently, making Abigail feel like she was on a really bad trampoline.


    After driving a bit further, Landon suddenly yanked the steering wheel and stopped the car at a fork in the road, blocking both paths.


    He opened the door. "Get out."


    Abigail quickly scrambled out. Landon didn''t rush. He took out a gun, attached a silencer, and fired several shots at a few crooked trees by the roadside. The tree trunks, as thick as an arm, fell with a crash. He bent down, dragged the trees, and ced them on the car.


    The branches blocked the way, which should hold them off for a while.


    Landon grabbed Abigail''s hand and headed down the left path.


    "This way," he said, pulling her along.


    This path was wider. Normally, you''d run down the narrower right path, but he did the opposite.


    It was risky. If the pursuers followed this way, they''d have nowhere to hide. But if they picked wrong, they''d be safe for now.


    Landon pulled Abigail faster and faster, almost running.


    Abigail followed, running on pure instinct.


    The mountain path was so dark she could barely see. The grass was deep, and there were rocks everywhere. She stumbled several times, almost falling, but Landon caught her each time. She looked back; no one was following.


    Abigail thought, maybe they went the other way, so they didn''t follow. If so, they might actually escape.


    After running for a while, the mountain on the left became slightly lower, and they could climb up directly.


    Landon stopped, turned on his phone''s shlight, checked the height, and then looked at Abigail. "Do you want to keep running with me?" he asked.


    "We''vee this far. We have to keep running. Hurry, before they catch up," she urged.


    Landon nodded, supported himself on the mountain wall, and climbed up. Once on top, he bent down and extended his hand to Abigail.


    Abigail looked at it and reached out to hold his hand.


    His hand was warm, a stark contrast to her cold hand, giving the illusion they were in different seasons.


    After Abigail climbed up, he continued to climb higher. They had to climb about three more times to reach the top.


    He turned off the light and climbed in the dark.


    When they reached thest level, a light swept over from behind. Abigail was startled and quickly looked back. Someone was following. She didn''t wait for Landon to extend his hand and grabbed the grass to climb up.


    But the grass wasn''t strong enough and suddenly broke.


    She cried out, losing control and rolling down. In that instant, a single thought shed in her mind: It''s over.


    Her noise alerted the pursuers. So, climbing up seemed pointless now.


    Just before she fell, a strong hand grabbed her.


    Landon pulled her up.


    Abigail exhaled deeply, looking at the distant lights, flickering rapidly, clearly running towards them.


    Abigail said anxiously, "They''re catching up!"


    "It''s okay. Let''s go," Landon reassured her, pulling her into the forest.


    The fallen leaves were thick, and there were many branches and thorns. Even though Abigail was dressed warmly, the thorns still hurt.

 Chapter 1524

    Abigail bit her lip and kept quiet, jogging behind Landon. The folks chasing them were getting closer, their shlights bouncing as they climbed too. They knew if they lost sight of Abigail and Landon before they hit the forest, catching up So, they kept on their tail, no breaks.


    would be a nightmare.


    Abigail''s breathing was ragged, and her wound was killing her. She was dead tired from all the running.


    But she didn''t say a word, scared Landon might ditch her, making all her effort pointless.


    Luckily, the forest was thick with underbrush and trees. After what felt like forever, those annoying lights finally disappeared.


    She panted hard and asked, "Did we lose them?"


    Landon was breathing heavy too. He nodded a bit and then remembered she couldn''t see him in the dark. "Probably. Let''s walk a bit more and then rest."


    Abigail nodded, gritting her teeth, and kept following him.


    For a while, the only sound was the rustling of the underbrush as they moved through it.


    They ran until they could barely make out shapes in the forest. Finally, Landon stopped.


    He exhaled and looked back. "They probably won''t catch up for now. You okay?"


    Abigail nodded, too exhausted to talk. She didn''t care about the dirt and just dropped to the ground, gasping for air, her heart pounding like crazy.


    Sweat covered her face. She leaned back against a tree, eyes shut, her heavy breathing drowning out the birds.


    Landon looked at her without saying anything, scanning the area. Once he was sure it was safe for now, he sat down next to her.


    After a bit, Abigail finally caught her breath. She pressed on her wound and turned to Landon. "Are we safe now?"


    "Yeah, for now. But who knows after dawn," Landon replied.


    Abigail''s anxiety spiked again. By dawn, the forest would be easy to see through, and with more people searching, hiding would be tough. They''d have to get through another day of tension, waiting for nightfall. She never thought she''d end up living like a fugitive.


    She asked Landon, "Was it always like this when you were on the run?"


    Landon thought for a second. "I don''t think I was hunted that often."


    "Okay, but when you were, was it like this?" Abigail pressed.


    "Pretty much." Landon leaned against the tree and looked at her. "Do you regret it?"


    Abigail closed her eyes and sighed, "Can you stop asking such annoying questions?"


    Landon scratched his nose and shut up.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail said, "It''s kind of thrilling."


    "Not so thrilling if you get caught," Landon pointed out.


    "Will you get caught?" Abigail asked, looking at him, waiting for his answer.


    Landon didn''t let her down. "No."


    Abigail finally felt a bit relieved. His calm tone made her believe he wouldn''t get caught.


    Landon said, "I won''t let myself get caught."


    He repeated it, and this time, Abigail sensed a deeper meaning in his words, one she didn''t want to think about.


    She didn''t dare to ask more.


    Landon asked her, "If you had to keep running with me like this, would you be up for it?"


    Abigail''s heart, which had just calmed down, started racing again because of his question. "What are you talking about?" she asked.


    "Nothing," Landon replied.


    Abigail closed her eyes in frustration, forgetting Landon''s habit of saying one thing and meaning another. When he finally said something sincere, she blocked it. She hesitated, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say.


    Landon said, "Don''t overthink it. You wouldn''t be willing."


    Abigail frowned. "Don''t act like you know me so well."


    Landon had said this to her before. He casually picked a few des of grass and started weaving them. "You find it thrilling now, but you''ll get tired of it over time and regret it." "You talk as if I would actually agree to it," Abigail retorted.


    Landon didn''t respond. He lowered his head, weaving the grass in his hands, looking surprisingly rxed.


    Abigail couldn''t stand his asional silence. She turned her head away in anger, not knowing the answer herself.


    Just imagining a long-term escape, day after day, year after year, even a lifetime, required a lot of courage, let alone making a decision.


    They spent over two hours in silence. The forest was already bright, and Abigail felt sleepy. She pinched her leg to stay awake.


    Once they stopped, she didn''t want to run anymore. She was exhausted, with no strength left.


    But she still asked Landon, "It''s already bright. Aren''t we leaving?"


    "No, we''re lost now. If they haven''t caught up, it''s safe. If we wander around, we might run into them. You should rest," Landon advised. Abigail stared at him. "If I fall asleep, you won''t leave me, right?"


    Landon nced at her and suddenly reached out his hand, revealing a grass-woven rabbit in his palm.


    Abigail had to admit that he was quite skilled. The rabbit looked lifelike, just like the ones he had caught before.


    Abigail was stunned. "What''s this?"


    "A rabbit," Landon said.


    "For me?" Abigail asked.


    "I made it to pass the time. If you don''t want it, forget it," Landon replied.


    He then retracted his hand, ready to throw the grass rabbit away. Abigail quickly grabbed his wrist and took it from his palm.


    "Since you put in the effort to please me, I''ll reluctantly ept it," Abigail said.


    Landon smirked but said nothing. He stood up. "Rest here. I''ll check the surroundings."


    Abigail grabbed his pant leg. "You''re not really leaving, are you?"


    Landon looked down at her hand and then at her face. "You won''t be in danger if they find you. What are you afraid of?"


    Abigail opened her mouth but couldn''t say anything.


    Landon ignored her and walked away.


    He moved through the underbrush, getting farther from Abigail''s sight. Afraid he wouldn''t return, Abigail leaned on the tree and followed him, keeping a distance. Landon didn''t look back but knew Abigail was behind him.


    Fortunately, there was no one around, but there were a lot of bugs.


    Abigail had been running all night, making her tired and hungry. Seeing the bugs, she almost wanted to eat them but held back. She wasn''t that desperate yet. After walking a while, Landon found a fruit tree about as tall as a person. He picked a few fruits and looked back at Abigail.

 Chapter 1525

    Abigail knew she''d been spotted, so she stopped hiding and hurried over to Landon.


    Landon tossed her a few fruits. She managed to catch two, but the rest hit the ground. She bent down to pick them up.


    "What kind of fruit is this? Are we gonna get poisoned if we eat it?" she asked.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Landon shrugged. "Only one way to find out."


    He grabbed a fruit, wiped it on his sleeve, and took a bite.


    Abigail tried to stop him, but it was toote.


    After a bit, when Landon seemed fine, she grabbed a fruit, wiped it on her sleeve, and took a bite too.


    The taste was pretty awful-dry and kinda bitter. She had no clue what it was, but it was better than starving and, hey, it wasn''t poisonous.


    After munching on a few fruits, Abigail finally felt a bit better.


    "So, where are we headed now?" she asked.


    Landon shrugged again. "No idea."


    Abigail rolled her eyes. Typical Landon.


    Since their pursuers hadn''t caught up, they could chill for a bit. Abigail wasn''t as freaked out anymore.


    They didn''t go far, just hung around looking for more food. They nned to move again once it got dark.


    Moving during the day was too risky; getting caught would be a nightmare.


    Abigail found a clean-ish spot, sat down, and leaned against a tree. "I''m gonna take a nap. I''m beat." "Go for it," Landon said.


    She closed her eyes, already half-asleep. "Don''t leave me behind," she mumbled.


    She sounded like a real partner in crime now.


    By the time Landon thought of something to say, she was already out cold.


    He sat down next to her. When he nced over, he noticed the little rabbit he''d made sticking out of her pocket.


    He reached over, took the rabbit, and gently rubbed its grass tail.


    Suddenly, he felt a weight on his shoulder. Abigail had leaned over, her head resting on him.


    Landon turned slightly. From this close, he could see every detail of her face.


    He stared for a while. When he snapped out of it, his fingers were almost touching her cheek, and he quickly pulled back. Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was dark.


    Abigail woke up on her own. She rubbed her eyes, remembered she was still on the run, and looked around.


    "Landon!" she called out.


    "Yeah," he replied from beside her.


    She sighed in relief. "I thought you''d left."


    "They haven''t found us yet," he said.


    "So, if they do, you''ll leave?" she asked.


    "Yeah."


    "You!" Abigail huffed, feeling a surge of anger. She instinctively reached into her pocket and felt the rabbit.


    "Should we keep moving?" she asked.


    "Let''s go," Landon said, standing up.


    Abigail tried to follow, but her legs were numb. She yelped and started to fall.


    Landon caught her, and she caught a whiff of grass from him.


    "Can you walk?" he asked.


    "Just give me a sec. My legs are numb," she said.


    Landon let go, and after about ten minutes, she said, "Okay, let''s keep moving."


    Landon led the way, and Abigail, struggling to see, grabbed his hand. Worried he might shake her off, she quickly said, "I''m just scared you''ll ditch me and I''ll get bitten by a snake or something." Landon replied, "Doesn''t seem like there are any snakes around here."


    Abigail shot back, "Just ''cause we haven''t seen any doesn''t mean they''re not here. They could be hiding in that tree over there."


    Landon didn''t argue. She had a point, and they needed to save their energy, so he let it go. They moved slowly, almost like they were taking a leisurely stroll.


    It wasn''t by choice; they were both dead tired and could only manage that pace.


    Even at this snail''s pace, Abigail was out of breath. Her wound throbbed with every step, but she pushed through the pain.


    She couldn''t help but think, ''At this rate, we might just drop dead from exhaustion or get bitten by some poisonous bug before anyone finds us. We''ll die together in this jungle.'' After another night of walking, they stopped.


    The grass and trees were much sparser here. Yesterday, they could see in the forest around nine, but today it was already bright by eight.


    "Are we almost out?" Abigail asked.


    "No," Landon replied.


    Abigail looked confused. "The trees are so sparse here. Aren''t we near the exit?"


    Landon exined, "It''s just a different direction. Do you see any signs of an exit?"


    Abigail looked around and saw he was right. No paths or buildings, just endless jungle.


    Landon let go of her hand and pulled out a fruit from his pocket, one he had picked yesterday.


    "You actually saved some food," Abigail said, taking it without hesitation and biting into it. It tasted better than yesterday, probably because she was starving.


    Landon looked at her. Despite the dirt on her face, he could see how pale she was.


    "You don''t look so good. What''s wrong?" he asked.


    Abigail was startled. Her expression turned uneasy, and a hint of panic shed in her eyes. She turned away and took another bite of the fruit. "I''m just tired. Aren''t you exhausted from all this running?" Landon stared at her for a long moment but said nothing.


    Abigail finished the fruit and sat down to rest. She touched her wound through her clothes. The injury from before hadn''t fully healed, and the scar hadn''t even fallen off.


    With all this intense activity, she felt dizzy.


    "I''m sleepy. I need a nap," she said, leaning against a tree trunk and falling asleep instantly. This time, Landon didn''t stay with her. He scouted the area to make sure it was safe beforeing back. Abigail slept until it was almost dark, waking up earlier than the day before.


    She rubbed her stomach and said hoarsely, "Landon, I''m hungry."


    Landon handed her another fruit. The forest was dim, but she could tell it was different from yesterday''s.


    "How do you always find these weird fruits?" Abigail asked, eyes wide.


    "I''ve already tested it. It''s not poisonous," Landon said.


    Hearing this, Abigail felt a strange sense of frustration. "Do you always eat wild stuff so casually?"


    "Do you want it or not?" Landon asked.


    Abigail took the fruit sullenly and bit into it. This one was better than yesterday''s, at least it was sweet and tasted a bit like a crunchy persimmon.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1526

    Landon gathered a bunch of fruits and dropped them in front of Abigail. She scarfed down over a dozen before finally feeling full. "Can we really just eat this?" she asked.


    "Not really," Landon said. "But we don''t have any other options." Abigail suggested, "Maybe we could cook some wild veggies?"


    Landon shook his head. "We can''t risk a fire. They''ll find us."


    Abigail opened her mouth but didn''t argue. They were on the run; no room for luxuries.


    Landon almost asked if she regretted it but remembered their conversation from yesterday and kept quiet.


    When night fell, they didn''t keep moving.


    "Aren''t we going?" Abigail asked.


    Landon pulled out a lighter and shook his head. "No, let''s wait."


    "Wait for what? For them to find us?" Abigail was confused.


    "Without a direction, walking is pointless. If they find us, we can move then," Landon exined.


    It made sense, but Abigail still felt uneasy.


    She rubbed her wound, leaned against a tree, and sighed.


    "We''ve been walking forever. Aren''t you tired?" Landon asked.


    "Of course I''m tired. Let''s rest for the night," Abigail replied.


    Landon didn''t say anything else.


    Silence fell between them, with only the wind rustling through the trees.


    Abigail had slept during the day, so she should''ve been energetic, but she felt sleepy again and dozed off while sitting.


    Landon hadn''t slept for two days and was exhausted. He leaned against a tree and closed his eyes for a quick nap.


    When he woke up, Abigail had slumped onto him.


    In the darkness, he frowned slightly.


    He wasn''t sure if she was just tired or if something else was up. She hadn''t looked well all day.


    At dawn, Abigail was still asleep. Landon nudged her. "Abigail?"


    No response. He called her a few more times before she slowly woke up. The sunlight in the forest was harsh, and she instinctively closed her eyes. "It''s morning again. Are we going or not?" Abigail asked.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Landon watched her. In the sunlight, her face looked even paler. "We''re not going."


    "Why?" she asked, then remembered what he said yesterday and nodded. "Got it. We''ll wait for them to find us."


    "Are you hungry?" Landon asked.


    "Yeah, I''m starving. The fruit isn''t filling at all," Abigail said.


    "Then wait a moment," Landon said.


    He moved her head off him, stood up, and walked deeper into the forest.


    Abigail tried to stand but her legs were trembling. Two days of running had left them sore and weak, so she sat back down.


    Landon was gone for a long time and hadn''t returned. She dozed off again.


    In a daze, she heard footsteps. Thinking it was Landon, she opened her eyes happily, only to see it wasn''t him but the people Oliver had sent.


    She forced herself to stand despite the pain in her legs and bolted without thinking.


    Her figure vanished in a sh, and the people over there spotted her.


    "That looks like Ms. Vanderbilt!" someone shouted.


    Several heads turned, but Abigail had already taken off.


    The person who spotted her immediately gave chase. The one behind grabbed a walkie-talkie and reported, "We''ve found Abigail, but she''s on the run again." When Alvin heard they had found her, he was thrilled and turned to Oliver. "Go get Abigail back. They''ve been running for so long; they probably can''t run anymore." Oliver sighed, knowing there was no reasoning with Alvin. Alvin was genuinely worried about Abigail.


    "Dad, you''ve been searching for so long. Rest here, and I''ll bring her back. You don''t need to go; otherwise, I''ll have to take care of you," Oliver said.


    "I don''t need your care! Find Abigail first! Oliver, don''t let them slip away again, or I won''t forgive you!" Alvin snapped.


    No one knows a son better than his father. Alvin knew Oliver''s capabilities.


    If Alvin could find the ce, he was sure Oliver could too. If Oliver couldn''t find it, it meant he wasn''t seriously looking or didn''t want to find it.


    Alvin was furious that Oliver was supporting Abigail and Landon being together.


    Oliver nodded. "I understand. I swear I''ll bring Abigail back this time, or I won''te back. Okay?"


    "You better keep your word. Look at Landon, running around with Abigail in such a dangerous ce. They probably don''t even have food. If you don''t care about Abigail, I do," Alvin said. Oliver bit back his frustration, thinking Abigail was willing, and Alvin was meddling too much.


    Because of Alvin''s actions, Landon and Abigail had to flee here. Otherwise, they wouldn''t be in danger.


    If Landon really wanted to elope with Abigail, he would have taken her far away from Amber Bay long ago. How could they be waiting here to be found?


    However, Oliver didn''t dare say this. He agreed with Alvin, promising to bring Abigail back. Then he left with his men, also assigning a few people to watch Alvin to prevent him from running around. At his age, he should be the one causing trouble.


    Meanwhile, Abigail was still running. She endured the pain and left the pursuers far behind.


    The people chasing her were puzzled. Why would Abigail run when she saw them?


    As they chased, someone suddenly stopped. "Wait, I feel like Ms. Vanderbilt doesn''t want to go back with us."


    Another argued, "What makes you say that? She''s been following Landon these past two days, so she must be exhausted and have blurred vision. Besides, don''t forget Mr. Vanderbilt''s orders. If we find Ms. Vanderbilt and don''t bring her back, we''ll be in trouble!"


    After some discussion, they decided to continue the chase, but Abigail had already run far.


    Abigail ran breathlessly for a long time. Seeing no one behind her, she sighed in relief and quickened her pace.

 Chapter 1527

    Abigail ran as long as she could, but the pain in her side was too much. She clutched her stomach, leaned against a tree, and slowly sank to the ground. Her face was pale, and sweat dripped from her forehead. She took deep breaths, trying to manage the pain.


    Footsteps echoed behind her. She turned around, panicked, but it was just Landoning towards her.


    She let out a sigh of relief and slumped to the ground. "Did you see anyone following us?" she asked. Landon squatted in front of her and nodded. "Yeah, I saw them."


    He had been trailing them, circling around to find her.


    Abigail grabbed his arm, desperate. "We need to go, now, before they catch up."


    But Landon didn''t budge; he just stared at her.


    Abigail looked up, confused, and saw something in his eyes she couldn''t quite read.


    One thing was clear: he wasn''t nning to leave.


    "Landon," she whispered.


    He took her hand off his arm. "Abigail, let''s go home," he said firmly.


    She stared at him, stunned, unable to speak.


    After a moment, she finally asked, "Why?"


    "You''ve caused enough trouble. It''s time to go back," he said.


    "Trouble?" she repeated, confused. "You think I''m causing trouble?"


    "Do you really want to keep running like this?" he asked.


    She couldn''t answer. She wanted to say yes, but she couldn''t. She felt like she was pushing her luck.


    They had already gone further than they should have.


    If she kept clinging to him, she''d feel like she was lowering herself.


    The forest was silent. They stared at each other.


    Landon had made up his mind. Abigail stayed quiet, and they were at a standstill.


    Suddenly, a gunshot rang out behind them. They both looked up. It was far away, but definitely a gunshot.


    Abigail asked, "What''s happening?"


    Landon shook his head. "Not sure. I''ll check it out."


    Abigail grabbed him. "Don''t go."


    Everyone here was looking for them. The gunshot was weird. It could be another group or a trap.


    But it didn''t seem like a trap.


    "Maybe they''re shooting at an animal," Abigail guessed. "Don''t go. It''s too risky."


    Landon was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "Where are you hurt?" he asked.


    Abigail lied, "I''m fine."


    "Your face says otherwise," Landon said, grabbing her wrist and rolling up her sleeve to reveal bruises.


    She pulled her hand back. "Just some minor injuries."


    Landon looked at her, then grabbed her other hand, which was also bruised. He had no idea how she got them.


    Her pants were torn, threads hanging everywhere.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Landon sighed.


    Another gunshot rang out, this time a whole bunch in a row. It was clear it wasn''t just some animal; there were other people out there. Landon suddenly stood up. "I''ll go check it out. Find a ce to hide. These folks don''t seem friendly."


    Abigail wanted to stop him, but he was already on the move.


    She gritted her teeth and dragged her tired body to follow him.


    But Landon was quick, and she soon lost sight of him.


    The gunshots were getting more frequent and closer. Landon headed straight for the source.


    Soon, he saw two groups shooting at each other in the dim forest. They were hiding behind cover, far apart.


    On the left were the cops. The group on the right was a mystery, but they weren''t from the Vanderbilt family. Definitely another crew.


    "Who are you?" someone on the left shouted, but the answer was a gunshot. Luckily, the guy dodged, or he''d be toast.


    After a bit, someone on the right yelled, "Release our boss! Or none of you are leaving here today."


    "Who''s your boss?" the guy on the left asked.


    "Landon!" the guy on the right shot back.


    Landon squinted. He hid behind a tree, trying to get a better look. He couldn''t see much and didn''t recognize the voice.


    Just then, Abigail showed up. She spotted Landon and started to approach him, looking relieved.


    Landon''s face changed. She was in the line of fire. "Don''te over!" he shouted.


    Abigail froze.


    Before she could react, Landon rushed over. At the same time, several gunshots went off.


    The world spun as Landon tackled Abigail, rolling down a slope.


    Abigail''s head buzzed, and she didn''t know what she hit. Her vision went ck.


    "Are you okay?" Landon asked.


    Hearing his voice, Abigail closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them to see Landon sitting beside her.


    She shook her head. "I''m fine. Weren''t those your people?"


    She had heard the shouting from both sides, not clearly, but she distinctly heard Landon''s name.


    Landon pulled her up and led her in another direction. "They''re not my people," he said.


    "Not your people?" Abigail asked.


    "Yeah," Landon replied.


    Abigail said, "But I heard them call your name and ask the police to release you."


    Landon nced at her. "Do you see me being captured?"


    "No. Then what do they mean?" Abigail asked.


    Landon looked into the distance and snorted. "They want me dead."


    They were pretending to be his people, using his name, and attacking the cops to frame him for another crime. That way, the cops would shoot him without a second thought. Even if they didn''t shoot, getting captured would still be a death sentence for him.


    Landon said, "Looks like I might not make it out of here."


    Abigail stopped in her tracks. "Don''t say that. Haven''t you survived worse abroad? You won''t die."


    Landon shook his head but didn''t say anything. He quickened his pace, holding her hand.


    "Let''s go. You''re not safe either," he said.


    Abigail nodded but was worried. "Will Oliver and Alvin be okay?"


    "They''ll be fine. Don''t worry," Landon reassured her.

 Chapter 1528

    Hearing him, Abigail let out a big sigh of relief.


    She and Landon had trekked deep into the jungle, and it was already pitch ck.


    Over the past few days, she had gotten used to the darkness and wasn''t stumbling around like before.


    After what felt like forever, Abigail was exhausted. She panted, "Looks like no one''s chasing us."


    Landon grunted in agreement and let go of her hand.


    They plopped down right where they were. Suddenly, Landon called out, "Abigail."


    He hadn''t said a word while they were walking, and his sudden, raspy voice startled her.


    Trying to keep calm, she replied, "I''m here. What''s up?"


    Landon was quiet for a moment before saying, "Nothing."


    Abigail felt a bad vibe creeping up on her. A breeze blew through the forest, and she caught a whiff of blood.


    Panicking, she asked, "Landon, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine," Landon replied.


    Hearing his voice, Abigail secretly let out a sigh of relief. She cautiously moved closer to where he was. In the darkness, she could make out his vague outline.


    She reached out to touch his hand. "Are you really okay? Why do I smell blood?"


    Abigail touched his arm, and his sleeve was wet.


    She pulled her hand back and sniffed her fingers. It was blood!


    "You''re hurt!" Abigail eximed.


    "It''s nothing, just a small cut," Landon assured her.


    Abigail couldn''t see, so she didn''t know how bad it really was. "Where are you hurt? Your arm?"


    "Yeah," Landon confirmed.


    "Anywhere else? We need to stop the bleeding!" Abigail insisted.


    She tugged at her T-shirt, trying to tear it to bandage him. Suddenly, a cool hand pressed down on hers, stopping her.


    "No need for all that. I won''t die," Landon said.


    Abigail gritted her teeth, looking at him. Unfortunately, it was too dark to see anything but his silhouette.


    "Where''s your lighter?" Abigail asked.


    "Don''t light it; we''ll be discovered," Landon warned.


    Abigail ignored him and reached out to search his body.


    She touched his chest and then moved downward, trying to find his pocket but seemed to have touched the wrong ce. She felt Landon''s body tense up.


    She quickly moved her hand aside. "I''m looking for the lighter."


    "I don''t have a lighter," Landon replied.


    "What did you use to light the fire when we cooked earlier?" Abigail questioned.


    "The lighter is in the kitchen," Landon said.


    Abigail fell silent. In the pitch dark, she couldn''t see anything, not even where Landon was hurt.


    Landon said, "Can you take your hand off my leg first?"


    Abigail withdrew her hand.


    Then, they fell into silence again.


    After a while, Abigail asked Landon, "Are you really okay?"Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Yeah," Landon answered.


    Abigail let out a sigh of relief and quietly sat next to him.


    After a while, she called out to him, "Landon."


    "Not dead," Landon replied.


    Abigail was super sleepy, but she didn''t dare to sleep. She kept pinching herself to stay awake.


    This was the first time she felt the night was so long. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity until dawn. When the night was deep and everything was silent, she called out to Landon again.


    This time, Landon didn''t respond.


    Abigail''s drowsiness vanished instantly, and she grabbed his arm. "Landon!"


    Landon''s breathing was faint. Abigail remembered his arm injury and quickly let go.


    "Let me rest for a bit," Landon said softly, his voice a mix of hoarse and weak.


    Abigail replied just as softly, "Rest up."


    She didn''t dare say more. She knew Landon hadn''t slept much these past few days. He had to be exhausted. She sighed, looking up at the night sky. The leaves blocked her view, making it impossible to see anything. The forest was eerily quiet; not even the birds were making a sound.


    Abigail kept staring into the darkness, waiting for the break of dawn, finally able to see the forest''s scenery. She quickly looked at Landon.


    In the dim light, Landon was leaning against a tree trunk, eyes closed, his white shirt''s sleeve half stained red. Abigail was startled and tentatively reached out to check his breath.


    Feeling his faint breathing, she secretly sighed in relief.


    She squatted beside Landon, carefully examining his wound. The forest was still dim, making it hard to see the wound.


    Abigail was anxious and at a loss, unable to help but call out to him, "Landon, wake up."


    Landon still had his eyes closed, not responding.


    "Landon!" Abigail shouted, patting his cheek several times before he barely opened his eyes.


    Landon half-opened his eyes, his gaze falling on her face. He forced a smile and said, "It''s dawn."


    Abigail nodded. "Yeah, it''s dawn. Let me see your wound."


    Landon turned his head away, closing his eyes again. "No."


    Abigail ignored his words, carefully helping him up to check his back.


    Landon''s wound wasn''t just on his arm but his shoulder. When Abigail saw his back, her face changed dramatically.


    He wasn''t just hurt in one ce. Apart from the wound on his shoulder, there was a gunshot wound on his back, and his entire back was stained with blood. Abigail''s eyes reddened, and she turned to look at Landon.


    This was the gunshot wound he got when he shielded her.


    "Landon," Abigail called softly.


    As soon as she spoke, tears uncontrobly fell. She lifted her sleeve to wipe her tears, gentlyying Landon back down, and started tearing her T-shirt. "Let me bandage you," Abigail insisted.


    Landon opened his eyes, staring at her, and said with difficulty, "It seems like there are no more gunshots."


    Abigail, eyes red, continued tearing her shirt, as if she hadn''t heard him.


    Landon said, "But you should find a ce to hide and wait for your family toe for you."


    His voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.


    Abigail didn''t speak, afraid her choked voice would give her away.


    She finally tore off a strip of cloth and was about to bandage him, but Landon grabbed her hand.


    "It''s useless. Don''t waste your time," Landon said.


    Abigail looked up at him. "Why didn''t you tell me earlier? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"


    If he had told her earlier or she had noticed earlier, she could have gone back to find the police and Oliver, and it wouldn''t have been toote. Landon wouldn''t be in such a serious condition.


    But Landon kept saying he was fine.


    Landon tried to smile, but it was just a slight curve of his lips, without any real smile.


    He said, "I''ve always wondered, if I had to die, what kind of death I could ept the most."


    As he spoke, his gaze fell on Abigail''s reddened eyes. "This is pretty good."


    Abigail''s heart skipped a beat. She stared at Landon, opening her mouth but unable to speak.


    Landon closed his eyes, speaking as if to himself, "I haven''t done many good things in my life. I want my death to have a bit of meaning."

 Chapter 1529

    "Of course. It''s only meaningful to me," Landon added.


    Abigail''s vision blurred again. She wiped her tears and asked, "What about me? What am I supposed to do?"


    "Elliot likes you. He''s got a good family, clean background, just out of college. He''s like a nk te. He''s pretty good," Landon replied.


    "Landon, is there nothing else you want to say to me?" Abigail''s voice trembled.


    Landon struggled to open his eyes, looking at her like he was trying to memorize her face.


    His lips were even paler than his face. "What do you want to hear?" he asked softly.


    "I..."


    There was really nothing left to say between them. They both knew everything in their hearts.


    Landon hadn''t confessed his feelings before, and he wasn''t going to start now.


    ''Kidnapping'' Abigail was the only irrational thing Landon had ever done. Knowing the oue all along, he didn''t want to cause Abigail any more sadness.


    Abigail looked deeply at him, wiping her tears again and again, but they wouldn''t stop.


    Landon said, "I did some bad things to you before, I''m sorry. Please, don''t forgive me. Likewise, don''t me yourself. This was my one-sided wish. If I hadn''t kidnapped you, none of this would have happened. I wouldn''t be hurt. It''s not your fault."


    Landon had even thought of reasons for Abigail.


    He had apologized.


    But he never confessed his feelings to her.


    "So, are you going to make me watch you die? Landon, why are you doing this to me?" Abigail cried uncontrobly, unable to tell if she felt more anger or sadness.


    "From the beginning until now, you''ve been making all the decisions. You''re satisfied, but what about me? You''ve been leading me around all this time. Why are you so selfish? Have you ever thought about my feelings? If you really cared about me, you shouldn''t havee to bother me again, let alone bring me here. I''ve been running with you for so long, and this is the result you give me? Landon, do you want me to watch you die?" Abigail asked, staring intently at Landon. She hated his ruthlessness, yet she couldn''t bear the thought of him dying. She racked her brain, trying to find a way for him to live.


    Landon looked at her with aplex expression, not speaking for a long time.


    Abigail grabbed his hand, looking at him with a humility never seen on her face before, pleading, "Landon, please, don''t die. Can you live for me? This is my only request."


    Her tears fell inrge drops, soaking into Landon''s white shirt, leavingrge wet stains.


    It was the first time Abigail had ever begged someone, and she never thought it would be to beg Landon to live.


    Landon sighed softly and looked up at the dense forest, watching the light filtering through the leaves. "If only life could start over."


    Abigail shook her head quickly. "It''s never toote to start over, even now. You can turn yourself in, and I''ll wait for you. Even if you never get out, I''ll wait for you my whole life. As long as you''re alive, it''s not toote." She threw herself into Landon''s arms, choking up as she said, "I''ll take you to the hospital. Please don''t die, okay?"


    "Abigail, you have your own life, your own path to follow," Landon said weakly.


    "Enough. I don''t want to hear it. What path I should take is not for you to decide! Landon, please, don''t die!" Abigail shouted. As if making a firm decision, she suddenly leaned in and kissed Landon. Landon''s eyes flickered, and he stared into her close-up eyes, his breath suddenly bing rapid.


    Abigail kissed him briefly, then pulled away, staying very close. With tear-filled eyes, she looked at him. "Okay?"


    She just wanted Landon to live. As long as he was alive, there was still hope. But if he died, there would be nothing left.


    Landon lifted his uninjured arm, cing it on her back, wanting to hug her, but he had no strength. He couldn''t even do such a simple thing.


    Abigail knew that with Landon''s personality, he could never ept turning himself in, going to prison, or being executed.


    So, he''d choose a death he could live with.


    Abigail was betting on her ce in Landon''s heart, hoping he could set aside his pride for her.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    If Alexander could do it, why couldn''t he?


    Even if Landon would rather die than face the consequences, it would mean she wasn''t that important to him. If he died, maybe she wouldn''t be so heartbroken.


    Footsteps echoed faintly. Landon turned his head slightly; he heard them too.


    He weakly said, "Abigail, I can''t live a life of disgrace, but I owe you an apology. Let''s make a bet: if it''s Oliver whoes, I''ll go back with you. If it''s the police or someone else, then it''s fate." Abigail opened her mouth but didn''t know what to say.


    She feared it wouldn''t be Oliver, and even more, she feared saying anything that might change Landon''s mind.


    "Let''s leave it to God''s will, okay?" Landon suggested.


    Abigail clenched her fingers tightly and met his calm gaze, knowing that making this decision had already taken a lot of resolve from him.


    As the footsteps grew closer, she closed her eyes and nodded weakly.


    Landon tried to smile. He raised his hand, wanting to touch her cheek, but it fell back down, powerless.


    Abigail''s words had indeed affected him.


    Maybe he shouldn''t be doing things that hurt her even as he was dying.


    Leaving it to God''s will was his finalpromise.


    The footsteps grew closer. Abigail didn''t dare turn around. She kept her eyes tightly shut, her heart racing.


    She prayed silently, hoping that God would be on her side just this once.


    "Abigail!" a voice called out.


    Abigail''s body stiffened, and she suddenly opened her eyes. She didn''t turn around but stared at Landon.


    Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and tears fell uncontrobly. "I won, didn''t I?" she asked.


    Landon''s face remained calm. He looked at the neer, showing neither joy nor disappointment, and softly said, "Yes, you won." Only then did Abigail turn around. Oliver had already reached them, frowning as he looked at them. "What''s going on here?" he asked. Landon didn''t answer.


    Abigail was too excited to speak. She struggled to stand up from the ground and threw herself into Oliver''s arms. "Oliver, thank you." Oliver was momentarily stunned, then raised his hand to pat her back. "Alright, Landon looks pretty serious. Let''s get out of here first." Abigail let go of Oliver and hastily wiped her tears with her sleeve. "Yes, let''s get Landon to the hospital quickly!"


    Oliver instructed his men to help Landon up, give him some basic first aid, and then take them away.


    Abigail nced behind Oliver. "Did youe alone?" she asked.


    "For now, it''s just me. The police are still in a standoff with those people. Let''s get out first and talkter," Oliver replied.


    With their tracking devices, finding the way out was simple. It only took half an hour to get out from the nearest point.


    Landon had already passed out before getting into the car. Oliver had him sent away first, while he and Abigail walked behind, clearly wanting to talk to her. "Abigail, you two?" Oliver saw Abigail''s red eyes and didn''t need to ask much more.


    Abigail asked him, "Oliver, if we take him away, will we be aplices?"


    Oliver replied, "Landon is seriously injured. This is a special situation. If we take him away, he has a chance to turn himself in. But if he''s caught, it won''t count." Abigail nodded, suddenly recalling what Landon had said. He probably thought the same.


    Landon bet on Olivering, giving him a slim chance.


    "If Landon turns himself in, will he die?" Abigail asked.


    "I can''t guarantee that right now, but it will definitely increase his chances of survival. Let''s discuss it when we get back. Maybe we can find Alexander. If he''s willing to help, there''s still a chance," Oliver exined. Abigail''s eyes flickered. "How could I forget about Alexander? But given their rtionship, will he help?"

 Chapter 1530

    Oliver couldn''t answer Abigail''s question, so he just took her back.


    Landon ended up in the hospital. The docs said he was lucky; even with all that blood loss, he was still hanging on.


    But they couldn''t fix him up there. They just stabilized him for now, and the rest of the surgery had to be done at a bigger hospital.


    Abigail listened to the whole thing, but the only word that stuck was "lucky." She finally let out a sigh of relief.


    She leaned against the wall, looking pale.


    Seeing her like that, Oliver asked, "Abigail, are you hurt too?"


    Abigail shook her head. "I''m fine."


    Once the tension eased, she felt a wave of exhaustion hit her, barely managing to wait for the doctor''s update.


    She wanted to find Alexander, but after a few steps, she cked out.


    Before she lost consciousness, she heard Oliver shout.


    Quinn had been anxiously waiting for news. When she found out Abigail was at the hospital, she handed Sprout to Alexander and was about to leave, but he stopped her. "Why are you stopping me? I''ll just go to the hospital ande back; I won''t be in any danger!" Quinn eximed.


    Alexander sighed, handed the child to Briar, and said, "I''ll go with you."


    Quinn was momentarily stunned, then nodded. "Okay."


    He brought the car around, and Quinn got in. Sean and Kyle hadn''t returned yet, so Alexander was the driver.


    It was a long drive to the hospital, and Quinn asked if he knew what was going on.


    Alexander focused on driving and casually said, "I don''t know."


    Quinn gave him a suspicious look and sighed. Oliver hadn''t told her much, only that Landon was seriously hurt and Abigail had fainted.


    Quinn didn''t know anything else.


    They went straight to Serenity Health Hospital, where Landon and Abigail were being transferred. Quinn sat in the car, watching the sky darken, feeling worried about Abigail.


    "I wonder what happened to them on the mountain," Quinn said.


    "We''ll find out when we see them," Alexander replied.


    As they were talking, they saw Elliot arriving. He wasn''t notified by Oliver but by Alvin.


    He saw Quinn and quickly walked over. "Have they arrived?"


    "Not yet. But Oliver said Abigail is fine, so don''t worry," Quinn reassured him.


    Elliot pondered for a moment. Apart from worry, there were otherplex emotions on his face, indicating he knew something.


    Quinn opened her mouth but didn''t know what to say.


    It was Abigail who needed to give Elliot an exnation. Quinn couldn''t interfere in their matters.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    The three of them stood awkwardly at the entrance. It wasn''t until dark that Oliver and the others arrived.


    There were quite a few people, and Abigail didn''t seem to have much to say.


    Aside from Oliver, Alvin and Nancy were there too. In fact, the whole Vanderbilt family hade, and the police were there as well.


    Unfortunately, Landon was in aa, so the police couldn''t take him away. They asked Oliver some questions and then stationed two officers to guard him, probably to prevent Landon from escaping.


    Quinn waited for over an hour before the crowd outside the ward thinned out.


    Oliver persuaded his parents to leave and had Natalia take them home, giving Quinn a chance to talk to him.


    "Oliver, how is Abigail?" Quinn asked.


    "She''s fine, just has an infected wound," Oliver replied. He nced around. "Let''s talk outside so we don''t disturb her rest."


    Quinn nodded and followed him downstairs.


    Oliver took a moment to exin the situation. Honestly, he didn''t know much; most of it was guesswork.


    But seeing Abigail and Landon together pretty much confirmed his suspicions. Abigail had willingly gone with Landon; otherwise, with Landon so injured, she could have run away long ago instead of staying and crying. Quinn sighed. "They''ve really had it tough."


    Oliver shook his head with a bitter smile. "Who hasn''t? Emotions are weird; even the strongest people can''t control them."


    Quinn nodded in agreement. Plus, they didn''t know if they had confessed their feelings to each other. Even if they had, Abigail would have a hard time convincing Alvin and Nancy.


    Oliver turned to Alexander, who had been silent. "Alexander, what do you think?"


    "Just wait," Alexander said, casually sitting on a bench.


    Oliver was speechless for a moment. "I mean, is there any hope for Landon?"


    Alexander draped his arm over the back of the bench, sitting slouched. He stared at Oliver for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Quinn, who was looking at him expectantly.


    Alexander pondered for a moment. "Of course, there is."


    Quinn quickly sat beside him. "Really? Is there hope for Landon?" Alexander nced at her. "Are you that concerned about him?"


    "No, I''m concerned about Abigail. Don''t get jealous!" Quinn said.


    Alexander reasoned, "The only things that could kill him are the cruise ship incident and what he did in Municity. But there were people from all over the world on that cruise, and the ship itself wasn''t clean. It''s aplicated matter, and the Vide Group probably doesn''t want it investigated too thoroughly. Moreover, Alistair and Hetastian have already taken responsibility for it, and the Vide Group has already cleaned up the mess. As long as those few survivors don''t cause trouble, there shouldn''t be any issues. As for the drug trafficking, they''re still investigating, but there''s no evidence, and Walter was the mastermind. The main issues now are Landon''s maliciouspetition with thepany and the idental deaths of severalpany owners."


    Alexander suddenly changed his tone. "It seems there''s no hope after all."


    Quinn listened for a long time, only to have cold water poured on her at the end. "Are you serious?"


    Oliver said, "You must have a way, right?"


    "I''m aw-abiding citizen. Why would I help someone involved in drugs and gambling?" Alexander said.


    Oliver was speechless again. "Do you believe what you''re saying?"


    Alexander said calmly, "Then tell me, what illegal things have I done?"


    "Can you two be serious? We''re discussing a serious matter!" Quinn interjected.


    Alexander sighed and changed the subject. "Aren''t you here to see Abigail? Why are we talking about Landon?"


    Quinn remembered her original purpose and stood up. "I''ll go see if she''s awake."


    With that, she quickly walked towards the hospital.


    Outside, Oliver and Alexander looked at each other.


    Oliver said, "Alexander, if Abigailes to you, I hope you won''t make things too difficult for her."


    "I should be saying that to you. You''d better advise her not to make things difficult for me," Alexander replied.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1531

    Quinn walked into the hospital room and saw Abigail still out cold.


    She plopped down next to her, wondering what was taking Alexander so long downstairs. What could they be talking about?


    After about twenty minutes, she felt a slight touch on her finger and whipped her head around. "You''re awake!" she blurted out. Abigail blinked at Quinn, then slowly sat up. "Why are you here? Where''s Oliver?" she asked.


    "He''s downstairs with Alexander. Are you hurt bad?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail''s eyes widened at the mention of Alexander. "Alexander is here?"


    "Yeah," Quinn nodded.


    Before Quinn could say more, Abigail threw off the covers and tried to get out of bed. Quinn grabbed her arm. "What are you doing? You''re still hooked up to an IV."


    "I need to see Alexander," Abigail said, yanking out the IV without a second thought, blood trickling down her arm.


    Quinn was stunned but quickly pulled her back. "Why do you need to see Alexander? You can talk to me."


    Abigail sighed. "Thanks, Quinn. But I need to talk to Alexander directly. I don''t want to drag you into this."


    If she went to Alexander, it would be between them. But if she involved Quinn, it wouldplicate things for everyone.


    "Just rest for now. You can see him tomorrow. Besides, he''s talking to Oliver. Maybe Oliver''s already handling it," Quinn suggested. Abigail hesitated. "I''m scared it''ll be toote."


    "It won''t be. Don''t stress. Landon hasn''t woken up yet, and even if he does, the police won''t take him right away," Quinn reassured her. Abigail finally gave in after a moment of silence.


    Quinn helped her back into bed and called the doctor to reinsert the IV.


    Then Quinn asked, "What happened? Can you tell me?"


    Abigail looked conflicted.


    Quinn added, "It''s okay if you don''t want to talk about it. No pressure."


    "I just don''t know where to start. If I tell you, you won''tugh at me, right?" Abigail asked.


    "Why would Iugh at you? I wouldn''t," Quinn said.


    Abigail took her hand, sighed, and started exining everything that had happened over the past few days.


    Quinn listened, shocked.


    She had thought Abigail would stick to her principles, but a few days on the mountain had changed herpletely.


    "Quinn, have I be an aplice to Landon? Am I a terrible person?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn shook her head. "No, don''t think like that. What Landon did isn''t your fault. Loving him isn''t wrong, and neither is his love."


    "Love can''t be judged by actions alone. Don''t let his actions define the rightness or wrongness of love," Quinn continued.


    Abigail hung her head, still confused.


    She was used to seeing things in ck and white. But now, everything was a mess.


    After a while, she said, "Forget it. There''s no point in dwelling on it. What''s done is done."


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, don''t stress about it. Let the cops handle Landon. It''s out of your hands."


    "Are they still talking?" Abigail asked.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Just finish your IV first," Quinn insisted.


    "Alright," Abigail agreed.


    Quinn finally got Abigail to lie back down.


    The doctor had mentioned that Abigail''s wound was infected internally, even though it didn''t show on the outside. If the IV didn''t help, she might need another surgery. So, Abigail was still in a risky spot.


    Quinn sat with her, listening as she talked. Exhausted from the past few days, Abigail eventually fell asleep mid-sentence.


    Quinn stood up and left the room.


    Alexander was waiting by the door, which startled her.


    "What are you doing here?" Quinn asked.


    "I didn''t dare go in," Alexander said.


    "Why?" Quinn asked, confused.


    "Didn''t want to get involved," Alexander replied.


    Quinn opened her mouth but then said, "Let''s go home. It''ste."


    Sprout and Brandy were still at home, and with only Briar watching them, Quinn was worried.


    Alexander nodded, took her hand, and they walked out of the hospital. Quinn asked, "Where''s Oliver?"


    "Probably with Landon," Alexander replied.


    "Is he awake?" Quinn inquired.


    "Not sure," Alexander said.


    Quinn knew Alexander well. He always pretended not to know anything, even when he did.


    He probably didn''t want to get involved in their affairs.


    But because of his rtionship with Abigail and her, he was in a tough spot.


    So Quinn didn''t say much. She understood now what Abigail meant by not wanting to put her in a difficult position.


    Walking with Alexander was already awkward. Speaking up or staying silent both felt wrong.


    It wasn''t until they got in the car that Quinn couldn''t help but ask, "What did you and Oliver talk about?"


    Alexander started the car and said indifferently, "What you want to talk about now."


    "How do you know what I want to talk about?" Quinn asked, surprised.


    "Even a fool could guess," Alexander smirked.


    Quinn smirked. Alright, given the situation, it could only be about Landon.


    Alexander said, "Actually, there''s a way for him to atone for his sins."


    "Really?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander smirked. "Submit evidence voluntarily and expose Walter. I had previously obtained a list and channels from Alistair. I submitted it anonymously, and now Landon can take credit for it. He can also confess to something that Alistair didn''t. This is his chance to atone."


    "Walter," Quinn muttered.


    Alexander chuckled. "Feeling sorry for Walter now?"


    Quinn held her head, feeling overwhelmed. "Forget it, don''t tell me. I don''t want to know. You guys handle it."


    "You were the one who asked," Alexander reminded her.


    "I won''t ask anymore," Quinn said.


    "Good. Remember that and don''t ask next time," Alexander said.


    Quinn pressed her face against the car window, watching the night scenery pass by, and sighed deeply.


    It was indeed better not to know anything.


    She didn''t want to ask anymore. Pretending not to know would save her from the headache.


    Alexander had also told Oliver about this n, so the next day, Abigail didn''t go to find Alexander.


    What Abigail needed to do now was convince Landon.


    Alexander''s help wouldn''t matter unless Landon was willing to ept it. Given Landon''s stubborn nature, he probably wouldn''t want Alexander''s help.

 Chapter 1532

    Landon woke up three dayster. His right hand was nowpletely immobile, and the doctor said there would besting effects. But Abigail didn''t care, as long as Landon was still breathing.


    When he opened his eyes, he saw Oliver and Abigail standing by the bed, looking at him like they were at a funeral.


    Landon tried to sit up but couldn''t, so he just flopped back down.


    Oliver spoke up, "You''re awake. Feeling ufortable anywhere? Need me to get the doc?"


    Landon shook his head. "I just wanna be alone."


    Oliver replied, "Well, that''s not really an option."


    He stepped aside, revealing the cops at the door.


    Landon sighed and closed his eyes. "I should''ve just died on that mountain."


    Abigail got anxious. She pulled up a chair and sat down. "Don''t say that. There''s still hope."


    Landon didn''t even bother opening his eyes. "I don''t need it."


    "I haven''t even told you yet!" Abigail protested.


    "You went to find Alexander," Landon said tly.


    Abigail was stunned and exchanged a look with Oliver.


    Landon saw right through it. They''d been too optimistic. Oliver patted Abigail on the shoulder, giving her a look that said, "It''s up to you now," then walked out, closing the door behind him. Abigail called, "Landon."


    Landon turned his head away. "I don''t wanna hear it."


    Abigail was frustrated. She''d been in the middle of an IV drip and had yanked out the needle to rush over when she heard Landon was awake, only to get this attitude.


    Her wound started hurting again from the anger. She pressed her abdomen and took a deep breath.


    Hearing her move, Landon looked at her. "What''s wrong with you?"


    Abigail red at him. "I''m so mad at you."


    Landon pressed his lips together and stayed silent.


    Abigail said, "I got stabbed. The doc said I won''t be able to have kids in the future. And you''re still making me angry! I have surgery this afternoon." Landon frowned, scanning her face to see if she was serious.


    Abigail snapped, "What are you looking at? If you don''t wanna listen, fine, I won''t say it. If you wanna die, go ahead. I won''t live either."


    "Are you just saying this out of anger?" Landon asked.


    "Isn''t it obvious?" Abigail shot back.


    Landon went quiet again.


    After a moment, he finally gave in. "What did he say?"


    "He" obviously meant Alexander.


    Seeing Landon give in, Abigail quickly pulled out a folded piece of paper from her clothes, opened it, and handed it to him. "Alexander said you''ll get it once you read this." Landon raised his left hand, took the paper, and nced at it. It had twonguages on it, which Abigail couldn''t understand, but he got it right away.


    He skimmed it and then handed the paper back to Abigail.


    Abigail asked, "Did you understand it?"


    "Yeah, I got it," Landon confirmed.


    "Then do you know what to do?" Abigail pressed.


    Landon didn''t answer, just stared out the window, lost in thought.


    Abigail grabbed his arm. "Landon, he said if you do this, you''ll only be in prison for a few years at most. Since you already agreed toe back with me, why not give it a shot?" Landon stayed silent.


    Abigail got mad again. "Landon, don''t push me!"


    Landon nced at her. "What are you gonna do?"


    Abigail dered, "I''m gonna jump out the window." Landon said tly, "Then go ahead."


    "Are you serious?"


    Abigail looked at him in disbelief, her anger ring up. "If you want to jump, can I stop you?" Landon shot back.


    Abigail stood up and stormed towards the window. This was the third floor, and she figured if she was lucky, she might not die from the fall.


    Landon didn''t believe it at first. But when she actually climbed onto the window, his expression changed.


    He called out anxiously, "Abigail."


    He finally remembered just how stubborn Abigail could be.


    Abigail saw thewn below and felt a bit relieved. If he was gonna be stubborn, she''d be even more stubborn.


    Just as she was about to jump, she heard a dull thud behind her. She turned around and saw Landon had fallen to the ground.


    Abigail was slightly stunned. "What are you doing?"


    Landony there, struggling to lift his head to look at her, almost gritting his teeth. "Fine, I agree!"


    Abigail''s expression softened a bit. Although it was kinda inappropriate, seeing him worried about her made her smile a little.


    Now, she could finally be sure that Landon was just being stubborn.


    "Really?" Abigail asked.


    The veins on Landon''s forehead throbbed. "Really!"


    He could barely stand up now, let alone stop her. He had no choice but to agree.


    Abigail jumped down from the window, ran over, and helped him up from the ground. "If you had agreed earlier, this wouldn''t have happened."


    Landon looked unhappy, clearly not in the mood to talk to her.


    Abigail didn''t mind and helped him back to the bed, even thoughtfully tucking him in. "Rest up. They''lle to question youter. You better really mean it, or I''ll jump from the top floor."


    Landonughed in exasperation. "Looks like you''ve got me by the short hairs." Abigail replied, "Who told you to be so stubborn? Now you''ve been exposed." Landon turned his head. "I don''t want to talk to you right now."


    "Then don''t talk, just listen to me," Abigail insisted, her expression turning serious.


    She raised her hand and held his. "Landon, I told you before, no matter how long you''re in prison, I''ll wait for you. For the sake of my devotion, behave well and try to make me wait a few years less, okay?" Landon lowered his eyes, looked at the hand holding his, and then looked up at her.


    Abigail looked at him expectantly. "And I''ll take care of Aurora. We''ll wait for you together."


    Landon''s fingers twitched as if he wanted to hold her hand back, but then he seemed to think of something and fell silent again.


    Abigail took the initiative to hold his hand, cing her hand in his palm, and said in a coaxing tone, "Okay?"


    Landon''s expression was a bit strange. "Don''t do that. I''m not used to it."


    Abigail pouted. "I''m not used to it either."


    But she was willing to do anything to persuade him, as long as it worked.


    Abigail said, "Landon, you''ve already agreed to me, so behave well, please."


    Landon replied, "Alright, stop talking."


    "Will you behave well?" Abigail asked.


    Landon replied, "I know what to do."Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail finally let out a sigh of relief and nodded. "Then it''s a deal."


    She hooked her pinky finger with Landon''s. "Pinky promise."


    Landon protested, "Don''t be so childish."


    Abigail stated, "Isn''t this good? Alexander said that the people who framed you on the mountain are rted to that list. You can take this opportunity to catch them all. That way, you, me, and Aurora will all be safe."

 Chapter 1533

    Landon just stared at her, quiet as always.


    Abigail wanted to keep talking, but a cop walked in. She got up right away. "I''ll head out. I''lle backter."


    Landon gave a nod.


    She shot him a worried look before stepping out, where Oliver was waiting.


    They exchanged a nce but didn''t say anything, heading outside.


    Once they got to Abigail''s room, Oliver asked, "So, did he agree?"


    Abigail nodded. "Yeah."


    Oliver grinned. "You always know how to handle things. Now we just wait."


    Abigail asked, "Do you really think Alexander''s n will work?"


    Oliver replied, "Of course. Walter was the brains behind it all. He handled all the deals and talked to the clients. When Landon kidnapped you, he wanted to trade Quinn for the list Alexander had and his own life." Abigail felt a bit better hearing that.


    "But Walter''s n didn''t seem to work. Can Alexander find those people?" Abigail asked.


    Oliver said, "Didn''t you get the list?"


    Abigail rified, "Is it the same list Alexander submitted earlier?"


    Oliver exined, "No, it''s the one he foundter, the one Alistair didn''t reveal. It''s moreplete. Landon must''ve been working on it too. Together, their lists should be enough."


    Abigail finally rxed a bit, then cursed Walter. "That jerk, he even tried to get Landon to kill me. He deserves to be punished!"


    Oliver sighed. "Walter''s abroad now, and he''s got the Lynch family backing him. It''s tough to get to him. He might even take over the Lynch family someday."


    Abigail asked skeptically, "Is he really that capable?"


    Oliver replied, "I don''t know, but he managed to force Calvin to go back to Arcturus."


    Abigail knew Calvin. She initially thought he kidnapped Quinn, butter found out he was Quinn''s brother.


    "Forget it, we can''t worry about that now. The main thing is Landon. I hope he really cooperates," Abigail said.


    Oliver reassured her, "Don''t worry. At least he''s a man of his word. But, are you really sure about this?"


    Abigail knew what he meant and nodded without hesitation. "I''m sure. Lately, I''ve been so lost, not knowing what I want or what to do. It felt like I had no reason to live. Now I see that living means doing what you want. If you spend your life without something to wholeheartedly pursue, it has no meaning."


    Lately, she had been overthinking, constantly worrying about being right, her reputation, and others'' opinions. She was always indecisive and avoided confronting things.


    But it was all useless and only put her in a bigger predicament. She realized that nothing in this world would go exactly as she nned.


    The only thing she could do was to handle the present.


    Oliver asked, "What about Elliot?"


    Abigail replied, "I''ll deal with it. They don''t agree with the engagement anyway."


    Oliver said, "You''re an adult now. I trust you have your own judgment and can handle it well."


    Abigail looked at him gratefully. "Thanks, Oliver."


    Oliver responded, "No need to thank me. Just rest up. Remember what the doctor said?"


    Abigail nodded and obediently got back into bed.


    Actually, she really didn''t want to go through with the surgery. One cut was bad enough; she didn''t want another.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Oliver called the doctor to set her up with another IV.


    By the time she was done with the IV, it was almost afternoon. As soon as the needle was out, she went straight to find Landon.


    There were still guards outside his room, but no one was inside.


    Abigail pushed the door open and walked in, seeing Landon leaning against the headboard with his eyes closed. She couldn''t tell if he was asleep or just resting. She walked over and sat down by the bed, staring at him for a bit.


    The sunlight outside the window hit the floor, and the reflected light made it look like Landon had a halo around him.


    Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked at her. "Did you finish your surgery?"


    Abigail was caught off guard. Her expression was a bit off since she had lied about the surgery earlier.


    "A minor surgery. It''s long done," she said, trying to change the subject. "So, what did you tell the police?"


    "I told them everything I needed to," Landon replied.


    "And? How many years are you looking at?" Abigail asked.


    "Not sure yet. I have to wait until I''m discharged and see how I behave," Landon answered.


    "Then you better behave well!" Abigail said.


    While Abigail was all excited and nervous, Landon stayed super calm. You''d think it was Abigail who was going to jail.


    Landon switched the topic. "Did you tell the police you came with me voluntarily?"


    "What else? Should I say you kidnapped me? Think about it. You could have just called me toe out, but you had to use this method. I got scolded for it," Abigail said.


    Landon went quiet and didn''t push the topic further.


    Abigail stayed with him for two hours before heading back and asking the hospital to move her to a room next to his.


    The next day, Elliot showed up. He had visited a bunch of times but never got to talk to Abigail. Today, her room was finally empty.


    Seeing Elliot, Abigail felt a bitplicated.


    Elliot brought her flowers. "You look much better today."


    Abigail nodded. "I''m fine now. Thanks foring to see me."


    "No need to thank me," Elliot said, sitting down beside her with a smile. "I was worried sick when you were kidnapped. I''m d you''re okay."


    Abigail stared at him, hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke. "Elliot, I have something to tell you."


    Elliot''s smile froze, probably guessing what she was about to say. "Let''s talk after you''re discharged. Your priority now is to get well."


    Abigail said, "We''ll have to talk sooner orter. I think it''s better to be clear. I was a bit impulsive when I agreed to cooperate with you. If you''re worried about exining to your parents, I''ll personally apologize to them." Elliot looked at her deeply and finally spoke. "Is it because of Landon?"


    Abigail was silent for a moment, but this time she didn''t deny it. "Sort of."


    Elliot smiled. "Alright, it seems you''ve found someone you love. Faster than I expected. Luckily, we didn''t get married, or it would have been troublesome."


    Abigail didn''t expect Elliot to agree so easily, and she was at a loss for words for a moment.


    She was dazed for a moment before murmuring, "You agree?"


    Elliot replied, "What else? Should I force you to marry me? We were cooperating, after all. The agreement just ended early."

 Chapter 1534

    Abigail stared at Elliot for a bit, feeling a mix of guilt and relief.


    "Thanks, Elliot," she said.


    "No problem," Elliot replied with a grin. "Don''t sweat it about my parents; I''ll take care of it." Abigail nodded. "Cool, but we''re still good friends. If you ever need anything, just hit me up." "Got it, I won''t hold back," Elliot said.


    After their chat, Abigail finally felt a bit more rxed. But she still had to deal with Alvin.


    She was set on waiting for Landon to get out of prison, but Alvin was totally against it. When the time came, he''d give her hell again, and she knew she couldn''t handle that. So, she needed a n.


    She''d been mulling over an idea for a while, and after thinking it through over the past few days, she decided it could work and was just waiting to put it into action. During this time, Quinn would drop by to visit Abigail, and they''d chat. Quinn noticed that Abigail seemed more like her old self again.


    Quinn felt a bit more relieved; she had almost thought Abigail was heading towards depression.


    Abigail stayed in the hospital for seven days, and her injuries had mostly healed. She didn''t need any more surgeries, but she refused to leave and kept staying there. She knew that once she was discharged, she''d be stuck at home, and getting out would be tough.


    On the eighth day, Alvin showed up at the hospital to confront Abigail.


    Quinn stood up to greet him, but Alvin brushed past her and went straight to Abigail. "Did you break off the engagement with Elliot?"


    Abigail''s eyelid twitched. "What''s up? Did Elliot talk to you?"


    Alvin replied, "Why would he talk to me? The Sullivan family came to me. Abigail, do you think marriage is a joke? You said you wanted to get married, and I went through a lot to convince them. They finally agreed, and now you say you don''t want to get married anymore, all based on your mood. Do you take your marriage seriously? Do you even care about our family?"


    Abigail had expected Alvin toe, but she didn''t get why Alvin was so sure it was her who called off the engagement.


    She looked at him suspiciously. "What did they say to you? Why are you yelling at me as soon as you get here? Did they tell you I was the one who called it off?"


    Alvin eximed, "If not you, then who? If you hadn''t said something to Elliot, would the Sullivan familye to break off the engagement?"


    Abigail now understood that Alvin had directly med her without knowing that she proposed the breakup.


    "Dad, can you be reasonable? I''m the one being dumped here. You didn''te tofort me, and you even think I wanted to break off the engagement?" Abigail said irritably.


    Alvin was stunned. "Wasn''t it you?"


    Abigail said, "Of course not. I''m still in the hospital and haven''t been discharged. They must have heard something and thought I wasn''t good enough for Elliot, so they came to break off the engagement."


    Her words made Alvin even angrier. "How dare you say that? You ran off with Landon, causing chaos for everyone. Now you im you were willing. The marriage is off, and our family is being gossiped about because of you!" Abigail had a headache but didn''t bother arguing, letting Alvin rant until he ran out of steam.


    He went on for a good half-hour, his mouth dry. Abigail even poured him a ss of water.


    After drinking, Alvin sat back down and kept on scolding her.


    Abigail let his words go in one ear and out the other, asionally nodding like she was paying attention.


    Herid-back attitude just made Alvin even madder.


    After a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "You''re gonna be the death of me!"


    Abigail shrugged. "Calm down. You''ve been yelling at me, and I''m not even mad. What are you so worked up about?"


    Alvin sighed heavily and red at her. "What''s going on with you and Landon?"


    Abigail asked, "What do you mean?"


    Alvin said, "Don''t think I''m stupid. I watched you grow up. I can read you like a book. Tell me straight, how far have you two gone?"


    Abigail nced at Quinn.


    Quinn silently looked away, pretending she wasn''t there. Last time, she had casually mentioned a fake marriage, and Abigail took it seriously. This time, she didn''t dare to say anything. Abigail, not getting any help, looked back and scratched her nose. "Pretty far."


    Alvin asked, "How far?"


    Abigail replied, "You''re gonna be a grandpa."


    Alvin''s eyes widened like he couldn''t process what she just said, or maybe his brain short-circuited. He stood there, stunned.


    He said, "Say that again?"


    Abigail said, "I said you''re gonna be a grandpa."


    Alvin almost fainted, falling straight back. Abigail was startled and quickly caught him. "Dad, don''t scare me!"


    Alvin looked at her weakly. "Don''t scare me. My heart''s not great. Are you serious?"


    Abigail was torn. Seeing Alvin so devastated, she hesitated between lying and telling the truth.


    In the end, she said, "Yes."


    Alvin rolled his eyes but didn''t pass out.


    Abigail helped him sit on the bed, and Quinn quickly poured him another ss of water.


    Alvin clutched his chest, sighing deeply, like he had aged a decade.


    "Dad," Abigail called.


    Alvin waved his hand. "Don''t call me Dad. You''re my dad. How could you do such a thing? How will you live in the future? You''re already at this age. Now who would want you!" Abigail lowered her head and softly said, "I''m sorry."


    Alvin said, "If you really feel sorry, then get rid of the baby."


    Abigail replied, "No way. The doctor said if I have an abortion, I won''t be able to have kids in the future. Besides, even if I have an abortion, no one would want me."


    Alvin sighed deeply. "So what are you gonna do now?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Abigail said, "Of course, I''ll have the baby. Don''t you want a grandchild?"


    She sat next to Alvin, trying to persuade him. "Look, Landon is in prison. If I have the baby at our house, you can take your grandchild out to y, send them to school. How nice." Alvin looked at her suspiciously.


    Abigail nodded solemnly, indicating it was a great idea.


    Abigail continued, "When the baby is born, they''ll take ourst name, Vanderbilt. I''ve even thought of the names. If it''s a girl, she''ll be Amara. If it''s a boy, he''ll be Zach." Alvin questioned, "Zach? Why would you give my grandchild such a name?"


    Abigail argued, "What''s wrong with it? It sounds great."


    Alvin thought about it and found it kinda interesting.

 Chapter 1535

    Alvin caught on quick. "Quit dodging the question. How are you gonna exin this kid to everyone?"


    Abigail shot back, "It''s my kid. Why do I need to exin anything? Who''s gonna talk smack about your grandkid?" Alvin snapped, "Cut the nonsense! So, you''re really pregnant with Landon''s kid?"


    "Obviously. With genes like these, the kid''s bound to be amazing, right?" Abigail smirked.


    Alvin was stumped, sitting there deep in thought. This whole thing was a mess, and he had no clue what to do.


    He''d been bugging Oliver to get hitched. Oliver did, but still no baby in sight.


    Alvin didn''t want to push too hard. Now, he had to admit Abigail''s words were tempting, but thinking about the kid''s dad made him grumpy.


    Abigail said, "Alright, Dad, I need to get an IV dripter. You should head back. The doc said I need to chill and stay calm, or it could be risky for me as an older mom."


    Alvin didn''t get all the medical stuff, but he stood up right away. "Then rest up. I''ll go talk to Nancy about making you some good food."


    Abigail nodded.


    Alvin hesitated, gave her a few more looks, sighed, and finally walked out.


    Once he was gone, Abigail let out a big sigh and slumped on the bed.


    Quinn rushed over. "Abigail, are you really pregnant?"


    "Of course not. If I didn''t say that, he''d never leave," Abigail confessed.


    Quinn clicked her tongue.


    Abigail had been so convincing, evening up with the kid''s name and future ns, that Quinn almost believed her.


    Quinn asked, "What if Alvin finds out you lied? You can''t hide this forever."


    Abigail shrugged. "Then I''ll figure out how to get a kid."


    Quinn looked worried. "What do you mean? Don''t do anything crazy."


    Abigail rolled her eyes. "Rx. I mean I''ll find a way to actually have a kid."


    Quinn asked, "With who?"


    "Who else?" Abigail replied.


    Quinn blinked, confused. She knew Abigail was talking about Landon. "Will he go along with it?"


    Abigail said, "I have my ways. Besides, even if I told the truth, they wouldn''t stop. If they find out I''m not really pregnant, they''ll definitely try to marry me off again. The safest way is to have a kid." Quinn sighed. "Alright, good luck."


    Abigail put her arm around Quinn''s shoulder. "Don''t worry. I got this. I''ll ask the docter how to up my chances of getting pregnant."


    Quinn stayed quiet.


    Abigail''s n was bold, but that was just her style. She always thought big and straightforward.


    Not long after, Alexander texted Quinn, telling her toe back. Quinn had to say goodbye to Abigail.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    After Quinn left, Abigaily on the bed thinking for a bit. Suddenly, she jumped up and went to the next ward.


    Landon''s injuries were healing, but his hand was still out ofmission. He could walk around now.


    When Abigail got there, Landon was standing by the window in his hospital gown. He was tall, and the gown''s pants were a bit short, showing his ankles.


    He was staring out the window, deep in thought.


    Abigail walked up behind him, but before she could say anything, Landon turned around. "You still here?"


    "Nope, got something to talk about," Abigail said.


    Landon raised an eyebrow. "What''s up?"


    Abigail fidgeted, then whispered, "Let''s have a kid."


    Landon frowned, not catching it. "What did you say?"


    Abigail took a deep breath and said louder, "I said, let''s have a kid."


    Landon looked shocked, his face a mix of emotions.


    After a long pause, he finally said, "Are you nuts?" Abigail red at him, "You''re the one who''s nuts!"


    "Then what kind of crazy talk is this?" Landon asked.


    "It''s not crazy. I want to talk it over with you. You don''t know how long you''ll be in prison. If it''s ten or eight years, I''ll be too old to have a kid by the time you get out. Don''t you think you owe me a child?" Abigail exined. Landon stared at her for a while, then looked away. "You don''t have to wait for me."


    Abigail asked, "What do you mean?"


    "Exactly what I said," Landon replied.


    "You!" Abigail gritted her teeth, trying to keep her cool. She knew Landon responded better to a softer approach. If she argued, he''d just shut her down.


    So, she lowered her head and stayed quiet.


    After a bit, Landon nced at her but didn''t budge. "If you''re feeling better, get discharged soon. Don''t hang around here. I''m not agreeing to this." Abigail looked up, confused. "Why not?"


    "Don''t make rash decisions. It''ll only hurt you," Landon said.


    "I''m not being rash. I''ve thought it through. Landon, are you... having trouble in bed?" Abigail asked cautiously.


    "Yes," Landon replied bluntly.


    Abigail was taken aback, her words caught in her throat.


    "Really?" Abigail asked.


    Landon looked at her calmly. "Yes."


    "I don''t believe you," Abigail said.


    Landon was momentarily speechless. "Believe it or not."


    Abigail studied his face, then chuckled. "Alright, forget it."


    She gave up so quickly that Landon thought she was just messing around. He said, "Go back to your ward."


    Abigail nodded without a fuss and left the room.


    Landon watched her go, a hint of doubt in his eyes.


    After that, Abigail never brought it up again. She stayed in the hospital and often visited Landon to chat.


    Seven or eight days passed. Sinceing back from the mountain, they''d been in the hospital for over half a month.


    Abigail asked the doctor, "When can Landon be discharged?"


    The doctor said, "His injuries are mostly healed. He can go home anytime, but he needs to rest and avoid strenuous activities." Abigail asked, "Avoid strenuous activities? Like what?"


    As she asked, Landon nced at the doctor, his expression unreadable.


    The doctor replied seriously, "Apart from eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom, he should just lie in bed."


    Abigail felt a pang of disappointment.

 Chapter 1536

    Landon watched Abigail''s reaction, his eyes following her every move.


    It was clear she hadn''t given up on her ns.


    Abigail said, "Why don''t you stay a bit longer, at least until he''s up and about before they let him go?" Even the doctor gave Abigail a weird look.


    Abigail asked again, "How long until he''s back on his feet?"


    The doctor replied, "He needs at least three months of rest."


    Abigail nodded. "Got it."


    After the doctor left, Landon stared at Abigail. "You seem pretty bummed out."


    Abigail nodded. "Of course, seeing you like this and knowing it''ll take so long to get better, it hurts."


    Landon scoffed, clearly not buying it.


    She was all lively and energetic, and after leaving Landon, she went to find Quinn.


    Alexander was in his study, so it was just Quinn in the living room with the two kids.


    Since getting the walker, Quinn had been way more rxed and didn''t need to keep an eye on Sprout every second.


    With two dogs ying around, the kids spent their days hugging Buddy and Liberty, while Quinn chilled on the couch, scrolling through her phone.


    Abigail walked over and plopped down next to Quinn. "What are you up to?"


    Quinn looked up, gave her a quick nce, and smiled. "Just looking for a school for Brandy."


    Abigail asked, "Isn''t Brandy a bit young for school?"


    Quinn replied, "She''s over two now. By next year, she''ll be three and ready for school."


    Abigail said, "So you''re already looking for schools?"


    Quinn exined, "Just gathering info. It''s good to be prepared so I can send her off next year."


    Abigail scratched her chin, thinking three seemed a bit early for school.


    Quinn suddenly remembered. "Wait, what brings you here? You''ve been glued to Landon every day, worried he''d disappear. How''d you find the time toe here?" Abigail shrugged. "Just wanted to see you. It''s been a while."


    Quinn eyed her suspiciously. "Really? Nothing''s up?"


    Abigail insisted, "Nope, just wanted to see you. Do I need a reason?"


    Quinn thought about it and nodded. "Alright, feel free to look around. I''m gonna keep checking out these schools."


    Abigail hummed in response and then turned her attention to the kids. After watching them for a bit, she got up and walked over.


    The kids were too busy ying with the dogs to notice her.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Abigail squatted down and called out, "Sprout, Brandy, what are you two up to?"


    Sprout ignored her, hugging Buddy''s head and rubbing his face against it.


    Brandy turned and gave Abigail a sweet smile. "Hi, Abigail."


    Abigail''s expression softened, and she patted Brandy''s head. "Good girl, you remember me?"


    Brandy nodded seriously.


    As for Sprout, Abigail didn''t expect him to remember her.


    Sprout was babbling something Abigail couldn''t understand, leaving her puzzled. She turned to Quinn, "What''s Sprout saying?" Quinn didn''t even look up. "He says he wants to hug Buddy."


    Abigail looked surprised. "You can understand that?"


    Quinn exined, "You hear it every day, you get used to it."


    She put down her phone and walked over. She squatted next to Abigail and asked Sprout, "Sprout, is Buddy being good?" Sprout tilted his head, trying to understand. After a few seconds, he babbled something.


    Abigail asked, "What did he say?"


    Quinn replied, "He said Buddy''s being really good."


    Abigail''s eyes widened. Watching Sprout babble while drooling, she felt a wave of emotion.


    She vaguely remembered thest time she saw Sprout, he was just making random noises. Abigail said, "That''s pretty impressive."


    Quinn couldn''t help but smile. Abigail was still the same.


    Abigail sighed. "Seeing these two kids, it feels like forever."


    Quinn asked, "Time flies, huh?"


    Abigail sighed again. "Yeah, maybe next time I see him, Sprout will be talking in full sentences."


    Quinn responded, "That might take a bit longer."


    She had a feeling she knew why Abigail was here. Suddenly, she asked, "Did your n work out?"


    Abigail said, "No, the doctor said he can''t do anything strenuous right now."


    Quinn suggested, "Then you should make the first move."


    Abigail stared at her, shocked.


    Quinn bit her lip, regretting her words.


    She awkwardly looked away, petting Buddy''s head.


    Abigail teased, "Quinn, have you been having fun in your love lifetely?"


    Quinn looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"


    Abigail gave her a knowing look. "I mean, with Alexander having more free time now, you must have more time together too. Have you two been... exploring?" Quinn denied, "No."


    Abigail pressed, "Come on, you can even suggest that. Have you done it?"


    Quinn repeated, "No."


    Abigail looked skeptical, poking Quinn''s arm and lowering her voice. "Teach me your secrets."


    Quinn felt embarrassed. "Don''t talk about this in front of the kids."


    Abigail suggested, "Then let''s talk over there."


    Quinn dismissed her. "Go figure it out yourself. I don''t know."


    Abigail used, "Come on, don''t be like that! We''re friends, aren''t we? Why won''t you share your secrets with me?"


    Quinn, who hadn''t blushed in a long time, felt her cheeks heat up. "I really don''t know!"


    How was she supposed to teach something like this?


    Besides,tely, Quinn and Alexander hadn''t had the kind of time Abigail was imagining. With two kids between them every night, where was the chance for any ''exploration''? Abigail waved her hand. "Forget it, maybe he''s really not up to it."


    Quinn asked, "What?"


    Abigail exined, "He told me that. Tell me, what normal guy would calmly say something like that?"


    Quinn, surprised, asked, "Did Landon really say that?"


    Abigail confirmed, "Of course, do you think I''d make that up? I''m just thinking of finding a chance to test it. Landon will say anything to push me away."


    Quinn pondered, "Maybe he doesn''t want to hold you back. If you find someone else you like or regret it, having a kid would be bad for both of you." Abigail asked, "You think I''d fall for someone else too?"


    Quinn rified, "I don''t. I''m just guessing that Landon might think that way. I know you wouldn''t."


    Abigail wasn''t that kind of person. If she could easily like someone else, she would have had several boyfriends by now, instead of being single all this time.


    Abigail rubbed her chin. "Anyway, I''ve made up my mind. No matter what, I willplete this n. By the way, when you and Alexander were trying to have Sprout, was there any particr method that worked for you?" Quinn couldn''t continue the conversation. She stood up and was about to leave when she turned and saw Alexander standing on the stairs.


    Alexander''s gaze was fixed on them, and it was unclear how much he had heard.


    Quinn was so embarrassed that she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

 Chapter 1537

    Abigail noticed it too. She awkwardly got up and said, "Quinn, I gotta go. I''ll catch you another time."


    Then she bolted out of there.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Quinn gave Alexander an awkward smile. "When did youe down?"


    Alexander replied, "Right around when you told Abigail to figure it out herself."


    Quinn tried to exin, "I just meant she should get more exercise to recover faster."


    Alexander raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"


    Quinn looked away, feeling guilty. "Yeah. Brandy and Sprout have been ying with Buddy all day. I''ll take them out for a walk."


    She picked up Sprout and turned to Brandy, "Brandy, wanna go for a walk?"


    Brandy, hugging Liberty''s neck, shook her head, clearly wanting to keep ying with the dog.


    Quinn nodded and took Sprout out by herself.


    She could feel Alexander''s eyes on her as she walked away. She gritted her teeth and picked up the pace.


    It waste afternoon, and the sun was setting. The weather was warmer, but there was still a chill in the evening air.


    Quinn walked for a bit. Sprout was restless in her arms, always trying to get down, but he couldn''t walk steadily. Quinn struggled to hold him as he squirmed. She finally put him down, holding his shoulders as he wobbled along.


    He''d fall after a few steps.


    Quinn sighed. Sprout was so full of energy; she knew he''d be a handful when he got older.


    To avoid going back, she wandered around for a long time. It was dark by the time she thought about heading back.


    Before she could decide, a long shadow appeared at her feet.


    Quinn turned and her heart skipped a beat. Alexander hade looking for her.


    He was wearing a loose ck shirt. As he walked towards her, the streetlights made his face flicker between light and dark.


    Quinn stared at him, momentarily dazed.


    Alexander stopped in front of her and nced at Sprout. Sprout was still struggling, trying to break free.


    Alexander said, "It''s dark. Aren''t you heading back?"


    Quinn snapped out of it, looking away and pretending to hold Sprout. "I was just about to. Sprout''s being naughty and won''t walk."


    Alexander took Sprout from her, holding him firmly. In his hands, Sprout''s struggles were pointless.


    Alexander even had a free hand to hold Quinn''s. "Let''s go."


    His hand was cool. Quinn silently followed him, the only sound being Sprout''s fussing.


    They got back just in time for dinner. After eating, Alexander didn''t say much, which made Quinn sigh in relief. He probably didn''t take it seriously. Quinn said, "I''ll take them upstairs to wash up."


    Alexander nodded.


    Quinn carried Sprout, and Brandy wobbled behind her as they went upstairs.


    Quinn washed their faces. The weather wasn''t hot, so bathing every two or three days was enough.


    Brandy was very obedient. After washing, she went to bed. Quinn ced Sprout beside her, giving him a toy car to y with.


    Soon, the two kids fell asleep, and Quinn felt drowsy too. She leaned against the headboard and dozed off.


    Suddenly, she felt a hand lifting her, startling her awake.


    She asked, "What are you doing?"


    Alexander gentlyid her down. "You fell asleep. I wanted you to lie down properly."


    Quinn rubbed her eyes. "I really did fall asleep. Every time I put Sprout to bed, I end up dozing off first.''


    Alexander smiled and sat down next to her. "Then you should just lie down and get some rest."


    Quinn said, "I''ll take a shower first."


    Alexander got up to let her go.


    Quinn grabbed her pajamas from the closet and headed straight to the bathroom. She turned on the faucet, and soon the room was filled with steam. Halfway through her shower, the bathroom door suddenly opened, and a blurry figure walked in.


    Quinn didn''t notice until a hand grabbed her loofah, almost making her scream.


    But a hand quickly covered her mouth.


    Alexander whispered, "Don''t wake them up."


    Hearing his voice, Quinn rxed but soon tensed up again. She pushed his hand away and whispered, "What are you doing in here?"


    He took the loofah from her and started scrubbing her back. "Taking a shower."


    Quinn said, "I''m almost done."


    Alexander replied, "Let''s wash again."


    As he scrubbed, his hand moved to the front, wrapping around her waist. The shower was still running, and Alexander, still fully dressed, was getting soaked. She could feel his body heat through the wet fabric. It turned out his earlier calm demeanor was just an act. Now, his true colors were showing.


    Maybe it was because of the high temperature in the bathroom, but Quinn''s cheeks were burning. She pressed his hand. "Let''s finish and talk outside."


    Alexander agreed. "Okay, I''ll help you wash."


    Quinn felt a bit embarrassed. Before she could finish speaking, Alexander turned her around, lowered his head, and whispered, "I also want to ask for some advice." Alexander''s hair was wet, dripping onto Quinn''s face. She turned her head, pretending not to understand. "Advice on what?" Alexander replied, "Weren''t you giving Abigail some tips? Share them with me too."


    Quinn protested, "I was just making things up!"


    Alexander said, "Then let''s figure it out together first, and you can share with Abigailter."


    Quinn smirked, realizing it was just an excuse.


    Alexander lowered his head and kissed her, whispering, "Don''t wake them up."


    Quinn instinctively grabbed his arm. He held her, kissing her gently as the shower continued to rain down on them.


    The steam in the bathroom grew thicker, and their figures became barely visible.


    After nearly an hour, they were done, and Quinn was exhausted. Alexander carried her out and sneaked into the next room.


    The room was dark. Quinny on the bed, just about to sleep when he slipped under the covers again.


    Quinn asked, "Aren''t you done yet?"


    Alexander replied, "We''re just getting started."


    Quinn regretted speaking too quickly, and he had heard it. Earlier, Quinn had wondered if Alexander''s long period of abstinence meant he was getting too old and losing his vigor. Now it was clear she had beenpletely wrong.


    Alexander was rummaging through the drawer. Quinn lifted her head to look, but it was too dark to see clearly.


    She asked, "What are you looking for?"


    Alexander replied, "Tools."


    Quinn paused, then realized he was looking for condoms, reminding her of when they had just gotten married. He always seemed to take precautions.


    Quinn asked, "Why are you looking for those?"


    Alexander replied, "Just in case."


    Quinn hesitated, then asked, "Don''t you want more kids?"


    Alexander paused, then turned around, holding her in his arms, and softly said, "I don''t want you to suffer again."


    Quinn was stunned for a moment. She pressed her cheek against his chest, not saying a word.

 Chapter 1538

    The next day, Quinn was supposed to visit Abigail, but she just couldn''t get out of bed.


    She slept in until after 1 PM. When she finally woke up, she couldn''t tell if she was hungry or just groggy from oversleeping. She felt totally wiped out and didn''t even want to move. Dragging herself up, she found some clothes and slowly made her way downstairs. In the living room, only Briar was there with the two kids; Alexander was nowhere in sight.


    Briar looked up and said, "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re awake. Want something to eat? I can whip something up for you."


    Quinn shook her head. "Not right now, maybeter. Where''s Alexander?"


    Briar replied, "He went out. Said he''s handling somepany stuff."


    Quinn nodded. "Got it."


    Even though Quinn had handed over the Mellon Group to Landon and he had already announced his CEO position, the agreement hadn''t officially kicked in yet. So, these matters still involved Quinn. Landon had previously said he''d return thepany to Quinn, and since that agreement was still intact, it made things easier to manage.


    If Landon had been more cutthroat and destroyed the agreement, dumping all the responsibility on Quinn, she would''ve been caught up in everything he did.


    Luckily, Landon didn''t do that, which is why Alexander was willing to help him out.


    In the hospital, Landon assured that this wouldn''t drag Quinn into the mess.


    He''d been in the hospital for a while, and this was the first time Alexander hade to see him.


    Alexander, hands in his pockets, casually looked at him. "You seem to be bouncing back pretty well."


    Landon replied, "You''re itching for me to deal with Walter, aren''t you?"


    Alexander smirked. "Looks like your mouth''s still working fine. Anyway, I did help you out. Don''t I get a thank you?"


    Landon shot back, "Do I look like someone who''d thank you for selling me out?"


    Alexander chuckled, pulled up a chair, and sat down. "Then you need to wise up. Some folks don''t know anything and happily count their money. You, on the other hand, know everything, but you''re stubborn and still have to count the money. People like that would get beaten up in Municity, right?"


    Landon smirked. "Are you here to mock me?"


    Alexander replied, "I can mock you withouting here."


    Landon didn''t want to talk to him anymore.


    Alexander said, "Since you''ve already dealt with that agreement, let me do you another favor."


    Landon turned to look at him.


    Alexander continued, "I heard you have some issues in bed. Let me introduce you to a specialist."


    Landon''s face instantly darkened. "Who told you that?"


    Alexander replied, "Ask yourself. If you didn''t spread it around, think about who you told."


    Alexander stood up and said, "I''m outta here. I went through a lot of trouble to bring this specialist from abroad. Don''t waste my effort."


    Seeing Landon''s increasingly dark expression, Alexander smiled and walked out.


    Not long after he left, Abigail showed up. Seeing Landon''s sour face, she was puzzled.


    She asked, "What''s wrong with you? Is your injury acting up again?"


    Landon looked up at her with a cold stare, making Abigail feel uneasy. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Abigail asked.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Landon moved his lips but said nothing.


    After all, he had admitted it himself.


    Abigail waited for a while but got no more out of him, making her suspicious. "Should I call the doctor?"


    Landon replied, "No need."


    Abigail asked, "What''s wrong with you? I just talked to the doctor and the police. They said you could be discharged. When are you nning to leave?"


    Landon shot back, "As long as I don''t see you, I can leave anytime."


    Abigail frowned. "What do you mean by that?"


    Landon replied, "It means I don''t want to see you."


    Abigail sneered, unfazed by his attitude. "Well, tough luck. Whether you''re discharged or not, you''ll still see me. Seems like you want to be discharged. I''ll go handle the paperwork." She immediately went to handle the discharge procedures and then came back to help him pack.


    Landon didn''t say a word the whole time.


    After packing, Abigail called out, "Let''s go. I''ve handled the discharge. Are you nning to stay here?"


    Landon was silent for a moment, then got out of bed, grabbed a coat, and walked past her.


    Abigail couldn''t figure out why Landon was so mad. Since he wouldn''t say, she couldn''t guess.


    She just felt that Landon was being unreasonable.


    When Abigail took him back, they were followed by police officers, not just to guard Landon but also to protect him.


    Some of the people from thest incident had escaped and hadn''t been caught yet. There was a risk they might try to take Landon out.


    Previously, when Walter was in the country, many people tried to assassinate him. Now that he was abroad, he was safer.


    Now, Landon''s existence was more dangerous for them. He was in police custody, and the evidence he held could bring them all down. So, Landon had to go.


    At Landon''s ce, surveince cameras were installed inside and out to ensure everything was secure.


    Abigail carried the stuff inside and looked around the vi. It was clean, almost as if no one lived there.


    Landon asked, "Why aren''t you leaving?"


    Abigail sat on the sofa. "Why should I leave? I still have a task toplete."


    Thinking about the task reminded Landon of Alexander''s earlier mockery, making his expression darken again.


    Landon turned and went into a room, noting out again.


    Abigail didn''t mind. She had already nned to stay here until his injury healed and then convince Landon as quickly as possible.


    Besides, Landon, being injured, needed someone to take care of him.


    Abigail had never taken care of a patient before, so she might not be very professional or considerate.


    In the evening, Abigail enthusiastically made a big meal and knocked on Landon''s door for a long time before finally getting him toe out.


    She excitedly looked at Landon. "I cooked a big nutritious meal for you. Look!"


    She spread her arms, inviting Landon to admire her cooking.


    Landon nced at the table. There were many dishes, but not many looked appetizing.


    He quipped, "Are you sure this is supposed to be nutritious and not ourst meal?"


    Abigail was displeased. "Don''t judge a book by its cover. The taste is good. Try it."


    She pushed Landon to the table, thoughtfully served him a bowl, and gave him a lot of food. She said, "Try it."


    Seeing her eager eyes, Landon took a bite.


    Abigail eagerly asked, "How does it taste?"


    He struggled to swallow the mashed potatoes. "The charcoal potatoes are well done."


    Abigail protested, "Charcoal? These are mashed potatoes!"

 Chapter 1539

    "Thanks for the heads-up." Landon put down his fork and reached for his phone. "I''ll just order some takeout."


    Abigail, clearly ticked off, snatched his phone. "I ved away for hours, and you want takeout? Seriously, do you even respect me?"


    Landon shot back, "Respect? You''re making an injured guy eat this. Are you trying to kill me?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Abigail snapped, "I already tasted it. It won''t kill you! Now quit whining and eat!"


    Landon''s eyes widened in shock. He red at Abigail, teeth clenched. "You''re getting bolder by the day."


    Abigail had always been a bit of a pushover around him. But now, she was standing up to him-more like she was fearless.


    Her newfound guts came from the day she jumped off that building. Even with his injuries, Landon had dragged himself out of bed and even took a bullet for her on the mountain.


    It was clear that Landon, despite his stubbornness, had a soft spot for her.


    So, once Abigail realized she had a ce in his heart, she became fearless, like people who know they''re favored often do.


    Abigail dered, "No matter what you say, it doesn''t matter. I told you long ago, you shouldn''t have messed with me. Now that you have, don''t think you can get rid of me. I''ll be haunting you forever." Landon decided to stand his ground. He pushed the bowl away and said, "I''m not eating."


    Abigail shot back, "Then starve!"


    Landon got up, turned around, and went back to his room, mming the door behind him.


    Abigail sat fuming at the dining table. She grabbed the utensils and took a bite herself.


    It was pretty awful.


    She had been in a good mood while cooking, so she thought it tasted good. Now that she was pissed, it tasted even worse.


    Thinking about Landon''s injuries, she dumped all the failed dishes and went back to the kitchen to make some porridge for him.


    She opened a recipe guide and followed the steps to cook again.


    Landon was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, trying to rest. Suddenly, there was a loud crash outside, and he snapped his eyes open.


    Dragging his weak body to the kitchen, he saw Abigail squatting on the floor, picking up pieces of a broken bowl, with a big sticky mess on the ground.


    Landon asked, "What are you doing?"


    Abigail quickly pulled her hand back after getting burned by the fragments and touched her ear. "I''m making porridge for you. It was too hot when I was carrying it, and I spilled it." She grabbed a couple of tissues and started picking up the pieces.


    Landon grabbed her wrist and said, "Stop picking it up."


    Abigail protested, "It''s all broken. If I don''t pick it up, you might get hurt."


    Landon pulled her up from the floor and looked at her fingers, which were red from the burn. "Idiot."


    Abigail red at him. "Who are you calling an idiot?"


    Landon didn''t say anything. He pulled her out of the kitchen and brought her to the living room. "Stay here and don''t move."


    Abigail asked, "What are you doing?"


    Landon didn''t answer. He went into the room and came back with a first aid kit after a while.


    He ced the first aid kit on the table. With only one hand free, he opened the kit and rummaged through it for a moment before handing her some burn ointment. "Put this on." Abigail was stunned for a moment and then looked up at him, who still had that expressionless look.


    Abigail pressed her lips together, took the burn ointment, and started applying it to her burned fingers.


    After she finished, she said to Landon, "There''s still a little left in the pot. I''ll go get it for you."


    Landon pulled her back again. "I''ll get it myself. Sit down."


    Abigail asked, "Can you manage?"


    Landon replied, "I''m injured, not helpless."


    He headed to the kitchen, surveying the mess of broken pieces and spilled porridge. After a moment, he stepped over the debris and went to the stove.


    He grabbed a bowl and scooped out the remaining porridge from the pot. He was about to pour it into the sink but hesitated, then pulled it back.


    He took a spoon and tried a bite of the porridge.


    It was still terrible.


    Abigail followed him into the kitchen and saw him eating spoonful after spoonful with a nk expression.


    Abigail asked, "Does it taste any better this time?"


    Landon kept eating without a word. After a while, he finished therge bowl of porridge. Seeing this, Abigail nodded in satisfaction.


    She remarked, "Looks like I nailed it this time."


    She came over to Landon and put his bowl and the messy utensils into the sink. "Even my parents haven''t tasted my cooking. You''re lucky."


    Landon retorted, "Your parents probably wouldn''t survive your cooking."


    Abigail red at him. "Can you be nice for once?"


    Landon shut his mouth.


    Abigail continued earnestly, "Don''t you want someone to be there for you at home, to cook for you, to have three meals a day ready? No matter how far you go, there''s always a light on and a meal waiting." Landon''s gaze shifted to the messy floor. "After eating your food, I probably wouldn''t get far."


    Abigail protested, "You really know how to kill the mood."


    Landon asked, "What mood?"


    Abigail sighed, "Forget it. I don''t want to talk to you. You''re so unromantic. Only I can put up with you."


    She decided to ignore him and turned on the faucet to start washing the dishes.


    It was obvious Abigail had never washed dishes before. She put the dish soap directly on her hands, rubbed it in, and then picked up the dishes.


    Then, the dish slipped from her hands, fell into the sink, and shattered, breaking the other dishes in the sink as well.


    Landon wasn''t surprised at all.


    Abigail sneaked a nce at him, expecting a sarcasticment. However, to her surprise, he didn''t say anything and just looked at her calmly. Abigail asked, "Why don''t you go out for a bit?"


    Landon said, "Stop washing. Just hire a cleaning service."


    Abigail pouted, "No one is born knowing how to do these things. I can learn. Go out. I can handle it."


    Landon stared at her for a moment but eventually turned and walked out.


    He had no choice; he only had one usable hand and couldn''t help.


    Abigail stayed in the kitchen for over an hour. After her relentless efforts and the loss of numerous dishes, she finally cleaned up the kitchen. Looking at the clean kitchen, she suddenly felt a great sense of aplishment.


    Landon sat on the couch outside, listening to the soundsing from the kitchen, his expression somewhat dazed.


    In his youth, the only sounds at home were silence or his mother bustling about, which was his onlyfort.


    Later, when he moved far away, he found himself alone, apanied only by silence.


    Whenever it got quiet, he would feel restless and always felt the need to do something to break the silence.


    But now, the sounds from the kitchen broke his monotonous and lonely life.


    Though it was giving him a bit of a headache.


    Abigail ran out quickly, looking at him with joy.


    Landon''s eyelid twitched.


    Abigail extended her hand. "Let me show you a magic trick."

 Chapter 1540

    Landon asked, "What kind of magic?"


    Abigail rubbed her hands together, raised her right hand, and made an OK sign with her thumb and index finger. Then, she blew into the circle formed by her fingers. Slowly, a bubble started to form, but it popped almost immediately. "Oops, let''s try that again," Abigail said.


    She blew for a while and finally managed to create a big, round bubble. She spread her fingers, and the bubble floated in her palm. "Check it out, isn''t it cool?"


    Landon asked, "How old are you?"


    Abigail''s smile vanished. "Seriously, you don''t think it''s cool?"


    Landon shrugged. "I think it''s kinda childish."


    Abigail pouted, clenched her fingers, and popped the bubble. She''d discovered this trick while washing dishes earlier. How could he call it childish?


    She walked over and plopped down next to Landon, handing him a piece of paper. She grabbed a tissue, wiped her fingers, took out the remote, and turned on the TV. "Alright, let''s watch something. What do you wanna watch?" Landon said, "I''m not watching."


    Abigail responded, "Fine, I''ll watch."


    She focused on picking a show, while Landon just sat there.


    Abigail kicked off her shoes, sat cross-legged on the couch, bent over to rummage through the drawer, and found nothing to snack on. She then went to the kitchen and checked the fridge, finding two bottles of beer she had bought. She handed one to Landon.


    Landon looked at her nkly, and Abigail realized something. "Oh, right, you can''t drink right now. My bad."


    She ced the two bottles in front of her, opened one, and started drinking.


    An idol drama was ying on TV. Abigail drank while watching, and Landon slightly turned his head, his gaze falling on her profile. Abigail also quieted down, and they sat silently on the couch.


    Their time together was running out. In fact, everything Abigail did was to spend as much time with him as possible and create more memories.


    Abigail seemed to be watching TV, but she was actually just drinking. Before the first episode finished, she had already downed two bottles of beer. Landon said, "It''ste. You should go to bed."


    Abigail leaned back on the couch. "Who goes to bed this early? You go ahead. I think this show''s pretty good."


    Landon nced at the TV but didn''t say anything.


    Abigail wasn''t a lightweight, but after two bottles, she felt a bit sleepy. She imed she wasn''t tired but was clearly forcing herself to stay awake.


    Landon watched several episodes with her. Suddenly, he felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned to see that Abigail had fallen asleep. He stared at her for a long time before looking back at the TV.


    By morning, the sound of the TV still echoed in the living room.


    Abigail rubbed her eyes, forgetting she was still on the couch. As she moved, she fell off Landon''s shoulder and lunged toward the coffee table. The next second, a hand caught her chin.


    Abigail was stunned and turned to see Landon. He was holding her with his injured hand. With a bit of effort, he helped her sit upright. Probably straining his wound, he frowned. Abigail asked, "Is your hand okay?" Now fully awake, she tried to check his injury but her legs were numb. She stood up only to fall back down,nding on him. Landon pushed her away. "I''m fine."


    Abigail stared at him for a moment, thinking, ''How can Landon act so calm? I slept on him all night, and he didn''t push me away, but now he''s eager to distance himself, like he''s afraid I might take advantage of him.'' Abigail said, "Really? Then I''ll make you breakfast."


    Landon''s eyelid twitched.


    Abigail rubbed her numb legs, took a moment, and headed to the kitchen. Withst night''s experience, she was now full of confidence. She made another pot of porridge for Landon. Last night it was chicken porridge; today it was pork porridge.


    When she brought it out, she thought it would take some effort to get Landon to eat. Surprisingly, he picked up the spoon and started eating without her saying a word.


    Abigail asked excitedly, "Am I pretty good at making porridge?"


    Landon replied, "Yeah."


    Receiving his praise, Abigail was even happier. "Really? Then I''ll practice more."


    Landon said, "Most people can''t make it taste this bad."


    Abigail froze, her happy smile fading.


    Landon added, "One victim is enough."


    Abigail was stunned for a couple of seconds, then couldn''t help but smile, feeling a bit embarrassed. She watched Landon, who, despite hisints, was eating without hesitation. He was almost done with the bowl she had served him. She also picked up a bowl and served herself. Landon was right. She couldn''t understand why, even though she followed the steps, it tasted so bad. What went wrong?


    After finishing, she served Landon another bowl. "Eat more. I made a lot."


    Landon finished the second bowl too. He seemed resigned. Despite the awful taste, he ate it without changing his expression.


    Abigail decided to improve her cooking skills. She watched many videos, bought several cookbooks, and downloaded various cooking apps.


    After a week of practice, she proved that some things can''t be achieved through effort alone. No matter what she made, it was unsatisfactory. However, after so much practice, there was some improvement. It wasn''t good, but at least it wasn''t terrible.


    Landon got used to it. Whatever Abigail served, he ate, though he stillined.


    His injury was almost healed. They hadn''t left the house, and with surveince and guards inside and out, things had been peaceful.


    Quinn often saw Abigail''s New Feed, which was full of pictures of her cooking. The photos, with filters, looked quite good. This was the only progress Abigail had made after all this time. The food wasn''t edible, but it looked nice. Quinn messaged Abigail: [You''re really good at cooking now.]


    Abigail felt proud instantly. She took out her phone and secretly snapped a photo of Landon eating: [Of course, look how happy Landon is eating.]


    Quinn zoomed in several times but couldn''t see any happiness on Landon''s face. He looked expressionless.


    However, Quinn wasn''t Landon and wouldn''t burst her bubble. So, she replied: [That''s amazing. When can I try it?]


    Abigail: [I''ll cook for you when I have time.]


    Quinn: [Great. So, did your n seed?]


    Abigail paused and chose to y dead.


    When did Quinn be so curious? Why was she so concerned about her sess?


    Abigail hesitated and asked Landon, "Is your injury better now?"


    Landon looked up at her. "No."


    Abigail said, "Really? A doctor ising to check on you today."


    Landon replied, "The doctor said no strenuous activity for at least three months."


    Abigail felt a bit embarrassed. She didn''t expect Landon to guess her thoughts.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

 Chapter 1541

    Abigail let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders drooping. "Alright then."


    Around ten in the morning, the doctor showed up right on time to check on Landon. His injuries were healing up nicely, but he still had a ways to go. If he wanted to do anything strenuous, it''d be at least another month.


    Hearing it''d be another month, Abigail started to get anxious. That meant in a month, the cops would take Landon away. Would she not see him for a long time? And if she did, it''d probably be in prison.


    The police told Landon to rest and stay put. They also looked into the list Landon gave them. After thest incident, those people had moved and destroyed the evidence. But the new list had theirtest addresses, and some names were the same as before. So, they''d just moved and kept up their shady activities.


    Lately, the cops had been nailing it with their raids, catching people in the act. But with each sess, the danger for Landon grew. Those involved would do anything to get rid of Landon to save their own skins.


    Landon nodded and nced at the kitchen where Abigail was, feeling worried. "Abigail''s with me all the time now. Will those people target the Vanderbilt family?"


    "They definitely will," the officer said. "We''ll do our best to protect them. Now that you two are living together, there''s no changing that. Keep an eye on Abigail and tell her not to go out." Landon asked, "Can we send her back?"


    The officer shook his head. "It won''t make a difference. Going back to the Vanderbilt family isn''t necessarily safe. What you need to do now is recover quickly and find these people to solve the problem at its root. The best defense is a good offense."


    Landon stayed quiet.


    Technically, as a suspect, Landon wasn''t supposed to have any contact, but they let Abigail stay with him. The reason was clear. They were afraid Landon might change his mind and wanted him to cooperate fully.


    After a while, the doctor and police left. Abigail poked her head out of the kitchen, and seeing they were gone, she came out. "What did you talk about after sending me away?"


    Landon replied, "Do you think I''d tell you?"


    Abigail was taken aback. "Fine, don''t tell me."


    Landon said, "You''re here with me every day. Aren''t you worried about your family?"


    Abigail''s face fell. "Of course, I''m worried. Should I go back to check on them?"


    Landon suddenly called her name seriously, "Abigail."


    She responded, "What?"


    Landon wanted to say something but held back.


    "Just say it! Do you like keeping people in suspense?" Abigail urged.


    Landon said, "Have you thought about the fact that being with me might cause trouble for your family?"


    Abigail''s face changed. She hadn''t thought about that.


    Landon continued, "If something happens to your family, will you still be sitting here talking to me?"


    Abigail opened her mouth but couldn''t speak.


    "You''re always so reckless, never considering the consequences. You..." Landon wanted to keep going but stopped when he saw Abigail''s eyes starting to tear up.


    Abigail lowered her head and went quiet. After a bit, she looked up. "So, you''ve been trying to get rid of me all this time?"


    Landon avoided her eyes.


    "You never say it straight. And you always pick on me. Do you have some kind of psychological issue?" Abigail asked.


    Landon stayed silent.


    Abigail sighed. "Fine, what should I do now? My family won''t be in trouble, right?"


    Landon replied, "Stay here for now. I''ll find those people as soon as I can."


    Abigail stared at Landon, feeling a mix of emotions. Things were out of her control, and there was nothing she could do. Ever since she got tangled up with Landon, she''d been feeling constantly helpless and powerless. Abigail moved closer to Landon and grabbed his hand. "If we only have a month left, like the doctor said, can we just get along?"


    Landon asked, "What do you want me to do?"


    Abigail replied, "Just, don''t always argue with me. Sometimes what you say is really hurtful."


    Landon didn''t respond.


    Abigail moved even closer. "About what I mentioned earlier, have you thought about it seriously?"


    Landon asked, "What did you say?"


    "About having a baby," Abigail said.


    Landon replied, "You''ve been telling everyone I have sexual dysfunction. I''m afraid I can''t fulfill that request."


    Abigail looked at him in disbelief. "Really? Let me try."


    She suddenly reached out, and Landon grabbed her wrist, frowning. He didn''t expect her to be so bold, trying to touch him directly.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "You admitted you have sexual dysfunction. Why are you afraid of me trying?" Abigail asked, reaching out with her other hand. Landon could only grab one hand, not the other.


    Just as Abigail was about to touch him, Landon gritted his teeth. "There''s a camera!"


    Abigail paused and looked up. Sure enough, there was a camera pointed at them.


    Reluctantly, she withdrew her hand. "Then let''s go to the bedroom?"


    Landon''s forehead veins bulged. Abigail seemed like the aggressor, while Landon looked like a helpless boy. Their roles had clearly reversed.


    "It''s broad daylight. Don''t be crazy," Landon said.


    Abigail pouted and withdrew her hand. "Then we''ll wait until night."


    Landon took a deep breath, looking both helpless and angry.


    Abigail found it amusing. Landon had teased her before, but it turned out he was all talk. But she was different; she was a doer. When she said she wanted to try, she meant it.


    So, Landon guarded against Abigail like she was a thief, locking the door whenever he went to the bathroom or his room.


    As days passed, Abigail grew more anxious seeing the locked door. She kept trying to get into Landon''s room, but he was vignt, leaving her no chance. In desperation, Abigail sought Quinn''s help. Quinn was stunned by her request. Abigail really trusted her.


    However, Quinn felt she had no good ideas and hesitantly went to the study to find Alexander. Alexander looked up and saw her at the door. "Why are you sneaking around?"


    Quinn pushed the door open and walked in slowly. She scratched her chin, embarrassed. "A friend of mine asked for help, and I couldn''te up with a good solution, so I thought I''d ask you." Alexander raised an eyebrow. "What kind of help does your friend need?"

 Chapter 1542

    Quinn cleared her throat and caught a quick look from Alexander. He probably already figured out who Quinn''s friend was.


    Quinn sighed, not wanting to drag it out any longer, and walked right up to Alexander. "It''s Abigail. She''s trying to have a baby with Landon, but he''s dodging her. She asked me how she could get into his room." Alexander found it funny. "Why not have Landon go into Abigail''s room instead?"


    Quinn asked, "How do you get him to go in willingly?"


    Alexander stared at her, his eyes intense.


    Quinn tilted her head, confused by his look. It seemed like he had already given her the answer, but she couldn''t figure it out.


    Suddenly, Alexander raised his chin and said, "There''s a big rat behind you."


    Quinn yelped, "What!" The image of a rat shed in her mind, and she jumped to Alexander''s side in a panic, only to turn around and see there was no rat.


    She red at Alexander. "You tricked me! There''s no rat!"


    Alexander suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into hisp, and chuckled, "Now you get it, right?"


    Quinn was momentarily stunned, finally realizing what Alexander meant.


    When she was about to get up, Alexander pulled her back down. "What are you doing?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander said, "You''ve already thrown yourself into my arms. How can I let you go?"


    Quinn responded, "Stop messing around."


    "Just hold on for a bit," Alexander replied, leaning in closer.


    But the next second, Sprout''s voice came from the doorway, "Dada."


    Quinn quickly pushed Alexander away and stood up, looking towards the door. She saw Sprout and Brandy standing there. Sprout was clutching a walker and staring at them with wide eyes.


    Quinn asked, "What''s up?"


    Brandy mumbled, "Sprout pooped."


    Quinn had no choice but to leave Alexander and run over to pick up Sprout. She turned back to Alexander and said, "I''ll go change his diaper."


    Sprout now wouldn''t stay still like before; he would call out.


    When he pooped, he called for Dada. When he peed, he called for Mama. His intentions were clear.


    Quinn took Sprout back to the bedroom, changed his diaper, and then called Abigail back.


    After hearing everything, Abigail gave her a thumbs up.


    Abigail didn''t even say much to Quinn and immediately went to put the n into action.


    After finishing eating, Landon would go back to his room, locking the door behind him. With surveince outside, Abigail didn''t dare to act rashly, and she couldn''t get inside, so she was at a loss. Landon had just sat down in his chair when he heard Abigail''s scream from the next room. He frowned and immediately went out.


    Pushing open Abigail''s door, Landon called out before even entering, "What''s wrong?"


    Abigail was crouched on the floor, clutching her stomach, and looked up at him with difficulty. "Lock the door first. I think I''ve been shot."


    When asked to lock the door, Landon immediately became alert. He scanned the room, noting that everything, including the windows, was intact.


    Finally, his gaze fell on Abigail''s face. "Where did the bullete from?"


    Abigail, realizing she might be in trouble, decided to amplify her acting. She groaned in pain and slowly copsed. "It hurts."


    Landon hesitated for a moment, then let go of the door handle without locking it and walked towards Abigail.


    He crouched down in front of her and reached out to take her hand. In the next second, Abigail grabbed his arm with both hands.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Landon paused for a moment, then looked at her knowingly. "Do you really have to do this?"


    Abigail clung to his arm, using his strength to sit up. "Yes. We don''t have much time."


    Landon sighed, trying to reason with her. "Can you wait until I''m healed?"


    Abigail shook her head. "No way. I won''t believe your lies. If I let you go this time, I might never catch you again. Since you''re here, you''re not leaving today." Landon stared at her, expressionless.


    Abigail hugged him tightly, her other hand moving to his chest, trying to unbutton his shirt. "Time is running out. Let''s hurry."


    Suddenly, Landon grabbed her hand and twisted it behind her back.


    Abigail let out a scream, instinctively using her other hand to grab his arm, but Landon caught that hand too.


    Landon lifted her wrist, raising her hand and then moving it behind her head.


    Abigail red at Landon angrily. "Are you crazy?"


    Taking advantage of the moment, Landon grabbed her shoulder, pressed her to the ground, and pinned her hands behind her back. Abigaily on the ground in a disheveled state, struggling to no avail.


    After a few futile attempts, she gave up andy weakly on the floor.


    How ridiculous! She had been subdued by Landon with just one hand.


    Landon''s voice came from above her. "Stop ying these silly games. I won''t agree to your request." Abigail asked, "Why not?"


    Landon replied, "No reason."


    Abigail''s cheek pressed against the cold floor, and she lowered her eyes in silence.


    Seeing her calm down, Landon slowly released her.


    Abigail got up from the floor and looked at him. "Are you really going to make me wait until I''m an old woman?" Landon responded, "You don''t have to wait for me."


    Abigail asked, "What if I insist?"


    Landon fell silent.


    Abigail looked at him intently, dering, "Landon, I will wait for you, even if we don''t have a child. I want to have a child with you, not because it will make me wait longer, but because I want to give you hope, to know that we''re all waiting for you toe home."


    Landon stared at her for a long time before speaking. "Have you thought about the child? Have you considered if they want this?"


    He continued, "Do you want the child to be born without a father? To spend their childhood waiting? To feel ashamed because their father is a notorious criminal, unable to stand tall in front of other kids, or to be called a fatherless bastard?" Landon said a lot in one breath, his tone not just for the child''s sake but also filled with his own emotions. Abigail''s eyes flickered.


    After Landon finished speaking, the room fell into a tense silence.


    It was unclear how much time passed before Abigail finally spoke. "Is that what you thought as a child?" Landon''s lips twitched, and he looked away from Abigail, staring out the window.


    Abigail took his hand. "You never tell me about your past. I don''t know what you like or dislike."


    She continued, "But Landon, everyone is born a nk te. Who they be depends on the guidance they receive. Don''t worry, they won''t have an unhappy childhood like yours. I''ve already talked to Alvin. He''s looking forward to the child''s birth. When the child is born, they''ll grow up in a loving family. We''ll all love them. Even if we can''t make up for theck of a father''s love, at least they''ll be full of hope. Because they''ll know that their father loves them."

 Chapter 1543

    Landon suddenly nced at Abigail.


    Abigail met his gaze, her eyes sincere. "It''s not like you''re nevering back. What''s got you so worried?"


    She squeezed his hand and said, "Please, don''t push me away. The past is behind us. When you get out, we can start over. New beginnings for both of us." Landon''s eyes flickered.


    Abigail thought she was getting through to him, but then he abruptly stood up.


    He lowered his eyes, gave her a brief look, and walked out without a backward nce.


    Abigail slumped to the floor, realizing she hadn''t convinced him.


    It seemed like Landon couldn''t get past his emotional barriers.


    She couldn''t help but think about what Landon had just shared. Were those things from his childhood?


    He''d been looked down on by ssmates and even bullied.


    Aurora had never mentioned any of this. She only said that Landon often hid somewhere and didn''te home, never exining why.


    Abigail thought for a moment and pulled out her phone to call Aurora.


    Aurora picked up quickly, sounding anxious. "Abigail, are you guys okay?"


    Earlier, Landon had urgently sent her abroad, so she knew something was up. She hadn''t dared to call, afraid of causing trouble for Landon. Abigail said, "We''re fine, really. We just talked about his childhood, so I wanted to call you. Hope I''m not bothering you?"


    Aurora replied, "No, I''ve been waiting for your call. I''m relieved to hear you''re okay. I''m doing well here too, so don''t worry."


    Abigail added, "Yeah, actually, Landon cares about you a lot."


    Aurora said, "I know. Every time he has something to do, he makes sure I''m settled first. Unfortunately, I can''t help him with anything."


    Abigail reassured her, "Don''t say that. You''ve already done your part."


    Aurora paused. "Abigail, why did you sigh? Are you in trouble?"


    Abigail exined, "Not really. I just find that Landon always avoids others'' kindness and never shows his true feelings. Did something traumatic happen to him as a kid?"


    Aurora was silent for a long time and then sighed. "Maybe. Landon has always been like this, even with me."


    Abigail asked, "Does he have a good rtionship with Wayne?"


    Aurora replied, "I don''t know. I can''t really judge their rtionship. Wayne doesn''te around often, maybe a few times a year. But every time he does, he buys Landon a lot of things, takes him out, and helps him with his studies." As she spoke, she started to recall those past events.


    Although Landon always had a cold attitude towards Wayne, he never said he didn''t want to see him.


    Aurora had asked Landon if he missed Wayne, but he always shook his head and denied it.


    To be honest, even Aurora, who had lived with him for so many years, couldn''t fully understand Landon, let alone Abigail, who hadn''t known him for long.


    They chatted for a while longer and then hung up.


    Abigail walked out of the room and instinctively looked towards Landon''s bedroom, which was still closed.


    Because of Landon''s unhappy childhood, he didn''t want his child to go through the same thing.


    Although he was stubborn and ruthless, he was a responsible person, not just for the child but also for Abigail.


    Abigail shook her head, temporarily giving up on the idea, and headed to the kitchen to cook.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Even though her cooking was pretty awful, she and Landon had gotten used to it.


    After she finished cooking, she went to call Landon for dinner.


    Landon said he wasn''t hungry.


    Abigail felt a bit frustrated. Was he so upset about what happened earlier that he wouldn''t even eat? Was he nning to avoid her too?


    To her surprise, the next day, Landon came out.


    He sat silently at the dining table, ate without saying a word, and then went back to his room.


    This routine continued for about ten days until the doctor came.


    Landon could finally have his stitches removed. Abigail watched eagerly as the doctor took off the bandages. The stitches had mostly been absorbed, so it was just a bit of wound cleaning. The doctor said, "It''s healing well, but you still need to be careful and avoid strenuous activities."


    Landon nodded slightly.


    After the doctor left, Abigail looked at his hand. "Can you move it now?"


    Landon rotated his wrist and moved his hand. It was a bit stiff but mostly fine.


    Abigail didn''t say anything and didn''t bring up the child.


    Landon instinctively nced at her, who had already gotten up to busy herself with other things.


    With no servants around, Abigail would tidy up the house when she had nothing to do, even though she was the one who made the mess.


    Other times, she would watch shows, y on her phone, or y games. She wanted to draw but didn''t have the tools.


    During her time at Landon''s ce, Alvin hadn''t called her.


    The police had probably talked to them and said something to ensure her safety, so Alvin didn''t urge her to return, also to prevent her from running around. Since then, Abigail hadn''t mentioned having a child again.


    Landon had nothing to do either, spending his days between the bedroom and the living room. Every time Abigail saw him sitting there in a daze, he looked like an old man. Abigail picked up her tablet, opened a drawing app, and started sketching him while ncing at him.


    As it got dark, she walked over with the tablet. "Look, don''t you look like an old man?"


    Landon nced up. The tablet disyed a side profile drawing of him in a white shirt, gazing into space.


    "Boring," Landon remarked, looking away after a nce.


    Abigailughed and sat down beside him. "How do you know that? Aren''t you bored?"


    She zoomed in on the picture with her fingers, looking at Landon from different angles, feeling quite proud of her drawing. She had even made him look much younger.


    In the drawing, he wore a white shirt and pants, with a blurred background. His hair was slightly messy, and he wasn''t wearing sses. He looked clean and young, like a college student. However, Landon in front of her seemed lifeless, with no vitality at all.


    She saved the drawing and then put the tablet on the sofa. "What do you want for dinner? I''ll go buy groceries."


    Landon responded, "Whatever, it all tastes the same."


    "But you still eat it," Abigail scoffed and stood up to leave.


    Landon suddenly grabbed her. "Don''t run around outside."


    Abigail reassured him, "It''s fine. I''ve been out many times, and nothing happened. Don''t worry, I''ll disguise myself when I go out."


    Landon looked at her, puzzled. "What disguise?"


    Abigail retorted, "You clearly don''t pay attention to me."


    She said as she walked into the room, "Wait here."

 Chapter 1544

    Landon eyed Abigail with suspicion.


    "What are you up to?" he asked.


    Abigail dashed into the house and came back out half an hourter. Landon couldn''t help but chuckle at her getup.


    "Well? Do you recognize me?" she asked.


    Abigail had on a wig that looked like curly noodles, her hair pulled back. She was wearing makeup that darkened her skin, and there was a big fake mole on her left cheek. Honestly, Landon didn''t recognize her at first.


    With that floral shirt, she looked just like a middle-aged woman.


    "Is this how you''re going out?" Landon asked.


    "Yep, been doing it for the past few days. You wouldn''t know since you''re holed up in the bedroom all day," Abigail replied.


    She adjusted her clothes and grabbed a shopping bag. "I''m your housekeeper now."


    Landon smirked again but didn''t say anything.


    Seeing he had nothing more to add, Abigail turned and walked out.


    Even if there were people outside, they wouldn''t know if there was a housekeeper in his house.


    "Those folks aren''t dumb. If you do this too often, they''ll catch on. Be careful," Landon reminded her.


    "Got it!" Abigail called back from outside the door, and soon she was gone.


    She drove straight to the supermarket.


    Not much was happening here, but over at the Vanderbilt''s, Alvin and Nancy could stay home, while Oliver couldn''t. He had to go out for work and had a few close calls. Like, a runaway car almost hit him, or a flowerpot randomly fell from the sky while he was walking.


    Oliver always had people with him when he went out, but it was still hard to prevent everything.


    These idents weren''t life-threatening if he was cautious. With the recent strict investigations, those people didn''t dare to cause trouble here. But it was still nerve-wracking every day.


    Oliver didn''t tell his family about these incidents, so Abigail naturally didn''t know. Everyone still thought everything was calm.


    Alvin would curse Landon at home when he had nothing to do, but since Abigail was pregnant with Landon''s child, all he could do was fume in frustration.


    After half a month, those little tricks gradually disappeared.


    Landon walked out of the vi, and the police guarding outside had left. Since those people hadn''t found a way to get rid of Landon, they had to pull back for the time being. Abigail couldn''t get Landon to agree to have a baby, so her n failed.


    She and Landon went to the police station together, and their separation was counting down.


    They sat in the office, silent.


    After a while, Abigail spoke first, "Are you leaving Amber Bay soon?"


    Landon shook his head. "Not yet. But I probably can''t go out freely."


    Although she had expected it, Abigail couldn''t help but feel a bit frustrated and fell silent again.


    "Go back early. Don''t wander around; it''s not safe outside," Landon said.


    "Where can I go?" Abigail sighed. She sat there, not leaving, wanting to spend as much time with him as possible.


    But time always passed, just like their original month together, which went by in the blink of an eye.


    Abigail was asked to leave.


    She walked outside and looked back at Landon.


    After a while, she couldn''t help but ask the police, "Sir, can I ask how many years he might be sentenced?"


    The officer shrugged. "Hard to say. He provided evidence before sentencing, so I can''t guarantee the length. We''ll have to wait for the trial. The sentence will depend on the size, frequency, content, source, and effect of his contributions." "Thanks," Abigail said.


    She sighed, walked out, and got into her car. Not knowing where to go, she parked by the roadside and called Quinn.


    The call connected quickly. "Abigail, what''s up?" Quinn asked.


    "Not much, just came out of the police station. Are you home?" Abigail replied.


    "Yeah," Quinn said.


    "What about Alexander?" Abigail asked.


    "He''s here too. Are you looking for him?" Quinn responded.


    "Yeah." Abigail wasn''t sure if the officer didn''t know or just didn''t want to tell her, so she wanted to ask Alexander.


    And she didn''t want to go back to the Vanderbilt family now.


    She didn''t want to be dragged for a prenatal check-up only to find out there was nothing in her belly, which would expose her lie.


    Quinn was a bit surprised. Abigail never looked for Alexander before. Sometimes she wouldn''t evene if she knew Alexander was there.


    It showed how much Landon meant to her.


    "Come on over then. He''s not asleep yet," Quinn said.


    Anyway, things were like this now. Landon''s situation was up to him, and finding Alexander wouldn''t help. Abigail knew this, so she probably wasn''t looking for Alexander''s help. Abigail hung up and drove straight to Regal Riverside.


    Quinn had just finished washing Sprout, put him on the bed, wiped her hands, and went to the study to find Alexander.


    Alexander was on the phone in the study. Seeing here in, he said something to the other side, hung up, and looked at her. "Are they asleep?"


    "No, they''re still in bed. I just came to see if you''re busy," Quinn replied.


    Alexander looked at her, noticing her evasive eyes. "Whether I''m busy depends on what you need."


    Quinn twitched her mouth awkwardly. "Abigail is here."


    Hearing this, Alexander casually picked up a document. "I''m busy."


    "Don''t be like this," Quinn said.


    Alexander sighed, closed the document. "What can I talk about with her? She''s here for Landon."


    "I heard Landon was taken away. Abigail might be in a bad mood. You shouldfort her," Quinn exined.


    Alexander found this amusing, "You want me tofort her?"


    Quinn was stunned. It was obviously impossible for Alexander tofort Abigail. It would be good if he didn''t make things worse.


    "I mean, say something nice. I guess Abigail just wants to know Landon''s final oue for peace of mind," Quinn exined, blinking her eyes. "You don''t want Abigailing here every day, do you?" Alexander raised an eyebrow.


    As they were talking, Briar knocked on the door, "Mrs. Kennedy, Ms. Vanderbilt is here."


    "Let here up," Quinn said.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Okay," Briar replied.


    Quinn gave Alexander a look and sped her hands together. "Please."


    "If I


    agree,


    will


    I you give me a reward?" Alexander said.


    Quinn asked, "What reward do you want?"


    Footsteps sounded outside, and Alexander said, "We''ll talkter."


    "Alright, I''ll go out first," Quinn replied.


    Quinn turned and left the study, meeting Abigail in the hallway. Abigail walked quickly and grabbed her hand, "Quinn, will he see me?"


    "Yes. Go on in," Quinn assured her.


    Abigail gave her a grateful look. "I''ll talk to youter."


    "Okay," Quinn said.


    Abigail let go of her and quickly walked to the study.


    The door was ajar. She knocked three times, and after a while, Alexander''s voice came from inside. "Come in."

 Chapter 1545

    Quinn headed back to the bedroom to keep an eye on Sprout. Ever since Sprout got the hang of moving around, he''d burn through all his energy during the day. After a bit of fussing on the bed, he finally crashed, clutching his toy. Meanwhile, Abigail went to find Alexander, and they holed up in the study for about half an hour before she came out.


    Quinn quickly approached her. "How''d it go?"


    Abigail grabbed her hand. "Thanks, Quinn."


    Quinn shrugged. "No need to thank me. You heading back tonight?"


    Abigail nodded. "Yeah, unless you want me to stick around and watch you two lovebirds?"


    Quinnughed. "We''ve been married forever, what affection? It''ste. Why not just stay?"


    Abigail shook her head. "Nah, I gotta go back. I''m leaving now."


    Seeing she was set on it, Quinn didn''t push. She nodded and walked Abigail downstairs.


    Even though Abigail didn''t spill the details, her good mood hinted she got what she wanted from Alexander.


    After seeing Abigail off, Quinn went to the study where Alexander was still at it.


    She walked up to him. "It''ste. Aren''t youing to bed?"


    Alexander replied, "Just a sec." He was typing away, looking super busy.


    After a bit, he finally shut down theputer and turned to Quinn. "Are they asleep?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, it''ste. Of course, they''re asleep."


    Alexander smiled, got up from his chair. "Let''s go."


    He took Quinn''s hand, and they left the study together.


    After that night, Abigail didn''t call or visit Quinn or Alexander for days, like she was still with Landon, too busy to check in.


    One day, Oliver called Quinn, asking if she knew where Abigail was.


    Quinn was taken aback. "Abigail''s missing?"


    Oliver sounded worried. "I haven''t heard from her in three days, and there''s no trace of her using her ID. I thought she was with you."


    Quinn replied, "Abigail''s not here. Last time I saw her was about ten days ago. What about Landon? Where''s he?"


    Oliver said, "He''s still at the police station; he can''t be with Abigail."


    Quinn frowned, concerned. "Could something have happened to her?"


    Oliver sighed. "I don''t know. Since she''s not with you, I won''t keep you."


    Quinn said, "Okay, go find her."


    After hanging up, Quinn tried calling Abigail, but her phone was off. She sent messages on social media, got no replies, and voice calls didn''t go through, like Abigail had just disappeared. Quinn got anxious, wondering if something bad had happened.


    She rushed upstairs to Alexander''s study. Seeing her worried face, Alexander stopped what he was doing and came over.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    "Abigail''s missing. What did you two talk aboutst time?" Quinn asked, clearly worried.


    Alexander didn''t seem surprised, like he already knew.


    "Do you know where she is?" Quinn pressed.


    Alexander took her hand, trying to calm her. "Don''t worry. She''s fine."


    "How do you know?" Quinn asked, then realized it was a pointless question. If Alexander said so, he must know something. She changed her question. "Where is she now?"


    "Probably with Landon," Alexander said.


    Quinn was taken aback. "Landon? Isn''t he at the police station?"


    Alexander smirked. "Do you really think he''s still there?"


    Quinn''s eyes widened, piecing it together. "You mean Landon left Amber Bay ages ago? The whole police station thing was just a cover? Isn''t it risky for Abigail to be with him?" "If she stays low-key and out of sight, she should be fine," Alexander replied.


    "So, she''s in the same ce as Landon but not directly with him?" Quinn asked.


    "Exactly," Alexander nodded.


    Quinn eyed him suspiciously. "Did you tell Abigail where Landon was headed?" "Yep," Alexander admitted.


    "Finally, some peace and quiet," Quinn muttered.


    She was momentarily speechless. Even though Alexander''s actions might put Abigail in danger, it was what Abigail wanted.


    Abigail''s n to have a child had failed. Waiting around wouldn''t help, so she might as well go find Landon. Quinn could understand her.


    "But it''s really worrying that we can''t contact Abigail," Quinn said.


    "She''s an adult; she knows what she''s doing. Don''t stress about it," Alexander reassured her, ruffling her hair. "Stop thinking about it. It''s a beautiful day. Let''s go for a walk." Quinn sighed and nodded.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    They hadn''t gone out for a walk in ages. Alexander was always buried in work, and they barely had time to chat. Downstairs, Sprout was zooming around the house in his walker. Lately, he was obsessed with throwing balls.


    He''d toss the ball, and Buddy would fetch it and bring it back. Then he''d throw it again, grinning.


    Quinn walked over and took the ball from his hand.


    Seeing his ball taken away, Sprout pouted and was about to cry. Quinn quickly picked him up. "How about we go out to y?" Sprout''s face lit up. He patted Quinn''s arm and started bouncing in her arms, babbling excitedly.


    As Sprout got more wiggly, Quinn couldn''t hold him anymore and handed him to Alexander.


    In Alexander''s arms, he didn''t dare to jump. Ever since he got spankedst time, Sprout knew Alexander meant business.


    And Alexander''s spank was different from Quinn''s.


    Quinn''s spank would make him cry out of frustration, and she''dfort him if he cried too hard.


    But Alexander''s spank made him cry out of pain, and Alexander wouldn''tfort him. If he cried too hard, Alexander would just let him cry it out. So, Sprout was more afraid of Alexander.


    Hey quietly in Alexander''s arms, not as pumped about going out anymore.


    "Let''s go," Alexander said once Sprout calmed down.


    Quinn nodded, grabbed Sprout''s walker, and took Brandy along. The family of four headed out.


    The weather was warming up, but it wasn''t too hot yet. Perfect for a walk.


    In the past, such peaceful and stable days were something Quinn never dared to dream of. Now, walking together as a family felt like a dream. "Once Calvin''s situation is sorted, let''s go somewhere else," Alexander said.


    "Where?" Quinn asked.


    "Lots of ces. Let''s visit all the spots we haven''t been to. What do you think?" Alexander suggested.

 Chapter 1546

    Quinn felt a little flutter in her heart. She didn''t mind the idea, but with two kids, going out was a hassle. She asked, "What about the kids?"


    Alexander said, "We''ll bring them along."


    Quinn replied, "Brandy should be in school."


    Alexander looked at Brandy and said, "She''s still so young. Let''s wait a bit. Five years old is just right."


    Quinn argued, "But I read online that kids should start learning early. Isn''t five toote?"


    Alexander shrugged, "It''s not toote. If a kid''s got talent, they''ll pick it up even if they startte. If they don''t, starting early won''t make a difference."


    Quinn eyed him skeptically, thinking he was talking nonsense, but she couldn''t argue back.


    She didn''t want to push the kids too hard either. Lately, she''d read a lot about kids getting overwhelmed, depressed, or worse.


    She worried about that happening to her kids. The inevitable conflicts as they grew older made her even more anxious.


    Quinn shook her head, trying to clear those thoughts. Worrying now was pointless.


    She said, "Alright, let''s wait a bit. Should we n the route first?"


    Alexander replied, "No rush. We still need to sort out Calvin''s situation. We''ll talk about it then."


    Quinn didn''t know what was up with Calvin and was scared to contact him. She''d tried twice before, but Calvin had been so irritable and cursed a lot on the phone, scaring her off. So she asked Alexander, "How''s Calvin doing now?"


    Alexander said, "Not great. The Lynch family is keeping a close eye on him and won''t let him leave Arcturus. He''s got problems inside and out and can''t leave easily."


    No wonder Calvin was so irritable. Every time they talked, he cursed Walter.


    It was clear all his troubles were because of Walter.


    Calvin finally took off his mask.


    Someone ''identally'' knocked it off in public, showing his harmless-looking face to everyone.


    The media went wild, and his photos were everywhere. Almost everyone knew what Calvin looked like now.


    So, wearing the mask didn''t matter anymore.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Despite the media''s praise, it also exposed Calvin to his enemies. Now, he had no secrets left.


    All of this was because of Walter, who convinced Zeke to allow the media coverage.


    Walter said they could use this to overshadow the Future Era incident, sacrificing Calvin''s reputation to save the Lynch family.


    So, Zeke agreed. Even knowing Walter was targeting Calvin, he still agreed.


    This n worked well. People who didn''t know the truth were amazed by the contrast between Calvin''s personality and appearance. Meanwhile, Calvin''s enemies were out to get him.


    As long as Calvin stayed in Arcturus, he''d be safe. This setup controlled Calvin, reassured the Lynch family, and diverted attention.


    It was a win-win-win situation.


    Now, Calvin waspletely at the mercy of others, unable to do anything but feel angry.


    The only person Calvin could count on was Alexander.


    Quinn had no clue about any of this. Alexander never mentioned it unless she asked.


    Quinn sighed, thinking about Walter. She only felt hatred for him now.


    Walter kept hurting the people around her without a second thought and never cared about her feelings. He kept chipping away at whatever bond they had left. Quinn asked, "So, can Landon handle Walter this time?"


    Alexander shook his head, "Walter''s in Arcturus. Landon doesn''t have the reach, and the police can''t do much there. Do you know who runs Arcturus?" Quinn looked down, knowing it was the Lynch family and some big shots. With their backing, Walter was even more reckless.


    Walter was like a ticking time bomb, everyone could see it, but no one could defuse it.


    Calvin couldn''t leave, putting him in constant danger.


    Quinn had wanted a break, but now she felt even more weighed down.


    The peace she thought she had was just an illusion.


    After walking for a bit, Quinn felt tired and didn''t want to go any further. She found a bench, sat down, and said, "Let''s rest for a bit. I''m tired." Alexander sat next to her with Sprout in his arms, noticing her worried look. "Don''t stress. Calvin will be okay."


    Quinn turned to him and shook her head. "I don''t want anything to happen to you either."


    Alexander smiled at her words.


    Quinn asked, "Why are you smiling?"


    Alexander replied, "Nothing. It''s just rare to hear you show concern."


    Quinn was momentarily taken aback.


    Sometimes she said one thing but meant another. Alexander liked to tease her, so their words often didn''t match their true feelings.


    She wasn''t in the mood to joke and said seriously, "I''m serious."


    Alexander looked deeply at her, his smile fading a bit.


    Quinn said, "I''m really scared, like two years ago when I couldn''t reach you, and you vanished without a trace. All I could do was hope for a miracle every day. Calvin is very important to me, and so are you. I don''t want to choose between you two. If you''re not absolutely sure you can help him, don''t take the risk."


    As Quinn spoke, she realized her words were actually leaning towards Alexander.


    But if Alexander wasn''t confident in saving Calvin and got himself into trouble, she could do nothing.


    No matter what, she would be the one who suffered in the end.


    Alexander listened quietly until she finished. He then ced Sprout beside him and pulled Quinn into his arms.


    Alexander said, "Don''t worry. I know what I''m doing. I get what you mean. I used to go against your wishes and do what I thought was best for you. I''ve thought a lot about that."


    Quinn looked up at him, her expression softening.


    Alexander had truly changed. He wasn''t the man who thought he could control everything anymore.


    His arrogance and sharp edges were gone, reced by a steadiness. Quinn could feel a sense of responsibility from him.


    But Quinn knew his change wasn''t just about getting older.


    He must have gone through some deep hardships that had worn down the rough edges of his soul.


    Quinn didn''t say anything and leaned on Alexander''s shoulder, smelling the faint floral scent on his shirt, feeling his warmth.

 Chapter 1547

    After getting back, Alexander dove headfirst into his crazy schedule, spending all day holed up in his study. You''d barely see him outside of meal times and when he crashed for the night. About two weekster, he suddenly dropped the news that he needed to leave Amber Bay for a bit.


    Quinn asked, "Where are you headed?"


    Alexander paused and casually said, "To an ind."


    He didn''t give any more details, just patted Quinn on the shoulder. "Don''t worry. I''ll be back soon."


    Quinn wanted to say something, but since Alexander had already made up his mind, there was no point. So, she just said, "Alright, can I reach you while you''re away?" Alexander replied, "Yes."


    Only then did Quinn feel a bit better and nodded. "I''ll pack some things for you."


    Alexander said, "No need. I won''t be gone long."


    Still, Quinn packed a few clothes for him. Better to have them just in case he needed a change and couldn''t buy any. Shopping for clothes was a hassle anyway.


    Alexander left early the next morning, so Quinn didn''t get a chance to see him off. When she woke up, he was already gone.


    Every time Alexander went away, Quinn couldn''t help but worry, afraid she might lose contact with him again.


    With Abigail unreachable and Alexander gone, Quinn''s days turned dull and boring once more.


    Quinn asked Briar for ideas to pass the time, hoping it would make the days go by faster so she wouldn''t have to count the days until Alexander came back or spend every moment waiting.


    Briar said, "When I used to work for those rich families, they loved ying bridge, going out for desserts, or doing skincare treatments."


    Briar had been around for a while and had never seen Quinn do any skincare, let alone other entertainments.


    Quinn, once a well-offdy, had turned into a housewife, her days revolving around taking care of the kids.


    Quinn touched her cheeks. Her previously short hair had grown quite a bit. Although it still couldn''t be tied up, it had grown to her earlobes.


    She asked, "Do you think I should get some skincare treatments?"


    Briar smiled and said, "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re still young, and your skin is great. I often hear people at beauty salons say that regr skincare keeps you looking beautiful, and skipping it can make you age faster. They''re really persuasive. Would you like to check it out?"


    Quinn touched her chin. "But I''ve never been there. Why don''t youe with me? You should be familiar with those ces."


    Briar asked, "What about Sprout and Brandy?"


    Quinn replied, "Bring them along. They can''t possibly not let us in, right?"


    Briar thought for a moment and agreed. "Alright, I''ll get ready."


    She used to apany her employers to such ces often, so she was indeed more familiar with them than Quinn.


    After getting everything ready, they took Sprout and Brandy and went out.


    Quinn had never worried about her appearance before. But once it was brought up, it started to bother her.


    Briarforted her, "Mrs. Kennedy, you don''t need to worry. If you don''t mind yourself, it''s no big deal. Everyone ages, and I don''t think Mr. Kennedy cares much about your looks."


    Quinn retorted, "Who said I don''t mind?"


    She started to mind now. When Sprout and Brandy went to school in the future, if the other moms were young and beautiful and she felt unattractive, it would definitely embarrass Sprout and Brandy. Previously, when she was looking up schools for Brandy, she often came across videosparing whose mom was prettier.


    Besides, what''s the point of having all that money if you can''t spend it?


    They soon arrived at the ce Briar rmended. It was supposed to be a hotspot for celebrities, with lots of starsing here for beauty treatments.


    The ce was nice, but they forgot to make a reservation.


    When the receptionist asked if they had a reservation, Quinn looked puzzled. "Can''t we do it without a reservation?"


    The receptionist replied, "If you don''t have a reservation, our beauticians won''t have time."


    Quinn asked, "I see. Can I make a reservation now?"


    The receptionist inquired, "Is this your first time here?"


    Quinn answered, "Yes."


    The receptionist then brought over some brochures to introduce their services and the profiles of their beauticians.


    Briar yed with the two kids nearby. Brandy sat quietly on the sofa, swinging her legs and looking around.


    Sprout, on the other hand, was restless, wanting to touch everything he saw.


    Sprout could now walk slowly on his own. Briar followed closely, constantly feeling like he was about to fall, but Sprout managed to walk steadily, even if a bit shakily. Sprout leaned on a small round table, ying with a device on it. After fiddling with it for a bit, he threw it away.


    It happened to hit a cleaner who was walking by.


    Briar was startled and quickly picked up Sprout, apologizing to the cleaner and picking up the device from the floor. "I''m sorry."


    The cleaner replied, "It''s okay. Just keep an eye on your kid."


    Quinn was engrossed in her conversation with the receptionist. Hearing themotion, she instinctively turned around. "What happened?"


    Briar exined, "Sprout identally hit someone."


    Quinn quickly put down the brochure and walked over. "I''m sorry."


    The moment she and the cleaner made eye contact, both were stunned.


    The cleaner was wearing a mask, but Quinn recognized those eyes.


    The cleaner also realized and, somewhat flustered, avoided Quinn''s gaze and pulled her mask up higher.


    The receptionist quickly ran over. "I''m sorry, Ms. Mellon. This cleaner is new and not very familiar with things yet."


    Then she told the cleaner, "Go clean somewhere else."


    The cleaner nodded, lowered her head, and walked away from Quinn.


    Quinn stared at her back, looking a bit dazed.


    The receptionist asked, "Ms. Mellon, do you still need me to introduce the services?"


    "No need," Quinn replied, her eyes fixated on the cleaner''s back. She absentmindedly took out a card. "Just help me get a membership."


    The receptionist responded, "Alright."N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Then she took the card and happily went to process the membership. There were several types of membership, and the more money you put in, the higher the membership level.


    Quinn casually loaded two million dors onto the card, instantly bing a top-tier VIP.


    Seeing that Quinn didn''t mind spending two million dors, the receptionist suggested, "Ms. Mellon, you could load five million dors. Then, you''ll be our top member and won''t need a reservation. You can choose any beautician you want." Quinn was a bit distracted and didn''t even hear what the receptionist said. "Go ahead."


    Her mind was filled with the image of that cleaner.


    The receptionist asked, "Do you need any treatments today?"


    Quinn replied, "No, maybe another day. I have something to do."


    She took the membership card and then told Briar, "Let''s go."


    Briar responded, "Okay."


    After leaving the beauty salon, Quinn sat in the car for a while before taking out her phone to call Kyle.

 Chapter 1548

    After the call connected, Quinn asked, "Kyle, Getty got life, right?"


    Kyle replied, "Yeah, why are you bringing her up now?"


    Quinn''s eyes flickered. "I just saw her."


    Kyle eximed, "No way, Getty''s out already? Are you sure it was her?"


    Quinn confirmed, "I''m sure."


    Kyle said, "That''s weird. Who would help..." He trailed off, then coughed. "Mrs. Kennedy, maybe you should double-check? Maybe you were mistaken." Getty had made a ton of enemies, especially after taking over the Kennedy Group and acting all high and mighty.


    Before, as CEO of the Kennedy Group, she had some respect. But now, without that title, she was worthless. Who would go to such lengths to get her out? Quinn didn''t want to suspect Alexander, but seeing Getty earlier was like a thorn in her side. She wouldn''t rest until she found out who got Getty out. Kyle said hesitantly, "Could it be someone from the Dixon family?"


    He didn''t sound confident.


    The Dixon family had swapped kids with Kaitlyn back then, but that was only about Ruby. Getty had nothing to do with them.


    If Ruby were kind-hearted, she wouldn''t have ignored Kaitlyn back then.


    Quinn didn''t speak for a long time, making Kyle anxious on the other end. He didn''t dare say more. "Mrs. Kennedy, if there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up." Quinn replied, "That''s all. You can hang up."


    She sat in the car, her mind racing.


    She suddenly opened the car door and got out. "Briar, stay in the car with them and wait for me."


    Briar responded, "Yes, Mrs. Kennedy."


    Quinn went back to the beauty salon. The receptionist saw here back and greeted her warmly. "Ms. Mellon, why are you back?"


    Quinn asked, "How long has that cleaner been here?"


    The receptionist replied, "Not long, about three or four months?"


    It was just when she and Alexander returned to Amber Bay. Quinn felt like something had hit her hard, making her dizzy.


    The receptionist supported her. "Ms. Mellon, are you okay?"


    Quinn steadied herself and waved her hand. "I''m fine. Can you call her for me? I want to see her.''


    Although the receptionist didn''t know why Quinn wanted to see a cleaner, she nodded. "Of course, I''ll call her now. Please wait in the lounge for a moment." Quinn waited in the lounge for about ten minutes before someone came in.


    She turned to look. It was the cleaner.


    The cleaner didn''t speak, silently walking to stand opposite Quinn without sitting down, as if waiting for her instructions.


    If it were the old Getty, she would never have acted like this. But after Freya''s lesson, Quinn believed that even the proudest person would change after going to prison. Quinn said, "Take off your mask."


    The cleaner didn''t move.


    Quinn kept herposure and said again, "Take off your mask. Don''t make me say it a third time."


    The cleaner lowered her head, silent for a moment, then slowly raised her hand and took off her mask.


    Quinn could now see her face clearly, shattering herst hope that she had mistaken her.


    It was Getty!


    That stiff, surgically altered face was unmistakable.


    Quinn stared at Getty for a long time, her mind in chaos.


    She awkwardly asked, "Who got you out?"


    Getty looked up at her, her eyes filled withplex emotions.


    She didn''t answer Quinn''s question but instead asked, "Why are you so shocked?"


    Quinn replied, "I thought you''d spend the rest of your life in prison. Seeing you out so soon, of course, I''m surprised. I even want to send Getty stiffened slightly. "Do you have to be so ruthless?"


    Quinn insisted, "Who got you out?"


    Getty said, "I''ve been in Amber Bay for years. Is it strange to have some connections?"


    Quinn shook her head. "They shouldn''t be able to get a life-sentenced person out in a year."


    you


    back."


    Getty turned her head away, not answering her question.


    Quinn''s heart sank. If it had been the old Getty, and Alexander hadn''t been the one to free her, she would have boasted and taunted Quinn, saying Alexander had saved her. But she didn''t, which means someone had warned her, making her too afraid to reveal who had actually saved her.


    Who would go to the trouble of not only getting her out but also specifically instructing her not to nder Alexander and to keep her savior''s identity a secret?


    Quinn asked, "If you have such connections, why are you working as a cleaner here? Did they get you out just to sweep floors?" Getty remained silent.


    Quinn asked, "Getty, if I send you back, will that person get you out again?"


    Getty was stunned and looked at her.


    They silently stared at each other, as if engaging in an invisible battle.


    Getty sighed and said, "Quinn, please let me go. I just want to live now. I won''te after you or Alexander. I won''t disturb you. Just pretend I''m still in prison or dead, okay?" Quinn tugged at the corner of her mouth. "You make me sound like a viin."


    Getty said, "Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. Knowing too much only brings trouble. Does it matter who saved me? Your life goes on as usual. If you feel happy, isn''t that enough? Why seek trouble?" Quinnughed self-deprecatingly. "I can let it go. But tell me, what did the person who saved you say?"


    Getty replied, "He owed me and paid it back. We''re even now. Does that reassure you?"


    Quinn didn''t speak, sitting there silently, as if there was nothing more to say. Getty turned and left.


    At the door, Quinn''s voice came again, "Did you find him, or did he find you?"


    Getty paused and looked back at Quinn.


    She lifted the corner of her mouth, but it didn''t look like a smile. She couldn''t make that expression, just lifting the corner of her mouth.


    She said, "Take a guess."


    With that, she walked out without looking back.


    Quinn didn''t know how she got back to the car. Briar saw her dazed look and asked worriedly, "Mrs. Kennedy, are you okay?"


    Sprout next to her also called out, as ifforting her.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Quinn turned her head and looked at Sprout''s innocent face. He grinned with his iplete teeth, drooling from the corner of his mouth as he smiled.

 Chapter 1549

    Quinn looked away and shook her head. "I''m good." Briar shot her a worried nce but didn''t push it.


    Back at Regal Riverside, Quinn holed up in her room all day.


    Getty''s words kept looping in her head, her fingers fidgeting with her phone. Could ying dumb really fix things?


    Didn''t seem like it. Maybe in some cases, but not always.


    For the big stuff, it was like a thorn in her side. Ignoring it didn''t make it go away.


    Just when she was feeling down, Alexander called.


    Quinn wasn''t ready to deal with him, so she let it ring.


    But Alexander was persistent and called again.


    Quinn hesitated but finally picked up. "Why are you calling?"


    "Kyle just called me," Alexander said seriously. Kyle must''ve spilled everything, which was a relief since Quinn didn''t know how to start.


    "So, he told you everything?" Quinn said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.


    "Are you mad?" Alexander asked.


    "Mad? Why would I be mad? You''re so devoted, rushing to save your ex the moment you get back! Should I announce it to the world?" Quinn scoffed. Alexander chuckled. "Jealous."


    It wasn''t a question.


    Hisugh made Quinn hang up in frustration.


    Did he really think he was in the right? Should she apud him?


    The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She pulled up his number, ready to block him.


    But then he called again.


    She answered, snapping, "Here to brag about your nostalgia?"


    "Don''t be mad. It wasn''t me," Alexander said.


    "Not you? Then who?" Quinn shot back.


    "Think about it, Quinn. If it were me, would I leave her in Amber Bay for you to find out?" Alexander reasoned.


    Quinn paused. His words hit her like a ton of bricks, and everything suddenly made sense.


    She''d been so wrapped up in her anger, she hadn''t thought of that.


    "Then who was it?" she asked, her tone softer.


    "When we got back, wasn''t Walter just leaving? He set this up before he left. If you hadn''t called Kyle and I hadn''t called you, Walter would''ve pulled it off again," Alexander exined. Quinn was silent.


    "You still don''t believe me?" Alexander asked.


    "You''re really not lying?" Quinn''s voice wavered.


    "Really," Alexander said seriously. "Trust me. If you don''t, I can send her back."


    "Okay, I believe you." She paused, then added softly, "Sorry for misunderstanding."


    "d we cleared that up. Don''t overthink it. I almost bought a ticket back as soon as Inded," Alexander said.


    "Go do your thing. I''m fine now," Quinn replied with a sigh. It made sense she was overthinking, given Alexander and Getty''s history.


    If it weren''t for all the life-and-death stuff, Quinn might never have forgiven Alexander.


    Just when Quinn decided to let go and give Alexander another shot, Getty showed up again, dragging all those buried memories and old feelings back to the surface.


    After a moment of silence on the phone, Alexander said, "Wait for me toe back."


    "Okay," Quinn replied, then hung up and set her phone down.


    Even though the misunderstanding was cleared up, Getty''s reappearance still brought back painful memories.


    Alexander stared at his dark phone screen, lost in thought.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    "Mr. Kennedy!" Sean came running over, wiping sweat from his forehead and panting. "Sorry, I''mte."


    Alexander snapped out of it and looked at him. "Did anyone else know I was here?"


    Sean shook his head and handed over his luggage. "Nope. Rest assured, no one knows your whereabouts."


    Alexander nodded. "Let''s go."


    Sean had been secretly keeping tabs on the Lynch family, especially Walter.


    On the way, he filled Alexander in on recent events. Even though Walter was a fringe member of the Lynch family, he had gained significant influence with Zeke, which was why Zeke hadn''t pressured Alexander to return. Zeke knew that if Alexander came back, he couldn''t bnce the rtionship between Alexander and Walter.


    However, the one suffering was Calvin, whose life had be quite difficult. The decision on who would take over the business in Municity was still up in the air, causing internal strife as everyone wanted to be in charge.


    If Zeke gained control of that area, he would be unbeatable within the Lynch family, so naturally, others wouldn''t concede. Calvin''s assignment was made by Kieran, and since Calvin wasn''t truly part of the Lynch family, there were no objections Now that a Lynch family member was to take over, objections arose.


    Walter also had his eye on the position, but given his current awkward status, it wasn''t easy for him to achieve his goal.


    However, Walter might have other means, which was why Alexander hade.


    Calvin didn''t know Alexander was here. After many struggles, he finally gave up.


    He stopped going to thepany, spending his days in debauchery, which made him seem carefree to outsiders.


    "I don''t know much. Our influence in Arcturus is limited, so it''s hard to get detailed information on the Lynch family," Sean reported.


    He had ced people within the Lynch family, but the information he got was limited.


    Alexander rubbed his temples and asked, "How''s the investigation on the Mellon family going?"


    "No leads. That was your grandfather''s era. Now that he''s gone, it''s hard to investigate," Sean replied.


    Alexander frowned.


    He had been researching the Mellon family, but he hadn''te across any valuable information; after all, it had been many years.


    Why did Ulysses wipe out the Mellon family? Why did the Lynch family relocate? And why did they escape the same fate? These questions remained unanswered.


    Feeling overwhelmed, Alexander suddenly clutched his chest and started coughing.


    Sean gave him a worried look. "Mr. Kennedy, are you okay?"


    Alexander waved him off. "I''m fine."


    Sean watched him for a moment before turning his attention back to driving.


    He couldn''t help but worry, remembering Calvin saying that Alexander''s health was severely damaged and almost beyond repair.

 Chapter 1550

    The next day, Quinn hit up the beauty salon again, but the staff dropped a bombshell: Getty had quit. "Quit? When?" Quinn asked, eyebrows shooting up.


    "Just yesterday, right after you left. She didn''t even bother to grab her paycheck," the staff member said.


    Quinn''s mind raced. Was Getty running because she was scared of getting locked up again, or did she think Quinn wasing for payback?


    "Any idea where she went?" Quinn pressed.


    "Nope. That''s her business," the staff member shrugged.


    Quinn nodded, piecing it together. Getty''s sudden exit screamed guilt or fear.


    If Getty ended up back in prison, no one would be rushing to bail her out.


    Quinn sighed, turned on her heel, and left the salon. If she hadn''t swung by, she wouldn''t have seen Getty at all. If Getty had any brains, they''d probably never cross paths again. Sitting in her car, Quinn felt a mix of frustration and relief.


    She had to admit, Walter was a master at stirring the pot. Even if Alexander hadn''t busted Getty out, just seeing her dredged up all those old memories, leaving Quinn in a funk. She pulled out her phone and scrolled to Walter''s number, wondering if he''d changed it.


    She hit dial, and it rang.


    A few secondster, Walter picked up. "Well, this is a surprise. What made you call?"


    "Walter, did you spring Getty?" Quinn cut to the chase.


    Walter chuckled. "You give me too much credit. I''m not that slick. Did Alexander put that idea in your head?"


    Quinn shot back, "You seem to know Getty''s out. Shouldn''t you be asking when she got released?"


    There was a brief silence, then Walterughed. "You''ve gotten sharper."


    That was as good as a confession. Quinn''s patience was wearing thin. "What do you want, Walter?"


    "You know exactly what I want," Walter replied.


    "I don''t. You nevere clean. And don''t say it''s for me; I won''t buy it," Quinn snapped.


    "Fine. I''ll show you," Walter said.


    Quinn wasn''t in the mood for more games. She hung up and tossed her phone onto the seat.


    Even though Alexander hadn''t told her where he was, it wasn''t hard to guess. She just hoped he''de back safe.


    Walter, still holding his phone, smiled thoughtfully and turned to his right-hand man. "Check if Alexander''s back."


    Colin looked surprised. "He''s in Arcturus?"


    "Find out. Calvin''s been back for ages and hasn''t made a move. Doesn''t that seem fishy? They''re up to something," Walter said. "Got it, I''ll check," Colin replied.


    Walter squinted, pondering Alexander''stest move.


    A few dayster, Calvin stumbled out of a bar, a woman on each arm.


    It waste, and the streets were deserted. He was stered, and the two women were struggling to keep him upright.


    "Mr. Lynch, take it easy," one of them said.


    Calvin grinned and pulled her closer. "Don''t worry, I''m not that drunk. I can still show you a good timeter," he slurred. The women blushed at his words.


    They half-dragged, half-carried Calvin towards his car, tripping over their own feet.


    Suddenly, a bunch of figures crept up from the shadows behind them. Calvin, too busy sweet-talking thedies, didn''t notice a thing. Just as he was about to hop in the car, he suddenly doubled over and started puking, spewing out all the booze he''d just downed. One of the women patted his back, trying tofort him. "Mr. Lynch, you okay?" she asked.


    Calvin waved her off, wiped his mouth, and straightened up. Something felt off, so he spun around.


    A shiny knife wasing right at him. His face changed, and he grabbed the attacker''s wrist.


    But he wasn''t quick enough. The knife sank into his gut, the cold steel snapping him back to reality.


    The two women screamed and bolted. The attackers didn''t care; they were all about Calvin.


    The guy with the knife tried to push it in deeper.


    Calvin twisted the guy''s wrist, making him drop the knife. But two more attackers rushed him with des.


    Calvin''s eyes narrowed. He grabbed the knife and took a couple of steps back. One attacker missed and lunged again.


    Calvin swung the car door open to block the attack. The guy hesitated, and Calvin mmed the door shut and kicked him.


    The guy stumbled back, and another attacker charged.


    Calvin had seen his share of fights in Municity. Even drunk and hurt, he was still a tough opponent. But three attackers were a lot to handle. They''d missed their first shot, making it harder to get to Calvin again.


    For now, they kept their distance, trying to wear him down. He was bleeding and wouldn''tst long.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Calvin''s moves slowed. Blood poured from his gut, soaking his white shirt.


    His face went pale, and sweat dripped from his forehead.


    "Who the hell are you?" Calvin asked, keeping his distance and clutching his wound, eyeing the three men. They exchanged looks but stayed silent. "He''s almost done. Take him alive," one of them said. Then, they rushed at Calvin again, circling him.


    Calvin''s moves got sluggish, his vision blurred, and the three men seemed to double.


    One of them kicked him, hitting his wound. His face twisted in pain, and he cked out, copsing.


    Lying on the ground, he shook his head and looked at the men closing in. He tried to get up but kept failing.


    His fingers brushed against the knife on the ground. No matter who these guys were, he couldn''t let them take him. He nned to fight to the death. Even if he couldn''t kill them, he could buy time to end his own life. Calvin knew that falling into their hands would be worse than dying.


    The three men tried to grab him, but he swung the knife, shing one guy''s wrist. The guy yelped and backed off. Another guy didn''t hesitate and stabbed Calvin''s leg.


    Calvin groaned in pain, kicked out, and shed another guy''s leg with the knife, forcing them back for a moment. Finally, he found a chance to get up and staggered away.


    The three men chased him. Both sides were hurt, so they couldn''t catch him right away.


    Clutching his wound, Calvin stumbled forward. The streets were empty, and the footsteps behind him filled him with dread.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1551

    Out of nowhere, a car came barreling towards the three attackers.


    The blinding headlights made them freeze. In that split second, the car mmed into them, sending them flying into a nearby trash can with a loud crash. Calvin spun around in shock as the car screeched to a halt in front of him.


    "Get in," a voice called out.


    Calvin hesitated for a moment but then bolted to the car, yanked the door open, and jumped in.


    The car took off, and he copsed in the back seat, letting out a long sigh of relief.


    "Mr. Lynch, there''s some tissue in the back. Use it," Sean said.


    Calvin grabbed the tissue, pulled some out, and pressed it against his abdomen and thighs to stop the bleeding.


    Sean navigated through one alley after another, finally stopping in front of a run-down building.


    He got out, opened the back door, and asked, "Mr. Lynch, you okay?"


    Calvin opened his eyes slightly, then closed them weakly. "Not dead yet."


    After resting for a moment, he sat up, pressing the tissues against his abdomen. Therge wad of tissues waspletely soaked in blood.


    The wound wasn''t deep, but after fighting with those guys for so long, he had lost a lot of blood, and the wound was probably infected. Sean helped him out of the car.


    Calvin was already out of strength, leaning entirely on Sean. He weakly asked, "How did you know I was here?"


    "Aren''t you here every day?" Sean replied.


    Calvin chuckled bitterly. "Looks like they''ve been scouting too. I''ll have to change ces next time."


    "Seriously, you know you''re in danger, yet you still wander aroundte at night. If it weren''t for me today, you might be dead," Sean scolded.


    Calvin replied, "What else can I do? Go work at that crappypany?"


    "I thought they would at least be more careful here, but they acted right away," Sean remarked.


    "As long as they want you dead, nowhere is safe. They have their ways," Calvin agreed. He knew from his own experience that if they wanted to kill someone, they could track them down, even if they were hiding underground. Calvin corrected, "They don''t want to kill me; they want to capture me."


    "There''s no difference. Capturing someone alive is even harder," Sean said.


    If Calvin went missing, the Lynch family would definitely look for him. Taking him out of the country would be much more troublesome than killing him.


    Sean helped him upstairs. Despite his injured leg, Calvin had to climb the stairs. He couldn''t help butin, "What kind of dump do you live in? Didn''t Alexander pay you?"


    "You don''t understand. It''s safe here," Sean exined.


    Calvin retorted, "If someone really wants to kill you, living in the sky won''t help. Why put yourself through this?"


    "Even so, a rtively safe ce can block most dangers. At least I can get a good night''s sleep," Sean countered. Calvin was too tired to argue.


    After climbing six flights of stairs, he was about to pass out.


    Sean opened the door and helped him inside. "Take it easy."


    Calvin staggered into the room and looked up to see Alexander on the couch.


    He was stunned, rubbing his eyes. "Am I dying? Am I seeing things?"


    Sean followed his gaze. "Nope. Mr. Kennedy''s really here. It''s not a hallucination."


    Calvin pushed Sean away and limped towards Alexander.


    Alexander stood up from the couch, looking him up and down. Calvin looked pretty rough, covered in blood and dirt.


    He reached out and grabbed Alexander''s arm, squeezing it. "You''re really here?"


    Alexander subtly shook off his dirty hand. "Calvin, you''re hurt. Take care of your wounds first."novelbin


    Calvin sighed and plopped down on the couch, leaning on it.


    Sean had already brought the first aid kit and started treating his wounds. Calvin leaned back on the couch, muttering, "Damn it, if this were my turf, would I let those bastards hurt me so easily?" Alexander didn''t respond, just quietly watched Sean treat his wounds.


    The wounds weren''t deep or fatal. Calvin was just weakened by blood loss.


    Calvin closed his eyes, about to pass out, but the pain from the treatment woke him up.


    After the wounds were treated, Calvin was drenched in sweat.


    Hey on the couch like a rag doll and asked Alexander, "Why are you here?"


    Alexander replied, "If I didn''te, you''d be dead soon."


    Calvin scoffed. "Tonight was just an ident. I drank too much. I''ve been fine for so long, I let my guard down."


    "I''m not talking about tonight. Do you know why they attacked you tonight?" Alexander asked.


    Calvin was taken aback, looking at him. "What do you mean?"


    "Only a few people knew you returned to Arcturus at first, but recently, your return has be widely known. Because your appearance was revealed, many people are specting if something happened between you and the Lynch family. Naturally, some will test the waters, like tonight," Alexander exined.


    "If you were captured and the Lynch family did nothing or just put on a show, you''d be as good as dead," Alexander continued.


    Calvin''s eyes flickered. He sat up abruptly but winced from the pain, clutching his wound and lying back down.


    "I knew it. Damn it! Walter, that bastard, it''s all his fault. If I get the chance, I''ll kill him!" Calvin cursed.


    "You''re barely surviving here. If you leave, you''ll die even worse. You won''t even get the chance to kill him," Alexander pointed out. Calvin was even more frustrated, punching the couch in anger.


    He thought of something else. "What does this have to do with you being here? Does your presence make me safe?"


    Alexander sighed. "You need to leave here. You can''t wait any longer."


    "You''re here to help me leave?" Calvin asked.


    Alexander nodded.


    Moved, Calvin pulled Alexander''s arm, signaling him to sit down.


    Alexander sat down beside him.


    Calvin said, "I apologize for having strong opinions about you earlier. I think no one but you deserves Quinn. You two are the perfect match." Alexander raised an eyebrow, smirking at him.


    "Tell me, how can I leave here safely? The original n won''t work. Everyone knows what I look like. Even if I leave, it won''t be safe," Calvin said. Alexander met his hopeful gaze and said, "It''s a secret for now."


    Calvin''s mouth twitched, feeling the pain in his wound again. "Damn it, I''ll get my revenge on these bastards one day!"

 Chapter 1552

    Alexander stared at Calvin without a hint of emotion.


    Calvin, on the other hand, was all talk at this point. You couldn''t tell if you should feel sorry for him or justugh. After a while of cursing, Calvin, worn out from losing blood, passed out on the couch.


    Sean leaned in and whispered, "He''s out cold. Should we take him back?"


    "Let him be," Alexander said.


    So, they left Calvin alone. Using his injury as an excuse, Calvin ended up crashing there for the next four days.


    Sean was getting a bit antsy. Would the Lynch family think Calvin had gone missing since he was hiding out here? And with Walter always on the lookout, would he figure out that Alexander was already in town? He couldn''t help but ask Alexander, who just told him to chill and let it ride.


    Sean was definitely overthinking it. Calvin stayed there for four days, and the Lynch family didn''t seem to care, like his fate didn''t matter to them at all.


    Over those days, Calvin got more and more down. He stopped cursing and justy there on the couch, staring nkly at the ceiling.


    After working for the Lynch family for so long, he never thought he''d end up like this.


    When they first called him back, he was pissed. Now, their cold shoulder really stung.


    Alexander nced at him, knowing what was on his mind. "How''s the injury?" he asked. Calvin weakly replied, "I won''t die."


    Alexander paused. "Not nning to go back?"


    Calvin let out a bitterugh. "Do you think I should? It''s pointless."


    He turned to look at Alexander. "When can I get out of here?"


    "Soon," Alexander replied.


    Calvinughed again, this time with a touch of self-mockery.


    He had no ties to this ce anymore, which was a good thing. It meant he could leave without any regrets.


    "If you''re bored, why not video call Quinn and chat?" Alexander suggested.


    Calvin pulled out his phone, thought for a moment, and then tossed it on the table.


    There was nothing to talk about.


    In his current state, he felt too ashamed to talk to Quinn.


    He had once thought he could support Quinn, but now he was the one dragging them down. The irony was too much.


    The Lynch family already knew what went down that night. They were all guessing whether Calvin had been kidnapped, but since no ransom demands came, they figured he might be dead. So, there was no movement. After all, Calvin wasn''t really one of the Lynch family.


    However, Walter sensed something was off.


    The ones who took Calvin and the ones who attacked him weren''t the same group. He wasn''t sure who it was, but he had a hunch it might be Alexander.


    If it was just Sean or Calvin''s guys, Calvin wouldn''t need to hide. The only reason he''d hide was if he felt safe with that person.


    Just then, Colin came back.


    Before Colin could say anything, Walter asked, "Alexander''s here, isn''t he?" Colin was caught off guard and nodded. "Yeah, he''s been here for a few days."


    Walter sat back in his chair, deep in thought. "Alexander hasn''t made any moves?"


    "No, he''s been with Calvin these past few days. Neither of them has gone out, and there are only three of them in that ce," Colin replied. Walter frowned slightly. "What''s he up to?"


    Colin stayed quiet. If Walter couldn''t figure it out, he sure as heck couldn''t either.


    Walter waved him off, signaling him to leave.


    Half a monthter, Walter couldn''t keep his cool. He decided to visit Alexander himself, showing up at the rundown house.


    The door was half-open, not sure if it was forgotten or left that way on purpose.


    Walter hesitated, then pushed the door open and quickly stepped back.


    At the same time, something fell from above,nding right at his feet.


    It was a basin filled with dirty water. When it hit the ground, the water sshed all over his pants and into his shoes.


    Walter''s face darkened. He kicked the basin aside, causing the door to m against the wall and bounce back.


    Walter stepped over the basin and walked into the house. Turning his head, he saw Calvin and Alexander sitting at a table not far away.


    Twoputers sat on the table. Both men were intensely focused on the screens, their fingers flying over the keyboards. They were so engrossed that they didn''t even notice Walter''s presence. Walter approached them, feeling suspicious.


    Suddenly, he heard Calvin curse, "That guy ambushed me. Kill him and avenge me."


    Alexander''s fingers danced on the keyboard, and Calvin leaned in, watching his actions.


    After a few seconds, Calvin mmed the table in anger. "Nice job! Let''s not y the battlefield anymore. It''s boring. Let''s go y that new dungeon."


    ''They''re actually ying a game?'' Walter thought in surprise.


    Alexander rubbed his sore shoulder and sighed. "Let''s y tomorrow. I''m beat today."


    "You can''t handle it? It''s only been a few hours, and you''re tired? I''m still injured, you know. Oh, I almost forgot, you''re even weaker than me now," Calvin teased. They chatted, leaving Walter standing there.


    Alexander couldn''t stand Calvin''s mockery and tapped the keyboard. "Find a team and pull me in."


    "Good. Hold on," Calvin said.


    Walter stood quietly in the room, feeling like a clown at that moment.


    "Mr. Smith, what brings you here?" Sean''s voice came from behind. Walter turned to see Sean carrying bags of daily necessities and some groceries.


    As soon as he spoke, Alexander and Calvin looked over. Calvin said sarcastically, "What a rare guest. Isn''t this the popr guy by Zeke''s side? Haven''t seen you in a while. Made it to the family list yet?" Walter nced at Alexander and Calvin. "Don''t tell me you''ve been here ying games all this time?"novelbin


    Calvin spread his hands. "Isn''t it obvious? Mr. Smith, want to join us? We''re short of a yer for the dungeon."


    Walter chuckled and walked over to them, finding a chair to sit down. "Sure."


    Calvin almost couldn''t keep hisposure.


    Walter asked, "Where''s myputer? I want to see what game is so fun that Mr. Kennedy came all the way here to y."


    Calvin was already angry with Walter. Seeing hime over, he wanted to tear him apart.


    Just as Calvin was about to stand up, Alexander pressed down on his leg.

 Chapter 1553

    Alexander grinned, "Hey, Sean, perfect timing! Grab theputer and show Mr. Smith how awesome this game is."


    Sean nodded, "Got it," and quickly set down what he was holding before dashing inside to fetch theputer.


    A few minutester, with Alexander''s help, Walter had the game up and running. Alexander added Walter to their team, which was tackling a massive dungeon with thirty yers. Walter''s ount was maxed out with top-tier gear. But it didn''t matter since Walter had never yed before.


    As soon as they faced the first boss, Walter''s character bit the dust.


    This game was all about teamwork, and the boss had a poison spray attack. If one person got hit, the poison would spread to everyone else, causing a team wipe.


    Walter''s presence led to five team wipes in just thirty minutes.


    Frustrated shouts erupted through the headset from the team leader.


    "Seriously, Walter, are you brain-dead? I''ve told you a million times to dodge, and you just stand there like a statue! If your hands are broken, why are you even ying? You joined without reading the announcement. We needed experienced yers. Are you here to mess with us on purpose? Leave the team yourself; I don''t want to kick you out."


    Walter''s in-game name was his real name, so the team leader''s rant hit him directly.


    Walter''s face darkened at the scolding.


    Calvin, clearly enjoying the situation, nced at Walter and then picked up the headset. "Team leader, give him another chance. He has cancer and only three months to live. He just wants to y this dungeon before he dies. It''s not that he''s bad; he''s just seriously ill, and his hands and feet don''t work well."novelbin


    The team leader snapped back, "If he has cancer, he should just die. Why is he ying games? Having cancer is no excuse to mess with others. I''ve never seen such a jerk. Get out now!" Kicking someone from the team required a vote, and more than half had to agree.


    But maybe because of Calvin''s words, some team members felt sympathetic, and the vote didn''t pass. The team leader, frustrated, scolded Walter again.


    Finally, he said, "I''ll give him two more chances. If he dies again, we''re done for today."


    The team leader was really hot-tempered.


    Walter, fuming from the scolding, looked at Alexander and Calvin next to him and said with a forced smile, "This game is really fun. No wonder you guys are so hooked."


    Calvin replied, "Of course. It''s fun if you know how to y. If you don''t, it''ll be like what just happened. But don''t get mad; after getting scolded a few more times, you''ll get the hang of it." Walter sneered.


    The reason he died eight times was that the boss had more than one skill, and any mistake could lead to a wipe.


    This was the first boss in the dungeon, and it would only get harder from here.


    The team leader scolded for a while, then told everyone to get ready and start the boss fight again.


    This time, Walter miraculously didn''t die, but they still wiped, not because of him, but because of another teammate.


    Calvin was a bit surprised. Walter was learning pretty fast.


    If Walter couldn''t learn after dying so many times, he really would have some intellectual issues.


    Wiping was inevitable, and the next few attempts ended the same way, but none of it was Walter''s fault. The team leader had no one to me.


    After four grueling hours, they finally took down the first boss.


    Walter had shown up in the morning, and now it was already 1 PM. Colin had been waiting downstairs the whole time.


    If Walter hadn''t picked up the phone, Colin would''ve thought something bad happened. They had a deal: if Walter didn''te down for too long, Colin would go find the Lynch family. The dungeon had five bosses, and even a speed run would take two hours. With all the mistakes, they were nowhere near done by midnight.


    While the team leader auctioned off gear, Walter took the chance to study the boss mechanics. After figuring them out, he only made a couple of mistakes before getting the hang of it.


    At first, when Alexander said the game was fun, Walter thought he was joking. But after ying, he found it pretty enjoyable.


    He kicked off his wet shoes, his expression turning more serious.


    Seeing it was already 2 AM, Colin couldn''t wait any longer. He sneaked upstairs to check things out.


    He wondered if Walter had been kidnapped or if he was saying things under duress.


    With this in mind, Colin reached the upstairs and heard the sound of keyboards cking before he even entered. He paused, thinking they were using some high-tech equipment. But when he walked in, he was surprised to see everyone harmoniously sitting in front of theirputers, focused on the game.


    Colin stood there, dumbfounded.


    He looked at Sean, who was sleeping on the couch like a log.


    Colin was bewildered. What had he missed in this short day?


    Why were they ying games together?


    He sat down next to Sean, bewildered, watching them engrossed in the game. The special effects on theputer screens flickered, making the scene look quite eerie. An hourter, Colin fell asleep.


    The dungeon still wasn''t cleared.


    This was a new dungeon, and theck of gear and damage output made it very challenging. Frequent mistakes meant it couldn''t be cleared quickly.


    As dawn approached, even the team leader was at his limit. They had only reached the fourth boss, which they had been fighting for nearly five hours.


    The team leader said, "Let''s continue tomorrow. Go get some sleep. We''ll meet at the dungeon entrance at 6 PM tomorrow. Add me as a friend." Calvin exited the dungeon, yawning. "I''m exhausted. My wound is bleeding from all this ying."


    Alexander sighed, rubbing his temples. He was tired too.


    He didn''t particrly like team games; there were too many idiots.


    Walter had also exited the game. In the game, their three characters stood together, and in reality, they were sitting together, which felt oddly strange.


    He turned to look at Alexander. After staying up all night, none of the three looked good, especially Alexander, who now had stubble. Walter couldn''t help butugh. "Have you guys been ying this game the whole time?" Alexander replied, "Haven''t you already seen it?"


    Walter was at a loss for words. Based on his experience, this dungeon might take several days to clear, so it made sense they hadn''t gone out.


    But he would never believe that Alexander came all this way just to y a game.

 Chapter 1554

    Walter grinned at Calvin. "You''ve been MIA for ages. Everyone''s been freaking out. Come on back with me."


    Calvin leaned back in his chair, smirking with his hands behind his head. "Freaking out about what? That I might actually be dead?"


    Walter shot back, "We were seriously worried. If Zeke knew you were holed up in this dump, he''d lose it."


    His words had a hidden edge. If Calvin didn''te back, Zeke would find out he was hanging with Alexander. And that could spell trouble. Plus, there were folks out there who wanted Calvin gone. If they found out where he was, it could get ugly real fast.


    Calvin''s smirk faded, and his eyes darkened as he stared at Walter.


    If it weren''t for Walter, Calvin wouldn''t be stuck here in Arcturus.


    Alexander chimed in, "Since Mr. Smith is so worried about you, maybe you should go back with him."


    Calvin shot him a dirty look.


    Alexander gave him a calm-down nce, and Calvin huffed, getting up from his chair. The chair scraped loudly against the floor.


    Walter''s smile stayed put as he gestured for Calvin to go first. "Let''s roll, Calvin."


    Calvin stormed out, clearly pissed. After resting up for days, his injuries were mostly healed, and he moved quickly, no sign of being hurt. Walter nced at Alexander.


    Their eyes met, and the tension was thick.


    Walter said, "Mr. Kennedy, must be nice to ditch the family ande here to y games."


    Alexander replied, "I''ve got time to kill. Gotta find ways to keep busy."


    Walter chuckled.


    Alexander''s words were full of crap, and Walter knew it. He didn''t bother saying more and walked past him out the door.


    After they left, Sean came over, looking worried. "Is Calvin gonna be alright?"


    Alexander''s smile faded. "If something was gonna happen, it would''ve already. Calvin''s not a threat to Walter right now; he''s not at the point where he has to take him out." Sean sighed in relief. "That''s good."


    But no one waspletely at ease. Just because Walter wouldn''t kill Calvin didn''t mean others wouldn''t.


    Alexander asked, "What''s Kyle up to?"


    Sean shook his head, looking a bit annoyed. "No clue. He doesn''t report to me." He had no idea what Kyle was doing.novelbin


    But Kyle knew everything Sean did. Sean was open with Kyle, but Kyle kept him in the dark.


    Alexander raised an eyebrow and pulled out his phone to call Kyle.


    Meanwhile, when Calvin got back, Zeke pulled him aside, checking him over and asking if he was hurt.


    Calvin brushed him off. "I''m not dead. I''m fine."


    Zeke''s face tightened for a second, then he smiled. "d you''re okay. You have no idea how worried I''ve been."


    Calvin shot back, "Worried? Didn''t see you looking for me."


    Zeke said, "Just ''cause you didn''t see us doesn''t mean we weren''t looking. Have you been cooped up too long? Your temper''s getting worse."


    Calvin was so mad he could almost hear his teeth grinding. His fists clenched, making a cracking sound, and he forced a smile. "Oh, you know that? So when can I get out of here?"


    Zeke replied, "No rush, man. It''s too risky right now. People were after you even back home. If you step out now, who knows what kind of trouble you''ll find."


    He patted Calvin''s shoulder. "I think you shouldy low for a bit."


    Calvin asked, "What do you mean? I can''t even leave the house now?"


    Zeke said, "It''s for your own good."


    Calvinughed bitterly. "Fine, whatever. I''ll just stay home and wait to die."


    Then, he stormed off.


    Zeke watched him go and sighed.


    Quinn had been waiting for a month, but there was still no sign of Alexandering back.


    During this time, Quinn hadn''t been sitting idle. She was searching everywhere for Getty. But Getty had vanishedpletely, like she disappeared into thin air after leaving. Quinn couldn''t find her. It seemed she was really gone.


    No one knew what Getty had gone through in prison, but she was different after getting out.


    Maybe she hade to terms with reality, or maybe it was something else.


    Unable to find Getty, Quinn decided to stop looking. She went back to her daily routine of taking care of the kids and waiting for Alexander to return.


    In the past, Abigail would sometimese by to keep herpany. But now, Abigail had run off with Landon, leaving Quinn all alone.


    Quinn tried calling Abigail, but the call wouldn''t go through.


    She then called Oliver to see if he had heard from Abigail.


    "Nope. Still no idea where she went," Oliver sighed, sounding worried.


    With Abigail missing and her fate unknown, it was hard not to worry.


    Quinn tried tofort him, "Don''t worry. She''ll be fine."


    Oliver said, "I hope so. Has Alexandere back yet?"


    Quinn replied, "No, but I can still reach him."


    They were silent for a bit, then, having nothing more to say, they hung up.


    Quinn sent Abigail a message, asking her to reply when she saw it.


    Then, she put down her phone and leaned back on the couch, feeling bored. Sprout was toddling around nearby, holding onto the couch. Sprout could now walk a few steps without a walker. As long as he had something to hold onto, he could move around on his own. Watching him grow day by day, Quinn realized how quickly time was flying.


    At first, Sprout could only lie in bed babbling, then he started crawling, and now he could walk and had even grown teeth.


    "Mommy." Sprout wobbled over to Quinn from the other end of the couch, holding onto her leg and looking up at her with big eyes. Quinn smiled, picked him up, and put him on herp. "What''s up? Hungry?"


    "Hungry," Sprout said, patting his belly.


    Quinn''s heart melted, and she put him back on the couch. "I''ll go make you some form."


    Hearing "form," Sprout started shaking his head, babbling words that no one else could understand.


    But Quinn got it. Sprout was saying he didn''t want form.

 Chapter 1555

    Quinn had no choice but to tell Briar to whip up some food for Sprout.


    When it came to extra food, Sprout wasn''t too fussy. He''d gobble up all kinds of veggie purees mixed together, and his favorite was pumpkin porridge.


    Sprout clearly had a thing against eggs. No matter how they were cooked, he wouldn''t touch them. He always knew when there was egg in his food, and the second he tasted it, he''d turn his head away and refuse to eat. Besides eggs, Quinn hadn''t found any other food he really disliked.


    He might not have loved other foods, but he''d at least take a bite or two. Eggs were the only no-go.


    Briar knew Sprout''s tastes well and soon brought over a bowl of mixed veggie and meat puree.


    Quinn held Sprout in her arms and started feeding him.


    Just after a couple of bites, her phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was a video call from Alexander.


    She answered, and their faces popped up on the screen.


    Alexander asked, "What are you up to?"


    Quinn held the phone a bit farther away so he could see everything. "Feeding Sprout."


    With Quinn''s hands full, Sprout grabbed the spoon himself and stirred the bowl. Since he couldn''t scoop yet, he just stirred a bit and then shoved the spoon into his mouth, smearing food all over his face. Alexander couldn''t help butugh when he saw Sprout.


    Quinn said, "What''s up? Missing Sprout? You called just to see him?"


    Alexander replied, "Can''t I be missing you?"


    Quinn pouted, "Who knows if you really mean that." Alexander''s expressed longing was always over the top.


    Alexander joked, "Sprout always pees on me when I take care of him. Why would I miss him?"


    Quinn teased, "That means you two don''t get along."


    Alexander nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he gets along with you. He''s not so well-behaved with me."


    At first, he thought Sprout behaved around Quinn because she would discipline him, so he didn''t dare act out.


    Butter, Alexander realized that wasn''t the case. Sprout only behaved when Alexander was stern or angry, sensing the need to be obedient.


    As soon as Alexander tried to be kind to Sprout, Sprout would immediately revert to his mischievous self, pushing boundaries.


    Quinn couldn''t exin it either.


    Quinn asked, "So when are youing back?"


    Alexander replied, "Soon."


    Quinn said irritably, "You''ve said that a hundred times."


    Alexanderughed, "Not that many. This time it''s really soon, at most a month."


    Quinn shot back, "You call more than a month ''soon''?"


    Alexander chuckled. "What? Missing me already?"


    Quinn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Look at how busy I am. Where would I find the time to miss you? Go on, Mr. Busy."


    Alexander was about to say something when he suddenly nced back and said, "I''ll call youter."


    With that, he quickly hung up the video call.


    Quinn tossed the phone on the couch and picked up the bowl to keep feeding Sprout. The bowl was a mess, and so were her sleeves, clothes, and the couch, all smeared with sticky food. Quinn sighed, "I really shouldn''t have let Sprout feed himself!"


    Meanwhile, Zeke had arrived.novelbin


    He knew Alexander was back, so he came to see him in person.


    As soon as Zeke walked in, he looked around the room with disdain. "You''re back and staying in a ce like this?"


    Alexander found it amusing. "What''s wrong with this ce?"


    Zeke sighed and didn''t continue the topic. He walked over to Alexander, casually pulled out a chair, and sat down. "Why aren''t you going home?"


    Alexander asked, "Home? Which home?"


    Zeke replied, "Which home do you think? How many homes do you have here?"


    Alexander had a smile on his face. "You mean the Lynch mansion?"


    Zeke''s face darkened. It hadn''t been long since theyst met, but Alexander''s attitude towards him had be so indifferent.


    This made Zeke very unhappy, as if something was slipping out of his control.


    Alexander continued, "Dad, you may be generous, but you have to consider others. If I go back, some people might not be happy."


    Zeke said with a stern face, "Who would be unhappy? Who dares to be unhappy? The Lynch family is under my control. Since when does anyone else get to question my decisions?"


    "That''s true," Alexander replied, picking up the mouse on the table and ying with it nonchntly. "Dad, you know you can''t have your cake and eat it too, right? If you try to get everything, you might end up with nothing." Zeke mmed the table. "What do you mean?"


    Facing his anger, Alexander remained calm. "I''m just making a point, Dad. No need to get angry. Power is great, but if you only use it to oppress, you''ll get ves, not loyalty. Push too hard, and people will rebel."


    Zeke waved his hand dismissively. "Don''t give me that. You''re my son. No matter how much you fight it, you can''t change that. Even if you had the power to overthrow the Lynch family, you''d still be a Lynch, carrying on our bloodline!" Alexander shot back, "So what''s the point? By your logic, whether Ie back or not doesn''t affect the Lynch bloodline. Why keep me locked up in the mansion?"


    Zeke replied, "Because I''m still alive! As long as I''m alive, I won''t allow the family to be divided!"


    Alexander said, "Nice words."


    Zeke eximed, "You!"


    Alexander changed his tone, "Alright, don''t get angry. I''ll go back, okay?"


    Zeke was in the middle of his outburst when Alexander''s words froze him. But he seemed even more furious.


    He asked, "Are you doing this on purpose to annoy me?"


    Alexander replied, "If you insist on thinking that way, there''s nothing I can do."


    Zeke took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He didn''te here to argue.


    After a while, he spoke, "Let''s go. Don''t stay here any longer."


    He had calmed down. As long as Alexander came back with him, nothing else mattered.


    Alexander nodded slightly and didn''t refuse.


    They left the neighborhood and got into the car heading back to the Lynch mansion.


    Zeke asked him, "Why did youe alone? Where''s my grandson?"


    Alexander replied, "You''d drag him into this too? What''s he gonna do here, fight other kids for a toy?"


    Zekeughed. "Is that how unreasonable I am in your eyes?"


    Alexander said, "You misunderstood."


    Zeke remarked, "Alexander, I see it now. Last year at the Lynch family, you were just pretending, weren''t you? You really fooled me."


    He had always thought that the information he had on Alexander didn''t match up with someone who was so detached from worldly desires. Alexander neither confirmed nor denied it. "People have many sides. It''s hard to tell what''s real and what''s not."


    Zeke didn''t want to continue the conversation and closed his eyes to rest.


    Forty minutester, the car slowly drove into the Lynch mansion.


    The driver in the front said, "We''ve arrived."


    Zeke opened his eyes and turned to look at Alexander, suddenly asking, "What''s your purpose ining back this time?"


    Alexander replied, "If I don''t state a purpose, does that mean I can''t be here?"


    Zeke suppressed his anger and lowered his voice, "Even if you don''t say it, I''ll find out."


    Alexander smiled slightly. ''Of course, you would,'' he thought to himself.


    Zeke got out of the car and walked away briskly.


    Keeping Alexander under his watch was always safer. All that talk about family and blood ties was just empty words.


    Alexander had been here for so long without showing up, which was unusual.


    No matter what he nned to do, it was better to keep an eye on him than to let him roam freely outside.


    For Alexander, it didn''t matter where he was. Zeke insisting on bringing him back was more dignified than him returning on his own.


    He got out of the car and walked slowly towards the mansion.


    Before he even entered, he heard Calvin''s voice, "Why are you running? It isn''t poisonous. Come touch it. Look at this little head, so cute."


    As soon as he entered, he saw Calvin holding a snake. The snake was coiled around his arm, and he was holding its head, trying to get a maid to touch it.


    The maid was trembling with fear, tears streaming down her face, begging for mercy.


    Calvin said, "It doesn''t bite. You''re such a scaredy-cat." He brought the snake''s head closer to the maid, who screamed and broke free from him, running away. Calvin petted the snake''s head, and the snake hissed menacingly at him.


    Even if it wasn''t poisonous, it was still terrifying to look at.


    Zeke''s face turned pale when he saw what Calvin was holding. He scolded, "What are you doing?"


    Calvin''s eyes lit up when he saw him and immediately walked over.


    Zeke''s face changed dramatically. "Stay where you are!"


    Calvin said, "What are you afraid of? It''s just a snake. Zeke, do you know where I caught it? Right outside your courtyard wall. There''s a snake hole in the corner. I thought you were raising it." Zeke''s face turned even darker, and he hurried towards his courtyard.


    Watching his panicked back, Calvin showed a triumphant smile.


    Calvin asked, "Alexander, why are you back too?"


    Alexander stared at the snake in his hand and asked, "Did you really catch it in his courtyard?"


    Calvin replied, "Of course not."


    The next second, he changed his tone, "I caught it in your courtyard."


    Alexander''s expression stiffened.


    Seeing this, Calvin couldn''t help butugh gleefully. "Are you afraid of it too?"


    "You''re overthinking it," Alexander replied, nced at Calvin, and walked past him towards the inside.


    Calvin caught up. "No, why are you back? Were you brought back?"


    Alexander replied, "No."


    Calvin asked, "Then why did youe back?"


    Alexander said, "Tourism."


    Calvin sighed, "Alexander, you never tell me the truth. Whatever. This snake was really caught in your yard. Here, take it back."


    He flung the snake at Alexander. The cold snakended directly on Alexander''s shoulder.


    Alexander paused.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1556

    The snake slipped off Alexander, and he snagged it mid-air.


    Calvin''s eyes went wide, not ''cause Alexander was fearless, but ''cause of his speed. Calvin couldn''t move that fast. Calvin said, "Man, you''re quick. Didn''t see thating."


    Alexander shot back, "Calvin, if you''re this bored, go find something useful to do. Stop with these childish pranks." Then, he just tossed the snake on the ground. It slithered away into the grass.


    Calvin grumbled, "If I had something to do, I wouldn''t be here messing with snakes."


    Alexander ignored him and walked out of the yard.


    Calvin smirked and headed the other way.


    First thing Zeke did when he got back was order folks to dig around the yard to find the snake hole.


    But after searching high and low, even flipping flower pots, they still couldn''t find the snake hole Calvin mentioned.


    When Calvin walked by, he stopped and peeked inside. Zeke was in the middle of the yard, and others were rummaging around. Calvin couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Zeke suddenly turned to look at him, and he quickly put on a serious face. Zeke demanded, "Perfect timing. Where''d you catch that snake? Show me." Calvin shrugged, "I just picked it up off the road. No clue where the hole is."


    Zeke frowned. He wasn''t scared of snakes, but he sure didn''t want one in the yard. If it crawled into bed at night, it''d freak anyone out.


    Zeke ordered again, "Search carefully. We need to find that snake hole."


    Calvin offered, "Zeke, let me help you out."


    Zeke gave him a look but didn''t say anything, which was as good as a yes.


    Calvin swaggered in and pretended to search the yard. Zeke stood there for half an hour. Seeing they hadn''t found anything, he told them to search more carefully and then left. Calvin followed Zeke for a bit, and after seeing him walk away, he turned back. "You won''t find it like this. Try looking inside the house. The snake hole might be in there." As he spoke, he headed towards the nearest house.


    The servants didn''t dare to go inside and kept searching the yard. Since Calvin wanted to go in, they didn''t stop him, hoping to find the snake hole quickly and finish up. Calvin asked, "What''s this room for? Why''s it locked?"


    A middle-aged man stepped up and said, "This is the storage room. Kieran''s stuff is kept here."


    Calvin raised an eyebrow. "Why keep his stuff here? Isn''t the Lynch mansion big enough for a proper storage area?"


    He continued, "Open the door and let me take a look. Storage rooms are prime spots for snakes to hide."


    The middle-aged man hesitated, looking uneasy.novelbin


    Calvin turned to him and asked, "What''s the problem? Kieran''s gone. What''s there to hide?"


    After Kieran passed away, most of his things were burned, and the useful items were divided among others. What could be left in the storage room? The man replied, "It''s not that we can''t look, but none of us have the key. Zeke has it."


    Calvin asked, "He carries it with him?"


    The man nodded. "Yeah."


    Calvin rubbed his chin and looked around. "Go find a piece of wire."


    The middle-aged man didn''t move.


    Calvin gave him a nudge with his foot. "Go on, man. If Zeke gets mad, I''ll take the heat. I just wanna see if there''s anything I can keep as a memento." Hearing that, the middle-aged man went off to find the wire. In the Lynch family, the only person Calvin really cared about was Kieran.


    Kieran had taken him in and raised him like his own grandson.


    When Kieran passed away, Calvin didn''t even get to say goodbye, and naturally, he didn''t get any of Kieran''s belongings.


    After a bit, the middle-aged man came back with the wire.


    Calvin skillfully worked the wire into the lock and popped it open after a few tries. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.


    Even though it was a storage room, it was super clean, with everything neatly packed in boxes.


    Calvin casually opened a box. Nothing special, just some stuff Kieran used and books he read.


    Calvin flipped through them. A lot of the books were out of print and pretty valuable.


    There were Kieran''s watches, his phone, and pens he used.


    Calvin rummaged through the items. Kieran read a lot, and there were books in all sorts ofnguages.


    As he flipped through, he got impatient and tossed the books back.


    Suddenly, a photo slipped out from between the pages. Calvin paused and bent down to pick it up.


    It was a group photo with four people: three men and one woman.


    He recognized the three men. Despite their youth, he could tell they were Kieran Lynch, Loren Mellon (Calvin''s grandfather), and another guy he didn''t recognize, probably Ulysses Kennedy. He''d seen this photo at Loren''s ce when he was a kid. He also recognized the woman as his grandmother, who had passed away early, around her thirties or forties.


    It was from Loren''s stories that Calvin knew she was his grandmother. Loren had lots of photos with her.


    Calvin suddenly remembered a bunch of childhood memories. Loren always told them stories of the past.


    Calvin snapped back to reality and slipped the photo into his pocket. He then went through all the books in the box.


    He found quite a few things, including a yellowed letter from Ulysses to Kieran.


    The letter read:


    "Kieran,


    I know you''ll get this letter. I don''t expect a reply. Over the past two years, my health has been going downhill. Sitting in the yard every day, I often think of our glory days.


    I want to talk to someone, but I don''t know who. Do you think old people always reminisce and regret the past? Why is old age so miserable?


    I''ve regretted it more than once. I was too ambitious back then, wanting everything, alwayspeting, eager to conquer the world. Now, looking back, how ridiculous I was. Kieran, I don''t have much time left. Do you think Loren will forgive me in hell? Probably not. He''ll likely tear me apart.


    You old fool, why didn''t you stop me back then? You knew what I was going to do. You had your own selfish reasons, didn''t you? You were afraid Loren would drag us down, but you didn''t want to be the bad guy, so you pretended not to know. But cutting ties with me changed nothing.


    You can''t change the fact that you were an aplice. Forget it, there''s no point in saying this. I''ve kept these words to myself all my life. If I don''t say them now, I might die with regrets. Kieran, if I die, you won''t have it easy either. How dare you cut ties with me and ignore me all these years?


    Old friend, see you in hell.


    -Ulysses."

 Chapter 1557

    Calvin stared at the messy handwriting on the letter, his hands shaking.


    The guy he thought was his savior? Turned out to be in on the whole thing that wrecked his family!


    Kieran didn''t lift a finger, but that made it even worse.


    He knew all about Ulysses'' dirty ns but kept his mouth shut. Then he yed the good guy, acting all innocent, and moved his family out of harm''s way. Even on his deathbed, Loren still cared about Kieran and Ulysses, clueless they had stabbed him in the back.


    Years of trust and loyalty shattered in a heartbeat.


    Calvin let out a bitterugh.


    ''How stupid was I? All this time, helping my enemy!'' he thought.


    Zeke''s voice suddenly broke the silence, "What are you doing?"


    Calvin, still facing away, stayed silent.


    He quickly folded the letter and slipped it into his sleeve, then turned to face Zeke with a deep, intense look.


    Zeke caught his resentful gaze and was taken aback, frowning. "What''s up with you?"


    Calvin walked towards him, radiating a menacing vibe.


    Confused, Zeke asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Before Zeke could react, Calvin threw a punch.


    Zeke, caught off guard, stumbled and hit the ground.


    Stunned, Zeke sat there, touching his cheek, and looked at Calvin in disbelief. "Did you just hit me?"


    Calvin was fuming. His temper was through the roof, and right now, he wanted to take down Zeke and the whole Lynch family.


    As soon as Zeke spoke, Calvin grabbed a wooden nk nearby and smashed it over Zeke''s head.


    With a loud crack, the nk broke in half, and Zeke''s eyes rolled back as he passed out, blood trickling from his forehead.


    Everyone in the yard froze. They thought it was just a fight, but Calvin was out for blood.


    Once they realized what was happening, some screamed and ran, while others tried to hold Calvin back.


    Calvin swung the nk, shoving anyone who got close. "Stay back!"


    He raised the nk to hit Zeke again, but someone tackled him from behind.


    Calvin''s eyes were bloodshot. As he got up, bodyguards rushed in.


    They aimed their guns and shouted, "Stop!"


    Calvin nced at the guns and smirked. He dropped the nk and raised his hands.


    He wasn''t about to get himself killed. If he died, who''d avenge his family?


    The bodyguards closed in, quickly restraining him and dragging him away.


    The chaos erupted so fast, and word spread quickly through the Lynch family.


    When Walter heard the news, he raised an eyebrow and looked at Colin. "Are you serious?" Colin nodded. "Yeah, the Lynch family is in total chaos. Zeke''s in the emergency room."


    Zeke probably never thought that after being so careful all his life, he''d get blindsided by someone close. No one saw iting when Calvin snapped. One minute he was all smiles, the next he was trying to kill Zeke. Walter chuckled. "This is getting interesting. Let''s go back and watch the drama unfold."


    Alexander wasn''t as amused. When he heard the news, he frowned. He couldn''t wrap his head around how Calvin, who was just messing around with snakes, ended up putting Zeke in the hospital.


    He headed to the room where Calvin was being held but couldn''t get in. Armed bodyguards were stationed outside, blocking his way.


    Walter''s mocking voice came from behind, "Mr. Kennedy, fancy seeing you here."novelbin


    Alexander turned to face him. "You got here quick."


    Walter smirked. "Not as quick as you, Mr. Kennedy. So, you can''t get in either?"


    The bodyguard at the door said, "You both need to leave. Hugo''s orders-no one goes near this room until Zeke wakes up." With Zeke in the hospital and Aron in a mental institution, Hugo was calling the shots, and everyone was following his lead. Alexander didn''t push it and left the yard.


    Walter trailed behind him, asking, "You don''t know what happened either?"


    Alexander paused and nced at him. "Looks like you don''t know either."


    No one had a clue what went down. The only ones who knew the truth were probably Zeke and Calvin.


    Alexander found a servant who had been looking for snake holes in the yard at the time and asked. They were clueless too.


    The servant exined, "All we know is that Calvin pried open the storage room and stayed there for over an hour. When Zeke came back, Calvin attacked him out of nowhere, knocking him to the ground."


    Alexander''s eyes narrowed. "Storage room? What kind of storage room?"


    The servant replied, "It''s the storage room where Kieran kept his stuff."


    Alexander thought for a moment, then waved the servant away.


    Walter said casually, "Seems like Calvin found some secret in there. Could it be evidence of the Mellon family''s massacre?"


    Walter was sharp. To Calvin, Kieran was a savior and family. The only thing that could make him that mad would be something rted to the Mellon family.


    Nothing else could set him off like that. Even when he was called back to Arcturus, he wasn''t this impulsive.


    Given Calvin''s hatred for the Lynch family, their partnership was probably toast.


    Walter''s glee was obvious. "Well, Mr. Kennedy, you''re in a tough spot now. What are you gonna do? Should we call Quinn and get her take on this?" Alexander sneered, "You''re celebrating too soon."


    Walter replied, "Really? Then let''s wait and see."


    He smiled and walked past Alexander.


    Alexander frowned, pulled out his phone, and called Kyle. "How''s it going on your end?"


    Kyle replied, "Almost done, maybe another month."


    Alexander said, "That''s toote."


    Kyle was surprised. "What should we do? There''s no way to speed it up."


    Alexander insisted, "Figure it out, you''ve got a week."


    Kyle sighed, sensing the urgency. He gritted his teeth and said, "I''ll do my best."

 Chapter 1558

    Calvin was locked up, and no one could get to him. Hugo had nned to grill him about what went down. But the second he stepped into the room, Calvin''s creepy stare stopped him in his tracks. Hugo took a moment, making sure Calvin was tied up good and tight before stepping closer.


    "Why''d you hit Zeke?" Hugo asked.


    Calvin just stared, not saying a word.


    Hugo pressed on, "Still mad we didn''t save youst time? Or pissed ''cause we didn''t let you go back to Municity?"


    Calvin suddenlyughed. "You wanna know?"


    Hugo eyed him suspiciously. "Spit it out."novelbin


    Calvin nodded towards the folks behind Hugo, signaling for them to leave.


    After what happened with Zeke, Hugo wasn''t about to be alone with Calvin.


    Calvin smirked, "What, scared of me? You think I can bust out of these chains?"


    Hugo was scared, but no way he was admitting that. He put on a tough face, "Scared of you? Not a chance. Everyone, out." The bodyguards left, shutting the door behind them.


    Hugo crossed his arms and red down at Calvin. "Alright, talk. Why''d you go after Zeke?"


    Calvin said, "For you."


    Hugo blinked, thinking he misheard. "What?"


    Calvin repeated, "I did it for you, Hugo. Think about it. If Zeke''s out of the picture, wouldn''t the Lynch family be yours?" Hugo felt like he''d been hit by a truck. He just wanted the truth, but now Calvin was throwing a whole new angle at him.


    Trying to keep his cool, Hugo scoffed. "Don''t mess with me! Just tell me why you did it."


    Calvin leaned back against the wall, looking bored. "I told you, but you don''t believe me. Just tell me what you wanna hear, and I''ll say it."


    Hugo''s temper red, and he shouted, "Calvin, if anything happens to Zeke, you''ll pay big time!"


    Calvin sneered. "Yell louder; the guys outside can''t hear you."


    Fuming, Hugo stormed out, telling the guards, "Keep a close eye on him!"


    "Yes, sir," they replied.


    Hugo left, but his mind was racing.


    He thought it over. If Zeke died, Calvin would take the fall. The Lynch family would be his.


    It seemed like a win-win. But Zeke was his brother, and he couldn''t just let that happen.


    Hugo''s head was spinning, torn between logic and desire.


    He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.


    Meanwhile, over in Amber Bay, Quinn had been on edge for days.


    Lying in bed, she grabbed her phone and called Alexander.


    Hearing his voice calmed her down a bit.


    "Why are you calling sote? Everything okay?" Alexander asked.


    "I''m fine. Just worried about you. How''s it going? When are youing back?" Quinn replied.


    "Soon," he said softly. "Don''t worry, everything''s good here."


    "Really?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, really," Alexander assured her.


    His confidence made Quinn feel better.


    But right after they hung up, Alexander got another message.


    Zeke''s rescue had gone south. Well, not totally; he was technically alive but pretty much brain-dead. Brain death isn''t like aa; it means the brain''s done for, and the body only works with machines. No machines, no chance of waking up. Alexander stared at the message on his phone, his eyes flickering with a mix of emotions.


    He wasn''t sure how hard Calvin had hit Zeke. Whether Zeke''s failed rescue was due to bad luck or something more sinister, only the doctors knew.


    The next day, Hugo called a family meeting, including Walter.


    Thest time they all got together was Christmas and Kieran''s funeral. Almost everyone from the Lynch family showed up.


    The room was heavy with tension.


    First, Kieran died, then Luke was brutally killed, Aron went nuts, and now Zeke was in the hospital, practically dead.


    Since Kieran Lynch passed away, the Lynch family seemed to be spiraling down fast. Zeke''s condition was a wake-up call for everyone.


    It felt like a bad omen, making everyone anxious.


    To keep things from getting out of hand, Zeke''s condition was kept under wraps. Calvin would be dealt with internally.


    Suddenly, someone asked, "Why was Zeke so badly hurt? Wasn''t it just a wooden nk? Did the hospital check everything?"


    Hugo replied, "Of course they checked. If anyone tampered with it, the most suspicious person here would be me. Is that what you all think? Bute on, could I have convinced Calvin to risk his life for this? If I really wanted to do it, why would I need Calvin? Anyone around Zeke would be easier to bribe than him, right?"


    No one disagreed. Calvin''s personality made it impossible for him to be a pawn, and there were no conditions that could bribe him. After all, hitting Zeke was a dead end.


    A hesitant voice said, "So, it really was Calvin acting impulsively? Did he hit too hard?"


    Someone suggested, "I think we should bring Calvin up and ask him. Anyway, it was Calvin who did it, and he must give us an exnation!"


    Hugo thought of what Calvin had said and felt uneasy. But with so many eyes on him, he had no choice.


    He nodded and signaled the bodyguards to bring Calvin up.


    A few minutester, several bodyguards rushed back, saying, "Bad news, Calvin''s escaped!"


    "What?" Hugo shot up. "Escaped? Weren''t there people watching him?"


    The bodyguards replied, "Yes, but the guards in the courtyard are all knocked out, and Calvin''s gone."


    Everyone stood up, looking at each other in disbelief.


    "Let''s go check!" Hugo eximed.


    He rushed out first, with everyone else following. Alexander and Walter were at the back, exchanging nces.


    Walter asked, "Was it you?"


    Alexander gave him a sidelong nce. "Wasn''t it you?"


    Walter smirked. "You know I have no reason to do this. Are you still pretending now?"


    "You sometimes overestimate your cleverness," Alexander said with a slight smile. "Arrogant people will pay the price someday."


    With that, he left Walter behind and walked out.


    Walter watched Alexander''s retreating figure, the smile fading from his face, reced by a growing sense of dread.

 Chapter 1559

    The crew rolled up to the courtyard where Calvin was being held. The gate was wide open, and all the guards were sprawled out on the ground, out cold. One of the guards checked them over and reported back, "They''re just knocked out, not dead."


    Hugo barked, "Pull up the surveince footage."


    He then had the unconscious guards woken up. When they came to and saw the crowd and the open gate, they freaked out and dropped to their knees. Hugo demanded, "What happened? Who busted Calvin out?"


    The guards exchanged nervous nces, and one of them stammered, "It was one of Calvin''s guys. We wouldn''t let him see Calvin, so he started arguing with us. We didn''t see iting and got knocked out."


    The surveince footage confirmed it was indeed one of Calvin''s men.


    The guy first tried to talk his way in, but when that didn''t work, he forced his way through. When the guards tried to stop him, he whipped something out of his coat and took down two guards in a sh. The other three were too slow and got knocked out too.


    After watching the footage, the guards were embarrassed.


    There were five of them, and they couldn''t handle one guy.


    While they were out cold, Calvin had changed into one of their uniforms and slipped away unnoticed.


    It had already been an hour since Calvin escaped. By now, he could be anywhere.


    Hugo, looking pissed, ordered, "Find him immediately. Use any means necessary, just find him!"


    The group scattered to search.


    The Lynch mansion was in a remote area, and there were no surveince cameras for a long stretch of road outside, making the search tough.


    They could only see which direction Calvin drove off in, but had no clue where he went after that.


    Hugo sighed in relief after confirming Calvin''s escape, worried he might talk and implicate him. Walter noticed Hugo''s subtle actions.


    He squinted, realizing that it might not have been Alexander who let Calvin go.


    Walter thought to himself, ''When we got here yesterday, there were guards outside the courtyard, but today there were none. Alexander probably couldn''tmand these people. Things are getting more interesting.'' Although Hugo had let Calvin go, he wouldn''t let Calvin leave Arcturus alive. He would definitely send people to find and kill Calvin.


    The best way was to issue a bounty on Calvin. His other enemies would certainlye after him, making it unsafe for him even if he left Arcturus.


    Hugo acted quickly. By the afternoon, he had issued a bounty through various channels.


    Although Calvin had escaped, he was now in more danger than when he was with the Lynch family. With the bounty out, more people than just Hugo would be after him.


    Alexander returned to the slum where Sean was waiting.


    Sean hurriedly asked, "Mr. Kennedy, Calvin..."


    Sean clearly already knew.


    Alexander plopped down on the couch and casually unbuttoned his cor. "Find him first."


    Sean replied, "We have limited manpower. It might be difficult to find him."


    Moreover, Alexander''s influence wasn''t strong here, and his connections were limited. They could find Calvin, but it would be hard to do so before Hugo''s people. Alexander frowned, reached into his pocket, and then remembered he had quit smoking. He extended his hand to Sean.


    Sean stared at him nkly. "What?"


    Alexander''s eyelid twitched. "Cigarette."


    Sean quickly fished out a cigarette and handed it over, silently grumbling about how Alexander never just said what he wanted. But then he added, "Mr. Kennedy, you should cut back on smoking. You''re not fully recovered yet."


    Alexander had already lit the cigarette. Leaning back on the couch, he asked thoughtfully, "Where do you think he''d go?"


    Sean pondered for a moment. "Probably Municity?"


    Calvin had some pull there, and even if people knew he was there, they''d think twice before making a move.novelbin


    Alexander shot him a look. "If you can figure that out, then there are already people lying in wait on the way to Municity."


    Sean quickly asked, "What should we do? Should we head there to find him?"


    Alexander seemed to have an idea. He suddenly stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. "Pack up. We''re heading back to Amber Bay." Sean was taken aback, "Back to Amber Bay? Now?"


    Alexander ignored him and left the room.


    He bought a ticket back that afternoon. When he arrived, it was still early, and Quinn hadn''t even had dinner yet.


    She was in the living room, watching Sprout in his walker, holding a spoon, trying to feed himself.


    It was still a struggle for him. Most of the food ended up back in the bowl or on him.


    Quinn tried to take the spoon, but he screamed and insisted on doing it himself.


    Quinn rubbed her forehead in frustration. She had been watching him eat for half an hour, and he was still only halfway done.


    Next to them, Brandy was also holding a bowl, lying on the coffee table, watching Sprout eat and grinning foolishly.


    "Mr. Kennedy is back!" Briar eximed.


    Quinn looked up to see Alexander standing at the door in a sharp ck suit, one hand holding a suitcase and the other in his pocket, his eyes fixed on Sprout. Quinn''s face lit up. "You''re back so soon?"


    Alexander shifted his gaze and walked over. "Sprout can feed himself now?"


    Quinn replied, "He can, but he can''t get the food into his mouth, and he won''t let me help."


    Alexander smiled and walked over to Sprout, looking down at him.


    Sprout didn''t seem to notice Alexander was back and kept trying to feed himself. But Brandy noticed. She dropped her spoon, hugged Alexander''s leg, and called out sweetly, "Daddy." Alexander looked down at her, then bent down to pick her up. "Has Sprout been good at home?"


    Brandy tilted her head, thought for a moment, and nodded.


    "And you?" Alexander asked.


    Brandy nodded again and then leaned on his shoulder.


    Alexander said with a gentle smile, "Good."


    Quinn stood by, watching their interaction, and smiled. She then sat down and wiped Sprout''s mouth with a tissue.


    Sprout had food all over his face, and if she didn''t pay attention, it would get everywhere.


    Alexander sat down next to her and asked, "He should be able to walk on his own now, right?"


    Quinn nced at him.


    Alexander said, "What''s wrong? You don''t seem too happy to see me back."


    Quinn replied, "Why should I be happy? Your daughter and son are the happiest."


    Alexander''s eyes filled with amusement. "So you''re upset because I didn''t ask you beforeing back?"


    Quinn awkwardly looked away. "I''m not a child. I don''t need you to ask."


    Alexander teased, "Really? Then why aren''t you smiling?"


    Quinn said, "I just don''t like to smile."

 Chapter 1560

    Alexander set Brandy down and pulled Quinn into a hug. "Hey, don''t be mad. Have you eaten yet?" he asked.


    Quinn shook her head. "Not yet. I was with Sprout."


    Alexander nced at Sprout, who was still trying to feed himself but not having much luck. "You go eat. I''ll watch him," he offered. "Have you eaten?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander nodded. "Yeah, I ate on the ne. Go ahead," he reassured her.


    Feeling relieved, Quinn headed to the dining room. Good thing Alexander had eaten; Briar had only prepared one serving, which wouldn''t have been enough for both of them. After eating, Quinn came back to the sofa and saw that Sprout had almost finished his meal, with Alexander wiping his mouth.


    Sprout didn''t seem to miss Alexander much after the long separation, unlike Brandy who clung to him. He squirmed in Alexander''s arms, clearly not wanting to be held. Seeing Sprout struggle, Alexander put him down.


    Sprout stood up, wobbling as he walked towards Quinn.


    Alexander watched him, a bit dazed, feeling like he''d been away forever.


    Quinn sat down beside him and sighed, "When you left, Sprout couldn''t walk. It''s only been two months, and now he''s walking on his own."


    "Yeah, time flies," Alexander replied.


    Quinn felt it too-days seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Before she knew it, Sprout was already over a year old.


    They sat on the sofa, staring at each other in silence.


    Quinn suddenly asked, "Why''d youe back so suddenly? No heads-up?"


    Alexander smiled. "Wanted to surprise you."


    Quinn looked at him skeptically. "Did you bring a gift?"


    Alexander was caught off guard, then smiled. "I''ll make it up to you tomorrow."


    Quinn rolled her eyes.


    Alexander had left in such a hurry that he didn''t have time to get a gift, nor did he think about it.


    "So, what''s the real reason?" Quinn pressed.


    "Nothing, I just missed you and wanted toe back and see you," Alexander insisted.


    Quinn didn''t want to argue. He never seemed to tell the truth. It was obvious he came back on a whim, yet he insisted it was because he missed her. "Forget it. You must be tired. Go wash up and get some rest," Quinn said.


    Alexander nodded and went upstairs.


    Quinn watched him go, sighed, and then noticed Sprout heading towards the stairs.


    Sprout couldn''t climb stairs yet, but he was trying. Quinn quickly ran over to pick him up.


    If she didn''t keep an eye on him, he''d get into everything.


    Sprout babbled in her arms, and Quinn said, "Alright, let''s go find Daddy. Didn''t you just not want him to hold you? Now you want to find him." Sprout seemed to understand a bit and grinned.


    Quinn called Brandy upstairs.


    Alexander was in the shower. Quinn took off Sprout''s outer clothes and wiped his face with a wet wipe.


    Then she found a new set of clothes and helped him change.


    By the time she was done, Alexander hade out of the bathroom in a champagne-colored robe. He nced at Sprout. "Does he need a bath?" "No, he had one yesterday. Go help Brandy wash up," Quinn replied.


    Alexander nodded, called Brandy over, and took her to the bathroom to help her wash up.


    Quinn watched Alexander gently help Brandy in the bathroom. It felt surreal; his return was so sudden.


    She held Sprout and took out her phone to call Calvin.


    She knew Alexander had gone to see Calvin. Now that he was back, did it mean things were resolved?novelbin


    But after waiting for a while, the call didn''t go through. Quinn frowned and dialed again.


    The phone was still off.


    She put down Sprout and went to the bathroom door. "How''s Calvin?"


    Alexander was wiping Brandy''s hands. He paused for a moment, then said casually, "Don''t worry, he''s fine."


    "I just called him, but his phone is off," Quinn said.


    "Maybe his phone died. Don''t worry," Alexander reassured her.


    Quinn studied his face but didn''t see anything suspicious. She pondered for a moment and didn''t ask further.


    After a while, she tried calling Calvin again, but still no luck.


    She gave up and decided to try again tomorrow.


    Alexander came back to the bed with Brandy and sat next to her. Looking at the two kids, he asked, "They''re getting big. Shouldn''t they sleep in the next room?" Quinn was taken aback and turned to look at him.


    Alexander''s eyes were sincere, as if he genuinely thought the kids were old enough to sleep separately.


    However, Quinn wasn''t fooled and suspiciously asked, "How are they big enough?"


    "Aren''t they?" Alexander replied.


    "Then ask them if they want to. I have no objections," Quinn said.


    So, Alexander turned to the kids. Brandy could understand. She knelt beside Alexander, hugging his arm, looking very reluctant.


    Sprout didn''t understand and was ying with his feet on the bed.


    Alexander said to Brandy, "Brandy, go sleep in the next room with Sprout, okay?"


    Although Brandy was reluctant, she nodded sensibly.


    Alexander patted her head and smiled. "Good girl."


    Hearing Alexander''s praise, Brandy smiled.


    After a while, Alexander called Briar in and asked her to take the two kids to the next room to sleep.


    Sprout was unhappy and struggled in Briar''s arms, making protesting sounds.


    Alexander frowned. "Sprout has quite a temper."


    Quinn couldn''t help butugh. "Yeah, he changes every month. He''s quite something now."


    Alexander said, "Take him out."


    Briar hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and took Sprout out. As soon as they were outside, he started wailing.


    Quinn felt uneasy and was about to say something when Alexander, as if reading her mind, said, "Don''t spoil him." Quinn had to give up.


    Brandy also went out, and once the door was closed, the crying became much quieter, though still faintly audible.


    Quinn nced at Alexander and worriedly said, "Will Sprout be okay?"


    "What could happen? He''ll stop crying on his own. The more you indulge him, the more he''ll push his limits," Alexander exined. Quinn pursed her lips, wanting to argue but not knowing how.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1561

    Quinn usually came off as tough when she was with Sprout, but the second he started crying, her heart melted.


    "Let''s just go to bed," Alexander sighed, his brows furrowed, clearly lost in thought.


    Quinn turned off the light andy down next to him, but sleep wouldn''te. With Calvin''s phone off, she tried to convince herself he was just out of signal range or on a ne. She tossed and turned until the middle of the night before finally dozing off.


    First thing in the morning, Quinn called Calvin, but his phone was still off. Panic started to set in. She quickly thought of Sprout and rushed to check the next room. The kids were sleeping soundly, and she let out a sigh of relief.


    Downstairs, Briar had breakfast ready. Quinn stopped her and asked, "How long did Sprout cryst night?"


    "About half an hour before he fell asleep. Don''t worry, Sprout''s tougher than he looks. He''ll get used to sleeping alone in a few days," Briar reassured her.


    Quinn nodded. Honestly, a kid that young didn''t need to sleep alone, but Alexander insisted, so they went along with it for now.


    "Where''s Alexander?" Quinn asked.


    "He left early this morning," Briar replied.


    "Out again?" Quinn was surprised.


    "Yeah, he didn''t say where he was going," Briar added.


    "Got it," Quinn said, sitting down at the dining table. Last night, Alexander came back out of the blue, and now he was gone again. What was he up to?


    Could it be that Calvin''s issue wasn''t sorted out? She tried calling Calvin again, but his phone was still off.


    Meanwhile, Calvin was on a boat, not in a cabin but in the luggage storagepartment.


    There was another guy with him. Both were squatting in the dark.


    Calvin whispered, "Is the guy you found reliable?"


    "Boss, we made it on board, so they must be. Just hang tight; we''ll be there soon," Cruz reassured him.


    Calvin shifted and snorted, "Never thought I''d end up like this."novelbin


    From a glorious past to hiding in a dump like this.


    "Don''t worry, boss. Once we get back to Municity, we''ll rise again and take down Hugo and his crew!" Cruz said with determination.


    "That old bastard, there''s not a single decent person in the Lynch family," Calvin muttered.


    "Just hold on a bit longer, and we''ll get him," Cruz said, making a gesture Calvin couldn''t see in the dark.


    Cruz praised Calvin, "But boss, you''re really something. Just a few words and Hugo was thrown off bnce. He even let you go. We''ll show him what it means to unleash the beast." Calvin didn''t respond, lost in thought.


    Hugo let him go, fearing he might spill something. Hugo nned to kill him secretly outside, but he escaped. Now, Hugo was scouring the world for him, dreading both nder and revenge. So it was clear how determined Hugo was to kill Calvin.


    Calvin said, "We can''t go back to Municity for now."


    "Why not?" Cruz asked, confused.


    "There are probably countless ambushes along the way. We might get shot before we even set foot in Municity," Calvin exined.


    He felt a bit agitated. Although he had escaped, he couldn''t return to his territory, and he didn''t know how many of his men were still loyal to him. Maybe half of them had already betrayed him. So going back might not be safe; it could be even more dangerous.


    The boat drifted on the sea for two days before finally docking. Someone knocked on the door and came in.


    As the door creaked open, light spilled in, and Calvin and Cruz jumped to their feet.


    The guy whispered, "Quick, follow me. This is as far as I can take you; you''ll have to handle customs on your own."


    They trailed him out of the storage room, zigzagging through the ship until they reached the rear deck, where it was pretty empty.


    The guy looked around, saw no one, and released a lifeboat. "Take this and head west. You''ll hit the shore in about half an hour."


    "Thanks, man," Cruz said, giving him a pat on the shoulder before he and Calvin jumped off the ship.


    They didn''t need apass; the faint city lights in the distance were enough.


    Cruz rowed towards the city while Calvin squatted in the lifeboat, staring at his phone, which had been off for ages.


    He didn''t dare turn it on, worried it might get tracked.


    Once they hit the shore, they needed to figure out how to get a new SIM card.


    They''d escaped in such a rush, they had no time to prepare. Calvin had no cash, but luckily, Cruz had a few thousand dors.


    They finally reached the shore, climbing over tall rocks, scaling a wall to get into a yard, and then climbing over a rusty iron gate to reach their destination.


    This hidden route was known only to those in the know and had to be pre-arranged. Otherwise, they''d be lost at sea, unable to get in or out.


    The ce seemed deserted, with hardly anyone on the streets.


    "Boss, where do we go now?" Cruz asked.


    The ind''s wind was chilly. Calvin pulled his clothes tighter and walked down the street with his neck hunched. "How should I know? Do you know anyone here?" "No." Cruz looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings and said awkwardly, "I don''t even know where we are."


    "Great, looks like we''re going to be wandering around." Calvin smirked, ncing at Cruz. "Are you sure you still want to stick with me?"


    Cruz''s eyes were firm, and he nodded vigorously. "Of course, I believe your downfall is only temporary. One day, you''ll make aeback."


    Seeing his determined eyes, Calvin chuckled.


    He himself didn''t know if he could make aeback, but Cruz''s confidence was unwavering.


    Though Cruz hoped to be rewarded when Calvin rose again, his loyalty was genuine.


    Calvin said no more, and they walked silently down the street. This coastal city had the scent of seawater in the air.


    The streets were lined with coconut trees, lush and green, making it a nice ce to retire.


    Cruz was also wanted, so they couldn''t use their phones or IDs and had to find a hotel that didn''t require identification.


    But after two hours of searching, they couldn''t find such a hotel. It looked like they would have to sleep on the streets tonight. "Boss, how about that bridge over there?" Cruz suggested.


    Calvin followed his direction and saw several homeless people under the bridge.


    With nowhere else to go, they decided the bridge would do.


    Just as they were about to head over, a loud noise, like a bottle breaking, echoed in their ears.


    Calvin paused and stepped back, peering into the alley.


    Was there a fight?


    Could they take advantage of the chaos?


    He gave Cruz a look, and Cruz understood immediately. They slowly approached the alley.


    "Bitch, I''ll kill you!" A bald man clutched his head, blood seeping through his fingers.


    In front of him was a woman holding a broken ss bottle. Seeing the man staggering, she turned to run.


    But as she turned, she saw two more people blocking her way, and her heart sank.

 Chapter 1562

    The bald guy behind her caught up, yanked her hair, and kicked her in the waist.


    Abigail, totally caught off guard, stumbled forward towards the two people in front of her. Normally, she would''ve fallen into the guy''s arms, and he would''ve caught her.


    But just as she was about to touch him, he sidestepped, letting her fall to the ground. "Get him, Cruz!" Calvin shouted.


    Cruz rushed over and kicked the bald guy away.


    The guy hit the ground, clutching his bleeding forehead and howling.


    Cruz effortlessly picked him up and dragged him over to Calvin.


    Calvin bent down, staring at the guy. "Do you know who I am?"


    The guy looked up, trying figure out who Calvin was. But after a long look, he had no clue.


    He shook his head nkly. "No, I don''t."


    "Good," Calvin replied, punching the guy in the nose. The guy''s eyes rolled back, and he passed out cold.


    Calvin searched him for a bit but found nothing. He took the guy''s phone and ID, then turned and walked out with Cruz.


    Abigail got up from the ground and quickly caught up. "Hey!"


    Calvin paused and looked back at her. "What?"


    Abigail looked at him with delight. "Do we know each other?"


    Calvin sized up Abigail, who did the same to him.


    The streetlight lit up their faces, and both felt the other looked familiar but couldn''t ce it.


    Calvin seemed to remember something and walked over to Abigail. "Are you Quinn''s friend?"


    Abigail nodded quickly. "Yes, you do know me."


    She had never seen what Calvin looked like; the only time she saw him, he was wearing a mask. But he looked familiar, so she asked tentatively.


    To her surprise, they really knew each other. She asked again, "So, what''s your rtionship with Quinn?"


    "I''m her brother," Calvin replied.


    Abigail pped her forehead. "I knew it! You look so much like Quinn!"


    Calvin frowned. The only resemnce he had to Quinn was their eyes, and he didn''t like hearing that. "What are you doing here?" Calvin asked.


    Abigail smiled. "I''m here on business. Are you here for business too?"


    Calvin responded indifferently. He was actually just wandering around, but saying that felt embarrassing.


    "That''s great. I didn''t expect to run into someone I know here," Abigail said with a smile.


    "So, what happened just now?" Calvin asked.


    Abigail nced back at the guy in the alley and said irritably, "Bad luck, ran into a drunk."


    She had been following Landon, but after arriving herest month, Landon and his team disappeared afterpleting their mission. She wasn''t sure if they had left or gone to a nearby town, so she waited here. She knew Landon might not return, but she had no idea where to search for him, so she stayed, hoping he woulde back. If he didn''t return in two weeks, she nned to leave.novelbin


    Earlier, Abigail was heading back to her ce when a drunk suddenly appeared. They had a brief scuffle, and then she ran into Calvin.


    She didn''t exin much, and Calvin didn''t ask further. He changed the topic, "Do you live here?"


    "Yeah, I live upstairs. What about you guys?" Abigail asked.


    Calvin looked a bit awkward. "We just got here and are looking for a ce to crash."


    "Well,e stay at my ce. I''ve got extra rooms," Abigail offered.


    Calvin''s eyes lit up. Even though he was already sold on the idea, he pretended to hesitate. "Are you sure that''s okay?"


    "What''s not okay? You''re Quinn''s brother, so you''re basically my friend too. But if you''re ufortable, that''s cool," Abigail said.


    Cruz jumped in quickly, "It''s fine, boss. Since Abigail''s inviting us, let''s go to her ce."


    Calvin nodded. "Alright then."


    Abigail beamed. "Great, let''s go."


    She turned and led the way back into the alley. The guy on the ground was still out cold. Abigail stepped over him and walked deeper into the alley.


    She lived on the third floor, and there was no elevator, so they had to take the stairs.


    It wasn''t a hotel or a motel, just a regr apartment with three bedrooms.


    Abigail exined, "I didn''t know how long I''d be here, so when I saw a ce for rent, I took it. It''s more convenient than a hotel."


    Calvin didn''t react much. He looked around the apartment and then asked, "Where will we stay?"


    "These two rooms, take your pick," Abigail replied.


    "Miss, do you have any food here? We haven''t eaten all day," Cruz asked before Calvin could stop him.


    Calvin shot him a re, and Cruz awkwardly rubbed his nose.


    Abigail was taken aback for a moment, then quickly nodded and ran to a box, pulling out a bunch of food.


    There were instant noodles and snacks.


    Cruz looked at the food, swallowed hard, and handed it to Calvin with a grin.


    Calvin was also starving. He took the bag, looked through it, and chose a cup of instant noodles. Abigail went to boil water for them.


    Cruz whispered, "Boss, I told you, you''re lucky. You even ran into someone you know in a ce like this." Calvin ignored him and kept picking through the snack bag, taking out a piece of bread to eat.


    Abigail watched them from the kitchen, feeling a bit suspicious.


    Did theye to do business with just the two of them?


    The way they were devouring the food made it seem like they hadn''t eaten all day, more like two fugitives.


    Although she didn''t know Calvin well, she remembered that he had an intimidating presence thest time she saw him.


    Given Calvin''s status, she thought he would refuse when she invited them upstairs. She didn''t expect him to agree.


    Something was off.


    Abigail thought about calling Quinn but decided against it. She didn''t want to reveal her location and risk being caught by Oliver again.


    She had changed her phone and SIM card when she left, so no one could contact her, not even Landon.


    It was because Landon didn''t know she was following him that she lost track of him.


    Abigail finished boiling the water and brought it out, sitting down nearby. "The water''s ready. You can make your noodles. I''m not much of a cook, so you''ll have to make do." "No problem. We just need something to fill our stomachs," Cruz said with his mouth full.

 Chapter 1563

    Abigail sat across from them, watching them scarf down their food. She couldn''t help but ask, "You guys haven''t eaten in forever or what?" Calvin choked a bit, then calmly slurped his noodles and wiped his mouth. "Just two days."


    Abigail''s eyebrow twitched.


    She thought, ''Does he think a long time is a few months? Who can go that long without food?''


    She decided not to press him further. After a moment, she stood up and said, "I''m heading to bed. Make yourselves at home."


    Calvin waved her off and took another sip of his instant noodle soup.


    Once Abigail was in her room, Calvin looked around. "Got any more? I need another cup."


    "Yeah," Cruz replied, grabbing a new cup of instant noodles from under his feet and prepping it.


    Abigail peeked from her bedroom door, watching them for a while. Seeing them eat so much made her grimace. ''Aren''t they worried about bursting?'' she thought.


    She had no idea what had happened to them. When she first met Calvin, he was so put-together.


    They ended up eating six cups of instant noodles, four bags of chips, and downing four bottles of drinks, almost wiping out Abigail''s stash.


    After stuffing himself, Calvin sprawled on the sofa and pulled out the phone and wallet he had just swiped from some guy.


    Before the guy could report it, Calvin dialed Quinn''s number.


    Quinn had just fallen asleep when her phone rang. Startled, she sat up and fumbled for it.


    Alexander woke up too. He opened his eyes, saw her fumbling around, sighed, and reached under the pillow to find her phone. Quinn was momentarily stunned, then quickly grabbed the phone. It was an unknown number.


    ''Who''d call me thiste?'' she wondered.


    Curious, she answered. "Hello, who is this?"


    "Quinn, it''s me," Calvin''s voice came through.


    Quinn paused, then grinned. "Calvin! Where are you? Why couldn''t I reach you?"


    "It''s a long story. I''m fine, just wanted to let you know," Calvin replied.


    "As long as you''re okay. If anything happens, you have to tell me," Quinn said, concerned.


    Calvin snorted. "What''s the point? You gonna ask Alexander for help?"


    Quinn sensed something was off and asked hesitantly, "What''s wrong with you?"


    "Nothing, forget it. I''m hanging up. This phone''s stolen. Don''t call back," Calvin said and hung up before Quinn could respond.


    Quinn stared at the phone, lost in thought.


    Alexander sat up and turned on the bedsidemp. "Was that Calvin?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah. Did something happen between you two?"


    Alexander leaned against the headboard, staring at her. After a moment of silence, he said, "Didn''t he tell you?"


    "No, so what happened between you two? Just tell me!" Quinn pressed, anxious. Alexander''s slow pace was driving her nuts. She feared a conflict between the two, which would put her in a tough spot. "I don''t know," Alexander said.


    Quinn was taken aback, looking at him in confusion. "What?"


    Alexander said, "I don''t know. I thought he would tell you."


    Quinn wanted to say something, but her phone beeped. It was a text from the same number.


    There was no extra message, just a photo.


    The photo was crammed with dense writing, so she had to zoom in to read it clearly.


    As she read through it, her expression shifted gradually.


    It took her a few minutes to finish the letter and another ten to process what it said. Alexander took the phone and read the letter too.


    He was a bit surprised, but not much. It was pretty much what he had guessed.


    Quinn turned to him. "This letter."


    "Looks like it''s because of this letter," Alexander said.


    "What do you mean? How many things are you hiding from me?" Quinn asked, utterly confused. Alexander hadn''t told her what happened when he went to Arcturus.


    Alexander handed the phone back to her and exined the whole story. Since Calvin had already sent the letter to Quinn, there was no need to hide it anymore.


    After hearing it, Quinn was shocked. "You mean, Zeke was killed by Calvin."


    Her mind was spinning. Zeke was Alexander''s biological father, and Calvin was Quinn''s brother. Calvin had killed Alexander''s father.


    The Mellon family''s downfall was aided by the Lynch family, who then adopted Calvin.


    Theseplicated rtionships and entanglements were so confusing that Quinn didn''t know where to start.


    Alexander pondered. "Apart from the blood rtionship, Zeke and I were not really father and son. As for Wayne, we don''t even have a blood rtionship. So, I have nothing to do with them. You won''t hold a grudge against me because of this letter, will you?"


    Quinn sighed, feeling a headacheing on.


    She shook her head. "I''m a bit confused right now. Let me think it through."


    "Or, to put it another way, Calvin killed Zeke. Does that make us even?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn remained silent. Personally, she agreed with Alexander. Everyone was an independent individual, and Alexander knew nothing about the incident back then. What his grandfather did had nothing to do with him.


    But from a family perspective, they were mortal enemies. Even if Quinn bore no personal grudge against Alexander, they shouldn''t be sharing a bed right now.


    Alexander also sighed, and both of them fell silent. The atmosphere was quiet and eerie, with a faint gloom in the air.


    Some things were hard to exin.


    For example, should Alexander now hate Calvin too?


    Revenge would only lead to endless retaliation.


    Alexander suddenly got out of bed. "Think it over. I''ll go to the study."novelbin


    Then, he turned and left the bedroom.


    The sound of the door closing brought Quinn back to her senses. She turned to look at the bedroom door.


    She couldn''t sleep either.


    Calvin''s photo had once again disrupted their lives.


    She didn''t know what Calvin meant by sending that photo. She sat in the room for a while, then picked up her phone and called him.


    But he didn''t answer; his phone was already off.


    She had no choice but to put down her phone and leave the bedroom.


    She went to the room where Sprout was sleeping. She opened the door and went in. The room was lit by a small nightlight. Sprout and Brandy were lying on one bed, and Briar was sleeping on a single bed next to them. All three were sound asleep.


    Quinn sat down beside the two children, looking at them, lost in thought.


    In fact, she was more worried about Calvin''s safety than her future with Alexander right now.


    If Calvin killed Zeke, he would be in serious danger now.

 Chapter 1564

    Quinn stayed with the kids all night, and Alexander holed up in his study.


    Next morning, Sprout woke up and found Quinn next to him. He started iling his arms and legs, waking her up.


    "Why are you up so early?" Quinn asked, rubbing her eyes as she saw Sprout tugging at her.


    Sprout grinned, showing off his iplete set of teeth, drool dripping down his chin.


    Soon, Briar came in to call her for breakfast.


    Quinn finally got up and took Sprout to the bathroom to wash up. Brandy had woken up even earlier. When Quinn carried Sprout downstairs, Brandy was sitting in the living room with Alexander, who was reading a fairy tale book. Alexander''s deep, maic voice made the story sound pretty convincing.


    "The squirrel said seriously, ''It''s very deep! Yesterday, one of my friends fell into this river and drowned!""


    "The little horse quickly stopped and didn''t know what to do. He sighed and said, ''I better go home and ask Mom!""


    "The little horse went back to ask his mom, so his mom took him to the river, kicked him into the water, and scolded, ''Are you an idiot? Why don''t you try it yourself and find out?""


    "It turned out the water was neither as shallow as the old cow said nor as deep as the squirrel imed. Seeing the little horse bravely try, the squirrel jumped in too, but it drowned." Brandy tilted her head, looking confused.


    Quinn smirked. ''What nonsense is Alexander talking about?'' she thought.


    Brandy asked, "Daddy, why did the squirrel jump in too?"


    Alexander closed the storybook and nodded. "Good question. Why did the squirrel jump in? You''d have to ask the squirrel."


    Brandy tilted her head, half-understanding, and thought for a long time but still couldn''t figure it out.


    She turned and saw Quinn had arrived, then ran over to her and asked, "Mommy, why did the squirrel jump in?"


    Quinn nced at Alexander. "Because someone was talking nonsense."


    She turned to look at Alexander, who rubbed his nose and pretended to read the book.


    Brandy nodded seriously, her expression innocent and earnest, clearly taking Alexander''s story to heart.


    Quinn walked up to him. "How many stories have you told her behind my back?"


    Alexander pondered. "I don''t remember."


    Quinn was momentarily at a loss for words. "She''s so young. Can''t you tell her something normal?"


    "Like what?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn was taken aback. His question stumped her, and she couldn''t think of any normal stories for a moment.


    Alexander chuckled. "Alright, let''s eat."novelbin


    Quinn stayed quiet for a bit, then looked down at Brandy. "Don''t listen to his stories anymore."


    Brandy nodded but asked again, "So, Mommy, why did the squirrel jump in?"


    "Let''s eat," Quinn said, dodging the question.


    At the dining table, Quinn nced at Alexander across from her and suddenly asked, "Now that you''re back, you won''t leave again, right?" Alexander paused. "Not necessarily."


    Quinn''s face fell a bit. "Can you find out where Calvin is?"


    Alexander put down his chopsticks and reached out his hand. "Give me your phone."


    Without thinking, Quinn handed it over.


    He fiddled with it for a bit and then gave it back.


    Quinn was puzzled. "What did you do?"


    "Check the IP of the number from yesterday," Alexander replied.


    Quinn''s face lit up, but then she said, "We need to find it quickly. If Calvin leaves that ce, it''ll be like looking for a needle in a haystack again." Alexander nodded. "Yeah."


    Both of them avoided talking aboutst night, and Quinn tried not to think about it. The priority now was to ensure Calvin''s safety.


    The ones who destroyed the Mellon family were the Kennedys. But the Kennedy family was no longer around, thanks to Alexander. He didn''t belong to the Kennedy family.


    As for the Lynch family, they had only stood by and weren''t the direct culprits of the Mellon family''s demise. Alexander didn''t grow up with the Lynch family, so he wasn''t considered a true member of it.


    There was no point in digging into these matters any further. Plus, it wasn''t just the two of them now; there were four of them.


    She and Alexander had gone through a lot because of their elders'' grudges. They didn''t want Sprout and Brandy to go through the same.


    Quinn sighed and decided to leave it to fate.


    Alexander quickly located the IP address. It was abroad but not far away. The ce was somewhat like Municity but was situated on the sea, outside any country''s jurisdiction.


    Because it was just an ind, resources and supplies were scarce, and no country wanted to risk annexing it. After all, it was in the ocean, and iming the ind would have meant asserting maritime territory, which neighboring countries would have definitely opposed.


    Thus, it became an isted independent city on the sea, not even considered a country, known as No Return Ind.


    The ce was pretty chaotic. Most of the residents had shady backgrounds, but a lot of wealthy folks had fled there and settled down, so the ind developed fairly well.


    Calvin learned about this ind from Abigail. The city had only been around for a little over a decade. The rich folks had be the upper ss and set up aplete legal system, living carefree lives.


    Calvin couldn''t help but think of Alexander''s n. This was the kind of setup they initially had in mind.


    He spent the whole day with Abigail exploring the city. The prices here were insane. Even Abigail couldn''t help butin. A cup of instant noodles that cost five bucks back home sold for fifty bucks here. The cheapest thing was seafood; other fruits and veggies were sold at sky-high prices. Potatoes and carrots cost thirty bucks a pound.


    Calvin said, "With prices this high, doesn''t anyone oppose them?"


    Abigail replied, "Oppose what? Prices are high because costs are high. Didn''t you see? This ce is surrounded by the sea. To get to the nearestnd, you have to go through customs, and transportation is a pain. Since this ind isn''t officially recognized, you can''t get flight or shipping routes approved, whether by air or sea. Except for seafood, most things are imported. Even if people resist, another wave of people wille, and the prices will still be the same, maybe even higher." Calvin rubbed his chin. "Makes sense."


    He then realized thatst night, they almost ate Abigail into poverty.


    In this ce, money ruled. Whoever had the most money was in charge, in and simple.


    Abigail turned to him and asked, "How long do you n to stay here?"


    Calvin looked at the distant horizon, his expression mncholic. "I don''t know."


    The core issue was that he was penniless and stranded. He was in a worse situation than a refugee; his only option was to beg.


    Abigail said, "You can apply for a new identity here without any documents, just a million dors."


    Calvin smirked. "Impressive."


    Abigailughed. "That''s why there are so many rich people here. But generally, there''s no need for it unless you''re an international fugitive. Using your original identity is fine."


    Calvin waved his hand. He couldn''t evene up with a hundred bucks, let alone a million.


    Abigail said, "I can stay here for at most half a month. If he doesn''te back, I''ll leave."


    She could see that Calvin was a bit broke now and didn''t know what had happened, so she gave him a heads-up.


    It wasn''t that she didn''t want to stay longer, but the money she had could onlyst for half a month at most. If she didn''t leave, she''d be starving like Calvin.


    Now that they were here, her money might not evenst half a month. If Calvin ate like he did yesterday, he''d bankrupt her in seven days.


    After thinking for a while, Abigail said, "We need to save money now. Let''s eat seafood as much as possible since it''s cheap."


    Calvin wasn''t picky about food, so he nodded. "I''m fine with that."


    Abigail took him to the market. The environment here was really nice. The market was orderly, with everything categorized, looking clean and tidy. The cost of garbage disposal there was high, so the management of the environment was very strict. Littering could result in fines.


    Now there was another problem. Abigail held a king crab and asked them, "Do you know how to cook this?"


    "No," Calvin and Cruz answered in unison.


    In the end, they bought some easy-to-cook seafood, like shrimp, crab, and salmon that could be eaten with dipping sauce after boiling.


    It was fine at first. But after three days of eating it, Calvin felt like he was going to throw up just thinking about it.


    Feeling somewhat guilty, Abigail took them to a restaurant for a big meal.


    Worried about Calvin, Quinn begged Alexander for a long time before he agreed to bring her to find Calvin.


    They arrived on the fifth day. Quinn got off the boat, looked around, and eximed, "The scenery here is nice, perfect for a vacation." Alexander walked beside her and said, "No one dares to vacation here."


    "Aren''t we?" Quinn asked.


    "If you think so, then sure," Alexander replied.


    Quinn didn''t want to argue with him. "Where''s Calvin?"


    "Not sure, but he''s on this ind. We''ll have to look for him slowly," Alexander said.


    The IP location only gave a rough range, so they had to search within that range. If Calvin left that area, it would be even harder to find him. Quinn could only hope Calvin hadn''t gone too far; otherwise, she didn''t know how long it would take to find him.


    They searched around the location but found nothing, so they decided to find a ce to stay and continue searching.


    She tried calling Calvin, but his phone was off.


    She sighed. Since it was still early, after finding a ce to stay, she dragged Alexander out for a walk, hoping they might run into Calvin.

 Chapter 1565

    Earlier, Alexander had promised to take them on a trip, but it hadn''t happened yet. Now, seeing the sights of this city, Quinn suddenly got the itch to explore more ces. But man, the prices here were insane. They picked two random restaurants to eat at, and even though they didn''t look fancy, they ended up dropping over five grand. When it was time to pay, Quinn noticed there were less than five dishes on the table and started to wonder.


    Alexander nudged her. "What are you doing? Pay the bill."


    Quinn snapped out of it and quickly pulled out her phone to pay, still wondering if they got ripped off. After they left the restaurant, she asked quietly, "Did we get ripped off?"


    Alexander nced back at the ce. "Maybe that''s just how prices are here."


    Quinn smirked. "Who even lives in a ce like this?"


    "People like Calvin," Alexander replied.


    Quinn was taken aback. Suddenly, the scenery didn''t seem so great anymore.


    "Alright, it''s gettingte. Let''s head back to the hotel. It''s not safe out here at night," Alexander suggested.


    Quinn nodded and followed him back to the hotel.


    The area was pretty nice, and the hotel looked clean enough.


    Meanwhile, Abigail and Calvin were sitting in a room, all three looking serious.


    "I''ve decided to head back the day after tomorrow. What about you guys? Want toe along?" Abigail asked.


    Cruz nced at Calvin, clearly waiting for his call.


    Calvin frowned and stayed quiet, lost in thought.


    Ever since they went out yesterday, he seemed distracted, like something was bugging him.


    Seeing him spaced out, Abigail asked again, "Calvin, I''m talking to you."


    "Huh?" Calvin looked up nkly, realizing he hadn''t heard a word.


    Abigail sighed and repeated, "I''m nning to go back the day after tomorrow. Do you want to go back too? Maybe see Quinn."


    Calvin shook his head. "No, I''m not leaving."


    Abigail gave him a weird look. "Didn''t you say yesterday that the seafood made you sick?"


    Calvin chuckled. "Did I?"


    Abigail and Cruz exchanged nces.


    Cruz tentatively asked, "Boss, is something wrong? You seem a bit off."


    Calvin''s expression was odd. Under their stares, he grew a bit anxious.


    He stood up and said, "I''m a bit tired. I''m going to sleep."


    With that, he quickly ran into the room and locked the door behind him.


    Abigail and Cruz stared at each other, confused. "What''s up with him?" Abigail asked. Cruz shook his head. "I have no idea."novelbin


    "Aren''t you always with him? How can you not know what''s going on?" Abigail pressed.


    Cruz scratched his head, looking puzzled. "I''m not with him all the time."


    "Forget it," Abigail said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out an ind-wide card. "Since he''s not leaving, you guys keep this card. There''s about a hundred and fifty thousand dors left on it. Spend it wisely, and it shouldst you a month here."


    Cruz took the card, his face lighting up. "Thanks, Abigail!"


    Abigail chuckled at his simple-mindedness. No wonder he stuck with Calvin.


    Having lived on this ind for quite some time, Abigail knew a bit about it. She gave Cruz some instructions, especially about the ind''s rules.


    "The most important thing is not to litter. If it''s serious, you could be thrown into the sea," Abigail warned.


    Cruz nodded, indicating he remembered.


    Abigail had emphasized this several times in the past few days.


    After saying all this, they each went back to their rooms to sleep.


    The next day, Quinn got up early. She checked the time; it wasn''t even six o''clock yet, but it was already bright outside, with sunlight streaming into the room.


    She rubbed her eyes and turned to see Alexander still sleeping.


    She reached out to shake him awake. "Wake up. The sun''s already up."


    Alexander, eyes still closed, reached for the watch on the bedside table, looked at it, and put it back.


    He mumbled, "Don''t bother me. It''s too early."


    "It''s already bright outside. How is it early?" Quinn shook him harder, eager to find Calvin, with no desire to sleep.


    Alexander, however, slept soundly, as if he was on vacation.


    Finally, he woke up, sat up weakly, and rubbed his temples. "Why are you up so early?"


    "To find Calvin. What if he leaves if we''rete?" Quinn replied, worried.


    She thought for a moment and suggested, "Let''s go to the lobby downstairs and see if there''s another way to find him."


    Alexander had no choice but to agree. He threw off the covers and started looking for clothes to wear. "Let''s go."


    Quinn gave him a suspicious look. Was he too tired from walking yesterday? However, they had walked the same distance, and she had gone to bedter than him.


    She secretly wondered, ''Could it be that Alexander is just getting old?''


    As soon as this thought popped into her head, she pushed it away. Thest time she had such a thought, Alexander taught her a lesson.


    She brushed away the random thoughts in her mind, got up, and went to wash up and change clothes.


    They headed downstairs to the lobby and asked the receptionist how they could find someone on the ind.


    The receptionist''s answer was straightforward: money. As long as you had cash, you could find anyone on the ind.


    After leaving the hotel, Alexander and Quinn took a cab straight to the City Management Bureau. The city management here was pretty powerful, handling not only environmental issues but also variousw enforcement tasks. They had the ability to check city surveince and even dispatch people to find someone, offering different ns based on the amount of money provided.


    Hearing that they wanted to find someone, the director came personally.


    "Is the person you''re looking for on the ind?" the director asked.


    Quinn hesitated. "Not entirely sure."


    "If you''re not sure, how can I find them for you? If we can''t find them, the money won''t be refunded," the director exined.


    Quinn nodded. "I see. Just do your best to help me find him. If you can''t, then he might not be on the ind."


    "No problem. Do you have a photo?" the director asked.


    Quinn took out a photo of Calvin and showed it to him. The director looked at it and asked her to send the photo over.


    "Since you''re not sure if he''s on the ind, you''ll need to pay half upfront. If we find him, you pay the other half. If we don''t, the first half is non-refundable. Is that okay?" the director rified.


    To Quinn''s surprise, they were quite professional. Paying only half upfront made her feel more at ease.


    However, the cost was exorbitant; half was two million dors. Four million dors to find someone were they really not just robbing people?


    "Who''s paying?" the director asked.


    Alexander had his hands in his pockets, indicating he had no money.


    Quinn was silent for a moment, then took out her phone to pay them. She then said, "Please help me find him as soon as possible. If he''s on the ind, he might leave the day after tomorrow." "Don''t worry, we''re professionals at finding people," the director said with a smile. After receiving the money, his attitude became much friendlier.


    After leaving their contact information, Quinn and Alexander left.


    "I hope they can find Calvin soon," Quinn said.


    Alexander nodded seriously.


    On the way, Quinn had learned from him about Calvin''s current situation. He had no money and didn''t know how he was surviving in a ce like this.


    So Quinn guessed he would definitely try to leave here; she just didn''t know where he would go.


    Alexander squeezed her hand. "We''ll find him."


    He took her hand. "Let''s go look around other ces. Maybe we''ll run into him."


    Quinn didn''t refuse. She had no other options now and could only hope the city management staff werepetent.


    They explored ces they hadn''t visited yesterday. The buildings here were mostly simr. Since it was an ind, the buildings weren''t very tall, with five stories being the maximum.


    This area appeared to be the CBD, with more people around. Quinn went into a mall to look around. It seemed no different from malls on the maind, just pricier.


    Women seemed to have boundless energy when it came to shopping, but for men, malls often felt like sleeping zones the moment they walked in.


    After walking a few steps, Alexander wanted to find a ce to sit.


    Quinn looked him speechlessly. "Why are you sitting down again?"


    Alexander looked at her helplessly. "Tired."


    "Are you really that tired?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander nodded. "Yes, go ahead and shop. I''ll wait here. I can''t walk anymore."


    "When you were searching for me all over the world, you never seemed to get tired. But now, after just a few steps, you''re exhausted. And you said you wanted to take us on a trip. I doubt we can even make it out of the house with you like this," Quinn teased.


    Alexander said, "That is different from shopping."


    "Excuses," Quinn concluded, ring at him. "Men are all the same. After a while, they get impatient."


    "How many men like this have you met?" Alexander asked.


    "Seeing you is enough," Quinn replied.


    Alexander chuckled and stood up from the chair. "Alright, let''s go."


    "I don''t want to go anymore," Quinn said.


    She turned to leave, but suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar figure sh by the corner of a store across the street.


    Her expression changed, and she immediately left Alexander and ran across the street.


    Alexander frowned and quickly followed her.


    When Quinn finally reached the other side, the figure had already disappeared.


    Alexander caught up with her. "Who did you see?"


    "I think I saw Abigail. Would shee here?" Quinn asked. She was here to find Calvin, but she didn''t expect to see someone who looked like Abigail. Alexander said, "You might be seeing things. How could Abigail be here? How would she even find this ce?"


    Quinn was half-convinced, but that person looked so much like Abigail.


    Quinn turned to Alexander. "Didn''t you know where Abigail went? Where is she now?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1566

    "How would I know where she is after all this time? You don''t think I just sit around watching her all day, do you?" Alexander said.


    Quinn thought about it for a second and realized he had a point. She was convinced by his argument.


    But the person she saw just now really reminded her of Abigail. She almost believed it was Abigail.


    She sighed. Despite what Alexander said, she still felt a bit uneasy and wanted to look around nearby. Whether that person was Abigail or not, she needed to find out. If it wasn''t Abigail, then fine. But what if it really was?


    No one knew where Abigail was. So, if she was here, no one else would know either.


    With this thought, Quinn quickly moved forward. She had to decide whether to go upstairs or downstairs.


    She first went upstairs to take a look. It was all toy stores up there. If it was Abigail, she definitely wouldn''t be wandering around here, so it had to be downstairs. Quinn turned around and went downstairs.


    She ran up and down, searching everywhere she could. However, she found nothing.


    Maybe she had really mistaken someone else for Abigail.


    Quinn sat down weakly on a chair and turned to look at Alexander.


    He was still far behind, strolling leisurely, forming a stark contrast to her urgency.


    After a while, he finally walked up to her. "So, did you find her?"


    Quinn red at him. "If I had found her, would I still be sitting here?"


    Alexander sat down next to her and patientlyforted her. "Don''t worry. You won''t find her by worrying."novelbin


    "So what am I supposed to do? Just wander around here, eating and drinking, and hope to stumble upon her?" Quinn asked, frustrated.


    Alexander was at a loss for words.


    It was clear that Quinn was in a bad mood, so he wisely chose not to provoke her further.


    Calvin had locked himself in his room for a whole day. Abigail thought he was upset from eating too much seafood and had locked himself in out of spite.


    So she went out to get some takeout. When she came back, she quietly asked Cruz, "Has hee out today?"


    Cruz shook his head. "No, I''ve called him several times, but he hasn''te out."


    "That''s odd." Abigail walked to the door and knocked. "Calvin, I got some great takeout. Do you want some?" Getting no response from inside, Abigail nced at Cruz again. "Do you think something happened to him?" "Probably not," Cruz replied.


    Both of them found it odd. Calvin didn''t have a phone and hadn''t gone out, so what could have happened?


    Abigail called out again, "Calvin, are you okay? If you don''t open the door, we''reing in."


    She grabbed the doorknob and twisted it, but it was locked.


    Abigail started to panic. If something happened to Calvin here, how would she exin it to Quinn?


    So she turned around to get a chair, intending to break the door open.


    Just as she raised the chair, the door suddenly opened.


    But it only opened a crack, and Calvin stood behind the door. "I''m fine. Don''t worry about me."


    Then, he closed the door again.


    Abigail, still holding the chair in mid-air, shared a puzzled look with Cruz.


    "What''s wrong with him?" Abigail asked.


    Cruz shrugged. "No idea."


    Abigail put down the chair and ced the takeout at the door. She said to the inside, "I''ll leave the takeout here. If you''re hungry,e out and get it yourself." Calvin still didn''t respond.


    Abigail frowned and motioned for Cruz to leave. They both sat on the couch in silence for a long time.


    No matter how hard they thought, they couldn''t figure out what had happened to Calvin.


    Abigail suddenly pped her thigh. "Did something happen when he went out the day before yesterday?"


    Cruz nodded seriously. "It''s possible."


    "Did he tell you what he was going out for?" Abigail asked.


    Cruz thought for a moment and shook his head. "No, he just said he was going out for a bit. But he was holding the phone he took from that person earlier. I thought he was going out to deal with it." He was fine when he left, but there was something odd about him when he returned. It was really strange.


    "How could he be dealing with the phone? Did he call someone?" Abigail guessed.


    "That''s possible," Cruz admitted.


    Abigail''s mouth twitched, and she red at him. "Is that all you can say?"


    Cruz shrank his neck. "Then what should I say?"


    "Forget it. Anyway, I''m leaving tomorrow. You''ll have to handle it yourself," Abigail said.


    Cruz sighed. If Abigail left, he would be the only one left to deal with Calvin.


    But Calvin''s current state made him nervous too.


    Cruz kept staring at the bedroom door. Calvin still hadn''te out to get the takeout. He hadn''t eaten anything for a day. Was he nning to starve himself?


    After thinking for a long time, Cruz sneaked to the door and knocked twice. "Boss, what''s wrong with you? If something happened, tell me. We''re on the same team now. You can''t just keep me in suspense." There was still no sound from inside.


    Cruz was getting anxious. "Boss, don''t do anything rash. I''m counting on you to make aeback. At least say something to me!"


    "Boss, did those people say something to you? Or did the guy whose phone you stole call the cops on you? If it''s that guy, I''ll beat him to death right now!" Cruz threatened.


    The silence lingered, which was unlike the Calvin he knew.


    In the past, no matter what danger he faced, even when his life was on the line, Calvin had never been so pessimistic. If someone wanted to kill him, he would definitely curse them out and drag them down with him. He would never lock himself up like this.


    The only reason Cruz could think of was that Calvin might be heartbroken.


    However, Calvin didn''t even have a girlfriend. How could he be heartbroken?


    Cruz couldn''t figure it out, no matter how hard he tried.


    He talked until his mouth was dry, but Calvin didn''t make a sound, leaving him at a loss.


    "Boss, you''re not nning to ditch me and escape, are you?" Cruz asked desperately.


    "Don''t do that. We''re both wanted now. Without you, I''ll be dead in no time!" Cruz pleaded and sighed. Seeing that Calvin wasn''t responding, he reluctantly turned back to the couch.


    He couldn''t fall asleep. He sat on the couch all night, his eyes never leaving the bedroom door.


    Calvin never came out, and the takeout left at the door had long gone cold.


    The next morning, Abigail packed her things. She dragged her suitcase out and noticed the untouched takeout at the door. "He didn''te out all night?"


    Cruz looked at her dejectedly and nodded, looking like he was about to cry.


    Abigail looked at him sympathetically, opened her mouth but didn''t know what to say. "Take care of yourselves. I''ll tell Quinn when I get back."


    Abigail was really out of money now. If she stayed here any longer, she would starve.


    After being away for so long, she missed home.


    Unsure of what was going on with Calvin, she didn''t dare to continue staying with them. She had to leave.


    Although they hadn''t been together for long, Cruz was somewhat reluctant to see her go. "Abigail, will youe back to see us?"


    Abigail thought for a moment. "Not sure. But don''t worry. When I get back and have money, I''ll transfer some to your card. Keep that card safe. If you lose it, you might not get the money."


    Cruz took out the card and looked at it, nodding solemnly. "Don''t worry. I''ll keep it safe!"


    "Alright, I''m leaving. Don''t see me off. Keep an eye on Calvin and make sure nothing happens to him," Abigail instructed.


    "Got it!" Cruz replied.


    Abigail hesitated for a moment but then dragged her suitcase and left.


    She went to the City Management Bureau to change her boat ticket. To board the boat, you had to buy a ticket from the City Management Bureau and then board at the dock.


    The good thing was you didn''t need a passport to board. The bad thing was they only guaranteed you could get on the boat, not that you could enter the destination.


    Abigail dragged her suitcase to the dock to wait for the boat. The ticket said the boat would arrive at noon. It was still early, so she had breakfast nearby and then waited in the restaurant.


    Quinn dragged Alexander to the dock early in the morning. She thought that if Calvin was leaving today, she might run into him here.


    There was no news from the City Management Bureau. They suspected that the person Quinn mentioned didn''t take the regr dock to the ind, so there was no record. It would take time to check the surveince footage. If they were unlucky, it would take two days.


    They stood not far from the dock. Alexander yawned and said weakly, "It''s only a little after nine. The boat won''t arrive until noon. Whye so early?"


    "We have nothing else to do. If wee right on time and miss him, what then?" Quinn replied.


    Alexander nodded perfunctorily. "Yeah, you''re right."


    Quinn nced at him but didn''t bother to argue with him. She saw an empty bench nearby and pulled Alexander over to sit down.


    Alexander propped his head up and soon dozed off.


    Quinn watched the sun rise bit by bit. Fortunately, it wasn''t hot on the ind, and the sea breeze was warm and soothing.


    She turned to look at Alexander, who was almost asleep.


    "Alexander, didn''t you sleepst night?" she asked.


    Alexander didn''t even lift an eyelid. "Your snoring was too loud. I didn''t sleep much."


    Quinn was taken aback. "What?"


    She didn''t know she snored, and she suspected Alexander was lying. However, seeing his sleepy state, she started to doubt herself. Could she really snore? Her cheeks flushed. How embarrassing.


    "You grind your teeth too," Alexander spoke with his eyes closed, sounding tired, as if talking in his sleep.


    Quinn''s face grew hotter. "You''re lying. How would I not know?"


    "How would you know if you''re asleep?" Alexander countered.


    "Then I''ll record myself sleeping tonight. If I don''t snore or grind my teeth, you''re dead!" Quinn threatened. Alexander suddenly opened his eyes, sat up, and pulled her into his arms. "It''s okay. I don''t mind."

 Chapter 1567

    Quinn shoved him away. "I knew you were lying to me!"


    Alexander just grinned and smoothly changed the topic.


    Quinn was about to say something else when her phone rang. It was the City Management Bureau. Her face lit up as she answered. "Hello," Quinn said.


    "Can youe over? We found someone on the surveince footage, but we''re not sure if it''s the person you''re looking for," the staff member said. "Okay, I''ll be right there!" Quinn jumped up and grabbed Alexander''s arm. "Let''s go. The City Management Bureau has some news."


    Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Aren''t you going to wait here? What if Calvin leaves while you''re gone?"


    Quinn paused. He had a point. The City Management Bureau had only spotted Calvin on the footage; they couldn''t be sure if he''d stick around. After a moment, she said, "How about you wait here? I''ll go check it out."


    Alexander nced at his watch. "It''s still early. I''ll go with you, and we cane backter."


    "Will we have enough time?" Quinn asked.


    "Sure," Alexander assured her.


    Hearing this, Quinn quickly hailed a cab, and they headed to the City Management Bureau.


    They arrived soon enough. The staff were already waiting at the entrance and greeted her with a smile.


    Quinn hurried over. "You said you found him on the footage. Where?"


    "Come inside and check the surveince footage first to confirm if it''s the person you''re looking for," the staff member said.


    Quinn nodded and followed him into the office. The staff member turned on aputer and pulled up the footage.


    The video was from the night they arrived on the ind, and it even showed Calvin with Abigail.


    Quinn''s eyes widened in surprise; she had onlye to find Calvin and didn''t expect to see Abigail too.


    It was an unexpected bonus. She turned to Alexander excitedly. "So, the person I saw that day was Abigail?"


    Alexander nodded. "Looks like it. Let''s check the other footage."


    Since they found Calvin in this area, other cameras might have caught him too.


    After reviewing more footage, they found traces of Calvin over the past few days. He was mostly with Abigail.


    Quinn thought out loud. "It looks like Calvin is staying nearby."


    "But why is he with Abigail?" Quinn frowned. She hadn''t expected Calvin to be with Abigail.


    Calvin was now a fugitive. What had gone down between him and Abigail? Did they meet up after getting here, or were they already together before?


    These questions could only be answered by finding them in person.


    While they were reviewing the footage, the ferry had already docked.


    Abigail grabbed her suitcase to board, but before she could leave the shop, she saw a group of people getting off the ferry, including Walter. ''What is Walter doing here?'' Abigail wondered.


    A bad feeling crept over her. She used the crowd as cover, turned around, and ran back with her suitcase.


    Walter was here, and he had people with him. Could they be after Calvin?


    She needed to warn Calvin.


    Unfortunately, Calvin didn''t have a phone. Otherwise, she would have called him directly. Now, she could only run back.


    When Abigail got back to the rental house, only Cruz was there.


    She dropped her suitcase and quickly ran to him.


    Cruz was surprised to see her. "Abigail, why are you back? Weren''t you leaving?"


    Abigail didn''t have time to answer. She turned to the bedroom and knocked on the door. "Calvin! Calvin! Open up!"


    Cruz walked over and said, "Abigail, stop knocking. He just went out."


    "What? Where did he go?" Abigail asked, puzzled.


    Cruz shook his head. "He said he was going to take out the trash. I offered to do it, but he insisted."


    Cruz suddenly realized something, and his eyes widened in shock. "Oh no, why hasn''t hee back yet?"


    When Calvin came out of the bedroom, Cruz thought Calvin had finallye around and was going to eat.


    But Calvin had just taken a bag of trash and left. Cruz wanted to follow, but Calvin stopped him, saying he would be right back.


    Last time Calvin went out, he came back acting strange. Cruz feared Calvin would change again if he went out.


    But Calvin had said, "If you follow me, you''re not my subordinate."


    So, Cruz didn''t dare to follow and stayed home, thinking Calvin would be back in a few minutes.


    Now, seeing Abigail rush back, Cruz realized Calvin had been gone for half an hour.


    "Abigail, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry?" Cruz asked.


    Abigail wiped the sweat from her forehead. "I was waiting for the ferry at the dock. But when it arrived, I saw Walter getting off. You''ve been following him for a long time, so you know who I''m talking about, right?" Cruz nodded. "I know. Why is he here?"


    Even though Cruz had been with Calvin for a long time, he didn''t know the beef between Calvin and Walter, so he hadn''t grasped how serious things were.


    "I think he might be here for Calvin," Abigail spected.


    Cruz scratched his head. "What if he''s here to help us?"


    Abigail red at him. "Are you kidding me? If he was here to help, why didn''t he do anything back in Arcturus? And if he was trustworthy, Calvin would''ve gone to him for help ages ago, instead of hiding out here." Cruz''s eyes widened. "You''re right! So what do we do?"


    "What else can we do? We need to find him, fast!" Abigail urged.


    They hurried out, searching the nearby area, especially where the trash was taken out.


    If Calvin had really gone out to take out the trash or was just wandering around and ran into Walter, it would be bad news.


    Even if Walter didn''t kill Calvin, he might take him back or get something else from him. Either way, it wouldn''t be good.


    After searching for a long time, they couldn''t find any trace of Calvin. Abigail stomped her foot in frustration. "Where on earth did that guy go?"


    Cruz was also anxious. "Oh no, could Calvin have been captured?"


    Abigail frowned. "It shouldn''t be that fast. They have to register when they get on the ind. Let''s split up and search. Whether we find him or not, let''s meet back here in half an hour." "Okay!" Cruz agreed.


    They split up, one heading west and the other east.


    Abigail had only run a few steps when she suddenly heard a bell from the dock, signaling the boarding of the ferry.


    She hesitated for a moment but decided to keep searching for Calvin.


    After all, he was Quinn''s brother. Ensuring his safety was more important than going back.


    Gritting her teeth, she ran while calling out Calvin''s name.


    It seemed as if Calvin had vanished into thin air. She couldn''t find him anywhere. Where could he have gone in such a short time?


    Meanwhile, Quinn was on her way. While in the car, she spotted Abigail looking around and quickly asked the driver to stop.


    "Please stop the car. We''ll get off here," Quinn said urgently.


    The driver pulled over, and Quinn opened the door, running quickly towards Abigail. "Abigail!"novelbin


    Abigail paused, thinking she was hearing things. How could she hear Quinn''s voice here?


    Quinn called out again. "Abigail!"


    Abigail turned towards the voice and saw Quinn running towards her. She was both surprised and delighted. "Quinn!"


    Abigail ran towards Quinn, and they reunited on the roadside. Abigail excitedly grabbed Quinn''s hand. "It''s really you! How did you find this ce?" Quinn, catching her breath, said, "I came to find Calvin. I didn''t expect to find you here too. Is he with you?"


    Abigail was stunned. "I thought you were here to find me."


    "I wanted to find you, but you didn''t even call me. How was I supposed to find you? But it seems like fate brought us together," Quinn said with a smile. Abigail smiled. "I was nning to go back today."


    "What about Calvin?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail remembered the urgent matter. "Right, I''m looking for him. He''s missing."


    "Missing? What do you mean?" Quinn asked, worried.


    Abigail quickly exined the situation, including seeing Walter at the dock and Calvin''s distracted behavior over the past few days.


    Quinn''s heart sank after she learned the situation. "Walter is here too?"


    "Yes, that''s why I''m looking for Calvin everywhere. I think he might know something, which is why he''s been so out of it these past few days," Abigail said. Quinn frowned. "But what does he know? That Walter woulde? Even if he knew, why would he act like that?"


    Abigail''s description didn''t match Quinn''s understanding of Calvin. If Calvin knew Walter wasing, he would either confront him or find a way to leave. "Whatever he knows, the important thing now is to find him," Abigail said.


    Quinn realized. "Yes, we need to find him first!"


    Once they found Calvin, they would know everything. The priority was not to let Walter find him first.


    Quinn looked back at Alexander. "Let''s search separately."


    Alexander nodded. "Okay."


    So, they split up and searched in different directions.


    Calvin hadn''t been gone long, so he shouldn''t be that hard to find unless he was hiding on purpose.


    Quinn searched the nearby area for over ten minutes but still couldn''t find him. She called Alexander, but he hadn''t found him either.


    However, Alexander saw Walter.


    Walter was wearing his familiar dark red suit, followed by eight people. He said something, and three of them left the group, heading in different directions.


    He walked down the street as if he were taking a stroll. Suddenly, he turned his head and locked eyes with Alexander from a distance.


    He smiled and walked towards Alexander.


    "What a coincidence, running into you again," Walter said.

 Chapter 1568

    Alexander gave Walter and his crew a cold stare.


    "So, what brings you here?" Alexander asked.


    Walter smirked. "Same reason as you. Haven''t we always had the same goals?"


    Alexander chuckled. "Well, good luck with that."


    Walter narrowed his eyes, sizing up Alexander. "Have you found him already?"


    Alexander shrugged. "If you want to know, find out yourself. You think I''d just tell you?"


    They both went silent.


    After a moment, Walter grinned and walked off with his crew.


    Walter thought, ''Looks like Alexander hasn''t found Calvin either. I need to make my move first.''


    Alexander watched them leave, a smirk ying on his lips.


    Meanwhile, Quinn and Abigail had scoured the area but found no sign of Calvin.


    Quinn, feeling frustrated, called the City Management Bureau, hoping they could check the nearby surveince cameras.


    As soon as she mentioned payment, they agreed to help.


    The surveince here was sparse; cameras were far apart. If Calvin was avoiding them, they wouldn''t find anything.


    Half an hourter, the City Management Bureau called back. No sign of Calvin on any cameras.


    Quinn sighed and went back to find Abigail.


    Abigail was downstairs, exchanging puzzled looks with Cruz. "This is nuts. How did Calvin just vanish? Where could he have gone?" Cruz shook his head. "No idea. Maybe he hid because he knew Walter wasing?"


    Abigail frowned. "Could be. But where would he hide?"


    Quinn came running over, out of breath. "Any luck?"


    Both shook their heads. Abigail asked, "You didn''t find anything either?"


    Quinn pulled out her phone to call Alexander. They had to rely on him now. If he didn''t find Calvin, things would get tricky.


    When the call connected, Quinn anxiously asked, "Any news?"


    Alexander replied, "Not yet, but I ran into Walter."


    Quinn asked, worried, "He didn''t do anything to you, did he?"


    Alexanderughed. "And if he did, what would you do?" Quinn snapped, "This isn''t the time for jokes. Just find Calvin!" From his tone, it was clear nothing had happened between them. Alexander said, "Alright, I''ll keep looking. I''ll call you if I find him."


    "Okay," Quinn replied, hung up, and turned to Abigail. "Abigail, you know this ce better. Any ideas where Calvin might go?"


    Abigail thought for a moment. "I think we''ve checked everywhere he could go. Maybe we should go upstairs and check. He might be back." Quinn nodded. "Let''s go."


    Abigail led the way upstairs and opened the door, but the room was empty.


    "He''s not back," Cruz said, disappointed. "Did he really leave me behind and run off?"


    Abigail rolled her eyes. "You should be d he left you behind. Otherwise, you''d be in danger with him right now."


    She then analyzed, "I think he''s still on the ind. The boat''s already left, so he can''t get on it. And he doesn''t have money for a ticket. Plus, with Walter looking for him, he''d have people guarding the dock." Quinn thought her analysis made sense. She actually hoped Calvin wasn''t on the ind because being here meant he was in danger.


    "Enough talking. Let''s keep looking," Quinn said and left the room. Whether they found him or not, they had to keep searching.


    Even if they couldn''t find him, they couldn''t let Walter find him.


    She wandered aimlessly through the streets, scanning every corner, desperately hoping to see that familiar face.


    She and Calvin hadn''t known each other long and hadn''t spent much time together.


    The more Quinn thought about it, the more anxious she became. She didn''t know where to find Calvin, whether Walter would find him, or what would happen next.


    Her unease kept growing.


    Meanwhile, Walter got a tip and immediately sprinted in a certain direction.


    In another part of the ind, a group of people was chasing someone.


    If Quinn were here, she''d recognize the person fleeing in panic as Calvin.


    They were still on the ind, but no longer in the city. This was an undeveloped jungle, full of thorns and weeds. The trees weren''t dense, but the underbrush was teeming with snakes, insects, and rodents. Mosquitoes and flies buzzed everywhere. If you opened your mouth while running, bugs would fly right in.


    A group of people were chasing Calvin, each armed with weapons.


    One of them yelled, "Stop! If you don''t stop, we''ll shoot!"


    Calvin didn''t even flinch. He kept sprinting toward the edge of the forest, which led straight to the sea a dead end. Walter showed up fast, having snagged a motorcycle from somewhere. He zoomed past the others chasing Calvin. Locking his eyes on Calvin, Walter pulled out a gun from his jacket and aimed at Calvin''s leg, firing without hesitation. But the shot hit a tree trunk instead.


    Walter fired a few more times but kept missing, frustration shing in his eyes.


    Finally, he gave up shooting, twisted the throttle, and sped toward Calvin.


    Seeing the sea getting closer, Calvin pushed himself to run even faster.


    But the motorcycle weaved through the trees and skidded to a stop right in front of Calvin, blocking his path.


    Calvin tried to change direction, but Walter drew his gun and aimed at him. "Stop."


    Calvin paused, nced back at him, and stopped running.


    Walter chuckled. "Calvin, why run here? If you wanted to jump into the sea, wouldn''t it be faster from the city?"


    As he spoke, a thought seemed to strike him. "Or is someone waiting to pick you up ahead?"


    Calvin stared at him, saying nothing.


    Walter frowned, scanning Calvin up and down. Just as he was about to say something, the sound of a helicopter came from above. His expression changed, and he quickly looked at Calvin.


    Sensing something, Walter suddenly jumped off the motorcycle, quickly approached Calvin, and pressed the gun to his temple. Walter sneered. "I thought someone was picking you up, but it turns out it''s an ambush for me."


    He said to Calvin, "Get on the motorcycle. Let''s see what tricks you have up your sleeve."


    Calvin didn''t move, and Walter, losing patience, shot him in the knee.


    Calvin cried out in pain and copsed.


    Walter grabbed his arm and dragged him onto the motorcycle. After they both got on, Walter drove toward the edge of the forest. The edge led to the sea, an endless expanse of water with a high cliff below.


    There was no one waiting to pick him up, just the sea and the forest. Walter threw Calvin to the ground and got off the motorcycle himself. Looking around, he saw no one except for the distant sound of the helicopter, which had likelynded elsewhere, with people heading their way.novelbin


    Walter turned to Calvin. "Calvin, why aren''t you talking?"


    Calvin snorted and turned his head away, refusing tomunicate.


    Blood was still flowing from his knee, but he seemed not to feel the pain, not even covering the wound with his hand.


    Walter, uninterested in dealing with him, took out his phone and made a call. "Everyone,e over."


    After hanging up, he squatted in front of Calvin. "Calvin, tell me, what''s your n?"


    Calvin remained silent.


    Walter pressed. "Did you n this with Alexander?"


    As he spoke, his anger intensified. If that were true, then everything before had been a setup.


    Calvin attacking Zeke was fake, his escape was fake, even the so-called evidence was fake! Walter couldn''t believe it.


    Footsteps approached, and fortunately, it was his men.


    About twenty or thirty of them ran toward Walter upon seeing him.


    "Found him!" the leader eximed. He was a man in his forties and didn''t look like an ordinary subordinate.


    He was there to assist Walter in capturing Calvin, not to take orders from him. Seeing Calvin, he immediately grabbed him.


    The leader lifted Calvin and punched him in the stomach, saying, "You bastard, we finally found you. Did you think we wouldn''t find you hiding here?"


    Walter said nothing, thoughtfully watching Calvin.


    The leader beat Calvin for a while, then took out his phone to call Hugo, informing him that they had found Calvin.


    Hugo, relieved to hear the news, said, "Finish him off there. No need to bring him back."


    The leader hesitated. "Shouldn''t we bring him back to give everyone an exnation?"


    Hugo replied, "This guy is cunning. He might escape on the way back. If he could escape from the Lynch mansion, he could escape from you too. Finish him off and send me a video." "Understood," the leader said and hung up. Without hesitation, he dropped Calvin, stepping back to have him executed on the spot.


    "Wait," Walter suddenly said, raising his hand to stop him.


    The leader looked at him, puzzled. "What''s wrong?"


    Walter stared at Calvin for a long time and said in a deep voice, "Something''s off."


    The leader impatiently replied, "Stop wasting time and finish him off so we can report back!"


    Then he pushed Walter aside and aimed his gun at Calvin.

 Chapter 1569

    "Wait up!" a voice yelled from behind. Everyone turned to see a group of peopleing out of the woods.


    Walter watched them, not giving anything away.


    The leader snapped, "Who the hell are you? This is a family matter, so butt out."


    Weapons were hard toe by on this ind, and most folks preferred to stay out of other people''s business. They were well-off. Even if outsiders started brawling, they''d just ignore it and rebuild after the dust settled. The inders were selfish andid-back. If a fight broke out, they''d just lock themselves inside. So, it was clear these neers weren''t locals.


    One of the neers said, "We don''t care about your family drama, but we''re taking someone with us today."


    The leader asked, "Who?"


    The neer looked straight at Walter, making it clear he was the target.


    Just then, another person stepped out from the crowd.


    Walter saw him and suddenly grinned. "Landon."


    Landon looked at Walter and said, "I''ve been waiting for you."


    Walter stared hard at him and the people behind him. Now, even if he didn''t want to believe it, he had to. This whole thing was a setup aimed at him.


    Calm and collected, Walter said, "You''ve really gone all out. Think you can take me today?"


    Landon replied, "There''s nowhere left for you to run. Give up now, and you might still have a chance to live."


    Walter sneered, "You think I''m like you?" He pressed the gun against Calvin''s temple. "Go ahead, try me."


    Landon frowned. The situation was at a standstill, both sides tense and not making a move.


    Landon said, "Are you going to keep making mistakes?"


    Walterughed like he''d heard a joke. "Mistakes? Then tell me, what''s right? Like you? Is that right?"


    Landon stayed silent, staring straight at him, unable to answer. Right and wrong were subjective, defined by one''s own interests. What seemed right to one person might not be right to another.


    Just then, Abigail and Quinn showed up. They''d gotten Alexander''s message and rushed over, only to see this tense standoff.


    Abigail looked at Landon with joy. "You didn''t leave?"


    Landon nced at her but didn''t answer.


    Quinn anxiously looked at Calvin. "Calvin!"


    She wanted to step forward but stopped when she saw the gun in Walter''s hand.


    Walter looked at her and spoke slowly, "Quinn, do you want to save Calvin? Come over and trade yourself for him."


    Quinn was stunned. "Walter, do you know what you''re doing?"


    Walter replied, "Of course I do. I''m giving you a chance to save Calvin."


    Although Quinn was a more valuable bargaining chip, Calvin meant more to her.


    Quinn pleaded, "Walter, please stop. I''m begging you! Don''t you remember ying with Calvin when you were kids? Can you really do this?"


    Walter''s eyes flickered, maybe recalling the past, but only for a moment. He chuckled, "Why wouldn''t I? Quinn, there''s only one way to save Calvin. Either you kill me yourself, or youe over and trade yourself. Otherwise, if anyone else makes a move, I guarantee Calvin will die before I do."


    Quinn clenched her fists tightly. In the past, she would''ve gone over without hesitation. But now, if she went over, Walter would use her to threaten Alexander or others. This had happened once before, so she couldn''t risk it again. No matter what Quinn chose, someone would get hurt. Walter was giving her a cruel choice: Calvin or Alexander.


    Quinn''s fingers dug into her palms, her face extremely grim.


    Abigail looked at her with aplex expression. To be honest, she didn''t know how to advise her. Should she tell Quinn to go or not to go? From Quinn''s perspective, neither choice was right.novelbin


    Walter said, "What''s wrong? Afraid I''ll use you to threaten Alexander, so you don''t dare toe over? Are you going to abandon Calvin?"


    Heughed and looked down at Calvin. "Calvin, look, your sister chose your enemy. She''d rather watch you die thane to save you. How do you feel about that?"


    Calvin looked up at Quinn, who suddenly couldn''t meet his gaze.


    Suddenly, Quinn grabbed a gun from someone nearby and aimed it at Walter. Walter looked at her, his eyes showing aplex emotion, as if he had expected her to do this. However, when she actually did it, he couldn''t help but feel disappointed.


    Quinn said, "Walter, let him go."


    Walter''s eyes had already calmed down. He looked at Quinn and said, "Quinn, so this is your choice?"


    Quinn gripped the gun tightly, her fingers trembling slightly. If she could, she wouldn''t want to choose at all. Maybe she had hated Walter for a while, but it was just hate. She had never thought of killing him herself.


    Alexander had arrived at some point and was standing next to her. Walter saw him. "You''ve yed this game well."


    After speaking, he looked at the people opposite him. Everyone stood against him, including Quinn, who was pointing a gun at him. For a moment, a trace of fatigue shed in his eyes.


    "Dad," a boy''s voice came from the crowd, making Walter slightly stunned.


    Freya soon appeared, holding Peanut''s hand. At almost seven years old, Peanut had grown quickly, nearly reaching Freya''s shoulder. The scar on his face had faded significantly after treatment, and his eyes were no longer as vacant. He clutched Freya''s hand tightly, looking at Walter with a mix of nervousness and caution.


    Freya''s eyes were filled with tears, as if she had many things to say but kept them all inside.


    Walter stared at Peanut in a daze. "What did you call me?"


    Despite his nervousness, Peanut firmly called out, "Dad."


    Walter''s gaze shifted to Alexander. Quinn and Abigail also looked at Alexander in shock.


    Quinn asked, "What is going on?"


    Alexander took out a document from behind and threw it towards Walter. "Admit it or not, whether you acknowledge him as your son or not, you know the truth in your heart. Even if you switched the paternity test, deceiving yourself and trying to fool everyone, denying everything with Freya, denying your marriage, the facts are still the facts. Others might not know, but it will always haunt you."


    Walter caught the document but didn''t look at it. "Alexander, at this point, you''re still doing this. What do you want?"


    Alexander replied, "Because I know what you''re trying to do." He raised his hand, pressing down Quinn''s arm and taking the gun from her. "I won''t give you that chance."


    Quinn suddenly looked at Alexander. She seemed to understand Walter''s intention; everything he had done was to force her to kill him.


    Walter burst intoughter. The wind by the sea was strong, making his suit p loudly. Hisughter was carried away by the wind, drifting far over the sea.


    The arrival of Freya, Peanut, and this document had shattered all his facades.


    Quinn looked at Peanut. Previously, his scars had made it hard to see his features clearly, but now that they had faded. Quinn was stunned by the resemnce. For a moment, it felt like she was looking at a young Walter, especially those eyes. So, Peanut really was Walter''s son?


    Walter made every effort to deny his rtionship with Peanut, treating him so coldly and indifferently that everyone, including Freya, was convinced Peanut wasn''t his son.


    Freya choked out, "Is it so hard for you to admit that Peanut is your son and that we were together?"


    Alexander said, "Walter first approached you out of revenge. He constantly told Quinn that she had fallen for her enemy, mocking her repeatedly. How could he admit to being the very person he despised? Besides, he had to preserve his image of being deeply in love."


    Every time Walter scorned Quinn, he was also cursing himself. He projected all his self-loathing onto Quinn. His so-called deep affection now seemed so ridiculous.


    Freya, with tear-filled eyes, looked at Walter and suddenlyughed. Did this mean that Walter had once had feelings for her, even if just for a moment? His calcted approach was undeniable, but she had given her all every moment she was with him.


    Freya said, "Walter, it''s nothing. Before I went to prison, didn''t I also think I couldn''t ept it? Look at me now, haven''t I moved on?"


    Walter interrupted her, "Shut up. You don''t understand. Don''t speak."


    He looked at the others, sneering, "Don''t treat me like Landon, and don''t try to persuade me to turn back. I''m not him, and I won''t turn back."


    With that, he pressed the gun tightly against Calvin''s temple.


    Quinn was startled. "Walter, don''t act rashly!"


    Peanut took a step forward, mustering the courage to say to Walter, "Dad, don''t leave me and Mom."


    Walter gave him a cold look. "Don''t call me that. I''m not your dad!"


    Freya said, "You still won''t acknowledge him? If you don''t recognize him, why did you treat him? You hurt him before. Now that he''s better, you won''t even let him call you Dad?"

 Chapter 1570

    Peanut stared at him, tears welling up but refusing to fall.


    Walter already didn''t like him. If he started crying, it would only make things worse.


    He looked at Walter with hopeful eyes, wishing he''de over or at least acknowledge him as his son.


    Maybe he was being greedy, hoping for a family reunion. He just wanted a happy family like other kids.


    But it seemed like none of his hopes woulde true.


    Walter stood there, looking at Peanut with cold, emotionless eyes, like he was a stranger.


    He still refused to acknowledge Peanut as his son.


    Walter closed his eyes and took a deep breath.


    When he opened them again, he had that invincible smile back on his face.


    He grabbed Calvin from the ground and said to Alexander, "No need to say anything, Alexander. This farce has gone on long enough. As a reward for your victory, I''ll help you onest time." Then he pulled the trigger.


    But someone shot him in the chest before he could fire.


    Blood immediately soaked his dark red shirt. He just frowned slightly and smiled.


    Quinn stared at him and the gun in his hand, shaking her head desperately. "No, Walter!"


    Walter gave her onest look. With all his remaining strength, he pulled the trigger.


    As his gun fired, countless other gunshots rang out, all hitting him.


    But he seemed determined to kill Calvin. Even after being shot multiple times, he still managed to fire that shot.


    The bullet entered Calvin''s temple, and Quinn felt her vision go ck as she copsed.


    Alexander quickly caught her. "Quinn!"


    Freya tried to rush over but was stopped. She reached out, trying to grab Walter, but they were too far apart.


    "Walter," Freya cried out.


    Peanut stood there in a daze, staring at Walter not far away, his fingers slowly curling into fists.


    Walter held onto Calvin''s clothes, his final gaze fixed on Freya''s face. No one could understand what he was thinking at that moment.


    He and Calvin both fell backward.


    Freya broke free from her restraints and stumbled forward. "Walter!"


    She fell to the edge of the cliff, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t catch even a piece of Walter''s clothing.


    Walter and Calvin fell off the high cliff into the churning sea, creatingrge sshes, and the water turned red.


    Freyay on the edge of the cliff, tears streaming down her face. She stared at the sea for what felt like an eternity. Even when the water turned blue again, no one emerged.


    Her sorrow slowly turned into anger and hatred.


    Freya thought bitterly, ''Walter, you are so cruel. You didn''t leave Peanut anyst words, making him suffer from ack of fatherly love at such a young age and witness your death. What kind of person will Peanut be in the future?'' Abigail exchanged a nce with Landon.


    She didn''t know whether to be grateful that Landon was still willing toe back; otherwise, she might have faced the same situation.


    She quietly moved next to Landon and held his hand.


    Landon was startled, looking down at their joined hands. This time, he didn''t pull away. Alexander picked up the unconscious Quinn and said to Landon, "I''ll leave this to you." Landon nodded slightly.


    After he left, the people sent by Hugo filmed everything and then left with their crew.


    Landon and the others needed to retrieve the bodies from the sea. The water was too deep to do it now; they had to wait for the bodies to float up.


    Abigail said, "There are fish in the sea, right? Won''t the bodies be eaten?"


    "I don''t know. If that''s the case, it would be better," Landon replied.


    Abigail gave him a surprised look.


    Landon exined, "Walter probably wouldn''t want his body to be retrieved; otherwise, he wouldn''t havee here."


    When they heard the helicopter, Walter''s first reaction wasn''t to escape but to bring Calvin here.


    At that moment, he had already prepared for the worst.


    He wouldn''t leave his body to them.


    Abigail couldn''t help but sigh. "Walter was really strange. It''s one thing for him to die, but dragging Calvin down with him? Quinn will be so heartbroken when she wakes up." Hearing this, Landon gave her a meaningful look.


    Abigail held his hand. "Now that Walter is dead, does this mean you''ve made a great contribution? You won''t have to go to jail, right?"


    Landon didn''t answer her question.


    Abigail pressed, "Why aren''t you saying anything? Do you have to capture him alive? Walter was shot so many times, even a god would be dead."


    He was hit by so many bullets, and one was right between his eyes. He couldn''t possibly survive that.


    Landon let go of her hand. "Alright, you should go back. Quinn needs you now."


    Abigail shot back, "She''s got Alexander with her. What can I do? And where the heck have you been? I couldn''t find you anywhere."


    Landon replied, "We''ll talk about itter."


    It was clear he didn''t want to chat much with Abigail. Still thrilled to see him, Abigail, sensing his reluctance, went to ask others if Landon would still have to go to jail. Her nonstop talking was getting on everyone''s nerves.


    Meanwhile, Peanut walked over to Freya and squatted down, quietly watching the turbulent sea below.


    After a while, Freya wiped the tears from her face, got up from the ground, and touched Peanut''s cheek. "Peanut, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have brought you here." She thought bringing Peanut would stir Walter''s conscience. Only now did she understand that Walter had no conscience at all.


    Walter was utterly heartless.


    Peanut shook his head, tightly gripping her hand, looking at her with determination. He didn''t speak, but it seemed he had made some kind of decision.


    The sea waves crashed against the rocks, and the sun slowly set over the horizon, casting a beautiful orange-red glow over the ocean.


    The cliff returned to its peaceful state, as if nothing had happened. Even the wind became gentler, carrying the scent of the sea, and the scenery remained beautiful.


    It was as if Walter had never been there. He had been present for only a few hours before disappearing. If you didn''t consciously think about his fall, it felt as though he was still alive somewhere in the world. Quinn woke up from a dream, suddenly opening her eyes. "Calvin!"


    Seeing the ceiling above her, she was momentarily confused, unsure if what had happened was real or a dream.


    "You''re awake?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn followed the voice and saw Alexander sitting beside her. Looking around, she realized they were back at Regal Riverside.


    She looked at Alexander in confusion and hesitantly asked, "Did we go to an ind?"


    Alexander nodded slightly. "Yes."


    Quinn''s heart sank as the memories she had blocked out resurfaced, and tears uncontrobly streamed down her face. "Calvin, he..."


    Alexander''s expression wasplicated. He opened his mouth but hesitated to speak.


    His reaction left Quinn at a loss. She grabbed his arm tightly, staring at him. "Is Calvin really dead?"


    Alexander didn''t say anything.


    "And Walter too?" Quinn continued.


    "Quinn, you should rest. Don''t ask anymore," Alexander advised.


    Quinn''s eyes flickered, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She let her hand fall weakly. "Why did it have to be like this?" Alexander''s phone rang. He nced at Quinn and stepped out to take the call.


    Quinn sat on the bed, dazed, her mind in turmoil.


    She never expected things to turn out this way.


    She had been thinking that if Calvin had nowhere to go, he mighte to her.


    She had even thought about how to arrange things for him. If he was willing to stay, she would find a way to help him live well.


    She had taught Sprout for a long time and wondered what Calvin''s reaction would be if he heard Sprout call him uncle. Now, everything was gone.


    "Mommy," Sprout called out.


    Quinn looked down and saw Sprout standing by the bed, his little hands gripping the edge, looking up at her with big eyes.novelbin


    He seemed to sense her sadness and didn''t smile as he usually did. Instead, he pouted and frowned.


    Quinn''s expression softened. She bent down and picked up Sprout.


    Her fingers brushed over his brow. "Why are you frowning? Do you have worries too, at such a young age?"


    Sprout reached out his little hand to touch her face, as if trying to wipe away her tears.


    Quinn bit her lip, took a deep breath, and held back her tears.


    She held Sprout''s hand. "Mommy''s fine."


    Alexander walked back in and sat down beside her again. "Let me take him."


    "It''s okay. I''ll hold him." Quinn''s mood had calmed a bit. She asked Alexander, "How many days has it been?"


    "Two days," Alexander replied.


    "And their bodies?" Quinn pressed.


    Alexander hesitated. "We haven''t found them."


    No news was the best news. Although given the circumstances, their chances of survival were slim.


    At least she couldfort herself with that thought.


    Alexander didn''t say anything more. The sea had all kinds of creatures, and it was possible for the bodies to be eaten by fish.


    He justforted Quinn. "We''ve both been through near-death experiences. Maybe one day we''ll see Calvin somewhere else."


    Quinn nodded. "You''re right. Maybe he is still alive."


    She couldn''t help but think of what Walter had said to Alexander. She suddenly asked Alexander, "What did Walter mean when he said he''d help you onest time?" Alexander looked at her for a moment, then casually took Sprout. "How often has he ever told the truth? Don''t overthink it."


    Quinn looked at him suspiciously. "Really?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1571

    "You''ve been out cold for two days. Get up and grab a bite," Alexander said, taking Sprout from her arms and heading out of the bedroom.


    Quinn sat on the bed, looking dazed and empty-eyed. She had seen Walter shoot Calvin in the head. Deep down, she knew that not finding the body and pretending he might still be alive was just a way tofort herself. She wasn''t really hungry, but to keep Alexander from worrying, she forced herself to eat a little before heading back to her room.


    Abigail and Landon came back together. They had waited by the sea for days, hoping to see the body float up. After spending two more days searching the nearby waters and finding nothing, they had to return. Abigail went home first, bracing for a stormy confrontation, but was surprised by the calm.


    Nancy came up and hugged Abigail, crying, while Alvin sat nearby, silent.


    "d you''re back," Oliver said. "Mom, there are still people here."


    Nancy wiped her tears, let go of Abigail, and looked up at Landon behind her.


    Now the whole family knew Abigail waspletely devoted to Landon. They had been worried sick during her long disappearance, fearing something had happened to her.


    So, when Landon showed up, despite their dislike for him, they had to reluctantly ept him.


    "Have a seat," Oliver said.


    Only then did Landon sit down. Abigail, holding Nancy''s arm, asked, "Is this officially meeting the parents?"


    Alvin snorted, "Who meets the parents for the first time empty-handed?"


    Though his tone was unfriendly, asking Landon for a gift was a way of acknowledging him as a future son-inw.


    Abigail protested, "We came home as soon as we got back to Amber Bay. There was no time to buy a gift!"


    Alvin red at her. "You haven''t married him yet, and you''re already defending him?"


    Abigail pouted and nced at Landon.


    She had been worried that once they returned to Amber Bay, Landon would be taken away again. But to her surprise, Landon coulde back with her.


    Although she didn''t understand the details, she knew it meant Landon was fine.


    In the past, Landon kept distancing himself from her.


    So, she was worried Alvin might scare him away.


    Landon said respectfully, "We came in a hurry this time. Please forgive us, Alvin." Alvin snorted again. Putting aside past issues, he actually admired Landon.


    He didn''t linger on the gift thing and asked, "So, what''s the n for the future?"


    Landon nced at Abigail. "Honestly, I''ll just follow her lead."


    The whole family was stunned, including Abigail. They expected Landon to talk about working hard, helping with the family business, or turning over a new leaf. But his answer left everyone speechless. Oliver had rushed back, hoping Landon would pitch in at thepany. Now it seemed like his trip was a waste.


    Nancy quickly jumped in, "That''s actually a good sign. It shows you two are solid. Abigail''s not getting any younger; it''s time to think about marriage. Plus, wouldn''t you love to have grandkids soon? Oliver and Abigail could each give you one, double the joy!"


    "So, when are you nning to get married?" Alvin asked.


    Abigail shrugged, "Marriage is just a piece of paper. We can do it now."


    Alvin red at her, looking exasperated. Who gets married so eagerly? Abigail was the first!


    Oliver chimed in, "Abigail has a point. You can get the marriage certificate first. Given Landon''s current situation, a big wedding might not be the best idea."


    He looked at Landon. "Landon, what do you think?"


    "I don''t mind. But if we skip the wedding, won''t that be unfair to Abigail?" Landon replied.


    "No, it''s not unfair!" Abigail was so excited she almost jumped up, but Nancy held her down.


    Beforeing back, Abigail hadn''t thought they would discuss this, let alone that Landon would agree so easily. She thought she would have to chase him for a long time. This was an unexpected joy.


    Oliver said, "It''s fine. You can always have a weddingter. The main thing is to have a legitimate status together. Abigail seems quite eager."


    Alvin grumbled, "She''s almost thirty. Of course, she''s eager. If she waits any longer, she''ll be an old woman."


    Nancy was worried about something else. "Yeah, the older you get, the riskier it is to have kids. You should have them soon."


    Abigail blushed for once. "Mom, why are you talking about this!"


    "What''s there to be shy about? You''ll go through it once you''re married anyway," Nancy said with a straight face.


    After much discussion, they decided not to rush to sign the marriage certificate. Alvin wanted to find an auspicious day.


    As for whether Landon would join thepany, that wasn''t important. The most important thing now was having kids.


    Alvin also insisted that the kids should take the Vanderbilt family name, and Landon agreed. Only then did Alvin show him a kinder face.


    Landon got up to leave, and Abigail wanted to follow, but her family held her back.


    She also wanted to check on Quinn, but it seemed impossible now.


    Abigail had been gone for months, and now that she was finally back, her family wasn''t about to let her leave so easily.


    That night, while lying in bed, Abigail called Quinn and filled her in on everything.


    "Congrats," Quinn said, genuinely happy for her. She and Landon had been through so much and were finally heading towards a happy ending.


    Abigail''s voice was full of joy. "All that waiting on the ind paid off. Persistence really does pay off."


    Then her tone got serious. "By the way, are you okay now?"


    "I''m fine," Quinn replied.


    "Don''t be too sad. Walter is dead, so you got your revenge. Try to move on; Sprout and Brandy need you," Abigail advised.


    Quinn was silent for a long time before softly saying, "I know."


    Whenever Abigail mentioned Walter''s death, Quinn would think of Calvin''s death too.


    Sometimes she couldn''t tell if she couldn''t ept Calvin''s death and thus didn''t want to talk about Walter''s death, or if she just couldn''t ept the deaths of both of them. Lately, she had been dreaming a lot, often about her childhood. The time she spent with Calvin as a child was far less than the time she spent with Walter.


    As a kid, she really liked Lucas. That forgotten emotion kept reying vividly in her dreams.


    But Lucas had be Walter. To Quinn, they were two different people.


    Walter came to the Kennedy family for revenge, did so many things. However, in the end, he found out it was all a farce.


    What he wanted, he didn''t get. What he didn''t want, he couldn''t let go of.


    Maybe in the end, even Walter himself didn''t know what he wanted. He could only follow the path he had set, never looking back.


    He kept going and making mistakes until there was no turning back.


    Why did he run towards the cliff when he heard the helicopter, instead of trying to escape?novelbin


    Why did he show no breakdown, anger, or resentment at being outsmarted? Why did he ept death so calmly?


    Everyone wanted Walter to turn back, but he trapped himself in ce. All along, it was Walter who couldn''t forgive himself. While torturing himself, he also tortured others.


    It seemed that seeing others in pain gave him a sense of resonance and psychological bnce, thus finding the motive to live.


    Even Landon chose to turn back and start over, standing on the side of justice against Walter. What was Walter thinking then? Did he despise Landon, or envy him for having a chance to start over?


    All these questions went unanswered, sinking to the bottom of the sea with Walter.


    The date for Abigail and Landon''s marriage was set for seven dayster.


    Quinn should have gone to congratte Abigail, but a sudden illness left her bedridden, making it difficult even to get out of bed.


    Alexander was really worried. He consulted several doctors, but none could diagnose the illness. They prescribed a bunch of medications, but none worked. Finally, Alexander somehow managed to bring Soren back. When Soren stumbled in with his medical kit, Quinn couldn''t help butugh at the familiar sight.


    Soren wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, cursing inwardly. He had hidden in a remote corner, yet still got dragged back.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, long time no see," Soren greeted her awkwardly.


    Quinn leaned against the headboard, her face pale. "It has been a while. Your medical skills must have improved a lot by now."


    "Let me take a look at you first," Soren said, taking Quinn''s hand to diagnose her.


    Quinn said, "I''m fine. Alexander is just overreacting."


    Soren nced at the stern-faced Alexander and forced a smile, focusing on diagnosing Quinn.


    After a while, Soren let go of Quinn''s hand.


    Alexander asked, "How is she?"


    Soren said, "She''s just physically weak and overthinking. Have you been eating enoughtely? You were already weak, and you barely recovered with medication. Now, without proper nutrition and with all this overthinking, you''ve undone all your progress. I told you before, you can''t get sick. One illness and you''re back to square one."


    "Is that so?" Quinn asked.


    Soren nodded, also relieved. Seeing Quinn''s haggard appearance when he entered, he thought they were still at odds, which had scared him.


    Soren said, "It''s nothing serious. I''ll prescribe some medicine. Just take it regrly and keep a positive mood, and you''ll recover soon."


    He then packed up his kit and went downstairs to write the prescription, leaving Alexander and Quinn alone in the room.


    Alexander sat beside her, holding her hand. "Are you still thinking about Calvin?"

 Chapter 1572

    Quinn shook her head. "Nope, it''s just me."


    She opened her mouth, unsure how to exin, so she switched gears. "I''m fine. Didn''t Soren say? I''ll be better soon."


    Alexander thought for a moment, then sighed. "Calvin''s not dead."


    Quinn was stunned and stared at Alexander in shock. "What did you just say?"


    Alexander let go of her hand and grabbed her shoulders, trying to get her to lie down. "You need to rest first. When you''re better, I''ll take you to see him."


    Quinn looked at him closely, unsure if he was telling the truth or just trying to make her feel better.


    "Are you serious?" she asked.


    Alexander nodded. "So stop overthinking and focus on getting better, okay?"


    Quinn hesitated for a moment, then nodded.


    Whether it was true or just a way tofort her, she was willing to believe him. At least it gave her hope.


    Shey down on the bed, and after a while, Soren brought the medicine.


    Thinking about seeing Calvin, Quinn drank the medicine quickly.


    Soren sighed with relief. This time felt different; he was worried that if she and Alexander were at odds, Quinn wouldn''t take the medicine, and Alexander would me him.


    Seeing Quinn drink it, he awkwardly took the bowl and nced at the door. Seeing that Alexander wasn''t there, he asked quietly, "Mrs. Kennedy, did Mr. Kennedy upset you again?" Quinn looked at him puzzled. "Why do you ask?"


    Soren grinned. "Just a guess. It''s been a while since west met."


    Quinn smiled. "No, don''t overthink it. We''re fine."


    "That''s good, then I''m relieved," Soren said, standing up with the bowl. "Rest well. I''ll head downstairs."


    Quinn nodded.


    After Soren came out, he saw two kids ying in the hall. They were sitting on the floor ying with sand; Sprout was shoveling randomly, and Brandy was building something unrecognizable, but they were having a st. Soren couldn''t help but sigh, ''Time really flies.''


    Thest time he saw Quinn, she hadn''t even met Alexander. But now, their kids were already so big.


    Later, Abigail and Landon arrived.


    Abigail originally came to see Quinn, but when she saw the two kids, she immediately ran over and squatted in front of them. "Hey there," Abigail greeted.


    The kids looked up at Abigail, their eyes full of confusion, clearly not recognizing her.


    Abigail was a bit upset and said, "Don''t you remember me?"


    Sprout stared at her for a bit, mumbling something she couldn''t make out. She turned to Brandy with a smile, "Do you recognize me?" Brandy tilted her head, looking totally confused.


    Kids'' memories are so short. It hadn''t been that long since theyst saw each other, but Brandy already seemed to have forgotten Abigail. After a moment of staring and not recognizing her, they went back to ying with their sand.


    "You little rascals, you forgot about me! And I bought you so many things before!" Abigail eximed.


    Alexander came downstairs and exchanged a nce with Landon, making things a bit awkward. Landon nodded at him.


    Not in the mood for small talk, Alexander asked straight up, "Why are you here?"


    Abigail turned around and said, "Quinn''s sick, right? I came to see her."


    Then she suddenly pped her forehead. "I almost forgot, I need to see her first!"


    She then got up and ran upstairs.


    Watching her cheerful back, Alexander looked away and nced at Landon. "Make yourself at home."


    Landon sat down on the sofa. Briar brought over some coffee, and Soren came to report Quinn''s condition to Alexander.


    Soren said, "Mrs. Kennedy took the medicine and seems to be in a much better mood. She should recover soon." Alexander nodded, signaling him to leave.


    Turning around, he noticed Landon staring at the two kids. Alexander asked, "What, thinking about having kids?" Landon looked away and shook his head. "I just feel like time is passing quickly."


    "When you reach a certain age, your perception of time speeds up. It''s normal," Alexander said.


    Landon nodded, not denying his words.


    Then, both fell into silence.


    It felt like something was missing.


    Without someone causing trouble, they seemed to have nothing to do, sitting together not knowing what to talk about.


    If they had to talk about something, it would be about the kids.


    Landon asked, "Are they starting school soon?"


    Alexander replied, "Not yet, maybe in a couple of years."


    After saying that, he thought of something. "If you want kids, you should hurry. Otherwise, when my son grows up, your son will only get bullied by him."


    Landon frowned and looked at him, displeased. "Is that how you educate your son?"


    Alexander countered, "You''re wrong. I educate my daughter the same way."


    Upstairs, Abigail looked at Quinn worriedly. "How did you get sick all of a sudden? Is it serious?"


    "No big deal. Why are you all making such a fuss? I''m fine," Quinn reassured.


    "Your face is so pale, and you say you''re fine. You always do this. I''m tired of telling you," Abigail said.


    Quinn smiled and subtly changed the subject. "Did you get your marriage certificate?"novelbin


    Abigail immediately lit up and quickly pulled out two booklets from her pocket. "Look, we got them yesterday, fresh off the press."


    Quinn took them and looked at the photo of the two sitting side by side. Abigail was smiling happily, while Landon looked reluctant, clearly forced into it. "Congrattions," Quinn said.


    "Thank you." Abigail carefully put the marriage certificates back into her pocket.


    Abigail, who once said only crazy people get married, was now married, with happiness all over her face.


    So, you should never speak too definitively or act too decisively.


    Abigail didn''t keep her promise and was now thinking about having kids with Landon every day.


    "Abigail, now that you''re married, what are your ns?" Quinn asked.


    "What ns? We''ll just go with the flow. The immediate task is to have a baby, preferably a daughter, who will be about the same age as Sprout. How about they get married in the future?" Abigail suggested. Quinn twitched her mouth. "You''re thinking that far ahead? What if it''s a boy?"


    "If it''s a boy, then he can marry Brandy," Abigail replied.


    "I think you just want to have kids. I remember you once said you''d only have kids with a man you truly love. How much do you love Landon now?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail looked a bit embarrassed. "Let''s not bring up the past. People change."


    She sighed. "I think we shouldn''t be too hung up on marriage. Married or not, as long as you''re happy, that''s what matters. If you meet the right person, get married. If not, don''t. Rushing into marriage because of age or sticking to a vow of never marrying is wrong. Life should be full of unknowns and choices to be meaningful. A life nned out to the end is boring."


    Quinn couldn''t help but smile.


    She didn''t expect Abigail to say such words. It seemed she had indeed grown, and the experiences with Landon had given her a lot of insights.


    Abigail smiled. "Let''s not talk about this. When will you get better ande to our ce for dinner?"


    "Soon. Are you two living on your own now?" Quinn asked.


    "Not yet. We''re nning to move tomorrow, then we''ll live alone," Abigail replied.


    Quinn nodded. "That''s good."


    She noticed Abigail''s hair seemed longer. "Are you growing your hair out?"


    Abigail grabbed her shoulder-length hair and smiled shyly. "You noticed?"


    "Well, you''re married now, so you want to grow your hair longer," Quinn teased. Abigail didn''t want to admit she wanted to feel more feminine.


    Not only was she growing her hair, but her clothing style had also changed. She no longer wore those androgynous clothes, though she still wasn''t used to wearing skirts. Her clothes were more colorful now. Quinn couldn''t help but sigh, ''Love really can change a person.''


    It was good. Landon was usually quiet and serious, while Abigail was lively and talkative. Theyplemented each other well.


    Abigail only stayed for two hours before leaving. Being newly married, she had a lot to do, such as setting up their new home, so she didn''t stay for dinner.


    Since it was a marriage, everything had to be bought anew.


    After getting in the car, Abigail suddenly turned to Landon. "By the way, should we bring your mom over?"


    Landon''s hand paused on the steering wheel. "My mom?"


    Abigail chuckled. "Our mom. I''m not used to calling her that yet. When should we bring Aurora over? Does she know we''re married?"


    "Not yet. I''ll call herter and see when she''s avable, then we''ll bring her over," Landon replied.


    Abigail nodded eagerly. "Let''s go look at furniture first."


    Landon drove to the furniture market.


    Abigail linked her arm with Landon''s, and he suddenly paused, turning to look at her.


    "What are you looking at? It''s normal for me to link arms with my husband, isn''t it?" Abigail asked.


    Landon smiled and pulled her hand away. Just as Abigail''s face changed, Landon suddenly held her hand.


    Abigail was stunned.


    "Let''s go, honey." Landon held her hand and walked into the market. Abigail looked at their tightly held hands and her smile returned.


    "Are you really not going to work at ourpany?" Abigail asked.


    "No," Landon replied firmly.


    "If you don''t, how will you make money? How will you support me?" Abigail knew he was penniless now. His previous vi had been auctioned off, and the ce they were going to live in was part of the Vanderbilt family''s dowry for Abigail. "Are you nning to let me support you?" Abigail teased.


    Landon nced at her. "Will you support me?"


    "You''ve picked up bad habits from Alexander, haven''t you?" Abigail said.


    Alexander was also relying on Quinn now, but at least he was managing the Mellon Group, even though he wasn''t getting paid.

 Chapter 1573

    Abigail and Landon spent pretty much the whole day at the furniture market. Abigail didn''t really know much about this stuff, so whenever a salesperson hyped something up, she''d just buy it on the spot. Landon nudged her, "You''ve already bought eight sofas. Have you thought about where you''re gonna put them?"


    Abigail stopped, eyes wide. "Seriously?"


    Landon shook his head, a bit exasperated. "Yep. And not just that, you''ve also got six dining sets."


    Abigail grabbed his hand. "Why didn''t you stop me? What are we gonna do with all this stuff? Should we return it?"


    "You could always give them away," Landon suggested.


    Abigail thought for a second. That actually sounded like a good idea. She could use this chance to give Alvin, Nancy, and Oliver some gifts to show her appreciation.


    She gave Landon a thumbs up. "You''re right. Let''s not return them. I''ll give them out, and I''ll give one to Quinn too."


    Landon nodded.


    "So, what else do we need to buy?" Abigail asked.


    "Bedding," Landon replied.


    Abigail was taken aback for a moment, then quickly blushed. "What are you talking about in broad daylight?"


    Landon looked at her, deadpan. "I meant sheets and duvet covers."


    Abigail''s face turned even redder, feeling a bit embarrassed. She let go of Landon''s hand and walked away.


    After that, she headed to the supermarket. She didn''t ask any questions and just bought whatever caught her eye.


    Even though she wasn''t much of a cook, she didn''t miss a single kitchen utensil. By the end, the car was so packed it couldn''t fit anything else.


    Abigail slumped in her seat. "I''m so tired. I''ve never felt this exhausted, not even when I was traveling all over the world."


    Landon handed her a bottle of water, already opened.


    Abigail took the water, nced at him, and smiled. "Why are you being so nice now? I''m not used to it."


    "I can go back to how I was," Landon said.


    "No, stay like this. I want to live a few more years." Abigail took a few sips of water, thinking about how Landon used to annoy her. She definitely preferred him like this. After finishing the water, Abigail quickly perked up again.


    She still had to go back and set up her new home. The thought of living with Landon in the future gave her a burst of energy.


    When Oliver showed up, he saw her bustling around the house, directing the workers moving the furniture.


    Oliver sighed. "I''ve never seen her this hardworking at home."


    Landon nced at him. "What are you doing here?"


    Oliver grinned. "Just came to see how your setup is going."


    He looked at Abigail and sighed again. "It''s been a while since I''ve seen her this happy."


    Landon nced over too. Abigail was busy hanging a painting on the wall.


    Oliver patted Landon on the shoulder. "Take good care of her and live a good life."


    Landon didn''t say anything. His decision to marry Abigail was his answer.


    He didn''t agree to work for the Vanderbilt family just to avoid business disputes.


    "So, what''s your n? You''re not really gonna stay home and let Abigail support you, are you?" Oliver asked.


    Landon shrugged. "I want to find a job that doesn''t require much thinking. Maybe work in a factory, screwing bolts?"


    Oliver gave him a weird look. "Abigail probably wouldn''t go for that. Factories mean overtime. Would she let you work until ten every night?"


    As for what Landon did, even if it was sweeping the streets, Oliver didn''t care. Some people just have a knack for making money, no matter the job. Landon said, "We''ll see."


    Oliver nodded. "Alright, let''s not leave Abigail to do all the work. Let''s go help her."


    They could''ve hired a few workers to get everything done quickly, but Abigail insisted on doing it herself.


    It took three days to get everything sorted.


    When Quinn woke up early in the morning, her phone kept buzzing. She picked it up and saw that Abigail had added her to a group chat at some point.


    There were only eight people in the group. Besides Quinn and Alexander, there were Oliver and his wife Natalia, and Orion and Casey.


    If it weren''t for Orion chatting in the group, Quinn would''ve almost forgotten about him.


    The group seemed lively, but it was mostly just Orion and Abigail chatting. They could exchange thousands of messages a day, and Quinn didn''t bother to read through all the small talk. Alexander was also woken up by the group messages. He picked up his phone, looked at it, and then muted the group.


    Quinn, lying next to him, saw what he did. "Why''d you mute it?"


    "Too noisy," he said, putting down his phone and looking at Quinn. "How are you feeling today?"


    Quinn nodded. "Much better. You should tell Soren not to give me so many supplements. I''m almost getting nosebleeds from them."


    She had been taking medicine like meals these past few days. Even though they were supplements, she was getting tired of them. "Alright," Alexander agreed.


    Quinn said, "Abigail said she moved into a new house and wants to invite us over for dinner. Let''s go together."


    "Okay."


    Alexander pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair. "It''s still early. Let''s get some more sleep."


    Quinn didn''t want to get up so early either. Just as she was about to doze off again, she heard someone knocking on the door.


    Before she could sit up, Alexander got up first. "I''ll go."


    He walked to the bedroom door, opened it, and didn''t see anyone. Then he looked down.


    Sprout was standing there with a milk bottle, and the noise hade from him banging the bottle.


    Briar had made him some form and then went to cook. Sprout had climbed up from downstairs with the bottle and had urately found the bedroom. "Mr. Kennedy, I''m sorry. I''ll take him downstairs," Briar said.


    "No need. Go ahead with your work," Alexander replied.


    He looked down and made eye contact with Sprout. Sprout ignored him and wobbled into the room on his short legs. Sprout had learned to walk quickly since he could stand up, and now he could go up and down the stairs by himself. Quinn didn''t know who hade. When she sat up, she saw it was Sprout, who had already reached the bed. He put the bottle on the bed, then grabbed the edge of the bed with both hands, trying to climb up.


    Quinn found his behavior quite cute and quickly took out her phone to record a video.


    "Do you think he can make it up?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander smirked. "You''re overestimating him."


    Sprout struggled for a long time, then looked up at Quinn, puffing his cheeks in frustration.


    Quinn bent down to pick him up, pinching his cheeks. "Why did youe here?"


    Sprout picked up the bottle and handed it to Quinn, then sat in herp and started drinking.


    Quinn realized that Sprout had gone through all that trouble just to have her feed him.


    Alexander sighed. It seemed he wouldn''t be able to sleep anymore, so he went to the walk-in closet to change clothes.


    Not long after, Soren brought Quinn a bowl of medicine, whose smell made her feel like throwing up.


    "I think I''m much better now. Can I skip it?" Quinn asked.


    Soren said, "No, this isn''t an acute illness. It needs to be treated slowly. I''ve already reduced the dosage today. Just drink it." Quinn sighed and took the medicine.


    The taste was so strong that she felt like vomiting halfway through.


    Soren tilted his head, staring at her intently. "Could you be pregnant again?"


    Quinn froze. "How could that be?"


    Soren immediately asked her to extend her hand for a diagnosis.


    Quinn watched him nervously. Soren''s serious expression made her even more anxious.


    She and Alexander had sex so rarely that once a week was considered good, and they always took precautions. It seemed unlikely.


    Soren withdrew his hand.


    "How is it?" Quinn asked.


    Soren said, "It''s fine. You''re not pregnant."


    Quinn let out a sigh of relief. "You scared me."


    Soren chuckled. "What''s the big deal? If you''re healthy, you should have more kids while you''re young. Don''t waste the good genes you and Mr. Kennedy have." "Two are already exhausting enough. If I have more, I might as well not live," Quinn replied.


    And that was with Brandy being well-behaved. If both kids were as troublesome as Sprout, she couldn''t imagine how chaotic the house would be.novelbin


    Quinn now understood why parents preferred obedient children.


    Sprout was a handful; she felt like spanking him three times a day.


    In the evening, they went to Abigail''s new house for dinner. In the afternoon, Quinn wanted to go out to pick a gift for them, but Alexander didn''t agree.


    It was hot, and the afternoon sun was intense. If she got too hot and then too cold, she might fall ill again.


    So she had to wait at home until the sun set, and then Alexander apanied her out.


    This was Quinn''s first time out in days. Breathing in the fresh air made her feel much better.


    "What kind of gift should we get them?" Quinn had no idea, so she took out her phone to look it up online. Alexander said, "Cash."


    "That''s too tacky," Quinn replied.


    Alexander didn''tment further. He knew she just wanted to go out and shop; buying a gift was secondary.


    They visited two malls and various gift shops.


    Quinn bought several sets of clothes for Abigail, as well as cosmetics and skincare products. Abigail had mentioned wanting to feel more feminine, so Quinn bought her aplete set. Although she didn''t know much about these things, she knew a bit more than Abigail.


    When she saw a multifunctional breakfast maker, she excitedly pulled Alexander over. "I think they really need this. Abigail''s terrible cooking skills need this to save her."


    Alexander agreed. "Good idea."


    And it wasn''t too expensive, only a bit over thirty thousand dors.


    Alexander sighed. "You bought her a breakfast maker that costs more than my half-year allowance."


    Quinn nced back at him. "You don''t buy anything anyway, and you were the one who said that men with money will fool around outside. You told me to keep you in check. Are you going back on your word?" "No, I''m not," Alexander replied.


    "Then that''s settled. Besides, I think you probably have money I don''t know about," Quinn said.

 Chapter 1574

    Alexander sighed, "Seriously, I don''t have any. You know all my passwords, and most of my ounts are linked to your card. If you don''t believe me, go check." Quinn chuckled, "Rx, I was just messing with you. I believe you."


    Honestly, she didn''t care if Alexander had money or not. It was all about his self-control. If he didn''t have the willpower, even if she held all the money, he''d find a way to get more. What mattered was his attitude. Quinn knew Alexander was doing all this to make it up to her.


    The store clerk had already packed up the breakfast machine. Alexander grabbed it and headed out with the stuff.


    As they were going downstairs, they bumped into someone familiar.


    Quinn was a bit surprised.


    Freya looked shocked too. They stared at each other for a moment, unsure whether to say hi or not.


    Finally, Freya walked over with Peanut, forcing a smile. "Hey, Alexander, Quinn."


    She used to call Quinn her sister-inw, but now Alexander had nothing to do with the Kennedy family.


    After all, they had lived together for years. Some bonds went beyond blood.


    Maybe Freya, having lost everything, wanted to cling to thisst bit of family connection so she and Peanut wouldn''t feel so alone.


    Quinn nodded, "Shopping for something?"


    Freya replied, "Yeah, getting a suitcase. Peanut and I are leaving in a few days."


    Quinn nced at Peanut. He seemed fine but didn''t say much. He didn''t greet them or even look at them, just stared off into space.


    Peanut had a rough life. Even though Abigail and Landon reunited, Peanut still had a broken family.


    He never felt a father''s love. When Walter died, he didn''t leave Peanut with any. It''s hard to imagine how Peanut would heal from that childhood trauma. Quinn sighed inwardly and looked away. "Where are you headed?"


    Freya thought for a moment, "Probably abroad."


    Quinn didn''t expect that, but it was probably for the best. Going abroad meant a clean break from the past, a chance to start fresh.


    "Do you have enough money?" Quinn asked.


    Freya nodded. "Yeah, actually, I found out Peanut has an ount with over two hundred million dors."


    Quinn was surprised. "How did you find out?"


    Freya exined, "I found out when I went to the bank to handle his paperwork." Her eyes reddened, "He never told me, so I never knew." Quinn felt a mix of emotions.


    All these years, she never really got Walter.novelbin


    When did he stash two hundred million in Peanut''s ount, and what was he thinking?


    If he didn''t want to acknowledge Peanut as his son, why do this? And if he wanted to keep it a secret, the money would eventually give it away.


    Freya choked up, "I really don''t know what he meant."


    Quinn guessed, "Maybe Walter didn''t know when he''d die, so he saved this money. It was his way of making up for everything, maybe thest bit of kindness he had left." Freya wiped her tears. "So, he never really nned on living, did he?"


    "Probably," Quinn sighed. Walter was a proud man who had been pretending for too long. When his true self was exposed, there was only one way out.


    Freya was silent for a long time.


    "I get it. I''ll be going now," Freya said, taking Peanut and turning to leave.


    Quinn watched them walk away and couldn''t help but sigh.


    Alexander held her hand. "Come on, let''s go. Don''t overthink it."


    Quinn replied, "Okay, but where exactly is Calvin now? Can''t I call him?"


    Alexander said, "Be patient. Wait until you recover."


    Quinn looked at him suspiciously, feeling like he was hiding something.


    They left the mall and headed to Abigail''s house.


    Quinn hadn''t seen Abigail''s new ce yet and was surprised to find it wasn''t far. It only took fifteen minutes to drive from Regal Riverside.


    Quinn sent a message to Abigail, who immediately ran out to greet them.


    Abigail looked at them in astonishment. "You bought so much stuff?" She started pulling out bags from the car. "What did you get?" Quinn handed her the clothes and cosmetics. "Stuff you can use. I think these clothes will look great on you."


    Abigail replied, "I have so many clothes already, and you still bought me more."


    Quinnughed. "What kind of clothes do you have?"


    The yellow floral shirt she was wearing looked bright, but someone who didn''t know might think she was going to work in the fields.


    Quinn handed her the breakfast machine. "This is a breakfast machine. It''s super convenient. You can fry eggs, make sandwiches, steam eggs, cook porridge. It does a lot, and you can figure it out." Abigail liked the breakfast machine more than the clothes. "I never thought of buying this. Quinn, you''re so thoughtful. This is awesome. I really need this!"


    Quinn smiled. "As long as you like it."


    Abigail said, "Alright,e on in. Orion should be here soon."


    Quinn was surprised. "Orion''sing too?"


    Abigail exined, "Yeah, after all we''ve been through, how could he miss my wedding? He said he was getting on a ne this morning, so he should be here soon."


    That time when their motorcycle fell into the river, they almost died together, and then they stayed in the hospital for so many days. Abigail and Orion had built a pretty solid bond.


    Orion was so surprised when he found out Abigail was getting married that he chatted in the group for a long time this morning.


    It was a cozy two-story vi, not as big as Regal Riverside, but perfect for Abigail and Landon.


    Oliver and Natalia had arrived early. Since they were going to have a meal, someone had to cook. Abigail definitely couldn''t handle cooking for so many people.


    So, the task fell to Natalia.


    Natalia and Oliver had just returned with groceries, and there was a pile of ingredients on the floor.


    Oliver said, "That''s a lot. Can you handle it all by yourself?"


    Natalia replied, "No worries, it''s still early. I''ll take my time. You can help me."


    Oliver agreed, "Alright."


    Quinn hadn''t met Natalia before. When they got married, Quinn wasn''t in Amber Bay, so this was their first meeting.


    Seeing that they were busy, Quinn offered to help.


    Abigail stopped her. "You''re still not fully recovered. You shouldn''t go."


    Quinn reassured her, "It''s fine. I''m almost better. I''ve been lying in bed for days, and I need to move around a bit. Besides, if we wait for them to finish, who knows when we''ll get to eat." Unable to persuade her, Abigail relented. "Alright then, let''s go together."


    Abigail couldn''t just sit back and do nothing; she went in to help as well.


    Only Alexander and Landon were left outside. They silently found ces to sit. To ease the awkwardness, Landon turned on the TV.


    So, no one weed Orion when he arrived.


    He and Casey stood at the door, looking around, thinking they hade to the wrong ce.


    It wasn''t until they saw Alexander inside that Orion realized they were in the right ce.


    Orion awkwardly walked in. "Just the two of you?"


    He felt even more awkward once inside.


    He wasn''t familiar with Landon and had a grudge against Alexander, so he took Casey to sit somewhere else.


    They sat in different spots, each far apart.


    Casey sat down and pulled a book from her backpack. She was even wearing sses now.


    Abigail came out and saw this odd scene, feeling a bit confused. "Why are you all sitting so far apart? Are you afraid of catching something from each other?"


    Orion immediately stood up and picked up a cage by his feet. "Abigail, I brought you a gift."


    Abigail nced at it. "You brought me two dogs?"


    The two dogs were Huskies, pacing around in the cage.


    Orion smiled awkwardly. "I didn''t know what you liked, so I brought you my specialty."


    Abigail took the cage. "That''s fine. How are things going over there?"


    Orion replied, "Pretty good. We have two rescue stations now and five pet hospitals, all thanks to Quinn''s financial support."


    Orion became very enthusiastic when he talked about his work. He spent most of his time rescuing animals and had even started several video ounts to share his efforts.


    He shared these ounts with Abigail, which featured mostly rescue videos and various animal clips.


    People would message or tag Orion when they found animals in need of rescue, and he would go if he could. As the videos gained more attention, more people sought his help. He now wanted to set up more rescue stations in other cities. All of this was still in progress. Orion couldn''t do it alone, so he started a foundation and gathered many kind-hearted people to help.


    After hearing about his ns, Abigail couldn''t help but praise him. Orion truly loved animals and had always stuck to his passion, now making a significant impact.


    As Orion''s work grew, Charles no longer interfered and even asionally used Orion for publicity.


    Initially, Orion was very resistant to being used for promotion. However,ter, he realized that with Charles''s influence, he gained more support, donations, and adoptions. More kind-hearted people joined, so he no longer minded. As long as it helped more animals, that was enough.


    Abigail nced at Casey beside him, surprised. "Why is she wearing sses now?"


    Orion replied, "It''s from reading. She reads whenever she has free time."


    Abigail nced at the book she was reading, which was about veterinary medicine. "Impressive."


    Casey used to be illiterate, and now she could read medical books. Abigail patted Orion''s shoulder heavily. "You''ve done a great job."


    Abigail''s eyes had a hint of teasing. She nudged Orion''s arm and lowered her voice so only the two of them could hear, "Are you trying to groom her? How far have you gotten?"

 Chapter 1575

    Orion was caught off guard for a second, then shot her an annoyed look. "Cut the crap!"


    Casey heard the noise and nced up, looking confused. "What are you guys talking about?"


    Orion quickly said, "Nothing. Just keep reading your book."


    Casey gave them a suspicious look but went back to her book. She really loved reading.


    Worried Abigail might say something she shouldn''t, Orion stood up and pulled her aside. "Don''t say anything stupid. She''s busy with school right now."


    Abigail raised an eyebrow. "School? Did she get into college?"


    Orion nodded. "Yeah."


    Abigail looked surprised. "That''s impressive."


    Casey couldn''t even read before. She''d only been with Orion in Sylvadora for less than two years, and now she was going to college.


    Orion looked a bit sheepish. "Well, I pulled some strings."


    Abigail''s jaw dropped. "Wow, and you say you have no feelings for her?"


    Orion shook his head. "No feelings. She''s all alone, and she followed me so far. What''s wrong with helping her out? Besides, she''s only eighteen! Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself, okay?" Abigail smirked and put her arm around his shoulder. "Age is just a number. I think it''s perfect. You''re not that much older than her."


    Orion pped her hand away. "Alright, enough with the nonsense. You''re a married woman now. Keep your distance."


    Abigail teased, "Whatever, just don''te crying to me one day saying you''re with Casey, or I''ll look down on you."


    Orion firmly replied, "Don''t worry. She''s like a sister to me. I have no feelings for her."


    Abigail pursed her lips. "I''ll wait and see how you eat your words."


    She didn''t bother to talk to Orion anymore. She had onlye out to get something. After grabbing what she needed, she went back to the kitchen. Abigail said to Quinn, "Orion is here."


    Quinn nodded. "I know. I heard you guys talking outside."


    Abigail rubbed her chin and analyzed, "I feel like there''s definitely something between him and Casey. But that stubborn guy won''t admit it."


    Quinn looked at her amusedly. "Alright, stop worrying about his business. He knows what he''s doing."


    Abigail shrugged. "We''re friends. What''s wrong with being curious? Besides, if Orion is hiding something from us, he''s not treating us like friends." Quinn shook her head. "Forget it. Just take this dish out."


    Abigail couldn''t cook, so she could only help out. She took the dish from Quinn and turned to leave.


    Suddenly, Natalia let out a small cry, and Quinn quickly looked over.


    Oliver stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and asked worriedly, "What happened?"


    Natalia smiled. "It''s nothing, just a little burn."


    Oliver insisted, "Stop cooking. Go find some ointment."


    Natalia reassured him. "It''s fine. It''s not serious. There are only a few dishes left. I''ll rinse it with water."


    Quinn looked at them. Natalia wasn''t very noticeable among them and hadn''t made much of an impression for a long time. Now Quinn felt that they seemed to have a good rtionship.


    Although they hadn''t gone through any major ups and downs, they treated each other with respect and lived a simple life. As Quinn watched them, a smile appeared in her eyes.


    She had once fantasized about this too.


    Natalia''s burn wasn''t serious, but Oliver still pulled her out to apply ointment. Natalia couldn''t resist him and had to follow him out.


    When Oliver said that Natalia''s hand was burned, everyone in the room was surprised, thinking that Natalia was seriously injured. Abigail hurriedly rummaged through the cabs to find some ointment. When she brought the ointment over, she asked anxiously, "Where''s the burn? Apply this burn cream."novelbin


    Oliver held Natalia''s finger. "Here."


    Abigail leaned in and looked for a long time but couldn''t see where the burn was. "Where is it?"


    "Here, on the thumb. Can''t you see it?" Oliver asked.


    "I can''t see it. Oliver, are you overreacting?" Abigail said.


    Natalia embarrassedly pulled her hand back. "I''m really fine. I''ll go back to cooking."


    Oliver took the burn cream from Abigail''s hand and applied it to Natalia''s finger. Abigail watched from the side, gritting her teeth, looking at Oliver with disdain.


    When did he be like this?


    Abigail couldn''t help but say, "If you were anyter, her burn would have healed."


    Oliver red at her irritably. "You don''t cook, so shut up."


    Abigail widened her eyes and looked at him in confusion. "Is this how you talk to me now?"


    Natalia quickly stopped them. "Alright, stop arguing."


    Abigail snorted, turned, and went back to the kitchen in a huff.


    Quinn heard the noise, turned around, and looked at her. "What''s wrong?"


    Abigail sighed. "Nothing, some people just change after getting married."


    Abigail used to have a big problem with Natalia, and Oliver never called her out on it. Now that she was married, she finally felt a bit more at ease with Natalia around. But Natalia gets a tiny burn, and Oliver freaks out. She cracks a couple of jokes, and he snaps at her.


    Abigail was in a foul mood. Quinn said, "Abigail, Oliver''s your brother, but he''s also Natalia''s husband. If Landon married you but only treated his sister well and distanced himself from you to please her, would you be happy?" Abigail was taken aback, her expression turning a bit sour. She thought Quinn made sense.


    "Forget it. Anyway, I''ve moved out now, so it has nothing to do with me," Abigail said, picking up a te irritably. "Can this be served now?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, but be careful not to burn yourself."


    Abigail grumbled, "Why don''t you stop cooking? There''s already plenty of food."


    Quinn reassured her, "It''s fine. Everything''s already prepped. It won''t take long."


    Quinn was also a very good cook, much better than Natalia.


    Natalia only started learning to cook after marrying Oliver, while Quinn had been cooking for years. Even though Quinn hadn''t cooked much in the past two years, her skills were still top-notch.


    After pulling Natalia out, Oliver insisted that her hand was burned and she shouldn''t get it wet. He kept her outside, not letting her back into the kitchen.


    Alexander sat for a while, then got up and went to the kitchen.


    He asked, "Not done yet?"


    Quinn was startled by his sudden appearance. "Why are you here?"


    Alexander replied, "I came to check on you, worried you might be overwhelmed."


    Quinn smiled. "I can handle it. Abigail is here to help me."


    Alexander took the spat from her hand. "Go rest for a bit. I''ll handle the rest."


    Quinn looked at him in surprise. "Since when do you know how to cook?"


    Alexander nced at her and smiled. "I don''t, but what does that have to do with me cooking?"


    Quinn didn''t understand what he meant, but then she saw Alexander dump all the remaining ingredients into the pot, making a big stew.


    She eximed, "Alexander, what are you doing?"


    Alexander replied, "To save time, I''m cooking it all together."


    Quinn didn''t know what was wrong with him. She thought for a moment and asked, "What''s wrong? Did you have another argument with Landon outside?" Alexander freed a hand to touch her face. "No, I just wanted to help you. Alright, go wait outside. I''ll be done in a few minutes." Quinn forced a smile and left.


    She knew she couldn''t exin the mess Alexander was making, but given his rtionship with them, it didn''t matter. Whatever he brought out wouldn''t be surprising. Soon, Alexander brought out thest dish, a big stew. Abigail eximed, "Wow, Alexander can cook? That''s amazing."


    Orion, curious as well, went over to take a look but couldn''t figure out what it was. It looked sticky and mushy, like pig slop.


    Orion questioned, "Did you make this?"


    Alexander nced at him. "So what? If you don''t like it, cook for yourself."


    Orion pursed his lips and said nothing more.


    Abigail called everyone to sit at the dining table, but the atmosphere felt a bit strange. It looked harmonious, but there was an indescribable oddness.


    No one spoke. Abigail cleared her throat, picked up a bottle, and started pouring drinks. "Come on, this seems to be our first dinner together. Let''s have a drink." When she was about to pour for Quinn, Alexander took the ss away. "She can''t drink right now."


    Abigail realized. "Right, she''s still sick. We''ll drink."


    Oliver took Natalia''s ss away too.


    Abigail looked at him in confusion. "What''s wrong? Is Natalia sick too?"


    Oliver hesitated and then said softly, "She''s pregnant."


    Abigail was stunned, and everyone else looked at Natalia. Natalia was a bit embarrassed and lowered her head shyly.


    Quinn quickly tried to smooth things over. "Let''s drink some juice then. We have some here."


    She picked up a bottle, opened it, and poured a ss for Natalia first.


    Abigail awkwardly sat down. Before they could toast, she drank a ss herself.


    She wasn''t angry; she just felt a subtle, indescribable emotion.


    Orion stood up to lighten the mood. "Alright, Abigail, congrattions on your wedding. Wishing you a happy marriage and many children!" Abigail rolled her eyes at him but epted his blessing.


    Everyone raised their sses and clinked them together.


    Then the table fell into an awkward silence again. Oliver said, "Abigail, congrattions. You finally got married. Now we can all be at ease." Abigail said gloomily, "Sounds like you couldn''t wait for me to get married. Do you dislike me that much?"


    Oliver quickly rified, "That''s not what I meant. I misspoke. I apologize. What I meant was, congrattions on finding happiness. It wasn''t easy."


    If Abigail hadn''t persistently pursued Landon, they would have broken up long ago.


    So in a rtionship, someone had to take the initiative. If neither person did, there wouldn''t be a happy ending.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1576

    Abigail felt a bit awkward too. She said, "Alright, enough talking. Let''s eat. I''m starving."


    Orion nodded. "Yeah, let''s dig in."


    He nced at Landon, who had been quiet the whole time, and couldn''t help but say, "Landon, aren''t you the host? Why''s Abigail doing all the work?" Landon looked at him, didn''t say a word, then picked up his wine ss and stood up. "Thanks foring, everyone. Cheers." Abigail quickly backed him up, and Oliver followed suit.


    Quinn nudged Alexander, signaling him to join in.


    So Alexander picked up his wine ss, took a sip, and suddenly coughed.


    Everyone turned to look at him.


    Quinn asked worriedly, "What''s wrong?"


    Alexander coughed a few more times, then put down his ss. "It''s nothing. Just drank too fast and choked."


    Quinn looked at him suspiciously but decided not to push it.


    Landon gave Alexander a knowing look, then put down his ss. "Let''s eat before the food gets cold."


    Everyone ate in silence. Though it was called a gathering, it didn''t feel like one.


    A gathering is fun when everyone''s on the same page. For them, it was just an awkward meal.


    It felt like having dinner with your parents.


    After finishing the meal, everyone felt relieved.


    Abigail went to clean up the dishes and pulled Landon to help.


    In the kitchen, she whispered, "Let''s not do this again. It was super awkward."


    Landon agreed, "So many dishes. I don''t even want to wash them."


    Abigail smirked. "That''s what you''re focused on?"


    Landon shrugged. "What else?"


    Abigail sighed. "Never mind."


    Quinn wanted to go home since her two kids were waiting, but she had to wait for Abigail and Landon to finish up. After about half an hour, they finally came out.


    Quinn said, "Abigail, we should get going. Thanks for the meal."


    Abigail smiled. "Why thank me? You guys did all the cooking."


    Quinn was taken aback, then awkwardly smiled. "Alright, we''ll head out then."


    Abigail nodded. "Okay, you guys should head back early. You should''ve brought the kids over."


    Quinn replied, "They''re too noisy. If you want to see them,e over."


    Orion said, "Oh right, I haven''t seen the little guy yet. Can he walk now?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, do you want toe see him?"


    Orion eagerly replied, "Sure, can Ie over now?"


    As soon as he finished talking, Orion felt a cold stare. He looked over and saw it was Alexander.


    Alexander was being super petty, getting jealous just because Orion wanted to see the kid.


    Even though they used to be rivals in love, Orion had spent thest two years doing charity work. His romantic feelings had turned into something bigger, and he had long since moved on. Quinn noticed Alexander''s gaze too. She tugged on his sleeve and said to Orion, "You guys have had a long day. Get some rest first. Come over tomorrow when you''re fresh."


    Orion chuckled, "Alright. You always know how to put things nicely."


    Even a refusal sounded niceing from her, unlike Alexander!


    Alexander took Quinn''s hand. "Let''s go."


    Quinn nodded and left Abigail''s house with Alexander. They got in the car and drove off.


    Abigail turned to Orion, "Do you have a ce to stay tonight? If not, you can crash here. We have plenty of rooms."


    Orion rolled his eyes. "Are you serious? You guys just got married. How can I stay here? Don''t worry, I''ve already booked a hotel. Worst case, I can go home."


    As he said that, he paused. He hadn''t even thought about going home.


    Abigail''s cheeks turned red, and she quickly shooed him away. "Alright, hurry up and go. Stop hanging around."


    Orion finally decided to go home. He hadn''t been there in a long time. Even though he still had some issues with Charles, he was still his dad.


    Even if he didn''t want to see him, he still had his mom and Ryan. It was time to go home.


    Oliver and Natalia were thest to leave. Oliver pulled Abigail aside for a bit, hoping their sibling rtionship wouldn''t change now that they were both married.


    Abigail was quiet for a while before she sighed and said seriously to Oliver, "I know. Don''t worry. I''m not that petty. Although I''m still a bit ufortable, I''ll get used to it soon." Oliver smiled. "I''m d you think that way. I''ll head out now. You and Landon take care."


    Abigail nodded. "Okay."


    Even though the atmosphere had been awkward earlier, it was lively. Now that everyone had left, the house felt empty.


    Abigail turned to look at Landon. As their eyes met, Abigail''s cheeks flushed again.


    She asked shyly, "So, what should we do now?"


    Landon stared at her for a moment and said, "Sleep."


    Abigail couldn''t help but smile, but she felt shy. Feeling conflicted, she followed Landon into the bedroom.


    Both seemed a bit hurried. Even Landon, usually soposed, looked a bit uneasy. "Do you want to shower first?"


    Abigail responded with an "Okay" and grabbed some clothes before heading to the bathroom.


    Quinn got home to find Sprout and Brandy already asleep.


    Briar was still downstairs, tidying up the toys scattered everywhere. Seeing theme in, Briar quickly stood up to greet them. "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, you''re back."


    Quinn looked at the messy house. "Still not done?"


    Briar smiled. "I just got Brandy and Sprout to sleep and finally had some time to clean up."


    Quinn felt a bit guilty, knowing how hard Briar worked day and night, taking care of the kids, cooking, and cleaning. "You''ve worked hard. I''ll give you a raise next month." Briar was momentarily stunned, then a delighted smile appeared on her face. "Thank you, Mrs. Kennedy."


    In this household, Quinn was in charge, so the raise was certain. The only question was how much.


    Back in their room, Alexander asked her, "How much are you nning to raise her sry?"


    Quinn thought for a moment. "How about eighty thousand dors a month?"


    Alexander looked at her with a hint of resentment. Quinn knew he was probably feeling that his allowance was too little again.


    Quinn smiled. "I''ll give you a raise too."


    Alexander''s eyes lit up. "How much?"


    Quinn teased, "Two thousand dors."


    Alexander pulled her into his arms. "Thank you, honey."


    He acted like he''d never seen money before, getting so excited over a two-thousand-dor raise.


    When Alexander asked Quinn to manage his allowance, she set it at two thousand dors without giving him a chance to negotiate.


    After all, whatever she said, Alexander would agree to.


    Quinn asked yfully, "So how are you going to reward me?"


    Alexander looked down at her and said, "I''ll help you take a bath."


    Quinn was taken aback. "Is that a reward for me or for you?"


    Alexander picked her up and carried her to the bathroom. "Of course, it''s for you. You''re still not well, so I can''t reward myself."


    So, Alexander really did just help Quinn take a bath, purely a bath.


    Quinn had been bedridden for days and hadn''t had a proper bath, so she really appreciated it.


    The next morning, Orion came knocking. Briar answered the door.novelbin


    Briar had never seen him before and looked him up and down. "Who are you looking for?"


    Orion craned his neck to peer inside. "Where''s Quinn? Where''s Alexander?"


    Briar replied, "They''re not up yet. Who are you?"


    Orion introduced himself. "I''m Orion, Quinn''s friend. I''m here to see her son. Let me in."


    Briar didn''t know him, so she didn''t let him in. "Wait outside. I''ll go inform Mrs. Kennedy." With that, she shut the door.


    Orion smirked. This nanny really didn''t know how to act.


    Briar went upstairs and knocked on Quinn''s door. Quinn groggily got up and asked what was going on.


    Briar exined, "Someone named Orion is here to see you, Mrs. Kennedy. Do you know him?"


    Quinn immediately woke up. "Yes. Let him in. I''ll be down in a minute."


    Briar nodded. "Okay."


    Quinn went back to change clothes. Alexander was already sitting up and asked, "Orion''s here?"


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, I''ll go see him. Stay here, or you''ll get upset again."


    Alexander protested, "Am I that petty?"


    Quinn wished she could move the full-length mirror in front of him. "Look at yourself in the mirror. You''re already frowning."


    Alexander smirked, theny back down. "Alright, go ahead. I''ll keep sleeping."


    Quinn nced back at him, unsure if he was really going back to sleep or just sulking.


    She changed clothes and went downstairs.


    Sprout was already awake, sitting on the couch, watching Briar make his form.


    Orion sat next to Sprout, talking to him. However, Sprout only had eyes for the form, staring at Briar without giving Orion a nce.


    Orion scratched his head in confusion. Seeing Quinne down, he asked, "Quinn, is your son deaf or mute?"


    Quinn red at him. "What nonsense are you talking about?"


    Orion quickly pped himself. "Sorry, I misspoke. I''ve been talking to him for a while, and he hasn''t responded." Quinn exined, "He''s hungry. He doesn''t have time for you. Wait until he''s full, then y with him."


    Orion asked, "Really?"


    He had never taken care of a child, so he didn''t know these things. He stared at Sprout for a while and couldn''t help but remark, "Isn''t it said that sons look like their mothers? Why does Sprout look so much like Alexander?" Quinnughed. "Really?"


    Orion replied, "I read it online. But it''s good he looks like Alexander. Look at that aura. He''ll definitely charm a lot of girls in the future and be a leader among boys. If he looked like you, he might get bullied at school." Hearing this, Quinn couldn''t help but think of Calvin.


    Calvin looked so much like Quinn that it undermined his authority. Whenever people found out what Obsidian Circle looked like, they couldn''t help butugh behind his back.


    Quinn wondered when she would see him again.


    Orion waved a hand in front of her face. "Quinn, what are you daydreaming about?"


    Quinn snapped back to reality, smiled, and sat down on the other side of Sprout. "Nothing, just thinking you might be right."


    Orion chuckled. "Right? Let''s just hope he doesn''t turn out to be a bad guy."


    Quinn patted Sprout''s head. "He won''t."


    Orion asked, "By the way, what''s his full name? I only know his nickname."


    Quinn replied, "His name is Leopold."

 Chapter 1577

    Orion was caught off guard for a second, then burst outughing. "Man, he''s grown so much. I remember when I left, he was just a newborn, right?" Quinn nodded. "Yeah, it''s been a while. You seem different too."


    Orion still had that same cheerful vibe, but now there was a hint of maturity. Sitting here, chatting like old friends, made Quinn feel a bit more at ease. She had been worried about how to face Orion if he came back. Now, it seemed like all those worries were for nothing.


    Orion chuckled. "Maybe it''s because we haven''t seen each other in so long. You probably don''t even remember what I used to be like."


    Quinn smiled. "No, you''ve definitely matured."


    Orion grinned. "Really?"


    He touched his nose. "Well, I am thirty now."


    Quinn was momentarily stunned, her expression a bit dazed. She remembered that when she first met Orion, he was only twenty-five. Sometimes, you don''t realize how fast time flies until you talk about age.


    Orion said, "Alright, let''s not dwell on that. I just came to see you, and I''m leaving tomorrow."


    Quinn asked, "In such a hurry?"


    Orion nodded. "Yeah, there''s too much to do. I squeezed out these two days, and I have to get back to work."


    Quinn looked at him in silence for a moment. "By the way, you''re getting older too. Haven''t you thought about getting married?"


    Orion sighed. "Why do you sound like my mom? Can we not talk about this?"


    Quinnughed. "Alright, I was just asking."


    She mainly remembered what Abigail had said. Could it be that Orion really had feelings for Casey?


    Briar handed the prepared form to Sprout, who grabbed it and handed it to Quinn. Quinn sighed and took the bottle from his hand, and Sprout leaned in to drink. Orion curiously stared at him and eximed, "Kids are amazing."


    Quinn asked, "Why did you suddenly say that?"


    Orion replied, "I don''t know, just that he''s so small, and yet he''s grown so much."


    Quinnughed. "Then hurry up and have one too."


    Orion pulled a wry smile. "Yeah, right. But look at me, where do I have the time to have a kid?"


    Quinn sighed. "Alright, let''s not talk about this. How about having lunch here?"


    Orion nced upstairs. "Are you sure you want me to stay for lunch?"


    Catching the implication in his words, Quinn forced a smile. "It''s not that serious. He actually..."


    She wanted to find a way to ease the tension between Orion and Alexander, but no words came to mind.


    Orion pressed, "He actually what? Actually wees me?"


    Quinn awkwardlyughed. "Maybe."


    Orion sighed. "Alright, you sound so reluctant. It''s fine. I''ll just hang out for a bit. Hurry up and let Sprout finish drinking; I haven''t yed with him yet."


    Sprout was now focused on drinking milk, not paying attention to anything else.


    It was much better now. Feeding him milk used to be like a battle, but now he wouldn''t spit it out everywhere and would drink it all in one go. He even wanted to feed himself, though he couldn''t quite get the food into his mouth. Orion watched the whole process and couldn''t help but gape. "He eats that much?"


    Quinn asked, "Is it a lot?"


    Quinn didn''t seem to have a concept of this. She thought eating a lot was good since kids were growing.


    Orion replied, "I don''t know. He''s so small, and his stomach can hold that much? It''s amazing."


    Quinn looked down at Sprout, who was holding a spoon himself, scooping soup from the bowl Quinn was holding, and his mouth was full.


    They chatted for a while, and finally, Alexander came downstairs.


    Orion caught sight of him out of the corner of his eye and couldn''t help but say, "Herees Mr. Jealous."


    Quinn was taken aback and turned to look. Alexander wasing down the stairs, staring straight at Quinn and Orion with an unreadable expression. Quinn whispered to Orion, "Don''t say that. If he hears you, you''re done for."


    Orion snorted. "I haven''t even settled the score with him yet."


    Their grudge was not a small one.


    Orion stood up and said, "Alright, I''ll be going now."


    Quinn asked, "Won''t you stay a bit longer?"


    Orion shook his head. "No, I have to go back and have dinner with my parents. When I left, they told me toe back for dinner, or they''d kill me." Quinn smiled. "Alright then, I''ll treat you to a meal next time youe."


    Orion nodded and turned to leave.


    Alexander somehow ended up standing next to Quinn. "What were you two talking about so happily?"


    Quinn looked up at him and casually pulled his arm to sit down. "Just chatting. Alright, don''t be jealous. Orion is gone."


    Alexander gave her a sidelong nce. "Which eye of yours saw me being jealous?"


    Quinn was silent for a moment, deciding not to provoke him. "Alright, my eyes must be ying tricks on me. Are you hungry? Let''s have breakfast." Alexander replied, "Eat yourself. I''m not hungry."


    Quinn sighed. "Are you mad?"


    Alexander said calmly, "No."


    His expression was normal, and there was no sign of anger, but Quinn could always sense that he seemed to be angry.


    It could also be her imagination. She thought for a moment and handed him the bowl. "Then feed Sprout."


    Alexander took the bowl. "Alright."


    Quinn went to have a meal, and Soren brought her another bowl of medicine. Without thinking, Quinn drank it.


    Alexander was ying with Sprout. She hesitated for a moment, walked over, sat down beside him, and hesitantly called out, "Alexander." "What''s up?" Alexander asked, ying with Sprout without turning his head.


    Quinn said, "When can I go see Calvin?"


    Alexander paused, then suddenly turned around. "Are you feeling better?"


    Quinn nodded. "I''m already fine."


    Alexander looked doubtful and suddenly called out to Soren. "Soren."


    Soren immediately ran out of the room. "Mr. Kennedy, what''s the matter?"


    Alexander asked, "How is Quinn''s health now?"


    Soren replied, "She''s recovering well. Another half month of rest, and she should be fine, as long as she doesn''t catch a cold or anything." Alexander looked back at Quinn.


    Quinn held his arm and looked at him pitifully. "Didn''t you hear? No big issues."


    Alexander sighed helplessly.


    Quinn continued, "Even if you don''t let me see Calvin now, at least tell me how he''s doing. Is he okay?"


    She could never forget the bullet that went into Calvin''s head. Even if he was alive, she couldn''t imagine what state he was in.


    Alexander held her hand and patiently said, "Calvin is doing very well. Don''t worry. You''ll see when you meet him." Quinn asked, "So when can I see Calvin? Is he really okay?"


    Alexander replied, "Don''t you trust me?"


    Quinn nodded. "Of course I trust you. I''m just worried about Calvin. You know, I don''t have many family members left."


    Alexander patted her head, then pulled her into his arms, whispering, "I promise you, I''ll take you to see Calvin next week, okay?" Quinn''s face lit up, and she looked up at him, nodding.


    Alexander smiled.


    Quinn hugged him again, worriedly saying, "You have to be well too. I want all of you to be well and together forever." Alexander fell silent.novelbin


    Quinn sensed something and looked up at him. "Why aren''t you saying anything?"


    Alexander smiled. "Yes. We will be together forever."


    Only then did Quinn rest her head contentedly on his chest.


    Sprout, next to them, tilted his head, watching them hug. He pouted, grabbed Alexander''s leg with both hands, and crawled over.


    It was always like this. Whenever they hugged and Sprout saw it, he would squeeze between them, breaking their moment. Alexander picked Sprout up and put him aside, but he persistently crawled back. Alexander picked him up again. Finally, Alexander lost his patience, and Sprout got angry, opening his mouth to cry loudly.


    Quinn, annoyed by the noise, pushed Alexander away. "Go calm him down."


    Alexander picked Sprout up and pinched his cheeks. "You little troublemaker."


    Sprout cried even louder, stretching his arms out to climb onto Quinn.


    Quinn had no choice but to hold Sprout, ending her brief moment with Alexander.


    For the next few days, Quinn stayed at home, ying with Sprout and Brandy, and drinking her medicine on time.


    Alexander went to the office to handle some matters, as he would be away for a while.


    Abigail called Quinn. "Quinn, we''re nning to go on our honeymoon. Do you want toe?"


    Sometimes, Quinn couldn''t handle Abigail''s enthusiasm. They were going on their honeymoon and still invited her. They really didn''t see her as an outsider. Quinn replied, "No. You guys go ahead."


    Abigail insisted, "Come on, it''ll be fun with more people. Besides, you''re just sitting at home with nothing to do. Bring Alexander too."


    Quinn sighed. "No, we have other ns."


    Abigail asked, "Where are you going?"


    Quinn sighed. "I don''t know. I''ll find out when we get there."


    Alexander hadn''t told her where Calvin was, so she just had to wait. Maybe he didn''t even know where it was.


    Abigail said, "Alright, I get it. See you when I get back."


    She sounded very cheerful, indicating she was having a great time.


    They hung up, and Alexander happened toe back.


    He walked over to Quinn, casually taking off his suit jacket and draping it over the sofa.


    Quinn quickly stood up. "Did you get everything sorted at the office?"


    Alexander nodded. "Almost."


    Quinn felt relieved. "That''s good. When are we leaving?"


    Alexander replied, "You really can''t stop thinking about this, can you? We''ll leave the day after tomorrow."


    Quinn''s eyes lit up, and a joyful smile appeared on her face. Since Alexander had confirmed the time to take her, it meant he wasn''t lying. Calvin was really still alive.

 Chapter 1578

    Quinn was still on the fence about bringing Sprout and Brandy along. After mulling it over, she decided against it. Having two kids with her if things went south would be a hassle. Plus, Briar was already a pro at looking after them. Sprout was way more well-behaved now, and Briar could handle him.


    There was even less to worry about with Brandy.


    Once everything was set, Alexander and Quinn hit the road.


    First, they hopped on a ne, then switched to a boat afternding, and kept changing up their transportation until they finally rolled into a seaside fishing vige.


    Quinn took in the view-sea in front, mountains behind and shot Alexander a puzzled look. "Is Calvin here?"


    Alexander shook his head. "Nope, he''s not here. Just hang tight."


    He set the suitcase down for her to sit and chill.


    Quinn hadn''t expected it to be such a hassle. Good thing she didn''t bring Sprout and Brandy. After two days of travel, they still hadn''t reached their destination. She wondered where Calvin could be hiding. The vige looked deserted. Not a soul in sight, and the paths were overgrown with weeds. The houses peeking through the grass were in shambles.


    As night crept in, Quinn started to get the creeps. "What are we waiting for here? This ce is giving me the heebie-jeebies."


    Alexander plopped down next to her. "Waiting for someone to pick us up."


    He nced at his watch. "At this hour, they might be lost at sea."


    He tried tofort her, "They''re not familiar with these parts, and you insisted oning. Let''s just crash here tonight."


    Quinn instinctively nced back at the vige. The setting sun cast an eerie orange glow over the buildings, making them look both beautiful and unsettling.


    The sea stretched out endlessly in front, and the vige behind was eerily quiet, except for the asional rustle of wind through the weeds.


    It felt like a scene straight out of a horror flick, full of terror and weirdness.


    She nervously asked, "There aren''t any ghosts here, right?"


    Alexander gave her a mysterious look and suddenly said, "Yep."


    Quinn''s face went pale, and she scooted closer to him. "Don''t mess with me. I''m kinda scared."


    Alexander wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "It''s okay. I''m here. I''ll protect you."


    Quinn asked, "Can you fight a ghost?"


    Alexander replied, "Nope, but I can run with you."


    Quinn forced a smile. Seeing the teasing glint in his eyes, she yfully punched him. "You''re scaring me!"


    Alexander said, "Alright, alright. Don''t worry, they''ll find us. It might just take a bit. The scenery here isn''t bad; think of it as a mini-vacation."


    Quinn asked, "Are you sure the scenery is good?"


    Alexander nodded. "Don''t you think so?"


    Quinn looked back at the weeds taller than herself andughed dryly. "Not really."


    Alexander''s expression suddenly turned serious. "Something''s off."


    Quinn asked nervously, "What now?" She was already scared enough to want to bail.


    Alexander exined, "It''s getting dark, and the tide''sing in. We might need to head into the vige."


    Quinn protested, "No way! I don''t want to!"


    "It''s okay, just that house over there," Alexander reassured her, pointing to the nearest house. Quinn looked over; that house was surrounded by weeds, and who knew what was lurking in the grass. Quinn shook her head. "I don''t want to go. Can we not go?"


    Alexander said, "I''ll go check it out for you."


    He stood up, found a stick on the ground, and started walking towards the house.


    Quinn looked around nervously. She didn''t dare stay on the beach alone, so she quickly stood up and followed him with the suitcase.


    Alexander reached the weeds and used his stick to push them aside. It wasn''t too bad; no scary creatures.


    He stepped on the weeds and walked in. There was an old stone path, but grass had grown through the stones. After he trampled the grass, the stone path became visible.


    He walked in, and Quinn followed closely behind, looking around nervously. She felt like some wild animal might jump out of the grass.


    This ce was kinda like the woods near Municity, but at least there, they could hear birds. Here, it was eerily quiet, with not even a bird''s call.


    It was so quiet it felt lifeless.


    Soon, they reached the door of the house. The wooden door was locked but barely hanging on. With a push, the door fell open, revealing that the ce had been abandoned for years.


    Grass had grown inside the house too, though not as much as outside. As they walked in, they were quickly covered in cobwebs.


    Quinn left the suitcase at the door and grabbed Alexander''s arm, sticking close to him.


    He wanted to go further inside, but Quinn held him back. "Let''s not go in. It''s so dark and scary."


    The living room had a bit of light, but the room inside was pitch ck, with a slightly ajar door and some indistinct shapes. Who knew what was lurking in there?


    Alexander said, "It''s cool. Wait here. I''ll go check it out."


    Alexander was seriously brave. Quinn watched as he turned on his shlight and walked into the house. The living room was still dim, with the setting sun casting eerie shadows through the windows and cracks, making the room even creepier. Quinn didn''t dare stay there alone. She quickly caught up to him, tightly grabbing his arm.


    As they approached the door, Alexander pushed it open and shone the shlight inside. When Quinn saw what was inside, she screamed and clung to Alexander.


    Alexander frowned and directed the light onto the object. It was a piece of ck cloth, but judging by the shape underneath, it was likely a coffin.


    A coffin in the room-was this meant to scare anyone who wandered in?


    Alexander wanted to go inside, but Quinn held him back tightly. "Don''t go in. It''s too scary. Let''s go outside."


    Alexander tried to reassure her. "Don''t worry, I''ll just take a look. It might be empty."


    Quinn''s face twisted. He actually wanted to check inside the coffin? Was he really that brave?


    Alexander didn''t find it particrly frightening. After all, he''d faced death twice already. What could scare him now?


    Quinn pleaded, "Please don''t go. There must be something inside. What if you provoke some ghost or spirit?" Alexander sighed. "Why are you so superstitious?"


    Quinn insisted, "It''s not superstition. Even science can''t exin these things. Please don''t go."


    Seeing her trembling with fear, Alexander sighed. "Alright, I won''t go. Let''s check another room."


    Quinn was at a loss for words. After a moment of silence, she said, "Maybe we should go back. I don''t need to see Calvin." Alexander looked back at her. "Really?"


    Quinn hesitated, sensing something was off.


    She asked, "Are you tricking me?"


    Alexander replied, "What?"


    Quinn used, "You brought me here to scare me so I''d give up on seeing Calvin. Did you never intend to take me to him?" Alexander chuckled. "How could that be? We just happened to end up here. Don''t you find this ce interesting?"


    Quinn protested, "Who would find this ce interesting?"


    Alexander said, "Alright, I''m not tricking you. If you''re scared, wait here. I''ll check the other rooms."


    Quinn looked conflicted, holding onto him and pleading with puppy eyes, "Please don''t go."


    Alexander reassured her. "Trust me, okay?"


    Quinn thought Alexander must be crazy, seeking thrills in a ce like this.


    In movies, people like him always ended up dead.


    Quinn clung to him, refusing to let him go. "No, I won''t let you go."


    Alexanderughed. "Alright, I won''t go. But let go of me first. I''ll take the door apart to make a fire."


    Quinn finally let go.


    He went back to the entrance and pulled the door off its hinges. The door, weathered by the elements, was as brittle as paper and easily broke into several pieces. Feeling that one door wasn''t enough, he took down a few more doors to use as firewood.


    Quinn watched the dark, doorless rooms, feeling increasingly uneasy.


    She turned her back to the rooms, not daring to look.


    By now, the sun had set. While there was still some light outside, the inside of the house was pitch ck.


    Alexander lit the door pieces, filling the room with firelight. The mes dispelled some of the fear, as long as you didn''t look back at the rooms.


    If you did, you''d see coffins covered in ck cloth in each room.


    Quinn hugged her knees, leaning against Alexander. "Do you think something will appear behind us?"


    Alexander asked, "Why do you say that?"


    Quinn exined, "That''s how it always happens on TV."


    Alexander advised, "If you''re bored, read a book instead of watching those shows."


    Quinn frowned, feeling a chill down her spine, and clung to his arm even tighter. "I should''ve brought Abigail and the others. It wouldn''t be so scary with more people." Alexanderughed. "You don''t think I can protect you?"


    Quinn replied, "That''s not what I mean. This ce is too creepy. More people would make it livelier, and maybe those things would be scared off by the human presence." Alexander asked, "Where did you hear that?"


    Quinn admitted, "I''m just guessing."


    Alexander said, "If this were a movie, I should be telling you a story right now."


    Without thinking, Quinn covered his mouth. "Don''t say it!"


    Alexander''s eyes twinkled with amusement, and he took her hand from his mouth. "Alright, I won''t. Aren''t you tired?"


    Quinn shook her head. "How could I sleep with three coffins behind us?"


    Alexander remarked, "Good thing we didn''t go into that building. There might be even more inside."


    Quinn pleaded, "Stop talking about it."novelbin

 Chapter 1579

    Alexander grinned and pulled her close, whispering, "Hey, this isn''t so bad, right?"


    Quinn asked, "What''s so good about it?"


    Alexander chuckled, "No one to bug us. Just you and me. When was thest time we had some alone time like this?"


    Quinn pushed him away, annoyed. "Couldn''t you find a better spot? Why here? Look at this ce..."


    She stopped short, eyes wide, as a fat centipede crawled toward them. She screamed and jumped back into Alexander''s arms. "Centipede!" Alexander turned, grabbed a nearby rock, and smashed the centipede as it got closer.


    "Alright, it''s dead," he said, tossing the centipede into the fire with a stick. The smell of roasting meat filled the air.


    Quinn was speechless. "You..."


    Alexander said, "Don''t worry. I''m here. You sleep. I''ll keep watch. No bugs will get you."


    Quinn shook her head. "No way, I can''t sleep." She nced around nervously at the dark, the sounds of insects making her jumpy.


    Alexander sighed. "If you can''t sleep, how about we go on an adventure?"


    Quinn stared at him. "Are you nuts? What kind of adventure can we have here?"


    Alexander shrugged. "It''s ces like this that make it fun. What''s the point of other ces?"


    Quinn thought he must be really bored to find this ce interesting. She clung to his arm. "Don''t go, just stay here."


    Alexander shrugged again. "Alright."


    Quinn took a deep breath, trying to ignore the three coffins behind her. She leaned into Alexander''s arms. "I''ll try to sleep. Just don''t leave me, okay?"


    To keep him from going on an adventure, Quinn pretended to sleep.


    Alexander stroked her hair. "Okay, go to sleep."


    Quinn sighed, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep. But as soon as she did, she felt like something was surrounding them, imagining zombies jumping out of the coffins. She couldn''t help but ask, "Did you bring me here on purpose?"


    Alexander reassured her, "Of course not, it was just an ident. Don''t worry, we won''t be here long."


    Quinn asked, "How long is that?"


    Alexander replied, "Depends on when they find us."


    Quinn frowned. "They?"


    Alexander rified, "Yeah, Kyle and the others."


    Quinn pulled out her phone, wanting to call Kyle or at least send their location, but there was no signal.


    She sighed, "What kind of ce is this? No signal at all."


    Alexander exined, "That''s normal. This ce has been abandoned for years. No signal towers, so no signal."


    He reminded her, "Weren''t you going to sleep?"


    Quinn admitted, "I can''t sleep. Thinking about those three coffins, I feel like something wille out."


    Alexanderughed. "You''ve watched too much TV."


    Quinn pouted and hugged him tighter. It had been a long time since she had been so proactive.


    Alexander looked around, smiling, and hugged her tighter. "Cold?"


    Quinn shook her head. It was summer, and although it was cool by the sea at night, the big fire in front of them and hugging Alexander made her feel a bit hot. Quinn opened her eyes and nced at the beam above them. In the next second, she widened her eyes in horror. "There''s a snake!"


    Alexander followed her gaze. There was a snake hanging from the beam, right above them.


    Alexander reassured her, "It''s okay, it''s not poisonous."


    Quinn protested, "Even if it''s not poisonous, it''s still scary!"


    Alexander exined, "It''s too high to catch. Just leave it. If ites down, I''ll kill it."


    Quinn was nowpletely unable to sleep. She moved away from Alexander to a spot farther from the snake. "I''m not sleeping."


    Alexander nodded. "Then let''s sit for a while. When it gets light, we''ll sleep on the beach."


    He didn''t want to scare Quinn any more than she already was.


    They stared at the fire in silence for a while. Quinn suddenly looked up at Alexander. "So, why isn''t Calvin dead? Tell me what happened. I clearly saw the bullet go through." Alexander hesitated, his expressionplex.


    Quinn was anxious. "Tell me. You''re not lying to me, are you?"


    Alexander reassured her. "Alright, don''t get worked up. I''ll tell you."


    He was silent for a moment, then said, "Actually, the person Walter killed wasn''t Calvin."


    Quinn was stunned. "What?"


    Alexander found it amusing. "What, you can''t even recognize Calvin?"


    Quinn frowned, thinking hard. She was too nervous back then to notice anything. She was only thinking about saving Calvin, not checking if it was really him. Quinn asked, "So, who was that guy?"


    Alexander shrugged. "Doesn''t matter, it wasn''t Calvin."


    Quinn looked at him, confused. "So, you knew where Calvin was the whole time?"


    Alexander''s silence was all the answer she needed.


    Quinn pressed on, "Come on, what''s your n? Now that it''s over, you should tell me, right?"


    Alexander thought for a moment. "Let''s just say, Calvin''s got a temper, but he''s not that stubborn."


    Quinn raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    Alexanderid it all out for her.


    From the start, Alexander had a n to give Calvin a new identity. But for that to work, Calvin had to "die" publicly so no one would look for him anymore.


    So, Alexander found a double who looked like Calvin in height, appearance, and especially voice. They even gave the double stic surgery to make the resemnce uncanny. Once everything was set, Calvin would stage a fallout with the Lynch family, making it look like he was on the run.


    The double would then take his ce and "die," giving Calvin his freedom.


    Walter wouldn''t miss a chance like that, so if he kept chasing Calvin, they could take him down too.


    The n shifted when Calvin saw that letter, but it still mostly followed the original idea. He even killed Zeke to make his crime more believable.


    Later, Calvin contacted Alexander, leading to everything that happened next.


    Quinn asked, "So, you and Calvin didn''t actually fall out?"


    Alexander smirked, "Do you think Calvin''s as stubborn as you?"


    Quinn asked, "What do you mean?"


    Alexanderughed, "Just kidding."


    Quinn couldn''t help but think of Walter that day.


    Her heart skipped a beat. "So that''s why Walter was so set on taking down the fake Calvin?"


    Alexander''s face turned serious. He looked at Quinn for a long time. "Yeah."


    Quinn''s expression changed.


    Now she finally got what Walter meant by helping him onest time.


    Walter had figured out the guy was a fake and understood Alexander''s whole n, which is why he was so determined to kill him. He was helping Alexander and Quinn.


    Quinn fell silent, staring at the fire with mixed feelings.


    The mes flickered on their faces, and the increasing sound of insects outside made the room feel even quieter.


    Quinn asked, "So, why didn''t you tell me the truth? Were you worried I''d feel guilty about Walter?"


    Alexander said, "Walter forced you to kill him, so you''d always remember him and feel guilty once you knew the truth."


    That''s why Alexander never told her, not even wanting to reveal that Calvin was still alive. He didn''t want Walter to keeppeting for a ce in Quinn''s heart, even in death. But when he saw Quinn fall ill, he had no other choice. He had to tell her and take her to see Calvin.


    Alexander asked, "So, do you me me?"


    Quinn shook her head. "There''s nothing to me you for. It''s all in the past. Am I supposed to be mad at you now?"


    Alexander smiled. "That''s good."


    Even though he smiled, there wasn''t much joy in his eyes. He knew that even if Quinn said she didn''t care, she''d still feel some guilt towards Walter.


    But there was no point in dwelling on it.


    Alexander stood up and sat down beside her. "Alright, why don''t you try to sleep for a bit?"


    Quinn shook her head. "I can''t sleep."


    The atmosphere was heavy. Even with a snake above them, Quinn didn''t feel as scared as before.


    She couldn''t describe her feelings. Although she tried not to think about anything, those thoughts kept creeping into her mind.


    They sat in the room all night. At some point, the snake above them disappeared, and they didn''t know where it went.


    When the morning sunlight streamed through the door, dispelling the night''s gloom, Quinn felt a bit better.novelbin


    She noted, "It''s morning."


    Alexander asked, "Are you hungry?"


    Quinn shook her head.


    Even though she said she wasn''t hungry, Alexander still took out two bags of food from the suitcase and handed one to her. "Eat something. You''re not fully recovered yet." Quinn took the bag, wondering if Alexander had anticipated all this, as he had prepared plenty of food. He had bought some at Amber Bay and more on the way here. The food was enough tost them four or five days.


    Quinn suddenly looked at Alexander. "We''re not really going to stay here for four or five days, are we?"


    Alexander casually opened a bottle of water and handed it to her. "Maybe even longer."

 Chapter 1580

    Quinn was totally confused. "Wait, Kyle and the others haven''t found this ce yet?"


    Alexander shook his head. "Nah, they''re way out at sea. It''s gonna take them a while to get here."


    He went on, "Plus, we''re thinking of turning this ce into a supply station. Otherwise, they might end up starving out there."


    Quinn raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like a huge job."


    Alexander nodded. "Exactly. That''s why we waited until things calmed down before bringing you here. But hey, we can start by clearing the weeds since we''ve got nothing better to do."


    Quinn looked at him like he was crazy. "Are you serious?"


    Alexanderughed. "Isn''t it kinda funny?"


    Quinn forced a smile. Nope, not funny at all. This ce was massive, and there were weeds everywhere. How long would it take for just the two of them to clear it all?


    After they ate, Alexander got up and headed outside.


    Quinn didn''t want to stay inside alone, so she quickly followed him. Even in daylight, the ce gave her the creeps.


    She caught up to him and grabbed his arm. "Are you sure we can develop this ce?"


    Alexander nodded. "Yeah, I think so. This ce isn''t even in the country. Look at those mountains behind us; the only way in is by helicopter. Judging by the buildings, it''s been abandoned for at least fifty years. No one remembers it."


    He nced back at the endless mountains and then at the vast ocean ahead. "Even though the tidees in every night, these houses haven''t been flooded. It''s a good spot."


    The tide had gone out, revealing a big stretch of beach. The ocean seemed far away now.


    Alexander suddenly asked, "Ever gone mming?"


    Quinn shook her head. "Nope."


    Alexander looked around but couldn''t find any tools. He picked up a random stick and led her to the beach.


    Quinn asked, "What are we doing?"


    Alexander grinned. "mming."


    Quinn gave him a skeptical look. Alexander seemed like he was on vacation, but this ce was anything but a vacation spot.


    Quinn had never tried mming before. She kicked off her shoes and followed Alexander onto the beach. After the tide had receded, there were all sorts of things on the sand. She bent down and picked up an orange starfish. Quinn smiled. "This is pretty. I can take it back as a decoration."


    Alexander added, "There should be ms and razor ms around here."


    Quinn squatted down and used a stick to dig around. She found some ms but no razor ms.


    Quinn asked, "What do razor ms even look like?"


    "Over here," Alexander called, waving her over. Quinn hurried over and saw two bamboo-like things sticking out of the sand. "Are these razor ms?" she asked.


    "Yep," Alexander confirmed, trying to pull one out. It was stuck tight, and after a long struggle, he ended up breaking it.


    The other two had already burrowed back into the sand. Quinn was surprised. "They can move?"


    Alexander nodded. "Yeah, they''re alive, so they can move."


    Quinn grabbed a stick and started digging around. She saw a bunch of them but couldn''t catch any.


    "If Sprout and Brandy were here, they''d have a st," she said.


    Alexander smiled. "We''ll bring them next time."


    Quinn agreed, "Yeah, but let''s wait until this ce is ready. It''s too dangerous right now."


    Alexander nodded. "For sure."


    There wasn''t much in the shallow water, so Quinn wandered further out. She saw crabs, some stranded shrimp, and fish she didn''t recognize. She hadn''t had this much fun in ages. Soon, she was covered in sand.


    Alexander followed her, watching her run around in the sunlight. For a moment, it felt like they were back in their younger days.


    Quinn was just as carefree back then.


    She picked up arge conch shell and waved it at Alexander, showing off her find.


    Alexander quickened his pace and walked over. Quinn handed him the conch shell. "Look, I''ve never seen one this big. It''s bigger than my hand." Alexander took it and examined it. "Wow, that''s impressive."


    Quinn tossed the conch shell to him and kept running ahead. She spotted a small puddle and eximed, "Is that an octopus? I just saw it burrow in!" She was both excited and scared, asking Alexander to get the octopus out.


    Alexander picked up a stick and went over, digging around the sand. The octopus was still burrowing. He quickly grabbed one of its legs and pulled it out. Quinn wanted to help but was scared of the suction cups. "Forget it. Let it go."


    Alexander reassured her, "It''s fine. I''ve almost got it."


    With that, he pulled arge octopus out of the sand.


    He threw it on the beach, and the octopus wriggled around. Quinn was so scared she ran away.


    Alexander found it amusing. "Weren''t you the one who wanted to catch it? Why are you running?"


    Quinn replied, "It''s too scary. It''s huge!"


    Alexanderughed and shook his head, letting the octopus burrow back into the sand.


    Alexander reminded her, "Don''t run too far, or you might get lost."


    Quinn nced back at the fishing vige and realized they had run quite a distance. The vige was shrinking in her view, and the houses looked like tombstones.


    She suddenly felt a reluctance to go back.


    After running on the beach all morning, Quinn was exhausted. In the end, they didn''t find much except for the conch shell and a few starfish.


    She returned to the fishing vige, tired, and plopped down on a stone by the roadside. "If we lived by the sea and relied on mming for a living, we''d probably starve." Alexander chuckled. "With me around, there''s no way I''d let you starve."


    Quinn nced at him and suddenly said, "When I was far away, these houses looked like tombs. Why was this ce abandoned?"


    Alexander spected, "Maybe everyone just left."


    "Is that so?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander nodded. "What else? There are lots of mountain viges that get abandoned because people leave. This ce is no different."


    Quinn epted his exnation. "Alright."


    Feeling hungry, she took out two pieces of bread and took a few bites.


    Alexander said, "I''m gonna check out some other ces. You wait here."


    Quinn was stunned. He still hadn''t given up on exploring. She grabbed his arm. "Don''t go."


    Alexander reassured her, "Don''t worry, it''s daytime. It''s fine. Maybe I''ll find a house without coffins."


    Quinn hesitated. The coffins in the roomst night had kept her from sleeping, so she also wanted to find a house without coffins. But even if they found one, it didn''t feel like it would be much better inside. But Alexander had already made up his mind and walked deeper into the vige.


    Quinn quickly put down her bread and hurried after him.


    "Are you really going?" she asked.


    Alexander replied, "We''vee this far. Do you think I''m joking?"


    He had already reached another house. He kicked open the door, and this house was even more terrifying. There were three coffins neatly ced in the hall, scaring Quinn into hugging him. "Don''t go in. Let''s move on," she urged, pulling Alexander to prevent his curiosity from making him open the coffins.


    To be honest, Alexander really wanted to see what was inside those coffins, but Quinn wouldn''t let him.novelbin


    He had no choice but to leave this house and go to another one.


    This house didn''t have coffins in the living room, but there were three rooms. Alexander opened the first door, and there were no coffins inside.


    Quinn''s face lit up. "Could it be that this house doesn''t have any?"


    Alexander didn''t answer her but walked to another door and opened it. No coffins inside either, which surprised him.


    "Looks like this will be our ce for tonight?" he remarked.


    Quinn nodded. "Possibly."


    Then, he opened the third door.


    Inside, there were about seven or eight coffins neatly ced, with one even having a ck-and-white photo hanging on it.


    As expected, Quinn screamed in fright again.


    Alexander casually closed the door, hugged her, and patted her shoulder. "It''s okay. It''s fine."


    Quinn trembled with fear, clutching his clothes tightly. "Let''s not explore anymore. Almost every house has them."


    Her voice was tinged with tears, clearly very scared.


    Alexander agreed. "Alright. Let''s go back."


    Quinn nodded. She followed Alexander out of the vige and back to the beach. She insisted that Alexander bring out their luggage because she didn''t n to stay indoors tonight. Alexanderplied with her request, bringing out their luggage and cing it where the tide wouldn''t reach. But it was still close to the house, so it wasn''t much different from being inside. Quinn refused to go back in no matter what.


    Alexander said, "Then I''ll go gather some firewood."


    Quinn nodded and then reminded him, "Don''t open those coffins."


    Alexander replied, "Got it."


    If Alexander listened to her advice, he wouldn''t be Alexander.


    Since Quinn didn''t follow him, the first thing Alexander did when he entered the house was to open the coffins. However, they were all sealed. He pushed for a long time and couldn''t open them. So, he moved on to another coffin, but it was also sealed.


    He finally found one that wasn''t sealed. When he opened it, there was nothing inside. Alexander stared at it for a while, then closed the lid.


    The room was dark and eerie, yet Alexander could nonchntly push those coffins. If someone suddenly came here, they might not be scared by the coffins but by him.


    After a while, Alexander came back with a bunch of wooden nks and threw them on the ground.


    Quinn stared at him. "Did you go look at the coffins?"


    Alexander denied, "No."


    "You definitely did. Don''t I know you?" Quinn insisted, ring at him. Alexander chuckled. "There was nothing inside. Why are you so scared?" Quinn asked, "Nothing at all?"


    Alexander confirmed, "Yeah, I checked. They were empty."


    Quinn asked, "Then why do they have so many coffins in their houses?"


    Alexander was stacking the firewood as he said, "Well, that''s something we''ll explore tomorrow."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1581

    The sun dipped below the horizon, and the tide crept in. Quinn watched the waterline inch closer until it stopped just a few feet away. "It''s brighter out here than inside," Quinn said.


    Alexander nodded, tossing a piece of wood into the fire. The sea breeze made the mes dance.


    "Are you cold?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn shook her head. "No. When do you think they''ll find us?"


    "No idea," Alexander replied.


    Quinn was taken aback. "What if they never find us? Are we just going to wander here forever?"


    Alexander reassured her, "What are you afraid of? We''ve survived in the wild before. And this time, we have enough supplies tost longer."


    Quinn gave him a suspicious look. Last time, he did it on purpose. She wondered if this time was intentional too.


    Alexander pulled her closer. "You haven''t slept for a whole day and night. Get some rest."


    Quinn was indeed tired. She had been running on the beach all day. Leaning into Alexander''s arms, she closed her eyes and said, "You should sleep too." "Okay," Alexander agreed.


    The sea breeze blew gently, and Quinn, feeling drowsy, soon fell asleep.


    When she woke up the next day, the ring sun was on her face. She rubbed her eyes and mumbled, "It''s morning."


    Realizing something was off, she turned to find the space beside her empty. Alexander was nowhere to be seen.


    She stood up and called out towards the house in front of her.


    Getting no response, she sighed and sat back down.


    She was just worried that Alexander had gone off to study those coffins again, not that he had abandoned her.


    Before long, Alexander returned, not from the house but from the beach.


    "You went crab hunting?" Quinn asked, surprised.


    "Yeah, right after the tide went out. These crabs didn''t have time to burrow into the sand, so they were easy to catch," Alexander replied. "Did you sleep?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander chuckled. "Of course I did. You used toin I slept too much, and now you''re saying I sleep too little?"


    "No, I was just asking. I thought you went crab hunting in the middle of the night. How do we cook these?" Quinn rified.


    "Just grill them," Alexander suggested.


    They didn''t have any tools, so they made a simple stove with stones and grilled the tied-up crabs on a stone b. It was a long process. Quinn touched her dry face. "I want to wash my face."


    Seawater wasn''t an option, and there was no fresh water around. The few bottles of mineral water they had left were barely enough to drink, let alone wash with. Alexander gave her a mysterious look. "I''ll go find some tools in the house."


    The houses they checked yesterday had quite a few things left behind, including pots and pans. Alexander sighed, "How could I forget about those houses?" Quinn hesitated. "Are those things usable?"


    Alexander replied, "As long as they don''t poison us, they''re usable."


    Quinn rolled her eyes.


    Alexander was already on his way, and Quinn decided to follow him.


    The thought of those coffins made her hesitant to go inside, but curiosity won out, especially since she was going in with Alexander to find useful items.


    As soon as they opened the door, two centipedes scurried into the cracks in the wall. Quinn grabbed Alexander''s arm and eximed, "There are so many bugs in here."


    "Be careful," Alexander warned, looking at Quinn''s sneakers, which should protect her from bites.


    They rummaged through the house, finding quite a few things left by the previous owner. There were utensils in the cabs and arge pot, but the pot had a hole and was unusable. There were also two broken chairs outside that could be used for firewood.


    On another ind, Kyle and Sean sat on the beach, with a boat docked nearby.


    Sean urged, "Aren''t we leaving yet? Aren''t you worried Mr. Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy will starve on the ind?"


    Kyle gave him a look. "Why are you in such a hurry? How could Mr. Kennedy starve? You underestimate him."


    Sean protested, "Mr. Kennedy said he woulde the day before yesterday, and you''re still not leaving!"


    Kyle motioned for him to sit down and handed him a coconut. Sean took a couple of sips and handed it back.


    Sean dered, "Don''t think you can bribe me! I know what you''re up to. You want to leave them on that ind and take their money for yourself."


    Kyle pped him on the forehead in frustration. "Is your head full of garbage? Even if I left them on the ind and they starved, Calvin is still here. How much money do you think I could get?"


    Sean rubbed his forehead and looked back at the ind. It was quiterge and still under construction. With limited resources, most of the buildings were wooden, giving it a primitive feel. Yet, with some care, it had a unique charm. With most of the trees cut down, the ground was now paved with cobblestones and adorned with wildflowers, creating a serene, almost utopian ambiance.


    There were no people in sight because they were working far away.


    Sean and Kyle were waiting to set off to pick up Alexander and Quinn, but Kyle had been stalling for two days without leaving.


    Sean asked, confused, "So when are we leaving?"


    Kyle replied, "Let''s wait a bit longer."


    Sean pressed, "Wait for what? Aren''t you afraid Mr. Kennedy will get angry?"


    Kyle put his arm around Sean''s shoulder. "Why would he get angry? He''d be thrilled. I''m giving them a chance to be alone."


    Sean scratched his head. "Aren''t they already reconciled? Why do they need alone time?"


    Kyle sighed, "You''re really slow sometimes. I don''t feel like exining. Just trust me. We''ll leave when I say so."


    Sean red at him, stood up, and walked away. "Let me know when you''re ready to leave. I''ll be working on my house."


    Since their arrival, everyone had been engrossed in building. It seemed humans were always drawn to construction, from molding mud as children to building homes as adults.


    The houses they lived in were all self-made, so as you ventured deeper, you''d see an array of homes in various shapes and sizes, resembling a vast custom building project.


    Quinn and Alexander spent half the day scavenging through those houses, finding a bunch of stuff, including a kitchen knife, though it was too rusty to use.


    But that was no problem for Alexander. He took the rusty knife to the beach to sharpen it.


    Quinn took the items to wash. After the tide went out, the waterline was far away, but that wasn''t an issue. They just needed to dig a hole in the sand, and water would seep in. Each of them squatted by a sand pit, with Quinn washing a pot. She couldn''t help but nce at Alexander next to her, seriously sharpening the knife, and found it amusing. She took out her phone to snap a picture of him.


    The shutter sound caught Alexander''s attention, and he turned to look at Quinn, his face captured on the screen.


    Alexander asked, "What are you taking pictures of?"


    Quinn replied, "You. You look kind of funny."


    Alexander raised an eyebrow. "How funny?"


    Quinn stood up, ran over, and showed him the photo she had just taken.


    It showed him squatting by the sand pit, holding the knife with both hands, sharpening it on a stone. His shirt and serious expression made it oddlyical. Alexander nced at it, and then took her phone. "Go wash, and I''ll take a picture of you too."


    Quinn shook her head vigorously. "No way. You''re not taking any ugly pictures of me!"


    She lunged to grab her phone back, but Alexander raised his hand to avoid her. She clung to his neck, trying to pull his arm down. "Give me my phone back!" Alexander warned, "Stop it. You''ll drop it."novelbin


    In the next second, they both tumbled into the sand pit. Alexander ended up sitting in the pit, water reaching his waist, while Quinny on top of him, her jeans soaked. Quinn looked at him and burst outughing. "You look even funnier now."


    Alexander groaned, "My waist is about to break. Get up!"


    Quinn paused, then quickly climbed off him. Now he was the one sitting awkwardly in the pit, which was too small to contain him. His upper and lower halves were outside, with only his butt inside. Quinn took the opportunity to grab her phone and snapped a couple of pictures of him.


    Alexander eximed, "You''re still taking pictures!"


    He struggled to get out of the pit and tried to grab the phone back, but Quinn had already run far away.


    Alexander watched Quinnughing with the phone in the distance, shook his head helplessly, and didn''t chase her. Instead, he started brushing the sand off himself.


    His shirt waspletely soaked, so he casually took it off and went to the shore with it.


    "Aren''t you hungry?" Alexander asked, throwing the shirt on a rock and pulling a gray undershirt from the suitcase to put on.


    Quinn replied, "I''m fine. I just had some bread."


    Alexander nced at her, then took out a pair of pants from the suitcase.


    Quinn was stunned. "You''re not going to change your pants here, are you?"


    "There''s no one around," Alexander said casually and started unbuckling his belt.


    Quinn insisted, "Go inside. Even if no one''s around, it''s weird to change here." Alexander asked, "What''s weird about it?"


    Quinn didn''t bother arguing, pushing him towards the house. "Just go inside and change!"


    Alexander had no choice but to take the pants inside. After a while, he came back out, changed.


    He returned to the beach to continue sharpening the knife, and Quinn didn''t bother him anymore. She suspected that if they ran out of clothes, Alexander might just strip in front of her. After cleaning the kitchen utensils, she brought them back to the shore. The crabs Alexander had caught were ready to be steamed.


    "Stay here and watch. I''ll go inside and see if there''s any fresh water," Alexander said.


    "Do you think there is?" Quinn asked.


    "In such a big vige, they can''t be drinking seawater. There must be some," Alexander replied.


    With that, he walked into the vige.


    This time he went deeper, following a path to the back of the vige, where he actually found water¡ªa well.


    The well had water, but it was covered in weeds, and the water surface was dirty. With some cleaning, it could still be used.

 Chapter 1582

    Quinn noticed Alexander had been gone for a while, so she put out the fire, grabbed a stick, and went to find him.


    The grass was all trampled where he walked, making it easy to follow his trail.


    When she found him, he was by the well, trying to figure out how to clean the water and get it out.


    The water was about two meters down, making it tough to reach by hand.


    Quinn walked up to him and said, "There you are, Alexander."


    As she got closer, Alexander raised his hand to stop her.


    "Watch out. Don''t fall in," he warned.


    Quinn looked down and finally noticed the well. "Oh, it''s a well," she said.


    She wanted to peek inside, but Alexander gently pushed her back. "Don''t get too close," he said.


    "I just want to look. I won''t fall in. Don''t be so cautious," Quinn insisted.


    Since she was determined, Alexander held her hand while she looked. Even though he was being overly careful, Quinn felt warm inside.


    "It''s so deep. How are we going to get the water out?" she asked.


    Alexander thought for a moment, looked around, and spotted some vines hanging from a nearby cliff. He walked over, grabbed a vine, and gave it a tug.


    It was pretty sturdy. He turned to Quinn and said, "Go get a bucket."


    Quinn nodded and ran back. They had two buckets, one wooden and one stic. The stic one had no handle, and the wooden one had a hole in it. Neither was in great shape. After thinking it over, she brought the wooden bucket.


    Alexander had already pulled down the vine. He took the wooden bucket from Quinn, tied the vine to it, and then lowered the bucket into the well.


    In no time, he pulled up a bucket of water, but there were a lot of floating weeds on the surface.


    "Can we use this?" Quinn asked.


    "Let it settle, and it''ll be usable. Do you want to take a bath?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn looked around. "Here?"


    "Or you can go inside the house," Alexander replied.


    Thinking of the coffins inside the house, she swallowed hard. "No way," she said.


    "So, do you want to bathe?" Alexander asked, staring at her. "You said you wanted to bathest night."


    Quinn looked a bit awkward. "Maybe we should wait until it''s darker. I can''t do it right now."


    Alexander nodded. He poured out the water and drew several more buckets, all of which he poured out.


    By the sixth bucket, the water was much clearer. He looked at it. "This should be good enough."


    "Yeah," Quinn agreed.


    "Let''s go back andeter," Alexander said.


    They returned to the beach. Quinn looked at the vast ocean and couldn''t help but say, "Why didn''t they just live here? It''s so far away, and no onees here." "It''s too small here," Alexander replied.


    "Why do they need such a big ce?" Quinn asked.


    "Bigger is always better. Let''s eat first. We have things to doter," Alexander said.


    Quinn agreed. They had a big pot of crabs, but they couldn''t finish it and left two.


    After eating, Quinn realized what he meant by having things to do. He took a kitchen knife and cleared the weeds on the path to the well, making it easier to get there.


    By the time he finished clearing the path, dusk was setting in. He also cleared arge area around the well, mainly to prevent bugs froming out while Quinn bathed. He cleared about two meters around the well. The ground was paved with stone bs, so it looked rtively clean.novelbin


    As the sun set, he grabbed the bucket and said, "Bathe now before it gets too cold and you catch a chill."


    In the wilderness, Quinn felt a bit embarrassed. "Maybe I shouldn''t."


    "If you''re shy, I''ll bathe with you," Alexander offered.


    "No way," Quinn said, shaking her head.


    Bathing together would be way too awkward.


    It was fine at home with the door closed, but out here in the wild? No way.


    Alexander nodded. "Alright, I''ll draw water for you while you bathe."


    "Can''t I draw the water myself?" Quinn asked.


    "I''m worried you''ll fall in," Alexander said.


    "I''m not that clumsy," Quinn protested.


    Alexander still refused. He drew a bucket of water and ced it in front of Quinn, then turned around. "You bathe, and I won''t look. Just let me know when you need more water." The bucket had a hole and could only hold half, so she needed several buckets to finish bathing.


    Quinn felt sticky from sweating, so she gritted her teeth and started undressing.


    Alexander extended his hand. "Give me your clothes," he said.


    Quinn hesitated but ced her clothes in his hand. "Don''t turn around."


    "I won''t. I''ll keep watch for you," Alexander assured her.


    By now, it was dark, and their figures in the grass were bing blurry. Quinn quickly squatted down to bathe. The cold water made her shiver, but she got used to it after a while. The bucket was small, and the water ran out quickly. She reluctantly said, "No more water."


    Alexander turned around, and Quinn immediately hugged herself. "Don''t look!"


    Alexander suppressed a smile. "It''s not like I haven''t seen you before. Why are you so nervous?"


    "Just don''t look!" Quinn insisted.


    It wasn''t about whether he had seen her before; Quinn felt embarrassed being naked and watched by Alexander while bathing.


    "Okay, I won''t look." Alexander turned away and drew a bucket of water for her, cing it in front of her before turning back. "Bathe quickly, don''t catch a cold."


    "Got it!" Quinn replied.


    After five buckets, Quinn was finally clean. She quickly put on her clothes and told Alexander, "I''m done."


    "Let''s head back then," Alexander said.


    It was dark, and they needed a shlight to see the path. Luckily, they had cleared the grass during the day, making it easier to walk. After bathing, Quinn felt much morefortable.


    "Aren''t you going to bathe?" Quinn asked him.


    "I''ll bathe if you keep watch for me," Alexander replied.


    "It''ste; there''s no need to keep watch," Quinn said.


    Alexander ced the half bucket of water on the ground and started a fire with the temte. "Then I won''t bathe." "Suit yourself," Quinn said.


    At night, they only had bread to eat. After eating a piece of bread, Quinn thought of Sprout and Brandy.


    "I wonder how they''re doing. We can''t even call them," Quinn said.


    "We''ve only been gone a few days. Don''t worry about them," Alexander reassured her, pulling her close. "Let''s sleep."


    "It''s only seven o''clock. How can I sleep?" Quinn asked.


    With no entertainment, they could only sit there, and sitting for too long made her restless.


    "Then let''s do something to help you sleep," Alexander suggested.


    Quinn was stunned and turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"


    "I want to be intimate with you," Alexander replied.


    Quinn was stunned again and then pinched him angrily. "What are you talking about!"


    "Didn''t you ask me?" Alexander said.


    "I..." Quinn was at a loss for words and then fell silent for a while. She whispered, "You haven''t even bathed."


    "I don''t need to," Alexander said.


    "What do you mean?" Quinn asked.


    "I just need to wash my hands," Alexander replied.


    Alexander grabbed the nearby water bucket and washed his hands in it. Quinn watched him with wide eyes. Was he serious?


    Quinn grabbed his hand. "Stop it. Why don''t you go bathe?"


    "I can sleep just fine," Alexander said.

 Chapter 1583

    The next morning, Quinn woke up to the blinding sunlight making her eyes ache. She raised her hand to block it and slowly opened her eyes. Alexander was gone again. "Did he go crab hunting again?" Quinn mumbled to herself.


    She got up, still using Alexander''s suit jacket as a makeshift bed. She scanned the beach but didn''t see anyone, so she headed towards the vige.


    ''Maybe he''s by the well,'' she thought.


    But when she got there, Alexander was nowhere in sight.


    "Where did he go?" Quinn muttered.


    She called out, "Alexander!"


    No answer. Her heart skipped a beat. Did he leave her to do something else?


    Ignoring the bushes around her, she ran inside. "Alexander, where are you?" she shouted.


    Just as she was starting to panic, she heard Alexander''s voice from the house, "Over here."


    Quinn turned towards the house. ''Why is he inside again?'' she wondered.


    After a moment''s hesitation, she walked to the house.


    The door was open, but Alexander wasn''t in the living room. She heard noisesing from another room.


    Quinn had a bad feeling.


    She slowly approached the door, peeked inside, and saw a coffin with Alexander standing in front of it, staring inside.


    Quinn almost fainted. She clung to the door frame. "What are you doing in there?"


    Alexander turned to her. "What are you standing there for? Come in."


    "No way, youe out. Why did you open the coffin? That''s creepy," Quinn said. Why was Alexander so curious? Did he really need to see what was inside? Alexanderughed. "There''s nothing in here. If you don''t believe me,e and see."


    Quinn shook her head. "I''m not going in. Come out, or I''ll get mad."


    Alexander smirked. "Come on, I''m not lying."


    Quinn still shook her head. "Even if it''s empty, I''m not looking."


    Alexander sighed, closed the coffin lid, and walked out.


    Quinn grabbed his arm and pulled him outside. "Did you wake up just to look at coffins? You''re so boring."


    "I just wanted to see what they were for," Alexander said. "Turns out, most of these unsealed coffins are empty." Quinn paused, shocked. "Most? You looked at a lot?"


    "About half of them. Eighty percent are empty," Alexander replied.


    "What about the other twenty percent?" Quinn asked.


    "They''re filled with random stuff. Didn''t you notice more things around when you woke up?" Alexander asked. Quinn was stunned. She hadn''t noticed, too busy looking for Alexander.


    "Since you know they''re empty, stop looking," Quinn said.


    "I want to check the sealed ones," Alexander said.


    Quinn red at him. "They''re sealed for a reason. Let''s figure out how to leave. We''ve been here for days."


    Alexander patted her head, and she dodged, grossed out that he had been touching coffins.


    Alexander smirked.


    Quinn threatened, "If you touch those coffins again, don''t touch me."


    "Really?" Alexander asked.


    "Yes!" Quinn confirmed.


    "Okay, I won''t look anymore. Let''s go back," Alexander said.


    They returned to the beach, and Quinn noticed a lot more stuff there, like bed sheets and covers. Probably because they were sealed in the coffins, they looked very clean. But Quinn didn''t want to use them.


    "These things are useful," Alexander said.


    "Use them yourself," Quinn replied.


    "They''re clean, and there''s nothing else in the coffins. They''re just storage boxes," Alexander exined.


    "No way. I''m not using them," Quinn insisted.


    That night, it started raining, so they had to go back to the house to avoid getting soaked.


    The house was leaking everywhere, even the roof. The pots, pans, and buckets they used weren''t enough to catch all the water.


    They''d catch it in one spot, and it would start leaking somewhere else.


    Finally, Alexander threw the bucket down. "Let''s find a better house."


    "Let''s do it tomorrow. It''s raining now, and we have to clear the grass in other rooms," Quinn said.


    Alexander nced at the inner room. "That room doesn''t seem to be leaking."


    "Stop fussing. Let''s stay here. It''s not leaking in this corner," Quinn said, carrying the nkets to a rtively dry spot. She spread one nket on the ground and used another to cover herself. Alexander found it amusing. "Weren''t you not going to use them?"


    "When did I say that?" Quinn pouted. She grabbed the nket and sniffed it. No strange smell, just a strong scent of wood.


    The nket looked new, so she decided to use it.


    They crashed in the leaky house for the night. After being there for so long, Quinn seemed less freaked out by the coffins, either because she was getting used to them or because Alexander kept telling her they were empty. The next day, it was still pouring, so they were stuck inside. Alexander burned anything that could be used for firewood, making the ce cleaner.


    Thanks to the fire, the bugs in the house were gone too.


    Quinn, bored out of her mind, noticed how dirty the floor was and grabbed two brooms to sweep the ce.


    After cleaning, the house looked almost new.


    She pped her hands and smiled at the clean house. "The house is clean now. It looks much safer," she said. Alexander nodded. "It would be better if it didn''t leak."


    Quinn looked up at the leaking tiles. "Let''s just make do. Kyle and the others should be finding us soon, right?"


    It was weird they hadn''t found them yet, given how long it had been.


    Alexander looked at the gloomy weather outside. "Who knows how long this rain willst."


    Kyle and the others would have to wait until the rain stopped to find them. Until then, Alexander and Quinn were stuck here.


    The biggest issue was that they hadn''t expected the rain. The food Alexander and Quinn brought might not be enough, and it was tough to find food in the rain.


    They stayed inside all day, and it was still raining at night. The rain finally stopped in the middle of the night, and the next morning was clear. Quinn''s face lit up. "The rain has stopped." They went outside. The sky was dark, with clouds almost merging with the sea.


    Alexander frowned and shook his head. "It''s definitely going to rain heavily again. Let''s find a safer house."


    Quinn looked at the clouds over the sea and frowned. It looked like the next rain would be heavy.


    The house they were in would probably turn into a river with the leaks.


    Alexander was right. They needed to find a house that didn''t leak. The current house was close to the sea, and if it rained and the tide rose, it might get flooded. Although the vige had been abandoned for at least fifty years and looked safe, who knew if the vige used to be bigger?


    Given the wide beach in front, it was possible that it used to be part of the vige, now submerged.


    Quinn followed Alexander, walking a bit further. They chose the house they had seen before, the one with three coffins in one room and two other empty rooms. They checked inside. This house also leaked, but not as badly as the previous one. There were only three spots with water on the floor.


    They checked the inner rooms, and the two empty rooms were dry.


    "How about this house?" Quinn asked.novelbin


    Alexander looked around and nodded. "Good. Just clear the grass at the entrance."


    This house was near the central road, the one leading to the well. The grass on this road had been cleared a few days ago, so it was easy to manage.


    They quickly cleared the surrounding grass and moved their things here. Seeing that it was still early, Quinn, with nothing else to do, cleaned the house again. Alexander watched her busy figure, thinking they must have been really bored these past few days.


    He helped tidy up the room and then, before it got dark, went to the sea to find some food.


    At night, there was lightning and thunder, followed by a storm. The old house creaked in the wind, and Quinn feared it might copse at any moment. She nestled in Alexander''s arms, listening to the storm outside and the banging of the doors and windows.


    "Is it a hurricane outside?" Quinn asked, worried.


    Alexander frowned. "I don''t know."


    "If it''s a hurricane, will we be blown away?" Quinn continued.


    Alexander chuckled. "You''re overthinking. If these houses were going to be blown away, they would have been long gone before we got here."


    "Who knows? What if we''re just that unlucky?" Quinn said.


    "Alright, stop talking," Alexander said.


    Quinn fell silent. A sh of lightning lit up the room, followed by a deafening thunderp.


    Alexander said, "Now I understand why everyone moved away."


    "Why?" Quinn asked.


    "With weather like this, who wouldn''t be scared to live here?" Alexander replied.


    He looked around and analyzed. "From my observations these past few days, this ce probably experienced a hurricane before, so people moved away." "How do you know?" Quinn asked.


    "Because the doors and windows have been reinforced multiple times," Alexander exined.


    "Really?" Quinn said.


    "Yes, so don''t be scared. These people moved away, not because of some supernatural reason," Alexander assured her.


    "But why didn''t they take the coffins?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander nced at her, his look seemingly questioning her intelligence.

 Chapter 1584

    Quinn rubbed her nose, thinking it made sense. A coffin was super heavy, and with these bumpy roads, moving it would be a nightmare.


    The storm raged on for what felt like forever and finally let up near dawn. Quinn had no clue when she dozed off, but when she woke up, the door was blown off its hinges.


    She jumped up and dashed outside to check things out. The rain was stilling down, with the asional rumble of thunder. The grass was ttened, some roofs had caved in, and debris was scattered everywhere.


    Quinn nced at the pouring rain and then back at Alexander, who was busy getting the fire going again. She quickly ran back inside. "Alexander, the seawater''s risen outside. The house we were in before is half underwater." "I know," Alexander said.


    "You already checked?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, I did. The rain hasn''t stopped yet. Stay inside and don''t wander around," Alexander advised.


    "Okay. I''ll just watch from the doorway," Quinn said. She stood at the door, staring at the sea not too far away. Yesterday morning, the seawater had pulled back, but now it was right up close. The house they stayed in before was half- submerged.


    She sighed. "Can Kyle find us?"


    She was worried that if Kyle and the others got lost at sea in this weather, they might be in serious trouble.


    She squatted by the fire, anxiously looking at Alexander. "They haven''t found us for so long. Could they be in danger at sea?"


    Alexander paused and said, "Probably not. Don''t overthink it."


    "That''s good. Now our phones are dead, and the power bank''s out of juice too. What do we do next?" Quinn asked.


    "Wait. There''s nothing else we can do," Alexander replied.


    Quinn nodded and plopped down on the bed.


    It was cold and raining. Thankfully, Alexander had found these nkets; without them, they might have frozen to death.


    Even though it was still raining and thundering outside, there wasn''t that crazy wind like the other night. It must have been a typhoon. Luckily, they weren''t in the center of it.


    They were stuck there for almost five days before the sky finally cleared. Quinn walked out of the house and saw that the seawater had pulled back, and the beach was visible again. She said excitedly, "Alexander, the rain''s stopped. Looks like it''s finally over."


    Alexander followed her out, looked at the clear sky, and the ttened grass around. The vige looked a lot clearer now.


    "Think Kyle and the others will find us soon?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander nodded. "Yeah, they will."


    Quinn finally felt a bit of relief. She was so over being stuck there and just wanted out.


    She was right. A few days ago, it poured like crazy and there was a typhoon. Kyle and the crew set out to find them as soon as the rain let up.


    They didn''t want to waste any more time, worried it might rain again and trap Alexander and Quinn in the vige.


    The next morning, Quinn was still half-asleep when she heard someone shouting outside. "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy! Are you here?"


    Kyle and Sean, along with a few others, had gotten off the boat and were searching the vige for Alexander and Quinn.


    Seeing the mess in the vige, Sean worriedly said, "Did they get hit by the typhoon too? Could they have been blown away?"novelbin


    As he spoke, he got angry. "This is all your fault. I told you toe earlier, but you dyed. If something happened to Mrs. Kennedy and Mr. Kennedy, how will you exin it to Calvin?"


    Kyle red at him. "Stop nagging. You''re annoying. Can we just find them first?"


    Sean snorted and went off to look for Quinn and Alexander elsewhere.


    Quinn rubbed her eyes and felt around. Alexander was gone again. She quickly got up and clearly heard Sean and Kyle''s voices.


    Overjoyed, she hurriedly ran outside.


    Alexander had already gone out. Sean saw him and ran over joyfully, "Mr. Kennedy, it''s so good that you''re okay."


    Kyle was stunned to see Alexander, then he smiled and walked quickly towards them. "Mr. Kennedy, where''s Mrs. Kennedy?"


    Alexander looked at them. "Why are you only here now?"


    "Because Kyle said..." Before Sean could finish, Kyle covered his mouth and forced a smile. "Mr. Kennedy, it rained heavily at sea these past few days, and we got lost. If it weren''t for good luck, we would have almost sunk." Sean rolled his eyes, thinking Kyle was really good at making things up.


    Quinn came out just in time to hear their conversation. She hurriedly asked, "Are you all okay?"


    Kyle smiled awkwardly. "We''re doing fine. Thankfully, we finally found you. All the hardship was worth it."


    Quinn felt a pang of guilt. If she hadn''t insisted oning, Kyle and Sean wouldn''t have had toe looking for them and wouldn''t have gotten lost. If they had encountered danger at sea while looking for her and Alexander, she wouldn''t know how to cope with the guilt.


    Seeing her downcast expression, Kyle quickly chimed in, "Hey, it wasn''t that bad. We just got a little lost, no real danger. Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy, let''s get out of here. This ce is a dump."


    Alexander nodded and took a few steps before saying, "Hold on. I need you to do something first."


    Kyle looked puzzled.


    Quinn thought it must be something important, but it turned out he wanted Kyle and the others to open coffins. Quinn''s mouth twitched.


    She couldn''t understand why Alexander was so obsessed with those coffins. What was so fascinating about them?


    Could it be because Alexander had never seen a coffin before?


    In Amber Bay, they only saw urns, not coffins. She seemed to understand him a bit now.


    Naturally, Kyle and the others wouldn''t refuse Alexander''s order. They immediately gathered people, grabbed tools, and randomly picked a room to enter.


    They needed to open those sealed coffins, which required several people and tools.


    Alexander stood outside watching them open the coffins, with Quinn by his side. He said, "I''m not touching anything, you see."


    Quinn didn''t feel like talking to him anymore.


    After a while, Kyle and the others opened the coffin and eximed.


    Quinn instinctively took a step back. "What did you see?"


    Kyle turned to Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy,e and see."


    Alexander was about to step forward when Quinn grabbed him tightly. "Don''t go."


    "There are so many people here. Don''t worry, I won''t touch anything," Alexander assured her.


    Quinn hesitated and then reluctantly let go of him.


    Alexander walked over to the coffin and looked inside, his pupils slightly contracting.


    Seeing their strange expressions, Quinn couldn''t help but move closer. "What is it? A body? Or many bodies?"


    Kyle murmured, "A lot of..."


    Hearing "a lot," Quinn paused.


    Kyle continued, "A lot of gold."


    Quinn was stunned.


    She thought she had misheard, but Alexander had already taken something out of the coffin, and she clearly saw it was gold. Alexander said, "Open all the coffins."


    Kyle was already eager to open the coffins.


    There were two sealed coffins in this house. The other coffin didn''t contain gold but some antiques.


    Who would have thought that this rundown vige hid so many treasures?


    Kyle casually picked up a painting. "Oh my God, are we going to get rich?"


    "Where did these thingse from? They look like they''re from our country," Sean said, examining a vase.


    "Let''s open the rest first," Alexander said.


    "Right, let''s go. Split up and open the coffins," Kyle agreed.


    Fortunately, they had brought some people with them; otherwise, they wouldn''t have been able to open so many coffins by themselves. The vige became lively, and it took the whole morning to open all the coffins.


    Quinn followed them around. Knowing that the coffins contained treasures instead of bodies, she found the vige scenery much more beautiful. However, some coffins were empty, like those in the front houses. The sealed coffins either contained nothing, misceneous items, or bodies.


    It was like a lottery, and they were all excited to open them.


    Finally, Alexander had them carry the treasure-filled coffins out and ce them on the beach.


    There were about twelve coffins filled with treasures, including gold, silver, and antiques.


    Alexander had them cover the coffins with antiques to prevent damage.


    Kyle said, "Sir, these items seem to have been professionally preserved, not passed down from ancient times."


    Alexander said, "Cover them first."


    "Okay," Kyle replied.


    Alexander then walked to the coffin filled with gold. He picked up a piece of gold and examined it. The surface was somewhat ckened, indicating it was old but not ancient.


    Kyle said, "Our boat might not be able to carry all these items. I''ll go back and get more boats."


    Alexander nodded and took Quinn''s hand. "Let''s go."


    Quinn wasn''t particrly interested in these items, as she already had much more money than she could spend.


    She followed Alexander onto the boat. Kyle and Sean stayed behind to discuss their next steps. Kyle decided that Sean should stay with two other people to keep watch, while he and Alexander would go back to get reinforcements. Sean agreed. One of them had to stay and watch, and since Sean was more capable, it made sense for him to stay.


    After nearly ten days in the vige, Quinn finally boarded the boat. She sighed, "I didn''t expect to find such a treasure before leaving."


    Then she suddenly looked at Alexander. "You''ve always wanted to open those coffins. Did you know there was anything inside?"

 Chapter 1585

    "I''m not that impressive, just curious," Alexander said.


    "Curious about coffins?" Quinn gave him a weird look. Who in their right mind would be into coffins?


    Alexander shrugged. "I''ve never seen anyone keep coffins at home. If it was normal to keep bodies at home, there''d be more coffins around. So, maybe these coffins are for future use or something else, and if that''s the case, they should be empty."


    "But some of them are sealed, which means there''s definitely something fishy going on. I just didn''t expect there''d be gold in them," Alexander added.


    Quinn nodded, taking in his exnation.


    She had been too freaked out, while Alexander was busy figuring out what was up with the coffins.


    ''People really are different,'' Quinn thought.


    Seeing Kyle approach, she quickly asked, "Kyle, how''s Calvin doing?"


    Kyle grinned. "He''s doing great, full of energy. He''s probably still messing around with his house right now."


    "What house?" Quinn asked.


    "You''ll see when you get there," Kyle replied.


    Kyle filled her in on the ind situation. Since it was out at sea, getting supplies and materials was a real hassle. After living in a concrete jungle for so long, they wanted to try something more rustic.


    So, they ditched the idea of concrete buildings and went with wood and stone, which was both eco-friendly and pretty cool. Quinn was intrigued and couldn''t wait to check out the ind.


    After about five hours of sailing, they finally reached the ind. From the outside, it still looked like a forest, with no buildings in sight.


    "I don''t see any houses," Quinn said.


    "Don''t worry, Mrs. Kennedy. We left the outer trees to protect against typhoons and seawater. When picking an ind, you gotta think about the geography. This ce won''t have tsunamis, but typhoons are another story," Kyle exined. The outer trees were left untouched. After getting off the boat, Quinn noticed a small path leading inward. It was paved with stone bs and had wooden railings on both sides. The underbrush had been cleared and reced withwns, making the area look super neat, almost like a park.


    "It''ll take a while to finishying thewns in the forest, but the paths are mostly done," Kyle said.


    Quinn nodded and followed them inside. "Haven''t you run into any wild animals here?"


    "Yeah, there are squirrels and rabbits, but no big wild animals. There are snakes and centipedes, but don''t worry, we''ve cleared out the scary ones," Kyle assured her.


    The path was pretty long, taking about ten minutes to reach the buildings. The open space there was quiterge, and they had even put up an arch at the entrance.


    Inside, there were various wooden houses of different shapes. They had kept the bigger trees and cleared the smaller ones. The houses were built among these crisscrossingrge trees, giving the area a unique and charming vibe. Kyle said, "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, would you like to build a house yourselves?"


    "Can I?" Quinn asked.


    "Of course, you can. Most of us built our own houses, though some aren''t very skilled. See that house over there? That''s what happens when you''re not very skilled," Kyle said.


    Quinn followed his gesture and saw a small wooden hut nestled among therger wooden houses. It was roughly the size of a toilet, with walls made of nks, a wooden board for a roof, and a wooden door.


    "Is that a house? I thought it was... a toilet," Quinn said.


    "It is a house. Let me show you," Kyle said as he walked ahead and pushed open the door.


    Indeed, it was a house. Inside, there was just a bed and a makeshift shelf made of wooden nks and sticks, holding some daily items.


    ''What a shabby house,'' Quinn thought.


    "He couldn''t build it well, and you didn''t help him?" Quinn asked.


    "Mrs. Kennedy, you don''t understand. Building it himself gives him a sense of aplishment, even if it looks shabby. He didn''t want help, and he''s happy living there," Kyle exined.


    Hearing Kyle''s words, Quinn felt a bit eager to try it herself. She looked back at Alexander, "Should we build one too?"


    Alexander smiled, "If you want to do it, I''ll do it with you."


    "Alright, let''s build a house ourselves. I''ll ask Abigailter; I''m sure she''ll be interested in this too," Quinn said.


    "Let''s see Calvin first and talk about thister," Alexander reminded her.


    Quinn finally remembered her main purpose foring here, which was to find Calvin. How did they end up talking about building houses?


    "Right, I almost forgot. Let''s go quickly," Quinn said.


    Kyle knew where Calvin was and led the way. The first part of the path was empty because everyone was busy working.


    After walking about a mile, the noise of drills and machinery reached them.


    "Is there electricity on the ind?" Quinn asked in surprise.


    "Generators," Kyle replied.


    "Oh, right," Quinn said.


    Soon, they saw people busy building houses. To Quinn''s surprise, there were many women and even some elderly men among them. "Who are these people?" Quinn asked.


    "They''re family members of some friends. They came voluntarily. Since we''re nning to settle on the ind, everyone is very happy," Kyle exined. Beforeing here, they agreed that no one would be forced to join. Participation was entirely voluntary.novelbin


    Kyle said, "Only a small number of family members are here now. Once we finish building, more people wille, and it will be lively."


    Watching the busy figures, Quinn felt a sudden surge of emotion.


    She thought of another question. "So there will be children here in the future?"


    "Definitely. Don''t worry about that. There will be schools and teachers," Kyle assured her.


    "What if they want to go outside in the future? To work elsewhere? Even if they gain knowledge, will our diplomas be recognized outside?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle smiled, "Mr. Kennedy didn''t tell you?"


    "Tell me what?" Quinn looked back at Alexander.


    Alexander said, "Don''t worry about that. Since they stay here, we''ll ensure their livelihood."


    Kyle nodded. "Yes, as long as you have money, you can solve anything. People work for money, right? We''ll pay them, so they won''tck money. Whether they want to experience life outside or pursue their dreams, as long as they have money, it''s no problem."


    "That makes sense," Quinn said.


    "So, Mrs. Kennedy, don''t worry," Kyle reassured her.


    Quinn frowned. "But if too many people leave, won''t it be unsafe here?"


    "What''s there to be unsafe about? Our ind doesn''t have many resources. And don''t forget what Calvin does-we''re well-armed. Unless some countries send warships and fighter jets, other forces won''t be able to do much," Kyle exined. "I mean, won''t the news that Calvin is still alive get out?" Quinn asked.


    "It shouldn''t. Everyone knows he''s dead. Even if they find out, it would be hard for them to attack us," Kyle assured her.


    "What are you talking about?" A sudden voice interrupted their conversation. Quinn turned around excitedly.


    It was Calvin. Dressed in a blue T-shirt and floral shorts, with sunsses on, he looked like a tourist on a tropical vacation-except for the w hammer in his hand.


    "Calvin!" Quinn eximed.


    "Quinn!" Calvin responded.


    He dropped the w hammer and ran to Quinn, hugging her tightly.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1586

    They hugged tight, and Quinn finally felt a wave of relief. She''d been thinking Alexander was lying to her these past few days, but now she saw Calvin alive and well. "Calvin, it''s so good to see you''re alive," Quinn said.


    Calvin grinned. "Did you forget who I am? Of course, I''m alive!"


    He let go of Quinn and added, "But seriously, when you saw that wimpy version of me, didn''t you have any doubts? Do you think I''d act like that?"


    Quinn was momentarily stunned, then blushed a bit. "I was too worried about you to think straight."


    "Forget it, it''s all in the past. Everyone thinks I''m dead anyway, and I don''t go by Calvin anymore. Now, I go by Maddox Mellon," Calvin said. Quinn nodded. "That''s a cool name."


    "Of course. Alright, don''t just stand there. Come on, let''s go to my ce," Maddox said.


    "I heard you built the house yourself, is that true?" Quinn asked.


    "Yep, let me show you," Maddox replied, raising his eyebrows and smiling proudly. Quinn''s curiosity about his house grew.


    She followed Calvin-no, Maddox-around those oddly shaped buildings and finally arrived at an even stranger house-it was round!


    Quinn was stunned looking at the house. It looked like a wheel, with the room inside.


    Maddox proudly introduced, "How is it? Surprised?"


    Quinn forced a smile. "It''s definitely unique. Out of all these houses, only yours is round."


    Along the way, she had seen square, triangr, and polygonal houses, but never a round one.


    "Come on, let''s go in," Maddox said, pushing the door open. "It''s not furnished inside yet, just make yourselffortable."


    After entering, Quinn found the ce very clean. The floor was made of wooden nks, and all the furniture was made of wood, giving it a charming, rustic feel.


    "Do you two want to build a house? There''s a big empty space next to mine, you could definitely build a big house there," Maddox suggested.


    Quinn nodded. "Sure, but are there other ces?"


    "Yeah, you can look around. This ind is big, and you can build anywhere that''s been cleared," Maddox replied.


    "That''s great, I want to go check it out now," Quinn said.


    "What''s the rush? You just got here, sit for a while. Have you eaten? I have some food," Maddox said.


    With that, he stood up and ran into the house. After a while, he came back with a big stic bag and threw it in front of them. "Pick whatever you want." Quinn opened the stic bag and saw a lot of snacks, mostly convenience foods like instant noodles.


    She definitely chose noodles. After eating seafood and bread for so many days in the fishing vige, she had been craving noodles.


    "What do you want?" Quinn turned to ask Alexander.


    "Anything," Alexander replied.


    Quinn randomly picked a frozen burger for him and chose instant spaghetti for herself.


    "Where''s the water?" she asked.


    "The water is outside. Go get it yourself. There''s none inside," Maddox said, busy with his unfinished chair.


    Quinn responded, took the food outside, and saw a wooden pavilion next to the house. Inside the pavilion, there was a table and a wooden water tank.


    She thoughtfully prepared Alexander''s food as well and then ced it on the table.


    While waiting for the food to heat up, Quinn took in her surroundings. The area was a harmonious blend of orderly trees and hidden houses, merging the buildings perfectly with the forest.


    Despite the abundance of trees, they didn''t block the light. The trees were widely spaced, and theirrge trunks allowed sunlight to filter through the leaves, creating a beautiful y of light and shadow on the ground. She even spotted a white rabbit running through a distant clump of grass.


    She couldn''t help but remark, "Once this ce is built, it should be very beautiful."


    Alexander nodded. "It definitely will be."


    "After we eat, let''s go check out the site and choose a ce to build our house. We should build something unique too," Quinn suggested.


    "What kind of house do you want to build?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn nced back at Maddox''s round house and had a sudden idea. "How about we build a star-shaped house?"


    Alexander smirked. "Do you know how to build it?"


    "Well..." Quinn didn''t know. She had no idea about building houses; she just thought of a star when she saw Maddox''s round house. Alexander said, "Let''s find a designer to draw up a n first, then we can build it."


    "Sounds good," Quinn said, smiling. There was no rush. She still wanted to go back and check on Sprout.


    She thought they could bring Sprout and Brandy here; they would definitely have a great time.


    "Let''s bring Sprout and Brandy here. I really like this ce," Quinn said.


    Alexander frowned slightly. "Would it be safe?"


    There was construction everywhere. No big machines, but plenty of dangerous tools like drills, saws, and cutting machines just lying around. Sprout and Brandy could easily get into trouble if they touched any of that stuff. Quinn hesitated. "You''re right. Now that Sprout can walk, he''ll definitely run around everywhere. Let''s wait until the construction is finished before bringing them here."


    "Yeah, if you miss them, you can stay here for a few days and then go back to see them," Alexander suggested.novelbin


    "Alright," Quinn said, pushing the food on the table towards him. "Let''s eat first."


    Before long, Maddox came over and sat down next to them. "Don''t eat too much. It''s almost dinner time."


    Quinn smiled. "When do we eat?"


    Maddox looked up at the sky. "When the sun sets."


    The sun set quickly, and soon the forest grew dark. But then, the ce lit up with all these fluorescent and rechargeable lights they had installed. It gave the forest a cool, almost magical vibe.


    Kyle ran over to them and said, "We''re getting ready to cook, Mrs. Kennedy! Can you cook? Would you like to help us?"


    Seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, Quinn couldn''t refuse. She stood up. "Sure, I''ll take a look."


    Kyle nced at Alexander and, seeing that he didn''t say anything, felt overjoyed. ''Great, finally, no more bad food,'' Kyle thought happily.


    When those guys cooked, they always threw everything into one pot. The taste was terrible.


    Watching Quinn leave, Maddox said, "I thought you two would be at odds again."


    Alexander nced at him. "Do you really want us to be at odds?"


    "Not really, I was just guessing. I didn''t expect you to bring Quinn over so soon. Does she already know?" Maddox asked, referring to their n about his fake death. Alexander said, "Quinn would find out sooner orter anyway. As long as it makes her happy, it''s fine if she knows."


    "You''re quite generous," Maddoxmented.


    Maddox hadn''t contacted Quinn, hoping that with time, she would forget about it, and then he could tell her. That way, she wouldn''t think about Walter anymore.


    He didn''t expect that it would only be a short time before Quinn came over.


    Although Quinn might not have had romantic feelings for Walter, their bond since childhood was deep. If it weren''t for that ident, Walter might have been Quinn''s husband by now. Theplicated rtionship was hard to define.


    No matter what Walter didter, at least initially, he went to the Kennedy family with the genuine intention of avenging the Mellon family.


    Walter probably never expected that the person he sought revenge on would be the husband of his long-lost fianc¨¦e, who forgot about him and everything else.


    Honestly, if this had happened to Maddox, he wasn''t sure what he would have done.


    Alexander and Maddox were silent for a long time, not knowing what to say.


    Alexander sighed. "Let''s just leave it at that. Everything is destined."


    Maddox nced at him. "You seem to be in good shape. Is your health improving?"


    "Maybe, nothing too serious at least," Alexander said.


    "If something really happened to you, you probably wouldn''t want to face Quinn," Maddox joked.


    Alexander suddenly became curious. "Can radiation cause mutations? Haven''t seen that firsthand."


    "You''re quite the optimist. Want to expose yourself to more radiation and see what happens? If there are changes, you''d be contributing to research," Maddox said.


    The root cause of Alexander''s physical weakness was the bug imnted in him earlier. It contained radioactive material and had stayed in his body for a year. The radiation had already infiltrated his cells and organs, making it almost incurable. If it were just some external injuries or severe wounds causing his weakness, treatment could have restored him.


    But Alexander''s situation was tricky. He could only rely on the special medication Maddox provided to alleviate his symptoms, control the rate of cell death, reduce the chances of cancer, and dy organ failure.


    More importantly, it helped relieve Alexander''s pain.


    Maddox knew that Alexander''s health was far from what it appeared to be.


    Maddox waved his hand. "Forget it, I don''t want to talk about this. If it weren''t for the fact that you don''t have much time left, I would definitely teach you a lesson."


    This was also why Maddox quickly reconnected with Alexander and chose to cooperate with him.


    He wanted to end the farce swiftly and allow Alexander and Quinn to finally live happily together. After all these years, they had never really had the chance to enjoy a peaceful life together.

 Chapter 1587

    Now that the big stuff was sorted, they could finally chill and spend some quality time together. Quinn had no clue about any of this; she was busy cooking with Kyle and the gang.


    There were women here who cooked, but they just tossed in some seasoning, threw the ingredients into the pan, and stir-fried them without much finesse. As long as all the seasonings were in and the food was cooked, it was considered done. Naturally, the taste wasn''t great.


    Quinn noticed their vegetable shed, which had quite a variety of produce. They had a big house specifically for storing various veggies and even some meat. The temperature inside was super low because of all the freezers, powered by generators, which cost a pretty penny.


    The ind was still a work in progress. Without money, their ns wouldn''t fly.


    Now she finally got why the prices on the ind they visited earlier were so high. Building a city on such an ind would cost a fortune.


    She even started to worry if the money in her ount would be enough.


    The stuff they found in the fishing vige was worth quite a bit. It should be enough, right?


    They also had to pay the people on the ind. Once the ind was built, these folks would have little to do, but they would still need to be paid annually. So, thepany had to keep running; otherwise, they''d be in financial trouble. Kyle and Sean followed her, helping her carry the veggies.


    Quinn asked them, "What do you guys want to eat?"


    Kyle grinned sheepishly. "I want some meat. Their barbecue andmb chops are terrible. Mrs. Kennedy, can you make them?"


    "I can. Let''s grab some meat, and I''ll whip up some barbecue," Quinn replied.


    There were too many people to cook for, so making a lot of dishes wasn''t realistic. Otherwise, they''d be cooking until midnight. So, each meal consisted of three dishes: one meat, one veggie, and a soup.


    But today, Quinn and Alexander wereing. They were the bosses, so an extra dish was a must.


    The meat dishes were decided to be barbecue andmb chops, the veggie dish was a veggie roll, and the soup was tomato soup. That should be enough.


    Soon, they returned to the cooking area with the ingredients. It was arge open space with several big stoves andrge pots. They helped Quinn, who realized she couldn''t manage such arge pot on her own. So, she decided to supervise and let them handle the cooking.


    With several stoves going at once, it got pretty hot standing next to them in this weather. Before long, Quinn was dripping with sweat.


    After about forty minutes, all four dishes were ready. They poured the dishes into several bowls, and the delicious aroma drew many people over.


    "Why does the meat smell so good today?" someone asked.


    "My mouth is watering. Can I start eating?" another person chimed in.


    Kyle said, "What''s the rush? Our bosses aren''t here yet. Hold on! I''ll go get them."


    Quinn stopped him. "I''ll go."


    "Alright, I''ll watch them. Let''s see who dares to sneak a bite," Kyle replied.


    Quinn smiled and headed towards Maddox''s house. She hadn''t gone far when she saw Alexander and Maddoxing.


    "I was just about to call you, but here you are," Quinn said.


    Maddox said, "I smelled it from afar. If I didn''t hurry, there''d be nothing left but tes."


    "Don''t worry. They''re all waiting for you," Quinn reassured him.


    "Good for them. Let''s go," Maddox said.


    The others waited obediently, knowing the bosses were here. In the past, if Maddox waste, the bowls would be clean, or he''d be left with a pot of soup. "Here theye. Mr. Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy, please go ahead," someone announced.


    Quinn smiled, "Let''s eat together. No need for formalities."


    Kyle said, "Since Mrs. Kennedy has spoken, let''s start."


    Despite his words, he served two bowls for Quinn and Alexander first.


    Quinn had never eaten with so many people before. She and Alexander took their bowls and found a tree trunk to sit on.


    This was their makeshift bench, a long, thick tree trunk ced on the ground after some treatment, used as a bench.


    It felt quite special.


    Previously, Quinn had been at home with nothing much to do, feeling bored and aimless.


    But here, she felt a long-lost sense of fulfillment, especially seeing everyone so happy, as if she had found another meaning in life.


    Quinn turned to Alexander and asked, "Is it good?"


    "Yeah, it''s good," Alexander replied, giving all the meat in his bowl to her. "Eat more."


    "Why are you giving it all to me? There''s more over there," Quinn said.


    "I eat vegetarian," Alexander exined.


    Quinn was stunned for a moment, then remembered that he didn''t eat much meat back in Amber Bay. It was probably because he had instructed Briar, which was why there wasn''t much meat on the table, mostly various veggies. She hadn''t really paid much attention to the food. If it weren''t for hisment about being vegetarian, she wouldn''t have noticed the change in the table.


    "Why''d you suddenly decide to go vegetarian?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander replied seriously, "I''m getting older; I can''t handle greasy food anymore."


    "You keep saying you''re getting older. Where exactly are you old?" Quinn had heard this so many times; he mentioned his age almost every day.


    Although Alexander didn''t look old on the outside, some of his behaviors did resemble those of an elderly person.


    "Never mind. Let''s eat," Alexander said.


    They still didn''t know where they would sleep tonight.


    After dinner, they headed back to Maddox''s ce. Knowing they wereing, he had hastily made a bed. The awkward part was that the house had only one room with two beds close together. Alexander looked at the beds and fell silent. "Are the three of us supposed to sleep in this room?"


    Maddox scratched his nose. "My bad, I forgot Quinn is a woman. How about we make do for one night? I''ll move the bed outside tomorrow."


    Alexander asked, "Can''t you move it now?"


    Quinn said, "Let''s just leave it. It''ste. You and Maddox can share a bed, and I''ll take this one."


    Hearing this, both Alexander and Maddox fell silent.


    Alexander couldn''t ept sharing a bed with another man, and neither could Maddox.


    Quinn nced back at them. "What are you doing? Go to sleep."


    Maddox sighed, "Forget it, you two sleep here. I''ll go find somewhere else."


    With that, he quickly left, as if afraid they''d make him stay. He didn''t want to share a room with them.


    Quinn and Alexander exchanged a look.


    Alexander said helplessly, "There''s no way; he won''t sleep with me."


    "I don''t think you want to sleep with him either," Quinn replied.


    Alexander closed the door and sat down beside her, "You misunderstood me. I was actually quite willing to share a bed with him."


    "Should I call him back then?" Quinn asked.


    "Forget it, let''s sleep," Alexander said.novelbin


    Hey down on the bed. It was a bit hard, and even with a nket underneath, it wasn''t asfortable as a mattress.


    Quinn turned off the light andy down. In the quiet room, they could hear birds and insects outside, as well as the faint hum of the generator.


    The sounds weren''t loud, but they were quite clear in the stillness of the night.


    Quinn tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She didn''t know if it was too noisy outside or if she was just not used to the new ce. She spent half the night restless.


    Alexander suddenly asked, "Can''t sleep?"


    Quinn was surprised. "You can''t sleep either?"


    "Not used to the new ce. Want to go for a walk?" Alexander suggested.


    Quinn immediately sat up. "Let''s go."


    She wasn''t sleepy at all. She quickly turned on the light, put on her jacket, and pulled Alexander outside. The weather on the ind was just right. It wasfortable during the day but a bit chilly at night. The forest was a mosaic of light and shadow, with branches and houses casting long shadows on the ground. The distant forest was pitch ck, adding a touch of mystery.


    They walked under the streetlights, their shadows stretching long.


    Unknowingly, they reached the stone path leading to the entrance. The railings on both sides were adorned with lights, making the path clear.


    Even the beach had a few streetlights. It wasn''t as bright as the ind, but it was enough to see.


    The salty sea breeze blew, and Quinn pulled her jacket tighter. She gazed at the distant sea, where the moonlight turned into tiny, sparkling lights on the water. Seeing this, Quinn suddenly remembered many things, especially the time she spent with Alexander on that ind.


    "Is the ind we stayed on before far from here?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander, hands in his pockets, walked slowly beside her and shook his head. "I don''t know. I forgot the location of that ce."


    "Oh, forget it. It just popped into my head," Quinn said. She spotted a rock nearby and sat down. "Some things feel like they happened just yesterday." Even though it had been years, it didn''t feel that long ago when she thought about it.


    Alexander sat down beside her. "Are you thinking about Walter?"


    Quinn was taken aback. She instinctively wanted to deny it but remained silent for a while and didn''t refute.


    Seeing the sea, she naturally thought of Walter. "Is his body still not found?"


    "No, it''s probably not going to be found," Alexander replied.


    Quinn was silent for a while. "Maybe it''s better this way. If they did find it, who knows what it would look like." "Probably simr to the bodies we found in the water before, or worse," Alexander said.


    Walter had faked his death once, falling off a cliff. The body they retrievedter was unrecognizable. Quinn found that everyone here seemed to have died once, except Walter, who had died twice. There probably wouldn''t be a miracle this time.

 Chapter 1588

    They sat there in silence for what felt like forever, the sea breeze doing its thing, sweeping across the beach. As the night dragged on, it got even colder. After a bit, Alexander broke the silence. "We should head back. It''s gettingte."


    Quinn sighed. "Even if we go back, I won''t be able to sleep. Are you tired?"


    "Not really. Just worried you might be cold. If you wanna stay a bit longer, that''s cool," Alexander said, taking off his jacket and putting it over her shoulders. Quinn looked at the jacket, then stood up. "Let''s go back. It''s too dark here, and there''s nothing to see."


    "We could wait for the sunrise," Alexander suggested.


    Quinn thought about it for a second. "Do you want to see it?"


    "If you do, I''ll wait with you," Alexander said. "Doesn''t matter what we do, as long as I''m with you."


    Quinn was caught off guard by his sudden romantic words. She sat back down. "Alright, let''s wait for the sunrise. What time does ite up?"


    "At thistitude, around four," Alexander replied.


    Quinn checked her phone. It was already 2:30 AM, so they only had to wait a bit over an hour. "Let''s wait then. We can''t sleep anyway."


    "Okay," Alexander agreed.


    They sat there, trying to find something to talk about. Quinn finally said, "Abigail mentioned she was going on a honeymoon. Wonder where they''re going. We should''ve tricked them intoing here." Alexanderughed. "You can still do that."


    "Isn''t there no signal here?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander thought for a moment. "Then we''ll wait till we get back and trick them intoing next time to help us build a house."


    "Good idea. But are you sure they''ll help us build a house?" Quinn asked.


    "Who knows," Alexander replied.


    Quinn nced at him. He looked so tired, like he had convinced himself he was old, making him look like an old man now.


    Leaning on his shoulder, Quinn asked, "You said you wanted to take us on a trip. When do you n to go?"


    "Let''s see. We still need to build the house. How about after that''s done?" Alexander suggested.


    "Sure, we have plenty of time anyway," Quinn agreed.


    Alexander fell silent, and when he was quiet, they both were.


    They chatted here and there, and soon the sky started to lighten. Quinn watched as the horizon slowly brightened, the sea bing clearer before them.


    "Is the sunriseing up?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah," Alexander replied.


    Quinn perked up, staring into the distance. She suddenly remembered thest time she watched the sunrise with Alexander, but that was a pretty rough experience. "Didn''t we watch the sunrise before?" Quinn asked.


    Alexander nced at her. "You remember?"


    "Of course. I remember everything between us, the good and the bad," Quinn replied.


    Alexander sighed, "I wish you didn''t remember so clearly."


    "What do you mean?" Quinn asked.


    "Nothing, just the unpleasant stuff. You don''t need to remember those so clearly," Alexander exined.


    "I wish I could forget, but I can''t," Quinn said.


    "Never mind, the sun''sing up," Alexander said.


    Quinn turned to look and saw a red glow on the horizon. She watched as a sliver of sunlight peeked over, growingrger andrger until the whole sun rose above the horizon.


    The whole process wasn''t too fast or too slow, but it was really beautiful. The golden light reflected on the sea, sparkling and dazzling, making it hard for her to keep her eyes open.


    "I was so focused on watching that I forgot to take pictures," Quinn said. She took out her phone and snapped a few photos, but it was toote. She put her phone away, feeling a sudden urge toe back and watch the sunrise again


    tomorrow.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Alexander staring at her. She was taken aback and looked up to meet his gaze. The sunlight fell on them, casting intertwined shadows. Looking at his face, Quinn felt a bit dazzled. "Why are you looking at me?" Quinn asked.


    "Because you''re beautiful. I want to look at you more," Alexander replied.


    Quinn smiled slightly. "You charmer."


    Alexander chuckled. "Alright, we''ve seen the sunrise. Let''s go back to sleep."


    "Let''s go," Quinn agreed.


    Quinn put away her phone and stood up to follow him back. The sky was already bright, but the forest was still a bit dark. She had to admit that their decision to keep the trees was smart. The sky was already bright at four o''clock, and it stayed dark sote at night. Being woken up by the sunlight in the morning was pretty annoying. But keeping the trees perfectly solved this problem. By the time the sun fully prated the forest, it would probably be seven or eight o''clock. The walk back was quiet, with everyone else still asleep and only the birds in the forest chirping. Listening to the birds, Quinn didn''t feel sleepy, but she knew she had to rest, so she followed Alexander back to bed.


    Back in the round house, Alexander skillfully closed the bedroom door and locked it before returning to bed.


    "Why are you being so cautious?" Quinn asked, puzzled. "What are you guarding against here? Maddox?"


    Alexander hugged her and said, "I just don''t want anyone barging in and seeing us sleeping."


    Quinn didn''t quite get it but decided to sleep anyway. After a while, the birds'' chirping became somewhat hypnotic, and she didn''t know when she drifted off.


    She woke up to the noise outside. The workers were already busy, and the sounds of chainsaws and drills were deafening. She nced at her phone; it was only nine o''clock. This is unbearable. She pulled the nket over her head, but the noise still reached her ears.


    "Can''t sleep?" Alexander asked.


    "It''s too noisy outside. We should go to bed earlier tonight; otherwise, this is unbearable," Quinn replied.


    "Yeah, you''re right," Alexander agreed. He suddenly threw off the nket and got out of bed. Quinn sat up and looked at him. "Where are you going?"


    "To get something," Alexander replied.


    Quinn watched him suspiciously as he left the room and returned a few minutester. He got back into bed and handed something to Quinn. She looked at his palm, where two blue earplugsy. She looked at him in surprise. "Why do you have these?"


    "I figured this might happen on the ind, so I brought some. Put them in, and you won''t hear the noise," Alexander exined.


    Quinn took the earplugs and smiled at him. "You''re getting more thoughtful."


    Alexander smiled back. Quinn put in the earplugs, and the world finally quieted down. She signed to Alexander, "Let''s sleep." Alexander looked at her fingers, dazed for a moment, then smiled and nodded.


    With the earplugs in, Quinn''s sleep quality improved significantly. She didn''t even hear Maddox knocking on the door at noon. When she woke up again, it was already past three in the afternoon, and she was woken up by hunger. She opened her eyes and saw the spot next to her was empty. She quickly got up and ran out of the bedroom to find Alexander.


    As soon as she stepped out of the wooden house, she saw Alexander sitting in the pavilion, talking to Maddox. She sighed in relief but quickly wondered why she felt relieved.


    Alexander and Maddox were deep in conversation about the coffins. They had all been transported back, but figuring out what to do with them was a real headache. The best option seemed to be liquidating them. Gold holds its value, so it could be left untouched for now or distributed to the ind''s residents.


    Quinn watched their mouths move but couldn''t hear a thing. Maddox nced at her. "Why aren''t you saying anything?"


    Alexander shook his head helplessly and signed to Quinn, "Take out the earplugs." Quinn realized and quickly removed the earplugs. She had forgotten she was wearing them and had scared herself into thinking she was deaf.


    Maddox smirked, "You scared me. I thought you were deaf."


    No wonder they were siblings; they thought alike. Quinn smiled awkwardly. "What were you guys talking about?"


    "About the gold. It''s not easy to transport it back home. I was thinking of distributing it among the guys here," Maddox exined.novelbin


    Quinn agreed, "Good idea. There might not be enough for everyone, and we still need to pay them. It can count as their wages." Maddox gave her a thumbs up. "No wonder you''re my sister. We''re on the same page."


    Quinn nced at Alexander. Did he have a different opinion?


    Maddox said, "Alright, let''s do that. I''ll have the guys move the coffins and store them properly." He stood up and left.


    Quinn sat down where Maddox had been and asked Alexander, "When did you get up?"


    "Around lunchtime," Alexander replied.


    Quinn''s eyes widened. "You didn''t wake me for lunch?"


    Alexander chuckled. "You were sleeping so soundly. I didn''t want to wake you. Are you hungry?"


    Quinn replied, "Of course, it''s sote. How could I not be hungry?"


    "Well, there''s nothing I can do. You''ll have to eat instant noodles," Alexander said.


    Quinn didn''t mind what she ate; she was just hungry and had missed lunch. There were usually no leftovers. Even if there were, she wouldn''t want to eat the scraps. Alexander said, "Sit tight. I''ll make it for you."


    "Alright, thank you," Quinn replied.


    "Thank me?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn blinked. "Shouldn''t I thank you?"


    Alexander paused and then said, "You should show some sincerity when you thank me. For example, add ''honey'' before ''thank you.""


    Quinn was taken aback. She had rarely called him that, and suddenly being asked to do so made her feel a bit awkward.


    "Alright, just wait. It''ll be ready soon," Alexander said.


    Quinn nodded.


    Alexander went back inside, took out a kettle, and filled it with water to boil outside. Quinn waited for about ten minutes for the instant noodles, and by then, she didn''t feel as hungry anymore.

 Chapter 1589

    After finishing the meal, it was almost time for dinner, and Quinn was at a loss for words.


    Last night, after those folks tried the food Quinn guided them to make, they attempted to follow the steps themselves today. The result was still unappetizing food. Kyle had no choice but toe back to her.


    Quinn had to cook for them again, but she made sure they did the actual cooking while she directed.


    She tried to teach them all, but it seemed like she overestimated their skills. They could remember other stuff, but not cooking.


    After sleeping too much during the day and being wide awake at night, Quinn found herself stuck in a cycle of day sleeping and night waking.


    After three days, she started to break down. Determined to fix her schedule, she decided to stay awake the entire next day and night, hoping to finally sleep through the night. Alexander didn''t agree with her n. "Your body just recovered, and now you''re neglecting it again. Don''t worry about whether it''s day or night; if you''re tired, just go to sleep." Quinn looked at the sunlight outside, her eyes a bit dazed. She hadn''t slept for almost 24 hours sincest night.


    She shook her head and said, "No, I can hold on a bit longer. It''s almost afternoon, and then, it''ll be evening."


    Alexander sighed helplessly. "I think we should go back."


    Quinn turned to look at him, her mind a bit foggy fromck of sleep. "Why?"


    "Don''t you want to see Sprout and Brandy?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn nodded along with his words. "Right, I almost forgot about them. We should go back."


    Seeing her in a dazed state, Alexander stepped forward and picked her up. "Then sleep. We''ll go back when you wake up."


    Quinn yawned. After staying up for so long, she was really tired.


    Hearing Alexander say they would go back after she woke up, she fell asleep without any worries.


    After Quinn fell asleep, Alexander went to find Maddox and told him they would be going back tomorrow.


    Maddox was surprised. "So sudden? Why the rush to go back? Did something happen?"


    Alexander shook his head. "Nothing happened. Quinn''s been struggling with the time difference and isn''t adjusting well to life on the ind. I''m worried about her health," he exined.


    Maddox thought for a moment. He hadn''t seen Quinn during the day these past few days, so it turned out her schedule was opposite to theirs. "Alright then, you guys go back. I''ll arrange a boat for youter," he said. "Thanks, Maddox," Alexander replied.


    Maddox patted him on the shoulder, looking more serious than usual. "Don''t just take care of her; take care of yourself too. Try to live a few more years, okay?" Alexander chuckled. "I will."


    Maddox nodded. "Alright, I''m off to work."


    Alexander headed back to the house to keep an eye on Quinn while she slept.


    The next morning, Quinn woke up and was pleasantly surprised to see it was just seven o''clock.


    Alexander was still asleep beside her, so she quietly got out of bed to wash up.


    After a good night''s sleep, she felt refreshed. Today, she could finally catch lunch and even have breakfast with everyone.


    She went to the cooking area, and as expected, they were still at it.


    Seeing her, Kyle lit up. "Mrs. Kennedy, you''re up early today!"


    Quinn smiled. "Yep, finally got my schedule sorted. What are you making?"


    "Just some porridge. This one''s easy for us; we don''t need your help. Just sit and rx," Kyle replied.


    "Alright," Quinn agreed.


    She sat down and waited. After about half an hour, their mixed porridge was ready.


    Quinn held the bowl, looking at the various veggies inside, and couldn''t help but take a bite. Despite the mix, it tasted surprisingly good. "Mrs. Kennedy, is Mr. Kennedy still asleep? Should we bring him a bowl?" Kyle asked.


    "Don''t worry about it. I''ll take it to him after I finish eating," Quinn said.


    "Okay," Kyle responded.


    Maybe she was just really hungry, but she downed three bowls before taking one to Alexander.


    When she opened the door, she found him packing the suitcase. She asked, confused, "What are you doing?"


    Alexander finished packing and set the suitcase aside, then turned to her. "Didn''t we agree to go back today?"


    Quinn was stunned for a moment and thought carefully. "When did we say that?"


    "Yesterday. Did you forget?" Alexander replied.


    "Really?" She thought about it and seemed to recall.


    Then she handed him the porridge. "Forget about that for now. Drink the porridge first. Kyle made it, and it tastes pretty good."


    Alexander took the bowl, drank a couple of sips, and then asked, "So are we going back today?"


    "I''ve adjusted my schedule, but yeah, we can go back. I do miss Sprout a bit. I wonder if they''ve been causing trouble since they haven''t seen us for so long," Quinn said.


    Sprout had always been with Quinn. Even when she went abroad, she took Sprout with her. This was the first time they''d been apart for so long, and they couldn''t even call. It was better to go back and check. Alexander nodded. "Then let''s go back. We''ll leave after breakfast."


    "Okay," Quinn agreed.


    Alexander finished the porridge in a few gulps and then went with Quinn to say goodbye to Maddox.


    The boat was already waiting at the shore, and Kyle was there too.


    Quinn said, "You don''t need to see us off. Go back."


    Kyle scratched his head. "I''m not here to see you off. I want to go back too. It''s been a long time, and I want to visit home," he exined.


    "I thought you were here to see us off," Quinn said, ncing at Alexander. "Shall we go together then?"


    Alexander didn''t say anything and turned to board the boat.


    Kyle eagerly helped them with their luggage and happily got on the boat.


    "When we get back, I want to have a good meal first. The food here is really terrible. So many people, and not a single decent cook. It''s really disappointing," Kyleined.


    Quinn sympathized with him. She had missed proper meals these past few days and had been surviving on instant food for three days straight. She couldn''t stand it anymore, let alone Kyle, who had been here much longer. They left the ind and, after several transfers, finally returned to Amber Bay.


    Upon getting off the ne, Kyle had a bowl of noodles at the airport. Quinn also took Alexander to eat something.


    Sitting in the car on the way back, Quinn called home. Briar''s voice came through the phone. "Mrs. Kennedy, you finally called back. I couldn''t reach you these past few days, and I was worried something had happened to you," Briar said. Quinn sensed something was wrong from her tone. "What''s the matter?"


    "Well, after you left, Brandy was fine, but Sprout ran to your room every day. Every time he couldn''t find you, he would cry and couldn''t beforted. A few days ago, he even had a high fever," Briar exined.


    Quinn became extremely anxious. "How is Sprout now?"


    "He''s better now, but he still insists on checking your room every day," Briar replied.


    Quinn felt a wave of guilt. She thought she would be back in two or three days, but ended up staying in the fishing vige for so long and then a few more days on the ind. Sprout must have been heartbroken not being able to find her. She urged the driver to go faster.


    Alexanderforted her. "Don''t worry. We''ll be there soon," he said.


    Quinn couldn''t suppress her worry. This was the first time she had heard of Sprout being sick; he had always been healthy before. She wondered if it was because she wasn''t there.


    If that was true, she felt even more guilty. The hardest part was that Sprout was sick, and she wasn''t there for him. She felt like an awful mother.


    They soon arrived at Regal Riverside, and Quinn rushed into the house as fast as she could. "Sprout, Briar!"


    She didn''t see them in the living room. After she called out, Briar came down the stairs holding Sprout.


    Seeing her, Sprout immediately called out, "Mommy!" and struggled in Briar''s arms.


    Quinn ran over and took Sprout from Briar. "Alright, Mommy''s back."


    Sprout looked up at her, staring for a long time as if to make sure she was really there. After a while, he finally confirmed that Quinn was back, and then started crying. Quinn patted his back. "Alright, don''t cry. It''s Mommy''s fault. I shouldn''t have left you at home. I''m sorry."


    Her words made Sprout cry even harder.


    The sound was deafening, making Quinn feel terrible.


    Quinnforted him for a long time before his crying gradually subsided. He continued to hup, with snot and drool running down his face.


    Quinn took a tissue to wipe his mouth. "Don''t cry anymore. Mommy''s back, and Daddy''s back too."


    Alexander watched them from the side, sighed, and turned to go to the bathroom.novelbin


    Brandy had somehowe over to Quinn. When Sprout stopped crying, she finally spoke, "Sprout is such a crybaby."


    Quinn nced back at Brandy, feeling a mix of gratitude that she wasn''t crying and guilt for making her so independent at such a young age.


    Quinn freed one hand to pat Brandy''s head. "I''m sorry for leaving you at home for so long," she said.


    Brandy shook her head and said in her childish voice, "It''s okay."


    Quinn forced a smile. "How about I take you out to yter?"


    "Okay," Brandy agreed.


    Seeing that Sprout had stopped crying, Quinn asked, "Sprout, do you want to go out and y?"


    Sprout, still not very articte, said something that roughly meant, "Mommy doesn''t want me anymore."


    Quinn sighed helplessly. "How could I not want you? I''m back now, aren''t I?"


    She had never been away for so long before, at most a day. But this time, she had been gone for almost a month. So, it was normal for Sprout to be unustomed. Quinn finally managed tofort Sprout, saying many nice things before he stopped feeling so aggrieved.


    She touched his forehead, and it wasn''t hot, which made her feel relieved.


    Quinn then turned to Briar. "Briar, thank you for all your hard work these days."


    Briar smiled. "It wasn''t hard. It''s my job. There wasn''t much else, just that Sprout kept looking for you and crying, which made me feel bad too," she replied.


    Quinn sighed. "It''s my fault. I thought Sprout was so naughty that he wouldn''t cry," she said.


    Previously, when she had to go out for a whole day, Sprout didn''t cry. It seemed she had really been gone too long this time.

 Chapter 1590

    Briar said, "No way! He''s still so young. Every kid needs their mom. Mrs. Kennedy, if you can, bring Sprout next time. Try not to be away too long. It''ll be easier when he''s older." Quinn nodded. "Got it. I''ll bring them next time."


    Taking two kids out for fun was one thing, but for other stuff, it was a hassle.


    She figured she''d wait until the ind was more settled before bringing Sprout and Brandy over. Safety first, so she wouldn''t be heading to the ind for now.


    Briar asked, "Have you eaten yet? Let me whip up something for you."


    Quinn replied, "Sure, thanks."


    "No problem at all," Briar said with a smile, heading to the kitchen.


    Quinn yed with Sprout outside for a bit. Sprout finally got back to his yful self, which made Quinn feel better.


    Alexander went upstairs for a shower and came back down. He took Sprout and said, "You should go take a shower too. I''ll watch him."


    Quinn agreed. "Alright, I''ll go now."


    After a day on the road, she felt sticky and needed to freshen up.


    Post-shower, she checked her phone for messages. There had been no signal on the ind, so she wondered if she missed anything important.


    Luckily, nothing major, just messages from Abigail and Briar, along with some missed calls and texts.


    Quinn called Abigail back. The phone rang briefly before Abigail''s groggy voice answered, "Who is it?"


    Quinn was a bit surprised. "It''s me. Are you sleeping this early?"


    Abigail instantly perked up. "Oh my God, I thought you were missing! You actually called me. Where have you been these days? I couldn''t reach you by phone or message. I almost came back to find you." She had indeed nned toe back for Quinn but was stopped by Landon, who assured her Quinn was safe.


    "I went to an ind. Next time, we can go together. I think you''d like it," Quinn exined.


    "The same ind asst time?" Abigail asked.


    "No, a different one. Are you not at home right now?" Quinn inquired.


    Abigail yawned. "No, I told you I was going abroad for my honeymoon. I just wanted to check on you."


    "Thanks for your concern," Quinn said.


    Abigail replied irritably, "Why are you being so polite? Don''t mention it next time."


    "Got it. Enjoy your time, and we''ll catch up when you get back," Quinn assured her. "Wait, I need to tell you something," Abigail suddenly said, her tone mysterious. "What is it?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail lowered her voice. "I saw Getty earlier."


    Quinn''s heart skipped a beat. She hadn''t heard that name in a long time. Hearing it again brought back a flood of memories.


    She tried to stay calm and asked, "And then?"


    "Nothing much. I saw her in a small town. At first, I didn''t recognize her. But after I greeted her and heard her voice, I was sure it was her. She wouldn''t admit it, though, insisting I had the wrong person," Abigail exined. Quinn was at a loss for words.


    Should she ask how Getty was doing or if she was down and out?


    Neither seemed necessary.


    Abigail continued, "I secretly followed Getty and found out she''s married. You wouldn''t believe how awful her husband is only five feet tall and chubby."


    "Why are you so interested in her?" Quinn asked.novelbin


    "It''s just that I haven''t seen her in so long. That awful woman! I just wanted to see how she''s doing. Even though her husband isn''t much to look at, he treats her well. It makes me so mad. How does she still get to be married?" Abigail ranted. Quinn remained silent.


    Abigail ranted for a while, still feeling that Getty wasn''t suffering enough. She believed Getty deserved to be lonely and destitute for life.


    Quinn said, "Alright, you should get some sleep. Don''t you have ns for tomorrow?"


    Abigail grumbled, "Your reaction is too calm. Aren''t you angry?"


    "Why should I be angry? She''s already far away. Let''s not talk about her anymore," Quinn suggested.


    "You''re right. If I hadn''t run into her, I would''ve almost forgotten about her," Abigail admitted.


    Quinn smiled. "Alright, go to sleep."


    "Okay, goodnight. I''ll find you when I get back," Abigail said.


    "Alright," Quinn replied.


    Quinn hung up the phone, feeling a bit mncholic.


    Hearing about Getty, who she''d forgotten for so long, brought back memories as if had happened just yesterday.


    She looked up and suddenly saw Alexander standing at the door. Startled, she asked, "What are you doing here?"


    "Waiting for you toe down for dinner. You were up here so long. I thought you might have drowned in the toilet," Alexander teased. Quinn put away her phone and looked at him for a moment before saying, "Abigail just called me. She said she saw Getty." Alexander paused. "Why bring her up?"


    "I don''t know. Abigail told me, so I''m telling you. She said Getty''s married now, and her husband treats her well," Quinn exined.


    Alexander sighed and chuckled. "You don''t need to tell me all this. What kind of reaction are you expecting from me? What kind of attitude do you want to see?" Quinn pursed her lips and stood up, walking out. "Let''s eat."


    He had no reaction at all, like she was a stranger. The mention of Getty didn''t stir any emotion in him.


    If he had shown any emotion, Quinn might not have been able to eat dinner.


    After dinner, Sprout insisted on sleeping with them. Quinn thought about how she had been away for so long and felt sorry for him, so she agreed to let him sleep with them. Alexander didn''t say anything, maybe because Getty had been mentioned, so he didn''t oppose any of Quinn''s decisions.


    Quinn gave him a suspicious look.


    Alexander paused. "What''s wrong?"


    Quinn was silent for a moment, then shook her head. "Nothing, let''s go to bed early."


    She ced Sprout in the middle and then had Brandy lie in the middle too. Alexander finally sensed something was off. He looked at Quinn for a while and then helplessly smiled.


    He turned off the light andy down on the bed.


    Even though Getty was no longer here and had married someone else, it couldn''t erase her past with Alexander.


    It was always a thorn between them, impossible to ignore. Just thinking about it made them ufortable.


    That night, neither of them probably slept, but the two kids slept soundly.


    Quinny awake until dawn, then finally dozed off in the morning. She had just fallen asleep when Sprout woke her up.


    She cracked her eyes open, saw Sprout in front of her, and, too sleepy to care, turned over to keep sleeping.


    Sprout tried to climb on her, but a hand lifted him up and carried him out of the bedroom.


    Half a monthter, Abigail returned.


    The first thing she did was find Quinn. They hadn''t seen each other in a long time, and she brought gifts for Sprout and Quinn. Abigail handed a gift bag to Quinn. "This is for you."


    Quinn took the bag and looked inside. "What is it?"


    "It''s a beauty device. I don''t know much about it, but the salesperson said it was amazing, so I bought it for you," Abigail exined.


    Quinn felt she didn''t really need it. She had spent millions on a beauty salon membership and hadn''t used it yet. With this thought, she told Abigail, "Thanks for the gift. Next time,e to the beauty salon with me." "Why go to a ce like that?" Abigail asked.


    "I bought a membership card and haven''t used it once. Wouldn''t it be a waste not to?" Quinn replied.


    "Oh my God, you bought a membership? How much did you spend?" Abigail eximed.


    "Five million dors, I think," Quinn said.


    Abigail''s eyes widened in shock. "You really are rich."


    Quinn nodded. She was indeed wealthy.


    Abigail agreed to go with her. After all, she had nothing else to do, and Landon had to go to work this time.


    Hearing that Landon was going to work, Quinn was a bit surprised. "Where is he going to work?"


    "He said he''s going to work in a factory," Abigail replied.


    Quinn was speechless for a long time before uncertainly asking, "A factory?"


    She thought Abigail was joking.


    But Abigail looked serious. "Yes, he wants my support. Do you think I should support him working in a factory? Should I go with him?"


    "Can you handle working over ten hours a day?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail pouted and muttered, "I don''t know what he''s thinking. With so many jobs to choose from, he wants to work in a factory. Why doesn''t he just go to prison? Forget it, let him do what he wants. It''s driving me crazy!" Quinn couldn''t help butugh.


    But soon, she stoppedughing because Landon went to talk to Alexander, and now Alexander wanted to work in a factory too.


    Quinn and Abigail exchanged nces and then looked at Alexander and Landon.


    "Are you serious?" Quinn asked.


    Landon nodded. "Of course we are."


    Abigail said, "Are you guys crazy?"


    Quinn asked, "Are you nning something again? Is working in a factory just an excuse?"


    Alexander looked at her and seriously said, "You''re overthinking it."


    Landon said, "Let''s go. We have an interview to attend."


    Then, Quinn and Abigail watched them leave.


    After a while, Abigail suddenly pulled Quinn outside. "Let''s follow them. I don''t believe it."


    Quinn didn''t believe it either. She got in the car with Abigail and secretly followed Alexander and Landon to a factory.


    They watched them talk to the guard and then enter the factory.


    Abigail murmured, "They''re really going to work in a factory?"


    Quinn was also confused. What were they up to? Why would they want to work in a factory? Were they just bored?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1591

    Landon showed up for work, but Alexander was a no-show.


    Alexander was there to check out the factory equipment. With the ind development in full swing, they needed a ton of supplies, and getting them there was a real headache. So, they had to figure out how to move everything to the ind. Out of nowhere, Alexander asked Landon, "Why don''t you give the sewing machine a shot?" Landon shrugged. "Nah, this is easier."


    Alexander shot him a sideways nce, then noticed a supervisor walking over and asked if Landon was there for a job. Landon nodded, looking all serious.


    The supervisor, a woman in her thirties, gave him the once-over a few times. He didn''t really look like someone hunting for a job. Maybe he was some bigwig checking out the factory undercover? Seemed possible, so the supervisor smiled and led him inside, asking what he wanted to do.


    Landon said, "Something easy."


    "Alright, you can do this," the supervisor said, taking him to the end of a production line. The job was simple: pick up the itemsing down the line, put them in a box, and take them to quality inspection. "How''s that?" the supervisor asked.


    Landon said, "No problem."


    The supervisor couldn''t help but give him another look. As soon as he walked in, a bunch of people in the workshop started eyeing him, trying to figure out who he was.


    When he started working, they finally got it-the good-looking guy was actually there to work.


    Right away, a lot of the female employees, especially the single ones, started eyeing Landon like he was fresh meat, ready to pounce.


    A guy like him was top-tier in the factory.


    Alexander hung around the door for a bit. Seeing Landon actually working, he smirked and left the workshop.


    Some folks noticed Alexander too and were a bit bummed to see him go.


    They thought both Alexander and Landon were there to work.


    When Alexander came out, it was already an hourter. Quinn was dozing off in the car, just about to fall asleep when Abigail woke her up. "Alexander''s out," Abigail said.


    Quinn''s eyes snapped open, and she saw Alexandering out. She immediately perked up and stared at him.


    "Why didn''t Landone out?" Abigail asked.


    "Go ask him," Quinn replied, hopping out of the car and running towards Alexander.


    Alexander wasn''t too surprised to see them tailing him. He calmly asked, "What are you doing here?"


    "I came to see if you were really gonna work at the factory. Where''s Landon? Why didn''t hee out with you?" Quinn asked.


    "He''s working inside," Alexander replied.


    Abigail was stunned, just standing there in disbelief. "Really?"


    Alexander pulled out his phone and showed her a video of Landon working. He was at the end of the production line, casually picking upponents from the conveyor belt and cing them neatly in a box. To be fair, he was doing it pretty seriously.


    Abigail''s mouth twitched. "I always thought Landon was joking with me, but he actually did it."


    She feltpletely thrown off. What on earth was Landon thinking?


    Quinn then asked Alexander, "What about you? Why didn''t you go to work?"


    Alexander said seriously, "They said I was too slow, not as fast as Landon, so I didn''t get the job."


    Abigail felt a bit better and said, "Should I be happy that he''s faster than you at work?"


    Quinn said, "Shouldn''t we feel sorry for Alexander that no one in the factory wants him?"


    Abigail waved her hand, turning back to the car. "I''m tired. Let''s just call it a day."


    Quinn wanted tofort her but didn''t know where to start. She sighed and said to Alexander, "Let''s go." Alexander shook his head. "You go back first. I''m gonna try another factory. I don''t believe I can''t get a job." Quinn opened her mouth, wanting to make a joke, but didn''t know what to say.


    After a while, she could only sigh. "Alright, good luck."


    Alexander nodded. "I''ll do my best."


    Quinn forced a smile. What should have been encouraging felt more like frustration to her. Exhausted, she got back into the car.


    She and Abigail sat in the car, feeling a sense of hopelessness as they watched Alexander get into another car and drive away.


    "Are these two out of their minds?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn sighed. "I don''t know."


    Abigail said, "I suddenly miss Walter. Without Walter causing them trouble, they seem to have lost their minds."


    At the mention of Walter, Quinn''s expression became momentarily dazed.


    Abigail noticed her change in mood and quickly changed the subject. "But it''s also good. At least working in the factory can be good exercise. Let them do what they want. Let''s go have a big meal. Didn''t you say you have a membership at that beauty salon? We can go after dinner."


    Quinn responded with a nod.


    Abigail took her to a restaurant, and they ordered a ton of food. Abigail suddenly remembered something. "Oh, I should have brought those two kids along."


    "Let me call Briar to bring them over now," Quinn suggested.


    Since the food hadn''t arrived yet, they could still make it in time.


    Briar got the call and soon brought the two kids to the restaurant. Sprout was super happy to see Quinn and immediately started waving his arms and legs, wanting to climb onto her.


    Quinn picked him up and ced him next to her, then handed him a spoon. He now preferred to eat by himself, except for the times when he acted spoiled and wanted Quinn to feed him. Sprout fiddled with the spoon in his bowl, and Abigail couldn''t help but remark, "Sprout is growing so fast. He can eat by himself now."


    He used to be unsteady on his feet, and now he could stand on the couch and eat by himself.


    Quinn also sighed. "Kids grow up so fast. It feels like they grow up in the blink of an eye."


    Abigail nodded in agreement. "Exactly, it feels like he was just born yesterday."


    Quinn patted Sprout''s head. "Alright, let''s eat."


    It was their first time at the beauty salon, and they were clueless. Maybe because they looked inexperienced, the staff suggested a ton of treatments.


    They exaggerated, saying their skin was bad, they had wrinkles, and they needed hydration and anti-aging treatments. They pitched all sorts of packages and products.


    Quinn thought she had plenty of money on her membership card, so she went ahead and bought them.


    To her shock, when it was time to pay, a million dors was gone.


    Abigail was stunned. After they left, she said to Quinn, "Seriously, just washing your face, getting a massage, and using some machines costs a million dors? Is this business really that profitable?" Quinn shook her head. "I don''t know, maybe they''re professionals."


    Abigail rubbed her chin. "No way, I feel like this is a super profitable industry. When we get back tonight, I''ll discuss it with Landon. If it really makes money, why don''t we start one too?" "Sure," Quinn agreed.


    Thinking about how many people they had to support on the ind and the construction costs, Quinn was definitely up for it if it could make money.


    Alexander managed all thepany affairs, and as the boss, she was just a figurehead. It was time for her to contribute.


    When she returned with Sprout and Brandy, she found that Alexander had alreadye back and was on the phone on the couch.


    Seeing them return, he said a couple of words into the phone and then hung up.


    "You''re back?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn sat down next to him. "Did you find a job?"novelbin


    Alexander sighed dramatically. "Nope, seems like no one wants me working in a factory. Guess I''m useless."


    Quinn, knowing he was joking, rolled her eyes. "Do you really have topare yourself to factory workers? You handle all thepany stuff every day. If you let those factory workers do it, they wouldn''t be able to either." "Why not?" Alexander asked, feigning innocence.


    Quinn was taken aback. Are the requirements for factory work that high now?


    Alexander smirked. "Landon can do it. He''s working on screws now."


    Quinn opened her mouth but couldn''t find aeback. "So, you saw Landon got hired at the factory, and you wanted to get hired too out ofpetitiveness?" "You got it," Alexander admitted.


    Quinn didn''t know whether to be angry orugh. What kind of weirdpetitiveness was this? Competing over factory jobs?


    Would they alsopete to see who worked faster once they both got jobs?


    It was childishly ridiculous.


    Alexander changed the subject. "Where did you go today?"


    Quinn said, "We went to a beauty salon and ended up spending a million dors on a package. Abigail said it''s a super profitable industry, and I''m nning to look into it." "That sounds good, you should give it a try," Alexander encouraged.


    Quinn smiled and leaned closer to him. "So, do you see any changes on my face after I spent half a million dors?"


    Alexander looked down at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a while, and then he said, "It seems like there is a word."


    Quinn touched her cheek. "Huh? What word?"


    "Fool," Alexander teased.


    Quinn was stunned for a couple of seconds, then pushed him away. "How dare you?"


    Alexanderughed, grabbed her hand, pulled her back, and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Alright, no more joking. There is a change. You look beautiful."


    "What do you mean? Wasn''t I beautiful before?" Quinn asked.


    "You were always beautiful, and now you''re even more stunning. It''s like you''re aging in reverse. When others are in their seventies and eighties, you''ll still look like you''re eighteen," Alexander said. Quinn was at a loss for words.


    Even though it sounded fake, it was still nice to hear.


    "I didn''t expect you to say something like that," Quinn said.


    "If you like it, I can say more," Alexander offered.


    Quinn shook her head with a smile. "Forget it, save your sweet talk. Go give Sprout a bath first."


    "On it," Alexander said.


    Sprout had been ying with sand in the house since they got back. He was covered in sand and needed a bath before he could go to bed.

 Chapter 1592

    Alexander scooped up Sprout and whisked him away, while Briar got busy cleaning up the sand to make sure Sprout wouldn''te back to y in itter. Alexander took Sprout to the bathroom, shut the door, and started running the water to keep him from bolting.


    When Sprout saw the water filling up the tub, he pouted.


    Alexander undressed him and plopped him into the tub. Sprout wasn''t having it and started thrashing around in his arms.


    One of his kicksnded square on Alexander''s chest, making him wince. He grabbed onto the tub but still ended up sitting on the floor.novelbin


    Sprout broke free, pouting and ring at him.


    Alexander clutched his chest, his face scrunched up in pain, his fingers gripping the edge of the tub.


    Sprout stared at him for a bit, probably realizing he might''ve gone too far. He squatted down, looking up at Alexander.


    Feeling a bit guilty, Sprout mumbled something.


    Alexander took a moment to catch his breath before looking up at him.


    Sprout put his hands behind his back, giving Alexander those big, wide eyes.


    Alexander sighed, picked him up, and put him back in the tub. This time, Sprout didn''t put up a fight. He stood there, holding onto the edge, letting Alexander scrub him down. Seeing him sopliant, Alexander couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow.


    He might''ve just found a new trick.


    From bathing to getting dressed, Sprout was super cooperative. When it was time to put on his sleeves, he even knew to stick his hand through the hole.


    Alexander thought, ''This kid''s actually pretty smart, just a bit of a handful.''


    Quinn was surprised at how quick the bath was, twice as fast as usual.


    "Why so quick today?" Quinn asked.


    "Sprout was more cooperative," Alexander replied.


    Quinn was even more surprised. "What did you do?"


    Alexander motioned her over, and Quinn leaned in to hear him whisper his method. She turned to look at Sprout in surprise.


    "Really?" she asked.


    "Try it next time, you''ll see," Alexander said.


    Quinn hesitated. "This doesn''t seem right. It''s okay once or twice, but if we do it too often, what if he realizes we''re tricking him when he gets older and stops trusting us?" Alexander smiled. "It''s fine. We won''t need to do it when he''s older."


    "Alright," Quinn agreed.


    Even though the method wasn''t perfect, it worked to make Sprout more manageable.


    Quinn usually didn''t need to use this trick; Sprout only acted up in front of Alexander asionally.


    Alexander stuck to this method. When Sprout started acting up, he''d pretend to be weak, and Sprout would immediately stop and show concern for him.


    For a while, Quinn couldn''t tell who the real child was.


    Every time Abigail saw Sprout and Brandy, she''d talk about wanting a child but couldn''t get pregnant.


    She''d asked Quinn about it many times and even asked Alexander.


    Alexander never thought he''d be discussing this with Abigail. He just suggested she buy some supplements for Landon.


    Abigail then asked, "What supplements do you take? Let me see, and I''ll buy the same ones."


    Alexander''s forehead vein twitched. Abigail was really desperate.


    He was about to ask her to leave but then changed his mind and said, "I just finished mine. I''ll send you the link so you can buy it yourself."


    Abigail nodded eagerly. "Okay, send it to me quickly."


    She actually bought it.


    Alexander shook his head, waved her off, and sent her on her way.


    After leaving, Abigail opened the link Alexander sent and ced the order, opting for the fastest same-day delivery.


    In less than three hours, the supplements arrived.


    When Landon came home from work that evening, Abigail got annoyed just seeing him in his blue work uniform. Why was he so obsessed with that factory job? Abigail red at him. "If you love the factory so much, why don''t you just live there?"


    Landon took off his work jacket and shook his head. "No need. I quit today."


    Abigail''s face lit up. "Really? You finally came to your senses?"


    Landon took off his sses and rubbed his temples. "I just wanted to work on the production line, but they wanted to promote me."


    "You quit because of that?" Abigail asked.


    Landon nodded. "Yep."


    He had only been working there for two months. The first month was his probation period, and this was his second month as a full-time employee, and they already wanted to promote him. Abigail asked, "Why''d you quit over a promotion? What position was it?"


    Landon replied, "Supervisor."


    Even though it was still a job that didn''t require much thinking, there were too many things to manage. He just wanted to sit and work on assembling and moving things.


    Such a quick promotion was obviously suspicious. In a position that required no technical skills, getting promoted after just a month didn''t make sense.


    Abigail said, "Maybe they think you''re handsome."


    Landon argued, "Impossible. If thepany assigned positions based on looks, it would''ve gone bankrupt long ago." "Then what happened?" Abigail asked.


    Landon thought for a moment and said, "Their manager probably recognized me when he inspected the factory."


    The factory workers might not follow financial news, but as the leader of arge factory, he certainly did. Being in the same city, it wasn''t surprising he recognized Landon. Landon was sure that if he became a supervisor today, he might be a workshop supervisor next month, and maybe even a factory manager or a general manager if he stayed longer. Abigail looked at him suspiciously. "Are you trying to brag about yourself?"


    Landon shrugged. "I''m just telling the truth."


    "Alright, alright, you quit, so why talk about it? I bought you something." Abigail took out the supplement she bought and handed it to Landon. "Here, from now on, take it every morning and evening." Landon''s usually expressionless face showed a range of emotions.


    There was surprise, confusion, anger, and a bit of unspoken insecurity.


    He stared at Abigail. "What do you mean by buying me this?"


    Abigail exined, "We haven''t been able to get pregnant, and I''m anxious."


    Landon pondered for a moment, then threw the supplement on the couch and pulled Abigail over. "It seems I haven''t been trying hard enough, making you misunderstand me."


    "Wait, it''s not just your..."


    Before Abigail could finish, Landon pressed her down on the couch.


    Abigail secretly cursed Alexander.


    What kind of rmendation was that?


    Since showing Landon the supplement, Abigail didn''t leave the house again for three days.


    She went to find Alexander to settle the score.


    Seeing Abigail''s aggressive approach, Quinn was startled. "Abigail, what''s wrong..."


    "Where''s Alexander?" Abigail demanded.

 Chapter 1593

    "He went to the office. What''s up?" Quinn asked.


    Abigail, fuming, replied, "I''m gonna give him a piece of my mind!"


    Quinn quickly put Sprout down and hurried over, worried Abigail had another spat with Alexander. "What did he do this time?" she asked, her face full of concern. Seeing Quinn''s worry, Abigail cooled off a bit. She pulled a box of supplements from her pocket and showed it to Quinn. "Is this what Alexander usually takes?" Quinn nced at the box. "Nope, never seen it before. Maybe he''s taking it on the sly."


    Abigail shot her a suspicious look. "Really? You''re not just covering for him, are you?"


    "No, seriously, I have no idea," Quinn replied.


    "So what''s the big deal with this? Why are you so mad?" Quinn asked again.


    Abigail opened her mouth, looking a bit awkward.


    Just then, Alexander walked back in. Abigail had nned to confront him but suddenly couldn''t find the words.novelbin


    Alexander nced at Abigail, raised an eyebrow, but said nothing and headed upstairs.


    Quinn''s eyes darted between them. ''What are they hiding?'' she wondered.


    Watching Alexander go upstairs, Quinn pulled Abigail aside and whispered, "What''s going on between you two?"


    Abigail stammered for a while, making Quinn even more anxious. "Did he do something?" Quinn pressed.


    Feeling the pressure, Abigail finally blurted out, "It''s nothing, really. It''s my fault; I was too impatient."


    After a moment, she sighed and pulled Quinn to sit on the couch.


    She exined that she wanted to have a baby quickly and was getting anxious because it wasn''t happening. So she came to ask them for advice.


    "Then Alexander rmended that supplement to me, but when I took it home, Landon got furious," Abigail exined.


    Quinn finally understood why Abigail was so upset. She couldn''t help but feel a bit sympathetic but also found it a little funny.


    She coughed, trying to hold back herughter, and said seriously, "Abigail, maybe the supplement really works."


    "Landon didn''t even take it. How could it work?" Abigail retorted.


    "It doesn''t necessarily have to be taken to work. Look at how hard Landon is trying now. Maybe you''ll get pregnant soon. Isn''t that another kind of sess?" Quinn suggested. Abigail tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "You do have a point."


    So, the supplement wasn''t meant to be taken, but to motivate him? Alexander should have exined it better!


    "Alright, I forgive Alexander," Abigail said, finally calming down.


    Quinn nodded. "Good. Just keep trying. You''ll get pregnant soon enough."


    "How can we try in broad daylight? We''ll talk about it tonight," Abigail said, feeling a bit better. She was worried, though, that as her mom always said, the older she got, the harder it would be to conceive. Even if she did get pregnant, the chances ofplications would be higher.


    Quinnforted her, "These things take time. You can''t rush it. Just stay calm and let it happen naturally."


    Abigail nodded. "Alright, I get it. But I still want to go to the hospital for a check-up. Will youe with me?"


    Quinn sighed, "You''ve only been married a few months. Don''t be so anxious."


    "How can I not be anxious? Look at Sprout; he can already run around, and I still have no news!" Abigail said.


    Quinn had no choice. "Alright. I''ll go to the hospital with you."


    "Good. Let''s go," Abigail said, pulling her along.


    They went to the hospital together, and Quinn stuck with Abigail through a series of tests.


    The results showed that everything was normal. It was just that a previous abdominal injury had slightly reduced her chances of getting pregnant, but it wasn''t a major issue. The doctor also prescribed a bunch of folic acid for her to take.


    After the check-up, Abigail felt relieved.


    Quinn said, "See, I told you not to stress out. You need to stay calm and positive to get pregnant. The more anxious you are, the harder it will be."


    Abigail nodded. "Alright, I get it. Let''s go back. Thanks foring with me."


    Quinn shook her head. "Why are you thanking me? Didn''t you always help me before?"


    "Alright, let''s not talk about the past. Let''s go. I''ll treat you to dinner," Abigail said.


    Quinn smiled and walked out of the hospital with her. They had spent almost the entire day there, and by the time they finished dinner, it was alreadyte. Quinn was still thinking about Sprout. Thest time she was away for so long, Sprout got sick. Now, even being away from home for a little while made her uneasy.


    When they got home, Sprout wasn''t causing any trouble. He was sitting in the sandbox, ying with a stic shovel. She couldn''t understand what was so fun about the sand. Alexander was sitting in a chair next to him, working on hisptop.


    "I''m back," Quinn said as she walked over and squatted in front of Sprout, who ignored her and continued shoveling sand to the other side.


    She looked up at Alexander. "Are you guys always this busy?" she asked.


    "The boss can ck off, but if the employees do too, thepany will go under," Alexander replied while typing away on his keyboard.


    Quinn smirked. "I never wanted to be the boss in the first ce. You insisted on giving it to me. Why don''t you take it back? Then you can be the boss and ck off."


    Alexander chuckled. "Are you trying to find a loophole?"


    Quinn shrugged and pointed at Sprout nearby. "Why don''t you make him the boss? Look, he''s the one who''s really cking off."


    "Thepany is yours; it''s up to you," Alexander said.


    Quinn was taken aback. "What do you mean it''s mine? You have a say too."


    Alexander didn''t respond, clearly busy. To avoid disturbing him, Quinn suggested he go work in the study.


    She picked Sprout up from the sandbox and called Briar to clean up the area.


    Quinn took Sprout and Brandy out for a walk to burn off their energy so they would sleep well at night.


    It was getting colder, and it was starting to rain more frequently in Amber Bay. The temperature was dropping as the weather cooled.


    Quinn looked forst year''s winter clothes, only to find that none of them fit anymore.


    She held the small clothes up to Sprout and realized how much he had grown.


    Brandy had also outgrownst year''s clothes.


    They needed new clothes again. Quinn folded all their clothes and packed them into separate boxes, so whether Abigail had a boy or a girl, they could use them. Baby clothes seemed almost disposable; they outgrew them so quickly. There was no need to buy so many.


    Some people even borrowed clothes for their kids online, saying that hand-me-downs were healthier.


    Seeing how healthy Brandy and Sprout were, rarely getting sick, it seemed like a good idea to pass the clothes on to Abigail.


    As it rained outside, Quinn watched Brandy and Sprout y with their toys in the living room, feeling a bit dazed.


    Abigail came over again and saw Quinn sitting there in a daze as soon as she walked in.


    "Quinn, what are you doing?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn snapped out of it and looked up at Abigail. "Taking care of the kids. Why are you here? Isn''t it raining outside?"


    "Yeah, I was bored, so I came to hang out with you," Abigail replied.


    Abigail''s hair had grown longer, and she could now tie it into a ponytail. She wasn''t wearing her usual shy clothes, just a simple sweater and coat. "Where''s Landon?" Quinn asked.


    "He''s at work," Abigail said.


    Quinn was surprised. "He''s working again? Which factory this time?"


    "Not a factory. He''s selling coffee now," Abigail said, sounding resigned. "Let him do his thing. He''ll stop once he''s had enough."


    "You guys can''t seem to stay idle. Always looking for something to do. Alexander has been going to the office every day too," Quinn noted.


    Abigail retorted, "It''s them. Look at me; I''m practically going crazy from boredom."


    Abigail used to paint, but now that she was trying to conceive, she couldn''t be around paint.


    Unfortunately, she still hadn''t gotten pregnant. She couldn''t help but say, "Maybe there''s something wrong with Landon. Should I take him for a check-up?" Quinn sighed. "I told you not to rush. You''re still so anxious."


    "But it''s been almost six months. Christmas ising. How can I not be anxious?" Abigail said.


    "I read online that having sex too frequently isn''t good either," Quinn said.


    Abigail fell silent, and Quinn was shocked. "You guys aren''t doing it every day, are you?"


    Abigail waved her hand to interrupt her. "Of course not. We''re not machines. What are you thinking?"


    "I thought Landon was in such good shape," Quinn replied.


    "Let''s not talk about this. Christmas ising. Where are you nning to spend it?" Abigail asked.


    Quinn hadn''t thought about it much, and there were still a couple of months until Christmas.


    "We''ll see when the timees. What about you guys?" Quinn asked.


    "It''s simple for us. We''ll go home and spend it with our parents," Abigail said.


    Quinn and Alexander didn''t have parents, so it would probably just be the two of them.


    They had been back from the ind for several months now. She wondered how things were over there. She wanted to spend Christmas with Calvin. They had never spent a proper Christmas together.


    That evening, when Alexander came back, Quinn brought it up. If it wasn''t possible, they could invite Calvin over to spend Christmas with them.


    Alexander said, "Let''s go there. He doesn''t have proper identification now, so it''s inconvenient for him to travel."


    "Really? Then what about Sprout and Brandy?" Quinn asked.


    "Let''s take them with us. Everything is pretty much set up over there. Besides, it''s just for a few days, not a permanent move. It won''t be a problem," Alexander assured her. Quinn nodded. "Alright, then we''ll take them with us."


    She couldn''t bear to leave the two kids behind. If they could go, she had nothing to worry about. There would be more people over there, and Christmas would be lively. Quinn couldn''t help but feel a bit excited.

 Chapter 1594

    When the signal tower was finally up on the ind, Maddox gave Quinn a call. She thought he might''vee to Amber Bay. "Can you hear me? How''s the signal?" Maddox asked.


    "Yeah, I hear you loud and clear. Thought you were here to see me," Quinn replied.


    "Nah, just testing the signal. If it''s good, it''ll be easier to stay in touch. Save my number while you''re at it," Maddox said.


    "Got it," Quinn said, then added, "How''s everything over there? Can I bring Sprout and Brandy to visit?"


    "Sure thing. The power station''s almost done, and the water nt''s finished. The rest will be up soon," Maddox exined.


    "Awesome! How about Ie over for Christmas? I''ll bring the kids," Quinn suggested.


    "Why wait till Christmas? Come sooner. What are you up to in Amber Bay?" Maddox asked.


    Quinn nced upstairs. "It''s the fourth quarter, so thepany''s swamped. Alexander''s busy with work, leaving early anding backte. We''lle over once things calm down." "Alright then," Maddox said.


    They chatted a bit more before Maddox hung up and got back to work.


    Quinn kept an eye on Sprout and Brandy ying. Sometimes Briar was too busy with housework to watch the kids, so Quinn had to step in.


    Alexander was getting busier, probably trying to wrap things up early so they could spend Christmas on the ind. Sometimes he was still workingte into the night.


    Quinn worried about his health and often had to drag him to bed from the study.


    A month flew by. Quinn prepped a lot of Christmas stuff, mainly for the kids. There were no stores on the ind for clothes, baby form, or kids'' supplies, so they had to bring everything. When they were about to leave, Alexander looked at the boxes piled up and went silent.


    "Are we moving?" he asked.


    Last time, they only brought two boxes. Now, with two kids, the stuff had tripled.


    "These are all essentials. We need them," Quinn said.


    "Have you thought about how we''ll carry all this? We have to switch several modes of transportation, and we''re bringing two kids," Alexander pointed out. Quinn frowned, realizing he had a point. "What should we do then?"


    "Is Kyle still around?" Alexander asked.


    "I don''t know. I''ll call and ask," Quinn said. She had almost forgotten about Kyle. He disappeared aftering backst time, and she didn''t know what he was up to. Quinn called Kyle, and he answered quickly. "Kyle, are you still in Amber Bay?"


    "Yeah, what''s up?" Kyle responded.


    "Are you nning to go back to the ind?" Quinn asked.


    "Yeah, when are you leaving?" Kyle sounded anxious, afraid of being left behind.


    "We''re nning to leave tomorrow," Quinn said.


    "Got it. I''lle over now," Kyle said.


    He showed up in less than half an hour, rushing in, and Quinn was surprised to see him in a suit and tie.


    "Did you take a side job somewhere?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle waved his hands. "No, Mrs. Kennedy, please don''t misunderstand."


    "Then why are you dressed like this? I thought you were working at thepany," Quinn said. Kyle was Alexander''s assistant, buttely, only Alexander went to thepany every day. If Alexander hadn''t just said, Quinn wouldn''t have known he wasn''t going to thepany.


    Kyle scratched his head, embarrassed. "I was busy with some personal matters."


    Quinn didn''t miss the shyness on his face and got curious. "Are you dating someone?"


    Kyle''s face flushed, and he stammered, "No, not yet. We haven''t confirmed the rtionship."


    Quinn was even more surprised. "Who is it? Do I know them? Bring them over to meet us."


    "You don''t know them. We met through a blind date. I''m not young anymore, so I have to think about marriage," Kyle exined.


    Quinn understood and said considerately, "I get it. There''s nothing to be embarrassed about. If you want to stay here and develop your rtionship, you don''t have to go back." "No way. You and Mr. Kennedy are the most important," Kyle insisted.


    Quinn advised him, "But you are indeed not young anymore. You should prioritize your lifelong happiness. We won''t me you if you don''t go back. Go find your girlfriend." "Mrs. Kennedy, I''ve told you, she''s not more important than you guys. I''m going back with you," Kyle stated firmly.


    Quinn gave him a skeptical look. "Really? There''s really no need."


    Kyle insisted, "It''s necessary! We haven''t confirmed our rtionship yet. Let''s talk about thister, Mrs. Kennedy. When are you leaving?"


    "Didn''t I say? Tomorrow. Are you confused?" Quinn asked.novelbin


    Kyle smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I was too anxious and forgot. Should Ie over tomorrow then?"


    Quinn nodded. "Sure,e over at nine in the morning. Go say goodbye to your girlfriend."


    Kyle flushed again. "I''ve told you, she''s not my girlfriend yet."


    Despite his words, his actions were honest. He quickly said he''de over tomorrow and ran off.


    Quinn watched his hurried back and, thinking of something, handed Sprout to Alexander. "I need to go check this out. I''m too curious." Alexander''s mouth twitched. "Since when did you be so curious?"


    "Curiosity is human nature. Besides, I''m worried Kyle might get scammed. I need to check it out for him," Quinn exined.


    Kyle waspetent at work, but he seemed naive and gullible in rtionships. Quinn wasn''t too confident, so she decided to follow him. Alexander didn''t stop her and let her go.


    Quinn drove and secretly followed Kyle, watching him enter a residential area.


    Quinn followed him in. It wasn''t a high-end neighborhood. Her Maybach''s logo was conspicuous, so the security guard didn''t stop her. She easily got in, parked next to Kyle''s car, and watched him get out. Instead of going upstairs, he headed to the park within themunity.


    Quinn saw the woman too. She looked to be around thirty, with above-average looks, a good figure, and a decent sense of style. She seemed quite elegant.


    To her surprise, Kyle had good taste.


    Quinn saw the woman affectionately link arms with Kyle, but she couldn''t hear their conversation. Didn''t they say they hadn''t confirmed their rtionship? Why were they so close? Was Kyle lying? The woman, holding his arm, asked reluctantly, "How long will you be gone? Will youe back?"


    Kyle looked at her hand on his arm, feeling a bit shy. "I don''t know. But I''ll definitelye back."


    "You don''t even have a definite time. Do you expect me to wait for you indefinitely?" the woman asked.


    Kyle scratched his head. "What should I do then?"


    The woman thought for a moment and said, "Why don''t you take me with you? I''ll go with you."


    "It''s not appropriate. Besides, if youe with me, won''t your mom be worried?" Kyle asked.


    The woman pouted, a bit unhappy. "So you''re just going to leave me behind?"


    "I''lle back," Kyle said.


    "But you don''t even know when you''ll be back," the woman countered.


    Kyle sighed, feeling conflicted, hesitating whether to take her with him.


    The ind wasn''t fully developed yet. More importantly, it wasn''t suitable for outsiders to know about it.


    After a while, the woman suddenly said, "Why don''t we get married? That way, my mom won''t say anything if I go with you."


    Kyle looked at her in surprise. "So soon?"


    The sudden rush of happiness left Kyle a bit overwhelmed. He had seen her almost every day for the past few months, but she hadn''t even let him hold her hand. Now, hearing he was leaving, she was so proactive and even wanted to marry him.


    The woman said, "It''s not soon. We''ve been together for months. After observing you, I think you''re a good person and meet my criteria for a partner."


    The woman blushed slightly as she spoke, and Kyle couldn''t help but smile. "Are you sure?"


    "I''m sure. When I heard you were leaving, I realized I couldn''t bear to be without you. I''ve fallen in love with you. Let''s get married, okay?" the woman said. Kyle was overjoyed and could only nod repeatedly. "Okay, sure. Should we meet your mom first?"


    "Let''s go. My mom is at home now," the woman replied.


    Kyle wiped the sweat off his clothes. "If we rush into this, won''t your mom be angry? Won''t she think we''re being too hasty?"


    "My mom just cares about me. She wants me to be happy. As long as you can show her that you can make me happy, she won''t object," the woman assured him. Kyle frowned. "How can I show her that?"


    "That''s easy. Just ask her directly and meet her requirements. Then she''ll be reassured," the woman suggested.


    Kyle thought it made sense and smiled. "Alright, I''ll buy some things and go talk to your mom."


    Quinn watched from the car, unable to hear a word, but they seemed to be having a pleasant conversation. It looked like their rtionship was going well. She sighed, realizing Kyle was about to leave his single life behind.


    She wondered when Sean would find a girlfriend.


    She watched Kyle and the woman leave and return within ten minutes, with Kyle carrying a bunch of gift boxes, seemingly ready to visit her mother.

 Chapter 1595

    Kyle was still pretty nervous. Meeting Arabe Pearl''s mom, Maeve Harrington, before had been a real challenge. She''d grilled him hard and ended with, "Not just anyone can marry my daughter," which really piled on the pressure. He was crossing his fingers that Maeve would be a bit more chill this time.


    They soon got to Arabe''s house. Arabe knocked, and the door opened pretty quickly. Maeve''s smile vanished the second she saw Kyle. She said coldly, "What are you doing here?" Arabe pulled Kyle inside. "Mom, Kyle came to see you. He''s leaving tomorrow."


    Maeve turned to Kyle. "Where are you going?"


    "To work," Kyle said, feeling awkward. "Abroad."


    He wasn''t being totally honest. He''d told them before that he worked abroad, following his boss on projects. If things went well, he might even settle there.


    Maeve stared at him for a moment. "How long will you be gone?"


    "I don''t know," Kyle replied.


    "Don''t know? What about Arabe? Didn''t you say you liked her? Are you just gonna leave her hanging?" Maeve shot back.


    Kyle quickly shook his head. "Of course not, I..."


    He felt a bit shy to say it.


    Maeve, getting impatient, said, "I get it. You''re not nning to take her with you, are you? Don''t even think about it. It''s so far away. If you sold my daughter, where would I find her?"


    Arabe jumped in, "Mom, Kyle isn''t like that. You''ve met him several times. He doesn''t look like a bad person, does he?"


    "Can you tell a good person from a bad one just by looking? Arabe, you''re too young and easily fooled. You''re my only daughter. It wasn''t easy raising you. If something happened to you, how would I live?" Maeve retorted. "Mom, it won''t happen. I trust Kyle. Besides, he came this time to talk about our marriage with you. He doesn''t know when he''ll be back next, and he doesn''t want me to wait, so he decided to sign the marriage agreement first," Arabe exined.


    Maeve''s eyes widened. "Marriage? How can you get married in half a day? That''s crazy!"


    "I mean, we sign the marriage agreement first," Arabe rified.


    "I disagree. How can you marry so hastily? And if Kyle leaves and doesn''te back, will you wait for him forever?" Maeve argued.


    Kyle sighed and said, "Maeve, what would it take for you to agree? Just name your conditions. If I marry Arabe, I won''t let her suffer in any way except for not being able to be with her. Even if I leave, I''ll make sure you both are well taken care of."


    Maeve''s face was stern. After Kyle finished speaking, she coldly said, "Alright, if you''re serious about this, transfer all your savings to Arabe''s ount. Once you''re married, everything you have will be hers anyway. I don''t want my daughter to be left without a husband and having to beg for money."


    Kyle hesitated a bit.


    Maeve immediately got upset. "What''s wrong? Didn''t you say you wouldn''t let her suffer? Didn''t you say I could name any condition? You can''t even agree to this small request. I see you''re unreliable and just want to trick Arabe into marrying you. Forget it."


    Kyle quickly waved his hand. "No, Maeve, I''m willing. I don''t spend much money myself. I just need to go to the bank to transfer it. I''m afraid there''s not enough time."


    "How much money do you have that you need to go to the bank?" Maeve nced at him disdainfully, as if saying he was bragging.


    Kyle thought for a moment. "I''m not sure. I haven''t counted carefully. Probably tens of millions of dors."


    Maeve and Arabe''s faces changed, and they looked at each other in shock.


    Maeve calmed down and said angrily, "Are you trying to trick me? I''m old, but I''m not easily fooled. Do you think I''ll believe you?"


    "Really, I can leave my card with you. You can use it yourselves," Kyle offered.


    Maeve said, "No way! What if one day you''re unhappy or have another woman outside and change the password? Arabe would have nothing. You must transfer the money to her ount, and I''ll agree to you signing the marriage agreement now. Otherwise, no deal."


    Kyle hesitated. "Alright, shall we go now?"


    "Let''s go now. I''ll go with you and watch you transfer it. I want to see if you''re trying to fool us," Maeve insisted.


    "Okay," Kyle agreed.


    He felt it was too rushed. He originally nned to transfer a few million dors to them, but Maeve wanted all his savings.


    But it didn''t matter. As he said, he didn''t spend much money himself. He only had a couple of work outfits that he wore repeatedly and rarely bought clothes for himself.


    Quinn had been waiting downstairs for a long time before seeing Kyle and the otherse down. This time, Maeve was with them.


    She looked at them suspiciously, unsure of what they were up to.


    They all got into the car and drove out of the neighborhood, with Quinn following them.


    They were heading to the bank.


    Kyle had called his ount manager ahead of time, and the manager personally came out to greet him. When he heard that Kyle wanted to transfer all his money to Arabe, the manager was stunned. Maeve quickly chimed in, "They''re husband and wife. It''s okay for him to transfer money to her ount, right?"


    The manager immediately smiled and said, "No problem. That''s perfectly fine. Pleasee in."


    ''It''s best not to get involved in their family matters,'' the manager thought to himself.


    Kyle didn''t mind at all, so as an outsider, the manager had nothing more to say.


    Kyle''s indifference was purely influenced by Alexander. Alexander had given up his entirepany to pursue Quinn, transferring billions of dors without keeping a cent for himself. He even worked for Quinn every day. So, Kyle felt that a few tens of millions of dors were nothing.


    Quinn overheard a bit this time. Kyle was actually going to transfer all his money to that woman.


    Had their rtionship developed to that point?


    Quinn didn''t continue following them. She drove back and called Kyle on the way. Kyle had just finished the bank procedures and stepped aside to take the call when he saw it was from Quinn.


    "Hello, Mrs. Kennedy, what''s up?" Kyle answered.


    Quinn hesitated before saying, "Oh, I just went to the mall and saw you and a girl going into the bank. Is that your girlfriend?"


    "You saw us? Yes, I went with her to take care of some things," Kyle replied.


    "You said earlier that you hadn''t confirmed your rtionship. You lied to me," Quinn used.


    "No, I wouldn''t dare lie to you. I didn''t expect that when she heard I was leaving, she would take the initiative to confirm our rtionship. We''re even going to get our marriage certificateter," Kyle exined. "So soon?" Quinn asked, surprised.


    "Yes, since I''m leaving, and I don''t know when I''ll be back, I can''t let her wait in vain," Kyle said.


    Quinn nodded. That made sense. She then asked, "So you went to the bank to withdraw money?"


    "Yes. I gave her all my money, so she should feel secure now," Kyle said.


    Quinn was silent for a moment, not knowing what to say. It seemed reasonable, but something felt off that she couldn''t quite pinpoint.


    "Did you give it to her voluntarily?" Quinn asked.


    "Her mom said she needed some security. I wasn''t using the money anyway, so I gave it to her. Besides," Kyle said sheepishly, "isn''t money meant to be spent on my wife?"


    "Alright, then. Congrattions," Quinn said.


    "Thank you, Mrs. Kennedy," Kyle replied.


    Quinn hung up and sped back to Regal Riverside.


    She went to Alexander''s study to tell him about it.


    She talked for a while, but Alexander was so focused on hisputer that he didn''t even look at her.


    Quinn said, "Aren''t you concerned about Kyle?"


    "He doesn''t care himself. Why are you so concerned?" Alexander asked.


    "At least check out that girl. What if Kyle is being deceived?" Quinn suggested.


    "If he doesn''t check, why should I?" Alexander countered.novelbin


    Quinn fell silent. She stood in front of the desk, staring intently at Alexander.


    After a while, Alexander seemed to sense something and finally looked up at her.


    He pondered and said, "Alright, I''ll check."


    Quinn nodded. "Good, check it out. He''s blinded by love right now, and since he''s transferred the money, he won''t check either." After all, having invested so much, if he found out something he didn''t want to ept, he would be heartbroken.


    So, he could only unconditionally trust Arabe.


    During their time together, Arabe had left a good impression on him. Every time he wanted to give her a gift, she refused.


    If she couldn''t refuse, she would soon return a gift of simr value.


    When they went out to eat, she would insist on paying. When she visited his ce, she would help tidy up and never got angry with him.


    To Kyle, Arabe was gentle, kind, beautiful, independent, and filial. It was no wonder he fell for her.


    They sessfully got their marriage certificate. Kyle looked at the certificate in his hand, feeling very happy. He was now a married man. Arabe said to him, "You have to get up early tomorrow. Go back and rest early."


    Kyle nodded. "Alright. Oh, here''s the key to my house. If you want to stay there, you can. I''ve also sent the password to your phone." Arabe took the key and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, honey. I''ll go back and pack up before moving in. I''ll be waiting for you at home." Kyle''s smile widened, and he hugged Arabe tightly. "I''lle back to see you whenever I can."


    "Okay, now take us home," Arabe said.


    "Let''s go." Kyle opened the car door for them and dropped them off at the neighborhood entrance before heading back to pack his things.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1596

    The next day, Kyle got a call from Quinn out of the blue, telling him their departure was pushed back by three days. Kyle was taken aback. "But I''ve already packed everything," he said.


    Quinn replied, "No biggie, just hang tight for a bit. Didn''t you just get hitched? Spend some more time with your wife." Kyle felt a bit awkward. "Well, okay then."


    After hanging up, he called Arabe to let her know about the dy. Arabe was thrilled and said with a smile, "That''s awesome! You can help us move tomorrow. I''m so excited to start living together as a family." Kyle couldn''t help but grin. "Alright, I''lle help you move tomorrow."


    Meanwhile, Alexander had someone dig into Arabe''s background, and within a day, they had all the dirt on her.


    Quinn leaned over to take a look. Arabe Pearl, 23 years old, high school grad. After graduation, she worked at a nightclub and dated a guy twenty years older for two years, even had an abortion.


    After breaking up with that guy, she got another boyfriend. When they couldn''t see eye to eye on marriage, they split.


    The more Quinn read, the more her brows knitted together.


    After breaking up with that guy, Arabe found another boyfriend who worked at a foreign tradepany with a decent sry. The kicker was, she hadn''t worked since dating the older guy. She''d been living off her boyfriends ever since. Plus, the time between her breakup with thest guy and her blind date with Kyle was less than a month.


    The reason for the breakup was simple: she waszy and only knew how to spend money, so she got dumped.novelbin


    After reading the info, Quinn nced at Alexander. "This woman doesn''t care about Kyle at all, does she?"


    Alexander responded coolly, "As long as Kyle likes her."


    "She''s clearly after his money," Quinn said.


    "Kyle''s got money, so it''s a good match," Alexander replied.


    Quinn red at him. "What''s wrong with you! She''s a gold-digger! Don''t you care about Kyle at all?"


    Alexander said, "She may switch boyfriends a lot, but that doesn''t make her a gold-digger. She just wants someone to support her long-term. She likes Kyle''s money, and Kyle appreciates the emotional support she gives. Both are in it willingly. If Kyle doesn''t mind, you shouldn''t either."


    Quinn looked at him suspiciously. "Since when have you been so generous?"She even started to wonder if Alexander had changed. After mulling it over for a bit, she asked, "What if it were you?"


    Alexander paused and looked up at her. "What do you mean?"


    Quinn rified, "I mean, what if I dated several boyfriends?"


    "Then they''d meet a very unfortunate end," Alexander interrupted without missing a beat, then added, "But that has nothing to do with you. I wouldn''t me you."


    Quinn pressed on, "What if I was only after your money and didn''t love you?"


    "Isn''t all my money already yours?" Alexander shot back.


    Quinn fell silent.


    Even though Alexander made a lot of sense, she felt like they were talking past each other.


    In Alexander''s eyes, as long as Kyle liked Arabe, he would ept everything about her, including her past and her character.


    Quinn sighed, "Forget it, let''s not worry about it."


    For Alexander, maybe love was a rare thing, and being with someone was even more precious. So he would offer his partner the utmost tolerance, even beyond his own limits. He extended this same belief to Kyle. Quinn couldn''t quite put her feelings into words.


    But she decided to stay out of it.


    She left the study and sent Kyle a message: [You''re married now. Don''t you n to introduce your wife to us?]


    Kyle replied: [I''ll ask her opinion.]


    Quinn: [Okay.]


    She thought, ''Having a meal together shouldn''t be a problem, right? Just a meeting between friends.''


    Arabe and her mom had moved all their stuff. After tidying up the house, Kyle took Arabe''s hand and told her about the invite.


    Arabe was a bit surprised. "Your boss invited us to dinner?"


    "Yeah, do you want to go?" Kyle asked.


    Arabe looked a bit nervous and hesitated. "Is it okay? What if they think I''m not good enough for you?"


    Kyleughed. "They won''t. They''re really nice people. My boss doesn''t care about that. They definitely won''t say anything bad about you." Arabe was still a bit reluctant.


    Kyle said, "I''ve been with him for so many years. Apart from being boss and subordinate, we''re almost like friends."


    Since he put it that way, Arabe had no choice but to agree. "Well, okay then. When is it?"


    "Tomorrow," Kyle replied.


    Quinn got up early and asked Briar to buy more groceries since they had guestsing for lunch.


    Briar got the hint. "Is there anything they can''t eat?"


    Quinn shook her head. "No, just buy whatever you think is good."


    She had already asked Kyle, and they had no dietary restrictions.Around ten o''clock, Kyle showed up with Arabe, holding her hand as they walked in. "Mrs. Kennedy, we''re here!" Quinn quickly stood up, and even Sprout got up, standing on the sofa to look towards the door.


    "You''re here. Come on in and have a seat," Quinn said with a smile.


    Arabe felt a bit out of ce. She had met wealthy people before, but none as wealthy as this. It made her feel exposed and uneasy as soon as she walked in.


    "Arabe, this is Mrs. Kennedy," Kyle said, ncing around the room. "Where''s Mr. Kennedy?"


    Quinn replied, "He went to the office. You probably won''t see him today."


    Most of thepany stuff had been handled, but Alexander still went to the office early today. It was unclear whether he was actually busy or just didn''t want to join them for lunch. Kyle felt a bit disappointed. "It''s okay. There will be other opportunities. Mrs. Kennedy, this is Arabe. We just got married the day before yesterday." Quinn nodded with a smile. "Hello."


    Arabe forced a smile and nodded. "Hello, Mrs. Kennedy. Kyle often talks about you. It''s nice to finally meet you."


    "Really?" Quinn nced at Kyle. "What does he say about me?"


    Arabe replied, "He says you''re beautiful, gentle, understanding, and very kind."


    "Is that so?" Quinn asked.


    Kyleughed awkwardly. "I didn''t exaggerate that much. I just mentioned it casually. Besides, Mrs. Kennedy, you are indeed beautiful."


    Quinn chuckled. "Alright, enough with the polite lies. Have a seat. Briar went to buy groceries and hasn''t returned yet."


    "Okay." Kyle led Arabe to the sofa and whispered to her, "See, I told you Mrs. Kennedy is nice."


    Arabe forced a smile. "Yes, she is."


    She wanted to get out as soon as possible. She couldn''t stay here, fearing they would find out she was only with Kyle for his money.


    Initially, during their blind date, she didn''t think much of him. He was a bit dull, not romantic, and didn''t say sweet things. He seemed boring, but his savings made him more attractive.


    When he introduced himself, he said he was just an errand boy. So, Arabe lost interest in him.


    But he would always insist on paying the bill and transferring money to her. Arabe thought he was a good backup option, so she kept in touch with him.


    Later, he took her to his home, and she saw that he had bought a house in the city center worth millions of dors. She suddenly realized Kyle might not be so simple.So, she tried to leave a good impression on Kyle. Kyle always praised Quinn, so she acted ording to what he said, and it worked; she won his heart.


    Previously, when he said Alexander had given all his assets to Quinn, she didn''t believe it. But now, Kyle had also given her all his assets, and she finally believed it.


    Sprout and Brandy were sitting on the sofa, tilting their heads and curiously looking at Arabe and Kyle.


    Arabe felt a bit uneasy being stared at by the two kids. She asked softly, "Who are these kids?"


    "These are Mr. Kennedy''s children. Aren''t they cute?" Quinn replied.


    Arabe nodded. "Yes. Very cute."


    Quinn happened to hear this and turned around. "Then you should hurry up and have one."


    Kyleughed helplessly. "Mrs. Kennedy, why do you always urge people to have kids?"


    "What, you don''t want to have kids?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle scratched his head, his cheeks slightly red. "It''s not that, just not in a hurry."


    Quinn picked up the toys on the floor and put them in a box, then sat down next to Arabe and started chatting with her.


    "Your name is Arabe, right?" Quinn asked.


    "Yes, what''s up?" Arabe replied.


    Quinn replied, "Nothing, just asking. I''ll call you that from now on."


    Arabe nced at her in surprise and forced a smile. "Okay."


    Quinn spoke, "Kyle has been back for a few months, and he kept it from us. If we hadn''t said we were leaving the day before yesterday, he wouldn''t have told us." "Really?" Arabe asked.


    "Yes, how long have you known each other?" Quinn inquired.


    "Not long, about three months?" Arabe answered.


    Kyle said, "Mrs. Kennedy, please stop digging."


    Quinn sighed. "I''m just chatting. Look at you, so nervous. Can''t I chat with your wife?"


    "No, that''s not what I meant. Never mind, you two chat. I''m going out for a smoke," Kyle said.


    He stood up and quickly walked out.


    Quinn watched his back and then exchanged a nce with Arabe.


    Arabe said, "I''m sorry."


    "It''s okay. I can see he cares about you," Quinn replied.


    She should have been happy for them, but after seeing Arabe''s information, she couldn''t bring herself to be.


    After a moment''s silence, Quinn said, "Arabe, I''ve known Kyle for many years. He''s always been very serious about his work and is incredibly loyal. He used to be so focused on his job that he hardly ever interacted with women outside of


    work."

 Chapter 1597

    Arabe''s face twitched a bit, but she managed to keep a smile on.


    Quinn went on, "Kyle''s like family to us, so I really want him to be happy. Since you married him, I hope you two can make it work." Arabe''s heart skipped a beat, and her smile felt forced. "Mrs. Kennedy, what are you getting at?"


    Quinn gave her a look. "Exactly what I said. You''re smart enough to get it."


    Arabe''s smile vanishedpletely.


    Quinn''s words were a clear warning. Since she couldn''t change Kyle''s mind, she was starting with Arabe.


    Sheid it out: Kyle was super important to them. If Arabe ever hurt him, there''d be hell to pay.


    Even if Arabe was just pretending to be the woman Kyle liked, she had to keep up the act forever.


    Arabe got the message loud and clear. Quinn had done her homework and knew everything about her.


    With Quinn''s warning, Arabe had to ditch any bad ideas.


    She couldn''t have fun when Kyle wasn''t around, and she definitely couldn''t flirt with other guys. Now, she was stuck in an empty house waiting for Kyle.


    The thought alone was suffocating.


    "What''s wrong? You don''t look so good," Quinn asked.


    Arabe, a bit out of it, replied, "I get it."


    Quinn smiled, "Don''t be so tense. I really do hope you two will be happy."


    Arabe forced a smile, "I know. Thanks for your concern, Mrs. Kennedy."


    Just then, Briar came back with groceries, and Quinn went to help her. She had bought a ton, and they couldn''t carry it all. Kyle came up to help and brought everything inside. When Kyle came out, he saw Arabe looking off. He walked over and asked, "What''s up? What did you and Mrs. Kennedy talk about?"


    Arabe forced another smile. "Nothing much. She just wished us well."


    "Really?" Kyle smiled too. "I told you she''s nice. You were worried she''d be tough on you, but see? No big deal."novelbin


    Kyle always thought Quinn was the type who wouldn''t make things hard for anyone. If anything, people made things hard for her.


    Arabe couldn''t tell Kyle that Quinn knew about her past. She couldn''t risk Kyle finding out and being disgusted or asking for the money back.


    You can''t have it all. Between freedom and money, Arabe chose money.


    She thought with Kyle always being away, she could have both freedom and money. But now, she knew she lost her freedom, and she didn''t care for Kyle anymore. She even found him annoying.


    Lunch was a big spread. Quinn invited them to eat. Sprout, wanting to join, stood on a chair and ate with a spoon.


    Alexander came back. When he walked in, Quinn stood up, surprised. "I thought you weren''ting back."


    Alexander said, "I came back as soon as I finished work."


    Quinn said, "Perfect timing. Sit down and eat."


    Alexander sat next to her. Arabe got even more nervous seeing him.


    He seemed even tougher to deal with than Quinn.


    Arabe felt trapped sitting there and wished the boring gathering would end already.


    Alexander didn''t say a word or even look at Arabe. He acted like he was invisible, doing his own thing like they weren''t even there.


    Kyle was used to it, but Arabe didn''t dare make a sound the whole time.


    After finally finishing the meal, Arabe nudged Kyle to leave quickly.


    Kyle had no choice but to stand up and say, "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, we''re heading out now."


    Quinn replied, "Take it easy on the way."


    Kyle took Arabe out of Regal Riverside and said, "Alright, we''re out now. You can rx."


    Arabe forced a smile. "I know, maybe it''s just first-meeting jitters, like officially visiting the parents. I couldn''t help but be nervous."


    Kyle said, "It''ll get better once you get to know them."


    Arabe responded, "Yeah, let''s head back."Quinn watched them leave, then turned back to cleaning the food off Sprout''s clothes. Alexander asked, "So, you met them. Notice anything?"


    Quinn replied, "Not much. Just had them over for a meal. But Arabe seemed really guilty. She definitely doesn''t like Kyle." "Did you see if Kyle likes her?" Alexander asked.


    Quinn nodded. "Yeah, he does. Kyle really cares about her. When I tried to dig a bit, he shut me down. Maybe he''s hiding something."


    Alexander chuckled. "Now that you''ve met them and had the meal, just chill and stop stressing about it."


    Quinn dered, "I know. I''m not nning to keep tabs on them. Whether Arabe likes Kyle or not, she won''t dare hurt him when he''s not around." Alexander remarked, "You''re something else."


    Quinn red at him. "I don''t want to talk to you. You never care about anything, never ask or worry."


    Alexander shook his head, helplessly.


    It was just a brief interlude. They still had to head to the ind for Christmas.


    Everything was packed, and at dawn the next day, they were ready to go.


    Kyle rushed over to help carry their stuff.


    Quinn saw the happiness on his face and figured he had a good couple of days.


    They started the routine of switching between different modes of transportation again. Quinn carried Brandy, and Alexander held Sprout.


    When they arrived at the fishing vige again, Quinn felt an odd sense of familiarity.


    The first time she came, she was scared to death. This time, she wasn''t scared at all.


    She asked Brandy, "Are you scared?"


    Brandy, still young and without a concept of fear, looked around curiously and shook her head.


    Quinn said, "I hope they won''t get lost this time."


    Kyleughed. "No way. They''ve been here so many times; it''s impossible to get lost again. But it''s already dark now. Let''s find a room to rest. They should arrive tomorrow." Quinn nodded and went to the room they stayed in before. The room was still the same, with a coffin inside, but she knew it was empty, so she didn''t mind.


    Unfortunately, they weren''t lucky, and it started raining that night.


    Brandy covered her ears and curled up next to her. Quinn held her and patted her shoulder. "It''s okay. Don''t be afraid."


    Sprout was a bit braver. He tilted his head to look at the roof when he heard the thunder, as if trying to see where the thunder wasing from.


    Kyle said, "How are we so unlucky? It starts raining as soon as we get here!"


    Quinn replied, "It''s winter, and we''re by the sea. Rainy days are normal. The rain will stop tomorrow."


    But things didn''t go as she expected. The rain continued the next day, with dark clouds looming over the sea, as if more rain was on the way. Moreover, Brandy either caught a cold or was too scared and developed a high fever.


    Quinn used a fever patch, but it didn''t help, and she started to panic. "What should we do? Her forehead is still so hot." Alexander frowned, picked Brandy up, and felt her forehead. "It might be limatization. She''s always had a weak constitution." Quinn felt even more distressed; she had forgotten that Brandy had surgery before.


    It was still raining outside, and there was no cell signal. They couldn''t go back or leave. They were in big trouble.


    "If I had known, we wouldn''t havee." Quinn sat down, feeling powerless, the firelight flickering on her face, and she felt a bit guilty.


    Alexander said, "Don''t worry. Brandy will be fine. She hasn''t had a fever much before. An asional fever can actually boost her immunity." "Really?" Quinn asked.


    Kyle chimed in, "Yeah, Mrs. Kennedy, so don''t worry too much."


    Besides, worrying wouldn''t help. They couldn''t see a doctor now. Fortunately, Quinn had packed a lot of medicine before they left. Alexander hadined about her bringing too much stuff, but now it wasing in handy.

 Chapter 1598

    After sticking a fever patch on Brandy, Quinn held her tight all night, unable to sleep, just watching over her. Alexander sat with Quinn. The rain drizzled outside, and the room was wrapped in silence.


    Kyle went off to find a room to crash in by himself.


    Alexander said, "Go get some sleep. I''ll hold her."


    Quinn shook her head. "You sleep. I can''t sleep anyway."


    She touched Brandy''s forehead. "It''s not as hot anymore. If she doesn''t have a fever tomorrow, she should be fine."


    Alexander sighed and patted her hair. "She''ll be okay, don''t worry."


    Quinn nodded. "Okay."


    Neither of them slept all night, keeping watch over Brandy until dawn. Sprout, squeezed in the middle, slept soundly and didn''t wake up all night.


    In the morning, Brandy woke up groggily in Quinn''s arms. She stared at Quinn with wide eyes, not moving.


    If Quinn hadn''t looked down and seen Brandy''s open eyes, she would''ve thought Brandy was still asleep.


    Her face lit up with joy. "Brandy, you''re awake? Does your head still hurt?"


    Brandy slowly shook her head, a hint of guilt on her face. "Mommy, I''m sorry."


    Quinn was taken aback. "Why are you saying sorry out of the blue?"


    Brandy blinked and said, "I got sick and made you stay up all night." Quinn felt a pang of guilt in her heart.


    Brandy''s cheek pressed against Quinn''s chest, her childish voice continued, "I won''t get sick anymore. I want to be with Mommy."


    It was rare for Alexander and Quinn to take her out, but she got sick. She was afraid that next time Alexander and Quinn went out, they wouldn''t take her along. Looking at Brandy''s face, Quinn felt a sudden ache in her heart.


    She forced a smile and touched Brandy''s cheek. "Silly girl, it''s not your fault. It''s because Daddy and Mommy didn''t take good care of you that you got sick. Mommy should be the one saying sorry." Brandy said, "Sprout didn''t get sick."


    Quinn reassured her, "He just got over being sick, didn''t he? Alright, don''t overthink it. Daddy and Mommy are always here for you."


    Brandy finally smiled, snuggling into Quinn''s arms. Maybe it was because she was sick, but she had never been this clingy before.


    Quinn patted her back. "Go back to sleep. It''s still early."


    Outside, it was getting light, but the rain and overcast sky made it seem darker.


    Quinn sighed inwardly, feeling unlucky that it started raining as soon as they arrived.


    It rained lightly during the day, trapping them in the house all day. By evening, there was thunder and lightning, and the rain poured down.


    Sprout acted as if nothing was wrong, except for asionally looking up at the ceiling when there was thunder. Once the thunder passed, he would wander around the house, exploring.


    There were a lot of bugs in the house, so Kyle followed him closely, afraid that his curiosity would lead him to pick up bugs from the ground to y with.


    Quinn took care of Brandy, who was scared of the thunder and clung to Quinn all day because of her illness.


    Quinn was also afraid of thunder, but she didn''t dare show it in front of Brandy.


    Alexander squatted nearby, tending to the fire. Most of the wood in the house that could be used had already been burned.As Quinn was dozing off with Brandy in her arms, Sprout came over with a big grin, calling out, "Mommy." Quinn opened her eyes and looked at him. Despite her tiredness, she smiled at his bright eyes and patted his head.


    Sprout held out both hands.


    "What do you have there?" Quinn looked at his hands and instinctively reached out to take it.


    The next second, when she saw what Sprout was holding, she screamed sharply, jumping up with Brandy in her arms. "Alexander!" she eximed.


    Alexander turned around to see Quinn huddled in a corner, with Brandy crying loudly in her arms.


    Then he saw Sprout holding a nearly four-inch-long centipede, which was wriggling in his hand, its numerous legs making one''s skin crawl. Alexander''s mouth twitched.


    Kyle was also shocked. He had only gone to the bathroom for a moment, and Sprout had caught a bug and showed it to Quinn!


    Unsurprisingly, Sprout got a good spanking and cried his heart out that night.


    Alexander held him over his knee and spanked his bottom. "Will you grab bugs again?"novelbin


    Sprout cried and shook his head. "No, I won''t."


    Seeing him cry so miserably, Quinn hesitated and went over to stop Alexander. "That''s enough. Don''t hit him anymore." Alexander hadn''t used much force, but it still hurt.


    He let go of Sprout, who immediately ran to Quinn, hugging her leg and crying, mumbling about bad Daddy.


    Quinn looked at his tear-streaked face, with snot and tears mixing and running into his mouth and down his neck, feeling sorry for him.


    She squatted down and took out a tissue to wipe his face. "Alright, stop crying. Don''t catch bugs anymore, okay? If you catch a poisonous one or get bitten, your little hand could rot. Without hands, how will you y with toys, right?" Sprout''s tears fell again, but he nodded after a moment of silence.


    Quinn patted his head and asked Kyle to bring a basin of water. Before washing Sprout''s face, she took a couple of photos of him.


    When Sprout grew up, these would be his embarrassing moments.


    Brandy squatted nearby, seriously lecturing Sprout. The funniest part was that Brandy still had tears on her face, making the scene bothical and oddly heartwarming.


    After a night ofmotion, Brandy''s fever subsided, and Sprout calmed down. The siblings huddled together, with Sprout behaving much better, probably because he knew he was wrong or because he was in pain. He even knew to stretch out his hands to warm them by the fire.


    Not far away, Kyle watched the family of four sitting around the fire, feeling a sense of relief. But then he sighed, lost in thought.


    At dawn, the rain stopped outside, though the sky remained overcast.


    Quinn was a bit worried and asked Alexander, "It looks like it''s going to rain again. Do you think Maddox and the others wille looking for us?"


    Alexander sighed, walked to the door, and looked out the window, frowning. "I don''t know. They mighte. Don''t worry, he knows what he''s doing."


    "But in this weather, I think it''s difficult." Quinn sighed, fearing that they might encounter an ident at sea in such weather.


    Alexander patted her shoulder. "He''s not reckless. He won''t take unnecessary risks."


    As they were talking, they saw a boat approaching from the distant sea.

 Chapter 1599

    Quinn''s eyes lit up as he stared at the distant ck ship. "Is that Maddox and the others?"


    Alexander squinted, but it was too far to see clearly. He could only tell it was a ship.


    Kyle heard the conversation and quickly ran over, eximing, "Does it feel like they''re here? How dare they sail in this weather!" Quinn turned to look at him. "Are you sure that''s Maddox?"


    Kyle replied, "Isn''t iting in our direction? Who else could it be? Mrs. Kennedy, should we get ready to board?"


    Quinn hesitated. "Let''s wait until they disembark."


    ''Just because they arrived safely in this weather doesn''t mean they can return safely right away,'' Quinn thought.


    It took almost forty minutes for the ship to get close, and Quinn''s legs were weak by then.


    Seeing people disembark, she immediately ran down the path to the beach.


    As expected, it was Maddox and the others, with Sean among them. They were happy to see Quinn, and Maddox strode over to her. "Quinn!"


    Quinn''s face was filled with joy and worry. "Why did youe now? It could rain heavily at any moment."


    Maddox replied, "No worries. We checked; it won''t rain for the next eight hours, so we set off early. We made it safely. Did you bring Sprout and Brandy?" Quinn replied, "Yes, they''re inside."


    Maddox grinned. "I''ll go see them! It''s been so long; I wonder how Sprout has grown."


    He quickly walked past Quinn towards the vige.


    Quinn smirked. Why did it feel like he was more interested in Sprout and Brandy than in her?


    Sean walked over and said, "Mrs. Kennedy, he heard you brought Sprout and Brandy. If we hadn''t held him back, he would havee yesterday."


    "So, he came just to see Sprout and Brandy?" Quinn asked.


    "Not entirely. Of course, he wants to see you the most." Sean rarely said something so considerate, but given Maddox''s eager back, his words didn''t seem very credible. "Forget it, let''s go back." Quinn didn''t bother to argue.


    When they returned to the house, Maddox was already holding the two children, one in each arm. Sprout stared at him curiously with big eyes, while Brandy looked timid and a bit scared. Maddox nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Do you two know who I am?"


    Brandy, who had never seen him before, shook her head and said in her sweet voice, "No."


    Sprout struggled to get down, and when he couldn''t, he reached out to grab Maddox''s hair.


    Maddox, talking to Brandy, didn''t notice until Sprout had a firm grip on his hair.


    He tilted his head and red at Sprout. "Sprout, let go of my hair!"


    Whether Sprout understood him or not, he seemed to get the tone and grabbed his hair with both hands.novelbin


    Maddox cried out in pain, quickly calling Quinn to take Brandy.


    Quinn hurriedly took Brandy and saw Maddox trying to pry Sprout''s hands off his hair.


    Maddox threatened, "Sprout, do you believe I''ll hit you?"Sprout mumbled something, and it didn''t sound friendly.


    Maddox asked, "What''s he saying?"


    Quinn replied, "He said you''re a bad guy and he''ll beat you up."


    Maddox was angry but didn''t dare do anything to Sprout. He was so small that Maddox could hurt him with one hand.


    It would be easy to pry Sprout''s hands off with a bit of force, but their familial bond stopped him. Maddox, grimacing, nced at Alexander. "Alexander! Get your son off me!"


    Unlike his earlier excitement at seeing Sprout, Maddox now looked as annoyed as he could be.


    Alexander remained unmoved. "He likes you and is ying with you."


    "My scalp is about to be torn off! Get him off, or I''ll hit him!" Maddox roared.


    Quinn knew Maddox had a bad temper and quickly put Brandy down to help. She patted Sprout''s hand. "Sprout, let go. This is your uncle."


    Sprout pouted and red at Maddox, showing no intention of letting go.


    Quinn sighed, wondering why these two didn''t get along from the start. She thought Sprout and Alexander were already troublesome enough, but he and Maddox were even worse. Sprout feared Alexander but not Maddox, so he was even more unruly with Maddox.


    Quinn struggled to pry Sprout''s hands off Maddox''s hair. Maddox, fixing his hair, stepped aside.


    He pointed at Sprout. "This kid is so arrogant at this age. What will he be like when he grows up?"


    He rolled up his sleeves. "Quinn, I think this kid needs discipline. Let me teach him a lesson, and I guarantee he''ll be obedient in a month."


    Sprout immediately started yelling at him, looking very angry and iling in Quinn''s arms, ready to fight him. Quinnughed at Maddox''s messy hair. "Really?"


    Maddox snorted. "Of course! I can handle him. What''s he saying?" Quinn replied, "He said you''re a bad guy and he''ll beat you up." Maddox was stunned. "Wait, how does he know to say that?"


    Quinn was also surprised and instinctively looked at Alexander.


    She suddenly remembered the stories Alexander told Brandy. What had he been teaching these kids?


    Alexander looked innocent. "Why are you looking at me? It''s not my fault."


    Quinn asked, "Didn''t you teach him?"


    Alexander denied, "Of course not. He learned it from other kids."


    "Which kids?" Quinn pressed.


    Alexander said, "The ones at the park."


    Quinn remembered Alexander loved taking them to the park, where there were many children.


    Maddox snorted. "I knew it. Sprout is so naughty because of you!"


    Alexander imed innocence. "It''s not my fault."


    "Then it''s your personality. You can''t escape responsibility!" Maddox insisted, rolling up his sleeves. "Quinn, let me educate Sprout. I promise you''ll have an obedient son in a month." Quinn looked at him skeptically. "Really? You won''t hit him, right?"


    "Do I look like that kind of person? Don''t worry, I''ll use love to change him," Maddox replied, raising his chin with a confident look in his eyes.

 Chapter 1600

    Quinn''s eyelids twitched. She couldn''t figure out where Maddox got all that confidence from. Honestly, she didn''t think Sprout was that much of a troublemaker. Most of the time, he was pretty well-behaved. Maybe Maddox wasn''t really looking to discipline Sprout; he just wanted an excuse to hang out with him.


    With that thought, Quinn nodded. "Alright, Maddox, I''ll leave both my kids with you. Make sure you take good care of them."


    ''Perfect,'' Quinn thought. Now she could spend some quality time with Alexander working on their pentagon house without worrying about the kids.


    Maddox patted his chest confidently. "No problem."novelbin


    After a bit of chit-chat, he nced at the sky. "Alright, enough talking. Let''s get moving before it starts raining and we''re stuck here."


    Quinn looked at the gloomy sky over the sea, feeling uneasy, especially with two kids in tow. "Leave now? Maybe we should wait until the weather clears up?" Maddox insisted, "Let''s go. This ce is so deste; what''s the point of staying? Trust me, would I joke about your lives? I''ll get you back safely!"


    Since he was so sure, Quinn had no choice but to agree. "Alright, I trust you."


    She followed them onto the boat, and Maddox had people bring all their stuff on board.


    Setting foot on the ind again, Quinn felt a wave of nostalgia. It had changed a lot in just a few months.


    The path was still a stone one, but the forest greenery was almostplete. Except for the woods, the ground was allwn, giving off a peaceful vibe.


    It reminded her of thoseputer wallpapers she loved, with clean and lush green forests.


    Even though it was winter, the ind wasn''t cold. The temperature was just right, and the ce was full of birds and flowers.


    Brandy and Sprout looked around curiously. They hadn''t traveled much, and it was their first time seeing a ce like this. Their faces were full of wonder.


    Sprout squatted down to pick flowers from the grass, grinning as he handed them to Brandy. "Here, Brandy!"


    His teeth had all grown in, and when he smiled, you could see his neat teeth. If only he could control his drooling.


    Brandy smiled as she took the wildflowers and patted his head. "Thank you, Sprout."


    Sprout beamed even more and ran into thewn, tripping and falling headfirst into the grass.


    Thewn was soft, so it didn''t hurt. But it had rained, so the grass was covered in water droplets. When Quinn wrapped him up, he was covered in mud. Maddox looked at Sprout and couldn''t help butugh.


    To be honest, he didn''t really like kids, especially when they cried. The thought of them made him feel overwhelmed.


    But seeing his nephew, he couldn''t help but smile.


    With no ce to stay, they went to Maddox''s house as usual.


    In the past few months, the room''syout had changed. An extra bed had been ced in the living room, covered by a curtain.


    Maddox pointed to the room. "You two sleep inside, and I''ll sleep out here. Is that okay?"


    Quinn nodded. "Sure, thanks, Maddox."


    Maddox waved his hand. "No need to be polite with me. You guys rest for a bit. We''ll have dinnerter, and I''ll take the kids out to y."


    He waved at Brandy, who tilted her head and looked at him for a moment. She already knew he was her uncle, so she obediently walked over.


    Maddox nced at Sprout, who was exploring the house as soon as he got in, and didn''t bother calling him. He just walked over and picked him up.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1601

    Sprout started squirming and yelling as soon as Maddox picked him up.


    Maddox just shrugged and turned to Quinn. "I''m heading out."


    Quinn raised an eyebrow. "He doesn''t look too thrilled. Maybe you should leave him here."


    She was worried Maddox might lose his cool and snap at Sprout.


    Maddox chuckled. "Come on, don''t you trust me?"


    With Brandy in one arm and Sprout in the other, Maddox headed out. Sprout was hollering, clearly not a fan of Maddox. Quinn exchanged a helpless look with Alexander.


    Alexander, noticing her worry, said, "Rx, Maddox knows what he''s doing. Let''s use this time to figure out the house ns." He pulled out a thick folder from his suitcase, filled with detailed blueprints.


    Quinn leaned in to check them out. The designs were super detailed, almost like a step-by-step guide.


    Everything wasid out: the structure,yout, materials, even the dimensions of the wood. It was so clear that anyone could follow it.


    Quinn flipped through the pages eagerly. "Where was that spot we pickedst time?"


    "Southeast. Wanna go check it out?" Alexander suggested.


    "Yeah, let''s go!" Quinn said, excited.


    She had forgotten the way, but Alexander led the way. After about ten minutes, they reached the spot.


    It was a wide-open area with pink flowers and ankle-high grass.


    A massive tree stood nearby, so big that neither Quinn nor Alexander could wrap their arms around it. The tree had soaked up all the nutrients, leaving no other trees around. Its canopy spread out like a giant umbre.


    They decided to build the house next to this tree.


    Quinn looked around. "When do we start?"


    "Anytime, but let''s wait for clear weather. Let''s aim to finish before New Year," Alexander replied.


    "Sounds good," Quinn agreed.


    They wandered around. It was peaceful, with just the asional breeze carrying the scent of soil and grass, calming their nerves.


    As it got dark, they headed back.


    Quinn wondered how Sprout was doing with Maddox and if they had shed. She went to find them.


    It had been raining for days, so no one had started working, and there was no noise from machinery.novelbin


    After a bit of walking, Quinn arrived at a square. It was the only one not made of wood; the ground was cement and stone bs, about the size of a basketball court. There were houses and pavilions around it. It looked pretty impressive.


    She spotted Sprout and Maddox right away. To her surprise, Sprout was riding on Maddox''s back, with Maddox on all fours, ying horse.


    Was this the "education" Maddox mentioned?


    Sprout was on his back, waving his arms and tapping Maddox''s head,ughing loudly.


    Maddox grumbled, "You little rascal, stop hitting my head!"


    Sprout mumbled something, mixed with giggles.


    Suddenly, Maddox lifted Sprout onto his shoulders and stood up. Holding Sprout''s body, he said, "Time for a ne ride!" Quinn felt a bit awkward watching them.

 Chapter 1602

    Maddox let Sprout sit on his shoulders and started running around the square, making Sprout''sughter echo all over.


    After a fewps, Maddox was wiped out. He plopped down on the ground, fanning himself with his hand. Sprout, still full of energy, kept trying to climb onto his back, getting frustrated and hitting Maddox when he couldn''t. Maddox looked over at Brandy and asked, "Hey Brandy, wanna take a ride?"


    Brandy felt a bit embarrassed and quickly shook her head. "No, thanks."


    Ignoring her, Maddox lifted her onto his shoulders.


    Brandy was so scared she hugged his head tightly. "Uncle, it''s so high up."


    Maddox chuckled. "Really? This is how I see you guys all the time."


    Brandy looked down at the ground. Sprout was puffing his cheeks and looking up at them, but from her perspective, he looked tiny, even smaller than her dolls. Brandy couldn''t help butugh.


    In the next second, Maddox suddenly started running, making her scream.


    Quinn instinctively wanted to rush over, but after a while, she heard Brandy''s screams mixed withughter.


    Suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder. Quinn turned to see Alexander.


    Alexander said, "Don''t worry. Let them have their fun."


    Quinn sighed.


    She knew she shouldn''t doubt Maddox, but she couldn''t help worrying. If Brandy fell off, it could be a serious problem.


    "Alright, let''s head back." Alexander held her hand and nced at the square, his expression unreadable.


    Quinn let him lead her away.


    Maddox had never taken care of kids before, and seeing him y so recklessly made Quinn uneasy about leaving the kids with him.


    They yed until dark beforeing back. Maddox was carrying one kid in each arm, and before they even got to the door, his voice could be heard. "Did you have fun?" Maddox asked.


    Brandy replied, "Yeah, it was fun!"


    Sprout echoed, "Yeah!"


    Maddoxughed heartily, feeling proud. He had managed to win over Sprout in just one afternoon.


    He asked again, "Wanna y again tomorrow?"


    Both kids nodded in unison.


    Maddox grinned. "Tomorrow I''ll take you to do something else."


    Quinn watched theme backughing and chatting, finally feeling relieved.


    Sprout no longer hit Maddox; he just kept wriggling in his arms.


    Quinn asked, "Maddox, what are you nning for tomorrow?"


    Maddox gave her a mysterious look. "You''ll see."


    Quinn forced a smile. The things he did with them were always high-risk activities.


    The next day, Quinn secretly followed him to the square. It had rained all night, and the square was full of puddles.novelbin


    Maddox brought out a skateboard.


    Quinn twitched her mouth. He actually wanted to teach such young kids to skateboard.


    Maddox had the kids stand aside and demonstrated for them. "Watch closely."


    He ced one foot on the skateboard and pushed off with the other, the skateboard zooming out. He glided around the square gracefully, leaving the kids in awe. Sprout even jumped up and pped his hands.


    After Maddox finished his demonstration, Sprout immediately stumbled over to him, trying to step onto the skateboard.


    Maddox quickly grabbed him. "Sprout, do you think you can just get on and go? What''s the rush!"

 Chapter 1603

    Maddox was helping Sprout, gently pushing him on the skateboard.


    Quinn couldn''t take it anymore and stormed over to the square.


    "Maddox!" she yelled.


    Maddox jumped and turned to see Quinn. "What are you doing here?"


    "What are you doing?" she shot back.


    "Isn''t it obvious? I''m teaching him how to skateboard," Maddox said like it was no big deal.


    Quinn''s mouth twitched, and she took a deep breath. "He''s only a year and a half old."


    "I know, but he can start learning," Maddox said, full of confidence.


    He picked up Sprout and tried to reason with Quinn. "What''s the big deal? I''m right here. I won''t let him fall!"


    "Can you watch him every second? What if he sneaks off and falls?" Quinn argued.


    "Why would he? Just hide the skateboard when you get home," Maddox replied.


    Quinn was at a loss for words.


    "You''re being too overprotective. Boys need to explore and find their interests early," Maddox insisted.


    As they argued, Sprout climbed onto the skateboard by himself. He grabbed it with both hands, shakily put his feet on it, and then let go, standing unsteadily. "Sprout," Brandy called out, worried.


    Quinn pushed Maddox aside to get a better look. Just then, the skateboard''s wheels moved, and Sprout fell backward.


    "Sprout!" Quinn screamed, rushing over.


    Sprouty on the ground, wide-eyed, surprisingly not crying.


    Quinn was still worried, but then Sprout let out a deafening wail.


    Maddox scratched his head, looking guilty.


    Quinn picked Sprout up and rubbed his head. "It''s okay. It doesn''t hurt," she cooed.


    Brandy ran over and squatted in front of them,ining to Quinn in her little voice, "He climbed up and fell right away." Sprout cried even harder, drawing a crowd, including Alexander.


    "What happened?" he asked.


    Quinn patted Sprout''s back and red at Maddox.


    Maddox stammered, "Everything was fine until Quinn showed up. While I wasn''t paying attention, Sprout climbed up and fell."


    Alexander sighed and squatted down next to Sprout. "Let me see."


    He checked Sprout''s head. It was just a bump, nothing too serious.


    "I''ll call the doctor to check him out," Alexander said, pulling out his phone.


    The doctor arrived quickly, examined Sprout, and said, "Use ice to reduce the swelling. Keep an eye on him. If there are no other symptoms, he should be fine."


    Quinn sighed in relief and took Sprout inside. Kyle brought over some ice.


    Maddox and Alexander stood nearby, and Maddox nudged Alexander. "It''s really not my fault."


    Alexander gave him a look. "Tell her that yourself."novelbin


    Maddox was troubled. Sprout was fearless, with no sense of danger, ready to try anything.


    ''How did he even think to stand on it by himself?'' Maddox wondered. ''Even adults fall off if they don''t know how to skateboard, let alone a little kid who can barely walk.''

 Chapter 1604

    Maddox scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "Well, kids are gonna fall. The more they fall, the tougher they get."


    Alexander shot him a look that screamed, "Why am I even talking to you? You don''t get a say in this."


    Sprout bawled his eyes out in Quinn''s arms until he finally cried himself to sleep. Quinn gentlyid him on the bed and turned to face Alexander and Maddox. Alexander instinctively took a couple of steps back, distancing himself from Maddox, like he wanted no part in this mess.


    Maddox rubbed his hands together, gave a sheepish grin, and then mmed up.


    Quinn''s voice was firm. "Maddox, no more letting them y with dangerous stuff!"


    Maddox nodded. "Got it."


    "They''re just kids. They can learn when they''re older. Sprout''s not even two yet; he can barely walk straight. How''s he supposed to learn to skateboard?" Quinn went on.


    "Yeah, you''re right," Maddox agreed.


    He was so quick to admit his mistake that Quinn didn''t know what else to say.novelbin


    She opened her mouth, then sighed. "Fine. But if I catch you letting them y with that stuff again, you''re done babysitting."


    "Okay," Maddox said.


    His easygoing attitude made Quinn a bit more annoyed. She huffed and stormed back to the bedroom.


    Maddox watched her go and flinched when he heard the door m.


    He muttered, "When did Quinn get so cranky?"


    Alexander patted him on the shoulder and sighed. "Man, once they get married, even the sweetest woman can turn into a Tiger Mom."


    Alexander pulled his hand back. "You made her kid fall. Of course she''s mad. Honestly, I think she''s being pretty nice about it."


    "I told you, she came over all of a sudden. I was talking to her, and I didn''t see Sprout climbing up on his own," Maddox said, feeling a bit wronged.


    Alexander sighed. "That''s not the point, Maddox. I know you love the kids, but you gotta be more careful with them."


    Maddox was about to argue, but Alexander cut him off. "Don''t start. I''m saying this for your own good. ying with dangerous stuff is fine until something goes wrong. Then what? How are you gonna face Quinn?" Maddox had noeback.


    "Nothing''s guaranteed. What if something bad happens? Today was a close call. But if it had been worse, would you want her to me you or feel guilty forever? You''d both be miserable," Alexander continued. Maddox frowned, deep in thought, pacing around the room.


    After a bit, he nodded. "You''re right. Little kids are pretty fragile."


    Alexander gave a slight nod. "d you get it."


    Maddox paused, then red at Alexander. "Hey, I''m older than you! Watch your tone!"


    Alexander chuckled and headed towards the bedroom. "I''ll go check on her."


    He walked in to find Quinn sitting on the bed, staring at the sleeping Sprout.


    Sprout was out cold, looking peaceful.


    Alexander sat next to her. "Quinn, don''t worry. He''ll be okay."


    Quinn replied, "The doctor said to keep an eye on him. I''ll stay here until he wakes up. Don''t worry about me. Go make sure Maddox doesn''t take Brandy to do anything risky."

 Chapter 1605

    Alexander gave a nod and started to head out.


    Maddox and Brandy were hanging around outside. He crouched down in front of Brandy, still towering over her.


    He gently rubbed Brandy''s face, reminding her not to be as mischievous as Sprout and to avoid ying with everything she saw.


    Brandy nodded, looking all obedient.


    Maddox suddenly noticed how Brandy, being so well-behaved and sensible, seemed even more adorable.


    Brandy was usually pretty quiet and not very yful. Most of the time, she just hung out with Sprout.


    When Alexander came out, Maddox said, "Brandy''s gonna be a real beauty when she grows up. You better keep an eye on her so some punk doesn''te and sweep her away." Alexander frowned at the thought of some punk.


    Just imagining it made him feel like he''d be furious if he were still around.


    He told Maddox, "If that ever happens, help me beat that punk to a pulp."


    Maddox was taken aback for a second, then grumbled, "Do it yourself. I''m her uncle, not her dad. I can''t handle all that!"


    Alexander chuckled and let it go.


    The ind weather was pretty nice, perfect for wintering here, though it got a bit chilly at night.


    Quinn stayed with Sprout until evening, and finally, Sprout woke up.


    Quinn watched him closely. When he woke up, he got up on his own. Probably because the back of his head hurt a bit, he reached out to touch it.


    Then he cried out in pain, patted his own leg, and then acted like nothing happened.


    He saw Quinn and crawled towards her, calling out "Mommy" in his sweet little voice.


    Quinn hugged him, feeling relieved. "Does it still hurt?"


    Sprout looked up at her, shook his head, then nodded.


    Quinn sighed, touched his cheek. "Don''t y with that thing anymore, okay?"


    Sprout tilted his head, then started gesturing and talking animatedly.


    He was probablyining that the skateboard wasn''t fun and that his head hurt. Seeing his lively demeanor, Quinn couldn''t help but smile.


    After this incident, Maddox didn''t let Sprout y with the skateboard anymore. The pile of toys he had prepared was now useless and would have to wait until Sprout was older.novelbin


    Luckily, Sprout got obsessed with that toy car. He could sit in it and drive it around. Now he and Brandy spent all day sitting in the toy car, with Maddox pulling it from the front.


    To keep the kids from driving it recklessly, Maddox took out the battery when they yed with it.


    Seeing that Sprout wasn''t causing trouble anymore, Quinn felt at ease and went with Alexander to work on the house.


    The pentagon-shaped house was prettyplex. It had five rooms, one at each corner, with the middle part serving as the living room.


    Quinn was totally useless with this kind of work. She had no strength, no skills, and even if she had blueprints, she wouldn''t know what to do.


    After a few crooked nails, Alexander stopped letting her help and just had her hand him things while he did the building.


    They wanted to finish it before the New Year, but it was a bit tough for just the two of them.


    Sean and Kyle also came to help. Quinn, who had previously boasted about building it herself, agreed to let them join. Relying on just Alexander, it was impossible to finish in such a short time.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1606

    With Kyle and Sean pitching in, the construction speed shot up like crazy.


    Alexander would''ve needed at least three months to finish it on his own. But with their help, it was almost done in just a month and a half. Quinn gazed at the pentagon-shaped house in front of her. She hadn''t done much, but she still felt super proud.novelbin


    Kyle gave a thumbs up. "Mrs. Kennedy, your house is one of a kind on this ind!"


    Quinn grinned. "Not too shabby. There are some other cool houses too. I think our ind''s turning into an art gallery."


    Kyle nodded. "Totally, I didn''t realize we had so many creative folks here."


    Kyle''s house was pretty basic, just a simple two-story square house with a balcony.


    Quinn said, "Hey, New Year''sing up. Wanna bring Arabe over to join us?"


    Sean looked confused. "Who''s Arabe?"


    Quinn was surprised Sean didn''t know. Hadn''t Kyle told him? Weren''t they close friends? She exined, "Arabe is Kyle''s wife."


    Sean''s eyes went wide as he looked at Kyle. "Seriously? Girlfriend or wife?"


    Kyle''s face looked a bit awkward. "Wife."


    Sean''s eyes got even wider, almost popping out. He grabbed Kyle. "You''re married?!"


    Sean''s reaction was a mix of shock, disbelief, and a bit of anger, like he''d been betrayed.


    Quinn watched them, suspicious. Was there something going on between them?


    Kyle, with a headache from being shaken, pulled Sean''s hand away. "Why are you freaking out? It''s just a marriage. You''re not a kid anymore; you should find someone too!"


    Sean gritted his teeth. "Weren''t we supposed to stay single forever? You sneaky guy, you got married behind my back!"


    Kyle shot back, "Who said that? I''m a normal guy!"


    Sean was stunned for a second, then got even angrier. "I''m a normal guy too! But why did you get married behind my back?"


    Kyle defended himself. "What do you mean behind your back? I got married openly!"


    Sean yelled, "You liar! I trusted you, and now I''m the only one left single. I''m gonna fight you!"


    Sean was furious that Kyle had kept it from him and that he was only finding out now. He was even more upset because they had agreed to stay single together, but now he was the only one left single. While he was still trying to stay single, Kyle had secretly found happiness, which made him feel betrayed.


    In his anger, Sean grabbed Kyle by the neck and pinned him to the ground.


    Quinn stood there, stunned, not getting why they were fighting.


    Kyle was no match for Sean and was pinned to the ground, unable to move. He grabbed Sean''s neck and angrily shouted, "Are you nuts? Why are you so mad about me getting married? Don''t tell me you like me?" Seeing things getting out of hand, Quinn quickly tried to pull them apart. "What are you doing? Stop fighting!"


    Unable to separate them, she ran inside to get Alexander. "Hurry, they''re fighting!"


    Alexander asked, "Who''s fighting?"


    As soon as he asked, he saw Sean and Kyle wrestling outside.


    It looked pretty intense, but it was actually nothing serious, just like two kids bickering.


    If Sean really wanted to fight Kyle, Kyle wouldn''t stand a chance. No way it would be an even match.

 Chapter 1607

    Alexander said, "Forget about them for now. Let''s head inside and clean up the house, or we''ll be crashing at Maddox''s ce again tonight."


    Quinn asked, "Are you sure we can just ignore them?" She was still a bit worried. Those two seemed to be going at it pretty hard.


    Alexander reassured her, "It''s fine. Don''t stress. Trust me."


    Quinn sighed and followed him inside to tidy up the house.


    Outside, Sean and Kyle were still at it. Kyle took a few punches to the face. He didn''t want to fight back, but Sean got him so riled up that he threw a punch, which only made Sean angrier. A couple more punchesnded, making Kyle yelp. After a while, both of them, bruised and battered, walked to the square and sat down in silence.


    The setting sun cast a mysterious glow on their faces.


    After a bit, Kyle finally spoke up, "Did you really have to get so mad?"


    Sean snorted, "What do you think? You went back, got married on the sly, and then didn''t say a word when you came back. You were really secretive about it. What, were you afraid I''d steal your wife?"


    Kyle red at him. "What nonsense are you talking about? I knew you''d react like this, so I didn''t tell you. I wanted to give you some time to ept it."


    As he spoke, Kyle felt something was a bit off, but he couldn''t quite put his finger on it.


    After all, they had agreed to stay single together, and whoever got married would be a loser. Keeping Sean in the dark made him feel kinda guilty.


    Sean said, "Why did you go back and get married out of the blue?"


    Kyle replied, "Well, there''s nothing much going on now. When you''re lying in bed alone at night, don''t you feel lonely?"


    Without thinking, Sean said, "I don''t. Only someone like you would."


    Kyle said, "I don''t want to argue with you. Anyway, I''m married now. What are you going to do about it?"


    Sean turned his head and red at him. After a while, he stood up angrily, "I''m breaking up with you!"


    Kyle was stunned. "What do you mean?"


    Sean ignored him and walked away on his own.


    Kyle stared at his back for a long time.


    He thought Sean was joking, but he was serious. He really intended to break up with Kyle. In the following days, Sean didn''t speak to him at all. Every time he saw Kyle, he pretended not to know him or treated him like air. When Kyle tried to talk to him, Sean just ignored him, acting as if he didn''t exist.


    Kyle scratched his head. Was Sean really breaking up with him?


    Quinn had been watching their interaction. To be honest, she didn''t expect Sean to be so angry about Kyle getting married. She was increasingly suspicious that there was something fishy between them. She couldn''t help but let her imagination run wild, uncontrobly picturing them.


    Alexander handed her a te of fruit and sat down beside her. "What are you looking at?"


    Quinn raised her chin, indicating Kyle and Sean. "I can''t help but feel that there''s something unusual about their rtionship."


    Alexander said, a bit helpless, "You''re so bored. You''ve been watching them every day, thinking about this?"


    Quinn replied, "Well, there''s nothing else to do. Our house is already built."


    Alexander suggested, "You could go hang lights in the woods."


    Quinn was taken aback and instinctively looked towards the forest ahead. There were people moving around. With Christmas just a few days away, everyone on the ind was busy decorating the woods. From a distance, the woods were filled with colorful lights, decorated in a gaudy but joyful manner.novelbin

 Chapter 1608

    Quinn thought for a second. "Alright, I''ll help hang the lights."


    She got up and dashed over.


    With Maddox watching the kids, Quinn could finally rx. He was even better with them than Briar.


    When Briar watched the kids, she stuck to the rules and mostly kept them at home. If they got bored or tired, Sprout would start fussing and look for Quinn.


    But Maddox was a whole different story. Sprout wanted to be with Maddox all the time. Maddox always had new and fun games, so much so that Sprout would forget about Quinn.


    Just yesterday, when it got dark and Quinn went to bring him home, Sprout threw a fit and refused to leave. So, he ended up sleeping over at Maddox''s ce.


    Quinn grabbed a couple of lights to hang on the branches along the path and spotted Sprout and Maddox from a distance.


    Today, Maddox had made a swing. The seat was a big wooden tub, and the two kids were sitting in it while Maddox gently pushed them.


    They looked like they were having a st.


    As long as Maddox didn''t get Sprout into dangerous stuff like skateboards, Quinn was happy to have him help with the kids.


    It took three days to hang all the lights in the usual spots, making the ce look festive and lively.


    Quinn couldn''t resist taking a photo and sending it to Abigail.


    Seeing the ind''s scenery, Abigail excitedly called Quinn on a video call.


    "Is your ind really this beautiful?!" Abigail eximed.


    Quinnughed. "Yep, wannae over?"


    "Yes! But I''ll have to wait until after Christmas. I''lle right after," Abigail replied.


    "Sounds good," Quinn said.


    They chatted for a bit until someone on Abigail''s end called her for dinner, and they reluctantly ended the call.


    Abigail had been staying with the Vanderbilt family for the past few days. Landon''s mom, Aurora, was there too. She felt a bit out of ce at first, but Nancy was so warm and weing that she eventually rxed.


    They had bought a ton of fireworks for the ind. It was the first anniversary of their ind city, and they wanted to celebrate big time.


    The ind still didn''t have a name, so Maddox gathered everyone to brainstorm.


    The group was buzzing with ideas, each one more different than thest.


    Some names were pretty normal.


    Others were just in ridiculous, like "Universe Invincible Super Ind."


    Maddox scratched his head in frustration. "Can''t you guyse up with something more cultured? What kind of names are these?" Sean said, "How about Scam Ind?"novelbin


    Maddox shot him a look. "Who''s a scammer? Who are you insulting?!"


    Kyle said, "This is serious. Don''t bring personal grudges into it!"


    Sean ignored him.


    Maddox sensed something was off. "What''s going on with you two?"


    Kyle shrugged. "Nothing, I just feel like I''m being stared at by a gay guy."


    Sean couldn''t stay calm and jumped up. "You''re the gay one! Your whole family is gay!"


    Kyle smirked, "I didn''t even say it was you. Why so defensive? Feeling guilty?"


    Sean couldn''t hold back any longer and lunged at Kyle.


    Seeing this, Kyle jumped up and ran behind Quinn and Alexander. "Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, help! This gay guy wants to hit me!"


    "You!" Sean''s chest heaved with anger as he pointed at Kyle, his eyes zing. "If you have the guts,e here! Hiding behind Mrs. Kennedy, what kind of coward are you?" "I''m not an idiot, I''m noting over there." Kyle taunted, "Gay!"

 Chapter 1609

    Quinn quickly put a stop to their goofing around. "Alright, cut it out. We''ve got serious stuff to talk about." Sean shot Kyle a dirty look, snorted, and plopped back into his seat.


    Maddox, cradling Sprout, turned to Quinn. "Quinn, why don''t youe up with a name?"


    "Me?" Quinn shook her head repeatedly. "I got nothing."


    "Just throw something out there. It''s just a name, no big deal," Maddox pressed.


    Quinn hesitated, then looked over at Alexander. "How about you give it a shot?"


    Alexander looked a bit surprised.


    Everyone''s eyes were on him. Maddox urged, "Stop being so humble. Just spit it out. I wanna take Sprout to y." After a quick think, Alexander said, "Wind Ind."


    Maddox whistled. "Man, you can tell when someone''s got ss. Sounds so artsy. Any special meaning behind it?"


    "Nah, it''s just windy," Alexander shrugged.


    Kyle jumped in with the praise. "Mr. Kennedy, you''re something else. Wind Ind sounds great and it''s easy to remember!" The others chimed in with their agreement.


    Alexander listened to thepliments, his face a nk te.


    Quinn said, "Alright, if no one''s got any objections, Wind Ind it is."


    "Cool, it''s settled. Tomorrow we''ll put up a stone tablet at the entrance," Maddox dered.


    Then he dismissed everyone and took Sprout to keep ying.


    Quinn headed to check the warehouse where the fireworks were stashed. It was packed, enough tost three days.


    On Christmas Eve, everyone hauled the fireworks to the beach. Quinn and Alexander joined them by the shore.


    It was pitch ck all around, except for the brightly lit ind.


    Alexander held her hand, quietly watching the folks setting up the fireworks.


    Quinn suddenly asked, "Where are Sprout and Brandy?"


    "Over there," Alexander pointed.


    Following his gaze, Quinn spotted Maddox and Sprout nearby.


    Maddox was showing them how to cover their ears. Seeing him do it, Sprout and Brandy copied him.


    "Yep, just like that. When I say cover your ears, do it like this," Maddox instructed.


    Brandy nodded seriously.


    Sprout''s little mouth was moving, saying something. Maddox had gotten pretty good at understanding him by now. Maddox couldn''t help but smile and pinched his cheek. "You''ll know what to do soon enough."


    He stood up and noticed Quinn had joined them. "Why''d you twoe over?"


    Quinn said, "Doesn''t matter where we are. Let''s watch together." "Alright, I thought you two were off finding a cozy spot," Maddox teased.novelbin


    "We''re an old couple. Nothing cozy about us," Quinn shot back.


    As they chatted, someone yelled, "When are we lighting these things?"


    Kyle checked his watch. "Five more minutes. Light ''em at midnight sharp."


    Quinn looked at the fireworks on the beach, feeling a bit anxious. She told Maddox to take the kids further away.


    At midnight, everyone rushed to light the fireworks.


    Maddox turned to the kids. "Cover your ears."


    The kids immediately raised their hands, covering their ears tightly, watching with a mix of curiosity and nerves.


    Momentster, the beach exploded with loud bangs. Countless streaks of light shot into the sky, bursting into colorful stars that lit up the sea and the ind.

 Chapter 1610

    The kids had never seen fireworks before. Sprout might''ve seen them once, but he probably forgot.


    They stared up at the sky, jaws dropped, totally mesmerized by the fireworks.


    Quinn was worried they might freak out, but when she nced over, she realized she was just overthinking. They weren''t scared at all; they were thrilled. Sprout even lowered his hand and pointed at the fireworks, saying something to Brandy.


    Quinn watched them, the flickering light of the fireworks lighting up everyone, creating a scene of pure joy and excitement on the beach.


    For a moment, Quinn felt like she was in a dream, like everything could vanish with a touch.


    It felt surreal, yet also like a distant memory.


    She thought, ''If only time could freeze right now, never moving forward, even if it meant the dream would never end.''


    Suddenly, she felt a warm touch on her hand. She turned to see Alexander''s face. The light and shadows yed across his features, giving him a mysterious vibe. Alexander asked, "What are you thinking about?"


    Quinn shook her head. "Nothing, it just feels really lively."


    Alexander tightened his grip on her hand.


    In such a lively atmosphere, Quinn should''ve been happy, but she felt a weird sense of sadness.


    Maybe Christmas was a reminder of time passing for them, while for kids, it was all about growth and happiness.


    For kids, the world was perfect, with family and friends around, no regrets or losses, just joy and carefree moments.


    For adults, each year brought more goodbyes, and as they got older, more people disappeared from their lives, until they were left alone.


    The fireworks went on for a full hour, and the beach was filled with smoke, even getting a bit suffocating.


    Maddox pulled out some small gifts, first handing one to each of the kids, thening over to Quinn and Alexander.


    Maddox said, "Here, these are for you."


    Quinn was momentarily stunned, then raised her hand to ept the gift, smiling. "Thanks, Maddox."novelbin


    Maddox replied, "You''re wee. I''m your elder; it''s what I should do."


    Alexander also epted his gift and thanked him, then opened it right there. Inside was a small toy. Quinn also opened hers to find a small toy as well.


    Over there, Brandy was opening her gift too.


    "The smoke here is too thick. Let''s head back," Alexander suggested.


    Quinn nodded. She wanted to take the two kids with her, but Sprout refused to leave. He still wanted to y on the beach, his small body stumbling as he ran around. Maddox hurried to chase after him. Maddox said, "You two take Brandy back first. I''ll watch over him."


    Quinn sighed. Sprout was getting naughtier by the day. She watched as Sprout weaved through the crowd, a bright smile on his face, while Maddox cautiously followed behind, arms outstretched to catch him in case he fell. Brandy brought over a sparkler and handed it to Quinn. "Mom, y with this."


    Quinn shifted her gaze, smiled, took out a lighter to light the sparkler for her, then took Brandy''s hand. "Alright, it''s time for us to go back."


    Brandy was more obedient than Sprout and never disobeyed Quinn. When told to go, she went.


    Alexander picked her up, and the three of them walked back together.


    Various lights hung from the trees on both sides, casting long shadows on the pavement, while the noise behind them gradually faded away.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1611

    The Christmas vibe on the ind hung around for days, with all sorts of sounds filling the air.novelbin


    Quinn turned to Alexander and asked, "With all these trees, won''t they catch fire?"


    Alexander nced outside just as fireworks lit up the sky. He frowned, "That''s a real issue. Let''s talk to Maddox tomorrow and get them to set off the fireworks by the beach, not in the woods." Quinn nodded. "Sounds good."


    The next day, Alexander brought it up with Maddox, who quickly set the rule.


    After all, he didn''t want the new houses on the ind to go up in mes because of fireworks.


    Sprout and Brandy had been having a st these past few days,ing back with Maddoxte every night, always dirty.


    Quinn poured hot water from the stove into a basin and used a towel to wipe Sprout''s face.


    She said irritably, "See, you run around outside every day, and now you know it hurts?"


    Sprout puffed his cheeks and looked at her with big, innocent eyes. Probably afraid Quinn wouldn''t let him y outside anymore, he stopped crying.


    Quinn quickly finished washing his face and hands. Looking at his dark hands and face, she sighed helplessly, turned around, and fetched sunscreen from the house, patiently applying it to him. Maddox said, "Why are you putting that on him? Boys don''t need sunscreen. You''re just worrying too much."


    Quinn red at him. "Look at his face. It''s already getting sunburned."


    Maddox shrugged. "It''s just a bit of sun. He''ll get used to it after a while."


    Quinn countered, "Sprout getting sunburned is one thing, but look at Brandy. She''s getting sunburned too. She''s a girl."


    Maddox was indifferent. "Girls can get a bit of sun too. It''s good for them."


    Quinn said, "But her skin will get damaged."


    She thought to herself, ''Every girl cares about beauty. Brandy might not care now, but when she grows up, she''ll be upset if her skin gets too damaged.''


    Maddox sat down next to her and said, "It''s okay, and it keeps away those who only care about looks. Don''t you think that''s a good thing?"


    Quinn''s mouth twitched. "Nonsense!"


    Maddox said, "Okay, I won''t say anymore. But trust me, a girl being too pretty isn''t necessarily a good thing."


    This time, Quinn didn''t argue with him. Having spent so much time in Municity, he had a point.


    Maddox changed the subject. "But it''s not all about that. The most important thing is to have self-defense skills. Let''s sign her up for all those sses, like judo and taekwondo." Quinn nodded. "That sounds good. At what age should she start learning these?"


    Maddox replied, "Five years old should be fine. Send both Brandy and Sprout."


    Quinn said, "Alright."


    She decided to sign Brandy up when she got a bit older. Apart from physical skills, Brandy also needed to expand her horizons. The more she saw, the less likely she would be fooled by sweet talk. This was why Quinn was willing to let Maddox take care of them. Maddox was knowledgeable, and being around him would help them learn a lot.


    Whether materially or spiritually, having enough would prevent them from being hindered by what theycked during their youth.

 Chapter 1612

    "Alright, let''s hold off on taking them to the beach until their faces heal up," Quinn said.


    "Got it," Maddox replied, then called out, "Sprout,e here."


    Sprout stumbled over, looking like he might fall with every step, but somehow he always stayed upright.


    Quinn watched them leave and shook her head with a smile.


    She pulled out her phone and saw a message from Abigail.


    It was a picture of a pregnancy test with two lines.


    Quinn''s heart leaped with joy, and she quickly sent a reply.


    But Abigail didn''t text back. After about half an hour, she called.


    Quinn picked up and jumped right in, "Abigail, are you pregnant?"


    Abigailughed.


    Hearing herugh, Quinn knew it was true. "Really? Congrats!"


    Abigail said, "I just got out of the hospital. I can finally rx. I thought I couldn''t have kids."


    Quinn reassured her, "I told you, these things happen when they''re meant to. You can''t rush it. See, it happened."


    Abigail chuckled, "Yeah, I had given up and thought whatever happens, happens. Who knew it would happen suddenly." "How far along are you?" Quinn asked.


    "Just over two weeks, around Christmas," Abigail responded.


    Quinn teased, "Looks like you two had a great Christmas."


    Abigail replied, "Oh, stop teasing me. We''re newlyweds, it''s normal. Can''tpare to you old couples."


    Quinnughed. "You got pregnant right after getting married. What about Landon for the rest of the year?"


    Abigail said, "Who cares? I''ve fulfilled my wish. Luckily, I''m not too far behind you."


    Quinn advised, "Take care of yourself. You can''t do things like before. No more riding your motorcycle, and avoid many other things."


    Quinn gave Abigail a long list of advice until she got annoyed and changed the subject, "How are things over there? We were thinking ofing to the ind." Quinn suggested, "You should wait until the baby is stable. Long trips would be too much for you."


    Abigail asked, "How long do I have to wait?"


    "At least the first three months. You need to rest and take care of the baby," Quinn replied.


    Abigail felt a bit down. Three months seemed like a long time.


    They chatted a bit more before Abigail hung up.


    A few days ago, she was nning to visit Quinn, but she felt nauseous and wanted to throw up that morning.


    After Nancy''s reminder, she bought a pregnancy test and found out she was pregnant. The first person she told was Quinn.


    Then she told Landon, expecting him to be happy or surprised. However, he showed no emotions and said they should confirm it at the hospital first. After the hospital confirmed it, Landon still didn''t react much.


    Honestly, Abigail felt a bit disappointed and angry.


    Now, sitting in the car, neither of them spoke. Abigail didn''t want to talk to Landon, and he drove silently, leaving the car eerily quiet.


    As they neared home, Abigail couldn''t help but ask, "Landon, do you not like me?"


    Landon paused and looked at her, confused. "What''s wrong?"


    "I''m pregnant, and you have no reaction," Abigail used.


    Landon paused and smiled. "Abigail, I love you. I love you so much that I only want to be with you and no one else."


    He reached out and hugged Abigail. "Abigail, let''s be together from now on."novelbin


    The book has now beenpletely finished.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!